The Top 17 Best Shoujo Anime of 2023

There’s no denying that 2023 is truly the year of Shoujo anime, and we can’t help but fall head-over-heels in love with it! But the good part is that Shoujo anime has gone above and beyond in delivering some truly heartfelt and emotionally captivating narratives.

What sets apart the Shoujo of 2023 is the exploration of deeper themes like body positivity, acceptance, and hope. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the treasure trove of the top 17 Shoujo anime of 2023 that will sweep you off your feet with their breathtaking storytelling.

1. The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses

The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses beautifully captures the essence of a simple yet captivating love story. In this delightful series, we meet Kaede Komura, who finds himself head over heels for the charming Ai Mei. All Kaede dreams of is catching a glimpse of Ai’s enchanting eyes without her glasses.

However, fate takes a playful twist as Ai seems to constantly misplace her glasses, leaving her with squinting eyes. This poses a challenge for her to navigate through her daily life, especially at school. But Kaede becomes Ai’s guiding light. As Ai starts relying on Kaede, their connection deepens, and Kaede’s affection for her grows stronger.

2. My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999

My Love Story with Yamada-kun is a captivating tale of love between a heartbroken girl and a gamer boy. Akane Kinoshita finds herself heartbroken and surrounded by memories of her ex-boyfriend after a painful breakup. To seek revenge, she hatches a plan while playing Forest of Savior, which they used to play together.

Her strategy involves participating in an in-person event for the game. However, Akane is unexpectedly thrown off course when she crosses paths with Akito Yamada, a gaming legend and her guildmate. Together, they embark on an unexpected journey of love, navigating the complexities of relationships and the world of gaming.

3. A Galaxy Next Door

For fans of some magical romance, A Galaxy Next Door ticks all the right boxes! Ichirou Kuga must navigate the challenges of raising his two younger siblings while trying to succeed as a shoujo manga artist. After the sudden death of their father, Ichirou inherits an apartment complex which he must rent out to make ends meet.

But with disappointing manga sales, no assistants, and looming deadlines, Ichirou struggles to keep his head above water. But help comes in the form of Shiori Goshiki, a highly skilled young artist who becomes Ichirou’s new assistant. However, a strange accident leads to a supernatural experience between Ichirou and Shiori, resulting in her proclaiming that they are engaged.

4. My Happy Marriage

My Happy Marriage is loaded with stunning animation and heartbreaking moments. The story follows Miyo Saimori who is trapped in a miserable existence as the unloved child of an arranged marriage. After her mother’s death, her father marries his lover and has a daughter Kaya.

Miyo gets relegated to the status of a servant while Kaya thrives with their shared psychic abilities. Miyo becomes submissive, obedient, and uncomplaining and learns that she has been paired with Kiyoka Kudou. Kiyoka is a military captain notorious for being cruel and driving away his past wives. However, things take an unexpected turn when it turns out that Kiyoka is actually kind-hearted and caring.

5. Horimiya, Missing Pieces

Horimiya revolves around the relationship between Hori and Miyamura, two high school students who gradually develop a connection and eventually fall in love. This adaptation primarily focuses on the early events of the original series, while also delving into the missing elements from the initial adaptation of the manga.
From lighthearted and amusing moments to more introspective ones, this adaptation offers fans of the anime an opportunity to reconnect with their beloved characters and explore the untold stories that took place behind the scenes of the original series.

6. Why Raelina Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion

The story begins with the death of Park Eunha, an ordinary girl from Korea, who suddenly awakens in the body of Raeliana McMillan. Raeliana is the eldest daughter of a nouveau riche baron. The new Duchess soon discovers that she is living the life of a character from a novel she read a while ago. And the twist comes when she gets to know her fiance is the murderer.

Desperate to change her fate and avoid the gruesome end that awaits her, Raeliana pins her hopes on Duke Noah Volstaire Wynknight. Armed with her knowledge of future events, Raeliana approaches Noah and offers him information. However, despite their agreement, Noah repeatedly betrays her, leaving Raeliana to navigate a world full of danger and deceit on her own.

7. The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague

This anime is recommended for fans of office romance. The anime starts with Himuro-kun, a kind-hearted young man with extraordinary power. He has the ability to conjure blizzard conditions whenever he experiences moments of nervousness or deep concentration. But Himuro-kun’s life takes a thrilling turn when he crosses paths with the enchanting Fuyutsuki-san.

Within the confines of their workplace, Fuyutsuki-san’s cool and composed nature becomes Himuro-kun’s solace, providing him with simple and rational solutions to his frosty dilemmas. Little does he realize that each act of kindness from Fuyutsuki-san triggers an emotional snowstorm, leaving him red-faced and exposed.

8. Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte

In the bustling world of the broadcasting club, Shihono Kobayashi is always bubbling with excitement. But this time her excitement is for none other than MagiKoi. Within this enchanting game, the protagonist, Fiene, embarks on a thrilling journey at the prestigious Royal Academy of Magic.

The highlight of this game is its cunning villainess, Lieselotte Riefenstahl. Lieselotte has an underlying desire within her heart, and she longs for friendship. To complicate matters further, Lieselotte is deeply smitten with her betrothed, Prince Siegwald Fitzenhagen.

Driven by her boundless enthusiasm, Kobayashi manages to convince her friend Endou to play MagiKoi. With their unique insight and analytical skills, Endou and Kobayashi embark on a daring mission. United by their unwavering love for the beloved villainess, they utilize their interpretations to rewrite Lieselotte’s tragic fate and save her from a sorrowful demise.

9. Masamune-kun no Revenge R

This is a story about a class trip to Paris. Aki and Masamune meet a French otaku. Together they help her in making a manga. But their trip takes a twist when they are threatened by Mafia and fake dates. Their school trip turns into an adventure of a lifetime that is full of thrill and exciting moments. If you love a dash of adventure in shoujo anime then you should definitely check this one out.

10. The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten

Mahiru Shiina is a true beauty, admired by many for her exceptional academic and athletic skills. Her life couldn’t be more different from Amane Fujimiya, her quiet and unassuming next-door neighbor. But one day, Fujimiya rescues Shiina from the rain by offering her his umbrella.

When Fujimiya falls ill the following day, Shiina feels compelled to repay his kindness by nursing him back to health. Driven by her nurturing spirit, Shiina takes it upon herself to cook and clean for him. With each passing day, they grow closer and discover a deeper connection that transcends words.

As they spend more time together, the duo starts to explore their feelings, and unexpected emotions begin to surface. From the gentle warmth of friendship to the dizzying heights of romance, Shiina and Fujimiya navigate the complexities of their newfound relationship and discover the beauty in the simplest things in life.

11. Tomo-chan Is a Girl

This anime delves into the theme of childhood friendship and teenage crushes through the lives of Tomo Aizawa and Junichirou Jun Kubota. However, we learn that Tomo has developed romantic feelings for Jun, while he sees her as nothing more than a brotherly figure.

Eventually, Tomo musters the courage to confess her feelings to Jun. But her efforts go to waste as Jun remains unmoved by her confessions. Realizing that Jun will continue to be indifferent unless she takes action, Tomo sets out on a quest to make Jun see what has been right in front of him all along.

12. The Dangers in My Heart

Kyoutarou Ichikawa is a timid and introverted middle school student. But behind his shy appearance, he carries a sinister secret. He has an intense craving to witness his classmate Anna Yamada’s face contorted in pain before ending her life. (CREEPY)!

However, Ichikawa starts to discover a completely different side to Yamada. He frequently crosses paths with Yamada. Through these encounters, he begins to realize that Yamada is actually oblivious to social cues. As they spend more time together, Ichikawa finds himself feeling affectionate toward Yamada and starts protecting her. For fans of toxic Wattpad romantic stories, Congratulations! You have got your favorite genre in anime!

13. Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence

This anime is about a budding relationship between a pastor and a “saint”. Lawrence is a pastor at a small-town church. His responsibility is to guide people towards the church and the “Saint,” who represents the epitome of virtuousness and always offers sage advice to the parishioners.

However, when Cecilia, a young girl, is assigned to assist with the task, she quickly becomes overwhelmed by the demanding nature of the role. As a result, Lawrence takes it upon himself to manage the church single-handedly. Over time, Cecilia finds joy in Lawrence’s acceptance of her easy-going nature, while Lawrence gradually gets used to Cecilia’s carefree disposition.

14. Skip to Loafer

Mitsumi Iwakura enrolls herself in a renowned high school situated in Tokyo. She is a dedicated girl with an ambition to change the lives of people living in rural areas of Japan. However, despite her determination, she ends up running late for school.

Fortunately, Sousuke Shima also finds himself in a similar predicament and kindly offers to accompany her. Together, they navigate their way to the school. Sadly, Mitsumi’s initial impression on her new classmates is less than favorable. But the wholesome part of the story is both of these students start bonding and this turns into a romantic experience for Mitsumi and Sousuke.

15. Insomniacs After School

Ganta Nakami, a high school student, experiences difficulty in drifting off to sleep on most nights. Interestingly, Isaki Magari undergoes the same sleep disorder and stumbles upon solace in the abandoned observatory of the school, which she transforms into a covert sleep haven.

By chance, Nakami discovers Magari peacefully napping in the observatory. The moment Magari realizes they share a common struggle, she extends a generous offer to her fellow insomniac. She innocently invites Nakami to join her in utilizing the hidden sleeping spot. And from there their romance starts blooming under the abandoned observatory’s roof

16. Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible

Junta Shiraishi possesses a straightforward aspiration of relishing his youthful days. However, turning this dream into reality proves challenging as Shiraishi seems to go unnoticed by his peers, effectively blending into the background.

Yet, there exists one person who consistently acknowledges Shiraishi’s existence. Seated beside him, Nagisa Kubo is resolute in ensuring that Shiraishi does not silently fade away. Because of Kubo, Shiraishi often finds himself in peculiar situations engineered by Kubo. But these misadventures start to serve as the catalyst needed to ignite the exhilarating youth Shiraishi yearns for.

17. Sugar Apple Fairy Tale

Ann, an aspiring confectioner, dreams of following in her late mother’s footsteps and becoming a Silver Sugar Master. To achieve her ambitious goal, Ann embarks on a journey to the prestigious Royal Candy Fair. The ultimate test lies in receiving a royal medal for her confection made from silver sugar.

In order to navigate the dangers ahead, Ann enlists the help of Shall Fen Shall, a skilled fairy warrior. As they journey together, their bond deepens and they uncover hidden truths about themselves and their desires.

Bottom Line

As we wrap our picks, we are happy to report that the future of Shoujo anime looks bright! We hope you enjoyed discovering our top picks for this year’s Shoujo anime. For those who cherish Slice of Life anime, do check out our article featuring the “Top Slice of Life anime for 2023“.