Mike’s Favorite Rom-Com Anime of 2023

I am a sucker for a good love story, and my favorite way it’s told is through anime. The romantic comedy genre hearkens back to greats like Ouran Host Club and Toradora, but seems to be peaking in recent years with tons of contemporary manga adaptations thoroughly entertaining fans worldwide. A genre so great it made me switch from dub to sub. I kept a keen eye on all the shows that came out and loved that they came out on different days of the week so I could have something to look forward to. Here are some of my favorites that came out in 2023!

Insomniacs After School

The anime that evoked more emotion out of me than any other this year was Insomniacs After School. The young love tale between Nakami and Magari explores coming out of your shell, taking massive risks for massive rewards, and persisting when all hope is lost. The immaculate presentation and satisfying climax had me in tears and grinning like a fool on more than a few occasions. This is one that sticks in my head several months removed, one that will have a special place in my heart, and one that sets a bar that other rom-coms haven’t reached for me yet.

The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague

The Ice Guy and his Cool Female Colleague took me by surprise in 2023. Published by Square Enix, it implements magic in a compelling way, but what kept me excited each week was the slowly budding romance between Fuyutsuki and Himuro. The chemistry between the two office workers is undeniable, and even though they’re too shy to go the extra mile by the time the season ends, there’s no question that these two care for each other in a deep way. This is as wholesome as it gets and I found myself smiling to this anime quite often; the eye candy is just the cherry on top.

The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses

I can’t believe this premise works, but The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses had me in stitches several times in 2023. This adorable, heartfelt rom-com hones in on Komura and Mie, the latter of whom seems to lose her spectacles almost every day at school. With Komura as her seeing-eye helper, the hilarity somehow never gets old and the bond between the two strengthens in no time. This one absolutely needs a season two, as it’s another case of nothing being official between the pair yet.

My Tiny Senpai

Having just got married to a woman 6 inches shorter than me, I can relate to My Tiny Senpai. This whimsical rom-com finds the office setting for the small Katase and Shinozaki as a matchmaker, as the former being a manager to the latter makes the mutual crushes they have even funnier. This is the funniest of the four and even though there’s no payoff at the end of the season, there’s no shortage of laughs or drops in quality from start to finish.