Anime like Ace wo Nerae!

Onii-sama e...

Also known as Dear Brother.

Studio: NHK , NHK Enterprises , Tezuka Productions
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological

Before leaving her cram school, Nanako Misonō asks one of the teachers if they can become pen-pals. The teacher, Takehiko Henmi, is reluctant at first, but eventually accepts the offer. The story is narrated through the letters sent from Nanako as she enters Seiran, a renowned private high school for girls only. There she encounters many difficulties as an ordinary middle-class girl invited to the prestigious Sorority, the most traditional and sophisticated club on campus..



Tags: Shoujo , Tragedy , School , Ojou-sama , Coming of Age , Bullying , Female Protagonist , LGBTQ+ Themes , Yuri , Primarily Female Cast , Boarding School , Tomboy , Yandere , Heterosexual , Suicide , Drugs , Villainess , Basketball , Trains

Top wo Nerae! GunBuster

Also known as Gunbuster.

Studio: Gainax , Studio Fantasia , Bandai Visual , Victor Entertainment , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Sci-Fi

In the very near future, a race of huge, insect like aliens is discovered traveling the galaxy. These aliens seem dedicated to the eradication of the human species as it takes its first steps away from the solar system, and they are getting closer and closer to Earth. Humanity has responded by developing spacegoing battleships and giant fighting robots. These robots are piloted by the best and brightest of Earth's youth, picked from training schools around the world.

The story begins in the year 2023, not long after the first battles with the aliens, and centers on young Noriko Takaya. Although Noriko's father was a famous Captain in the space fleet who was killed during one of the first battles of the war, her own talents as a pilot are questionable. Nonetheless, she has entered a training school. Through the series Noriko, joined by the beautiful and talented Kazumi Amano, will fight to overcome the trauma of war, the doubts of her peers, and her own lack of confidence.



Tags: Space , Female Protagonist , Military , War , Coming of Age , Super Robot , Space Opera , Time Manipulation , Primarily Female Cast , Aliens , Time Skip , Cosmic Horror , Kaiju , Tragedy , Heterosexual , Bullying , Nudity , Tomboy , Age Gap , School , Travel , Achromatic , Astronomy , Philosophy , Parody , Love Triangle , Henshin

Ashita no Joe

Also known as Tomorrow's Joe.

Studio: Mushi Production , Fuji TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Slice of Life , Sports

Joe, a teenage orphan in the slums of the Doya streets, meets Danpei, a homeless, alcoholic ex-boxing coach. Danpei, seeing Joe's boxing talent, decides to train him. When Joe is sent to a terrible juvenile home for petty crimes, he meets Rikiishi who becomes his boxing rival. Danpei arrives at the home to help Joe to train in order to defeat Rikiishi. When Joe decides to seriously pursue boxing, Danpei cannot get a coaching license because of his reputation as a drunk.



Tags: Boxing , Coming of Age , Delinquents , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Anti-Hero , Shounen , Class Struggle , Primarily Male Cast , Rehabilitation , Orphan , Ojou-sama , Prison , Yakuza , Homeless , Police , Crime , Time Skip , Educational , Gangs , Body Image , Bullying , Achromatic

Attack No.1

Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha , Fuji TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sports

Kozue Ayuhara is a highschool girl and enthusiastic volleyball player. Her dream is to play in the Japanese national volleyball team. During the series she makes it from the school district league up to the Japanese volleyball finals, step by step till the international volleyball championship. But the faster and higher Kozue climbs the career ladder up, the more she gets confronted with the dark side of success: too high expectations, self-conceit and envy are progressing towards serious problems.



Tags: Shoujo , Volleyball , Adoption , Tragedy , Female Protagonist , School Club , Primarily Female Cast , Foreign , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Heterosexual , Delinquents

Glass no Kamen

Also known as Glass Mask.

Studio: Eiken
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Kitajima Maya, a 13-year old girl with a talent for acting, was discovered by the reclusive actress Tsukikage. The story follows Maya's growing up, intense training, overcoming challenges, and evolving into the foremost actress of her generation (she is about 20 so far). Maya's greatest rival is Himekawa Ayumi, the beautiful daughter of a famous movie couple. They ultimately vied for the most sought-after role - the "Crimson Goddess". An equally important subplot Maya's relationship with the handsome and ruthless entertainment mogul Hayami Masumi, who secretly became her number one fan, but misunderstandings and bad-timing obstructed their romance...



Tags: Acting , Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Work , Estranged Family , Urban , Ojou-sama , Coming of Age , Love Triangle , Unrequited Love , Age Gap , Classic Literature , Heterosexual

Hikari no Densetsu

Studio: Tatsunoko Production
Status: Finished
Genres: Music , Romance , Sports

Hikari, is a young school girl who dreams of becoming a great champion in the sport of rhythmic gymnastics like her idol, Diliana Gueorguiva. She works hard despite all her setbacks while performing and soon becomes a member of the rhythmic gymnastics team in her school with the help and support of Takaaki Oiishi, the best male gymnast of her school, and soon she develops feelings for him. But Hikari is not the only one who has feelings for Oiishi, Bazuki Shiina, the best gymast in the entire school also has feelings for him Oiishi. And soon a friendship between Hikari and Shiina develop, but also a rivalry between two soon develop as well for the sport and for the love of Oiishi. Hikari is also torned between her feelings for Oiishi and her conflicting feelings for Mao Natsukawa, an old childhood friend of hers, and the lead singer of the band called Mr. D, who composes the music she uses while performing. And who has been developing feelings for her since childhood.



Tags: Athletics , Female Protagonist , Love Triangle , Shoujo , School , Heterosexual

Ashita e Attack!

Studio: Nippon Animation , Fuji TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sports

This drama tells the story of girls in high school. Girls who love to play volleyball form a team in their school. Although the team starts out as a weak and unorganized sport club, over time the girls’ extraordinary passion and endeavor enables their team to become one of the best organized and highly recognized teams at the school. Now they aim to win the championship in the National High School Volleyball League. Although it is painful and hard to achieve such a goal, it is nice to have friends to share the feeling, especially the joy. Through volleyball, the girls learn and experience many lessons in life as they grow up. Let’s share their laughter.



Tags: Volleyball , School , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , School Club , Ojou-sama

Hajime no Ippo: THE FIGHTING!

Also known as Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!.

Studio: MADHOUSE , VAP , NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Sports

Makunouchi Ippo has been bullied his entire life. Constantly running errands and being beaten up by his classmates, Ippo has always dreamed of changing himself, but never has the passion to act upon it. One day, in the midst of yet another bullying, Ippo is saved by Takamura Mamoru, who happens to be a boxer. Ippo faints from his injuries and is brought to the Kamogawa boxing gym to recover. As he regains consciousness, he is awed and amazed at his new surroundings in the gym, though lacks confidence to attempt anything. Takamura places a photo of Ippo's classmate on a punching bag and forces him to punch it. It is only then that Ippo feels something stir inside him and eventually asks Takamura to train him in boxing. Thinking that Ippo does not have what it takes, Takamura gives him a task deemed impossible and gives him a one week time limit. With a sudden desire to get stronger, for himself and his hard working mother, Ippo trains relentlessly to accomplish the task within the time limit. Thus Ippo's journey to the top of the boxing world begins.



Tags: Boxing , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Shounen , Martial Arts , Coming of Age , Fitness , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Delinquents , Bullying , Tragedy , Athletics

YAWARA! a fashionable judo girl!

Studio: MADHOUSE , Kitty Film , AnimEigo
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Sports

Yawara! is a sports anime laced with comedic and romance elements. It starts off with Yawara Inokuma, a high school girl who is most interested in doing the things that your average Japanese high school girl does. However, she has been trained in Judo for years by her grandfather, Jigorou (A former Japan Judo Champion), who has much grander plans in store for her as a Judo superstar. He manipulates matters so that Yawara ends up having to perform in matches and tournaments. His final plan is for Yawara to "Win the Gold Medal in the Olympics and be awarded the Nation Medal of Honor".



Tags: Coming of Age , Athletics , Female Protagonist , Martial Arts , Judo , Seinen , Love Triangle , Primarily Adult Cast , Ojou-sama , College , Parody , Heterosexual

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

Also known as Sailor Moon.

Studio: Toei Animation , TV Asahi , Madman Entertainment , Viz Media
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Romance

Usagi Tsukino is an average student and crybaby klutz who constantly scores low on her tests. Unexpectedly, her humdrum life is turned upside down when she saves a cat with a crescent moon on its head from danger. The cat, named Luna, later reveals that their meeting was not an accident: Usagi is destined to become Sailor Moon, a planetary guardian with the power to protect the Earth. Given a special brooch that allows her to transform, she must use her new powers to save the city from evil energy-stealing monsters sent by the malevolent Queen Beryl of the Dark Kingdom.

But getting accustomed to her powers and fighting villains are not the only things she has to worry about. She must find the lost princess of the Moon Kingdom, the other Sailor Guardians, and the Legendary Silver Crystal in order to save the planet from destruction.



Tags: Magic , Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Henshin , Primarily Female Cast , Urban Fantasy , Super Power , Heterosexual , Demons , Found Family , Amnesia , Slapstick , Reincarnation , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Fairy Tale , Primarily Teen Cast , Urban , Animals , School , Episodic , Superhero , Tragedy , Mythology , War , Dissociative Identities , Revenge , Aliens , Space , Tokusatsu , Body Horror , Shrine Maiden , LGBTQ+ Themes , Age Gap , Unrequited Love , Time Manipulation , Makeup , Suicide , Boys' Love