Granbelm

Many of the similarities between Granbelm and Madoka Magica are somewhat superficial, but I couldn't help but make the comparison nonetheless. Both star a cute high school student with mid-length pink hair and a name that starts with the letter M who has a mysterious female counterpart with long black hair and a relatively noble cause. The pink hair girl gets sucked into the world of magic and fighting against the black hair girl's initial wishes, and the MC meets a medium-sized cast of characters who each have different passionate reasons for fighting. Lastly, both feature some sort of crystal/gem is tied to each of the magical girls in the show. Aside from these more superficial similarities, both shows contain some similar themes and ideas, and just give off a similar vibe. For example, the main characters of both anime seem to have pretty similar personalities and face a similar dilemma, both struggling with their own feelings of self-worth and wanting to become more than just average. Despite all these similarities, the shows are still definitely different enough from each other to stand out on their own. So if you typically enjoy magical girl series of the more intense nature, and if you liked either one of these shows, then I definitely recommend checking the other show out!  read more 

Granbelm and Magical Girl Raising Project are two magical girl shows about the main character becoming a magical girl in a world where other girls with similar powers as hers battle with each other. 

Both are battle royale series with entirely female casts, in which they fight to win a vague sort of "ultimate prize" that is intentionally left shrouded in mystery for the viewer. The MCs in both shows were also both not originally intended to be part of the running, but ended up shaking up the competition through joining, and are close to a stoic black-haired girl. Granbelm has a much greater focus on the action while Starlight is more focused on the intercharacter drama, but both also have great visuals and animation. 

Magic Knight Rayearth and Granbelm are two magical girl shows that combines the magical girl genre with the mecha genre. Both shows also begin with the main character(s) being transported to another world where magic thrives and eventually they gain magic powers (and also giant mechs). 

Both shows have the same director (Watanbe Masaharu), character designer (Ootsuka Shinichirou), and music composer (Suehiro Kenichiro), which gives them a very similar vibe, especially Watanbe's tense, enthralling and beautiful directing. Both shows have badass yet cute casts of strong female leads (all-female, in the case of Granbelm) who wield magic, existentialist themes, and intense action sequences.  

even if ALB isn't really mecha, they do give simlar vibes. Assault lily bouquet is about girls that can become lilies, and need to combat monsters called huges. if you like Granbelm, I'm sure you will like Assault Lily Bouquet (ALB) 

Has mechas and a similar plot twist.