Numerous popular shojo anime series were released during the 2010s, including the 2019 rebooted Fruits Basket, the supernatural romance Kamisama Kiss and the charming love story Snow White With the Red Hair. With such noteworthy shows, many other shojo series were popular only for a season or left forgotten altogether. Here are five underrated shojo anime titles that deserve more recognition and should be on every shojo fan's favorites list.
Yona of the Dawn (2014-2015)
Yona, the sole princess and heir of Kouka, is exiled from her kingdom after her cousin and first love Soo-won stages a coup d’etat and kills her father. With the help of her loyal bodyguard Hak, she gathers the four Dragon Warriors who served the original Crimson Dragon King to help her reclaim the throne.
Mizuho Kusanagi’s Yona of the Dawn has the right mixture of romance and action, appealing to fans of both genres. The series is especially worth checking out for the main female protagonist. Yona is a dynamic and fiery red-haired female character who grows from a naive young girl into a strong, independent woman. Unfortunately, the anime series covers only the first few volumes of the manga, so there’s more to Yona’s journey that has yet to be seen. A second season is necessary so that audiences see the battle for the throne between Yona and Soo-won, as well as the romance between Yona and Hak, play out fully. However, even though Yona’s story remains incomplete (for now), the anime series is still worth watching.
My Love Story!! (2015)
My Love Story!!, written by Kazune Kawahara and illustrated by Aruko, tells the love story of Takeo Goda. Takeo isn’t an ikemen -- in fact, he has a muscular "gorilla" stature, and his facial features are a bit intimidating like a yakuza member. Takeo has been trying to get a girlfriend for quite some time; however, most girls fall for his best friend, Makoto Sunakawa, who has a charming face but stoic personality. However, one day, Takeo saves his classmate Rinko Yamato, who develops a crush on him, sparking their romance.
In most shojo romances, the female protagonist falls in love with a charming and handsome guy like Makoto Sunakawa. My Love Story!! takes on a unique storyline by showcasing a love story between a stereotypically unattractive guy and a sweet, petite girl, proving that relationships go beyond looks -- personality matters too! The anime was well-received while airing but soon flew under the radar. Even so, My Love Story!! deserves to be a beloved rom-com series among shojo fans.
Blue Spring Ride (2014)
Io Sakisaka’s Blue Spring Ride focuses on the childhood friendship between Futaba Yoshioka and Kou Mabuchi. Futaba had a crush on Kou in middle school, but she was unable to confess her feelings because Kou moved away to Nagasaki. They reunite in high school, and Futaba notices how distant and cold Kou is now. The two try to rekindle their friendship and start a relationship, but things get complicated when they get caught in other romantic entanglements.
Blue Spring Ride was considered one of the best shojo series in 2014 by manga critics. Many readers were able to identify with Futaba as she goes through the woes of growing up and experiencing unrequited love. The series also deals with serious family trauma through the characterization of Kou Mabuchi, as well as complicated romantic love triangles. However, the anime series didn’t meet the status of “critically acclaimed” like the manga; it was popular only as a seasonal series but soon forgotten.
Rainbow Days (2016)
Minami Mizuno’s Rainbow Days centers on four high school best friends: Natsuki Hashiba, Tomoya Matsunaga, Keiichi Katakura and Tsuyoshi Naoe. Although the story is mainly about Natsuki's crush on classmate Anna Kobayakawa, each guy has their own girl trouble and seeks the support of their friends to help resolve it.
Although the series consists of 24 episodes, each episode is around fourteen minutes in length, which isn't enough time to have in-depth character development for each male protagonist. However, the anime is still a series to check out because although we all enjoy a good love story, the bromance among the four friends is pure comedic joy.
My Little Monster (2012)
My Little Monster tells the story of two complete opposites finding love: Shizuku Mizutani, a studious but emotionless young girl, and Haru Yoshida, a free-spirited and blunt young boy. The two became friends after Shizuku visits Haru to convince him to attend class. Soon after, Haru develops feelings for Shizuku, but it takes some time for Shizuku to accept and reciprocate those feelings.
At the time, My Little Monster was competing for viewership with Kamisama Kiss. The latter gained plenty of popularity, resulting in a second season in 2015, while My Little Monster was ultimately brushed aside by many viewers. However, the series is worth watching due to the hilarious antics that Shizuku and Haru go through with their friends, such as building a chicken coop for their unofficial class pet, a rooster.