Top Chibi Manga Recommendations

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Also known as Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

Narumi Momose has had it rough: every boyfriend she’s had dumped her once they found out she was an otaku, so she’s gone to great lengths to hide it. When a chance meeting at her new job with childhood friend, fellow otaku, and now coworker Hirotaka Nifuji almost gets her secret outed at work, she comes up with a plan to make sure he never speaks up. But he comes up with a counter-proposal: why doesn’t she just date him instead? In love, there are no save points.



Notes:
- Includes 29 extra chapters.
- The English edition combines 2 Japanese volumes into one each (so e.g. the first two Japanese volumes are combined into 1 English volume).

Tags: Otaku Culture , Primarily Adult Cast , Office Lady , Video Games , Work , Episodic , Heterosexual , Josei , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Office , Meta , Iyashikei , Ensemble Cast , Cosplay , Tsundere , Crossdressing , Chibi

Nisekoi

Also known as Nisekoi: False Love.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

As a child, Raku Ichijou made a secret promise with his childhood sweetheart, keeping a pendant as a memento while his love took the key. He dreams of one day meeting his past love, but years later, reality smashes his hopes when Chitoge Kirisaki accidentally knees him in the face...

Though Raku’s a normal high schooler, his family heads the notorious yakuza gang the Shuei-Gumi faction! And he’s dragged into family affairs when he’s forced into a relationship with Chitoge, the daughter of a rival gang’s boss!

Despite their constant spats, the two somehow fool everyone with their false relationship. Raku then discovers that Chitoge has a mysterious key from her past, which she can’t remember... Plus, two other girls appear with keys as well—Kosaki Onodera and Marika Tachibana!

Caught in the midst of this love maelstrom, even more complications arise for Raku when his class decides on Romeo and Juliet as the class’s play for the school festival. Can the two false lovebirds pull off the impossible and make the play a success?



Note: Chapter count includes 229 regular chapters and 11 extras.

Tags: Love Triangle , Female Harem , Primarily Female Cast , Heterosexual , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Slapstick , Primarily Teen Cast , Tragedy , Tsundere , School , Coming of Age , Fake Relationship , Yakuza , Gangs , Time Skip , Chibi , Nudity , Arranged Marriage , Animals , Crossdressing , Police , Amnesia , Marriage , Gender Bending

Made in Abyss

Also known as Made in Abyss.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Sci-Fi

In an age when the corners of the world have been scoured for their secrets, only one place remains unexplored–a massive cave system known as the Abyss. Those who traverse its endless pits and labyrinth-like tunnels are known as Cave Raiders. A young orphan named Riko dreams of following in her mother’s footsteps as a Cave Raider, and when she meets a strange robot when exploring the Abyss, she’s one step closer to achieving her goal!



Notes:
- Includes the 4-chapter "How Are You? Somewhere" side story.
- Nominated for the 11th Manga Taishou Awards (2018).

Tags: Survival , Tragedy , Primarily Child Cast , Lost Civilization , Travel , Body Horror , Female Protagonist , Wilderness , Chibi , Amnesia , Gore , Philosophy , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Robots , Food , Twins , Monster Girl , Nudity , Curses , Adoption

Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou

Also known as Girls' Last Tour.

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Sci-Fi , Slice of Life

Civilization is dead, but Chito and Yuuri are still alive. So they hop aboard their beloved Kettenkrad motorbike and aimlessly wander the ruins of the world they once knew. Day after hopeless day, they look for their next meal and fuel for their ride. But as long as the two are together, even an existence as bleak as theirs has a ray or two of sunshine in it, whether they're sucking down their fill of soup or hunting for machine parts to tinker with. For two girls in a world full of nothing, the experiences and feelings the two share give them something to live for…



Note: Winner of the Best Comic Award at the Seiun Awards in 2019.

Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Philosophy , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Lost Civilization , Survival , Iyashikei , Primarily Female Cast , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Episodic , Travel , Seinen , Snowscape , War , Urban , Artificial Intelligence , Chibi , Cosmic Horror , Military , Tanks , Denpa

Ao no Flag

Also known as Blue Flag.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

High school senior year, spring—one of life's important forks in the road. Taichi Ichinose finds himself in the same class as Futaba Kuze, who he feels strangely averse to, and his popular childhood friend, Touma Mita. One day, Futaba confides in him her love for Touma, and asks him for help. How will Taichi respond? This new “pure” love story begins as the three are colored in the emotions of youth.



Tags: Coming of Age , LGBTQ+ Themes , Love Triangle , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Philosophy , Chibi , School , Bisexual , Boys' Love , Baseball , Ensemble Cast , Shounen , Time Skip , Rehabilitation , Heterosexual , Unrequited Love , Yuri

Kubo-san wa Mob wo Yurusanai

Also known as Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

First year high schooler Junta Shiraishi is a mob character who goes unnoticed even when he's standing right next to you. But his classmate, "heroine-level beauty" Kubo, always notices him and is there to tease him. Anyone can become special to someone, but it might be a little too early to call these feelings "love." Perhaps this story is still two-steps from being a romantic comedy--let's call it a sweet comedy where a background character becomes visible!



Notes:
-Chapter count includes 14 extra chapters and the original one-shot that were included in the volumes.
-Won 19th place (2020) and 7th place (2021) in the Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Awards in the physical release category.

Tags: Iyashikei , Heterosexual , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Chibi , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Seinen , Coming of Age

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

Also known as The Apothecary Diaries.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Mystery

Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for life outside its perfumed halls, she isn’t long for a life of drudgery! Using her wits to break a “curse” afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao attracts the attentions of the handsome eunuch Jinshi and is promoted to attendant food taster. But Jinshi has other plans for the erstwhile apothecary, and soon Maomao is back to brewing potions and…solving mysteries?!



Note: Won the Grand Prize in the Printed Manga category at the Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Award 2019.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Medicine , Detective , Historical , Ancient China , Foreign , Primarily Female Cast , Seinen , Royal Affairs , Drugs , Tragedy , Work , Politics , Crime , Episodic , Maids , Asexual , Adoption , Heterosexual , Conspiracy , Chibi , Ojou-sama , Suicide , Religion

Yubisaki to Renren

Also known as A Sign of Affection.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

Yuki is a typical college student, whose world revolves around her friends, social media, and the latest sales. But when a chance encounter on a train leads to her meeting friend-of-a-friend and fellow student Itsuomi-san, her world starts to widen. But even though Itsuomi-kun can speak three languages, sign language isn’t one of them. Can the two learn to communicate the budding feelings between them?



Notes:
- Ranked 17th place for the Tsugimanga Award in the Print Manga Category in 2020.
- Nominated for the 45th and 46th Kodansha Manga Award in the Shoujo Category in 2021 and 2022.
- Nominated for the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shoujo Category

Tags: Shoujo , Language Barrier , Female Protagonist , Disability , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , College , Love Triangle , Bar , Chibi , Urban , Cohabitation , Tsundere

Ouran Koukou Host Club

Also known as Ouran High School Host Club.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

One day, Haruhi, a scholarship student at exclusive Ouran High School, breaks an $80,000 vase that belongs to the "Host Club," a mysterious campus group consisting of six super-rich (and gorgeous) guys. To pay back the damages, she is forced to work for the club, and it's there that she discovers just how wealthy the boys are and how different they are from everybody else.



Note: Includes 14 extra chapters.

Tags: Male Harem , Shoujo , School Club , School , Female Protagonist , Crossdressing , Gender Bending , Slapstick , Mixed Gender Harem , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Tomboy , Primarily Teen Cast , Twins , LGBTQ+ Themes , Meta , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Parody , Heterosexual , Love Triangle , Agender , Cosplay , Tsundere , Chibi , Bisexual , Gyaru , Incest

Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

Katsuragi Keima is known on the net as the god of getting the girls while in real life he’s known as otamegane and he hates all real girls. However he is approached by Elsie, a devil from hell, to help her in catching runaway spirits that hide in people. Apparently the spirits only hide in the hearts of girls and the only way to get the souls out is by making the girl fall in love so the spirit gets forced out. And he’s not allowed to fail or he will lose his head.

Tags: Primarily Female Cast , Female Harem , Male Protagonist , School , Video Games , Otaku Culture , Demons , Heterosexual , Urban Fantasy , Slapstick , Gods , Denpa , Memory Manipulation , Shounen , Amnesia , Time Manipulation , Family Life , Age Regression , Anti-Hero , Love Triangle , Tsundere , Kuudere , Conspiracy , Bullying , Dissociative Identities , Coming of Age , Crossdressing , Idol , Band , Philosophy , Chibi , Body Swapping

Yozakura-san Chi no Daisakusen

Also known as Mission: Yozakura Family.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Romance

Taiyou Asano is a super shy high school student and the only person he can talk to is his childhood friend, Mutsumi Yozakura. It turns out that Mutsumi is the daughter of the ultimate spy family! Even worse, Mutsumi is being harassed by her overprotective, nightmare of a brother, Kyouichirou. What drastic steps will Taiyou have to take to save Mutsumi?! A spy family comedy - the mission begins!



Note: Nominated for the Tsugimanga 2020 Award in the Manga Category.

Tags: Espionage , Shounen , Heterosexual , Conspiracy , Family Life , Ensemble Cast , Surreal Comedy , Assassins , Male Protagonist , Marriage , Time Skip , Swordplay , Orphan , Episodic , Twins , Guns , Tragedy , School , Chibi , Kaiju , LGBTQ+ Themes

Lovely★Complex

Also known as Love★Com.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

Rather than bow to the inevitable, Risa and Atsushi join forces to pursue their true objects of affection. But will their budding friendship become something more complex?



Note: The chapter count includes the one-shots "Hoshi ni Nattemo Aishiteru" and "Bokura no Ibasho".

Tags: School , Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Slapstick , Coming of Age , Unrequited Love , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Love Triangle , LGBTQ+ Themes , Transgender , Chibi , Basketball

Ibeon Saeng-do Jal Butakae

Also known as See You in My 19th Life.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

Ji-Eum Ban has a secret—she can remember the memories of her previous lives...all 18 of them! This means she retains past knowledge, skills, and most importantly, the bonds with the people she cares about. Guided by the bittersweet memories of her last life, Ji-Eum sets out to rekindle the love that was cut short by her tragic death. But little did she know her biggest rival would be her own past self...



Tags: Primarily Adult Cast , Reincarnation , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Office Lady , Full Color , Urban , Work , Disability , Dissociative Identities , Crime , Tragedy , Age Gap , Tsundere , Conspiracy , Bullying , Urban Fantasy , Revenge , Chibi , Office , Long Strip

Jakjeonmyeong Sunjeong

Also known as Operation: True Love.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Romance

It’s hard dating someone who won’t give you the time of day. Su-Ae Sim knows that better than anyone, having dated her indifferent boyfriend, Min-U Kang, for years. She sometimes wishes she could be more like her charismatic stepsister, Ra-Im, who seems to have it all. But life takes a turn for the weird when Su-Ae discovers Jellypop, a sentient flip phone, in her locker. Jellypop has a lot to say about her love life, especially as Su-Ee drifts further away from Min-U and finds herself running into Min-U’s friend, Eun-Hyeok. Add to the mix a growing suspicion that Min-U and Ra-Im might be more than friends, and Su-ae might need a miracle to navigate the ups and downs of high school romance!



Tags: Revenge , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , Love Triangle , Full Color , Female Protagonist , School , Time Skip , Magic , Bullying , Urban Fantasy , Fake Relationship , Chibi , Achronological Order , Idol , Writing , Long Strip

Munou na Nana

Also known as Talentless Nana.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Horror , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

An academy on an island in unnavigable waters. There, students trained tirelessly, to fight back against the enemies of humanity. The protagonist, a student newly transferred there, also sets out with the intention of eradicating all enemies of humankind. An unpredictable, intellectual suspense story of justice and evil.



Tags: Conspiracy , Dystopian , Tragedy , Assassins , Super Power , Anti-Hero , Female Protagonist , Detective , Time Skip , Found Family , Primarily Teen Cast , Crime , Espionage , Ensemble Cast , School , Prison , Military , Politics , Gore , Shounen , Urban , Rural , Terrorism , Amnesia , Kuudere , Shapeshifting , Adoption , Yuri , Time Manipulation , LGBTQ+ Themes , Bullying , Twins , Zombie , Necromancy , Photography , Suicide , Chibi , Time Loop

Agnyeoneun Marionette

Also known as The Villainess is a Marionette.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

I woke up as Kayena Hill, the novel's villainess, praised as the greatest beauty in the empire. Who knew that her story would catch my attention because I was her in my past life? Destined for terrible ends, I've died twice—but I refuse to die a third time as a pawn in someone else's scheme. I’m no longer the vain and naïve princess. Now that I know how the story will unfold, I’ll turn the tables around and have everyone dancing to my tune. This time, I’ll be the one pulling the strings.



Note: Chapter count includes prologue.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Full Color , Villainess , Isekai , Reincarnation , Primarily Male Cast , Politics , Ojou-sama , Maids , Magic , Historical , Tragedy , Chibi , Yandere , Royal Affairs

Agdangui Appaleul Kkosyeola

Also known as Flirting with The Villain's Dad.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

Ack! I'm trapped in this webnovel, "Brigitte Wants to be Happy!" No prob, I KNOW what's gonna happen so I'll just—wait. I'm not Brigitte? I'm her aunt, Princess Yerenika?! Uh-oh. I'm stuck 20 years before the main plot... and everyone in my generation ends up tragically dead! Her parents, dead. Me, dead. Villain's dad, King Euredian, dead. A-ha! That's the key. I just need to prevent the villain from being born... time to break out some seduction schemes and flirt like my life depends on it!



Chapter count include 19 side stories.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Gods , Full Color , Kuudere , Reincarnation , Isekai , Magic , Heterosexual , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Pregnancy , Parenthood , Chibi , Royal Affairs , Necromancy , Long Strip

Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare

Also known as Love Me, Love Me Not.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Fast friends Yuna and Akari are complete opposites—Yuna is an idealist, while Akari is a realist. When lady-killer Rio and the oblivious Kazuomi join their ranks, love and friendship become quite complicated!



Tags: School , Coming of Age , Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Unrequited Love , Time Skip , Slapstick , Surreal Comedy , Chibi , Urban

Orange Marmalade

Also known as ORANGE MARMALADE.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Set at a time when Vampires are ubiquitous in society, but forced to stay hidden and treated as outcasts, this story tells the tale of one particular female vampire who has always had difficulties due to her nature. Feared and hated and having been driven away from several neighbourhoods, she is eager to settle down in her current city, but is disillusioned with the concepts of friendship and relationships among humans. She is fine being alone, until she is stirred by the smell of one particular man and unknowingly nips his neck. What is she to do now that the surprised man actually begins to fall for her?

Tags: School , Vampire , Female Protagonist , School Club , Primarily Teen Cast , Tragedy , Heterosexual , Kuudere , Full Color , Chibi , Bullying , Love Triangle , Band , Tsundere , Suicide , Basketball

Ojisama to Neko

Also known as A Man and His Cat.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

In this wholesome, heartwarming tale, a lonely older man takes home a pet-shop kitten that no one else wants. It doesn't take long for the pair to warm up to each other, and soon, they're inseparable. Told through the eyes of both the man and his cat, this sweet and hilarious story is a balm for the soul!



Tags: Animals , Iyashikei , Found Family , Primarily Adult Cast , School , Male Protagonist , Chibi , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Elderly Protagonist , Shounen , Work