A Couple of Cuckoos or The Cuckoo’s Fiancee (Kakkou no Iinazuke in Japanese) is an anime based on manga of the same name. It has 24 episodes and is animated by SynergySP and Shin-Ei Animation.
The manga, illustrated and authored by Miki Yoshikawa, has been serialized in Weekly Shounen Jump magazine since January 2020 and published by Kodansha.
The story follows Nagi Umino, a diligent high school student, and Erika Amano, a social media star, who were swapped at birth by mistake.
They decide the two children should marry each other so they can be part of both families.
This arrangement completely stirs up the lives of the two teenagers, who are absolutely unwilling to give in to the absurd agreement made by their parents. Only years later, their parents have come to learn about it.
A Couple of Cuckoos is a perfect watch for somebody who enjoys comedy, romance, and harem elements in an anime.
You watched a couple of cuckoos anime and liked it. Now, you want to check out other shows from these genres (rom-com with a harem or only rom-com) with similar themes and plotlines.
11 Anime Like A Couple Of Cuckoos
Anime Similar to A Couple of Cuckoos (Kakkou no Iinazuke)
11. To LOVE-Ru
- Genres: Shounen, Comedy, Harem, Romance, Ecchi, Sci-fi
- No. of episodes: 26 + 6 (OVA)
- Where To Watch: Hulu, Crunchyroll
To LOVE-Ru is animated by Studio Xebec and is a bit old compared to other anime on this list. It is based on the comic book with the same title, penned by Saki Hasemi and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki.
The character designs are classic moe style, and the overall tone of the series is very light-hearted.
To LOVE-Ru is about Rito Yuuki, our main character, who fails to confess to his crush from middle school.
A certain alien crown princess (who suddenly descended to earth) and a few other girls are constantly in the way, making Rito’s confession impossible.
The daily antics of his life are very fun to watch and are full of lewd but comedic moments. While it’s a struggle for Rito, it’s entertainment for the viewers.
As you can see, the show has supernatural elements.
But it is similar in the aspect that it has harem elements and a lot of comedy. Unlike A Couple of Cuckoos, it also has copious amounts of ecchi scenes.
So if humor with lots of fanservice is something you like, this show is a perfect watch for you!
10. Oreshura
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Harem
- No. of episodes: 13
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Funimation
Oreshura is anime under the studio A-1 Pictures. The name of the anime is short for “Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru,” which translates to “my girlfriend and my childhood friend fight too much.”
As some of you may have already guessed, the source for the anime is a light novel (the characteristic long title gives it away, doesn’t it?).
It is written by Yuuji Yuuji and illustrated by Ruroo. Oreshura also has a manga, which is adapted from the light novel as well.
The story is about Eita Kidou, a studious high school boy, and four girls who disrupt his peaceful and boring world, sending his sanity and feelings into a frenzy.
Eita, who is an anti-romantic, is not only forced into a relationship with his journal held hostage but now also has to deal with all the troublemakers surrounding his new reality.
The main couple, their initial interactions, the harem elements, and the comedy are comparable to A Couple of Cuckoos.
Apart from that, something that really stands out in this anime is its watercolor-like art and background music.
9. Ai Yori Aoshi
- Genres: Seinen, Romance, Comedy, Harem, Slice Of Life
- No. of episodes: 24 (Season 1) + 12 (Season 2) + 1 (Special episode)
- Where To Watch: Funimation, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime
Ai Yori Aoshi, or Bluer than Indigo, is the oldest anime on this list. It is adapted by the studio J.C. Staff from the comic book of the same name by Kou Fumizuki. Even though it aired in 2002, the animation is pleasing and has a nostalgic moe art style.
The show starts with Kaoru, a university student, guiding a lost young woman to an address that turns out to be an empty site.
He takes her to his home with no other option left at hand. The woman is soon revealed to be Kaoru’s childhood friend and betrothed, who came to Tokyo to search for him.
It is all straightforward until other characters enter the scene.
Kaoru’s friends, who are all beautiful women and his potential romantic interests, complicate the circumstances as they are always around Kaoru.
This situation brings in a lot of exciting moments, comedy, and a blooming romance, all that is a delight to watch.
Ao Yori Aoshi is quite similar to A Couple of Cuckoos with its theme of arranged marriage and the romance and comedy present throughout the show.
8. Wolf Girl and Black Prince
- Genres: Shoujo, Romance, Comedy
- No. of episodes: 12 + 1 (OVA)
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
Wolf Girl and Black Prince, or Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji, is animated by TYO Animations and is very popular and well-liked in the rom-com genre. It is adapted from the manga of the same title, written and illustrated by Ayuko Hatta.
The art style is pleasing to the eye and the character designs, in particular, are very attractive.
The plot revolves around a high school girl, Erika Shinohara, who is desperate to gain respect from her new classmates and friends by lying to them about having a boyfriend.
After an embarrassing meeting, she somehow gets a guy to act as her boyfriend and realizes that her troubles have just begun.
The guy, Kyouya Sata, is not only a sadist but also a very mean-spirited, and Erika has no choice but to deal with her lies and her new boyfriend.
Wolf Girl and Black Prince maps the unfolding of a seemingly impossible romance between two teenagers, with all its comical and dramatic moments.
If you liked the romance in A Couple of Cuckoos, there is no doubt you’ll thoroughly enjoy Wolf Girl and Black Prince!
7. Toradora!
- Genres: Romance, Comedy, Drama
- No. of episodes: 25 + 5 (Special episodes)
- Where To Watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime
Toradora! (that is, Tiger X Dragon, from the names of the main characters) is a very successful light novel series authored by Yuyuko Takemiya, with illustrations by Yasu.
The anime adaptation by J.C. Staff also became very well-loved, further boosting its popularity.
The plot revolves around Ryuuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka, two high school students who have a crush on each other’s best friends.
Starting with an awkward first meeting, they soon agree to help each other in their romantic pursuits.
The alliance is anything but perfect, thanks to their contrasting personalities (Taiga, you see, is what you call a classic case of “tsundere“), but it brings lots of humor and spice to the story.
The “love polygon” situation is handled very well and makes way for interesting circumstances.
A noteworthy aspect of the Toradora! Anime is its music. The openings, endings, and background music go amazingly well with the visuals.
All in all, Toradora! is a must-watch if you’re a rom-com fan. Although it is a bit more dramatic than A Couple of Cuckoos, the comedy and the romance are similar and arguably even more enjoyable.
6. Rent-a-Girlfriend
- Genres: Shounen, Romance, Comedy, Harem
- No. of episodes: 12 (season 1) + 12 (season 2) + Movie
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
Rent-a-Girlfriend (Kanojo, Okarishimasu) is animated by TMS entertainment based on its comic book of the same name by Reiji Miyajima.
The anime made a lot of noise when it aired and quickly became popular among male fans. It also earned itself a second season.
Rent-a-Girlfriend begins with Kazuya Kinoshita, our main character, getting dumped by his girlfriend. Unable to cope, he hires a rental girlfriend to help him overcome his heartbreak.
Things take a turn when Kazuya is forced to fake a relationship with said rental girlfriend due to a misunderstanding with his grandmother.
Enter two other girls and his ex-girlfriend into the picture, with Kazuya struggling to keep up with the waifus while simultaneously trying to fake a relationship and recover from his breakup.
Rent-a-girlfriend is another anime like A Couple of Cuckoos that features a pretend relationship, a harem, and light but consistent comedy.
The waifus have different personalities, and their interactions with the MC make for a very entertaining watch. The art is vibrant with beautiful character designs.
5. The Quintessential Quintuplets
- Genres: Shounen, Romance, Comedy, Harem
- No. of episodes: 12 (season 1) + 12 (season 2) + Movie
- Where To Watch: Netflix, Funimation, Crunchyroll
The Quintessential Quintuplets or Gotoubun no Hanayome is a very popular anime by Tezuka Productions, adapted from the manga of the same title. The original work is written as well as illustrated by Negi Haruba.
The story is about Fuutarou Uesugi, a diligent and determined high school student who has to work harder than others due to financial problems.
So when he gets the chance to be a highly paid tutor for an affluent family’s daughter, he quickly takes up the offer.
He soon discovers that the girl is only one of five identical quintuplet sisters, and he has to tutor them. The problem is that they absolutely despise studying and make things harder for Fuutarou.
The Quintessential Quintuplets and A Couple of Cuckoos are two very similar anime in terms of the comedy, harem elements, and the varied personalities of the waifus.
It is one of those shows that you just cannot dislike! The art style in The Quintessential Quintuplets is stunning, and the overall visuals are pleasing to the eye. The voice acting and the music in the anime are also top-notch.
4. Engaged to the Unidentified
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, SLICE OF LIFE
- No. of episodes: 12 (season 1) + 1 (Special episode) + 1 (OVA)
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
Engaged to the Unidentified (also known as Mikakunin de Shinkoukei) is a rom-com anime by Doga Kobo studio. It is an adaptation of its comic book, written and illustrated by Cherry Arai.
The art style comes out glossier in the anime and has lovely visuals. The character designs are smooth and look really pretty.
The story is about a high school girl, Kobone Yonomori, who is suddenly informed of the news that she has a betrothed fiancee and that the said fiancee will be coming with his sister to live with her.
As her new life begins with his fiancee and both of their siblings, they all try to adjust to it amid unexpected events full of comical situations.
Engaged to the Unidentified will be an enjoyable watch for you if you enjoyed A Couple of Cuckoos.
It has similar elements of arranged marriage, a suddenly forced relationship, funny and cute siblings, and the progression towards romance.
In addition, it is more refreshing and unpredictable than other rom-com stories, so you absolutely don’t wanna miss out on this one!
3. My Bride is a Mermaid
- Genres: Shounen, Comedy, Romance, Parody
- No. of episodes: 26 + 2 (OVA)
- Where To Watch: Funimation, Amazon Prime, Crunchyroll
My Bride is a Mermaid, or Seto no Hanayome in Japanese, is a rom-com parody anime by studios Gonzo and AIC. The manga is written and illustrated by Tahiko Kimura.
As the name suggests, our main character Nagasumi Michishio has a wife, who is a mermaid. That came to be in the most bizarre way possible.
The mermaid had saved his life, and Nagasumi had to marry her or get executed. So obviously, he decided on the first option, triggering a chain of ridiculous events with non-stop comedy.
This absurdity is present throughout the show, with the married couple struggling to deal with all the troubles that come along.
While the show is similar to A Couple of Cuckoos in that there are elements of a harem and a forced relationship, it is also very different.
It is full of eccentric comedy, and while there is romantic development, it stands out because of its refreshing humor.
2. TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You
- Genres: Shounen, Romance, Comedy
- No. of episodes: 12 (Season 1) + 1 (OVA)
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You (or Tonikaku Kawaii for short) is another popular rom-com show animated by Seven Arcs, based on the comic by Kenjirou Hata.
Considering its popularity, it is no surprise that it has received a second season, which is currently in production.
The story begins in a very unusual way for a rom-com anime, with the main character almost getting killed by a truck.
You’d expect him to get isekai’d, but that’s not what happens. A beautiful girl saves him who he just saw moments ago.
Not wanting to miss the chance, he instantly asks her out. The girl agrees to be with him but on one condition: he must marry her.
Unlike A Couple of Cuckoos, Tonikaku Kawaii does not feature a forced relationship or marriage with initial animosity.
But the character designs are very similar, and the kind of comedy and progression with romance is equally enjoyable to watch.
1. Nisekoi: False Love
- Genres: Shounen, Romance, Comedy, Harem
- No. of episodes: 20 (Season 1) + 12 (Season 2)
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Nisekoi: False Love, or simply Nisekoi, is an anime adapted from the comic book of the same title by Naoshi Komi.
As you would expect from Shaft studio, the animation quality is amazing, with very pleasing visuals. It is one of the most well-loved shows in the harem realm of shows.
Nisekoi is about Raku Ichijou, a high school boy from a yakuza family who gets entangled in gang affairs when another gang declares war on his family.
To prevent things from worsening, he and the daughter of the enemy’s leader have to act as lovers for their families’ sake.
Around the same time, Raku starts his quest to find the childhood friend he had promised to marry. The problem is, he only has a pendant as a lead, and there are too many troubles in the way.
Nisekoi is arguably the most comparable to A Couple of Cuckoos because it has similar comedy, romance, and harem elements. Overall, it’s a very refreshing and entertaining watch!
