10 Anime Series Set in High School: From Slice of Life to Supernatural

Kimi to Boku (2011)

Instead of the expected girl-meets-boy dynamic, Kimi to Boku offers a heartwarming slice-of-life narrative focusing on the unbreakable bond between four childhood friends. Shun, Kaname, Yuki, and Yuta are in their second year of high school, trudging through the typical teenage turmoil, when the arrival of transfer student Chizuru Tachibana shakes up their mundane routine. The boys navigate the peaks and valleys of adolescence, with a sweet dash of humor and poignant reflection, showing us that high school life is indeed a roller coaster.

School Rumble (2004)

School Rumble does make high school feel like a thrilling battleground of wits and emotions. The series orbits around the lives of students at Yagami High School, specifically focusing on the hopelessly infatuated Tenma Tsukamoto and the often clueless delinquent Kenji Harima. The punchline? They're both caught in an incredibly tangled web of unrequited love, with Tenma pining after the aloof Oji Karasuma and Harima harboring feelings for Tenma. The series is filled to the brim with uproarious misunderstandings, intense rivalries, and some surprisingly tender moments. It's a romantic comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously, and that's exactly why it works so wonderfully against the high school backdrop.

A Lull in the Sea (2013)

Ever wondered what it would be like if The Little Mermaid was a high school drama set in Japan? Meet A Lull in the Sea, a beautifully animated series that blends the supernatural with the all-too-familiar trials of adolescence. The story follows four childhood friends from an undersea village who must attend a school on the surface after theirs closes down. As they navigate the perils of their new environment, they must also deal with the impending reality of their village's potential extinction. If you're yearning for a series that'll give you the warm fuzzies and also tug at your heartstrings, then this is it.

K-On! (2009)

You know how sometimes you join a club for one reason, and then you end up on a completely different track? That's exactly what happens in K-On!, a delightful series about four high school girls who join their school's Light Music Club to prevent it from being disbanded, despite having little to no experience in playing instruments. The girls quickly form a band and their journey is anything but a smooth melody. Instead, it's filled with daily shenanigans, bouts of laziness, and tea breaks, lots of them. But, amidst all the fun and games, the series beautifully captures the essence of high school friendships.

The Pet Girl of Sakurasou (2012)

The Pet Girl of Sakurasou is a series that doesn't shy away from diving into the deep end of the pool of youthful ambition and love. The series centers on Sorata Kanda, a seemingly average student who lives at Sakurasou, the dormitory for problem children at his school. His life turns upside down when the artistic yet completely dependent Shiina Mashiro moves in. Tasked with taking care of her, Sorata embarks on a journey filled with art, ambition, competition, and romance.

Hyouka (2012)

Hyouka explores the life of Houtarou Oreki, a high school student who'd rather not waste energy on unnecessary things. However, his quiet life gets interrupted when he joins the school's Classic Literature Club at the behest of his elder sister. There, he meets the inquisitive Eru Chitanda whose curiosity keeps him on his toes. They spend their high school days solving various mysteries, often linked to the history of their school. The series is known for its attention to detail in animation and its idiosyncratic character development.

Silver Spoon (2013)

Silver Spoon is a series that tells the tale of Yuugo Hachiken, a diligent city boy who enrolls in an agricultural school to escape the academic pressure of city life. However, he's in for a surprise when he discovers that farming is no walk in the park. Through his experiences, the series beautifully explores the often overlooked complexities and harsh realities of agricultural life. Despite its relatively unknown status, the series holds a 7.9/10 score on IMDb and boasts of having a Manga Taisho Award-winning manga as its source material.

Kokoro Connect (2012)

What happens when five high school students randomly start swapping bodies? Chaos, drama, and a surprising amount of self-discovery, that's what. Kokoro Connect takes this intriguing premise and weaves a tale that perfectly balances comedy, supernatural elements, and heartfelt character development. Despite its short run of only 17 episodes, the series manages to pack a powerful emotional punch. Kokoro Connect was directed by Shinya Kawatsura, who's also known for his work on Non Non Biyori and Tanaka-kun is Always Listless.

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun (2014)

If you've ever wondered what goes on in the minds of manga artists, Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun might just be your ticket. This series centers around Chiyo Sakura, a high school student who has a crush on her schoolmate Umetarou Nozaki. However, when she confesses her feelings, Nozaki mistakes her for a fan and gives her an autograph. The series combines high school romance with insights into manga creation, leading to many hilarious moments. What makes it even more fascinating is the fact that it's based on a four-panel comic strip manga, a format typically reserved for gag-based series.

Mysterious Girlfriend X (2012)

This series tells the unusual love story of Akira Tsubaki and Mikoto Urabe. When Tsubaki tastes Urabe's drool left on her desk, he inexplicably falls sick. Urabe explains that he's suffering from love sickness and can only be cured by receiving a dose of her drool daily. And just like that, they become a couple. This bizarre (and just a teensy wee bit icky) premise gives way to a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of young love and the unique connection between two people.