Anime like FLCL

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Also known as Gurren Lagann.

Studio: Gainax , Aniplex , Konami , Half H.P Studio , Bandai , Bandai Entertainment , Aniplex of America
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Mecha , Romance , Sci-Fi

In a far away future, mankind lives underground in huge caves, unknowing of a world above with a sky and stars.

In the small village of Jiha, Simon, a shy boy who works as a digger discovers a strange glowing object during excavation. The enterprising Kamina, a young man with a pair of rakish sunglasses and the passion of a firey sun, befriends Simon and forms a small band of brothers, the Gurren Brigade, to escape the village and break through the ceiling of the cave to reach the surface, which few believe exist.

The village elder won't hear of such foolishness and punishes the Brigade. However, when disaster strikes from the world above and the entire village is in jeopardy, it's up to Simon, Kamina, a girl with a big gun named Yoko, and the small yet sturdy robot, Lagann, to save the day.

The new friends journey to the world above and find that the surface is a harsh battlefield, and it's up to them to fight back against the rampaging Beastmen to turn the tide in the humans' favor! Pierce the heavens, Gurren Lagann!

Tags: Super Robot , Coming of Age , Dystopian , Found Family , Male Protagonist , Post-Apocalyptic , Primarily Adult Cast , Space Opera , Tragedy , Travel , War , Space , Time Skip , Aliens , Class Struggle , Politics , Desert , Anthropomorphism , Heterosexual , Outdoor Activities , Henshin , Military , Mixed Media , Animals , Guns , Alternate Universe , Urban , Nudity , Love Triangle , Cosmic Horror , Suicide , Swordplay , CGI , Boys' Love

Kill la Kill

Also known as Kill la Kill.

Studio: Aniplex , TRIGGER , Dentsu , Kadokawa Shoten , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Ultra Super Pictures , Movic , Aniplex of America
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Ecchi

After the murder of her father, Ryuuko Matoi has been wandering the land in search of his killer. Following her only lead—the missing half of his invention, the Scissor Blade—she arrives at the prestigious Honnouji Academy, a high school unlike any other. The academy is ruled by the imposing and cold-hearted student council president Satsuki Kiryuuin alongside her powerful underlings, the Elite Four. In the school's brutally competitive hierarchy, Satsuki bestows upon those at the top special clothes called "Goku Uniforms," which grant the wearer unique superhuman abilities.

Tags: Henshin , Female Protagonist , Revenge , Nudity , Parody , Surreal Comedy , Class Struggle , Dystopian , Tomboy , Super Power , Aliens , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Incest , Military , Anti-Hero , Cult , Psychosexual , Villainess , Bullying , Ensemble Cast , School Club , Tokusatsu , Delinquents , CGI , Gore , Tragedy , LGBTQ+ Themes , Orphan , Exhibitionism , Tsundere , Meta , Cosplay , Yandere , Cheerleading

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 appeared in the theatrical recap 'Death'.

Tags: Philosophy , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Super Robot , Denpa , Dystopian , Post-Apocalyptic , Angels , Primarily Teen Cast , Suicide , Psychosexual , Kaiju , Male Protagonist , Conspiracy , Cosmic Horror , Aliens , Body Horror , Mythology , Religion , Military , Clone , Kuudere , Tsundere , Politics , Tokusatsu , Bisexual , Gore , Trains , Espionage , LGBTQ+ Themes , Nudity , Episodic , Boys' Love

Sonny Boy

Also known as Sonny Boy.

Studio: MADHOUSE , BS Asahi , Shouchiku , Marui Group
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

It’s an ordinary summer vacation...except for the fact that Nagara’s high school has mysteriously drifted into another dimension. As the students begin to develop strange new powers, will they work together to survive the alien environment and find a way home, or will their newly formed factions and rivalries turn on each other?



Note: The first episode received an advance release on YouTube on June 19, 2021. The regular TV broadcast started on July 16, 2021.

Tags: Alternate Universe , Philosophy , Denpa , Super Power , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Survival , Isekai , Meta , Achronological Order , School , Cosmic Horror , Episodic , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Mixed Media , Gods , Animals , Heterosexual , Baseball , Suicide , Desert , Unrequited Love , Wilderness , Space

Dandadan

Also known as DAN DA DAN.

Studio: Science SARU , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Science SARU , Shueisha , Dentsu , Aniplex , Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Romance , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

This is a story about Momo, a high school girl who comes from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult fanatic. After Momo rescues Okarun from being bullied, they begin talking. However, an argument ensues between them since Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens exist, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts exist.

To prove to each other what they believe in is real, Momo goes to an abandoned hospital where a UFO has been spotted and Okarun goes to a tunnel rumored to be haunted. To their surprise, they each encounter overwhelming paranormal activities that transcend comprehension. Amid these predicaments, Momo awakens her hidden power and Okarun gains the power of a curse to overcome these new dangers! Their fateful love begins as well!?

The story of the occult battle and adolescence starts!



Notes:
Worldwide premiere of Episode 1 before the Japanese television premiere occurred at Anime Expo July 6, 2024.
Episodes 1-3 titled as DAN DA DAN: FIRST ENCOUNTER was pre-screened in advance in theaters on August 31, 2024 in Asia, September 7, 2024 in Europe and September 13, 2024 in North America. The regular TV broadcast began October 4, 2024.

Tags: Urban Fantasy , Ghost , Youkai , Aliens , Super Power , Surreal Comedy , Primarily Teen Cast , Shounen , Henshin , Heterosexual , Exorcism , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , School , Cult , Gyaru , Demons , Love Triangle , CGI , Zombie , Tokusatsu , Achromatic , Male Harem

Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt

Also known as Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt.

Studio: Gainax , Funimation , Kadokawa Shoten , Half H.P Studio , AT-X , Kadokawa Pictures Japan , KLOCKWORX , flying DOG , Kadokawa Contents Gate , Manga Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Ecchi , Supernatural

Panty and Stocking – the Anarchy Sisters – are two nasty-ass angels who got booted from the pearly gates for being foul-mouthed bitches! Now they spend their nights blowing up ghosts in the seedy abyss between Heaven and Earth. Panty likes sex, Stocking likes sweets, their afro-sporting main man Garter Belt has a fetish we can't mention. Together, they're turning the mean streets of Daten City into a buffet of bodily fluids. Ghosts don't stand a chance against their lingerie of mass destruction, and if this debaucherous duo can collect enough Heaven Coins, they just might get their halos back. It's a slim chance in hell, but anything can happen when you're rolling commando, especially with Panty and Stocking!



Tags: Parody , Female Protagonist , Episodic , Satire , Anti-Hero , Angels , Swordplay , Guns , Henshin , Nudity , Ghost , Surreal Comedy , Demons , Monster Girl , Psychosexual , Chibi , Unrequited Love , Tanned Skin , Heterosexual , Tokusatsu , CGI , Zombie , School , Aromantic , Gods , Mixed Media

Kyousougiga (TV)

Also known as Kyousougiga.

Studio: Toei Animation , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Fantasy , Supernatural

In Kyoto, nothing changes. No, not that Kyoto, but rather the Mirror Capital Kyoto, the world inside of a painting! Colorful, beautiful, but static, the people of this world live an idyllic, if boring life. That is, until Koto appears, like a wrecking ball slamming into still waters.

Koto's never met her mother, and in search of clues about her missing parent, she winds up in the very place she's supposed to be, yet least expected. What unfolds is a tale of a crazy, mixed-up family, where the father has mysterious powers, the mother is a goddess, and the siblings have an intense rivalry that will finally see its conclusion... even if that conclusion brings about the attention of the Shrine, an organization dedicated to protecting the multiverse.



Tags: Family Life , Alternate Universe , Ensemble Cast , Philosophy , Gods , Female Protagonist , Adoption , Suicide , Achronological Order , Drawing , Reincarnation , Anti-Hero , Isekai , Super Power , Demons , Twins , Shrine Maiden , Historical , Youkai , Magic

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Also known as Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.

Studio: Science SARU
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Mystery , Romance , Supernatural

When girl meets boy, love takes off...

Scott Pilgrim meets the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers, but learns he must defeat her seven evil exes in order to date her. Then things get even more complicated. Based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Detective , Meta , Primarily Adult Cast , Urban Fantasy , Foreign , Surreal Comedy , Time Manipulation , Urban , Parody , Band , Super Power , Bisexual , LGBTQ+ Themes , Heterosexual , Acting , Robots , Hikikomori , Rock Music , Otaku Culture , Boys' Love , Anti-Hero , Age Gap , Skateboarding , Twins , Swordplay , Ninja

Dead Leaves

Also known as Dead Leaves.

Studio: Production I.G , Manga Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Psychological , Sci-Fi

Pandy and Retro awaken naked on Earth with no recollection of their past. They embark on a devastating crime spree in search of food, clothing and transportation, but are captured by authorities and sent to the infamous lunar penitentiary named Dead Leaves. While incarcerated, they quickly discover that Dead Leaves is also a top-secret cloning facility, occupied by villainous guards and deformed genetic experiments. Ultra-manic chaos and hyper-violent bedlam ensue as they organize a prison break with the aid of their fellow mutant inmates.

Tags: Surreal Comedy , Anti-Hero , Delinquents , Amnesia , Fugitive , Guns , Primarily Adult Cast , Gore , Slapstick , Crime , Space , Nudity , Revenge , Espionage , Super Power , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist

Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei

Also known as The Tatami Galaxy.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Funimation , Sony Music Entertainment , Fujipacific Music
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

When a college dropout stops for a late night bite at a mysterious ramen stand, he crosses paths with a self-proclaimed deity of matrimony. This bizarre meeting sends the young man hurtling through a horrifying flashback to his not-so-glorious college days when the influence of a cruel new friend turned him from a hopeless romantic into a mischievous “black cupid.”



Tags: Coming of Age , College , Time Loop , Surreal Comedy , Philosophy , Male Protagonist , Alternate Universe , Primarily Adult Cast , Episodic , School Club , Time Manipulation , Achronological Order , Cult , Meta , Heterosexual , Satire , Ensemble Cast , Proxy Battle , LGBTQ+ Themes , Cowboys , Mythology , Cycling , Tennis , Gods , Mixed Media