In the anime Koi to Uso, the Japanese government has implemented a system called “The Red Threads of Science” in order to increase the number of successful marriages and the birth rates to follow. Using a guided and calculated compatibility outline, teens reaching the age of 16 are assigned marriage partners. It’s the law to remain in this relationship with your appointed partner, or else the consequences will be severe. We are then introduced to a young man named Yukari Nejima, an average guy, who believes this marriage system will propel his life into a more than average existence. As Yukari approaches his 16th birthday, he confesses his love to his long-time crush, Misaki Takasaki, defying this important government policy. When he finds out that he is assigned to one Ririna Sanada, Ririna becomes oddly fascinated with the way relations will advance between the three of them. In comparing Koi to Uso (Love and Lies) with Netsuzou TRap, a similar quality that is seen in both is that the main characters are in a relationship where they are testing the boundaries of their current status and expressing feelings for more than one person. The main characters also exhibit a sort of guilt and conflict within themselves because they have emotions and information that they’re withholding, afraid of letting the other person know something that could be potentially harmful. Essentially, as we watch our star characters work out their issues, we observe their progression as each resolution unfolds.

Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda have been super besties ever since middle school. Now that they are entering their first year of high school, their friendship is still inseparable. With word that Misato West High School will shut down after graduation, the duo is certain that they will continue to be friends after they graduate. Determined to start off the school year with a bang, the girls make a pact stating, “Let’s do something we’d never do with other girls.” Impulsively, Yuu kisses Haruka, which leads to a lot more kissing. From this point, Haruka and Yuu realize that their friendship has shifted into something that was always there before, yet has finally been revealed. Is a kiss still just a kiss for these two anime? Nope! Based in a school setting, Sakura Trick and Netsuzou TRap both share the similarity of a special relationship between two close girl friends, exploring depth that wasn’t seen before. As one is more sweet and delightful and the other brazen and eye-catching, we are shown in Sakura Trick and Netsuzou TRap an array of elements in the way a companionship turned into a relationship functions.

Strawberry Panic is about a young girl named Nagisa Aoi who is a transfer student at St. Miator’s Girl’s Academy. Her new school, along with St. Spica’s Girls’ Institute and St. Lulim’s Girls’ School, are all affiliated Catholic schools. Nagisa quickly learns of the school’s social structure, the Etoile System, and in order to fit in, she must interact and engage in many school activities. Here, we see Nagisa socialize and mix with many girls across the three campuses, doing whatever she must to feel like a part of the hierarchy. Young and old, regardless of age, often find difficulty when describing emotions that they are unfamiliar with, especially when it concerns matters of the heart. In Strawberry Panic and Netsuzou TRap, we have Nagisa and Yuma, girls who are placed in unfamiliar territories, physically and emotionally. In their environment, the girls encounter other girls who can offer them knowledge and experience. Some may be generous, while others take advantage of their naïve quality. Whomever they communicate with, Nagisa and Yuma quickly learn that their hearts can’t just be handed over to anyone and everyone. “Better to be safe than sorry.”

Maria-sama ga Miteru (Maria Watches Over Us) follows the story of Yumi Fukuzawa as she enters the prestigious Catholic school, Lillian Girls’ Academy. With its location in bustling Tokyo, Yumi never imagined that she would stand out among the crowd, particularly catching the eye of one of the most popular girls at school, Sachiko Ogasawara. Sachiko offers to be Yumi’s guide for the school year, and although flattered and excited about the offer, Yumi is concerned that their partnership might bring about the wrong kind of attention. WWYD? What would Yumi do? Watch and see! When comparing Maria Watches Over Us and Netsuzou TRap, we notice the similar relationships between Yumi and Sachiko, and Hotaru and Yuma, in that one girl acts as a mentor or “teacher” to the other more inexperienced and innocent individual. Sachiko and Yuma’s personalities are also alike because they’re both very audacious, while Yumi and Yuma are quite the opposite. More or less, it is very interesting and entertaining to see how these dynamic characters relate so well.

In Kuzu no Honkai (Scum’s Wish), we are introduced to eight dynamic characters who are all connected to each other in some shape or form: Hanabi Yasuraoka, Mugi Awaya, Narumi Kanai, Akane Minagawa, Noriko Kamomebata, Sanae Ebato, Atsuya Kirishima, and Takuya Terauchi. These eight individuals are smitten with someone, not just a simple crush, but with intense, fiery passion. However, they all can’t just reveal their feelings to their love interest, as easy as it seems, because they are plagued with the pain of being in love with someone they cannot be with. Kuzu no Honkai (Scum’s Wish) and Netsuzou TRap share similar scenarios including dramatic themes, unreciprocated advances, love and friendship, a sense of uneasiness and tension between some of the characters, and a great emphasis on romantic and sexual encounters. Both stories want to present a great focus on scandal and theatrics, and rest assured, these anime get super juicy!

White Album 2 documents the story of Haruki Kitahara, a talented musician who dreams of performing at the school festival, but may not have the chance due to the light music club being on the brink of breaking up. An accomplished guitarist, Haruki still lacks the confidence to perform. However, two of his classmates, Setsuna Ogiso and Kazusa Touma, give him credence in his music and with romance. Journey with this trio, as they juggle friendship, romance, and music together. An unfortunate circumstance to liking more than one person is that two will emerge happy and relieved and the other, heartbroken. For White Album 2 and Netsuzou TRap, we notice and experience the grief that comes with being the “odd one out”, as well as many other emotions that are attached to new, undiscovered romances. Additionally, both anime demonstrate a realistic quality to them, as we can really empathize and connect with each character in some shape or form.

Rail Wars isn’t some alternative name for Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, it’s about an amazing alternative Japan where the government still rules the rails. The focus of the story is on Naoto Takayama, a high school boy who dreams of a future riding the rails as an engineer for the National Railways. Takayama’s dreams come to a crashing halt like when Casey Jones was standing at the throttle. He is assigned to an internship, not in engineering, but in railway security. He is thrown in with a group of odd balls and spends his most his days giving directions to lost travelers and chasing purse snatchers. Also, a terrorist group called the “RJ” is causing trouble in hopes of convincing the government on privatizing the National Rail Way system. The two shows have very similar art styles despite being from different studios and are filled with bright colors. The plots both have high schoolers reluctantly taking on adult responsibilities, Seiya managing an amusement park and Takayama being responsible for costumer safety in the rail stations and on the lines. The stories both feel like they have a bit of a harem element. The main characters are both at the center of a female-dominated cast. Seiya’s doesn’t really seem to grow into a full harem, though. It’s more like a love triangle between Sento and Latifa. Amagi Brilliant Park and Rail Wars both have amazing climactic episodes where you truly feel like at any moment that the plan to save the day can go completely off the rails.

Classroom Crisis is like the fruition of Elon Musk’s dreams for the future. The planet Mars is the home to a multitude of domed colonies. A colony created by Japan is the home to many of humanity’s brightest minds. The company they work for, Kirishina Corporation, is the lead developer of space transportation in the modern age. Kirishina also has a school called A-TEC which serves as an incubator of young engineering talent. The school is a playground for teenaged engineers to test the limits of design, that is until Kaito, a new transfer student and brother of the company’s CEO, arrives instructions to shut down the program. The students at A-TEC fight to keep their classroom going, trying to produce results by creating a new powerful rocket to prove their worth. We have several similarities besides the obvious, OMG-they’re-going-to-close-the-school element. Kaito is a vain, handsome, and skilled manager who is looking to make his mark much like Seiya. They both exist in a world where budgeting is finite. The need for a sloppily run organization to trim and budget its resources effectively is another similarity. A little bit of romance is also part of both stories, including a love triangle between the main character and two of the girls, who happen to be best friends. The character design is beautiful and colorful, though for once in anime the main heroine spends more time in coveralls than in a short skirt.

Kanou Shinichi was born for this job. With a light novel author for a father and an illustrator for a mother, he has the very essence of Otaku flowing through his veins. He also lived his life in the shadow of his parents as he tried to make a name for himself with his own work. One day he is told his government needs him. He is whisked away to a world of elves, dwarfs, and dragons via a secret portal the Japanese government found. The mission he is assigned is to become an ambassador of Otaku culture; the idea is to get the locals to fall in love with Japanese culture to make future negotiations easier. We have a handful of comparisons to make between these two anime, including the wonderfully “moe” art styles. The show is funny especially with a lot of inside Otaku humor as he tries to educate the children of the elites about anime, manga and pop culture. Shinichi is also similar to Amagi Brilliant Park by having the main character tasked with a job traditionally given to a much older person and that he must make decisions with a lot riding on them. Seiya and Shinichi both have to find ways to outmaneuver the powers working against them. The girls are another major similarity. Again, we have a bit of a love triangle develop, in this case between the loli empress Shinichi and his half-elf maid. In both cases, the stories are fun and at times touching and a great addition to anyone’s viewing queue.

Yoshino Koharu is a recent college graduate and she hasn’t been to lucky finding a job. She’s interviewed 30 times and hasn’t landed a single call back. A modeling agency she once worked at offers her a job, a year contract to work as the travel ambassador of the town of Manoyama. Her job will be to become the Queen of Chupacabra, a tourism gimmick created by the town, and host events and encourage travel to the town. Yoshino slowly gathers a team of ministers, young women from the town, to help her promote the destination in the hopes of reviving the struggling farming community. Yoshino like Seiya never intended to take on a job with so much responsibility. Yet the two find they are likely the only people keeping an entire community from disappearing. Once deciding to take on the task, the characters are determined to see it through. The two have the world set against them, and not always from the outside. They both face the challenge of changing long-felt beliefs in their respective communities in order to create prosperity. Sakura Quest is different than Amagi Brilliant Park in that it’s not really a comedy or a harem, it’s a bit of a drama. You could meet people like Yoshino and deal with the same problems in real life. Sakura Quest has beautiful art, endearing characters and a story that you’ll be able to identify with.

Kobayashi is a programmer living a relatively simple and seemingly unfulfilling life, that is until one day she discovers a massive dragon on her balcony. The dragon then changes into a cute blond haired girl in a maid outfit. Did we mention Kobayashi has a thing for maids? The transformed girl with horns sticking out from under her maid’s cap introduces herself as Tooru. Kobayashi is reminded that the previous night as she was stumbling home from a bar she found herself in the woods, face to face with the dragon and invited the dragon to stay with her. The rest of the story progresses with the two forming a deep bond, the introduction of several other dragon characters including Kanna, an elementary-school-aged dragon they decide to raise. We laugh along the way at the clash of cultures and in the end, discover a true definition of family. The art is colorful and fanciful, both Dragon Maid and Amagi Brilliant Park were both animated by Kyoto Animation. The overlap doesn’t stop there, either. Yasuhiro Takemoto was the director of both shows. We see a lot of over-the-top comedy in Dragon Maid and in Amagi Brilliant Park. We even can make an argument that one of their plot points overlap. A lot of the comedy in Dragon Maid has to do with Tooru adjusting to life in the human world, a world that doesn’t know or believe in magic. The same can be said for the characters in Amagi Brilliant Park as the characters struggle to adjust the rules and restrictions of the human world. The main characters also undergo a change throughout the story (as all good writing dictates). Kobayashi, who is melancholy and merely coasting through life, finds happiness in the family she’s stumbled into. Seiya also starts out in a place where he is resentful of the world and gradually finds himself invested in not only the job but also the Maple Landers.

Shirobako is the story of Aoi Miyamori and her friends from the Kaminoyama High School animation club struggling to get their start in the animation industry. Aoi gets a job working at Musashino Animation working as a production assistant. The job of production assistant lets her (and us) get introduced to each and every part of the animation production process. Shirobako is about the process and the people involved in animation. You witness Aoi’s ups and downs and frustration as she struggles to keep everything under control. The stories seem very different on the surface, Shirobako being grounded in reality and Amagi Brilliant Park having a high schooler saving an amusement park that doubles as a home for refugees from a magical world. Yet, they do have some similarities. The characters of Aoi and Seiya are always working under the gun (in Seiya’s case that is literal and figurative) in order to get what needs done, done. We have the daily struggles of the workplace put front and center as if they were demon lords that need defeating. The personalities of each of the characters we meet grow, they aren’t who we initially think they might be, and they always end up being more complex then we’d thought. Aoi and Seiya also find that they get a job where they have to do a lot of learning on the fly. Seiya does seem to be a little bit of a know-it-all, but even he has his moments where he struggles with the mounting problems of the park. The two stories are both about hard work and the payoff at the end.

Takashi Natsume at first may look like just your everyday 15-year-old but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. Takashi actually has a secret power of sorts which lets him see youkai. Though poor Takashi also is cursed to be constantly chased by these seemingly angry spirits. Though as Takashi learns, his grandmother before passing away gave him a strange book known as the Book of Friends. This book contains all the youkai she sealed away but in turn the spirits chase Takashi to hopefully free themselves from the book itself. Can Takashi find a normal place to avoid being chased by these beings or will his life be forever haunted? One of the best elements of a good supernatural story like Mahoutsukai no Yome is to give the viewers a glimpse into a world that seems almost impossible or mystical. Though by accomplishing this feat, an anime becomes a truly engrossing work that just wows the audience at every possible turn. That’s what you can expect if you watch Natsume Yuujinchou. With beautiful animation and a truly interesting world filled with magic, spirits and some intriguing slice of life elements, Natsume Yuujinchou is truly an anime you should enjoy if you’re loving Mahoutsukai no Yome. Don’t worry about binging Natsume Yuujinchou either as there are multiple seasons so you won’t run out of episodes for a least a little while.

Shirayuki might share a name with a fictional girl—in this case Snow White—but that doesn’t mean her life has been anything too fantastical. For years Shirayuki has just known the peaceful country life working for a herbal shop and just enjoying the beautiful days of peace. However, one day a prince finds Shirayuki’s beauty to be amazing and wishes for her to join him as a concubine. Fearing that she will never know freedom again, Shirayuki cuts her long red hair and flees. As she makes her escape, Shirayuki is saved by several strangers from an adjacent kingdom and thus decides to go to work for them to hopefully repay them for saving her. Shirayuki maybe indeed shares more than she thought with the fictional Snow White. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime might be less about magic than Mahoutsukai no Yome but that doesn’t detract from how similar these two stories are. Like Mahoutsukai no Yome, Akagami no Shirayuki-hime follows the plights of a young girl trying to avoid a life of servitude and darkness. This theme is mirrored in Mahoutsukai no Yome with Chise having her life transformed from a dark world of suffering when Elias buys her at an auction that could have ruined her life. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime was animated by studio Bones and you can see their usual excellence in everything from the animation to the character designs. If you want a romance story that melds with fantasy themes, we highly recommend checking out Akagami no Shirayuki-hime.

Traveling researcher Ginko has taken it upon himself to explore the world of Mushi. Known as beings that hold multiple forms and are strange in every sense of the word, Ginko wishes to understand why they exist. In his travels, Ginko will come across many people and Mushi in equal measure and using his skills he will try to mend their issues. In a world filled with mystery and question can Ginko truly find a means to understand why Mushi are the way they are in this world. Welcome to the world of Mushishi where life is a never-ending question waiting to be solved. Back in 2005 studio Artland released Mushishi, a slice of life story within a bed of other genres such as fantasy, adventure, mystery and so forth. Every episode of Mushishi’s two season story—a ten-episode sequel did indeed release in 2014—kept us wanting more as we fell in love with the slow but whimsical world Ginko walked through. That’s why as we watch Mahoutsukai no Yome we’re constantly reminded of the similar tones found in Mushishi. We know if you’re finding the world of Mahoutsukai no Yome to be intriguing you’re going to feel the same about Mushishi. Even though Mushishi is now more than a decade old we promise you it’s still a legendary series that deserves the mass praise it still has in the anime community.

Traveling merchant Lawrence Kraft has stumbled into the town of Pasloe during an interesting annual celebration. Once the town of Pasloe truly respected their deity known as Holo but as time passed the townsfolk began to forget about Holo and have this celebration as a means of partying and not prayer. However, just because the residents of Pasloe don’t believe in Holo makes her any less real as Lawrence soon discovers. Finding himself face to face with the deity wolf Holo, Lawrence’s life will forever be changed once she asks him to accompany her on a journey to the north… In the anime landscape romance doesn’t always have to be simple or even normal for that matter. Just look at Holo and Lawrence one is a wolf deity and the other a simple merchant with dreams of opening his own store. Though together these two oddities make for one heck of an adventure/romance anime and that’s why we had to include Ookami to Koushinryou to our list of 6 Anime Like Mahoutsukai no Yome. Ookami to Koushinryou also has a second season so you’ll a combined total of 25 episodes to partake in while you watch Mahoutsukai no Yome. Now let us all hope for a third season of Ookami to Koushinryou so we can finally see a conclusion to Holo and Lawrence’s tale in anime form.

Hanae Ashiya’s has to wonder if he’s been cursed. While this is supposed to be a new high school year for Hanae instead of going to classes and making new friends, he’s been bed ridden for the first week of school! Though soon Hanae learns the cause of this sickness comes in the form of an odd small being that has attached to Hanae when the school year began. Unable to remove the being, Hanae continues to get more and more sick and wonders if he will soon die. Though lucky for Hanae there exists a place called the Mononokean that has people who deal with events like this on an everyday basis. Imagine for a moment you had the chance to enter a world filled with spirits and magic. Would you dive into such a world or would you refuse the offer and just enjoy a peaceful life? For Hanae Ashiya whether he wanted to or not he found his answer when he decided to become part of the Mononokean in Fukigen na Mononokean. Like Chise in Mahoutsukai no Yome, Hanae’s new way of life won’t be easy as he has to acclimate to the oddness that he now can see as real but equally this new world will take his mundane existence and make it into something truly awesome. That’s why to all those who are in love with Mahoutsukai no Yome why not check out Fukigen na Mononokean? At only 13 episodes long you’ll wonder if you were possessed by some being when you get addicted to Fukigen na Mononokean truly amazing tale and world.

In the peaceful Kingdom of Kouka, princess Yona has lived a life of luxury and calm. Yona’s biggest issue of the day would be how to get her love Su-won to notice her not as a friend but as a lover. However, Yona’s peaceful life is shattered in a mere second when her love Su-won betrays her family and kills them right before her eyes. Luckily for Yona her other childhood friend Son Hak saves her and thus the two escape alongside several other retainers. Yona now must grow up as she leads her small group of warriors to take back her land and get revenge on Su-won for destroying her beautiful life and killing those whom she held dearly. We end our list of 6 Anime Like Mahoutsukai no Yome with Akatsuki no Yona created by studio Pierrot. This 24-episode long series follows Yona as she goes from privileged princess to a warrior who is self-sufficient and strong. Yona truly reminds us of Chise in many ways—besides the obvious hair color—as these two women must grow up after facing traumatizing situations. With visceral fighting, an epic fantasy story and an adventure filled with both beauty and darkness at times, Akatsuki no Yona truly is something that should be watched by all. Now if you’ll excuse us, talking about Akatsuki no Yona has actually made us want to re watch it.

At its core, Naruto is the story of young boy who grows up in a ninja village as an outcast. His only goal in life is to be respected by his peers and become the Hokage (leader of his clan). From an early age, he makes friends and rivals that propel him to become stronger and more mature as a person. He realizes that the world is bigger than his own personal needs and issues. He has to rise above them so that he can protect the people he cares for. Naruto has a fictional setting in early Japan, contains ninjas and main characters who have possession of supernatural entities, and there is a strong brotherly relationship between several central characters. This show is a little more over the top and childish at times. But, if you stick with it you’ll be surprised by the amount of depth some of the characters have. If you’re a fan of the fight scenes from Donten ni Warau, then you’ll find plenty of intense and memorable action sequences. This is a must-see!

Here’s the basic premise of Owari no Seraph: a lethal virus, that kills anyone over the age of 13, has spread throughout the world. This catastrophe has led to vampires surfacing and enslaving what remains of humanity. They offer to protect the survivors in exchange for becoming livestock for their new vampire overlords. Among the last remaining survivors are two boys, Yuuichirou and Mikaela. The show begins with the two boys attempting to escape their orphanage. The series focuses on the aftermath of that attempt and what becomes of the two boys as they grow up. Similarities between Owari no Seraph and Donten ni Warau come in the form of the fraternal relationship (secrets, betrayal, comradery, forgiveness, etc.) between Yuuichirou and Mikaela, a military setting, orphaned children, strong action sequences, and a central character’s thirst for vengeance. The show may not be as bright or light-hearted as Donten ni Warau can be. But if you enjoyed that show for its ability to showcase how complex a connection between brothers can be, then you’ll find Owari no Seraph right up your alley.

Prince Chagum is the heir to the Shin Yogo empire. He comes into contact with a wandering, spear-wielding girl, Balsa, when she saves his life. From that moment she agrees to be his personal body-guard. However, she does this without knowing that Chagum is being tracked by a group of elite warriors (hired by his own father). They seek to find and kill him because it appears that Chagum is in possession of a dark and evil water demon. The two strongest similarities to Donten ni Warau are the possession of an evil entity and the protection of “family”. Family is in quotes because although Balsa and Chagum are not related, they develop a bond that is similar to that of a mother and child. The prince is separated from his mother so that he can survive. Balsa steps in to take over as a parental figure. In Donten ni Warau, Tenka fulfills this same position in regards to Soramaru and Chuutarou. The two younger boys grow up without really remembering their parents. So, Tenka is their provider, protector, teacher, as well as an older sibling. He also has to deal with the prophecy of an ancient evil possibly coming back to the world to wreak havoc. So, you can see the similarities between Tenka and Balsa.

Heaven is a real place where divine beings live. Though they are celestial in nature, that doesn’t prevent them from experiencing the same emotions and thoughts as human beings. One of those divinities, Konzen Douji, has become bored with his life. He finds joy in nothing. But one day, a young boy with golden eyes is brought before him. This youth’s name is Son Goku, and Konzen is charged with looking after this boy. Though he accepts the position begrudgingly at first, he soon becomes fond of Goku. Eventually, they form a father/son relationship. That serendipitous meeting becomes the turning point in Konzen’s life and will change the very foundations of Heaven of Earth. Son Goku contains within him the Seiten Taisei (The Great Sage Equaling Heaven). It’s a power that only manifests itself when his diadem is removed. Similar to the Orochi, from Donten ni Warau, Seiten Taisei is an entity that has demonic powers. But, in this case, it isn’t a separate being from Son Goku, it is the manifestation of his true form. Tenka Kumo also shares a similar decision to the one Konzen Douji made. They both decide to put their life on the line in order to protect the ones they care about. Though the people within their care are viewed as dangerous by outsiders, they know they are doing the right thing and continue to protect them until the end.

Gintama takes place in a fictional version of the end of the Edo period. At that time, extra-terrestrials descend upon Earth and wage war with earthlings in a twenty-year battle called the Joui War. These aliens, the Amanto, easily defeat the earth’s forces and subjugate the shogunate to their will. Any and all rebellious humans are hunted down and imprisoned or worse. Along with that, a ban on carrying swords has been put in place. This has broken the samurai spirit of all men except for one, Sakata Gintoki. Gintoki, along with various other characters, accepts every odd job in Edo and frequently comes in contact with the Amanto as well as the Shinsengumi (police force of the shogunate). Many of the voice actors from Donten ni Warau work on this show as well. There are many, but I’ll just name a few here: Yusa Kouji (Kotarou Fuma), Yuuichi Nakamura (Tenka Kumou), Kenichi Suzumara (Hirari Abeno), and Rina Satou (Botan). Besides the similar voice performers, Gintama could be viewed as a more slapstick parody of Donten ni Warau. Instead of the Orochi being the main antagonist, the Amanto (aliens) would be the villains. The three Kumou brothers would be replaced by Gintoki and his ragtag group of followers (Yorozuya). Another parallel would be the Yamainu from Donten ni Warau and the Shinsengumi in Gintama. These are just several of a multitude of connections you can draw between the two anime.

In the 1860’s there was a doctor who lived in Edo with his young daughter. Often his work would take him away from home and towards Kyoto. His lonely daughter, Chizu Yukimura, would receive letters from her father whenever he’d leave. However, the letters stopped coming. In her concerned state, she decided to head to Kyoto and investigate her father’s disappearance. At one point, she is attacked by a group of samurai. Fortunately, she is saved by a member of the Shinsengumi. Afterwards, she is taken back to their headquarters where she meets the other members. From then on her life is changed forever. This show is on the list for two reasons: it shares a similar time period and it shares the shoujo genre. The same era means there are many comparable weapons, clothing, personalities, and samurai to Donten ni Warau. At the same time, the shoujo aspect comes into play with the group of men portrayed in both shows. In Donten, you had the two older brothers, Shirasu, Sousei, and various other characters that were depicted as beautiful men. In Hakuouki, the members of the Shinsengumi and other supporting characters are drawn and animated elegantly while focusing on the personal relationships between the cast. This is a highly recommended title if you’re a fan of the shoujo genre.

Kill la Kill is a series that tells the tragic tale of one Ryuuko Matoi and her quest in search of her father’s killer. After entering into a prestigious high school, Ryuuko finds herself facing against the competitive hierarchy ruled by the powerful Elite Four, a group who gives certain students clothes called “Goku Uniforms.” Though Ryuuko ended up soundly beaten in a battle by one who wears such a uniform, she discovers a different kind of powered suit. With her own sentient and powerful suit “Kamui” by her side, this marks the beginning of Ryuuko’s path to the top and uncovering the mystery of her father’s death. One of the main things that has the two on the same line-up is that they both an eccentric style of art to them and how much of an independant figure the main protagonists are. There are also the hierarchal ruling to take into consideration along with the fact that both protagonists ride motorbikes, seeing as it is part of the main themes of the series. When looking at both series side-by-side, the overall style of both series seem to mirror one another basically, the only difference is on the setting and the aspect of traveling

Here we have a rather wacky tale that tells a young boy and his wild ride of a journey into a world previously unknown to him. His name is Naoto Nandaba and he is a sixth grader who somehow manages to get himself into not so normal situations after a not so pleasant meeting with a pink haired, bass guitar-wielding psychopath by the name of Haruko Haruhara. Though the young boy wants nothing more than to live his life as normally as possible, such a wish is pretty much out of the question with Haruko around. Add to the fact that he has also been apparently dragged into a battle for supremacy and the idea of a normal life might as well be a dream for him. FLCL is pretty much a much wilder and wackier version of Rolling Girls with a different setting to them. While FLCL has a more sci-fi take on things, both take on a battle for territory. In terms of art style there are some slight lines that can be drawn between the two. The fact that the main characters both having a motorcycle is a clincher for the two series. While FLCL doesn’t really focus on the idea of traveling and meeting new people it does take on the idea of adventure and the people learning new things and getting into different kinds of trouble.

Sora no Method is a tale of an alien invasion managing to mix itself with the concepts of friendship and emotional struggle. This is a story that sets itself up in a small area named Kiriya Lake where an unusual saucer has taken up residence in the sky for a total of seven years. Over time people have grown weary of it, turned it into a tourist attraction and finally left it be. Now a former resident of the small town has returned and her name is Nonoko Komiya. With only vague memories of her time in the town, it is through the meeting of a spritely girl by the name of Noel does she slowly regain memories of a time where she had made wishes at an observatory along with her friends. Having an all female cast and a slice of life tag are the major similarities to be said about Sora no Method and Rolling Girls. They both tackle emotional scenarios with serious backstories and a tale of friendship. While Sora no Method does not tackle on traveling to different areas of a struggle of dispute it does give way to supernatural phenomenon like Rolling Girls.

A story of three sisters named Hozuki, Kazuki, and Hazuki, descendants of Galileo with different personalities; it begins with the three of them suddenly being attacked by a mysterious organization after the “Galileo Tesoro.” Barely escaping on their airship the girls with little knowledge on what exactly is going on, set off. Though they do get into trouble, it isn’t as easy for the three of them to help each other out without being constantly in odds with one another. While they try to figure things out with each other, they also try to find the answers to the mystery of the organization and the Tesoro. Both Galelei Donna and Rolling Girls tells a tale of an all female cast setting off on an adventure in a world that they didn’t know before. It tackles on friendship and struggles while taking on mysteries and enemies from all around. Basically both of them are adventure stories that tackle both emotion and action at the same time.

Within the the city of Kyoto lies a land where humans and youkai live together and no one ever dies. This place is called the “mirror capital” and is protected by three people, Kurama, Yase, and Myoue, who await the return of their parents. But one day, a young girl by the name of Koto enters into the city from another dimension; with her red eyes, it is not immediately sure whether she is human or youkai. Along with her younger brothers A and Un, they are in search of their mother and from their arrival. There is a change in the air of the peaceland as the newcomers set out in their search. With eye-catching visuals and an eccentric and lively atmosphere, a regular anime viewer may say that there isn’t much in common between the two series at first glance. But looking within, there are a few points that can be checked between the two. There is an exploration of a new area, a mystery to solve and some action mixed in it as well. Overall, the series has good matching points to it that make it worth watching.

Taking place during the early summer, this story tells of high schooler Shiozaki Haruno. A 17-year-old girl who loves her motorcycle, HONDA’s Giorno and longs for a vivid life in a city yet lives in remote highlands. As more people enter into her parent’s boarding house, however, things begin to change for her as they encourage her to step towards her dream. There’s no struggle with gangs, or visually catching designs, but there is a girl and her bike along with her friends and learning new things. One of the main things about Rolling Girls was this concept and while the action and the visuals made things interesting to look at, it was the slice of life aspect that made Rolling Girls more different than usual.

Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu follows the hectic life that consumes Shinichi Izumi after he, and many other humans, has been infected with an alien parasite that wants to feast on other humans. Lucky or unlucky for him, the parasite only took over a part of his body (his right hand), so he must now face off with his own body and the community at large in order to stay alive. The first similarity between the shows is pretty obvious. Two human main characters have been altered by alien involvement, which has completely changed their lives. Each now have a lot more power and a lot more responsibility to handle. Both anime are willing to show the grittier side of action. Admittedly, Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu has a lot more blood and definitely pushes forward a tenser environment. That’s to say you’ll probably get scared more often while watching it. Even the faint of heart could probably get through most of Inuyashiki, even though Hiro’s presence will always have you on edge.

In a world consumed with information, there is a lot of mystery around the existence of Ajin. These supernatural beings exist, but they have become sort of like the ‘boogeyman’ of society. People fear what they don’t know, but the news cycle always has something new, and so people move on. Kei Nagai was one of those people until an unlikely accident reveals that he is an Ajin. All of a sudden Kei finds himself caught between the government and a terrorist group of Ajin. Once more, we have a guy who suddenly has a newfound perspective on life because he’s been granted a supernatural power. The main difference here is that Kei’s life immediately takes a downward turn because of his supernatural power, while Inuyashiki starts experiencing a more triumphant and glorious life. When one person is caught between a mysterious government agency and terrorists, it’s hard to expect any joy in life. The more subtle similarities deal with the action and the character relationships. In both, action scenes are characterized with brutal hits and pretty free-flowing CG. However, the intensity of bloodshed isn’t too high in either. There is a little more in Inuyashiki, but so far it is not gratuitous. Then there’s the way that Kei approaches Satou and tries to reign him in. This seems to be the route that Inuyashiki and Hiro are taking.

Ken Kaneki is your average student. He studies, hangs out with his friend, and reads. He is actually a pretty big literature lover, and the girl he’s interested in seems to like his favorite author. He asks her out and she turns out to be a ghoul, a type of being that can only feed off humans. She tries to kill him, fails, and then he awakens to being a ghoul himself. Now he has to navigate the world while being a ghoul, which is no easy task. Don’t worry, people, this is the last anime on this list with basically the same exact premise. Much like Inuyashiki, Tokyo Ghoul starts the series off with a normal human who goes through a drastic transformation. This transformation brings him a lot of power, but comes at a pretty big cost. It should be noted that it takes a long time for Kaneki to even accept the fact that he must eat human flesh (even if it’s from a cadaver). It takes essentially the whole first season before he comes to term with what he is and how he needs to live. Inuyashiki comes to terms pretty quickly and even gets powerful moments of happiness thanks to the change, at least in the beginning. Hiro seems to have always expected such an event and is more than happy to take advantage of his new power.

Occultic;Nine is just one of those anime you need to watch. It follows the strange way that fate has drawn together a diverse group of people. With murder and mysteries in the fray, this mixed team of realists and supernatural believers will have to weave together theories and facts in order to make sense of the truth. In terms of sci-fi, Occultic;Nine is one of the most intriguing anime out there with its eccentric characters and vital community. Occultic;Nine is like Inuyashiki for more subtle reasons than the previous three. The level of characterization is a strong point in both the shows. This aspect allows the viewers to attach themselves to the characters, which makes certain situations more relatable and intense. Such character focus also helps set the tone for the piece as a whole. The main difference at this point is that Occultic;Nine followed through with numerous characters, while Inuyashiki has been focusing primarily on Ichiro and Hiro. The other characters do have some detail, but their characteristics have been more reactionary. Instead of having their own plot lines, they are simply reacting to that of the main players.

Gantz follows the story of Kei Kurono as he attempts to make sense of what has happened to his life. You see, he has died, but death has left him little respite, as he is forced to face off against aliens and robots in a world gone insane. Perhaps, what Kei is experiencing is hell, but he won’t find out until he survives countless horrors. It shouldn’t be any surprise that Gantz made this list. Both anime came from the gloriously brutal mind of Hiroya Oku, and there’s even a little mention of Gantz in the second episode of Inuyashiki. Besides being from the same creator, the shows do have quite a bit of similarities. Neither shy away from graphic moments of violence. However, Gantz is much more aggressive with the amount of blood flying about. Blood could have flown from the head of the homeless man being hit in the head in Inuyashiki, but it did not. In Gantz, blood would have been pouring from the man’s ears and eyes.

If you have not seen Death Note yet, then stop what you’re doing and start watching this series. Death Note follows the creation of a ‘utopia’ under Light Yagami, as he uses the power of the Death Note to kill criminals and adversaries alike. How did he get the Death Note? He got it because a bored God of Death decided to drop his journal, a journal that will kill anyone whose name is written into it, down to Earth. Light just happened to be the one to pick it up. Death Note is like Inuyashiki in numerous ways. In both cases, the main character receives an ungodly power from a supernatural force. Another similarity is that one main character decides to use his power to become a sort of God, while the other uses his power (albeit L’s only power is his intellect) to bring the other to justice. The main difference between the shows is that in Death Note, Light Yagami is the main focus, while L plays a slightly lesser role. In Inuyashiki, Hiro (the character most similar to Light) plays a slightly smaller role than that of Ichirou.