His and Her Circumstances - Recommendations

Alt titles: Kare Kano, Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou

If you're looking for anime similar to His and Her Circumstances, you might like these titles.

We Were There

We Were There

Yano Motoharu is the most popular guy in class, the school’s basketball ace, and highly charismatic to boot! No wonder Nanami Takahashi can’t resist falling in love with him. When Yano returns Nana’s feelings, things seem too good to be true and the two begin a relationship; but Yano has a contradictory personality which confuses Nana most of the time. On top of that, tragic events in Yano’s past won’t stop haunting their relationship. Unable to halt their passionate feelings, are Yano and Nana heading for disaster or can they save each other from irreparable hurt?

12 votes

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Reasons you might like We Were There...

yukichii yukichii says...

Both stories are centered around the high school life of young freshman girls and their complicated feelings and friendships.  Both Bokura ga Ita and His and Her Circumstances fall into the romance, comedy, and drama genres, so if you like one you'll like the other.

richief611 richief611 says...

Both Bokura ga Ita and Kare Kano have love, romance, and relationships between high school students who also have to deal with their daily lives.

The responsibilities in the classes, clubs, etc. that the characters hold in these two anime give the viewer the idea that life still can progress even with all of those activities.

If you enjoy or enjoyed Kare Kano or Bokura ga Ita, you'd like the other without a doubt!

velvetheart velvetheart says...

Both "Bokura ga Ita" and "His and Her Circumstances" are about a young couple struggling to make their relationship work due to troubling pasts. While "Bokura ga Ita" is a bit more 'dramatic' "His & Her circumstances" has more comical elements. What I really like about the two shows, however, is their pace; neither one of them are afraid to slow down and be thoughtful and quiet. If you've seen one I'm convinced you'd like the other :)

avidkid10 avidkid10 says...

Both Kare Kano and Bokura ga Ita feature a dramatic story about a young couple learning to better understand their partners as well as themselves. Though the laughes and artisitc animation style that was seen in Kare Kano wont be there, one can expect the same emotional rollercoaster that made these two great anime. However once again don't expect a spectacular ending.

risuta risuta says...

Bokura Ga Ita and Kare Kano are both romantic-school life anime. In both series, we see the characters developing their reletionships, as well as their selves, changing and becoming more mature. These anime are all about finding your self whle being in a young age and trying to overcome your ego in order to be with the person you love. The romance and sad moments of these anime are many and intense, therefore I think that if you liked either of them, you will like the other, too!

rumble14 rumble14 says...

These anime's have basically the same plot. If you love one, you will love the other. They are both about a couple who are shy but love each other and the problems they run into in their relationship.

fizrox fizrox says...

These two stories are about maintaing a healthy relationship between boy and girl and dealing with difficulties connected with it.

Szwagier Szwagier says...

Both series are concentrated on romance taking place in school, and are very subtle in progressing it.

In both cases main male hero is a "perfect person" from the outside, but is a bit more cynical and sometimes even violent as more of his character unfolds.

Again in both cases main female heroine is unsecure about her boyfriends feelings towards her, and about her own place in life.

Omurqi Omurqi says...

Both shows have relations and identity as main themes. They are about first loves, identity problems, jealousy and how to deal with these things. They both have a good feeling of realism to them.

KiraRin KiraRin says...

With a lot in common, both Bokura and Kare are excellent examples of the romance genre. Sadly, the buildup is what makes these shows enjoyable, as the ending just frustratingly tails away. If you enjoyed watching the adolescent romance of one, you're sure to enjoy the other.

VivisQueen VivisQueen says...

If you liked Kare Kano for it's mature handling of shoujo high-school romance, then try Bokura ga Ita. Like Kare Kano, it's about the confusion that arises in a relationship because of the characters' insecure backgrounds. However, Bokura ga Ita is more successful in actually pulling this off and never diverts into filler.

KittyEmperor KittyEmperor says...

The main connection between the two is that they are both feature a young guy and girl as they come to fall in love with each other during their time in highschool.  The male leads also have a lot in common in both case with both of them being what appears to be perfect, but actual have something hidden beneath the surface that has to do with their past.  Though Bokura ga Ita tends to be more on the drama side of things and Kare Kano tends to be a bit more on the comedy side.  So if you liked one then you'll probably like the other.

Lovely Complex

Lovely Complex

Lovely Complex is a story of a boy and a girl. The girl, Koizumi Risa, is much taller than the average Japanese girl; and the boy, Atsushi Otani, is much shorter than the average Japanese boy. Due to their immense difference in size and constant bickering with each other, the duo is unwillingly the school’s comic relief. As Risa and Otani continue to provide endless laughter for the masses, their friendship develops; and with that, so does Risa’s feelings for Otani...

9 votes

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Reasons you might like Lovely Complex...

madcomic madcomic says...

"Kare Kano" and "Lovely Complex" both have the same general romantic elements. They both ponder about feelings and words. They both have the same atmosphere although Lovely Complex has more humor.

Minnetter Minnetter says...

Both Kare Kano and Lovely Complex are about the complications and trials of high school loves, and the trials that occur when two people who believe they have nothing in common come together to make a true love story.

richief611 richief611 says...

Kare Kano and Lovely Complex both are a high school romance series, and have with love and comedy.

In Kare Kano, the main characters have a relationship where they care for each other and know that they both love each other. In Lovely Complex, although it is only a one-sided love, you can also get the same feeling when you watch it.

You get a feeling of comedy and drama in both of these series, so watch them.

risuta risuta says...

Kare Kano is a really romantic anime with many funny moments. The only difference between it and Lovely Complex is that in Kare Kano we see a teenager couple's relationship developing in a deeper way, and are shown how they help and support each other in order to overcome their problems. After watching Lovely Complex and Kare Kano I think that someone who likes one of them will definitely like the other as well. They are wonderful anime and you will love them!

fizrox fizrox says...

These two are romanitc anime, but apart from that, there is a lot of humorous things going and you will have a lot of fun watching both of them.

Merryberry Merryberry says...

It's hard to describe in someways what makes these two anime similiar to watch, but I suppose the feeling that you get out of it is just one aspect. Both explore the relationship between two people who start off never dreaming of such a thing. However, while Lovely Complex spends the entire series focusing on the getting together part, Kare Kano dives straight into the what happens when they're together part. Either way, both of these series contain an element of comedy, drama and relationship issues that make you want to know more. A brilliant pair of anime to watch.

KiraRin KiraRin says...

Its amazing how 2 shows with so many years between them have such a lot in common. Kare Kano, although older, seems to have almost been what the relationship in LoveCom was based on.

The slightly comedic way in which a love story is told in these two shows is perfectly offset by the occasional seriousness and the two characters admitting their true feelings. LoveCom teases the viewers with a relationship that you just *want* to work, whereas Kare Kano looks more at the struggles faced by two people already dating.

If you are an old fashioned romantic, I highly recommend you give both of these shows a whirl.

bunnylovesanime bunnylovesanime says...

Lovely Complex like Kare Kano features a story of two characters who are seen one way but are really different. Unlike Kare Kano, the characters in Lovely Complex aren't the smartest kids in school or the most popular but in fact misfits. But like in Kare Kano they are able to get strength from one another to over come lots of struggles.

KittyEmperor KittyEmperor says...

Both series feature a young highschool female who doesn't really like the male lead a whole lot at first.  Certainly doesn't even consider him to be boyfriend material but as both series progress she begins to understand the feelings she is having and soon a romance blossoms.  Both series for the most part stay on the funny side of things and every now and then add something serious to help progress the plot along.  If you liked one then you should check out the other.

Azumanga Daioh

Azumanga Daioh

Ten-year-old genius Chiyo, animal-loving Sakaki, loudmouth Tomo, athletic Kagura, weight-conscious Yomi and dim-witted Osaka are six friends who share laughs, good times, and a high school homeroom. With scary (and sometimes perverted) teachers, school festivals, penguin suits and general hilarity abounding, you can be sure that there's never a dull day in the life of one of these students!

7 votes

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Reasons you might like Azumanga Daioh...

MaximusThrax MaximusThrax says...

Both anime feature the lives of ordinary high school students and focus on their character development and internal stories. Azumanga, however, is a lighthearted, fun, weird comedy and Kare Kano can be quite serious and touching at times, although it, too, has plenty of laughs.

sothis sothis says...

Like random schoolgirl comedy? You can't go wrong with Azumanga and Kare Kano. Though Azumanga is definitely the more funny of the two.

Tasuki Tasuki says...

Both series are revolving around highschool students and display a lot of comical situations. Kareshi is the more crazy, weird type which also has some serious parts. Focus is on Yukino, a class A student who falls in love with Arima her male rival in school. Azumanga, on the other hand, tells about six friends who struggle through school life together. Each girl is odd in her own way. Problems need to be solved. Highschool life is just so difficult!!! Both series will make you laugh. Even tho they revolve around highschool kids, these series can be watched by anyone and still crack you up.

Stmated Stmated says...

"Slapstick humor". No more to say. They both heavily use slapstick humor in a perfect way, but Kare Kano has more humor taken out from the facial/bodily expressions of the characters and Azumanga from the pure "weirdness". If you are searching for comedy then you can choose either one of these, even tho' Kare Kano have alot of romance apart from Azumanga which is pure humor.

lantis lantis says...

Kare Kano is similar to Azumanga Daioh in that it is a relatively mundane(by anime standards) anime about a group of High School students. Though Kare Kano is more bent towards romance, and Azumanga towards friendship, both have a very deep and profound effect on the viewer. The interesting dramatic pauses and interludes, and the passage of time during either series give it a sense of realism. I personally ended up feeling a great deal for many of the characters in either series.

kamirura kamirura says...

Well what more is there to say than that Azumanga Daioh is a completely comic anime. It's a totally non depressing anime and in this series you can't do anything else than laugh. This is a series you really should watch if you don't wanna think at all and just wanna flow with the stream. But we got the normal school and all students that falls in love and so on, but in a funny way.

Arielle Arielle says...

High school, high school and more high school. That is what these 2 are all about.

Kare Kano of course also has some romance in it and Azumanga daioh does not, but other than that animation comes close together and so it the humor.

Friendship is also a big tag for the both of them.

Kimi ni Todoke - From Me To You

Kimi ni Todoke - From Me To You

Sawako Kuronuma is just like any other high school girl who wants to make friends and be useful. The only problem is she bears a worrying resemblance to Sadako from 'The Ring!' Because of her reputation, people are not only terrified of her, but small dogs even bark in fear at her presence; in fact, the only person in school who will talk to her is the lively class hottie, Kazehaya. As the pair spends more time together, Kazehaya slowly begins to bring Sawako out of her shell and soon their feelings for each other develop further. Though with her crippling insecurities, lack of social skills, and a series of cruel rumors and misunderstandings, it seems that Sawako's dream of a normal life won’t be quite so easy to obtain.

7 votes

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Reasons you might like Kimi ni Todoke - From Me To You...

sothis sothis says...

Kimi ni Todoke is a touching, moving romance that is highly reminiscent of the beginning of Kare Kano - the part that's awesome, before it declines into filler mediocrity. If you liked the honest, realistic romance of one, try out the other.

Omurqi Omurqi says...

Kare Kano was the first thing that came to mind when watching Kimi ni Todoke. The two are incredibly similar in the way they tell their high-school romance story. They both use inner voices often, are made mainly from the girls point of view, have a similar sense of humor and even the artstyle has similarities (although Kimi ni Todoke has quality 2009 animation, while Kare Kano's age shows). Even though the personalities of the characters are different in both shows, if you liked one of these, definitely check out the other!

Szwagier Szwagier says...

While the combination may seem a bit like a mismatch at first (Kare kano - Cheerful girl + gloomy guy, Kimitodo - Gloomy girl + cheerful guy ) both stories have actually a lot in common. They focus on characters wishing to change themselves. Whether the starting point is "Sadako-like girl" or is it "perfect student", the goal in both cases is "normal girl". In order to do that heroines need to change their habits, become more honest, open, and manage to change how they are perceived by their classmates. Also in both animes the boy is the catalyst of the change.Both of them are shoujo shows with a nice balance of comedy and heartwarming.

babyeinstein12 babyeinstein12 says...

Kimi ni Todoke highly resembles the first half of Kare Kano in that Japanese high school life becomes a rose-tinted bubble. Sawako and Yukino are both insecure girls (though they express their insecurity in very different ways) whose blossoming relationship with a popular male classmate propels them to re-awakened social lives.

lembas lembas says...

Kimi ni Todoke reminds me of what Kare Kano might have progressed to if all the complications/politics/disagreements behind the scenes hadn't affected production. Even the supporting cast of Kimi ni Todoke reminds me a bit of Kare Kano :)

I tend to rewatch Kimi ni Todoke more than Kare Kano, because despite wanting so much more after the series, ultimately Kimi ni Todoke feels much more finished than Kare Kano (you can tell when the animators and producers fought near the end), but both series are must NOT be missed.

Kare Kano is slightly older in tone for the main couple, although I may be slightly biased by what I know of the manga, but both series cover most of the same subject matter. They both talk about living with a certain perception of who you are, and breaking out of that shell -- for both main male and female characters.

anim3l0ver321 anim3l0ver321 says...

I'd recommend this because in the beginning, you get the idea that the girl is like this, but when you actually keep watching,the girl is actually something else, which is something to look forward to when you watch either one.

OlAB0 OlAB0 says...

If you liked His and Her Circumstances or Kimi ni Todoke - From Me To You, you'd like the other because it has a similar vibe. The feelings they develop along the story is something that will melt your heart and will make you want more. Although the protagonists are not the same - one is shy and the other is the exact opposite - they somehow feel the same (at least for me). There will be many moments where you'll want to jump into the action and scream to protagonist "what the hell are you doing?! Why don't you see their love for you?!". But at the same time, you'll laugh, cry, think about how much you want a relationship like this, and then laugh again. If you want to watch an anime where you'll smile like crazy, I really recommend them.

Boys Be...

Boys Be...

There is nothing more sad and pleasant than love in its various forms, and a group of high school students will discover them in this melancholy series. The focus is on Kanzaki Kyoichi, an artist and a dreamer at heart, and Nitta Chiharu, a track star and a childhood friend of Kyoichi's. From spring to summer to fall to winter, love will grow and fade, and grow again

6 votes

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Reasons you might like Boys Be......

kaz kaz says...

Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou and Boys Be, both based on shounen romance (romance for boys, not romance between boys) manga, have remarkably different angles in which they portray that awkward emotion of love between teenagers. Boys Be achieves a lot more in hitting close to home with its serious, almost-nonfiction stories, but Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou, as befits a GAINAX production, has an air of unreality to it that makes it just as engaging.

samiel samiel says...

Both anime deal with with feelings, and mostly love (or should I say Love ^^). Kare Kano more deals with the way you act / the way you think, and Boys Be brings more "psychology" of life (eg : there's a whole episode about loneliness). in both, feelings are discribed, but an interesting fact is that in kare kano, it deals with the girl's feelings, whereas in Boys Be, it deals with the boy's. The difference in style is really interesting. one thing I regret though is the ending. Both series are not really ending. In kare kano, it's a bit frustrating, and they almost call for a second season in boys be, but I've never heard of such a thing (though if it exists, I'd really love to watch it ^^). I hope what I've written will be read and will make some people want to see any of these series I've really liked ^^.

sothis sothis says...

I personally liked Boys Be much more than Kare Kano, but I also think it's obvious why the two are good recommendations for each other. Simply put, they are two relationship series that deal with REAL relationship issues and insecurities, in a unique way. Boys Be is much more focused on positive changes with a group of friends, whereas Kare Kano is focused on one person.

Stmated Stmated says...

both resolves around romance (==love). Kare Kano I must say is the one which weighs most heavily upon the scale of romance, even tho' it's light hearted from time to time. Boy and girl, both gradually starts to love eachother more and more. Both settings is mostly set in school, where Kare Kano is more centered upon the schoolwork then Boys Be, which more resolves around the characters. If you like animes which make you sit in your chair fluttering and giggling from excitement (^^) then both of these is a great choice. There is no real connection between the two except the school and romance, but those are great enough to somehow begin to resemble.

VRDave VRDave says...

The basic themes within Kare Kano are almost exactly the same as in Boys Be as far as love and relationships. Also a bunch of high school kids for characters.

kamirura kamirura says...

Boys Be is also a school anime, but the more deeper one. Here we see the aspects of different guys in school. Mostly they focus on a one guy and his girl. But as I said more love than in To heart and more serious, but also many funny moments. If you're tierd of the childish To heart and wanna watch abit more real love, watch this one.

Maid-sama!

Maid-sama!

President of the Student Council at the almost-all-boys Seika High School, the hard-as-nails Misaki Ayuzawa works every day to make life easier on the small population of co-eds who have enrolled there. Though an unholy terror to all things male during school hours, in order to provide for her impoverished family, she secretly works after school at a maid cafe in Akihabara. However, when campus hottie Usui Takumi wanders into the restaurant during her shift, suddenly she finds her reputation in school at his mercy...

5 votes

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Reasons you might like Maid-sama!...

bunnylovesanime bunnylovesanime says...

Like Kare Kano in Maid Sama the female main character has a secret she is trying to hide but a boy from her class discovers it. Similarly he keeps the secret from everyone, but over time she tells people. Like in Kare Kano you have a gentle, loving, and smart male character and a strong, smart, and slightly crazy female main character. In both series you get a great mix of romance and comedy

Korwin Korwin says...

Both shows are shoujo and tell a story about a seemingly perfect girl and a guy who gets to know their "dirty little secret" thus their tale of romance starts.

Cassii3 Cassii3 says...

both shows are indeed shoujo, with a popular guy trying to get the girl and the girl hiding her secret eventually falling in love with the guy who found out her secret

kingshivan kingshivan says...

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! and Kare Kano are very similar, though in my opinion Kaichou is not quite as funny as Kare Kano, but they have the same elements: ultra-popular boy uninterested in anyone until ultra-popular girl comes along; Ultra-popular girl puts a lot on her own shoulders but secretly is relaxed outside of school, and is worried about being blackmailed when ultra-popular boy finds out; they both use silly drawings for inner-thought moments, or rather, both have a dichotomy of fancy art and silly art that works really well for both humor and serious drama.

They are different in certain ways too: in Kare Kano, the girl has a lot of work at school, but isn't feared only respected and adored for being intelligent, helpful, and beautiful.

vinod vinod says...

SECRETS OF LEADS ARE EXCHANGED

SLICE OF LIFE, SCHOOL COMMITTE

ROMANTIC COMEDY

Love Hina

Love Hina

Keitaro Urashima is somewhat of a failure. In order to fulfill a promise he made to a girl fifteen years ago, he has tried time and again to get into Tokyo U but has never managed to pass the exam. However, fate smiles upon him and he ends up working for his aunt, managing an all-girls dorm! Living with the feral Kaolla, the timid Shinobu, the sake-loving Mitsune, the blade mistress Motoko and the punch-happy Naru, can Keitaro keep his focus and keep his promise? And will he ever end up meeting that girl from his past?

4 votes

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Reasons you might like Love Hina...

VRDave VRDave says...

Another lighthearted love story with some love triangles and witty humor. Love hina is a little less serious and the series is more episodic, whereas Kare Kano tries to follow kind of a single story.

miaka miaka says...

If you did like Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou then you should like Love Hina. both have this school,girl and boys problem. Love hina is not as serious as Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou.

Stmated Stmated says...

If you are searching for a series similar to Love Hina in the romantic part then Kare Kano is a definitive choice for you. Kare Kano is a bit heavier on the romantic part and also a tad more serious, even tho' Kare Kano weighs a huge load on the comedy scale.

Weeqay Weeqay says...

Well, both Love Hina and Kare Kano are about love in the first place, and both are simply hilarious. If you enjoy watching romance-comedy anime, then be sure to watch these two.

Ai Yori Aoshi

Ai Yori Aoshi

Aoi Sakuraba, heir to the Sakura department store, has only one thing on her mind-- her beloved. Betrothed from a very young age, she has been in love with him, Kaoru Hanabishi, ever since. After Kaoru left his family, their bethrothal was nullified. Aoi sets out to find him. Will they be able to stand against the barriers that will try to keep them apart?

4 votes

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Reasons you might like Ai Yori Aoshi...

mrschocofrog mrschocofrog says...

Love stories full of problems, these two series show us how difficult it is to go though teenage, but that in the end you can make it. Althought KareKano animation is more graphic than Ai Yori Aoshi, which has a perfect but more classic type of animation, both are worth seeing as they are really entertaining.

v0id v0id says...

In both series love is a complex matter in which the couples fight to balance regular life and their love. While Kare Kano is more focused on school life, Ai Yori Aoshi is more focused on how they deal with the developing relationship.

madcomic madcomic says...

Both "His and Her Circumstances" and "Ai Yori Aoshi" give you a similar feel because both assure you that things will work out, even though there are sometimes difficult problems along the way.

abunai abunai says...

Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou and Ai Yori Aoshi are very similar in a number of respects. The romance in both stories is between a young woman who has been raised in the happiest of family circumstances, and a young man whose family circumstances are burdened with physical and emotional pain. The two couples must go through different but equally burdensome obstacles to reach the point where they can declare their love in public.

More than anything else, however, the couples are strong. They will not let their love weaken, no matter what troubles may come their way. This is a charm shared by both series, and a good reason to assume that, if you like the one, you will like the other.

Boys Over Flowers

Boys Over Flowers

The average Tsukushi Makino attends the snobby, elite Eitoku Academy, which is dominated by the Flower Four (F4) – the sons of the most powerful families. Like the rest of her classmates, Tsukushi keeps a low profile until one day she can stand it no more! For her obstinance, the F4 declare war and it's Tsukushi against all. In the middle of it all, she finds herself drawn strangely close to two of the F4; they might not be as bad as they seem. With her heart torn between two boys, will Tsukushi be able to find the love she desires?

4 votes

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Reasons you might like Boys Over Flowers...

tolone tolone says...

Both are the only 2 romantic animes that I can see actually happening, very real situations when most romantic animes feel so fake. Also both are hilarious.

XMrNiceguyX XMrNiceguyX says...

Both anime are high school dramas, though while Kare Kano goes really deep, Hana Yori Dango isn't that deep, but contains more "action". Sometimes Kare Kano shows art directly from the manga in the anime. This is done (though less often) in Hana Yori Dango as well. The characters in Kare Kano are alot different from the ones in Hana Yori Dango. In Kare Kano, it are perfect students, while in Hana Yori Dango, it are average students. Both enjoyable for everyon who likes high school romances.

tetra tetra says...

Kare Kano and Hana Yori Dango are both high school romances with a twist. Neither is new but I have not seen any other anime that have used any of the ideas behind these two. And no, it is not the same twist.

If you are looking for unique high school series (not an easy thing to find), after having watched one of these, try the other.

palefox palefox says...

Both Hana Yori Dango and Kare Kano are funny at times but also know when to be serious, so they aren't harem anime or anything. Also they are both set in a school environment with lots of angst and romance too!

Rumbling Hearts

Rumbling Hearts

Narumi Takayuki is a normal high school student with a crush on Mitsuki, the school's swim star -- that is, until he receives a profession of love from his friend Haruka. But amidst the beautiful budding relationship, tragedy strikes when an accident occurs, turning Narumi’s life upside-down. Kimi ga Nozomu Eien is a compelling drama about one man, and the choices he must make for love.

4 votes

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Reasons you might like Rumbling Hearts...

tolone tolone says...

Both animes are very similar to this in that it's not the usual people too shy to even kiss each other for 20+ eps romantic anime. The characters feel real in both, plus they both have great stories.

sothis sothis says...

Kimi ga Nozomu Eien and Kare Kano are two realistic looks at relationships. Well, KgNE is definitely realistic, while Kare Kano is partially realistic. Nonetheless, if you liked one, you'd probably like the realism to whatever extent in the other. I personally felt KgNE was a far superior show.

freakzilla freakzilla says...

KGNE is far more serious and doesn't even have any real comedy, whereas Kare Kano mixes comedy and realistic relationships, not really giving priority to either one. Though if you want another serious romance story, this is one of your better bets at getting one.

ARGB ARGB says...

Both series focus on romance and are very mature. They are also realistic, which makes the plot very appealing, especially if you think that love is one of the most common topics in animes, and it is difficult to cover it in an interesting way. Along both animes, you can see how the characters grow phsychologically, which makes you feel indentified with them. Another similarity between the two is that both have a surprising ending.

The differences? While Kimi ga Nozomu Eien develops around a love triangle and is more concerned about the feelings of the characters regarding love, Karekano is centered about a unique relationship (Arima and Yukino), and the characters deal not only with love but also with their complex problems.