If you are searching for anime like Hana Kimi, you are likely looking for a series that combines high-school life and heartfelt romance.
The Hana Kimi anime, or Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (For You in Full Blossom), follows the journey of Mizuki Ashiya, a Japanese-American girl who disguises herself as a boy to enroll in an all-boys boarding school.
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Her goal is to support her idol, high jumper Izumi Sano, but she soon finds herself in a web of chaotic friendships and romantic encounters. The series originally began as a beloved manga by Hisaya Nakajo that ran from 1996 to 2004.
While the story inspired several massively popular live-action dramas across Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, it took years for a modern anime adaptation to finally happen.
Because the wait for the Hana Kimi anime has been so long, many viewers have searched to find other anime like Hana Kimi that capture its unique spirit. In this article, we’ve curated a list of anime like Hana Kimi that are guaranteed to be your next favorite binge-watch.
3 anime like Hana Kimi that will make you fall in love over and over again
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You is a shoujo romance produced by Production I.G. The first season was released in 2009, followed by a second in 2011, and a long-awaited third season in 2024.
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The story centers on Sawako Kuronuma, a shy and incredibly kind high school girl who has been dubbed “Sadako” by her peers due to her long black hair and pale complexion, which makes her look like the ghost from the horror film “The Ring.” Because of her appearance, rumors persist that she can curse people or see ghosts, causing her to be shunned and lonely despite her desire to make friends.
She then meets Shota Kazehaya, the most popular and outgoing boy in her class. Unlike the others, Kazehaya treats her with genuine kindness from the very first day. His influence helps Sawako break out of her shell, allowing her to clear up the misunderstandings surrounding her personality and form deep, meaningful friendships with her classmates. As Sawako begins to understand her own value, a slow-burn, innocent romance develops between her and Kazehaya.
Kimi ni Todoke and Hana Kimi share the theme of a female lead finding her place within a new school community. An anime like Hana Kimi, Kimi ni Todoke also features a cool and popular male protagonist who is the first to see the heroine’s true value, acting as the inspiration for her personal growth.
There is a similar emphasis on the importance of found family and friendship in both anime. Just as Hana Kimi’s Mizuki relies on her roommates, Sawako’s journey is defined by the support of her inner circle. If you loved the heartwarming character development and the “outsider looking in” perspective of the Hana Kimi anime, Kimi ni Todoke offers a more grounded, emotional version of that same tale.
Blue Spring Ride
Another anime like Hana Kimi to add to your list is Blue Spring Ride, a shoujo drama produced by Production I.G, the same studio behind Kimi ni Todoke.
The story follows Futaba Yoshioka, a high school girl who has deliberately reset her image. After being disliked by girls in middle school for being too feminine and popular with boys, she now acts unrefined and tomboyish to avoid jealousy and fit in.
Her world is shaken when she reunites with her first love, Kou Tanaka. Now going by the name Kou Mabuchi, he has returned after years away, but the sweet, gentle boy she once knew has been replaced by someone cold, sarcastic, and emotionally distant.
The plot focuses on the “blue spring” (a Japanese metaphor for the bloom of youth) and the painful process of growing up. As Futaba tries to understand the trauma that changed Kou, she is forced to confront her own shallow friendships and the lies she tells herself to survive socially.
While Blue Spring Ride is more somber in tone than the comedic Hana Kimi anime, it explores the same concept of having a false identity to fit into a specific social circle. Much like Mizuki in Hana Kimi, Futaba is living a lie to survive her school environment, hiding her femininity just as Mizuki hides her gender.
Both series feature a heroine who enters a boy’s world to understand and save a male lead who has closed his heart off due to past trauma.
If you enjoyed the way Hana Kimi explored the deep bond between two people who help each other become their most authentic selves, Blue Spring Ride offers a more emotional, reflective take on the transformative power of first love.
Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High School Host Club is a romantic comedy anime produced by Studio Bones and directed by Takuya Igarashi. Originally released in 2006, the series is based on the manga by Bisco Hatori.
The story follows Haruhi Fujioka, a brilliant scholarship student at the elite Ouran Academy, an institution catering to the ultra-wealthy.
Haruhi’s life takes a chaotic turn when she accidentally breaks a US$8,000,000 vase belonging to the school’s infamous Host Club, comprising six handsome boys who entertain female “clients.” To pay off her massive debt, Haruhi is forced to join the club. She is quickly promoted to a full-time host once the boys realize her natural talent for charming girls.
The plot revolves around Haruhi’s life as a host, which requires her to maintain the secret that she is actually a girl. While the club’s president, Tamaki Suoh, initially views her as a “daughter” he desires to protect, the dynamic shifts as the various members begin to develop genuine feelings for her.
If you’re looking for an anime like Hana Kimi, Ouran shares the series’ “girl in disguise” trope at an elite school. Much like Mizuki Ashiya, Haruhi explores an environment where she is constantly at risk of being found out, leading to hilarious situations and romantic moments. Both series explore the fluidity of gender roles and feature a quirky ensemble cast that provides a strong sense of camaraderie.
