Have you ever wondered what the best school animes of all time are? In this article, we will recommend the best ones along with a complete list of school animes. Generally, a school anime takes place in a school with activities in a school club.
Most Japanese animes take place in school, even if just a little. So it’s kind of complicated to make a list of school animes. We will try to choose animes that take place most of the time in school and divide them into subgenres.
Table of Contents
School Romance Animes
The animes below are romantic and spend most of the time in school:
Toradora
25 episodes – MAL rating 8.32
Ryuuji Takasu is a kind high school student, obsessed with cleanliness; but, in contrast to his kind nature, he has an intimidating face that often labels him as a delinquent. On the other hand, there’s Taiga Aisaka, a short girl who looks like a doll but has an aggressive personality, earning her the nickname “pocket tiger.”
One day, an embarrassing mistake causes the two students to cross paths. Ryuuji discovers that Taiga actually has a good side: she has a crush on the popular vice president Yuusaku Kitamura, who happens to be his best friend. But things only get crazier when Ryuuji reveals that he has a crush on Minori Kushieda, Taiga’s best friend!
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo
24 episodes – MAL rating 8.26
If you are looking for a good school anime with romance and comedy, then Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo is a must-watch. Sorata Kanda plans to leave Sakura Hall dormitory because he can no longer stand its eccentric residents. However, everything changes when he meets a strange girl named Mashiro Shiina.
Kimi ni Todoke
25 + 12 episodes – MAL rating 8.22
Kuronuma Sawako is also known as ‘Sadako’ at school, a name that references the iconic character from The Ring (in Brazil, she is Samara). Her appearance does not help either, making her scare some people.
Her school life is lonely and unhappy, not to mention her extreme shyness. Everything changes when Kazehaya, the most popular boy in her school, takes an interest in her. Kimi ni Todoke is an exciting series that will melt your heart.
Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
26 episodes – MAL rating 8.11
Misaki is the president of the student council at a girls’ school that recently opened its doors to boys. She is nicknamed the Demon President due to her strictness, but she ends up becoming revered because of a popular boy.
This boy named Usui discovers her weakness; she is a poor girl who needs to work in a Maid Café to support her family, but she tries to hide this secret from the school. Usui doesn’t reveal her secret but starts to pursue her at the Café and in school.
ReLIFE
16 episodes – MAL rating 8.09
An unemployed adult in his 30s with no purpose in life receives an opportunity to change his life through a test where he ingests a drug that makes him return to being a teenager and attend school.
This school anime shows how a 30-year-old adult with a formed mind interacts with other students and teenage friends. He ends up falling in love, but unfortunately, he must keep this one-year experiment a secret.
Tsuki ga Kirei
12 episodes – MAL rating 8.26
A romance between two young students who are super shy, with a complete and cute beginning, middle, and end. Kotarou Azumi is an aspiring writer, while the girl Akane Mizuno is a runner. It’s worth checking out this light romance.
Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai
2 seasons – MAL rating 8.42
The student council representatives are in love with each other, but both are too proud to confess. They try through games and conversation to make the other confess their love first, like a great war.
A very funny anime with charismatic characters and quite iconic stories, but with a beautiful touch of romance. Who will win this love war? An essential anime for you to have a good laugh.
School Club Animes
Kokoro Connect
13 episodes – MAL rating 7.88
The Cultural Research Club of Yamaboshi High School consists of five members who one day start swapping bodies for no apparent reason. While trying to discover the cause of this supernatural phenomenon, they also begin to reveal their secrets and deepest feelings. Packed with romance and hilarity, Kokoro Connect will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu
14 episodes – MAL rating + 8.09
A peculiar student named Haruhi Suzumiya forms the SOS Brigade, one of the most famous school anime clubs, specializing in supernatural events, in order to find time travelers, aliens, and people with abilities.
Other students from the same school join the club at her insistence and soon realize that Haruhi has more than just her eccentricity. Our protagonist Kyon ends up being forced to join the club even though he doesn’t believe in these things.
Ouran Koukou Host Club
26 episodes – MAL rating + 8.24
Haruhi Fujioka discovers that there is a famous Host Club at her school, primarily aimed at entertaining the girls of the academy. By a strange twist of fate, Haruhi begins to pass as a boy and becomes a full-time host in the club. This exciting school anime is one of the most famous that explores the theme of gender swapping.
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru
3 seasons – MAL rating + 8.09
The love comedy is about a very apathetic protagonist who dislikes socializing with others. Everything changes when he meets the president of the Volunteer Service Club, Yukino Yukinoshita.
Hyouka
22 episodes – MAL rating + 8.18
At the request of his older sister, student Houtarou Oreki joins the Classic Literature Club to prevent it from being disbanded. In it, Oreki and the other members begin to investigate a case that occurred 45 years ago, which involves Chitanda’s uncle.
The clues to this mystery are found in a work titled Hyōka, made through data collected by the old Classic Literature Club. Thus, the group of friends starts to solve mysterious cases that occur inside and outside of school.
K-On!
26 + 13 episodes – MAL rating + 7.88
Yui Hirasawa, in search of a club, finds the light music club, mistakenly believing it involves simple instruments like castanets. Unable to play an instrument, she decides to apologize and leave.
The light music club is threatened with extinction due to a lack of members, causing other club members to insist that Yui stay, introducing and awakening her passion for music. This anime is very popular for its moe.
Sket Dance
77 episodes – MAL rating + 8.28
The SKET Brigade is a school club focused on helping others, composed of three main members nicknamed Switch, Himeko, and the group leader Bossun. However, most people know them only as the club that deals with strange jobs.
Despite spending a lot of time doing nothing, they strive to help others in a hilarious way. The SKET Brigade does everything possible to provide support, kindness, encouragement, and problem-solving to any student crazy enough to request their services. The anime has various satires, references, and parodies.
School Life Animes – Slice of Life
The animes below show everyday life in a Japanese school, but may have a touch of action, romance, and comedy. Perhaps not all have characteristics of slice of life animes, but I included them here since I couldn’t define them elsewhere.
Clannad
2 seasons – MAL rating + 8.13
Tomoya Okazaki is a delinquent who finds life boring and has no goals for it. Until one day he meets a fragile girl named Nagisa, who helps him change this point of view. A very sad and emotional anime.
Although it has a strong focus on romance and the protagonists’ relationship, much of the anime shows more of the everyday life in school and after it. The protagonist also helps various female students solve their personal problems.
Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO)
43 episodes – MAL rating + 8.71
Although it is an older anime, it is essential, especially in an article about school animes. It is about a delinquent teacher trying to get a problematic class in line. One of the best in the genre, with plenty of comedy and action.
The anime is very funny and emotional. This work also has two versions in dramas, one recent from 2011 that I find very entertaining.
Angel Beats!
13 episodes – MAL rating + 8.21
Considered one of the saddest animes on the face of the earth, it takes place in a school, but after death. It’s somewhat complicated to understand this anime from a synopsis; even choosing the category to place it was difficult, as it has touches of romance and action.
Gin no Saji – Silver Spoon
2 seasons – MAL rating + 8.20
If you are tired of the typical urban school theme, you should check out Gin no Saji from the same author as Fullmetal Alchemist! The anime takes place in an agricultural school called Ooezo, in the countryside.
In this school, students need to learn various practical tasks, such as milking cows, riding horses, and cleaning manure. This series is a refreshing version of the genre that teaches us to respect life and animals.
Action School Animes
Many action animes take place in school, with secrets, powers, portals to another world, and other unrealistic things. Will the protagonist manage to save the world and still do well in school?
Boku no Hero Academia
Multiple seasons – MAL rating + 8.30
The anime takes place in a world where most people have superpowers. The protagonist unfortunately has no power, but receives the power of one of the strongest heroes in the world. To train this power, he enrolls in Japan’s most popular hero school, UA High.
The anime has various characters, spends a large part in school, with plenty of action, adventure, and emotion, becoming one of the most popular mangas and animes and also one of the pillars of the shounen genre today. A must-watch!
Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
22 episodes – MAL rating + 8.16
Although it focuses more on comedy than action, this strange anime shows a class being trained to kill a powerful octopus-shaped teacher who threatens to destroy the earth, right after having already destroyed the moon.
Accel World
One of my favorite school action animes. The anime tells the story of Haru, a short chubby boy who suffers from ijime and lives isolated from the real world through augmented reality technologies. Fortunately, he has two best friends who take care of him.
One day, after suffering more frustrations, he is invited by the most popular girl in school to install a fighting game that offers a skill to accelerate the brain in such a way that everything around him is still. Of course, this ability comes at a cost.
Complete list of the best school animes
It’s hard to recommend all the good school animes. Below we will share another list with some school animes that you might want to check out. It’s very likely that with this list we reach over 100 school animes.
| Anime Name | Rating | Year |
| Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch | 8.74 | 2006 |
| Kimi no Na wa. | 9.07 | 2016 |
| Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso | 8.82 | 2014 |
| Kill la Kill | 8.15 | 2013 |
| Another | 7.63 | 2012 |
| Koe no Katachi | 9.02 | 2016 |
| Shokugeki no Souma | 8.43 | 2015 |
| Charlotte | 7.85 | 2015 |
| Haikyuu!! | 8.61 | 2014 |
| Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! | 7.82 | 2012 |
| Nisekoi | 7.72 | 2014 |
| Ouran Koukou Host Club | 8.24 | 2006 |
| Kuroko no Basket | 8.26 | 2012 |
| Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun | 7.62 | 2012 |
| Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei | 7.64 | 2014 |
| Prison School | 7.80 | 2015 |
| Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun | 8.07 | 2014 |
| Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai | 8.42 | 2018 |
| Nichijou | 8.50 | 2011 |
| Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry | 7.63 | 2015 |
| Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou | 8.30 | 2012 |
| Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu | 7.66 | 2010 |
| Lucky☆Star | 7.79 | 2007 |
| Ao Haru Ride | 7.74 | 2014 |
| Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo | 7.74 | 2015 |
| Sakamoto Desu ga? | 7.64 | 2016 |
| Orange | 7.66 | 2016 |
| Beelzebub | 7.96 | 2011 |
| Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e (TV) | 7.89 | 2017 |
| Grisaia no Kajitsu | 7.60 | 2014 |
| Tsurezure Children | 7.78 | 2017 |
| Little Witch Academia (TV) | 8.02 | 2017 |
| Seitokai Yakuindomo | 7.63 | 2010 |
| Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan | 8.49 | 2016 |
| Tokyo Ravens | 7.63 | 2013 |
| Chihayafuru | 8.27 | 2011 |
| Cardcaptor Sakura | 8.17 | 2098 |
| Gakkougurashi! | 7.66 | 2015 |
| Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni! | 7.82 | 2011 |
| Tasogare Otome x Amnesia | 7.89 | 2012 |
| D-Frag! | 7.64 | 2014 |
| Hibike! Euphonium | 8.02 | 2015 |
| Bokura wa Minna Kawai-sou | 7.77 | 2014 |
| Special A | 7.62 | 2008 |
| Demi-chan wa Kataritai | 7.69 | 2017 |
| Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei | 7.93 | 2007 |
| Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san | 7.85 | 2018 |
| School Rumble | 7.97 | 2004 |
| Yuru Yuri | 7.63 | 2011 |
| Free!: Eternal Summer | 7.76 | 2014 |
| Non Non Biyori | 7.98 | 2013 |
| Seto no Hanayome | 7.81 | 2007 |
| Sakamichi no Apollon | 8.39 | 2012 |
| 5-toubun no Hanayome | 7.61 | 2019 |
| Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge | 7.96 | 2016 |
| Azumanga Daioh | 7.99 | 2002 |
| Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu | 8.10 | 2003 |
| Little Witch Academia | 7.89 | 2013 |
| Clannad: Mou Hitotsu no Sekai, Tomoyo-hen | 8.04 | 2008 |
| Isshuukan Friends. | 7.61 | 2014 |
| Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi | 8.16 | 2006 |
| Haikyuu!!: To the Top | 8.53 | 2020 |
| World Trigger | 7.61 | 2014 |
| Girls & Panzer | 7.60 | 2012 |
| Asobi Asobase | 8.21 | 2018 |
| Kokoro ga Sakebitagatterunda. | 8.07 | 2015 |
| Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭ | 7.84 | 2017 |
| Ballroom e Youkoso | 8.26 | 2017 |
| Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen – Zetsubou-hen | 7.60 | 2016 |
| ReLIFE: Kanketsu-hen | 8.28 | 2018 |
| Seitokai Yakuindomo* | 7.77 | 2014 |
| Slam Dunk | 8.53 | 2093 |
| Seishun Buta Yarou wa Yumemiru Shoujo no Yume wo Minai | 8.71 | 2019 |
| Tonari no Seki-kun | 7.63 | 2014 |
| Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou | 7.62 | 2098 |
| Diamond no Ace | 8.16 | 2013 |
| Minami-ke | 7.71 | 2007 |
| Yagate Kimi ni Naru | 7.98 | 2018 |
| Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari | 7.91 | 2009 |
| Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na! | 8.27 | 2020 |
| Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo. | 7.68 | 2019 |
| Yuru Yuri♪♪ | 7.89 | 2012 |
| Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun | 7.77 | 2020 |
| Kimi to Boku. | 7.74 | 2011 |
| Little Witch Academia: Mahoujikake no Parade | 7.83 | 2015 |
| Tennis no Ouji-sama | 7.94 | 2001 |
| School Rumble Ni Gakki | 8.06 | 2006 |
| Non Non Biyori Repeat | 8.20 | 2015 |
| Denpa-teki na Kanojo | 7.62 | 2009 |
| Little Busters!: Refrain | 8.27 | 2013 |
| Mairimashita! Iruma-kun | 7.81 | 2019 |
| High Score Girl | 8.01 | 2018 |
| K-On!: Live House! | 7.85 | 2010 |
| Baby Steps | 7.90 | 2014 |
| Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou | 7.95 | 2003 |
| Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei | 7.95 | 2008 |
| Gakuen Babysitters | 7.85 | 2018 |
| Itsudatte Bokura no Koi wa 10 cm Datta. | 7.61 | 2017 |
| Coquelicot-zaka kara | 7.92 | 2011 |
| Hourou Musuko | 7.76 | 2011 |
| Cross Game | 8.47 | 2009 |
| Kono Oto Tomare! | 7.85 | 2019 |
| Prison School: Mad Wax | 7.63 | 2010 |
| K-On!!: Keikaku! | 7.86 | 2011 |
| Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei | 7.93 | 2009 |
| Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta… | 7.76 | 2020 |
| Yuri Kuma Arashi | 7.12 | 2015 |
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