This anime is pretty straightforward. Ronja is the daughter of a chief of bandits who lives in a huge castle in the forest with her tribe. Ronja is a free spirited girl who roams the forest. In her adventures, she is mesmerized by nature, but she also finds mythical creatures and makes friends. Hakumei to Mikochi and Sanzoku no Musume Ronja make a great work of defining their female protagonists and make us smile in the process. The forests in both series are so magical that one can not wait to explore them! These animes are also safe to watch with the family. The main difference is the CGI treatment in Ronja, and the fact that the protagonists are humans, of course. The art has been compared to Zelda (think The Wind Waker or The Minish Cap), and… did we mention that it was a Studio Ghibli production? If you like these type of video games and animes that make you feel like a cheerful child again, you cannot miss Ronja.

Several anime play with the concept of becoming an independent magic practitioner. Flying Witch starts with the protagonist, Makoto Kowata, leaving her parents home to train her abilities. She goes to Aomori with Chito, her cat familiar, and is received by her cousins. Nevertheless, they have to live hiding their powers, attending school and trying to fit the normal life like any other regular teenagers. If what you like about Hakumei to Mikochi is how magical daily life is, you will find more of this feeling in Flying Witch. Also, if you need a break from fast paced anime, you will love Flying Witch. Everything is so natural and easy that you will be immersed in its world. Both animes make us fall in love with nature, as they represent it in full glory. Probably the main difference is that the color in Flying Witch is softer and that the protagonists are humans. Also, the urban aspect of Aomori makes an interesting contrast with the natural scenes. However, both shows are female centered and will bring a bit of warmth into your heart.

OK, so maybe you liked Flying Witch, but the amount of Japanization was not enough in your opinion. Perhaps you want something more traditional. Don’t worry, because we got you covered with Konohana Kitan. We have an entire village of spirits here and the protagonist is a Kitsune called Yuzu. She is starting her first job in Konohanatei, the village’s hot springs. Both clients and staff will have many slice of life adventures, amused by the cheerful Yuzu and her inexperience. However, she will always try her best. It is always entertaining to imagine how would other creatures similar to us would live. This is something that we can find in Hakumei to Mikochi and in Konohana Kitan. Nature can be breathtaking in both animes, showing the most brilliant colors. The main cast is a diverse group of girls in the two shows as well. If what you like in your fantasy anime is heart warming stories with happy protagonists, Konohana Kitan might be the right show for you.

Arrietty is a small fourteen year old girl who lives in a shoe box with her family. They are “borrowers”, and often risk their lives to get their life means from the giant humans. However, when 12 year old Shu arrives at the house of his grandmother, he meets Arrietty. Can a friendship between the two worlds survive? You will have to watch this movie to find out. We could not resist recommending another Studio Ghibli masterpiece. If you liked the concept of tiny people in Hakumei to Mikochi, you might like Arrietty as well. Our female protagonist is a complex character that has a conflict between her friendship with Shu and the danger other humans might represent if they discover her or her family. All in all, the natural scenes in both animes are superb, making you want to explore your home garden more. If you like Ghibli and adventures with little people, you definitely have to watch Arrietty.

Chise Hatori has been troubled her whole life as she can see things that others can’t. Rejected and hopeless, Chise sells herself on the magic black market, where she is bought by a half human, half fae magician called Elias Ainsworth. Mahoutsukai no Yome follows their daily life adventures as Chise discovers the world of magic. However, this series of OVAs is a prequel about Chise’s childhood days, when she found a mysterious library in the middle of the forest. These OVAs were the first try of the world of Mahoutsukai no Yome for many otakus. They follow a tiny protagonist dealing with daily life and the magical world, just like Hakumei to Mikochi. Compared to the main series, it is closer in tone and innocence to the adventures of our little dwarfs. We only have to warn you that Chise is a very troubled girl, but in general, her adventures are visually appealing and will relax you after a long day. Did we also mention that nature looks gorgeous in both animes?

At her 15 years, Kino is an expert traveller. She counts on Hermes, her talking motorbike, and her two handguns, Cannon and Woodsman, to protect her. Whenever Kino is troubled, she just goes in a travel, moving ahead. The only rule is that she stays in a country only for three days, absorbing the culture and beliefs of their citizens. Hakumei to Mikochi and Kino no Tabi show us different views of the world in each episode. All of them are seeking to live a good life, and there is a certain calm in the adventures we are offered in these shows. The difference is that Kino is a human travelling to different countries, who has a complex past of her own revealed in the story. However, both series make a good job in showing us human nature and the environment that surrounds us. If you have a thing for travelling, you have to check Kino no Tabi.

Osake wa Fuufu ni Natte kara tells the story of a serious office worker by the name of Chisato. She works hard every day as the assistant manager and is well-liked and respected by her peers and subordinates. Straight laced, she is not one to be messed with. That is until Chisato goes home and her husband, Sora, makes the perfect thing just for her, drinks! With a simple sip, Chisato is tipsy and affectionate. The target of her love? Why her husband, of course! Today too, Chisato is getting tipsy and showering the perfect husband with love. This one is an easy and immediate connection. It’s cute, fun, upbeat, and of course, centered around alcohol. While Osake wa Fuufu ni Natte kara focuses on how to make the drinks, Takunomi is more about pairing food with it as well as talking about how various kinds of alcohol is made. While they show thinly veiled alcoholism, both are still fun and enjoyable and a fantastic way to look into drinking in Japan.

Kokonotsu has dreams of becoming a manga artist. His father wants him to take over the family dagashi, Japanese sweets, shop. Refusing to do so, he plugs away daily at working on his manga until a strange woman named Hotaru shows up. She is from a massive candy enterprise and wants Kokonotsu’s father to come work for her. He agrees on one condition, Hotaru has to convince Kokonotsu to take over the shop. Thus a confectionary journey sure to rot your teeth out begins as they look at the history of the majestic Japanese sweet. The reason we chose the second season over the first is that the second is shorter like Takunomi and they actually air back to back and are meant to be watched together. Also, there have been some changes as well. Takunomi is blatant advertising for alcohol manufacturers in Japan going so far as to show labels and not changing any of the information. The same is more or less true for Dagashi Kashi which goes into the history of Japanese sweets and snacks. The second season in particular is not making much of an attempt at plot but rather is focusing on pushing the individual sweets. Either way, both series make you want to eat and drink, and there is plenty of comedy and fanservice to go around!

Minami Tani really likes bread. No, she REALLY likes bread. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, in-between-meal snacks, she’s got bread. So when she meets Yuu, Fuyumi, and Noa, they bond over loving food and bread. Noa is a bit out there, but still, she enjoys bread. While forming the bonds of friendship, the girls work together to enjoy more and more types of bread! Starting out, both series are short with Pan de Peace being only 3 minutes. Both feature cute girls and silly antics that endear them even more to the viewer all while talking about very specific mediums. Pan de Peace has bread while Takunomi has drinks. Both take themselves seriously without being too serious at the same time and there is a lot of enjoy. Take a look and since your teeth into this sweet series!

Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san is about a girl named Koizumi. She possesses a certain allure about her, but the thing is, no one really knows much about her even though she is well-liked. Koizumi is actually a ramen master, wandering from shop to shop in hopes of finding a new ramen store she hasn’t been to. Thankfully, when she does find a good one, she does not hold back and dives right on in. Large men even feel threatened by this small girl who can put away quite a bit of ramen. Let’s start with both series being more or less blatant advertisements for something. Takunomi has drinks and food pairings while Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san is for ramen. Just in case the title did not give it away. Both series don’t really make much of an attempt to hide sponsorship, but on the other hand, it works for the series as it helps fans identify what they see online, in real life. Takunomi and Ramen Daisuki both sport a main cast of four girls who bond over food in one and drink in another. Cute and fun, if you are watching Takunomi then you should be watching Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san!

Ryuu Sasakura works in a bar where he is more or less the drink god. He can make the most amazing cocktails ever consumed for customers who wander into his bar. The thing is though, is that it is never that easy. He must listen to their issues and help them solve their problems all while they sip on his amazing cocktails. At first, Bartender and Takunomi, other than the fact that they are about alcohol, may not seem so related. However, it is a bit deeper than one realizes. While Michiru is able to rely on those in her share house for consolation, advice, and drinking buddies, customers come into Ryuu’s bar looking for a drink, but end up learning a lot about the history or taste while being consoled. The same goes for Michiru by hearing about most drinks from the girls around her. While Takunomi is not about to go off the deep end of an existential crisis, the series does have minor issues that crop up. Bartender, on the other hand, goes very deeply into thoughts, ideas, and concepts. If you are looking for a bit more pizzazz with your drink, then look no further!

You Satou is out shopping for dinner one night. He reaches for a half-off bentou and is subsequently knocked out. Coming to, all of the bentou are gone. What has happened? After this strange occurrence, he learns that half-off bentou are serious business and are not to be trifled with. In fact, it is an all-out bloodbath to get these bentou. Suddenly, he finds himself drawn into the world of Wolves and Dogs fighting where if you aren’t smart enough and fast enough, you will go home hungry. Our final addition is here to play up the comedy part of Takunomi. Ben-to is ridiculous to its core and reaches a fever pitch every time they end up in a supermarket waiting for the half-off stickers to be placed. The same happens to the girls in Takunomi when they start to get a bit too drunk. Kae almost assaults Michiru one time and another has them reach a frenzy pitch when they are all drunk and hungry. Ben-to, much like Takunomi does with alcohol, takes a serious look at the beloved bentou box and explains how things are paired and end up together. It’s not random, it’s on purpose! It’s also difficult to find a character that you do not like in either series because they are always funny and amusing. Check out the trailer below and get ready to line up for a bentou.

Hasegawa Subaru was pretty excited to play on the basketball team at Nanashiba High School. Unfortunately, when the coach gets suspended for questionable acts, Subaru’s chances to play basketball seem all but lost. Then out of nowhere, Subaru gets another chance to play ball thanks to his aunt and her team. Subaru is about to play some basketball finally but little does he realize its with a bunch of young girls. Can Subaru play basketball in this odd situation?! Loli girls and basketball seem like a weird combination, right? It might be in most anime but in Ro-Kyu-Bu! it’s actually funny and makes it quite similar to Ryuuou no Oshigoto! The funny antics of a female cast of lolis and the awkward situation it makes for the main man Subaru remind us of the issues faced by Ryuuou no Oshigoto!’s main protagonist Yaichi Kuzuryuu. If you want some cute lolis and funny anime sports antics then check out Ro-Kyu-Bu! Just remember this is anime sports and not real ones, don’t expect realistic basketball games.

Vocaloid enthusiast Kyou Nakui is use to uploading his works online but rarely with anyone commenting on them. Despite being a hikikomori, Kyou listens to his fan’s request to meet him in real life. When Kyou arrives at the location, he sees something quite strange. Instead of one fan, Kyou ends up meeting three elementary girls! These girls wish to make a band together and they want Kyou to help them make it a reality. Stepping away from sports for a moment, we look at Tenshi no 3P! done by studio Project No.9 the same team who animates Ryuuou no Oshigoto! Like many of the dudes on our list, Kyou also deals with a bunch of lolis which leads to some very questionable moments. However, that is what makes Tenshi no 3P! so laughable as you’ll laugh seeing Kyou’s odd reactions to three young girls being sometimes overly close. Are you liking the sometimes-questionable antics of Ryuuou no Oshigoto!? Then we fully recommend checking out summer 2017’s comedic loli anime called Tenshi no 3P!

Mahjong is a pretty popular sport in most Asian countries. There are many who consider mahjong to be one of the ultimate games. Saki Miyanaga though isn’t one of these lovers of mahjong and basically doesn’t like it thanks to her past experiences losing New Year’s money to her family during mahjong games. Despite Saki’s hate for mahjong, she still knows ways to play and how to never lose but equally never win. Despite Saki’s lack of interest in playing mahjong she finds herself forced to join the mahjong school club and now must once more enter the world of a game she utterly hates. In the anime world, we’ve seen popular board games like go, shogi and even chess be used as central sports for various reasons. However, we truly haven’t seen mahjong be a main component until Saki. While Saki might not have lolis everywhere, it does have cute girls playing mahjong and acting quite goofy at times. Saki really surprised us when it was released back in 2009 but we think it has fallen in obscurity ever since. If you need an anime to bide over waiting for weekly releases of Ryuuou no Oshigoto!, then we think you’ll like Saki. Then you can comment which of Saki’s female members is your absolute favorite girl in the comments below.

In the world of shogi, Rei Kiriyama is pretty well known for rising up the ranks when he was only in middle school. While many would revel in this fame and popularity Rei unfortunately suffers from a surreal amount of depression and has found himself isolating himself from those around him. Thankfully, Rei’s adopted family hasn’t given up on him and try their best to comfort him and make Rei feel as if he is truly part of their family. Rei will slowly begin to open up from his shell as life begins to show him the beauty of friends and family. However, will Rei be able to rid of himself of his past traumas and survive the tough shogi battles he’s about to face? Join Rei on his journey between the world of shogi and family in 3-gatsu no Lion. While cute anime like Ryuuou no Oshigoto! might be fun and take shogi semi-seriously at times, we know that you might want a more serious anime to enjoy. If that is the case, let us turn your attention to 3-gatsu no Lion by studio Shaft. 3-gatsu no Lion is a drama filled title with a mixture of moral themes and of course shogi playing, but never does one element outshine the other. Many of us here at Honey’s Anime HQ absolutely love the emotional rollercoaster 3-gatsu no Lion delivers week after week—the first season is over with but season 2 is currently airing—and we know you folks will, too. That’s why we recommend a small reprieve from the cute lolis and silly antics of Ryuuou no Oshigoto! and recommend watching 3-gatsu no Lion. Trust us, there are also cute elements in 3-gatsu no Lion but they wouldn’t overload you and are used sparingly.

Shindou Hikaru found his 12-year-old life changing abruptly one day when he found an old Go board in his grandfather’s attic. Once Hikaru picked up the board, he found his body taken over by a once famous go player who killed himself in the past but desperately wanted to play Go once more. Introducing himself as Sai, Hikaru finds that this ghost wants Hikaru to play Go in his stead. Decided to give into Sai’s pleas, the young Hikaru decides to enter a Go battle but with a prodigy known as Touya Akira. Now Hikaru must become an ultimate Go player to help Sai fulfill his last wishes in Hikaru no Go. Sports anime have always been hit or miss in the anime world. Some people love the ridiculous nature of how sports are played while others find it too ridiculous. Hikaru no Go, however, blends reality with fiction as it well known for being one of the more popular shounen board games. While Hikaru no Go might not be filled to the cusp with loli females, it does have similarities in mixing comedy with a board game and that’s why we like it a lot. Hikaru no Go was one of the more popular shounen anime and manga series to release in the world so why not check it out to see why it was so loved for yourself?

What do you get when you mix four girls who rather have fun than play tennis? You get Teekyuu an anime that sometimes forgets people have limits and can’t fly around or pull off impossible feats. Watch as friends Kanae, Nasuno, Marimo and Yuri go to tennis club and usually goof around more than play. Expect the unexpectable in Teekyu. Seriously, some of the actions of these girls really would probably get them thrown out of school… Let us end our 6 Anime Like Ryuuou no Oshigoto! list with Teekyuu. Teekyuu’s enjoyment comes in numerous forms like the fact that each episode is only 2 minutes long and is filled to the brim with amazing amounts of crazy comedy. Teekyu might not focus on tennis—the main sport within the show—on even a small amount in comparison to Ryuuou no Oshigoto!, but that’s okay. We know for a fact you won’t even care about the girls playing tennis as you’ll be holding your sides laughing at some of the absurd antics they perform on their friends, strangers and even on themselves in Teekyuu. Though, tennis is played once in a while…but seriously only once in a while.

One of the many nostalgic titles for those whose early teenagers phase was early 2000s, Fruits Basket was literally The Shoujo Series that everyone loves. It tells the story of a 16-year-old girl, Tooru, who is trying to live by herself in a tent in the woods after losing her mother and having to move out of her grandfather’s house that is being renovated. As luck would have it though, her ‘living place’ got buried in an accidental landslide, and it just happened that the Prince of her school, Souma Yuki, and his cousin, Souma Shigure, just passed by, and kindly offered her a place to stay. Except she soon discovered that the Souma family is special: when they’re hugged by people of opposite sex, they turn into one of the animals of the zodiacs! What sort of secrets does this household have? Fruits Basket might not have adorable babies or toddlers (though it does have very cute boys), but it has a very similar story tone to Gakuen Babysitters. Both Ryuu and Tooru are teen protagonists who are very resilient and kind, and are very good of taking care of people. Both series have very similar sense of humor: amusing but not too-exaggerated, and an uplifting, hopeful way of looking into the issues and conflicts in the story. While Fruits Basket does have a bit more romance storyline, ultimately it focuses on the relationships between characters to drive the story forward, which is exactly what Gakuen Babysitters is doing, too. If you enjoy Gakuen Babysitters, why not try looking into an older shoujo series that would give you not only heartwarming tales, but also lets you enjoy top-grade voice acting of seiyuu such as Okiayu Ryuutarou, Seki Tomokazu, Horie Yui, Hisakawa Aya, and Inoue Kazuhiko?

Produced by Production I.G., Usagi Drop tells the story of Kawachi Daikichi—a single man of thirty years old, whose life changed after he attended his grandfather’s funeral and met his grandfather’s illegitimate child, Rin, who is still six years old. As the rest of the family seems to not know what to do with their grandfather’s previously-hidden illegitimate child, and not knowing where her Mother had run off to, either, Rin finds herself being ostracized from the rest of the family. That is, until Daikichi finally puts down his cup of tea and decided to take Rin in and try to raise her. Thus, begin the life of a single salaryman trying to raise a tiny girl who is technically his aunt. Looking at how Rin is in the first two episodes would definitely remind you of Kotarou—both children are quiet and reserved, but once they’re around people they can trust and enjoy being with, they just radiate cuteness. While Usagi Drop offers a more serious look at the daily life of Daikichi raising Rin, both series are similar in that they’re both heartwarming slice-of-life that would make you simultaneously laugh and cry at times. And while you’re at it, both opening and ending songs of this anime are super cute! You can also enjoy voices of Tsuchida Hiroshi, Sakamoto Maaya, Uchiyama Yumi, and of course the adorable young seiyuu Matsuura Ayu!

Why is a shounen title in this list? Well, Kimi to Boku isn’t exactly your usual shounen comedy slice-of-life series. It’s a series written by Hotta Kichii, serialized in GFantasy, and is pretty much a series about the importance of unimportant things. Kimi to Boku tells the story of five high school students: the model student Tsukahara Kaname, the kind-hearted Matsuoka Shun, the mischievous but adorable Asaba twins, Yuuta and Yuuki, and the loud-mouthed Tachibana Chizuru. This is a story of how they pass their high school days in which everything is very peaceful to the point of seemingly boring. Except it’s much more than that—in Kimi to Boku, we see how the uneventful, peaceful school days of these five boys are actually important days they grow to treasure and remember fondly; it is about how you find the little things in those seemingly mundane days that makes them important. Both Kimi to Boku and Gakuen Babysitters share the same sort of slice-of-life theme: finding things of importance in mundane, seemingly unimportant things. Just like your heart would be warmed by Kotarou trying to squeeze juice out of lemons for a sick Ryuuichi, you’d also go ‘aaawww’ at Yuuki trying to comfort Yuuta after his first time breaking up with a girl. Both series are also heavy with siblings fluff—Kimi to Boku might not have constant focus on older siblings taking care of their younger siblings like Gakuen Babysitters, but you’d get to watch the twins caring for one another in their own unique way, or Shun dealing with his younger brother trying to date a girl. Kimi to Boku also lists up a very gorgeous cast; the main boys are voiced by Kimura Ryouhei, Uchiyama Kouki, Irino Miyu, Ono Yuuki and Toyonaga Toshiyuki, and supporting characters cast included names such as Endou Aya and Okamoto Nobuhiko.

Another very nostalgic shoujo series that was popular in its time, Aishiteruze Baby is a shoujo comedy anime based on a manga with the same title, running in Ribbon Magazine by Maki Youko. Following the life of our teen protagonist-slash-high school playboy Katakura Kippei, Aishiteruze Baby is a story of how an irresponsible male teenager is suddenly responsible of the life of a five-year-old girl: Kippei’s cousin Yuzuyu, a very bright, adorable girl whose mother had suddenly gone missing and appeared to have abandoned her somehow. Between caring for Yuzuyu, who is deeply wounded by her mother leaving her, and the high school life and unexpected romance blooming between him and his friend Kokoro, Kippei attempts to get his life together and learns what responsibility means. Aishiteruze Baby, like Gakuen Babysitters, is amazingly cute. Watching Kippei tries to take care of Yuzuyu is like watching a less-inept Ryuuichi caring for Kirin. Both Kippei and Ryuu are high school students, so if you enjoyed Gakuen Babysitters’ high school-related comedy, Aishiteruze Baby is a very similar setting. Both shows have very similar shoujo comedic tones—silliness and cuteness abound—and while Aishiteruze Baby also focuses a bit more on the romance between Kippei and Kokoro, it still focuses more on how Yuzuyu interacts with people around her. It might be an old series, but it’s worth checking it out! You might also hear Aoi Yuuki’s early voice acting as Marika here, along with nostalgic names such as Chiba Saeko, Fujita Daisuke, Hara Fumina, Tsuzurahara Miyu, and Endou Kumika.

This series briefly graced the 2014 Summer anime season with only 12 episodes, but everyone who watched it simply fell in love with it. Barakamon is an anime based on a manga series with the same title, currently still serialized in Gangan Online by Yoshino Satsuki. Handled by the studio Kinema Citrus, Barakamon tells the story of a young award-winning calligrapher-slash-narcissist, Handa Seishuu, who is facing very bad repercussions after losing his temper to a veteran calligrapher. To make him self-retrospect, he is banished by his Dad to the Goto Island—a rural area that offers a completely different lifestyle from the one Handa has been used to in Tokyo. There, he tries to develop his own unique style and find inspiration. Except as luck would have it, he’s now surrounded by a loud kid, some middle school students, and even old men. How is he supposed to live now? Like Gakuen Babysitters, Barakamon is a comedic slice-of-life series that is very heartwarming to watch. Both series have a similar sad undertone that would cause you laugh and shed a tear simultaneously, without ripping your heart to shreds. The silly shenanigans of Barakamon is pretty much the sort of crazy shenanigans you would also find similar to Gakuen Babysitters, and Handa’s exasperation of Naru would remind you of Hayato’s exasperation at Taka. Of course, that’s not the only thing that makes Barakamon great—it boasts amazing cast from Ono Daisuke, Uchiyama Kouki and Endou Rina, to Ookubo Rumi, Suwabe Junichi, and of course the little Hara Suzuko.

Yes, this is the Gakuen Babysitters of late 1990s! Akachan to Boku is an anime adapted from an award-winning manga by Ragawa Marimo, serialized in Hana to Yume, and was produced by Studio Pierrot. The story follows Enoki Takuya, a fifth grader whose mother has just passed away and now only lives with his father and baby brother, Minoru. His previously fun elementary school student life changed as he had to pick up the responsibility of taking care of Minoru while their father works, and Takuya has to deal with tailoring his life between school, friends, house chores, and Minoru. So many things for a fifth grader to learn, so many responsibilities to take, but in return, Takuya learns what family really means. Simply from the summary, you’d probably get a sense of how similar these two series are. Both focuses on an older brother taking care of their baby brother after a loss of parent (or parents, in Ryuuichi’s case), and juggling their school and social life as well. Both series have the same sort of heartwarming stories that would make you laugh and tears up at the same time, but always ends with an uplifting note. Just like we get to see Ryuuichi having his school friends joining the Babysitter Club shenanigans and bonding over their younger siblings, we also get to see Takuya bonding with his other friends over their younger siblings—Fujii Akihiro and Gotou Tadashi, for example, have younger siblings who become friends with Minoru. Most importantly, both series showcases unexpectedly well-written side-characters development: Gakuen Babysitters delve into stories of the parents and Usaida, while Akachan to Boku oftentimes put Takuya and Minoru’s father in the spotlight, or the Fujii household situations. Despite being an old series, this one guarantees you a really good story and experience, and you could listen to the many veteran seiyuu you might not hear a lot these days, such as Yamaguchi Kappei, Sakamoto Chika, Michiko Neya, and Hoshikawa Mai.

Sakura Trick tells the love story of Takayama Haruka and Sonoda Yuu, and how they slowly build their newfound love for each other. Their love life isn’t really easy as they battle against a jealous big sister and hide their relationship from everyone… and Haruka is always finding ways to get a few smooches from Yuu. One thing you’ll realize once you’re an episode is Sakura Trick loves kissing a lot. The kissing scenes are so abundant and come out of nowhere, it catches you off guard and the anime makes you think twice about watching the show out in public, or with your parents behind you. Haruka is so addicted to kissing, she makes it an effort to steal a kiss from Yuu whenever, and wherever, up to the point they got caught by Yuu’s big sister Mitsuki–who happens to have a big crush on Haruka. Did that stop Haruka? Oh hell no! Yuzu from Citrus doesn’t have that luxury as of the moment, but you can tell that Yuzu wants to feel Mei’s soft lips again. So much so she often fantasizes about them. And when a kiss does happen, Citrus too catches you off guard and usually, Yuzu is at the receiving end. Geez, what’s up with aggressive girls wanting kisses so badly?

Aoi Nagisa moves to an all-girls Catholic school and there she meets the school’s Etoile the strikingly beautiful Hanazono Shizuma. On their first encounter, Nagisa saw Shizuma seducing a girl and later found out that Shizuma is a playgirl hitting every girl she sees. However, things changed when Shizuma saw Nagisa and a long and confusing story of love, tragedy, partner switching, and betrayal ensued. Did we forget to mention everyone in the anime are legit lesbians and one of them has bed more than one girl? Strawberry Panic follows a specific trope of the main character enrolling into an all-girls school, probably Catholic in nature, school student body has a complex hierarchy system, and the most beautiful and the most popular girl has taken an interest towards the main character. In Citrus, Yuzu transferred to an all-girls school, and the main love interest Mei is the student council president and the granddaughter of the school chairman. Apart from the usual set up, Strawberry Panic and Citrus both share a ton of drama and several relationships developing that involve jealousy, hatred, and lust. Shizuma the Etoile has brought Nagisa to her life and in turn, Nagisa is embroiled in scandals and dangerous school politics that involves digging into Etoile’s past and gaining power through sex. Citrus is less extreme with Mei with conflicted feelings towards her new sister Yuzu, her future, and the future of the school that involves forced arranged marriages. Seriously, what’s up with these aggressive girls in yuri?!

Okazaki Yuma and Mizushima Hotaru are best friends since childhood and by the time they reached high school, Yuma got herself a nice boyfriend. New to this experience, Yuma asks Hotaru for advice, but things start getting complicated when Hotaru kissed her. Conflicted with her feelings, Yuma doesn’t know what to do with Hotaru and her boyfriend vying for her love. Will Yuma cheat on her boyfriend so she can fool around with Hotaru, or will her boyfriend found out and feel devastated by the betrayal? This is the most recent yuri anime on the list and if you think Citrus has fans divided due to Mei’s forced sexual advances to abusive relationships, NTR is more extreme in these regards. Yuma and Hotaru have been friends since childhood and by high school, the two got boyfriends and move on to the future. Little does Yuma know that Hotaru has been in love with Yuma for some time now, and Hotaru wastes no time in making sure Yuma gets the message. Their developing relationship remains hidden from their boyfriends until one of the guys found out and takes advantage of it. Later we then find out Hotaru never loved her boyfriend and she’s just using him to stop other guys from pestering her. But in return, the guy gets to have sex with Hotaru. Citrus, on the other hand, is a bit different with Mei’s confusing personality, leading to her forcing herself towards Yuzu, eventually using Yuzu for her own gains.

Kawakami Kiiko is a girl with supernatural powers: she can move things with her mind. Kiiko meets an attractive young girl named Saitou Aaya and starts developing feelings towards her. The two eventually get together and while everything’s fine for the both of them, Kiiko will soon discover that Aaya holds a secret that could ruin their relationship. The main plot is sort of confusing and is very short at two episodes, but if there are a few things that make Kuttsukiboshi and Citrus have in common are the very sexually aggressive girls and how forcing oneself to another girl somehow fixes relationships. Kiiko has telepathic powers but they’re not the focus of the anime, and the majority of the runtime in Kuttsukiboshi is them having sex or doing indecent things at school. There was a point in the anime when Aaya subdued Kiiko and locked themselves in the school gym shed and Aaya tries to win back Kiiko through non-stop sex. Yuzu and Mei aren’t hyper-aggressive but if there’s something serious going on, Mei has made several attempts at raping Yuzu in order to sort out her emotions. Yuzu doesn’t mind most of the time though since, well, she’s in love with Mei. Hey, don’t ask us why do girls do the way they do.

Candy Boy revolves around the everyday life of very close twin sisters, Sakurai Kanade and Sakurai Yukino, living together in Tokyo to attend high school, and their rather clingy underclassman, Kamiyama Sakuya, who has a crush on one of the sisters. Now for a far less serious tone, Candy Boy is all about watching two twin sisters go about their day. From the first ONA episode, it’s clear Kana harbors deep romantic feelings towards her twin sister Yuki, to the point she felt jealousy towards their classmate Sakuya getting too close to Yuki. If there’s any comparison between Candy Boy and Citrus is the sexual tension between sisters. Yeah, Yuzu and Mei aren’t blood-related but they are still sisters by law, and watching them holding back their desires to hold, kiss or go even further while at home or at school. Every episode of either Candy Boy or Citrus is a test of patience and sometimes the viewers are bracing for the anticipation that something is going to happen. “Kiss already!” “Have sex already!” these phrases will come to mind a lot when watching either show. Honestly, we can’t help it. These are bound to happen, so let’s go ahead and get hyped for it.

Fukuzawa Yumi transfers to the prestigious all-girls Lillian Girls’ Academy and there she caught the attention of one of the beautiful and popular girls in school, Ogasawara Sachiko. The school has a soeur system where the younger freshman student is paired with the older sophomore or senior student, and the older student guides and teachers the freshman throughout her school years. Sachiko invited Yumi to be her little sister or petite soeur and then Yumi realizes that Sachiko isn’t the perfect lady she pictured, and Sachiko is just like any girl of her age coping with her changing environment and the people around her. Maria-sama ga Miteru or Marimite for short is arguably the first series that has brought yuri to mainstream anime. Its influences can be seen and felt throughout the anime world be it a yuri or a non-yuri show. Marimite doesn’t win you over to Yuri by showing off fanservice and sex, rather, the anime wins you over with its strong cast of characters, and a more realistic approach of girl-to-girl relationships in Catholic all-girls schools in Japan, and the rest of the world. Citrus shared a lot of similarities with Marimite from the all-girls school setting, school politics, arrange marriages, and yuri relationships. Heck, you may notice the characters in Citrus look similar to the characters in Marimite. We don’t need to point this out because once you see them, you will know immediately.

Nichijou looks at the lives of the people in a small town of Tokisadame. Although Nichijou looks at the activities of the entire town, it focuses on Yuko, Mio, Mai, Nano, Hakase, and a talking cat, Sakamoto. Nichijou combines several genres, most notably gag comedy and slice-of-life to create quite the exhilarating comedic experience. Nichijou's humor comes from its ability to balance the purely absurd with the unbearably mundane. Nichijou's strong point with its humor is how, much like Pop Team Epic, it does a great job of not bringing too much attention or making too big a deal about it. Very often Nichijou throws a gag at you and then returns to the slice-of-life aspect of the show. Despite its name, the characters in Nichijou live anything but an ordinary life. Each character has her own quirky characteristic that helps to create the show's unique, dynamic gauntlet of gags. A show that is not afraid to be overly ridiculous than necessary, Nichijou and Pop Team Epic have carved their own lanes in the comedy genre.

FLCL, pronounce "fooly cooly" for the uninitiated, is a coming of age story following Naota Nandaba, an extremely cynical sixth grader. Despite his claims that everything is ordinary, Naoto's life becomes anything but when he is run over by Haruka Haruhara, a pink-haired woman who claims to be an alien. After meeting Haruka, Naoto head becomes a portal from which robots and other objects are able to appear If things sound ridiculous, they are, and it somehow manages to exceed the absurdity of its plot with its execution. FLCL manages to tell a somewhat complete story over the course of its very short runtime. To achieve this, it features a very frenetic and breakneck pace for very much of the series. There's a lot that happens in FLCL, and for much of the series, its course seems to have no clear destination, some might even say that after watching the conclusion. FLCL from time to time explicitly references its confusing story and mechanics. On occasion, the show expresses how confusing the plot is and even the nonsensical nature of its name. FLCL manages to match pace with Pop Team Epic in the rate at which it throws "What is going on?!" moments at the viewer. A classic anime that isn't afraid to experiment, FLCL is as fun to watch as it is confusing.

Lychee Light Club is a comedy about the Light Club, a group of middle school boys who hope to create an AI that will aid them in their quest to abduct girls. The show begins with their girl-abducting robot, Lychee, having already successfully completed its mission by capturing Kanon, an extremely beautiful girl, who becomes a vital part of the club. With the club having successfully achieved its goal, the series actually follows their exploits as they try to find a new purpose and direction for the club. Although Lychee Light Club has its fair share of running gags, each episode sees a constant barrage of random jokes and one-liners. On top of that, each episode of Lychee Light Club is its own standalone skit following the activities of the club and its members. Lychee Light Club, with its short episode lengths, is unable to match the pure volume of jokes and gags in Pop Team Epic, but it's able to present jokes at nearly the same quality as Pop Team Epic, both obvious and subtle. Lychee Light Club, like Pop Team Epic, is based on a manga series. The two, however, are entirely different in their faithfulness to its source material. While Pop Team Epic mocks and makes fun of all anime, and common tropes, Lychee Light Club, the anime, pokes fun at its own manga. Lychee Light Club is a nice short show for anyone that's looking for rapid-fire gags that find a way to do away with one's expectations in the same vein as Pop Team Epic.

gdgd Fairies is a CG animation about 3 fairies living in a magic forest. At first glance, this show might not seem very much like Pop Team Epic. After watching a few episodes, however, the parallels become quite evident. While Pop Team Epic features several quite erratic non-sequitur skits, the structure of gdgd Fairies is much more clear-cut. gdgd Fairies episodes are split up into 3 different segments, each with their own unique gag. The first of these segments feature the fairies sitting around discussing a simple topic like sleep, rumours, and deja vu. Some of the humor in this segment stems from their inability to come to an agreement on such simple concepts and the degree to which they misunderstand each other. The second segment is where the comedy and eccentricities of the show really start to show. In this segment, the fairies enter their magic room, The Room of Spirit and Time, where they are free to practice their magic. Very often this slowly becomes increasingly absurd. The third segment, like Pop Team Epic, has fun with its voice actors. Here, the voice actors are shown a video or played a sound, and then ad lib a response to it. The animations for this scene are then retroactively animated. Just the concept alone breaks the mold of what an anime is supposed to, but it becomes even more ridiculous when the voice actors break character. The final part of gdgd Fairies and the most similar to Pop Team Epic is the preview of the next episode. Each preview of gdgd Fairies promises a story that sounds eerily similar to a popular anime, even going so far as to animate the preview in that style. Although gdgd Fairies features a sense of humor and animation style that is quite different from Pop Team Epic at times, the overall structure and way in which the shows manipulate viewers' expectations is quite similar. If you enjoy the absurdness that is Pop Team Epic, there's a strong chance gdgd Fairies will provide its fair share of bewildered laughter.

Jack Knife Edge Town is a city that has all but succumbed to the clutches of evil. The only person who is able to prevent the city from being completely overrun is Inferno Cop, a cop who dishes out justice as he sees fit. The evils present in Jack Knife Edge Town proves to be much more than Inferno Cop bargains for, as he finds himself literally escaping from Hell in order to stop whatever is happening in his city. Inferno Cop is a parody of action cop movies at heart but manages to be much more than that throughout its entire run. A lot of the comedy found in Inferno Cop comes from its ability to play with the viewer's expectation, often throwing jokes and plot development from so far out of left field that if often seems to have been made up as production went along. It's a bit hard to call it a joke, per se, but coming from Studio Trigger, the quality (or lack thereof) of its animation and voice acting Inferno Cop doesn't have a gaggle of gags flying at the view in the same manner as Pop Team Epic, but its ability to play with convention while single-handedly destroying that of its genre is wholly impressive. Inferno Cop is a short, tumultuous ride

Gintama is a household name when it comes to comedy anime. Known for its gags and parodying of other shounen anime, Gintama has become synonymous with the genre. Like Pop Team Epic, Gintama has made itself known for its ability to parody other big names in the industry and provide colorful commentary on clichés found throughout the genre. Gintama also likes to remain relatively self-aware, often breaking the fourth wall to make comments on its ratings or controversies. Gintama's breaking of the fourth wall doesn't just extend to character interactions but to their overall behavior. For example, Gintama has seen characters question sound effects, interact with them, and even comment on the quality of the story and animation. In fact, there's an episode, where Gintoki and crew wake up to find themselves as an incomplete storyboard animation. They spend the next few minutes commenting on their appearance, explain the animation process, and even employing the series' director to fire the person responsible for this mistake. What Gintama did here is providing commentary on shows that see a dip in quality in a very over the top and self-aware manner, very similar to Pop Team Epic. Both Gintama and Pop Team Epic revel in their over the top zaniness and have an uncanny ability to respond to the most current topics in pop culture. Though the two are fundamentally different shows, they have an eerily similar ability to poke fun at other anime, games, current trends, and even themselves.

Chika Takami is a first-year student at Uranohoshi Girl’s High School. With no skills, no talents, and never having been in a club, she wants to make the most out of her high school days. That’s when she is inspired by seeing μ's, an idol group in Tokyo, and decides to make her own idol group at her sleepy seaside high school. She finds a few people interested, but the student council president is heavily opposed to her plan. Downtrodden, it only takes Chika meeting Riko, a transfer student talented at the piano, that Chika sets her sights on recruiting her and forming their own idol group Aqours. More and more challenges arise and one by one, through the power of music and friendship, these girls rise to the challenge. Starting off out list is probably one of the anime with the most in common with Sora yori mo Tooi Basho. In both series, you have a group of girls, as boys are completely non-existent, pushing and fighting against rules and change. In Love Live, the school is shutting down for lack of students, while in Sora yori mo Tooi Basho, Kimari and Shirase are fighting against the civilian group at first to try and get on. More than anything else, the two are pure. What do we mean by that? We mean that the girls have pure, genuine friendships. There is not a single moment of forced yuri undertones, but rather just people trying to figure out their own path in life while relying on their friends! If anything else, Chika and Kimari are more or less the same person. They have done nothing, but they want to make a change about it and are trying to find out how to do so!

Chito and Yuuri are two girls inside a vast world. There is nothing remarkable to see, and there is nothing to do, but press on for food and shelter… and maybe the occasional hot bath. Day by day, they forage while looking for food in their motorbike, a Kettenkrad. Oh, and we forgot to mention, the vast world, is of a society and race long gone. What they are exploring is the vast ruins of said society. There is nothing but massive pipes, buildings, and crumbling infrastructure. But somehow, they are able to reminisce about the past as well as push on, having fun adventures while doing so. Both Sora yori mo Tooi Basho and Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou focus on yet again, solid female characters. While Sora yori does have double the protagonists, the conversations and mood flow just as well between Chito and Yuuri. Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou does focus a bit more on the bleak side of things as the number of humans that they meet across the season can be counted on one hand, but Sora yori is also not without its darker themes of bullying and the SPOILER ALERT mystery around the death of Shirase’s mother. A bit more serious, but the themes of adventure, friendship, and never knowing exactly what is around the corner permeate through these two worlds.

Ohana Matsumae is living alright… well, she was okay living with her mother. However, after amassing a massive debt and then subsequently skipping town with her boyfriend while hoisting it all on her daughter, Ohana’s life takes a turn for the worse. Now, she has to go and live with her grandmother way out in the sticks and work at the hotel that her grandmother runs to pay off his debt. She tries and struggles greatly and living in a brand-new place with a massive amount of sadness in her heart. However, she tries to put her best foot forward and challenge the issues of working as a maid and making new friends in what is a strange, new place for her. Again, here between Hanasaku Iroha and Sora yori mo Tooi Basho, Kimari and Ohana face brand new challenges. While Ohana was not looking for them necessarily, both girls harness their inner energy and cheerfulness to try and tackle the daunting tasks in front of them. Friendship is more present than ever as Ohana and Kimari absolutely have to not only make and keep these new friends but rely on them heavily. Ohana did not choose this journey like Kimari did, but they do both face it head on. This anime is one from P.A. Works that you cannot miss!

Made in Abyss tells the story of an Abyss–how original, we know–that stretches deep down into the Earth where everything unknown seems to come from including beasts and more. There are those who seek to explore the Abyss and come back with new items and treasures known as Divers. The best are called the White Whistles. Desperate to explore more than the is allowed, Riko is a young girl who searches for a way to explore deep into the abyss much like her mother did. A chance encounter with a robot named Reg gives her the excuse and motivation to go down deeper and try to restore his lost memories while actually just getting to the bottom to see things for herself. More is sure to come and lurk and in the shadows. Made in Abyss has Riko and Sora yori has Kimari. Again, two female main characters who are searching for more in life risk it all to go exploring. They are both driven by the flames of desire and excitement to see more than what they know. However, both girls heavily underestimate the amount of time and energy it will take to get to their goals as well as what is waiting for them. Made in Abyss is a bit darker than Sora yori mo Tooi Basho, but we can guarantee that you will not be let down by this anime.

Nadeshiko gets the harebrained idea one day to go and see Mt. Fuji the way that it is depicted on the 1000-yen bill for herself. She decides that she needs to get out quickly and sets out. However, bad weather pushes her back and exhausted, Nadeshiko collapses. When she wakes up, Nadeshiko has no idea where she is nor how she got there. That is when she meets Rin, a girl who loves to camp by herself. Now the two of them discover the joys of camping. In case you missed it, reckless abandon is a popular theme here. Nadeshiko really has no idea what she is getting into and the same goes for Kimari. However, that drive is what pushes them to see more. The art is fantastic between the two series and they both feature new, blossoming friendships as well as famous locations from around Japan and the world. Yuru Camp is a bit more mild on the adventure, but definitely one you should let your eyes and mind enjoy.

When they were kids, Mutta and Hibito see something that they think is a UFO. This sparks a fire in both of them to become astronauts. Mutta wants to go to Mars because he is the elder brother, and Hibito to the moon. However… reality is not so kind. Mutta grows up and is not an astronaut, but rather, he works for a car company. His younger brother though, Hibito, is well on his way to becoming the first Japanese man on the moon! Depressed, Mutta loses his job, but then things take a swing for the better as he suddenly gets a chance to apply to be an astronaut? Mutta, excited about what could be, decides he has nothing to lose and is all in in becoming an astronaut. Here, between Uchuu kyoudai and Sora yori mo Tooi Basho, both protagonists have a reckless dream that they want to accomplish. Even if that means throwing away everything that they do. Looked down upon and even mocked for wanting to do something different and unconventional, they do not hesitate and are excited. The overall reaching theme is to shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. Both will also inspire you with their relatable passion and likeable characters.

Japan’s landscape has changed quite considerably in the 22nd century. With a powerful neuro network known as the Sibyl System active, Japanese citizens are judged based on color hues that determine their mental state. Once a person’s hue reaches too high of a level, Inspectors and Enforcers—the latter being police themselves but with high criminal hues—are sent in to stop the perp before he or she becomes a latent criminal. However, what happens if the hue can’t be gauged on a person? That question is about to be answer by one man who will begin a rampage in which will show the truth about not only the Sybil System but also how the future might not be as safe as we thought it could be… Criminals, mysteries and tons of action. These several elements are found in B: The Beginning as well as Psycho-Pass. We loved Psycho-Pass and its intense futuristic themes that make us question how far security should be allowed to go. Equally, like B: The Beginning, Psycho-Pass is beautifully animated thanks to studio Production I.G who also made B: The Beginning. If you need an awesome sci-fi themed anime series then you’re going to want to watch Psycho-Pass as soon as you can! Plus, there is a second season and a movie for Psycho-Pass to ensure you don’t run out of episodes and content too fast.

Japan has recently been bombarded by a slew of terrorist attacks on various facilities. The only clue in these recent attacks is three letters written in red, VON. Unknown to the police, these actions are being performed by two young men who have a message to send to the world. What is this message you may be wondering? Find out as you enter the world of Zankyou no Terror and learn the truth behind everything. Terrorism and anime don’t usually meld well and we can fully understand why given the current worldly affairs. However, Zankyou no Terror’s main theme is terrorism but with a mystery element behind it. Watch as Twelve and Nine team up to shake the world awake all while avoiding careless bloodshed. Like B: The Beginning, the shining element to Zankyou no Terror is trying to establish the truth behind everything all while enjoying a truly suspense filled narrative that keeps your eyes glued to the screen. Zankyou no Terror is an amazing 11 episode show that we know you’ll enjoy even given its controversial themes.

Steins;Gate follows the self-proclaimed mad scientist Hououin Kyouma—real name Okabe Rintaro—as he allows his mind to delve further into a faux reality but all the while having a good time doing so. However, Okabe’s world changes abruptly one day when he ends up gaining the power of time travel via an accident with one of his so called “future gadgets”. Okabe at first thinks of the ability as a power that he can utilize to change history in silly ways. As Okabe begins constantly going back in time however, things begin to change in horrifying ways. Now hunted by SERN and trying to alter history to its correct course, Okabe will begin his desperate such for the true world line known as Steins;Gate to save his friends and save the very essence of the future… While B: The Beginning does deal with time travelers, Steins;Gate still is very much similar to this impressive anime series. Known as one of the most popular series around, Steins;Gate melds various genres like sci-fi, mystery, drama and even romance to produce a 24-episode series that will definitely wow you from start to finish. Steins;Gate will be having a new series coming out—dubbed Steins;Gate 0—so now is the best time to see what makes this show so incredible. Just be prepared as Steins;Gate mimics B: The Beginning by keeping you not only entertained but equally always wondering what could possibly befall our characters next.

Imagine a world where the body becomes stronger than ever before imagined. Thanks to advancements that meld artificial items and materials with the human body and mind, humanity has entered a new world of existence. However, this technological breakthrough has caused the world to become an even darker place in the world of criminal activity. That’s where Section 9 run by Daisuke Aramaki comes into play. With his team consisting of people like Motoko Kusanagi, Section 9 aims to stop criminals who think they can run amok in this future. Motoko and her team will be tested though as they face a powerful enemy known as The Laughing Man. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex—based off the movies and manga series—tells a new story from the Ghost in the Shell franchise. Despite coming out nearly two decades ago, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex still entertains us here at Honey’s Anime with strong sci-fi concepts and tons of methodological narrative. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex makes you wonder if too much human medaling can have more costly side effects than benefits. We’ll let you folks be the judge of that. Regardless though, if you love B: The Beginning’s constant mixture of action and deep narrative themes then we recommend checking out Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.

Light Yagami has always strove to be a studious high schooler despite being bored with his current life. One day while in class, Light spots a strange black notebook falling from out of the sky. After class, Light find this strange book with the words “Death Note” written on it. Inside are specific rules but the one that catches Light’s eye the most is a claim that the person’s name who is written in the book will die from a heart attack within 40 seconds if no other reason for death is given. Light at first takes this as a joke but upon using the Death Note on a bunch of punks, learns that its power is all too real. Now Light has gained a new power, one that he will use to cleanse the world of those who considers evil. Who has the right to kill and should anyone have that much power? Death Note’s main theme is surrounded by this question and that is what makes this story so much like B: The Beginning. Just like Koku from B: The Beginning, Light’s belief that eradicating evil is perfectly fine and justified. Meanwhile, Light becomes hunted by various detectives and a super detective known simply as L. Will good out weight evil and which side is truly just? If you want to know the answers to these questions then check out Death Note!

A decade ago, two giant gates appeared in two locations, Japan and South America. These two gates led to the emergence of people with strange powers that would be known as Contractors. Each contractor has powers that defy the very definition of the world and have begun to change the world in various ways. In Japan, Hei—a contractor who works the underground organization called the Syndicate—finds himself running missions and dealing with contractors that need to be removed. However, unknown to the contractors a mission has begun that may be the end of these superhuman beings… Supernatural humans, mystery and a nice mix of action and drama. Both B: The Beginning and Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha share these genres and are quite similar. That’s why we knew our 6 Anime Like B: The Beginning List had to conclude with Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha. We love how Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha utilizes a mixture of action, mystery, suspense and drama all too like B: The Beginning. Watching Hei and how he deals with villains all while trying to find himself reminds us of Kuro and his plights in B: The Beginning. Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha has two seasons to enjoy—though we do like the first a tad more—so be prepared for tons of supernatural battles and some quirky but cool characters.

Starting with the newest and freshest series, the popular iDOLM@STER franchise comes out with an all-male group that’ll blow your idol socks off! 315 Production is a new agency that gathers would-be idols that are actually in other professions such as lawyers and surgeons. Aside from the fact these guys spent years in school to acquire their highly skilled professions, they find they love being idols instead. And boy, do we do, too! You’ll definitely find your husbando here, but more than likely you’ll find multiple! The iDOLM@STER franchise isn’t long-running for no reason. There is substance to this series that you won’t find in other idol anime. Its characters have depth despite the fact that this series has the largest idol group in our pickings. Like IDOLiSH7, you fall head over heels for these male idol characters that woo you with their pop-centric singing! If you like IDOLiSH7’s character designs, definitely check this series out because they have a very similar vibe going on.

Kodou*Ambitious is the anime adaptation of the game B-Project and it brings to life the male idol otome game that is its origin game! Tsubasa is thrown headfirst into managing the idol unit B-PROJECT, which is made up of three idol groups Kitakore, Thrive, and MooNs. If you’re looking for a clear-cut reverse harem idol series where the main purpose is to show you stellar performances, clashing personalities, and the relationship between female manager and many beautiful men, this is a must watch. Tsubasa tackles the obstacles that come with managing multiple idols groups and reaps the rewards of seeing them perform. This series really shines a light on what we love about the genre and that may be in part due to IDOLiSH7’s and B-Project’s initial beginnings starting in game form. The male idol genre really makes for amazing visual novels and rhythm games, but the fact these were special enough to be brought to anime form makes us all giddy! If you enjoyed IDOLiSH7, you’ll equally love B-Project because it delivers a similar package in a beautiful new box, possibly with upgraded hairstyles!

If you’re more of a fan of the character aspect and not reverse harem romance, you’ll enjoy this relaxed series. It has a galaxy theme, with the two idol groups called Six Gravity and Procellarum, dressed in constellation themed wear. All members live in the same dorm and each episode focuses on a specific person, relating to their personal struggles as well as keeping things light and humorous. It’s an easy going, light-hearted series that focuses on character relationships and interactions, with everyone’s hearts connecting on the stage and off. The character interpersonal relationships are similar to IDOLiSH7, but if you wanted to forgo the female manager reverse harem scenario, then you’ll enjoy this series! The songs in both series are lively and upbeat, but if you wanted a slight edge of visual kei Tsukiuta is your show! A really good series to unwind after a long day!

Starmyu is just as much in the school genre as it is the music genre. It’s about the road to becoming an idol, with five students trying to enter an elite music class called Star Frame Class in Ayanagi Academy’s musical department. The class is taught by the top group within the school, Kaou-kai, and is incredibly hard to get into. Only the best may enter and one day one of the members sees their earnest efforts. This series is a more mature take on the genre, with serious goals and a toned down art style. Which is not to say it doesn’t deliver good laughs frequently! The students are determined to work hard and be the best idols they can be, finding out through the series what that actually means, much like IDOLiSH7. There’s a lot of personal growth and unique music that gives you something new to look forward to.

Now if you do like the romance in male idol anime, you’ll enjoy Magic-Kyun! Renaissance. Only this series adds something that no other series in this list has; magic! Yes, that’s right, magic, idols, and romance! In a high school where the Magical Arts are taught, there’s a new student named Kohana who joins the planning committee for their school’s famous cultural festival. Six boys join her and everyone plans on making Hoshinomori Summer Festa a huge success, as well as vying to be named her prince during the festival. Immediately you’ll see this series is bright, colorful, and extremely bishoujo influenced just like IDOLiSH7, except this series has magic to boot! Both have the reverse harem element as well and both series take the cake for exceptionally dramatic male characters. It’s as if someone upped the saturation in IDOLiSH7 and threw them in a magical world where there are golden ballrooms and schools for magic! What more could you ask for?? This is a great series whether you’re partial to the male idol genre or not!

Uta no Prince-sama is like the Naruto of the male idol genre world. Everyone knows about it even if they’ve never seen it! And for good reason too, it’s has a good blend of comedy, reverse harem, school life, and the basics of the passion that drives idols! Haruka Nanami is an aspiring composer who enrolls in Saotome Academy, a performing arts school. There she meets six boys who could not be any different, but end up forming a group because they want Haruka to be their composer. Haruka herself is driven by the desire to write for a certain idol, one who happens to be closer than she knows. This series and IDOLiSH7 are prime examples of the male idol genre and are well-received. They have memorable scenes, well-composed songs, characters who have a depth that not every series will offer, and a storyline that just makes you go, “Aww!” sometimes. Of course, the very handsome, colorful boys that we love cannot be overlooked. Uta no Prince-sama also has more seasons, if you can’t get enough!

C.W. Nicol was born in Britain, but by the eighties, he was well travelled through the world. He studied forestry in Japan and became a Japanese citizen himself. Nicol has written many literary works in Japanese, advocating for the environment. One of his works was the children’s book Kaze wo Mita Shounen, which inspired this movie. Amon is a boy with strange powers. His dad has invented weapons for his country, the Empire of the Golden Snake. However, when Amon’s powers awaken, his father decides that the family should run away… with fatal consequences. Now that Amon is alone in the world, he travels to an island where he finds a tribe that helps him learn how to fly and talk to animals. When Amon meets Maria and the Golden Snake army comes after them, they decide to stop them once and for all. Sounds super exciting, right? Well, let us tell you that this is an anti-war film, just like Nausicaa. The young cast is self sufficient but flawed enough to be realistic as well. Both films also have fantasy elements combined with old-style technology. Oh, and they are all for the environment.

There was, once upon a time, a little princess in her castle. All the knights of the kingdom compete for her hand in marriage. However, the only thing Princess Arete wants is to travel and meet real people, instead of just reading books. What will she do when the old sorcerer Boax arrives promising to make a proper princess of Arete? Yes, we know this sounds so stereotypical that you might want to vomit, but wait a little; we promise things get better! Arete has to take her own decisions in a super epic journey with all the magic and adventure that she and us are craving (just as epic as Nausicaa). The story is focused in the female protagonist and in her coming of age who besides that is a princess as well. And did we mention the cute animals that you find around? If you like retro fairy tales, both Arete and Nausicaa will satisfy your appetites.

What happens when you play too much with your plants in the lab? Well, they could get back at you, just like they did in this film. In Gin Iro no Kami no Agito, humans are declining in a post-apocalyptic world, where they have to fight against the forest to survive. Our protagonist is Agito, who one day meets Tula, a girl who comes from the past. When the village of Ragna finds out that Tula has the key to completely destroy the forest, they kidnap her, forcing Agito to make a pact with the forest in order to save her. Did someone mention a forest vs. humans? Yes, that is Nausicaa for you again. The protagonist also has to grow up and understand the other living creatures in order to “win” the war. Both films are essentially antiwar and wow, they do have some great music. Let’s not forget the combination of fantasy like magic and technology, too!

Asuna Watase is a model student who takes care of the house while her mom works. Her favorite hobby is to go up the mountains with a snack and tune in a strange radio where she can listen mysterious melodies. One day, a boy named Shun saves her from a dangerous creature on her way up to the mountains. However, the more Asuna wants to know about the boy, the more dangerous the adventure becomes. Hoshi wo Ou Kodomo is a film with a protagonist who will not sit waiting to be saved, just like Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa. Although the story is full of fantasy and the beauty of nature at the beginning, it becomes much more serious as it progresses in both films. Adults also are a contrast with the younger protagonists, posing their obsessions and ambitions versus a more compassionate view of life. With rounded characters, action and universal questions, both movies do a great job at entertaining and marvel at the same time. The main difference is that Hoshi wo Ou Kodomo goes more into the ancient tribes territory.

Patema is part of the royalty in an underground civilization that has a complex network of tunnels. She is often curious about everything, so she enters in a forbidden zone and ends up falling into the sky. Then she is caught by Age, a nonconforming student from Aiga, a totalitarian nation. Patema finds out that she is considered an “Invert” and an aberration, but Age protects her. Together they will find the origins of their worlds. War and anti-war message? Oh, yes. Young protagonists? Of course. Travel and adventure? You bet it. However, the main point that Nausicaa and Patema may have in common is not that obvious. The characters in both films have to work hard to overcome their fears of the unknown and work together with everyone involved. Everything is connected and both worlds are beautiful.

This is Japan, in a time when the spirits walked together with the people. A young Emishi prince called Ashitaka is cursed when he shots a poisoned spirit. Therefore, he gives up his village and goes to the West in hopes of finding a cure. This is how he will encounter the Iron Village, its powerful leader Lady Eboshi and the creatures of the forest. However, everyone has to keep an eye out for San, a girl raised up by the wolf spirits who is at odds with the Iron Village. We could not avoid mentioning one of the most legendary films by Studio Ghibli. As Hayao Miyazaki also crafted this one, the parallels between Nausicaa and San are many. They are powerful female protagonists that bring the films together, but that are at odds with other powerful and grown up female leaders. These grown ups are not evil perse, although usually advocate for violent measures. Also, the allegories of the conflict between nature and technology are too many to mention. Nausicaa and Mononoke Hime are both Ghibli stories at their best, moving and passionate. Oh, and please do not forget the awesome music by Joe Hisaishi in the two films!

Makoto is a third-year high school student with a conundrum; she has no idea what to do with her life! While trying to balance a social life and her studies, she stumbles across her ability to leap through time. Excited, Makoto starts to play with it and have a fantastic time exploring her powers. However, Makoto learns that by doing so, her powers come at a price and life is not that simple. Can she make an irreversible decision? First, I’m not crying; the room is just full of water. Both movies are incredibly heartwarming and inspiring. While Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is a bit more dramatic and obviously has the sci-fi element of time jumping, the core issue of someone realizing their responsibility/duties as well as a coming of age story is present in both. The biggest theme that the two movies share, other than the female lead main character, is that they both have to learn, in one way or another to let go.

Koto no Ha no Niwa follows Akizuki who dreams of becoming a shoemaker. One day though, he skips class to go draw shoe designs while sitting in a beautiful garden. There, he meets a bewitchingly mysterious woman named Yukari. Akizuki offers to make Yukari a pair of shoes so that they can continue to meet. That is how it starts, but after a bit, they realize that what was hidden deep within themselves was something that needed to be expressed, but they didn’t know how to. Now their relationship is put to the test as they still have issues that they are dealing with. As this is a Makoto Shinkai film, it’s not surprising that this is incredibly well-liked. Shinkai is rapidly making a name for himself, more so thanks to Kimi no Na wa, but still you get the point, and his style is in some ways similar to Ghibli especially with the love of dramatic romances. We had to stop ourselves from using the exact phrase “their heart whispers” as that is exactly what happens in both movies. While Koto no Ha no Niwa may be slightly more dramatic, there are still shared elements of romance, slice of life, fantastic art, and of course, a love that forces the main characters to be honest with themselves.

Taeko Okajima is an office worker for an office in Tokyo when she gets burnt out and decides to go visit her brother in law. There, she starts to see how life is like again outside of the madness that is Tokyo. While she is there, so many memories come flooding back to her including when she was young. Inexperienced at many things, she struggled with mathematics, adolescence, and of course, romance. If you have a thing for movies with a decently strong female lead, then Omoide Poroporo will also be right up your alley. Both really will rally to tug at your heartstrings, and even if they do not, they still will succeed in keeping your attention. You may think, “why is this so serious and engaging!?” But you will not be able to stop while watching either because they are so enjoyable. Also it should be noted that this is a Studio Ghibli movie as well, so get ready to get lost in another Ghibli fantasy.

Get ready for another dramatic romance here again with Coqueliot-zaka kara! Umi Matsuzaki lives in a manor where other people are boarders. She diligently does her chores while studying. However, her high school is facing a crisis. One of the oldest buildings on campus is slated to be demolished in order to revitalize the town. However, it’s beloved by the student body. So, while many clubs come together to try their best to renovate it, Umi works in the newspaper club to get the information out and fight those who want to destroy the building. While doing this, she meets a boy hazy on his past. His name is Shun. She tries to help him search for his past while spreading as much information about the school’s demolition plans as possible. Full disclosure: Coqueliot-zaka kara is also a Studio Ghibli movie, but it should not be overlooked. A fantastic coming-of-age story plays out in both of these movies along with that sweet and tender romance. If you found Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo a bit too Sci-fi, then this is for you. The romance is touching, the drive of the characters is fantastic, but be prepared, the ending will really get you.

Come on, you know that this had to come on this list! Neko no Ongaeshi is about Haru, a young girl who sees a cat crossing the road one day and follows it. That simple decision kicks off a series of events connected to a fantastic adventure which takes her to meet a prince; in fact, he’s the prince of cats! He is going to marry her, but it’s more or less against her will! She now has to struggle to not only save herself, but also prevent herself from becoming a cat. Digging deep, she has to listen to herself and summon immense courage to live on. So, Neko no Ongaeshi is actually set in the world of Mimi wo Sumaseba. Both stories feature fantastic art and soundtracks because they are both Ghibli works! Of course, much like Shizuku, Haru learns about the importance of not only being honest with herself, but also listening to her heart. Another fun tidbit is the cat statues seen in Whisper of the Heart are part of The Cat Returns as well!

Finally, we head to the beach. Well… the beach in Japan that is! School life is alright for Taku and Yutaka until a new girl named Rikako transfers into the school. While not that great at getting along with others, this miffs her classmates and they begin to stop talking to her. Yutaka likes Rikako, but when Taku and her start to spend time together, rumors fly wild as both try to figure out what is going on. The rift divides these two boys to the breaking An oldie, but goldie, this is a less well-known Ghibli movie, this is yet another fantastic coming-of-age story. Both inject drama as well as innocent romance that has blossomed out of something else within the story. However, it’s never too much or overbearing. If you want to reminisce about your first romance but set in a high school, both Mimi wo Sumaseba and Umi ga Kikoeru are great places to start if you have not seen both already.

Ren is living a nightmare of a life to say the least. His mother died, his father is gone, and he lives with relatives that could not give a rat’s ass about him. At his wit’s end, he runs away to Shibuya to try and make a life for himself. That is when he learns about Shibuten, another world that sits right on top of our own full of beast people. Kumatetsu is one of those beast people and is a fantastic beast warrior. He is wanted to succeed the lord of Shibuten, but he is very antisocial and struggles with even keeping a disciple. Then comes in Ren who meets him. After being renamed, the two work together to learn just what they can teach each other. Starting right off the bat with similarities, you have the fact that both Persona 3 and Bakemono no Ko show worlds that overlap the mundane, everyday life one. Mixing the supernatural with reality only lends further to a fantastic experience that makes the viewer question where the lines of reality blur. The core issue of a hero’s journey as well lets the viewer enjoy watching Ren and Makoto grow in both power and wisdom. And of course, you cannot miss the fights! There are fantastic fights in both movies meaning that your time investment is well worth it.

Ao no Exorcist had a movie! This is a fact that seems to be overlooked frequently, but hey, it did. When Shiro is killed, Rin swears that he is going to become an amazing exorcist and beat Satan’s ass. When they are a bit older, it comes to light that Rin, along with his brother Yukio, have become exorcists and are preparing for a festival that is celebrated only once every 11 years. During a performance, something known as the Phantom Train goes berserk and the barriers that keep demons out suddenly falls. While they not only have to deal with the phantom train, they also have to deal with demons running amuck. All in the middle of this, Rin meets a little boy who is also a demon. Suddenly, their fates become intertwined. Now some might have a hard time connecting the dots between these two works, so let us help. Supernatural elements as well as another world layered on top of our own is present here. Both Rin and Makoto are school students, and for the most part, are considered the underdogs in the beginning. If anything too, you have the setup of LAST BOSS in each movie where Rin faces off against Phantom Train and Makoto and company go up against a boss shadow.

Four years after the Sword Art Online incident, there is now new technology that has arrived. Known as the Augma, it allows players to play online games while being conscious rather than going under like its predecessor did. Naturally it’s an overnight hit, and the masses flock to buy it. The game that is the most popular for the Augma is called Ordinal Scale. Of course, Kirito and Asuna want to dive into the game and get their hands on it as well. However, once in, they realize that nothing is what they thought it was and they are up against something that they couldn’t have even conceived. Much like with how Persona 3 and Ao no Exorcist the movie were similar, the same is true for Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale as well. A fantasy reality is superimposed over our own, the characters naturally power up and get stronger, and if it couldn’t be better, they also have a last boss that the characters in both movies find themselves up against. Furthermore, while SAO is set in a game, Persona 3 is a game, so there are enjoyable elements between the two. Not to mention too, there is a lot of stressing of bonds and memories, something Persona fans are well aware of.

After the Persona 3 movies were such a success, it makes sense that Atlus would cash in on its extremely popular series, Persona 4 as well. Persona 4 is set in Inaba where our main character, Yuu Narukami, has just moved to live with his uncle for a year. There, he meets a lot of new classmates and everything seems to be going okay until someone is murdered. Then when another happens, it’s clear that this is the pattern of a serial killer. He hears a rumor that if you look into the TV at midnight on a rainy night, you will see a program called the Midnight Channel. When Yuu does check it out, he sees one of his classmates on it! When they go disappearing, a voice guides him to a TV? Suddenly Yuu, Yousuke, and Chie now have to save Yukiko while all learning to be true to themselves and saving others from being killed. Full disclosure: This is the movie version of the Persona 4 series. So, what can you expect? Well of course, if you are a Persona noob or have only seen the first movie, then there is another reality, but this one is lurking behind our own. While the characters of P3 instantly move into the midnight hour and proceed to dungeons, the characters of P4 need to hop into a TV in Junes to make it to their world. Shadows, being honest with oneself, summoning persona and more are what drive our characters further in pursuit of the truth, an overall theme in the persona series. If you loved P3, then the natural progression is to check out Persona 4!

Kyoto is a city that everyone knows. However, did you know that there was an underbelly to it as well? There’s another Kyoto within Kyoto known as a mirror capital. There, humans and youkai live together. It is ruled over and protected by three individuals. However, one day, a geek girl obsessed with mecha known as Koto accidentally wanders in along with her two younger brothers. Suddenly the entire balance of the world is thrown into chaos. Here with Kyousou Giga and Persona 3, we yet again see the reality of two worlds overlapped with only a select few knowing about it. The balance of a world is threatened in both series where Kyousou Giga has the other world threatened while reality is threatened in Persona 3. Both shows have characters searching for truth among a world that they cannot trust. This is actually an OVA, but it is worth checking out and if you like it, there is also a TV anime that comes after it!

While the last one does feel a bit like a cop-out, hear us out. The problem with movies made in the past, is that people tend to miss them entirely, and if online rankings are to be believed, then roughly half of the people who saw the first Persona 3 movie have seen the second. Now whether or not they did not like the first movie or they just forgot about the rest of the series, the next movie really does literally give you what you liked about the first Persona 3 movie because it continues the story. It sometimes happens with these movie series where they are forgotten about since the release dates are so far apart. This movie was released 8 months after the first making it easily able to be missed. The second Persona 3 anime movie dives into summer, good timing for the release too, and shows the rise of the Strega enemies who want to make sure that the Dark Hours sticks around. At the same time, we are introduced to Aegis, an android who is there to fight shadows as well. The team accepts her as an ally but it seems that her fate is more closely entwined to theirs than previously thought… You definitely do not want to miss this movie either.

Atsuko Chiba and Kosaku Tokita are researchers at the Institute for Psychiatric Research, with an interest in the world of dreams. Together, they build a device that can enter dreams called the "DC Mini," in hopes they can help patients with their psychological disorders. Atsuko and Kosaku aren't the only ones that want the power to enter dreams, the DC Mini is stolen and ends up being used as a form of mental terrorism. Atsuko and Kosaku seek the help of Officer Konakawa, a patient of theirs who have received treatment with the DC Mini. The group starts to track down the person who stole the DC Mini, looking through both the real world and the dream world. Similar to Tekkon Kinkreet, Satoshi Kon's Paprika uses a more realistic style when it comes to the designs of the characters. These more realistic characters are placed in stylish and often times psychedelic settings. The dream world in Paprika gives off a similar vibe to Tekkon Kinkreet's fictional city, Takaramachi. The two movies don't share any similarities when it comes to the overall plot, but they both are set up in a similar fashion, featuring stories that allow the art to really stand out by focusing more on eccentric and unusual ideas.

Kakurenbo follows the story of a group of children who gather to play a game of Otokoyo. Otokoyo is a game of hide-and-seek that can only be played by seven children wearing fox masks. It is no ordinary game, however, as the children are chased by demons and always end up missing. A young boy named Hikora joins the game in hopes of finding out the truth behind the game and to find his sister Sorincha, who went missing after she played the game herself. With Kakurenbo only being the length of an average episode of anime, it doesn't have time to develop its characters and narratives like Tekkon Kinkreet does, however, the world Kakurenbo builds is just as enjoyable. Kakurenbo is different from every other movie on this list in the way it connects to Tekkon Kinkreet. None of the stories or characters are similar, but it still manages to give off a similar vibe to Tekkon Kinkreet. With more of a focus on horror, Kakurenbo's setting is very dark adding to the suspense and making great use of its setting. By using its setting and art style, it is able to create an immersive world similar to how Tekkon Kinkreet uses its art style to create an impressive world.

In the year 1998, a psychic explosion destroys Tokyo and serves as the catalyst for World War III. Now in the year 2019, the city has been rebuilt and is now known as “Neo-Tokyo.” One day Shotaro Kaneda and his motorcycle gang the Capsules, fight against their rivals the Clowns during an anti-government protest. Kaneda's best friend, Tetsuo Shima, crashes his bike into an esper child. After the accident, Tetsuo starts to develop strange symptoms and powers, which leads to Tetsuo being captured by the government. Kaneda sets out to save his best friend from the government, a rebel faction, and even Tetsuo himself. Akira shares many of its story elements with Tekkon Kinkreet. Both movies feature a pair of orphans that live in a city with a corrupt government. Black and Kaneda are also very similar, with both of them being gang leaders and taking care of a younger boy that looks up to them. Both shows also start out with the main characters a fight with a rival gang, and these fights go on to set the rest of the story in motion. Both sets of main characters get split up and both Akira and Tekkon Kinreet spend a large majority of their time focusing on the boy's adventures to try to reunite and restore things to how they were before.

Mima Kirigoe, a former member of the pop idol group CHAM!, decides to leave the group to pursue a career in acting. Wanting to separate herself from the world of idols, she accepts a role in a crime drama, but life as an actress wasn't what she thought it would be. Not only does her job end up getting much harder and demanding than she thought it would be, but her old idol group seems to be doing better than ever. Things get even worse when an obsessed fan who can't accept that she left CHARM begins to stalk her after her image was tainted with her role in the crime drama. After suffering through each event, Mima Kirigoe starts to lose all sense of what is real and what is fiction. Perfect Blue is a much darker and gritty movie than Tekkon Kinkreet is, however, the two movies still share some common themes. Both Perfect Blue and Tekkon Kinkreet feature many elements from the psychological genre and toss in some action and suspense. Mima's degrading mental state is similar to what we see Black go through in Tekkon Kinkreet. Mima and Black both go through events early on in the movie that ends up causing them to lose control and start to see the world differently. Although the settings in Perfect Blue and Tekkon Kinkreet are very different, the way in which they are used is very similar. Both movies add to the overall tone of their stories by incorporating their settings perfectly, with Perfect Blue using its darker tones and more realistic setting and Tekkon Kinkreet focusing on a more colorful world with much more action going on in the backgrounds of each scene.

After a deadly virus spread across the world, the population dropped drastically, forcing the world's governments to force strict rules on its citizens. People are forced to eat synthetic food and all social interactions are done over the internet. Despite everything in the world being monitored so closely, crime still runs rampant. After Hazuki Makino and a group of her classmates decide to meet together in person, they end up getting wrapped in a murder investigation, that forces them to use all the tools and sills at their disposal to uncover the dark secrets of the world all while trying to keep themselves alive. Loups=Garous may not be as colorful as Tekkon Kinkreet, but both movies have many similarities when it comes to their story and characters. Both movies follow the story of kids fighting against the corrupt worlds they find themselves in and end up getting wrapped up in a mystery that is bigger than they ever thought possible. Both movies antagonists are the corrupt governments that the main characters find themselves living under. Hazuki Makino and Ayumi Kono from Loups=Garous also have some of Black's more enjoyable character traits. Hazuki shares the traits from Black's more caring and protective side, as she goes out of here way to protect her friends, ultimately resulting in her getting wrapped up in the murder mystery and putting her life in jeopardy. Ayumi Kono, on the other hand, shares the traits from Black's more rebellious side, with her going against the status quo of the world around her, and she uses her power to fight against it.

After Retro and Pandy wake up naked and with no memories, they decided to go on a crime spree stealing clothes, food, and a vehicle. Their crime spree comes to an end when they are arrested and transported to Dead Leaves, a penitentiary on the half-destroyed moon. Retro and Pandy learn that Dead Leaves is not just a simple penitentiary, but it is actually a top-secret cloning facility. Together with a group of deformed inmates with special abilities, Retro and Pandy must fight against the corrupt prison guards, and break out of Dead Leaves. Dead Leaves is another movie that has more similarites to Tekkon Kinkreet by way of its aesthetics more than it's plot. While not using the more realistic character designs, Dead Leaves has artistic and creative settings. The worlds in both movies are colorful and combine aspects of real architecture and a large number of fantasy elements, which gives the viewer the ability to experience unique and enjoyable settings. Although Dead Leaves has a heavy focus on its comedy, it also has many action scenes that impact the story, similar to how Tekkon Kinkreet uses its actions scenes.

In her last year of high school, Makoto Konno is struggling with her decision on what she is going to do with her future. On her way home from school one day, Makoto almost gets into an accident with a train, but before she gets hit by the train she is transported back to before the accident. Makoto learns that her ability is called time-leap, and it allows her to literally leap through time. As Makoto continues to use her new found powers, she learns that messing with time has its consequences. Both Summer Wars and Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo were produced by Madhouse and directed by Mamoru Hosoda. These connections give both movies a similar visual style and pacing to the story. Both movies also feature heavy amounts of sci-fi elements and also have some minor romance elements. While the premise of both movies is vastly different, they still share a major story theme. The movies feature average main characters who ultimately end up having a huge impact on the world around them with the use of Makoto's time-leap and Kenji's involvement with OZ. They eventually learn the consequences of their actions and the second half of each movie focuses on their journey to fix the problems they caused.

In future Japan, androids have become a regular part of everyday life. One day, Rikuo Sakisaka checks his home androids activity log and notices she has been acting on her own and returning home at strange times. Rikuo also notices a strange phrase in her, “Are you enjoying the Time of Eve?” Together with his friend, Masakazu Masaki, Rikuo follows the android Sammy to a mysterious cafe called, “The Time of Eve.” There they learn more about androids and start to see them more than just the personal assistants they have been using them as for years. Eve no Jikan and Summer Wars feature heavy family themes, showing the joy of being surrounded by people that care for you even if they aren't related to you. Both Rikuo and Kenji get to experience this by being around a group of people they come to care for and want to protect. Both movies also both present the idea of AI being humanized and being able to act on its own. The plot revolves around these newly humanised AI, with the androids in Eve no Jikan learning to act more like humans causing Rikuo to change his thoughts on Androids and Love Machine going beyond its original programming and taking over the world of Oz forcing Kenji and his new friends to fight against it.

Kokonoe Monakawa has been trying to study for her upcoming entrance exams, but she keeps having problems staying awake. In her dreams, she goes to a place called Heartland, a society revolved around cars that is under attack by a huge molten monster. In her dreams, Kokonoe takes the place of the king's daughter Ancien, who uses her tablet to bring machines to life. Her dream world and the real world start to blend together when a man resembling the king's evil advisor shows up at her house and is involved in her father's arrest. With Kokonoe's dreams seeming to be more than just simple dreams, she must find out how Heartland and the real world are connected and how she can save them both. Hirune Hime: Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari and Summer Wars both feature stories that take place in multiple worlds, with both movies spending a majority of the time in the fantasy worlds of Heartland and Oz. The shifting between the fantasy and reality and the way the characters deal with it are very similar. Hirune Hime: Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari and Summer Wars also feature some minor character similarities with Kokonoe and Natsuki being similar in appearance and personality. Artistically the movies are very similar as well, with similar looking backgrounds and characters and the use of more colorful worlds for their fantasy locations.

Mitsuha Miyamizu is a high school girl in the countryside that wishes she could escape and live in Tokyo. One day, Mitsuha wakes up in the body of Taki Tachibana and starts to live out her dream of being a boy living in Tokyo. Mitsuha wasn't the only one to switch places, as she learns that Taki was switched into her body while she was in his. As Mitsuha and Taki continue to switch bodies, they learn more and more about each other and grow closer by living each other's lives. One day the switches stop happening, forcing Taki to seek Mitsuha and find out what happened to her. Kimi no Na wa and Summer Wars are both set in the countryside and use the main characters to juxtapose modern and traditional lifestyles. Taki and Kenji are from Tokyo and represent the more modern lifestyle. The story follows them as they spend time with the families of Mitsuha and Natsuki, and they experience a more traditional way of living. When they start experiencing the more traditional lifestyle, both movies focus on the closeness of families and their traditions. Both movies also incorporate romance and sci-fi elements into their stories.

The story of Tsumiki no le takes place in a flooded town with waters that continue to rise. An elderly man must continue to add new levels to his home to avoid the rising water level. One day, the elderly man accidentally drops his favorite pipe into the lower levels of his home. As he goes to the lower levels of his home to find his pipe, he sees things throughout the home that make him reminisce about things that have happened during his time in his home. Although Tsumiki no Ie is a short film with no dialogue, it still shares a major theme presented in Summer Wars. Both movies are centered around a caring family and show the importance of family. The elderly man and Sakae Jinnouchi are at very similar points in life. They are both nearing the end of their lives and spend their time remembering the great times they had throughout their lives with their family. Both films also have unique art styles and great soundtracks that enhance their stories.

In 2046, the people of earth have reached Mars and discovered the remnants of an alien civilization. This discovery has allowed mankind to massive advances in its technology and plans have been made to set up an expedition into space to fight against a group of aliens called the Tarsians. Junior high school girl Mikako Nagamine is selected to go on the mission as a pilot of a fighting mech. After she leaves on her mission, Mikako continues to send messages to her friend Terao Noboru back on Earth. As she begins to get further from Earth, the messages between them start to take longer to get to one another. The story follows their bond that transcends through space and time. While not having many similar plot points and not being similar tones, Hoshi no Koe and Summer Wars are still similar in a variety of ways that are different from any other movie on this list. Both Hoshi no Koe and Summer Wars follow the story of a pair of teenagers that have their lives forever changed by technology. Even though Hoshi no Koe is focused much more on the romance between its two main characters and is more somber, the relationships between its main characters develop in a similar way. With the discovery on Mars and the world of Oz changing the way the world operates, they both have a direct impact on the relationship between the movies main characters and end up being the relationships end up the way they do at the end of the film.

Once Marco Pagot was a WWI fighter pilot, but since then, he has become a bounty hunter with a strange curse. Marco’s body has been transformed into a pig-like being and thus he has decided to change his name to Porco Rosso or Red Pig. Porco’s life after the war would have him reuniting with a longtime friend Gina and ends up falling in love with her. However, Porco must defeat a fellow rival by the name of Curtis and this leads to him, at one point, being shot down by his rival and is thought to be dead. Luckily, Porco survived but finds himself now a target and must somehow find Gina, get revenge on Curtis, and be prepared for a new war that is looming over Europe. Beginning our list of 6 Anime Movies Like Kaze Tachinu, we look at the whimsical but drama filled Kurenai no Buta. While Kurenai no Buta doesn’t look at war too seriously, it does show a world that has just recently survived WWI and how people are just moving on with their lives. Kurenai no Buta shares not only the Studio Ghibli name—as both movies were made by the same studio—but the art style and themes. If you want to enjoy a solid war movie but one without being too serious, then you’ll enjoy Kurenai no Buta. We fully recommend Kurenai no Buta and we’re sure you’ll love it.

The year is 1945 and the war has been going for now three years between the USA and Japan. While many parts of Japan have been hit hard by the war, Hiroshima has so far been spared from the bombs runs. However, life in Hiroshima is far from peaceful as food is getting more and more scarce and people are suffering lack of nutrition. Gen is a young boy who lives in Hiroshima with his parents and younger brother Shinji. Gen is trying his best to survive but little does Gen and his family know of the true horror that will change Hiroshima forever… Hadashi no Gen is one of the few WWII movies that explores the war from Hiroshima and examines the tale from a young boy’s eyes. Watching Gen stay strong despite being so young is both uplifting and inspiring. We could only imagine how hard it must have been for civilians to survive during WWII but with movies like Hadashi no Gen we get a glimpse of it. Even though Hadashi no Gen is old—it did come out in 1983—we still loved this classic title. Join Gen in his struggles to keep his family strong during WWII in Hadashi no Gen.

WWII has begun to reach its climax but Japan is struggling from never ending bombing raids causing cities to fall one after another. Two children named Seita and Setsuko have recently become orphaned after a bombing raid killed their parents and destroyed their home. However, neither one of the siblings is willing to curl up and give up. Both Seita and Setsuko decide to travel Japan to try and survive but see the horrors of starvation, disease and helplessness. Can these two boys avoid the fate of many around them? Hotaru no Haka is a truly heart gripping suspense story that centers on a fictional set of brothers but in a very realistic take on the horrors seen in Japan during the war. Hotaru no Haka is a timeless movie that many consider amazing and we completely agree. From beginning to end, this 88 min movie will keep your heart ensnared in drama and emotion which even after the credits roll will be a feeling you’ll keep for days after. Kaze Tachinu and Hotaru no Haka are made by Studio Ghibli but don’t be deceived by the release date differences between both. Like most of Studio Ghibli movies, Hotaru no Haka looks stunning with amazing music, strong voice acting and a truly impressive narrative. Pick up a copy of Hotaru no Haka if you can and be prepared with a box of tissues at hand.

Junpei and Kanta are two brothers who are about to face a terrible event on their island Shikotan. Soviet Union soldiers invade the island and the brothers along with their father, a fisherman, leader of the firefighting force on the island and their grandfather lose their home to the occupation. Forced to now live in the stables, they endure the rule of the Soviet forces and must make the best out of their situation. Though at school, Junpei and Kanta meet with Russian children and despite their differences, become friends. Can these children change the course of these events despite the language and belief differences? Based on true events that happened in the real world, Giovanni no Shima follows the fate of people forced to endure in a situation where language is different and violence is ever looming. We loved how Production I.G—the studio behind the animation of Giovanni no Shima—made a simply gorgeous anime movie that truly looks incredible with unique character art. Like Kaze Tachinu, Giovanni no Shima aims to deliver a message to the audience. In this case, it is that even if language barriers exist, people can somehow make companionship work even during desperate times. Giovanni no Shima isn’t always light hearted though and at times this story does contain darker moments of struggle and survival. However, we won’t spoil much of Giovanni no Shima as we think you guys need to check it out if you loved Kaze Tachinu but need a different kind of story seen in most WWII anime movies.

Suzu Urano is considered clumsy and aloof but nonetheless has just been married off to a clerk named Shuusaku Houjo. Life for Suzu is tough as a new married woman and that’s partially because of the fact that WWII has been hurting Japan in numerous ways. Nonetheless though, Suzu stays strong and settles in with her husband’s family despite having to learn a lot of skills she didn’t possess before. However, every day the war seems to get closer to home and even with Suzu’s passion and heart things seem to grow dire. Can Suzu muster up the strength needed to endure this war alongside her new family? With an inevitable event encroaching quickly, Suzu struggles all the while unaware of the life changing events that will soon befall her. Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni is deceptively cute and charming just like Kaze Tachinu’s beginning. Suzu’s story seems to be silly and heartwarming as she becomes the wife she didn’t think she could ever be. Unfortunately, Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni makes it apparent early on that there is a clock ticking down constantly as you see the days and months pass that lead to Japan’s worst moment ever. Nevertheless though, Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni teaches us to be strong willed even when we think all hope is lost and that is a powerful message to take in. Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni will tear at your heart as you see Suzu and her family endure but it will also stand as an example that no matter who you are or what you lack, you can be a brilliant shining beacon of strength when you need to be as long as you don’t lose your heart.

Ohoshisama no Rail tells the events of a young Japanese girl named Kobayashi Chitose as she lives in North Korea during the Japanese occupation seen in WWII. Chitose is forced to see the war take a toll on her family and despite wishing to help them, is ultimately unable to do so. Every moment that passes during the war causes Chitose some harm beginning as something small to something progressively worse. However, the Koreans eventually grow tired of their occupation and begin to rise up to push Japanese soldiers and people out of their country. Chitose alongside her family will now find themselves fighting to reach the safety of a US occupied area before it’s too late. We end our 6 Anime Movies Like Kaze Tachinu with Ohoshisama no Rail. Many anime war movies tend to focus on Japanese struggles but Ohoshisama no Rail is different as it shows the North Korean race dealing with occupation during WWII from a young girl’s perspective. Ohoshisama no Rail is truly a great film as it broadens the horizons of many who wish to learn more about WWII and what struggles other areas of Asia endured during the battles. We think you’ll like Ohoshisama no Rail if you fancied Kaze Tachinu and the animation style it had. While this isn’t a Studio Ghibli work like Kaze Tachinu, Ohoshisama no Rail is helmed by Madhouse and we know that will intrigue many fans out there to check out their earlier works such as Ohoshisama no Rail.

After her mother left, Asuna Watase has had to not only make sure that her grades do not slip, but she also needs to tend to everything at home. Thankfully though, she gets brief reprieve with her crystal radio in her secret hideout. One day, Asuna hears something from the radio that she’s never heard before. One thing leads to another, and she is rescued by a mysterious boy named Shun. Suddenly Asuna is plunged headfirst into a journey with Shun and her life will never be the same. Right off the bat, you should be able to pick up that both movies are centered around female protagonists whose lives go from zero to one hundred very quickly with a random boy who joins them and stays by their sides. Makoto Shinkai, yes that one, is the director of Hoshi wo Ou Kodomo and has stated that Laputa was a massive influence for this movie. While slightly insignificant, the rush to adventure all around a mysterious necklace is also a great trop shared by these two movies.

In the future, humanity has more or less thrown away their bodies and lives online in a place called DEVA. Essentially, it’s an online world where you can be whoever you want to be. That is… until somehow it is hacked one day by someone named Frontier Settler. Angela, a law enforcement officer, traces the signal back to some abandoned planet called Earth. There, she actually puts herself into a physical body, but due to time restraints, the body is only that of a 16-year-old girl! When she arrives, she meets Dingo, someone who is her contact but also wants to know who Frontier Settler is. The journey that they embark on will threaten everything that they take for granted. Rakuen Tsuihou overlaps Laputa in a lot of ways that people may not recognize. Both Sheena and Angela’s everyday lives are thrown in upheaval by something unexpected and of course–thank you heteronormativity–there is a boy ready to help them out. While Frontier Settler is nowhere near as bad as the government, both want to bring about something from the past and let the people of the current era, who have most likely completely forgotten about it, recall and re-learn what it was. Ultimately, the choices that both Sheena and Angela make come at a very heavy price. How much though is for you to get from watching the movie!

Patema is a girl of royal heritage who lives deep underground. In fact, the entire civilization does and it is all connected by a series of tunnels. When she goes somewhere she is not supposed to one day, Patema falls into a bottomless pit where she falls and falls and falls. However, the world she finds is inverted. In fact, she starts floating up in the direction of the sky! A boy named Age saves her though. Patema then learns that the people of Aiga, where she is now, consider her a heathen and eventually will be consumed by the sky. Age protects her though and suddenly, their two worlds collide where they are inverts of each other. Starting out, yet again we have another girl who just happens to meet a boy who saves her and wants to protect her. You know, because that is normally what happens when you meet strangers. Both girls are pursued by governments while the boys do their best to help the escape. Puppy love is what helps both pairs pull through in difficult moments and gives them the strength. Both Patema and Laputa also touch on the idea that help can come in all shapes and sizes. You just have to look for it.

The world is now much more symbiotic with plant life due to an experiment went wrong. Well… more like plants have taken over and brought ruin upon humanity. There are a few who try to survive, but they have to be careful. One day, a young boy named Agito finds a special area deep within the forest where time has stopped. There, a girl named Tula has been sleeping for 300 years. When humanity realizes what is happening, warriors kidnap her because she is the key to unlocking a special weapon that could allow humanity to once again, rise to the top of the food chain. Agito now has to not only save Tula, he has to prevent this tragedy from occurring. More or less, this is the same movie as Laputa with a few twists. The main character is a boy in Origin, and Tula, rather than being a descendant of an ancient race, is actually that said ancient race as she has been frozen in time. Both Sheena and Tula can control a massive weapon due to their pasts that could wreak havoc on the world and are pursued by governments. Not only that, but both girls have to make sacrifices if they wa

Sophie is a normal girl… until one day when she cursed by the Witch of the Waste. This takes a cute young girl and turns her into a shriveled old woman unable to speak of her curse. Wandering out into the mountains, she sees something beyond peculiar, a moving castle. One thing leads to another and Sophie hops inside at the last minute. Now the live-in maid, she helps those around the castle with various issues which includes the master of the castle himself, a strange man named Howl. If only Sophie could tell Howl what was going on! Surely, he could undo the curse. Thus, her journey begins. This is the only Miyazaki movie to make it on the list because these two movies, while fantastic, mirror each other well. Both movies are centered around a girl who ends up either in or looking for a castle, both are heavily affected by magic, and a beautiful romance blossoms between both the male and female leads. While Howl may not seem like he has saved Sophie, that could not be further from the truth and a careful watch will reveal that. He takes care of Sophie just like how Pazu saves Sheena and makes sure she is safe. A castle on the move in both movies also lends to an interesting overall plot. If you have not caught this classic yet, then now is the time!

Amon is a bit of an odd young boy. You see, he has powers. He can fly when there is a wind and he can freely communicate with animals. His father is a powerful researcher for the Empire. Fearful of what the Empire may do to his son, they flee as a family, but are hunted down. Only Amon survives. He makes it to a strange island where he learns more about what he is. Amon is part of an ancient race where everyone had powers like him. Accepting his past, he meets a girl named Maria in another village, but the Empire is lying in wait for him and attacks the village looking for him. The two work together to try and put a stop to the Empire’s evil deeds. The last entry here is something a lot of people do not know about. Kaze wo Mita Shounen is very much like Castle in the Sky. Now, we do not know if it is directly pulled from it, but there are very easy parallels. Amon and Sheena are of an ancient race that allows them special powers. Both are pursued by an evil government bent on getting their secrets and harnessing them. An obvious romance buds between the two main characters, and oddly, you find yourself cheering them on to succeed. As luck would have it, finally, both Amon and Sheena have a special heirloom important to them.

One day, a little girl named Hotaru gets lost in the forest. She meets a man named Gin who wears a mask. He reveals himself to be a forest spirit and tells her that she must never touch him. She obeys and he leads her out. She insists on becoming friends with Gin and promises to come back every summer to visit him. Hotaru keeps her word and comes back summer after summer to visit Gin. Their friendship deepens and this culminates one day when the strength of their feelings threaten everything. Right off the bat Arrietty and Hotarubi no Mori e are centered around a female protagonist who is happened upon by a boy and helped out. Both series also focus on nontraditional relationships and friendships that would be considered nonsensical in our everyday, mundane world. Both series sport fantastic art and showcase naïve main characters. If you love those unique friendships, then you need to see Hotarubi no Mori e.

Patema lives in an underground society connected by a series of tunnels. One day, her friend disappears and she goes to search for them. As a member of the royal family, she is not supposed to be down there, and she ends up heading into a tunnel that was forbidden. This ends up leading her to falling into a pit that actually drops her into another world; but here is the thing: she is falling upwards into the sky? Now in a place called Aiga, she is saved by a boy named Age. He agrees to help her and resist the society which tells him to shun people like Patema. Their blooming friendship is not only going to touch you, it’s going to threaten everything between their worlds. Patema and Arrietty both are strong-willed people who love to explore. This wonderlust leads both to be exposed to something that they should not be. Arrietty’s father and Patema’s family are both overbearing and chastise her for going against their well. Ultimately too, the theme of being true to oneself also leads both misfortune to befall the main characters while also allowing them to forge friendships that they never would have thought possible before!

Anna Sasaki is a lonely girl. With her constant asthma attacks, she has issues making friends. So, in order to help both her and her health, Anna is sent to the countryside to help her physically and mentally. So, she spends her days lazily drawing with her aunt and uncle in their house by the seashore. Then one day, Anna finds the Marsh House; an abandoned mansion. Anna meets the upbeat and cheerful Marnie whose energy is infectious. Before she realizes it, Anna is a changed person and meeting Marnie as much as she can. As she gets healthy though, she realizes that not everything is as it appears in this town. Although both movies seem to be beautiful, slice of life stories, both harbor a deep sadness within them. Both Arrietty and Omoide no Marnie feature a main character who faces isolation, one forced and one ill, and both are drawn out of their reclusion by the characters they meet. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, both enjoy western themes, are from the same studio and same director, and both are based on non-Japanese novels!

Hana is a university student who is in love! Well… sort of. You see she’s into this guy in her classes, but he’s not an actual student… and he’s not actually human either. In fact, he’s a werewolf. This does not deter Hana. The two fall in love and start a family. However, when he dies and Hana is left with her two children Ame and Yuki, she now has to raise these two half-werewolf children who can easily transform. The city where she lives though is not the best place to conceal their identities, so she goes into the countryside to try and raise them in secret. Both Hana and Arrietty face terrible realities should they be found out, so as we would expect, they try to live their lives out in secrecy at first before, like other movies here, learning how to be true to oneself. In fact, self-acceptance permeates through the movies here lending to an overall positive tone. If you needed another reason to be into this movie, this was directed by Mamoru Hosoda!z

Daru, which looks a lot like a daruma, accidentally is left behind at an airport after he is separated from his owner. Daru is a handmade stuffed toy and means a lot to his owner. So, what does any stuffed toy do in anime? Daru sets off on a journey to be reunited with her. Time passes though, and it’s clear that time is not on Daru’s side. The girl is slowly starting to forget about him. Can he make it back to her in time? Daru, while short, still manages to do a lot in just 10 minutes. Arrietty and Daru find themselves in worlds that clearly were not made for their existence as they are so small. Both tell a journey of self-discovery and the pursuit of truth and curiosity are showcased as themes to be enjoyed. Ultimately, both will make you say “Is this it? Is this what they wanted?” while warming your heart up.

Chihiro is a bit of a monster. She hates the fact that she is moving and cannot get into it. However, when she and her parents stumble across an abandoned amusement park, which then turns them into giant pigs, she is at a loss. Things only get worse for her as the sun goes down because strange things start appearing. Ghosts, spirits, and beings that she has only read about in books. Then there is Haku, a boy who introduces her to a bathhouse. She needs to work to get money in order to save her parents from becoming food. However, every interaction gets a little bit more interesting. Both Spirited Away and Arrietty take their main characters and put them into rather unwanted, and somewhat undesirable at first, situations. Both animated by Studio Ghibli, expect fantastic art and music and well as vivid imaginations played out throughout both movies. Yet again like with Tabisuru Nuigurumi and others on this list, the pursuit of truth is something both critical and quintessential to the main character and the story itself!

Acting as a reboot movie series, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone is the first installment of Shinji Ikari’s story. After a massive event dubbed “second impact” destroyed most of Japan, the only remaining city is Japan-3 which is heavily guarded by destructive giants called Angels. Shinji Ikari is summoned by his father Gendou to join him at his defensive unit called NERV to pilot an Evangelion Unit. These humanoid mechs are the only way to successfully stop Angels as the military’s weaponry is utterly useless in doing so. Despite the drive to avoid becoming a pilot, Shinji must enter Eva Unit 01 and prevent Japan’s only city from falling. However, behind the scenes of this story lies darker forces that will test Shinji’s skills as a pilot and his very own sanity… If the world of anime is to be believed then we know our future will have one thing for sure, giant mechs. Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone takes us through the first several episodes of the original series that aired decades ago but with new art and a new plot. Similar to Blame! Movie, Evangelion: 1.01 You Are (Not) Alone shows us the fate of humans desperately struggling to survive against possible extinction from a threat far greater than anything we’ve ever faced. With beautiful animation—only possible by studios Gainax, Starchild Records and KlockWorx—and a truly epic narrative, Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone is a thrill ride from start to finish. However, we do recommend taking it easy binging the three available movies out for this series. With Evangelion: 3.0 +1.0 not confirmed for a release date yet, it could be quite some time till we see the gripping climax to this amazing series.

A sequel to the hit anime movie, Appleseed Saga Ex Machina continues following Deunan and her once human lover, Briareos. The duo continues their mission to try and keep humanity from falling any further into ruin. In a future where technology has caused wars and an endless sea of violence, Deunan and Briareos team up with E.S.W.A.T. to tackle anyone who is deemed a threat to Olympus. With powerful forces and a new threat in the form of a being called Tereus, Deunan and Briareos are about to face their hardest threat yet. Will they survive or will humanity fall ever further than it already has? One element we loved about Blame! Movie was the high-octane action it had when Killy came on screen to shoot his laser gun and blast enemies away like nothing. Blame! Movie was constantly keeping your eyes glued to each scene as looking away for but a moment would lead to you missing possibly a bit of action or some important piece of narrative. Appleseed Saga Ex Machina echoes Blame! Movie in those regards with a thoroughly enjoyable post-apocalyptic sci-fi story that truly is one of a kind. Appleseed has always been a series we’ve enjoyed personally here at Honey’s Anime, but we really loved this sequel film and think fans of Blame! Movie will, too! We highly recommend picking up Appleseed Saga Ex Machina if you loved Blame! Movie.

Sidonia no Kishi Movie acts a recap to the first season of Sidonia no Kishi. In the distant future, Earth has been obliterated by an alien race known as the Gauna. While some of humanity escaped into space, the Gauna have made it their mission to completely wipe out humans and have chased them ever since. Now in the year 3394, humanity faces off against the Gauna once again. Tanikaze and his friends/fellow pilots must enter their mechs to acts a final vanguard for the remainder of humanity. Can Tanikaze prevail or will humanity disappear truly from existence? The Netflix produced series Sidonia no Kishi originally aired as a 12-episode series that we loved here at Honey’s Anime HQ. Now maybe for some reason, you want to see this epic battle of humanity versus aliens in a more condensed version. Well if you do indeed desire this—as we know watching 12 episodes sometimes can be tough—we recommend the Sidonia no Kishi Movie. This 2 hour plus movie, tells the basics of the first season but removes a lot of the unnecessary moments to create a non-stop sci-fi tale of survival like Blame! Movie. Sidonia no Kishi Movie will be an excellent movie to enjoy while we patiently wait for the sequel to Blame! Movie sometimes soon.

Long ago, humanity felt proud that they stood on the top of the food chains as the dominant species. However, in the 20th century, everything changed when Kaiju—monsters/monster—were discovered but in particular, a large Kaiju appeared and left nothing but destruction in its wake. Dubbed Godzilla, no matter what weapon was shot at it or used against it, Godzilla continued destroying cities and even other monsters without anything stopping its onslaught. Humanity, at the verge of extinction and in absolute fear, fled their only home and launched into space to hopefully find a new world to settle upon. However, years have passed and humans still float in space with no home in sight. In desperation, humanity returns to Earth via a warp drive that causes them to propel 20, 000 years into the future but learn that Earth has undergone a slew of changes and might be even deadlier than before… Many of us in the anime community know of the ultimate Kaiju named Godzilla and have seen a lot of the old films. Then in 2017, Netflix teamed up with Polygon Pictures—yes the studio that made Blame! Movie—to release Godzilla: Kaiju Wakusei. While Godzilla: Kaijuu Wakusei might not be all about technology being the downfall of man, it incorporates how technology is used to fight against our possible destruction and shows off some neat concepts like space travel and even mechs. Godzilla: Kaijuu Wakusei is a brilliant first entry in this dual part movie series—a sequel is slated for release in 2018—and for those that love sci-fi with a pinch of giant monsters, will most certainly love this newest Godzilla anime movie. Now, let us pray that Godzilla won’t ever actually become real…we don’t feel like traveling in space for decades personally.

The year is 2142 and the Earth isn’t the blue planet we once knew and loved. For years, pollution was the reality we faced as a species but continued to let it poison our world unabated. The city of Ecoban was created to attempt to use the pollution that destroyed the planet as fuel and to allow humans an escape from the wastelands outsides its walls. Unfortunately, upon Ecoban’s creation, a powerful society of humans rose up and made living in the city only possible for a select few or those who would become workers. If you became a worker, death would be a constant threat under stressful situations and a dangerous environment. Meanwhile, outside Ecoban, a young man named Shua begins a battle of his own to keep the love of his life—Jay—from a security commander named Cade and to prevent his world from becoming any darker than it already is. While Blame! Movie shows humanity falling from technology and a cybernetic virus, Wonderful Days acts as a more grounded sci-fi story with humans falling because of pollution. Wonderful Days is a drama filled action tale that we like to talk about from time to time seeing as how it’s not often mentioned in the anime community. We loved the look at a possible future devoid of color and life being replaced by machinery and muted colors almost akin to the style of Blame! Movie. When we were doing our 6 Anime Movies Like Blame! Movie we knew we needed to include Wonderful Days so this solid sci-fi movie would get some recognition in the year 2018. Check out Wonderful Days if you want a story that tries to convey the message of saving Earth by possibly lowering pollution once in a while.

In the shattered remains of Earth, humanity seeks a new home free from pain, death, hunger and sorrow. Removing their physical bodies, humanity has found a home within a virtual landscape called DEVA that resides far above Earth. Within DEVA, humans find a world of pleasure until a hacker begins to abuse the system and spread negativity throughout DEVA. As a counter offense, Angela Balzac of the DEVA law enforcement is sent to track the hacker’s origins on Earth using a cloned body to traverse the destitute world. As Angela searches for her perp, she ends up meeting humans who continue to call Earth their home and begins to see the true disconnect between paradise and reality. We conclude our 6 Anime Movies Like Blame! Movie list with Rakuen Tsuihou by studio Graphinica. Unlike most of the movies on our list, Rakuen Tsuihou asks the question, what is truly paradise? We loved how the idea of removing our actual bodies to live in digital form is both scary, as we see people basically living on the net nowadays, but also mystifying as we imagine the possibilities of a virtual world like DEVA. Rakuen Tsuihou also has tons of action in the form of mecha combat which will keep you gripping onto you couches or chairs while watching. Rakuen Tsuihou is beautifully animated and wonderfully, written making this a movie we can’t recommend enough. Just try not to oggle too much at our main female lead in Rakuen Tsuihou, though we won’t blame you if you do.

Legends and folk tales in Japan have often been preserved in theatrical representations. Doujouji is one of such cases. The protagonists are a priest and a woman. Although he wants to stay loyal to his vows, the woman keeps pursuing him. Things turn out for the worst when he hides under the temple bell thinking he will be safe there. This version of Doujouji is special not only because it is so old (how come there has not been a remake yet?). The director Kihachiro Kawamoto combined stop motion with standard animation to create a unique experience, but this also gives rendition to the puppet theatre where this story is still presented to these days. Intense and surprising, Doujouji reminds us of how life was visualized in the days of Kaguya-Hime no Monogatari, as well as the eternal conflict between duty and temptation incarnated in impossible love.

There is a Japanese proverb that says the hair is the heart of a woman. Women used to take care of their hair so well that it could grow until it reached the floor, while being deeply black but silky to the touch. The hair was also cut only on auspicious occasions with the help of special ceremonies, and the cut braids were carefully kept. This film (which ends with a commercial) explores the theme of hair in a way only Japanese could have thought about: with all the elegance and the tragedy of a love story. If you like the stylish animation of xxxHolic or Ghost in the Shell, Asience is at that same quality level. The mysterious atmosphere is also something worth mentioning. However, the most important similarity Asience has with Kaguya-hime no Monogatari is the theme of impossible love. If you like traditional Japanese culture, this little jewel is short and to the point.

Genji Monogatari is considered by some to be the first psychological novel in human history. Written by the talented lady-in-waiting, Murasaki Shikibu, the story tells us the life of Hikaru Genji, a prince born from one of the many concubines of the Emperor. We follow his first years, education, rise to power, disgrace, his come back and the many ladies who accompanied him throughout his life. The original novel follows up Genji’s descendants as well, so you can imagine the massive scope and richness of detail that this work entails. We actually know a lot about the Heian period thanks to Murasaki Shikibu. That being said, all the adaptations of Genji Monogatari tend to fall short of the mark. What they usually do is focus on just a few chapters of the story, in order to give space to the characters to grow in front of the audience. This film adaptation focuses on one of Genji’s lovers, Lady Rokujo. In such regards, Kaguya-hime also makes an extra effort to focus on a female protagonist. The conflicts between what society expects and the feelings of the characters are also present. Besides that, we get the same time period, and a focus on the arts and lifestyle.

This is the tale of three friends who are pulled to a different world: Akane, Tenma and Shimon. Akane becomes the Priestess of the Dragon God, the only one who can stop the demons from dominating that world. Together with her Hachiyou, the eight great warriors with special powers, she will travel and live many adventures. The movie Maihitoyo follows Akane when she finds a man with no memories. The Priestess decides to help him, discovering a cursed dance which might kill anyone who attempts to perform it. If you wanted an anime movie with the flavor of ancient Japan, here we have a similar option to Kaguya-hime no Monogatari. The protagonist is an unconventional girl and there is an unconventional guy involved too. There is room for spirituality and the supernatural as well. And oh, the art in both is beautiful! This movie is part of a TV anime series, but you can watch it as a stand alone without problems.

What can a young widow do in a world where everyone judges you? Hana had to overcome many doubts when she fell in love with Ookami, but things turn for the worse when he dies. Hana is the mother of two children (Ame and Yuki) who can turn into wolves, just like their late father. In hopes of raising them to be their best, Hana moves from the city to the countryside. Will she be able to handle the peculiar children by herself? We have human parents raising supernatural children in both Kaguya-hime and Wolf Children. We testify their struggles, their far from perfect relationship with their children and also their joys when they encounter the simple things in life. Both films follow the children growing up and their appreciation towards nature. However, the most important part of them is how the children have to define their own personalities in the end.

This is an article talking about a Studio Ghibli movie, so we had to mention another of their creations. Director Hayao Miyazaki created this movie inspired by a real little girl who was displeased with life. In Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, we discover what happens if your parents are transformed into pigs due to eating food for spirits. Chihiro has to overcome her spoiled self to try to save her parents and herself from the power of the witch Yubaba. However, she will encounter friends and other enemies on the way. Did anyone mention girl protagonists? Both Chihiro and Kaguya are totally natural in their reactions to the obstacles they find, and can be hilarious sometimes. A wonderful and magical Japanese style atmosphere? Also, did anyone notice how Haku and Sutemaru, Kaguya’s friend, have a similar role in the movies? And well, the rendezvous between both couples make us cry, accompanied by the masterful music by Joe Hisaishi.