Digimon has been with us for an extremely long time and is one of those shows that fans will never get enough of. Toei Animation invites us to jump into a world where AI lifeforms or “Appmon” live within our phone apps. As with a lot of Digimon seasons, a certain villain takes hold of a particular technology that allows him/her to hack and infect other systems. In Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters over villain is ‘Leviathan’ who, after hacking apps, begins to control the human world from the net. Although the premise doesn’t seem as interesting as previous ones, Toei Animation has proven itself capable of surprising its audience. There’s a reason why Digimon is still going after all.

Slated for 48 episodes, Monster Hunter Stories: Ride On throws us into an awesome world of monsters and humans. In this world, there are both those who hunt down the various creatures roaming the land as well as those who befriend these different species. Those who form special bonds with monsters are known as ‘Riders’ and this anime particularly follows the life and adventures of Ryuto, who wants to become the world’s best Rider. As of right now, the world and characters seem extremely vibrant and fun and it will be exciting to further explore this world.

Well, Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars started in July and then got pulled by episode four. It follows sister Yui and Rena who have had quite comfortable lives in the Enastria Empire. However, a giant mecha appears unexpected and begins to destroy everything. Accustomed to peace, although the country had only known peace for 12 years, Yui, the queen of her country must learn how to navigate an entirely new political scene as war erupts. So far the main topics being discussed are the level of instigation that demands military response as well as what it means to protect someone. It will be interesting to see how Studio Actas picks the series back up and finishes it this upcoming fall.

Time Bokan has been around for a very long time. It started in 1975 with Dr. Kieta sending himself to the prehistoric time period, which in turned forced his assistants to go on a wild goose chase through time and space. The last Time Bokan series was in 2000 and so it is exciting to see what studio Tatsunoko Production will bring to the table this time. In recent years they have really expanded their styles and range, taking on shows like Gatchaman Crowds and Ping Pong The Animation and even collaborating on Psycho-Pass 2. There’s a lot of potential for the series; and with Akhiro Hino (Yokai-Watch and Inazuma Eleven) acting as the creative producer, they’re definitely on the right track to creating an exciting and family friendly type program.

Studio SANZIGEN has produced pretty powerful dramas filled with lots of action over the past decade. One only has to look at Black★Rock Shooter and Arslan Senki to understand just how well the staff at SANZIGEN can perform. They know how to animate a fight and they know how to create characters that fans will love and they know how to revolutionize. Now, the first season of Bubuki Buranki might not have been as impactful as their other shows, but it was solid and held a lot of potential with the styles they were testing out. Deciding to go for Bubuki Buranki: Hoshi no Kyojin shows that they are now ready and confident to fully dive into this world. So let’s see how they continue the story of Azuma and our other Bubuki users. Not that the fight scenes were bad, but hopefully they slow down a little to flesh out its interesting cast.

Not much has been revealed about Cheating Craft yet. What we do now is that it focuses on the struggles of taking university exams. A lot of your life can be determined by this test and so people go to great lengths to achieve high scores. Many resort to cheating. However, this is the ultimate crime to those who have forcibly read and memorized everything they could. Thus, Cheating Craft pits “Cheating types” against “Learning types” in an epic scenario. Overall, the show sounds like it might be taking some cues from Baka no Test. Its animation style seems very promising too. There’s a certain freedom of motion to it that promises powerful moments of expression, whether that be in an outburst of emotion or possibly fists. However, it will most likely keep to games of deception.

Soul Buster will present to us the character Son Shin, who accidentally breaks a seal in his dream. This mistake of his actually has major real-life consequences as it effectively resets the Sanonkushi period to its beginning. Oh, and now he’s a part of that period and will have the opportunity to monumentally change the future for better or worse. Well, if he doesn’t die within the first few moments. As a sword and fantasy type show, Soul Buster couldn’t do much better than be backed by Studio Pierrot. They handle some of the biggest titles out there and a lot of those happen to be action, adventure type shounen with episode counts that are beyond counting. Looking at you guys, Bleach and Naruto. Either way, there’s no doubt that it will at least be entertaining and have solid animation.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans was a solid continuation of the everlasting mecha series. It set up a complex galactic infrastructure with Earth’s four economic blocks and the dependency of outer colonies. It also took on some pretty powerful and contemporary topics with its inclusion, depiction and conversation around child soldiers, poverty, and imperialism. You can expect for MSG: Iron-Blooded Orphans 2 to not only take on such ideas once again, but to also expand the level of politics being played. There will also very likely be a deeper investigation of character dynamics, which will be much appreciated as the forming and disintegrating of relationships in a volatile environment has always been a point of interest for the Mobile Suits Gundam series. Following Kudella Aina Berstein as she tried to secure resources for the independence of her city on Mars, MSG: Iron-Blooded Orphans proved itself to be a show for both Gundam addicts as well as more casual and curious viewers. Though it will be useful to have watched the first season, you can expect similar appeal in this upcoming anime by Studio Sunrise.

Studios Creators in Pack seems to be taking a different direction from their comedy/slice of series with Bloodivore’s supernatural and action premise. This upcoming show throws us into a world where a certain medicine was produced to cure a wide-spread and peculiar case of insomnia. However, there was a problematic side effect to taking this medicine. It turned users into vampires, and so war erupted between humans and the newly born vampires. For the most part, vampires were wiped out. However a few survived and one had a child with a human. This half-human, half-vampire is Mi Liu, who represents the only hope for reconciliation between humans and vampires. Well, our boy here tends to be a bit of troublemaker, and after a bank robbery gets put into a special prison. In this prison, he befriends other vampires, is attacked by unknown monsters, and with them dives into the hidden mysteries of their prison.

Clearly people want samurais and swords for this upcoming fall season as evident by these top two. That aside, it’s about time Drifters got an anime adaptation. Serialization began in 2009 by Young King OURs, and Kouta Hirano has been writing gold since then. The series follows Shimazu Toyohisa, a powerful fighter, who after being critically wounded in a battle is transported to another world. In this world, he meets and joins a group filled with similarly powerful warriors known as the “Drifters”. Starring alongside Shimazu Toyohisa are the historical and godly Oda Nobunaga and Nasu Suketaka Yoichi so you know you’re going to get your money’s worth. However, they are not the only historical figures to have arrived in this world, which also happens to be filled with its own magical races. In the end, this show promises to be an extremely fun for action lovers and history buffs. It doubtlessly will follow the manga’s battle direction and not only give us strong fight scenes but thoughtful moments of strategy.

It's the new school year at Sakuragaoka Girl's High School, and the Light Music Club are looking to recruit new musicians into their reasonably rag-tag group. So along comes young, naive first-year Azusa Nakano, an aspiring guitarist, to fall into their tea and cake littered trap. Thankfully Azusa is a fairly strong willed girl and is quick to put a stop to the current club member's overwhelming laziness, or at least she tries awfully hard. With her musical expertise guilting the club's other guitarist Yui into finally practicing, hopefully, their next concert will go just fine. Azusa and Aoba have very similar personalities in that they're honest, very hard-working and diligent, as well constantly enthusiastic. On top of that, both of them have a troubled, embarrassed side that comes out whenever they mess up or have to do something they're not too happy about (although in Aoba's case she's up for pretty much anything). The biggest difference between the two is the situation they're in, with Aoba in a new company and Azusa in a new club. Aoba is very unsure of what she's doing but is luckily surrounded by competent co-workers that can help her. Azusa on the other hand already knows what she's doing but has to convince her hopeless senpais to get their act together. Of course, let's not forget the cute twintails as well which are probably their biggest charm point. If you liked New Game! you should check out K-On! regardless, but be sure to look out for the kitty cat guitarist Azu-nyan!

After falling in love with stoic giant Umetarou Nozaki, Chiyo Sakura has finally built up enough courage to confess her feelings to him. Unfortunately, the confession causes a quite surprising misunderstanding, and instead of receiving a more traditional response, Chiyo walks away with an autograph. As it turns out Nozaki isn't just an ordinary high schooler, but a famous shoujo mangaka, said to be a master of love. Now in hopes of getting closer to him, Chiyo has become his assistant, although she's having some trouble getting her feelings through to the oblivious artist. It's a good thing she's so positive, or the direness of the situation would have quickly brought her down. One thing's for sure, Chiyo and Aoba both have great taste when it comes to hairstyles and accessories. New Game! and Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun are also both made by the same studio, Doga Kobo, so you might notice some similarities with the girl's expressions and reactions. Chiyo has a positivity which is hard to keep down, although at times Nozaki's ridiculous antics can be wearing, to say the least. This glass half full attitude is the main similarity between her and Aoba, with them both being able to carry on as usual despite the odd characters that surround them. Chiyo is also in a fairly similar situation to Aoba, with her being thrown in at the deep end working for a professional mangaka, and thus being the junior who's having to learn everything from scratch. Because of this, she wants to do the best job possible so as to not let her senpai down. Overall if you liked Aoba then you'll surely enjoy Chiyo as well, although she has to deal with much more ridiculous situations on a daily basis.

In the countryside town of Asahigaoka, nothing much of any significance happens, but that doesn't mean it's not a sweet place to live. Despite just moving to the small town from the big lights of Tokyo, Hotaru Ichijou has had no trouble making friends with everyone in her new school, though given that the school only had four students there's nothing too surprising there. Now she and her new friends spend their days studying, playing, and generally hanging around the countryside, with everything being a brand new experience for young Hotaru. Oh and she also obsessively makes plushies of her senpai, which is totally not concerning at all. Here's a girl who, once again, is brimming with positivity such that very little can really get her down. Despite being in a completely new environment, she's determined to make it work, make new friends, and get used to her new life in the country, much like Aoba's attitude towards her new job. Both of the girls have a very relatable fear of messing up or doing something that isn't considered normal in their new situation, only to find out it's no big deal in the end. As mentioned before Hotaru is also always looking up to her senpai Komari, although her obsession is a bit more extreme than Aoba's respect for Kou. Hotaru and Aoba's situations may be very different but if you liked one of them you're sure to enjoy the other one as well.

Kobeni Yonomori thought she was just an ordinary highschool girl (with a bratty older sister) when one day her apparent fiancé and his younger sister show up and start living with her family. Unbeknownst Kobeni, her grandfather had arranged the marriage years ago between her and the boy who lived in the mountains. Finding the whole situation odd, but loveable, the story follows Kobeni and her fiancé Hakuya's daily life as they go to school, cook, and get to know each other better. Things are not quite as they seem with the newcomers, though, so it's a good thing Kobeni has an immeasurably kind and understanding personality. Firstly it's worth mentioning that, like Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, Mikakunin de Shinkoukei is made by the studio Doga Kobo, so you'll certainly notice some similarities in Kobeni and Aoba's expressions and actions. The two of them are both very much the ordinary and diligent young girl in their series, somewhat immune to the madness surrounding them. Much like Aoba, Kobeni gets worried over trivial things that seem important to her at the time, but turn out to not be something worth worrying about. They also both have a pure, sparkly aura around them that lifts other's spirits and cannot be tainted. One of the bigger differences between them is whereas Aoba is always looking up to her senpais, Kobeni has an older sister who adores her instead. We'd recommend Kobeni from Mikakunin de Shinkoukei to anyone who wants a similar character to Aoba, but in a very different, romcom setting.

The daughter of a mochi shop owner, Tamako Kitashirakawa splits her time between high school, helping out in their shop, and baton practice. Nothing too out of the ordinary there. But much to her surprise, a talking bird named Dera suddenly enters her life, which everyone is not as concerned about as perhaps they should be. After stating that he's part of a distant land's royal family and is looking for a wife for their prince, Dera then proceeds to eat an unreasonable amount of mochi and becomes too fat to fly. Despite now having a new fat feathered friend around, though, Tamako's life carries on much as usual in this slightly silly slice-of-life. Much like Aoba, Tamako is the girl who's friends with everyone, with a positivity that's impossible to not be drawn in by. Although not quite the same, they two also share a very pretty and memorable twintails hairstyle, which is possibly their most defining physical feature. Tamako is another one who is ignorant to the strangeness around her and is much more focused on getting her work done and helping her family out. Whereas Aoba's hard working attitude is a key part of New Game!'s story, Tamako's diligence in her everyday life actually allows her to ignore the storyline (Dera) that is trying so hard to involve her in it, which is quite amusing. Both Aoba and Tamako are sweet, hard working girls, that you couldn't possibly dislike.

Yuru Yuri follows Nanamori Middle School's newly founded Amusement Club, home to four very different girls, who somehow manage to get along together. Their daily activities involve drinking tea, playing games, and bothering the student council for no good reason. Akarin Akaza is the supposed protagonist of the series, yet despite this, she has little to no influence over what's going on and has the quite fantastic ability to be able to turn virtually invisible to the rest of the cast. But she isn't about to let that get her down, apart from sometimes when she actually does let it get her down. Yet again we meet the normal character surrounded by oddballs, only this time the crazies have basically taken over the show and left Akarin behind. Although Yuru Yuri is definitely wackier than New Game!, Akarin remains the ordinary Aoba-like character that everyone gets on with. When weird stuff happens or things go wrong, she's the one with the normal thoughts and concerns, trying her best to stay smiling throughout. Like Aoba, Akarin is the cheery and relatable girl of the series who you're with all the way.

Everything is normal for Madoka and Sayaka until a strange creature Kyuubey comes along and offers them the chance to become magical girls and fulfill one of their wishes. The new student, Homura, tells them not to agree to it because it is not as glorious as it sounds. There’s no way anyone can say that Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica is not like Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku. It follows the same dream-like wish fulfillment plot followed by a rather eerie nature once that contract has been accepted. Of course, none of the girls know what is going to happen and we won’t spoil it by saying what does, but this anime is one of those magical girl anime that really changed the definition of what it means to be a magical girl. And probably for the better. Is there something that you would give up even your own life for?

Kominato Ruuko is having trouble making friends in her new town. To help Ruuko, her brother gives her a deck of cards for the extremely popular WIXOSS game. Ruuko is surprised when her LRIG card talks to her and suddenly, she finds out that she is a Selector and given the chance at making her wishes come true. However, if she loses three matches against another Selector, Ruuko will lose her chance at fulfilling her wish and become cursed instead. If you’re looking for a dark theme and some magic, Selector Infected WIXOSS is one card game anime you will want to check out. It starts off rather hopeful but quickly descends into the darkness with the chance of each character being cursed and how that ultimately affects them in their life. Ruuko is going to be playing a desperate game for her life, however, her wins will cost someone else something more.

Takamachi Nanoha happens upon Yuuno, a mage in the form of a ferret who needs Nanoha’s help to collect Jewel Seeds, which he accidentally scattered across Earth. Yuuno gifts Nanoha with the power to become a magical girl to fight monsters and collect the Jewel Seeds, but there will be greater challenges in collecting the Jewel Seeds. Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha is another non-lighthearted approach to the magical girl genre. Each character has their own tragic story. Nanoha is the bright eyed, bushy tailed girl who thinks everything is grand, but what happens when she stumbles upon Fate whose life is not quite as cheery? They both fight for their own reasons, but their fights will bring them together in a life altering experience. While Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha is not as dark as Puella, it still takes on a more serious nature than previous magical girl anime. You’ll find yourself drawn in by the complexities of the characters as you learn just exactly what drives them.

Life takes a turn for the Takakura family when the beloved sister, Himari, collapses while on an excursion with her brothers at the aquarium. A penguin hat from the souvenir shop somehow revives Himari, but it also allows a strange entity to take over her body. This entity requests that Kanba and Shouma search for the Penguindrum, but doing so will involve seeking out the threads of fate from their pasts and other people also searching for the Penguindrum. Mawaru Penguindrum seems very light-hearted with its strange penguin transformations, trouble making penguins, and somewhat comedic characters, but it is clear that there is more to this anime than meets the eye. The characters all seem to live happily, but they hide darker secrets and more complex pasts than you might guess. They are all fighting their own inner demons while trying to figure out how exactly to save Himari, but is saving a dead girl worth it? Kanba and Shouma are going to have to come to terms with their pasts before they find out.

Yuuki is part of the Hero Club at school and is always trying to help others, but is that what it takes to be a hero? There’s more in store for Yuuki as she is given the power to become a magical girl and protect the world from the forces of the vertices. Now, it’s up to Yuuki and the other members of the Hero Club to save the world. In Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku, Koyuki dreams of becoming a magical girl while in Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru, Yuuki wants nothing more than to be a hero. Well, both have their wish granted and are given the power of magical girls, but the work isn’t as glamorous as it looks. Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru is listed as a slice of life anime but you will quickly learn that it is not going to be that comedy slice of life anime that you are used. You will be given your fair share of drama that will help satisfy that complex magical girl hunger!

Amano Yukiteru is a loner whose only solace is in his cellphone diary where he converses with his imaginary friends who may not be so imaginary. In fact, Dues Ex Machina, the god of time and space, gives Yukiteru a Future Diary so that he can join in a bloody battle to become the next god of time and space. How is Yukiteru going to survive? Well, he’s got the yandere Gasai Yuno who is going to make sure he gets out of this alive. Now, this may seem out of the ballpark, but let us not count Mirai Nikki out! Both Yukiteru and Koyuki are chosen to participate in this “game” where Yukiteru is a Future Diary holder and Koyuki a magical girl. While Koyuki is a more willing participant, Yukiteru is terrified of this path forced on him. However, they are both playing around with their lives. Mirai Nikki takes on a darker nature so far as there is a greater amount of mayhem and blood, but it is well worth considering if you’re looking for something like Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku.

Oh, what a surprise! We’re comparing this do Madoka Magica!? *ahem sarcasm* Well as much as we would like to avoid it, after episode 3, Flip Flappers confirmed it was built on this ‘evil magical girl vs good magical girl’ recipe of success from Madoka. Both series have a normal girl basically being forced on to becoming a magical girl. Madoka Magica starts all happy and slowly turns dark; the girls are being told one thing but they are really being used for other “hidden agendas” and friends become enemies once they find out about each other’s magical abilities. Besides the plot, Madoka and Papika, as well as, Homura and Kokona share similar personalities and even character designs. We have the bright colored hair protagonist who is very cheerful, positive and enjoys being a magical girl to help out. Then we have the dark haired co-protagonist that is sort of gloomy and wants to avoid this “magical” situation but gets involved anyway by taking care of her new friend. As a plus, both series have a strong theme of friendship and both sets of girlfriends, in either of the series, show hints of Yuri. In other words, if you’re really enjoying what Flip Flappers has offered ‘till now, then you will like Madoka Magica for sure... if... you haven't seen it already, that is.

Just like Flip Flappers, the series Humanity Has Declined will quickly give the vivid colorful art style a dark, dark twist. The story develops in a world where humans are almost extinct and a huge colony of happy looking fairies are rapidly occupying the land. Ms. Sweets or commonly known as “Watashi” gives herself the bizarre task of trying to settle the dispute between humans and fairies. Similar to Flip Flappers, Humanity Has Declined has a main plot line but the series is episodic, meaning each episode is a different story that connects bits and pieces to the main story line. Do be warned, this series flips and flaps all over the place, as it is not a linear story (see what we did there, hahaha..ha.. ok...). As for characters, Watashi’s personality can be seen as kind of a mix between Kokona and Papika; she is quite serious but at the same time fearless in an innocent way towards situations that might cost her her life. Her adorable appearance comes with a very pessimistic set of mind, kind of reminding us of Kokona’s regular attitude combined with the “super powered” pink haired transformation. Aside from the characters, both series share the fact that they have strange worlds filled with loony characters that kind of give us the sensation we’re exploring unseen lands inside the story of Alice in Wonderland.

An optimistic person, a robot and a grumpy pessimistic character travel different worlds. If you though Flip Flappers, good! But we’re actually talking about Space Dandy. The overly confident Dandy wants to cruise down the easy path of life aboard his spaceship, the Aloha Oe, but to do so he needs to earn a lot of cash. Together with his robot friend, QT, he decides on doing the hardest task of a space hunter,one that will get him the most amount of money; finding unidentified alien life throughout all the galaxy. These two oddballs are joined by a cat alien named Meow, a cynical little character that even though he constantly feels like he’s gonna die during the crazy adventures, he can't help but stay around for fun or “just in case” Dandy hits the jackpot. Dandy and his crew face different challenges in all the worlds they visit, sometimes fixing the problems of the inhabitants, saving their own butts or sometimes just accidentally messing up time and space. Each episode features one different world with its own stand-alone story in which some case,s even the art style changes, much like Flip Flappers. This show appeals more to guys than Flip Flappers does, but if you’re a guy that’s enjoying every second of the adventures of Kokona and Papika, we got you covered. Watch Space Dandy and say you stumbled upon Flip Flappers thanks to us, even if it was the other way around, we got your back! Nothing to be ashamed of!

Congratulations! You have been chosen to become a magical girl! Oh, no, that wasn't an offer, it was a notice! We already have everything planned for you! Like Kokona from Flip Flappers, Illya from Fate/kaleid received a passive aggressive invitation to the realm of magical girls and for a while, struggles between “to be or not to be” a magical girl. Coincidentally, like Papika, even though Rin Tohsaka has magical powers, they’re simply “not enough” and has to look for a partner to train and help complete her assigned tasks. Both series start strikingly similar, having little girls with awakened magical powers working for a secret organization; the girls are tasked with finding and collecting some powerful magical items for unknown purposes. All this is sprinkled with lots of Yuri bait to reel in male fans. Resuming, yes, Fate/kaleid is similar to Flip Flappers, but it's mainly because it's similar to every other magical girl anime. Flip Flappers is more pure hearted and simple, it’s the innocence of magic, while Fate/kaleid is a ten episode trial of how Flip Flappers would look like tainted by lolis, dere tropes, fan service and perverted jokes.

Let’s start by saying that Flip Flappers and Rolling Girls’ main similarity is, girl power! In all honesty, these series don't have much to compare. They are very different shows but the journey that Nozomi, together with her friends Yukina, Ai and Chiaya, will traverse, definitely will remind you of Flip Flappers. In Rolling Girls, there’s many confusing moments that will make you say “what the hell am I watching”, but don’t let that throw you off. Soon enough, your screen will be filled with colorful ‘heroines’ and their even flashier attacks, as well as, lively art with many cute characters. If the splashy colorful style doesn't convince you enough to be on par with Flip Flappers, then this next argument will: The ‘rolling girls’ travel around Japan in search of jewels that grant the holders superpowers. In every territory they visit, they must help out the people or manage some kind of conflict to hopefully obtain one of these “stones” they’re looking for. This is exactly what happens in Flip Flappers! Just change Japan for Pure Illusion and voilà, an instant connection of plots. Of course, both shows drift apart from each other in many points, but we assure you that Flip Flappers will end with a more substantial plot than Rolling Girls; just hop into this show to enjoy the pretty scenery and stay if you think it’s worth your time.

Ok, let’s be clear: Abenobashi is not a Mahou Shoujo and there aren't any magical girls. So why pick this series you ask? It’s surprisingly similar to Flip Flappers, believe it or not. Two kids travel to different dimensions where they explore fantasy worlds. In each world, they must face an enemy and/or fix something about the world’s society. Every world is drastically different than the previous one, and sometimes the art style changes to match the theme or “feeling” of the world they are in. In every episode, only one world is featured and each world of each episode feels like it presents a different genre to the series. While the two protagonists in Abenobashi are a mismatched couple like in Flip Flappers, they’re actually both very pessimistic, but that makes everything a whole lot funnier. In Flip Flappers, the girls can't return to ‘reality’ until they have recovered the Amorphous stone. In Abenobashi, Arumi and Sasshi can't return to their real world until they resolve all the issues of all the worlds they’ve traversed through. Conclusion: if you want to avoid the fluffy puffy plot of a magical girl show but would like to enjoy funny protagonists traveling to different “realities” like Flip Flappers, then this is your next destination!

Seishuu Handa is a young, handsome, and successful calligrapher - and a total narcissist. After quite literally flipping out at a calligraphy critic, he’s forced by his father to leave the bright lights of Tokyo and live out in the sticks in the Goto Islands to learn a lesson or two. At least in this quiet, calm countryside he can get some work done - or so he thinks. Before he knows it, Handa is surrounded by hyper, screaming children, teenagers infiltrating his home, and nosy old men all up in his business. With plenty of laughs, super-sweet moments, and a bit of drama on the side, Barakamon is one of the best slice-of-life comedy anime out there. So how is it similar to Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari? To start with, both anime follow male protagonists who move from Tokyo to more rural areas of Japan. What’s more, both start out not wanting to be there, but quickly find themselves enjoying countryside life. Both Souta and Handa also form close bonds with small children, showing fatherly tendencies towards them despite not having their own kids. Furthermore, both Barakamon and Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari have elements of Japanese tradition - calligraphy and udon-making. These slice-of-life series even have similar character design and a calming colour palette, so if you’ve been soothed by Poco’s Udon World, make sure to make the land of Barakamon your next destination.

Next up on the list we have summer 2016’s Amaama to Inazuma. Kouhei Inuzuka might be a father, but since the death of his wife, he’s realised just what it means to be a parent. Children create mess that needs cleaning, dirty clothes that need laundering, and most importantly, mouths that need feeding. Feeling guilty about his and Tsumugi’s ready meal-based diet, Kouhei sets out on a journey to learn how to cook for his daughter - and how to be a better father. With its warm colours, cute character design, and adorable voice acting, Amaama to Inazuma is a cavity-inducing slice-of-life anime perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. The first similarity we can see between Amaama to Inazuma and Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari is the relationship between a grown man and a child, both of whom don’t quite know their way around the world. While Souta has been working in Tokyo as a web designer, his father’s death and his own return to Kagawa has left him in a state of upheaval, not knowing which path is best for him - especially now he has Poco. Kouhei has lost his wife, the heart of their family unit, and is at a loss as to how to do best by Tsumugi. However, in both of these anime, the children play an integral role by pushing these father figures out of their comfort zone and showing them the simplicity of things. Seeing these super-adorable children bring out Souta and Kouhei’s fatherly natures is truly heartwarming to watch. Another similarity we can see is a focus on food. With the help of his high-school student Kotori, Kouhei learns how to cook a variety of dishes, introducing Tsumugi to new foods and even trying to make her enjoy the taste of green peppers. In Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari, Souta feeds Poco foods that he’s never seen before, and just like Tsumugi, Poco is more than happy to be able to eat delicious new things. Through eating together, the characters in these anime become closer and better able understand each other. If you enjoyed the family aspect of Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari and don’t mind getting kind of hungry every time you watch an episode, Amaama to Inazuma is definitely one to watch.

Third on our list we have Usagi Drop, which follows Daikichi Kawachi, a bachelor whose grandfather has just passed away. When he goes back to his hometown for the funeral, he ends up coming back with something he hadn’t quite imagined taking home - a little girl. The quiet, soft-spoken child, Rin, is actually his grandfather’s secret illegitimate daughter - in other words, she’s his aunt! Usagi Drop follows the antics of these two as they come to terms with their loss, the difficult family situation, and learn how to look after each other. Usagi Drop is another amazing slice-of-life anime with some poignant moments that really hit you right in the feels. Daikichi is similar to Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari’s Souta, in that they both return to their hometown due to a family member’s death and end up suddenly taking care of a child they’ve never met before. They are also of similar age, with no parenting experience, and seem to have a lack of purpose in their lives - something which is given to them by Rin and Poco. In both Usagi Drop and Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari, the adults grow as characters through raising the children, and Daikichi and Souta’s fatherly ways are sure to make you go, “Aww!” If you’re after a soothing series that can make you cry and smile in the same episode, look no further than Usagi Drop.

Kokkuri-san is a fox spirit said to be summoned by a forbidden incantation - one you must never utter, especially not alone, lest you be possessed by him. But apparently self-proclaimed doll Kohina Ichimatsu doesn’t care about that kind of stuff, because she goes right ahead and summons him! Luckily for her and unluckily for Kokkuri-san, he can’t quite bring himself to possess her - and ends up looking after her instead. With fantasy and comedic elements, Gugure! Kokkuri-san offers us another slice-of-life must-watch anime. Unlike the other anime we’ve seen on this list so far, Gugure! Kokkuri-san brings Japanese folklore into the everyday, much like Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari. In Gugure! Kokkuri-san, we have the kitsune Kokkuri-san, the dog spirit Inugami, and the middle-aged tanuki, Shigaraki, all of whom follow around Kohina. In Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari, we have Poco, the tanuki who takes human form and follows around Souta. Both anime also feature the father-like figures - although in Gugure! Kokkuri-san’s case, it’s the yokai looking after the human - who at first want nothing to do with the child, but soon warm up to them. These two anime also share a light-hearted humour that centres around the antics that arise when humans and spirits come together. All in all, if you enjoyed Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari, Gugure! Kokkuri-san is a must-see.

Machi hates living in the countryside. She’s determined to quit her life as a shrine maiden and go to high school in Tokyo. There’s just one problem… She knows nothing about life outside her small village! That’s where her guardian Natsu comes in. But Natsu isn’t the father figure you’d expect - unless you expect a giant bear to be able to look after children, that is. Kuma Miko follows these two as Machi tries to prove she can cope with life in the big city, Natsu tries to show her it’s not as easy as she thinks, and other villagers try to liven up their neighbourhood and make is prosperous again. Overall, this is a laid-back slice-of-life anime that has a serious side behind the comedy. The setting of Kuma Miko is the first thing we can see is similar to Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari. Our main characters are surrounded by nature out in rural Japan. There’s also a hint of the supernatural, what with Natsu being a talking bear and our little tanuki Poco quickly picking up human speech. Both anime also highlight the difficulties of living outside of Tokyo due to urbanisation, whilst also showing their respective towns as somewhere nice to live. Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari’s humour is also often similar to that of Kuma Miko, as it surrounds the relationship between father- and child-like characters, and one of them not being human. We definitely recommend Kuma Miko to anyone who enjoyed Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari - just maybe don’t watch the last episode.

It’s not often you get told that the guy you’re in love with is a werewolf - and it’s even less often someone who’s told that accepts it and decides to have two kids with him. But that’s exactly the situation surrounding Hana and Ookami - their love can overcome their differences. However, when their children Ame and Yuki are still young, Ookami passes away, leaving Hana a single mother to two half-wolf children. This bittersweet anime movie is sure to leave you feeling all kinds of emotions. Both Wolf Children and Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari surround the idea of human parental figures raising supernatural children alone after the loss of a family member. Suddenly being the sole person to know of their children’s secret, both Hana and Souta start to experience big changes in their life. The way they interact is also similar - much like Souta makes Poco promise not to show his tanuki form in front of others, Hana makes Ame and Yuki promise not to show their ears and other wolf-like features in front of other people. This shows the difficulties of treading the line between human and supernatural creature. These anime also share the themes of growing up and learning to be independant. If you’re looking for an anime movie to settle into that’s similar to Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari, Wolf Children is the one for you.

Set in the Bakufu era, Hakuouki series centers around Yukimura Chizuru, who set out on a journey to Kyoto in order to find her missing father. Unexpectedly, Chizuru finds herself getting mixed up in Shinsengumi’s business as they realized that Chizuru’s father is the man they have been looking for. In order to continue looking for her father, Chizuru joins the Shinsengumi, but what sort of dark secrets surrounding her father would they discover? Delivered by Studio Deen, Hakuouki is a popular series with three anime adaptations, two manga adaptations, and two movies, aside from its original otome game franchise. While their genre is slightly different as Hakuouki leans more towards romance and serious plot, those who love Hanamaru for its light historical aspects would also enjoy Hakuouki, especially for Touken Ranbu fans who love the Shinsengumi swords in Hanamaru, and more specifically for the Okita-gumi swords, Kiyomitsu and Yasusada lovers! Hakuouki, just like Touken Ranbu, had made its success as a female-oriented game franchise before making its anime debut. This means you’re guaranteed not only an abundance of good-looking male characters in the series, but also impressive seiyuu line-up! You’ll also get to hear Toriumi Kousuke, who is none other than the voice of the rare Mikazuki Munechika, as Saitou Hajime in Hakuouki.

Widely known simply as Utakoi, Chouyaku Hyakuninisshu: Utakoi is a series that tells “super-liberal interpretation” of the Hyakuninisshu anthology; a compilation of 100 poems out of 100 different poets during Japan’s Heian period. Fujiwara no Teika, who compiled the Hyakuninisshu in order to decorate the villa of his monk friend, Utsunomiya no Yoritsuna, narrated the stories behind the poems that made it into his compilation, and brought the audience into the world of Heian palace, the people who live in it, and the friendship and romances that bloom behind the beautiful words. At the first glance, Utakoi perhaps has very little similarity to Hanamaru, except in the sense of Japanese historical setting atmosphere. Utakoi does focuses more on the romance aspect, one which Hanamaru doesn’t care for, but what would remind you of Hanamaru if you watch Utakoi would be the sense of humor in the story. There’s a quiet slice-of-life, slightly dreamy quality in every episode, and the humor presented in both Utakoi and Hanamaru are subtly woven into the silly antics and interactions among the characters, and later wrapped into heartwarming conclusion that would make you smile. Besides, Utakoi has really great music, and the seiyuu line-up might just be better than Hanamaru so far; it has Suwabe Junichi, Kaji Yuuki, Shimono Hiro, and even Ishida Akira! If you like Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru for its slice-of-life, quiet but adorable episodes, there’s a good chance that you’d like Utakoi as well!

Adapted from a manga with the same title by Hotta Kiichi, Kimi to Boku is a light slice-of-life series that focus around the lives of five high school boys: the proper student Tsukahara Kaname, the sweet and gentle Matsuoka Shu, the handsome, popular Asaba twins, Yuuta and Yuuki, and the half-German transfer student, Tachibana Chizuru. Spending their peaceful, perhaps nothing-to-do high school days, the five teenagers learn little things from people around them and deal with (or more often, cause) chaos and shenanigans that spice up their daily lives. From cutting your friend’s hair, random sleepover, to school festival where you have to dress up as Snow White, the shenanigans offered by this series would definitely steal a place in your heart! What makes Kimi to Boku very similar to Hanamaru is probably the peaceful, almost lazy atmosphere that every episode has. Both series are of slice-of-life genre, and even though Kimi to Boku has sprinkles of romance here and there, like Hanamaru, it mostly focuses on the relationships among the boys and their characters. Just like we get to see Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki taking pictures of the other sword boys having fun, Kimi to Boku offers the same sort of peaceful daily life happenings through Chizuru, Yuuta, Yuuki and Shun taking a selfie after cutting Shun’s hair. Of course, the fact that both series have a lot of cute boys doing cute things is another point! Not to mention that the seiyuu line-up are exceptional as well—among the seiyuu in Kimi to Boku are Irino Miyu, Uchiyama Kouki, Kimura Ryouhei, Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Ono Yuuki and Kaji Yuki.

A collaboration between Sunrise and Square Enix, what would it be like? Mobile suits in a Dragon Quest-esque adventure, maybe? The beginning of this anime might trick you into thinking so, but really, a collaboration between Sunrise and Square Enix is apparently the story about the daily lives of three completely normal high school boys: Hidenori, Yoshitake, and Tadakuni. With their imagination running rampant and their friends whose antics are oftentimes extremely incomprehensible, Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou presented you with a hilarious, slice-of-life stories centering around the daily lives of high school boys—from trying out a friend’s sister’s skirt, pretending to be the hero character in an RPG game, to an extreme version of kick-the-can game—get ready to laugh until your stomach hurts! Both series deal with slice-of-life and humor genre, leaving the same fondness you’d feel familiar with the characters. If Hanamaru gives you the quiet, amusing kind of slice-of-life, Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou takes it up another notch and doubles the silliness, hilarity, and crazy. Both anime have a lot of male characters, and for Touken Ranbu fans who love to see the random interactions between the sword boys and enjoy seeing them be such good friends, Danshi Koukousei would be a great choice for them. Like Hanamaru, it doesn’t only focus on the three main characters, but also give a considerable spotlight to the supporting casts and their own group of friends and families. Except, this time, with ten times more the comedy!

An interesting mix of shounen, humor, and historical genre, Nobunaga Concerto tells the story of a normal high school boy named Saburou, who never planned to actually get thrown back in time all the way back to the Sengoku era, much less to find that he has the same exact face as none other than Oda Nobunaga himself. Or that because of this and that reason, Saburou himself has to be Oda Nobunaga and take the mission to unite the whole Japan, because that’s what Oda Nobunaga is supposed to do in order for history to remain the way it is. Being the carefree, my-pace kind of guy, Saburou takes the mantle of Oda Nobunaga and, with his limited knowledge of history, tries to unite the whole Japan under the banner of Oda clan (because the history books said so. No, really.). If you’re intrigued by Touken Ranbu Hanamaru’s historical aspects and time-travel genre, you might just enjoy Nobunaga Concerto. Even more so if you’re into Japanese history and are one of the Touken Ranbu fans who likes to look up the history of the sword boys—Oda-gumi swords lovers would have a lot of fun watching and giggling over Nobunaga Concerto. The brand of humor offered in Nobunaga Concerto might be a different kind from Hanamaru’s slice-of-life humor, but it’s still silly and heartwarming. Both shows deal with time-travel and history in a rather light-hearted fashion, unlike most of anime with time-travel genre, which honestly is quite refreshing. You can also enjoy popular seiyuu’s voices such as Miyano Mamoru, Kaji Yuki, Nakamura Yuiichi, Sugita Tomokazu and Aoi Yuuki!

Working!! is a popular series with two sequels and another anime adaptation with an alternate setting, due to its booming popularity. Bumping into Taneshima Popura might or might not be the best mistake in Takanashi Souta’s life. Who knows his love for tiny, cute things would get him recruited as another worker for Wagnaria, a family restaurant in Hokkaido whose owner is always gone in search of his wife? Brought to you by A1-Pictures, Working!! Centers around the lively happenings and eccentric workers in Wagnaria—from the scary head chef Satou Jun, the lazy Shirafuji Kyouko, the sadistic sous chef Souma Hiroomi, to Inami Mahiru who is scared of men. What sorts of hilarious shenanigans would Takanashi be involved in this rather interesting workplace? Even though Working!! doesn’t have an all-male cast like Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru, perhaps it’s the one anime that is closest to Hanamaru’s brand of silly shenanigans. Both series’ humor stems from their characters’ antics instead of situational humor, and shows us how the characters’ relationships develop from there. Both has slice-of-life genre and focuses on very little, if none, romance. Just like how we expect Uguisumaru’s constant love for drinking tea causes amusement in Hanamaru, we can also expect shenanigans to be born from Todoroki’s habit of bringing katana everywhere. If you’re expecting big name seiyuu in Working!! as well, no worries! Among its line-up includes the Dream Girl Stories duo, Ono Daisuke, and Kamiya Hiroshi, alongside Fukuyama Jun, Kitamura Eri, Hikasa Youko, and Asumi Kana.

Let’s start with the most popular team sport in Japan. It’s so popular that it’s considered one of its national sports. If you have no idea of what we’re talking about, then you should definitely give Diamond no Ace a try, especially if you like stories about baseball! Diamond no Ace is about pitcher Eijun Sawamura’s adventure, who after being defeated at the final middle school baseball tournament, swears to himself he’s going to reach the nationals with his new high school team. But his life is going to change completely after a talent scout, fascinated by Eijun’s unique pitching style, invites him to Tōkyō to join the prestigious Seidō High School team. Life is hard for Eijun on the new team: surrounded by real champions, he’ll have to give his best to prove worthy and find his place among aces. Gion in All Out!!, who’s completely inexperienced and fairly mistrusted by Sekizan in the beginning, is much like Eijun in Diamond no Ace who demonstrates he’s not trying to step on his mates’ toes. But his solitary struggle, just like Gion’s, will come to an end as soon as his initiation test is passed. From that moment on, in fact, they’ll all become the reason for him to become great. As both All Out!! and Diamond no Ace taught us, once the trust of your teammates is won and you become one with them, then you’re invincible and able to overcome also the hardest battles.

When we talk about “teamplay”, no anime better that Free! can explain what relying on your mates truly means. Free! is, indeed, Haruka Nanase’s story, a high school student who’s fond of water and swimming. In elementary school, together with his childhood friends Makoto Tachibana, Nagisa Hazuki, and Rin Matsuoka, he took part to a relay race. His team was able to win, but after that, all its members went their separate ways. Except for Rin, they met again in high school, but Haruka claims he has given up swimming competitively. Maybe, the reason lies in Rin’s sudden change: he now seems to hate his old relay mates and is obsessed with proving himself better than Haruka. The traumatic reunion won’t stop Nagisa and Makoto from starting a swimming club anyway. Thanks to their support and with Rei Ryuugazakiìs help, Haruka will finally understand what’s really important to him and what the real meaning of “friendship” is. As for Iwashimizu, Haruka has a traumatic past too, that stops him from doing what he truly desires. But in Free!, just like in All Out!!, mates are there to help Haruka find out his own path and what swimming mean for him. Teamplay isn’t a simple matter of playing together to make a miracle happen, but it’s something deeper, that has to do with feelings and emotions. Teammates must be your best friends first, the ones who understand you the most, so that they can become your strength and help you to overcome all of your weaknesses.

Shōyō Hinata is an enthusiastic and very short middle school student who, inspired by small-statured “Little Giant”, a volleyball ace, is determined to get his team to victory. But determination itself isn’t enough if you lack experience and your mates have already given up, so Hinata needs to prepare himself for a big disappointment. Defeated by “King of Court” Tobio Kageyama’s team, Hinata will have to wait for high school to make his dream come true, but… he didn’t expect to end up in Kageyama’s same team. In Haikyuu!!, the similarities with All Out!! goes from the exclamation marks in the title to main characters Hinata and Gion! Both short, selfish, and in the beginning, the only thing they can think about is being the stars and improving themselves. But one thing that would definitely not work for a team, especially if it aims to become the nation’s top, is selfishness. Not only Hinata and Gion, but also Kageyama will have to learn what makes you a winner is, first of all, a complete connection with your teammates. For a spokon fan, but most of all for an All Out!! fan, Haikyuu!! is an anime that can’t absolutely be missed!

Kuroko no Basket follows the adventures of Seirin High School team and, in particular, Taiga Kagami. Kagami is a promising player who trained for a long time in the US, but once he comes back to Japan, he feels like Japanese basketball isn’t that interesting anymore. He decides to join the basketball club anyway, and there’s where he meets Tetsuya Kuroko, an ordinary student who lacks presence and is incapable to score any points. It’ll be Kuroko who gives Kagami a new objective, making with him the promise to defeat all players with godlike abilities from “The Generation of Miracles”. Who said basketball is a one man show? Kuroko thinks differently, this is why he parted from his junior high team, known as “The Generation of Miracles”. Kuroko resembles Hachiouji from All Out!! in his way to perceive mates and the game, basketball isn’t meant to show yourself off or be individualistic, but to be played in a perfect connection with all the members of your team. Searching for a story about the same sacred importance All Out!! characters give to teamplay and friendship? Then, don’t waste time and watch Kuroko no Basket now!

Do you need to look big, scary and muscular to be a genius? Here’s another anime like All Out!! that teach the viewers that appearance doesn’t count, because everyone who’s strong willed, undergoes a hard training regimen, and is able to fix his own weaknesses to become the better version of himself can be a winner. Sakamichi Onoda is a high school student who has a huge passion for anime, manga and for Akihabara. Onoda lives in Chiba prefecture, that’s pretty far away from his loved Akihabara, but that has never discouraged him; indeed, he rides there every weekend on his dear Mamachari, a bicycle actually meant for short-distance trips. While Onoda happily rides around the city, he doesn’t go unnoticed by Shunsuke Imaizumi and Shokichi Naruko, two cyclists from his high school. Despite his slender body, Onoda seems to be very skilled with bicycles, so they’ll torment him until he’ll join the high school team. As All Out!! fans was surely able to get, Onoda is a mix of Gion and Iwashimizu, being both not particularly fitted or willing to join the club. But his mates will be able to make him aware of his talent as a cyclist and to bring out the best of him. This is exactly the same as the main characters in All Out!!. Yowamushi Pedal is one of the greatest examples when it comes to mates’ support and team-play. If you like the can-do atmosphere in All Out!!, you NEED to give Yowamushi Pedal a try!

Lately, the universe is getting more and more variegated, and it’s giving us meaning to the word “teamplay” we were never able to think about before. In All Out!! we saw a group of teenagers becoming each other’s coach and supporter. However, when you lack in self-confidence, as in Iwashimizu’s case, you need something more than a pat on your back to find that spark in yourself which’ll make you capable of overcoming the hardest obstacles. This is what happens to Yuri Katsuki, a professional ice skater who was last at the Grand Prix Finale, the most important competition in figure skating, though he worked out like crazy to be on top. Defeated both physically and mentally, Yuri decides to give up skating and devote himself to study. One year later, he’s a fat graduate who doesn’t know what to do with his life. To clear his head, Yuri goes to skate at his former ice rink, where he performs one of his idol Viktor Nikiforov’s choreography, without knowing he’s being filmed. His video goes viral and reaches Viktor himself who, certain of Yuri’s talent, offers to train him for the next Grand Prix Finale. Yuri!!! on ICE, just as All Out!!, is a story about a team, but not in its conventional shape. Viktor isn’t older than Yuri, but he acts as his coach, being more experienced than him. But they’re, to all intents and purposes, a team, because without Viktor connecting with Yuri, reaching out to him, giving him strength, just as his team does for a lost Iwashimizu, Yuri’s miracle would never happen. All Out!! fans probably liked that Kanagawa High School team members needed each other to stand up and fight, exactly as Yuri needs Viktor to stay positive and skate the best.. So, if you’re looking for an anime about that mental connection that’s able to give birth to the best teamplay ever, don’t miss Yuri!!! on ICE, or you’ll regret it!

Ebichu is the sweet and caring pet hamster of Office Lady who just wants to do what she can to please her owner. Ebichu’s constantly fighting with Office Lady’s useless, cheating boyfriend, Kaishounashi, who Office Lady just can’t quit. This little hamster is determined to make up for the useless people in her master’s life, taking it upon herself to do household chores, answer embarrassing questions for her master, and refereeing Kaishounashi and Office Lady’s sex when she thinks it’s not good enough for OL. Despite getting beat up constantly, Ebichu faces each day with energy and optimism! Both Ebichu and Gakuen Handsome take things that are supposed to be cute and instead pervert and make a mockery of them. While Ebichu definitely has more sexual content, they share in their use of violence as comedy, with characters healing quickly from their wounds. Neither of the shows uses romance or sexual innuendo in an attempt to arouse or excite the audience. When Ebichu reads an erotic novel out-loud using character voices while her master has sex, and when Sakuya asks Yoshiki out to pee together, it’s only to elicit laughs with the ridiculous scenarios.

Teekyuu follows the everyday life of Yuri and her three friends in the tennis club, who are far removed from reality. She’s swept along by their antics every day despite wanting to lead a normal life abiding by the laws of physics. Kanae, Marimo and Natsuno flout decency of logic without much concern for what that means for others. Yuri doesn’t have the luxury of worrying about their lack of tennis proficiency when she has to constantly stop her three senpai from abusing their wealth, committing crimes, and engaging in reckless activities! Yuri and Yoshiki both are the main characters and end up being somewhat of a straight man in the series. They are also both the target of gay advances by multiple characters. However, Yuri is definitely more likely than Yoshiki to give the others a hard time about their antics or refuse their advances. Both anime feature quick dialogue where almost every other line is something ridiculous or perverted. The actions and abilities of the characters far exceed human limitations which make for a lot of visual humor. Teekyuu doesn’t have quite as strong a gay romance presence as Gakuen Handsome does, but they are very similar in terms of comedy!

Ai, Mai, and Mii are members of the manga writing club, yet Mai and Mii care little for actually participating. Instead, they spend their days annoying Ai, who is the only one who takes activities seriously. The three girls are constantly getting into crazy, video game-like situations and often get into battles with each other, yet they'll be together again by the start of the next episode. From meeting strange creatures to encountering magic and becoming cyborgs, each day brings with it new and strange joy! Ai and Yoshiki are very similar in that they both are slightly more serious than their schoolmates but still get into some weird antics of their own. They might not be as prone to crazy, but they have their own bizarre displays. Ai Mai Mii is another short anime with ridiculous scenarios and undetailed artwork, yet it parodies several genres and there is far less romance in this series. However, if you came for a crazy, slice of life comedy, you will not be disappointed!

When Tomoya’s father remarries, Tomoya is interested to see what kind of person his new stepsister, Ichika, is. He soon finds out she is an obsessive stalker and desperately wishes to be around him at all times. She’ll even put her safety on the line just to get a few more moments with him! Ichika has no shame and will throw herself at her stepbrother in front of friends and family. Tomoya tries to maintain normal relationships with others but that’s a difficult endeavor when Ichika won’t let him be alone with anyone! While not being potential romantic interests to the main character like in Gakuen Heaven, the supporting characters of Oneechan ga Kita are similar. We have the childhood ikemen (pretty boy) friend, the verbally abusive and intelligent student from another class, and the violent delinquent who shows favor to the main character. Aside from additional characters being introduced, there's not much progression to the plot. However, My Sister Came is a bit more of a serious attempt to show complicated romance between characters. Instead of gay love, it's sibling love, and of course, the other characters react to it like it was a weird hobby rather than a social taboo.

When the cat-loving Inugami meets the dog-enthusiast Nekoyama, a mutual attraction is born when the two find the characteristics they love in each other. Inugami is quite the dog when it comes to cute girls, and she relentlessly goes after Nekoyama. Nekoyama enjoys the attention, but too much makes her run away. As more animal-like classmates enter their circle of friends, the girls might find the need to mark their territory. Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san features an all-girl cast where multiple relationships seem possible, while Gakuen Handsome features an all-boy cast with multiple possible pairings. Right off the bat, though, we can guess who the main character will end up with in Inugami-san, while Gakuen Handsome leaves us wondering just who Yoshiki will choose sexy tea-time with. Inugami also is quite easily flustered by each new girl she encounters just as Yoshiki feels his heart beating faster with each new senpai! This show is great for animal lovers~

Arikawa Hime finds himself in serious trouble when his parents leave a huge debt in his name and then run off, leaving him to be the prey of loan sharks. After being forced into a maid outfit in order to bring in some money, the beautiful boy tries to run away, only to be hunted down. He thinks his luck is turning around when the bishoujo (beautiful girl) student council members of Shimoshina High School beat off the intruders, and offer to pay his debts. The catch? He must continue to dress as a girl, and be the dog of the student council! While Himegoto has the added ridiculousness of forcing the main character to dress as a girl, it’s similar to Gakuen Handsome in that both main boys are showered with more attention than anyone else in the school. Both shows are also in a school setting where teachers obviously don’t do much to stem the flow of crazy from their students. The artwork certainly isn’t as laughable as Gakuen Handsome and their antics are more nonsensical than straight up impossible. However, it is definitely another fun, short, ridiculous anime to watch when you run out of GH!

If you are enjoying the extravagance and the alluring dance moves in Yuri!!! on Ice, then look no further than the dancing found in Starmyu. This group of high school musical boys, create idol dance performances that even Victor could learn a thing or two from. This group has reached celebrity status within the school and there is a harsh competition to become a new member of the school’s musical class. We come into the anime from the perspective of the new boy in school who is inspired by the draw of performing on stage. During the auditions for the “Star Frame Class” musical department of his school, he realizes achieving his dream of becoming a member might not be as easy as he thought. Similar to Yuri!!! on Ice, we have a main character who is trying to make it into the big leagues. Despite his lack of skills, his passion shines through to the other members of the group. If you enjoy watching Yuri fight for his dream, then you will enjoy watching all of the prospective members of the Star Frame Class strive toward their goals.

Talk about extreme sports, Prince of Stride is the ultimate parkour dream! This is a colorful and intense anime about an extreme sport called “Stride”. The players run in teams of 6 in a relay race through many natural obstacles including, parks, buildings, and bridges. Yagami and Fujiwara are the two characters struggling the most at the beginning of this show. They are unable to perform good relay connections, or “Relations”, during the matches, which is a wonderful innuendo that the audience can grab hold of. Prince of Stride is full of beautiful men working hard, and what could be better than that. Each of the characters has their own personal obstacles to overcome, whether they be past problems or family issues. Throughout the anime we get to see these characters grow and form bonds together. The BL nature of this show can be seen most in the competitive spirit of the team members, as they seem to never stop challenging each other.

A love for volleyball brings a high school team together to go against some of the strongest opponents in their division. When the short Hinata and the setter-genius Kageyama join Karasuno High School's volleyball team, two former rivals must learn how to play together. It takes a long time to build up trust between the two, but once these two players are in sync, Karasuno’s Volleyball team becomes unstoppable. The relationship between all the members of the team are open for BL interpretation. Between the captain and the legendary libero, and of course between our couple who loves to hate each other, Hinata and Kageyama. People from all over the world have created pairs from the interactions and subtleties that you can see in the anime. All of the characters are working to make their team the best, but all of them can fall into slumps. It takes encouragement from all of the other members to cheer them on and continue fighting.

Cheer Boys follows a team of boys as they struggle to create an all men’s cheerleading club at their university. Kazuma Hashimoto and Haruki Bando were inspired to create this team after leaving their school’s judo club. After recruiting several members, the boys realize that cheerleading is not nearly as easy as they thought. Episode 4 of this series is when you will fall in love with this band of misfits. This cheerleading group brings all kinds of people together and you get to see how such a varied group can become a strong united front. Similar to Yuri!!! on Ice, Cheer Boys!! creates a story around a not so typical sport for men. Cheerleading is often seen as a women’s sport, so the juxtaposition of seeing it with men in the leading role is really fun. People’s perception of this stereotype is also one of the challenges that the club must fight while training. This is such a lovable group of kids though, who are all trying something new and challenging for the first time. There are some BL implications between the two main characters similar to Yuri!!! on Ice, but they are both struggling together, rather than trying to surpass the other. This show has a lot of squeal worthy moments, especially when all their hard work pays off and you can watch the final routine.

This is an adorable show about one high school student finding his love for soccer. After being introduced to the sport by the handsome Jin, Tsukushi is determined to become a member of his high school’s team, despite having no experience. His goal at first is to at least be able to run, and with that we can see how strong his spirit is. Despite Jin being the star first-year player, Tsukushi is the one who is able to inspire the other students and encourage them to work their hardest. Throughout the anime we get to see Jin’s care for Tsukushi. The Boys Love theme in this anime is very strong between these two characters, as Jin is moved by Tsukushi’s determination and cares for him when he is injured. This show has an overwhelming amount of fighting spirit shown by the main character, Tsukushi. If you love watching Yuri’s determination, then you will also love Tsukushi’s no-quit attitude, especially with the dreamy Jin there cheering him on.

Free! Is the original sports BL fantasy. Ever since the broadcast of the trial commercial by Kyoto Animation, the anime community could not help but fantasize about these toned young men and their love for swimming (and each other). When Haruka joins his high school swimming team, we learn about his troublesome relationship with his childhood friend, Rin. Rin and Haruka used to swim together as children, but after winning an important tournament, Rin moved away. After meeting again in high school, Haruka realizes that his childhood friend is completely changed. Rin is now obsessed with beating Haruka and becoming number one. The relationship between Rin and Haruka, while having a different tone, is very similar to the relationship between Victor and Yuri. Both of these couples have a passion for the sport they are in, and are fighting to better themselves. While Rin is taking a competitive path against the main character, Victor plays a much more supportive role. But the intensity level between both couples are very similar. Free! is full of innuendo and adorable mishaps between all of the boys in the swim teams.

Hasegawa Subaru, an athletic basketball prodigy, had intended to join the basketball team at Nanashiba high, only for his hopes to be ruined by allegations against the team’s captain supposedly harboring inappropriate feelings for the coach’s daughter. At his aunt’s urging, he continues his basketball-minded lifestyle by agreeing to coach a team of young girls. Both Ro-Kyu-Bu and Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume specialize in following the obstacles a group of young girls must face while participating in sports. While Ro-Kyu-Bu focuses more on the efforts of Subaru attempting to train the girls to become better basketball players, Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume specifically engages with the dynamics between the girls on the ping pong team. A fan of Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume can still enjoy Ro-Kyu-Bu. Full of comedy, sports, and kawaii girls, Ro-Kyu-Bu is a must watch for any fans of Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume. Its sweet antics and humor can satiate fans hungering for more after Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume’s end.

A touching, well-paced slice of life anime that combines sports with true emotional depth, Long Riders! follows the story of Ami Kurata, a girl who recently entered university and sadly possesses little athletic ability. Strangely, after seeing a bike outside of the train station, Ami becomes obsessed with immersing herself into the world of cycling. Soon enough, she is completely engulfed with mastering the sport. The characters in Long Riders! are sweet and genuine; as the genre of the anime includes slice of life, the pacing is more relaxed, allowing time for the character’s to attempt to figure out the challenges in their own lives. Similar to Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume, it is the characters and their endearing tenacity that truly captures the fans’ hearts. Both anime possess a more heartfelt theme of achieving triumph, and both anime are thoroughly enjoyable. As Long Riders! is still currently airing, it is the perfect show to jump into and begin watching. Catch up while the anime is still live and watch the plot develop.

What can be better than a slice of life anime focusing on a group of high school girls? A slice of life anime that is all about a group of high school girls in a motorcycle gang. Bakuon!! follows the ditzy yet lovable Sakura Hane as she joins a biking group at her all-female high school. Upon seeing fellow student Onsa Amano speeding to school on her motorcycle, Sakura becomes determined to receive her own license and enter the world of biking. Both Bakuon!! and Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume follow a tenacious and endearing group of girls devoting themselves to a sport. The plot of the anime is based upon a school activity, and while motorcycling is not exactly a sport, it is still a consuming activity that the girls in Bakuon!! devote themselves to. Sweet with just enough spice to keep viewers continuously interested, Bakuon!! is an anime that will fill the hearts of fans left heartbroken by the end of Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume. Overflowing with cute characters and the relaxing plot expected from a slice of life anime, Bakuon!! is a must watch show.

Kojirou teaches kendo at Muroe High School, and sadly, he’s totally broke. After scrounging around for a way to get extra cash, he finally stumbles upon an opportunity; if he can create a team of kendo fighters that can win against his senpai’s team, then for a whole entire year, his meals will be free. Charming and light-hearted, Koujirou and the girls of the kendo club must recruit members and train in attempts to become an elite team. Bamboo Blade and Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume have common characteristics; the focus of both shows is on a group of girls and the sport they play. A school comedy with a female cast, Bamboo Blade might have more comedic elements than Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume, but the tones of both shows are still similar. The overall mood of both anime are light, as the girls struggle to overcome obstacles and become friends. The anime, combining elements of comedy, sports, and school, is full of moments for a variety of fans to enjoy watching. A well-paced, hilarious show with genuine characters and intense sport action, Bamboo Blade is undeniably a worthy successor to Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume.

Set in a fantasy high school where technological advancements, called Grav-Shoes, has given residents of the Four Islands Archipelago both the ability to fly and play the sport of Flying Circus, a lovable yet ditzy girl named Asuka Kurashina transfers to the elite Kunahama Academy. The game of FC consists of touching buoys attached to poles and other players to score points, and it fascinates Asuka, who is determined to join the school’s small club despite her clumsiness. Full of energy and drama, Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm is successful as both a school and a sports anime. Both Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm and Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume focus on a central female cast that is dedicated to participating in a sport; however, Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm possesses more sci-fi elements that give the anime a unique flair as compared to just another normal sports anime. Additionally, both main characters are transfer students in the anime. Ambitious and emotionally salient, Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm is a crowd-pleaser. Combining drama, fantasy, sports, and the accessibility of an everyday school life, the anime possesses a genre for any fan to enjoy, and especially a fan of Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume.

Peco and Smile are two steadfast friends who are both heavily invested in the sport of ping pong: Peco burns with ambition to compete and claim victory to the title of the best ping pong player, while Smile appears to showcase no initiative whatsoever. However, despite their differences, the two boys have stuck together through thick and thin, bound by their mutual love for the game. Whatever the odds and whatever the consequences, Peco and Smile persevere over their obstacles, fueled by the joy of ping pong. Both Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume and Ping Pong The Animation devote themselves to the sport of ping pong. The intensity both anime exhibit is similar; however, Ping Pong The Animation delves in much deeper upon the psychological aspects that coincide with competition, whereas Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume places more attention on the obstacles and triumphs the girls on the ping pong squad must face. A solid sports anime that grips viewers with its intensity and its avant garde art style, Ping Pong The Animation remains captivating throughout its entirety. Thoroughly enjoyable and a surpisinginly heartwarming tale, fans of Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume will definitely enjoy watching Ping Pong The Animation.

Hachimitsu to Clover revolves around five college students. Shinobu, Yuuta and Takumi live together in a little room that's a perfect fit for poor college students. Shinobu is whimsical, and acts all on his own following his instinct; Takumi is enthusiastic in whatever he decides to do; Yuuta is a boy with a dream. Hagumi and Ayumi meet and suddenly they become friends. Hagumi is a little girl with a big talent, and Ayu suddenly becomes some sort of older sister to her. What could be wrong, then? Someone falls in love, and that's the moment when everything's bound to change. Hachimitsu to Clover, exactly like 3-gatsu no Lion, was born as a manga by Chica Umino and adapted into an anime later on, so it's no wonder how you will find the same art and the same kind of feeling all along. Exactly like 3-gatsu no Lion, Hachimitsu to Clover gives the viewers the possibility to develop a deeper thought. At the same time, funny moments are there as well. As a good slice of life anime, Hachimitsu to Clover acts exactly like life is; full of joy, full of pain, but people keep going on until the end. While in 3-gatsu no Lion the story revolves around Shogi, in Hachimitsu to Clover the focus is on fine arts. We think this show can satisfy all of you who are craving for more 3-gatsu no Lion episodes!

Hikaru Shindou is a junior high school student. While wandering in his grandfather's attic, he finds a Go board and, after touching it, he is possessed by Fujiwara no Sai's spirit. Sai was once a Go player, but he committed suicide. His only dream is to be able to play Go once again, and so Hikaru decides to humour him. Sai starts playing Go once again, through Hikaru's body, and in their journey they will meet new people and learn the importance of bonds and friendship. Like in 3-gatsu no Lion, we find in Hikaru no Go a boy who is hooked on a Japanese competitive game, Go for Hikaru no Go and Shogi for 3-gatsu no Lion. Although the premises are very different, and Hikaru no Go holds a strong supernatural element, these two shows are very similar. They're both coming-of-age stories where the protagonist struggles between the everyday little battles, and the world of the competitive game. Both these stories are dramatic; while in 3-gatsu no Lion we find Rei trying to face his past, in Hikaru no Go we find Hikaru trying to get a clue about what's going on. It's not a stretch to say that if you are enjoying the world of Shogi in 3-gatsu no Lion, you will love the world of Go in Hikaru no Go!

Shion no Ou is a story revolving around a 13-year-old girl who plays Shogi, Yasuoka Shion. Shion's past is wrapped up in tragedy, since her parents were killed right before her eyes. Shion was 5-year-old at the time, and the murderer challenged her to a game of Shogi, telling her to forget everything about that night, and to even forget how to speak. Years after, when Shion becomes a professional player, slowly but surely her memories come back and the truth about that tragic night unfolds before her eyes! 3-gatsu no Lion and Shion no Ou share the same focus on the Shogi game. Even though Shion no Ou has a mystery trait with it, both these shows are on the same wavelength. Rei in 3-gatsu no Lion and Shion share a dark past that is strictly related to the game of Shogi and the reason why they are so bound to it. Both of them have a loving and caring “foster” family. We believe that the ones who are enjoying 3-gatsu no Lion, will find Shion no Ou interesting all the same. While wondering what happened in Rei's past, you can lose yourself in Shion's past and discover the truth together with her... While waiting for the next 3-gatsu no Lion's episode!

Natsume Takashi is a lonely 15-year-old boy who passed his life jumping from a relative to the other. Every relative decided, in the end, that he was too strange to deal with. Natsume is strange, but the reason is that he can see youkai – spirits – since he was a little child. When he finds the Book of Friends that was his grandmother's, and meet a powerful spirit trapped in the body of a maneki neko – Nyanko-sensei – Natsume begins his journey to the return all the youkai whose name is written on the Book of Friends, their name back. That's how Natsume will learn the importance of friendship, bonds and of having a place to go back to. 3-gatsu no Lion and Natsume Yuujinchou share the same kind of character. Rei and Natsume are two boys who had a hard time in their past and developed a cold attitude. Their cold attitude is just their way to shield themselves from being hurt again and again. So both of them will open up to their surroundings step by step, and learn to show their emotions. They're both coming-of-age stories where two boys basically learn how to grow up and overcome a difficult past. Natsume Yuujinchou has a supernatural trait, but the feeling you have while watching both is the same. There's in both these shows a lingering feeling of loss, and at the same time a ray of hope. While Natsume has to give the youkai their names back, Rei has to deal with Shogi. Two different storylines for the same amazingly pleasant atmosphere.

Chihayafuru revolves around Chihaya Ayase, a girl who has always lived in the shadow of her older sister. When she meets Arata Wataya, a quiet transfer student, he introduces her to the world of karuta. Karuta is a card game involving physical and mental skills, and it's inspired by the classic Japanese anthology of Hundred Poets. It's just one step, and Chihaya falls in love with karuta and the thought of becoming the number one in Japan. Together with Arata and her friend Taichi, the three of them spend their childhood playing karuta, until they're split by some circumstances. Years after, in high school, Chihaya has one dream: to create a karuta team and aim for the Omi Jingu championship. That's how her journey begins! Chihayafuru and 3-gatsu no Lion share a focus on particular games: karuta and shogi. Both our protagonists are surrounded by a big range of various characters who they interact with. In both these shows there's a unique soothing atmosphere, and of course moments that bring you to tears are behind every corner. Both these anime are slice of life and coming-of-age stories where we can see the characters growing and changing right before our eyes. If it's true that 3-gatsu no Lion has a tragic trait with it, it's even true that both these shows share the constant presence of the game in the lives of both protagonists, to the point that it changed their lives. Those who enjoys 3-gatsu no Lion, are bound to enjoy Chihayafuru all the same!

Seishuu Handa is a calligrapher who is handsome and self-confident to an out of reach extent. That's why when his award-winning piece is labeled as “unoriginal”, he totally loses it. To make things worse, his father, to punish him, exiles his son to the Goto Islands, with the secret hope that he will find a new inspiration and will learn how life isn't all about calligraphy. Even though Handa believed to at least find a bit of peace on the Goto Islands, he realized how wrong he was from the very first day, when he has his new house invaded by a boisterous child called Naru. And right after her, one after another, the strangest persons keep barging in. But that's probably what Handa needs, as he learns much more than he hoped for. As for the similarities Barakamon shares with 3-gatsu no Lion, we can say that they both are slice of life anime with moments that go from very funny, to extremely sad. Of course, Barakamon is not as tragic as 3-gatsu no Lion, but still Handa is a person who lost confidence in himself, and when he keeps his eyes off calligraphy for a bit, he finally learns what life is about. Handa, same as Rei, is surrounded by a lot of various characters who will help him and trouble him in a lot of way. While Handa is focused on calligraphy, and has ups and downs with it, Rei is focused on Shogi and has his ups and downs with it. Both of them are on professional levels, and have to struggle with a high competition. These two stories are very realistic and heart-warming. You will totally like Barakamon, the same way you're loving 3-gatsu no Lion.

Durarara is one of the big classics on our list and an awesome supernatural mystery show. The story is a bit complex but it’s basically about Mikado Ryuugamine, a high school boy who is very excited to move to Ikebukuro and experience life in the big city. On his first day on the city he is witness to an urban legend, the headless Black Rider, who rides a black motorcycle through the city streets. Mikado’s life will now be part of a larger thing involving several inhabitants of Ikebukuro. As you can see, Durarara is very much like Occultic;Nine in that the main characters are all connected to each other through big events, and everyone plays their part in the story. This is what makes these shows quite different from the rest. They’re not really about a main character overcoming obstacles and relating to supporting characters, but about several characters, each having their own essential role and even their own opinions as to where they stand. Of course, this comparison may be a bit hard to picture if you still haven’t watched much of either show, so we’ll just go ahead and tell you that Durarara has just as much mystery and supernatural things as Occultic;Nine. Give it a try and it won’t let you down!

Kiznaiver is one of those shows that caught us off guard last season. It’s quite an original show about a group of very particular high school students who become subjects to an extraordinary experiment. Suddenly, these kids are connected in a way they could have never imagined. Every time they get hurt they share each other’s pain and injuries. This way they will start to act and feel as one. These kids now have to overcome a series of obstacles in order to survive through the summer and get rid of this ill-fated bond, but the only way they can do it is together. Kiznaiver is pretty much a sci-fi adventure drama as opposed to Occultic;Nine which is more of a supernatural mystery show (although it has sci-fi elements), but they are still quite similar in a few aspects. Just like in Occultic;Nine, there are several things that can’t be explained early on in Kiznaiver, such as Katsuhira Agata’s –the main character- lack of sense of pain and his very mysterious memories of a girl telling him he’ll get his pain back. From the very beginning we get that feeling they’re not telling us everything and the same happens with Occultic;Nine, which greatly increases the suspense in both these shows. Moreover, Kiznaiver is mainly about a group of kids whose lives become intertwined through this terrible experiment, in a similar fashion to which the very different characters from Occultic;Nine are linked by a series terrible events.

Mekakucity Actors tells the story of Shintarou Kisaragi, a hikikomori (or NEET) whose only company is a virtual girl living on his computer. Shintarou hasn’t left his home for two years and is suddenly forced to do so after spilling coke all over his keyboard. As a good NEET, Shintarou is so unlucky that on his first day out in two years he gets himself in a hostage situation. Fortunately for him, two nice kids with eye superpowers help him get out of that situation and ask him in return to work with them. However, there is more to these people’s superpowers than meets the eye (pun intended), as they all seem to be connected somehow. Mekakucity Actors focuses on superpowers and it’s overall much more light-hearted than Occultic;Nine, which despite the constant instances of comic relief and huge bouncing oppais is pretty dark. However, Mekakucity Actors is yet another show in which different characters are mysteriously connected to one another, in this case through their abilities. Just like in Occultic;Nine, supernatural occurrences link the lives of these characters in a way they could have never imagined.

Mayoiga is one of the darkest and most mysterious anime of the year. Many even compare it to Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and Another. The story begins with a large group of people in a bus heading towards a mythic town which existence is a complete mystery. According to the urban legend, in this village called Nanakimura people can start a new utopian life. When they arrive, however, the village seems to be completely abandoned and weird things start to happen. Unfortunately for this group of people, their dreamed Nanakimura may not be what they were expecting. Mayoiga is essentially a psychological drama and mystery anime just like Occultic;Nine, although a bit more horror oriented. Even though Occultic;Nine can be quite dark and even scary or disturbing at times (that girl living with her dead brother for a year really creeped us out!), Mayoiga’s aim is mainly to keep us on the edge of our seats and biting our toenails at all times. Still, they are very similar in how they create the suspense and how they develop the mystery, constantly making things really unpredictable. Besides, this is also another show in which very different individuals are connected by extraordinary occurrences.

This one is old but gold. Serial Experiments Lain follows the story of Lain Iwakura, an introverted high school girl who mysteriously receives an e-mail from her classmate Chisa Yomoda, who has recently committed suicide. Everything starts to get quite unsettling from that point onwards, as Lain begins to learn about the Wired, a virtual world of communication networks that apparently can even link the dead to the living. Things get very dark and mysterious for Lain and we’ll see many things that may not make a lot of sense right away, like gas leaking out of Lain’s fingertips in the middle of the class for no apparent reason. That’s right, Serial Experiments Lain is weird as hell, and it’s precisely in that aspect that it resembles Occultic;Nine so much. Both these shows are really dark and mysterious, and most of the times we’ve no idea what’s going on. Of course, Occultic;Nine is also hard to understand and to follow due to its fast pace, which is not the case for Serial Experiments Lain. Serial Experiments Lain has a much slower pace and it also allows you to take your own guesses and make your own conclusions about what’s going on. It basically makes you feel more involved with the story and you’ll probably enjoy the mystery much more than in Occultic;Nine.

Bakemonogatari is an all-time classic and a must-watch whether you like shows similar to Occultic;Nine or not. But leaving that aside, Bakemonogatari may be one of the most similar shows to Occultic;Nine. For those of you who haven’t watched Bakemonogatari yet, it’s about Koyomi Araragi, a former vampire who tries to have a normal life as a high school student until he meets a weightless girl named Hitagi Senjougahara and they go around helping those who suffer from supernatural maladies just like them. Yes, we know just how weird all of that sounds but, hey! that’s what Bakemonogatari is about. It’s all about supernatural characters, deities and mysterious occurrences. Clearly, it is in this aspect that Bakemonogatari resembles Occultic;Nine so much. Obviously, Occultic;Nine deals with more “normal” characters (although there seem to be some ghosts and demons for what we’ve seen on the last couple of episodes) but many of the events are just as dark and mysterious as what we can see on Bakemonogatari. If you’re looking for mystery and supernatural, look no more. Just watch this show!

Shirobako is all about the anime industry, sharing the process and hard work into creating them. Shirobako also documents five high school girls from the Kaminoyama High School animation club with hopes and dreams of making it into various fields of the anime industry. The girls are in the midst of producing their own publication, unveiling their work at an upcoming cultural festival. From this, fast tracking two years later, their dreams becoming reality, as we follow two of the girls, who now work at a very notable animation company. In comparison, Shirobako is about making anime, while Gi(a)rlish Number is about seiyuus. They both reveal the hardships of such industries; showing that it is not as easy at it appears to be. Additionally, Shirobako and Gi(a)rlish Number begin their stories on a lighter note, but further into the series, strike viewers into a more dramatic and profound position. Each of the anime have an array of vibrant characters, who all depict very realistic and relatable personalities.

Hibike! Euphonium is a slice of life anime that involves the day-to-day events of Kumiko Oumae and her high school brass band mates. After a terrible incident that occurred at her middle school regional competition, Kumiko never wanted to play her euphonium again. Looking to rebuild her identity and image at the start of high school, her instrument fails to escape her, as she makes friends who have an interest in playing in the school’s brass band club. Here, we watch the drama and excitement unfold, as disorder and disagreements ignite the various members of the club when the time comes for them to compete again. Hibike! Euphonium and Gi(a)rlish Number surround a group of girls realizing their dreams, ambitions and goals, and the focus they muster in order to achieve what they want. In both anime, we see a lot of different characters, which make for an interesting cast, highlighting various subcomplexes for the storyline. Lastly, we can observe that all the characters work incredibly hard to where they want to be.

Love Live! Sunshine!! is “a youthful school drama about nine girls who aim to shine!” To be a school idol is what Chika Takami always wanted. She was so mesmerized by school idols, particularly by school idol group Muse, and wanted to share this interest and obsession with her friends. In the prequel to this anime, Love Live! School Idol Project, which provides an alternate, yet similar storyline, Chika creates the “school idol club” and their group, Aqours is born. As we follow Chika and her friends, we observe the ups and downs of the girls working to become rising idols. In comparison, Love Live! Sunshine!! and Gi(a)rlish Number share a colorful and likeable cast, with vibrant, bright animation. They both highlight the journey to reaching your dreams and the difficulties that you can encounter. Although one is about the anime industry and the other music, there is some realism to each theme with an abundance of climatic drama and comedic relief. The secondary overall message for both anime wishes to relay that everyone should have a positive outlook to every situation, no matter how grim things may appear.

Sore ga Seiyuu! is a comedic, slice of life that follows three young ladies, Futaba Ichinose, Ichigo Moesaki and Rin Kohana, who all aspire to be prominent voice actresses in the seiyuu industry. The leading character, Futaba, is on the quest for any and every audition and casting calls she can nab in order to establish her place in the industry. Collectively, the three girls strive to undertake the competitive realm of voice acting, facing many hardships along the way. In both Sore ga Seiyuu! and Gi(a)rlish Number, they discuss the trials and tribulations of voice acting. The two anime take different approaches to sharing the seiyuu world, but they do provide a little insight to how things are like, along with some humor to not make each series entirely somber. The group of girls in both anime offer each other support and nurturing that is ultimately needed in such a cut-throat domain.

Aoba Suzukaze is a recent high school graduate, ready to impact the workforce by being employed at a popular gaming company. Aoba has been into games throughout her life . Incidentally, the individual who happened to create the game Aoba loved as a child, is her supervisor. In addition to her excitement, she is working on future installments of this very game that drew her into games in the first place. In awe and admiration, Aoba is compelled to put in her greatest efforts at the company in order to be as successful as her predecessor. We also see the collectiveness that comes together in creating such imaginative productions. In comparing New Game! and Gi(a)rlish Number, Chitose and Aoba, our heroines, strive to become part of the entertainment industry, trying to make a name for themselves in society. They are both new to the field with a lot to learn and experiencing various events that contradict their previous ideals in their respective fields. Both anime feature an adorable cast, which we believe spotlight the innocence Chitose and Aoba possess in starting out on their endeavors.

In Wake Up, Girls!, we begin to see the seven member group off to a rough start. The girls make their debut, but have little luck establishing a fanbase and popularity. In their fruitless debut performance, the girls are knocked with more misfortune, as their manager takes off with their earnings, resulting in their label, Green Leaves Entertainment, and the band itself being on the brink of nonexistence. Later on, we see the girls experience a turn of events, they’re offered a second chance at their dream; of course, paired with much turmoil, but nonetheless the girls are willing to bear it. As such, we watch the girls take on the demanding and taxing musical industry. In similarity, we watch both groups of young girls fight hard for the place they want to be and the goal they want to attain. We experience their heartfelt crusade, recognizing that this lifestyle and field of work, music and voice acting, is more than just fame and flashing lights. More so, these girls are ambitious, an admirable trait that is essential in such a competitive environment.

The Hellsing Orginzation has been keeping Britain safe for a long time from creatures of the night as well as any harm in general. This is because they have an ultimate weapon on their side. They essentially have the first vampire, whose power goes beyond imagination. It’s thanks to him that Britain has been relatively safe from Nazis and vampires. However, what happens when you put the two together? Will the Hellsing Organization and their pet vampire, Alucard, be able to handle a group of radical Nazi vampires? Stylistically speaking, no show comes as close to Drifters as Hellsing Ultimate. Both of these shows have some of the most visceral and no-holds-bar action in anime. These are not shows for the lighthearted as limbs get hacked off, faces bashed in, and bodies riddled with bullets. The camera refuses to look away as we witness the dark cruelty of war and the inner bloodlust of men and monsters, if there’s any difference in the first place. However, the visual similarity goes way beyond the amount of gore that each show is willing to show. The way the characters are drawn, their musculature and eyes in particular, are extremely alike, and this style heightens the feeling bloodlust.

Berserk’s newest season follows Guts around after he’s lost his arm, been branded, and picked up the massive sword known as Dragonslayer. In other words, he is the Black Swordsman and he’s out on a mission of revenge. However, there’s a lot of things standing in his way. Being branded has a lot of downsides and one in particular is that he consistently has ghouls chasing after him. He also has demon apostles that he’ll have to go through, and none of those are easy take out. Oh, and for being associated with Griffith’s band in the past, he’s a wanted man. All in all, Guts has a lot of enemies. Berserk is akin to Drifters for reasons very similar to that of Hellsing Ultimate. To begin, it’s quite the bloody show. Episode by episode, we watch the main hero gut and tear apart just about anyone who gets in his way. That includes people who really aren’t his enemy. He does, however, have a very sound and calm mind when it comes to battle though. These are traits that he shares with a good chunk of the protagonists in Drifters. It’s a characteristic that comes with the territory of being a badass warrior.

Arslan Senki follows prince Arslan as he leaves the safety of the castle for the battlefield. The goal of his actions are to prove his honor to his future kingdom. However, a trusted officer of his father’s court commits treason and basically causes a coup while decimating practically all forces that are loyal to the true heir. Prince Arlsan is lucky though, as he escapes not only with his life, but one of the most powerful generals of the army. With Daryun by his side, the only question that remains for the forsaken prince is if he can gain enough allies to take back his home. SANZIGEN and LIDENFILMS’ 2015 anime is a show all about military know how. It covers epic battles, with the focus primarily held by single combatants who have extraordinary fighting abilities. In many ways, it’s essentially a less gory version of Drifters. Now, it might seem like that’s a huge drawback, but the actual action and all the martial organization make it a top adventure/action anime that is consistent with the pacing of Drifters.

World tensions are on the rise and Japan has found itself at a disadvantage against most countries; they don’t have a network of spies that compare with any other big player. Thus, Joker Game follows the recruitment, training and following missions of an elite group of Japanese spies. From discovering spies within their own country to infiltrating other countries and discovering national secrets, the anime explores an underworld that few can fully comprehend. Now, Joker Game doesn’t quite have the bloody intensity of the earlier shows, but the underlying topic of the story is conquest. Admittedly, its manner is not as direct as the others, because it’s not directly dealing with a battlefield. However, it still explores a world that is highly related to war and can have major impacts on the battlefield in depth. In other words, winning and being able to come out on top are still top priorities, and so proper planning is always being displayed. The characters in the show are extremely careful and think ahead, and do their best to manipulate any situation to their advantage. A good chunk of characters in Drifters is like this, with the most notable being Oda Nobunaga.

A massive MMORPG, Yggdrasil, is coming to an end. One of the best players in the game, Mmomonga, decides to make sure that not a second is lost and will be online until the game’s forcibly shutdown. Well, before he knows it, time’s up. However, he’s still in the game. Not only is he still in the game, but he’s stuck and every NPC has taken on a much more realistic persona. Well, with this predicament before him, he decides that he must protect his domain and figure out why he’s been caught within Yggdrasil. Overlord does have its fair share of action, but that’s not the real similarity between it and Drifters. What sets these shows in the same category is the fact that each deftly explores a fantasy world that is set against the protagonists. That is to say, there are a lot of factors in each show’s respective world that the heroes need to become accustomed with, handle, and, if need be, defeat. In other words, the main cast of each show is trying to find its respective place in this new world

Danganronpa 3 follows the events after the Ultimate Despair, when the Future Foundation was created in order to keep humanity from falling into chaos. However, one of the most well-regarded members, Makoto Naegi, is suspected of treason. Now, the entirety of the Future Foundation has gathered to deliver justice upon Naegi. There’s a sudden turn of events though, as Monokuma traps everyone inside and a new game of kill or be killed begins. Danganronpa 3 and Drifters have two main aspects in common. First off, each show has good heaping of action and aren’t afraid to find interesting ways of killing someone off. The main difference in this area is that one willing shows blood and the other tries to handle it gently. Second, each show builds an incredible amount of tension as we try to figure out what each character is planning. It’s extremely difficult figuring out who’s on whose side and in doing so there is a constant feeling of conflict.