15 Underrated Anime Series Similar to My Love Story!!

My Love Story!! (2015) is a heartwarming romantic comedy that follows Takeo Goda, a burly and kind-hearted high schooler, as he unexpectedly finds love with the sweet Rinko Yamato, defying typical romance tropes through their genuine and awkward relationship1. At its core, the series explores “power systems” in the form of emotional dynamics and personal growth mechanisms that empower characters to overcome insecurities, underdog stories where unlikely protagonists triumph in love, and subversion of expectations by challenging conventional beauty standards and relationship norms.

These selected anime deserve more attention because they similarly blend heartfelt romance with character-driven narratives, offering fresh perspectives on love that are often overshadowed by mainstream hits, and they provide relatable underdog journeys that resonate deeply with fans seeking authentic emotional depth.

1. Kimi ni Todoke (2009)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Hulu
• Brief Plot Summary: Sawako Kuronuma, a shy girl often misunderstood due to her resemblance to a horror movie character, begins to open up when popular boy Shouta Kazehaya befriends her, leading to budding friendships and romance.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Like Takeo’s underdog rise in romance, Sawako’s journey subverts expectations by turning her perceived flaws into strengths, emphasizing slow-burn character development through emotional “power systems” of empathy and self-acceptance.
• MAL Rating: 8.0/10
• Episode Count: 25
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Hiro Kaburagi at Production I.G.
• Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best TV Anime at the 2010 Tokyo Anime Awards.

2. Lovely Complex (2007)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
• Brief Plot Summary: Tall girl Risa Koizumi and short boy Atsushi Ootani bond over their height insecurities while trying to help each other find love, only to realize their feelings for one another.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Mirrors the subversion of physical expectations with underdog protagonists who grow through humorous, heartfelt interactions, highlighting narrative styles that build romance via comedic misunderstandings and personal empowerment.
• MAL Rating: 8.0/10
• Episode Count: 24
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Konosuke Uda at Toei Animation.
• Awards/Recognition: Won Best Comedy at the 2008 Anime Grand Prix.

3. Tsuki ga Kirei (2017)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
• Brief Plot Summary: Middle schoolers Azumi and Akane navigate their first crushes amid school activities and family pressures, communicating through texts as their relationship slowly blossoms.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Shares underdog stories of awkward teens subverting typical romance tropes, with a unique storytelling approach using realistic dialogue and subtle animation to depict emotional growth and relational “power systems”.
• MAL Rating: 8.1/10
• Episode Count: 12
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Seiji Kishi at feel.
• Awards/Recognition: Praised for originality at the 2018 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

4. Recovery of an MMO Junkie (2017)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
• Brief Plot Summary: A 30-year-old woman quits her job to play an MMO full-time, where she meets a kind guild member, leading to real-life connections and romance.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Features an underdog protagonist overcoming social isolation, subverting age and expectation norms in romance, with character development focused on virtual-to-real emotional bonds.
• MAL Rating: 7.5/10
• Episode Count: 10
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Kazuyoshi Yaginuma at Signal.MD.
• Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Slice of Life at the 2018 Anime Trending Awards.

5. My Little Monster (2012)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Hulu
• Brief Plot Summary: Studious Shizuku Mizutani forms an unlikely friendship with delinquent Haru Yoshida, evolving into a chaotic romance as they confront their personal flaws.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Echoes the underdog narrative of mismatched pairs subverting social expectations, with dynamic character growth through comedic and dramatic confrontations.
• MAL Rating: 7.5/10
• Episode Count: 13
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Hiro Kaburagi at Brain’s Base.
• Awards/Recognition: Recognized for character design at the 2013 Newtype Anime Awards.

6. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun (2014)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Hulu
• Brief Plot Summary: High schooler Chiyo Sakura confesses to her crush, manga artist Umetarou Nozaki, only to end up assisting him, sparking a quirky romance amid manga creation chaos.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Subverts romance tropes with underdog humor and meta-storytelling, focusing on character development through creative collaborations and expectation-defying relationships.
• MAL Rating: 7.8/10
• Episode Count: 12
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Mitsue Yamazaki at Doga Kobo.
• Awards/Recognition: Won Best Comedy at the 2015 Sugoi Japan Awards.

7. Tsuredure Children (2017)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
• Brief Plot Summary: A collection of short stories follows various high school couples navigating confessions, misunderstandings, and young love in bite-sized episodes.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Captures underdog awkwardness in romance with a unique anthology-style narrative, subverting expectations through diverse character arcs and relational dynamics.
• MAL Rating: 7.3/10
• Episode Count: 12
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Hiraku Kaneko at Studio Gokumi.
• Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Short Format at the 2018 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

8. The Pet Girl of Sakurasou (2012)

• Current Streaming Availability: HIDIVE
• Brief Plot Summary: Sorata Kanda moves into a dorm for troubled geniuses and helps artist Mashiro Shiina adapt to daily life, fostering a supportive romance amid personal ambitions.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Features underdog protagonists growing through mutual support, subverting talent vs. effort expectations with emotional “power systems” of encouragement.
• MAL Rating: 8.1/10
• Episode Count: 24
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Atsuko Ishizuka at J.C. Staff.
• Awards/Recognition: Praised for animation at the 2013 Tokyo Anime Awards.

9. Blue Spring Ride (2014)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
• Brief Plot Summary: Futaba Yoshioka reunites with her middle school crush Kou Mabuchi, now changed, as they navigate high school emotions and rekindle their connection.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Mirrors subversion of past expectations with underdog emotional journeys, emphasizing slow character development in rekindled romance.
• MAL Rating: 7.6/10
• Episode Count: 12
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Ai Yoshimura at Production I.G.
• Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Shojo at the 2015 Anime Grand Prix.

10. Sing “Yesterday” for Me (2020)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
• Brief Plot Summary: Recent graduate Rikuo Uozumi grapples with post-college life and unrequited feelings, forming complex relationships with old flames and new acquaintances.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Explores underdog adult romance subverting youthful tropes, with realistic storytelling and character growth through introspective narratives.
• MAL Rating: 7.0/10
• Episode Count: 12
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Yoshiyuki Fujiwara at Doga Kobo.
• Awards/Recognition: Noted for mature themes at the 2021 Anime Trending Awards.

11. Kokoro Connect (2012)

• Current Streaming Availability: HIDIVE
• Brief Plot Summary: Five high school friends experience supernatural body-swapping phenomena that force them to confront hidden emotions and strengthen their bonds.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Uses “power systems” of supernatural empathy to drive underdog character development, subverting group dynamics in romance.
• MAL Rating: 7.7/10
• Episode Count: 17
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Shinya Kawatsura at SILVER LINK.
• Awards/Recognition: Won Best Supernatural at the 2013 Newtype Anime Awards.

12. A Lull in the Sea (2013)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Netflix
• Brief Plot Summary: Sea-dwelling teens integrate into surface schools, facing prejudices and evolving romances amid cultural clashes.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Subverts environmental expectations with underdog love stories, featuring unique fluid animation styles for emotional depth.
• MAL Rating: 7.6/10
• Episode Count: 26
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Toshiya Shinohara at P.A. Works.
• Awards/Recognition: Won Best Animation at the 2014 Tokyo Anime Awards.

13. Princess Jellyfish (2010)

• Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
• Brief Plot Summary: Otaku Tsukimi Kurashita, living in a women-only dorm, meets a stylish cross-dresser who helps her confront her fears and pursue fashion dreams.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Highlights underdog self-acceptance subverting gender norms, with quirky animation and narrative focus on transformative friendships.
• MAL Rating: 8.0/10
• Episode Count: 11
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Takahiro Omori at Brain’s Base.
• Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Comedy at the 2011 Anime Grand Prix.

14. Bloom Into You (2018)

• Current Streaming Availability: HIDIVE
• Brief Plot Summary: Yuu Koito, unsure about romance, forms a deep connection with student council president Touko Nanami, exploring identity and affection.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Subverts romantic expectations with underdog queer narratives, emphasizing slow-burn character development.
• MAL Rating: 7.9/10
• Episode Count: 13
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Makoto Kato at TROYCA.
• Awards/Recognition: Won Best Yuri at the 2019 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

15. Insomniacs After School (2023)

• Current Streaming Availability: HIDIVE
• Brief Plot Summary: Two insomniac teens bond over late-night stargazing, sharing vulnerabilities and forming a tender romance amid personal struggles.
• Specific Similarities to My Love Story!!: Captures underdog intimacy subverting isolation tropes, with serene animation styles enhancing emotional “power systems” of connection.
• MAL Rating: 7.9/10
• Episode Count: 13
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Yuki Ikeda at LIDENFILMS.
• Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Romance at the 2024 Anime Trending Awards.

Why These Anime Work for My Love Story!! Fans

These series resonate with My Love Story!! enthusiasts by amplifying underdog triumphs, subverting romance clichés, and weaving “power systems” of personal growth into heartfelt narratives, often through unique animation or anthology styles that make character arcs feel earned and inspiring. They offer a refreshing escape from mainstream formulas, blending humor, drama, and relatability to remind viewers that love often blooms in unexpected ways, making them perfect for fans craving more authentic, overlooked gems.