Top 10 Best High School Anime

Horimiya stands out as one of the most prominent anime when it comes to the high school - romantic comedy genre. The original manga debuted over a decade ago, but it wasn't until 2021 that the Horimiya phenomenon truly exploded when CloverWorks adapted it into a 13-episode anime series.

Horimiya revolves around Hori Kyouko and Miyamura Izumi - a pair of high school students with seemingly normal and simple lives in the eyes of others. However, beneath that exterior, both harbor private secrets unknown to anyone. Hori is a beautiful and popular girl at school, but after class, she becomes a simple girl responsible for cooking and taking care of her younger brother like everyone else. Meanwhile, Miyamura is a quiet boy, rarely seen at school, and struggles with insecurity about his appearance.

One day, Izumi's younger brother returns home accompanied by Hori Kyouko. Although Izumi is very humble at home and different from his usual appearance at school, Hori still recognizes her schoolmate. Hori promises to keep the secret that Izumi at school and Izumi at home are two completely different personas. Over time, Hori and Izumi become closer, and their relationship progresses beyond friendship.

Horimiya impresses not only with the intense moments of the Hori-Miya couple but also with profound messages: Accept yourself and live authentically. Horimiya offers a positive outlook to viewers as Izumi gradually dares to express his true self more and cares less about the opinions of others.

Some information about Horimiya:

• Full name: Horimiya - A Little Coincidence
  
• Number of episodes: 13 (2021), 13 (2023)
  
• Years of release: 2021, 2023
  
• Genres: Romance, Comedy, School life
  
• IMDb rating: 8.1 (2021), 7.8 (2023)

Fruit Basket (Vietnamese title: Breaking the Curse) is a classic shoujo manga written and illustrated by Takaya Natsuki. While the art style of Breaking the Curse reflects the typical manga style of the early 2000s, its storyline remains timeless. In 2001, the first anime adaptation aired with 26 episodes, and in 2019, a modernized anime version with 63 episodes, covering the entire manga series, was produced.

The story revolves around a high school girl named Tohru Honda, who, after losing her parents, ends up living in a tent. One day, on her way home from school, she coincidentally encounters members of the Sohma family, who are cursed to transform into the animals of the Chinese zodiac when hugged or under stress.

Tohru becomes friends with the Sohma family members and decides to keep their curse a secret. Throughout this journey, she gradually uncovers the family's secrets and dark past, while helping them find a way to break free from the curse.

Fruits Basket is not just a typical school anime; it also portrays the extraordinary willpower and determination of the protagonist, Tohru Honda, who, despite losing her mother, works tirelessly to earn money for school fees. Moreover, Fruits Basket is beloved for its deep storyline, multidimensional characters, and meaningful messages about love, forgiveness, and self-acceptance.

Some information about Fruits Basket:

• Full title: Fruits Basket - Breaking the Curse
  
• Number of episodes: 26 (2001 version), 63 (2019 - 2021 version)
  
• Years of release: 2001, 2019
  
• Genres: Romance, Drama, School life, Supernatural, Magical, Slice of life, Shoujo, Comedy
• IMDb ratings: 7.9 (2001), 8.6 (2019 - 2021)

Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War (Vietnamese title: The Battle of Confessions) is a must-watch anime for hardcore rom-com (romantic comedy) fans. Although the manga belongs to the Seinen genre (a term referring to manga targeted at male readers aged 18 to 40), Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War also attracts many female readers.

The story revolves around the President and Vice President of the student council at Shuchiin Academy - Shirogane Miyuki and Shinomiya Kaguya, who seem to be a perfect match and are enthusiastically paired by everyone. While Kaguya is the daughter of a wealthy conglomerate, Miyuki is also a genuine hotshot with top academic achievements. Miyuki and Kaguya have feelings for each other, but with their proud nature and always considering themselves superior, neither of them is willing to admit their feelings for the other.

Shirogane Miyuki and Shinomiya Kaguya are so prideful that they believe whoever confesses first will lose. The series presents hilarious situations as the two of them devise plans to make the other confess their feelings.

Some information about Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War:

• Full title: Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War - The Battle of Confessions
  
• Number of episodes: 12 (1/2019 - 3/2019), 12 (4/2020 - 6/2020), 13 (4/2022 - 6/2022)
  
• Years of release: 2019, 2020, 2022
  
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, School life
  
• IMDb rating: 8.6

ReLIFE - Rewrite Life is a manga with strong webtoon vibes (Korean webcomics) created and illustrated by Yayoiso So. In 2016, an anime adaptation of the same name was produced by TMS Entertainment and quickly became one of the most-watched anime for entertainment and motivation.

The story of ReLIFE revolves around Kaizaki Arata - a 27-year-old unemployed man with no significant achievements in life. One day, he is invited to participate in an experimental program called 'ReLIFE,' where he gets the chance to become a 17-year-old high school student once again.

Living the life of a high school student again, Arata meets and forms relationships with many new friends, including Chizuru Hishiro - a smart but distant girl who always feels lonely. Both of them begin to experience, explore, and learn from high school life. Throughout this journey, Arata and Chizuru feel positive changes within themselves, gaining a deeper understanding of friendship, love, and learning to cherish life more.

'ReLIFE' delivers an emotional and growth-filled story with humorous elements while imparting profound lessons. The anime provides a positive outlook on life, suggesting that mistakes in life can be rectified as long as one has genuine determination.

Some information about ReLIFE:

• Full title: ReLIFE - Rewrite Life
  
• Number of episodes: 13 + 4 OVA
  
• Year of release: 2016
  
• Genres: Comedy-drama, Romance, School life
  
• IMDb rating: 7.8

CardCaptor Sakura (Sakura, the Cardcaptor) is an anime series that has perhaps deeply embedded itself in the childhood memories of many young people. The first anime adaptation was produced by Madhouse studio and aired with 70 episodes on NHK BS2 (Japan) from 1998 to 2000. The original manga was honored with the Seiun Award for Best Manga in 2001 and was highly praised by critics for its creativity, being considered a manga suitable for teenage girls.

The setting of CardCaptor Sakura is largely in the fictional town of Tomoeda, located in the suburbs of Tokyo, where the main character, Kinomoto Sakura, resides. The story revolves around Sakura's life, who coincidentally discovers a mysterious book in her family's storage shed. Upon opening the book, mysterious cards, called the 'Clow Cards,' are released and spread throughout the city. To prevent them from causing harm, Sakura becomes a 'Cardcaptor' and must recapture all the lost cards.

In addition to focusing on action scenes to collect the cards, CardCaptor Sakura also depicts the daily life of a young girl going to school with good friends like Daidouji Tomoyo, Li Syaoran, etc. Furthermore, the anime has portrayed many relationships surrounding the characters and the beautiful emotions of adolescence.

Some information about CardCaptor Sakura:

• Full name: CardCaptor Sakura - Sakura, the Cardcaptor
  
• Number of episodes: 70 (CardCaptor Sakura), 22 (CardCaptor Sakura - Clear Card)
  
• Year of release: 1998 - 2000 (CardCaptor Sakura), 2018 (Clear Card)
  
• Genres: School life, Romance, Maho Shoujo
  
• IMDb rating: 8.0 (1998 - 2000), 7.8 (2018)

Ao Haru Ride (Blue Spring Ride) stands as one of the most renowned shoujo anime with a large fan base worldwide. The anime is adapted from the manga of the same name by Io Sakisaka, serialized in various magazines from 2011 to 2015.

Despite mixed opinions about the protagonist Kou Tanaka's personality, Ao Haru Ride remains one of the must-watch anime for fans of school romance genre. Critics also hailed Ao Haru Ride as one of the most captivating manga to read in 2014.

The storyline of Ao Haru Ride revolves around the female lead, Futaba Yoshioka, who had to change her personality to become more tomboyish due to past ostracism for her femininity. Upon entering high school, Futaba encounters her former love interest from middle school, Kou Tanaka, who now goes by the name Kou Mabuchi and has changed significantly. Despite Kou's apparent distancing, Futaba still harbors feelings for him and resolves to live more positively, exemplified by volunteering to be the class representative in the new school year.

Ao Haru Ride is not just a love story between the main characters but also about the friendship of the high school clique, where viewers might see reflections of themselves during their youth through certain characters. Additionally, the series depicts the characters' journey of acknowledging and accepting their own pain, seeking ways to gradually heal. With its compelling storyline, beautiful imagery, and outstanding sound effects, Ao Haru Ride deserves to be one of the school romance anime that you should watch at least once in your life.

Some information about Ao Haru Ride:

• Full name: Ao Haru Ride - Blue Spring Ride
• Number of episodes: 12
• Year of release: 2014
• Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School life, Shoujo, Slice of life
• IMDb rating: 7.5

If you're passionate about school romance anime with beautiful yet bittersweet memories, then you shouldn't overlook Your Lie in April. This television anime is adapted by studio A-1 Pictures from the manga of the same name by Naoshi Arakawa.

The story revolves around piano prodigy Kōsei Arima, once famous in the world of young pianists. However, after a traumatic event during his childhood, Kōsei can no longer hear the sound of his own piano playing. He lives a dull life until he meets Kaori Miyazono, a violinist full of poetry, who will later lead Kosei out of his monochrome world. Additionally, the film successfully portrays the endearing stories of the main characters during their school days.

Aside from its exceptional and refreshing storyline, Your Lie in April also captivates audiences with meticulously crafted music, each piece resonating like a symphony that immerses everyone in it. Moreover, the director aimed for the film to be closely connected to the real world, so most of the important parts of the film are based on real locations. Everything about Your Lie in April, from its content, settings, filmmaking style, music, and character arcs, receives praise from both audiences and critics. There's hardly any debate that Your Lie in April is one of the blockbuster anime of 2014.

Some information about Your Lie in April:

• Full name: Your Lie in April - Lời nói dối tháng tư
  
• Number of episodes: 22 + 1 OVA
  
• Year of release: 2014 - 2015
  
• Genres: Drama, Romantic, Music, School life
  
• IMDb rating: 8.6

Ouran HighSchool Host Club is a must-watch if you love the blend of school life and romantic comedy anime genres. The anime is adapted from the manga of the same name by female author Bisco Hatori, which by the end of 2011 had circulated over 13 million copies worldwide.

The story revolves around Haruhi Fujioka, a poor but intelligent and academically gifted girl who receives a scholarship to Ouran Academy, a prestigious school for wealthy students. One day, Haruhi accidentally stumbles into the school's 'Host Club,' where a group of handsome and noble young men creates a fun and artificial atmosphere to entertain female students.

During their first encounter, Haruhi accidentally breaks a valuable and expensive vase, and she is forced to repay the debt despite having no money in her pocket. The Host Club members decide to keep her as a male host to pay off the debt. With her somewhat tomboyish appearance and short, unkempt hair, Haruhi is initially mistaken for a boy by the Host Club members, but they soon realize her true gender and decide to keep it a secret. Later on, they also promote Haruhi to be a club member because she has the ability to attract many female customers. However, the fact that Haruhi is a girl brings about many hilarious situations for the story.

Some information about Ouran HighSchool Host Club:

• Full name: Ouran HighSchool Host Club - 6 Guys and 1 Girl
  
• Number of episodes: 26 (4/2006 - 9/2006), 11 (7/2011 - 9/2011)
  
• Years of release: 2006, 2011
  
• Genres: Drama, Harem, School life, Comedy
• IMDb rating: 8.2 (2006), 7.5 (2011)

Wolf Girl and Black Prince is one of those school-themed anime with a touch of romantic charm that you should definitely give a try at least once in your life. Although it aired a decade ago, the visuals of this anime remain timeless, and its sweet content is sure to brighten up your weekend after a stressful week of work.

Erika Shinohara is part of a high school friend group, but she's the only one without a boyfriend, so she lies to her friends that she already has one. To make her lie more believable, Erika randomly snaps a photo of a boy she meets on the street, but ironically, it turns out to be Kyoya Sata - the most famous boy in her school. Erika negotiates with Sata to cooperate in acting out the 'boyfriend-girlfriend' scenario with her, and Sata agrees on the condition that Erika must become his 'wolf girl' - essentially meaning she becomes Sata's pet.

However, as seen in typical 'marriage before love' scenarios, the main couple gradually develop feelings for each other, and Sata also becomes closer to Erika Shinohara's friend group. The series is filled with hilarious situations that will have the audience laughing out loud while experiencing a range of emotions from the initial hatred between Erika and Sata to their inevitable entanglement in each other's love webs.

Some information about Wolf Girl and Black Prince:

• Full name: Wolf Girl and Black Prince - Nàng sói và hắc hoàng tử
  
• Number of episodes: 12 + OVA
  
• Year of release: 2014
  
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, School life
  
• IMDb rating: 6.9

Shugo Chara! (Guardian Angels) is an anime based on the manga of the same name by the duo Peach-Pit. The manga was serialized from 2006 to 2010 and garnered widespread popularity among readers, earning the Kodansha Manga Award in 2008 for best children's manga. Meanwhile, the anime adaptation aired from 2007 to 2010, and all three seasons received positive responses from the audience.

The story revolves around an 11-year-old middle school girl named Amu Hinamori. With her unique appearance and outgoing personality, Amu stands out at school and is often described as 'Cool and spicy.' However, that's just the facade Amu wants everyone to see; in reality, she leans towards introversion and is somewhat insecure.

Feeling sad and exhausted from always trying to be someone she's not, Amu dreams of living authentically as herself. One day, after praying to be able to 'live authentically,' Amu discovers 3 magical Shugo Chara, which hatch into three guardian characters named Ran, Miki, and Su. Each Shugo Chara represents a part of Amu that she wishes to express, such as courage, intelligence, and gentleness. 'Shugo Chara' in Japanese means 'secret heart.'

Amu is not the only one with Shugo Chara. She, along with the Guardians group at Seiyo Academy including Nagihiko Fujisaki, Rima Mashiro, Yaya Yuiki, and Kukai Soma, all have their own Shugo Chara. Together, they use the power of Shugo Chara to fight against evil forces and learn about themselves. Besides focusing on the theme of living authentically, Shugo Chara! also conveys meaningful messages about friendship and courage in facing challenges.

Some information about Shugo Chara:

• Full name: Shugo Chara! - Guardian Angels
  
• Number of episodes: 51 (2007 - 2008), 51 (2008 - 2009), 25 (2009 - 2010)
  
• Year of release: 2007 - 2010
  
• Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Magical girl, School life, Shoujo
• IMDb rating: 7.2 (2007 - 2008)