Anime like Sayonara Lara

Gake no Ue no Ponyo

Also known as Ponyo.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , Dentsu , d-rights , Toho , Walt Disney Studios
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy

A young boy named Sosuke rescues a goldfish named Ponyo, and they embark on a fantastic journey of friendship and discovery before Ponyo's father, a powerful sorcerer, forces her to return to her home in the sea. But Ponyo's desire to be human upsets the delicate balance of nature and triggers a gigantic storm. Only Ponyo's mother, a beautiful sea goddess, can restore nature's balance and make Ponyo's dreams come true.



Tags: Coastal , Natural Disaster , Primarily Child Cast , Kids , Environmental , Anthropomorphism , Urban Fantasy , Rural , Magic , Male Protagonist , Family Life , Female Protagonist , Swimming , Ships , Mermaid , Gods , Chibi , Interspecies , Revenge

Chou Kaguya-hime!

Also known as Cosmic Princess Kaguya!.

Studio: Studio Colorido , Studio Chromato , Twin Engine
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Music , Sci-Fi

A tale of otherworldly beauty and celestial secrets unfolds in this new take on Japan’s oldest folktale.

Inspired by The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, the film reimagines Japan’s oldest folktale with a modern touch by integrating music, fantasy, and contemporary animation.

Set in the virtual realm of Tsukuyomi, the story unfolds as a live performance marrying original music with Yamashita’s signature style of polished visuals, emotive pacing, and dynamic 3D camerawork to boldly transform this classic tale for a new generation.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Virtual World , LGBTQ+ Themes , Fairy Tale , Coming of Age , Idol , Yuri , Aliens , Urban Fantasy , Otaku Culture , VTuber , Video Games , Time Skip , Time Manipulation , Estranged Family , Urban , Artificial Intelligence , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Tragedy , CGI , E-Sports , Vocal Synth , Swordplay , Kemonomimi , Software Development , Robots , Reincarnation , Food , Fugitive , School , Nekomimi , Archery , Spearplay , Surreal Comedy , Mythology , Satire

Princess Tutu

Also known as Princess Tutu.

Studio: Hal Film Maker , ADV Films , Memory-Tech , GANSIS , Marvelous , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

In a fairy tale come to life, the clumsy, sweet, and gentle Ahiru (Japanese for 'duck') seems like an unlikely protagonist. In reality, Ahiru is just as magical as the talking cats and crocodiles that inhabit her town - for Ahiru really is a duck! Transformed by the mysterious Drosselmeyer into a human girl, Ahiru soon learns the reason for her existence. Using her magical egg-shaped pendant, Ahiru can transform into Princess Tutu - a beautiful and talented ballet dancer whose dances relieve people of the turmoil in their hearts. With her newfound ability, Ahiru accepts the challenge of collecting the lost shards of her prince's heart, for long ago he had shattered it in order to seal an evil raven away for all eternity.

Princess Tutu is a tale of heroes and their struggle against fate. Their beliefs, their feelings, and ultimately their actions will determine whether this fairy tale can reach its "happily ever after."

Note: Princess Tutu aired in two parts. The first part included 13 25-minute-long episodes, while the second part consisted of 24 12-minute-long episodes with a 25-minute-long final episode for a total of 38 episodes.

Tags: Fairy Tale , Ballet , Dancing , Philosophy , Meta , Henshin , Writing , Unrequited Love , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Boarding School , Anthropomorphism , Magic , Shapeshifting , Kuudere , Heterosexual , Necromancy , Shounen , Love Triangle , Surreal Comedy , Swordplay , Animals , Dissociative Identities , Foreign , Reincarnation , School , Episodic , Tsundere , Ghost , Super Power , School Club , Ensemble Cast

Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight

Also known as Revue Starlight.

Studio: Kinema Citrus , Pony Canyon , OVERLAP , APDREAM , TBS , Sound Team Don Juan , Nelke Planning , Bushiroad , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Music , Psychological

The franchise centers on "Starlight" — the song and dance revue troupe loved throughout the world. Karen and Hikari make a promise with each other when they're young that one day they'll stand on that stage together. Time passes, and now the girls are 16 years old. Karen is very enthusiastic about the lessons she takes every day, holding her promise close to her heart. Hikari has transferred schools and is now away from Karen. But the cogs of fate turn, and the two are destined to meet again. The girls and other "Stage Girls" will compete in a mysterious audition process to gain acceptance into the revue.



Tags: Musical Theater , Primarily Female Cast , Ensemble Cast , Acting , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , Meta , Boarding School , Battle Royale , Fairy Tale , Animals , Yuri , Time Loop , School , Coming of Age , Henshin , Swordplay , Philosophy , Dancing , LGBTQ+ Themes , Unrequited Love , Love Triangle , Tomboy , Spearplay , Archery , Amnesia , Motorcycles , Urban

Shoujo Kakumei Utena

Also known as Revolutionary Girl Utena.

Studio: J.C.STAFF , TV Tokyo , The Right Stuf International , Central Park Media , Yomiuri Advertising , SoftX
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , 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 boy's 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 friend's 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: Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Psychosexual , Philosophy , Fairy Tale , Incest , Tomboy , Ensemble Cast , Yuri , Primarily Teen Cast , Swordplay , Tragedy , LGBTQ+ Themes , Bisexual , Witch , Time Manipulation , Orphan , Age Gap , Cars , School , Surreal Comedy , Unrequited Love , Meta , Conspiracy , Memory Manipulation , Fencing , Ojou-sama , Henshin , Love Triangle , Boarding School , Crossdressing , Denpa , Episodic , Bullying , Magic , Kuudere , Time Loop , Twins , Astronomy , Suicide , Boys' Love , Politics , Athletics , Body Swapping , Aliens , Shoujo

Mawaru Penguindrum

Also known as Penguindrum.

Studio: Brain's Base , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Once you make a decision, does the universe conspire to make it happen? Is destiny a matter of chance, a matter of choice or the complex outcome of thousands of warring strands of fate? All twins Kanba and Shoma know is that when their terminally ill sister Himari collapses at the aquarium, her death is somehow temporarily reversed by the penguin hat that she had asked for. It's a provisional resurrection, however, and it comes at a price: to keep Himari alive they need to find the mysterious Penguin Drum. In order to do that, they must first find the links to a complex interlocking chain of riddles that has wrapped around their entire existence, and unravel the knots that tie them to mystifying diary and a baffling string of strangers and semi-acquaintances who all have their own secrets, agendas and "survival strategies." And in order for Himari to live, someone else's chosen destiny will have to change. It's a story of love, fate, life, death... and Penguins!



Tags: Philosophy , Found Family , Family Life , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Ensemble Cast , Terrorism , Meta , Denpa , Politics , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Parody , Trains , Inseki , Henshin , Surreal Comedy , Heterosexual , Crime , Yandere , Animals , Memory Manipulation , Magic , Satire , Cult , Ghost , Fairy Tale , Primarily Teen Cast , Psychosexual , Tsundere , Twins , Achronological Order , Love Triangle , Age Gap , LGBTQ+ Themes , Incest

Nagi no Asukara

Also known as A Lull in the Sea.

Studio: P.A.WORKS , Rondo Robe , NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan , NIS America Inc.
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance , Slice of Life

Since long ago, human civilization had lived on the ocean floor. However, there were many humans who wanted to live above the surface and they moved to land creating a fundamental separation between the two. After their school closes down, four 14-year-old middle school students from the sea village, Shioshishio, have to attend Mihama Middle School on the surface. What follows is their struggles to adjust to a new environment and the relationships between the sea and land people, while dealing with their own newfound feelings that have just started appearing with the end of their childhood.



Tags: Coastal , Love Triangle , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Time Skip , Unrequited Love , Inseki , Ensemble Cast , Environmental , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Gods , School , Female Protagonist , Age Gap , Amnesia , Fishing , Swimming , Lost Civilization , Primarily Child Cast , Cohabitation

Flip Flappers

Also known as FLIP FLAPPERS.

Studio: Studio 3Hz , infinite , Happinet , Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures , GAGA , Lantis , Medicos Entertainment , AT-X , Sotsu , BS Fuji , TOKYO MX , Ray
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Psychological , Sci-Fi

As a middle school student, Cocona has been trying to decide what to do with her life. Magical Girl, however, wasn’t a career path that she’d ever considered. When suddenly a strange girl named Papika thrusts her into a secret organization called Flip Flap, Cocona’s outlook does a radical flip-flop. Her views start to change when she is dragged into an alternate dimension called Pure Illusion where she’s charged with gathering crystal shards and fighting strange creatures. Now, between running missions and facing off against a rival organization, Cocona doesn’t have much time to consider alternate career choices. What are these shards, and why is gathering them so important? There’s a mystery to be solved and multiple worlds to be saved in FLIP FLAPPERS!



Tags: Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Henshin , LGBTQ+ Themes , Meta , Magic , Kemonomimi , Archery , Guns , Urban , Urban Fantasy , Swordplay , Robots , Psychosexual , Primarily Female Cast , Yuri , Memory Manipulation , Surreal Comedy , Super Power , Cult , Dissociative Identities , Time Manipulation , Episodic , Age Regression , Isekai , Tragedy , Twins , Desert , Surfing , School , Love Triangle , Tsundere , Super Robot , Parody , Snowscape , Yandere

Watashi wo Tabetai, Hitodenashi

Also known as This Monster Wants to Eat Me.

Studio: Studio Lings , Pony Canyon , KADOKAWA , arma bianca , BS Nittele , AT-X , TOKYO MX , Kadokawa Media House , Toei Video , infinite
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Psychological , Romance , Supernatural

Hinako lives alone by the sea, quietly drifting through life after losing her family years ago. One day, a mermaid named Shiori saves her from a monster and says she’s come to eat her—just not yet. Until then, Shiori will stay by her side and keep her safe. In that moment, a deep hope swells in Hinako: Maybe this girl can finally grant her the ending she’s been waiting for.

Tags: Suicide , Monster Girl , Female Protagonist , Youkai , Primarily Female Cast , Memory Manipulation , Tragedy , Orphan , Mermaid , Coastal , Mythology , Yuri , Interspecies , Rural , LGBTQ+ Themes , Seinen , Gore , School , Body Image , Shapeshifting , Urban Fantasy , Tsundere

Akagami no Shirayuki-hime

Also known as Snow White with the Red Hair.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

In the kingdom of Tanbarun lives Shirayuki, an independent and strong-willed young woman. Her resourceful intelligence has led her become a skilled pharmacist, but her most defining trait is her shock of beautiful apple-red hair. Her dazzling mane gets her noticed by the prince of the kingdom, but instead of romancing her, he demands she be his concubine. Shirayuki refuses, chops off her lovely locks, and runs away to the neighboring kingdom of Clarines. There, she befriends a young man named Zen, who, SURPRISE, is also a prince, although with a much better temperament than the previous one. Watch as Shirayuki finds her place in the new kingdom, and in Zen’s heart.



Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Medicine , Heterosexual , Medieval , Primarily Adult Cast , Work , Historical , Politics , Agriculture , Swordplay , Love Triangle , Primarily Male Cast , Conspiracy