While some of the best shojo anime are stereotypical romantic stories, many break the mold by exploring deeper emotional stories and unique themes. These shows define the best parts of the genre and are must-watch series for any anime fan.
11 Yona Of The Dawn
Mizuho Kusanagi’s Yona of the Dawn has been running since 2009, and it is firmly established as one of the best shojo manga on the market. Pierrot’s anime adaptation does not warrant the same level of praise, but that has largely to do with the fact the series only covers a small portion of the source material. When analyzed solely on the quality of the adapted content, Yona of the Dawn is pretty great.
Set in a small nation caught between more powerful countries, Yona is the sheltered princess of the realm’s king. A shocking coup leaves the girl on the run, with her only companion being Hak, her bodyguard. At this point, the princess sets out to find four mythical warriors who will help her reclaim the throne and unite the kingdom. Yona is forced to mature quickly as she begins her transformation from pampered royalty to a capable warrior.
10 Sailor Moon
“Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight, never running from a real fight, she is the one named Sailor Moon!”
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With one of the catchiest theme songs of all time, no fan of anime that grew up in the 90s hasn’t seen or at least heard of Sailor Moon. The adventures of the Sailor Scouts are truly iconic so whether fans watched the original or the recent retelling of the story in Sailor Moon Crystal, they will surely remember this magical girl adventure.
9 Cardcaptor Sakura
The original Cardcaptor Sakura came out all the way back in 1998 and has proven its staying power with its sequel, 2018’s Clear Card. Sakura’s adventures to recapture the mystical Clow Cards is light-hearted and fun while featuring a rivals-to-lovers romance that isn’t the usual cheesy affair found in other shojo anime.
The show generally bucks magical girl tropes (there aren’t even transformation sequences) and offers something unique to fans of the genre.
8 Kamisama Kiss
Who hasn’t suddenly found themselves suddenly homeless, saved a man from a dog, and then suddenly become a God? Kamisama Kiss is a romantic comedy with a dash of the supernatural that takes this wild premise and turns it into a fun and playful romp.
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Nanami’s adventures with the fox spirit Tomoe are almost reminiscent of Inu Yasha but far more refined than that iconic show. The series has also inspired multiple OVAs showing just how much fans wanted more of this amazing story.
7 Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High School Host Club takes the main cast with incredibly stereotypical character archetypes and slowly grows them throughout the show. It also tackles many themes about gender and presentation as Haruhi is forced to become the errand “boy” of the host club after breaking a vase worth eight million yen.
The show came out in 2006 and its popularity is still so strong that it’s even getting a new adaptation as a live-action musical.
6 Revolutionary Girl Utena
Winner of the Best TV Animation Award in 1997, Revolutionary Girl Utena was one of the first mainstream anime with lesbian romance to hit Western audiences and it did so with a serious splash. The series’ reliance on surrealism and symbolism to tell its coming-of-age story has resonated with viewers to this day.
Utena’s adventures at the Ootori Academy throw her into sword-fighting duels, gaining a surprise fiancee in Anthy, and a mysterious hidden mission to “revolutionize the world.” It is incredibly satisfying to observe the mystery slowly unfold. The Adolescence of Utena movie is also worth watching as an alternative retelling of the series.
5 The Rose Of Versailles
This anime is over forty years old yet is still one of the best historical shojo anime of all time. The Rose of Versailes’ alternate history of the events leading up to the French Revolution is just as good today as it was back in 1979.
The romance between Oscar François de Jarjeyes and her childhood friend Andre is powerful, with the two not only being from different social classes but Oscar having been raised “as a male” to be the leader of the royale guard. The Rose of Versailes tackles many themes of sexual and gender identity, finding one’s place in the world, and brings everything to the table that fans of historical dramas have come to love.
4 Nana
“Say, Nana… Do you remember the first time we met?”
The story of how the lives of the naive Nana Komatsu and punk-rock vocalist Nana Osaki intertwine is one of the most iconic in all of shojo anime. Viewers are likely to identify with the characters as they watch them deal with romance, heartbreaks, and all the challenges that life throws at them.
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The only unfortunate part about Nana is its ending, as the manga was put on indefinite hiatus in 2009 when author Ai Yazawa fell gravely ill and had a difficult recovery. In 2022, the mangaka provided an update on the possibility of continuing the story.
3 Banana Fish
Released as part of Akimi Yoshida’s 40th-anniversary commemoration project, Banana Fish is not what most shojo fans might expect from the anime genre. How many shojo anime cover a boy raised by a mafia boss and unravel a mystery involving the Iraq War? Just one — Banana Fish.
The show also covers darker themes than most shojo anime like drugs, PTSD, sexual assault, and more. Make sure to check out some content warnings before giving Banana Fish a watch just in case.
2 Natsume’s Book Of Friends
When Takashi’s grandmother passes down a Yuujinchou, known as a Book of Friends, his entire life turns upside down. Natsume’s Book of Friends follows his adventures as he tries to avoid being hunted down by the yokai who have had their spirits brought under his grandmother’s control in the past.
At least he doesn’t have to do it alone as he has a cat spirit and self-proclaimed bodyguard Madara by his side. This supernatural slice-of-life anime is one of the shojo greats for good reason as is worth checking out by any anime fan.
1 Fruits Basket
While the original Fruits Basket series began airing back in 2001, it wasn’t until the Spring of 2021 that Fruits Basket: Final aired as a definitive end to the supernatural romance.
The story follows Tooru and her life while living at the Souma house. She discovers that each person that lives there when hugged by someone of the opposite gender turns into one of the animals from the Chinese zodiac and that there is a dark curse that causes this to happen. The show is filled with romance and drama and will leave fans glued to their screens until they finish watching it.
Does Winter 2023 Have Any Shojo Anime?
As tends to be the case with most seasons, Winter 2023 is not overflowing with shojo goodness. Only one airing anime is based on a shojo manga (and a light novel), and it has gotten off to a respectable start.
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Before highlighting this series, the following Winter 2023 anime might also be able to scratch that shojo itch: The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague, The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte, and Play It Cool, Guys.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale
Set in a fantasy world where humans treat fairies like slaves, Ann grew up wishing for a day when this prejudice would be put to an end. Hoping to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a Silver Sugar Master, Ann plans to set up shop in Lewiston, but getting to the town is hardly a safe trip. Consequently, she hires a warrior fairy named Shall Fen Shall as a bodyguard, promising to set him free once their trip is done.
Ann and Shall’s relationship is influenced by a culture defined by discrimination, and the anime takes this aspect seriously. While perhaps too optimistic at times, Ann is by no means naive about the world’s situation; meanwhile, Shall’s anger is palpable. Winter 2023 is still in its early days, but if it keeps up its momentum, Sugar Apple Fairy Tale could prove to be among the season’s most memorable fantasy series.
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