There's a wealth of anime settings to choose from: fantasy kingdoms, sci-fi spaceships, and mysterious tunnels under modern cities, to name a few. Some offer true escapism, with worlds that hardly resemble the real one at all. In them, monsters run amok, and wars are waged with swords and spellfire.
There's something comforting about more grounded settings, however, especially if the viewer can relate to them directly, which reason that school settings are so popular in anime. One need not have attended an all-girls or all-boys school specifically: it's enough to watch characters cope with and hopefully thrive in these environments, taking on the unique challenges they offer. Here are some of the best anime to take part in such schools.
8 Dear Brother
Nanako Misonoo attends exclusive Seiran Academy, narrating the story to her cram school teacher whom she refers to as brother. Despite seeming to lack the qualifications, she is soon invited to the school's prestigious sorority. From there, her life becomes entangled with that of the Magnificent Three, the three most popular girls at her school.
The series tackles some heavy issues, including drug abuse, bullying, and suicide, so despite its school setting, it's not appropriate for all audiences. Dear Brother is well-crafted, deep, and unafraid of its sometimes difficult subject matter, all of which earn it a recommendation.
7 K-On!
A slice-of-life music anime about female friendship, rocking out, and coping with school when one's interests lie elsewhere, K-On! is one of the genre's most popular examples. It centers around five high school girls who meet in the Light Music Club, only to transform that club and its music into something far cooler.
It helps that the girls' band, Ho-kago Tea Time, actually makes music worth listening to: a boisterous blend of J-pop and punk rock that's sure to catch viewers' attention. The song that introduces Season Two, "Go! Go! Maniac," is an infectiously catchy song that helps elevate the rest of the anime. In all, K-On! scores points across a variety of genres, giving fans multiple reasons to watch.
6 Wasteful Days Of High School Girls
Wasteful Days of High School Girls is, as the title suggests, a slice-of-life anime about a group of high school students, a concept which--if handled poorly--can easily degenerate into a directionless mess. Thankfully, that isn't the case for this series.
Though Wasteful Days of High School Girls takes a few episodes to hit its stride, it becomes a light and hilarious anime as the series goes on. Especially pleasant is the way in which it begins to develop its side characters more, giving time and attention to each to help round out an already fun cast, with plenty of memorable scenes for each.
5 Maria Watches Over Us
In anime based in a school, it's not often that the school itself receives a great deal of love and attention. Maria Watches Over Us is an exception and a wonderful one at that. Lillian, the all-girls Catholic school which the main characters attend, is faithfully and convincingly detailed, becoming completely believable as an actual institute of learning.
Lillian uses what amounts to a mentor system, with older and younger students being paired together so that the older student can teach the younger one the ropes and give them any assistance they may need. This system brings with it a host of complicated social situations, and the show does a fantastic job at letting its characters grapple with them, leaning on one another for support.
4 Three Leaves, Three Colors
Three Leaves, Three Colors is the anime adaptation of the four-panel manga series by Cherry Arai, and fans of the original manga know what to expect here. A slice-of-life anime about three high school girls, each of whom have a kanji in their name, hence the series's title. From unlikely friendships and heartbreak to the many challenges of being young, Three Leaves, Three Colors has a simple premise and simple objective and executes both of them well.
Though it's true that the series doesn't reach far outside the box when it comes to its plot and optimistic characters,it's hard to fault a show that wants to do a simple thing right. Like a chef whose only goal is to cook the perfect omelet, Three Leaves, Three Colors keeps the focus where it matters.
3 Riddle Story Of Devil
Of the 13 students in Myojo Academy's 10th Year Class Black, 12 are assassins. The 13th, Haru Ichinose, is their unfortunate target. All is not lost for Haru, however, because one of her would-be assassins--Tokaku Azuma--has sworn to protect Haru from the others.
Riddle Story of Devil is riveting and stylishly animated. Its premise is an overwhelming strong point, and though there are a hundred ways the series could have mishandled that premise, it never does. The series excels at making each of its assassins distinct and compelling in their own right, and the mind-games and action around their attempted assassinations of Haru never get dull.
2 Akebi's Sailor Uniform
Akebi loves traditional sailor uniforms, her favorite being a homemade one of her own. Out of love for the uniforms, she even attends her mother's alma mater, which is itself known for using such uniforms. When she arrives at Roubai Girls' Academy, however, she learns that sailor uniforms have been discontinued in favor of blazers.
The headmistress makes an exception on Akebi's behalf, allowing her to continue to wear her favorite uniform, and the rest of the series explores the ups and down of Akebi's life at Roubai. Though tainted by some unnecessary and uncomfortable fetishizing shots, Akebi's Sailor Uniform is a great series, with excellent music on top of it.
1 Hanayamata
A slice-of-life kawaii comedy, Hanayamata is a classic example of a Cute Girls Doing Cute Things series. Though this subgenre is often accused of being shallow or pointless, Hanayamata is neither. It's the story of 14-year-old fairy tale-obsessed girl Naru, and as expected, it is saccharine sweet. For those looking for an all-girls school anime with a bit of an edge, this won't fit the bill.
For those that want some warmth, some giggles, and a breather from the heaviness in other anime, Hanayamata fits the bill. It doesn't hurt that it's gorgeously animated, too, with luscious color and distinct character designs that make the action pop.