The Ultimate Guide to Must-Watch Anime Shows Similar to My Happy Marriage

The critically acclaimed series, My Happy Marriage, made a splash during the Summer of 2023. In light of its success, we have compiled a list of ten delightful romance anime that capture the same lightheartedness.

Transporting viewers to the 19th century, My Happy Marriage immerses us in a world where individuals are valued based on their extraordinary abilities. Our protagonist, Miyo Saimori, unfortunately endures a painful childhood as she lacks any supernatural powers. To compound her hardships, she is forcibly betrothed to Kiyoka Kudou, plunging her into an even more miserable existence under his roof.

Kiyoka is often rumored to have a cold-hearted nature, but when Miyo moves in with him, she discovers the true extent of his kind-heartedness. Miyo's decision to give up on her luck ultimately leads her to a path of happiness.

Since its release, My Happy Marriage has garnered significant praise from the community, thanks to its emotionally charged storyline and mesmerizing animation by Kinema Citrus. If you're a fan of this series and seeking something similar, we have compiled a list of the top 10 anime shows that are a must-watch for all My Happy Marriage enthusiasts.

1. Kimi No Todoke

Netflix

"Kimi No Todoke depicts the story of a 15-year-old girl who faces constant humiliation from her classmates due to her resemblance to Sadako from The Ring. Like Miyo Saimori in My Happy Marriage, Sawako is a kind-hearted loner with low self-esteem. Despite the ongoing humiliation, she remains steadfast in offering a helping hand, even to her bullies.

However, Sawako's life takes a turn when Kazehaya, the popular boy at school, befriends her. Despite the rumors surrounding Sawako, Kazehaya sees beyond them and truly understands the real Sawako, ultimately falling in love with her."

2. Romeo X Juliet

Crunchyroll

Romeo X Juliet draws inspiration from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, yet presents a completely unique storyline. Similar to Miyo in My Happy Marriage, the protagonist, Juliet, experiences the tragic loss of her family at a young age. However, unlike Miyo, Juliet transforms into a formidable fighter who abhors injustice. Assuming the identity of The Red Whirlwind, a masked vigilante, she confronts her sole adversary - the son of her archenemy - Romeo. As Juliet discovers Romeo's selflessness, her feelings for him deepen, leading to a love story that sets the stage for an anticipated uprising.

3. A Galaxy Next Door

Crunchyroll

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"A Galaxy Next Door" is a captivating tale of love entwined with intrigue, following the lives of Ichiro, a talented manga artist, and Shiori, a enigmatic young woman. Similar to Miyo, Ichiro faces the harsh reality of losing one parent after the other. He relies on his manga illustrations for survival, but his world is shaken when his assistant resigns.

Enter Shiori, a mesmerizing young girl who takes on the role of Ichiro's new assistant. However, he soon discovers that she hails from a distant galaxy. Astonishingly, Shiori reveals that their destinies are intertwined as Ichiro has unwittingly activated a bond between them by touching the stinger on her back. From that moment on, their lives are forever connected.

4. Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Hulu

Kaichou wa Maid-sama is not your typical romance story, as it delves into various complexities. The story centers around Misaki, the student council president at Seika High, who intentionally keeps her distance from the boys at her school. But her life is far from simple - she works as a maid at a café to support her family after her father's passing.

One day, the school's most popular boy, Takumi Usui, discovers Misaki's secret. Instead of exposing her, he starts regularly visiting the café. Eventually, a romantic relationship develops between the two of them. However, they must overcome numerous challenges before they can be together in the end.

5. Horimiya

Crunchyroll

Horimiya revolves around the lives of 17-year-old Kyouko Hori and Izumi Horimiya, who exhibit contrasting personalities in different settings. While Hori appears outgoing and cheerful in school, she is actually a devoted sister who prioritizes her younger brother at home. On the other hand, Horimiya portrays himself as introverted during school hours, but his charm and vibrant persona shine outside of the classroom.

Upon discovering each other's hidden personas, they agree to keep their true selves concealed from their peers. As they progress through their lives, safeguarding each other's secrets, their bond strengthens, ultimately creating a lasting connection.

6. My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999

Crunchyroll

The anime show "My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999" quickly gained immense popularity, much like my happy marriage. It currently boasts a remarkable rating of 4.9 out of 5 on Crunchyroll.

The story revolves around a heartbroken character named Akane, who finds solace in playing a video game that was once enjoyed by her former lover. At a gaming event, she crosses paths with Yamada, a skilled gamer who is also part of her gaming group. Yamada is renowned for his expertise and even receives sponsorships from gaming companies. Impressively, Akane forms real-life friendships with all the members of her gaming group, including Yamada.

7. Blue Spring Ride

IMDb

The main characters in Blue Spring Ride, Futaba Yoshioka and Kou Mabuchi, embark on a journey of self-discovery. Interestingly, some moments between them are based on real-life events experienced by the manga's illustrator.

Futaba longs for a change in her monotonous life, and unexpectedly, Kou reenters her life but with a completely different demeanor. Despite Futaba's attempts to assist him, her efforts are in vain, causing her to retreat. Despite starting a relationship with someone else, Futaba cannot let go of her feelings for Kou, leading to the eventual breakup. However, both Futaba and Kou find their way back to happiness once Kou realizes his mistake.

8. Emma- A Victorian Romance

Crunchyroll

Like My Happy Marriage, Emma- A Victorian Romance also takes place in the 19th-century setting. It tells the story of a maid who develops feelings for a wealthy young man named William. What sets their romance apart is that their love is not one-sided; William also falls deeply in love with her. However, their relationship faces many challenges as societal norms of that time often placed social status above personal feelings.

For a significant period, the two lovers were kept apart due to these societal pressures. Yet, neither of them gave in to their circumstances. Eventually, William was able to convince his family to accept their relationship.

9. TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You

Crunchyroll

Nasa Yuzaki, the central character of this animated series, often faces mockery from his classmates due to his unusual name. Nonetheless, he lives a tranquil life, prioritizing his career ambitions. However, his life takes a turn for the worse when he encounters an endearing girl at a bus stop.

Just as Nasa is about to confess his affection for her, he gets involved in an accident. Upon regaining consciousness, he is left clueless about the girl's whereabouts as he finds himself in a hospital. Surprisingly, on Nasa's 18th birthday, the girl unexpectedly shows up at his doorstep with a marriage contract.

10. Say I Love You

Crunchyroll

The content revolves around Mei Tachibana, a loner who has spent her entire school life without any friends. This is mainly due to a childhood incident that has caused her trauma and resulted in her inability to socialize with others. However, her life takes a turn when a popular boy named Yamato Kurosawa takes an interest in her. As Mei gets to know him better, she realizes that not everyone will judge her. This realization brings them closer together and Kurosawa has a positive impact on Tachibana's life. Gradually, she overcomes her trauma and begins to make new friends.

How to watch Crunchyroll from outside your location in 2023

Most, if not all, of these animes can be watched on streaming service Crunchyroll.

To access Crunchyroll's complete anime library even if you are outside the US, just follow these simple steps when you are abroad:

Sign up for ExpressVPN, a provider with lightning-fast servers and enjoy a secure and private connection from anywhere across the globe.

Experience the flexibility to connect to various locations in the United States with ExpressVPN, offering a choice of 24 different spots spanning from New Jersey to Santa Monica.

Stream all your favorite animes and even discover new ones by visiting Crunchyroll online.

The difference lies in accessing Crunchyroll's US roster. Hong Kong users can only enjoy less than 100 titles, whereas the US offers a whopping selection of nearly 1,000 movies and TV shows.

You can enjoy streaming anime on Crunchyroll for free with an ad-supported plan, or opt for a subscription. In fact, there's even a 14-day free trial available if you're undecided.

Moreover, numerous anime titles are currently available for streaming on both Crunchyroll and Netflix. For more anime content, feel free to explore our other coverage here.

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