So, you're looking for Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo. It sounds simple enough. But if you’ve spent more than five minutes searching for it online, you’ve probably realized that the internet is a mess of overlapping titles, similar-sounding anime, and confusing translations that make finding the actual series a total headache.
Honestly, the naming conventions in the harem and rom-com genre have become a bit of a nightmare lately.
Most people come looking for this specific title because they’ve seen a clip on social media or a stray panel on a manga forum. Usually, they’re actually looking for one of two things: the high-energy comedy Kanojo mo Kanojo (Girlfriend, Girlfriend) by Hiroyuki, or the older, more "adult-oriented" OVA series that actually carries the triple-kanojo name. They are definitely not the same thing. One is a goofy TV show about a guy dating multiple girls with everyone's consent, and the other is... well, it’s from a very different corner of the industry.
Understanding the distinction is the only way to actually find what you want to watch or read.
The Identity Crisis of Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo
When we talk about Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo, we are technically looking at a work that predates the modern "poly-romance" trend in mainstream anime. Specifically, many veteran fans associate this title with the 2009-2010 OVA series. It was produced by lyrical candy and is based on a visual novel. It’s short. It’s spicy. It’s very much a product of its time.
The plot is basic. You have a protagonist who finds himself entangled with three different girls—hence the name. It doesn't try to be a deep philosophical exploration of modern relationships. It’s a classic "visual novel adaptation" that leans heavily into the tropes of the late 2000s.
Then you have the 2021 surge of Girlfriend, Girlfriend (Kanojo mo Kanojo). Because the titles are so similar, search engines often smash them together. If you’re looking for a wholesome, albeit chaotic, comedy about Naoya Mukai and his increasingly large group of girlfriends, you’re looking for the Hiroyuki series. If you’re looking for the more explicit 2009 title, you’re in a different ballpark entirely.
People get these mixed up constantly. You’ll see forum posts where someone asks for a "season 2" of the triple-kanojo show, only to be told that the show they’re thinking of only had a few episodes and came out fifteen years ago.
Why the "Multiple Girlfriend" Trope is Exploding Right Now
There's a reason these titles keep popping up. The "harem" genre used to be about a guy who couldn't choose. He’d spend 200 chapters blushing and tripping into people, and then the series would end with a vague hint of a choice.
Fans got tired of it.
Now, we see a shift toward the "two-timing" or "multi-dating" trope where the characters actually enter the relationship. Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo was an early, more underground version of this. It skipped the "will they, won't they" and went straight to the "they are."
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- Girlfriend, Girlfriend takes this to a comedic extreme.
- The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You takes it to a literal extreme.
- The original triple-kanojo title took it to an adult extreme.
This evolution matters because it changes where you can actually find this content. Mainstream platforms like Crunchyroll or Hulu will carry the modern comedies. They will almost never carry the 2009 Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo because of its explicit nature.
Tracking Down the Original Series
If you are a completionist or a fan of older anime history and you want the actual 2009 OVA, you aren't going to find it on Netflix. It’s a niche title. Most of the physical media for it is out of print, though you can occasionally find used DVDs on Japanese auction sites like Mercari Japan or Yahoo Auctions.
For the manga or visual novel version, things get even trickier. The visual novel was the "source," and like many games from that era, it was designed for PC. Compatibility with modern Windows 11 systems is hit-or-miss without some serious fan-made patches or locale-emulators.
It’s a bit of a digital archeology project.
Common Misconceptions You'll See Online
I see this a lot on Reddit: people claiming Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo is a sequel to something else. It's not. It’s a standalone project based on a specific game.
Another big mistake is the spelling. In Japanese, "kanojo" means girlfriend (or she/her). When you see "x" between the words, it’s often just a stylistic choice to denote a crossover or a relationship. It doesn't always mean it's a specific brand. This makes SEO a nightmare for fans. You might search for the title and end up with Rent-a-Girlfriend (Kanojo, Okarishimasu) or Domestic Girlfriend.
Basically, the word "Kanojo" is the "Pizza" of the anime world—it's in everything, and that makes finding a specific "restaurant" much harder.
Where to Actually Watch or Read These Titles
Let's get practical. You want to see the content.
If you want the modern comedy Kanojo mo Kanojo:
Go to Crunchyroll. It has both seasons. It’s bright, loud, and funny. It’s about a guy who refuses to cheat, so he just asks his girlfriend if he can date another girl too. Somehow, she says yes. It’s pure chaos.
If you want the actual Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo (2009):
You’re looking at specialized "retro" or "adult" anime sites. Sites like Hanime or similar platforms usually host these older OVAs. Be warned: the quality is standard definition because it’s from the transition era of animation. It’s not going to look like Demon Slayer.
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If you’re looking for the Manga:
Check sites like MyAnimeList or Baka-Updates first to confirm which one you’re looking at. There are dozens of manga with "Kanojo" in the title. Look for the author's name to be sure. If there's no author listed on the site you're using, you're probably looking at a fan-translation of a niche project.
The Cultural Impact of the Triple-Kanojo Concept
Why does this specific title stick in people's heads?
It’s the absurdity of the "Power of Three." In Japanese storytelling, there’s a recurring fascination with the number three—the three treasures, the three great unifiers. Applying that to a messy romantic comedy creates a specific kind of dynamic that a standard love triangle doesn't have. In a triangle, someone usually loses. In the Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo model, the goal is usually to keep everyone happy, which is logically impossible and therefore great for drama (or comedy).
It’s also worth noting that the 2009 version came out during the peak of the "moe" era. The character designs are very specific—huge eyes, soft colors, and a certain "roundness" to the art style that defined an entire decade of Japanese media. Looking back at it now feels like a time capsule.
Technical Hurdles for Modern Fans
Let's talk about the visual novel for a second because that's the "true" version of the story.
Playing a game from 2009 isn't as simple as downloading it. You usually have to deal with:
- Japanese Locale: Your computer needs to be set to a Japanese region, or you need to use a tool like "Locale Emulator."
- Resolution Issues: These games were often 800x600 or 1024x768. On a 4K monitor, they look like a postage stamp.
- Translation: Unless you speak Japanese, you’re relying on fan-made English patches. These patches are often hosted on old forums or sites like VNDB (Visual Novel Database).
It’s a lot of work for a story about dating three girls at once, but for some, the nostalgia or the specific art style makes it worth the effort.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Plot
People assume it’s a harem where the girls hate each other. Surprisingly, in most versions of this specific "triple" story, the girls eventually form a bond with each other that’s almost as strong as their bond with the guy.
This is a recurring theme in these types of shows. They move away from the "catfight" trope and toward a "communal" living situation. It’s a fantasy of harmony. It’s not realistic, obviously. If you tried this in real life, you’d be single within forty-eight hours and probably blocked on every social media platform. But in the world of Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo, it works because everyone decides it works.
Navigating the Legal Grey Areas
When dealing with older, niche titles like this, the legal streaming options are thin. When a series isn't "picked up" by a major distributor for the West, it falls into a sort of "abandonware" state.
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While I always recommend supporting the official release, if the official release hasn't existed for 15 years and was never licensed in your country, your options are limited. This is why the series has such a heavy presence on "pirate" sites but almost zero presence on mainstream ones.
It’s a shame, really. A lot of animation history is being lost because it doesn't fit the "simulcast" model of modern streaming.
How to Tell if You’ve Found the Right One
Check the character names.
If the lead guy is named Naoya, you are watching Girlfriend, Girlfriend.
If the art looks like it was drawn in 2020 with sharp lines and digital coloring, you’re watching the wrong one.
If the art looks slightly grainy, the girls have slightly more "vintage" hairstyles, and the protagonist is a bit more of a blank slate, you’ve likely found the original Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo.
Actionable Steps for the Curious Fan
If you want to dive into this specific niche of anime history, don't just blindly click links.
- Verify the Year: Always check the release date. 2009 vs 2021. This is the biggest filter you have.
- Use VNDB: If you’re interested in the story, the Visual Novel Database is the gold standard for info. It will tell you every version of the game, every spin-off, and whether an English patch exists.
- Check Secondary Markets: Sites like Buyee or AmiAmi (Pre-owned section) are your best bets for finding physical copies if you want to actually own a piece of the series.
- Adjust Your Expectations: Remember that the 2009 series was made on a much smaller budget than modern TV anime. It’s a short OVA, not a 24-episode epic.
The world of Kanojo x Kanojo x Kanojo is a weird, confusing, and nostalgic corner of the internet. Whether you’re there for the "plot" or the actually interesting history of how harem tropes have shifted over the last two decades, knowing what you’re actually looking at is half the battle.
Stop searching for the generic title and start looking for the specific creators or release years. It’ll save you a lot of time and a lot of "wrong show" frustration.
The best way to start is to look up the title on a database like MyAnimeList and cross-reference the studio. If it says "lyrical candy," you're in the right place. If it says "Tezuka Productions," you've wandered into the modern era. Both are fine, but they offer very different experiences.
Decide which vibe you want—2000s underground or 2020s mainstream—and go from there.