Anime like Candy☆Boy EX01 - Mirai Yohouzu

Kobayashi-san Chi no Maidragon

Also known as Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Slice of Life

What happens when a drunken promise leads to living with a dragon? That’s Miss Kobayashi’s new reality when Tohru appears in her life. With a maid-slash-dragon in her home, she’s experiencing a whole new level of domestic bliss! But the dragons don’t stop there. On a mission to find Tohru appears Kanna, a little dragon with a big attitude. Before she knows it, Kobayashi’s got a house full of dragons—one serving tail and the other serving serious moe! Together, they live side by side with only the occasional disaster…well, maybe. But nothing beats coming home to the warm welcome of a dragon maid!



Tags: Found Family , Dragons , Monster Girl , Family Life , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Maids , Magic , Episodic , Urban , Yuri , Urban Fantasy , Seinen , Large Breasts , Primarily Adult Cast , Office Lady , LGBTQ+ Themes , Otaku Culture , Kuudere , Isekai , Software Development , Bisexual , Philosophy , Nudity

Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica

Also known as Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

Studio: Shaft
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: Tragedy , Magic , Female Protagonist , Witch , Primarily Female Cast , Time Manipulation , Urban Fantasy , Philosophy , Alternate Universe , Primarily Teen Cast , Yuri , Time Loop , Coming of Age , Henshin , Kuudere , Survival , Aliens , Urban , Primarily Child Cast , Ensemble Cast , Gods , Anti-Hero , Suicide , Love Triangle , Guns , Spearplay , School , Tomboy , Anthropomorphism , Achronological Order

Kakegurui ××

Also known as Kakegurui xx.

Studio: MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological

At Hyakkao Private Academy, Yumeko Jabami’s star rises just as the student council’s reputation starts to dim. In the shadows of the council’s dwindling power, discord reigns supreme. In a bold effort to rebalance the social scales, student council president Kirari Momobami intends to place her bet on the election for the council’s next president. Everyone starts with a single chip, and at the end of 30 days, the whoever holds the most becomes the president of the Momobami Clan. But chips aren’t the only things students can wager as they fight tooth and nail to ascend to the council presidency, and Yumeko Jabami intends to clean house no matter the prizes she must risk in the betting pool.



Tags: Gambling , School , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Revenge , Anti-Hero , Twins , Primarily Teen Cast , Yandere , Villainess , Yuri , Death Game , Slavery , LGBTQ+ Themes , Ojou-sama , Shounen , School Club , Gender Bending , Idol

Bocchi the Rock!

Also known as BOCCHI THE ROCK!.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Music , Slice of Life

Hitori Gotou, “Bocchi-chan,” is a girl who’s so introverted and shy around people that she’d always start her conversations with “Ah...”

During her middle school years, she started playing the guitar, wanting to join a band because she thought it could be an opportunity for even someone shy like her to also shine. But because she had no friends, she ended up practicing guitar for six hours every day all by herself. After becoming a skilled guitar player, she uploaded videos of herself playing the guitar to the internet under the name “Guitar Hero” and fantasized about performing at her school’s cultural festival concert. But not only could she not find any bandmates, before she knew it, she was in high school and still wasn’t able to make a single friend!

She was really close to becoming a shut-in, but one day, Nijika Ijichi, the drummer in Kessoku Band, reached out to her. And because of that, her everyday life started to change little by little...



Tags: Band , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Coming of Age , Hikikomori , Rock Music , Rehabilitation , Surreal Comedy , Meta , Slapstick , Work , School , Yuri , LGBTQ+ Themes , Rotoscoping , Chibi

Lycoris Recoil

Also known as Lycoris Recoil.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Slice of Life

“LycoReco” is a café with a traditional Japanese twist located in downtown Tokyo. But the delicious coffee and sugary sweets are not the only orders this café takes! From delivering packages short distances, to pick-ups and drop-offs on the lonely streets at night, to zombies and giant monster extermination…?! Whatever your problem, we're here to help! We will solve any kind of "trouble" you may have!

Waiting for you are the ever-smiling poster-girl and the cool, serious newcomer. A petite girl who never wants to work and a young woman approaching thirty who wants to get married. And the manager is a nice guy who’s obsessed with Japan!

Whatever your order is, leave it all up to us♪



Tags: Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Crime , Guns , Assassins , Terrorism , Conspiracy , Yuri , Urban , Found Family , Work , Orphan , Kuudere , Espionage , Restaurant , Boys' Love , Adoption , LGBTQ+ Themes , Police , Parenthood , Politics , CGI , Bar

NANA

Also known as NANA.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Two twenty-somethings seemingly share nothing in common apart from their first name, but a chance meeting on a train bound for Tokyo sets Nana Komatsu and Nana Oosaki on a collision course with destiny. Nana Komatsu, a love-at-first-sight dreamer, aims to find enduring happiness in the big city. Nana Oosaki, neo punk rock vocalist, pursues her burning ambitions of musical stardom and worldwide fame. As their fates increasingly intertwine, they each chase their dreams — until the harsh realities of life in big city Tokyo threaten to tear everything apart.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Band , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Love Triangle , Shoujo , Rock Music , Netorare , Heterosexual , Fashion , Ensemble Cast , College , Kuudere , Age Gap , Nudity , Gyaru , Mahjong , Yuri , Noir

Shinsekai yori

Also known as From the New World.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
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: Class Struggle , Dystopian , Lost Civilization , Post-Apocalyptic , Philosophy , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Super Power , Anti-Hero , Time Skip , Female Protagonist , Slavery , Conspiracy , Memory Manipulation , Politics , Revenge , Bisexual , Survival , War , Animals , Cosmic Horror , Magic , Rural , Environmental , Amnesia , Cult , Gore , Body Horror , LGBTQ+ Themes , Fugitive , Chimera , Heterosexual , Religion , Love Triangle , Torture , Anthropomorphism , School , Boys' Love , Yuri , Aviation

Kobayashi-san Chi no Maidragon S

Also known as Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Slice of Life

A strange turn of events leads the Dragon, Tohru, to work as Miss Kobayashi's maid. She occasionally (that's a lie, she often) causes trouble for her beloved Miss Kobayashi while blending into human society and splendidly (that's a lie, only mediocrely) carrying out her maid duties. Her fellow dragons, Kanna, Lucoa, Fafnir, and Elma all find their own places to fit in as well and enjoy interspecies interactions with the humans. Yet while they're all enjoying that laid-back and occasionally turbulent left, the threat of a new Dragon swoops down upon Miss Kobayashi.



Tags: Dragons , Female Protagonist , Monster Girl , Family Life , Found Family , Primarily Female Cast , Maids , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Magic , Large Breasts , Urban Fantasy , Seinen , Yuri , Work , Otaku Culture , LGBTQ+ Themes , Office Lady , Philosophy , Nudity , Isekai , Football , Parody , Kemonomimi , Outdoor , Foreign

citrus

Also known as Citrus.

Studio: Passione
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Fashionable and friendly Yuzu Aihara is ready to face her brand-new school and find her first love. The only problem? It's an all-girls' school. Determined to make a good impression and lots of friends, Yuzu puts on her best looks—only to wind up in trouble on day-one! After a close encounter by the beautiful yet harsh student council president Mei and having her phone confiscated, Yuzu is losing hope that this will be a perfect high school story. But nothing compares to the shock when she gets home to find out Mei is her brand-new stepsister—who suddenly kisses her! With her heart beating wildly and her emotions a complete mess, Yuzu wonders something: Is she falling for Mei?

Torn between being a good stepsister and dealing with her feelings, Yuzu does everything she can to become close to Mei. But can she melt the ice around Mei's heart and heal the pain she hides?



Tags: Yuri , Inseki , LGBTQ+ Themes , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Psychosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Love Triangle , Gyaru , Unrequited Love , Family Life , Bisexual , Nudity , Teacher , Age Gap

Majo no Tabitabi

Also known as Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina.

Studio: C2C
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy , Slice of Life

Inspired by her favorite book, Elaina ventures out to see the world she's read so much about. Like a leaf on the wind, she travels from one country to another, looking to sate her inquisitiveness and searching for new experiences. She's confronted by humanity in all its forms, whether strange, bizarre, or emotional. Exploration and curiosity drive her journey. Where to next, Elaina?



Tags: Witch , Episodic , Magic , Female Protagonist , Travel , Primarily Female Cast , Time Skip , Achronological Order , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Tragedy , Anti-Hero , Philosophy , Time Manipulation , Gore , Foreign , Incest , Alternate Universe , Feet , Body Swapping , Gangs , Slavery , Suicide , Iyashikei , Amnesia , Yuri

Yagate Kimi ni Naru

Also known as Bloom Into You.

Studio: TROYCA
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Yuu Koito thought love would be something amazing and magical, but when a male friend asks her to date, she feels nothing. She doesn't even know how to respond until she overhears the student council president of her new high school, Touko Nanami, turning down a similar request. With Touko's help, Yuu manages to let her friend down gracefully, but then Touko confesses that she, herself, is starting to have feelings for Yuu, leaving Yuu in a quandary. Yuu doesn't think that she's in love with Touko, but she does feel something. As Yuu joins the Student Council, and she and Touko become closer, her confusion about her feelings only continues to grow. Because you can't control who you love, or who falls in love with you.



Tags: Yuri , Female Protagonist , LGBTQ+ Themes , Coming of Age , School , School Club , Aromantic , Asexual , Love Triangle , Primarily Teen Cast , Philosophy , Bisexual , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Shounen , POV , Acting , Meta , Trains , Athletics , Writing

Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica: Hangyaku no Monogatari

Also known as Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: Rebellion.

Studio: Shaft
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Mystery , Psychological , Thriller

Were all the magical girls truly saved from despair? Now, the great "Law of Cycles" leads the magical girls to their new fate. Madoka Kaname, a girl who once led an ordinary life, sacrificed her very existence to set every magical girl free from their cruel destiny. Homura Akemi, another magical girl who was unable to keep her promise with Madoka, continues to fight in the world in which Madoka left her behind.
"I dream of the day when I can finally see your dear smile again."
Madoka Kaname has changed the world. In this new world, is what the magical girls see a world of hope... or despair?



Tags: Anti-Hero , Alternate Universe , Memory Manipulation , Magic , Tragedy , Witch , Cosmic Horror , Female Protagonist , Philosophy , Primarily Female Cast , Gods , Yuri , Henshin , Yandere , LGBTQ+ Themes , Urban Fantasy , Time Manipulation , Aliens , Demons , Guns , Kuudere , Mythology , Urban , School

Keijo!!!!!!!!

Also known as Keijo!!!!!!!!.

Studio: Xebec
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Sports

"Keijo" is a popular gambling sport where contestants stand on platforms floating on the water and must use their butts and chests to fight against each other to push each other off the platform. Nozomi Kaminashi, a high school student, aims to join the sport after she graduates. Nozomi was raised in a poor family and hopes to make lots of money by playing Keijo. She grew up training in gymnastics, and she has good balance and flexibility.

After high school, Nozomi joins a training boarding school and enters the world of Keijo.



Tags: Primarily Female Cast , Parody , Female Protagonist , Shounen , Fitness , Super Power , Nudity , School , Yuri , Tomboy , Primarily Teen Cast , Delinquents , Martial Arts , Dissociative Identities

Watashi ga Motete Dousunda

Also known as Kiss Him, Not Me.

Studio: Brain's Base
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance

Kae Serinuma is what you'd call a "fujoshi." When she sees boys getting along with each other, she loves to indulge in wild fantasies! One day her favorite anime character dies and the shock causes her to lose a ton of weight. Then four hot guys at school ask her out, but that isn't exciting to her at all — she'd rather see them date each other!



Tags: Male Harem , Tomboy , Female Protagonist , Otaku Culture , Mixed Gender Harem , Shoujo , Parody , LGBTQ+ Themes , School , Bisexual , Boys' Love , Yuri , School Club , Crossdressing

Happy Sugar Life

Also known as Happy Sugar Life.

Studio: Ezo’la
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

Satou Matsuzaka is a beautiful high schooler who has a reputation for being permissive with men. However, a chance encounter with a young girl named Shio Koube makes Satou realize that this is her first and only true feeling of love. Telling others that she lives with her aunt, Satou secretly shares an apartment with Shio. Despite her innocent appearance, Satou is willing to do anything to protect her beloved, resorting to desperate measures to ensure that their "happy sugar life" remains intact.



Tags: Tragedy , Found Family , Yandere , Crime , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Urban , Age Gap , Yuri , Anti-Hero , Suicide , LGBTQ+ Themes , Hypersexuality , Gore , Amnesia , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Work , Psychosexual

Yuru Yuri

Also known as YuruYuri.

Studio: Doga Kobo
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

Right after starting middle school, Akari Akaza joins the Amusement Club which is composed solely by her two childhood friends, Kyouko Toshinou and Yui Funami. Chinatsu Yoshikawa, Akaza's classmate, becomes a member after finding out about the dissolution of the Tea Club.

The Amusement Club, situated at the tea room facility since the Tea Club disbanded, has no clear purpose, being free for the girls to do whatever they want.



Tags: Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Primarily Female Cast , School Club , Meta , Surreal Comedy , Yuri , Love Triangle , School , Slapstick , Episodic , Female Protagonist , Tsundere , Primarily Teen Cast , Primarily Child Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes , Kuudere , Twins

Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan

Also known as My Deer Friend Nokotan.

Studio: Wit Studio
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Slice of Life

Koshi Torako has everyone fooled. Her classmates see her as the perfect honor student, unaware of her secret delinquent past. But her new picturesque school life is thrown into chaos when she bumps into Shikanoko Noko, a girl with antlers! Mayhem seems to follow this strange doe-eyed girl. Who, or what, is she?



Note: Each episode streamed 4 days early on some streaming services. The original TV broadcast started on July 7th, 2024.

Tags: Surreal Comedy , Animals , Slapstick , Female Protagonist , School Club , Meta , School , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Satire , Primarily Female Cast , Parody , Urban Fantasy , Tsundere , CGI , Delinquents , Horticulture , Shounen , Monster Girl , Chibi , Yandere , Gods , Anthropomorphism , Yuri , Time Loop , Unrequited Love , Guns , LGBTQ+ Themes

Kobayashi-san Chi no Maidragon: Valentine, Soshite Onsen! (Amari Kitai Shinaide Kudasai)

Also known as Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Valentines and Hot Springs! (Please Don't Get Your Hopes Up).

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance , Slice of Life

On Valentine's Day, Tohru attempts to give Kobayashi some chocolates containing a love potion, but she quickly sees through her plan. However, Kobayashi ends up eating some of it after mistaking it for chocolate Kanna received, although the love potion gets cancelled out by some alcohol that was included in the chocolate. Later, Makoto invites everyone on a trip to a hot spring inn, where Tohru gives Kobayashi some regular chocolates.

Note: Unaired episode 14 included with the volume 7 BD/DVD release of Kobayashi-san Chi no Maidragon.

Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Female Protagonist , Yuri , Primarily Female Cast , Dragons , Maids , Monster Girl , Urban Fantasy , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Office Lady , Magic , Nudity , Seinen , Tsundere , Isekai , Large Breasts

Adachi to Shimamura

Also known as Adachi and Shimamura.

Studio: Tezuka Productions
Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

Adachi spends her school days skipping class until she meets fellow delinquent Shimamura and the two become fast friends. Cutting class together deepens their friendship but soon unexpected emotions blossom.

As awkwardness and confusion settle in, the two girls travel this sea of emotions without a paddle as they learn about each other’s feelings.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Yuri , Coming of Age , LGBTQ+ Themes , Unrequited Love , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Iyashikei , Delinquents , Aliens , Fishing , Table Tennis

Shoujo Kakumei Utena

Also known as Revolutionary Girl Utena.

Studio: J.C. Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

Just after Utena's parents died she was consoled by a prince who gave her a ring with a rose crest on it. Utena was so impressed by the Prince that she vowed to become one herself one day. A few years later Utena is attending Ohtori Academy where she gives all the teachers headaches because she dresses in a boys uniform so she can be like the prince she met long ago.

After Utena's friend is insulted by a member of the Student Council, Utena fights in a duel for her friends honor. Utena's rose crest allows her to enter the dueling arena where Utena wins the duel and becomes engaged to the Rose Bride. Unknowingly, Utena is pulled into a series of duels with other members of the Student Council for the possession of the Rose Bride. As she becomes fond of Anthy, the Rose Bride, she must fight to keep her friend safe and to discover the horrifying secret behind Ohtori Academy.



Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Philosophy , Fairy Tale , Tomboy , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Swordplay , Yuri , Incest , Bisexual , Tragedy , Psychosexual , Surreal Comedy , Age Gap , School , Ojou-sama , Henshin , Love Triangle , Conspiracy , Memory Manipulation , Fencing , Episodic , Meta , Crossdressing , Magic , Witch , Bullying , Twins , Kuudere , Aliens , Suicide , Astronomy , Boarding School , Boys' Love , Athletics , Body Swapping , Politics