Interest Stacks

In some way, I've felt some similar “Spirited Away” vibes from this film. The main protagonist is a very extroverted girl, always smiling, but hidden beneath her smiles lies an underlying sadness that she hides. It felt like “Spirited Away”, as she is also dragged into a strange land filled with strange beings, in this case, cats. Even though it's not a classic like Ghibli Films and certainly not an aesthetic masterpiece like Miyazaki's Spirited Away, it's a decent film and worthwhile to watch.

“Fireworks”, also known by its Japanese title “Uchiage Hanabi, Shita kara Miru ka? Yoko kara Miru ka?” which literally translates to “Should We See It from the Side? Or from Below?” is a coming-of-age romance film directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, known for his unique visual style.

This movie stands out because of its animation and visuals. It has a unique way of storytelling that uses intricate details, light and shadow, colors, and camera angles to create a breathtaking experience. The narrative of the story is ambiguous, and the hints are scattered throughout the film using subtle changes in details and animation.

The main themes of the story are the fierce spirit of youth and the difficulties of adolescence. Norimichi and Nazuna are two teenagers experiencing the complexities and emotional struggles of adolescence in a small coastal town during a summer festival. As they both run away together, they encounter mysterious occurrences and the repercussions of their choices, which can completely alter their reality.

This film left many in confusion, but the story is pretty good, all things considered, and it leaves some dots for the viewers to fill in and imagine what could be the actual conclusion with its unconventional storytelling. Not only are the visuals in this film stunning, but the soundtrack is wonderful as well. It's worth a second chance, especially on a sparkling summer day.

“Shiroi Suna no Aquatope” is a coming-of-age slice of life story which is executed pretty well. From trying to save a family business, trying to find a place to belong, understanding individual struggles, accepting and coming to terms with the reality to discovering something along the way that gives meaning to one's life…the anime very subtly has it all. The pacing is decent and one might even be able to find something relatable. The characters are all likable.

Also, the story takes place in Okinawa. So, the people and the landscapes are different from what we usually see in other shows that take place in mainland Japan. Instead of cityscapes or Japanese countrysides, the viewers get to experience a small town surrounded by the deep blue sea and diverse marine life.

The visuals and art style is stunning, the soundtracks were excellent. This anime made me appreciate marine life even more.

“Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki” is a slice of life, romance, and an exploration of self-improvement, personal growth and self-discovery.


At the center of the plot is Fumiya Tomozaki, an introverted teenager with a very cynical idea of life. However, a fateful encounter with his classmate, Aoi Hinami, a smart and seemingly perfect character in Tomozaki's eyes, shifts his view of life. Aoi opens his eyes to the game of life.


The major theme of the story is its character development. Tomozaki's journey from an awkward and anti-social person to someone striving for personal improvement and getting the result is both relatable and inspiring. The character development doesn't stop with just Tomozaki. The story introduces a likeable cast of characters and does a good job at portraying different characters and their intricacies.


This one is a proper teenage anime. A school romance that is on per with many popular shows of this genre. A socially awkward young boy is being taught by the most popular girl about how to be more outgoing. Even though an introvert boy with a popular girl trope has become common in this genre, this one has its own unique takes. Witty dialogues and character interactions are done well.


The story not only focuses on Tomozaki's growth, it also deals with identity and self-discovery as he entangles between the choices of playing the perfect character or staying true to one's true feelings.

Have you ever regretted the decisions you made in the past?
Do you feel suffocated because you couldn't make your dreams a reality?
You often wonder what could've been if your life had taken a different direction? Have you ever thought, what if life gave you a second chance?


If so, then this one might resonate with your thoughts.


Unlike the harsh reality we are facing, life gives Kyouya Hashiba, a man in his late twenties, a second chance amidst the hardship he was facing because of the choices he made. After setting out to remake his life, he gets to know the people he used to admire in his original life, as they are also struggling to find themselves, the path they want to follow, and dealing with anxiety and uncertainty. He comes to realize that everyone goes through hardship; you can feel it once you get close to them.


This anime will help you to understand and empathize with individual struggles, and will encourage you to start over again and keep going. Even if you don't get a second chance, it's better late than never to chase the dream.

The story follows the trio of Tomoya Sugisaki, Aoi Harukawa, and Ryou Kobayashi, each dealing with their difficulties as they search for an urban legend, a ghost that supposedly only people nearing death can see and can tell about the mysteries surrounding life and death.


This is a very short anime, and yet the emotional impact is astounding! This will leave you wondering about life and death, make you appreciate life, and inspire you to make a stand for the sake of living your life and dealing with its issues through its beautiful storytelling and amazing Summer vibes.


Aesthetically, this is a piece of art. The animation and the art style are enchanting. The soundtrack is simply breathtaking.

Another slice of life entry to the stack. This is one of those stories where the main characters have a father-child relationship. The story mainly takes place in Kyoto, and it introduces a variety of Japanese confections. The only other Anime I've seen so far that introduced Japanese sweets to its viewers was “March Comes in Like a Lion”, so this aspect really caught my attention.


The art style is pleasing, the warm tone is pretty refreshing. The simple flow of this anime will surely uplift you if you're having a bad day.

This is a story that takes place during the 'Heian' period of Japan. Through the eyes of the protagonist Biwa, the story depicts the fall of the powerful Taira Clan (Also known as Heike) as they lose the power struggle for the control of medieval Japan. The anime is the adaptation of a similarly named Japanese epic about the rise and fall of the Heike.

An Existentialist show that gets better the more you watch it. A group of students finds themselves drifting along with their school. Some of them awakens supernatural abilities amidst leaping from one world to another, each stranger than the others, their logic warped with a mysterious beauty that comes with each dimension. This anime points the absurd nature of our own world, emotional struggles, depression, emptiness, lack of meaning in life in a unique and aesthetic way. This one is a piece of Art.

Somewhat similar to “Sonny Boy” since it's drifting here as well, but not as complex and without the philosophical themes. The characters are all kids, their struggles are much more different than young adults in “Sonny Boy” as they try to find a way to find a way to return to their homes. The setting is intriguing, the art is good, and overall it's a decent film.

“Shuumatsu Nani Shitemasu ka? Isogashii desu ka? Sukutte Moratte Ii desu ka?” is a tragic and emotional story.


Set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity was wiped out centuries ago by mysterious beings called Beasts. The remaining races have settled on floating pieces of land in the sky above the desolated world, void of any life form apart from those mysterious creatures.


The protagonist of the story, Willem, is the sole survivor of the human race who was rescued from the surface 500 years after humanity was gone. He was at that time in a deep slumber due to a petrification curse he suffered all those years ago. Amidst his seemingly meaningless existence, he met the heroine of the story, Chtholly, a young fairy. Soon, he was placed in charge of a military warehouse consisting of special weapons against the Beasts. To his surprise, he found out that the fairies known as Leprechauns were their weapons against the threat from the surface, and thus his path crossed again with Chtholly.


The story is really thought-provoking; the characters have depth to them, each with a mix of grief, empathy, love, courage, and the willingness to sacrifice themselves for their loved ones. It explores complex human emotions such as love, memories, loss, and bonds. The romance between Chtholly and Willem felt pretty authentic, even in a post-apocalyptic setting. Chtholly was the first fairy to fall in love. Her emotional struggles, her pain, her fear, and her happiness—all the memories she treasured gave the story so much emotional depth. It is reminiscent of a tragic fairy tale romance.


The world-building in this story is wonderful. The characters are all really likeable, and the visuals are pretty good. The soundtrack is amazing, and the insert songs in particular gave the already tragic story an even more melancholic atmosphere.


The story left a remarkable mark with its profound themes, emotional depth, and tragic end.

Full of witty dialogues and quotable lines that are pretty amusing if anyone finds this sort of thing interesting. A story set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is apparently on the brink of extinction and a new race called the fairies now inhabits the world, this anime whimsically represents many aspects of human society and its inconsistencies.

The list has to have one or two Isekai. Aired during Winter 2023 along with a handful of other Isekai and fantasy shows, “Benriya Saitou” stands out for its simplicity as the show bypasses common Isekai tropes and the characters are not absurdly overpowered. This is a pretty chilling show with a subtle art style and a refreshingly warm tone. The characters seem decent; even the villains are fun to watch and are shown to have reasons why they came into conflict with the main cast; the comedy lands well enough; and overall, it's a decent adventure show.

This is a pretty decent show which starts as a vengeful young boy searching for his sister's murderer with the help of an exiled mage betrayed by her clan. But unusual things start to happen, and his best friend also gets entangled in his pursuit of revenge that eventually unveils even bigger mysteries surrounding the logic of the world and the secrets each individual is carrying.


This Anime heavily references Shakespearean tragedies, and the main heroine is actually based on characters from Shakespeare's plays. It has a decent plot, a bit of supernatural elements like magic and time travel, playful romance, characters are pretty likable, especially the main heroin. It has decent animation and some really wonderful soundtracks. The use of classical literature reference is not very common in anime, which makes it stand out as something unique.

At first glance, “Life Lessons with Uramichi-Oniisan” appears to be a cheerful comedy anime about a children's show. But, deep down, it shows the dark and realistic sides of adult life.


The show has a seemingly perfect cast of characters on-screen, but behind the scenes, all of them are dealing with something, each struggling with their own personal problems. Uramichi also has his own personal issues, including frustration with adulthood and a lack of purpose in life.


The show hints at the struggles of adulthood, social expectations, mental health issues, and other sensitive subjects with humor, satire, and metaphors. It's a thought-provoking show and might even be relatable if someone is also dealing with the bitter emptiness of adult life in a soulless society.

This is a cute little show about an office working lady and her experience with cute little ghosts that want her to relax. Not much going on here, no plot, nothing. It's just a cute little show to watch with your brain cells turned off.

A heartwarming addition to the original “Ranking of Kings”. This is a collection of side stories and past events related to the characters. Some of those are about related events that happened at the same time as the original show, and this adds some insight into what was happening elsewhere; other events explore the past, mostly focusing on the journeys the characters took to reach here, and it shows us a glimpse into their backstory.


This is by no means like the plot-driven main series, but it adds depth to the characters, and it should be watched with that in mind. It's a pretty relaxing show, and the art style and animation are vivid with lively colors.

“Yesterday wo Utatte” is a slice of life coming-of-age story. The story focuses on things like the struggles to adjust to adult life, emotional complexities, the feeling of uncertainty and insecurity, moving on from the past, finding purpose in life, self-discovery, and letting go of yesterday and accepting a new tomorrow. One of the most remarkable aspects of this anime is its realistic portrayal of human emotions and challenges of adulthood.


The story starts with Rikuo Uozumi, an aimless university graduate working at a convenience store, and Haru Nonaka, an eccentric and free-spirited girl and a high school dropout, constantly dropping by the store to get close to him. It soon introduces his long-term crush from college, Shinako Morinome. The story primarily revolves around this trio, each dealing with their own struggles with life.


The first half of the anime is done so well that it can make anyone relate to the characters and their struggles; even the side characters were also very well written. The first ending theme goes with the anime perfectly, and the lyrics resonate with the theme of the first half of the anime. The first half, along with the ending theme after each episode, gives a Melancholic feel.


The story isn't without flaws. The lack of confidence and courage for the characters to speak their minds can become a bit repetitive. Even so, the realistic and complex dynamic between age gap relationships, unrequited love, and the often blurred line between friendship and love make up for some inconsistencies. Regardless, it's a great anime and definitely worth watching.

“Flavors of Youth” is another coming-of-age entry to the stack that presents the transition to adulthood and bittersweet nostalgia through its dazzling art style. The film is divided into three separate stories, each focusing on different people in different places as they grow up. The animation and soundtrack were stellar. It's definitely worth checking out.

“Another World” brings depth to Naomi's character, and after watching this, my initial impression of “Hello World” improved. It explores Naomi's inner struggles, his pains, and his endeavor for the sake of his loved one, and has a deeper emotional impact.


The animation style retains the same standards as the film, with aesthetically wonderful moments.

“If you can fly in the sky, you'll understand just how small of a world Aiga is.” 


“Sakasama no Patema” takes place in a dystopian world where two societies divided by gravity exist—one on the surface and the other underground. Despite being a Sci-fi Adventure, the film tackles critical aspects that have plagued mankind throughout human history and various societal issues. It explores themes of propaganda, state-sponsored misinformation, the erasure of history, the delusion of racial superiority, and so on. The nation named “Aiga” is essentially a surveillance state run by a military regime that strives to control the thoughts and actions of its citizens.


The film cleverly portrays “Gravity Inversion” as a dividing indicator between humans, as it symbolizes society's fear and discrimination of those who are different. Patema and Age's fateful encounter unveils the truth about their separate worlds as well as the history that led to the division. Through their unlikely friendship, the film shatters the boundaries separating their worlds.


“Sakasama no Patema” is a heartwarming story of friendship and overcoming differences. It explores themes of identity, freedom, and understanding. The film's captivating visuals and thought-provoking storyline make it a standout.

“Haibane Renmei” is a bittersweet tale of empathy, loss, salvation, and forgiveness. The anime revolves around mysterious beings with a halo and small charcoal-colored wings called “Haibane”, who live in a town surrounded by walls from which they are forbidden to leave. Born from a cocoon without any memory of their past or their names, they can only recall a glimpse of a distant dream by which they were given a name.


The mysterious world of this anime wasn't explained, whether it's afterlife or not, it was completely left to the viewers to interpret. The town was very protective toward the “Haibane” and it was never mentioned how it all started. This feels really similar to “Angel Beats!”, another anime that has a somewhat similar world.


The anime explores thought-provoking philosophical themes like existence and its meaning, the prospect of death, and redemption. The anime emphasizes the fact that human lives are ephemeral; even for angelic beings like Haibane, things will come to an end at some point. And that salvation is also an act of acknowledging and accepting our shortcomings and self-forgiveness. The “Haibane”, despite being mystical, go through complex emotional angst such as fear, loneliness, grief, and emptiness.


This anime has an interesting approach to world-building and very likable characters. The soundtracks are melancholy and yet, at the same time, very refreshing.

“Everyone has their own world inside them.”


This film is short, and within its limited runtime, it delves into exploring complex human emotions. The film starts by stating the differences between each individual: their emotions, their thoughts, and the way they see the world. It's an awful experience to be treated woefully just because someone is unique. It's fine to be unconventional. Our individuality makes the world inside us unique and colorful.


It's rare for a human to understand another human. Finding someone who understands you and knowing that someone similar to you exists can be dreamlike. Here, the anime focuses on personal bonding between humans and the unique way it works. As humans, we crave appreciation, and even a bit of empathy and kindness can brighten our day. It shows us the impact of shared experiences, discovering each other's world, and the profound connections they create that transcend the boundaries of the physical world.


I wish the film had a longer runtime so that it could dive deeper into the intriguing plot. The animation was good, especially the depiction of 'Dream', which was praiseworthy. The ending theme is very comforting and fits perfectly with the film.

This ONA is very thought-provoking and explores the boundaries of Humanity and Artificial Intelligence, set in a future world where Androids have become an essential part of everyday life.


The world has come up with rules known as the “Three Laws of Robotics” on Android to regulate Human-Android interactions. A strange massage from the log of Rikuo Sakisaka's house Android brings him to a café that has one condition: no discrimination between humans and androids.


Through Androids, the story really depicts the existential crisis, skepticism, and paranoia of humans as technology becomes ever more dominant and the fear that technology will someday replace humanity.

The underlying philosophical theme explores empathy, compassion, and the acceptance of others who are different.

If someone likes dialogue-driven shows and is looking for something unique, then this one is worth considering. Kyokou Suiri (In/Spectre) is a rather unconventional anime that might not be for everyone. Regardless, it's an interesting show.


The protagonist, Kotoko Iwanaga, acts as a mediator between the human world and the supernatural world in order to maintain order. This is a mystery show. But the point is not to solve mysteries to unveil the truth; rather, the show presents the truth behind the mysteries from different perspectives. Using her wit and intellect, the protagonist comes up with a version of truth that helps her solve various disputes in order to preserve the balance of the world, oftentimes by warping the truth so as not to disrupt stability. In short, it's about finding various aspects of one truth and deciding what's best to maintain equilibrium.


The show relies heavily on conversation, so the pacing seems slower than other shows. To its credit, the show introduces Japanese folklore and mythology combined with supernatural elements. The atmosphere and use of color in the show fit perfectly for a supernatural show. Despite its flaws, its brilliant storytelling makes it worth a try.

A decent historical detective show involving supernatural beings such as vampires, werewolves, and so on. The story is set in the Meiji Era, but it largely takes place in Europe.


The protagonists, an immortal being and her attendant, along with a human-oni hybrid, set out on a journey to trace down the man who stole the body of one of them and the humanity of the other. Along the way, they encounter mysteries involving supernatural beings. Their journey appears to lead them closer to their objective, all while they cross paths with legendary characters from classic literature such as Sherlock Holmes, Arsène Lupin, Phileas Fogg, and many more.


The animation is decent, and the voice casting is excellent. In conclusion, this show is very enjoyable and worth checking out.

An alternate depiction of its counterpart, “To Me, The One Who Loved You”. 


A Sci-Fi story where the idea of alternate reality and traversing through different worlds is thought to be an established theory. The farther away the world is, the more different the reality will look like, and the changes are likely to occur depending on the different choices a person makes in each parallel.


Koyomi Takasaki, the protagonist of the story, experienced such a shift earlier in his life. But his life truly took a huge turn when he was encountered by one of his classmates named Kazune Takigawa, and she claimed to be from a faraway world where they were lovers. The story progresses as both of them grow up to be researchers in Imaginary Science, the field that works to explore the possibilities and parallel world.


Even though I watched this first, there were some puzzles that were made clear after finishing the other, and as I see it, the other film is the actual beginning of the story.


That said, the perspective changes depending on the order of the watch. Feel free to start with either one. After finishing them, both perspectives will become clear, as if they merged and created a new way of seeing the whole story, no matter which order one follows.

Likewise, another depiction of its counterpart, “To Every You I've Loved Before”.


All the established ideas about the existence of parallel worlds are present here. The protagonist, Koyomi Hidaka, meets the daughter of his father's co-worker, Shiori. The story progresses as they grow closer. But an unforeseen tragedy drives Koyomi to seek a world where he can save his loved one, no matter the cost.


Even though I watched it later, I consider it to be the part of the story where everything began. That's because the story feels almost like it has been expanded to the other film if we consider the events that take place in this film as our primary perspective.


Again, the perspective changes depending on the order of the watch. Feel free to start with either one. After finishing them, both perspectives will become clear as if they merged into one and created a new way of seeing the whole story, no matter which order one follows.

“Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop” is a heartwarming film that shows both the vividness of youth and the melancholy of growing old. It also explores things like social anxiety, unease, and insecurity due to their appearance or social skills, which are predominantly seen in young people. On the flip side, it depicts a very real picture of life through the daycare facility for elderly people where Cherry works.


Accepting yourself, expressing your emotions, and conveying your feelings are all very important things, and the film perfectly portrays that. The film is visually gorgeous, colorful, and has a unique artistic style. The summer vibe is also very pleasant.

With stunning visuals and heart-wrenching music, “After the Rain” becomes a mesmerizing experience with its equally compelling story. “After the Rain” is a Slice of Life story and a romance between two individuals separated by age boundaries.


The story revolves around Akira Tachibana, a high school student and former member of the track team. She starts developing feelings for her kind-hearted middle-aged manager, Masami Kondou, who works at the restaurant where she works part-time. The theme, age-gap romance, is sensitive to some people. “After the Rain” portrays the intricacies of such a relationship as both of them start to open up to each other little by little after Akira confesses her feelings. The story navigates through its primary protagonists and explore various dilemmas of youth and adult life, and nostalgia.


Despite the premise, the story progression was handled excellently, and it never felt like one of those shallow romantic dramas out there. Good animation, scenery, and a pleasant summer vibe are also noteworthy. The rainy theme that is present here gives this story about unrequited love a very realistic atmosphere.

“Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara” is a slice of life drama that blends supernatural elements like magic and time travel with a bit of romance.


The story revolves around a young girl named Hitomi Tsukishiro, who is unable to see any color due to her emotional struggle. Her grandmother, Kohaku, sent her 60 years back in the past, when Kohaku was still in high school. Without knowing the purpose of her being in an unknown era, Hitomi finds herself mesmerized after seeing Aoi Yuito's drawing, which was the only colorful thing she saw in her monochromatic world. Thus began her journey of self-discovery and acceptance, along with the new friends she found.


The World in Colors' portrays how we feel emotions and about ourselves can change our world through its metaphor of a black and white world. At the same time, it also shows the importance of self-acceptance and meaningful emotional connection with people around us. Hitomi went through significant character growth, at the same time, the supporting characters weren't left in the dust. The show started like a slow-paced Slice of Life set in a school, but it wrapped up its story with a satisfying conclusion.


The most attractive aspect of the anime, aside from its storytelling and characters, was the animation, especially the art style. P.A. Works has produced some of the most gorgeous-looking anime, and this one is no exception. The soundtrack was decent, as was the voice cast. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience.

“Helck” is a pretty decent fantasy-adventure anime. The premise and the beginning of the anime were pretty bizarre. The Demon King was dead, defeated by the humans. In order to find a new Demon King, a tournament is being held in the Demon realm, where a human who claims to hate humanity is the favorite among the participants.


At the same time, Humans are invading the Demon realm with their newfound power, successfully defeating another Demon King. Suspicious of the human hero, Vamirio, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Empire, decides to uncover the true motive of Helck. Which slowly starts to unveil the mystery over disturbing developments in the Human realm, Helck's past and the burden he bears.


As a fantasy anime, this one is pretty good. It has a compelling narrative, likable characters, good world building, and adventure. The voice casting in particular was pretty good. It's a breath of fresh air from the average power-fantasy anime and definitely deserves a shot.