Based on the first two story arcs (Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency) of Hirohiko Araki’s epic manga, the first season of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures tells the tales of Jonathan and Joseph Joestar. Jonathan’s story takes place in Victorian England, and Joseph’s (Jonathan’s grandson) story largely takes place in World War II Europe with some parts in New York and Mexico. While Jonathan fights Dio Brando and his army of the night in Phantom Blood, Joseph in Battle Tendency takes on the Pillar Men, the creators of the masks that made Dio a vampire. If you enjoy manly anime, nothing can equate to Vanishing Line’s masculinity more than JoJo. Both series share heroes who fight specific monsters and use special abilities to combat them. While Sword ultimately needs his blade and armor to take out his enemies (despite being a competent fighter without them), the cast of JoJo rely on a special technique known as Hamon, or the Ripple, to manipulate their energy and breathing into the sunlight to fight vampires. What makes JoJo distinct beyond its unorthodox poses and psychedelic use of colors are its creative action sequences. How creative they are is just something that you have to see for yourself, which mostly comes to fruition when the series gets into Joseph’s story. While Garo has JAM project as part of its slaying soundtrack, JoJo pays homage to its rock influences by using Roundabout by Yes as its ending theme, which Araki listened to when he first made the manga.

So imagine that you died, and based on a good majority of religious upbringings, you’re raised to believe you either go to Heaven, Hell or be reincarnated into something else based on how you lived your life. In the world of Drifters, you are transported to a world of elves, dwarves, and other mythical creatures that are at war with each other, and you got no choice but to fight. The main trio from Japanese history that drives the series is Shimazu Toyohisa, Oda Nobunaga, and Nasu no Yoichi. However, they are not alone when other figures throughout world history find themselves in this crazy world. Other famous unique additions to this cast are Joan of Arc, Butch Cassidy, Rasputin, and even Adolf Hitler are all involved in this conflict. So what happens when one group wins? No one knows, but kicking ass is what these people do best and that’s what they do. Both Vanishing Line and Drifters are supernatural action series that have their share of not only action, but also humor and intriguing cast of characters. If anything, you can add a twist of Bill and Ted into this anime and you get one bogus journey and with a rockin’ soundtrack, you can air guitar to. While Shimazu tends to drive the series as the heart, Oda is the brains (and is used for comic relief), and Yoichi is the shadow that takes care of loose ends. What makes this series distinct is how it uses actual tactics (mostly concocted by Oda) in order to achieve victory. They even take advantage of the magic of the mysterious world in a usage that even the natives never considered. For example, the natives use crystal balls for general communication, but Oda uses them on the field to coordinate his assaults with all of his teams to get things smoothly going. While the action does have brain, it equally has its share of brawn and balls that you also can see in Vanishing Line.

In this anime, time-eating demons manifest when an individual’s feelings of wanting to go back in time and change their lives become strong enough to give life to them. Combating this threat are the Chrono Rulers, led by the Putin family, who are specifically trained and equipped to handle them. The Putin family consists of father Victor, his wife Mina, and their son Kiri. The obvious similarities to both Vanishing Line and Chrono Ruler are that the villains are born from a darker side of human desires, and a specific group of warriors fights them. Like in the mythos of the Garo franchise, being part of the Chronos Ruler group is also a family-oriented tradition. Victor, a 39-year-old trapped in his 16-year-old body shares many qualities with Sword. While both characters are very outgoing to the point it put offs their peers, they truly care about the people they want to protect and are still kick ass warriors. While Garo tends to take a masculine approach to its designs, Chronos Ruler is more bishonen oriented. So if you want horror action with the bishonen flavor, Chronos Ruler might be for you.

In the year 2036, mankind discovers a dimensional energy source named Dimension W. The New Tessa Energy corporation gains exclusive access to harnessing and providing the supposed unlimited energy source from Dimension W. 36 years have now passed and the coils, devices that are used to capture the energy, are also on the black market. And the only people who can re-obtain the illegally used coils are expert retrievers known as Collectors. Both series are dark and take place in a metropolis where threats reside. Another quality they both share is that they deal with the dark sides of human greed but in distinct ways. While Vanishing Line expresses it in a manner through horrors and that makai knights are still obligated to protect humans, Dimension W deals with that quality more directly with criminals going after the energy coils. The action sequences are high-octane and rely on a balance of strength and strategy. So if you want something with urban action with some destruction, Dimension W offers that. Last, both main characters have interests that are rather retro. For Kyouma, he is into old technology by the standards of 2072 by using older cars, while Sword enjoys eating out at 1950’s style diners.

In Kekkai Sensen, the world has changed for the weirder now that other lifeforms have evolved to live alongside humans after a dimensional gateway opened and enclosed New York City. What was once known as the Big Apple has now become know as Hellsalem’s Lot. Everyone tries to get along but things just don’t work as planned. The only ones capable of maintaining law and order is a group of special fighters known only as Libra. And their newest member is an amateur photographer, Leonardo Watch. At the cost of his own sister’s vision, he obtains the all-seeing eyes of the gods, which gives him several abilities such as enhanced vision, seeing things for what they are, and can manipulate the vision of other people. For starters, both take place in modern American cities filled with unique creatures and only special organizations can stop their threats. While Leonardo isn’t a fighter like Sword, he does bring his own contributions to the battle with his abilities. While the monsters tend to be the bad guys and hidden in Garo, that isn’t 100% the case in Kekkai Sensen since humans and nonhumans do try to co-exist within the confines of their situation. Another base quality they share but express in different ways is the nature of human co-existence. Both Vanishing Line and Kekkai Sensen demonstrate that humans are by no means perfect and they are capable of doing some really bad things, but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t worth protecting.

Based on the long-running hit manga by Kentaro Miura, season 2 of the new Berserk anime has Guts continuing on his quest for revenge against Griffith, and to cure Casca of her catatonic state. However, he is not alone in this journey because he has the help of Serpico, Isidoro, Farnese, and Schinke to combat Griffith’s newest army. Not only does he get a new team, he finally gets the fearsome Berserker armor, which makes him more powerful than he ever was. These series shares many numerous qualities by having macho knights who fight evil creatures of the night. While Sword tends to be friendly with regular people, Guts tends to isolate himself from others due to bearing a cursed brand on his neck that can summon evil spirits. In addition, they both bear armors that give them power-ups, but if used for too long, can drive them to lose their minds. Despite sharing these base qualities, they do have their differences. For starters, Berserk takes place in a medieval fantasy setting while Vanishing Line takes place in a modern city, and Guts and Sword have different fighting styles. With Sword, he tends to rely on his fists before he puts on his armor. As for Guts, he mostly relies on his monstrous Dragon Slayer but occasionally uses his knives, crossbow, and arm cannon.

Kousaka Kyousuke and his sister, Kirino, just haven’t gotten along in ages. Yet that all changes when he discovers an eroge stashed away in a magical girl anime dvd case. When Kyousuke brought it up with his parents, they quickly expressed contempt for all things anime, however Kirino reached out and made contact with Kyousuke for the first time in ages. It was then that Kirino decided to reveal to Kyousuke that she’s a huge otaku who loves siscon, lolicon, and moe games. And, much to Kyousuke’s chagrin, Kirino expects Kyousuke to help her out. There is no doubt that Imouto Sae Ireba Ii is similar to OreImo. Both anime have characters who have siscons, although Kyousuke’s obessions isn’t as strong as Itsuki’s obsession. The theme is also around a medium that tends to be quite otaku oriented. Well, Imouto Sae Ireba Ii was all about light novelists while OreImo is about all things otaku related like anime, video games, and Akihabara. If you want a lighter hearted siscon anime where you will experience a lot of comedy, confusion, and romantic confusion, OreImo is your anime.

Izumi Masamune is a light novelist and high schooler who spends his spare time preparing meals for his hikikomori little step sister, Sagiri, whom he hasn’t seen since they first moved in together. While their parents are gone, Sagiri and Masamune are the only family the other has left in the world. Determined to rectify the relationship, Masamune does everything he can to get Sagiri to come out of her room. However, he was not prepared to learn the truth: that his little step sister is in fact, the illustrator, Eromanga Sensei, who illustrates for his ero light novels! The most recent siscon anime has to be Eromanga Sensei featuring our imouto, Sagiri. Much like Itsuki, Masamune is constantly pelted on all sides by girls who confess to him and want his romantic attention yet, much like Itsuki, Masamune is not interested. In fact, Masamune is all about his imouto and light novels. Oh, that’s another similarity: both manga are about light novelists and the things they do to meet their deadlines!

Aito Yuuki is a very perverted mangaka. Then there’s Ashisu Sahoto, Yuuki’s assistant, who wants to be a mangaka herself. However, these two make a strange pair as Yuuki has no experience with women, but needs it for his manga. Thus, Yuuki uses Sahoto as a reference. Let the craziness commence! Imouto Sae Ireba Ii and Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to The Animation are very similar in a variety of ways. While Imouto Sae Ireba Ii is about light novelists, Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to The Animation is about mangaka, but both revolve around that otaku culture. Also, Itsuki is a siscon while Yuuki has a love for panties, that no one would deem either as “normal”. Just like Imouto Sae Ireba Ii, we get to see all sorts of silliness ensue, ecchi moments included. However, the nice thing about these two anime is that ecchiness is for humor only!

Yoshiko is a one of a kind idiot. No matter how hard she works, Yoshiko does not excel in anything. She gets all 0s on every test. Every day, Yoshiko likes to spend her time with her childhood friend, A-kun who absolutely hates Yoshiko and her craziness that gets them into trouble. Aside from A-kun, Yoshiko hangs out with the head of the discipline committee and all sorts of other people, so every day is full of fun for Yoshiko. If you love the humor in Imouto Sae Ireba Ii, you will absolutely love Aho Girl. The same sort of stupid humor and some rather vulgar language exists in Aho Girl. If you’re watching Imouto Sae Ireba Ii for the humor that plain shocks and cracks you up, then Aho Girl will be perfect for you. It’s one of the best comedy anime of the previous season so we’re sure that you will enjoy this one.

Doma Umaru is perfect in every way. She has the grades, the figure, and the athletic ability to excel in school. However, only her brother, Taihei, knows what Umaru is really like. When she goes home, Umaru turns into a chibi; wearing nothing but her PJs and hamster hoodie, she plays games and snacks on potato chips with a side of cola. Taihei has let Umaru’s behavior slide but now, he is determined to help Umaru become a proper lady! Yet again, we have another siscon anime! Itsuki wishes he had a little sister he could dote on, well, Taihei’s only problem is his little sister, Umaru. If you want an anime that focuses on the little sister, Himouto! Umaru-chan is your anime. Plus, it has all of the great comedy and slice of life goodness that you need. If you don’t want it to be incestuous but love siscon anime, Himouto! Umaru-chan is perfect for your needs.

Tada Banri has been dealing with amnesia for a while now since a tragic accident, but he’s coping with a new life in Tokyo where he goes to law school. While life seems to be going well, Banri meets Kaga Kouko who is chasing after Banri’s friend. Meeting Kouko will change Banri’s life as he starts to live his new life with new relationships and new loves. It is on this path that Banri also begins to learn who he used to be, but perhaps that is not that path that coincides with how he is now. Now, let’s get a little serious here with Golden Time. You may be thrown off at first, but if you’re really paying attention, you’ll catch the real feels in Golden Time. Both Golden Time and Imouto Sae Ireba Ii start off with pure comedy, but as you continue watching, you’ll see that there’s a lot more depth to the characters than you first thought. There are dark themes below the surface of all the comedy. While Imouto Sae Ireba Ii is still new, we can only wonder what it will bring towards the end. Yet, if you want something to fill the time, catch Golden Time for an anime like Imouto Sae Ireba Ii.

Aoba Suzukaze just graduated high school, and is ready to get to work. With a stroke of luck, she was able to get her dream job as a video game character designer. Even better, Aoba gets to work alongside the person who inspired her to become a character designer, Yagami Ko. While working, Aoba learns more about the development of a video game, and the tolls it can take. But with the help of her newfound friends, Aoba will get by just fine. New Game has two seasons, which means people cannot get enough of this adorable anime. You learn about video game design in a fun way, with charming characters breaking it down into simpler terms. Like in Blend S, the characters are quirky, geeky, fun, and relatable in their own way. Even more like Blend S, not all of the episodes are set in the workplace. Sometimes, Aoba will hang out with her best friend from high school, or go drinking with her coworkers. The characters will go to otaku events as well, such as cosplay, concerts, anime screenings, and anime conventions. A very light-hearted anime that is sure to make every person smile.

Souta Takanashi works at a very odd restaurant in Hokkaido. The restaurant, Wagnaria, may seem like your everyday family-friendly eatery. But the staff is nuts. The cooks get violent, the manager slacks off, and the servers act awkwardly towards men. How this restaurant is able to stay afloat is a mystery. If you plan to have your next meal at Wagnaria, be prepared for a very boisterous atmosphere. Some may say that Working was the first to kick off the workplace genre. If that’s true, we can see why! Working is filled with all sorts of goofy characters who just can’t seem to get along. But somehow, the Wagnaria staff is able to pull it together and run a successful business. In fact, Working has three seasons, plus a spin off. This is an absolute must-watch for all workplace genre lovers. And Working is without a doubt the most similar anime to Blend S.

So, you’re not in the mood for laughs? No problem. Isekai Shokudou will warm you up with relaxing episodes. Instead of a crew of wacky characters, this cast is from another world! Nekoya is a restaurant in Japan that serves Western cuisine. Every Saturday, the restaurant serves creatures from a fantasy dimension. Stop by to eat some delicious food, enjoy peaceful music, and chat with a mage or an elf. If you’re looking for a slice of life workplace anime to sooth you, then look no further. Isekai Shokudou introduces you to a new mythical creature- uh- customer every week. Like seeing how a humanoid lizard would enjoy food from our world. We’re delighted to see the reaction of a customer when they take a bite of a scrumptious-looking meal. Don’t watch this series on an empty stomach, because the food porn is strong with this one. The staff at Nekoya provide the most welcoming customer service, that’ll make you wish you could experience Nekoya in person.

In a single day, Ohana’s life changed drastically. Ohana’s best friend confesses his love for her, her mother leaves, and Ohana is dropped off in a country town and forced to work at her grandmother’s inn. Does it get better? Unfortunately, Ohana’s coworkers consist of a bad-mouther, a pervert, a pushover, a super shy girl, and the meanest boss ever. Ohana doesn’t have a choice but to stiff upper lip and get to work. Hanasaku Iroha is a coming of age story. Ohana starts out as a naive girl, who runs away from her problems. Once she’s thrown into a job, Ohana quickly learns how the real world works, and grows into adulthood. The employees of the inn each get their own episode, with proper characterization and development. Hanasaku Iroha doesn’t glorify the workplace in the slightest. Sometimes business is slow, then suddenly booming. Hanasaku Iroha is realistic, fun, and heartwarming till the very end.

Everyone loves maid cafes, right? How can you resist being served by cute girls in maid outfits? It’s certainly possible when the maids have no clue what their doing. Each maid has their own quirk to them, with one being a grandma and another thinking she’s a detective. And barely anyone even attends the cafe. Even weirder is that the three cafe regulars have formed a confusing love triangle. But someway, somehow, life goes on. No matter what ruined your day, no matter what embarrassing thing happened to you, the beat goes on. That’s the overall theme of And Yet The Town Moves. It’s a message everyone should take to heart, because it’s true, especially when working. At times our personal lives get in the way of our job, and can affect the team heavily. And Yet The Town Moves shows this all in a hilarious fashion. Similar to Blend S, you get multiple funny skits, romance, and an odd maid cafe. If you’re a fan of underrated series, then queue And Yet The Town Moves.

Ever wonder what it’s like to create an anime? Shirobako throws you into the crazy world of animation. From CGI models, to production, delays, and voice acting, you get a very in-depth and entertaining series. Aoi Miyamori isn’t too sure what she wants to do in life. But she does love anime, so Aoi gets a job as a production assistant at the topsy-turvy Musashino Animation. Things aren’t as easy as Aoi hoped, especially with a large team of difficult coworkers. Straight from the studio that made Hanasaku Iroha comes Shirobako. Like New Game, Shirobako takes place after high school and into the workplace. Some of the characters are working and they still aren’t sure if this job is right for them. Others are still struggling to get their dream job. But like Blend S, hilarity ensues with a cast of oddballs struggling to air the next episode in time. Fun fact, some of the characters are modeled after real life animators and directors. Although exaggerated, Shirobako gives us a pretty good picture to the process of making an anime.

In the future, humanity is threatened by an alien race called the Novas. Though the future looks bleak, the human race uses men and women who are given implants known as stigmata to fight the Novas back. Females implanted are called Pandoras while men are dubbed Limiters. Our story though focusses on a young man named Kazuya Aoi as he enters a military academy trained to create Limiters and Pandoras alike. Though when Kazuya ends up meeting one of the school’s toughest Pandoras named Satellizer el Bridget, a very unlikely partnership occurs, one that might just be strong enough to turn the tides in the way against the Nova. If one of the reason you love UQ Holder! is for the mixture of action and plenty of fanservice then we recommend our first anime on our list of 6 Anime Like UQ Holder! by the name of Freezing. Join Kazuya and Satellizer as they join forces to not only defeat various enemies but also end up in a slew of ecchi moments that will be sure to remind you of scenes found in UQ Holder. At 2 seasons long, Freezing will give you a nice amount of content thanks to studio A.C.G.T. and their excellent animation. Trust us folks, your newest dilemma won’t be waiting for a new episode of UQ Holder! but instead, will be trying to figure out which girl of Freezing should be your next waifu. Even here at Honey’s Anime the struggle to name which girl is best is all too problematic…

Hiromitsu Takeda has just found himself jumping for joy at a recent life altering event. Takeda’s new designated school has just recently become co-ed meaning he can find possible love and maybe even more. Unfortunately, Takeda’s new school isn’t what anyone would describe as normal as classes aren’t just books and notes but instead magic and martial arts. Here in this school students are able to use a powerful tool known as Maken and with it can unleash magical powers the like of which no one has seen before. Takeda now must find his own Maken as well as survive a school filled with girls who aren’t too keen on his perverted natures. Maken-Ki is one of those anime that when you watch it you think at first it will be a normal harem and ecchi type show. However, quickly Maken-Ki shows you that while those genres are indeed the main premise there are equal amounts of action and martial arts. Studio AIC did an incredible job taking the manga series for Maken-Ki and adapted it to truly fit the feel readers experienced on every page and chapter. If we were to use a checklist to see if Maken-Ki was like UQ Holder, it would be a 100% thanks to lovely—and might we add busty—girls and tons of martial arts action with some spice of super power awesomeness. Maken-Ki is indeed a worthy choice we feel for our list and we’re sure many of you will agree after you watch both seasons of this great anime.

At Hagun Academy, students who are called Blazers train themselves to hopefully one day become Mage-Knights. One of these hopeful Blazers is a young man named Ikki Kurogane. While Ikki might be considered a Blazer the teachers and students know him better as the only F-rated Blazer among them leading him to be ostracized by his peers. Adding to Ikki’s bad luck he ends up stumbling in on a young female A-rated Blazer known as Stella Vermillion and thus challenges him to a duel. Soon though Stella will realize that Ikki might be ranked low but his power isn’t what many would expect. Ikki and Touta might be two very different individuals but one thing they have in common is they are insanely strong. Judged by others to be weak, both protagonists prove their worth time after time and thus why we knew Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry was perfect for our list of 6 Anime Like UQ Holder. With some intense action and beautiful animation—courtesy of studio Silver Link and Nexus—Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry is truly a great anime to watch. Also, don’t worry there’s plenty of fanservice thanks to the female members of Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry and that will please those who need some ecchi with their action anime. Don’t worry we here at Honey’s Anime feel the same in that regard.

One fight was all that was needed to change Kusanagi Godou’s life forever. When an odd incident causes Godou to end up fighting the God of War in a deadly battle, Godou somehow emerges victorious and becomes a Campione or God Slayer. Now Godou must use his Campione powers to align himself with followers and defend his territory from other gods who wish to steal it from him. Though Godou probably wishes his only problem was constant death battles as his other problems lie in a slew of very attractive females who wish to serve the new Campione. Get ready for supernatural action, comedy and plenty of ecchi in Campione!: Matsurowanu Kamigami to Kamigoroshi no Maou! Anime can be pretty interesting at times, right? One minute you’re a normal person and then the next you’re a God Slayer with several beautiful and cute girls following you. As ridiculous as the plot may be for Campione!: Matsurowanu Kamigami to Kamigoroshi no Maou we have to admit it’s one of those anime that truly doesn’t disappoint in the entertainment department. Similar to UQ Holder, Campione!: Matsurowanu Kamigami to Kamigoroshi no Maou will keep you glued to your TV screens or monitors as you see Godou and his ladies fight various beasts and other warriors in heart pumping duels that truly mirror the ones found in UQ Holder. At only 13 episodes Campione!: Matsurowanu Kamigami to Kamigoroshi no Maou greatest feat will be ending faster than you wish it to, but at least it will be a good distraction for those suffering from UQ Holder! withdrawals.

Issei Hyoudou’s perverted dreams have finally come true! Not only did Issei meet a beautiful and very busty girl but she has just asked him out on a date! Issei’s life couldn’t go wrong from here it seems. However, Issei learns a rather harsh truth from his new date in the form of her admitting she’s actually a fallen angel and then proceeds to kill him. Fortunately for Issei a senior at his school named Rias Gremory actually revives him and makes him a servant of hers. Now Issei will enter a new life as a low-class servant who will have to rise up the ranks to help Rias become the top dog of the devil world. Maybe you’re watching UQ Holder! and wishing for more anime with beautiful girls like Karin or Yukihime, all while still having some supernatural themes and action. Well then, we direct you to try out High School DxD. With 3 seasons currently out—and a recently announced 4th due out in 2018—High School DxD will give you all the oppai and ecchi you need and maybe even more. Many consider High School DxD to be one of the best harem anime ever and we can’t disagree it indeed is one of the better titles thanks to its constant comedy and use of fanservice at just the right times. That’s why if you haven’t seen High School DxD we advise you to change that as soon as possible so you can enjoy one of our most loved harem based anime.

The Breakdown Phenomenon was an event that changed Arata Kasuga’s life forever. In the blink of an eye all the people in Arata’s town disappeared and the town with it. Luckily, Arata was able to save his world by using a powerful grimoire he obtained from Hijiri Kasuga his cousin as well as childhood friend. Though Arata’s joy is short lived when a strange girl named Lilith Asami and makes the claim that he could hand over the book or perish. However, Arata finds a way out of his situation by joining Royal Biblia Academy and teaming up with several magical ladies as he now trains to become a warrior capable of saving his friend as well as keeping his world safe. With our list of 6 Anime Like UQ Holder! coming to an end, we wish to talk lastly about a series that almost mirrors UQ Holder—by its genres—called Trinity Seven. Join Arata’s story as he enters a world filled with magical oddities and tons of girls who just so happen to suffer slightly thanks to his extremely perverted actions. Equally watch as Arata follows in the footsteps of Touta as he goes from ordinary boy to super powered mage capable of using powers many couldn’t even fathom. We personally love Trinity Seven and we’re pretty confident you’re going to find Trinity Seven to your liking as well. While there is unfortunately only 1 season of Trinity Seven to enjoy there is a movie that released which will make the pain of Trinity Seven ending just a tad more bearable.

Hachiman Hikigaya has the look of a person who doesn’t care about anything and doesn’t want to care, well those looks are pretty accurate to how he feels. Hachiman considers the world to be a living façade and is quite adamant that his way of thought is the only accurate one. Well, it’s easy to see how Hachiman’s attitude would land him in trouble during class especially with his one teacher who forces him to join the Volunteer Service Club after he hands in a terrible assignment. Now Hachiman must help those who come through the doors of the club alongside another club member named Yukino Yukinoshita who might just be as cold as he is. Can romance be defined by one word? We here at Honey’s Anime think not and that’s why we are enjoying Just Because so much. However, if you want a truly good anime to watch that similar to the light-hearted themes and pacing of Just Because then you want to watch Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. With 2 seasons of comedy, drama and just a tinge of odd romance—and we mean odd-- Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru will be a fun watch for those who need something to fill in the time while they wait for another episode of Just Because but don’t want just any ordinary anime but only the best of the best.

Once Kousei Arima was a future pianist hopeful thanks to having an ear for music and a talent with the piano at an early age. However, due to several events that transpired over the course of Arima’s life he became unable to hear the piano and thus found himself unable to play. Two years pass and Kousei still finds himself unable to hear the music he makes but when he runs into a violinist named Kaori Miyazono his life undergoes a drastic change. Wanting Arima to be her partner in an upcoming event he now must face his inner demons and attempt to once more play the piano… Just Because teaches its viewers that life is precious. This same theme is indeed found within Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso. A more musical driven romance story, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso focuses on an appreciation for the past all while learning to strengthen yourself from the pains it sometimes brings. With excellent animation and a truly stunning soundtrack, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso will make you feel each scene as it captures you with visual beauty and amazing melodies. Just be prepared for a truly moving story that will make you reach for some tissues as the tears flow from your eyes. Seriously, some of us here at Honey’s Anime have seen Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso several times and still cry at specific moments which we won’t spoil.

For Kuronuma Sawako, her school life hasn’t been an easy time. Thanks to Sawako’s long black hair many of the girls think she resembles the girl from The Ring and this fact isn’t helped any when Sawako already has an odd smile and sometimes is known for making a scary face. However, Sawako doesn’t try to do this on purpose and is just a shy girl who wants to be seen as normal girl. Though maybe Sawako can find this normal life when the popular guy from class approaches her and begins to talk to her. Follow Sawako’s attempts at going from shy and awkward girl to normal and cute girl in Kimi ni Todoke. As we see in the world of Just Because romance isn’t always a simple thing. Sometimes it takes just one moment and one meeting to change everything in a possible relationship and what better show to convey that than Kimi ni Todoke. Animated by studio Production I.G, Kimi ni Todoke might be more shoujo orientated than Just Because but the romance and beautiful school story strikes an all too similar tone. We’re confident once you begin Kimi ni Todoke you’re going to find yourself binging through the first season and then entering the second—as there is indeed a 12-episode second season—all before the newest episode of Just Because launches. Though we won’t blame anyone for doing this as we also watched Kimi ni Todoke pretty rapidly ourselves.

Imagine one day waking up and receiving a letter from yourself? However, this letter isn’t one that was mailed in the past to you but actually a letter from your future. This exact thing happens to sophomore Naho Takamiya and while she quickly dismisses it as a possible prank, Naho quickly changes her mind when the events indicated on the letter begin to actually unfold right before her eyes. Now Naho is caught in a problematic situation when the letter claims she must protect a new transfer student Kakeru Naruse. How can Naho save a boy she barely knows and the bigger question is why does her future self-want to save him so bad? Many people both young, old and middle age question what they would do if they could change their pasts. Haven’t you found yourself wondering that at some point or another? Well that’s what we love about Orange so much is that it gives that question a form by making it an anime that we consider spectacular. Filled with romance, drama and just a tinge of sci-fi—with the whole obvious time traveling concept—Orange is a story that has a web of complexity just like Just Because has. With beautiful animation and a truly stunning narrative that will keep you hooked from episode 1 to 13, Orange is a must watch if you’re in love with Just Because.

If you were to know Mugi Awaya and Hanabi Yasuraoka, you would feel they were the ideal couple. However, behind their relationship lies a dark and sinister truth it’s all a façade. Both Mugi and Hanabi are actually in love with other people, for Hanabi her teacher who actually is a childhood friend and for Mugi his teacher and tutor. Unable to grasp their true loves, the two decided to use one another to keep themselves sane. Unfortunately for both Hanabi and Mugi this twisted relationship will soon cause problems and their suffering will lead them down paths in life they aren’t prepared for… We’ve had some interesting romance stories on our list so far but one of the most mature and complex ones comes in the form of Kuzu no Honkai. This tale of forbidden and twisted love mind not seem to mirror the calmer nature of Just Because but equally it harkens to the themes we see in some of the characters like Mio Natsume and even Haruto Soma where their romances aren’t exactly happy and healthy ones. That’s why we thought if you’re looking for a more mature romance story with more complex themes but a similar mature overall narrative like Just Because your best bet would be to check out Kuzu no Honkai. Just be prepared for some truly interesting twists and turns that happen in Kuzu no Honkai.

Junior high is finally coming to an end for Kotarou Azumi and Akane Mizuno. Ending up in the same class together, these two strangers end up meeting each other both during school and even outside which causes them to grow closer. Before they know it, both Kotarou and Akane decide to take their friendship to a new level, dating. However, as these two will soon learn romance isn’t simple for any age young and or old. Can they make a relationship work or will life steer their paths towards different routes? Find out in this heartwarming and all too heavy romance story called Tsuki ga Kirei. Just Because and Tsuki ga Kirei may be about different age groups but their romance tales are indeed very similar. Thus, why we knew it was only natural to end our 6 Anime Like Just Because list with Tsuki ga Kirei. With studio feel helming this original work, it should be no surprise that Tsuki ga Kirei will not only blow your mind with impressive narrative but also amazing animation that studio feel is known for in their anime works. The ending of Tsuki ga Kirei also really resonated with us here at Honey’s Anime and we found ourselves really surprised by it. Are you now curious to what happens to young romance bound characters? Well the answers for that will only come to you if you watch Tsuki ga Kirei.

When Kouichi Sakakibara transfers from his Tokyo school to one in the countryside of Japan in Another, it’s clear from the very start something is off about his new class. For one, one of the girls in the class named Misaki Mei is treated like she doesn’t even exist. Kouichi finds himself drawing closer to her despite everyone’s warnings though - and that’s when the trouble begins. Classmates start dying in horrible ways. It seems that the class is cursed with a mysterious extra student, and the punishment is that one student or a member of their family will die every month. Ignoring someone from the class was the only way to keep the curse at bay, but when Kouichi befriended Misaki, it seemed like everything was kicked off once again! Both Another and King’s Game are stories about a transfer male student going to a new school and shortly after triggering an awful calamity - and both by accident, of course. Both of the anime tell a horror story of classmates slowly dying in awful ways while the survivors fight to try to stop the events from happening. Because of the fear of death and the fight for survival, both Another and King’s Game show what happens when humans are pushed to the limit. Some band together to fight as friends - and others turn on one another, willing to kill to ensure their own survival and driven by bloodlust when the killing starts. Finally, King’s Game and Another have doomed, tragic romance stories in them, however small they may be, that help drive some of the character’s actions. Another may not be a death game anime, but it’s arguably one of the most similar anime to King’s Game out there right now.

In The Future Diary, high schooler Yukiteru Amano spends his time writing in a diary on his mobile phone. He often converses with the god of time and space, Deus Ex Machina, and his servant Murmur. Then one day, Deus gives Yukiteru a special diary, one with detailed descriptions of the future. But it’s not all fun and games because having that powerful diary enters Yukiteru into a battle royale of sorts with 11 other people who also hold the same kind of diary. Each person has to kill all the others to survive, and the last man standing will be the new god of time and space. Unable to go through it alone, Yukiteru pairs up with another girl who has the same kind of diary, his old stalker Yuno Gasai. But can she really help him in such a desperate situation? Like King’s Game, The Future Diary is a death game anime. The stars of both are high school boys, and everyone else who is forced to play are high schoolers as well. Both anime feature a lot of gore and violence on the screen with horrifying deaths that are barely censored, leaving you feeling terrified and uncomfortable. As usual for death game stories, the main character in both The Future Diary and King’s Game has no initial desire to play but becomes driven to succeed and figure out what is happening to save his own life. Both anime also have a bit of romance on the side that sometimes drives the main character’s actions, so there is a bit of a love story amongst all the horror. If you loved King’s Game for its horror violence and tense story, try The Future Diary next.

Hope’s Peak Academy in Danganronpa is an elite high school that only accepts a few students a year, and only the most talented ones at that. Well, that is until Makoto Naegi gets in on pure luck. He soon learns he is anything but lucky though when the newest 15 students at the academy meet the principle Monokuma, who happens to be a bear. He also happens to lock them all inside the school! The deal is that to successfully graduate and survive their time at the academy, one of the students must murder another of their classmates - and not get caught. If they are found out, they will be executed and the game will continue until someone succeeds. Maybe Makoto should have applied for a regular school… Danganronpa and King’s Game are both death game anime set in high schools, where the classmates are pitted against one another to survive. This makes a classmate turn against another classmate, and friends against friends, as they struggle with their own personal morals and their desire to live. Both anime are incredibly violent as well, though their animation styles are quite different. Get ready for Danganronpa’s infamous pink blood - and there is going to be a lot of it. Neither anime shy away from showing violent deaths and murders on the screen. Both King’s Game and Danganronpa will keep you at the edge of your seat with tension and suspense as the death game unfolds and you wait to see who will die next - and cheer for the main characters to find a way out of their seemingly hopeless situations.

Deadman Wonderland is set at a prison, where inmates perform dangerous acts for onlookers to watch and enjoy. Ganta Igarashi and his class visit the prison one day, but everyone in the class except for Ganta is massacred by a man in red. As the only survivor, Ganta becomes the chief suspect and is sentenced to serve in the very prison he and his classmates were meant to only be visiting. Inside the prison, the world is deadly. The only way to survive is to win the deadly games that the prison has established, all while wearing a lethal collar around his neck. And that doesn’t even mention the other sadistic inmates and corrupt powers at the prison. Ganta has to find the man in red and clear his name - or he will certainly die trying. Deadman Wonderland takes the typical idea of a death game plot and twists it into something new. Like King’s Game though, it’s a race for the main character to find out a way to escape from the deadly games they are being forced to play while watching everyone around them slowly dying from it. And both Ganta and Nobuaki have to live in constant fear that they will be the next one to die in the merciless games. Both Deadman Wonderland and King’s Game feature sadistic characters that get caught up in the bloodlust of killing, and they both aren’t afraid of having gore and violence on the screen. Finally, they both centre on a high school boy who never asked to take part in the suffering he is forced to endure. If it’s the shock and violence, along with a mystery, that you liked in King’s Game, try Deadman Wonderland!

Juuni Taisen: Zodiac War is about 12 warriors, each named after a part of the Chinese zodiac. And not just their names match the zodiac - their traits match the respective animals as well!They are forced into a city where all the other inhabitants have been removed, and there, are pitted against one another in the 12 Zodiac Tournament which takes place, you guessed it, every 12 years. Keeping with that same theme, each person is forced to swallow a poisonous gem that will kill them after 12 hours. There is a plus side though; if any one of them is able to kill all the others and bring them gems together before the 12-hour time limit, he or she can have a wish of their choosing granted. It’s a fight for life and death against the clock, and against each other. Juuni Taisen and King’s Game have a major thing in common; they both show how terrible humans can become when they’re under pressure and their lives are at stake. Both anime have characters that turn on one another and try to kill one another to stay alive rather than trying to work together to find a solution - some people will always put themselves first, no matter the cost. I’m Juuni Taisen and King’s Game, the characters are pitted against one another by an unknown and unseen force that they can do little to fight back against on their own, which pushes them to the extreme. And they both show just how dark human nature can become as people turn to murder. If you like that dark side of a death game story and we’re intrigued by it in King’s Game, make Juuni Taisen your next stop.

Btooom! is the story of Ryouta Sakamoto, a man with no great achievement other than being Japan’s top player in an online game also called Btooom!. His life is pretty easy and normal as he lives with his parents, but everything is turned upside down when he wakes up on an island one day. He has no memory of how he got there, and more worrying, a strange crystal embedded in his hand. It seems the events of his favourite game are about to become his reality. The aim of the game is to collect seven more crystals by killing the other players and winning means they can return home. Ryouta is forced into this life-or-death game alongside another Btooom! player named Himiko, and together they try their best to survive. The two try to find out the truth behind this lethal game, and to get back to their normal lives, well, alive. Btooom! is another death game anime like King’s Game even though the premise and setting are different. Both anime still have a mysterious game that pits players against one another and causes even decent humans to turn dark as they fight to see another day. And both Btooom! and King’s Game harbour a dark secret about why the game exists, and who is pulling the strings, that the main characters are determined to discover and defeat. They both have a similar realistic animation style as well, not overdoing it on cuteness or colour but keeping the characters and environment believable and normal. Btooom! and King’s Game are full of action and suspense, and still manage to have a romance as well as Ryouta and Himiko draw closer. If you like the death game idea of King’s Game but are curious to see it played out in a different kind of setting with different people, give Btooom! a try.

Buntarou Hojo is a writer, and like many writers early in his career he seems directionless. He posts his stories online as an outlet. Sayuki Kuroda, a classmate, creates a plan to harness his raw talent by drawing him into her game development group. In order to get his cooperation, she has to corner him in the bathroom and strong-arm him into joining. Her goal is to create a bishoujo game and she tells the group members she will split the profits with them. The two then go about recruiting other members for the game’s development bringing together an odd but talented group. The two anime are similar in structure, you have a character with overwhelming personality drawing in and sometimes coercing other students into a club or association. We find at several moments the club’s existence is threatened; in Anime-Gataris it is external threats, in Girls Beyond the Wasteland it comes from infighting. In both cases, there is a bit of a mystery at play too. We don’t know the real reasons why the student council wants to shut the club down or what’s behind the mysterious locked door in Anime-Gataris. In Girls Beyond the Wasteland, we are left guessing about the reason for the near-frantic obsession Sayuki has with needing to complete the game until the series is almost over.

Kenji Kazama is a tough guy, or at least he thinks he is until fire breaks out in one of the club rooms after school one day. He puts out the fire in the Game Development Club room. The club members decide not to thank him but to bag, gag and threaten Kenji into joining their club. Kenji’s simple life as a thug is turned upside down by the four female club members and their never-ending battle against the student council and a competing gaming organization to keep their club alive. The two anime have several similarities -- and not only that they are both set in rather nerdy school clubs. The clubs are both constantly being challenged by outside forces that want to shut the club down. Kenji Kazama and Minoa both get shanghaied into becoming a member of a club they don’t really understand. The two main characters also seem to find friends in, even if reluctantly, their new club mates. The geek speak shorthand is abundant even if you need to make a jump in understanding the parody names of the games and anime mentioned. We don’t have any talking cats, but the absurdity of the comedy is another similarity that will make you think life of a club member can be kind of fun.

Tomoya Aki is an otaku’s otaku. He is a fan obsessed, as demonstrated by writing and editing an influential anime, light novel, and gaming blog. He is inspired one day by a chance meeting with a girl y to not be just a consumer of otaku culture but to become a creator, the creator of the greatest dating sim of all time. He knows to achieve this he needs to recruit a top-notch team and fortunately he knows a couple of people perfect for the job. Though it takes a lot of convincing, Tomoya recruits his estranged childhood friend Eriri, a popular illustrator, and Utaha his sempai who is also a successful novelist. He even drags in Megumi, the girl the he met that spring day, who provided his inspiration for the project. The two shows have one big thing in common and that is the common man. The common man role is played by Megumi in Saekano and Minoa in Anime-Gataris. Minoa and Megumi are the non-otaku lens through which we view these stories. We listen, like they do, as the other club members fire back and forth, talking about anime at a rapid pace. The common man gives the more knowledgeable characters a reason to slow down and explain things that you might have missed. The dialogue is witty, especially if you already have a pretty good knowledge of anime and the anime industry. We also have the unlikely otaku characters. In Anime-Gataris they’re Arisu, the most popular girl in school, and Kouki, one of the hottest guys in school. Saekano’s closeted otaku are two of the most popular girls in school, Utaha and Eriri. We love shows that take a look at the industry, especially from a consumer perspective, and both of these shows give you that by the truckload.

Kodaka is a transfer student at St. Chronica Academy and he is determined to give a positive impression and finally lead a normal high school life with friends and club activities. A chain of unfortunate events on his first day at his new school scuttled that plan. Well, at least most of it. He does become a member of a club with fellow loner, Yozora. Until recently, Yozora only had one friend, an “air-friend” (a.k.a. an imaginary friend) named Tomo. The club is eventually filled out with the daughter of the school’s director, who has a nasty personality, a female student prodigy who is into weird robot fetishes, and a “boy” so feminine he’s mistaken for a girl and very well could be one. The collection of students in the friends club is dedicated to learning social skills that might help them blend with society so they too can one day have friends to call their own. The similarities with Anime-Gataris stem from its club setting. Haganai’s club members spend most of their time sitting in the clubroom each doing their own thing. More than once they try to use dating sims as a way to learn to be social. The two shows also have fast-paced, witty conversations and you’ve got to pay attention or you’ll miss a solid reference to another anime or game. Sena is a blonde-haired beauty who is never seen without her butterfly hair clip. When you watch Anime-Gataris you’ll meet a character, Krika Aoyama, who wears the exact same butterfly hairclip in an obvious homage to Haganai. The two shows share a similar theme of awkward people trying to find a group of people that understands them, a group of people to call friends.

The world is a lie and people are fake – at least according to Hachiman Hikigaya, an apathetic high school student who thinks the idea of a joyful youth is a sham and he wants no part in it. He writes an essay in class laying out just what he thinks about high school life and it isn’t a glowing recommendation. His teacher decides he needs an attitude adjustment and forces him to join the Volunteer Service Club. He finds himself serving with Yukino Yukinoshita, a quiet and aloof girl that isn’t very sociable, and Yui Yuigahama, a girl from the in crowd with a rather bubbly personality. The goal of the service club is to help any student who submits a request to achieve their goals. We know, the perfect place for two anti-social narcissists like Yukino and Hikigaya. The most glaring similarity between the two shows are the characters of Yoshiteru Zaimokuza, a high schooler suffering from chuunibyou in SNAFU and Kai Musashisakai on of the anime club members in Anime-Gataris who also is a big chuunibyou. The two, like most chuunibyou, have problems separating reality from fantasy and are prone to outbursts about unleashing their magical powers. The two both have white hair, glasses, brown trench coats, and lose-fitting ties. They look so much alike they could be brothers. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU and Anime-Gataris are both high school club based. We find out quickly one of the ways to make the anime club “relevant” and not a drain on resources (according to the student council) is for the club members to take on odd jobs for the other clubs, much like the service club in SNAFU.

Hideki “Rusian” Nishimura is an online gamer and like some gamers his online life is far more interesting than his actual life. He also learns the hard way that sometimes the gender of the in-game character isn’t the same as the player’s in real life. Rusian decides from then on that in game romance no matter how good they get along or how cute the avatar is, romance is out of the question. He eventually joins a guild with a player that has a female avatar named Ako. Ako confesses she’s in love with him and wants to marry him. He eventually relents, saying it’s only in-game and it doesn’t matter if Ako’s really a guy since it’s just in-game. The guild eventually decides to have an offline meetup and behold, his guild members are all girls and they all go to his school. Ako is, in fact, a really cute girl and in love with him and hasn’t quite sorted out the idea that an online marriage is different from one in real life. We have a consistent theme here in this genre, one of the main protagonist being pulled into a club filled with an odd assortment of characters. The otaku coping with real life problems is a big part of the comedy in both And You Thought There is Never a Girl Online? and Anime-Gataris. The focus of And You Thought There is Never a Girl Online? is mainly the awkward romance between Rusian and Ako, while at this point in the Anime Gataris we don’t have a romance but there are signs that one could be on the horizon for Minoa. We also have a very similar art style and character design between the two shows. The dialogue is run through an otaku filter and, like in Anime Gataris, the examples given for this or that situation are put into terms that anime aficionados and gamers can understand. The club angle, both in and outside of school, is a staple feature shared by both shows.

For our first recommendation, it only makes sense to go back to Symphogear’s biggest inspiration: the Macross franchise. Its first series aired all the way back in 1982 and was incorporated into the American show Robotech. By combining the mecha genre with idol singers and romance, Macross was a hit with fans of both shounen and shoujo. Macross Delta (sometimes written as Macross ∆) is the latest incarnation and is set in a sci-fi universe rife with interplanetary war. It focuses on an idol group called Walkure, whose songs can dispel a widespread mysterious illness that causes uncontrollable aggression. They’re supported by Delta Squadron, a combat unit with spaceships and other vehicles that can transform into mecha. This anime is somewhat of a departure from others in its franchise, since it focuses more on amazing spectacle than character moments. But that spectacle sure is eye-catching! Smooth animation with bright, popping colors as well as richly constructed songs make every fight feel like a concert. Do you want more of Symphogear’s heart pounding musical battles? Look no further than Macross Delta.

If you love magical girls but haven’t yet given the Pretty Cure franchise a try, you’re missing out on over ten years’ worth of frill-filled, bow-bedecked action. Each series has a different theme, such as fairy tales, princesses, or desserts; so naturally, there would be an incarnation focused on music. Suite Precure is the eighth entry in the franchise and stars two teenagers named Hibiki and Kanade (!!) who must work together, despite their conflicting personalities, to save the world from the Negatones. Suite Precure is just about as girly as it gets, but its battle scenes feel like something out of Dragon Ball Z (thankfully, though, they never last longer than two episodes). The intense melee combat coupled with its cute musical aesthetic make it a great companion to Symphogear. The main characters butting heads with each other also feels similar to the struggles Hibiki, Tsubasa, and Chris go through to understand one another and become an effective team. If your favorite part of Symphogear was watching cute girls kick ass with the power of love, then give Suite Precure a try.

Musical scores dictate exactly how a piece should be performed. But what if everything had a written, predetermined outcome? Tales of the Abyss, based on the video game of the same name, tackles this question by creating a world in which everything is destined to follow the Score, a prophecy to which access is heavily controlled. The story follows a ragtag group of swords and sorcerers who learn secrets about both the world and each other as they try to prevent an all out war over the Score. Tales of the Abyss stands out for its creative use of music as the backbone for its fantasy world, as well as for the tremendous personality growth of its protagonist, Luke fon Fabre. He starts out as an arrogant rich kid who knows next to nothing about the real world, but after screwing up big time and uncovering a terrifying truth about his past, he slowly matures into a hero who lays down his life for his comrades. This brings to mind Chris’s character evolution over the first season of Symphogear, as well as Hibiki’s survivor complex surrounding the events of the first episode. Both anime tell the story of young people learning who they are while in the midst of a sweeping conflict that they’ve been thrust into. Realistic? Not especially. Compelling? Absolutely.

High schooler Otonashi wakes up one day at a school he doesn’t recognize, remembering nothing but his own last name. Within minutes, a girl wielding a gun tells him that he’s dead and asks him to join Shinda Sekai Sensen, a student group determined to rebel against the god that supposedly rules over this bizarre afterlife he’s found himself in. Angel Beats! isn’t about warriors who use the power of music to vanquish evil, but it does combine music and action in a unique way. In the very first episode, an intense battle between the SSS and a mysterious girl they call “Tenshi” (Angel) takes place right outside a concert hall where the student band Girls Dead Monster is playing a show. Fans often cite the concert episodes as some of the best this anime has to offer. And, like Symphogear, every character has an intriguing backstory that comes to light over the course of the series. Nothing is ever what it seems here in the afterlife. This anime is known for combining heart-wrenching drama with wheeze-inducing comedy, often in the same episode. The character TK, who speaks in random and grammatically questionable English phrases (despite having an American voice actor), is especially fun to watch. If you’re a fan of Symphogear’s blend of character development and occasional comedy shenanigans, Angel Beats! is a must-watch.

For a more relaxed take on the symphonic superhero shtick, check out Polyphonica! This visual novel adaptation is a slice-of-life romance set in a world where humans and spirits coexist. Protagonist Phoron has a contract with the spirit Corti, who can transform into a much more powerful winged goddess version of herself when Phoron plays a divine song on his organ (which also turns into a motorcycle). Together, they travel far and wide to help the helpless as part of their work for the Tsuge Divine Music Player Office. This anime’s story is episodic and focuses more on dialogue than action or overarching character development. The charming world that the characters inhabit is sprinkled with bits of fantasy and retro-futurism that help it feel fully fleshed out. It feels a lot like the school and casual segments of Symphogear, with Symphogear’s sci-fi atmosphere switched out for very light fantasy. But Polyphonica has more underneath the surface. For one, Corti has a dangerous past – she used to be a nigh-invulnerable spirit nicknamed “The Crimson Annihilator” and “The Bloody Duchess”. Is she really as good as she seems? These hints of darkness in an otherwise mellow series will keep you hooked until the final curtain call.

How many idol warriors does Symphogear have? Three – plus a handful of additional girls if you include later seasons. How many does AKB0048 have? More than that. This anime is based on the popular real life idol group AKB48, which famously has so many rotating members that you’d need a custom Pokérap to memorize them all. It takes place in a dystopian future where entertainment is banned and all concerts are besieged by warplanes and artillery to prevent music from “disturbing the hearts of the people”. AKB0048, successors to the original band from Earth, fearlessly fight back against the onslaught by performing guerrilla concerts and taking out enemy troops with their own combat skills and a dedicated backup group of mecha pilots. Our four young protagonists go on a journey to join their favorite band so they can bring music to the masses once more. It’s a silly set-up, but AKB0048 embraces it wholeheartedly. The result is a parade of beautiful animation and song that even manages to include character development and some dramatic moments that call back to previous episodes. It may not be as serious as Symphogear, but it still captures the same determination that music and love can conquer even the toughest of challenges.

Yona is the princess of the Kouka empire who lives in luxury with no worries at all. However, her life changes on her 16th birthday when she discovers the death of her father at the hands of her friend and crush, Soo-won. Yona is feeling confused and shocked at what took place when Hak comes to her rescue and escapes the palace with her. After recovering and accepting the truth about what happened to her father, Yona goes on a journey to find the four dragon warriors that can aid her to better the Kouka empire. While the overall plot of Akatsuki no Yona and Code Realize differ from one another, the heroines in each story mirror each other. Like Cardia, who starts off as a weak character that turns into a strong one; Yona is first introduced to us as someone naive and dependent on the people around her who in time develops into a woman who knows how to fight and fend for herself. Yona is also surrounded by handsome and capable men that help her and support her in dire times. Like Lupin, Hak falls in love with Yona but knows his limitations and knows how to prioritize important matters over love. Both shows take place in the olden times with an added twist that makes the setting look and feel more unique. If you enjoy an adventure anime that features a heroine that develops as a character beautifully, then make no mistake that you will surely enjoy and love Akatsuki no Yona

Although Syaoran is a simple archeologist and Sakura is the princess of the Clow Kingdom, they have been friends for the longest time. Finding the courage to confess her feelings to Syaoran, Sakura decides that the next time she sees Syaoran, she will tell him everything. However, Sakura is lured into some mysterious ruins where her wings disappear. In order to save Sakura, Syaoran meets with the dimensional witch. With him is a powerful magician, Fai, and a skillful swordsman, Kurogane. If you dig a wonderful and vibrant adventure anime that is somewhat the same as Code Realize, then Tsubasa Chronicles is a good choice. Since the memories of Sakura are scattered across different dimensions, she first appears to be emotionless and in a doll-like state. However, like Cardia, who slowly regains her memories and her personality as the show progresses, Sakura breaks out of her blank personality with each memory that is returned to her. Not only that, both heroines possess something that others will do anything to fight for. For Cardia, it’s her heart or the Horologium. For Sakura, it’s her feathers. Also, even though the gorgeous men that surround Sakura may not be as many as Cardia’s, they are exceptional and quite protective of her. Viewers will also love the various colorful worlds that Tsubasa Chronicles introduces.

Chizuru Yukimura is the daughter of a renowned doctor who decided to go to Kyoto for work purposes. But it has been quite some time since she last heard from her father. Worried that something bad must have happened to his father, Chizuru disguises herself as a man and travels to Kyoto in search of her father. But on the night she first arrived at Kyoto, she encounters the Shinsengumi. While Code Realize’s cast is inspired by famous characters in various books and some well-known people in the olden times, Hakuouki is based on the Shinsengumi, a special police force that protects the Shogunate. Much like Cardia, Chizuru is pulled into a world quite unknown to her because of her father. As she tries to find her father and find some unanswered questions, she assists the Shinsengumi in their journey. With the story going deeper and deeper with each passing episode, viewers will begin to realize that there is more to Chizuru than meets the eye. The show is also action oriented and focuses more on the plot rather than its romance aspect. If you’re a fan of other otome games, then Hakuouki is something that you will want to put in your watch list!

After the first day of school, Ritsuka Tachibana goes home only to find out that her mother has been kidnapped. She is pulled into the world of devils and vampires who want to have the grimoire for themselves and they know that Ritsuka is the key to obtaining that power. In the midst of the confusion, Ritsuka’s brother, Lindo, goes home to save Ritsuka. If singing and dancing is your thing, then Dance with Devils is something you will enjoy watching. Ritsuka resembles Cardia in the sense that both girls are being sought after and that there is something more to them that they aren’t aware of. Ritsuka is also kind-hearted and quite a determined girl, like our amazing heroine in Code Realize. While it is not as plot-heavy as Code Realize, Dance with Devils is truly entertaining, especially so if you love the romance and fanservice!

The Arcana Famiglia is an organization that governs and protects the island of Regalo. In it are people who possess a power corresponding to their Arcana. On his birthday, Felicità’s father, Mundo, announces that he will retire as the famiglia’s leader. He creates a tournament called Arcana Duello where the winner will take Felicità as their wife and can have the title as the next leader of the famiglia. Not accepting the decision that her father just made, Felicità joins the tournament together with Nova and Libertà by her side. Another heroine that can stand on her own and knows what she truly wants is Felicità. Although men around her try to win her favor, Felicità is quite a determined girl who definitely knows how to kick ass; reminding us of Cardia’s fierce personality and boldness in rough times. The show also has its action-oriented moments that viewers may enjoy. Some male characters from Arcana Famiglia will remind you of some of the men in Code Realize since others do have the same personality with an added twist to make them a bit different. Unlike Code Realize, Arcana Famiglia is more on the slice-of-life genre, which shows different interactions between characters. Although it has its own dark moments, it’s a bit lighthearted compared to Code Realize.

Koharu remembers that a certain traveler told her that when she turned 17, a ship would come for her and that she would never be lonely again. Just as the traveler said, a ship called Norn came by to take her away. Inside the ship, she meets other people like her who have an ability of their own. While all seems well inside the ship, they realize that one of them may have bad intentions towards their mission. The three heroines of Norn9 can reassemble Cardia in many ways. Like Koharu, for example; as she is called a monster because of her dangerous ability. Mikoto, on the other hand, is strong-willed and quite a fighter like Cardia. Meanwhile, Nanami is cold and emotionless, which mirrors Cardia during the first episodes of the anime. The setting of Norn9 is quite amazing itself because it combines some historical and futuristic elements. There are also action scenes from time to time and it’s more focused on highlighting the relationship between characters. Like Code Realize, the mystery behind Norn9 will be lifted as the show progresses.

Yuuta Togashi used to suffer from chuunibyou and believed he could use supernatural powers, referring to himself as the Dark Flame Master. He sees this past as an embarrassment and enters a high school where no one knows him and vice versa to be freed from his old delusions. However, Rikka Takanashi, a girl who still suffers from chuunibyou, learns of his past and becomes involved in Yuuta’s new high school lifestyle, whether he wants it or not. This is a heartwarming story about high school students and delusions of grandeur. This anime is very much a romantic comedy with a loveable cast of characters and humor to back it up. Mostly every episode puts the characters into situations that are all but normal, with Rikka and her “servant”, Sanae Dekomori, usually doing something stupid or enacting their delusions of grandeur. Not only are the characters great, the animation is superb; the effort put into the scenes where Rikka and Dekomori enact their delusions always look stunning. Whether the moments of chunibyo make you cringe or feel impressed by the production, it illustrates how interesting these characters are and proves how much care was put into this anime. Chunibyo demo Koi ga Shitai! is a definite watch for anyone who liked the comedy in Nagato Yuki-chan, as well as the cute interactions and moments between characters; Chuunibyou is all about the cast and their interactions, and it won’t disappoint.

Kaname Chidori and militant-minded Sousuke Sagara go back to school and encounter more misadventures in and out of their school, Jindai High. As Sousuke struggles with living a normal teenage life, he must save Kaname in a mascot outfit and protect his superior, Teletha Testarossa, from harm as she has decided to spend some time as their fellow classmate. It’s back-to-school for these three and time to bring more mayhem! Like Nagato Yuki-chan, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu is a spinoff of its original work and is more comedic than the original, as mentioned earlier. This doesn't mean Fumoffu doesn’t have serious moments or lacks any appeal from the original anime, but the anime is mostly a comedy. This show is all about the crazy mayhem that happens as their high school life continues and will definitely provide a good laugh for many. While Fumoffu doesn’t add any context to the Full Metal Panic! series, it does develop the characters and gives more reasons to follow their story and enjoy watching their adventures. This is an old anime, but it’s one we believe is worth watching. Fumoffu has great characters and comedy that viewers should enjoy as much as Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu. Their daily life is definitely one that sounds like a blast.

Kazunari Usa begins his high school life living alone in a boarding house due to his parents now working somewhere else. He wishes for a relatively normal life until he realizes his new home, the Kawai Complex, is far from what he wanted. He’s about ready to leave the place until he encounters senior student Ritsu Kawai, a relative of the owner of the boarding house, and finds himself falling in love. A story of adolescent love with a nice romance-to-humor ratio shall now commence. Kawai Complex is, for the most part, comedic more than anything else. The plot does progress and we get to see Usa and Ritsu’s relationship grow, but the reason to watch this anime is the comedy. Seeing all the crazy scenarios happen at the boarding house won’t disappoint and will assuredly make viewers laugh. Of course, this depends on personal sense of humor, but we can guarantee Kawai Complex will make you chuckle, at least. The manga does cover their relationship a little more, so if you decide to watch Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou and wish to see more, then we suggest reading the manga as well. If you were cheering on Nagato as she attempted to get closer to Kyon, then the same will happen as you encourage Usa and his love for Ritsu. There's a good amount of entertainment to be had in this anime, so long as the humor is in your tastes.

The protagonist, Shinomiya Kyouya, is kidnapped and forced into joining a club known as the GJ, an unidentified club dwelling in a former building of an unnamed school. There, he meets all the different club members: Mio, the club leader and short girl with attitude and her younger sister, Megumi, whose heart is one to be weary of; Shion, a long-haired beauty and a genius who lacks common sense; and the gluttonous and mysterious Kirara, who’s quiet most of the time. A group of four girls and one guy in one club as they laze about and enjoy each other’s company. As the synopsis suggests, GJ-bu is very much an episodic type of anime. Each episode has its own unique plot and their shenanigans mostly don't carry over to the next; this means every episode will provide something new and interesting to see. GJ-bu is an anime where one watches the club members interact and laugh at the mischief caused; they’re always guaranteed to do something, whether it’s something crazy or enjoying each other’s company. An overall relaxing anime, to say the least. If watching the normal day-to-day lifestyle of characters in a club room, whether they do something meaningful or not, is more to your liking, and why you liked Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu, then GJ-bu is a perfect fit.

Because of an accident, Tada Banri is left with amnesia and forgets a lot of his hometown and past relations. He begins his new life in law school and just as he's begun adjusting to his new lifestyle, the charming Kaga Kouko barges into his life, beginning an unforgettable year. He will experience love, make new friends, and start a new life. As he slowly discovers his own identity, Banri’s chosen path will lead him into a future he’ll never want to forget. To put this simply, Golden Time is a more mature approach to a romantic comedy compared to Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu. Not only that, but Golden Time is also the most mature anime in this list with its narrative and themes. It does start light-hearted and slowly gets more serious as the story progresses, but it doesn’t take away from the more humorous and fun times the characters have. It strikes a good balance of mature storytelling and good old-fashioned anime entertainment. Just like in Nagato Yuki-chan, the characters are entertaining, all with their own quirks and reasons for studying in college. To put it simply, Golden Time is a mature and funny coming-of-age anime. If you’re looking for a more mature approach to Nagato Yuki-chan’s story that is outside of high school, then we can’t recommend this anime more.

Returning to his hometown after seven years, Saku Ooyagi is reacquainted with his childhood friend, Mihoshi Akeno. This reunion, however, is far from a merry one. The last memory they have of each other is Akeno falling off a tree and Ooyagi saving her. Whatever the case, she is determined to progress their relationship by forcing Ooyagi to join this club she founded, the astronomy club. Let the stargazing begin! This anime has more focus on the club activities than romance, as most of the important scenes are when the club goes stargazing; in a way, this anime does what most sports anime do, and that is explain how the activity works. Humor is generally pretty good and is a nice plus, presenting opportunities where one will laugh, though, yet again, this depends on personal sense of humor. The romance isn't very strong or special, but that doesn't mean it can't be entertaining. Sora no Manimani delves into the romance between multiple characters, allowing more variety than only watching the relationship between the lead heroine and protagonist; the romance may not be a major strength, but that difference in approach makes this anime that more interesting. If you like series that further delve into club activities as well as romance, Sora no Manimani is an anime to pick up. With a fun cast and decent humor, this anime should be just as good of a watch as Nagato Yuki-chan.

In Assiah, humans live with the knowledge that hell is real and demons can spawn at any moment. The only way for the evil creatures to travel into their world is via possession, although finding a suitable host is far from an easy process. Depending on the demon’s strength, their vessel would need to be resistant enough to house them. Finding a proper host is near impossible for Satan, the ruler of the demonic world, so he takes matters into his own hands and plants a seed in a human woman. You think being a teenager is hard? Well, Rin Okumura is also the son of Satan, a fact he did not know for most of his life. After being attacked by demons, Rin decides to become an exorcist and joins the church’s academy. To his surprise, his brother Yukio is a teacher at this school, despite being the same age as Rin. Yukio dedicated his life to exorcism, with the hope of becoming strong enough to protect Rin from the forces of darkness. Ao No Exorcist shares many similarities with Black Clover, with Rin and Asta practically cut from the same cloth. Both protagonists are energetic, shunned by society, and possess hidden power that makes them dangerous to the established order in their respective universes. The action scenes are the primary focus of both anime, with the core relationship centering around two brothers.

My Hero Academia set the current standard for shounen anime. After an enjoyable first season, the sequel upped the stakes with well-paced character development and some of the best action sequences of the year. The anime is a must-watch for any fan, not just those who enjoy shows like Black Clover or Blue Exorcist. Similarly to Studio Pierrot's fall series, My Hero Academia's world is governed by power. People are born with supernatural abilities called quirks, giving rise to an age dominated by superheroes and order. The marketability of one's ability determines how far they can go, and anyone born powerless is destined for disappointment. Izuku Midoriya belongs to this unlucky group, making him an outcast at school. Due to a fortunate turn of events, Midoriya meets his idol All Might, who picks the powerless kid as his successor. Boku no Hero Academia subverts expectations throughout both seasons, taking a seemingly straightforward school-based shounen series in genuinely shocking directions. Midoriya has the same never-say-die attitude shown by Asta, and he shares an interesting dynamic with his rival Katsuki Bakugou. This is a gorgeous series, one that stands as an example of how to do a modern shounen anime properly.

The Seven Deadly Sins used to be legendary warriors and the strongest guardians of Liones, before they rebelled and tried to overthrow their King. Just before completing their plan, the traitors were overwhelmed by the heroic Holy Knights and banished out of the realm. Despite not being seen for over a decade, the Seven Deadly Sins remain subjects of rumors foreshadowing their potential return. Princess Elizabeth, the third daughter of the current King of Liones, heads out into the great unknown to discover whether these warriors are still a thing. Suddenly, the Holy Knights copy a page from the Seven Deadly Sins' playbook and successfully usurp Liones’ King. Due to the suppression of the Seven Deadly Sins, there was nobody strong enough to repel their attack on the kingdom’s ruler. Just managing to escape, Elizabeth believes that Meliodas, the leader of the exiled Sins, is the only person who can save the nation. Nanatsu no Taizai is fast-paced and over-the-top, boasting a similar animation style to Black Clover. A-1 Pictures handled the series, so the action sequences are second to none. Meliodas is considerably more laid-back than Asta, but they are both motivated by a desire to protect those who are important to them. Nanatsu no Taizai’s entire cast is extremely lovable, with the writers instilling a sense of camaraderie between the Seven Deadly Sins.

From the big three anime – One Piece, Bleach, and Naruto – the ninja series shares the most similarities with Black Clover. This should not really come as much of a surprise since Studio Pierrot handled Naruto and Naruto: Shippuuden. In most ways, Black Clover is the studio’s attempt to recreate the magic of their most popular series. This is particularly apparent in the story’s pacing, as both series allow ample time for the characters to goof off, with a heavy employment of flashbacks to develop their backstories. At this point, Naruto barely needs any introduction, but we might-as-well mention a thing or two about the anime. Naruto is a social outcast, who aspires to reach the status of Hokage in his village. This is similar to the Wizard King status in Black Clover, with Naruto and Asta originally ridiculed for their unwillingness to accept their own shortcomings. Both protagonists are hyperactive, kind of dumb, and never know when to give up. Sasuke Uchiha serves as Naruto’s Yuno -including their similar character designs-, who is a perfect shinobi and Naruto’s direct opposite. Both anime split their time between action and over-the-top comedy, although Naruto probably does a better job with the latter.

Soul Eater is another school-based shounen, although this one happens to boasts some of the best animation seen within the industry. Bones should be commended for the risks taken with this anime, as there are very few series that can compare to the sheer mayhem on display. Death Weapon Meister Academy is run by the Lord of Death and exists to teach students how to wield scythes to use against the many evils threatening to ruin their world. These weapons are not just pieces of metal, as they exhibit a unique personality and decide who can fight alongside them. This leads to many buddy-cop type partnerships, were the scythe and student are practically polar opposites. Comedy is the name of the game, with each episode delivering multiple hilarious sequences. The diverse and memorable cast is unlikely to hold many surprises for viewers accustomed to the shounen genre, but their rapport is infectious. The battles should also not be underestimated, as Bones delivers a handful of truly electric action sequences which are colorful and unique. Black Clover and Soul Eater envision a universe where normal everyday people are bestowed with magic, making the supernatural an almost mundane occurrence. The latter is considerably faster paced, but they share similar larger-than-life characters and a dedication to light-hearted comedy.

Probably the least known anime included in this list, Quanzhi Fashi is a fantasy-action series developed by Shanghai Foch Film Culture Investment. Yes, this comes from a Chinese and not Japanese studio, but it holds a fair amount of similarities to Black Clover. Fan Mo wakes up in a familiar but strange world, where people aspire to become magicians. The protagonist is introduced as powerless, like Asta, although he possesses an inner strength which helps him stand out among the citizens of this world. Quanzhi Fashi also has a school setting, with many monsters wandering the wilderness just outside the main cities. Magic is divided into unique elements, and magicians tend to show an affinity for one particular type. The first season, which is just 12 episodes, covers a three-year time span; creating an engaging pace that never stops to take a breath. Quanzhi Fashi has gone unnoticed for the most part, although it did earn a currently ongoing second season. If searching for something similar to Black Clover, this action-heavy series should scratch that itch. Both series share a similar type of world, bringing together magic and the mundane.

Civilization is declining on Earth, making most of it uninhabitable. Under the domed city of Romdo, the AutoReivs (robots) live together with some of the few humans left. Unfortunately, a strange virus is infecting the AutoReivs. Our heroine, Re-L, is investigating the cause together with her AutoReiv Iggy. Little does she know, her encounter with a shy engineer under the name of Vincent, who is being framed for a crime, will kick off the journey of their lives. Ergo Proxy starts as a thriller only to become an interesting anime about journeys, just like the adventures of Kino. Our heroines are definitely not average girls, who have an interesting and complex past… although we should admit Kino is kinder than Re-L. Also, sometimes it is hard to root for just one character in both Ergo Proxy and Kino’s Journey, as they all are charismatic. One of the major topics in these animes is human psychology and existential conflicts in the daily lives of the characters. The main difference is the constant levels of action and the futuristic approach in Ergo Proxy. Also, there is an interesting attraction playing between Re-L and Vincent.

Holo was once known as the Wise Wolf of Yoitsu, a revered deity who was in charge of the annual harvest of the town of Pasloe. Now, with business being rather slow, Holo takes the chance to travel back to her original hometown with a merchant called Kraft Lawrence. Lawrence, who dreams to have a shop one day, takes advantage of Holo’s abilities in trade and accepts to be her companion. The only problem is that the journey is long and the intentions of both characters could change within time… If what you liked about Kino’s Journey is the slow pace and relaxing atmosphere, you should book a ride with Holo and Lawrence like right now. Both animes are also centered into encountering and interacting with different cultures and ways of thinking. The wit of both animes is a breath of fresh air, especially if you are looking for your identity in a rapid changing world, just like the characters! Although there is more comedy here than in Kino’s Journey, the reflections are real in both. The main difference is that Ookami to Koushinryou has romance.

Let’s go to another futuristic anime, ok? Here, your memories can be stored to let you become immortal, as long as you have enough money to buy new bodies, that is. However, there also exists a black market for memories, with all its dark consequences. The super rich and wasteful live in a sophisticated city in the skies, while the rest have to deal with the violence and poverty of the land. It is in such environment that a guy called Kaiba awakens with no memories of his past. Possessing only a pendant with the picture of a woman inside, he will start a journey to the skies, pursued by mortal enemies... Although the scale in Kaiba is bigger, we can notice a pattern of travelling to different places to meet different kinds of people and try to understand them, just like in Kino’s Journey. There is also a comrade who keeps themselves not too involved, letting the protagonist decide on their own. Although we could think Kino’s Journey has a safer atmosphere, both animes try to deal with deep thoughts without appearing too pretentious. The main difference is that Kaiba is more oriented to science fiction and romance.

Shinsekai Yori plays with the idea of becoming special all of a sudden. When .1% of the population acquire psychokinetic powers, there is a conflict that forces the special ones to create an isolated society with many boundaries. Therefore, our protagonist, 12 year old Saki Watanabe of the Kamisu town, joins the ranks of the Sage Academy for psychics at the beginning of the anime. However, Saki and her gang are intrigued by the kids who do not have psychic power and by a secret group called Tainted Cats. At first glance, it would appear that Kino’s Journey and Shinsekai Yori don’t have much in common, but let’s take a second look. Both animes are in the border between the ordinary and the extraordinary, as the main characters don’t seem alien to us. Saki and Kino are young but inquisitive and resolute protagonists who are discovering life. Also, the stories challenge the viewer with moral questions without really answering them. There is an atmosphere of light melancholy in Kino’s Journey and Shinsekai Yori as well, which also has to do with their maturity. The main difference might be the focus of Shinsekai Yori in romance and how fluid is regarding gender.

Some of us sometimes wonder where do our possessions come from, how they arrived to us and how were they made. This is the case of our protagonist Riko, who one fine day finds a humanoid robot called Reg, whom she believes was Made in Abyss. The Abyss is a mysterious place where adventure awaits and only the most experienced explorers (called Whistles) can go. But that won’t stop Riko, the Red Whistle who dreams to become a great White Whistle just like her late mother! Thus, with Reg’s help, Riko will go further than anyone into the deepest zones of the Abyss. The worlds encountered in Kino’s Journey and Made in Abyss are detailed, with well defined rules and beautiful landscapes. They come along with complex cultures and the most interesting adventures. Both animes also know how to deal with deep thoughts and emotional scenes. We might not get overly long anime in these cases, but we get quality, philosophy, adventure and beauty hand in hand with charismatic female leads. The difference is that Made in Abyss goes into the aesthetic lines of Kaiba, telling us an adult story with child-like animation.

We finalize our list with a recent anime. What would you do in an empty world where you and your pal are the only humans left? Travel, of course, just like Chito and Yuuri do! With the help of their Kettenkrad motor bike, the duo spends their days trying to find something to eat, more fuel, pieces for their motorbike… and who knows, probably more life. With hope as their only guide, they travel from landscape to landscape. The thing with the protagonists of Girls World Tour is that we don’t know much about where they came from and what happened to the world. In those aspects, we can compare them with Kino, who has a past of her own that is slowly uncovered in the show. There is also this objective of taking the journey to observe and learn, finding what is useful. The atmosphere is rather slow paced and melancholic, and the music in both animes helps with that. Also, the episodic nature of Kino’s Journey and Girls World Tour follows a similar structure. Finally… a motorbike. Should I say more? The main difference between the anime is, once again, the illustration style. Here we have another sister anime for Kaiba!

A series that takes itself way from the world of logic, “Kiznaiver” tells the story of Katsuhara Agita. Having the ability to feel no pain and bearing a muffled and complacent demeanor, he is often a target for bullies. Amongst everyone, the only one who seems to barely remember him before he suddenly changed to what he is today is his friend, Chidori Takashiro. One day, Katsuhira, Chihiro and four other students find themselves abducted and turned into lab rats/scapegoats for an experiment involving the Kizuna Systems. Now trapped in an incomplete system meant to find world peace and tied together in feeling pain, they group finds their fate just about tied together as they face having to reveal their true selves in order to escape. The most prominent thing you will find similar between these two anime is the mystery aspect on the main characters and the situation they end up finding themselves in. Another thing, being labeled as a “series that takes away from the world of logic” may seem a bit of a stretch but just the sci-fi aspects of the series and the questions that it raises for the first half does have some parts of the line justified. It may not have perverted hero or the world on the brink of destruction, but it does have good mystery and hero with a strange unexplained ability.

Here’s a familiar villain goal: conquering the world! But what if that villain was a little girl with great powers and she enlists the help of a regular boy into her grand scheme? This is the world of “Sekai Seifuku: Bouryaku no Zvezda” and the cute looking villain of this tale is Kate Hoshimiya. With great power, she may have the ability to go through her plan, but that doesn’t that there aren’t any people who are after her. From girls in tights to military tanks, this is one explosive and high flying adventure for one boy who ended up getting dragged into this mess. And it is exactly this that makes it so similar to “Punchline.” With its wacky style and concept of a male hero being dragged into a wild adventure, the only difference here is that the boy is not the ero but rather, “the henchman” so to speak. There are no asteroids threatening to destroy the world and no perverted hero with a strange power but the world is in danger here.

It was just another regular day at Akihabara for otaku siblings Tamotsu and Niwaka Denkigai when the area is suddenly invaded by “Bugged Ones”! They are vampiric cosplaying monsters and have the ability to possess anyone they bite. Soon they begin to take over the city and Tamotsu soon finds himself nearly becoming one of their victims. Luckily enough for him, Tamotsu finds himself saved by the mysterious baseball bat-wielding Matome Mayonaka. Together they battle against several other Bugged Ones only for Tamotsu to end up fatally wounded when protecting Matome. Making the decision to save him, Matome turns him into a high level Bugged One just like her and now together with other high level Bugged Ones and an excitable otaku, they face a hoard of battles. The factor that a main male protagonists gains some unexplained powers is one of the main links between the two. Another is the fact that there are more than one ecchi factors here and that there are a lot of girls and only one guy so that should tell you enough. The high paced art and bright colors are also another tie to consider between the two. Overall both have high flying adventures, a boy who gains mysterious powers and a good amount of ecchi moments to be alike.

Set in an alternate time and in a far off future, the world has slowly become taken over by the supernatural. With the population reaching panic, the Japanese government decides to create the Super Population Research Laboratory, also known as the "Superhuman Bureau." While they attempt to neutralize all super-powered threats, only the super-powered can defeat one another. Sadly, the organization is mainly consisted of humans. That is, all except one, and his name is Jirou Hitoyoshi. His main job is to recruit new talent and bolster the number of superhumans working for the government, but due a crucial decision, Jirou finds himself ending up as a vigilante. The world is in danger and there is a hero with strange unexplained powers. This is one link between the two series though the hero here is not the reason that the world is in danger. On the other hand, he does end up in all sorts of trouble and does have the potential of being a danger to the Earth. So, while the two characters have very little in common in terms of personality, they both have a penchant for getting into trouble and the ability to destroy everything.

To many Yuu Otosaka is just another charming and intelligent teenager; that’s not entirely true. Behind this facade there lies a boy with the power to take control of another person for five seconds at a time. For years, he has used this power to make his way to the top, but upon being caught by the enigmatic Nao Tomori, he finds himself dragged into a school where other special powered students like him, who abuse their power are placed. As he settles into his new school and finds himself becoming a part of the student council, he also finds himself slowly learning more and more about the secrets behind his power. Boy who has a mysterious power? Check. He abuses it? Check, He’s soon finds that there is more to it and tries to learn the truth? All these points checks out as similarities between the two series. With a smaller amount of ecchi, this is a series that doesn’t have as much crazy in it but did leave a unique mark.

This is the story of Maya, the daughter of the former Headmaster of Waldstein Academy, and a time traveling agent Fumiaki Uchida. Due to a search for what is called the Nostradamus Key, which Nostradamus Prophecy foretold as what would bring the apocalypse, the earth finds itself invaded by aliens in the year 2012. Turning back to 1999, Maya is set towards destroying the academy and superseding her father but ends up distracted by a young man named Fumiaki who warns her of the upcoming destruction. Though untrusting of him at first, this marks the start for the search of the key. The world is in peril and it seems part in saving it lies in a mystery to solve and a possible time travelling boy. There may be no wackiness and wild plot devices to match with Punchline, but the mystery and adventure with an unorthodox hero does give a link between the series. In addition to this, we have a female character who is dragged into the adventure so in a way, it’s kind of a reverse to Punchline.

Ichimatsu Kohina, a self-proclaimed doll called out to Kokkuri-san, the Fox Ghost with a very strange incantation. The incantation turned out to be the story of Kokkuri-san’s ability to answer any question. In the 21st century, Kokkuri-san’s ability lies within a particular search engine; however, Kokkuri-san himself is actually terrible with technology! He had initially planned on possessing a girl named Kohina but out of concern for her living by herself, Kokkuri-san devotes himself to doing Kohina’s chores, but now even the Dog Ghost, Inugami, and the supernatural raccoon dog, Shigaraki spend all their time with Kohina too! Gugure! Kokkuri-san is similar to Hoozuki no Reitetsu in the way in which it delves into the supernatural in order to create the anime’s universe and characters. In this anime, a fox spirit is summoned to the 21st century. A plethora of different supernatural creatures appear throughout the show much like in Hoozuki no Reitetsu. Another similarity, despite how different the two characters are, is the stoic nature of the protagonists, Ichimatsu and Hoozuki.

“Mushi” are the most basic lifeform in the world, existing without purpose. They simply exist in various forms, capable of mimicking various natural phenomena like rainbows. However, we can’t truly say we understand exactly what they are as most humans are unaware of their existence. In order to understand the Mushi, people who research them, or “Mushishi”, ponder the reason and value of the Mushi’s existence. One such Mushishi, a man called Ginko, looks for Mushi-related occurrences in order to understand them more, as an understanding of the Mushi could very well lead to the meaning of life itself. Mushishi bears great similarities to Hoozuki no Reitetsu in terms of story content and setting, with both being set in a world where the supernatural is the everyday for the main character. In both instances, the main characters are extremely skilled at what they do and even become advisors or like supervisors for other characters. Thus the similarities are two-fold: the supernatural aspect, as well as the calm, cool, collected and extremely skilled main character.

Momozono Nanami is a high schooler living a fairly unfortunate life due to her father’s extreme debt. Homeless, Nanami runs into a man being attacked by a dog and helps him. She eventually gets to explaining her dire situation and out of gratitude, the man offers her his home – a shrine! Unfortunately, the shrine had seen better days. As Nanami tries to leave, she is caught by a pair of shrine spirits and Tomoe, the fox familiar. For some odd reason, they are convinced Nanami is the man she saved – Mikage, the Land God. At this point, Tomoe realises that Mikage has sent Nanami to replace him as god of the shrine and abruptly leaves, refusing to serve the human Nanami. Despite all the confusion and Tomoe’s stubbornness, Nanami decides to try her hand at being a god; however, the road is riddled with obstacles, resulting in her sealing a contract with Tomoe. As Nanami’s familiar, Tomoe has his work cut out for him as one youkai wishes to eat her, while another wants to marry her and to top it off, Nanami herself has to understand her feelings for Tomoe. Much like Hoozuki no Reitetsu, Kamisama Hajimemashita deals with characters who are gods, demons and other supernatural beings and creatures. Much like Hoozuki no Reitetsu, this anime goes into following the trials and tribulations of a particular individual in a position of leadership or power, especially in a supernatural environment, with Nanami having to take over the duties of the Land God, Mikage, and Hoozuki being chief deputy to the Lord of Hell.

Most of us have thought about what kind of superpower we would like to have if we lived in a world in which this is normal. Saiki Kusuo doesn’t have to do much imagining as he is gifted with several supernatural abilities, from telepathy to x-ray vision. However, Saiki doesn’t regard these abilities a blessing – he feels cursed as the powers continue to inconvenience him in his life. Saiki wishes for an ordinary life, but unfortunately, such isn’t possible for him. In an attempt to live normally, Saiki keeps his powers a secret from his classmates, but he still ends up getting the attention of characters like Nendou Riki and Kaidou Shun. With so many eccentric people around him, Saiki begins to realise how difficult it will be to live that normal life he so desperately craves. Another title which contrasts the mundanity of life with the main character’s incredible life of some sort. Here we have Saiki Kusuo, an anime about a guy who’d love nothing more than to live a normal life but can’t due to his supernatural powers. This parallels with Hoozuki no Reitetsu’s portrayal of the day-to-day life of a character who represents anything but a “normal, daily life”, due to the fact that he is basically the managing director of Hell.

Itoshiki Nozomu is a highly pessimistic high school teacher who ends up in great amounts of despair over the smallest of inconveniences. Some of these incidents have led to his suicide attempts. Set in the modern day, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei explores modern Japanese life and culture through its main character, Itoshiki, and his interactions with the students he teaches – all of whom happen to be just as eccentric as he is! Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is an anime which is extremely rich in dialogue, much like Hoozuki no Reitetsu. This is due to the fact that the two stories in question are not driven by extreme fights, but rather, the mundanity of the lives of the characters in these shows and the characters themselves. Much like Hoozuki no Reitetsu, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei presents a main character who stands in a position of authority and guidance for the other characters – Itoshiki is a school teacher while Hoozuki manages the very running of Hell, supervising the demons in the positions below him.

Nura Rikuo is unfortunate. All he wants is a normal life; however, he is part youkai and his grandfather, Nurarihyon, wants Rikuo to take over as head of the Nura Clan. Rikuo is able to keep his secret hidden from his classmates as he can only transform into a youkai at night, for six hours at a time. However, given the fact that he is the next in line to lead a demon clan with quite a massive reputation, Rikuo and his friends become the targets of various youkai groups. With this huge problem looming over his head, Rikuo has no choice but to accept his youkai side. The similarities between Nurarihyon no Mago and Hoozuki no Reitetsu are in the two shows’ presentation of the life and times of a demonic main character. This character is then used to explore various forms of organisation of the demons in question. Bottom line – Nurarihyon is perfect if you are looking for anime with demonic main characters and even better if you’re looking for something with a little bit of action and Shounen vibes.

Middle Schooler Seigi is driven to help and protect people. As Seigi lives by this creed, he often ends up getting into fights to protect those who aren’t as capable as him. Then one evening when Seigi intervenes as a homeless man gets attacked by a group of thugs he is then given a strange tattoo as a reward. Unable to be removed, Seigi learns this isn’t an ordinary tattoo but one that makes him a powerful weapon. Now, Seigi must not only continue to protect those around him but he must also protect himself from those who want his new-found power at any cost. Beginning our list of 6 Anime Like Dies Irae we look at supernatural martial arts anime Taboo Tattoo. Akin to Dies Irae, Taboo Tattoo loves to throw its main cast of characters into battles where anything seems possible. Animated by J.C. Staff, Taboo Tattoo looks great and has a nice overall style which makes it visually pleasing for the eyes. At only 12 episodes, Taboo Tattoo doesn’t go into the full manga story it’s based on, but it also shows that a season 2 is always possible in the near future. If you like brutal mature fights with a tinge of supernatural themes mirroring Dies Irae, you’ll truly want to give Taboo Tattoo a try.

Kakeru Satsuki hasn’t lived an easy life. Thankfully with one good friend in the form of Yuka Minase, Satsuki has found a means of avoiding the cruelty of others thanks to his stoic personality and strange eye patch covered eye. However, a strange incident befalls the duo when the sky mysteriously turns blood red and the moon becomes black. Everyone apart from Satsuki and Minase seems to vanish and what now roams the streets of their city are odd monsters that seem bent on killing them. Though a semblance of hope arrives when Satsuki meets several others who have been dealing with this altered reality and with hesitance, Satsuki and Minase join them to discover a mean of surviving… 11eyes is one of those odd shows where normality is something only seen for a passing moment in its tale. All too like Dies Irae, 11eyes loves to keep its viewers guessing all while providing entertainment in the form of powerful fights between a group of what should be normal students and creatures from another world of sorts. While 11eyes hasn’t gotten a lot of love in the anime community, we here at Honey’s Anime have always found its dark tones and supernatural battles to be what makes it a worthwhile watch. Thus, we recommend giving 11eyes a chance if you’re enjoying Dies Irae and need some more supernatural fights. Let us also mention that if you need some ecchi—thanks to a cast of mostly girls—11eyes has you covered.

Japan has always been a strong nation until the year 2029 where an incident known as Lost Christmas broke out spreading a virus dubbed the Apocalypse Virus around. Even after ten years, Japan has been desperately trying to restore order but due to a loss of a central government, a new policing force called the GHQ has tried their part in making order for the nation with cruel laws and even harsher punishments. Though not all of Japan bows to the GHQ and one rebellious group—known as Funeral Parlor—fights back to save Japan from GHQ’s policing. One young man named Shuu Ouma is about to get involved in their back and forth war when he ends up gaining the Power of Kings and is able to create weapons from the hearts of men and women alike. Utilizing this power, Shuu must now enter into this war and not only help others but also must learn the truth hidden behind this war… Releasing in Oct 14, 2011 Guilty Crown surprised the anime world with a sci-fi action anime that was a true treat for those that loved unique stories and powers. Mirroring Dies Irae, our protagonist unwillingly gets involved in a war that has lasted for ten years—though in Dies Irae the war unseen by many has been lasting for a considerable longer amount of time—and must now use his powers to fight for a new future. At 22 episodes long, Guilty Crown offers up viewers a nice amount of content that will keep you hooked from episode 1 all the way to the finale. We also love the music in Guilty Crown and many fans will agree it’s one of the best elements of the show. That’s why we recommend checking out Guilty Crown if you want an action anime set in an alternative future and equally want some great animation thanks to Production I.G who never cease to not amaze us here at Honey’s Anime.

Acting as a parallel story to the Fate/stay Night series, Fate/Apocrypha tells of the story of the Fifth Holy Grail War. During the past, the Greater Grail disappeared during the third war and it led many to wonder what had happened to the ancient artifact. However, the silence is broken when the Yggdmillennia family removes themselves from the Mage’s Association and makes a bold claim they have the grail in their possession. Despite a large-scale operation to retrieve the grail using 50 magi all but one die from a servant. Using his last bit of strength, the one survivor activates the Greater Grail’s reserve power to summon 14 new servants and begin a new war… The Fate series has always given us fans a truly impressive story mixing historical icons and mythological ones in equal measure. That same element is found in studio A-1 Pictures’ Fate/Apocrypha series. While Fate/Apocrypha is still currently airing like Dies Irae—at the moment it is on episode 17—we are absolutely loving this new story and know fans and even newcomers will enjoy it. Impressive animation and great fights are just a few things to look forward to when watching Fate/Apocrypha so don’t hesitate to get into this series as soon as possible. When you’re caught up comment down below who some of your favorite characters are from Fate/Apocrypha, we personally love Ruler and Sieg but even some of the enemies such as Shiro and Dracula.

Atsushi Nakajima has recently been cursed by a strange tiger that seems to follow him and cause problems anywhere he goes. Kicked out of his orphanage for being a prime suspect in recent incident in the city, Atsushi now is homeless and forced to fend for himself. That however ends when Atsushi meets a drowning man named Osamu Dazai who he saves. Dazai along with others have actually been looking for Atsushi as they know of his hidden power and soon Atsushi learns that the white tiger he sees is actually him when he activates his powers unknowingly. Dazai then invites Atsushi to join the agency he works for which is filled with others who have powers like Atsushi, but use said powers to help keep the city safe from supernatural elements and those who also have powers but use them for ill intentions. One element we truly like about Dies Irae is the use of historical elements in an altered way of sorts. That theme is also found in Bungou Stray Dogs as the main cast of characters are all based on writers from the real world but with powers that we’re pretty sure they didn’t have. Nevertheless, Bungou Stray Dogs is a truly great anime from legendary studio Bones that doesn’t disappoint with a nice use of mystery, action and even some comedy here and there. That’s why we felt Bungou Stray Dogs was a great anime to recommend for our list of 6 Anime Like Dies Irae. With 2 seasons—both are 12 episodes—and a future movie to release called Bungou Stray Dogs: Dead Apple, now is an appropriate time to catch up so you can also enjoy the greatness that is Bungou Stray Dogs.

Young high school girl Nakajima Youko has lived what many would call an average life so far. Though those days vanish before Youko’s eyes when one day something amazing occurs. A man named Keiki appears before Youko and swears his allegiance to her then she and her friends are attacked by strange creatures. Before she can even begin to comprehend what is going on, Youko and her friends are then teleported to a new world quite different from their own. With no other options before them the friends must now find means of surviving in this foreign world to hopefully find a means back home. Ending our list of 6 Anime Like Dies Irae we look at Juuni Kokuki. Similar to Dies Irae, Juuni Kokuki is quick to show throw at you action, fantasy and of course supernatural elements in the form of odd creatures and even stranger characters that aren’t all human. While Dies Irae is set in a more modern world, Juuni Kokuki only initially begins in a modern-day land and quickly goes into a more isekai inspired story. If you need a good adventure tale filled with great battles and tons of magical themes, then you’re going to want to watch Studio Pierrot’s Juuni Kokuki. Plus, with 45 episodes of Juuni Kokuki to enjoy you won’t have to worry about running out of material while waiting for new episodes of Dies Irae to release.

Production I.G. introduces us to a world far in the future. This is not the Earth we are used to seeing… the good news is that our protagonist, lieutenant Ledo, is as confused as we are. He used to be part of the Galactic Alliance of Humanity, who were in the middle of a war with the Hideauze. When he loses control of his battle ship, Ledo arrives to the world of Gargantia, where a different race and new adventures await him. What will he discover in here? What happened to our planet Earth? Nope, we are not telling. You will have to watch Suisei no Gargantia to find out ;) Houseki no Kuni and Suisei no Gargantia are stories setted in post-apocalyptic, flooded worlds. The leading species can not be considered to be fully human anymore, and the enemies come from space, welding long term battles against what is left of humanity. The 3D animation in both shows is good as well. The main difference is the interaction of more than two races in Suisei no Gargantia, which complicates the story even more.

The case of RWBY is a curious one, but not as unusual as it might look. This is an anime/cartoon created directly for video streaming in cooperation with America. The show was so successful that it would become a manga and video game later. The story is a spin off of our most beloved fairy tales and folktales, in a world where the Creatures of Grimm menace the peaceful lifestyle. Therefore, our four female protagonists (Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladona and Yang Xiao Long) enter the Beacon Academy to become skilled Huntresses! Where have we seen an Academy to learn to fight? Also, the protagonists all have female bodies in Houseki no Kuni and RWBY. They have to confront dark, mysterious forces that are menacing their respective words as well. The difference is that RWBY is based in classic, western tales that most of us are familiar with, while the other is based in jewels. The length of the animes is also different. If you like long animes and are fond of spin-offs of classical tales, you might want to give RWBY a try.

Have you ever imagined how is life in the wild? If you like animals, this is the anime for you. Kaban is an anthropomorphic animal who one day arrives to the Japari Park, where she meets another anthropomorphic animal called Serval. They start a journey together towards the park library to find out which type of animal Kaban is. On the way, they will meet the other animal Friends in the diverse environments housed at the park, befriend and help them. They will also realize that not everything is as innocent looking as it seems in the Japari Park… If we have anthropomorphic jewels in Houseki no Kuni, we have anthropomorphic animals in Kemono Friends. They all are beautiful girls! However, as we said before, not everything is innocent in Kemono Friends, as there are enemies to fight with in a fantasy world. The main difference is the animation style. Although both shows use 3D animation, Kemono Friends is all chibi-like and tends to be simpler. It might not be the highest quality show in terms of visuals, but this anime is pure entertainment and warmth.

J.C.Staff has a thing for quirky anime, but we have to admit that they are giving their best in Children of the Whales. We are introduced to a world with an endless sea of sand, where a brown island called Mud Whale floats. The story centers in Chakuro, the 14 year old archivist aboard the Mud Whale. Although the island has been travelling for years, Chakuro and his friends have never come across another human being… until one day, they encounter a big island with a girl on it... We have fantastic, “flooded” and well built worlds in Houseki no Kuni and Children of the Whales. In both animes, the protagonists belong to a special human like race with supernatural powers to fight against dark forces. The protagonist has something to do with books as well, so they are not considered the strongest on board! The main difference is the animation style, as in both cases we have a unique twist in 3D, but the backgrounds in Children of the Whales look like watercolors. Also, people with powers in Children of the Whales can interact with normal people, in contrast with the jewels in Houseki no Kuni.

Polygon Pictures does not release animation in a constant basis as other more known studios. However, what they release is gold. Sidonia no Kishi was nominated as T.V. anime of the year in 2015. Anyway, the story follows Nagate Tanikaze, who awakens in a seed ship that was launched to save the remnants of humanity thousands of years ago. Now he will have to fight against the alien race Gauna, who have been trying to kill humanity for a long time. However, he is not alone, as the few humans who have survived become his friends. A curiosity about Houseki no Kuni and Sidonia no Kishi is that they used to be manga published by Kodansha before becoming full 3D adaptations. Both depict groups of special people who have survived for a very long time. They fight against aliens and go through training to do this. The characters are well developed, likeable and move fluidly, with grace. In fact, the entire atmosphere of the animes tends to be calm despite all the action. The main difference is that Sidonia no Kishi takes place in the middle of space.

We have learned to expect good things from A-1 Pictures, so it is not surprising that people still remembers Shinsekai Yori. Imagine what would you do if you find out you have psychometric powers. Would you be elated, terrorized, fascinated? After a violent era where coexistence between normal humans and special humans was near impossible, psychic humans have isolated their society and create new rules to avoid further problems. Shinsekai Yori tells us the life of 12 year old Saki Watanabe, who awakens her powers and starts attending the Sage Academy in order to control them. However, there are rumors about abducted children in the air... Houseki no Kuni and Shinsekai Yori present us worlds full of mysteries waiting to be explored. The protagonists are rather new in this environment, inexperienced and weak. There is also a us vs. them mentality, which lead the special humans to learn to fight to defend themselves. The main difference is that Shinsekai Yori has horror and is more psychology oriented.

Ohana Matsumae lived a rather carefree life in Tokyo with her mother. Her mother then makes a life-altering decision, to run away with her new boyfriend and abandon Ohana to her own devices following a philosophy of self-reliance. The young high school girl seeks refuge with her stern grandmother who runs a small countryside inn. Her grandmother won’t take care of her just because she her granddaughter, but puts her to work as a maid at the inn. We follow Ohana as she tries to figure out where she fits in at the inn, at the new school and in her grandmother’s life. The stories of Hanasaku Iroha and Konohana have some amazing similarities. The main characters Yuzu and Ohana both leave the worlds they grew up in and begin working at an inn. Yuza and Ohana also don’t have any experience in the hotel industry and make a lot of mistakes as they learn the ropes of their new jobs. The main characters are both earnest, willing to adapt to their new lives and want to please the people around them. Hanasaku Iroha is a little more mature as it delves into the inner drama of characters as they come of age and are deciding what they want to do with their lives while Kohohana Kitan feels like it’s more about being cute. We feel that if you like Kohohana Kitan you’ll love Hanasaku Iroha and their very cute and plucky heroines.

Chihiro Komiya is left homeless after the passing of his mother and it seems as though his once pleasant life is going to become very, very hard. When Chihiro’s life looks its bleakest Madoka Takatori steps on the stage. Madoka informs young Chihiro that he is Chihiro’s long lost and extremely wealthy uncle. The boy of modest means is swept away to his uncle’s high-class mansion and quickly beings sweeping. Modoka’s mansion is a disaster. The foyer alone filled with garbage and trash. Chihrio didn’t start sweeping and cleaning because he was told to, the boy happens to be a clean freak. He happily dons a maid uniform and begins cleaning the entire residence. The story is about Chirhiro’s ability adapt to life in the mansion, maintaining his modest outlook on life as he makes friends and rediscovers the meaning of family. Shounen Maid, like Konohana Kitan, is light-hearted. The two stories follow characters that grew up in modest circumstances and are now expected to operate in a world of luxury. Yuzu’s financial circumstances may not have changed like Chihiro’s, but they both are now surrounded by wealthy people. Chihiro also “works” for his uncle, though it wasn’t demanded of him, as a maid. The two stories are filled with kindheartedness that truly focuses on the good of people. If you want to spend some time with a cleaning-obsessed elementary school boy in a maid outfit whose optimistic outlook might give you a toothache check out Shounen Maid.

Chiya, who was raised in the mountains, moves to the town of Meirochou to become an Urara, or fortune teller, a highly respected and coveted position. Chiya doesn’t seem to have many social skills and has many of the attributes of a feral child. She also seems to attract animals to her since they think she is one of their own. Out of the blue, she receives an invitation to become a fortune teller – a fate she never dreamed could come true. She quickly is met by three other 15-year-old girls who are also apprentice candidates. The girls will work and live together learning their craft in the hopes of one day being able to strike out on their own as master fortunetellers. The first main similarity Urara Meirochou has with Konohana Kitian is the main character seems to have soft, furry ears. We are also immersed in a universe where youkai and gods live side by side with humans. We are again confronted with the fish-out-of-water scenario as Chiya, like Yuzu, learns to adapt to a new environment and job. We have a cast of really cute girls who learn to become friends as they bond over their new vocation. You are simply expected to smile watching the slice-of-life antics of the characters and their optimism as they try, succeed and sometimes fail at their new calling.

The story of Kiniro Mosaic is the story of two friends, Shinobu and Alice, from opposite sides of the world. Shinobu Oomiya traveled from her home in Japan to have a homestay in England with Alice’s family. Several years later, Alice begins a homestay with Shinobu and begins attending high school in Japan. The story is a simple slice-of-life anime that focuses on Shinobu, Alice, and their friends Youko and Aya. A third overly energetic half-Japanese-half-English girl Karen Kujou becomes part of their group as well. We get to see these cute girls deal with the typical and not-so-typical drama of high school life. Shinobu and Alice become a bridge for their friends, including Karen, between two very different cultures. The stories of Kiniro Mosaic and Konohana Kitan may seem on the surface to be very different but do have a few similarities worth pointing out. Kiniro Mosaic and Konohana Kitan are both slice-of-life stories. The artistic style and moe character design are similar as well. We get similar fish-out-of-water stories, at times two of them as Alice and Yuzu both adapt to their new environments. The casts are both almost exclusively female and don’t get caught up in talk of boys and dating. We have two stories with what you could call yuri-light where girls develop crushes and admire other girls without ever acting on them. You also have one or two episodes that seem to try for more than just cute by tackling a serious subject like death or a life well lived. Kiniro Mosaic is also funny. The girls get themselves into ridiculous situations and Karen is just a riot, so if you want a laugh this quintet of cuties is perfect for you.

We don’t like being judged by our appearances and neither does Sakuranomiya Maika, a high school girl with a sometimes sinister countenance looking for a job. Sakuranomiya Miaka needs a job because she is a travel nut and wants to leave Japan and see the world. She comes across a café and gets a job, but she isn’t hired because of her ability to wait tables but because of how she looks. Maika is a cute girl, it’s just when she smiles that sinister look comes out and can be quite off-putting -- except when that’s what you want. The café hires waitresses to portray roles like little sister, tsundere girlfriend, and sadistic girl -- a role she was born to play, despite having a very nice personality. We watch poor Maika struggle to make her personality match her sadistic look when serving customers; the results are hysterical. The anime Blend-S and Konohana Kitan both take place in the service industry and detail the effort of a newbie learning the ropes. Blend-S is really a comedy more than anything, and though Konohana Kitan has funny moments, it’s not the main goal of the story. We do have slice-of-life stories that have an underlying theme of being true to yourself. Yuzu, despite needing to learn the ropes of customer service, always lets her kind and inquisitive personality come through. Maika, on the other hand, struggles with being the person she needs to be, a sadist server, and the sweet girl that would help an old lady across the street. The character design is cute in both anime and leaves you wishing that either girl would serve your tea.

Hinako grew up in the country and is extremely shy, and we mean comically shy. If a person she doesn’t know (and sometimes even if she does know them) asks her a question, she basically turns into a scarecrow. She has been known to spend more time talking with the creatures of the woodlands like birds, bunnies and bears than with humans. She wants to get over her social anxiety, so she chooses to attend school in the city. She moves into a boarding house occupied by some eccentric girls above a bookstore and a café. Hinako realizes that one of the ways to get over her shyness is to get outside of her comfort zone, and what could be more out of her comfort zone than acting? She lives out her daily life working in the café and learning to act, all to become a better her. Hinako Note like Konohana is a slice-of-life story populated by harmless adventures. The two stories are also similar in the fish-out-of-water approach with the country girl moving to the city motif. The art styles and character designs are very similar and have fun with breaking the style into chibi occasionally for comic effect. We have stories of two girls that are trying to discover something about themselves. Yuzu seems to be working toward understanding the world and her purpose in it, while Hinako is working to overcome her personal hang-ups by challenging herself. The adorable characters in each anime draw us in with their innocence and isn’t that the kind of escape we want from an anime?

Hideki Nishimura, aka Rusian in-game, confesses his feelings to a fellow player in an online game. She flat out rejects him, but then goes a step further to rub salt in his wounds by telling him that she is actually an older man who is playing as a young, cute girl. Heartbroken, Hideki is done with women forever! Or so he thinks… Time passes and he meets another female character online named Ako. They spend time together and before he realizes it, she likes him and confesses her feelings to him. While cautious, he accepts and then learns very fast that she is just as cute and outrageous in real life as her personality online is. You see, Ako has a problem, she hates school and cannot differentiate between Rusian online and Hideki in real life. Hideki and his fellow classmates have to help her see the light and start to enjoy reality at the same time. At the crossroads of these two series, we find Moriko and Ako both rejecting reality and wanting only their online lives. Easily, the viewer can relate to both as there have been disappointing times in real life that it seems only your online friends can relate to you about. What both Netoge no Yome and Net-juu no Susume also do excellently is that they blend the MMO online fantasy world with reality quite well, so it never feels as if the series is too heavily based in one over the other. This is a great stepping stone for Net-juu no Susume fans.

Arata Kaizaki is 27 and has no job. He just cannot manage to keep one and every interview that he goes to, rejects him. Dejected after his mother tells him that she is unable to continue supporting him month to month and will be cutting his expenses in half, Ryou Yoake appears out of the blue and offers Arata a deal: take a pill and be turned back into a third-year high school student for one year. All the meanwhile, the institution behind this pill will pay for his expenses as well as support him. Arata ends up taking his pill and is transformed into a high school student. But it comes with a catch, he has to live now with Ryou. Suddenly that impression of smooth sailing sails right out the window. ReLIFE and Net-juu no Susume again are centered around two adults fed up with reality–proof that adulthood is a sham–and are looking for a way out. Arata gets a fantasy setup while Moriko plays games. Both characters grow throughout the series, at least we see that Moriko is starting to grow, and realize that they were not alone in the life that they previously had. They had just chosen to think they were. In both series, characters will learn how important human interaction is as well as a romance that can be touching.

Boring high school student Keita Amano is just another gamer trying to navigate high school life. He meets Karen Tendou one day who is the most popular student in the school. She asks him to come with her and he obliges… only to end up in a room where he is asked to join a club!? There Keita is going to meet a slew of characters who will not only challenge his sanity on a daily basis, but also push him to think about gaming and the things around him a bit more. We heard you like awkward. Do you like awkward? Because we got you some awkward. We hope that is okay. Both series deal with it frequently and while Net-juu Susume does handle it better, no one can disagree that the characters are awkward. Obviously, the characters are all gamers, which is somewhat rare these days, and of course there is an enjoyable romance budding. If you missed Gamers! in the summer, now is the time to watch.

Gabriel is the most powerful and intelligent angel in all of heaven. She is also adorable and clearly well-respected. When she goes to Earth to help humanity, Gabriel ends up being sucked into an online game and then next thing you know, she’s an angel only in name wasting all of her time on video games, sleeping, and snacks. This Fallen Angel ends up meeting a demon named Vignette who is supposed to be evil, but is actually straight-laced and good-natured. Then, Raphiel, a sadistic angel, and Satanichia, whose processor is about as fast as molasses in a blizzard, join in and before we know it, we are laughing from the opening to the ending about their antics. Net-juu no Susume and Gabriel DropOut both focus on a main, female character, who is over reality and honestly cannot be bothered to keep up appearances. While Moriko is a bit more relatable since she is… you know… not a supernatural being, the jokes are funny and the humor keeps the series light and upbeat. We are also seeing a slight diversifying of storylines among the main characters. Plus, who does not want to drop out of reality?

One day, while playing a game called Elder Tale, suddenly players find they are unable to log out, trapped in this world. Shiroe, a player who is well-versed in the mechanics of this game decides to make sense of things. Teaming up with Naotsugu and Akatsuki who are both trying to make sense of everything going on around them, they try to make a new life online and help out the NPCs that they are surrounded by. Life, Liberty, Fantasy, and Online Politics are at play? Shiroe has got his work cut out for him. While Shiroe did not choose the lot he was given, he has effectively dropped out of reality. Now, he works with those around him online a lot like what Moriko does. While Shiroe cannot logout of Elder Tale, there are many scenes and events that make you feel almost as if they are not in a fantasy world by taking events and problems seriously as well as mixing in politics. Moriko is the same by working hard with her online teammates. Enjoy!

Tomoko Kuroki is awkward. After playing countless games, she enters into high school with the mindset that high school boys cannot be much different from their game counterparts. Oh, how wrong she is. Tomoko has a terrible time trying to make friends and meet people because of her thought process and she does not even realize that she is the one who is awkward! Yuu Naruse, her best friend, attempts to help her navigate high school life. Moriko is awkward slightly in an adorable yet funny way which can also be said of Tomoko. While Moriko is leaving reality, Tomoko has been gone for a long time and in fact, would probably greet her with arms wide open! There is visible trauma in Moriko’s past–look up black companies in Japan–and while she felt alone, and probably was, Tomoko is alone because of her social skills. Together these two are trying to piece together their lives while looking from the outside in. Either way, get ready to laugh.

Kumiko Oumae enters high school with a brand new perspective. Despite looking like an average girl, Kumiko had an illustrious music career back in middle school in the brass band. However, due to an unfortunate incident, she decided to swear off music altogether. But as fate would have it, Kumiko is surrounded by various people with a keen interest in music. Due to the exposure, she takes up the euphonium once again. Now, she aims to set the record straight and right the wrong that occurred to her in the past with old and new friends. This is a tale of redemption and reprieval. Similar to Wake Up, Girls, Hibike! tells the story of starting rock bottom once again. The high school brass band is a relatively unknown group with little standing in the music community. However, through rediscovering her passion for music and working together with her new peers, Kumiko aims to bring the brass band to new heights. This story showcases the struggles and frustration of starting from nothing and the road to success. In the end, their valiant efforts are recognized and the conclusion of the story is them accomplishing the goal that they aimed for since the beginning.

765 Production Studios is the talent agency of 13 professional idols. Their aim is to bring these 13 to the top and become recognized nation-wide. However, as these 13 girls will soon find out, the road to being successful idols is a long and arduous one. Behind the veil of stardom lies frustration, hard work, sweat and even tears. Before they are full-fledged idols, they must overcome the physical, mental and emotional burdens that lies in their way. Will they eventually succeed in their dream before the fire of their passion flickers away? The iDOLM@STER is a classic idols genre anime that sets the benchmark for subsequent idol themed animes. The original storyboard acts as a precedent even to newer idols anime. The story deals with the protagonists balancing between work and play and struggling with numerous obstacles. On the surface, it may appear that the only worries that idols have are the competitors surrounding them. However, it goes deeper than that. Before fame may surface, every idol must pay a price in order to achieve that status. This anime shows just how ordeals and tribulations can be conquered with the loving support of one another and hard work.

Depicting a dystopian society, the totalitarian government, the Deep Galactic Trade Organization has proclaimed that music is the root of all evil and has permanently banned its existence. Refusing to accept this new proclamation, the agency group, AKB0048 is formed for the sole purpose of re-introducing music. This group, based on the original AKB48 makes it their personal mission to bring music back to life and restore it to its former glory. The group now travels between planets and holding as many lives as they can in order to spread the influence of music. Amidst their new training regime and numerous concerts, they must also fend off the cops and prevent being arrested for inciting such a taboo... AKB0048 is not too far off from the idol group that we know, AKB48. It is based on the original group with the voice actresses being members of the group as well. Instead of working towards the top through the improvement of their music, the whole premise is the spread of music itself. The concept of music just does not exist anymore! Similar to Wake Up, Girls expect many insert songs with every song having a purpose. Music is a fundamental aspect of human life and now, it is the underdog of society in this anime. Time to go back to our roots and rediscover the power of music and bring it back to its rightful state!

Hirasawa Yui is a carefree girl who is just about to enter high school. Being the fickle minded girl that she is, she decided to join the Light Music Club after chancing upon a poster in school. However, she cannot play any instruments. The members of the club, disheartened to hear about it, had no choice but to retain her or face the disbandment of the club. And that is how the club is maintained with the addition of a new guitarist. Slowly but surely, Yui improves on the guitar just in time for the school festival. Will she get the piece correct before their official debut though? K-ON is a light-hearted slice of life anime. While not intense in portraying the commitments of joining a music club, the anime still retains the element of showcasing the struggles of balancing homework and mishaps along the way of becoming a functioning music club. The anime tones down on the severity of the issue which makes it easier to digest. So if you just happen to look for a toned down version of Wake Up, Girls, K-ON is sure to not disappoint! After all, it was and still is one of the most popular animes in Japan!

Shirahamazaka High School holds a special every year for its music students. This event is graced by professionals of the industry and other prestigious guests. Now entering her final year in high school, Konatsu Miyamoto yearns to sing at this event. However, due to an incident that happened the previous year, she was barred from performing at the event. Through a flash of inspiration, she decides to form her own choir group. However, her close friend whom she expected supported had given up singing. Not only that, she fails to meet the requirement of 3 participants in order to form a club. Time is definitely not on her side and with only one month left and still no club to practice in, she must do her best in order to fulfill her wish. Tari Tari is a heart-warming tale of how different individuals with different background come together to perform one final piece before their graduation. We have, on one hand, a jaded singer who seemed to have lost her passion for singing, a passionate singer with a history and one who is pursuing other interests. This anime shows how music is the binding force that brings about individuals together, compelling themselves to reach new heights. Despite the trials and tribulations along their way, as long as the fires of their passion continue to burn, this small but soon to be acknowledged group will achieve what they set out to do. The similar message shared by both animes is that as long as you work hard enough fervently, you will definitely achieve what you desire most.

Otonokizaka High School faces a crisis never seen before. Due to the alarming rate of declining enrollment, the school faced closure after the current first year's graduate. Honoka Kousaka, a first year at the school refused to graduate from a school doomed to be closed down. Seeing popular idol group A-Rise gave her the motivation to form an idol group. The plan is simple, to become famous, increasing the reputation of the school and have more students enrolling in order to save the school. However, not everything falls into place of her grand scheme when she realized that it was hard for her to even establish a new club in her current school. Next, there is the issue of choreography, costumes and so much more to be planned. Will this spark of imagination live up to its expectation or will it just be another fleeting ideal of a high school girl? In many ways, Love Live shares many characteristics with Wake Up, Girls. Both shows the initial struggles of a bold new group with high expectations. Both emphasize the complications of maintaining an idol group and developing new content. But the piece de resistance for both animes would undoubtedly be its amazing character cast. These characters pursue on to their dreams relentlessly, overcoming problems after problems before eventually reaching the pinnacle of their creation, making their dreams a reality. You can also expect numerous themed songs that will set the mood and pace of the story. Ultimately, we would rate this anime to be the most akin to Wake Up, Girls in addition to being a must watch for any anime fans!