While shounen manga and anime are designed with teen boys in mind, shoujo properties target teenage girls. For one reason or another, these stories have not experienced global success as frequently as their male-oriented counterparts, although there have been more than a few shoujo anime that have managed to cement themselves in pop culture.
Fruits Basket, Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Yona of the Dawn, Maid Sama!, and Ouran High School Host Club are not only some of the best shoujo anime ever but they are popular shows irrespective of demographic. Revolutionary Girl Utena, Nana, Banana Fish, Natsume's Book of Friends, and Kamisama Kiss are also fantastic and highly respected. As great as these anime are, shoujo extends far beyond these heavy hitters. What are some great shoujo anime that do not get enough attention?
8 Glass Mask
Glass Mask's manga debuted in 1976 and lasted all the way to 2012, producing 49 volumes in the process. Maya Kitajima's trials and tribulations in a theatre troupe have been adapted time and time again, and this 2005 is one of the best interpretations of this great story.
Glass Mask's influence can be seen on a number of other popular shoujo properties, including Sailor Moon, and characters like Chigusa Tsukikage are adored and parodied often. The anime delivers drama, heart, character development, and intrigue in spades.
7 Kaleido Star
Created by Junichi Sato, who directed Sailor Moon's original season, Kaleido Star is a charming tale that, once again, involves a performing troupe. Sora arrives in America with a dream of joining Kaleido Stage, an organization known for its dazzling acrobatic performances. After fluking her way into the troupe, Sora starts her long journey to earn the respect of her fellow performers while dealing with some minor magical elements.
Boasting positive themes and generally a likable attitude, Kaleido Star is a fun and inspiring watch.
6 School Babysitters
It is somewhat of a stretch to describe School Babysitters as underrated since it is a relatively well-known shoujo anime; however, some people might be put off by its babysitting-themed plot. As childish as the series might sound, School Babysitters is a surprisingly mature experience, one that balances an irresistible cuteness with an overabundance of heart and humor.
Very much a character-driven piece, School Babysitters does an admirable job exploring its cast despite only having 12 episodes to work with.
5 Magic Knight Rayearth
Isekai anime existed long before Sword Art Online, and it isn't just for shounen fans. Dropping its first season in 1994, Magic Knight Rayearth follows three girls who are teleported to Cephiro and charged with becoming Magic Knights to save a Princess. Initially, Magic Knight Rayearth has an adventurous and comedic tone, one that is only occasionally broken by dramatic moments. These early episodes flesh out the three main characters, who are all endearing in their own ways.
Then, Magic Knight Rayearth gets dark and tragedy becomes the norm. The second season has a more grim tone than its predecessor, all the while still delivering its share of fun action sequences.
4 The Seven Metamorphoses Of Yamato Nadeshiko
A popular formula of shoujo stories is to take a "normal" girl and drop her in a den filled with eligible bachelors. Ouran High School Host Club is the most famous example of this formula's potential for brilliance, and while The Seven Metamorphoses of Yamato Nadeshiko doesn't reach the same heights as that show, it is still a blast to sit through.
Lacking confidence and not fond of (beautiful) men, Sunako Nakahara is less than thrilled by the prospect of living with a group of guys. In fairness, the latter feel mostly the same way, although they want to make it work as their livelihood depends on it. Comedy hijinks eventually give way to character growth and emotional outbursts.
3 Shounen Onmyoji
Title aside, Shounen Onmyoji is a shoujo anime based on a light novel series, adapting the first two arcs. Set during Japan's Heian era, the anime revolves around Abe no Masahiro, the grandson of a famous spirit medium. With the help of a magical companion, Abe sets out to protect his city from demonic threats.
Shounen Onmyoji blends action, comedy, and hints of romance to create an enjoyable and accessible fantasy epic. The anime's production values are quite high too.
2 Sabagebu!
Through a series of (un)fortunate events, Momoka Sonokawa joins Aogiri Academy's Survival Game Club, a decision she has little influence on. Sabagebu! is an over-the-top comedy about four unpredictable girls and Momoka's attempts to survive the daily misadventures they get her into.
Silly and consistently entertaining, Sabagebu! is a laugh riot that loves to blur the line between reality and fiction. The action is enjoyable, the humor is endearingly stupid, and the characters are awful in the best possible way.
1 The Rose Of Versailles
Coming out in the late '70s, The Rose of Versailles takes place before and during the French Revolution, a refreshing setting for anime in general. Oscar, a woman who was raised as a man, is in charge of protecting Marie Antoinette, and the two strike a complicated but enchanting friendship.
The Rose of Versailles presents a realistic take on its historical setting and the people who live within it. Each character is depicted as a genuine person with faults, aspirations, and insecurities, making it very easy to get swept away by the story.