Best Anime Like Teasing Master Takagi-san

Teasing Master Takagi-san, aka Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san, has produced three great seasons and a movie. Takagi and Nishikata’s relationship has slowly grown throughout the anime; while the teasing “war” between the two persists throughout the show, it serves primarily to deepen their connection and has gradually subsided.

Romantic comedy anime are not in short supply, but few shows balance the two genres as well as Teasing Master Takagi-san. For those looking to fill the void left by season 3 with laughter or love, here are some great anime similar to Teasing Master Takagi-san.

Updated December 14, 2024 by Mark Sammut: As the Fall 2024 season is done, this is the perfect opportunity to add a few new anime like Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san. Click on the below links to jump to these shows.

18 Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

Light Teasing Paves The Way To A Romance

Part of the Summer 2024 anime season, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian is a cute romcom that balances the two genres well, largely thanks to three characters. Originally from Russia, Alisa tends to be seen as relatively cold and unapproachable by her Japanese schoolmates, and she also likes to specifically pick on a male classmate, Masachika. However, this is all a defense mechanism to protect herself, and she often reveals her true feelings by speaking Russian, all the while believing that nobody can understand her. However, Masachika understands every single thing she says, which is quite embarrassing as she frequently talks about her feelings for him.

Alisa and Masachika are great, both as individuals and as a double act. Occasional teasing aside, their banter is very lighthearted and never goes beyond light poking, and they are supportive of each other. Their romance gradually blossoms throughout the season, and it is far more direct than the early episodes of Teasing Master Takagi-san. Unlike Takagi and Nishikata’s dynamic, Alisa and Masachika are on equal footing, with each one being more than capable of witty dialogue that can make the other blush.

As good as those two are, Masachika’s sister, Yuki, is arguably the star of the show. Putting aside some fanservice, she is mostly there to be a chaotic force, producing most of the anime’s biggest laughs along the way. She also likes to tease both Alisa and Masachika.

17 How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer

Playful Teasing

Rather than focusing on young teenagers, How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer revolves around three college-age couples who are just starting on their road to romance. As suggested by the title, they meet at a mixer, although the three guys are surprised as they find three girls dressed as guys waiting for them. The latter work at a crossdressing bar, although they tend to wear their uniform outside that context as well.

Although not always the focus of How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer, teasing is frequently used as a source of humor, particularly when Suou is interacting with Tokiwa. The former loves to push the latter’s buttons, and their banter is cute and funny. The rest of the characters are also great.

16 Ranma ½

Bickering With Gradual Romance

• 	Ranma 1/2	Ranma 1/2
  Release Date	1989-04-15	2024-10-06
  Genres	Comedy, Action, Fantasy	Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
  Studio	Studio Deen	MAPPA
  Based On	Manga	Manga
  Creator	Rumiko Takahashi	Rumiko Takahashi
  Number of Episodes	161	10+
  Streaming Service(s)	Hulu, Tubi	Netflix

OK, Ranma ½ is a very different type of show to Teasing Master Takagi-san, even if they are both shonen comedies with hints of romance. Rumiko Takahashi’s classic manga was subversive and ahead of its time in many ways, but it is still an old-school story that utilizes slapstick very heavily; basically, Akane will occasionally drop a table on Ranma’s head. It happens, and the two spend most of their time arguing and insulting each other. Their initial adversarial dynamic makes sense since they are forced into an engagement by their parents, a situation that neither one of them appreciates, wants, or wishes to see through.

For all the differences that separate these two shows, Ranma and Akane’s gradual shift toward romance is fairly reminiscent of Takaga and Nishikata’s journey. Both series prioritize humor above everything else for most of their episodes, but they do not ignore the core relationship’s development either. Ranma and Akane become noticeably closer as the episodes progress, and they end up having quite a few cute moments along the way.

15 The Dangers In My Heart

Heartwarming Romance

One of the best romance anime of 2023 and a prime contender to be the same for 2024, The Dangers In My Heart is about as close to perfect as the genre gets. Before proceeding any further, it needs to be mentioned that this show does not center around teasing, so people specifically craving something like that will be left wanting. However, anyone searching for a cute romance about two middle-school students who slowly come to accept their emotions for each other cannot do better than this anime.

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Ichikawa is somewhat of a loner, and he tends to fantasize about hurting his schoolmates. These daydreams are the definition of edginess, but they quickly subside once he starts to get to know Yamada, a charming girl who is something of an idol in her class. While Yamada is far more likable initially, Ichikawa grows exponentially throughout the series, and the transformation is beautiful.

14 Tomo-chan Is A Girl!

Confused Emotions

Tomo and Jun have been friends since childhood, and they have quite similar personalities. Now in high school, Tomo has developed feelings for her long-time friend; however, Jun seems to struggle to see her as a girl. Consequently, under the guidance of the darkly-comic Misuzu and relentlessly chipper Carol, Tomo tries to transform into a more conventional girl. In truth, she did not need to change.

Tomo-chan Is A Girl leans very heavily into comedy territory, even though romance fuels most of the characters. Its humor is not particularly similar to Teasing Master Takagi-san either, with the show focusing quite a bit on slapstick and borderline-absurdist shenanigans. Nevertheless, Tomo-chan is worth a recommendation since Tomo and Jun’s banter blends familiarity and tension well; meanwhile, Misuzu should be able to fill anybody’s teasing quota.

13 The Foolish Angel Dances With The Devil

Heaven & Hell Collide

A polarizing show, The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil takes a while to find its footing, and its first few episodes can be off-putting depending on what a viewer is craving. Searching for humans who could aid Hell’s battle against Heaven, the demon Masatora enrolls at a high school and quickly sets his eyes on Lily, a girl who seems perfect. Unfortunately for the former, the latter is actually an angel, and she ends up tying Masatora to a contract that forces him to help her track down demons. This starts an unusual partnership that, in due time, becomes surprisingly wholesome.

Now, The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil‘s opening episodes mostly consist of Lily getting the better of Masatora, with some scenes going beyond just mischievous teasing. While periodically funny, these chapters involve a lopsided power balance that hurts the core relationship; however, this changes around the season’s halfway mark. As the protagonists spend more time together, their antagonistic dynamic shifts focus to playful and cute banter, eventually becoming pretty charming.

12 Komi Can’t Communicate

Indirect Communication

Komi Can’t Communicate does not have characters engaging in (good-natured) battle of wits, but the anime’s protagonist has severe social anxiety, forcing them to often not communicate directly. Like Teasing Master Takagi-san, OLM’s anime is a comedy that sprinkles in romantic elements, the latter of which often come with a healthy helping of awkwardness.

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Both shows feature main couples that communicate their feelings through roundabout ways as they try to come to grips with their natural attraction toward each other. However, Komi does have a more prominent roster of supporting characters, and some of them like Najimi Osana are a delight. Komi Can’t Communicate‘s second season was also decent,

11 Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun

Getting Closer Through Miscommunication

Sometimes, the lines of communication get crossed along the way. After admiring Umetarou Nozaki from a distance, Chiyo Sakura finally decides to reveal her feelings. Unfortunately, Nozaki misconstrues Sakura’s intentions and believes that she is a big fan of his shoujo manga. Long story short, Sakura becomes Nozaki’s assistant.

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun and Teasing Master Takagi-san handle both their comedy and romance differently from each other, with the former focusing more on misunderstandings to get its laughs. Despite their distinct parts, these shows cater to the same audience, specifically those who love their teen romance to come with a lot of jokes.

10 Maid Sama!

A Classic Teasing Anime

Takumi Usui and Misaki Ayuzawa are both perfect in their own ways, so they seem like they are made for each other. However, Misaki also happens to hate men, a fact that intrigues Takumi and just strengthens his interest in the student council president.

Maid Sama! largely consists of Takumi’s gently pestering Misaki through almost nothing but his sheer presence, and they steadily grow closer as the anime progresses. Like Teasing Master Takagi-san, Maid Sama! makes its romance element obvious while also keeping it on the back burner for large chunks of the comedy anime‘s run.

9 Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible

A Cute & Wholesome Comedy

One of a few 2023 anime to suffer production delays, Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible started off strong but, unfortunately, got lost in the shuffle as it adopted an unpredictable release schedule. Now that the full season is available, this cute anime is an easy recommendation for any slice of life comedy fans who want a hint of romance but nothing more.

While generally playful, Teasing Master Takagi-san‘s one-upmanship might not be to everyone’s tastes; consequently, these folks might appreciate Kubo‘s softer comedic style. Sure, the eponymous girl does tease her schoolmate to an extent, but it always comes across as gentle ribbing between two people who are slowly becoming better friends.

8 Aho-Girl

Annoying Master Yoshiko-san

Now, it should be said that Aho-Girl strikes a significantly different tone to Teasing Master Takagi-san. For one, the 2017 anime loves irreverent and suggestive humor – there is very little that could be described as “wholesome” in Aho-Girl. Yoshiko, the main girl, is known (and loved) for her stupidity, with Akuru Akutsu acting as a straight man to her shenanigans.

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Aho-Girl is predominantly a skit comedy show, one that sprinkles elements of romance but mainly seeks to parody the genre’s tropes. While Takagi is the teasing master, nobody can annoy someone quite like Yoshiko.

7 The Duke Of Death And His Maid

Loving Through Teasing

The Duke of Death and His Maid is a romantic comedy with a tragic soul. Alice and Bocchan love each other but a curse forbids them from ever touching. Regardless of how intimate their relationship becomes, there is a barrier that holds them apart. It is heartbreaking.

The Duke of Death and His Maid is also weirdly funny, and that comes courtesy of Alice constantly teasing Bocchan to get a reaction out of him. The second and third seasons dived a bit deeper into the world itself, all the while shining a brighter light on the secondary characters.

6 Tsuredure Children

All Types Of Awkward Love

Young love takes many forms, and if Tsuredure Children is to be believed, they almost all involve misunderstandings and embarrassment in some form or another. A charming romantic comedy that follows several couples in various stages of relationships, Tsuredure Children is witty, relatable, generally sweet, and never boring.

Out of all the couples, Yuki and Jun’s interactions are the closest to Takagi and Nishikata’s, striking a playful tone that tends to leave one character feeling exasperated. While this relationship only takes center stage periodically, the rest of the show is enjoyable as well, with the focus being mainly on comedy. However, Tsuredure Children focuses on older students than Teasing Master Takagi-san, and its themes reflect that. As such, it is not quite as innocent and cute as the latter.

5 Hi Score Girl

Connecting Through Gaming

Hi Score Girl is a surprisingly complex show. On the surface, it seems like a silly comedy about a boy trying and failing to beat a silent girl at arcade games. However, the anime quickly proves that it is just as concerned with character development as it is with catering to ’90s gaming nostalgia.

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Similar to Teasing Master Takagi-san, Hi Score Girl follows a dense boy as he attempts to outdo a girl while they both tiptoe around their obvious feelings for each other. The Netflix anime covers several years in the lives of its characters, demonstrating how their relationship has helped them grow.

4 Uzaki-chan Wants To Hang Out!

Teasing To Get Closer To Someone

Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! is a divisive show as its appeal depends entirely on whether someone enjoys Uzaki-chan’s antics. An energetic college student, Uzaki makes it her mission to spend time with the low-energy and gloomy Shinichi. For the most part, this involves Uzaki slightly pestering her senpai, although the anime resists the urge to go too far in this area.

Uzaki is the star of the show here; if her comedy or personality does not strike a chord with someone, then they should probably give this a skip. However, if the opposite happens, then Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! should be an endearing watch.

3 Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro

Harsh Teasing Takes A Wholesome Turn

Despite the show’s premise, Teasing Master Takagi-san‘s humor is incredibly innocent. Frustrated as he sometimes gets, Nishikata seems to enjoy his interactions with Takagi, particularly after the first season. After watching Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro‘s first episode, one might find this anime to be uncomfortably mean-spirited as Hayase Nagatoro essentially bullies her clearly hurt senpai.

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Although this perception is accurate for the pilot, Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro tones down Hayase’s banter considerably after that point, basically dropping the whole bullying aspect. For the most part, her relationship with Naoto is mischievous but harmless, and the latter slowly breaks out of his shell thanks to Hayase. Season 2 is a particularly great romance, with the duo even going on a few dates, even if they avoid labeling them as such. Hopefully, the show will receive another sequel as the main relationship still has so much room to grow.

2 Tonari No Seki-kun: The Master Of Killing Time

No Romance, All Nuisance

Take Teasing Master Takagi-san, remove the romance, and add an indirect relationship, and the result would be Tonari No Seki-kun. Rumi Yokoi simply wishes to pay attention in class, a goal that proves to be rather difficult when sitting next to Toshinari Seki, a student who has mastered the art of wasting time.

As Seki finds new exciting ways to do anything but listen to the teacher, Yokoi can’t help but be distracted by the glorious absurdity transpiring at the desk next to her. A short anime comedy, Tonari No Seki-kun is hilarious.

1 Kaguya-sama: Love Is War

The Ultimate Battle Of Wits & Love

One of the most popular romantic comedy anime ever, Kaguya-sama: Love is War follows a similar structure to Teasing Master Takagi-san. Both revolve around characters trying to get the better of each other while pushing down their obvious shared feelings. As their stories evolve, both anime begin to emphasize their romance a bit more.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War‘s humor is considerably more over-the-top than Teasing Master Takagi-san, but the show is consistently funny, provided someone likes this type of comedy. As it progresses, the anime steadily ramps up the romantic elements, pushing the humor to the side. This shift is gradual and well executed; in fact, Kaguya-sama is arguably a better romance than a comedy, and it is a fantastic comedy.

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