The 15 Best Shōjo Anime to Watch, Ranked

There is no objective, universally agreed “best” shōjo anime: shōjo describes a manga publishing demographic, not a single genre or style. This ranking is an editorial selection, weighing storytelling, historical resonance, variety, and how approachable each series is for a new viewer. It spans romance, comedy, magical-girl fantasy, supernatural drama, and adventure—not just love stories.

How this ranking works

The first ten picks are drawn from whatNerd’s 2022 editorial list, which supplies brief descriptions and episode counts. The final five broaden the selection across influential and distinctive shōjo adaptations; their inclusion is editorial, not a claim of consensus. The order balances range and accessibility rather than measuring popularity. Shōjo anime can include fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thriller, and coming-of-age stories alongside romance. VIZ describes its Shojo Beat imprint as offering “Character-driven romance, fantasy and comedy for teens and adults from the leader in shojo manga.” That is VIZ’s promotional description of its imprint, not an independently verified market ranking (VIZ Shojo Beat).

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Kamisama Kiss-Complete Series	$179.98	Buy on Amazon
2		Toki wo Kakeru Shojo [Blu-ray]	$83.09	Buy on Amazon
3		My Neighbor Totoro		Buy on Amazon
4		The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ( Toki o kakeru shôjo ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, Blu-Ray, Reg.B Import -...	$90.00	Buy on Amazon
5		Perfect Blue		Buy on Amazon

The 15 best shōjo anime, ranked

1. Fruits Basket (2019)

Tohru Honda becomes close to the Sohma family and discovers their zodiac-linked transformation curse. This adaptation’s supernatural premise opens into family drama, grief, and romance, making it the broadest emotional entry point here. The 2019–2021 series runs 63 episodes across three seasons, according to whatNerd. Its substantial commitment pays off for viewers who want an unfolding ensemble story rather than a self-contained short romance.

2. Cardcaptor Sakura (1998–2000)

Sakura Kinomoto must retrieve magical Clow Cards she has accidentally released. Its magical-girl adventure combines imaginative powers, action, friendship, and a heroine growing into responsibility. At 70 episodes, it is one of the longest commitments on this list (whatNerd); its episodic card-retrieval structure makes it easy to watch gradually.

#1 Best Overall

Kamisama Kiss-Complete Series

$179.98

Buy on Amazon

3. Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)

Utena Tenjou wants to become a prince and is drawn into a school’s ritualized duels over the mysterious Anthy Himemiya. Its surreal symbolism and deliberately theatrical storytelling set it apart from more conventional school romance. This is a strong pick for viewers who enjoy interpretation and formal experimentation, though its allegorical approach is less newcomer-friendly than a straightforward comedy or adventure.

4. Ouran High School Host Club (2006)

Haruhi Fujioka accidentally breaks an expensive vase and joins her school’s host club to repay the debt. The 26-episode comedy plays with romance conventions and class performance rather than treating them as rules. It is a breezy starting point for viewers who want jokes and ensemble chemistry more than a serious love story (episode count and premise: whatNerd).

5. Yona of the Dawn (2014–2015)

After her father’s death and a palace coup, Princess Yona is forced into exile and begins a journey to reclaim her kingdom. The 24-episode fantasy adventure centers on her gradual transformation from sheltered royal to determined leader. Romance is present, but action, political danger, and character growth drive the story (whatNerd).

Rank #2

Toki wo Kakeru Shojo [Blu-ray]

$83.09

Buy on Amazon

6. Natsume’s Book of Friends (2008–2017)

Takashi Natsume can see spirits and inherits a book that binds many of them to his late grandmother. Returning their names gives the series its quiet episodic engine, while its focus on loneliness, compassion, and belonging supplies its emotional core. WhatNerd lists 74 episodes across six seasons. It is a contemplative supernatural story with a male protagonist, a reminder that shōjo is a publishing tradition rather than a requirement that every story center on a girl or romance.

7. Kamisama Kiss (2012–2015)

Homeless teenager Nanami becomes a land deity and finds herself living with Tomoe, a fox spirit who serves as her familiar. The supernatural setup feeds a warm romantic comedy, with folklore and relationship tension sharing the spotlight. The series is listed at 25 episodes across two seasons by whatNerd, a moderate commitment for viewers seeking a clear romance-forward pick.

8. Lovely Complex (2007)

Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani are teased as an unlikely pair because of their height difference, then discover that friendship and attraction are more complicated than their comic dynamic suggests. This 24-episode school romantic comedy is an accessible choice for viewers who want lively banter and adolescent awkwardness (whatNerd).

Rank #3

My Neighbor Totoro

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9. The Rose of Versailles (1979–1980)

Set in the world of pre-revolutionary France, the series follows Oscar François de Jarjayes, raised as a boy and serving in the royal guard, as personal loyalties collide with political upheaval. Its historical melodrama offers a very different register from contemporary school romances: court intrigue, social change, and questions of identity lead. It suits viewers interested in older, sweeping serial storytelling.

10. Orange (2016)

Naho Takamiya receives a letter apparently written by her future self, urging her to pay attention to a new classmate and prevent a future regret. The 13-episode series uses its time-travel premise to frame friendship, responsibility, and emotional drama. Its short run is one of the easiest ways into the list for viewers who want a compact story (episode count and premise: whatNerd).

11. Blue Spring Ride (2014)

Futaba Yoshioka tries to reshape how classmates see her and reconnects with Kou, a boy from her past who has changed. This 12-episode school romance is among the briefest picks here, emphasizing adolescent friendship and the uncertainty of first love rather than fantasy or action (whatNerd).

Rank #4

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ( Toki o kakeru shôjo ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, Blu-Ray, Reg.B Import - United Kingdom ]

• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ( Toki o kakeru shôjo )
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
• Toki o kakeru shôjo

$90.00

Buy on Amazon

12. Maid Sama! (2010)

Misaki Ayuzawa is a strict student-council president who secretly works at a maid café; classmate Takumi Usui discovers the secret. The 26-episode romantic comedy builds its appeal around the contrast between Misaki’s public authority and private circumstances. Choose it for school comedy and a strong central pairing (whatNerd).

13. Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You (2009–2011)

Quiet Sawako Kuronuma is misunderstood by classmates because of her appearance, but gradual friendships help her find a place in school—and bring romance into reach. Its patient pacing favors emotional trust and small social shifts over high-concept plot turns. It is a good fit for viewers who prefer gentle character development to broad comedy.

14. Nana (2006–2007)

Two young women who share the name Nana meet on a train to Tokyo and become roommates, building a friendship amid ambitions, romance, and adult complications. Its music-world backdrop and more mature concerns distinguish it from school-centered entries. The series is an ensemble drama rather than a simple romance, and its open-ended adaptation does not provide the same sense of full closure as a complete, self-contained story.

Best Value

Perfect Blue

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15. Princess Tutu (2002–2003)

Ahiru, a duck transformed into a girl, becomes the magical Princess Tutu and tries to restore fragments of a prince’s heart. Ballet, fairy-tale imagery, and self-aware storytelling make this a distinctive fantasy rather than a standard romance. Its compact, unusual premise suits viewers looking for a magical-girl series with a darker, more fable-like edge.

Choose by mood and viewing commitment

What “all time” can—and cannot—mean

This is a curated recommendation list, not a measurable consensus ranking. Its first ten titles and the episode figures cited above come from Paolo Alfar’s whatNerd ranking, published October 30, 2022; the remaining choices broaden the range of eras and storytelling styles rather than claiming that a definitive fifteen-title canon exists. Episode totals describe the cited series runs, not the time needed to finish any related films or specials.

Streaming catalogs and rights change by territory and date, so no current service availability is asserted here. Check official title listings in your region before planning a watch order.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

Kamisama Kiss-Complete Series

$179.98

Bestseller No. 2

Toki wo Kakeru Shojo [Blu-ray]

$83.09

Bestseller No. 3

My Neighbor Totoro

Bestseller No. 4

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ( Toki o kakeru shôjo ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, Blu-Ray, Reg.B Import - United Kingdom ]

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ( Toki o kakeru shôjo ); The Girl Who Leapt Through Time; Toki o kakeru shôjo

$90.00

Bestseller No. 5

Perfect Blue

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.