What do you want to watch tonight?
Each title says who it's good for, and who it isn't. Tap what you want tonight, or say no to one and why.
Closest to Horimiya first
Rent-a-Girlfriend 2020
Anime
Kinoshita Kazuya is a 20-year-old failure of a college student. He managed to kiss his girlfriend once, but was dumped after a month. Completely spiteful, Kazuya uses a certain method to date a girl. He goes to their meeting place and a beautiful girl brushing her long, black hair behind her ear was there, smiling at him. Her name was Mizuhara Chizuru. Something real is born after just a single rental! A reckless rom-com filled with love and excitement is about to begin!
The sides of Rent-a-Girlfriend
- A college student who rents a girlfriend by the hour
- A lie told to his grandmother
- A fake couple that keeps going
Good for you if
- you like a fake couple that slowly stops pretending.
- you like secondhand embarrassment as a comic engine.
- you want a light rom-com with low stakes.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you won't read subtitles for a whole season.
- you need a relationship that moves. The arrangement stays about where it started.
About: loneliness · self-esteem · love
Whisper of the Heart 1995
Anime
Shizuku lives a simple life, dominated by her love for stories and writing. One day she notices that all the library books she has have been previously checked out by the same person: "Seiji Amasawa."
The sides of Whisper of the Heart
- A girl who reads every library book
- A boy learning to make violins
- A cat riding a train
Good for you if
- you want a quiet summer in the Tokyo suburbs.
- you like a first love that starts with a name on library cards.
- you like a girl figuring out if she can really write.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you need action to stay hooked. Here a girl writes a story and a boy builds violins.
About: first love · ambition · growing up
Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! 2020
Anime
Shinichi Sakurai’s one wish is for a little peace and quiet. But Hana Uzaki — his boisterous, well-endowed underclassman — has other plans. All she wants is to hang out and poke fun at him. With the help of her chipper charm and peppy persistence, this might just be the start of a beautiful relationship!
The sides of Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out!
- A loner student who wants quiet
- A loud underclassman who follows him everywhere
- A part-time job at a friend's café
Good for you if
- you like one running joke done well, teasing a man who wants peace.
- you want short episodes with nothing much at risk.
- you like a crush neither of them will say out loud.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you want something young children can watch with you, and half the gags are about Uzaki's figure.
- you won't read subtitles for a Japanese campus comedy.
About: loneliness · friendship · first love
Kamisama Kiss 2012
Anime
Nanami was just a normal high school girl down on her luck until a stranger’s lips marked her as the new Land God and turned her world upside down. Now, she’s figuring out the duties of a deity with the help of Tomoe, a reformed fox demon who reluctantly becomes her familiar in a contract sealed with a kiss. The new responsibilities—and boys—are a lot to handle, like the crow demon masquerading as a gorgeous pop idol and the adorable snake spirit who’s chosen the newly minted god to be his bride. As the headstrong Tomoe tries to whip her into shape, Nanami finds that love just might have cute, pointed fox ears. With romance in the air, will the human deity be able to prove herself worthy of her new title?
The sides of Kamisama Kiss
- A homeless high schooler made a land god
- A fox familiar bound by a kiss
- A shrine with spirits to look after
Good for you if
- you like a slow thaw between a girl and her reluctant fox familiar.
- you like Japanese spirits, shrines and demon courts.
- you want a warm episode before bed, with jokes between the stakes.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you won't read subtitles for a Japanese shoujo series.
About: first love · duty · belonging
Slam Dunk 1993
Anime
Sakuragi Hanamichi is a junior high punk used to getting into fights and being rejected by girls but upon entering high school he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko Akagi. He will do anything in order to win her heart including joining the school basketball team that is aiming to conquer the nation lead by Haruko's brother. The problem is that Sakuragi has never played basketball before and a freshman sensation is stealing the spotlight and Haruko's affection from him.
The sides of Slam Dunk
- A redhead who joins the team to impress a girl
- A high school basketball club
- Practice before glory
Good for you if
- you like basketball drawn play by play.
- you like a loudmouth beginner who is wrong about everything.
- you like a team that slowly makes room for a rookie.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you won't read subtitles through a long sports run.
- you find nineties animation hard to look at now.
About: growing up · teamwork · pride
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time 2006
Anime
When 17-year-old Makoto Konno gains the ability to 'leap' backwards through time, she immediately sets about improving her grades and preventing personal mishaps. However, she soon realises that changing the past isn't as simple as it seems, and eventually, will have to rely on her new powers to shape the future of herself and her friends.
The sides of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
- A schoolgirl who leaps back through time
- A summer playing catch with two friends
- Small fixes with big costs
Good for you if
- you like Makoto leaping back in time to redo a test or sing karaoke for hours.
- you like three friends who don't want anything to change.
- you like being moved by a girl learning that every choice costs someone something.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you need time travel rules that hold up.
About: time · friendship · choices
Sailor Moon 1992
Anime
One day, Usagi Tsukino, clumsy 2nd-year middle school student, stumbles upon a talking cat named Luna. Luna tells her that she is destined to be Sailor Moon, "champion of love and justice", and she must search for the fabled Moon Princess. Usagi finds friends that turn out to be destined senshi as well, and together they fight to save the world from the certain doom brought upon by the Dark Kingdom.
The sides of Sailor Moon
- A clumsy schoolgirl who turns into a guardian
- A talking cat who hands out the missions
- A search for a lost moon princess
Good for you if
- you like five schoolgirls who become a team and stay one.
- you want a monster beaten each episode and everyone home for dinner.
- you are looking for something to watch with a child who likes transformations.
Bad for you if
- five seasons of a monster a week is too much for you.
- you don't watch animated series.
- you find early nineties animation dated.
About: friendship · duty · first love
From Up on Poppy Hill 2011
Anime
Yokohama, 1963. Japan is picking itself up from the devastation of World War II and preparing to host the 1964 Olympics—and the mood is one of both optimism and conflict as the young generation struggles to throw off the shackles of a troubled past. Against this backdrop of hope and change, a friendship begins to blossom between high school students Umi and Shun—but a buried secret from their past emerges to cast a shadow on the future and pull them apart.
The sides of From Up on Poppy Hill
- Yokohama in 1963, before the Olympics
- Students saving their old clubhouse
- A first love shadowed by a family secret
Good for you if
- you like breakfast for the whole boarding house and flags raised every morning.
- you like 1960s Japan rebuilding itself, with trams, harbors and old school buildings.
- you like a shy first love between two high school students.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you need action. The big fight here is students saving their old clubhouse.
About: first love · the past · tradition
Mob Psycho 100 2016
Anime
Shigeo Kageyama, a.k.a. "Mob," is a boy who has trouble expressing himself, but who happens to be a powerful esper. Mob is determined to live a normal life and keeps his ESP suppressed, but when his emotions surge to a level of 100%, something terrible happens to him! As he's surrounded by false espers, evil spirits, and mysterious organizations, what will Mob think? What choices will he make?
The sides of Mob Psycho 100
- A boy with psychic powers who wants to be ordinary
- A fake exorcist and his consultation office
- A body improvement club
Good for you if
- you like animation that goes loose and wild when a fight starts.
- you like a con man mentor who gives surprisingly good advice.
- you want a shy kid to learn that powers are not a personality.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you won't read subtitles.
About: self-esteem · growing up · friendship
Your Name. 2016
Anime
High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other.
The sides of Your Name.
- A boy and a girl who swap bodies in their sleep
- Tokyo and a mountain town
- A comet in the sky
Good for you if
- you like a film carried by RADWIMPS songs.
- you like two people searching for someone they've never met.
- you like skies and light painted with breathtaking detail.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you won't read subtitles. It's in Japanese (a dub exists).
About: connection · memory · fate
True Beauty 2020
Series
After being bullied and discriminated because of her ugly looks, a high school girl transforms herself into a gorgeous "goddess" and quickly rises to fame after mastering the art of makeup via online tutorial videos.
The sides of True Beauty
- A bullied student who learns makeup online
- A new school where nobody knows her bare face
- Two boys who both fall for her
Good for you if
- you like a high school love triangle.
- you like a teenager learning to like her own face.
- you like slapstick panic every time her makeup might come off.
Bad for you if
- you won't read subtitles for a Korean drama.
- you need a high school romance that feels like real life.
About: self-worth · beauty standards · first love
TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You 2020
Anime
Nasa Yuzaki falls in love at first sight after an encounter with the mysterious Tsukasa. When Nasa earnestly confesses his feelings, she replies, "I'll date you, but only if we're married." Nasa and Tsukasa's cute and precious newlywed life of love is about to begin!
The sides of TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You
- A proposal made after being hit by a truck
- Newlyweds who barely know each other
- A tiny apartment and a lot of blushing
Good for you if
- you like short episodes where nothing bad happens to a sweet couple.
- you like a love story that starts at the wedding instead of ending there.
- you like a husband who gets flustered every time his wife holds his hand.
Bad for you if
- you need stakes, and this is a gentle newlywed comedy about everyday married life.
- you don't watch anime.
About: marriage · love · everyday life
A Silent Voice: The Movie 2016
Anime
Shouya Ishida starts bullying the new girl in class, Shouko Nishimiya, because she is deaf. But as the teasing continues, the rest of the class starts to turn on Shouya for his lack of compassion. When they leave elementary school, Shouko and Shouya do not speak to each other again... until an older, wiser Shouya, tormented by his past behaviour, decides he must see Shouko once more. He wants to atone for his sins, but is it already too late...?
The sides of A Silent Voice: The Movie
- A boy who bullied a deaf girl at school
- Years later, his attempt to make amends
- Conversations in sign language
Good for you if
- you want a film that breaks your heart and mends it.
- you like a guilty boy who can't look people in the face.
- you like teenagers learning to forgive themselves.
Bad for you if
- you can't watch bullying and suicide attempts on screen.
- you don't watch anime.
About: guilt · forgiveness · disability
Ocean Waves 1993
Anime
At Kichijōji Station, Tokyo, Taku Morisaki glimpses a familiar woman on the platform opposite boarding a train. Later, her photo falls from a shelf as he exits his apartment before flying to Kōchi Prefecture. Picking it up, he looks at it briefly before leaving. As the aeroplane takes off, he narrates the events that brought her into his life...
The sides of Ocean Waves
- Two school friends and the girl between them
- A trip to Tokyo on borrowed money
- A high school reunion years later
Good for you if
- you remember your last year of school and the people you lost touch with.
- you like three teenagers who never say what they feel.
- you like a friendship between two boys tested by the same girl.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you won't read subtitles for a quiet Japanese drama.
- you need something to happen, and here it is phone calls and train platforms.
About: first love · friendship · memory
Boys Over Flowers 2009
Series
A poor high school student earns a scholarship to an elite academy, where she clashes with the most popular boy in school!
The sides of Boys Over Flowers
- A dry cleaner's daughter at an elite school
- Four rich boys who rule the school
- A love triangle between two heirs
Good for you if
- you like a poor girl and a spoiled heir falling for each other.
- you like Jan-di standing up to the F4 bullies.
Bad for you if
- you won't read subtitles for a Korean drama.
- you can't watch bullying on screen. It starts with a student pushed to the edge of the school roof.
About: class · first love · pride
Puberty Syndrome—a rumored, mysterious syndrome that only affects those in their puberty. For example, a bunny girl suddenly appeared in front of Sakuta Azusagawa. The bunny girl's real identity is Mai Sakurajima, a teenage celebrity who is currently an inactive high school senior. For some reason, her charming figure does not reflect in the eyes of others. In the course of revealing the mystery behind this phenomenon, Sakuta begins to explore his feelings towards Mai. Set in a city where the skies and seas shine, Sakuta unfolds the meaning behind his bizarre encounters on women with the said syndrome.
The sides of Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
- A girl in a bunny costume nobody can see
- A high schooler who says what he thinks
- A seaside town and its little train line
Good for you if
- you like a couple that actually talks to each other.
- you like long walks home filled with sharp back-and-forth.
- you like an invented syndrome used to say something true about teenagers.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you won't read subtitles.
- you need the physics talk to hold up.
About: loneliness · first love · adolescence
5 Centimeters per Second 2007
Anime
Three moments in Takaki's life: his relationship with Akari and their forced separation; his friendship with Kanae, who is secretly in love with him; the demands and disappointments of adulthood, an unhappy life in a cold city.
The sides of 5 Centimeters per Second
- A train delayed by snow on the way to a first love
- A surfer girl in love with a boy who looks elsewhere
- An adult life in a cold city
Good for you if
- you want falling cherry blossoms and snow drawn in detail.
- you like an hour of trains, letters and silences.
- you can take a love story about distance and time pulling people apart.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you need a happy ending. This one is about letting go.
About: distance · first love · growing apart
Haikyu!! 2014
Anime
Inspired by a small-statured pro volleyball player, Hinata creates a volleyball team in his last year of middle school. Unfortunately the team is matched up against the "King of the Court" Tobio Kageyama’s team in their first tournament and inevitably lose. After the crushing defeat, Hinata vows to surpass Kageyama After entering high school, Hinata joins the volleyball team only to find that Tobio has also joined.
The sides of Haikyu!!
- A short boy who wants to jump higher than everyone
- A genius setter who was too cold for his old team
- A high school volleyball club trying to fly again
Good for you if
- you like volleyball matches where every rally and every serve counts.
- you like two rivals who become the quickest attack on the court.
- you like a single set stretched over a whole episode.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- four seasons of volleyball tournaments is too much for you.
About: teamwork · rivalry · ambition
BEASTARS 2019
Anime
In a world where beasts of all kinds coexist, a gentle wolf awakens to his own predatory urges as his school deals with a murder within its midst.
The sides of BEASTARS
- A wolf hiding his predatory urges
- A school where predators and prey share a dorm
- A murder on the campus
Good for you if
- you like a high school where a wolf falls for a rabbit.
- you like a shy romance between a predator and the girl he could eat.
- you like watching a quiet teenager work out what he really is.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you won't read subtitles for a Japanese series.
About: instinct · desire · self-control
Assassination Classroom 2015
Anime
The students of Class 3-E have a mission: kill their teacher before graduation. He has already destroyed the moon, and has promised to destroy the Earth if he can not be killed within a year. But how can this class of misfits kill a tentacled monster, capable of reaching Mach 20 speed, who may be the best teacher any of them have ever had?
The sides of Assassination Classroom
- A class told to kill their teacher
- A yellow tentacled creature that moves at Mach 20
- A school's worst-ranked classroom
Good for you if
- you like a classroom where every lesson is an assassination attempt.
- you want a whole class, not just one hero.
- you know the goodbye is coming and you want it to land.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you won't read subtitles.
About: teaching · growing up · friendship