Looking for shoujo/josei romance animes with tomboy FL

I really loved Makoto from **The Girl Who Leapt Through Time**; she would be my ideal tomboy FL: sporty, short hair, funny/immature, not one to dress up or put on makeup

All I need is a boyish/unconventionally unfeminine FL, even if she doesn't match every description I put above. Don't care about genre or setting of the anime too much as long as it has romance and is not shoujo ai/yuri

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AutoModerator2025-12-29 21:42

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Local_Pickle_47172025-12-29 21:44

Versailles no Bara qualifies, and I don't think there's a better shoujo out there either other than perhaps Glass no Kamen.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-29 23:55

The Rose of Versailles was on my list! I wasn't sure if it was a yuri or straight anime though. Glass no Kamen will be added to the watchlist! I'll trust your opinion \^\^

Local_Pickle_47172025-12-30 00:18

Oscar was named like a man and raised to be a knight, but she's very much female and there's no yuri.

Glass no Kamen's MC is girly and not at the same time. She gets involved in theater but puts it above all else and compared to other actresses she's less feminine. Watch the 2005 series.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:23

Noted! Thanks for all the info :D

Local_Pickle_47172025-12-30 15:11

No problem. I've also seen the 90s OVA too (it just covers some earlier parts) and plan to watch the 80s series eventually (which should cover a similar amount of material, perhaps more), but I have a good memory so it's best to spread these things out instead of watching them together.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 02:29

Btw, for Versailles no Bara, do you mean the 1979 version or the 2025 movie?

Local_Pickle_47172025-12-30 15:09

1979. There's a blu-ray remaster and it's one of the better-looking shows of the time. Part of the show is directed by one of anime's most famous directors, but I think the one who passed away while working on it may have even done a better job.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 23:30

Ohhh I see I was watching the movie but I will start the show!

ActualRound76992025-12-29 21:44

Tomo-Chan is a girl! for sure

banditjing_2025-12-29 21:55

That’s a shounen, pretty different from what OP is asking for.

maxblockm2025-12-29 22:20

*"All I need is a boyish/unconventionally unfeminine FL, even if she doesn't match every description I put above. **Don't care about genre** or setting of the anime too much as long as it has romance"*

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:12

I apologize, I can see how my request was worded confusingly. I did ask for shoujo/josei in the title and then said I don't care about the genre, but I meant as in whether it was historical, modern, fantasy, drama, action.

ActualRound76992025-12-29 22:42

per the last paragraph it fits exactly what they want.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:03

I've seen this one around a lot, looks really cute! And I'm sorry but I forgot to add that I didn't want any shounen unfortunately because I dislike sexualization of characters ToT that's totally my bad though. I have no idea if this anime does or doesn't so give me a holler if I'm mistaken!

ActualRound76992025-12-30 00:26

I guess it depends on how you define sexualization. There’s a beach episode which implies bikini. But the whole show really is about a tom boy learning to accept she’s feminine and worthy of love as she is. So imo it isn’t horny bait

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:40

Okay tysm for the clarification! I was hesitating to start the series cuz I saw the said beach scene on google images but as long as it's not what it's all about!

awesomenessofme12025-12-29 21:51

There's that one coming out next season, In the Clear Moonlit Dusk. It's not a perfect fit, since she's more of the "prince" type than a standard tomboy, but it's the closest I can think of.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-29 23:59

This looks super cool and pretty! You clocked it before me, the FL is a little bit princely compared to what I may think of a rambunctious tomboy but I'll give the manga a read and try the anime when it comes out!

banditjing_2025-12-29 21:52

Otome Youkai Zakuro. There’s a few couples but the main one is an assertive tomboy and a wimpy/scared bishounen which is kind of refreshing.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:01

Searched it up and it piqued my interest! Main couple looks unconventional and awesome

DarkSaiyanGoku2025-12-29 21:53

Fate/Stay Night. Saber is a tomboy.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:06

Woahh the FL does look really tough. Will give this a watch, looks serious. Thank you!

Fools_Requiem2025-12-29 22:00

**Heroines Run the Show** - An aspiring track star gets a part-time job working as an assistant for two male idols. She is *DEFINITELY* not a traditionally attractive anime girl. Thick bushy eyebrows, scruffy unkempt hair, her face is described by one of the boys as a "potato face", eyes are a normal brown.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:16

Wow this one I will almost certainly LOVE I think; I love the FL's look already and it looks so cute and the story is so interesting I will start this one right away!!

septimaespada2025-12-29 22:11

I find these kinds of requests strange, why do you care so much about just what the MC looks like? What if it’s a genre you don’t like? What if the MC is poorly written? What if the show just sucks?

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-29 23:53

I completely understand where you're coming from. I know these requests can seem shallow but, to be frank, I'm just looking for something different because I've consumed a lot of romance animes and manhwa that all have the same kinds of protagonists (nothing wrong with them, just gets mundane when you see the same thing over and over). Also, I myself am not very feminine and don't find myself relating to many FMCs in that way, so I wanted to watch something that I felt like I could insert myself into, as a lot of people unconsciously do when they consume media. When I watched **The Girl Who Leapt Through Time**, I really enjoyed watching a FL that I've never seen in other stories before and one with whom I felt embodied my personality and tendencies a lot.

So to be clear, I don't really care about the MC's appearance, but their personalities and actions definitely influence them, which is why I listed examples of what a FL who has an 'idgaf' attitude would have (short hair, not dressed up- all things that defies societal/traditional expectations on women)

As for the other good questions you posed like what if I don't like x or y, that's very possible in any situation or request really, and I will not enjoy every single show that was recommended to me (I am pretty picky). But I don't want to "miss out" on any possible animes that I might like. Right now, I'm filtering through possible future favorites of mine by discerning the FL's personality (tomboy) because I unexpectedly really enjoyed the main character of **TGWLTT** so much.

septimaespada2025-12-30 00:10

Fair enough, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:23

Yeah, ofc, thanks for asking!

maxblockm2025-12-29 22:17

Tomo-chan is a girl

Romantic Killer

Battle Angel ([the 1993 original](https://youtu.be/8pzPhlNzfKY?si=K8YbU5MtDLwWq99i) and [2019 remake](https://youtu.be/w7pYhpJaJW8?si=e_ZEUCNQGiZTKM56))

[Hi Score Girl](https://youtu.be/72uz-sQrR88?si=kRI71rdc3WBqIz_d)

The Apothecary Diaries

Mysterious Girlfriend X ✂️

[Iron Virgin Jun](https://youtu.be/SQi1kqV2qgY?si=_IuqF_MpJIiH3i5h)

Claymore

Ooku

[Blue Eye Samurai](https://youtu.be/qBfdOz2H73o?si=HVxUdg8iO0SWfFMd)

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:15

A lot of these really interested me, especially Romantic Killer and Battle Angel! However the others seem to be mostly shounen animes so I will have to pass on some. Thank you sm!

Dodo_Galaxy2025-12-29 22:24

Hana kimi

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:17

OMG they're coming out with an anime for this one?? I watched the kdrama version (To the Beautiful You) then found out it was a manga and I have yet to read it unfortunately. I'm excited!! Will def read the manga first.

Dodo_Galaxy2025-12-30 08:40

Yes the first episode for the anime adaptation starts in a few days on the 4th of January.

LadyCobalto2025-12-29 22:54

Aunque sea harem inverso, que tal Ouran Host club? Tambien kusuriya no hitorigoto.

Chaerin_Sistas2025-12-30 00:18

Yess Ouran is definitely on my watchlist I only hear good things about it! I also hear rlly good things about the Apothecary Diaries so that one as well! Ty!!

Cyd_arts2025-12-30 04:43

Not an anime, its only a manga but oresama teacher's mc kinda fits

Nachtwandler_FS2025-12-30 10:08

**The World is Still Beautiful** may fit your requirements.

Derallerechtere2025-12-30 16:06

dark history of the villainess