We'll start with an oldie but goodie. You Asakura is a boy who can see and interact with ghosts. One day, his friend Manta is beaten up by a gang and You comes to his aid. You teams up with a samurai ghost whose tomb the gangsters had broken and wins the day. After that, You finds out about the Shaman Fight, which is a millennial contest in which people like You, who can control spirits, battle to find who can contact and control the Great Spirit and become the next Shaman King. As Shaman King, one would have power and control over everything. While Shaman King may not have as many of bishounen running around, it does have comedy, action and supernatural duos. You is able to control all kinds of spirits, but his partner is Amidamaru the samurai ghost. And much like Kuro in Servamp, Amidamaru has a really cute form he reverts to half of the time! (And he's pretty sexy when he's in his samurai form too). There is a struggle for power like in Servamp and teams with the same type of supernatural powers confronting each other in battle.

Death City is ruled by Death (Shinigami-sama) himself. He is also at the head of Shibusen Academy, where hybrid children who can transform into weapons, train to become full-fledged Death Scythes after consuming 99 evil souls and one witch's soul. These scythes pair up with their wielders or Meisters and work together to become the best. One such pair is the very serious meister, Maka Albarn and Soul Eater Evans who is a Demon Scythe. They are complete opposites, but are a powerful duo when they learn how to work together. Many battles and interesting pairs will keep you watching and rooting for your favorite team. Soul Eater is the first thing I thought about when watching Servamp. The pairs are formed by two people, one of whom is able to transform and/or be used as a weapon whose strength is directly related to the wielder and the connection the two have. And just like Kuro and Mahiru, our main protagonists are complete opposites. Soul Eater also brings us quirky characters like Servamp does and quite a few laughs. Like the previous recommendation, it's more on the Shounen side for sure, but can still be enjoyed by all. Also, Soul Eater has a cute mascot form as well!

Humans live peacefully in Septpia, until Majins invade after losing a hundred-year long war in their world of Tetraheaven. ALCA is a special police force that battles otherworldly “foreigners” that attack the human world. ALCA is formed by Logicalists, who have a special power called “Logic”, that allows them to enter into a trance with Goddesses from the other realm. They can use the goddesses' powers as their own, to attack and protect. Yoshichika Tsurugi doesn't have Logic, but when he runs into Athena while helping civilians, she gives him the Logic he needs and they become a force to be reckoned with. In Luck & Logic, we are also presented with paired up teams in which one of the members is a supernatural being, in this case goddesses, and the other one is a human. These goddesses, like the servamps, can be used in battle by their partners in one way or another depending on their connection. And in Yoshichika's case, like Mahiru, his partner and new found powers come to him by coincidence and as a big surprise. Another thing these two anime have in common is that the bad guys are somehow related to those fighting them! This one's more of a Harem, but it has the same feel to it if you don't mind that there are way more cute girls than hot guys in it.

There is a realm where there exist millions of gods and spirits both benevolent and wicked. The gods make use of some of these spirits when they become their Regalia. Regalia can transform into weapons, armor or other items useful to their divine masters. One of these gods is Yato and he is a feral god of sorts. One with no shrine, no followers and no true name. He is forced to do odd jobs and solves people's troubles for 5 yen each to try an build a following which causes his regalia to leave him. He must now find a new one and confront the other gods and their Regalias while making a name for himself and building new relationships. Noragami has quite a few similarities with Servamp. There are teams in which one of the partners is similar to a servant and can transform into a weapon or shield and basically be used in battle. The relationship between both team members is crucial to the way they fight, and there are many beautiful characters! Male and female alike. (Though my fave has to be Yato). There's also some serious “family issues” involved in the Noragami storyline, as there are in Servamp. Oh and there are two seasons! (so far...).

After a misterious virus kills all humans below 13 years of age, vampires take over and abduct the surviving children to feed on them like cattle and use them as slaves. Yuuichirou (Yuu) and Mikaela (Mika) Hyakuya are two orphans who are held captive along with the rest of the kids from their orphanage. One day, Mikaela hatches an escape plan to save everyone and it fails miserably, leaving only Yuu alive and as the only escapee. Now, years later, Yuu seeks his revenge as part of the Imperial Demon Army, which is dedicated to exterminating vampires. Here we go! TONS of Bishies in this one! That's similarity one. Then we have vampires! Bam! (That explains the sexiness). There is also an internal conflict among the vampires and there may or may not be some collaboration and or betrayal between races. And while there are human + supernatural servant/weapon teams, these are a bit different. In this case, the humans like Yuu, have a weapon within which resides a demon that aides them in battle. Again, their relationship is very important to the outcome of their battles, and oh so much more. If you enjoy Servamp, you'll definitely get behind Owari no Seraph. Just keep in mind it's more of a drama, so you won't be chuckling as much as you do while watching Servamp.

After his entire family dies in a fire, Shirou is adopted by Kiritsygu Emiya, a Magus and who trains him in the magic arts. Every 60 years, there is a battle between seven magi to obtain the Holy Grail. Each Magus or Master has their own Servant. Servants are reincarnated souls with superhuman powers and powerful weapons and attacks. One day, Shirou finds himself attacked by a couple of Servants and summons his very own to fight. And just like that Shirou is pulled into the Holy Grail War where he must battle and compete along with his Servant, Saber. If you didn't already know, Fate / stay night was originally an eroge, so you can be sure there are plenty of pretty boys and even some cute girls too. And there's a boy of each type just like in Servamp! Besides that, we of course have the Master/Servant relationship as well as the fact that the Servant fights for their Master and alongside them using supernatural powers. And again, there is a struggle for power within a specific group who use their servants in order to come out victorious.

Log Horizon blends gaming and reality when all active gamers are suddenly transported to their online gaming world—unable to log out and caught in the throes of understanding their new reality, exploring the limits of the gaming world, and negotiating with the in game natives. Our protagonist Shiroe, college-aged, beady eyed, and glasses wearing to boot, is a player who depends more on brains than brawn. Joined by his friend Naotsugu and a small but feisty assassin named Akatsuki, Shiroe sets out to make sense of his new game based reality. Featuring slightly awkward main protagonists and feisty female leads, both Log Horizon and Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation, make for interesting anime with gaming themes. If you loved Aika Suzuki with her weird mannerisms and speech patterns, you’ll love Akatsuki for her similarly intensely in-character personality. Watch Log Horizon for the same flavor of in-show gameplay, guild politics, and off-kilter cast of characters.

In its initial run, DRAMAtical Murder made unprecedented waves for bringing together gaming, anime, and well, yaoi. Spun off of a boys’ love video game, the anime features Aoba, a blue haired youth who, just like Itsuki from PS02, wants nothing to do with the virtual reality video game and instead just wants to live a peaceful life with his grandma and AI pet. However, as with all anime based on gameplay, the game comes calling and Aoba’s peace is more than a little disturbed. The anime, while clearly alluding to the boy on boy themes from the video game, manages to keep its focus on the action packed, virtual reality game called Rhyme. The plot is a bit darker, and even though the anime keeps itself from straying too far back to its BL origins, viewers will be well aware of all of the dark turns the different routes can take. Will Aoba manage to escape a bad ending? Find out by watching. Offering the same sense of suspense and excitement, DRAMAtical Murder is a good watch for fans of PS02 who also have a penchant for BL, and enjoy a reverse harem of sorts.

With the 15th anniversary of Digimon Adventure, the crew are back better than ever, and this time as high school students. As anyone who was a child in the early 2000’s can remember, Digimon went on to spawn endless card games, video games, and follow up anime—including Digimon Tamers, a bizarrely self-aware anime in which Digimon is both a massively popular game and a reality. The crew from Digimon Adventure return 6 years after the end of Digimon Adventure 2, when gates to the digital world reopen and along with a reunion with their dearly missed Digimon friends come a whole host of other problems. As the so-called Digi-Destined fight once again to return normalcy to the world, Digimon Adventure tri. 1: Reunion delivers an action packed dose of old friends, new battles, and an overwhelming bunch of nostalgia. Featuring a cast of high schoolers, and the usual high school anime staples such as a cultural festival and an onsen trip, Digimon Adventure tri. runs a steady parallel with Phantasy Star Online 02. Lighthearted with darkness right around the corner watch Digimon for the same action-packed high school setting, and well designed battle sequences. Like the characters of PS02, the cast of Digimon must unravel the mysteries in their growingly suspicious surroundings. Without knowing who is friend, who is foe, or what’s causing everything to go awry, the group must band together and fight as a team.

Summer Wars features OZ, a virtual world so integrated into reality that it’s uncomfortable even before it falls into chaos and endangers all semblance of normality in the real world. Protagonist Kenji Koiso is the type of nerdy high schooler whose part time job is to moderate a virtual world. He’s also the type of character who unknowingly unlocks the key to destroying the world and puts it in the wrong hands. The rest of the movie is spent fixing this mistake. Like Phantasy Star Online 02 The Animation, Summer Wars features ultra strong female characters, some awkward romance made more awkward by all of the bystanders, and underwhelming protagonists who grow with the series. Like Itsuki, Kenji must figure out what it means for him to play and what he is fighting for. Heartwarming and well-paced, Summer Wars is an anime classic definitely worth at least one watch for any anime fan.

Combining a Full Metal Alchemist-esque Law of Equivalent Exchange with a game based betting system, No Game No Life features a creative spin on gaming reality gone awry. The protagonists are a pair of siblings, Sora and Shiro, who are invited to an off-kilter gaming reality in which all squabbles, petty or political, minor or major, are decided by wagering on games. This is where it comes in handy that our protagonists happen to be legendary gamers, perfectly primed to excel. And excel they do, as they embark on their quest to become the Gods of their bizarre new reality. Barring spoilers, Phantasy Star Online fan will find the high stakes gaming, and the No Game No Life quest to support the humanoids similar in flavor to Itsuki and his gangs’ eventual involvement in matters far more serious than just the student council. The fact that Sora is an eighteen year old NEET also echoes nicely with Itsuki’s exquisite averageness. Both series have their moments with lightheartedness, slightly risque humour and are jam packed with action, so if you liked PSO2, check out No Game No Life.

Sword Art Online is an about a virtual reality game of the same name. Characters can control their in-game activities using just their thoughts—but the price of that novelty is high—as 10,000 players learn when they find themselves locked into the gaming world. If they die in-game, they die in real life, and so starts an unprecedented scramble to defeat the game or to find some other way to escape. Protagonist Kirito fights to escape this virtual nightmare as he’s joined by a cast of allies and some unlikely enemies. Like PS02, star-crossed romance, and even a little bit of a love triangle give the plot a dramatic edge. Kirito, like Itsuki, must make the journey from adolescence into adulthood while simultaneously balancing the high stakes of his gaming reality, the stability of his relationships, and the impact of all of the action on his own real world. Keeping the themes of high school life, awkward romance, a somewhat underwhelming protagonist, and game turned nightmare reality, Sword Art Online is a must watch for any fan of Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation.

The phrase “You never know the value of what you had until you’ve lost it” couldn’t have been pictured better than in AnoHana. This is a story of the hardship of friendship and the too-soon departure of a friend and a first love. If this already doesn't sound like Orange, then here’s more help you realize that time travel isn't relevant to be similar. AnoHana shows that time doesn't heal every wound and sometimes you need a little push, a little motivation to be able to move on after a friend or a loved one dies. In Orange, Naho and friends cope with this pain by reading letters from the past (and Naho somehow sending letters to the past); in AnoHana, this past comes visit Jintan and friends, not as a letter but as the ghost of their departed friend Menma; talk about putting salt in an open wound. “If only I would’ve known that was the last time I'd see her” is what Jintan and the others are most regretting, especially our protagonist because he’s so lost in depression that it's slowly wrecking his present life. This is what we all initially thought Naho would be like before the end of episode 1 but even if Naho didn’t live her life similar to Jinta, she, just like him, clearly regrets not answering in time her love’s last question. AnoHana also shares Orange’s secondary plots like family problems, the death of mothers and one-sided loves forced to cheer on relationships of their crushes with others.

Ao Haru Ride doesn't involve any time traveling but their characters and plot are stunningly similar; if you’re seeking something almost identical to Orange, here it is. The male lead in Ao Haru Ride, Mabuchi Kou is almost a perfect clone of Kakeru, from his strange gloomy but at the same time cheerful attitude, to the way the look, the way they tease their girls and even the complicated family problems that cause their depression and change in attitude, these two are birds of a feather. The female protagonist, Yoshioka Futaba has nothing to envy from Naho as they are also almost identical twins physically but Futaba’s personality is more upbeat than Naho’s, even so, they both share a similar love story. Futaba had the chance to be with her first love, Kou, but she let the chance slip away only to find herself regretting for many years as she never saw Kou again. Later, life gives her a second chance to make things right with Kou, not turning back like Naho, but falling in love all over again with Kou; not as the child that won her heart before, but as the completely different man he is now. Both anime have the subject of being brave enough to show your feelings, to change yourself in order to avoid living a life full of thoughts about “what it could have been”.

The movie The Anthem of the Heart, also known as Kokosake, on its surface, doesn't have a direct relation to Orange aside from their stunning artwork. This is where the secondary plots come in. The protagonist of this story is Jun, a little girl that saw what she shouldn't and said too much, unleashing a chain of events that destroyed her family and her future. Because of this specific event regarding her parents, she is now unable to speak, or more like, it makes her literally hurt every time she does. She is now forced to unwillingly live a life she hates, away from social interactions. That is, until her savior, her knight in shining armour appears to lift this terrible curse. Like Orange, this movie deals with the subject of regrets due to self-made past mistakes and depression caused by mothers. Both series also depend strongly on character and friendship development as well as with unrequited love between a group of friends. Both female leads slowly force themselves to change how they are, motivated by their love interests. Surely, the much-awaited love twist that will happen in Orange will have nothing to fear against the love twist this anime has to offer. Both anime teach that dwelling over the past changes nothing, that mistakes are permanent but whether or not they become regrets is up to us to decide.

Your Lie in April and Orange both are slowly phased melodramas about the life and romance of the two teenage protagonists. Both anime share the theme of tragedy sugarcoated with the illusion of love that didn't end as we all wanted to. Kousei Arima was a child pianist prodigy that convinced himself that he had lost the ability to hear his own music because of a trauma induced by his late mother. He meets the beautiful teen-violinist Kaori Miyazono who persistently encouraged him to set himself free and treat himself and his music like he deserves. Arima’s grim future was changed by Kaori just as Naho intends to do with Kakeru’s future. Their friendship shows that life won't wait for you to fix whatever is wrong, you have to act now and just live a life you won't regret because maybe, time will run out faster than you think. Both series have realistic characters with stories that are based on character development rather than plots. Even though Orange and Your Lie in April have such sad themes, the anime is actually full of vibrant colors to lighten up the mood and correctly portray the joys of youth. Your Lie in April, like Orange, is a story about learning to heal and learning to live your life to the fullest in order to have no regrets.

Just like Orange, the theme of time bending to alter the future of the protagonist is present and it’s the main subject of the story. Unlike Naho’s time traveling letters, the protagonist of this series, Makoto Konno, physically travels back in time. Like Naho, she keeps secret from everyone the ability to “change” the present or future by traveling back in time and although both girls do it with the same idea in mind - changing little details in their days - they do it solely for different purposes. Makoto wants to stay in her actual present, enjoying her moments of youth with her friends, not caring a bit for the future. Is the key of time something she should really be toying with so recklessly? For being a movie rather than a series it has endless comparisons to Orange; for example, changing small details to alter the present just for personal desires, the death of friends and the power to change that fate, the subject of love between protagonists and how it heavily depends on the time travel, saving the guy she loves from “death” , embracing the fact that some things cannot be changed, the theme of second chances and finally showing the consequences of those time travels and the result of the altered futures.

As adults, sometimes we have so many regrets it makes us restless. Regrets resonate constantly in the back of our heads, making us question many aspects of our lives, becoming the fuel for depression and self-limitations. This is the story of Fujinuma Satoru, our protagonist in ERASED and the guy whose life led nowhere in every direction. For Satoru, the ability to turn back time was no surprise as he has had this ability since forever. However, Satoru can only turn back time for five minutes and his ability is only triggered just as a terrible event is about to happen; usually the death of others. Even if Satoru can save the rest, what gives? His life is shit; but there’s one event he completely erased from his head, the trauma that has been eating his life away silently for 18 years. Like Naho, Satoru’s biggest regret is not preventing the death of friends and this has been the cause of his present life sorrow. He strongly believes that he has the power to change the future and save the life of his loved ones by altering small details in his daily life. Like our protagonist in Orange, he keeps secret that he can time travel as his changes strongly involve others, especially his friends and these interactions must go as natural as possible in order to change the future. Other points that ERASED share with Orange is the fact that both series show past/present time swings constantly, both protagonist have romances in the past but are shown with different love interest in the future, both have a lot of internal dialogues and most importantly the theme of depression due to a trauma related to mothers, and the death of mothers, are all present in both anime series.

As one of, it not the most popular anime from the turn of the century, Pokémon continues to be one of the most recognized and iconic anime around the world. While the popularity of the trading card game has died off, Pokémon merchandise and games continue to be popular across the world and generations. Pokémon go, anyone? Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum as he travels around a fictional Japan collecting creatures called Pokémon, in his attempt to become the best Pokémon trainer. Pokémon trainers collect and fight their Pokémon against other Pokémon trainers. Trainers prove their strength by battling against Gym Leaders and earning badges. During Ash's journey, he attempts to beat the gym leaders and earn badges to allow him to compete in official Pokémon tournaments. Throughout his journey, he befriends many Pokémon and humans alike with his tenacity and charisma. Pokémon and Beyblade both feature naively strong main characters. They often find themselves running head-first into situations without much of a plan, only lead by their desire to do what's right and help others. Both Ash and Tyson from Beyblade gain valuable experiences from their losses and friends from fellow competitors as they strive for their goal of being the best. Despite these losses, with their friends they both continue to participate in tournaments on their road to being the best.

Another Saturday Morning Cartoon classic, Yu-Gi-Oh! is another show that took over the world by storm. Not too long after the debut of the show, a Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game, which still sees international competition, was launched. Yu-Gi-Oh! follows young Yugi, a game lover, who solves an ancient Egyptian puzzle called the Millennium Puzzle. Upon completion of the puzzle, Yugi's body serves as the vessel for an ancient spirit. With the help of this spirit, Yugi competes in Duel Monsters battles and tournaments to save his friends as well as thwart diabolical plots. Duel Monsters is a card game played out on a holographic field, allowing the creatures on the cards to come to life. In both Yu-Gi-Oh! and Beyblade there is a strong focus on spirits, which help the characters along their journey and in their battles. In Beyblade, these spirits are represented by the beyblades' bit-beasts; in Yu-Gi-Oh! the spirits are found in the Millennium items. The creatures are brought to life in Yu-Gi-Oh! with the use of a holographic field, while it’s the spirit of the bit beasts that help make the battles come to life.

Angelic Layer tells the story of Misaki Suzuhara, a seventh grader who moves to Tokyo to live with her aunt. Upon arriving, she learns of the popular game Angelic Layer, in which players mentally control and battle dolls called "angels." As she adjusts to her new life in Tokyo, Misaki also finds herself involved in the competitive Angelic Layer scene, as well as learning about her past. Angelic Layer is a bit darker and more mature in nature than Beyblades, due in part to it being more of a drama than straight-up shounen. Like Beyblade, it features a young protagonist who finds themselves challenging themselves and beliefs. Likewise, their skills and personalities help them make friends. While Angelic Layer doesn’t feature a journey as in Beyblade, it is at school that Misaki is able to form bonds with her fellow players.

Crush Gear Turbo follow Kouya Marino, a 5th grade who is an avid fan of gear fighting, an imaginary sport in which players compete with custom built cars called "gears" to battle one another. Kouya has dreams of becoming a World Champion gear fighter, however, he has a lot to learn and big shoes to fill, as his late brother, Yuuya, was a legendary gear fighter. Crush Gear Turbo sees Kouya trying to earn a name for himself as a gear fighter, as well as restore his brother’s gear club to its former glory. In both Beyblade and Crush Gear Turbo, there's a large focus on teams; the drama revolving the Bladebreakers deals with many of its members and their former teams, while the Tobita Club is the team that loses its members. The battles in Crush Gear Turbo features a lot of 3D and CGI animation, but are just as exciting as those in Beyblade. Those who enjoyed the real-life idea of strengthening and improving your skill through customization will be happy to know that it is just as prominent a part of Crush Gear Turbo.

Another series with real life merchandise, this time, one which inspired the show, is Gundam Build Fighters. Inspired by the success of the Mobile Suit Gundam series, Japan saw the rise of Gundam model kits, a.k.a gunpla, in the 1980's. In Gundam Build Fighters, the gunpla makers are able to participate in Gunpla battles with their gunpla. Sei Iori dreams of becoming a Gunpla Battle World Champion, much like his father. Unfortunately for Sei, his skills lie within making the models, and not with piloting them. As a result, he is never able to take his skills past the first round of tournaments. That is until he meets Reiji, who's piloting abilities may help Sei achieve his dreams of being a Gunpla Battle World Champion. Due to its source material, Gundam Build Fighters' fights are a bit more exciting and action packed than Beyblade, but the overall theme of the show is the same. If you enjoyed the way that Beyblade made a common household toy into a customizable battle item then, you should definitely check out Gundam Build Fighters.

Another card based anime Cardfighter Vanguard follows Aichi Sendou, a junior high schooler, who after having his prized Vanguard card, Blaster Blade, stolen is forced into the world of cardfights. Aichi's desire to become stronger and earn his idol Kai's praise has him playing more and more games and eventually joining a local tournament where he forms the team Q4 with Kai and several other fighters. With the team, Aichi travels Japan playing in tournaments with the goal of becoming national champions. There are a bit more fantasy elements in play in Cardfight!! Vanguard, than Beyblade, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The added fantasy is what helps to separate Cardfight!! Vanguard from all of the other game based anime. Aichi's team like in Beyblade is made of previous fighters he's battled and friends.

You already knew that this one was going to be coming. Now, that being said, this is for the FIRST SEASON ONLY. Sword Art Online follows Kazuto Kirigaya or Kirito as he plays the beta of a new and upcoming popular VR-esque game, Sword Art Online (SAO). In SAO, gamers know that they are in a game but something goes wrong with the beta when they are all told by the creator that they are now trapped in the game and if they die in the game, they die in reality. Accepting this new reality, Kirito teams up eventually with Asuna Yuuki who is leading a team to try and escape this cruel game they are now trapped in! When looking at obvious similarities, they are both set in games or game-like worlds where the understanding and functionality is just like a game. In SAO, Kirito and the gang have more to work with in the sense of menus and item drops, but the way Bell levels up in Danmachi is also similar to a video game. This also includes the systems of magic and stronger weapons etc. There are also the themes of floor bosses as Bell tries to go down in the dungeon, while Kirito & co. go up. OP Protagonists are also a recurring theme that you will see in this article and between the shows. Bell grows with the character while Kirito is essentially OP throughout the whole show. The fun and final similarity about this is that Kirito and Bell share the same seiyuu in Japanese!

Will write for more Konosuba… Will share for more Konosuba… Spare change? It’s all for Konosuba… Ah Yes… what has to be one of the funniest and most interesting shows of Winter 2016, and possibly the year (we still have half a year to see new shows but we digress), Konosuba brought us Kazuma, a “dirty shut-in NEET” as Aqua refers to him, who has just died from fear of being run over. Aqua, a goddess, offers him a choice to be reborn in an RPG like world or go to heaven. Naturally, if he chooses to be reborn, he will get a rare one of a kind item to help him. When prodded as to what he wants, and Aqua clarifies that he can have anything, he says “Okay. I choose you.” Sucked into the new world, Kazuma finds out fast that Aqua is not only an idiot but useless as well! They have to work to get money… but they need money to gear up. Introduce a useless Mage who can only cast one spell a day before collapsing, and a knight who is a defensive wall but also a massive masochist. This series will leave you in tears. When looking at Similarities between Danmachi and Konosuba, there are plenty. Both are set in an RPG-esque world that allows them to be unique and learn skills as need be in the cases of Kazuma and Bell. Both also lay in heavily into the mission aspect and boss battles, though DanMachi is more adventure while Konosuba is more comedy. Also, Kazuma serves Aqua, a deity (he’s kinda forced to due to his circumstances) and Bell serves Hestia. The world settings themselves are also fantasy worlds that you will love to get wrapped into. Don’t take our word for it, though! Check it out below!

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar opens with characters who know nothing but their names. Grimgar is now the world that they live in and they must work to survive. A team comes together to form a group in this kill or be killed, world. Together they work, filling various job classes such as a priest, a thief, a hunter, a mage, a warrior, and a dark knight. Going on missions in Grimgar, they now struggle to learn more about each other, themselves, and what to do. Characterized by unique art, many people have enjoyed this adventure show! Right off the bat, there is the danger of death. Kill or be killed in Grimgar and Danmachi. No, Do overs. The worlds too are much like RPGs. Grimgar takes it a step further and has job classes that are specific. Everyone is poor in both series as well so you get to watch them grow! DanMachi, however, is a bit lighter hearted while Grimgar takes life by the horns! Finally, between these two is the theme of existing within a game-like world while not being conscious of it; a common theme in this article. If you are looking for something a little more serious than Danmachi, but still heavy on the same themes, go for this show for sure!

Subaru Natsuki is buying dinner when he has a flashback or is it a flashforward to himself dying? Then he wakes up in a world where nothing makes sense. Suddenly someone is robbed and he helps her and she helps him. Trying to get the item back, he negotiates to get it… until someone else was in wait for it. Then suddenly he feels pain, sees blood, and then wakes up again in the same scene as if nothing has happened? Once again, his life seemingly starts from zero…. Danmachi and Re:Zero have so many similarities such as a fantasy world setting, and both Bell and Subaru serve some beautiful women who dote on them a bit. There is a clear mystery as Subaru is killed over and over just to be incarnated again, and Ais is a mystery to Bell for a long time. There is a slight magic system that Subaru can harness, much like an RPG-like job class, while Bell is in a full blown job class. There are some differences, though. Subaru has no idea how he got to this world where Bell is just living in his world. So don’t worry. While both are great, you are not watching the same show, so you can enjoy both for their similarities while enjoying the differences as well.

Kuuhaku is undefeatable. Made up of a pair of shut-in NEETs, Sora and Shiro are unstoppable until one day, they are challenged to a chess match by Tet, the god of Games. They then are plunged into a world called Disboard where the rule of the land is that major issues will be solved via games?! Not only that but these games are high stake due to the rule where in order to play, both parties have to wager something of similar value to what the other party wagers. Suddenly this adorable Onii-san and Imouto are in a race to meet and defeat this god of games, Tet. A Fantasy Adventure is here on the table again. Much like video games, Sora and Shiro play high stake games that could cost them everything while Bell risks his life in the Dungeon to level up and bring home more funds to Hestia. Both take place in medieval cities and settings. Instead of crashing into dungeons like Bell, Sora and Shiro face their trials within the city. However, they still face harrowing trials. The romance is slightly there as well actually with the way that Shiro cares for Sora is similar to how Hestia cares for Bell even though she wishes that he would chase after her.

If there was ever an argument for a Protagonist that was OP from the start, then it’s ya boy Momonga. The story opens with a popular VR game called Yggdrasil in its final server hours. Momonga is the most powerful wizard and master of a crazy strong guild Ainz Ooal Gown. He decides to stay in the game until the servers shut down. The time passes and… well… nothing happens! He is still in the game but the clock goes away, and all of the NPCs have personalities?! Suddenly Momonga has an amazing yet unknown new world to explore and understand with Albedo at his side. Another anime similar to games is where we start. Clearly, both are in a game setting. The difference is that badass Momonga knows that he is in a game while Bell does not. Momonga is OP from the start and eventually Bell gets there considering how his strength rapidly rises. Bell is a sweetheart to the core and Momonga is actually a massive softy even if he has to hide it for fear of what could happen. Adventures abound for these two protagonists while they both learn more and more about their worlds. The best part too is that Albedo chases after Momonga like Hestia chases after Bell and it’s so cute to watch. The other part is that Albedo and Hestia will offer to go to extremes for Momonga and Bell respectively. Don’t take our word for it. Check out this kickass OP protagonist who would take out Kirito and not even flinch.

Nicknamed “Mob”, Shigeo Kageyama is a second-year middle school student with super psychic powers. He can make things move with his mind, bend spoons and exorcise spirits! So what can’t he do? Read between the lines. Mob is at that awkward age where he is still finding out what he likes and wants to do. He knows, though, that there is one thing he wants to do; he wants to confess his feelings to his friend from his childhood Tsubomi. You know, Tsubomi? The girl from the first episode who is not busted beyond all reason and has her face replaced with a vegetable? Yeah, that Tsubomi. The only other thing to complete everything is the fact that Mob is used by his “tutor” a phony, useless fraud of a psychic named Reigen. When things get too hot, which seems to be all the time for Reigen, he calls Mob in to take out the spirits. One thing, though, push Mob too far, and he’s likely to explode. When his emotions hit 100% he will do just that… Explode! Right off the bat, there are very blatant similarities about these two series. Both have protagonists that are psychics. This allows them to have all sorts of unique encounters and acquaintances. While Mob cannot read people’s thoughts, Saiki can. This show is very much about slapstick comedy. While Saiki is avoiding situations, Mob is helplessly thrown into them leaving you in stitches. The good thing and the fun thing about both of these series as well is the viewer is able to see into the thought process of both of these characters as well. Albeit it does seem like there can be a central plot lacking, both are quick to pull you back in. Do we even really need to say the last one? Both are overpowered beyond your wildest dreams. Even if they do not consciously think about it. When you watch Saiki, load up Mob Psycho 100 afterward to keep the laughs and good times rolling.

Smooth, perfect, pristine, cool, no wait, cooler, no we had something better for this… Ah right! The COOLEST high schooler has transferred into high school! His name is Sakamoto. Perfect and flawless, he effortlessly does everything with grace. From taking a part-time job to help his friend, counseling a mother with love issues, assisting the class when their project is sabotaged, Sakamoto is able to do everything and be cool while doing it! Full of gags, Sakamoto is here to lend a hand and look effortless while doing it. Where to start with these two shows… Both Saiki and Sakamoto both are visibly unbothered by almost everything and able to handle anything thrown at them. While we can see and hear Saiki’s inner dialogue, Sakamoto is always expressing what could possibly his hesitations with his expressed “Goodness gracious” (Yare yare in Japanese). Saiki and Sakamoto both do not speak too much which allows for some hilarious scenes or inner dialogues. Both set in schools, they both have a girl pursuing them hotly. Aina-chan is after Sakamoto with a fervent passion, much like Kokomi is with Saiki. Both fail constantly in their endeavors much to the delight of the readers. One final thing to note is much like Saiki appears to his peers, Sakamoto is flawless.

Kazuma Satou is a bit of a shut-in NEET. He even has it confirmed when the goddess of reincarnation, Aqua, calls him that. He’s just died a hilarious death of a fear/adrenaline induced heart attack. Aqua gives Kazuma two options, go to heaven, or be reborn in a fantasy world with a bonus of his choice that will lead him to success defeating the Demon King. He asks if he can have anything and dismissively she tells him “Yea sure whatever. Just hurry it up.” He points at her and says, “Okay then I choose you.” Revenge is sweet! A goddess on his side means that he will be ruling from on high within no time. Till he reaches the new world and finds out that not only is Aqua an idiot and useless, he has two new party members. One is a mage that can only use one type of magic once a day and then she collapses, and a knight who has terrible accuracy and has some questionable interests in BDSM! What is going on? Watch to find out! Normally people would be surprised to find that Saiki Kusuo no Psi Nan and Konosuba are related. However, they are. The main thing that comes from is breaking the fourth wall. Saiki and Kazuma both seem to address the audience repeatedly bringing about some of the greatest moments between both series. Some of the best moments are their internal dialogues. Of course, it’s loaded with other comedic aspects. People close to the protagonists are idiots as well. Aqua is about as dense as a sack of bricks much like Saiki’s parents who abuse his powers to help resolve issues or make one look better than the other. Kazuma starts out useless in the game, but he becomes gradually more useful much like with how Saiki reveals in flashbacks that he was not always able to control his powers. Regardless, Konosuba is a show that you do not want to miss.

Dense yet optimistic Kafuka Fuura is walking home one day when she sees the cherry trees in full blossom. Enjoying their beauty, she suddenly realizes that a man has a noose around his neck and is getting ready to commit suicide. Running to save him, it turns out to be her homeroom teacher and her polar opposite, Nozomu Itoshiki. Why is he doing this? Because Japanese society has put him in despair and the only answer is suicide! From strange discussions about Japanese society to encouraging his students to commit lovers suicide via pills and a Best of Enya soundtrack, Nozomu is quite the unique character. Join him and his classroom as they learn about society and encounter unique characters like Kiri Komori, the girl with mysterious injuries, Chiri Kitsu, the girl obsessed with conformity, Kaere Kimura, a returnee from abroad who is dealing with DID and the fact that she wants to sue everyone for looking at her inappropriately, Ai Kaga, a girl who is constantly apologizing for irrelevant issues, and Harumi Fujiyoshi, whose name, if you take out the “i” reveals her nature as, you guessed it, a Fujoshi! Where to start with the similarities between these series are the voices actually. Saiki and Nozomu’s Seiyuu are the same. Kamiya Hiroshi voices both of the protagonists in these comedies. His voice really lends to the overall comedic aspects. Ridiculousness, much like what is also perpetuated in Sakamoto Desu Ga? is also very prevalent between these two series either making you flat out laugh or snicker.

Chiyo Sakura has a crush on her classmate Umetarou Nozaki. She finally gets up the nerves to confess and bursts out “I’m a fan!” Umetarou signs a placard and hands it to her. He leaves and she’s confused… what just happened? The signature is from someone named Sakiko Yumeno… that name rings a bell! It’s Chiyo’s favorite manga artist! Confused out of her mind, she finds out that Umetarou, while dense, does not see her as a girl or anyone for that matter. He lives and breathes for his work. Somehow Chiyo ends up becoming an assistant! Now she has to find a way to not only work with him but also find a way into his heart! Chiyo has her work cut out for her. Of all things, on the exterior, both Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun and Saiki Kusuo have a seemingly unaware protagonist, while at the same time being aware of everything going on around them that directly affects them. This lends even further to comedy. About half of these series, too, take place in schools and both Umetarou and Saiki avoid connecting with girls on an emotional level. Umetarou does not because he is dense and focused on work, while Saiki does not because Kokomi is legit a stalker and needs to have several seats. That being said, take a look below and get ready to laugh!

Kou Ichinomiya is doing good for himself. He is the son of an upper crust businessman and he lives his life so that he will never ever owe anyone anything. Until one day when he accidentally falls from Arakawa Bridge. He is saved thankfully… but… this leaves him indebted to the girl who saved him! He promises her anything. Nino, the girl who saved him who literally runs around in a tracksuit all day long has but one wish, to fall in love. Whoops! Kou now has to live under the bridge with her as her boyfriend. Kou begins to meet the other locals and that is where things get hilariously odd… Hoshi is named Hoshi because of the star on his head. A failed musician, he is the love rival to Kou. Billy is a bird-headed yakuza member. Sadist Maria provides dairy and produce to the village while being verbally eviscerating. Sister is a “nun” who has mysterious scars and is a former mercenary. Finally, you also have Stella, the only cute little girl who can turn Sister into a killing machine again. What? They all live together under the Arakawa Bridge. Welcome to another anime where the main character is also voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya. Coincidentally, Kamiya is now married to the creator of this series and they met on the set of this anime! Much like Saiki, Arakawa relies on those humorous characters around the main character and what he thinks of them. Both of these anime are also parodies. Saiki is a little more underhanded with the OP protagonist who has no use for his powers but most of the characters in Arakawa are parodies of characters from other manga!

In contrast to Shiki, Another has no problem showing exactly how the blood splatters everywhere. With gruesome visuals, gory deaths, and the perpetrator sitting quietly among the ranks of the victims, Another makes for a stomach-turning watch for any horror fan. Another is the story of a small town with a curiously unnerving air about it. Kouichi Sakakibara finds himself transferred into the village, and particularly, into Yomiyama North Middle School’s class 3-3. He becomes interested in classmate Mei Misaki, and thus the gruesome deaths begin. Or, continue that is—what does the village’s history have to do with the disturbing occurrences? Like Shiki, in the midst of calamity, Another sets up a group mentality gone terribly wrong. Though it’s more gruesome than its counterpart, it keeps the themes of mystery, suspense, and the human and its other—strikingly to the point of referencing the theme in its title. The series explores the dirtiest, grittiest sides of humanity, and it’s hard not to come face to face with the ultimate moral question: what would you do in that situation?

Keiichi Maebara moves into a quiet village, and as expected, the horror anime begins. The village, Hinamizawa, is a charming countryside and in a deceivingly innocuous seeming harem-esque development, he’s able to make friends with a group of cute girls. Unfortunately, that’s where the harem stops and horror rears its ugly head. The village has been seeing mysterious deaths, connected to a traditional festival and the village’s patron God, Oyashiro. However, as Keiichi finds out more about the deaths, the village lifts its idyllic veil and what comes forward is a geniusly written combination of complex characters, ugly secrets, and sheer horror. Keeping a high suspense, high pay-off pacing, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni explores the dark underbelly of humanity, just like Shiki. It delves into the psychological aspect of its characters, thoroughly exploring how fear, societal pressures, and human selfishness can create utter madness. It’s dark, and offers an honest look at just how extreme human instability can get. It offers a great story for any fan who enjoyed Shiki’s exploration of the human condition.

Tokyo Ghoul starts with the oldest trick in the book. Average college student and protagonist Kaneki Ken finds himself the object of an extremely attractive woman’s attention, and it turns out to be painfully too good to be true. As in, Kaneki will never be able to look at a hamburger again too good. As in, he’s always tempted to eat his best friend too good. Attacked by the woman, and waking up hours later with an insatiable craving for human flesh, Kaneki finds himself turned into a Ghoul. Thus begins a story of friendship, struggle, and manipulation as Kaneki is brought into the dark world of what it means to no longer be human. Gory, fast paced, and featuring lots of battle sequences, Tokyo Ghoul is different from Shiki because of its shounen battle anime draw. However, Tokyo Ghoul is not to be underestimated. With complex characters and dedicated development of their stories, relationships, and motivations, Tokyo Ghoul offers a deep exploration into desperation, loss of humanity, and the instability of a clear cut morality.

Kenzou Tenma is a doctor, and Monster, begins with the ultimate moral question a doctor must face. There are two patients that both need immediate medical care, and one must be saved at the expense of the other. Who will you choose to save? Faced with this question, Tenma chooses to save a young boy at the expense of the town mayor, unwittingly becoming the epicenter of a chain of gruesome murders. With all evidence pointing to the young boy as the perpetrator, Tenma is wracked with insecurity regarding his choice. But the plot goes deeper. Exploring child abuse, sociopath psychology, brainwashing, and a host of other dark human behaviors, Monster quickly becomes about more than just an exploration of the ethics of medical practice. It spreads its roots into the disconcerting corners of the human condition and makes for an addicting, suspenseful watch. Monster has a lot to offer any viewer who enjoyed Shiki. Teetering at the edge of insanity while running the gamut of tragedy, fear, and revulsion, it swiftly pulls aside the curtain on humanity in a state of exceptionally indecent undress—and the product is blood-curdling, upsetting, and undeniably compelling.

Yakumo Saito is a high school student who was born with a mysterious red eye that allows him to communicate with the dead. In a fresh change from unwitting male protagonists, Yakumo has been exposed to death, murder, and the twisted motivations of men his whole life. Joined by Haruka Ozawa, whose daily life has been more than disturbed by a series of deaths, the two form an odd detective duo, listening to the tales that dead men tell and uncovering the horrific secrets of the living. Yakumo’s character, though tortured, is quite a bit more stable than protagonists who are suddenly thrown into elaborate horror plots. He knows how ugly things can get, and his character provides the viewer with a sense of agency. In contrast to being dangled in suspense and entirely unsuspecting of what will happen next, Shinrei Tantei Yakumo offers the viewer a chance to conjecture at what happened, why it happened, and who did it. However, it’s precisely this active viewing that allows the show bring watchers in as participants—disconcerting and spine-chilling when the show explores the motivations and psychology behind gruesome murders, suicides, and other unnatural deaths. Shiki viewers will find the well paced mystery and suspense of Shinrei Tantei Yakumo appealing. Yakumo’s mysterious eye and his ability to talk to the dead run parallels with Shiki’s inclusion of the undead, and art and music production lend both shows a similar ambiance.

Subaru Natsuki is living an average life when he meets a beautiful girl named Emilia and then finds himself dead. And then alive again. Bewildered, and suddenly thrown into an inexplicable new world, Subaru must unravel the mystery behind his on again off again deadness, and also come face to face with the darker forces at play just beyond the horizon—or right behind him, as is often the case. Featuring some dark themes and character motivations, brutal murder, and a complex plot Re: Zero is more of a dramatic thriller than it is standard horror. That being said, considering that the plot involves the main protagonist dying again, and again, and again the show offers the same kind of terror and thrill a Shiki viewer may be looking for. The show is artfully executed, well-paced, features a set of entertaining characters and is wrought with twists and turns that any mystery viewer will be able to appreciate.

Clannad is a wonderful story about how one man's influence can have a major effect on those around him, while causing a stir of entertainment for the viewer. The story takes place in a small rural town where Tomoya just isn't enjoying himself as much as he'd like to. Tomoya’s boredom leads him down a troublesome path until one day he meets a young girl muttering words to herself. Curious about why she behaves that way, he confronts her and the two engage in conversation. He learns of her illness and that her repetition of food words are to boost her confidence, but also that she wants to re-open the drama club at school. From here Tomoya's journey takes a different direction, as he now must get to know all of the other members of the club, but more importantly overcome his conflicting emotions. Both male protagonists are somewhat confused as to what direction they want to take in life, but are then given a second chance by joining a club they never knew existed. One very important thing to note is that, both of these anime are made by the fantastic developer Key/Visual Arts, and so much of the story takes on more of a visual novel approach when telling the story. Both Tennouji and Tomoya are sort of rebellious in nature, always seeking out new paths in their once stagnant lives. The great aspect about them however, is how they manage to help influence those around them in such a remarkable way. Each behave like teachers to a large group of females who are also trying to discover just who they are, and work together to create a better environment within their respective clubs.

Jun Maeda and his team at Key never fail to impress the masses with their incredible artistry and provocative story telling, with Little Busters being one of the more creative. The story takes us on a journey with Riko as he and four of his close friends decide to make something of their remaining youth. Their goal isn't to claim the highest prize or rebel against the world, but rather to practice and play baseball together. Unfortunately due to a team needing more than five players, his friend Rin decides to help out by recruiting more females on board as she is currently the only girl. Suddenly Rin finds a mysterious letter attached to her cat and is unsure of what to do with it, until she realizes that there's an assignment she must fulfill right away. What makes Rewrite so compelling is how deeply connected each character is to each other, and Little Busters follow that very same route. Each character throughout the show feels polished, and are very entertaining whenever they make foolish mistakes. No one feels contrived in their ways, as each encounter that's made feels a lot like a deep rooted friendship that continues to blossom over time. Masato shares some resemblance to Tennouji where both put on this fake comedic bravado to play tough guy in front of the girls, but deep down the two are such great mentors to their friends it's so hard not to like them. Both lack brain cells and always seem to find themselves in a tussle with one of the female casts, usually with a footprint embedded in their chest after all is said and done. This great comedic blend along with real life lessons really bring the show to life, and is simply what Key is best known for.

Charlotte begins as Yuu discovers that he has an incredible ability to read the minds of others, but due to this power he tries not to let anyone know of it. Through many uncertain events Yuu eventually gets called out by some students who convince him not to use his power, and that he should enroll into their school where individuals with supernatural powers can feel at ease. Yuu is then forced into joining the school council which then places him in a position to now come to terms with his unique ability, while having to assist others on their journey as well. So perhaps if you haven't noticed by now, the biggest similarity between these anime thus far is that they're all made by the creative genius that is Jun Maeda. We can only thank him dearly for creating such a brilliant cast of characters that somehow all relate to one another so well, that it's so hard to tell whether they just met or have known each other for years. One thing to point out is that much like Rewrite, is that both main male leads have a secret ability that they try to keep hidden from the rest of the cast, but eventually confess to their colleagues and must share their knowledge with everyone. Yuu and Tennouji behave like the student and the teacher, where they have the responsibility to interact with everyone on the council, helping them to remove their dark inner secrets and learning about their past. Each time they try to get too close, they get punished severely for it which is where the comedy starts to build up, and we get to see a tighter relationship being formed.

Before we go into the synopsis of Kanon, we want to stress that before you switch on your PC to watch the 2006 version of this show, we highly recommend watching the 2002 original to get a better feel for the story's flow. The story looks at Yuuichi as he returns back to his hometown after several years, only to remember nothing about it due to a traumatic experience. Yuuichi desperately tries hard to recite exactly what took place seven years ago, and fortunately comes across a red headband that reopens a path in his conscience which helps him to put together the missing pieces to his past. As more uncertain events take place, Yuuichi must now rely on his new female colleagues in order to link everything together and restore his memory of his troubled past. Jun Maeda and the team at Key never fail to create a series that makes you burst out into tears in both a comedic and heartfelt fashion. In the 2002 version of Kanon, you'll more likely want a box of tissues nearby because of how touching it is, but keep them there because you'll crack up in certain moments where Yuuichi acts out of hand. Rewrite blends the best of both worlds also, with great storytelling that keeps you engaged throughout each episode, and brilliant character development that just makes you feel connected to everyone on screen. Both are about a young boy with a troubled experience, but somehow overcome it with the help of a group of girls who change their lives forever. These female leads also have stories of their own, all of which tie into the main characters path, and so all of them must work together to put everything back together but also find solace within their souls.

Angel Beats! is another hit title from Key and looks at the life of Otonashi. After a surprising turn of events Otonashi comes to realize that he's dead but doesn't seem to remember why. The only thing he can remember clearly is his name, and female lead Yuri explains to him that he's now residing in the afterlife. Yuri explains in detail as to what her duties are, and that she is about to wage war against a female enemy. Otonashi doesn't seem to be sold on the story that her rival Tenshi is in fact evil, and so he tries to get in touch with her which ends up a lot worse than he imagined. Not entirely convinced, Otonashi then joins the Afterlife Battlefront to learn more about Tenshi and her intentions. His mission however becomes even more challenging as he now must confront an even bigger problem: his growing interest in Tenshi and regaining all of his memories pertaining to the mysteries of the afterlife. Tennouji and Otonashi are living in two worlds which don't seem to add up very well in their minds. Tennouji is attacked, stalked, and killed by a cute girl with a long red ribbon, while Otonashi is killed and is unsure of himself as to why. The two both join an organization that has them surrounded by adorable females, who all share a small piece to the puzzle of their lives. All of the females too however have their own deep dark secrets, and so both boys need to put their differences aside and get to know each individual one by one to uncover more behind what's unfolding. The shows do showcase some great action in certain scenes, but the important thing to note is how both shows emphasize the relationship between boy and girl, and its significance in building stronger connections over time. A lot of the interactions are quite dramatic, while chirpy humor is used to create a balance within the story's compelling adventure. We have to highly recommend this one as it's one of Key's most exciting works to date.

The story of Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai, also known as Anohana, revolves around dealing with the death of a friend, and embarking on a journey of self discovery to live a better life. Yadomi sits in his room on a hot summer day enjoying his video games, when he is pestered by his childhood friend Menma to grant a wish for her. To his knowledge, Yadomi thinks he's going nuts due to the severe heat and decides to ignore her, already knowing in his mind that she had passed away several years ago. Failing to believe that Menma was actually there, he is then confronted with something that convinces him that Menma had actually reached out to speak her mind. The story now leads Yadomi to reform his relationship with past friends in order to lay her spirit to rest, while also reliving the pain and guilt they received from what transpired that fateful day. Rewrite doesn't really touch on the real life aspect of death and how much of an effect it can have, but what the two share is a story about an individual who is trying to seek answers to discover more about their past. Tragic events both occur in each characters lives and must now come to learn of the realities that life can bring at the most inconvenient time. Friendship building is where much of the similarities lie because Tennouji joins a club to help his colleagues overcome their dark pasts. While Yadomi relies on the help of his friends to bring closure to a past incident that changed their entire lives. These stories do have a lot of emotion behind them which can create very dramatic scenes and make you cry every now and then. We can relate so much to every character that we can laugh at their experiences and at the same time, learn to appreciate just how willing they are to make a difference to the people around them.

The first anime on our list is Little Busters! An anime about a boy named Riki Naoe who has a condition known as narcolepsy, which he developed after the tragic deaths of his parents when he was young. Because of his problem, he couldn’t have a normal life as he could have collapsed at any moment. Fearing this, Riki becomes a shut-in and had detached himself from the world. Until one day a boy named Kyousuke saved him, who created a team known as the ‘Little Busters’. Along with Masato, Kengo and Rin, these kids spent their childhood days fighting evil and enjoying youth. Their friendship lasts many years, despite eventually growing up and out of the Little Busters childhood playgroup. Until high school where Kyousuke is on his last year of school before he has to leave everyone behind, he decides to make the best out of his final year and re-ignite the Little Busters by forming a baseball team with them. With only the five of them, Riki is tasked to find new friends to join the Little Busters. Little busters! is a light novel adaptation that comes from the same creators as Clannad. Its similarity can be seen in how the story brings a lot of the same characteristics, a similar style in expressing the values of family and friendship, and also with plentiful romance, and drama embedded in the heartwarming story. They both also follow a similar format in where characters are introduced one by one, each with their own unique story in the form of an arc but still stay true to the main story. If you loved the light humor and the dramatic turns in Clannad, then you’ll definitely want to check out Little Busters!

Next up, we have not an anime series strictly speaking, but rather an anime movie called Byousoku 5 Centimeter. A movie with a unique style in which it is split into three parts, following the story of Takaki Toono and Akari Shinohara. Byousoku 5 Centimeter is about two very close friends who eventually come to love each other, but then get separated when Akari’s parents decide to move to another part of Japan. They keep in touch by writing letters but inevitably begin to grow apart, until one fateful day Takaki discovers that his family is planning to move to the other side of the country. Takaki decides to personally see Akari before he moves, as it will be very difficult for him to ever see her again. After their meeting, they grow even further apart as the years pass, until eventually they completely lose contact. Even though from time to time they still remember each other, they wonder if they will ever have the chance to see each other again. Byousoku 5 Centimeter is a very emotional story, with a lot of stunning visuals. It is very similar to Clannad After Story in the way it tells a story of the protagonist and his relationship with someone, and then how that changes over time. Byousoku 5 Centimeter illustrates the painstaking reality of the world, in showing that life is more complicated than it appears and it also contains a lot of tear jerking moments. Byousoku 5 Centimeter is a short movie that will make your heart melt.

The third recommendation that we have for you is the anime, Plastic Memories. A story about an 18-year-old college student named Tsukasa Mizugaki that failed his college entrance exams. However, he was able to find himself a small job at the Sion Artificial Intelligence Corporation, otherwise known as SAI Corp that is responsible for the creation of human-like androids known as ‘Giftias’. However, the technology has not yet been perfected and Giftias have only a lifespan of 81,920 hours, which is approximately nine years and four months. After Giftias expire they lose their memories and become hostile, which is why Terminal Service One, a SAI Corp station, is assigned to collect Giftias and reset them. Tsukasa joins this station and becomes partnered with a Giftia by the name of Isla, who is a veteran in Giftia retrievals. Tsukasa and Isla soon begin to fall for each other, despite Tsukasa being a human and Isla being an android. However things become much more complicated when Tsukasa finds out that Isla is losing time, as she is already near the end of her own lifespan. The similarity of Plastic Memories to Clannad After Story lie in the fact that they both tell a love story between the protagonists that eventually comes to a tragic end, and how they end up facing the reality. Both Plastic Memories and Clannad start off with a relationship that has a high potential for a great future, and just when things are looking good and promising, disaster strikes and it hits hard on the protagonists. If you loved Clannad then Plastic Memories is a good, more recent anime to watch. Just prepare some tissues for those tears beforehand!

Coming next on the list is Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! An anime about people who have what is called the ‘88h grade syndrome’, an apparent ‘disease’ that regresses the mature mind back to a point in time where your imagination could go as wild as believing you had innate magical powers. Where you would feel like you are a chosen special hero, with no shame in doing what would be seen as embarrassing things in public. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! follows the story of Yuuta Togashi, a boy who once had the ‘8th-grade syndrome’ and had called himself the ‘Dark Flame Master’ during his middle school days. Which he now regrets ever doing it and even had to go to such lengths as, moving far away from his middle school to not get recognized in public anymore. Yuuta aims to have a normal high school life with his past locked away and forgotten until one fateful day, he meets Rikka Takanashi. A female classmate at his high school who currently still has the disease and goes by the name of ‘Wicked Eye’, whom inevitable gets intertwined with Yuuta’s life. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! is a very lighthearted anime and has very similar vibes to Clannad. Yuuta is very comedic in nature and has a similar sort of a humorous personality as Tomoya in Clannad. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! also has a relationship between the protagonist that grows and develops over time, until one point they realize they’ve become deeply in love with one and another.

Our next recommendation is Hyouka, a lighthearted anime that follows an intelligent but 'energy-conservative' high school student by the name of Houtarou Oreki. Who joins the school's classics club to avoid doing any strenuous activity. Though Oreki thinks he found the perfect way to have a peaceful and calm life when one day he meets a girl name Eru Chitanda, whom together with his friend Satoshi Fukube and another girl by the name of Mayaka Ibara, become involved and entangled with local mysteries to solve. Although Oreki wants the conserve energy where possible and just get through school, he is constantly dragged into solving mysteries thanks to Chitanda's curiosity and charm. Oreki from Hyouka is actually voiced by the same voice actor as Tomoya from Clannad, both characters have a similar personality. Oreki is lazy whereas Tomoya is a 'delinquent' who likes to skip class. They have a similar tone to how they interact with the female protagonists, gentle and can't help but to give them a hand when they are in trouble or in need. Both anime have a very similar tone in the way they present friendships and the school life. If you enjoyed the calm pace and character development of Clannad, then you will be guaranteed to like Hyouka.

The final recommendation that we have on this list is Angel Beats! Made by the same creators of Clannad. It follows the story of a boy named Otonashi who wakes up in a world with no memories other than his name, where he finds out that he had actually died. Otonashi meets a girl named Yuri who tells him that he is in the afterlife and that there are others like him, and that he is trapped in this world where he can't die permanently. Yuri is the leader of a group called the Shinda Sekai Sensen (Afterlife Battlefront) who are at war with a girl named Tenshi, who they believe controls the world. Otonashi ends up joining with the SSS to go against Tenshi, but somehow Otonashi seems to find himself strangely drawn towards her. He follows Yuri in her ridiculous antics to try and defeat Tenshi, whilst trying to find out the truth of the afterlife and to regain his lost memories. Angel Beats! has an emotional story that is as heart-tugging as Clannad, though it has a lot of humorous moments too. Otonashi has a similar personality to Tomoya in the sense that he is someone who will help people from the kindness of his heart. Like Clannad, Otonashi ends up trying to help each individual character with their own problems. They both have very dramatic moments and draw upon the same themes such as life and death, and the struggles of coping and tackling obstacles in the world they exist in. Both anime share a very similar thing, which is that both will make you crave for more after watching them.

Chobits is a fantastic story created by famous female mangaka group Clamp, that shows us how no matter where you come from, any relationship can be formed from within. Hideki comes from a poor background and wants to see that path of his life turn around for the better, and so he studies hard to get into college. Unfortunately due to his setbacks he is unable to afford the necessities that allow him to pursue a lucrative career, let alone purchase one of the latest gadgets that peaked his interest. Fortunately for Hideki on his way home, he comes across an abandoned Persocom and is amazed by the state in which it was in. Sadly the android is only able to recite one word, and he assumes that it's defective. Instead of throwing it away, he decides to help this android learn how to speak and teach her about the world around them in the best way that he can. Kuzuka and Hideki both stumble across an android that initially they are disappointed by, but overtime form an incredible bond which blossoms into something remarkable. Both androids have been abandoned by their first human user, and have some issues pertaining to their framework which prevent them from speaking in a very casual way. Overtime however, both androids discover more about themselves through the aid of a male protagonist who uses their ingenuity to fix the problems that have been plaguing them for some time. Both anime do a great job of expressing the importance of companionship while using fantastic humor to keep the viewer from deviating away from the course.

Plastic Memories tells the story of Tsukasa, who is given the opportunity of a lifetime to work at the SAI corporation, which is a group responsible for recovering Giftias who are approaching the end of their lifespans and scrap them. These Giftias are androids which have been bestowed with fully functioning human emotions, and have the responsibility of aiding their human counterparts however possible. Tsukasa discovers that one of his colleagues named Isla, the cute and fun loving girl is also a Giftia herself despite her position in the corporation. Through an order of their boss, the two must now work together, socialize together, and over time develop a close bond that forms into a romantic adventure. As you can see, the premise of this anime is very clear. Tsukasa is a human who must now put all of his differences aside and form a relationship with someone who sees interest in him. This show creates a beautiful setting where two individuals look past the discrimination of human and android connection, and must now educate one another on the finer aspects of life and love. This shows us how remarkable compassion can be once we learn to look past the surface of all things, and dive a little deeper into a world where only feelings matter. The most important point we must all pay close attention to is that this anime demonstrates the importance of equality, and that in order for this world to be shaped in the form of a heart we must learn to shape the character that lives within all of us, and that is our souls.

Kowarekake no Orgel focuses on the life of Keiichiro who suffered severely as his family passed away from a tragic accident, and decides to retire from the band he enjoyed dearly. One day while walking to clear his mind of the past, Keiichiro discovers an old android model in a pile of garbage. To his curiosity he picks her up and takes her home to patch things up. Unfortunately Keiichiro soon learns that this android cannot be repaired, and decides to dispose of it in a state of regret. To his complete surprise however, the next morning he wakes up to find the very same android preparing his breakfast for him and from this moment, the two embark on a journey between android and human relationship. In Planetarian, Kuzuya experiences many traumatic flashbacks of his past, and is left to survive on his own in a desolate world empty of all human existence. He then finds a planetarium run by an android who then helps to ease his pains and sorrows within, but to also build a close relationship with someone that isn't human. The same premise follows suit for Keiichiro as he deals with an extremely dark past and in order to cope with it and move forward, he's introduced to an android character who shows him a brighter path in life. Both have very cute android supporting characters who act as somewhat of a mentor and inspiration for both main protagonists in order to see beyond the stars, and to find solace within their aching hearts. These shows share a touching story of how true relationships have nothing to do with race or background, but more so about the deep rooted form of compassion that we all must embrace in order to see equally.

Directed by famed director Yasuhiro Yoshiura, Eve no Jikan takes place in a futuristic world where the human race must now share their space with androids. These androids are unlike any typical run of the mill, as they've not only developed full artificial intelligence, but also having the ability to function with complex emotions as humans normally do. Due to this issue however, discrimination takes place in society and many androids find themselves isolated from the world around them. Eve no Jikan however is the only place where they can find solace, as the cafe caters to both humans and androids alike. Rikuo and Masaki must now come to terms with reality but also learn of the problems these androids face in society, especially when a dark organization comes to hear about this particular cafe. Discrimination is just about everywhere in this world, and this anime speaks on this topic with extreme attention to detail. Masaki has a personal hatred towards the android race, and so Rikuo must show him that they're no different than humans and must come to form closer relationships with them. While watching you're immediately gripped by the prejudice that these androids deal with, as many patrons of the cafe share their stories and we learn more about the severe separation that's plaguing the world they live in. We come to see a development over time that shows Rikuo and Masaki feeling an intense sorrow towards these androids, and so they both learn of the struggles they go through while coming to view the true colors of human behavior.

In Dimension W, a new fourth dimension had been discovered which is filled with an abundance of energy to supply the entire nation. For anyone to use this energy, advanced technology known as coils are created which are linked directly with Dimension W, and provide the user with incredible amounts of power. However, due to a monopoly takeover by the notorious Tesla Energy corporation, illegal distribution begins to rapidly take over society, with many unofficial coils being developed. Kyouma is a collector of these illegal coils as it's his only means of acquiring money. Things take a turn for the worse however, when he his confronted by an android by the name of Mira, who has a very strong connection to the father of coils. Now after a series of mysterious event start to erupt, the two must now work together in order to stop the violent onslaught that's about to take place before it's too late. Kyouma is stuck in a world that is full of corruption, and plagued with illegal activity that he finds life difficult to handle after some time. His normal duties become more and more deadly as he must now deal with underground organizations that plot to destroy what's left of the coils, and unlock the new dimension. Mira comes along who is an android but shares very humanistic qualities that essentially give her incredible powers to defeat her enemies. The two must work together under a new circumstance that puts their lives in danger, and so Kyouma must rely on Mira's special abilities while Mira must rely on Kyouma's natural talents to get the job done efficiently.

After a tragic accident that led to the death of a young child named Ryo, his parents made a wish that he were to live on as an android, but under a different alias. Suzu is then created and now the new android must come to understand his android mechanics, but realize that he can still display human emotions and retains all of his memories. During a rehabilitation session he ends up losing his baseball in another building and must look for it. Through this ordeal he encounters a young girl in distress named Hotori and the two must come to understand one another, but more importantly Suzu learns of her disease that progressively grows worse over time. The two immediately begin to grow a bond and now must learn not only about the world around them, but about each other. Hotori is such a gripping story that it took home the Animax Taisho award back in 2004, leaving many in amazement. The anime questions the viewers take on human existence, purpose and place in the world while creating a genuinely complex tale of a boy who must cope with his drastic changes. Suzu who was known as Ryo prior to his alteration is now an android who must deal with the sensitivities of being different, while dealing with a relationship that helps him recognize the many joys of life. This breathtaking 40 minutes looks at Hotori and Suzu, who are two children who are in the midst of maturing and travel through their youth together to further explore the inner workings of the soul. They come to realize that android or not, the heart is what still remains after we have been stripped naked of our insecurities.

So you thought your life as a middle-school student was harsh? Your part-time job is not helping as it should? Well, try to become a kami as Nanami does! We also have another girl who works part-time as a kami and we can appreciate her adventures in Kami-chu!. The girl’s name is Yurie Hitotsubashi, who becomes a kami to save her family shrine from bankruptcy. With the help of her friends, she tries to balance her life as a human kami and her school life, while trying to confess her feelings to that special guy she likes. So, Kami-chu! Is essentially a good ride towards school life in Japan’s suburbs. Yurie and her friends are simply warm and playful together, and the show has a touch of a certain Ghibli like magic. Yurie’s personality is also adorable! So, if you are into a short anime that celebrates the simple things in life with humor and charm, Kami-chu! might be right for you.

What if Nanami would have been a guy instead of a girl? In Natsume yuujinchou, we have Takashi Natsume, a student on his teens. Natsume suffers from Watanukitis… em, the ability of seeing spirits and being pursued by them (I told you it was Watanukitis). But one day, he finds a cute, fat, talking cat and a mysterious book with the legacy from his grandmother. In short words, Natsume and the cat embark on a journey to free the youkai captured by his grandmother from the books binding. So, if you ever wondered how would it be if Kamisama Kiss and Clamp’s works combined together… search no more, we have Natsume yuujinchou! This anime comprises several happy adventures full with spirits and magic. It gets extra points for sending the message to lose the fear to the unknown… Who knows, maybe the unknown has friends waiting there for you, just like in Kamisama Kiss and Natsume yuujinchou!

Let’s get back to the supernatural romance, just like in Kamisama Kiss (yeah)! Hotaru Takegawa is a curious and active girl who one fateful summer day, gets lost in a forest. But this turns out fortunate, because she meets a kami called Gin who will become her great childhood friend. Hotaru and Gin shared the best of moments together, so it was natural that they fell in love with time. But we know how this goes, our pair of lovebirds belong to different worlds and their feelings will be tested. Hotarubi no mori he is a nice film for anyone who loves nature, stories with spirits and shoujo romance. The characters and the setting might look simple at first, but they grow up not only in size, but also in depth. Amid the ever changing natural environment, Hotaru and Gin will make us question, to which extent can we pursue a relationship made in childhood? You will have to watch the film and discover if they get an answer :)

This is the story of another fox spirit that protects a Shinto shrine, just like Tomoe does. Although he truly portrays himself as a fox… anyway, his familiar is Saeki Makoto, a girl who can see spirits and serves the shrine with her family. This duo will do what it takes to help people who go to the shrine seeking for divine help. Yeap, just like Nanami and Tomoe. Here we have another story that has a faint Studio Ghibli spirit on it… or perhaps we feel it’s like that because it somehow resembles the world of Mononoke Hime, but as it would be in our present days. We have normal people with their daily lives in one side, while in the other, mysterious and wonderful creatures lurk around the corner. With superb animations and music inspired in traditional styles, Gingitsune is an enchanting adventure from beginning to end.

Here we have another shy and rather clumsy girl in love with a model guy. But our protagonist, Inari Fushimi, encounters a true fairy tale at the best Japanese style. Inari is so kind, that she rescues a fox from a river even when she was running late for class. As a prize for her action, a female Kami shares her power with Inari. Now she can transform into anything, just like the kitsunes do! Will that be enough for Inari to confess her feelings to her crush? You will have to watch the show to find out! This is another anime full with positive vibes, enchanting green sceneries and a charming love story. Nevertheless, the supernatural element only takes the plot to more complicated heights… and makes us have a good laugh or two! Plus, if you like kitsunes, don’t worry. Inari konkon koi iroha has whimsical fox spirits everywhere! The perfect combination of shoujo romance and cuteness together!

This is like seeing Nanami and Tomoe on steroids XD Which means that we should forget the sweet shoujo style romance. Instead, we get Hiyori and Yato. She is another teenager victim of Watanukitis (meaning she can see spirits), while he is a minor Kami who works for 5 yen coins. They meet when Yato saves Hiyori from being run over by a bus… and they become partners in “crime”, helping people out of their problems. They also will encounter other kami (friends and foes) on their way. So, be prepared for the adventure! Noragami is truly a fun anime to watch. The dynamics of the relationship of the protagonists is delightful and never gets boring, getting sweet or thoughtful only when it is really necessary. The music and animation’s rhythm are an upbeat. Plus, the animation was in charge of the studio that made Darker than Black and Fullmetal Alchemist. What else could you wish for?

At 30 years old, Kawachi Daikichi is devoted to his work but doesn’t really have anything going on in his life. However, Daikichi soon comes across a young girl at his grandfather’s funeral who turns out to be his grandfather’s daughter! The girl is shy and no one wants to take her in so Daikichi takes it upon himself to take the girl into his care. Usagi Drop features the same adorable parent-child relationship although this one is a bit unorthodox. Actually, the child is Daikichi’s aunt but he’s taking care of her! Like Kouhei, Daikichi has to learn how to take care of a child all by himself, but in Usagi Drop, you will truly fall in love with Rin and Daikichi who learn just how to live with each other and as a result, love each other. You think that because people are related by blood that they have to love each other, but Daikichi and Rin are still learning just what that means. It is a sweet family love story that you cannot miss out on.

College is hard enough when you can barely scrounge up enough money to pay for rent or food. Yuuta, Takumi, and Shinobu have to work even harder to sell themselves as artists. Yet, passions don’t just lie in their talents; Yuuta soon meets the talented Hagumi, also called Hagu, who really shakes up his world. However, Yuuta is not the only one shaken up by love. Now, don’t get confused by this josei anime. Hachimitsu to Clover is very much like Amaama to Inazuma! Not only does Hagu look like the young Tsumugi, but she is very child-like and innocent too. In Hachimitsu to Clover, we get to see how the other boys get to know Hagu as a person and develop a new relationship with her. Hagu only looks like a child, but there is so much more to her than meets the eye, and there is so much more going on than you can imagine in Hachimitsu to clover. Hachimitsu to Clover develops an intricate web of relationships between all of its characters drawing you further into a story of love and loss like no other. Each character seems to go through their own personal struggles and confusion but don’t we all go through trials and exit out of them better and stronger? Yes, it may seem dramatic--something that Amaama to Inazuma seems to lack--but the end result is nothing short of loving.

Known as a playboy, Katakura Kippei wastes time flirting with any girl while avoiding as much responsibility as possible. That is, until one day when he is given a young girl to care for: his forsaken cousin Yuzuyu! What can happen when Kippei knows nothing about taking care of himself let alone a child and poor Yuzuyu is heartbroken over being abandoned? Aishiteruze Baby may seem a bit older, but there is no doubt that it is similar to Amaama to Inazuma! The adorable Yuzu has to cope with a lot from her new surroundings to her new guardian, but most of all, this adorable little girl was left behind by her mother. Yuzu may just be a child, but that does not mean she has any depth. Furthermore, Kippei may be irresponsible however he is not the type to just sit around and watch as little Yuzu falls apart. Maybe there is a bit of humanity in him. Much like Daikichi from Usagi Drop and Kouhei from Amaama to Inazuma, Kippei must learn how to take care of this little girl that he suddenly finds himself completely responsible for. You get to watch as he learns that little girls are not completely dense but are actual individuals with real feelings and emotions. It is an anime that we cannot argue has the same sweetness as Amaama to Inazuma. You will absolutely fall in love with this cute shoujo anime where the characters will learn just what it means to be a family.

Handa Seishuu thinks he has it all as a talented calligrapher until one day, a veteran calligrapher says Seishuu is unoriginal, resulting in some hasty actions. Seishuu is then exiled to the Goto Islands to reflect on his life and actions. There, Seishuu must learn how to mingle with the local islanders and find the inspiration he needs for his latest work as he finds more about himself than he ever knew before. If you are in need of another sweet story, Barakamon has you covered. While Seishuu may not start off as the most lovable character, you get to see how his relationship grows with little Naru, much like what you get to see in Amaama to Inazuma. Barakamon is a bit more mature in feel than Amaama to Inazuma, but it’ll give you that heartwarming feeling that you know you want. Fall in love with this unlikely duo as they get to know each other and realize just how much they need each other.

Machiko Ryou has a passion for cooking but has recently hit a wall in her skills. Everything tastes terrible! Then, one day, Ryou’s cousin Kirin arrives and teaches her that cooking isn’t always about the food but about the company as well. Now, Ryou is learning just how great food can taste in the company of great people! How is Koufuku Graffiti like Amaama to Inazuma? No, it is not about a parent and child getting to know each other. Koufuku Graffiti is about building relationships with others through food! Kouhei and Tsumugi use food to build their relationship more after Kouhei realizes how important it is to make nutritious food for Tsumugi. In the same way, Ryou begins to use food to bond with other people since it tastes better eating with other people. In both anime, they use the power of food to show love! They say family dinners are so important. Koufuku Graffiti really brings this idea into out into anime for everyone to learn.

Life takes a turn for Segawa Yuta, an ordinary university student, when his sister and brother-in-law go missing after departing on a trip. Now, Yuta finds himself the guardian of his sister’s three girls, even though he hasn’t quite gotten the hang of taking care of himself. Now, this odd little family must learn how to live together in a tiny university apartment. Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai! is a cute anime that will absolutely capture your heart. Yes, this may seem like a harem anime at first, but the theme centers around the importance of family and family ties. Life is definitely not easy when you are a university student, but imagine what happens when you end up taking in three young girls! With school and work, being a family can be pretty tough! However, Yuta and his new sisters take this time and these trials to deepen their familial bonds and strengthen their ties together. Life may seem tough, especially for Yuta who is fairly much a child himself, but do not think that Yuta would want it any other way.

Perhaps Studio Ghibli's most iconic film, My Neighbor Totoro, tells the tale of Satsuki and Mei, who move to the Japanese countryside with their father to be closer to their sick mother. Initially, they find the house infested with black dust creatures, which the two sisters can see. As they settle into their home and explore Mei meets and befriends the tree spirit Totoro, whom she befriends. It's not until the Totoro reveals himself to the elder sister, Satsuki, that their adventure begins. When Mei disappears, Satsuki must rely on her new friend to find her. Like Hotarubi no Mori e, My Neighbor Totoro tells the story of a unique friendship between a young girl and the forest spirit she befriends. In both films, the relationship exposes the characters to the new and exciting world. Despite the fantastical nature, the two films also take place in a realm of reality, as the adults acknowledge the possible existence of the spirits, giving credence to the depth of their formed bond.

Another Studio Ghibli masterpiece, Spirited Away was an easy addition to the list. When one thinks of "kamikakushi" Spirited Away is undoubtedly the first anime that comes to mind; I mean, it's right there in the name! On route to their new home Chihiro and her family find themselves in what appears to be an abandoned amusement park. Chihiro watches as her parents, consumed by greed and gluttony, turn into pigs. Eventually, she finds herself trapped in the spirit world. Stripped of her name, Chihiro must find a way to return her parents and world. The feeling of lost and isolation that Chihiro feels throughout the movie mimics that of Hotaru at the beginning of Hotarubi no Mori e. In addition to this and the concept of kamikakushi, Spirited Away made the list because of the bonds Chihiro makes with Haku and No-Face: two dangerous relationships that helps Chihiro grow. Throughout both films the characters are warned about their relationship and threatened by other spirits; this, however, does not stop them from forming meaningful relationships.

If you're looking for a well done, science fiction take on a forbidden love tale, look no further than Patema Inverted. The film takes place in the future after Earth has been devastated by an experiment to harness the gravity. As a result, Earth now has two groups of humans, those that are inverted and living underground, and those who continue to live above ground. Patema finds herself above ground and in danger of falling into the sky, until a young freethinker, Age, saves her life. The two then go on an adventure to understand the true nature of their two worlds. Think the 2012 film Upside Down, but as an anime, and better. In both Patema Inverted and Hotarubi no Mori e, the relationship is strengthened on a trust formed by touch. In Hotarubi no Mori e, Hotaru and Gin are forbidden to touch one another; in Patema Inverted, without Age's touch Patema is at risk of floating away into the sky. Patema Inverted is a sci-fi version of Hotarubi no Mori e, that goes more in-depth regarding the relationship and consequences of the two worlds.

At first glance, Kyousougiga is the odd-ball of this list. It's a high pace action more akin to FLCL or Studio Trigger anime in its craziness than the slice of life Hotarubi no Mori e. But upon a deeper look, the similarities become more apparent. Young Koto finds herself in the hidden "mirror capital" city of Kyoto. There she finds herself in the world of youkai, and under the care of the high priest, Myoe. In an attempt to return to her home, Koto creates all kinds of havoc that threaten the very existence of Kyoto. There isn't much romance in Kyousougiga, instead opting for a crazy action adventure. The kitsune mask worn by Gin immediately brought back images of Kyousougiga. In both films, the mask marks a special bond between characters. The two female characters also find a way to make their strange new land home under the protection of someone who becomes strangely attached to them.2

Honestly, almost any Mamoru Hosoda film could've made the list, but Wolf Children was ultimately the best choice due to having the strongest tale of romance. In truth, Wolf Children is a deeply layered film that attacks many issues: the first story tells of the relationship between Hana and a werewolf. The second half of the film looks at the lives of their half-wolf, half-human children, and their trials and tribulations of being a single mother. As the children grow up, the oldest, Yuki, finds herself forming relationships with other human children, while Ame finds himself more comfortable embracing the wolf side of his nature. In ways Wolf Children can also be viewed as a spiritual continuation of Hotarubi no Mori e, in that explores the consequences of a relationship with an "otherworldly" being. Both siblings form bonds in a world that they don't entirely belong to; much like Hotaru with Gin, and Gin's existence in the youkai world. Wolf Children is an emotional masterpiece that features many of the things that made Hotarubi no Mori e great: wonderful storytelling, great supernatural elements, beautiful art, and engaging characters. If those things resonated with you from Hotarubi no Mori e, then Wolf Children is a must watch.

Known for his art and engaging storytelling, Makoto Shinkai truly became a household name after his film The Place Promised in Our Early Days. He went on to direct 5 Centimeters Per Second, and Children Who Lost Voices which only furthered his place as one of anime's great new directors. His second most recent film, The Garden of Words, continues to showcase his penchant for magnificent art and great storytelling. On a rainy summer day in Tokyo, high schooler Takao Akizuki skips school to draw shoes under a gazebo, in a beautiful garden. There he meets the intriguing Yukari Yukino, who like Takao is skipping work to enjoy the rainy day. As they continue to meet on these rainy summer days they become closer and closer, and yet... Perhaps the most similar to Hotarubi no Mori e in overall theme and feel is The Garden of Words. The focus on the two characters truly helps to give credence to the growth in their relationship. The montage showing Takao and Yukari growing closer is simply done but possibly one of the best parts of the movie. Although it's not stated as explicitly as it is in Hotarubi no Mori e, Takao and Yukari have formed a bond which they know they won't be able to realize. Those who enjoyed the forbidden love found in Hotarubi no Mori e will not want to miss The Garden of Words.

The story starts off with an ordinary high school student in the Demon District of Itogami Island named, Kojou Akatsuki. His life is forever changed after one pivotal encounter that seen him gain phenomenal abilities and traits of a vampire. Without any time to dwell on his current situation it’s discovered that Kojou is the fourth primogenitor, a powerful vampire who was thought to be a legend. Dreading the worst, the Lion King Organization deploys Yukina Himeragi, a sword-shaman to monitor his situation. Together the two form an improbable alliance to protect the city from various chaotic forces, while Kojou struggles to stabilize his newly acquired abilities. Promptly without having to see this anime you can already expect to see a ton of action and supernatural elements. Strike the Blood’s supernatural elements come in the form of vampires and familiars, whereas Taboo Tattoo has extraordinary tattoos that generally need a trigger to activate abilities. Strike the Blood comes with an ecchi tag, so there is going to be fanservice in both shows, however, there is far less in Taboo Tattoo. The two main characters in Strike the Blood bear a similar setup to Seigi and Izzie. Both Seigi and Kojou come across remarkable power and after gaining it, they become shadowed by exceptional females who want to make sure their new abilities don’t get used for the wrong reasons. All in all, we feel this one is worth a check out.

The 18-year-old Atsushi Nakajima was kicked out of his orphanage after being suspected of being behind the strange incidents that plagued his orphanage. For weeks, Atsushi had seen a mystical tiger, which he was only aware of, causing trouble at his residence. He is now faced with the unfortunate task of being homeless and scrounging for food. During his struggle near the riverbank, he comes across a peculiar man by the name of Osamu Dazai, who he saved from nearly drowning. Osamu, who is a suicide enthusiast and supernatural detective, is hot on the trail of the same mystical tiger that had been causing a stir with Atsushi. Osamu and his partner Doppo Kunikida solved the mystery, but it left Atsushi in a tough spot, as several other strange events occurred. It leads the troubled boy to join their supernatural firm of investigators where they tackle unusual cases that the police aren’t equipped to take on. The first thing you might notice about these 2016 anime is the similar art style. The settings in both anime showcase great contrast and bring out powerful uneasiness to vital situations. The next thing that jumps out to us is the two main characters in their respected series, Atsushi and Seigi. They’re both considered to be unique and very powerful. Atsushi possesses incredible superpowers, while Seigi is rewarded with an overpowered supernatural tattoo. What’s more is that both of them have a tremendously hard time being able to control such power and often find themselves in sticky situations because of their gift. They both fall in the same genre and it shouldn’t be too difficult to jump from Taboo Tattoo to this anime.

A heated battle royale known as The Holy Grail War takes place between the seven magi who serves as masters. Upon entering the war, the masters are given a special command seal that enables them to summon heroic spirits known as servants to fight for them in battle. A mage known as Rin Toosaka, enters the fifth Holy Grail War in hopes of capturing the ultimate prize. That prize being a mystical artifact that’s capable of granting any wish to the wielder of the Holy Grail. Emiya Shirou, one of Rin’s classmates accidently joins the competition. As the competition heats up Rin and Emiya find themselves forming a temporary alliance to quell some of the mutual foes that they have to deal with in The Holy Grail War. The atmosphere in both of these series can be associated with each other. They both present a dark and sometimes ominous presence about it that carries over perfectly to the fighting. This is almost a requirement when it comes to a full-blown action, last person standing battle. In each anime, they convey their own superpowers brilliantly. Through trial and error, they eventually get things right with their unique skillset. Finally, Shirou and Seigi are similar in that once they both got put into undesirable situations; they both yearned to become heroes of justice for various reasons. Coincidently, Justice is Seigi’s real name. Out of all these anime on this list, this particular one is probably the least similar to Taboo Tattoo. However, we’re still able to find some similarities that should intrigue you and hopefully get you to watch this.

Ten years ago a child by the name of Eiji Hoshimiya was asked by a fairy named Daisy, what his one and only wish would be. His wish turned out to be catastrophic and the consequences of his mysterious wish led to the event called the “Great Destruction.” It was a time where the world was literally falling apart and there were many casualties from this unfortunate action. In the present day, Eiji’s main concern is taking care of his sick sister. In the years after the event, many people have had their desires come true. These people called “The Orders” aren’t well received by the general public and are perceived to be evil. However, some of these Orders have vowed vengeance against Eiji and plan on taking his life due to that one fateful wish ten years ago. What will become of Eiji? Will he be assassinated before he gets to find out about the biggest mystery of all; what he wished for? Out of all these on this list, Big Order might be most similar to Taboo Tattoo. Both Seigi and Eiji have an immensely powerful ability that comes from a marking on their palms, Seigi’s on his right and Eiji’s on his left hand. It’s not just the male protagonists who share things in common, but the ladies in both series bear strong similarities as well. For example, the transfer student Rin, from Big Order, nearly murders Eiji. The same can be said for Seigi and Izzie. Izzie and Rin both possess incredible skill and they aren’t afraid to showcase it when called upon. Lastly, the main characters are being hunted by a group or government. From that and other various circumstances the main characters eventually team up.

Yuu Otosaka on the surface appears to be an intelligent and pleasant teenager to be around. However, what most people wouldn’t know is that he has the ability to slip into a person’s mind and take control of their body for several seconds at a time. Naturally, he has used this skill to further advance his education by allowing him to gain the highest grades and thus getting him into the most prestigious of schools. A mysterious girl by the name of Nao Tomori catches him in the act and persuades him and his sister to join a school full of students with supernatural abilities. Yuu joins the student council and together they track down teenagers who exploit their gifts. During these missions, Yuu is confronted with the idea that his powers might be much more extraordinary than he ever imagined. If you’re a fan of Izzie from Taboo Tattoo there is a reasonable chance that you might also take a liking into Nao Tomori from Charlotte. The reason we say this is because they do have some physical resemblance, particularly the face and the blue eyes. They both have strong personalities and are more than capable of handling themselves with their own superpowers. It should be noted that in both these shows the male protagonists share the fortunate or rather unfortunate, (depending on how you look at it) pleasure of being a target because of their skillsets. Both stories also have a male gaining or using their powers only for a female to swoop in and guide them to become partners.

The covert assassination branch of the Revolutionary Army, Night Raid is assembled to topple Prime Minister Honest, whose rapacity has led him to take advantage of the young emperor’s amateurish ways. The rest of the nation is left to suffer in poverty and ruin. The Night Raid members are experienced killers and understand that murdering is far from honorable. The newest recruit to the group is a naïve boy by the name of Tatsumi, who started his journey to assist his poverty-stricken hometown any way he can. Akame ga Kill! follows Tatsumi on his adventure to challenge the empire and go head-to-head with enemy assassins that challenge his own morals. He has to come to grips with the idea of him being an assassin with a cause. The first thing to take note between these two anime is the way they are presented, both in terms of fighting and banding together. These series are both identifiable from their fighting scenes. Both shows are violent and graphic in nature with a lot of bloodshed. Through these violent scenes, we get the privilege of viewing some fanservice which isn’t always a bad thing. In regards to banding together, both shows are united by powerful deterrents that are the catalyst for their adventure. The Imperial Arms for Akame ga Kill! and mystic tattoos for Taboo Tattoo.

Kurihara Yuki just asked out the boy of her dreams: Momo. Momo thinks Yuki is cute, but Yuki is just one letter short of a stalker since she never misses a Momo opportunity. Their relationship was based on cuteness, but can they fall in love like that? Momokuri is another anime that features a cute romance between a slightly older girl and a slightly younger boy. Of course, the age difference--mental and numerical--is not quite as large as Hatsukoi Monster, but their relationship is just as fun. While Kaho and Kanade are odd because of their difference in age, Momokuri explores a strange relationship between a boy who is fairly innocent and cute and a girl who pretty much stalks him. Watch as Yuki stalks Momo while keeping it a secret. This is a romance that you just can’t forget!

There’s nothing like joining your favorite club. In art club, the members can be pretty eccentric; such is the case with Many of the members of this art club. Subaru only likes to paint 2D waifus, Colette causes nothing but trouble, and the club president just can’t seem to wake up! Usami is the only one who is even a little normal, but just can’t get anyone to take art seriously! Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! is a slice of life anime with plenty of comedy to go around. The main character is definitely Usami and her crush, Subaru, but what do you do when your crush only cares for 2D waifus? Combine that with silly club activities that have nothing to do with the club and people who just seem to do as they please and you have got yourself a great anime! Not only is this anime romance--if you can call it that--as goofy as Hatsukoi Monster’s, but the characters can all be pretty ridiculous. How do they even function as a club? Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! sure figures out a way to hold an art club together.

Kyouhei, Takenaga, Yukinojo, and Ranmaru are all living in a grand mansion for free on the sole condition that she make the landlady’s niece a proper lady. Well, it looks like rent is about to go up because Sunako, the landlady’s niece, is a scary-looking horror fanatic who gets nose bleeds every time she is in the presence of a “bright creature”. How do you turn someone who looks like Sadako into a proper lady?! There is no need to question Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge as a choice for this list. As Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge is a reverse harem like Hatsukoi Monster, but all of the guys in Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge are full of goofy antics and stupidity. They are almost always getting into trouble. While most of the boys in Hatsukoi Monster tend to act their age--so they are immature and childish--the boys in Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge usually act very immaturely, especially when they are at home. They cannot even figure out how to do their own chores! How do they function?! If you are looking for a semi-sweet romance, you will not find it in Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge, but you will no doubt find plenty of goofiness and stupidity. Sunako may not be like Kaho, but you are almost guaranteed to like her even more since she is not your stereotypical shoujo heroine. Love gore or not, you will love Sunako and definitely enjoy Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge!

When you’re a student who relies on scholarships to attend school, you take your grades seriously! That is why Fujioka Haruhi ended up at the Ouran High School Host Club; she was just looking for a place to study! However, Haruhi finds herself acting as the club’s dog after breaking a valuable vase prices at an impossibly high about of yen! But wait, Haruhi is turned into a host when the other hosts find out just how pretty she is. Now, if only they knew she was a girl... Some may question the presence of Ouran High School Host Club on our list of six anime like Hatsukoi Monster, but are they really that different? Much the same way Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge relates, Ouran High School Host Club is yet another reverse harem that does comedy well. Ouran High School Host Club features a cast of boys who just can’t fathom what it is like to be a commoner and do the silliest (wasteful?!) things as rich boys. Then you have Fujioka Haruhi who just cannot relate, much the way Kaho cannot relate to the other primary school boys. Kaho spends a lot of time trying to hide her relationship with Kanade from Kanade’s father and people who may disapprove while Haruhi spends much of the anime hiding her gender from the other students. However, they both face a lot of stress from those who do know their secrets! Kaho is constantly fighting people who oppose her relationship or want to steal her away while Haruhi just has to deal with people who either fall in love with her, regardless of gender, and threaten to expose her secret, or the Host Club boys who more or less want her to embrace her female side without wanting her to reveal her gender. Oh, the craziness that goes on in this anime!!!

Usa Kazunari is moving into a new housing complex with tenants who are all a bit quirky. But it’s all in the name of independence, right? Well, let’s just see what happens after he meets the shy Kawai Ritsu who really changes his life. Is this the start of a new love? If you are looking for a dorm-like romance, then you have got Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou. This dorm room romance will definitely give you the same feel as Hatsukoi Monster. The romance has its own fair share of difficulties which can be expected. Not only that, Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou has its own fair share of oddball residents that make it unpredictable and funny!

Shirakiin Ririchiyo has a sharp tongue and difficulty communicating what she really means, but she wants to change herself so that she can be more independent since she has grown up in a rich family. To change, Ririchiyo has moved into the Maison de Ayakashi, which is a high-security housing complex with many odd residents who are actually half-human and half-youkai, just like Ririchiyo! On top of that, as is required for all residents, Ririchiyo finds herself in the care of Miketsukami Soushi who will act as her Secret Service agent. Oh, if you want yet another dorm room romance, Inu x Boku SS has you covered! Although this romance is a little unusual as everyone is a youkai with their own problems! Much like Hatsukoi Monster, you get to see different odd relationships between other tenants while the main character seems to struggle with her own. Inu x Boku SS isn’t quite as silly as Hatsukoi Monster, but it is a cute love story that you will find yourself loving.

Earth has been decimated. With nothing left to survive on due to a war between planets, humanity has been forced to expand into the stars and try to find more hospitable locations. Idols, however, are banned. That does not stop a group of young and upcoming idols from bringing back deculture or music! Fighting against the regime that pushed for music as being a source of evil, these girls form AKB0048 and attempt to bring music back to life. Holding concerts on planet after planet, they run from the law in space producing music based on the original AKB48 members in order to bring back music! As shocking as this may seem yes, these two shows share similar elements. Both Macross Delta and AKB0048 are bother sci-fi, mecha adventures set into space. Take it a step further that both use music as a core theme, and even deeper is that both are surrounded by the concept of idols. Yes, Walkure are idols. Space travel occurs as well as the theme of the healing power of music. One of the other great similarities is that different planets are showcased as well! Don’t take our word for it, though, check out the trailer below!

Often maligned as an Evangelion copy, RahXephon is anything but! In 2012, Japan was invaded by the blue-blooded, human appearing alien race, the Mu. Though, three years later in 2015, Tokyo is attacked by a Dolem. Ayato Kamina, the main character meets a mysterious girl who becomes the source of his affection, or obsession, Reika Mishima. Then strangely, in the same day, he meets Haruka, a woman from a rebellion who tells him there is a world outside of Tokyo. While the Dolem is attacking with his MOTHER on top of it, Reika leads Ayato to a room with a giant egg? A Dolem within, hatches. Ayato meets RahXephon, enters into this robotic Dolem and fights back. The aliens must be taken down! This one is more for the action fans. Macross Delta is doing well with the action scenes, but the complaint is that they are a little too sparse. RahXephon can help with that! Music as well here is more about tuning in RahXephon while Delta leans more towards catchy beats and idol choruses. Music regardless, though, is a heavy underlying theme. Of course, too, RahXephon is heavy as well on the mech and fight scenes too. Much like how Delta is as well. In both series as well, romance and feelings do intrude with some of the main characters and Tokyo/Earth is under duress.

Just like Delta and the first entry on this list, in Kakumeiki Valvrave, humanity has finally reached out to the stars and sought to live on them. The combined efforts of the nation's JIOR, Dorssia, and ARUS house approximately half or more of humanity. However… just because they have reached space does not mean that humans have overcome their issues. Haruto Tokishima was a student at Sakimori Academy within ARUS enjoying his student life until one day. Dorssia attacks and is mercilessly in pursuit of machines called the Valvraves that will break the stalemate that these two countries face while at war. Now, Haruto and his classmates must make the ultimate sacrifice; they must give up their humanity to fight against the Dorssian’s with the Valvraves. Joined by a tactician L-elf, they begin to challenge the status quo. One minor similarity that we must point out right out of the starting gate is that while Macross Delta is about ½ idols, Valvrave has it’s own, yet retired, idol in the form of Saki Rukino. Naturally, both of these shows are jam packed with action and both take place in space and time, post-earth. Once again, the struggle is real here, but the roles are slightly reversed. In Valvrave, Haruto and company struggle against the Dorssians who are invading for help in this war while in Macross Delta, the Delta Platoon and Walkure struggle against Windermere who is fighting back, or rather, rebelling against the rule they have been placed under. However, we cannot say more or it will become spoilers! Check out Valvrave below!

Ah yes, back when shows were given two cours or more frequently and we were not punished with a quick 13 episode season. iDOLM@STER Xenoglossia (IX from here on out) is what gave rise to the iDOLM@STER franchise and is set almost 107 years into the future. More than a century past, the moon was destroyed into billions upon billions of asteroids. Where were they going to go but Earth? Science stepped in and developed iDOLs, or robots powered to divert asteroids from striking Earth and causing damage. Present day Haruka Amami suddenly hears something about an idolm@ster project audition and thinking that she is going to become a singer, something she wants to be, she auditions. Much to her surprise, she is selected but not to be a singer; she is selected to learn how to pilot an iDOL mecha. The agency behind everything seems a bit fishy, but from the moment that Haruka hops into her iDOL, she senses that maybe these robots are more than just robots… So many places to begin here as well with similarities. IX and Macross of course again, are centered on themes of fighting and singing idols. Haruka Amami is much like how Freyja is portrayed, clumsy, a bit silly, but lighthearted. Meaning well and sensing a connection with things around themselves, Haruka and Freyja both can feel this connection. With Freyja, it is the Song of the Wind while Haruka has the connection with Imber. We cannot go too into these because we do not want to spoil you! Not to mention finally, these shows have their emotional rollercoaster moments while still touching on the Mecha, Action, and Sci-fi elements. Even if you are not a big idol fan, fans of Macross Delta should not miss out on this one.

Now for something a bit less in your face, but yet still good, engaging, and a classic. Full Metal Panic! Follows around Sousuke Sagara who is following around Kaname Chidori. Why do you ask? Well, he’s not a stalker, Sousuke works for a military organization called Mithril. What is Mithril? Well, it is a privatized military organization that has been established to protect “whispered” or individuals who have incredible knowledge and the ability to create locked within them. Mithril protects these individuals from falling into the wrong hands and you guessed it, Kaname is a whispered. Sousuke, who has never known anything other than the battleground now has to adjust to being in a Japanese high school with a girl who is not crazy about him in her life, to begin with. From A to Z this show is fantastic. Plenty of action coupled with plenty of comedy makes Full Metal Panic! a great watch. Now in this series we obviously can see themes of mecha and action, but also of Sousuke trying to protect Kaname much like how Hayate is protecting or fighting for Freyja in Macross Delta. Tie that in with the fact that you now have a “rival” in love and suddenly there is Teletha Testarossa in FMP! and Mirage in Macross Delta. Ooh the plot thickens! Combine that with subsequent seasons and an evil force chasing after Kaname and it will only get better!

This is the show that never ends~ This is a show for all our friends~ Oh right… Inuyasha. Kagome Higurashi was actually just your average girl who loved to hang out by a cursed will on her family’s temple grounds. The mother and father are where? One day, though, a demon pulls through time for her and pulls her back 500 years in time. She was born in the modern era with a jewel of limitless power called the Shikon Jewel. Well knowing this series, nothing is easy as our new friend Kagome shatters the gem while taking out the demon. She then takes the next brilliant step to enlist half human and half demon InuYasha to help her find the shards so that they do not fall into evil. They are joined by the lecherous monk Miroku, an orphaned fox-demon named Shippo, and the Youkai hunter Sango. They now must deal with the rising threat of Naraku, a powerful demon, and more as they attempt to piece together the shard. Ironically, this one is meant to tug at your heartstrings a bit. InuYasha and Macross Delta do share similar action themes. One just takes place with Mechas and fight scenes while in InuYasha, this can take episodes. The real hard line of similarity between these two are the vicious love triangles in these series. Kikyo, a former partner/lover of InuYasha’s detests Kagome and actually tries to remove her on various occasions. We really cannot say more without spoiling you to the moon and back, but the same is true in Macross Delta when it comes to the Freyja-Hayate-Mirage setup. What also makes these both unique is that in love triangles, is that these are not as common as you think. Most shows almost always go cannon or harem with a very obvious female protagonist, but here, you see real competition between Kikyo and Kagome, mostly Kagome just trying to survive, but we digress. We are cheering on Mirage though to see if she will do more! One final warning! InuYasha is a commitment. You will not be able to shotgun it. However, it is well worth it.

Ichigo Kurosaki is just your ordinary high school boy who doesn't know supernatural anything could exist for real. One day, though, he finds himself face to face with a so-called Hollow – a spirit who devour human souls – and his life changes drastically. In a situation where he couldn't believe his eyes, and didn't know how to act, Rukia Kuchiki – a Soul Reaper – appears and tries to protect Ichigo and his family. When she gets seriously injured, Ichigo, to fight the Hollow and protect his family, accepts Rukia's proposal to take her powers and become a Soul Reaper! That's how Ichigo's life as an ordinary high school student ends for good. Owari No Seraph and Bleach are both supernatural action anime. As for the plot, in both these shows we find a hot-headed protagonist with a strong desire to protect friends and family. What's more, in both shows we can find a strong family theme. Ichigo lost his mother when he was very little, and so he grew up with a strong desire to protect his sisters and his father, even though his pride will never allow him to admit it. Yuu was an orphan and managed to build a family with his brothers and sisters from the orphanage, so he, same as Ichigo, grew up with a strong desire to protect and not to see his dearest ones get hurt ever again. Another similarity can be found about weaponry, as in both shows we find a weapon imbued with spirits that can be powered and grow stronger. Probably, the most important trait Bleach and Owari No Seraph share, though, is the way Ichigo as well as Yuu started their adventure on their own, just to find themselves surrounded by friends and people willing to help them. The same relationship that Guren and Yuu share, can be seen in the relationship Urahara share with Ichigo, for example. It's fair enough to say that if you liked Owari No Seraph, you will love Bleach and viceversa!

Teito Klein is a student in the Barsburg Empire's Military Academy, which trains elite using a power called “Zaiphon”, that develops depending on the soldier's nature. Even though Teito is one of the most promising students of the academy, he is hated by his comrades since he was a slave and has no memories about his own past. Only one person, Mikage Celestine, tries to befriend him in spite everything and so they gradually become best friends. One day, Teito discovers a dark part of his past. After trying to kill Ayanami – a high-ranking official who killed Teito's father – Teito is discovered and imprisoned. Mikage, willing to help him, will find a way to make him escape and Teito will end up in 7th District Church and take in by the bishops. From that moment onward, Teito will struggle to find the truth about his own past and behind his role in the change of the fate of the world. 07-ghost and Owari No Seraph both start with the same premises; we find two orphans, and both of them with a past as slaves. Both of them lost everything and swore revenge, and their lives became all about that. They both wanted to have a better life together with their best friends, but that dream was shredded to pieces and they had to adapt to a new setting and face the fact that things went wrong with almost no possibilities to fix it back. The military theme is strong in both these shows, and the relationship between Guren and Yuu is very similar to the one between Frau and Teito, since both Guren and Frau love teasing the main protagonist. Putting the teases aside, Guren, as well as Frau, truly care about Yuu and Teito and their role is almost like that of an older brother. What else can we say? Both Teito and Yuu don't want to befriend anyone and yet they end up surrounded by friends, so they are very similar in their characters. As you can see, Owari No Seraph and 07-ghost share a lot, so if you like one, you will like the other as well!

On the island of Hinomoto, people have built station to shelter themselves from horrible monsters that can infect humans with a bite, and turn them into undead creatures known as Kabane. The only way to kill Kabane is to pierce their hearts, which are protected by iron. This story revolves around Ikoma, a boy who helps to build the Hayajiro – a locomotive running on steam – and who created his own weapon against Kabane. He was waiting for a chance to use his “Tsuranukizutsu” and prove that it worked, and when he came to know Mumei that the station was under attack, he just ran to prove the world that Kabane can be fought back! Both Owari No Seraph and Koutetsujou No Kabaneri are about mankind about to be destroyed by superhuman monsters; vampires and Kabane – that are essentially zombies. The two protagonists, Yuu and Ikoma, are both fed up with their surrounding and they want to struggle and change things up, and say to the world not to give up. What's more, Mikaela – Yuu's family – and Ikoma share the same fate; they are no longer humans, as Mikaela is half a vampire and Ikoma is half a Kabane, but managed to stop the infection somehow. So we can say that both of them are half the creatures they are fighting against. Owari No Seraph and Koutetsujou No Kabaneri are both shows about the downfall of humanity, and the courage of humans to fight the enemy to regain back what is lost. It's not a stretch, even though Koutetsujou No Kabaneri has a horror trait with it, it shares with Owari No Seraph what it takes for you to love it!

It's the year 2071 and mankind is about to be erased by monsters called “Aragami”. The organization called Fenrir was built with the purpose to fight Aragami back, and to try to save humanity. Fenrir's strength lies with the “God Eaters”, who are humans able to use the so-called “God Arcs”, the only weapons that can destroy Aragami. Lenka Utsugi is one of the most promising God Eaters, and as such, he must fight with all his might to erase Aragami once and for all! With this plot, it's clear as daylight that Owari No Seraph and God Eater share some important similarities. First of it all, both these shows are supernatural action anime. In both Owari No Seraph and God Eater we find humanity struggling to survive against monsters, via two associations; Fenrir for God Eater, and the Imperial Demon Army for Owari No Seraph. In both these shows the scenery is apocalyptic and dystopic, with a little party of people who fight to find a way to survive and have the upper hand against the enemy. Even the weaponry is similar, as the God Eaters use the God Arcs who are uncommon and are shaped on the single fighter, similarly in Owari No Seraph the demon who becomes the weapon is shaped on the single fighter. As for the main character, Lenka and Yuu don't share the same character, and yet they share the same willing to save and protect people. Probably God Eater has a more serious trait with it, as the comedy parts are near to zero, but if you liked those beautiful fights in Owari No Seraph and the main theme of humanity trying to be free again, we think that God Eater is what you all are searching for!

Rin Okumura is a troublesome and yet ordinary boy. He is fast to start a fight, doesn't want to study and he has a twin brother who, unlike him, is perfect whatever he does – Yukio. A bitter twist of fate, though, changes Rin's life for good. In fact, he discovers to be the son of Satan. If things could get worse, now Satan wants his son back and wants Rin to help him conquer “Assiah” – the human world. Rin is not one to lower his head; he decides to study to become an exorcist and change is fate by defending Assiah with his brother Yukio! These two anime share a lot of similarities, even with some characters. Let's start from the beginning; we find in both these shows main characters who are left without family. Rin and Yukio lose the man who raised them, Fujimoto, while Yuu and Mika get separated during childhood. It's interesting to see how Rin and Yuu resemble each other a lot. Both of them are hot-headed, over-confident and are prone to put themselves in trouble. In the beginning, both of them have a hard time dealing with one of their classmates, who resemble each other a lot as well. We're talking about Ryuuji Suguro and Shihou Kimizuki. Just like Suguro suddenly becomes competitive with Rin, similarly Kimizuki does the same with Yuu, and in both cases their fights start some very funny gags. We find in both Owari No Seraph and Ao No Exorcist a school setting in the beginning, and Rin, exactly like Yuu, in spite his character is befriended by a lot of people. Even Mika and Yukio share some similarities, as both of them are madly in love with their brothers, and yet they hide something. Both Owari No Seraph and Ao No Exorcist are supernatural action anime, so if you like that atmosphere, and the typical shounen protagonist, we are sure you're gonna love Ao No Exorcist!

Tokyo has become a scary city where ghouls – creatures devouring humans – live. Ghouls can hide themselves among humans, waiting in the shadows to strike. In this merciless Tokyo, Ken Kaneki lives his life as a bookworm, and he is in love with a seemingly bookworm girl, whose name is Rize Kamishiro. One day, Rize approaches Ken and asks him out, and that is the moment when Ken's life drastically change. Rize is actually a ghoul, and in the attempt to devour Ken, something goes wrong and she dies. Ken, who is on the verge of death himself, is saved and for a bad twist of events, he has some parts of Rize installed into his body during the surgery. That's how he becomes half a ghoul! Even though Tokyo Ghoul has a strong horror trait with it, it shares with Owari No Seraph important similarities. For starters, both the protagonists are orphans. Both Ken and Yuu have a friend that they consider as a family, Hide and Mika. In both these shows we find humans fighting against another race. Another important similarity is the fact that in spite Ken hates ghouls, he becomes one. Similarly, Mika who hates vampires, becomes one of them. So we find main characters hating half of what they are, and yet struggling for the sake of their beloved friends. Kaneki, as well as Mika with Yuu, wants to protect Hide from both Ghouls and humans. Both these show face the pain of losing comrades, and as a consequence both Ken and Yuu decide to become stronger to finally save humanity, even if it means sacrificing themselves. Ken and Yuu are very different in character, but they both share the willing to fight with all their might for a better future. Don't be put down by the fact that Tokyo Ghoul has no comedy part with it; it's totally worth your time... and your tears!

Tokyo Ghoul looks at the city from a corrupt and merciless perspective, as vicious evil creatures called ghouls now exist alongside humans. The worst part of it all is their ability to take the form of humans and blend in with the rest of society. Ken unfortunately meets his demise when he is confronted by a ghoul he knew, leading him down a dark path of uncertainty. After he awakens and sees the outcome of the previous event, he now realizes he has transformed into a half ghoul, half-human and must now find a way to blend in with the evil corrupt community. Izumi and Kei are driven into a world of the unknown and must now come to learn of their dark future that lies ahead. They both were taken out of their comfort zone without permission, which led them into a chaotic and bloodthirsty atmosphere where they need to come up with the right solutions to survive. Every direction they head in is full of mystery, as the enemy is always tracking down their every move with the intent to erase them from existence. Strategy, planning, and outmaneuvering their opponents is how the two must survive, otherwise they run a huge risk of being outplayed by the opposition. Both shows are a game of chess, where each step you make can only lead you closer to the check mate so everything matters.

After succumbing to the full effects of Pupa, Yume undergoes a eerie transformation into a monstrous creature with an rapacious desire for flesh; Utsutsu, on the other hand, is only partially affected, gaining the incredible power to regenerate at will. Ensuring to keep the promise he made to himself years ago, Utsutsu is willing to sacrifice everything in order to always be there for his little sister. Pupa tells the story of a loving brother's desperate attempts to save his sister, while protecting the world from her uncontrollable hunger. The great similarity between the two is how both enemies have the unquenchable thirst for blood, and must devour other humans in order to survive. Yume and Utsutsu have to use their abilities to survive, even if it means to eating other people. Izumi's enemy have that very same ability as the aliens that burrow into a body must eat other humans to maintain their energy, and grow in strength. Both shows leave you questioning what could possibly happen, as each scene leads you down an uncertain road, and the enemy always planting different traps to throw you off. It shows us cannibalism in the extreme extent, which is just a reflection of how our own reality must cope with these sorts of problems on a daily basis.

Shinsekai yori tells a fascinating story of Saki and her friends as they journey to grow into their roles in a Utopian based world. Accepting these roles, however, might not come easy when faced with the dark and twisted truths of society, and the impending havoc born from the new corrupt world. Two opposing factions are neck and neck with eachother, as one tries to outsmart the other in a battle for supremacy. Izumi and Saki are thrown into uncharted territory where they must now face the shocking reality that lies in front of them. The premise of both stories are that each main character must confront a challenge, and each new one presents a much higher difficulty than the last. Certain scenes throughout both shows blur the line between what's good or bad, and so the viewer is drawn into these events along with the protagonist. Both anime question the judgment of the two characters, but also leave you scratching your head as to what you would do in that very moment.

A race of cannibal monsters called the Shokujinki exists and it is the job of the Kifuuken, an elite group of beast-hunters, to stop them. Toshihiko, an expert swordsman and son of the Kifuuken organization's leader, puts himself in an awkward position and falls in love at first sight with a beautiful girl named Yuka; however, to Toshihiko's surprise he comes to realize that Yuka is in fact a Shokujinki. Kemonozume explores a territory that most find very gruesome and inhumane. The truth is that this type of ruthless behavior exists in our reality, and has existed throughout our life span. Cannibalism is the act in which one human thrives off the flesh of another human, in order to survive. In both shows, there exists a race of monsters that have come to Earth to feed on unsuspecting prey, and to take control over the human race. Toshihiko much like Izumi, come across these monsters on a daily basis, and at some point must build relationships with a few in order to survive. Their lives become a race in order to stop the major threat that inflicts suffering upon society before all of humanity is wiped out.

Humanity has been pushed to the brink of extinction following the evolution of man-eating monsters called “Aragami”. They conquered their territory, devouring almost everything in their path and leaving nothing behind. To defeat them, an organization named Fenrir was established as Earth's answer to save humanity through the use of “God Eaters. One such God Eater is Lenka Utsugi, a New-Type whose God Arc takes the form of both blade and gun.  Lenka must master his God Arc if he is to fulfill his desire of wiping out the Aragami once and for all. The monsters continue to multiply while the fragments of humanity struggle to survive. God Eater. much like Parasyte, features characters who have acquired their ability from the enemy, and now must use that very same power against them to protect Earth. Both Lenka and Izumi must form a bond with their weapons and master them before the threat becomes too big to handle. Each must form an alliance with various individuals in order to seek out more answers behind the invasion, and use the data to outwit their opponents without harming too many casualties. It's an action packed adventure that leaves you guessing at every moment, as to what could possibly happen to the main character if they make one fatal mistake.

The story starts off Jin Kanzaki, a young man with the ability to transform into a superhuman being known as Zet, and Kouga Amagi, a young man with a strong sense of justice who uses technology to fight as Alphas. The fates of these two men and those around them come together as they fight to protect mankind and destroy monstrous man eating abominations known as Players. The Players in Zetman have a similar mission and that's to burrow themselves into the skin of innocent humans, and using them as tools for their destructive purposes. Both main protagonists must join an organization that have all the answers to their existence, and must use this information to destroy the enemy before it's too late. Kouga and Jin work as a team using their superhuman powers to fight off evil, much like Izumi and Migi in their world. Their fate relies on their ability to work together under severe pressure, while unveiling the weak spots of the enemy and eliminating them as swiftly as possible.