Miyuki Tonogaya’s manga The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague started as a webcomic on Square-Enix’s Gangan Pixiv website in 2019. Now the hapless adventures of the emotional ice elemental Himuro trying to charm his cool-headed co-worker Fuyutsuki has been adapted onto an anime by Zero-G and Liber, which can be seen on Crunchyroll.
That said, it isn’t the only rom-com anime about unrequited love. There are other romantic anime around with similar premises for the more lovey-dovey to get into. Those who like The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague will enjoy these recommendations.
8 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?
Sōichirō Yamamoto’s manga also began as a webcomic under the name Shōgi no Yatsu. Then it moved to Weekly Shonen Magazine under its new title before getting its own anime through Sentai Filmworks. It’s set in a high school, but has the same theme of a guy trying to express himself to his crush in the right way.
In this case, Ayumu will only confess his feelings to Urushi if he can beat her fairly at Shōgi, a board game similar to chess. She’s an expert player, while he’s a beginner. Urushi tries to coax the truth out of him outside the game, but he’s determined to make his moves through her game. Chess is tricky, but love can be more difficult.
7 My Dress-Up Darling
The original My Dress-Up Darling manga also came out through Square-Enix, but in print through Young Gangan this time. Cloverworks brought it to screens in anime form in January 2022, with a second season due to join the first on Crunchyroll soon. It follows Shinichi Fukuda’s original story closely.
High schooler Wakana has shut himself off from society to pursue his passion: designing outfits for ornamental Hina dolls. Then his outgoing classmate Martin catches him at work and, impressed with the results, asks him to help design cosplay suits for her. Now Wakana has to learn how to fashion clothes for women, and open back up to the world in the process.
6 Horimiya
Originally known as Hori-san to Miyamura-kun on creator Hiroki ‘Hero’ Adachi’s Dokkai Ahen website, it moved to Square-Enix’s Gangan comics in 2007. Then it gained its new Horimiya title in 2011, and ran all the way up to 2021...right when Cloverworks’ anime adaptation began broadcasting on Crunchyroll. It’s about two high schoolers who learn they’re both very different people after school hours.
When Hori isn’t the typical popular girl, she’s a humble, understated woman looking after her little brother. Meanwhile, her gloomy, nerdy classmate Miyamura is actually a heavily tattooed street punk. They swear each other to secrecy about their true selves, which bring them closer together over time. But how do they keep their nosey classmates from figuring out why the prep is hanging out with the nerd?
5 Kaguya-Sama: Love is War
Aka Akasaka’s story needs little introduction. The original manga in Weekly Young Jump recently ended in November 2022. The anime has run since 2019 across three seasons on Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Hulu. Chances are, romance anime fans are already aware of the competition between Kaguya and Miyuki.
She’s from a rich and renowned family, while he’s the smartest student in the prefecture. Both love each other, but are too full of pride to admit it. Instead, they maneuver each other into situations where they have to give away their soft side or risk their social standing. Who’ll cave in first? Watch it to find out.
4 Nodame Cantabile
J.C Staff’s anime of Tomoko Ninomiya’s original manga for Kiss magazine is a bit of an old school choice. Running for 3 seasons across 2007-2010, its story of love and classical music inspired two live-action TV dramas and two live-action films. The show used to be on Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime, but can now be found on RetroCrush.
It follows Shinichi Chiaki, a musical genius unable to follow his international ambitions due to his fear of flying and the ocean. He’s a stickler for the rules, which Megumi ‘Nodame’ Noda casts aside, playing the piano by ear rater than by sheet. Despite being opposites, the two grow closer and help each other overcome their fears and advance their careers.
3 Servant X Service
While there’s been a variety of settings, Karino Takatsu’s Servant X Service brings things back to the office and closer in line to Ice Guy. But instead of following the guy, it follows the girl: Lucy Kimiko Akie Airi Shiori Rinne Yoshiho Chihoko Ayano Fumika Chitose Sanae Mikiko Ichika Yukino Reina Eri Ai Tamiko...Yamagami.
She has even more middle names because her indecisive parents let other people suggest names, and a civil servant approved her ridiculously long full name. Seeking vengeance, she enters the civil service herself to find the person responsible. Except she didn’t count on dealing with angry citizens, crazy co-workers, and a lovesick newbie called Hasebe. Its single season by A-1 Pictures can be found on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
2 My Senpai is Annoying
Based on Shiro Manta’s manga for Comic POOL, My Senpai is Annoying does what it says on the tin. Office worker Futaba is unhappy with her co-worker Harumi. He’s a tall giant of a man, while she’s so short she gets mistaken for a kid. He’s brash, loud, boisterous, and gets on Futaba’s nerves. Yet he’s also devoted to his workforce, going out of his way to help those around him, including Futaba.
As such, the most annoying thing Futaba finds about Harumi is how much she loves him for that. She tries to keep it under wraps, even though it’s obvious to everyone...except Harumi himself, apparently. To see if he ever puts two and two together, this slice-of-life anime can be found on Crunchyroll to watch in full.
1 Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
Fujita’s original webmanga escaped Pixiv and got into Comic POOL before getting animated by A-1 Pictures for Fuji TV and Amazon Prime. It also lives up to its title as two different fans of nerdy media find romance is more difficult than in their animes.
When Narumi isn’t working at the office, she’s playing otome games and reading yaoi manga. Her childhood friend Hirotaka is an avid gamer. He’s open about his otaku nature, while she tries to hide it to maintain her professional reputation and find a good suitor. She blames her nerdy hobbies for her setbacks in life, though if she cooled off, she’d see that while love is hard for an otaku, it’s not impossible. She isn’t as much of an aberration as she thinks.
The Ice Guy And His Cool Female Colleague is available to watch on Crunchyroll.