Hello, dearies!
Another week, another list. This time anime that are like Fruits Basket but not entirely, because, have you seen it? Furuba is an institution on its own, I rarely (*cough* lying) get so into a story.
I thought I could say that, but it is not rare 🤣. I get into stories a lot, and you know it if you have been following the blog for years.
Anyway, I was on Crunchyroll scrolling through titles and covers and adding some to my list, and I thought how nice it would be to watch Fruits Basket again because, yes, I loved it. This is the 2019 version I’m talking about. I loved the manga as well; I want the full collection on my shelf one day. I might get Volume 1 just for fun for now. But anywho, you know there are some who say there are other anime like it. Me, personally? I’m not so convinced, but we can judge that together. So I gathered some titles, and you can help me decide whether to watch them or not. Ready for it?
10 Shoujo Anime Like Fruits Basket
1. Kamisama Kiss (Kamisama Hajimemashita)
If you loved Fruits Basket, Kamisama Kiss is the first one you should queue up next. A homeless high school girl ends up becoming a land god and moves into a shrine, where she clashes immediately with Tomoe, a fox spirit familiar who is grumpy, powerful, and very reluctant to accept her. Sound familiar? The supernatural setup, the found-family warmth, the slow-burn romance with a broody male lead, it is definitely a must-watch for me. Plus I love Fox spirits stories.
Two seasons, fully finished. Haven’t watched this one yet, but it’s high on the list.
2. Ouran High School Host Club
A classic, and I mean that in the best way. Haruhi accidentally breaks an expensive vase at her elite school and ends up having to join the Host Club to pay it off, that’s not spoiler is essentially episode 1. Then Haruhi meets a group of handsome, eccentric boys who entertain female students for fun. It’s funny, it’s warm, it’s self-aware about its own shoujo tropes, and it sneaks a genuinely sweet romance in before you realise it.
I watched this one long ago and had a great time with it. It’s a little more comedic than Fruits Basket, but the heart is the same lane, even if it is not fantasy.
3. Maid Sama! (Kaichou wa Maid-Sama!)
I’ve already written about this one here on the blog, you can read the full review here. But the short version: Misaki is the tough, hardworking student council president of a formerly all-boys school, and she has a secret, she works at a maid café after school. When the most popular boy in school, Usui, finds out, things get complicated. Usui is very much a bad boy in the “inexplicably good at everything and impossibly hard to read” way, and watching him slowly, quietly fall for Misaki is very satisfying.
The anime is a fun watch, and if you watched it years ago then you will appreciate the manga as well, but either way is a classic at this point.
4. Horimiya
Another one I’ve reviewed here at EachPage, full thoughts here. And one that I constantly mention and go back to, either to watch or read.
What about Horimiya? Hori is popular and put-together at school. Miyamura looks quiet and nerdy at school. Outside of school, they’re both completely different people, and when they accidentally discover each other’s secrets, they become unexpectedly close. Miyamura’s tattoos and piercings give him the “bad boy look,” but he’s one of the softest characters you’ll ever meet.
The romance is natural and easy to root for. I watched the anime first, then read the manga, if you want, you can follow that logic.
5. Kimi ni Todoke (From Me to You)
This one appeared in my Fruits Basket search queries a lot. Sawako is sweet and well-meaning but misunderstood by her classmates, who find her a little eerie. Kazehaya is the popular, kind boy who actually sees her for who she is. The “bad boy” element is softer here, not sure if it can qualified as such, but the conflict is more about misunderstandings and people getting in the way, so I guess it could work if you like all of that.
I added it to the list, but I have my doubts.
6. Ao Haru Ride (Blue Spring Ride)
I watched this one and I remember liking it, though the feelings have faded a little with time, which probably means I need a rewatch. Any excuse to watch an anime, lol.
What I do remember: Futaba reconnects with her first crush, Kou, in high school, and he’s changed completely. He came back colder, more distant, almost like a different person. It’s the “boy who came back different” trope done with a lot of emotional care.
7. Wolf Girl & Black Prince (Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji)
This one leans hardest into the bad boy angle of the whole list, according to the description… don’t believe me, as I have not watched it. Erika tells her friends she has a boyfriend, and convinces Kyoya to play along, but his price is that she becomes his “dog,” doing whatever he asks. He’s cold, he’s blunt, and he might be too much.
Though it seems, some viewers find his behavior too harsh early on, it is not that different from other anime stories from that time. Wolf Girl and Black Prince is from 2014 with 12 ep + OVA, in case you were wondering.
8. My Little Monster (Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun)
Shizuku is focused entirely on her studies and couldn’t care less about socializing. Haru is the boy who stopped coming to school after getting into fights. He’s unpredictable, a little wild, and says whatever he’s thinking with zero filter. She’s logic-first and emotionally closed off.
I am not that convinced by it, but I have seen the title enough around when looking for anime to watch, so, if you know it, convince me in the comments.
9. Toradora
So, Ryuuji looks intimidating but is genuinely kind. Taiga is tiny and fierce and described as the “Palmtop Tiger” by everyone at school. They team up to help each other get with their respective crushes, which is, of course, exactly how the story will make them go and fall for each other? Maybe.
Toradora is considered one of the best romance anime ever made, is that true? I don’t know, and by the looks of it, I am not 100% into finding out, but I added it to my list anyway.
10. Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion
No spoilers, this is the actual description: After her death, Rinko wakes up as “Raeliana”, the daughter of a wealthy family in a novel she has read; to survive in this world, she makes a deal with Duke Noah to become his fiancée…
May not be exactly like Furuba to be honest, and I watched about 4 episodes before stopping, but I do want to finish it and I found it strange it was recommended alongside Furuba, so I am curious to finish watching Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion just in case there is something I was missing.
Special Mention: Namaikizakari (Cheeky Brat)
No anime for this one, it’s manga only, that’s why it’s a special add-on. But it belongs on any list about bad boys in shoujo. The male lead, and Kohai (junior classmate), is sarcastic, unpredictable, and approaches romance like it’s a game he already knows he’ll win. And yet… he manages to be vulnerable at times. If you’ve already burned through the anime list above and you’re ready to pick up a manga, this is the one.
I’ve talked a lot about this manga here on the blog a lot and over at the podcast (you can find ep. 15 of EachPage Flow here) and I even dedicated a Spoiler Time Sunday to it, that’s how much it has stuck with me.
That is it for this one, dearies! I hope you found at least one new anime to add to your queue, because that is exactly why we’re here, for more to watch, lol.
Now tell me in the comments: which one are you watching next? Or if you have already seen some of these, which bad boy on this list is your favourite? Kyo from Furuba might be an obvious answer for some and I will accept it, but so is Shigure… although I want to hear yours.
And if this list helped, share it with your fellow Furuba lovers! They are going to need something to watch after the ending wrecks them. Don’t forget to like and follow EachPage for more anime and manga recommendations.
Happy watching! ✨
