If you liked
Koi Kaze
|
...then you might like
Watashi no Shounen
|
While Watashi no Shounen doesn't deliver a story as thought-provoking or controversial as Koi Kaze, this work still manages to represent a complicated and serious relationship between a teenager and an adult and all the obstacles between their friendship. Both deal with forbidden love, conflicting emotions, and family problems. Another very important similarity is Nanoka and Mashuu's maturity compared to their adult partner. However, don't forget that Koi Kaze is also centered around incest while Watashi no Shounen's controversy is the age gap.
If you liked
Little Witch Academia
|
...then you might like
Burn the Witch
|
Simple and short fantasy movies with inspiration from Western witch tales. Pretty visuals and a cool soundtrack to boot. I found Little Witch Academia very enjoyable while Burn the Witch was a disappointment but who knows, you might like it.
If you liked
Bleach
|
...then you might like
Burn the Witch
|
It's obvious that Kubo borrowed many elements from his previous manga (Bleach, obviously) while working on Burn the Witch. Not only are the character designs almost copy-paste but even the way the plot is structured feels quite similar. There's also a silly shoujo-ai aura surrounding some characters in Burn the Witch and similar comic relief which also heavily reminded me of Bleach. This movie ended up quite uninspired but if you enjoyed Bleach's universe and fights, Burn the Witch might be a bit enjoyable. Who knows...
If you liked
Urusei Yatsura
|
...then you might like
Doraemon (2005)
|
There are many elements that make both series comparable. Structurally these two anime don't follow much of an overarching plot and most of the episodes revolve around the MC fiddling with aliens and their technology (Lum) or future gadgets (Doraemon) and most of the time ending with unfavorable results since they're both so alike and unlucky. It's also worth noting that the two MCs also have a bad reputation in their respective series and no one places much hope in neither of them. You can feel a bit of an evolution of Ataru's love feelings in Urusei Yatsura while in Nobita's case he's always back and forth when it comes to his love for Shizuka. While they do have strong feelings for their childhood friend, they're still pretty pervert when it comes to it. Doraemon and Urusei Yatsura also share a lot of nonsensical humor, however Urusei Yatsura tends to be more radical in that aspect. To conclude, these are very laid-back comedy series for those who also love sci-fi elements such as aliens, time-travel, and other non-sense.
If you liked
Urusei Yatsura
|
...then you might like
Fantasia
|
After a couple of Urusei Yatsura episodes, it's obvious that Fantasia is a short and lower quality rip-off. Pretty much the same plot and characters crammed into a single-episode OVA. I wouldn't really recommend Fantasia unless you're really craving for something similar to Urusei Yatsura and you don't mind compromising quality. Watch at your own risk I guess.
If you liked
Akage no Anne
|
...then you might like
Alps no Shoujo Heidi
|
2 adaptations of classic literature with an orphan girl as the main character adapted by the same studio during the 70s. While both slice-of-life stories provide a cheerful narrative suited for a young audience they still deal with issues such as physical disability, solitude (Alps no Shoujo Heidi), poverty, alcoholism, not fitting with the rest (Akage no Anne/Konnichiwa Anne). You will find the same heartwarming atmosphere, child curiosity, and rich hand-drawn countryside backgrounds in both works. While I feel Akage no Anne is overall superior in terms of writing, Alps no Shoujo Heidi is still worth watching as it was directed by the same people and was probably the base for Akage no Anne's adaptation. This is also a Konnichiwa Anne recommendation because it's not worth writing pretty much the same twice and it is a direct prequel to Akage no Anne.
If you liked
Carnival Phantasm
|
...then you might like
Isekai Quartet
|
Various anime series together to form a parody that puts their protagonists in random non-sense scenarios allowing them to interact with each other and deliver some fan-service. If you like some of the anime parodied in there, you could give it a try for a laugh or two but don't go expecting groundbreaking comedies.
If you liked
Slayers
|
...then you might like
Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
|
This recommendation is a no-brainer. Two dumb fantasy/adventure anime that can't be taken seriously. Chaos and silliness are guaranteed, however, Slayers tends to be more dramatic and actually have a plot whereas Konosuba has a lot of fan-service and its characters being completely useless to a hilarious degree. The main difference being the fact that Konosuba is an Isekai anime.
If you liked
Arigatou
|
...then you might like
Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa
|
The first similarity that comes to mind when I look at these two works is how similar their male protagonists are. They're two misunderstood, rude, and even a bit delusional old dudes who try to amend their miserable life. It's easy to see how similar and flawed these two characters are. Their mind also works the same way, usually trying to solve issues through brute force or stubbornness but at times also being pretty considerate. In Arigatou, the main focus is a dysfunctional family struggling through an over-the-top extreme scenario. In Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa, the main focus is Kurosawa alone trying to fix his lonely and disappointing life. Overall, different focus but both deal with human beings pushed to the limit in order to struggle through extreme and even life or death situations. Although these two works display pretty over-the-top and unbelievable scenes, they also portray very human and believable characters and their likewise emotions. I will try not to spoil but the two endings gave me a similar vibe. It's also worth mentioning the artwork is also comparable in a way they both seem rough and unpolished but suit their narrative like a glove. You'll not find sexual content in Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa though. That work is more about Kurosawa's physical confrontations so it's a more action-oriented.
If you liked
Black Lagoon
|
...then you might like
Great Pretender
|
Great Pretender reminded me of Black Lagoon when looking at the shows' Main Character. Edamame and Rock are thrown into a similar situation they can't escape and have to adapt to their new risky lifestyle. They undergo a big personality change through the duration of the anime thanks to this. Black Lagoon felt overall more mature but Great Pretender also had its moments. And the most obvious similarity, the two anime focus on a band of criminals.
If you liked
MW
|
...then you might like
Kami no Kodomo
|
Yuki and God's Child protagonist are evil bastards capable of killing and raping without showing any emotion. These protagonists also share a hatred for society and while in MW we get the motivation for the MC's behavior, in God's Child the protagonist is just pure evil in the shape of a person. It's also worth noting they both engage in homosexual acts hence the Yaoi tags. Worry not, it's nothing that happens too often but they have interesting origins. Both stories revolve around these sadistic protagonists and all of the atrocities they commit. So if you're into stories with serial killers devoid of emotions as protagonists you came to the right place.
If you liked
Mikai no Hoshi
|
...then you might like
Arigatou
|
While Arigatou is a story about a family on the verge of collapse in Japan, Mikai no Hoshi setting is an uncivilized planet during wartime. The settings might be drastically different but they both depict pretty brutal relationships and graphic sexual scenes. Mikai no Hoshi's are more violent and mostly rape though. Basically, while reading any of these you step into dystopian worlds of pain where you just want the protagonists to endure their hardships and be happy while at the same time suffer from their stupid decisions. The other important similarity is how these manga also have positive messages despite all the suffering.
If you liked
Hi no Tori (1967)
|
...then you might like
Spirit Circle
|
While Spirit Circle was released decades later, the thematic of reincarnation seen in Hi no Tori still remains very interesting. You'll see the same characters undertaking different lives through the circle of reincarnation adding multiple perspectives to a single character. Spirit Circle might not have a phoenix this time around, but instead, it also has its own immortal entity watching over humanity. Even though the stories have serious tones and themes, the authors also like to add some comedy relief to their stories or just create silly scenes. From that point of view, they're somewhat similar. This can be observed in Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer as well. Both stories have a fair share of different genres too. You'll see romance, comedy, drama, tragedy, revenge, friendship, sci-fi, adventure, and many more. It's also worth noting how both stories also span over thousands (in Hi no Tori's case even billions perhaps) of years and deal with different realities/worlds. Spirit Circle sometimes feels like a shorter version of Hi no Tori. Not mindblowing but definitely a must-read too.
If you liked
Aku no Hana
|
...then you might like
Bokutachi ga Yarimashita
|
I believe Bokutachi ga Yarimashita appeals to the same audience that enjoyed Aku no Hana. Apart from the sex scenes which aren't present in the later which aims for a slightly younger audience, I still believe they have the same appeal and I'll explain how. In both cases, you can find dysfunctional protagonists dealing with their mistakes (and crimes) and how that influences their growth and adulthood. Some of the characters betray or black-mail the protagonists. While in Aku no Hana our protagonist is strayed from his normal life entirely by a psychotic girl, Bokutachi's protagonist is influenced by the reckless actions of a certain idiot "friend". It's similar but not entirely the same, although at some point in Bokutachi's one of the main characters is strayed by women (sex addiction). Bokutachi tests what friendship and love truly are while Aku no Hana tests the protagonist's love (second half of the manga). Ultimately, these are two stories about the mistakes committed by young people and the atonement/consequences of their actions. Addictive stories for those with a sadistic side who enjoy watching their characters suffer living in a society. The ending is also delivered in a similar note but I will not spoil it. For more details, either ask me or read the other manga to find out by yourself.
If you liked
Shinseiki Evangelion
|
...then you might like
Alien 9
|
Teen characters forced to fight unknown creatures and experience a fair amount of psychological trauma that forces them to undergo changes. Later in the story, a lot of secrets are revealed about the alien creatures and how the game is rigged from the start and most of the events play accordingly to a conspiracy while the protagonists are oblivious to it all. Dark and cruel sci-fi stories with protagonists filled with despair and forced to fight. In NGE Shinji is forced to pilot a giant robot, while in Alien 9 Yuri is forced to have a symbiotic relationship with an alien in order to fight the threat.
If you liked
Tentai Senshi Sunred
|
...then you might like
Tantei Opera Milky Holmes
|
Despite having very different art styles, there are actually key similarities between these two shows. To start off, both shows feature "battles between good and evil" in non-sense worlds with superpowers and low amounts of action. In a way, the Milky Holmes detective team reminds me of Sunred since they're in similar situations as they both fell from glory and now live a very unsatisfactory life. Sunred and some of the Milky Holmes team also share similar bad tempers unfitting heroes of their status. Furthermore, the villain in both shows is more kindhearted than the actual heroes and you cannot avoid cheering for them as they actively aid the heroes. And obviously comedy is present in the majority of the two shows. Different kinds of comedy though. And that's it. They might be shows targetting different niches of viewers but I found they had some important similarities.
If you liked
Tantei Opera Milky Holmes
|
...then you might like
Asobi Asobase
|
Two cute anime which looks can be quite deceiving. Underneath the cute appearances are straight-up non-sense comedies. If you're looking for anime with random comedy and a lot of non-sense, these fit the description. Although they look like girly animations they hardly have cute moments. Dumb and delusional characters that are constantly fighting and overreacting, weird events and lack of logic. But the most important similarity is how the characters completely ignore their main goal (Milky Holmes not caring about getting their powers back or becoming great detectives and Kasumi not caring about improving her English skills at all) and just do pointless stuff instead.
If you liked
Kemono no Souja Erin
|
...then you might like
Konnichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables
|
This recommendation is mostly based on the two protagonists of both anime. Erin and Anne are able to reach the other characters and the viewer's hearts. They are cheerful and very passionate about what they do. They also share a tragic background and it is worth noting that the supporting characters around these two help develop their personalities. While one of the anime is set in a fantasy world and the other on the real world you can watch both characters grow emotionally and physically and works passionately to achieve their dream even though they face many unfortunate events. You should also definitely check Akage no Anne for more of Anne's growth. Visually they are also kind of similar. The artwork is very simple and old-styled. Kemono no Souja Erin excels with some great music but both have incredibly powerful moments that almost made me cry. If you enjoyed the main character and its development on one of these anime, you should check the other. Just don't expect such a big scale world and adventure from Konnichiwa Anne and Akage no Anne compared to Kemono no Souja Erin.
If you liked
Kokou no Hito
|
...then you might like
Aku no Hana
|
To be fair, there are works a lot more similar to Aku no Hana and they have more differences than similarities but I think they might appeal to a particular niche of readers. In case you're looking for a manga that follows a main character that has a distorted view on society and can't establish healthy relationships with "normal" people, both have that. Aku no Hana MC also really reminded me of Kokou no Hito MC due to the tendency for both of them to picture the darkest side of society in their minds and at some point in the story be corrupted by a girl. Both artists also use heavy symbolism to represent what's going inside the mind of the protagonist. But yeah, Aku no Hana has nothing to do with sports and Kokou no Hito only uses a high school setting for the first couple of volumes and then uses a time-skip to adulthood.
If you liked
Sundome
|
...then you might like
Aku no Hana
|
Sundome follows a more "episodic" format but the story and characters are similar. Both follow a dysfunctional male and female and their awkward and sometimes abusive relationship. The two manga also explore the darkness within the minds of the teenagers and their deepest fantasies/thoughts. In both, you can find the hopeless and wimp male MC that is persuaded and somewhat corrupted by a female character with a dark and secret background they idolize and obsess with. Doubt, betrayal, sex, obsession, etc... You can see why they are similar by now. There are also some striking differences. Aku no Hana has a fantastic artwork whereas Sundome's artwork is only remarkable during the ecchi scenes. Sundome also feels longer but in my opinion, it was too long for its own good due to its episodic formula.
If you liked
Full Moon wo Sagashite
|
...then you might like
Ashita no Nadja
|
It does not surprise me no one related these two since they have such a different concept. While Ashita no Nadja is mainly an adventure anime where the action happens 100 years in the past, Full Moon wo Sagashite happens during the present time in Japan (and a bit in America as well). The time periods and anime tags might be quite different, but the similarities are present in the main character mindset for never giving up on their dreams and helping the others around them when they are distressed. Mitsuki might have supernatural entities aiding in her journey unlike Nadja, but the mysterious Black Rose character that helps Nadja sometimes seems like her magical guardian angel. Even though they are stated as shoujo romance anime, I would recommend these to anyone despite their age or gender as well. They have these sort of "girly romance" vibe but don't let that discourage you. The story and twists are worth it.
If you liked
Full Moon wo Sagashite
|
...then you might like
Kaleido Star
|
You will find a similar concept of a dreamy girl trying to accomplish her childhood dream of acting in the entertainment business. Both protagonists are aided by supernatural entities that somehow relate to them and play a major role in the story and have mysterious motivations later explained. Additionally, at some point, the rivalry between Mitsuki and Madoka reminded me of the rivalry between Sora and the other girls. Definitely recommend watching both if you're into motivational anime with drama and bits of comedy. Romance also takes a major part of Full Moon wo Sagashite unlike Kaleido Star.
If you liked
Real
|
...then you might like
Kokou no Hito
|
If any of this manga piqued your interested thanks to their realistic perspective on sports and human emotion you should definitely check the other. The two books also share a lot of tragedy. At some point, both protagonists go through a depressive phase or a phase where they're looking for a reason to keep living/practicing sports. They also had issues in their past.
If you liked
Mushishi
|
...then you might like
Mononoke
|
I wonder why I forgot to create this recommendation as it is so obvious. Mononoke and Mushishi certainly appeal to the same audience. If you are looking for unique exorcism anime look no further. If you enjoyed one of these, you will certainly enjoy the other as they even share a similar mini-arc episodic story (Mononoke arcs are longer though). Even both protagonists work as lone medicine sellers that deal with demons for a living. Smart 'demons' designs that are more of phenomena than evil creatures, a very mysterious protagonist and incredible and unique visuals mark some of the similarities. Both certainly have this "creepy" and eerie aura in some scenes as well.
If you liked
Zipang
|
...then you might like
Steins;Gate
|
While Steins;Gate is probably the most well-known time-travel anime, Zipang is unknown to most of the viewers and fans of the genre. Whoever, they share the same concept of going back to the past and all the consequences a small alteration can do in the course of time. The main issue is that Zipang is a very serious historical anime that appeals to a niche of historical/military fans and the animation isn't that great compared to Steins;Gate. The characters don't have much in common apart from the protagonist trying to fix the situation without messing the future up. If you can get past the weak visuals, incomplete manga adaptation, and category differences, then Zipang is a very worthwhile experience for viewers that enjoy realistic time-travel stories.
If you liked
Texhnolyze
|
...then you might like
Devilman: Crybaby
|
While there is a dozen of other obvious recommendations of anime similar to Devilman: Crybaby I find it pretty surprising no one mentioned Texhnolyze. Disclaimer: Do not be surprised you got disappointed if you looked at Texhnolize as an action-packed experience like Crybaby. The similarities can be found in the second half of the story atmosphere and emotional impact on the viewer. At first, they aren't even that similar as Texhnolyze isn't even an anime about demons but during the second half of the two shows, they are similarly despair-inducing, extremely cruel and torturous to watch even. Do not be fooled. These are both equally cruel and intense anime. But hey, if you are feeling masochistic, go ahead! If you paid attention, both anime provide an important hint on how the plot will end at a very initial stage of the anime. In Crybaby it is provided right at the start of the first episode and I will not mention Texhnolyze exact moment as I would be stepping into HEAVY SPOILER territory. The protagonists of the different stories also obtain a power strong enough to change the course of the story completely but do not really know how to use it effectively and sometimes end up fighting against said power as they do not have the knowledge of what the future unfolds. That is all I can provide without spoiling the end of any of the shows but there are a couple more similarities. It's always hard to compare any other work to Texhnolyze without stepping into spoiler territory so I hope I managed to succeed with this recommendation. I believe that NOT everyone that enjoyed one will necessarily enjoy the other, but it's worth mentioning alone for the atmosphere and cruelty of the shows.
If you liked
Kemonozume
|
...then you might like
Devilman: Crybaby
|
The similarities in direction and art-styles are unmistakable. The art-styles are definitely not for everyone as they take a very artistical and uncommon aproach from what we typically see in the anime medium. Several moments and key points of Devilman: Crybaby remind me of Kemonozume. However, while Kemonozume starts quite dark and seriously it ends too over-the-top while Crybaby's beginning is pretty comical but ends up in a really serious and dark tone. That is the main reason I found Devilman: Crybaby more enjoyable but still recommend both. While these two anime feel pretty ridiculous at times they share strong and cruel themes. Some of these include the fear of other humans be monsters, the lack of morality and humanity of some people in order to get power, the possible extinction of humanity at their own hand, the denial of love between beast and human, and so on. In short, not simple wars between humans and monsters as the feelings and will to live from both sides are taken into consideration
If you liked
Hellsing Ultimate
|
...then you might like
Devilman: Crybaby
|
Lots of blood and gore, over-the-top action and a very fast-paced 10 episodes story. Two apocalyptic stories with destruction on a very large scale with various religious symbolism. The stories get pretty serious later on while at the beginning they sound kinda silly. If you enjoyed the fast-paced action and the amounts of gore you have watched in Hellsing Ultimate definitely give Devilman: Crybaby a try. Just take in mind Devilman: Crybaby has a lot of nudity and a very exquisite animation that anime enthusiasts not used to Yuasa Masaaki artistical anime might not enjoy.
If you liked
Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex
|
...then you might like
Psycho-Pass
|
Futuristic worlds where the advanced technology should be supposed to protect us from all evil and create perfect societies, but the reality isn't always that simple. Corruption lurks in every corner and a villain/master-mind appears in an attempt to deliver his own justice. That's where the special investigation teams come up. Consisting of a bunch of agents with open mindsets and different levels of experience dealing with crimes have their ideology tested to prevent the villain's actions. While solving multiple small cases leading to the master-mind, both teams get a step closer to uncovering the truth. However, the case is not as simple as capturing a bad guy. Basically, you will get a similar type of investigation-centered anime with tons of action and some deep dialogs/questions that will amuse you and maybe create some empathy with the villain's ideology.
If you liked
Texhnolyze
|
...then you might like
Wolf's Rain
|
Texhnolyze is an extremely niche anime, but I believe Wolf's Rain shares some similar vital points and might appeal to the Texhnolyze audience to a certain degree. At least watching Wolf's Rain really reminded me of Texhnolyze and I felt similar feelings watching them. I cannot really go into detail here as I can easily spoil one or both shows mentioning their key elements but I will try my best. In short, you can get a feeling of desolation while watching both shows. They are set in universes with desolated worlds by either war, resource shortage, and exclusion of some parties. The characters are kind of similar in the way they are all lost and looking for hope, something to keep them moving and at a certain point in the plot everyone eventually losing something they care/love. I feel like Wolf's Rain gives you positive vibes and hope on some occasions, Texhnolyze is a fully despairing and depressing journey. I would love to go into detail here, but giving any further info will severely cripple your enjoyment from both anime.