Anime like Bokurano

Shin Seiki Evangelion

Also known as Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Studio: Gainax , TV Tokyo , ADV Films , Kadokawa Shoten , NAS , Tatsunoko Production , GKIDS , Madman Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi

In the year 2015, the Angels, huge, tremendously powerful, alien war machines, appear in Tokyo for the second time. The only hope for Mankind's survival lies in the Evangelion, a humanoid fighting machine developed by NERV, a special United Nations agency. Capable of withstanding anything the Angels can dish out, the Evangelion's one drawback lies in the limited number of people able to pilot them. Only a handful of teenagers, all born fourteen years ago, nine months after the Angels first appeared, are able to interface with the Evangelion. One such teenager is Shinji Ikari, whose father heads the NERV team that developed and maintains the Evangelion. Thrust into a maelstrom of battle and events that he does not understand, Shinji is forced to plumb the depths of his own inner resources for the courage and strength to not only fight, but to survive, or risk losing everything.



Note: Later releases include edited versions of Episodes 21-24 called the "Director's Cut" with some visual editing and adding extra scenes that previously appeared in the theatrical recap 'Death'.

Tags: Philosophy , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Super Robot , Dystopian , Meta , Post-Apocalyptic , Angels , Cosmic Horror , Kaiju , Primarily Teen Cast , Psychosexual , Masturbation , Male Protagonist , Conspiracy , Denpa , Aliens , Suicide , Mythology , Body Horror , Religion , Military , Estranged Family , Clone , Kuudere , Tokusatsu , Tsundere , Politics , Found Family , Spearplay , Gore , Trains , Bisexual , Espionage , LGBTQ+ Themes , Office Lady , Boys' Love , Episodic , Nudity , Family Life , Artificial Intelligence , Foreign , Real Robot , Hikikomori

Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica

Also known as Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

Studio: Aniplex , Shaft , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Movic , Nitroplus , Aniplex of America , Madoka Partners , Houbunsha , Manga Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Psychological , Thriller

One night, 14-year-old Madoka Kaname has a terrible nightmare - against the backdrop of a devastated city, she witnesses a girl fight a losing battle against a dreadful being lingering above, while a cat-like magical creature tells Madoka the only way to change such tragic outcome is for her to make a contract with him and become a magical girl.

The next day, the teen's dream seemingly becomes reality as the girl she saw in her dream - Homura - arrives at Mitakihara Middle School as a transfer student, mysteriously warning Madoka to stay just the way she is; but when later on she and her best friend Sayaka encounter the same cat-like magical creature from her dream - who introduces himself as Kyubey - the pair discovers that magical girls are real, and what's more, they can choose to become one. All they must do is sign a contract with Kyubey and agree to take on the duty to fight abstract beings called 'witches' that spread despair to the human world, and in return, each one of them will be granted any single wish they desire. However, as Homura's omen suggests, there might be far more to becoming a magical girl than Madoka and Sayaka realize...

Notes:
Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the broadcasts of episodes 11 and 12 were delayed and were later aired as a double feature on April 21, 2011.

Tags: Magic , Tragedy , Female Protagonist , Cosmic Horror , Witch , Primarily Female Cast , Time Manipulation , Time Loop , Urban Fantasy , Philosophy , Alternate Universe , Primarily Teen Cast , Henshin , Coming of Age , Survival , Primarily Child Cast , Aliens , Urban , Mixed Media , Yuri , Kuudere , Gods , Yandere , Suicide , Anti-Hero , Denpa , Guns , Swordplay , LGBTQ+ Themes , Spearplay , School , Tomboy , Achronological Order , Archery , Anthropomorphism

Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku

Also known as Now and Then, Here and There.

Studio: AIC , Pioneer LDC , Central Park Media
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

Shu is a typical Japanese boy, but has an unbeatable, optimistic and determined attitude. However, when he sees a mysterious girl with strange eyes named Lala-Ru up on a smokestack, he is soon pulled into a strange desert world. Shu soon discovers the true terrors of war, which includes genocide, brutal torture, hunger, thirst, and child exploitation. Now Shu is trying to save Lala-Ru, as well as his hard earned, and often relunctant, new friends from the insane dictator, Hamdo. Whether Shu can possibly accomplish saving those he cares about while still holding up to his values remains to be seen.



Tags: Tragedy , Dystopian , War , Slavery , Survival , Fugitive , Primarily Child Cast , Post-Apocalyptic , Coming of Age , Military , Isekai , Desert , Philosophy , Guns , Male Protagonist , Torture , Orphan , Gore , Kuudere , Prison , Real Robot , Time Manipulation

Narutaru: Mukuro Naru Hoshi Tama Taru Ko

Also known as Shadow Star Narutaru.

Studio: Kids Station , Planet , Central Park Media
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Supernatural

During her summer holiday at her grandparents house Tamai Shiina, a young and cheerful schoolgirl, meets a strange looking creature. They befriend each other and Shiina names it "Hoshimaru - The Round Star". When Shiina returns home after the summer to go back to school she starts meeting other kids that also have befriended a strange creature like Hoshimaru. But she soon finds out that not all these creatures and their masters are as friendly as Hoshimaru.



Tags: Bullying , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Female Cast , Terrorism , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Gore , Kuudere , Military , Kaiju , Denpa , Femboy , Transgender , Yuri

Shinsekai yori

Also known as From the New World.

Studio: Aniplex , TV Asahi , A-1 Pictures , Pony Canyon , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

Following a sudden outbreak of psychokinesis in 0.1% of the population, a rapid transformation swept the world. The godlike ability to manipulate matter remotely turned many power wielders to violence, inciting a long period of upheaval. Finally, after a chaotic era shaped by the rise and fall of oppressive regimes, the psychic humans were able to achieve a fragile peace by isolating their society, creating a new world bound by complex rules.

In the town of Kamisu 66, 12-year-old Saki Watanabe has just awakened to her powers and is relieved to rejoin her friends—the mischievous Satoru Asahina, the shy Mamoru Itou, the cheerful Maria Akizuki, and Shun Aonuma, a mysterious boy whom Saki admires—at Sage Academy, a special school for psychics. However, unease looms as Saki begins to question the fate of those unable to awaken to their powers, and the children begin to get involved with secretive matters such as the rumored Tainted Cats said to abduct children.

Shinsekai yori tells the unique coming-of-age story of Saki and her friends as they journey to grow into their roles in the supposed utopia. Accepting these roles, however, might not come easy when faced with the dark and shocking truths of society, and the impending havoc born from the new world.



Tags: Politics , Class Struggle , Dystopian , Post-Apocalyptic , Lost Civilization , Philosophy , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Super Power , Anti-Hero , Female Protagonist , Slavery , Conspiracy , Memory Manipulation , Time Skip , Bisexual , Revenge , Survival , LGBTQ+ Themes , War , Cosmic Horror , Body Horror , Magic , Animals , Rural , Environmental , Yuri , Amnesia , Cult , Gore , Fugitive , Chimera , Boys' Love , Netorare , Heterosexual , Religion , Love Triangle , Torture , Anthropomorphism , School , Aviation

Soukyuu no Fafner

Also known as Fafner.

Studio: Xebec , NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan , Funimation , TV Tokyo Music
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mecha , Sci-Fi

Tatsumiyajima is the central island in the middle of a small cluster of islands, in a sleepy backwater of the Japanese isles. Not much happens there, and the island's young people go to school knowing that their lives are likely to remain peaceful and undisturbed. Or so they have been taught... but the truth is different. The fate of mankind is on the line, and Tatsumiyajima is the last line of defense against a hostile and incomprehensible enemy. At the center of it all, fighting for Humanity's continued existence, is the giant robot Fafner, the dragon that guards this final treasure of mankind.



Note: The last episode aired with a runtime of ~48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode. In the DVD release and subsequent home video releases of the series, the final episode was split into two separate ~24 minute long episodes.

Tags: Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Post-Apocalyptic , Real Robot , Tragedy , Aliens , War , Male Protagonist , Robots , Military , Kuudere , Cosmic Horror , Boys' Love , Dystopian

Made in Abyss

Also known as Made in Abyss.

Studio: Kinema Citrus , Media Factory , AT-X , Sony Music Communications , Sentai Filmworks , Cygames
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Sci-Fi

The "Abyss" is the last unexplored place in the world. Strange and wonderful creatures roam within, and it is full of precious relics that present humans can't recreate. Those that dare to explore the depths are known as "Cave Raiders." An orphan girl named Riko lives on the rim. Her dream is to become a Cave Raider like her mother and solve the mysteries of the cave system. One day, Riko starts exploring the caves and discovers a robot who resembles a human boy.



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

Tags: Survival , Outdoor Activities , Primarily Child Cast , Environmental , Travel , Cosmic Horror , Body Horror , Curses , Tragedy , Chibi , Philosophy , Lost Civilization , Dungeon , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Gore , Orphan , Amnesia , Wilderness , Eco-Horror , Anthropomorphism , Robots , Male Protagonist , Steampunk , Nudity , Human Experimentation , Food , Amputation , School , Dissociative Identities , Crossdressing , Maids , Femboy , Religion , Rehabilitation , Time Manipulation

Digimon Tamers

Studio: Toei Animation , Yomiko Advertising
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

Takato Matsuda, Ruki Matsuno, and Lee Jenrya are children who have, by fate, received real Digimon, unlike the imaginary ones in the card game they play. Each of the children, or "Digimon Tamers", have their different views on how Digimon should be treated. But when other Digimon begin to appear around Japan, they must put aside their differences to fend off the digital intruders; even though Yamaki, who is the head of a secret organization called Hypnos is trying to eliminate all of the Digimon himself.



Tags: Primarily Child Cast , Virtual World , Artificial Intelligence , Tragedy , Denpa , Kids , Cosmic Horror , Proxy Battle , Male Protagonist , Kaiju , Dinosaurs , Henshin , Isekai , Animals , Card Battle , Kuudere , Anthropomorphism

GANTZ

Also known as Gantz.

Studio: GONZO , Funimation
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Ecchi , Horror , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

Thought your life was bad? Sometimes, death is worse. There is no salvation, peace, nor god waiting to receive you into their care. But wait, a god? Maybe you are talking about that big black ball stuck in the room with you. Now you are thrown into a game, fighting green aliens and robot monsters for the chance to survive.

When Kei Kurono is killed, he thus finds himself caught in such a game; a test of his skills, morals and will to survive. His life is not his own, his death spat and trampled upon over and over again. What happens if he does not listen? God knows.

A word of warning: Gantz is not for the faint-hearted, but neither is it as simple as it looks. Gore, rape and violence is rampant, as are portrayals of greed, violence, and all the ugliness that one sees in society today.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Death Game , Body Horror , Gore , Aliens , Afterlife , Tragedy , Urban , Heterosexual , Love Triangle , Survival , Urban Fantasy , Seinen , Guns , Nudity , Ghost , Suicide , Bullying , Male Protagonist , Cyberpunk , CGI , Homeless , Vampire

Densetsu Kyojin Ideon

Also known as Space Runaway Ideon.

Studio: Sunrise , Aniplex , TV Tokyo , Tokyu Agency
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mecha , Sci-Fi

From the continuing reclamation of the ruins of the planet Solo, mysterious mechas are excavated. But suddenly, an alien called Buff Clan attacks seeking the limitless energy “Ide.” The earthlings are backed into a corner, when the three mechas piloted by the earth boy Yuki Cosmo and others fuse together. Becoming the giant robot Ideon, they use their incredible power to fight back against Buff Clan.



Tags: Space Opera , War , Cosmic Horror , Fugitive , Military , Super Robot , Tragedy , Ensemble Cast , Aliens , Travel , Philosophy , Space , Lost Civilization , Guns , Heterosexual , Estranged Family , Real Robot , Samurai , Revenge , Swordplay , Dinosaurs , Nudity