High school: a time of growth, friendship, and unforgettable experiences. Anime has captured the essence of these formative years with incredible storytelling and relatable characters. From heartwarming slice-of-life to thrilling adventures, the high school anime genre offers something for everyone. Join us as we delve into the world of youth and explore the 7 best high school anime of all time that have left a lasting impact on fans worldwide.
1/ Skip and Loafer
Skip and Loafer features Mitsumi Iwakura, a young woman from the countryside who has recently relocated to the bustling city to embark on her high school journey with great enthusiasm. Unlike many rural protagonists in anime, Mitsumi does not find herself daunted or perplexed by the rapid pace of urban life. Rather, she possesses the intelligence and ambition necessary to aspire to a career in politics, which aligns with her ENFJ personality type.
Mitsumi aims to enhance the lives of rural citizens in Japan through her political aspirations, driven by noble and idealistic intentions. However, her immediate challenge is to successfully navigate her high school experience. While she excels academically, she may struggle with social interactions, providing a source of amusement for the audience. For instance, Mitsumi harbors a fondness for her blonde classmate, Sosuke Shima, but the question remains: can she capture his attention and win his affection?
2/ Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun is set in a relatively typical high school environment, yet this is not the only appeal of this humorous series. The anime centers on the pleasures of creating and illustrating shojo manga, featuring Umetaro Nozaki, a dedicated shojo manga artist known for his work, Let’s Fall in Love. When the petite Chiyo Sakura confesses her feelings to him, she is met with a courteous rejection.
However, Chiyo quickly moves past this and finds joy in her role as one of Nozaki’s assistants, as they navigate their daily high school experiences together to gather inspiration for Let’s Fall in Love. Their surroundings provide ample material, as their eccentric classmates serve as an unusual source of creativity for Nozaki.
3/ One-Week Friends
One-Week Friends may not be considered one of the best high school anime to watch, yet it remains an endearing series that presents a distinctive take on the dandere archetype. The protagonist, Kaori Fujimiya, is not merely shy and insecure; she experiences a complete loss of memory regarding her friends every week. Having resigned herself to a life devoid of friendships and social interactions, Kaori’s situation changes when her classmate Yuuki Hase notices her plight and offers his assistance in navigating this unusual memory challenge.
Initially, Kaori was reluctant to accept Yuuki’s help, but she eventually embraced his friendship, discovering joy for the first time in many years. One-Week Friends is a delightful blend of romance, comedy, and drama, featuring an intriguing premise. However, it does not fully capitalize on its concept, and several characters lack significant depth, resulting in its position near the bottom of the list of high school anime series that are truly worth watching.
4/ Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya emerged as a significant force within the high school anime subgenre during the early 2000s. The protagonist, Kyon, is well-known for his sharp wit and consistently delivers sarcastic remarks in various situations, which inadvertently fuels the eccentricities of the titular character, Haruhi.
Haruhi expresses her disinterest in “ordinary” individuals, prompting her to pursue interactions with paranormal and extraterrestrial beings. She subsequently assumes the role of president of her school’s paranormal activity club, known as the SOS Brigade. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya has proven to be enduringly popular, and it is a must-watch for every anime enthusiast at least once.
5/ The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is an essential viewing experience for enthusiasts of comedic anime. The series centers around Saiki Kusuo, a high school student endowed with a plethora of psychic abilities. Its rapid pacing ensures that each episode contributes to an extensive array of recurring jokes.
Saiki predominantly engages in internal dialogues and communicates minimally with his peers. He illustrates the challenges of high school life, which are exacerbated by his ability to read minds. Both his powers and the people around him present significant challenges. While the narrative does not adhere to a conventional storyline, this lack of structure adds to its appeal for fans of this comedic genre. However, it may not fully satisfy those who prefer traditional high school slice-of-life narratives, resulting in a somewhat lower ranking among the best high school anime of all time.
6/ Komi Can’t Communicate
Following its debut, Komi Can’t Communicate rapidly emerged as one of the best high school anime of all time on Netflix. The narrative centers around Shoko Komi, a high school student grappling with significant social anxiety, which remains unnoticed by her peers. Hitohito Tadano, however, quickly recognizes her struggles and commits to assisting her in her aspiration to forge 100 friendships.
The series captivates audiences with its engaging storytelling and endearing characters, leading fans to embrace this high school anime for various reasons. Many viewers find that Komi offers the representation they have long sought, while others are drawn to the charming slow-burn romance that develops between Komi and Tadano.
7/ My Dress-Up Darling
My Dress-Up Darling features the endearingly reserved and devoted character Wakana Gojo, a high school student with a passion for tailoring and hina dolls. One day, the vibrant and energetic Marin Kitagawa approaches him to become her personal tailor, aiming to elevate her cosplay endeavors.
The story unfolds into a charming high school romance that explores the enchanting world of cosplay, the dynamics of contrasting personalities, and ultimately, the emergence of genuine love. Through the process of creating costumes, Wakana discovers ways to articulate his emotions, while Marin finds herself increasingly drawn to her supportive new friend and cosplay collaborator.