Summary
- Shojo & Josei romance explore deep emotions & personal growth of female characters in pure feel-good stories.
- Popular tropes like shy girl-popular guy dynamic seen in shojo & josei, but each story is unique.
- Slow-burn romances in shojo & josei shows offer delicate, heartwarming journeys of love & self-discovery.
Shojo and josei romance are often underrated compared to their shonen counterpart. They're known for slow-burn relationships and unrequited love, but that doesn't mean the romance is something to bring into question. Shojo and Josei, shojo's more "mature" counterpart, bring out the inner workings of female characters as they fall in love.
Though not exclusively, shojo and josei are told from the perspective of female characters as they grow as people. Many popular tropes, like the shy girl falling for the popular guy, are seen in shojo and josei romance titles, but the stories are vastly different. Shojo and josei romance are typically pure, feel-good stories with dreamy male leads.
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Updated on February 13, 2025, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: Romance is a staple in any work of art, and in anime, it is no different. The romance genre has captured fans regardless of their age, gender, and so on. However, shojo romance anime targets female anime fans and with its heartfelt love stories, emotional depth, and unforgettable characters, it is no surprise that the female demographic cannot seem to get enough. Wholesome first love, dramatic love triangles, slow-burn relationships, the list of what to expect from shoujo romance is long as it tries to explore the joys, struggles, and complexities of love in ways that resonate deeply with its target audience.
30 Honey Lemon Soda
A Shy Girl Finds Confidence And Love Through Her Bond With The Cheerful Guy
Honey Lemon Soda
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
- Studio
- J.C.Staff, TMS Entertainment
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Seasons
- 1
This anime has so much to offer to fans from the slow burn romance to the growth that comes with finding love in an unexpected person. The heartwarming romance between the two main characters, Uka and Kia, takes viewers on a journey of love, self-growth, and overcoming insecurities in a school setting. Unlike typical high school romances, it beautifully portrays how Uka grows from a socially anxious girl into someone who finds her voice and confidence.
Uka’s relationship with Kai, a kind and charismatic boy with lemon-colored hair, is filled with gentle encouragement, mutual support, and authentic emotions rather than forced drama. This anime steals the hearts of viewers for its perfect balance of romance, friendship, and personal growth.
29 Anyway, I’m Falling In Love With You
Childhood Friends-To-Lovers Trope
Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You.
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 9, 2025
- Network
- TBS
- Studio
- Typhoon Graphics
- Creator
- Haruka Mitsui
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
This anime beautifully captures the delicate transition from friend to lover as unexpected gestures from Souta make Sakura question her feelings about him. They have been childhood friends for so long but now, she is not so sure and neither is he.
Unlike rushed romances, this anime takes its time to slowly unravel the delicate feelings of first love, uncertainty, and the fear of change, creating an emotional experience for viewers. The dynamic between Sakura and Souta can be found relatable by some viewers as it is built on years of friendship, making their growing bond feel authentic, natural, and deeply touching.
28 Vampire Dormitory
Romance With A Unique Gender-Bending Twist
Vampire Dormitory
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024
- Network
- Tokyo MX, BS4
- Producers
- Hiroko Nishi
- Seasons
- 1
Mito sold her blood to have a roof over her head. Sounds dramatic but with nothing left to lose while standing at the edge of a bridge, Ruka’s offer sounded delightful. As a vampire, Ruka needs blood to survive and Mito needs a place to stay. Together, they enter an agreement but unknowingly to Ruka, Mito is a girl.
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This lie grows bigger and bigger as Mito goes on to enroll in an all-boys school to be closer to Ruka. As they spend time together, Mito starts developing strong feelings for Ruka, putting her secret at risk of being exposed. The gender-bending twist adds a refreshing dynamic, making the romance feel unique and unpredictable.
27 A Condition Called Love
Giving Love A Chance
A Condition Called Love
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
- Directors
- Shigeki Awai
- Producers
- Junichiro Tanaka, Kazuhiro Kanemitsu, Yoshiyuki Shiotani, Takuya Matsumoto
- Seasons
- 1
Maybe everyone is destined to experience love because Hotaru never thought she would, yet somehow she manages to find a boy, Hananoi, who falls in love with her at first sight. As someone who has accepted that she is not meant to experience love, she hesitates to give Hananoi a chance.
Giving Hananoi a chance takes Hotaru on a journey of self-discovery, emotional growth, and understanding what love truly means. Unlike many high school romances, A Condition Called Love does not just focus on sweet moments but on the challenges of love, emotional maturity, and personal boundaries.
26 3D Kanojo: Real Girl
Finding Strength In Vulnerability
Real Girl
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2019
- Studio
- Hoods Entertainment
- Creator
- Mao Nanami
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
When it comes to pitting an extroverted female with an introverted male, few do it like 3D Kanojo: Real Girl. This anime series is highly acclaimed for its friendship, romantic, and self-development themes. At the center of the show lies Iroha Igarashi, a girl widely known to everyone at school, and Hikari Tsutsui, an extremely introverted boy.
Hikari is often chastised by his classmates for his quirky behavior and prefers to interact with 2D characters in video games and anime, but with the 3D girl who forces him out of his comfort zone again and again, he begins to discover feelings he never knew he had, and 3D characters don’t seem that bad after all.
25 Lovely Complex
A Love Story Blossoms By Breaking Stereotypes
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Lovely Complex
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2007-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Creator
- Aya Nakahara
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Seasons
- 1
A mismatched duo featuring a girl at 5 ft 7in and a guy at 5 ft 1in seem unlikely to fall in love with each other; however, love is all about exploring the unknown and certainly much more than who’s the taller one. This reality sets in on Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Ootani, who find solace in each other, particularly as their crushes fall in love.
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While many might consider them mismatched, Koizumi and Atsushi come together, finding values and similarities they respect in one another. But deemed mismatched by outside influence, the blooming love they have for one another is tested by their own feelings and outside influences, which hold much more weight than they’d like to admit.
24 The Do-Over Damsel Conquers The Dragon Emperor
A Second Chance At Love And Legacy
The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 9, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- J.C.Staff
- Creator
- Sarasa Nagase
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Number of Episodes
- 12
Mortal enemies getting reincarnated to face each other once again is not unheard of; however, The Do-Over Damsel Conquers The Dragon Emperor portrays a unique twist. In her new life, Jill Savelle, a damsel who was formerly betrayed and framed by her fiancée, Gerald de Kleitos, proposes to a supposedly villainous dragon emperor, Hadis Teos Rave.
However, unlike what she’d heard in her last life, Jill sees a different side of the tyrant emperor than what she remembers and seeks to prevent him from engulfing the kingdom in madness once more. But changing the strings of fate wouldn’t be so easy.
23 From Up On Poppy Hill
Unraveling Past Connections Through Shared Bonds
From Up On Poppy Hill
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- July 16, 2011
WHERE TO WATCH
- Director
- Goro Miyazaki
- Writers
- Tetsuro Sayama, Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa, Chizuru Takahashi
Studio Ghibli is well known for its distinct art and traditional drawn animation. Among many of their masterpieces lies this masterpiece. From Up On Poppy Hill features Umi Matsuzaki, a young girl who, with the rest of her schoolmates, tries to stop the destruction of an old clubhouse.
During the many activities she carries out in trying to stop the demolishing of the clubhouse, she meets Shun Kazama, a charming young lad who turns out to be an orphan. Together, the duo looks into Shun’s origins and finds out that they’re not as different as they thought, but this truth could eventually threaten their status as budding lovers.
22 A Sign Of Affection
Love That Conquers Communication Barriers
A Sign of Affection
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024
- Studio
- Ajia-do Animation Works
- Creator
- Suu Morishita
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
The beauty of love is that it comes when one least expects it, and Yuki definitely did not expect love or romance in her life, especially as someone who is deaf. Yuki is used to communicating with sign language or through her phone, and the moment a tourist asks her directions, she panics. Luckily, the tourist is not left stranded, as Itsuomi steps in to offer help. As someone who is bilingual, he speaks to the tourist in English, and when he learns that Yuki is deaf, he is drawn to her and her method of communication.
Yuki and Itsuomi’s lives get intertwined after their encounter on the train, and he starts learning sign language so that he can better communicate with her. Yuki, on the other hand, is scared of opening herself up to experience what could happen with Itsuomi. This anime tugs at the hearts of viewers as it follows the pair's delicate and heartwarming journey into experiencing and exploring their feelings towards each other.
21 Yona Of The Dawn
Showcases The Gradual Process Of Love
Yona of the Dawn
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Seasons
- 1
Yona lived a protected life as her dad, King II of the Sky Tribe, took it upon himself to protect her from the realities of life. Yona’s existence was sheltered, but she was not sheltered away from love, as she had a massive crush on her cousin, Su-won. Yona was basically in love with him, which was why her heart was shattered when she watched him kill her dad. Not only had she lost her dad, but the person she loved the most was responsible, and she had to leave the life she had known to survive.
One thing about love is that, sometimes, it can be right in front of a person, and that person will not know it. As Yona flees with Hak, her childhood best friend, she starts to see him in a different light. This anime shows how their love for each other grows as they go through trials and tribulations while they try to restore peace to their world.