The Girl Downstairs (2023)
A charming Chinese animated romance series about a college freshman caught between his longtime crush and his former idol.
The Girl Downstairs - Series Information
- Original Title: 爱上她的理由
- First Air Year: 2023
- Last Air Year: 2023
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Animation, Drama, Comedy
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (12 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 22
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Chinese
- Spoken Languages: Mandarin
- First Air Date: April 20, 2023 (United States - TV-14), April 20, 2023 (India - U/A 13+), April 20, 2023 (Australia - M), April 20, 2023 (South Korea - 15)
- Networks: bilibili
- Alternative Titles: กั๊กหัวใจไว้รักยัยคนนี้ (TH), 李斗娜！ (CN), The Girl Donwstairs (US), Lee Doona! (KR), Puella Downstairs (ES), A Garota do Andar de Baixo (BR), The Girl Downstairs (FR), 愛上她的理由 (TW)
- Production Companies: bilibili, Red Dog Culture House, BoomStudio
- Production Countries: China, South Korea
The Girl Downstairs - Plot
Freshman Yuan Juntang applied for Minsong University in order to get closer to Zhu Zhu, whom he has had a crush on. At the university, he meets Li Shiya who used to be his idol and took a temporary absence from school. Li Shiya takes the initiative to approach Yuan Juntang and they become friends and form a trio of friends with Zhu Zhu. Zhu Zhu is clearly aware of Yuan Juntang's affection for her, but she has no courage to accept him and tries to avoid being intimate and only keeps a certain distance with him. At the same time, Yuan Juntang and Li Shiya are getting closer, more than just friends.
The Girl Downstairs - Trailer
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The Girl Downstairs - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Su Shangqing
- Liu Yuanyuan
- Cai Na
- Qing Liu
- Liu Yiming
- Tong Yin
- Xiaofeng Lai
The Girl Downstairs - FAQs
Is The Girl Downstairs based on a true story?
The Girl Downstairs is not based on a true story. It is adapted from a manhwa (Korean webtoon), which was reimagined as a Chinese animated series, or donghua. The story is entirely fictional, following a college student navigating a romantic triangle between his longtime crush and his former idol.
What is the animation style of The Girl Downstairs?
The Girl Downstairs is a donghua — a Chinese animated series — produced by Red Dog Culture House and BoomStudio. Its visual style draws heavily from the manhwa source material, featuring expressive character designs and a soft, romantic aesthetic well-suited to its school-life drama and comedy tone.
Where can you stream The Girl Downstairs?
The Girl Downstairs is available to stream on Rakuten Viki, which offers both subscription and ad-supported viewing options. The series originally aired on Bilibili in China. Availability may vary by region, so check your local streaming services for the latest options.
Who voices the main characters in The Girl Downstairs?
The voice cast includes Su Shangqing as Yuan Juntang, Cai Na as Li Shiya, and Qing Liu as Zhu Zhu — the three central characters in the romantic triangle. Liu Yuanyuan, Liu Yiming, Tong Yin, and Xiaofeng Lai round out the supporting cast.
How many episodes does The Girl Downstairs have?
The Girl Downstairs consists of 22 episodes across its single season, with each episode running approximately 12 minutes. This short-form format makes it an easy binge-watch, with the full series clocking in at roughly four to five hours of total viewing time.
What is The Girl Downstairs about?
The series follows Yuan Juntang, a college freshman who enrolls at Minsong University to be near his crush, Zhu Zhu. There he reconnects with Li Shiya, a former idol on academic leave. As the three form an unlikely friendship, Yuan Juntang finds his feelings shifting in unexpected directions.
Is The Girl Downstairs worth watching for romance fans?
For fans of animated romance and school-life stories, The Girl Downstairs delivers a charming, low-stakes love triangle with genuine emotional warmth. Its short episode runtime makes it easy to pick up, and the manhwa-inspired art style adds visual appeal. It's a sweet, breezy watch for the genre.
What are similar shows to The Girl Downstairs?
If you enjoy The Girl Downstairs, consider Fruits Basket (2019) for heartfelt animated romance, or XO, Kitty (2023) for a live-action school romance with similar energy. It Started With a Kiss (2005) and Never Have I Ever (2020) also share the same playful, emotional tone.
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