By day, 14-year-old Yoshimori "Yoshi" Sumimura is a high school student at Karasumori Academy. By night, he's a "kekkaishi", a human with the ability to battle demons using barriers called "kekkai". When a demon organization comes to Karasumori Academy to steal some of the pooled spiritual energy there, it's up to Yoshi and his friends to stop them. The story might sound simple, but it's really not. There's plenty of intrigue and conflict to go around, and the characters are fully fleshed out. You're bound to like at least one of them, including the villain Kaguro, who's evil to the core and still manages to be an interesting character. With Kekkaishi's clever use of demons, folklore and magic to drive its themes forward, the series establishes itself as a must-watch like Ushio to Tora.

Natsume Takashi has the ability to see yōkai — which should be a cool thing, except it scares the daylights out of most people. So he flits from one home to another, never really learning how to properly interact with people, poor guy. That is, until he inherits his grandmother Reiko's Book of Friends, which contains a long list of yōkai names. Because the act of writing these names bound the yōkai as Reiko's servants, Natsume became the target of good and bad yōkai alike. Knowing this, Natsume resolves to travel along with a spirit named Madara, so he can return the yōkai's names and free them one by one. Despite the supernatural premise, Natsume Yuujinchou is pretty mellow compared to Ushio to Tora. Yes, it's also about a boy and his otherworldly companion, but the series focuses more on universal human themes — like life and friendship — than fantastic battles. Natsume Yuujinchou has three sequels and one OVA, so if you end up liking the first season, be sure to check those out too!

A long time ago, the evil goddess Karuma terrorized the world, until she was defeated by a monk named Ozuno Enno, with the help of a demon named Zenki. Several centuries later, the goddess resurfaces with her minions, and awakens the "seeds of possession" scattered all over the globe. When two of Karuma's minions come to Shikigami-cho to break the seal on one seed of possession, Ozuno's descendant Chiaki summons Zenki to help her fight them off. After that, the pair decided to rid the world of the seeds forever. There are plenty of similarities between Kishin Douji Zenki and Ushio to Tora. You have the 90s feel of the show, the vitriolic relationship between the main characters, the goal to stop a great evil from taking over the world, the fantasy, the action, the horror and the comedy, among other things. Also, Kappei Yamaguchi — who's voiced characters like Inuyasha, Ranma Saotome and L Lawliet — makes an appearance as chibi!Zenki, so watch out for him!

Hellsing Ultimate starts off on the same note as Ushio to Tora. Like Ushio, Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing meets her soon-to-be monster companion — a vampire named Alucard — by accident. At the time, she was a frightened little girl, running away from a jealous and murderous uncle. When she accidentally gets some of her blood into Alucard's mouth, the vampire proceeds to help her kill her uncle and become her loyal servant. Ten years later, Integra becomes Sir Integra, the head of the Hellsing Organization which battles supernatural threats in the name of the British government. When the neo-Nazi group Millennium appears with an army of powerful, undead monsters, the Hellsing Organization steps up to the plate, and sets in motion a bloody war for the fate of the world. Much like Ushio and Tora, Integra and Alucard have a complicated love-hate relationship. As for the two series' similarities, there are the action, horror and supernatural elements — though Hellsing Ultimate definitely leans more on the "horror" and "action" categories, what with all the gruesome deaths and over-the-top battles in almost every episode. As a remake of the 2001 series Hellsing, Hellsing Ultimate has a prequel (Hellsing: The Dawn), and a summary OVA (Hellsing I: Digest for Freaks).

Yoh Asakura's world is a lot like our own, except there are shamans in it. Being a shaman himself, Yoh has the ability to communicate with spirits like Amidamaru, a samurai who wields the sword "Harusame" and stays beside Yoh at all times. Along with his friends, Yoh aims to win the Shaman Fight, where the winner gets to summon the Great Spirit that'll allow him bend the world according to his will. Like Ushio, Yoh has a powerful guardian by his side. He also has to engage in a ton of supernatural battles, since that's to be expected from a show that revolves around a major tournament. Yoh's relationship with his close friends is likewise comparable to Ushio's relationships with Asako and Mayuko, although Yoh doesn't really have much trouble with romance. Finally, you have the dashes of comedy here and there, extended to the five specials that cover events before the second round of the Shaman Fight.

It was a perfectly ordinary night in Tokyo, when mysterious spores fell from the sky, and crawled into people's homes. The spores were actually parasites, which worm their way into human brains, horribly distort their host's bodies, and feast on flesh, eventually killing their victims. However, one parasite botched up. When it tried to take over the body of 17-year-old Shinichi Izumi, it couldn't get into the brain, because Shinichi was wearing headphones at the time. As a result, the parasite got stuck on Shinichi's right arm, earning it the name "Migi", which literally means "right". Just as Ushio uses the demon Tora to fight other demons, Shinichi also uses Migi to fight other parasites. Parasyte is famous for its graphic depictions of gore, as well as its masterful execution of a horror-scifi story. And since it's a Madhouse production, you can expect stunning animation quality from this series. If you can't get enough of Parasyte, there's always the 10-volume manga, plus two live-action films that are just as awesome as their animated counterpart.

At the core of this series lies Kaname Madoka, an average 8th grader who, despite being quite shy, is a happy teenager who loves her family and friends very much. Her life takes a dramatic turn however, when a chance encounter with Kyuubei, a cat-like being, ends with her being endowed with powers that enable her to transform into a magical girl. Together with her friends, they get introduced to the world of witches and magic. This anime is a perfect example of a series that must never be judged by its cover. Just like Gakkou Gurashi!, which looks quite average and normal from the outside but is immensely deep and thought-provoking on the inside, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika is an anime that looks like a regular magical girl series on the outside, but is actually a deep, psychoanalytical, and immensely dramatic masterpiece on the inside. From the first episode alone, you as the viewer will notice that it is not your typical magical girls anime, and boy, does it deliver in that aspect.

Yet another series that manages to bridge the gap between Slice of Life and Horror, When They Cry is another dark anime in the guide of moe that has managed to gain a pretty good following among anime fans. The story centers on Maebara Keiichi, a young teenage boy who is adjusting to his new life in Hinamizawa, an isolated mountain village. There, he meets and befriends a group of girls, each one with a dark secret that involves acts of murder, dismemberment, and pure on psychological torture. Just like Gakkou Gurashi!, this anime manages to blend elements of different genres perfectly, forming a cohesive whole that is both entertaining and quite disturbing at the same time. What you have to expect when you pick up this series though, is the fact that the plot is divided into numerous, individual arcs, all of them starting at the beginning of the story’s timeline. Despite this ‘reset’ that happens every few episodes however, the series manages to deliver an anime experience that is quite unlike any other.

The plot of this anime involves a group of students from Kisaragi Academy, which just happens to be a school that was built on the same site as Heavenly Host Elementary School, a place in which a string of brutal murders took place many years ago. Through a series of supernatural events, the students find themselves transported to Heavenly Host, where they are forced to fight for their survival and for the chance to go back home, while they get continually hunted as prey by violent spirits out to kill them. Corpse Party: Tortured Souls is an anime that was created for one purpose and one purpose alone – to shock and terrify its viewers. In fact, one will not find any shortage of critiques of the show praising it for being the one true horror anime that has been released in recent years. With a moe mask that hides its grim plot similar to Gakkou Gurashi!, this is one anime that has proven itself to never disappoint its viewers when it comes to the horror it brings. Just make sure that you are up to it if you do decide to watch it.

This anime’s premise is quite unique in its own right, featuring a plot that is very realistic and pretty close to the scientific possibility of Tokyo being hit by a massive earthquake. The plot centers on siblings Mirai and Yuuki, who opts to visit the artificial island, Odaiba, for a robot exhibition. When a magnitude 8.0 earthquake suddenly hits and levels Tokyo, the siblings must work together with Mari, a delivery woman they met on the island, in order to go back to their Setagaya home in western Tokyo. Both Gakkou Gurashi! and Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 feature a small group of people trying to adapt in the aftermath of a disaster that is beyond everyone’s control. While the former features a zombie outbreak, the latter features a powerful earthquake. However, their greatest similarity may very well be the characterizations employed as plot devices, as both series feature characters that undergo extreme emotional trauma to the point of entering a state of denial.

High School of the Dead is all about a group of students from Fujimi High School who are among the last survivors of a massive zombie outbreak in Japan. With the entire social system falling into chaos, the students, together with the school’s ditzy buxom nurse, must band together in order to find answers behind what’s causing the outbreak, while trying their best to survive the unwavering waves of the undead that is out to get them. Though the anime has become notorious for its massive amounts of fan service, High School of the Dead is nonetheless an undeniably fun series to watch, with lots of action, some dashes of drama, and a pretty quirky dialogue that makes then characters stand out very well. Just like Gakkou Gurashi!, it is a series that explores the theme of young people trying to survive in a world that is at an end. Oh, and both series feature zombies too.

The plot of Dusk Maiden of Amnesia is a very unique one, featuring a story that starts 6o years prior to the events in the anime, when a woman was left to die in the abandoned school building behind the exclusive Seikyou Academy. In the present day, Siekyou’s clubs include one which caters to students interested in paranormal investigations. What makes the club very eerie is the fact that it is being led not by a regular student, but by the ghost of the woman murdered many years back. The series is yet another example of an anime that is able to achieve a certain balance when blending elements of numerous, even contrasting genres. Featuring elements from the Slice of Life, Horror, and even the Comedy and Romance genres, Dusk Maiden of Amnesia is one anime that is, similar to Gakkou Gurashi!, very rare in its own right. Apart from this, themes that are heavy on the psychological aspect of the characters are also explored fully in both of these series.

A lot of us wish that we could step into our video games for real and play like there’s no tomorrow; but how many of us would actually survive? Aside from survival, it’d be a tough world. That’s exactly what Ryouta in Btooom!’s situation is. He was playing his favorite violent video game and suddenly finds himself transported on an island with some equipment. A day’s worth of provisions, a bag of bombs, and a crystal embedded into his hand. The next person he sees, instead of answering his questions, tries to kill him! It captures more of the fighting and tactical side of Overlord, as well as the deeper undertones. As it turns out, he is in real life Btooom! with 7 other players who are all fighting for survival. They must kill until there’s only one left standing. Being a top player, Ryouta would normally have no problem but playing in real life is a little bit different when you don’t have any resets on life.

If we’re talking about a world of games then we can’t go without mentioning No Game No Life. Sora and Shiro are famous NEET shut ins who are the source of famous legends on the internet. There is no game they can’t beat and one day are summoned to a world where war is forbidden and in its place everything is decided by games. In this world, Humanity is being pushed into a corner by other races and it’s up to the brother and sister duo to save this world’s humanity! Although completely opposite in colors, disposition and violence level from Overlord, there’s no mistaking the similarities. Everything is at stake here and it’s no game (ha, ha). Both must fight, in their own ways as well as causing the viewer to laugh themselves to tears.

Surely there isn’t anyone who hasn’t heard of the famous Sword Art Online by now! With fame comes some hate because nothing can please everybody but really, this series came pretty darn close. It answered fans’ wishes to turn a video game into reality with a little less bloody violence than Btooom! and incorporates some of the humor in Overlord. Kirito, a nobody in real life, goes into the game and becomes a somebody. He becomes the most powerful player in the game, due to his dual sword skill that no one’s ever heard of, and literally beats the game, saving everybody in the process. Well, everyone that was left anyway. But he sure got the girl in the process!

.hack//Sign is basically where it all began. It was one of the first successful anime centered around a virtual reality MMO and spawned many sequels and spinoffs. Enter in Tsukasa, a wavemaster who wakes up in The World. He is unaware of why he can’t logout, like Momonga, but also doesn’t remember who he is. He eventually meets Subaru, the leader of the Crimson Knights, who helps him find out why he can’t log out. A tale of adventure, mystery, and a wonderful cast, watch this series as it started the era of video game themed anime of years to come.

Bell Cranel is a beginner adventurer who really, really desperately wants to become a legend with his Goddess Hestia, who supports him wonderfully. After an embarrassing fail in the dungeons and being saved by Aiz Wallenstein, a famous adventurer, he develops a unique trait that he’s able to grow extremely quickly because of his desire to catch up to Aiz. With a heart of gold, his familia grows and the adventures continue. This wonderfully longed titled series, which can be shortened to DanMachi, got a lot of attention as soon as it came out. Whether that’s because of Hestia’s appearance or the actual plot is beside the point but it’s a big hit amongst video game fans. Although it is not specifically about a game, it incorporates a lot of the typical gaming points, ie. magic, leveling up, items, etc. There’s definitely some similarities between the main girls of Overlord and DanMachi, being head over heels for their heroes!

A lot of video game themed anime start with it being 20-50 years in the future due to the lack of virtual reality technology of today. Accel World is no exception as it starts with Haruyuki Arita in the year 2046. As he struggles with being at the end of the social ladder, he spends most of his time in virtual games. One day, the most popular girl in school introduces him to new a new virtual reality game and the adventures start from there. Action, romance, humor, what doesn’t it have? Accel World was a big hit and, like Overlord, has a really in-depth, thought-provoking virtual world.

Yona is a princess of the Kingdom of Kouka who has lived a sheltered life. When the love of her life murders her father and steals his throne, Princess Yona’s life changes forever. Forced to flee her home with only her faithful bodyguard Hak, Yona embarks on a quest to reclaim her throne. Akatsuki no Yona takes place in a setting reminiscent of feudal China, and follows Yona as she struggles to relate to a people she’s desperately out of touch with. It bears many similarities to Akagami no Shirayuki Hime, particularly the lead character! Both Yona and Shirayuki are thrust into uncomfortable situations, but as is suggested by their red hair, both leads are strong-willed and determined enough to overcome any obstacle. The two series differ in that Akatsuki has much more action and politics, whereas Akagami no Shirayuki Hime settles down into a slice of life anime with romantic and comedy elements.

Shuurei Kou comes from a respected family, but unfortunately not a rich one. Her dreams of becoming a court official seem beyond reach, especially because women are forbidden from such a post. However when she is invited to mentor the Emperor, who is irresponsible and uninterested in matters of ruling, it gives her hope of making change and following her dreams! Saiunkoku Monogatari follows Shuurei’s hardships as she attempts to break traditions. Though different in the respect that Shuurei stays with the Emperor (where Shirayuki escapes Prince Raji), both characters have a special gift and influence on others around them, with Shirayuki being a talented healer, and Shuurei being a brilliant teacher. Saiunkoku Monogatari is a little more politically oriented than Akagami no Shirayuki Hime, but fans of Shirayuki as a character should definitely give this anime a go!

After losing a game of rock, paper, scissors to her sisters, Nike, the youngest princess of the Rain Dukedom, is sent to marry the Sun King Livius. Though this will allow her land to keep its autonomy, she is reluctant to marry, especially when she finds that Livius is just a boy! The World is Still Beautiful features another character which bears similarities to Shirayuki. Nike has the power to call forth the rain, and through her power she influences King Livius, in the same way that Shirayuki’s talent for healing (literally) changes the life of Prince Zen. Fans of Akagami no Shirayuki Hime will appreciate the romance which blossoms between Nike and Livius, as well as the similarities between the female leads.

In a world where the end is gradually approaching, a nation is devoting all of its efforts to stop the end from coming, by researching lost alchemic techniques. The story follows Logy, a talented scientist in the Development Department who moves to a border town to conduct his research. Here he meets Escha, a girl dedicated to using her alchemic talents to helping others. When she is also assigned to the Development Department it marks the beginning of a beautiful friendship. As well as having one of the longest anime names ever, Tasogare no Sora no Renkinjutsushi also has a lot of elements similar to Akagami no Shirayuki Hime. Both tell the story of a heroine who dedicates their life to helping others, and are set in a medieval setting. Fans of Akagami no Shirayuki Hime will also enjoy this anime’s tone, with its mix of comedy, romance and slice of life.

Set in a magical world resembling ancient China, Juuni Kokuki follows Youko as she is teleported there from present day Japan. At first struggling to survive, Youko finds her feet in this strange land, thus beginning a tale of action and political intrigue. Juuni Kokuki features a similar protagonist to Akagami no Shirayuki Hime. Both Youko and Shirayuki are initially weak, but emerge as strong, determined characters (as well as both having uncommon red hair). Both characters experience being a peasant in a land where this kind of thing matters, though as we near the end of the list, admittedly the selections get a little less similar. Juuni Kokuki is a much more serious anime than Akagami no Shirayuki Hime, and features a lot of politics and action scenes.

Prince Arslan is the son of the fearsome King of Pars. Young and innocent, he barely escapes with his life when his father’s trusted retainers turn against him. At the same time, the neighbouring kingdom of Lusitania invades with a huge army, led by the mysterious warrior Silvermask. The story follows Arslan as he tries to rally his people and liberate his kingdom. Arslan and Shirayuki are both soft-hearted and are a little ignorant of the world around them. They are always kind to those around them, even though it could mean them harm. This is where the similarities end really, but if you liked Akagami no Shirayuki Hime and were looking for something with a similar character and more action, then definitely check out Arslan Senki!

Let’s start this list with a must-watch that features special powers similar to Charlotte but sets them into a darker and less inviting universe - the afterlife. In the center of the story stands Otonashi who has just died and wakes up in a limbo zone that is neither heaven nor hell. What looks like a normal high school is actually a battleground between an organization called the SSS, consisting of lost souls just like him, and what they believe to be God. This is just the beginning of Otonashi’s journey through the afterlife where he has to come to terms with all the issues concerning life and death. It is not only because Angel Beats! and Charlotte have the same producers that I am including this anime on this list. They have a similar charme that most likely comes from a resemblance in drawing style and storytelling. More important than that both shows almost effortlessly combine lots of different elements - we have comedy, Slice of Life, high school themes as well as lots of drama. Even though the storylines might not seem too similar, fans of Angel Beats! will almost certainly also be able to appreciate Charlotte.

What would you do if you and your friends were suddenly granted special abilities? That is exactly the question that Andou Jurai and his four friends are facing right now. The members of the literature club not only have to come to terms with their new skills but also have to find out why all of a sudden their lives were turned upside down. What makes Inou Battle so special is the fact that the characters get supernatural abilities completely out of the blue, but have to continue living their normal school lives. Many other shows would include epic battles and supernatural monsters to the storyline, but Inou Battle decided against it. Just like Charlotte special powers are combined with everyday life scenarios. The mentioned abilities are not permanent, that’s why both the cast of Charlotte as well as Inou Battle have to find a way to continue living their normal lives until they are free from this burden. Both Charlotte and Inou Battle have a unique group of main characters with even more unique talents. Also, both shows deliver more than they promise and might surprise one or two of you. Definitely check them out.

Next up is Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, a show that might not feature any superpowers, but has a group of friends similar to the cast of Charlotte. This anime tells the story of Hasegawa Kodaka who cannot make any friends due to his off-putting appearance. Together with his classmate Yozoro he starts the Neighbour’s Club, a club for students just like him who struggle with social interactions. Kodaka really reminds me of Yuu since both guys rarely smile and just want to continue their easy and uneventful lives. Also, both groups of friends consist of unique and different people where the male lead is thrown into and has to come to terms with his new life. Even though both guys seem cautious at first, they soon open up and begin to see their certainly exceptional club members as true friends. The comedy is great in both anime, mainly because it does not derive from funny events or situations, but more from the different characters and their interactions. All in all, I have to say that despite some differences Charlotte and Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai have more in common than one might expect.

Set in a distant future, Mahouka follows the story of siblings Tatsuya and Miyuki enrolling in Magic High School. Whereas Miyuki excels at her studies and becomes an honorable “Bloom” student, her older brother Tatsuya is an underachiever referred to as “Weed” since he marks the bottom range of students. Together they start a new life in a universe that combines ancient spells with futuristic technologies. The first similarity with Charlotte is quite obvious - both shows focus on school life and the social circles around the protagonists. That’s not all of course since both shows have supernatural elements; Charlotte in the form of superpowers and Mahouka in the form of magic. The biggest resemblance in my opinion though, is the brother-sister dynamic of both shows. Charlotte might not focus primarily on the relationship between Yuu and his little sister Ayumi, but it is one theme of the show. Mahouka highlights the unique love between Tatsuya and Miyuki and tells most of the story from their point of view. Fans of stories revolving around siblings should check this anime out.

Let’s move on to Kokoro Connect, a Slice of Life anime that is funny and moving at the same time. Kokoro Connect is a typical Body Swapping story that concerns the five members of the School Culture Club. One day, the students discover that they will swap their bodies at random and without warning. What starts out as a fun experience turns out to be much more important to the group of friends than they have initially expected. Soon they discover sides about themselves that they have never seen before and they have to question their relationships. Just like Charlotte, we have five members of a high school club who experience something out of the ordinary together. However, what struck me personally as similar is the interaction between the different group members. It is an important aspect in Charlotte and one of the main focuses of Kokoro Connect. Also, both shows concern adolescence since both groups of friends have special abilities that won’t last forever. Kokoro Connect is a show about friendship, school life and the troubles of youth - an interesting and amusing show that’s worth a try.

Last up on our list is a romance comedy set in a high school. Not only that, but it’s also a story featuring Body Swapping and Gender Bender. After an incident with his female classmate Urara, student Yamada Ryuu finds himself trapped inside her body. But this is only the beginning of his journey as more girls and more problems lie ahead of him. I would be the first one to admit that the storyline seems to be that of a generic Ecchi and Harem show, but you should give Yamada-kun a chance. The story is better than the synopsis might suggest and you would be surprised by the character development of this show. Both Charlotte and Yamada-kun show supernatural powers without featuring any battles or fights. It is a common theme to combine special abilities with epic fights, but both shows decided against it in order to focus more on the main cast as well as their goal to help people with similar powers. Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches takes away the saddening and moving parts of Charlotte while keeping the supernatural and comedy elements. If you want a feel-good show to brighten your mood then you should give this one a try.

Panty and Stocking, also known as the Anarchy Sisters, are angels who were kicked out of heaven for their foul language. Since then, they have been blasting ghosts that exist in limbo. Panty, Stocking, and Garter Belt are kicking ass as they attempt to collect enough Heaven Coins to become angels again. There's almost no chance in Hell, but they're going to everything they can anyway! There's a lot going on in this anime from debauchery to general foulness. If you are a fan of explicit language and ecchi themes, this is the anime for you. It's got more action going on than Shimonseka, but it is definitely worth considering if you are a fan of adult comedy.

Matoi Ryuuko is on a journey to seek out the secret behind the death of her water with her only clue being a scissor blade. She finds herself at Honnouji Academy, a school that is ruled by an elite group of students wearing uniforms made from life fibers that give them special powers. The student body president, Kiryui Satsuki, holds great power over the students, but she may also hold the secret to Ryuuko’s scissor blade. As Ryuuko and Satsuki clash in battle, what secrets will they find and what will become of the school? Kill la Kill is another anime that features rebels going against what is essentially “normal” in society. Ryuuko defies the subjugation by those wearing with life fibers in order to find out the truth and release the students from the tyranny that is Satsuki. Ryuuko is more of a straightforward rebel who does everything out in the open despite the consequences in contrast to Ayame’s hidden tactics and dastardly plots. Although Ryuuko is not clever about the way she rebels, she still goes on a life journey to discover how she must change to fight alongside Senketsu in a world changing, ecchi war! Never underestimate a girl in a sailor uniform.

Katsu Kaizou believes in all things science fiction from foreign beings to conspiracies. He believes that something is going on in the world around him so he joins the science club and ends up coming across many strange beings and circumstances. What exactly will happen to him? A huge part of Shimonseka is the overall perversion and crude humor, so Katte ni Kaizou is an anime to catch if you are looking for that type. While Katte ni Kaizou is short and the episodes do not really have a set plot, you will find yourself laughing at the perverted humor and enjoying the flow of the anime. It’s not really the norm for ecchi anime, but it is definitely a different form of perversion. The 18+ plot and unbelievable circumstances will definitely keep you on your toes!

Yamada is a 15 year old girl with a dream to have casual sex with 100 different men, but she’s a virgin and she’s terrified of being teased about the way her vagina looks and being inexperienced, so she is seeking out another virgin to have her first time with. She comes across Kosuda Takashi whom she believes is the perfect person to lose her virginity, too. Watch Yamada as she clumsily tries the art of seduction and lose her virginity. B Gata H Kei shares a similar type of ecchi humor as Shimonseka. Yamada, obsessed with the idea of losing her virginity and having casual sex with 100 different men, forces herself on Yamada much like Anna’s lust filled craze has her going to the extreme with Tanukichi. B Gata H Kei BD is a bit more reserved (for lack of a better word) as Yamada is still learning how to interact with other boys while Shimonseka is full on ecchi as the students are overcome by puberty without any knowledge on how to cope with their newfound lust. Still, if you are still interested in a plot all about sex and indecency, you may want to check this anime out.

Sado Taro is a high school student with a secret: he’s a masochist, but he knows it will get in the way of any future possibilities of a relationship. Desperate, Taro goes to a special club seeking a way to fix his masochism. The club takes on the challenge, but the members, too, have their own problems, and Taro finds himself becoming a member of their ranks. He is soon in for a world of gross perversion and crazy adventures. Oh the woes of a high school masochist! MM! is an anime mainly centered around the idea of accepting your general perverted nature despite what others may feel or how you yourself may feel about it. Even though Taro feels shame as a masochist, he uses it to power himself with perverted energy to protect his friends. Shimonseka is about educating the students of all things indecent and vulgar, but the students are being taught what is natural so that they can accept it despite what the government has to say. I am not going to say there are life lessons to be learned here but maybe you’ll learn to be open about your inner hentai.

Tsuda Takatoshi is starting school as one of the first boys to attend Ousai Academy, previously an all-girls school. He is approached by Amakusa Shino, the student body president, when he first arrives at the school who appoints him as the vice president of the student council. Takatoshi discovers that these girls are crude and way too candid for comfort. What type of high school life is Takatoshi in for? This anime is short of having as many censors as Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai. They both involve vulgar women who are constantly making crude jokes and comments. The main characters love to make crass comments towards the more reserved male protagonists that cross the border of sexual harassment. All the women are always asking or replying in crude ways that are sure to make you think twice about talking to them. Seito Yakuindomo is all about being crass in a slice of life setting. You know all those thoughts you don’t say? Well, Shino will blurt them out and more. This anime is a milder version of Shimonseka, but it is not to be missed out.

Five “Black Points,” have suddenly appeared on Earth which are gates to other worlds. From these gates, mysterious creatures arise and attack each other, as well as the population of Earth. Coming from five different worlds, these creatures are fighting each other in order to rule over the opposing worlds. Some of the humans can control these creatures with a Card Device and enter the battle. Like in Gate, mysterious creatures enter the human world and attack. The difference is that the action is only in the human world and not in another world. However, there are a lot of action and fighting scenes, which can seem similar to the Self Defense Force in Gate and its military aspect.

The Mirai is a brand new model of ship for the Japanese Self Defense Force and its crew is going to take part in a training out in the Pacific with the US fleet. Caught in a magnetic storm, the navigation system fails for a few minutes and the crew loses contact with the other ships. When the system operates again, they realize that the ship and has been transported into the past during World War II, in the battle of Midway, on June 4, 1942. If Gate is taking place in another world, Zipang is about time travel. In both anime, the characters find themselves in a totally different place and are mostly about military situations. Even if Zipang lacks fantasy, the atmosphere is quite similar to Gate which should be enjoy it!

Elder Tale is a popular MMORPG played by thousands of gamers. While the eleventh expansion pack of the game was released, a system error occurred and 30,000 players are transported into the virtual world. Trapped in the game, Shiroe, the main character, and all the others have no choice than to adapt in this new world. Even if in Log Horizon the characters are stuck in a game, the atmosphere and the genre of the world they're in is similar to Gate. The main character also has similar aspects in both shows, one being a lolicon and the other an otaku. In addition, both anime have a lot of action and strategic aspects.

In a fantasy world, the Devil King Satan is about to conquer the world when he is defeated by Hero Emilia. In order to escape, Satan and one of his generals travel to another world and find themselves in a modern day Tokyo. Compelled to live like the other humans, Satan begins to work part-time, when other characters of his world arrive in the human world. The situation is the opposite of Gate, as the characters of a fantasy world come to the human world. Like in Gate, the characters have to adapt themselves to this new world as their powers are completely useless. With a lot of fun and some action, you will enjoy this show!

Kanou Shinichi is a perfect otaku and a hikikomori. One day, he answers a list of questions on the Internet for a mysterious job and is hired without knowing what the job is about. Then he finds himself in another world, full of fantasy and mysterious creatures. There, Shinichi's job will be to transmit the otaku culture in order to strengthen the links between the humans world and the other world. As in Gate, a brand new world full of fantasy has been discovered and the main character has to consolidate the relationships between the two worlds. Both anime have an otaku main character and even if there is more moe and otaku aspects in Outbreak Company, they are still similar between each other.

Hiraga Saito is a 17 year-old ordinary boy. As he was going to Akihabara, a strange circle of light appears in front of him and he finds himself transported into another world. Summoned and despite his will to be the Familiar of a girl named Louise, he will have to follow her, living in the magical academy she attends. The story is really different, but the concept is pretty much the same, as the main character is conveyed in another world, full of magic and of mythical creatures. Even if the story is not as serious as Gate, this show should be enjoyed by most of us.

Arslan is the prince of Pars, but his father the king looks down on his son as weak and unworthy of the throne. When Lusitania, a nation of fanatics, takes over a neighboring kingdom and Invades Pars, it’s the rash actions of Arslan’s father that leads to Pars’s defeat, and his own capture. Arslan must rally his nation and fight back against Lusitania. Along with his closest advisors, Daryun and Narsus, Arslan must garner the strength to take back his country. Like Rokka no Yuusha, Arslan Senki is a fantasy-series with a pretty unique setting and feel. It’s fantasy, but Pars has pretty clear connections to Persia, and Lusitania to Europe. It’s also very character driven, and mostly a coming of age story about how Arslan must grow and take responsibility as a King. Arslan is more of an historical epic than Rokka no Yuusha, but the two evoke a similar feeling at times and Arslan is definitely a fantasy series to consider if you’re a fan of Rokka no Yuusha.

Yona is a princess who’s famed for her beauty, but her sheltered life has left her naïve and rather frail. One of her closest friends, Su-won, usurps her Father, the king and places himself on the throne. Su-won says there’s a greater good and meaning behind his actions, and attempts to kill Yona as well, only to be rescued by General Hak, another one of Yona’s childhood friends. Yona must rise up from despair to find justice for her father, lead her country and learn the truth of Su-won’s deeds. Akatsuki no Yona is a fantastic character drama. It has several very well-written characters, in a world that is detailed, both in the show’s writing as well as its visuals. The character development and interaction are balanced out by several engaging and well-animated fight scenes. There’s also a romance between two of the main characters, like Rokka no Yuusha. Akatsuki no Yona Is a show that’s easy to fall in love with and it’s one of those series that deserves a bigger following.

Maria is a witch living in the woods of France in the thick of the Hundred Years War. While helping the local town, Maria works with her succubus, Artemis, in order to keep the two sides from fighting. While this distaste of conflict, as well as her sense of goodness, wins an Admirer in Joseph, a local boy who fight’s for France but wishes to stay with Maria. However, the heavens above, as well as many other forces or not overly fond of Maria’s interference. Junketsu no Maria is another fantasy series with a strong sense of design in a pretty unique setting for anime. Junketsu no Maria is story-driven, rather than a mostly action show. It focuses a lot on the relationships between the characters and a lot of time is given to judging the morality of the cast and it’s action, similar to Rokka no Yuusha thus far. Junketsu no Maria is one of best series that’s aired this year, and definitely a good option if you’re a fan of Rokka no Yuusha so far.

An ritual called the ‘Holy Grail War’ where mages summon powerful servants to fight for the Holy Grail, capable of granting any wish upon the winner. Shirou Emiya is brought into the ritual, consumed by his desire to become a hero of justice and save the lives of innocent people. He summons a sword-class Servant, Saber, who becomes endeared to Shirou, admiring his principles. He’s also aided by Rin Tohsaka, another mage who also has a powerful servant, Archer. Together they must take on all comers and fight for the Holy Grail. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works is a recent must-see anime for fans of the fantasy genre. Though it has some issues in the second season, where it kind of drags out the source material, it’s still pretty exciting all the way. It has amazing presentation, both visually and musically excellent. It also has likeable (If kind of archetypal) characters and an awesome, engrossing lore. Similar to Rokka no Yuusha, there’s a romantic plot between the two characters. It’s a fantasy series with a lot of high octane battles that are absolutely beautiful to look at, but has some nice thematic depth to it as well and some subtle character building.

Makai Knights and Alchemists, sworn to fight ‘Horrors’, terrifying, demon-like creatures which prey are humans, are now unfair subjects of an inquisition. One alchemist, while being burnt at the stake, gives birth to a child, Leon, who is destined to become the Golden Knight, the strongest of the Knights. His Father, Herman, rescues him and trains him to fight. The story follows Herman and Luis as they travel the land and fight Horrors, as well as try to take down Medoza, who organized the Inquisition. Garo and Rokka no Yuusha have some pretty striking similarities in feel and look. Both have a use of color that’s subtle yet very expressive. It doesn’t feel like they’re trying to hit you over the head with being overly colorful, but there’s very nice and subtle use of it that makes each series nice to look at. Garo was also pretty mature, not just in it’s violent, but actually having romantic and sexual relationships between characters. We don’t know how Rokka no Yuusha will end, but we’ve seen a romance develop pretty early and directly. Both are strong fantasy series that are also very recent.

The dragon Bahamut almost laid waste to the entire world but was contained by the combined forces of Angels, Demons and Men, now all three of them interact on the same plane of existence. The story follows Favaro Leone, a bounty-hunter who’s fleeing from Kaisar, who has a grudge against Favaro from their past. Favaro encounters Amira, a mysterious girl who want’s to get to the far northern land of Helheim. Amira, Favaro and Kaisar are on a collision course towards Bahamut, but they might not know it yet now. Shingeki no Bahamut and Rokka no Yuuka are similar in that both characters have to come together in order to stop an ancient, world-destroying evil from awakening. They might not know it from the onset in Bahamut, as opposed to how they do in Rokka no Yussha. Favaro is also similar to Adlet Mayer, the main character in Rokka no Yuusha, in that they’re pretty brash and self-aggrandizing but fun to watch. They’re both fun action-fantasy series with good character designs and a pretty interesting world around them.

The Hentai Prince and the Stony Cat is an anime about Youto Yokodera, who always thinks of his deepest desires, which are cute girls. But he never seems to get into trouble for it. One day, he hears about a stone cat on a hill that if you make a wish to the cat, it will come true. So, he wishes to always be able to express what he feels. In other words, he cannot lie. Tsukiko Tsutsukakushi also goes up to the stony cat to make a wish in hope of not being so predictable in her facial expressions and emotions. This is the start of a hilarious and great anime. Both anime have a main character, a boy, who cannot lie or keep secrets, both in the same genre of comedy and romance, and take place at a school-like environment. Other similarities is that early on in the series, they fall in love with someone and discover their a secret, which they have to keep amongst themselves. The main character in both anime is kind of weak, but gets help from stronger women. They also use similar kinds of comedy. The hentai prince and the stony cat is a great choice if you want to watch another funny anime about romance and fantasy.

This anime is about Tsukune Aono who, by mistake, entered into a school where the students are monsters. But as he turns his back and runs away from Youkai Adacemy, he meets a beautiful girl named Moka. What he didn’t know was that she's actually a vampire. Not just any vampire, a super vampire! Of course, the first similarity between Jitsu wa Watash wa and Rosario to Vampire, is they involve a beautiful girl who is, in fact, a real life vampire - as well as, a young boy who discover this. More similarities is as the anime goes on, the main protagonist is introduced to several different kinds of monsters.

My bride is a mermaid is a different anime about Michishio Nagasumi, who's on summer vacation and is about to drown in the sea when a cute mermaid, Seto Sun, saves his life. But things get even worse after that, Sun is part of a yakuza mermaid family and by their laws, if a human sees a mermaid, either the human or the mermaid must die. But there is another choice, Nagasumi would have to marry Sun in order to save both their lives. The similarity between both of these series, is that the main character discovers a secret about a girl and has to continue to keep it a secret, or something bad will occur. Also, as the anime goes on, both main protagonists are introduced to other people with secrets of their own, while having to keep those secrets hidden as well. Even though Seto no Hanayome is about mermaids and Jitsu wa Watashia wa is about Vampires, they are both in the same fantasy world and are both funny and worth the watch.

This anime is about a world where monsters are very real and enjoy going out on dates. Harpies, centaurs, catgirls and all kinds of mysterious creatures have appeared and are already among regular humans in society. It’s all because of the Exchange Between Species Act, which allows all different kinds of monsters to live happily in the human world. The main story revolves around Kurusu Kimihito, a human who is working within the exchange program. It’s no easy task that he's gotten himself into by having a job taking care of Miia, who is a snake-like monster girl. His duty is to take care of her and make sure she gets accustomed to the human world without any problems. The only thing is, Miia is a very attractive girl. Both anime are similar because they have the same storyline, a boy who is around monsters. And of course because of the genre it focus on - comedy, fantasy and romance. Even though they are different in some ways, they are both of the similar kind of anime which makes for a good choice for anyone who wants more of a monster, comedy story in anime.

Sakamachi Kinjiro might have the worst phobia a boy could imagine, gynophobia. Which is a fear of girls. Just by touching them, his nose will bleed and if this wasn’t bad enough, he learns in the men’s room that Subaru, his manservant, is actually a woman servant. This is just the beginning of the kind of trouble Kinjiro will experience. Similarities in both anime are that the main protagonist, which is a male, needs to keep a secret of a girl who has a big role in the anime. They develop a relationship because of the secret, which continues other similarities like the weak point of the lead characters in both anime. In Mayo Chiki, we have the gynophobia, and in Jitsu wa Watashi wa, we have the skill of not being able to keep secrets. Lastly, both anime are of the romantic comedy style.

Karin is about a shy high school student who has a terrible secret! She is a vampire, but not any kind of vampire, she is special because instead of having the need to drink blood, she instead produces a lot of blood. So, she has to get rid of it every month by giving it to her victims. Karin is similar to Jitsu wa Watashi wa because we have a lead protagonist who is a girl and a vampire, and she is trying to live a normal life as a student at a school with normal people not of her kind. Other similarities are the genres, which is comedy, romance and fantasy. And we have male character in both anime who discovers the vampire girls secret. In short, this is a perfect anime for fans who liked Jitsu wa Watashi wa.

Most people have seen this anime and knows it for its frustrating almost-kiss scene between the main guy, Suou Tamaki, and the main girl, Fujioka Haruhi. Suggested by the title in itself, there is a host club within the high school that the main characters attend. The plot follows Haruhi, a student who receives a scholarship to attend Ouran Academy, and despite what people may say about her, she has no interest in how her looks are perceived by others. Not being able to fit in, matters only become worse when she comes upon the school’s host club, filled with attractive, rich, young men who use their charm to entertain the girls specifically at their school. Not only that, but Haruhi accidentally breaks an 8-million-yen vase when she stumbles upon this club. In order to pay off her debt, she is asked to work for the host club, disguising herself as a male host herself. The premise of the similarities between Aoharu x Kikanjuu and Ouran High School Host Club shouldn’t even be questioned all that much! Both female protagonists, although different in personality, have a seemingly impossible debt to pay to hosts. While Ouran High School Host Club is more of a shoujo, Aoharu x Kikanjuu is definitely classified as a sports anime. Surprisingly enough, these two anime have more of a common premise than you would originally think, and it mostly stems from the fact that both female characters have the same type of characterisation!

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! is a popular shoujo anime that focuses on the life of Ayuzawa Misaki, the wonderfully protective yet vicious and ruthless student council president. Because of the declaration that her only-girls school is turning into a co-ed school, Misaki becomes significantly more protective of the student body, keeping them from harm. She works hard at keeping up an appearance for her classmates, but of course, this causes many of the boys at her school to fear her. Although a shoujo, this anime is incredibly humorous in terms of its deliveries of punchlines and it does get a little serious, in terms of the emotions Misaki feels towards her love interest — Usui Takumi — as well as the sentiments she has for things and people she cares most about. Her biggest secret — working at a maid cafe — is something she tries desperately to keep under wraps, as her classmates’ perception of her would change if they knew! Although varying in many different ways, Kaichou wa Maid-sama! and Aoharu x Kikanjuu share similarities in terms of the characterization of their protagonists. Both are girls who serve their school by being student council president, and want to rid of ill intentions by the guys of their schools. Although Hotaru is thought to be a boy from the start whereas Misaki wasn’t, there does come a time later where the student council president who moonlights as a maid at maid cafe must dress up as a host — you guessed it — at a host club! Not only that, but both Misaki and Hotaru have incredible physical strength and uses those skills to their advantage to establish justice amongst their classmates.

This anime tells the tale of Megumi, a boy who had been turned into a girl by what he thought was a proper magic user, who was actually a genie and handed him a “special” book. Megumi-kun turns into Megumi-chan at the age of nine after wishing to be a full-grown man in a man’s body. The twist is that the genie that “granted” Megumi his wish, actually grants the wish in reverse — which is how he turned into a girl in the first place. It’s sort of expected that she would get used to being a girl, but is clearly proven wrong when she enters high school. When she punches a boy for acts of indecency and being rude, he, of course, falls in love with her. This causes Megumi-chan to want to find the genie that handed her the special “book” in the first place. Despite not being similar to Aoharu x Kikanjuu conventionally, Megumi and Hotaru both explore themes of gender, in terms of what they are more comfortable with. With Hotaru, when you first watch the anime, you are surprised that she turns out to be a girl and not a boy — especially since we are so used to seeing overly girly girls in anime, that we don’t consider that there’s a possibility for someone to be androgynous. This theme in itself makes both protagonists a spectacle to behold, and creates a sense of personal identity problems that they each need to come to terms with!

If you have seen sports anime, you know that Kuroko no Basket is one of the more popular ones. Most people have seen it due to its premise of the Generation of Miracles, in which each member of a team has an almost superhuman advantage when they play basketball. Each and every arc of this anime is the main basketball team to be in tournaments with other schools, where they find new strength and weaknesses in their opponents and need to learn how to defeat these schools by themselves. While the protagonists, Kuroko Tetsuya and Kagami Taiga, start out as being somewhat prodigious, you learn about different aspects of their characterization as the series goes on with more competitions and tournaments. Essentially, the anime focuses on basketball and what it takes and what it means to be a member of the Generation of Miracles, and amidst that, you also learn about tactics used by each character and what their thought processes are. Obviously, Hotaru, Masamune, and Yukimura are part of a three-man team for their ToyGunGun tournaments. They work together to defeat opponents in different competitions to advance into even bigger competitions. Of course, the teamwork in both Kuroko no Basket and Aoharu x Kikanjuu may differ in terms of what the word “serious” may mean to you. While each protagonist has a backstory that leads them into this type of lifestyle, it’s important to remember that these methods are very different! Kuroko and Kagami just as gifted as Hotaru is, however, Hotaru originally wanted to use her brute strength to “protect” those around her. While the general atmosphere feels different than each other, both Kuroko no Basket and Aoharu x Kikanjuu share an element of teamwork that drives the characters of each anime to move forward together.

When this swimming anime first aired its almost laughable promotional video, no one thought how big a sensation it would be until the official trailer came out a few months before the summer of 2013. Telling the tale of a boy named Nanase Haruka who was in love with water and the prospect of no longer being a prodigy, this anime is one that focuses on swimming competitions and tournaments, as well as the importance of team-building, friendships, and how loving your friends plays a part and ties it all together. Haruka started out as being bitter about swimming while still sneakily wanting to be immersed in water — something that was painful for all his friends to watch, since they knew him from before he decided to swear off water — but of course, through the help of his friends, he learns to be “free” again. Essentially, what drives Free! and Aoharu x Kikanjuu to be similar is the concept that without friends, and without teamwork, you cannot become better than you were before. Specifically if what you are trying to improve your harmony and togetherness as a team. While Haruka and Hotaru are almost opposites in terms of what their characters are like, there is an element of slice-of-life to both anime, alongside the vigorous physical activity exhibited in both!

Similar in just a few different areas, this anime centres Yamato Yura, a girl who enrolls at the Stella’s Women’s Academy who asked and recruited to join the airsoft team, a club in the school that also goes by the name “C³”. What this club stands for is that it’s a military survival game, which you can probably already guess what it looks like. While this anime is seemingly “moe”, that is only a tactic used by the animators to lure audience members in. There is more depth to each character in the anime, most notably themes of wanting to become better than their previous self and wanting to become stronger. It’s a familiar theme found in most anime, however it is quite a rare one for characters who are girls in high school — which is great in so many ways! Instead of idly watching high school girls do cute things, you get to see young girls grow into better people, giving a tasteful touch to the plot! Although the only obvious thing that these two anime have in common is that they both contain the use of guns, the nature and atmosphere of both anime can be classified as similar. Using guns in both these anime, despite having varying plots, makes the general themes of both anime to be somewhat similar. While not prominent in the anime, Aoharu x Kikanjuu does explore issues that Hotaru deals with when it comes to her personal identity, similar to how Yura does in Stella Jogakuin Koutou-ka C³-bu!

Psycho-Pass is an anime set in the near future, where the emergence of a quantitative factor, called a person’s “psycho-pass,” enables authorities to calculate the probability of a person committing an offense. Thus, a person’s psychological profile becomes the trigger for policemen to nip budding criminals in the bud. The story focuses on Shinya Kougami, an enforcement officer who is tasked with maintaining public order and capturing criminals even before they commit felonies. Both Psycho-Pass and Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace are anime that explore the psyche of humans in a very intensive manner. On the surface, both of these series revolve around the theme of solving crime. Apart from this, the atmosphere of the two series is also quite similar, for they both exude quite the some vibe to the audience. Lastly, even the main characters of these two series are parallel with each other. This is definitely a title that deserves to be checked out if you enjoyed Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace.

Another has gained quite a number of dedicated fans thanks to its clever story writing and its truly imposing atmosphere. The series follows Kouichi Sakakibara, a young man who has transferred to a new school. From the first day however, he notices something very amiss and sinister among his classmates, most especially regarding their treatment of a mysterious girl, Mei Misaki, a girl that only he can seem to see. Soon, dark secrets emerge and Kouichi finds himself in a situation where very few before him have gotten out of alive. Being another suspense anime, Another and Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace, employ a number of literary techniques to tell their story. The effective utilization of tone and atmosphere is one, for both anime can draw in its viewers by the way they present their story. Their themes too, are quite similar, for both series features elements of murder and a mystery that just seems to refuse to be solved. Also, both shows are rich with archetypes and symbols, reflected in Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace’s butterflies and Another’s porcelain dolls.

Critics and viewers alike have heralded Hyouka as an anime that is a lot deeper than what it initially presents itself. The plot centers on Oreki Houtarou, a simple young man who joins his high school’s Classic Literature Club. Together, and guided by clues left behind by former members of the club, Oreki and the present members decide to explore and tackle a case that has remained unsolved for the past 45 years. Without a genius detective among them however, they must rely on each other’s unique abilities to help solve the case. The similarities between Hyouka and Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace are quite notable. Both series feature a mystery that needs to be solved, as well as characters that are as memorable as they are unique. However, what makes Hyouka really remarkable is the way that it presents the unraveling of the case, since the anime has become quite notable for bringing a very fresh take on the detective genre, featuring cases that are solved not through the wits of a genius detective, but by the unique aspects of each of its characters.

The events of Umineko: no Naku Koro ni take place on a private island owned by the influential Ushiromiya family. Following news that the head of the family, Ushiromiya Kinzo, is of poor health, the family members who have gathered on the island to discuss how the family’s assets are to be divided after his death. Unbeknownst to them however, Kinzo has been delving into black magic in order to reunite with a lost lover, and as Kinzo attempts to summon his beloved, a typhoon starts battering the island and a series of murders begin taking place, forcing the family members to participate in a deadly game of cat and mouse where very few might survive. The similarities between Umineko: no Naku Koro ni and Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace are quite overt, since both anime deals with mysterious events and violent murders that need to be solved before it’s too late. Their similarities do not end there, however, as both series also feature top-notch animation and character designs that are remarkable and very well-done. The tone of the two anime is quite similar as well, for both employ effective techniques that really bring about a feeling of dread in its presentation.

Gosick revolves around the exploits of Kazuya Kujo, a young man studying in Sauville in the year 1924. Being very inquisitive and despite being immune to the allure of urban legends, Kazuya finds himself drawn to the mystery of the Queen Berry, a ghost ship that has been haunting the seas prominently. Together with his close friend, the immensely intelligent and rational Victorique, they attempt to discover its secrets, even if the town’s best detectives have been unable to do so. Though Gosick is not a detective or murder anime on the surface per se, it is nonetheless very similar to Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace due to the literary elements that it has employed. The process of solving the mysteries is very logical in both anime, and both involve mysteries that need to be solved by the main characters, though Gosick is imbibed with a prominent supernatural undertone. Production-wise, both are top-notch, with high production values that even critics cannot deny.

Of course, one cannot think of detective anime without thinking of Detective Conan. This mammoth of a series is among the reasons why detective anime has become widely successful worldwide. The anime features the adventures of seventeen-year-old Kudo Shinichi, a genius detective, who, due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, becomes trapped in the body of a little boy. This series has made a name of itself around the world as pretty much the anime equivalent of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Detective Conan is definitely one of, if not the most, similar one to Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace. Both series contains themes that belong to detective fiction, murder mysteries that require a lot of thinking to solve, and extremely intelligent characters that are young and able to solve mysteries that can beguile even the most tenured detectives around. Of course, one can even infer that part of the reason why production companies have been quite open to adapting detective fiction into anime is because of the runaway success of Detective Conan. Truly, this is one anime that any fan of detective fiction cannot miss.

In a remote town called Bellforest lived a 14-year-old boy named Renton Thurston, who's basically bored with his life. He dreams of joining the "Gekkostate", a mercenary group that engages in a hi-tech sport called "reffing", among other things. One day, a giant robot called an LFO barges into Renton's grandfather's workshop for repair. Incidentally, the LFO's pilot, a beautiful girl named Eureka, turns out to be not only a member of the Gekkostate, but also on the run from the military! Renton goes along with her, and as you can expect, his life's never the same from that moment on. Similar to Classroom Crisis, Eureka Seven revolves around science-minded characters bound together by a grand goal. Specifically, you have human engineers/ace pilots living on an alien planet, trying their best to survive in their respective environments. Eureka Seven, in particular, has a gripping plot, excellent characterization, jaw-dropping animation, and everything else you'd expect from a top-class anime. Seriously: If you miss this, you're missing out, big time.

Two young brothers, Mutta and Hibito Nanba, swore that they would become astronauts someday. After 20 years, only Hibito is able to make his dream come true. Meanwhile, Mutta gets fired from his company for manhandling his boss, and becomes near-unemployable as a result. Dejected, Mutta remembers his childhood promise after a talk with Hibito, and decides to reach for the stars — literally and figuratively — one more time. Aside from the science element, Classroom Crisis and Uchuu Kyoudai have one more thing in common: the theme of perseverance. No matter how much the higher-ups get in A-TEC's way, and no matter how much the odds are stacked against Mutta, they don't give up. It makes us want to root for them, and hope that things work out in the end. And even if you're not a big fan of astronauts, you'll still be amazed at how skillfully this show is crafted. From the accuracy of the details, to the mature handling of themes like family, everything falls into place snugly, like pieces of a universe-sized puzzle.

At first glance, this anime's plot is a little too familiar: Aliens invade Earth, humans use giant mecha to repel them. In Dai-Guard's case, though, the giant mecha is about as useful as a sieve for collecting water. Also, the pilots are salarymen, whose bosses take forever to get anything done. Classroom Crisis' characters have pretty much the same dilemma. The A-TEC students want to get things done, but the head honchos are in the way, so it's up to them to figure out a way around this. Unlike Dai-Guard, though, Classroom Crisis takes this problem more seriously. Still, Dai-Guard is a brilliant and hilarious commentary on corporations, as well as the mecha genre itself. The characters are believable, and Dai-Guard the giant mecha is charming in spite — or because — of its failure to be a cool robot. Prepare to split your sides one moment, and bawl your eyes out the next, while watching this one.

Another show about giant mecha, Robotics;Notes focuses on high school students instead of salarymen. Specifically, it focuses on Kaito Yashio and Akiho Senomiya, who struggle to keep their robotics club alive because of them being the only two members. When Akiho recklessly demands that the school's vice-principal give them an exorbitant increase in budget, the vice-principal fires back with an ultimatum: Win the Robo-One tournament, or dissolve the club permanently. Meanwhile, Kaito uncovers a conspiracy that could plunge the world into chaos, and the plot thickens. Both Classroom Crisis and Robotics;Notes are about engineering students forced to go against their superiors to survive. Both also involve a mystery bigger than what any of the characters can imagine. Finally, on a meta level, the two series share staff members, like Kenji Nagasaki on storyboards and Yuki Hayashi on the soundtrack. Whether you're an engineering geek or not, give these two a shot.

On a planet called Aqua ("Mars"), there's a city called Neo Venezia. As the name implies, it's a replica of the famous Manhome ("Earth") city of Venice, where people can enjoy the sights and sounds by riding gondolas piloted by Undines. One of these aspiring Undines is Akari Mizunashi, a cheerful wide-eyed girl who works for Aria Company and wishes to share Neo Venezia's beauty with anyone lucky enough to ride with her. Along the way, she meets friends, learns important life lessons, and encounters a supernatural incident once in a while. Despite the sci-fi premise, ARIA has a mellower tone than Classroom Crisis does, though both of them take place on a terra-formed Mars. Regardless, it'll make you want to ride on Akari's gondola — as well as the gondolas of the other, equally beautiful Undines — because the show's just that wonderful. The characters are likeable, the setting is well-thought out, and the music will make you want to curl up in a sofa and drink a nice, warm cup of tea.

The premise of this show can be summed up as "garbage men in space". If that sounds boring, rest assured that the way PlanetES handles said premise is far from boring. In fact, some would even say this is one of the best anime ever made. The first half has plenty of laughs, while the second half delves into more serious territory. Despite these diametrically opposed themes, the show somehow manages to balance them with panache. Also, you may be tired of hearing the phrase "character development" by now, but PlanetES does a great job with this by fleshing out everyone on the space debris crew — which is no mean feat in a 26-episode series. Like Classroom Crisis, PlanetES is a hodgepodge of genres that don't normally go together, but the combination works out anyway. For example, Classroom Crisis manages to be a slice-of-life and thriller at the same time, while PlanetES is an odd blend of comedy and drama. The two series also share the same basic conflict, where different factions have different ideas on what space technology means to them. If plots revolving around rocket engineers and space debris collectors appeal to you, Classroom Crisis and PlanetES are worth watching.

Evangelion is an action, drama, sci-fi and mecha anime. Shinji, Ausuka, and Rei are part of an underground UN group called NERV to fight against the aliens that are invading Earth. Why are they invading? They want to reach something in Nerv’s base and usher in a second world disaster like the first one. Each time takes more and more of the characters and shows how fragile or strong, people can be. Some break under the pressure and some become much stronger. This show also pokes at how mucha person can take psychologically. The parallels are everywhere in this show. Shinji, Ausuka, and Rei fight against a set of invading aliens. Not to mention too, the aliens want access to NERV which is located underground and something is there that the aliens want. They do not have magical capabilities like the characters in Freezing, but they still do have superhuman strength and abilities in their Eva.

As I watched freezing, Claymore also came to mind. Claymore is about an Earth in a medieval time ravaged by yoma. Yoma are demonic predators that thrive on eating humans. Goverments came together in an effort to fight back and created the silver-eyed witches known as claymores who have the strength to fight these superhuman demons. Raki is a down on his luck boy being attacked by a yoma who is saved by Claire, a claymore. Claire starts out as a supposed weak character but becomes stronger and stronger as she searches for the truth and protects Raki. Right away, this series has genetically modified women just like Freezing. This show also has a lot of fighting scenes just like Freezing. True in Claymore the yoma are already on the Earth and have been, they are still extremely powerful and require a special fighter to take them down aka Claymores. You also have the theme of a not as strong male being protected by a super powerful female.

Sekirei is about a boy named Minato Sahashi who has performance anxiety. This causes him to fail getting into college and disappoint his mother yet again. By chance though, one day he encounters Musubi, a girl who is under attack. She runs taking him with her and she finds out that he’s a master or an Ashikabi. An ashikabi has the ability to become a partner with some of the 08 memebers that make up seikirei. They now have to fight to win the mysterious MBI corporation’s competition. Surprise, the seikirei are all aliens. Right away, Sekirei is another harem similar to Freezing. Albeit this time, it’s a bit more forced since it’s essentially stated that Minato can form bonds and become partners with multiple women and pretty boys. There of course is plenty of fighting and action within this harem anime because it is a competition after all. There is a bit of humor mixed in as well. Don’t forget the fanservice too! Sekirei definitely capitalizes on it!

IS: Inifinite Stratos introduces Orimura Ichika who is a 15 year old boy living in a society where men are dominated by men. Why do you ask? Well only women can operate these super armors that go over their bodies called Infinite Stratos. Orimura accidentally gets placed in an IS training school. Suddenly as if by magic, he can now pilot this IS. He becomes to first male to ever enroll in the IS training school. Now the plot really opens up with him being the only male in an all-girls academy. Like Freezing, this show also has action scenes and there is the ecchi with harem and scifi elements as well! For the harem, I mean, come on, he’s the only guy in a school of all women! What’s for him to like? These exoskeletons aka IS are also around for combat which is what they are training for. Infinite Stratos does lean a bit more on the harem genre, so this is for those diehard harem fans!

High School DxD is about Issei Hyodo who is essentially hopeless. He has horrible luck and he really just wants a harem. Set in a school setting, he finally gets to go on his first date with a girl! Then though, he gets killed. Great times are had by all for this poor guy. He gets reincarnated by his senpai who happens to be a devil, and she reincarnates him as a devil too! Now she is his master and they have to fight to beat the angels. High School DxD is rich in harem and ecchi with tons of fan service. High School DxD, just like Freezing, is set in a school setting. You also have a great harem setting with generous amounts of ecchi. Here also, the theme of women being stronger than men in society. This time though, it’s just his senpai who is above him unlike freezing where the women are just too overpowered. That being said, High School DxD is wildly celebrated and loved!

Rounding out this list, I present Hagura Yuusha no Aesthetica as a final show similar to Freezing. The difference here is that for the main characters have already won the fight? No really. The show opens where probably 95% of all anime end. The bad guy has been taken down and they are returning to supposed normal school life. Or not… now the main characters Akatsuki and Miu set out on a new adventure. Now as for parts that are similar to Freezing, this is an ecchi and action anime along with some fantasy elements. This is again, another harem although it sis a little less blatant when compared to Freezing. In both series, weapons are materialized for battles. Also the school settings as well use a ranking system where sudents can fight to achieve higher ranks. Hope you enjoy this gem as well!

Ako and Riko are Keita’s two year older step-sisters. Because they aren’t his real sisters, they have a lot of love for him in the most romantic way. One day after school, Ako and Riko confess their love for Keita which in time, he becomes attracted to them as well. Both anime have similar storylines. We have two siblings who fall in love with each other, the older sister is a bit more controlling, making the boy a little weak in that sense. The difference between them might be that Aki-Sora has more nudity and some R-rated sex scenes, where as Kiss x Sis is a little more soft on that subject. They both are two great anime and worth the watch.

At summer vacation, Tamotsu has taken a break from work by visiting an unusual café. It’s there where he meets Pico, a young boy who works for his grandfather, and Tamotsu falls for Pico because of his feminine looks. Pico says he’s a guy, but Tamotsu has already fallen for Pico, and from there the two will begin their sexual relationship. The similarities between Aki-Sora and Boku no Pico, is that they both have a under age boy and a older person. Of course, it is the older person who makes the first move as they fall for each other. The difference between these anime is that Boku no Pico is Yaoi. They project similar feelings which makes them the same even though it's based on the opposite gender.

Aoi Nagisa is transferred to an all-girl catholic school on Astraea Hill. It’s not easy for Nagisa to fit in, so she goes to class, joins clubs and wants to make friends. In the meantime, Shizuma Hanazono finds herself drawn to this new and exciting transfer student. AS the two begin to know each other, they decide to visit Shizuma's troubled past. Both anime Aki-Sora and Strawberry Panic take place in a high school environment where the main protagonists are drawn to each other sexually, but try to fight their urges. In the end, they both give in to their feelings for each other. The difference between them is that Strawberry Panic is more Yuri than Aki-Sora.

The schools super-idols, Arisa and Mika, are sisters and the hottest and cutest girls in the whole school. Then we have Sousuke, a normal student who like everyone other boy in school, loves the super-idols. One day, Sousuke meets with Mika and she tells him that they have just become siblings. Their parents have gotten together and their lives about about to change. In a big way. These two anime are similar in many ways. First, we have incest between the three siblings (even though they're not blood related), for it’s a love-hate relationship amongst the younger sister and the main protagonist. Second, the older sister is the only one that has love for her brother as they all live under the same roof. This is a good anime to watch if you like Aki-Sora.

Makoto Itou is a high school student who is starting his second year at Sakakino Academy. Everyday on the way to school, Makoto takes the train and meets a fellow female student he has a crush on, Kotonoha Katsura. When his new friend, Sekai Saionji, learns his secret, she wants to help him. In the end, Sekai gets jealous of the new couple due to her developing feelings for Makoto. These two anime are similar because they share the same genre of romance and school life. The main protagonist is also similar in both anime, such as, being shy at first but then grows as the story goes on.

At school, it’s time for the finals, but the tests are not the only stressful thing in Yuuta’s life. He is a high school student who is given a lot of affection from his beautiful sisters, Chiyoko and Chinatsu. Chiyoko is feminine and caring, and loves to coddle with Yuuta. Chinatsu is a cute tomboy who always seeks Yuuta’s attention by teasing him. Who will win in such a love triangle between siblings? The similarities between the two anime is they both involve a high school guy and two sisters. One of the sisters is busty, while the other is less developed in that area and the main protagonist has more feelings for the busty sister. Both Swing out sisters and Aki-Sora have slight comedy and romance in them, as well as sharing similar art style and similar relationships between siblings.

Rumiko Takahashi’s first major hit, Urusei Yatsural, is largely credited with establishing the most common pattern appearing in contemporary anime, Monster Musume included: unremarkable male gets extraordinary girl(s). Urusei Yatsura might be quaint and a little dated by today’s standards. However, its vintage qualities perhaps render this show charming and fascinating. Within the fan service doled out each episode of Monster Musume, we can find echoes of Urusei Yatsura, whether it is ecchi or comedic interludes. For those unfamiliar with this classic anime, Urusei Yatsura details the life of the unlucky high school student Ataru Moroboshi and voluptuous space alien Lum. After a misunderstanding that leads Lum to believe that Ataru wants to marry her, Ataru’s daily life becomes intertwined with the wacky antics of the now local alien life.

More in line with the monster girl harem theme, we have Rosario + Vampire. Though the monsters girls of this show occupy the scarier end of the monster spectrum, with such creatures as vampires and succubus, they are pleasantly guised as youthful high school girls. Much like Monster Musume, we have a seemingly unremarkable male character surrounded by a dizzyingly array of monster girls attracted to him. Armed with both action and ecchi, this show might be best for those looking for a bit of shounen mixed with harem. Rosario + Vampire is the story of Tsukune Aono, a boy who fails to enter a human high school and find himself enrolled in a boarding school for monsters. Though he is frightened out of his mind, he quickly befriends the beautiful vampire girl Moka Akashiya and many other monster girls.

Bouncing back to alien girls, we have To Love-Ru, where a girl literally falls from the sky and falls in love with a hapless high school boy. Like the above mentioned Urusei Yatsura and Monster Musume, To Love-Ru combines harem, ecchi, and a little bit of science fiction in a love comedy certain to entertain. To Love-Ru is about the love struggles of Rito Yuuki. Having failed to confess to the girl of his dreams, Haruna Sairenji, Rito, through a variety of mix-ups, becomes engaged to Lala, the alien princess of Deviluke. To make matters worse, this sudden engagement places Earth in danger of being destroyed.

The previously listed anime generously doles out the fan service; Seto no Hanayome is not that type of anime. But this show’s quirkiness more than makes up for the lack of blatant ecchi. Though Seto no Hanayome is not a harem, Monster Musume resembles this show in some regards due to the focus on human and non-human relationships. This time, though, marriage is a reality for the hapless male who is suddenly tied down to a mermaid. Seto no Hanayome centers on the story of Nagasumi Michishio, a teenage boy who becomes married to Seto San, the daughter of a Yakuza-esque mermaid family. This marriage does not go off without a hitch, however, and Nagasumi find his newly married life to a mermaid to be complicated.

When all is said and done, Jitsu wa Watashi wa is a Rosario + Vampire in reverse. Rather than a human at a school for monsters, we have monster girls at a school for humans. These monster girls in turn focus their romantic attentions to a seemingly normal boy like they do in both Rosario + Vampire and Monster Musume. Yet, rather than featuring heavy fan service, Jitsu wa Watashi wa frames itself as a romantic comedy, making it a much more refreshing, story oriented anime when compared to the ecchi-esque Monster Musume. For those who haven’t tuned in to Jitsu wa Watashi wa yet, this show revolves around Asahi Kuromine, a relatively high school boy who discovers his classmate Yōko Shiragami is a vampire. Keeping this a secret wouldn’t seem to be a problem…if only Asahi wasn’t known for his inability to keep secrets and tell lies…and if only the secrets he had to keep didn’t keep increasing.

Last but not least, we have Orenchi no Furo Jijou. If you want a series like Monster Musume, but with a Boys Love twist, then look no further. Orenchi no Furo Jijou is here to serve with its bevy of mermen encroaching on the everyday life of an unsuspecting high school boy. Orenchi no Furo Jijou tells the story of Tatsumi, a high school boy who shares his bathtub with the handsome merman Wakasa. Tatsumi’s life becomes more difficult as other mermen begin to enter the scene and do more than just crowd his bathtub.

Youto Yokodera is a young pervert; a high school student that only cares about girls, swimsuits, short skirts and the female anatomy. Somehow though, his lewd acts pass off as having the best intentions. Trying to stay true to his perversion, Youto prays to a cat statue that grants him his wish to openly express his desires. He soon realizes that expressing his naughtiness wasn’t a good idea after all, since everyone can see the pervert in him. This puts him through some awkward and hilarious situations as he desperately tries to undo his wish and clean his reputation. Do you laugh your butt off too every time Big Andre from Prison School gets aroused for getting beaten to death or spit on? Then you’ll have a blast watching the painfully honest pervert Youto being punished and humiliated by a cast of beautiful teens! Follow him on this ecchi romantic comedy, as popular as it is original.

The story in Seitokai Yakuindomo begins very much like Prison School. The Ousai Academy is accepting male students for the first time in its history. Takatoshi Tsuda didn’t pay attention to this fact and now has to adapt to school life surrounded by girls – girls who are used to being around only girls and speak way too openly about girl issues and sex. This results in completely bizarre, awkward and funny conversations, most of which are about sex. For a show that is so much about sex, it’s weird there’s little to no ecchi in it. The perversion is still there though and you’ll have a couple laughs watching it.

If one episode per week of Prison School does not fully satisfy you and you’re looking for some more ecchi (isn’t it what we’re all looking for?), then your search is over. Ladies versus Butlers has got the fan service we all like and that hint of romance to spice it up. Akihano Hiru enters a boarding school as a butler. Very much like in Prison School, he is one of few male students in a high school full of beautiful girls. There’s a catch though, some of these girls are as beautiful as they are fearsome, and their sexiness is only rivaled by their loathing for men. Ladies vs Butlers, just like Prison School and many other harem Anime, features a wide display of female archetypes. You’ll find the tsundere, the clumsy girl, the childhood crush, lolis and many more. Most of them, of course, can’t help to see poor Akihano as a pervert. It doesn’t really help him much having a natural ability to slip, stumble and fall on girls’ breasts either. This makes the girls pretty mad, especially the tsundere girl, Sernia Flameheart who just doesn’t get tired of chasing Akihano to beat the heck out of him.

The relationship between the two main characters in Iketeru Futari reminds us of the relationship between the five boys and Meiko Shiraki (the vice president) in Prison School. That is to say, a perverted high school student that is constantly beaten down by his crush as a result of his improper behavior. Keisuke Saji spends his days daydreaming about hot women and he can’t help but fall in love with Akira Koizumi. She is a small, cute girl from his school who hates men in general and perverts above all. Iketeru Futari is a seinen comedy with a bit of romance and strong ecchi elements. It’s probably the funniest one on this list. You’ll have a great time watching naughty Keisuke’s desperate and pathetic attempts to win Koizumi over.

Another hilarious ecchi comedy is Tonagura. This is the story of Kazuki Arisaka, who’s always been in love with her neighbor and childhood friend, Yuuji, but hasn’t seen him for ten years. Now he has come back into her life, only that he hasn’t grown a bit. To Kazuki’s surprise, Yuuji is a dirty boy who tries at all costs to touch, grab and kiss Kazuki and her lady parts. Naturally, Yuuji’s filthy behavior leaves Kazuki no choice but to put him in his place by kicking his behind on a regular basis. I personally laugh my face off when these perverts get punched in the face and smashed against the wall. That is one of the things I love about Prison School. That, and the fan service obviously. Well, this show has both those things!

The title of this anime pretty much summarizes what it’s about. In a near future, it is forbidden to talk about sex, to watch pornography and even to say profanities. Pretty much anything that can be considered indecent behavior is illegal. Tanukichi Okuma enters an elite high school of the highest moral standards but is soon blackmailed by Ayame Kajou to perform a series of obscene acts of ‘terrorism’ within the school. Even though the girls in this show are not sadistic towards men, Shimoneta resembles Prison School in other ways; mainly in the toilet humor. Shimoneta is all about dirty jokes. We’ll experience the kind of hilarious obscenities Prison School got us used to, just like Gakuto’s epic fart in class and Kiyoshi’s hemorrhoid problems. Also, the main character in Shimoneta, Ayame, is just as obsessed with sex as Kiyoshi, Joe, Andre, Gakuto and Shingo together. She takes perversion to a whole new level, exposing the innocent high school students to a display of sexual profanities never seen before. You are guaranteed to have a blast with this outstanding school comedy with lots of ecchi in it. Ayame and Tanukichi’s pranks are as obscene and hilarious as they are didactic. After all, their purpose is to teach everyone how natural and benign sex and profanities are. Right?

In 2039, Japan is under the control of a coalition. Ten years ago, the country was mostly exterminated by a pandemic, but the country was able to rise up again thanks to other foreign countries. The country is now in fear of the Anti Bodies organization, who's goal is to eradicate the remaining virus by imposing its power with impunity. Shû Oma, who is a high school student, meets a female member of a resistant group who is also the vocalist for a music band. Shû already knew about her and wanted to help her during a certain situation. He ends up in the middle of a fight, which he acquires a rare capacity named, Void Genome, that allows him to use weapons from a persons heart. Because of this, Shû finds himself joining the resistance. In both shows, there is a strange disease which leads its victims to death or to be changed into monsters. The topic of discrimination is also strong in the two anime and the ambiance is pretty ch the same as well. Moreover, Guilty Crown and Black Bullet have in common is a duo of main characters who fight together.

Toyama Kinji is a student of the Butei High School, an institution specialized in forming mercenaries. No one knows, but Kinji has a peculiar ability which transforms him into an ace killer when turned on by a woman. After being involved in a bomb attack, he meets Aria H. Kanzaki and finds himself teaming up with her to accomplish some missions. In both anime, we have guns and/or sword fighting, though the supernatural aspect is more present in Black Bullet. The main character duo is also similar and brings the same atmosphere. This show is also full of comedy and humour; well-mixed with the action to the story.

In the 20th century, Machine Magic (aka Machinart), is an advanced system of magic, allowing to instill life and a personality in a puppet to control it. These puppets are used by the army to accomplish missions. Akabane Raijin is a Japanese puppeteer, followed by his puppet Yaya, he left his home country to attend the Royal Academy in order to be the best puppeteer of the world. In this academy, puppeteers are fighting each others with their partners. In both Machin-Doll and Black Bullet, we have the same discrimination towards the main character's partner because the girl is not exactly human or because of her differences. Both shows are similar because of their ambiance and there is a lot of humour and comedy in the two anime. The girl is crazy for her partner in both shows, so you will probably like Machine-Doll as much as Black Bullet.

Because he failed the school entrance exam, Mizugaki Tsukasa finds himself introduce to the SIA Corporation, thanks to his father's influence. The SIA Corporation is famous for their production of androids called Giftias, who have human feelings. Tsukasa is full of hope to work for this company. Unfortunately, he is assigned to the Terminal Service Department, the smallest service which is charged with recovering the androids after their expiration. From now on, in order to do his job, Tsukasa will team with Isla, a Giftia whose only mission was to serve tea in the service. In both Machin-Doll and Black Bullet, we have the same relationship between the two main characters, with the girl not being exactly human but looking like one. The setting is not exactly the same and there are no fighting scenes, but this is a very moving show in the same futuristic aspect with a lot of comedy and sadness.

In Italia, the Social Welfare Agency visits some hospitals to retrieve sick or injured little girls in order to give them another life. After a specific surgery, the girls' bodies are artificially modified and trained to become assassins to take care of some dirty work for the Italian Government. Each girl, still humans in heart, are under the care of an agent. In Gunslinger Girl, the girls are brainwashed and because of the surgery, aren't exactly humans anymore. So, this aspect is similar with Black Bullet where the girls are seen as not being human because of their genes. The fighting aspect of guns is also pretty similar and the girls are under the care of another person. However, the ambiance is more mature in Gunslinger Girl but that's why the show is interesting.

In a post-apocalyptic world, human kind is living in large mobile cities and have to learn how to use the power of Kei to defend themselves against large mutated monsters. Layfon Alseif left his past behind him in order to live a normal life in an academy in the city of Zuellni. But because of his abilities, he is noticed by Nina Antalk, captain of the 17th Military Arts Platoon, and will enroll in her division, even though he didn't plan on joining the Military Arts. Both shows have a post-apocalyptic setting and there are also monsters who attack mankind. In Chrome, there is also this supernatural aspect with action and some dark moments which you can also find in Black Bullet. If you liked Black Bullet, you should like this show as well.

If anything is like Shigatsu, hands down it’s Nodame Cantabile. The maturity and the passion alone parallels well and the sweet romance is the icing on the cake. It’s as appearingly light and fluffy as Shigatsu with every deep moment as it has as well. One huge similarity is Chiaki and Kousei, both perfectionist players who meet a girl who sweeps them off their feet. We watch as the two find their way in the world of music. Nodame Cantabile is a musical classic and one every fan of music anime should watch.

Coming in with 52 episodes is none other than Full Moon, which was a big hit and for a lot people, what came after Sailor Moon when you found out as kids that it was from Japan! Arina Tanemura, the original manga artist, has spawned many successes. This is a story about a young girl with beautiful voice, silenced by a malignant tumor. Enter in two shinigami who tell her she has a year to live but she plans to make the most of it. I think Full Moon really captures the essence of Shigatsu because of the underlying deep drama dealing with the main blonde girl, despite that, they remain cheerful through it all. Both are passionate about music and use it to reach people’s hearts.

Hino Kahoko, after encountering a music fairy, is the only normal student to enter into the Music Branch’s music competition and, with no prior knowledge, starts playing the a magical violin that only plays if she truly believes in herself and the music. Despite the magic elements in this series, like Shigatsu it is very slice of life. There’s relationships, romance, friendships and musical competitions galore. With music competitions comes the drama and fear along with it. Will I win? Or will I play my music to my hearts content and not let fear of losing control me?

Hibike may be the closest to rivaling the wonderful animation of Shigatsu and adorable characters. The premise is about Kumiko who doesn’t want anything to do with the brass band but somehow gets pulled in anyway and runs into a girl she accidently insulted in junior high. Hibike shares numerous themes with Shigatsu, including drama/romance/comedy but also ties in music hand in hand with relationships and life. KyoAni’s animation work did it justice as well, from the fingering of the instruments to the characterized, realistic expressions. Both series really pull you into the setting and make you believe these characters are real.

Fujii Touya is living the dream, dating a oncoming idol named Morikawa Yuki. Of course, there’s many challenges in the idol world, causing plenty of drama at school and work. The best part of this series is the realistic, flawed characters who go about life making decisions that, well, a lot of us might make because we are all only human after all. The intensity in this series is so very similar to Shigatsu, where it may be lacking in colorful joy, it makes up for with a fairly engaging storyline. I think it’s also similar because both series probes similar questions; “what would you do in this situation?”

Piano is a touching slice of life that might also be just too close to real life. Dealing with the realities of teenage life and piano playing, it’s relatively slower in pace just like Shigatsu. If you like classical music, you’ll find it in here as well. When Miu was young, she was entranced by the piano and started taking up lessons. Eventually she gets good but is so soft spoken and unconfident, she can’t put her heart into her music. She falls for a boy too, and like Kousei in Shigatsu, it has it’s slower pace.

In a time where aliens have landed on earth and where a public ban on swords has been set, not really a good time to have the status of Samurai. This is the reality of Gintoki Sakata, a samurai whose trying to make ends meet by taking any job he can get as a freelancing Samurai in a world filled with all kinds of aliens and humans. Both Beezlebub and Gintama have similar main protagonists who are lazy in a cool way and at times, pretty naive, but make up for it in strength. It's not just the main characters who share similarities. Many of the main cast have similar personalities as well, and both series have lots of action, battles and over the top comedy. The atmosphere is something a botch anime shares as well.

The Devil King Sadao has almost taken over the world when his plans are shutdown by Hero Emilia. Devil King Sadao is forced to move to another world in modern day Tokyo. Because he only has one skill, taking over the world, he is forced to take on a new job and all the hardship that comes with it. The similarities between Beezlebub and The Devil is a Part-Timer!, is the not so serious tone the anime focuses on. Both anime have a demon character who has some kind of power, but becomes sealed away. The main characters life is changed and is forced to deal with it, and the relationship between the main protagonist and the main female character is not so great. Both Anime include action, and the theme of taking over the world. These two anime are similar in many ways and is a great series to watch.

The underworld mafia family, Vongola, is the strongest in the business. Vongola’s boss is about to retire but before he can do that, he needs to choose the one who will takes his place. Sawada Tsunayoshi is just a normal boy going to Junior High, whose life is about change in ways he can only dream of. Both Beezlebub and Katekyo Hitman Reborn!'s main protagonist has some kind of partner which seems to be a strange match. Even though they seem weird, they care about each other a lot as they deal with all kinds of problems. Both contain comedy and revolve around high school life. Other similarities between the two are the large amounts of characters in the anime, and the various persona's they each have.

Sawada Honoka is a very shy 14 year old girl who is bullied easily by her fellow classmates. Honoka doesn’t believe in God, Angels or Devils. Until one day, a devil baby is found in her room which makes her questioning everything about life and her beliefs. Chibi Devi is similar to Beelzebub in lots of ways. It’s basically a cute version of the latter. An anime aimed at a teenage female audience, in a very good way. One could imagine the biggest similarities in both anime is they have a main protagonist who has been given the job of raising a baby boy who is a demon. A good watch to see the cute side of a demon.

As the title of the anime suggests, this is the story of Onizuka, a former biker gang leader, who wants a better good job as his goal. That job is to become the greatest teacher and to meet sexy high school girls. Really, he hasn’t changed his ways just yet. The similarities between Beezlebub and GTO are the main protagonists, who are cool and strong individuals. The action we see in both anime have similar environments, the characters in both anime who aid the main protagonists are similar, they both share the fact that the main character faces new and different challenges throughout the anime and they both have a comedy style which explores a lot of different situations to make the viewers laugh.

Keima Katsuragi is a Dating Sim master, and his dream is to go into the 2D world to chase his digital girlfriends. Keima soon finds himself chasing real life girls when he gets a email from a mysterious sender known as, the Capturing God. The Capturing God has placed a exploding collar around Keima's neck and forces him to get girls to fall in love with him in order to scare out the souls who are hiding in their hearts. Beezlebub and Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai have similar themes about hell and demons in the human world. They also have main protagonists who are stuck with a demon due to a contract, and they try to get rid of their new problem as fast as they can so everything can be as it once was. Both anime also have a demon girl who helps the main protagonist as well as coming up with lies to his parents so they can stay together.

Deadman Wonderland centers around the story of Ganta Igarashi, the sole survivor of a brutal massacre who was framed for the heinous crime. Sent to die in the most twisted correctional facility on the planet, Deadman Wonderland, he is forced to participate on deathmatches against other inmates. After meeting a mysterious girl, Shiro however, he discovers a unique ability - the ability to wield his spilled blood as a weapon. Both Deadman Wonderland and Mirai Nikki feature young protagonists who are pushed beyond their wishes to participate in a game that determines whether people live or die. Both main characters of these series also experience growth as the plot moves forward, ultimately coming to terms with their fate and discovering a unique power that will enable him to survive. Lastly, both series also feature great, stylish battle sequences.

This anime, despite its rather unusual title, is definitely something that is more than what meets the eye. The story centers on Ryouta Sakamoto, a young man skilled in the hit video game called Btooom!, an exciting game of survival. It is not long before he finds himself on a real-life version of the game however, where his skills will be put to the ultimate test, and where a single mistake can cost him his life. Btooom! and Mirai Nikki both involve games of death, with the former making use of varying types of bombs and the latter using the unique diaries that can predict the future. Character-wise, the main characters of both series are faced with ethical and moral dilemmas, as they are forced to make choices that determine the ultimate fate of a person's life.

Another is one of the most notable entries in the Horror genre in recent years, featuring a chilling story surrounded by a mystery that begs to be solved at every turn. The story revolves around Kouichi Sakakibara, a transfer student who gets close to Mei Misaki, a mysterious girl whom only he can seem to see. As he investigates the mysteries surrounding the girl's presence, he ends up being drawn towards a brutal past that still continues to threaten the present. Another and Mirai Nikki were actually released at relatively the same time, and both became very notable entries in their respective genres. Both series carry similarities with each other though, as Another and Mirai Nikki both involve supernatural elements and a certain game whose nature is so twisted, it claims lives at an alarming frequency. Oh, there's also a pretty fair amount of blood from both series too, by the way.

One of the most unique anime that has been created recently, Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni revolves around Maebara Keiichi, a boy who has recently moved to the quiet town of HInamizawa, where he quickly befriends a number of sweet, seemingly innocent girls. After a grisly murder takes place in the quiet town however, Keiichi realizes that all may not be what they seem, and inside his friends' minds may lie secrets that are dark and beyond what he can imagine. Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni and Mirai Nikki are both very psychological anime, exploring the twisted nature of man in general. The twists and reveals during the course of both series are quite notable, utilizing plot devices that are both clever and very strategic. Characters in both anime are also very well fleshed-out, with facades that hide the depths of the darkness beneath their psyches.

Higashi no Eden is one of those anime that are considered by many to be an underrated masterpiece. The story involves Saki Morimi, a young Japanese woman who is in the United States of America for a graduation trip. A series of fateful events in front of the White House introduces her to Akira Takizawa, a young Japanese man who has lost his memory, with the only links to his past being a loaded gun and a mobile phone charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash. Both Higashi no Eden and Mirai Niki make use of several clever plot devices, such as tools like cellphones that imbibe characters with resources that will enable them to overcome odds presented before them. Apart from this, the reward for supremacy is also presented as a goal for characters in both series. Lastly, both anime feature a pretty strong cast with memorable leads, who are able to drive the plot significantly forward towards a satisfying conclusion.

Elfen Lied is arguably one of the most notorious anime that has ever been produced. Featuring a fist episode with enough gore and nudity in the first few minutes of the first episode to fill an entire series, it has garnered a reputation that invokes both reverence and fear at the same time. The series focuses on Kouta and Yuka, close cousins who discover a mysterious, wounded girl on the beach. Taking the girl home, they soon find themselves in a deadly game of life and death that explores a number of ethical questions about the survival of the fittest and the ways of the human world. Both Elfen Lied and Mirai Nikki are quite heavy on the gore and violence. In fact, you can even say that the shock factor for both series is quite equal. What is quite unique and similar about these two anime though, is the fact that they are able to build up a certain character that, though morally ambiguous and borderline psychotic, remains sympathetic just the same. Oh, both feature great action sequences and a pretty good soundtrack too.