Kara Dennison
September 27, 2022 
Romance reigns again when Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai returns! Even though it’s closer than ever, there’s still a bit of a wait. Fortunately, we’ve curated some classic anime rom-coms to fill the gap. The best part? They’ve each got a similar supernatural bent. From espers to vampires to teenage deities, these school romances all bring something unique to the table. Some may be a little harder to find than others, but they’re definitely worth a look!
Tokimeki Tonight
It’s hard enough finding love when you’re in school. But, as the stars of Bunny Girl Senpai know, paranormal antics just make it tougher. The heroine of 1982’s Tokimeki Tonight knows it, too. Based on the manga by Nurse Angel Ririka SOS creator Koi Ikeno, the series follows Ranze, the daughter of a werewolf and a vampire. Everything seems to be going fine for her until her supernatural powers start to manifest. All she wants to do is date the athletic Shun, but she’s got her monstrous bloodline to contend with!
In addition to the anime adaptation, Tokimeki Tonight got two further manga series. One, Tokimeki Midnight, is a retelling with the romantic roles reversed. There’s also a sequel continuing the paranormal romance into a new generation.
Kimagure Orange Road
If you’re a certain bunny girl, all you want is to be seen. But for the hero of Kimagure Orange Road, the goal is the exact opposite—kind of. Our boy Kyōsuke Kasuga is a teen esper whose family has to move whenever someone finds out about his family’s powers. Now in a new school, he’s found himself in a love triangle between best friends Madoka and Hikaru. Now he has to sort out his romantic entanglements and keep his family’s powers a secret.
The 1980s anime adaptation of Kimagure Orange Road includes a TV anime, films, and OVAs. If you’re ready to dive into this supernatural rom-com, you can start by streaming the TV series! It’s a fun watch, and a major piece of anime history, as it was one of the first series many fans in the West saw back in the 80s.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
We’re pretty sure fans would never forgive us if we didn’t give a shout-out to Haruhiism. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya walked so Bunny Girl Senpai could run, solidifying our 21st century love of the anime paranormal rom-com. Stemming from the chuuni supernatural trend popularized by Boogiepop and Others, Haruhi was a juggernaut in its time. The eponymous Haruhi is a big-dreaming, willful, gorgeous girl. She only wants to vibe with aliens, espers, and time travelers… and Kyon, the very normal object of her affections. What she doesn’t realize is she has all her faves around her. Not only that—she herself has the power to manipulate reality if it displeases her. And that’s what her SOS Brigade is trying to prevent.
The anime series employed time loops, non-linear storytelling, and more to accentuate the already bonkers storyline. If you’ve somehow missed it ’til now, this is your chance to catch up!
Still need more? Add these dark, dreamy anime to your watch list.
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