10 More Comedic or Romantic Shows To Watch!
True Beauty is one of the latest webtoons to receive an anime adaptation, much like this year’s Solo Leveling and Wind Breaker. This anime might be off to a rough start, but many fans are optimistic it’ll conclude on a satisfying note. In True Beauty, we follow a high school girl named Jugyeong Lim.
She’s not the most popular girl in her school, as she occasionally gets bullied by her classmates. After watching a swift make-up tutorial, Jugyeong transfers to a new school and impresses everyone with her looks. Eventually, Jugyeong gets roped into participating in her school’s True Beauty Goddess competition.
On top of getting involved in some romantic quarrels, Jugyeong has her work cut out for her. Will Jugyeong conquer it all or will she suffer a defeat worse than the bullying she endured?
If you’re currently watching this anime but don’t know of shows/anime that capture its magic, fear not. We’ve searched through the archives to find you 10 more TV shows/anime that offer a similar viewing experience.
Additionally, for each program we’ve covered, including True Beauty’s anime and live-action K-drama adaptation, we’ve included a link that allows you to view our full thoughts about the series to see if it’s worth your time.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows/anime that should whet your appetite when you’ve finished streaming True Beauty!
Lookism
Similarities – Drama & Story
Jugyeong may not be the best protagonist (so far), but many fans won’t like her bullying situation. No one should endure bullying of any kind. It only leads to pointless conflict. On that note, Lookism is an enjoyable slice-of-life webtoon-turned-anime that tackles the subject to great effect.
This story follows Hyeong-Seok, an overweight male who succumbs to harsh treatment, much like Jugyeong. After switching schools and waking up one day, an entirely different person, appearance-wise, things start looking bright for Hyeong’s character. Both anime have their share of amusing moments that’ll get a laugh out of anyone.
Lookism contains more action in comparison to True Beauty though. Regardless, if you’re after another anime that offers a similar premise, and may arguably tackle said premise better, watch Lookism!
You can check out our Lookism Season 1 review here!
Ouran High School Host Club
Similarities – Drama, Romance, Story
Ouran High School Host Club is a classic anime many True Beauty fans should check out. This anime offers wonderful drama, endearing romantic moments, and a bundle of laughs to get you through a tough outing. It follows Haruhi, a girl who wanders through Ouran Academy, searching for a place to study.
Eventually, Haruhi meets members of her school’s Host Club, a club filled with eccentric boys. Upon meeting them, Haruhi accidentally ruins one of their possessions. This forces Haruhi to join the Host Club as a male to repay them. Therefore, a bunch of wacky shenanigans ensue between Haruhi, her club members, and others.
Like True Beauty, both stories feature protagonists living dual lifestyles. Both girls utilize their dashing looks to fool unknowing individuals and escape tense situations. While Ouran High School Host Club may be an oldie, it’s a must-watch goodie!
Romantic Killer
Similarities – Drama, Characters, Romance
Embarking on a new romantic journey is something Romantic Killer’s Anzu knows all too well. Like Jugyeong, Anzu gets forced into a mushy competition of some kind by an interesting individual. Unfortunately for Anzu, she has a tiny love wizard named Riri on her back, unlike Jugyeong.
Regardless, both anime feature our female leads dealing with pesky love-related issues. Where Jugyeong must navigate through her relationship with Seojun and Suho, Anzu must steer clear of Junta, Hijiri, and Tsukasa’s characters. One factor that differentiates our female leads though is their view of romance.
Jugyeong isn’t against falling in love with people, as folks saw during True Beauty’s opening moments. As for Anzu, she’d rather eat chocolates and play video games in her room all day than go on a date with a boy. Besides those and other notable differences, Romantic Killer should appeal to True Beauty’s audience.
You can check out our Romantic Killer Season 1 review here!
Tomo-chan Is A Girl
Similarities – Characters, Comedy, Romance
Tomo-chan Is A Girl is an entertaining rom-com with a protagonist who isn’t too different from Jugeyong. This story centers around Tomo and Jun, two childhood friends. One day, Tomo confesses her feelings to Jun, but Jun doesn’t take her confession seriously.
Jun’s always viewed Tomo as one of his guy friends, and Tomo isn’t thrilled about that. After contemplating her tomboyish ways, Tomo vows to make herself appear more feminine to Jun. Tomo hopes this will convince Jun to look at her differently. This idea of wanting others to see you for someone you aren’t is prevalent in True Beauty, too.
Tomo receives much advice from her friends Carol and Misuzu in this anime. She’ll participate in girly activities, wear female-specific garments, and act out of character, all to impress Jun. Tomo’s actions will remind True Beauty fans of Jugyeong’s reasons for donning makeup.
Next to having decent drama and likable supporting characters, Tomo-chan Is A Girl should entertain True Beauty’s fandom.
You can check out our Tomo-chan Is A Girl Season 1 review here!
Blue Spring Ride
Similarities – Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
For True Beauty fans who were moved by Gowoon’s situation in True Beauty, Blue Spring Ride will offer fans a similar, possibly, slightly better experience. Our story revolves around Futaba, a high school girl who likes acting unfeminine-like. She doesn’t want her male classmates to flock toward her.
Once Futaba realizes her former crush, Kou, is attending her school, she returns to her former ways. As one can tell, Futaba and Jugyeong embark on similar journeys. Certain scenarios and people influenced these girls to tackle life differently. Jugyeong is motivated by her bullies and terrible lifestyle while Kou’s reappearance drives Futaba to turn her life around.
Additionally, both tales carry depressing and genuine segments that’ll help folks empathize with their casts. Where Jugyeong helped Gowoon overcome her appearance issues for a musical performance, Blue Spring Ride delves into mental-health-related matters, like Kou’s struggle with his parent’s divorce.
Give Blue Spring Ride a shot if you want an impactful story though.
Maid-Sama
Similarities – Characters & Romance
Maid-Sama’s Misaki would empathize with Jugyeong’s situation. She, like Jugyeong, carries a secret that she doesn’t want anyone to know about. What is this secret? Well, Misaki happens to work part-time as a maid for a cafe. Yet, when Takumi, a male classmate, uncovers the truth about Misaki, a bundle of hilarious antics ensues involving them.
From the get-go, fans will compare Jugyeong and Suho’s dynamic to Misaki and Takumi’s. Fortunately for Misaki, she didn’t start off her journey as a bullied high school girl. She serves as her school’s student council president, so she’s well-respected, unlike Jugyeong who had to beautify herself to achieve that.
Nonetheless, both girls have their wonderful worlds threatened by a specific male. This results in them getting into several uncomfortable dilemmas that audiences will find downright hysterical and occasionally pure. While our pairs initially don’t see eye to eye, they will develop deep feelings for each other. At least that’s the route True Beauty is seemingly heading in.
Check out Maid-Sama if you want another anime with concepts and character dynamics similar to True Beauty’s.
My Love Story!!
Similarities – Characters, Drama, Romance
A tale of love, acceptance, and heart is what you’ll find with My Love Story. In it, we follow Takeo, a boy who struggles to make friends because of his appearance. This mirrors Jugyeong’s arc in True Beauty since she struggles to befriend folks for similar reasons.
Fortunately, Takeo’s friend Makoto supports him, even though he’s more popular than Takeo. Eventually, Takeo saves Rinko, a female classmate, from perverted males and develops feelings for her. However, Takeo shoves his feelings aside because he speculates Rinko has the hots for Makoto.
Therefore, we follow Takeo’s journey as he attempts to help Makoto and Rinko become a couple. While the storylines aren’t entirely the same, My Love Story and True Beauty offer similar characters, scenarios, and settings that aren’t too different. Fans should watch My Love Story if they seek a rom-com with more soul put into it.
Skip Beat!!
Similarities – Characters, Drama, Romance
As mentioned, no one should endure harassment of any kind. However, there are some cases where said harassment will push someone to strive for better. Skip Beat’s Kyouko doesn’t succumb to bullying as Jugyeong does. However, a person does influence Kyouko to embark on a huge life-changing undertaking like Jugyeong.
The person in question happens to be Kyouko’s former lover, Shoutarou. Kyouko eavesdropped on one of Shoutaro’s conversations. Shoutaro didn’t have nice things to say about Kyouko. This encourages Kyouko to enter the showbiz industry. Kyouko vows to outshine Shoutarou, despite not knowing anything about the industry.
Like Jugyeong, Kyouko’s actions will introduce her to new scenarios. Where Jugyeong gets roped into love triangles and beauty-related ordeals, Kyouko must study up and perform well in multiple productions. It’s this sense of the unknown that connects these two. Coupled with some humorous predicaments, Skip Beat is a must-watch!
Horimiya
Similarities – Characters, Drama, Romance
“The tale of two Jugyeongs” is a phrase many True Beauty fans will say once they watch Horimiya. This rom-com follows two high school students named Hori and Miyamura. Like Jugyeong, these high schoolers portray themselves differently in public.
Hori is depicted as a popular girl at school but at home, she’s a lazy homebody. Miyamura looks like a walking pile of depression at school, but internally, he’s a kind-hearted fellow with many tattoos on his body. Eventually, the two reveal everything to each other and we observe what route their relationship goes afterward.
True Beauty fans will admire Horimiya’s storytelling. They’ll value how this anime encourages people to speak up about their insecurities. They’ll love how it will offer them solutions to how they should approach the misconceptions people have about them.
Watch Horimiya if you’re searching for an anime with a great portrayal of teenage life.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Similarities – Characters, Drama, Romance
True Beauty fans would be doing themselves a disservice if they chose not to watch this modern rom-com anime. Kaguya-Sama: Love is War is a wonderful series, created by Aka Akasaka, the same mind behind Oshi No Ko, an anime whose second season is airing as of this writing. Like True Beauty, this anime features characters who harbor secrets from others.
Kaguya and Miyuki know they have feelings for each other, but their classmates aren’t aware. However, their classmates argue they’d make the perfect pair. Our protagonists refuse to admit their feelings because they don’t want to be deemed weak in everyone’s eyes.
Therefore, a mind battle of heartfelt and funny proportions occurs between them. This anime has everything a rom-com fan would want, and then some. From thought-provoking quarrels to a boatload of amusing segments, True Beauty fans will be amazed at this one’s cast and storytelling.
Coupled with beautiful visuals and animation that brings Akasaka’s world to life, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is an anime you don’t want to miss.
So there we have it, our 10 anime/TV show alternatives to watch when you’ve caught up with True Beauty!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!