Anime like Bartender

Death Parade

Also known as Death Parade.

Studio: MADHOUSE , VAP , DAX Production , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

When two people die at the same time, they’re sent to a place that’s neither heaven nor hell—a lavish bar between worlds where the stakes are high and the rules are simple: if you win you live again, if you die… you’re gone for good.

Decim is the bartender charged with serving the souls who enter Quindecim. He may make a mean cocktail, but his true profession is to play the role of arbiter—a judge who determines whether or not a soul is worthy of reincarnation. To aid in his judgment, the bar’s patrons are forced to play simple games laced with sadistic twists designed to bring their true natures to light. To Decim, judgment has always been black and white—that is—until he meets a mysterious young woman whose fate seems impossible to decide. His indecision shakes the very foundation of the games and raises the biggest question of all: Who is fit to judge the dead?



Tags: Death Game , Afterlife , Philosophy , Tragedy , Amnesia , Memory Manipulation , Reincarnation , Bar , Primarily Adult Cast , Episodic , Suicide , Gambling , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Mythology , Kuudere , CGI , Ice Skating , Revenge , Bowling , Gyaru , Tanned Skin

Mushishi

Also known as MUSHI-SHI.

Studio: Artland , Marvelous Entertainment , Funimation , Delfi Sound
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Neither good nor evil, they are life in its purest form. Vulgar and strange, they have inspired fear in humans since the dawn of time and have, over the ages, come to be known as "mushi." The stories of the Mushi and the people they affect are all linked together by a traveling Mushi-shi, or "Mushi Master," who seeks rare Mushi sightings and uses his shaman-like knowledge of Mushi to help the affected people.

What are the Mushi and what do they want?



Tags: Environmental , Youkai , Mythology , Episodic , Philosophy , Rural , Travel , Male Protagonist , Animals , Outdoor , Exorcism , Tragedy , Snowscape , Seinen , Historical , Coastal , Primarily Adult Cast , Amnesia , Cult , Suicide

Housekishou Richard-shi no Nazo Kantei

Also known as The Case Files of Jeweler Richard.

Studio: Shuka
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Slice of Life

The 'heartwarming jewel mystery' series centers on the handsome jewelry appraiser Richard Ranashinha de Vulpian and the bright and cheerful college student Seigi Nakata as they uncover the hidden messages that lie within jewels while they solve various jewel-related cases by unravelling the hidden psychological aspects of their owners that lie within the gems.



Tags: Work , Josei , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Educational , Foreign , Episodic , Bisexual , Urban , LGBTQ+ Themes , Boys' Love , Asexual , Cars

Kino no Tabi: the Beautiful World

Also known as Kino's Journey.

Studio: WOWOW , Genco , A.C.G.T. , Sentai Filmworks , Studio Wombat
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Psychological , Slice of Life

Based on a hit light novel series by Keiichi Sigsawa, the philosophical Kino's Journey employs the time-honored motif of the road trip as a vehicle for self-discovery and universal truth. Deeply meditative and cooler than zero, the series follows the existential adventures of the apt marksman Kino along with talking motorcycle Hermes as they travel the world and learn much about themselves in the process. Imaginative, thought-provoking, and sometimes disturbing, Kino's journey is documented in an episodic style with an emphasis on atmosphere rather than action or plot, though still prevalent.

Tags: Philosophy , Episodic , Travel , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Tragedy , Meta , Motorcycles , Achronological Order , Dystopian , Guns , Rural , Steampunk , Agender , Snowscape , Mopeds , Politics , Cannibalism , Robots , Kuudere , Battle Royale , Aviation , War , Tanks

Eve no Jikan: Are you enjoying the time of EVE?

Also known as Time of Eve.

Studio: Studio Rikka , Directions , Code , Trick Block
Status: Finished
Genres: Sci-Fi , Slice of Life

The future, probably Japan. Robots have long been put into practical use, and androids have just come into use.

Influenced by the Robot Ethics Committee, it's become common sense for people to treat androids like household appliances. Their appearance - indistinguishable from humans except for the ring over each android's head - has led some people to empathize unnecessarily with androids. Known as "android-holics", such people have become a social problem.

Rikuo, a high school student, has been taught from childhood that androids are not to be viewed as humans, and has always used them as convenient tools. One day Rikuo discovers some strange data in the behavior records of his family's household android, Sammy.

Rikuo and his friend Masaki trace Sammy's movements, only to discover a mysterious café that features a house rule that "humans and robots are to be treated the same"...



Tags: Robots , Artificial Intelligence , Philosophy , Bar , Male Protagonist , Urban , Amnesia , Surreal Comedy , CGI , Found Family , Female Protagonist

Ristorante Paradiso

Also known as Ristorante Paradiso.

Studio: The Right Stuf International , David Production , Fujipacific Music
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

When Nicoletta was a little girl, her mother, Olga, abandoned her and ran off to Rome to remarry. Now, 15 years later and a young woman, she travels to Rome with the intention of ruining her mother's life. She tracks Olga down to a restaurant called Casetta dell'Orso, but the second Nicoletta steps through its door, everything changes. It's a peculiar place staffed entirely by mature gentlemen wearing spectacles, and like their clientele, she is helpless against their wise smiles and warm voices. Before Nicoletta realizes it, her plans for vengeance start to fade, and she's swept up in the sweet romance of everyday Italian life.



Tags: Josei , Foreign , Primarily Adult Cast , Female Protagonist , Age Gap , Restaurant , Food , CGI , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age ,

Osake wa Fuufu ni Natte kara

Also known as Love is Like a Cocktail.

Studio: Creators in Pack , xenron
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

The "slightly sweet tipsy couple comedy" manga centers on the 28-year-old senior public relations company staff member Chisato Mizusawa. The story follows Chisato's daily life as she enjoys her husband Sora's cocktails. Chisato has secrets that only her husband knows.



Tags: Episodic , Food , Family Life , Marriage , Heterosexual , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Female Protagonist , Office Lady , Bar , Seinen , Work , Chibi

Isekai Shokudou

Also known as Restaurant to Another World.

Studio: SILVER LINK. , Sotsu , Avex Pictures , TV Tokyo , flying DOG , Shufunotomo , Dai Nippon Printing , Nikkatsu , Crunchyroll
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Slice of Life

There is a certain restaurant in the first basement level of a multi-tenant building in one corner of a shopping street near the office district. The historical restaurant, marked by a sign with a picture of a cat, is called "Western Cuisine Nekoya." This restaurant looks completely normal through the week, but on Saturdays, it opens in secret exclusively to some very unique guests. During these hours, doors in various areas of a parallel world open to allow customers of many different races and cultures into the restaurant.



Tags: Food , Work , Isekai , Ensemble Cast , Episodic , Monster Girl , Restaurant , Elf , Urban Fantasy , Demons , Dragons , Mermaid , Fairy , Primarily Adult Cast

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Also known as Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju.

Studio: Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

The story revolves around a mature prisoner who was released on good behavior during Japan's Shouwa Genroku era (1960s to early 1970s). He is called Yotarou by others, a term that means an "anti-hero" or a "dim-witted man." When he returns to society, he starts a new life in rakugo (comic storytelling). Touched by Yakumo's role as the "grim reaper," he asks the master to take him in as an apprentice. Most of the season delves into Yakumo's own past during World War II and the years afterward.



Note: The first episode aired with a runtime of 48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

Tags: Rakugo , Acting , Tragedy , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Josei , Male Protagonist , Love Triangle , Time Skip , Disability , Meta , War , Suicide , Elderly Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast

xxxHOLiC

Also known as xxxHOLiC.

Studio: Production I.G , Funimation , BMG Japan , Kids Station , Kodansha
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Watanuki Kimihiro can see spirits and other assorted supernatural creatures, which is quite a bothersome ability he strongly dislikes. On the way home one day, while plagued by some spirits, he is inexplicably compelled to enter a strange house. There, he encounters Yuuko, a mysterious woman who claims to be able to rid him of the ability to see and attract the troublesome creatures – for a price. She demands for him to work at her "store" that grants wishes to people, and thus begins Watanuki's adventures through weird and wonderful events.

Tags: Mythology , Urban Fantasy , Youkai , Male Protagonist , Episodic , Philosophy , Seinen , Animals , Ghost , Denpa , Work , School , Gods , Twins , Archery , Ensemble Cast , Football , Orphan