Anime is oversaturated when it comes to titles marketed to specific demographics. A lot of shows are made with a shonen or seinen audience in mind. Shojo fans also get a few shows every season or so. This means that kids and young men are often catered to. However, it is rare to find josei anime. Young women who go to college, enter the workforce, or strive to achieve their dreams do not have a lot of a lot shows directed at them specifically.
There are exceptions. There are some stellar anime written for women with varied tones and preferences. Their quality and variation make them fun and approachable for all anime fans. Regardless of who the target audience is, there are josei shows that deserve more views.
10 The Calm And Soothing Nature Of Ristorante Paradiso
Ristorante Paradiso appeals to those who are looking for a relaxing way to spend their time. It also appeals to people who like good-looking old Italian men. The anime is from the perspective of Nicoletta, a 21-year-old woman who chances upon Casetta dell’Orso. This is a quaint little restaurant staffed by charming older men. Nicoletta takes special interest in the head waiter, Claudio.
The anime leisurely explores the different characters, their backstories, and their hangups. Anime fans looking for a pleasant and chill way to spend their time should give this show a watch.
9 Kids On The Slope Pushes Music Anime To Its Limits
Music has always been an integral part of anime, but Kids on the Slope takes it to another level. Implementing the exquisite talent of composer Yoko Kanno, the anime delivers amazing covers of classic jazz tunes. The performances are lively, and the animation is frenetic.
All of these elements work to highlight the story of two high school boys who develop an unlikely friendship. Kids on the Slope is bittersweet, but conveys many strong and affecting emotions. An easy show to recommend to fans of music or anime.
8 Princess Jellyfish Delivers A Quirky Story For Introverts
Princess Jellyfish champions women who do not have it all together. There is so much societal pressure on women to be perfect, so a show like this is a welcomed change. It centers around the tenants of Amamizukan, an apartment in Tokyo full of otaku women. Each woman has a different fixation, but the main character, Tsukimi, is obsessed with jellyfish. It is very cute.
Princess Jellyfish is about recognizing the innate value in people, learning to open up socially, and fighting gentrification. The last part becomes a prominent plot point down the line, and it motivates the tenants to protect their way of life.
7 The Soft Warmth Of Honey & Clover Is Undeniable
Honey & Clover captures many of the feelings and experiences of attending college, especially an arts course. Many nights are spent drinking with roommates. There is a lot of yelling and bonding. For anime fans who have gone through similar experiences, this show becomes very nostalgic.
Where Honey & Clover excels the most is with its characters and their relationships. Each one of them has a unique personality, complete with goals, aspirations, failures, and longings. The drama and romance are painfully affecting.
6 Yuri!!! On Ice Is A Showstopper Performance
Yuri!!! on Ice is a gay romance dressed as a sports anime. There is amazing tension and affection between Yuri and Victor, it is both wholesome and heartwarming. Watching the two of them inspire and motivate each other is adorable. Most of this was done through figure skating. The motions, routines, and choreography of the sport conveyed the emotions of the characters.
As a sports anime, Yuri!!! on Ice is very compelling. Viewers can feel the drives of the different characters and empathize with the difficulties of their struggles. This anime is a joyful marriage between queer media and the sports genre.
5 Bunny Drop’s Wholesome Care Melts The Heart
Bunny Drop is more than just a parenting anime. It is also about working through grief. When Daikichi’s grandfather passes, his illegitimate 6-year-old aunt loses the only parent she has ever had. The rest of the family rejects Rin due to the scandalous nature of her birth, but Daikichi cannot let a child suffer for merely existing. He adopts her, and together they process the death of the grandfather.
Bunny Drop is a very sincere and warm anime. Rin starts off as a hesitant girl but learns to open up in time. The show adapts only the most wholesome of moments, focusing on the sweet instances of parenting. Bunny Drop is perfect for anyone looking for empathy in their anime.
4 Chihayafuru Has Passion So Strong, It Can Overcome Cultural Barriers
Chihayafuru understands that karuta is not a popular sport, even within its own country. That is why it goes to great lengths to showcase all the nuances of the sport. When there is a different card reader, the show pays close attention to the cadence of the voice, as well as the delivery of each word. This love for detail is matched by the characters who overflow with passion.
Chihaya is the star of the show. It is through her that the magic of the anime is channeled. She is the heart of Chihayafuru and has relentless energy. The appeal of karuta is conveyed through her love for it. The other characters have great moments too, but Chihaya pulls the viewers in like gravity.
3 Comedy, Romance, And Music Work In Symphony For Nodame Cantabile
Nodame Cantabile delivers one of josei’s greatest main characters. Nodame is quirky, easy-going, effortlessly talented, but also adrift in her life. She does not do well in her music school because traditional teaching methods only dissuade her. The genius in Nodame only comes out when she is allowed to express herself on her terms and play with music. Accepting this is part of the beauty of the anime.
With Nodame as the anchor of Nodame Cantabile, all the other elements shine around her. Chiaki is a high-strung tsundere who works perfectly as Nodame’s love interest. The music is delightful, and its presentation is some of the most accurate in anime.
2 Michiko & Hatchin Is One Of The Best Journey Anime
Michiko & Hatchin is the story of two women who find value in each other while searching for a man. To Michiko, he is her ex-lover, while to Hana, he is her estranged father. Ultimately, he is unimportant. The main draw of the show is the bond these women foster while traveling together. As an orphan who was mistreated, Hana is naturally cautious of people. She is a child who cannot believe in the sincerity of others. Michiko is vocal and complex woman who is flawed but honest.
Their relationship is rocky, but extremely important and human. Michiko & Hatchin is an anime full of strong women building solidarity together. The journey is meaningful because of what they go through and how it strengthens their ties.
1 The Haunting Beauty Of Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju might be one of the greatest dramas in the whole medium. It is a tale of talent, envy, insecurity, failed love, and penance. While a show about traditional Japanese storytelling might not appear to be accessible to many viewers, the drama makes it irresistible.
The relationship between Bon and Shin is untouchable. It has so many dimensions. Bon envies Shin’s natural talent and charisma, while Shin envies Bon’s status as the favored apprentice. Even with this tension, the two of them need each other. They are opposite ends of a coin. Seeing how the relationship fractures and falls apart is honestly heartbreaking. Every fan of anime owes it to themselves to see Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju at least once.
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