Let's be honest, which little girl didn't want to be Sailor Moon once she grew up. The story around teenage girl Tsukino who can transform into Sailor Moon in order to fight crime together with her friends has captured the hearts of girls all over the world. Sailor Moon's life is filled with adventures and unusual encounters. She lives a life divided into being a normal high school student during the day and fighting evil at night. Being part of a group called the Sailor Soldiers is another major plus in my eyes. And who didn't have a crush on Tuxedo Mask?

Next, I present to you Hikari Hanazono from the romance comedy anime Special A. It shows the life of Hikari, a top student at Hakusenkan. Even though she always gives 110% both in her studies and her private life, she still comes second to her personal rival, Kei Takashima. Little does she know that Kei actually holds feelings for her. Living as Hikari for a day, I would finally know how it feels like to be one of the top students of my class. Hikari is a girl committed to her studies and you cannot help but root for her in her competitions against Kei. The friends at her side are truly unique as well. Having a life filled with competition, passion and motivation certainly sounds like fun.

This girl is one of my personal favorites: Amu from the Shugo Chara series. The idea of the anime is similar to Sailor Moon; heroine Amu gets her own Shugo Charas that help her transform into different characters. With this new power she fights against evil in order to protect the unborn dreams of children. Again, we have a strong heroine with pretty amazing superpowers. The different costumes might look a little bit cheesy or over the top at first, but you will get used to them. Most importantly, her life is more adventurous and fascinating than the ones of normal teenagers and I wouldn't mind taking her place for a day.

Lydia Carlton lives in a world where humans and fairies coexist. As one of the last fairy doctors she acts as a bridge between the two worlds. Yet, it is not until the mysterious Edgar appears and takes her on an adventure that her life gets turned upside down. Personally, I envy her most for the world she lives in. She's surrounded by fairies, kelpies and other mythical creatures. I cannot help myself but be reminded of the fairytales of my childhood. Being able to live alongside fairies and talking cats - being Lydia Carlton for a day surely sounds exciting.

Skip Beat! is one of those anime that entertain you from beginning until the end even if you're not especially interested in the topic itself. Kyouko Mogami is a happy-go-lucky girl that will make you smile in each and every episode with her struggles to fulfill her new dream of becoming an actress. The most admirable characteristic of Kyouko is her strength. Of course, she had to face hardships in her life, but in the end everything turns out better than expected. I cannot help it but envy her for finding something that she feels passionate about.

The music fans of you should already be familiar with Uta no Prince-sama. The story revolves around heroine Haruka Nanami who enrolls in Saotome Academy, a school for composers and future idols. Haruka strives to become a composer herself and while doing so starts working together with a group of guys trying to become superstars. Why I'd want to be Haruka? One just has to look at the faces of the guys around her to get the answer. Haruka is a sweet and innocent girl so of course she doesn't realize it, but she's surrounded by gorgeous-looking superstars. Moreover, she gets to attend a school especially designed for studying music. I don't know about you but at least I wouldn't mind going there instead of a normal high school.

Speaking of schools I'd like to attend, next up is Haruhi Fujioka from Ouran High School Host Club. The heroine of this anime has to join the student's Host Club at the Ouran High School in order to repay for a valuable vase she broke by accident. I'm sure that a lot of you out there fantasize about being the center of a Reverse Harem anime. For me, this was definitely the case while watching Ouran High School Host Club. The guys of this constellation are interesting characters and great friends. Unlike some other anime, none of the boys are threatening or dangerous. Their feelings for Haruhi are pure and sincere and every girl can dream to find guys like that.

Next up is an anime that might be too old for some of you, but is one of the classics of Shoujo anime. The story of Tsukushi Makino is most likely better known through the various adaptations into Asian drama series. Coming from a poor family, Tsukushi is glad to be accepted into Eitoku Academy, a school usually reserved for the rich and famous. Her life would be simple if it weren't for the Flower Four (or F4 for short), a group of boys that run the school. As accepted from a Shoujo and romance anime, feelings start developing between the guys and Tsukushi. Suddenly she's pushed into the world of the rich and famous. Being able to choose between two equally rich yet sincere men is something that I'd be ready to experience any day.

Nanami finds herself at a low point of her life: Her father runs away from his gambling debts and she is left behind without a family or house to return to. Rescue comes in the form of Mikage who offers her to live at his home. Little does she know that his home is in fact the local shrine and that she just agreed to be its next residing god. Not only does Nanami have good-looking Tomoe by her side, but she also gets turned into a goddess. What I think is truly admirable is the fact that this doesn't grant Nanami any superpowers. Instead, she manages to resolve issues with her own strength and tackles one problem after the other with her cheerful attitude.

Misaki Ayuzawa is one of the first girls being admitted into Seika High, a former all-boys school. In order to survive in this environment, she had to create the appearance of a tough and boy-hating student. But she has a well-kept secret: In her free time she works at a Maid Café and thus has to serve mostly male customers in a Maid costume. Explaining why most of us would want to be Misaki for one day is easy: Takumi Usui. Those shiny eyes, his smile, his honesty - who wouldn't want to be next to him even if it was only for a day. Even though Misaki is able to fight for herself she still has someone like Usui to look out for her. Besides, Misaki's life never gets boring and at least I wouldn't mind getting into troubles with Usui by my side.

After releasing the Clow Cards from its original sealed book, ten-year-old Kinomoto Sakura takes the responsibility of resealing the cards by learning the appropriate skills necessary to do so under the guidance of Cerberus(Kero), the guardian of the Clow Cards. Helping her is Li Shaoran, a boy from Hong Kong who wants the cards and has an initial rocky relationship with Sakura, and Tomoyo, her best friend/cousin/gadget supplier/costume designer/documenter. Since the series came out after the end of “Sailor Moon,” its expectations of being a knock off as opposed to other shojo series that came out in the mid-90s were much more relaxed. Sakura does not do transformations and she wears a different costume for each fight all made by Tomoyo. However, it shares themes about love and friendship through both its main and secondary cast. Plus, the relation between Li and Sakura is naturally an elementary version of Usagi and Mamoru in which it starts off as uneasy, but are there for each other when it counts, and eventually profess their love. The first theme song “Catch You, Catch Me” has a pretty catchy hook and suits the atmosphere of the series accurately well. The best addition for Sailor Moon fans is the voice of Sailor Mercury, Hisakawa Aya, as the voice of Kero-chan, who plays the “Luna” role.

The trio of Momoko, Yuri and Hinagiku are normal junior high girls hoping to get their hands on the captain of the soccer team and enjoy a normal teenage life. However, fate and an inter-dimensional threat from the Devil World invade earth and want to spread hate. From the Angel World, a pretty man named Liome chooses the schoolgirls as the Love Angels. Momoko is the titled Wedding Peach, Yuri is Wedding Lily, and Hinagiku is Wedding Daisy, all direct translations of their names. Together they erase the hate and spread the love. Tadano Kazuko, one of the designers from “Sailor Moon” designed the characters of “Wedding Peach”. The shape of the faces, eyes and the marks beneath the eyes, should be a strong indicator of these notable similarities. Like Usagi, Momoko can get aggressive when teased and both of their fathers are photojournalists. The progression and origin of the Love Angels are almost the same as the Sailor Guardians and its general episode formula will be familiar to “Sailor Moon” viewers. Though the main cast is introduced from the very start, each girl becomes a Love Angel in a one by one pace but a little faster with a twist which you have to see for yourself. One of the best additions is Kotono Mitsuishi, Sailor Moon’s voice actress playing a villainous role. If you are a seiyuu or a Japanese voice actor buff such as myself, this will make the series enjoyable because they all give great performances to their characters.

Hikaru, Umi and Fuu (names representing their magical abilities) all go to Tokyo Tower with their schools on a field trip and are suddenly summoned by Princess Emeraude to the distant world of Cephiro to save it. With no other way of returning home, the three young ladies become the Magic Knights and are given armor, weapons and elemental magical abilities to combat the evil forces of Zagato. Viewers could be familiar with Tokyo Tower as it was also used in a good number of “Sailor Moon” episodes (in addition to other works by the creators of “Magic Knight Rayearth,” CLAMP). As in “Sailor Moon” when the Sailor Guardians first became a team, the Magic Knights were not familiar with each other but had to work together for the greater good. Each character has the personalities of being tomboyish, elegant, and shy. I cannot deny it is rather cliché but they perfectly balance each other out for the story as well as work as each other’s equal foil and support. As opposed to sailor school uniforms, the Magic Knights wear the blazer-style uniform and is also part of their identity and armor for a certain period. It is fun and touching to see how far the relationships between the three girls blossom by the end of season 1. In terms of the power ups, I am sure viewers (and possibly old school RPG fans) can appreciate the pace and feel. I also strongly recommend it for its very spirited soundtrack and CLAMP’s older character design style before “Code Geass.”

On Moriya Ririka’s tenth birthday, Kanou, the new handsome boy at school, gives her a present and has earned the jealous rage of all the girls. But before she can further celebrate, the earth is being invaded by the forces of Dark Joker. Kanou then instructs Ririka to use her gift, the Angel Cap, to turn into Nurse Angel and “cure” (as in defeat) her foes while trying to keep her identity secret from her classmates, family and her best friend, Seiya. Let's start off by mentioning that some of the catch phrases of representing “love and justice” should instantly be familiar. In addition, it has very over the top attack names such as “Angel Aide Bomb Beam” and is also abusive in the recycled animation department with glitter nude transformations and delivering the final attack. Despite that, the story has a very unique direction as it progresses and it is really fun to see a certain character have more use and development which you have to see to believe. I think the series wanted to have something of an environmental theme like “Captain Planet” but not as directly educational about the issue. The ending theme is very cute and catchy and a must listen. Last, Akimoto Yasushi, one of the co-creators of this series would go onto establishing Japan’s biggest idol group of the 2010s, AKB48.

When you take a mix of Japanese and western fairy tales and making magic school cool before “Harry Potter,” you get “Akazukin Chacha.” Despite her appearance being based on Little Red Riding Hood, Chacha was raised by Seravi (who actually has a funny but cool back story) to become a witch. Despite living peacefully in the countryside, the kingdom is ruled by the evil king, Daimaoh. Serevi then gives Chacha and her friends Riiya and Shiine amulets that represent love, courage and hope to turn her into the magical princess to reclaim the kingdom. Once again, we have a main character who is somewhat of a klutz but not in the same way as Usagi. Chacha’s clumsiness comes from word plays that make sense in Japanese when attempting magic spells. For example, when she tries to summon clouds by the word “kumo,” she summons spiders which is also “kumo” in Japanese. Or whe she wants to summon “hana,” or “flowers,” she summons noses which is also “hana” in Japanese. Both series’ share very similar plot twists with the main characters and tell stories of hope and friendship, but presented in its own unique manner fresh to its audiences. A must see for those who love fairy tales.

“Fushigi Yuugi,” or “The Mysterious Play,” tells the story of Yuuki Miaka and Hongo Yui. During a visit to the library, Miaka and Yui find a magical book and are transported into its story of ancient China. Miaka and Yui once best of friends, become bitter enemies as they become priestesses to separate kingdoms they represent. Between both sides, they are aided by seven warriors marked by kanji characters on their bodies in order to summon the God of their kingdoms and have any wish granted to them. Like Usagi, Miaka is an underachieving and klutzy junior high girl. She just wants to be a normal girl but destiny has led her to do something bigger. She also instantly falls in love with her savior, Tamahome, the anime heartthrob of the 1990s. The love story between Miaka and Tamahome is a driving force of the series as well as Miaka’s relationships with her new friends. Each character offers something distinct and the series will make you care about them and ultimately, make you cry. Plus, Kae Araki, the voice actress of Miaka, also played Sailor Chibi Moon and briefly played Sailor Moon during the finale of season 1 while Kotono Mitsuishi was sick. The first episode even pays homage to her catch phrase of “In the name of the moon (but instead the sun), I will punish you.” Another big name from “Sailor Moon” is probably one of the best male seiyuus of all time, Midorikawa Hikaru as the voice of Tamahome. He played Ali in the first story arc of “Sailor Moon R” and was also Fiore in the movie. If you’re more of a dub person, then you will get a kick out of David Hayter, the voice of Solid Snake himself as the voice of Tamahome.

Misaki Miyazawa is the first ever female student council president at Seika High, a formerly all-boys school. She is disliked for her strict authority that she wields fiercely over the majority of male students. But despite her serious demeanor, she holds an embarrassing secret. Due to family circumstances, she works as a waitress at a maid cafe where she is accidentally spotted by Takumi Usui, the most popular boy at her high school. Fortunately for Misaki, Usui mutually agrees to not let anyone know about Misaki’s part time job. Over time, they both begin to understand one another much better despite the adverse situations they go through. Eventually Misaki’s personality and character eventually wins Usui over who has rejected every girl that has confessed to him since, but Misaki is unsure of whether or not she can properly accept his feelings. As in Lovely Complex, Kaichou wa Maid-sama also explores how characters deal with one-sided feelings which produces funny and sweet outcomes that are highly enjoyable. With a heartwarmingly romantic storyline and well-developed characters, Maid-sama is definitely an anime that romantic comedy enthusiasts should watch!

Kokoro Connect follows the story of Taichi Yagashi, Iori Nagase, Himeko Inaba, Yui Kiriyama and Yoshifumi Aoki who mysteriously end up switching bodies with each other. Despite the supernatural turn of events, the group of friends do their best to conduct themselves normally in school. However, they soon find that they cannot simply escape the problem as the members of the Student Cultural Research Club find their personal lives disrupted with the constant switching. Coming to grips with no longer being able to control their bodies, the group of friends struggle to understand themselves and each other, revealing to them the opportunity to explore their personality and love relationships. Despite the lack of constant comedy and a focus on a group of protagonists, Lovely Complex fans will definitely find the complicated feelings of high school love that is portrayed in this anime recognizable. With a brilliant balance of intriguing stories, amazing character development, and laughs, Kokoro Connect is a must watch for romantic comedy fans.

All Raku Ichijou wants to do is to have a normal and calm high school life, but as the son of the local yakuza boss his, it is far from ordinary. On his way to school he is greeted with a knee to the face by none other than the aggressive Chitoge Kirasaki, who turns out to be the daughter of a rival gang! Needless to say, they do get off on the wrong foot and develop a dislike for each other, but they are hilariously forced to have a fake relationship when their fathers tell them to be a couple to resolve a territory dispute. This complicates matters for Raku since he already has a crush on the kind Kosaki Onodera who similarly has romantic feelings for him, but cannot adequately express them. The situation is further corrupted when a girl from his past, Marika Tachibana, appears and claims to be Raku’s fiancee, hilariously complicating the dynamic between the peculiar love triangle. Soon enough, even Chitoge finds herself struggling to comprehend if what she feels for Raku is real love or a meaningless manifestation of their false love. Although typically recognized as a harem anime, Nisekoi has romantic and comedy elements that fans of Lovely Complex will enjoy, delivering with it a wholesome anime feel despite the genre. In particular, the vivid characterization of the characters is what makes Nisekoi so unlike other harem animes. The meaningful and charming dynamics between the personality driven Raku and the main female characters creates a cute romance that Lovely Complex fans can easily enjoy. For example, Chitoge’s struggles to understand what she feels for Raku are particularly reminiscent of Risa’s endeavor to grasp her own feelings for Otani. In tandem with hilarious comedy, the romantic feelings portrayed in Shaft’s creatively artistic animation will surely attract Lovely Complex and romantic comedy fans.

Acchi Kocchi follows the cute story of Tsumiki Miniwa who tries to understand the feelings of her charming and dense crush, Io Otonashi. He often displays heart melting affection and kindness towards her, but never seems to follow through to the next step which always ends up confusing Tsumiki. It does not help her that she is easily flustered whenever he is around her. Her carefree group of school friends are of little help as well, playfully teasing Tsumiki about her feelings at every change they get. With no one else reliable to turn to, Tsumiki finds herself in an embarrassing dilemma that plays out in this charming slice of life. Even without serious drama or intense feelings that are common in similar animes, Acchi Kocchi makes for a very relaxing and casual romantic comedy. Essentially a slice of life with only a small touch of romance, it delivers a cute story that Lovely Complex fans will find familiar. Like Risa’s struggle to express her true feelings to Otani, Tsumiki’s almost constant flustering comes across as cute and funny at the same time. But apart from the similarity, the overall heartfelt feelings of love that Acchi Kocchi portrays makes it an easy to enjoy anime.

For refusing to give up a stray cat, Sorata Kanda is forced to move into Sakura Dormitory where Suiko’s eccentric and trouble-making students are forced to live. But just as he was growing accustomed to the craziness in the dorm, he is burdened with having to help world famous painter Mashiro Shiina who cannot be left alone to take care of herself. Despite everything, however, life still manages to throw fun and comedy towards Sorata and his unusual group of friends. Over the course of the year, all the residents of Sakura Dorm also work hard to pursue their respective interests, but not without heartache and difficulty along the way. Their projects are further complicated when unrequited feelings occur, shaking the foundations of the mutual relationships that the dorm is built upon. If the regularly occurring comedy is not enough to convince Lovely Complex fans to watch Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo, then the cute romantic story taking place in the background will. Although Sorata and Mashiro’s relationship is not as comedically outlandish as Risa and Otani’s, the pure and warm feelings that develop between the two are thoroughly enjoyable.

Leaving behind his shamefully dramatic persona as the “Dark Flame Master,” Yuuta Togashi is determined to start his life afresh in high school. Almost immediately, however, he stumbles upon Rikka Takanashi who continues to harbor fantastical middle school delusions. Moreover, Rikka somehow knows about Yuuta’s past and admires him much to Yuuta’s own embarrassment. They unexpectedly end up gathering up a circle of friends centered around Rikka’s delusions despite the negative sentiments he still harbors about his past. However, the two of them slowly become romantically closer, but not without going on a difficult and tumultuous journey of high school love. The relationship between Yuuta and Rikka does not start out as romantically theme like romantic comedies, but like Love Complex, both of the protagonists take an emotional trip to discover their true feelings. With its clever humor, cute drama, and relatable storyline, all portrayed with fantastic animation, Chuunibyou is definitely an anime worth spending time to watch.

Similar to Yumeiro Patissiere, BONJOUR Sweet Love Patisserie melds a story about a hardworking female protagonist surrounded by handsome men with beautiful pastries. Though slightly older, BONJOUR Sweet Love Patisserie’s main character, Sayuri Haruno, resembles Ichigo due to her good-natured personality in the face of adversity and her possession of a reverse harem. Each BONJOUR Sweet Love Patisserie episode is roughly five minutes long since it is an original net animation (ONA). Despite the brevity of each episode, BONJOUR Sweet Love Patisserie is jam packed with romance and sweets. BONJOUR Sweet Love Patisserie depicts the story of Sayuri as she attends on scholarship Fleurir, an elite confectionary school. While studying the art of making pastries and sweets to fulfill her dream of opening a pastry shop, she encounters several bishounen who seem to have interest in her rooted in an attraction going beyond her pastry making abilities.

Though not a cooking anime, Sakurai Mikan of Gakuen Alice emanates a positive, happy go lucky shoujo anime vibe reminiscent of Yumeiro Patissiere. Both twin-tailed protagonists of these series exhibit analogous exuberance and charisma, a day-brightening quality to say the least. Gauken Alice, a comedy shoujo anime with plentiful dashes of magic, focuses on Mikan as she enrolls in the elite Alice Academy, a school for people with unique abilities, as she searches for best friend Hotaru Imai. Yet, Mikan discovers Alice Academy is more than it seems and soon uncovers the school’s dark secrets.

Much less about desserts than it is about Japanese cooking, Koufuku Graffitti is a slice-of-life anime for those who likes cute girls and delicious food. With regards to the show’s attention to food, Koufuku Graffitti is very much like Yumeiro Patissiere, a show that hired a professional patisserie to advise the animation staff on the depictions of the pastries. However, it should be noted that this series is geared for a slightly older audience had has some elements of fan service. Koufuku Graffiti is about the everyday life of Ryo Machiko, a second-year middle school student living by herself following the death of her grandmother, and her second cousin Kirin Morino, Kirin stays with Machiko in Tokyo on the weekends for school. Throughout the show, Kirin enjoys Machiko’s great cooking and shows her the joy of family and friends.

Although it is a series that could be called the female version of shounen anime series Beelzeebud, Chibi☆Devi! portrays a hard working female protagonist much like Yumeiro Patissiere. Additionally, this comedy shoujo anime echoes notes of innocence and freshness despite its representation of young girls in grown up situations like Yumeiro Patissiere does. With each episode roughly five minutes long, Chibi☆Devi! will give you a compact punch of simple and sweet pleasure. Chibi☆Devi! is about 14 year old Sawada Honoka, a shy girl who one day finds a devil baby named Mao in her room. Lost and confused, Honoka takes it upon herself to raise the baby devil with the help of her friends.

Much in line with the previous anime recommended based on their depictions of hardworking, cute female protagonists like Ichigo, Working!! portrays a wide variety of characters trying their best. For those particularly interested in characters like Ichigo, Popura Taneshima, the short but industrious high school student part-timer, might be up your alley. It should be noted that like Koufuku Gormet, this show is for slightly older audiences and may have a more mature sense of humor than Yumeiro Patissiere. Working!!, an anime based off the 4-panel comic strip with the same name, centers about the working environment of a certain family restaurant called Wagnaria located in Hokkaido. A popular anime series, the third season is set to air in Summer 2015.

Last but not least, Antique Bakery is for those attracted to Yumeiro Patissiere because of the sweets and themes of baking and cooking. Set in a popular bakery oriented to female customers, Antique Bakery perhaps shows the future of the male students attending the pastry school depicted Yumeiro Patissiere. As a small note of warning, Antique Bakery has hints of shounen’ai and is an adaptation of the manga under the same name by Fumi Yoshinaga, famed mangaka who made her debut in the Boys Love genre. Antique Bakery concentrates on the everyday lives of four men, Keisuke Tachibana, Yusuke Ono, Eiji Kanda, and Chikage Kobayashi, working at a small bakery owned by Tachibana, a man who cannot stand eating sweets. Though the anime may seem dull on the outset, beneath the façade is a drama of emotions, unrequited love, and kidnapping ingeniously packaged within the genre of silice-of-life and comedy.

Kaichou wa Maid-sama is almost infamous when it comes to Shoujo or Romance anime. Thousands of girls out there have watched the relationship between Usui and Misaki slowly develop as the two of them tackle their daily problems together. This show does not only offer a cute love story but also a strong female lead that works as a role model to many girls. Misaki does not wait for a prince in shiny armor to come and save her but rather takes means into her own hands. Who would have guessed that the strong and independent student works at a maid cafe in her free time and serves guests in a fitting uniform? Kaichou wa Maid-sama is funny and entertaining at the same time and definitely a must-watch for all the girls out there.

Chihayafuru does a great job at depicting a girl living out her passion and striving to improve herself constantly. Not only that, but Chihayafuru introduces you to the rather unknown card game Karuta which is an important part of Japanese culture. Protagonist Chihaya Ayase started her journey towards becoming a professional Karuta player from a young age. Now, after enrolling in high school, she wants to share her passion with her classmates and create a Karuta club. Chihayafuru is a great feel-good anime that grabs your attention from the very first episode and shows you the journey of Chihaya and her friends.

Nana is one of the most highly recommended shows when it comes to anime aimed towards women. Maybe it’s the fact that this show highlights the lives of two women, both named Nana, who couldn’t be more different that makes this show so interesting. It really tries to depict their daily struggles and what it means to be a woman in these days. In the center of the show stands the friendship between the two women that decide to move in together. One Nana is an aspiring rock star while the other one is a more feminine and shy kind of girl. Still, despite their differences in character they manage to get along and grow closer to each other than they would’ve ever expected.

This show might look unlikely to be moving or even remotely thought provoking, but trust me, Madoka Magica will surprise you. It’s a show as deep and emotional as no other and the end will touch you no matter what. The story is revolving around a group of magical girls that fight to protect the people around them. But unlike most other shows we do not have a harmless adventure or nice story about friendship and companionship. No, Madoka Magica shows the dark side of being a magical girl and how heroine Madoka gets trapped inside a world full of regrets and unfulfilled wishes. Bear with Madoka Magica until the last episode and you will be rewarded with a grand final battle.

Barakamon was a highly anticipated show of the Summer 2014 season. With its lovable main cast it captured the hearts of its viewers in no time. If you are out for a fun and charming show then Barakamon might be the one for you. Young calligrapher Handa Seishu gets sent away to a remote island after punching a successful artist for criticizing his work. There, the young man has to get used to life on the countryside as well as to the eccentric people living there. Soon, he realizes under how much pressure he has put himself in Tokyo and that there are more things out there than just competitions and success. A heart-warming story and the feel-good show of last summer.

Now there’s no denying this anime classic. It follows Tsukino Usagi, a childish teenage who is quick to complain and cry, who comes across a special cat with an incredible ability to talk. Usagi finds herself suddenly able to transform into a Sailor Soldier and the fate of the world is in her hands as she seeks out the Illusionary Silver Crystal with her fellow Sailor Soldiers. The similarities are not to be missed between Sailor Moon and Shugo Chara! Both anime feature a magical girl theme, but they also have much deeper stories than we could ever predict. Although both anime start off lighthearted as we are introduced to the plotline, we soon find that there is more to the Sailor Soldiers than just fighting evil doers. Character development is quite evident as we watch each one of the characters grow to be well rounded individuals. Do you want to know how our crybaby turns out? The only way to find out is to watch this anime. It’s currently ongoing so don’t miss out.

Now this 90s anime is not to be missed! If you cannot get enough of magical girls and fighting demons, this anime will not be a disappointment. This may be a more mature magical girl anime compared to Shugo Chara!, but there are plenty of scenes that will just make you laugh. The development of the plot alone will get your heart to go doki doki! This anime stars Kusakabe Maron, a regular teenage girl, or is she? She’s actually the reincarnation of Jeanne d’Arc who she transforms into at night to steal the demons that are sealed away inside famous works of art. As we follow Maron through her unusual adolescence, we realize that though Jeanne d’Arc has been gone for many centuries now, her future is entangled with Maron’s future and perhaps, there’s more to her life than just battling demons. Beware, this thief has quite the adventure ahead of her.

While this particular anime is not technically a magical girl anime, it revolves around a population of people with their own unique, special powers. Like Shugo Chara! this anime is about a young girl in a school with something quite special about it. Like magical powers? You got it. Prepare for a magical school life. Gakuen Alice follows Sakura Mikan, a little girl whose best friend is Imai Hotaru. When she finds out that her best friend was scouted by a special school that is rumored to imprison its students, Mikan is determined to follow her there and protect her. Mikan soon finds herself at Alice Academy where she discovers that all of the students are called Alices because they have magical powers. At Alice Academy, Mikan learns so much more about herself than ever before!

One of the reasons this anime is so similar to Shugo Chara! is due to the character similarities between Shirakiin Ririchiyo and Hinamori Amu. They both act cool and aloof, yet deep inside, they do not mean that at all. It is an uncontrollable part of their personalities. Then there’s Miketsukami Soushi and Tsukiyoki Ikuto who are both quite the mysterious characters that leave the watchers constantly wondering. Inu x Boku SS is also a magical girl anime, though technically, every character has something magical about him or her, revolving around your basic school life. Inu x Boku SS begins with Shirakiin Ririchiyo arriving at her new school dorm where she believes she can finally move out and live on her own. In reality, she found herself in a dorm where all of the students are accompanied by a member of a very special secret service. Ririchiyo soon finds herself accompanied by Soushi, a very mysterious Secret Service agent who appears to know her. Not only that, but this dorm houses a very confidential secret: they are all spiritually beings from important families. What could possibly happen when you place all of these spiritually beings into one dorm?

Now, much like the other anime in this list, this is a magical girl anime and the protagonist is very young. The main protagonist, Karin, does spend a lot of the anime discovering who she really is, but in a much different way than Amu did. Watch to find out! Kamichama Karin is the story of Hanazono Karin, a 13 year old girl, whose parents recently passed so she is forced to live with relatives. She comes across the Kujyou Kazune one day, which leads to a series of strange events resulting in her transforming into a little goddess! With this new found power, a whole new world opens up for Karin as she learns to control her powers and fight evil gods bent on creating chaos.

The main character of this anime, Kaede, is quite shy like Amu. She cannot speak her feelings at all, but this little fantasy anime is bent on changing that. With the use of magic, Kaede is going to have to get out of her shell. Amu purchases a cup at a mysterious shop. At the bottom of the cup there is a note to drink cocoa while reciting a message aloud for a muglox to appear to grant any wish. Upon making her wish, Mirumo appears! Mirumo is a muglox prince tired of the land of muglox. He's going to make Amu's wish come true, or will he?

First on our list is Teekyuu 5. As you might have already guessed, this is the fifth season of the Teekyuu series, which tells the story of a hopeless all-girls tennis team. This show combines Slice of Life with lots of comedy and school elements. It is based on a 2012 manga and has gained enough popularity to produce multiple sequels. Teekyuu’s girls are a little bit quirky and unique, but that’s what adds so much charm to the story. The show itself focuses rather on the interaction between the different characters and their personal development than on the storyline. If you are a fan of school stories and club dynamics, then you should check Teekyuu 5 out. Of course, this anime also caters towards all sports fans, especially tennis enthusiasts.

Non Non Biyori is a show for those of you that are done with reality and just want to escape to the perfect world of anime. The second season Non Non Biyori Repeat continues the story of Ichijou Hotaru and her friends and takes them and the viewers on new adventures. This story is set in the countryside where student Hotaru just recently moved in with her parents. The girl finds herself in a completely new environment and has to adapt to her new lifestyle. Like Teekyuu, this show deals with friendship and the developing relationship between the main cast. Non Non Biyori Repeat is an uplifting Slice of Life anime that does not try to stand out with slapstick humor or lots of special effects. It is a slow and quiet show that will most likely capture the hearts of its viewers.

Wakaba*Girl goes out to all the fans of Japanese pop culture and current fashion trends. It focuses on a group of girls that dare to fall out of the usual patterns - heroine Wakaba Kohashi is all about the crazy style of the Japanese “garyu” subculture while her friends like BL stories or are simply unique in their own way. This show combines typical Japanese school girls with modern fashion trends. It perfectly depicts the two sides of modern Japan and how traditional values exist together with rebellious behavior - Wakaba*Girl certainly promises to be interesting. I would definitely advise girls interested in pop culture to check this show out, since this Girls Only anime portrays the daily lives of Japanese girls.

This show with a funny-looking name adds two new episodes to the already unique Yuru Yuri Nachuyachumi!. The first season is often acclaimed to have some of the cutest and most lovable characters in the anime universe, so why not give it a try? This anime revolves around four girls who set out on daily adventures as part of their amusement club. What you can expect from this show is seeing a group of adorable girls encountering new things while enjoying their time together. Most importantly, the story never feels too forced or unnatural - it has a good flow and the humor fits each situation perfectly. The upcoming episodes will continue this old pattern, so be ready for new adventures together with these lovely girls.

Working!!! is the third season of the Working!! series. Its fun characters and charming storyline have captured the hearts of many fans. The new season will bring you back to the family restaurant in Hokkaido and its weird employees. The Working!! series has always been a down-to-earth show whose main strengths are the characters and their great sense of humor. The story is based on a manga written and illustrated by Karino Takatsu and got enough recognition to not only be adapted into an anime but also to earn two sequels. This fact alone should already be reason enough for you to give Working!!! at least a try. It is the must-watch Slice of Life show of this season.

Many of us have been introduced to the world of Seiyuu through Miho of Bakuman. Now this unique profession gets its own show: Sore ga Seiyuu focuses on the ups and downs of Japanese voice-acting and how a group of girls strives to make their dreams come true. Sore ga Seiyuu is a highly anticipated show since it gives an insight into an important part of Japanese culture. The original manga gained a big fanbase in a small amount of time with its humorous insights into the daily lives of voice actors. It also promises a lot of friendship, motivational speeches and girls power, so definitely give this show a try.

Did you ever wonder how a beautiful and popular girl acts like at home? Well, Himouto Umaru-chan can give you the answer you were looking for - but it will be different from what you might expect. This anime shows the two faces protagonist Umaru has. In public she is a popular and flawless girl, but at home she turns into a lazy, good-for-nothing type of sister - much to the despair of her own brother. This is a show that all of you with siblings should be able to relate to. It depicts the relationship between brother and sister as well as the dynamics of a family. This show is a must-watch for all fans of family dramas.

This series is another visually stunning reverse harem anime based on a visual novel. It focuses around a female character who struggles to overcome adversity, and has many twists and turns throughout the plot. This series is a bit darker at times than Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 1000%, but has many similar elements. The heroine of this series wakes up on a morning just like any other, only to find she has no memories at all. The first person she encounters is a boy who calls himself Orion, who appears to be invisible to everyone else. He informs her that he is to blame for her lost memories, and vows to help her retrieve them. The series follows her quest to reclaim her identity along with these lost memories, which proves to be no easy task.

This anime features a cast of bishounen, a tenacious female protagonist, and a dose of humor similar to Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 1000%. Another similarity is that over the course of one day, the main character’s life is turned on its head. Ema’s life is pretty average. Average, that is, until her mother re-marries, bringing thirteen new brothers into her life. To make matters more complicated, the series follows the blossoming romantic tension between Ema and her new in-laws, and the drama that ensues.

This is another anime based off a visual novel. The main character is an average girl, surrounded by a cast of bishounen. Through a turn of luck, this girl finds her mundane life totally transformed, without a dull moment in sight. Ange's life is turned on its head. Suddenly, she finds herself bearing the responsibility of the Etoile. What this means, is that she is tasked with essentially saving the universe. Luckily she has the support of nine elemental guardians to aid her on her quest. Can she rise to the challenge that has been set before her and save the Cosmos of the Holy Beast? Angelique: When the Heart Awakens is pretty similar to Uta no Prince-sama, mostly in the reverse-harem theme where the males in the show begin to fall in love with Ange's.

This is another anime that takes place is a school setting, has a strong female lead, and a very interesting plot. It also features of a cast of interesting characters who undergo significant development as the story progresses, with many episodes providing more information on their backstories. Haruhi Fujioka doesn’t quite fit in at her new school. She’s having difficulty making friends, and even gets mistaken for a boy. It doesn’t help that she manages to accidentally break an antique vase belonging to the famous host club. Not to worry, they come up with a plan for her to earn the money to replace it back, but there’s a bit of a catch.

This is an additional series that features strong reverse-harem anime elements, and a strong female protagonist. Additional similarities can be found in the school setting the show takes place in, as well as the show’s strong aesthetic appeal which is another strength that it shares with Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 1000%. Yui is forced to transfer to a new school. It sounds like a dream - her roommates are six gorgeous men. However, there's a catch to everything - they're not quite human. And if being surrounded by vampires didn't make her new life complicated enough, they're after her blood. High school isn't supposed to be easy, but Yui is in for a heck of an interesting ride.

Another anime that features a female protagonist who combats adversity to make a name for herself in show business featuring music, as well as romance. This anime is a bit more dramatic than Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 1000%, but shares many of the same qualities. Kyoko is an encouraging friend, and encourages her friend Shou to pursue his dreams of music – that is until she hears him insult her, and a friendship quickly turns into a rivalry. The road to the top is full of twists and turns in this engaging series that will keep you guessing, and rooting for Kyoko all the way as she strives to see her name in lights and prove Shou wrong.

Kodomo no Omocha is about a young girl named Kurata Sana, who is the star of her own hit TV comedy “Child’s Toy,” yet while her TV show is all laughs, her real life school story is full of chaos as the children run the classroom and torment the teacher. Fed up with her school life, Sana stands up to the leader, Hayama Akito, but there is so much more than she understands to this world. Watching Kodomo no Omocha is like watching a young, naïve child grow up and learn the harsh reality of the world. Mikan, who is naïve, also had to learn that not everything is as it seems, yet both anime are still very cute on the surface with many humorous moments. Despite being young children, the main characters of both series have a lot going on in their lives. It is fun to see their innocent sides, but both anime also show as they grow up as well.

Special A is such a cute anime featuring Hanazono Hikari, a girl who wants nothing more in life than to surpass her rival, Takishima Kei. She has always come in second to him from wrestling as children to test grades in high school. She has even followed Kei to Hakusenkan where she has risen to be one of the top students and a member of the Special class. At this school, we follow the hijinks of the Special class as they enjoy their freedom in this school life comedy. This anime is quite cute. You can’t help but crack up at the silliness amongst the elite students at Hakusenkan. This is a very light story with a lovable main character whose ignorance and obliviousness may make you laugh out loud or cry out in frustration. Hikari is very similar to Mikan because she possesses a child-like innocence that makes her the pivotal piece amongst everyone else.

Fruits Basket centers around Honda Tohru, a young girl who comes across her classmate Souhma Yuuki, while walking to school from her makeshift home in the woods. After a devastating landslide, the Souhma family offer to house her while she waits for her own home to be renovated. The house is full of men, but that is not the only problem. She soon discovers the secret of the Souhma family: they turn into animals of the Chinese Zodiac when embraced by members of the opposite sex! It is not as funny as it sounds, since there is a cruel and dark history behind each member of the Souhma family. This anime is quite adorable, much like Gakuen Alice, but there is an underlying darker tone that you do not notice at first. Magic is part of the plot, but it is merely something that helps build the plot and character histories without overshadowing a lot of the aspects of the anime. If you are looking for a shoujo anime with a darker undertone, this may be up your alley!

Threatened into going on a date with the new girl, Seiya finds himself at an old amusement park he went to as a child: Amagi Brilliant Park. Everything has gone downhill in recent years and attendees are few. At the end of the date, he discovers that he is the only one that the princess of Amagi Brilliant Park, Princess Latifah, trusts to help the park. While he may be crass and clash with the other employees, but he is their only hope! Seiya is much like Mikan in which he thinks he is a normal being, but in actuality, he is the only hope for this park full of fairies. Seiya does not have any magical abilities, but he has the heart and the ability that these fairies need to survive, which is just what Mikan has. There is a lot of silliness and although the humor can be ecchi, this is an anime that is worth watching. Just do not expect a lot of the innocence that you have seen in Gakuen Alice. This is not a shoujo anime!

Cardcaptor Sakura is a cute anime brought to you by CLAMP. It features a young girl named Sakura who uncovers the book of Clow. She accidently scatters the cards and now, her mission is to find the cards and stop the havoc they are causing! Sakura finds herself a future she never envisioned before. Just like Gakuen Alice, the plot revolves around magic and a main character with the purest heart. Also, a lot of the story does involve the power of friendship and how it is important to the character above all else. Much like Mikan, Sakura discovers new secrets that were hidden to her about her family. Truly, the magic uncovered many doors and many mysteries in both worlds. Don’t you want to give this one a try?

Kyouko, a young girl who followed her childhood friend to Tokyo, finds herself abandoned and humiliated. With nothing left for her, Kyouko wants revenge on her childhood friend, Shoutaru, who is now an idol in the entertainment industry. He is out of her reach so her only option is to enter the opposing agency and get to his level to humiliate him the way he has her! Along the way, she meets Shoutaru’s rival, Ren! What type of life awaits her? While there is no magic involved in Skip Beat!, it does have a cute tone just like Gakuen Alice as well as some dramatic undertones. You cannot help but love the main character because deep down, she has a very caring heart just like Mikan! Despite being so ordinary at times, Kyouko captures the hearts of everyone around her and changes everyone’s lives, which is similar to Mikan. If you are a fan of these types of heroines, and a very light humor, you will definitely want to watch Skip Beat! The main character of this anime, Kaede, is quite shy like Amu. She cannot speak her feelings at all, but this little fantasy anime is bent on changing that. With the use of magic, Kaede is going to have to get out of her shell. Amu purchases a cup at a mysterious shop. At the bottom of the cup there is a note to drink cocoa while reciting a message aloud for a muglox to appear to grant any wish. Upon making her wish, Mirumo appears! Mirumo is a muglox prince tired of the land of muglox. He's going to make Amu's wish come true, or will he?