Animes Similar To Horimiya

2021 was a good year for otakus. Fans of the romance genre were reeling in excitement for the coming of a new anime. This story won the heart of many readers as a webtoon (originally by HERO) and then as a manga, with art from Daisuke Hagiwara. With the anime released, there was no shock at the immense popularity that the show received. It reached great heights, and while it may not have lived up to some readers’ expectations, the show was entertaining nonetheless. If you’re looking for more anime like Horimiya, we’ve got you covered. These are the best anime similar to Horimiya.

10. Toradora!

Rom-com Anime Like Toradora, Horimiya,
Toradora!
  • Episodes: 25
  • Studios: J.C.Staff
  • Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy, Romance, School
  • Aired: Oct 2, 2008, to Mar 26, 2009

Ryuuji has the face of a delinquent on a gentle heart. Taiga is a girl with a cute face but a fiery personality of a typical tsundere. One day, after an embarrassing incident, the two happen to cross paths, and Ryuuji learns that Taiga actually has a cutesy side. She has a crush on the popular Vice President, who is a close friend of Ryuuji’s. To make matters more interesting, Ryuuji reveals that he has a crush on Taiga’s best friends. Their school life is bound to change as the two teams up to help each other win the hearts of their respective crushes.

Toradora tells the romantic story of an unlikely couple, as their time in high school brings them closer together. The characters in this show realize the importance of the memories that they make at school and form a unique bond. Moreover, like the characters in Horimiya, Toradora also has a vibrant cast.

9. Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku

Love story of otakus anime similar to Horimiya, Wotakoi Love is Hard for Otaku
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
  • Episodes: 11
  • Studios: A-1 Pictures
  • Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy, Romance
  • Aired: Apr 13, 2018, to Jun 22, 2018

Ever wondered how a romance between two otakus would play out? What if they were working at the same office? Woatakoi brings this exciting concept to your screen. We follow Narumi, late for her first day at work. She intends to hide from everyone at work that she is actually an otaku. However, she bumps into an old friend from middle school, Hirotaka. He slips out a detail that lets two other employees know that she is an otaku. Thankfully, the two employees are otakus themselves.

When Narumi and Hirotaka go out for drinks, Narumi starts talking about her past relationship with a guy who didn’t want to date an otaku. Hearing this, Hirotaka proposes to Narumi that the two of them, being otakus, date each other. He promises always to care and listen to her and help her farm rare items in a game. Win-win, right? 

Watokoi, like Horimiya, is an anime that is more focused on the actual relationship between the couple rather than the journey of becoming one. It’s a wholesome anime with mature characters of different personality types. If you liked the slice-of-life and rom-com aspect of Horimiya, you’d like Watokoi as well.

8. TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You

Bizarre love story anime similar to Hrimiya, TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You
TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You
  • Episodes: 12
  • Studios: Seven Arcs
  • Genres: Comedy, Romance, Shounen
  • Aired: Oct 3, 2020, to Dec 19, 2020

If you’re a fan of simple romance, without all the drama, Tomikawa is going to be great for you. However, if you’re looking for something filled with lots of drama, you have been warned, this may not be the one for you. We follow a guy with a bright future, Nasa Yuzaki. He is determined to leave a mark on the world. He certainly seems to have a bright future, what with him coming first in the national mock exams, his future appears to be clearly mapped out right before his eyes.

However, one snowy evening, his eyes fall on a beautiful girl across the street from him. While he’s left astounded by her beauty, he overlooks an oncoming truck, getting himself injured. While the girl’s swift action saves his life, he is still in bad condition. When the ambulance arrives and the girl walks away from him, Tomikawa can’t help but rush towards her in his crippled state. He asks her out. Watching his brave and selfless but dumb love for her, she is impressed and accepts his proposal on one condition. They can only be together if they marry!

Both Tonikawa and Horimiya are fun to watch, Slice-of-life anime that give your heart a soft and fluffy feeling. They show you the beauty of love in the form of an adorable relationship between two lovable characters. Lovers of vanilla romance must check this anime out.

7. Tsuredure Children

Romantic anime about many teenagers, similar to Horimiya, Tsuredure Children
Tsuredure Children
  • Episodes: 12
  • Studios: Studio Gokumi
  • Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shounen
  • Aired: Jul 4, 2017, to Sep 19, 2017

This anime has short episodes that convey the nervousness, insecurity, and other challenges of young love. The episodes are around 12 minutes each and follow the love story of many high school students. We follow them as they watch their classmate/love interest, developing feelings for the person. We watch the struggles of confessing to your loved one and reciprocating those feelings. 

Tsuredure Children is yet another warm anime, with each episode focusing on a couple. We get a good look at several different relationships in a high school setting and watch them develop. Each of the couples is different, and each character has their own way of showing their love for the person they hold feelings.

6. His and Her Circumstances (Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou)

Quirky couple romance anime like Horimiya, His and Her Circumstances
His and Her Circumstances
  • Episodes: 26
  • Studios: Gainax, J.C.Staff
  • Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Shoujo, Slice of Life
  • Aired: Oct 2, 1998, to Mar 26, 1999

Yukino is the girls representative in her class. She is well known for her excellent grades, athletic skills, great personality, and sociability. However, hidden from everyone is her vain side- The immense efforts she puts into looking perfect and graceful, and the necessity she feels to be the centre of attention constantly. 

However, she has a rival in her class this year. The boys representative, Soichiro, is besting her in everything, almost as though he is even more perfect than her. From the very first day, she tries but fails to beat him. However, Yukino studies hard and finally defeats Soichiro in the mid-term exams. To her surprise, he congratulates her; this makes her wonder whether her way of looking at things was flawed. Moreover, when Soichiro confesses to Yukino, she turns him down and boasts about the same. 

But, when he comes to her house the next day with a CD, he finds her without her constant filter, using this to blackmail her into completing his duties. With her side entirely in the open, Yukino soon discovers that there is more to Soichiro than meets the eye. This anime is also one that focuses on the romantic aspects of a high school relationship.

5. Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Shoujo Romance anime similar to Horimiya Kaichou Wa Maid-sama
Kaichou Wa Maid-sama!
  • Episodes: 26
  • Studios: J.C.Staff
  • Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shoujo
  • Aired: Apr 2, 2010, to Sep 24, 2010

Misaki is the first female student council president of her school. A school that recently made the transition from all-boys to co-ed. She is called the “demon president” because of her strict nature and skills in Aikido. However, this seemingly perfect president has secrets of her own.

Misaki works part-time in a maid cafe to help her family make ends meet, and this embarrassing secret is discovered by the most popular guy in her class, Takumi. Now, he plans to use this secret to get closer to Misaki rather than destroying her flawless reputation. And as expected, lots of hilarity ensues when this couple gets together.

The first obvious similarity that comes to mind is that the female leads of Horimiya and Maid-Sama have similar personalities. They lead highly different lives outside the school environment and work hard because of some conditions in the family. While Horimiya has a more realistic take on relationships, Maid-sama has more rom-com and shoujo tropes of drama and misunderstandings and much more. Both of these anime deal with the relationship between two people under exceptional circumstances, who wouldn’t have really become a couple otherwise.

4. Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki

Isekai romance anime similar to Horimiya, Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki
Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki
  • Episodes: 12
  • Studios: Project No.9
  • Genres: Drama, Romance, School
  • Aired: Jan 8, 2021, to Mar 26, 2021

Fumiya is the best player in a game called Tackfam in Japan. However, unlike his gaming personality, he is a complete amateur in real life. When he meets another top-tier player of the game, he is shocked to find out that she is his popular and extroverted classmate, Aoi Hinami. She is leading a life entirely different from his. 

We follow the story of these teenagers as they try to figure out the meaning of living a normal life together. Aoi, surprised after discovering that the best player is so unskilled socially, plans to help him live his life to the fullest. She advises him to look at life like the most important game ever and gives him social interaction tasks to help him come out of his shell. Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki is a great anime to check out if you’re looking for something with a wholesome relationship between two people who are entirely different from each other. 

3. My Little Monster

Anime similar to Horimiya, My Little Monster
My Little Monster
  • Episodes: 13
  • Studios: Brain’s Base
  • Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy, Romance, School, Shoujo
  • Aired: Oct 2, 2012, to Dec 25, 2012

When two people living entirely different lives meet, what kind of love will they share? Shizuku Mizutani lives a life surrounded by books. She cares more about her grades than about the feelings of her friends. Her life changes when she meets her polar opposite, Haru Yoshida, the resident troublemaker at her school, and Shizuku finds herself connecting to him. They’re both unable to understand the feelings of their classmates, which is the reason for their apathetic attitude towards others. However. Shizuku’s cold view of life changes when she meets Yoshida. 

In a surprising turn of events, Shizuku finds herself being proposed to by Haru. He proclaims her as his friend and asks her out. With their inability to understand emotions, the two try to make sense of their peculiar relationship. She soon finds out that there’s much more to him than the violent tales. Moreover, she begins to develop a liking for him with time. How will the two awkward youngsters make sense of these feelings?

2. Blue Spring Ride

Emotional and romantic anime Blue Spring ride similar to Horimiya
Blue Spring Ride
  • Episodes: 12
  • Studios: Production I.G
  • Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
  • Aired: Jul 8, 2014, to Sep 23, 2014

Change is the bitter-sweet truth of life. It is what challenges our existence, yet it is what helps us survive. Blue Spring Ride (Ao Haru Ride) tells a love story between two teenagers in the most vulnerable times of their lives. Futaba, an attractive and popular girl in middle school, was well-liked by the guys of her class but often shunned by other girls out of jealousy. However, none of these opinions mattered to her, except that of Kou Tanaka, the only guy she had ever had feelings for. However, he mysteriously disappeared in middle school.

Now in high school, Futaba has decided to behave tomboyishly to be the most popular girl in class; however, her life is turned upside down by the return of Kou Tanaka. Except, he has completely changed. The once sweet and kind guy has now become cold and indifferent. He has even changed his name to Mabuchi. With an air of mystery surrounding his time away, what will come of their relationship now that they are together?

If you’re looking for a love story in the high school setting with a similar heartwarming romance like that in Horimiya, but with more exciting drama and emotional scenes sprinkled throughout, Ao Haru Ride is an anime you must check out.

1.  Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You

cute rom-com anime like Horimiya Kimi ni Todoke
Kimi ni Todoke From Me to You
  • Episodes: 25
  • Studios: Production I.G
  • Genres: Slice of Life, Drama, Romance, School, Shoujo
  • Aired: Oct 7, 2009, to Mar 31, 2010

Sawako Kuronuma bears a close resemblance to a ghost from the Ring Series. This has earned her a fearsome reputation, despite her being nothing like the malicious fictional spirit in personality. Her true nature is timid and cheerful, wishing to make friends. Sawako finds herself getting close to the popular boy of the class, Shouta Kazehaya, who she has always admired for his ability to be the centre of attention.

Kazehaya decides to hold a test of courage with all the class members and urges Sawako to join. Seeing this as an opportunity to get closer to her classmates, she agrees. With every new person entering into her life, Sawako learns more about herself and experiences new emotions. Sawako grows grateful for Kazehaya, not knowing that her presence has changed him just as much.

Kimi Ni Todoke tells a story of the trials and tribulations that come with young love. Like in Horimiya, we have a character who is a social outcast, but another classmate observes a side of her that’s beyond the common perception of others. The two understand each other’s flaws and adjust themselves to create a sweet and healthy relationship. 

Honourable Mentions-

  • ReLIFE
  • Kaguya-sama: Love is War
  • Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun
  • Hori-san to Miyamura-kun (6 episode OVA of the same story, it was released before the anime and is pretty much a quicker retelling of the manga)
  • Lovely★Complex
  • 3D Kanojo: Real Girl
  • Tsukigakirei- As the Moon, So Beautiful
  • Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai