The 10 Most Underrated Shojo Anime That Are Flawless from Beginning to End (2024)

There have been many iconic shojo anime over the years. Anime such as Sailor Moon, Ouran High School Host Club, and The Apothecary Diaries are some of the most popular shows. However, for every popular shojo anime, there are just as many underrated shojo anime that are equally good, if not better.

The best, underrated shojo anime may have been passed over for other shows that came out at the same time, but these anime shouldn’t be counted out. Sometimes missed gems in the shojo genre have incredible stories and fantastic characters. They pull audiences in with the emotions they evoke, boast stunning animation that flawlessly captures the passion and love in these shojo stories, and leave the viewers who discover them breathless and wanting more.

10 Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Is About Equality

Streaming On Crunchyroll

Sugar Apple Fairy Tale is a unique shojo that simultaneously embodies all the tropes that fans love to see. When Ann Halford commits to competing to become a Silver Sugar Master, she needs someone to accompany her. Never did she think that the Warrior Fairy she would ask to accompany her would be quite so stunning. Challe Fen Challe despises humans and their maltreatment of Fairies. However, Ann seems to be different.

Challe Fen Challe and Ann’s relationship is a slow burn with many romantic moments between them. Although Challe Fen Challe begins by being mostly annoyed with Ann, he soon changes his mind the more he sees how kind and creative she is. The animation is beautiful and captures the fairy tale theme. Plus, the story is slightly more in-depth than the typical romance anime. It’s a great watch that should be talked about more than it is.

Sugar Apple Fairy Tale

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Animation

Fantasy

Anne Halford is a candy crafter determined to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a Silver Sugar Master.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

January 6, 2023

Cast

Masaaki Mizunaka , Yuka Nukui , Rie Takahashi , Aya Yamane , Minori Suzuki , Aya Hisakawa

Main Genre

Action

Seasons

1

Studio

J.C. Staff

Characters By

Miri Mikawa

Cinematographer

Hidenori Manaka

Distributor

Crunchyroll

Main Characters

Anne Halford, Shalle Fen Shalle, Mythril Lid Pod, Hugh Mercury, Cat, Jonas Anders

Producer

Yuuji Matsukura

Production Company

J.C. Staff

Story By

Miri Mikawa

Writers

Seishi Minakami

Number of Episodes

12

9 The Ancient Magus’ Bride Is A Dark Monster Romance

Streaming on Crunchyroll

The Ancient Magus’ Bride is a darker monster romance anime that follows the life of Chise Hatori. After she is sold into slavery and purchased by a skeletal-beast-headed mage, she isn’t quite sure what to think. However, once she arrives home with Elias Ainsworth, she begins to realize the magical world that surrounds her.

Chise and Elias’s relationship is unconventional, but the care and patience Elias shows Chise speaks to how much affection he has for her. Likewise, Chise helps Elias see that he’s more than a monstrous mage. It’s a bleaker tale with supernatural elements that is sure to entice its viewers from the start.

The Ancient Magus' Bride

TV-14

Anime

Drama

Fantasy

Hatori Chise, 15 years old. Lost, without hope and without family - she sells herself to a non-human mage known as Elias Ainsworth. Hesitant, she starts a new life with him as his new apprentice.

Release Date

October 7, 2017

Cast

Atsumi Tanezaki , Ryota Takeuchi , Dani Chambers , Brian Mathis , Daisuke Namikawa , Mutsumi Tamura , Yûko Kaida , Koki Uchiyama

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

8 Tsuki Ga Kirei Is A Heartwarming Depiction Of Young Love

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Tsuki ga Kirei is an adorable romance anime that follows two middle schoolers falling in love for the first time. Akane Mizuno and Kortarou Azumi’s romance is one of the more wholesome shojo love stories. Their tale presents a realistic picture of young love and all the pratfalls that it brings.

Akane and Kotarou’s romance is pure, which is shown as they strive to do their best while supporting each other’s dreams. With Kotarou’s writing and Akane’s track and field goals, they work to help one another as they fall deeper in love. The story may be a little simple, but its central message of unconditional love applies to any relationship worth its salt.

Tsuki ga Kirei

TV-14

Romance

Drama

A romance forms between two shy third-year middle school students.

Release Date

April 6, 2017

Cast

Konomi Kohara , Atsushi Tamaru , Shōya Shiba , Stephen Sanders , Apphia Yu , Daman Mills

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

7 My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom!! Is A Hilarious Harem Anime

Streaming on Crunchyrollhttps://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GY5PW4JEY/my-next-life-as-a-villainess-all-routes-lead-to-doom

My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom!! is one of the most fun isekai shojo anime in recent memory. The story follows Katerina Claes. Although she used to be a normal high schooler, she is now trapped living as the villainess of a popular Otome game. After realizing this, Katerina does her absolute best to be kind to everyone and works incredibly hard so that she can avoid the death ending, and live through the banishment ending.

While Katerina is going through all of this, all of her peers are slowly falling for her. Even the girls have come to think of Katerina as more than a friend. My Next Life As A Villainess is a fun Harem anime with LGBTQIA+ undertones. It’s a great show to watch to help lift the spirits. There are two seasons now, but more is hopefully on the way for this entertaining anime.

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

TV-14

Anime

Comedy

Drama

A young girl dies and is reincarnated into a video game. But when she finds out that her role is the villainess destined for doom, she takes measures to change the game and avoid that fate.

Release Date

April 4, 2020

Cast

Maaya Uchida , Tetsuya Kakihara , Shouta Aoi , Miho Okasaki

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

Studio

Silver Link

Creator

Satoru Yamaguchi

Number of Episodes

24 +OVA

6 Orange Will Make Viewers Cry

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Orange is a tragic time travel-like anime that follows a group of friends in the future and high school. When the group begins getting letters from the future, the teens have to decide whether they like the way things turned out or change them while they have a chance. Orange deals with grief and existential thinking as the friends have to sacrifice people and relationships in favor of others.

Orange is a tearjerker that isn’t often talked about but has the staying power of any emotional anime. Audiences will feel for the characters as they grapple with the tough decisions they have to make. The anime is a heartbreaking story that will not leave any audience with tears unshed. However, for those who love a good sad anime and are brave enough to watch it, Orange is one of the best.

Orange

TV-PG

High school student Naho Takamiya receives a letter from her future self that warns her to avoid mistakes she will make involving a new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, a troubled boy whom she meets and begins to fall in love with.

Release Date

July 4, 2016

Cast

Jeannie Tirado , Kana Hanazawa , Seiichiro Yamashita , Micah Solusod , Makoto Furukawa

Main Genre

Drama

Studio

Telecom Animation Film

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

5 Kimi Ni Todoke Is A Wholesome "Opposites Attract" Romance

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Kimi ni Todoke is a wonderful romance anime from 2009 that recently got another season on Netflix. The anime follows Sawako Kuronuma who is teased for her unconventional looks. However, when Shota Kazehaya begins to notice her, Sawako’s life changes drastically. No longer is she teased for her looks, but one of the most popular boys is at her side.

Kimi ni Todoke focuses on kindness, compassion, and acceptance. Sawako and Kazehaya’s relationship is so endearing that it will have audiences kicking their feet in glee. This anime is a wonderful story that helps audiences believe in love once again. Plus, there is a cute puppy in the show, which no fan can resist.

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You

TV-PG

Animation

Comedy

Drama

Romance

Sawako's one wish in life is to make friends. That's a difficult proposition due to her resemblance to Sadako from The Ring. Her life starts to change after she befriends her classmate, Kazehaya, an easygoing guy who is nice even with her.

Release Date

October 6, 2009

Cast

Mamiko Noto , Daisuke Namikawa , Miyuki Sawashiro , Yûko Sanpei , Yuichi Nakamura , Yuki Ono , Aya Hirano , Masahiro Yamanaka , Miho Miyagawa , Mayuki Makiguchi , Mamoru Miyano , Sakurako Kishiro , Takashi Matsuyama , Nobuaki Kanemitsu , Yurin , Takuma Suzuki

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

3

Character(s)

Sawako Kuronuma , Shouta Kazehaya , Ayane Yano , Chizuru Yoshida , Ryuu Sanada , Kazuichi Arai , Ume Kurumizawa , Souichi Jounouchi , Tomomi Endou / Madoka Horiguchi , Eriko Hirano , Kento Miura , Sawako's Mother , Sawako's Father , Keisuke Andou , Chigusa Takahashi , Yoshiyuki Arai

4 Snow White With the Red Hair Has a Realistic Couple

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Snow White with the Red Hair is a play on the original Grimm fairy tale. The story follows an up-and-coming herbalist named Shirayuki who becomes entangled with the prince of a neighboring kingdom. Shirayuki and Zen are unique in that they don’t hide their feelings for each other, and actually get together before the end of the show. They also don’t put too much focus on their relationship to the point that it consumes their lives. Shirayuki and Zen are unexpectedly levelheaded for being in a fantasy romance anime.

The rest of the cast is equally lovable. The whole crew has great chemistry and the dialogue feels much more natural than a lot of shojo anime. Snow White with the Red Hair is known by the shojo community, but more people should watch it to see that it truly does have a beautiful story that feels different from a lot of shojo anime.

Snow White With The Red Hair

TV-14

Drama

Fantasy

Shirayuki was a young girl born with unique apple-red hair. She meets a famous but foolish Prince Raji, who falls in love with her at first sight and orders her to become his concubine.

Release Date

July 6, 2015

Cast

Saori Hayami , Ryōta Ōsaka , Yūichirō Umehara

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

2 Seasons

Creator

Deko Akao

Production Company

Bones, Warner Bros.

Number of Episodes

25 Episodes

3 A Sign Of Affection Highlights A New Perspective

Streaming on Crunchyroll

A Sign of Affection is a first-of-its-kind anime. The story follows Yuki Itose who is Deaf. As she branches out to explore the world around her, she meets a charming classmate named Itsuomi Nagi who sweeps her off her feet. Together, Itsuomi and Yuki learn about languages and different experiences as their love grows.

A Sign of Affection is a great anime not only for the story but for its use of Japanese Sign Language. Each of the Sign Language characters the cast shows on screen is fluid. The culture surrounding people who are deaf is also present to show how Yuki, and others like her, view the world. Problems that hearing people don’t even think about are carefully considered by Yuki and her peers. A Sign of Affection is a beautiful anime that got a lot of traction when it came out but has slowly faded over time.

A Sign of Affection

TV-14

Animation

Comedy

Drama

Romance

Yuki Itoseis a college student who's into friends and fashion. She's also deaf. A chance meeting on a train leads to a serious crush... But can it grow into something more?

Release Date

January 6, 2024

Creator(s)

suu Morishita

Cast

Sumire Morohoshi , Yu Miyazaki , Takeo Otsuka , Kaede Hondo , Ryōta Ōsaka , Nao Tôyama , Tasuku Hatanaka , Koki Arai , Yuki Masuda , Minami Takahashi[ , Hana Hishikawa , Gakuto Kajiwara

Main Genre

Animation

Creator

Production Company

Network

Tokyo MX , BS4

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Directors

Shinpei Matsuo , Hidekazu Oka , Tatsu Yamamoto

Producers

Emiko Iijima

Character(s)

Yuki Itose , Itsuomi Nagi , Oushi Ashioki , Rin Fujishiro , Kyouya Nagi , Emma Nakasono , Shin Iryuu , Yasuhiro Sandanbata , Yuki's Mother , Izumi Yoshiki , Madoka Sakurase , Mitoki Ichishima

YouTube Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuX_3-KTXv8

2 My Love Story!! Features One Of The Best Anime Couples

Streaming On Hulu

My Love Story!! is one of the most wholesome shojo anime. Takeo Gouda and Rinko Yamato star as the endearing odd couple who seem to love each other more than anyone has loved another. Despite their size and appearance differences, the two are perfectly matched. Both Takeo and Rinko put in so much effort to ensure that the other has the best possible gift or experience.

My Love Story!! is a bit of an unconventional tale, but that is what makes it so great. Having the two opposing leads is a refreshing change of pace from many other shojo anime where the characters look similar. The story is also sincerely heartwarming and hilarious as Takeo and Rinko try to navigate their new relationship.

My Love Story!!

TV-14

Animation

Comedy

A pretty young girl and a sweet but plain-looking boy fall in love. Will their relationship prevail?

Release Date

April 9, 2015

Cast

Takuya Eguchi , Megumi Han , Nobunaga Shimazaki , Junya Enoki , Kazuyo Aoki , Rina Kitagawa , Kikuko Inoue , Ren Kato , Marie Hatanaka , Seigo Yokota , Kouta Nemoto , Yuka Terasaki , Rena Maeda , Kôichi Tôchika , Akemi Kanda , Ari Ozawa , Tessyo Genda

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

Creator

Production Company

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

Character(s)

Takeo Goda , Rinko Yamato , Makoto 'Suna' Sunakawa , Osamu Kurihara , Yuriko Goda , Nanako Yamazaki , Ai Sunakawa , Young Takeo Goda , Ayu , Momota , Kakitani , Young Makoto Sunakawa , Mariya Saijo , Fudo , Yuuko , Kojima , Yutaka Goda

1 Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion Has A Strong Protagonist

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion is a shojo anime based on a South Korean webcomic. The story follows a woman who becomes a book character after she is pushed from a building and dies. However, the book character she became, Raeliana McMillan, dies early in the story. The newly minted Raeliana vows to survive in any way possible - including by entering into a fake engagement with the main love interest of the story, Duke Noah Wynknight.

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion is such an underrated shojo because of how clever it is. It subverts a lot of isekai shojo stereotypes while leaning heavily into the romance and seduction of the leading characters. Ian Sinclair’s portrayal of Noah is a particular stand out as the dark hero. This anime is great for fans of plucky female leads and mysterious plots.

Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke's Mansion

TV-14

Fantasy

Action

Drama

Living in a fairy tale may seem like a dream, but for this young heroine it is more like a nightmare.

Release Date

April 10, 2023

Cast

Jun'ichi Suwabe , Yūichirō Umehara , Saori Hayami , Ami Koshimizu

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1 Season

Studio

Typhoon Graphics

Creator

Milcha

Production Company

AT-X, Typhoon Graphics

Number of Episodes

12

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll