After being dumped, Kazuya Kinoshita starts renting a girlfriend, Chizuru Mizuhara. A complicated chain of events draws the two together outside the dating app they met on, and hilarity ensues over the course of two seasons. If someone is looking for a show with a similar feel, one that mixes romance and comedy, these upcoming recommendations are the best anime like Rent-A-Girlfriend.
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Updated September 17, 2022 by Mark Sammut: Rent-A-Girlfriend Season 2 has come to an end. Similar to its predecessor, the Summer 2022 sequel has been polarizing. Even if Kazuya and Chizuru’s messy romance is not for everyone, plenty of people will miss the show now that it is over. Thankfully, there are plenty of romantic comedy anime like Rent-A-Girlfriend out there, even if most series have wildly different premises. This article has been updated with a few new recommendations, along with their streaming information.
17 Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions
Looking to capture your inner child? Try out Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. This series follows Yuta Togashi, a freshman in high school trying to forget his time as a Chunibyo. He used to pretend he had superpowers, dress up in class, and put off other classmates.
After moving to a new school, he meets Rikka, a girl who hasn’t left this childish phase of her life behind yet. When Rikka learns that Yuta used to be like her, she becomes interested in him. It’s a heartwarming story that’s sure to make viewers laugh.
16 My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
People interested in a more pessimistic take on romance should check out My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU. In this anime, Hachiman Hikigaya and Yukino Yukinoshita are taking part in the school’s service club, despite their aversion to dealing with other people.
They’re joined by the preppy Yui Yuigahama and experience many of the ups and downs of adolescence together, seeing some romance along the way. Compared to Rent-A-Girlfriend, SNAFU takes a more reflective look at its characters and relationships in general.
15 Baka & Test: Summon the Beasts
While most of the series’ covered so far place a stronger emphasis on the romantic, Baka & Test is a pure comedy that uses whatever romantic elements it has as a punch line. The series takes place in a school where students use their titular summoned beasts to take part in academic battles.
The series focuses on Class F; the lowest graded and least privileged class. The group features a unique and interesting cast of characters who greatly lend to the series’ slapstick style. The love triangle between the series’ main character Akihisa and two main heroines, Mizuki and Minami, makes for some great comedic interactions that ultimately drive the tone and narrative throughout.
14 Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai
This anime explores a rare condition known as Puberty Syndrome and its exacerbation issues. Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai follows Mai Sakurajima and Sakuta Azusagawa on their journey to uncover the secret of this sensation.
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Along the way, they find attraction growing between them. It’s an excellent supernatural anime that sets itself apart from other entries in the rom-com genre. While Mia and Sakuta’s relationship takes a backseat in some arcs, they have unbelievably good chemistry that shines whenever they share a screen.
13 Your Lie In April
Those interested in a more emotional romantic anime should check out Your Lie In April. While this anime does have comedic moments, it centers around two troubled teens: Kosei Arima and Kaori Miyazono.
Kosei gave up the piano after his mother’s passing, while Kaori is physically deteriorating as the anime progresses. The two bond over their hardships, pushing each other to become better musicians in the process. Just have some tissues ready for a good cry, as it’s a tearjerker.
12 Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends
Haganai takes a ton of interesting ideas and condenses them within the standard harem/rom-com format. Unlike many shows within the genre, Haganai doesn’t play it especially safe when it comes to its main character and the dynamics that form throughout the narrative.
The series revolves around transfer student Kodaka Hasegawa, who has trouble making fried s due to his delinquent-like appearance. The series mixes in standard comedy and harem elements while tackling some interesting character dynamics.
11 Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
If someone likes a little fantasy in their romantic comedy, they should consider trying out Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid. This anime follows an office worker named Kobayashi and her maid, Tohru. It just so happens that this maid is a dragon that took human form.
Tohru is willing to do anything to win Kobayashi’s heart and pay off her debt to her human companion. It’s an outlandish tale that’s as unique as it is heartwarming.
10 Yamada Kun And The Seven Witches
Another anime that melds magic with romance is Yamada Kun and the Seven Witches. The series protagonist Ryu Yamada has the ability to mimic the powers of seven witches at his school by. . . kissing them? It’s a hilariously wacky premise, and it’s great to see the interactions between Yamada and these ladies.
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Urara Shiraishi is the witch that has stolen his heart, and they join the Supernatural Studies Club to learn more about why the witches exist. While the anime ends differently than the manga, it’s still worth the watch.
9 Date A Live
The Date A Live series seamlessly mixes in harem and rom-com elements within a sci-fi setting. Plenty of studios have tried their hand at the series over the years, and despite all the changes brought up with each iteration, anime fans have come to love this campy rom-com.
The series follows protagonist Shido Itsuka, who is tasked with sealing the powers of the various spirits encountered throughout the series. It might be based in sci-fi, but Date A Live follows many of the romance tropes fans of Rent-A-Girlfriend will easily be able to latch on to.
8 Tsuredure Children
There’s nothing like young love, and there are few anime that capture the sensation like Tsuredure Children. This short series follows several sets of high schoolers trying to navigate their first crushes.
Each couple has its own quirks and dynamics that make for a varied view of adolescent attraction. With 12 episodes averaging about 12 minutes each, viewers will be able to binge the series in no time.
7 Nisekoi: False Love
Sometimes, a meet-cute involves a knee to the face. Nisekoi and Rent-A-Girlfriend share one major plot element in common: their primary characters pretend to be a couple. In the former’s case, Raku and Chitoge are forced into this position to subdue a rivalry between two opposing gangs. Naturally, the teenagers hate each other at first, although they do eventually develop a bond.
Also, similar to Rent-A-Girlfriend, Nisekoi introduces a harem aspect quite quickly. And, also like Rent-A-Girlfriend, an argument could be made that Nisekoi’s secondary girls are better fits for the male protagonist than the main female lead.
6 My Love STORY!!
Looks can be deceiving, especially when someone is as intimidating as Takeo Gouda, the protagonist of My LOVE Story!!. This gentle giant is often feared by his peers and overshadowed by his attractive best friend.
That all changes when he meets the beautiful Rinko Yamato, who is interested in him. It’s Gouda’s first experience with love and an adorable show from start to finish. Few anime are as wholesome as this show, so make sure to check it out!
5 Toradora!
Ever felt too shy to approach a crush? That’s the scenario that brings Ryuuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka together in Toradora. It just so happens that each of them has a crush on the other’s best friend! The pair agree to work together to get their crushes’ attention.
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It’s a goofy story with plenty of twists, turns, and heartfelt moments. Watchers are sure to crack a smile during the show’s 25-episode run, and they might even find themselves tearing up during some scenes.
4 Girlfriend, Girlfriend
While pretty funny at times, Rent-A-Girlfriend leans heavily into drama, particularly in relation to Kazuya and Chizuru’s turbulent dynamic. At times, the show’s melodrama can be a bit much, so people who want a rest bite can check out Girlfriend, Girlfriend. A pure comedy, this hilarious 2021 anime follows the unflinchingly honest Naoya Mukai and his harem of girlfriends who he dates openly.
Girlfriend, Girlfriend is over-the-top silliness, and the anime relies heavily on slapstick humor. Consequently, the punchlines can get a bit repetitive, particularly in the show’s second half. Still, the characters are funny, and Naoya is the polar opposite of Kazuya since he approaches each scenario without any hesitation or doubt.
3 Oreshura
Fans of Rent-A-Girlfriend’s narrative should feel right at home with Oreshura. The series follows protagonist Eita Kido after he agrees to enter a fake relationship with his classmate. When word gets out, some girls close to Eita decide to make their move.
The set-up is somewhat similar to Rent-A-Girlfriend, but the characters and motivations are completely different. Anime fans will appreciate the bevy of JoJo references made throughout the show.
2 The Quintessential Quintuplets
Looking for another anime where a harem of girls pine for the same boy’s attention? Look no further than The Quintessential Quintuplets. When five identical sisters are on the brink of being held back, their opulent father hires Fuutarou Uesugi.
The series follows his efforts to help Itsuki, Ichika, Nino, Yotsuba, and Miku. While their appearances are identical, their personalities are far from it. Each episode helps highlight the many differences between the sisters and how Fuutarou grows to appreciate each member of this extraordinary family. With two full seasons out and a third on the way, there’s no better time to hop into this series.
1 The Pet Girl Of Sakurasou
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou follows an eccentric group of students as they navigate through school life. After being forced out of the main dorms, protagonist Sorata Kanda has no choice but to move into the Sakura Dormitory.
The dorm has a reputation for housing some of his school’s biggest oddballs, none stranger than Mashiro Shiina, a well-known artist. Sorata is tasked with caring for her, sparking a variety of adventures and plenty of personal growth.
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