Otome games (otome meaning maiden) are visual novels that are geared primarily toward a female audience and the protagonist has a host of male suitors to choose from. Most often four or more. With this being the case, they are often adapted into shoujo romance anime. Below I will be listing 5 of my favorites.
5. Kenka Bancho Otome Girl Beats Boys
A high school freshman named Hinako finds out that although she grew up an orphan, she is actually the twin of a young man who is part of the yakuza. Hikaru, her twin, decides Hinako will take his place at an all-boys school where she will be expected to fight her way to the top and become the school’s boss in his place.
Unlike most Otome anime adaptations, most of the boys are unaware that Hinako is a girl masquerading as her brother. Although the anime is super cute, the episodes are uniquely very short, less than 15 minutes per episode. There is also a two-volume manga adaption of the series.
4. Brothers Conflict
A girl named Ema affectionately called. Chi, by her adorable pet squirrel Juli, was an only child until her father decided to marry a woman with 13 sons. About 10 of those brothers start vying for Ema’s affection. In the show, she is shipped with just about every brother. Almost all of them kiss her and express romantic feelings towards her. No particular relationship appears to be canon. By the end of the 12-episode series, she has not chosen anyone to be with, and most of the brothers declare that they will not give up on her. Personally, I’m still rooting for Yusuke since he has had a crush on Ema the longest
3. Meiji Tokyo Renka
The story takes place during the Meiji period (1888-1912) Modern high school student Mei Is transported to Meiji era Tokyo by a mischievous magician named Charlie. Mei can see spirits an ability she comes to embrace during her time in the Meiji era. She becomes friends with the soon-to-be-famous men of the time, including a military doctor, a writer, an actor, and an artist. Her relationship with the military doctor Ogai Mori becomes canon for the show. The anime was 12 episodes. The series also boasts a live-action film. The character Shunso is voiced by the famous otome voice actor KENN. Which is definitely a bonus.
2. Hakuoki Demon Of The Fleeting Blossom
The game itself is my first official Otome game, as it was the first to get an official translation from Aksys games. It’s one of the only Otome games anime adaptions to have more than one season. It also produced two movies that further detail the events of The anime. The story centers around Chizuru, Who arrives in Kyoto in search of her missing father, who is a doctor. After a peculiar attack, she is taken in by members of the Shinsengumi. The games and anime take artistic liberties with the real-life historical men who made up the Shinsengumi. Chizuru’s potential love interests include Hijikata, Okita, Saito, Toudou, Harada, and Nagakura. The era of the Shinsengumi is fading, and with it, the humanity of many people who are becoming demon-like creatures with super strength due to an elixir. The canon love interest of the anime is Hijikata although my personal favorite is Okita with a special love for Nagakura, Who sadly does not have his own route in the main games.
1. Code Realize Guardian Of Rebirth
Honestly, this is my favorite Otome game with its steampunk London setting and famous literary characters as the suitors. I was so happy to see an anime adaptation. Cardia Is a young woman living in isolation because her body contains an unknown poison. Until, one night she is swept away by the gentleman thief Arsene Lupin. Lupin and his friends, including Impey Barbicane, Van Helsing, Dr. Frankenstein, and St. Germain, need Cardia’s help to unravel the mystery of her existence and the plans of her mad scientist father, Isaac. Lupine is, of course, the romantic route that the anime adaption follows. The gentleman thief is my favorite route in the game. Van Helsing is my second favorite route in the original game.
