Highlights
- Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian is a unique romcom with a bilingual romance, setting itself apart with its innovative premise.
- The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten explores a wholesome romance born from kindness, though it may have some unrealistic elements.
- Horimiya and Komi Can’t Communicate both present realistic, healthy relationships, while Maid Sama! and Toradora offer drama and unexpected pairings in the romance landscape.
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian is one of Summer 2024’s most promising entries, taking on the romcom theme with a wholesome spin of its own. Half-Japanese, half-Russian Alya is considered her school’s royalty, yet behind this elegant facade lies a playful persona that only comes out in Russian. However, her Russian jibes and witty remarks are secretly understood by her seatmate Masachika, giving way to a bilingual romance laced with one-sided miscommunication.
The romcom landscape is saturated with all manner of themes and storylines, yet the show effortlessly sets itself apart with its innovative, one-of-a-kind premise. Since the first episode of Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian has only recently aired, fans looking for similar narratives can check out these exciting anime in the meantime.
1 The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten
Romance Stemming From Kindness
The premise of The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten is almost akin to an escapist fantasy, as a fated act of kindness brings two polar opposites together for an oddly wholesome romance. Returning Amane’s kindness, the “angel” Mahiru takes it upon herself to tend to her next-door recluse.
What starts as a friendship based on kindness blossoms into a gentle love between Amane and Mahiru. While the narrative is quite heartwarming, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten can take on a few unrealistic themes, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
2 Boarding School Juliet
A Forbidden Romance Between Rivals
A modern rendition of the classic Romeo and Juliet, Boarding School Juliet is set in a school filled with students from two rival nations, and at the helm of their opposing dorms are Romio Inuzuka and Juliet Persia. Despite leading two opposing sides, Romio and Juliet have a relationship that’s a bit more intimate than mere rivals.
The entire premise of Boarding School Juliet revolves around Inuzuka and Persia keeping their forbidden romance a secret in a bid to maintain order. The double lives of these two protagonists add an element of intrigue to their romance, perfectly complementing the series’ humorous side.
3 Horimiya
A Realistic Love Story With Fleshed-Out Characters
Horimiya was one of the frontrunners of Winter 2021’s anime line-up, and its success can be traced back to its simple yet realistic take on high school romance. Hori and Miyamura are two opposites at school, but after discovering each other’s after-school lives, they realize their personalities are more alike than different.
Hori and Miyamura’s romance is oddly wholesome and healthy, as it presents an ideal relationship despite the two bearing differing personalities. The protagonists of Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian share a similar relationship, meaning fans of the show are bound to enjoy Horimiya’s romantic escapade.
4 Komi Can’t Communicate
Comedic Narrative With Romantic Subtexts
Komi Can’t Communicate may have romantic subtexts, yet it is primarily a slice-of-life comedy with a profound lesson woven into the premise. The entire school views Komi as the aloof, popular girl, yet behind this indifference lies a person riddled with social anxiety.
Luckily, Tadano strings along to make Komi’s goal of making a hundred friends come to fruition. Komi Can’t Communicate touches on delicate matters about mental health in social settings, showcasing the struggles of those who silently suffer from crippling disorders. Despite underscoring these nuanced subtexts, the anime still manages to present a thoroughly comedic storyline.
5 Maid Sama!
Unmatched Romantic Chemistry
More than a decade after its initial run, Maid Sama! remains a cult classic in the shojo romance theme, captivating viewers to this day. Usui and Misaki are both stellar leads, with one being the most popular boy in school, and the other taking on the role of the president of the student council.
However, Misaki’s double life as a maid in a café gives Usui an edge over her, giving way to a playful romance teeming with witty banter. While the pacing can be rather slow at times, Misaki and Usui’s romantic chemistry remains unrivaled in the shojo landscape.
6 Toradora
An Unexpected Pairing Between Two Polar Opposites
Toradora! is another iconic anime within the romance landscape, one laced with drama and a nuanced romance. Ryuji and Taiga are complete opposites, yet they agree to become mutual wingmen after finding out they have a crush on each other’s best friends.
Despite their clashes and feisty arguments, Ryuji and Taiga begin to see each other for who they truly are, with romance eventually finding a way to creep in. Based on a shonen light novel, Toradora! differentiates itself from the usual romantic comedies through its drama, even more so with a mature take on high school romance.
7 Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War
Quintessential Romcom With A Similar Theme
Two headstrong high schoolers refuse to be the first ones to confess their feelings, leading to a rollercoaster of a narrative brimming with emotional depth. With their honor and pride on the line, both Miyuki and Kaguya are hell-bent on forcing the other side to yield.
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian draws much of its shojo inspiration from Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, with the two adaptations even sharing the same chief art director. Their similarities run even deeper, with several parallels between the leading ladies of both series, meaning viewers can enjoy a similar viewing experience with both series.
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