10 best anime to watch if you like The Duke of Death And His Maid

The romantic comedy anime The Duke of Death and His Maid has captured viewers' hearts with its tender relationship between Bocchan and Alice. While Bocchan was a cursed Duke who brought death to anyone he touched, Alice, was his fiercely loyal maid.

As Bocchan searches for a way to break his curse so he can physically express his affection for Alice, their humorous banter and mutual devotion deepen. Fans who love the gothic tale's humor, fantasy, and star-crossed romance, can check out similar anime like The Duke of Death and His Maid.

From historical fantasies and hysterical high school plots to tension-filled adventures, these selections provide more unconventional couples and supernatural circumstances to fall in love with. Viewers can prepare their watchlist to settle in with these bewitching shows.

10 best anime for fans of The Duke of Death and His Maid

1) Ancient Magus' Bride

Ancient Magus' Bride (Image via Wit Studio)

Ancient Magus' Bride tells an emotional story of love and healing between Chise and Elias. Chise is an orphaned Japanese high school girl, and Elias is a towering magus with an animal skull for a head. After being sold at an auction because she felt she had no place in the world, Chise becomes Elias' apprentice and future bride.

Despite his intimidating appearance, Elias cares deeply for Chise and vows to help her manage her rare gifts, including the Sight allowing her to see supernatural beings. As the two grow closer while dealing with threats posed by dark magics and faeries, they help heal each other’s emotional wounds.

With its immersive fantasy setting, emphasis on character growth, and bittersweet romance, Ancient Magus' Bride has strong similarities to The Duke of Death and His Maid. The animation style also utilizes a blend of CGI and traditional techniques to bring its magical world to life.

2) My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (Image via Silver Link)

This comedy anime features a lighthearted take on being reborn into a fantasy world. After hitting her head, high school student Catarina Claes regains memories of playing an otome game in her past life.

In the game, she played as the antagonistic Catarina, a noble girl doomed to exile or death. Vowing to avoid these doomed "routes" in her new life, Catarina tries to use her knowledge for good.

With its meta, fourth-wall-breaking humor about romance game tropes, this reverse-harem parody shares The Duke of Death and His Maid's tendency to poke fun at its own genre. Despite the silly premise, fans will grow attached to Catarina and her wacky band of suitors like the charming Geordo or earnest Keith.

3) Snow White with the Red Hair

Snow White with the Red Hair (Image via Bones)

In Snow White with the Red Hair, viewers are introduced to Shirayuki, an herbalist living in the kingdom of Tanbarun known for her unique red hair. After boldly escaping the advances of the flashy Prince Raji, Shirayuki flees to the neighboring kingdom Clarines.

There, she befriends the calm and kind Prince Zen and decides to pursue a career as the palace herbalist with his encouragement. Like The Duke of Death and His Maid, this anime features a fairy tale romance between a grounded heroine and her reserved love interest who opens his heart through her influence.

Shirayuki's courage and kindness easily inspire devotion in the people around her. Similarly, Alice's loyalty and frankness help the Duke gain confidence despite his curse in The Duke of Death and His Maid.

4) Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku (Image via A-1 Pictures)

For a contemporary and more realistic take on an unusual workplace couple, check out Wotakoi. This rare seinen romantic comedy follows four awkward individuals - Narumi, Hirotaka, Kabakura, and Hanako - who work regular office jobs while hiding their nerdy hobbies as gamers, fujoshi, and cosplayers.

Narumi encounters her old middle school friend Hirotaka when she starts working at the same office as him, and they start dating. The only catch is, that they must keep their office professional lives separate from their colorful otaku lifestyles outside work.

Like The Duke of Death and His Maid, much of the show's comedy comes from the main "otaku" couple learning to navigate the quirks of their partner they never expected when falling in love. Despite early hesitations, they can't hide their genuine care for long.

5) Kamisama Kiss

Kamisama Kiss (Image via TMS Entertainment)

Nanami Momozono’s life is turned upside down when her absentee father, who left due to gambling debts, leaves her homeless. After rescuing a stranger from a dog attack, she is made the new Land God of the Mikage Shrine by the grateful deity Mikage.

She soon meets her familiar, Tomoe – an aloof and rude kitsune yokai with a tragic past who resents serving her at first. Over time, however, they warm up to each other as they take on the duties of governing the spiritual place and its yokai residents.

With an upbeat mortal girl unexpectedly becoming the master of a handsome, supernatural being, the premise shares a lot with The Duke of Death and His Maid. The pairs have delightful, slow-burn chemistry with plenty of comedic friction. And their devotion runs deeper than initial appearances suggest.

6) Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun (Image via Doga Kobo)

Artistic high schooler Sakura Chiyo gathers her courage to confess to aloof classmate Nozaki, only to discover he is secretly a famous shoujo manga artist. Mistaking her as a fan, Nozaki recruits Sakura to assist him with his manga about a clueless high school boy.

Thus begins a hilarious tale of Sakura helping inspire Nozaki’s stories while pursuing her crush in the most roundabout way. Nozaki’s complete obliviousness to romance mirrors the Duke’s social awkwardness, even though the latter has a supernatural excuse.

Sakura’s patience and dedication to the honest Nozaki also bring Alice’s feelings to mind. Like The Duke of Death and His Maid, viewers will adore the oddball side characters like brash fellow assistant Mikoshiba or vain drama club member Seo who each get standalone chapters fleshing them out.

7) Natsume’s Book of Friends

Natsume’s Book of Friends (Image via Brain's Base)

Since early childhood, Takashi Natsume can see yokai spirits which causes others to shun him. After inheriting a mystical book containing the names of yokai from his late grandmother Reiko, Takashi sets out to peacefully release the contracts binding them to the book.

He soon gains a devoted bodyguard in the mighty yokai Madara as well as supportive human and half-demon friends determined to protect him. Natsume’s empathy and courage in facing hostile yokai echo Alice’s fearless loyalty to the cursed Duke in The Duke of Death and His Maid.

Like the Duke learning to connect to humans again thanks to Alice, Natsume gradually opens up about his secret power and painful childhood thanks to his new friends. With its spiritual Japanese setting, episodic tales, and slowly unfolding central mystery, it balances drama, action, and heartwarming moments well.

8) Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits

Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits (Image via Gonzo)

College student Aoi Tsubaki suddenly inherits a mountain inn from the grandfather she never knew after getting spirited away to a secret supernatural realm. She discovers she must work at the inn cooking for visiting, eccentric yokai to repay a debt incurred from a promise her grandfather made to the master of the inn.

With the help of handsome fox spirit chef Odanna, Aoi takes on the daunting task while also searching for clues about her mother who mysteriously disappeared into the spirit realm.

Another series steeped in Japanese folklore, Kakuriyo’s overarching plot around hidden family secrets and gorgeous fantasy realm setting mirrors some of The Duke of Death and His Maid.

9) Black Butler

The Victorian gothic adventure series Black Butler focuses on Ciel Phantomhive, a 13-year-old aristocrat who runs a famous toy and confectionery company. After enduring significant trauma and abuse, Ciel sells his soul to an enigmatic demon butler named Sebastian Michaelis in exchange for achieving his revenge.

With Sebastian now faithfully serving and protecting Ciel out of their contract, the two investigate a wide range of mysteries threatening Queen Victoria and England itself. Brought together by unusual circumstances, the banter between master and servant echoes the Duke and Alice’s barbed exchanges in The Duke of Death and His Maid hiding deeper caring.

Like the Duke, Ciel struggles to trust others and function normally in high society with his secret curse – the bargain that will ultimately consume his soul. With its shadowy aristocratic mansion, conspiracies, and killers, Black Butler complements The Duke of Death and His Maid’s gothic tones.

10) Yona of the Dawn

This fantasy epic follows Princess Yona, the sole surviving heir after her father, the king, is murdered by the man she loves—her cousin and trusted advisor Soo-won. With only her loyal bodyguard Hak, Yona hides and begins a quest to gather allies and reclaim her place as ruler of Kouka.

Alongside the action and drama, the highlight is the growing relationship between the stubborn, sheltered Yona and her devoted childhood friend Hak. Their return-to-innocence friendship masks an emerging romantic affection made complicated by their respective stations and responsibilities to the kingdom.

With its blend of political intrigue, heartfelt character bonds, and a steely heroine determined to overcome impossible odds, Yona of the Dawn will appeal to fans of The Duke of Death and His Maid.

Conclusion

From heartrending historical fantasies to hysterical renderings of high school life, anime offers no shortage of offbeat romantic stories.

For those fascinated by The Duke of Death and His Maid’s blend of wry humor, gothic drama, and bittersweet star-crossed bonds, the selections above provide more to adore. So, viewers can pick their poison and settle in with these enchanting series like The Duke of Death and His Maid.