Nobody expects a toyline adaptation to actually understand its own characters. Monster High: Kowa-ike Girls gets them right in ways the American show never managed, giving each girl a personality that feels earned instead of slapped on for marketing. Eight episodes of pure slice-of-life breathing room lets you actually like these characters before anything tries to happen, which means when you see the outfit designs at the episode's end, you're not just looking at dolls you could buy, you're looking at versions of characters you've spent time with and want to see dressed that way.

Monster High: Kowa-ike Girls is a Japanese animated adaptation of Mattel's Monster High fashion doll franchise. Released online in 2014, the short ONA runs eight episodes and mixes comedy and slice-of-life with a supernatural flavor, making it a light, playful take on the brand for viewers who enjoy easygoing everyday humor with a monstrous twist.