Josei Anime
Josei is what you get when shoujo characters grow up: more adult relationships, messy careers, and problems you can't solve with a school festival. *Honey and Clover* is a standout, tackling art school burnout, unrequited love, and that drifting feeling in your twenties. The tone shift toward bittersweet realism makes it feel totally different once you've lived a little.
Common Misconception
Josei is just shoujo but with extra drama and cheating.
Underrated Pick
Princess Jellyfish (Kuragehime) -- a hilarious, heartfelt look at otaku women, fashion, and self-acceptance.
Journal with Witch
Shuka
Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju
Studio Deen
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju
Studio Deen
Chihayafuru 3
Madhouse
Bunny Drop
Production I.G
Kids on the Slope
Tezuka Productions
Nodame Cantabile
J.C.Staff
Princess Jellyfish
Brain's Base
Honey and Clover
J.C.Staff
Paradise Kiss
Madhouse
Only Yesterday
Studio Ghibli
Utakoi
TYO Animations
Kiniro no Corda: Primo Passo - Hitonatsu no Encore
Yumeta Company
Cocoon: Aru Natsu no Shoujo-tachi yori
Sasayuri
La corda d'oro: primo passo
Yumeta Company
Betrothed to My Sister's Ex
LandQ studios
Otona Joshi no Anime Time
Bones
Saiyuki Gunlock
Studio Pierrot
Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Movie: Maji Love Kingdom
A-1 Pictures
Saiyuki Reload
Studio Pierrot
Servamp Movie: Alice in the Garden
Platinum Vision
Saiyuki Reload Blast
Platinum Vision
Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 2000%: Shining Star Xmas
A-1 Pictures
The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior
OLM
Dog Signal
Fugaku
Karneval
Manglobe
Meiji Tokyo Renka
TMS Entertainment
Welcome, Chitose
Gathering
Code:Realize ~Guardian of Rebirth~ Set a thief to catch a thief
M.S.C
Phantom of the Idol
Studio Gokumi
Kiko-chan Smile
Shaft
Libra of Nil Admirari
Zero-G
Saiyuuki Reload: Zeroin
LIDENFILMS
Onna no Sono no Hoshi
Lapin Track
A Destructive God Sits Next to Me
EMT Squared
Koi Suru Shirokuma
Gathering
Norn9
Kinema Citrus
The Highschool Life of a Fudanshi
EMT Squared
Chouyaku Hyakuninisshu: Uta Koi. - Sake to Kikoushi: Murasaki Shikibu to Kintou
TYO Animations
Hanayaka Nari, Waga Ichizoku: Kinetograph
Anpro
Amnesia OVA
Brain's Base
Koisuru Shirokuma Tokubetsu-ban
Wild Adapter
Anpro
Showing 43 of 96 Josei anime
Popular Josei Manga
36 total
Journal with Witch
56 ch / 11 vol
Chihayafuru
253 ch / 50 vol
Sakamichi no Apollon
45 ch / 9 vol
Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey
34 ch / 5 vol
Hirano and Kagiura
Nodame Cantabile
150 ch / 25 vol
Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju
31 ch / 10 vol
Paradise Kiss
48 ch / 5 vol
Honey and Clover
71 ch / 10 vol
Princess Jellyfish
93 ch / 17 vol
With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child
92 ch / 15 vol
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat
Showing 12 of 24 Josei manga
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Josei anime?
Based on community scores, Ikoku Nikki (rated 8.73/10) is the highest-rated Josei anime. Rankings update as new scores come in.
How many Josei anime are there?
MyAnimePulse currently tracks 96 Josei anime titles, including TV series, movies, OVAs, and specials.
What's a common misconception about Josei anime?
Josei is just shoujo but with extra drama and cheating.
What's an underrated Josei anime?
Princess Jellyfish (Kuragehime) -- a hilarious, heartfelt look at otaku women, fashion, and self-acceptance.