Summary
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russianis one ofSummer 2024’s most promising entries, taking on the romcom theme with a wholesome spin of its own. Half-Japanese, half-Russian Alya is considered her school’s royalty, yet behind this elegant facade lies a playful persona that only comes out in Russian. However, her Russian jibes and witty remarks are secretly understood by her seatmate Masachika, giving way to a bilingual romance laced with one-sided miscommunication.
The romcom landscape is saturated with all manner of themes and storylines, yet the show effortlessly sets itself apart with its innovative, one-of-a-kind premise. Since the first episode ofAlya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russianhas only recently aired, fans looking for similar narratives can check out these exciting anime in the meantime.
Updated May 13, 2025 by Ahmed Rehan Nasir:Summer 2024’s most awaited romance anime has finally concluded, leaving fans wanting more of this bilingual romance. While Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian has been confirmed for a season renewal, fans will have to wait for at least a year to witness their favorite Russian character on screens. In the meantime, fans of the series can binge on these similar new romance anime that have premiered in Fall 2024’s anime lineup.
Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sisteris at the forefront ofFall 2024’s romance lineup. Harem themes are common within the romance genre, butTying the Knot with an Amagami Sistermanages to add a novel spin to the theme with its colorful characters and the unique situation Uryuu Kamihate finds himself in.
The title of the series gives away the premise, as the series revolves around Uryuu eventually marrying one of the three Amagami sisters. While the series has only recently aired, it’s too soon to state how wellTying the Knot with an Amagami Sisterwill do. Nevertheless, the title’s manga has garnered a sizable following, and it’s likely that the popularity will linger on.
Sports romance seriesare a common sight within the anime landscape, yet a budding romance between a badminton enthusiast and a rising basketball star is certainly a first. Taiki has long been enthralled by Chinatsu, the school’s most popular basketball player, though he relegated himself to the sidelines due to being a mere badminton player. However, fate has a different plan for the two, as both Chinatsu and Taiki end up living together.
Despite belonging to different sports, Chinatsu and Taiki manage to serve as a source of inspiration for each other. This very dynamic is the selling point ofBlue Box, as rarely does any sports anime highlight the romance between players from entirely different sports. Fall 2024’s lineup is brimming with exciting entries, yetBlue Boxhas already cemented itself as one of this season’s most promising entries.
School romance anime tend to follow low-stakes slice-of-life themes, thoughThe Pet Girl Of Sakurasoudifferentiates itself with a nuanced roster of characters at the forefront. With a bunch of ragtag deviates all housed in one dormitory, all manner of chaos is set to ensue. However, behind each eccentric character is a profound personality, whether it’s Mashiro’s oddities or Ryuunouke’s reclusive activities.
The series takes its time fleshing out each character, coupled with showcasing the dynamics and relationships between each one. With all manner of mature themes embedded in the series,The Pet Girl Of Sakurasouis much more than a mere romance anime.
The premise ofThe Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rottenis almost akin to an escapist fantasy, as a fated act of kindness brings two opposites together for anoddly wholesome romance. Returning Amane’s kindness, the “angel” Mahiru takes it upon herself to tend to her next-door recluse.
What starts as a friendship based on kindness blossoms into a gentle love between Amane and Mahiru. While the narrative is quite heartwarming,The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rottencan take on a few unrealistic themes, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
A modern rendition of the classicRomeo and Juliet,Boarding School Julietisset in a schoolfilled with students from two rival nations, and at the helm of their opposing dorms are Romio Inuzuka and Juliet Persia. Despite leading two opposing sides, Romio and Juliet have a relationship that’s a bit more intimate than mere rivals.
The entire premise ofBoarding School Julietrevolves around Inuzuka and Persia keeping their forbidden romance a secret in a bid to maintain order. The double lives of these two protagonists add an element of intrigue to their romance, perfectly complementing the series’ humorous side.
Horimiyawas one of the frontrunners ofWinter 2021’s anime line-up, and its success can be traced back to its simple yet realistic take on high school romance. Hori and Miyamura are two opposites at school, but after discovering each other’s after-school lives, they realize their personalities are more alike than different.
Hori and Miyamura’s romance is oddly wholesome and healthy, as it presents an ideal relationship despite the two bearing differing personalities. The protagonists ofAlya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russianshare a similar relationship, meaning fans of the show are bound to enjoyHorimiya’sromantic escapade.
Komi Can’t Communicatemay have romantic subtexts, yet it is primarily aslice-of-life comedywith a profound lesson woven into the premise. The entire school views Komi as the aloof, popular girl, yet behind this indifference lies a person riddled with social anxiety.
Luckily, Tadano strings along to make Komi’s goal of making a hundred friends come to fruition.Komi Can’t Communicatetouches on delicate matters about mental health in social settings, showcasing the struggles of those who silently suffer from crippling disorders. Despite underscoring these nuanced subtexts, the anime still manages to present a thoroughly comedic storyline.
More than a decade after its initial run,Maid Sama!remains a cult classic in the shojo romance theme, captivating viewers to this day. Usui and Misaki are both stellar leads, with one being the most popular boy in school, and the other taking on the role of the president of the student council.
However, Misaki’s double life as a maid in a café gives Usui an edge over her, giving way to a playful romance teeming with witty banter. While the pacing can be rather slow at times,Misaki and Usui’s romantic chemistryremains unrivaled in the shojo landscape.
Toradora!is another iconic anime withinthe romance landscape, one laced with drama and a nuanced romance. Ryuji and Taiga are complete opposites, yet they agree to become mutual wingmen after finding out they have a crush on each other’s best friends.
Despite their clashes and feisty arguments, Ryuji and Taiga begin to see each other for who they truly are, with romance eventually finding a way to creep in. Based on a shonen light novel,Toradora!differentiates itself from the usual romantic comedies through its drama, even more so with a mature take on high school romance.
Two headstrong high schoolers refuse to be the first ones to confess their feelings, leading to a rollercoaster of a narrative brimming with emotional depth. With their honor and pride on the line, both Miyuki and Kaguya are hell-bent on forcing the other side to yield.
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russiandraws much of its shojo inspiration fromKaguya-sama: Love Is War, with the two adaptations even sharing the same chief art director. Their similarities run even deeper, with several parallels between the leading ladies of both series, meaning viewers can enjoy a similar viewing experience with both series.
