School is back in session so I thought I would soften the end of summer break with some anime set in high schools! This month I submit to you a love story full of laugh out loud moments, a ghost-seeing duo who can’t stay out of trouble, and a geek who gets drafted to be on a competitive cycling team. As a bonus, all these shows are ongoing manga series, so you can watch and read (in your vast spare time)!
My Love Story!! (Romantic Comedy)
Takeo Gōda is a first year high school student, and due to his intensity and intimidating size (he is BIG, think pro-wrestler-big) he doesn’t have much luck with girls. Every crush he has ever had immediately falls for his super-handsome best friend, Makoto Sunakawa. This all changes when he meets Rinko Yamato on the train to school.
This show manages to be sweet without ever turning saccharine, due in large part to the depth and sincerity of the characters. There is enough drama and humor to keep viewers interested, and even better, the characters don’t have that malicious edge to them that destroys friendships and leaves many a protagonist alone at the end of an episode.
You will love this series if you can’t get enough of:
Between Us and the Moon by Rebecca Maizel
The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick
Rin-ne (Funny Ghost Stories)
Sakura Mamiya can see ghosts, and she is not happy about it. She finds the whole concept of her “special powers” awkward so most of the time she ignores anything supernatural that crosses her path… until she realizes that the new boy in her class is invisible to everyone but her. . .
Rinne Rokudo, is half shinigami and 100% broke. When he starts charging his classmates a small fee to banish spirits he thinks he has found the perfect way to make some extra money, until Sakura catches him in the act!
The series is set up with a familiar ghost story at the core of each episode, but while the topics may be familiar, the series injects a ton of humor and fresh life into each scenario.
You will love this series if you can’t get enough of:
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol
Yowamushi Pedal (Bikes and Best Friends)
Onoda Sakamichi is a timid, anime-loving, first-year student at Sohoku High School. He is SUPER excited to join the anime research club. When he discovers that the club has been disbanded because no one else signed up he vows to recruit new members, but he stumbles into the world of competitive cycling instead! Does he belong with these top athletes? Will anyone ever watch anime with him?
Like many sports team anime, making friends is at the core of this series. You will be cheering Onoda on as he discovers hidden talents and wins people over with his positive attitude and enthusiasm.
You will love this series if you can’t get enough of:
Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick
Holy Spokes! A Biking Bible for Everyone by Rob Coppolillo (This title was featured in this Hub post about National Bike Month and if you are looking for more books about bicycling check out this Hub post about stimulating sports stories.)
-Jennifer Billingsley, currently listening to The Diviners by Libba Bray and reading Ouran High School Host Club (Vol. 1) by Bisco Hatori