Anime like Top wo Nerae! GunBuster

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 , Cosmic Horror , Dystopian , Denpa , Angels , Post-Apocalyptic , Psychosexual , Suicide , Kaiju , Primarily Teen Cast , Conspiracy , Male Protagonist , Aliens , Body Horror , Mythology , Military , Religion , Clone , Bisexual , Tokusatsu , Tsundere , Kuudere , Politics , Gore , Trains , Espionage , LGBTQ+ Themes , Boys' Love , Nudity , Episodic , Found Family

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

Ace wo Nerae!

Also known as Aim for the Ace!.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Tokyo Movie Shinsha , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Anime Room , Tokyo Animation Film , Imagica , King Records , Studio Sign , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sports

On her first day at Nishi High School, 15-year-old Hiromi Oka is inspired by top player Reika "Ochoufujin" Ryuuzaki to take up tennis. Shortly after joining the school's tennis club, she encounters Jin Munakata, the club's new coach. Munakata puts everyone under rigorous training that even puts Ochoufujin to shame. Despite the hardships, Hiromi's determination prompts the coach to select her as part of the club's main players. Because of this, Hiromi must endure the peer pressure from her seniors to become an ace tennis player.



Tags: Tennis , Shoujo , School Club , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Bullying , Ojou-sama , Slapstick , Delinquents , Coastal

Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor

Also known as Mobile Police Patlabor.

Studio: Studio DEEN , Touhouku Shinsha , Maiden Japan
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Mecha , Sci-Fi

In the future, rapidly advancing technology gives birth to giant robots known as "Labors," so named for their usefulness in heavy industry. However, this also gives rise to "Labor crimes," resulting the need for a new branch of law enforcement equipped with and dedicated to the policing of Labors. When Izumi Noa, a female police officer, becomes the newest recruit of Special Vehicles Division 2, she and her top of the line "Patrol Labor" (or "Patlabor") Alphonse are swept into a series of adventures featuring crazed construction workers, eco-terrorists, and sea monsters.



Tags: Police , Real Robot , Episodic , Primarily Adult Cast , Work , Terrorism , Ensemble Cast , Conspiracy , Kaiju , Female Protagonist , Satire , Shounen

Choujikuu Yousai Macross

Also known as Macross.

Studio: Artland , Tatsunoko Production , Studio Nue
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Music , Romance , Sci-Fi

In 1999, a giant alien spacecraft crash lands on South Ataria island. Humanity proceeds to attempt to rebuild this marvel, but political conflicts centered around the Macross result in a global war. After 10 years, the Unification Wars are finally over, the new Earth United Nations Government is in power, and work on the Macross is complete.

On the day of the launching ceremony, its main cannon fires on its own, destroying an alien spacecraft. This fateful day marks the beginning of the war between the humans on the Macross and the Zentradi, a race of humanoid aliens of giant proportions.



Tags: Space Opera , War , Space , Military , Love Triangle , Aliens , Heterosexual , Idol , Tragedy , Philosophy , Unrequited Love , Real Robot , Aviation , Lost Civilization , Ensemble Cast , Urban , Politics , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Musical Theater , Marriage , Age Gap , Language Barrier , Time Skip , Incest , Martial Arts , Crossdressing , Achromatic , Nudity

Kidou Senshi Gundam: Suisei no Majo

Also known as Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.

Studio: Sunrise , Bandai Namco Filmworks , Sotsu , Mainichi Broadcasting System
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Mecha , Sci-Fi

A.S. (Ad Stella) 122

An era when a multitude of corporations have entered space and built a huge economic system. A lone girl from the remote planet Mercury transfers to the Asticassia School of Technology, run by the Beneritt Group which dominates the mobile suit industry.

Her name is Suletta Mercury. With a scarlet light burning in her pure heart, this girl walks step by step through a new world.



Tags: Real Robot , Female Protagonist , Space , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Yuri , Politics , Revenge , Clone , Artificial Intelligence , Class Struggle , Super Robot , Cyborg , Guns , Conspiracy , Terrorism , Tsundere , Boarding School , Love Triangle , Mixed Gender Harem , Cyberpunk , Bisexual , Kuudere , Witch , Bullying , LGBTQ+ Themes

Kidou Senshi Gundam GQuuuuuuX

Also known as Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX.

Studio: Studio Khara , Sunrise , Bandai Namco Filmworks , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Sci-Fi

Amate Yuzuriha is a high-school student living peacefully in a space colony floating in outer space.

When she meets a war refugee named Nyaan, Amate is drawn into the illegal mobile suit dueling sport known as Clan Battle.

Under the entry name "Machu," she throws herself into fierce battle day after day, piloting the GQuuuuuuX. Then an unidentified Gundam mobile suit pursued by both the space force and the police appears before her, along with its pilot, a boy named Shuji.

Now their world is about to enter a new era.



Note: Prior to broadcasting, "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-" — a theatrical pre-screening of the first 3 and 8th episodes edited together— debuted in Japan on January 17, 2025 and in North America on February 28, 2025.

Tags: Space , Female Protagonist , Alternate Universe , Real Robot , Conspiracy , Heterosexual , Cyberpunk , Robots , Guns , Space Opera , Super Robot , Fugitive , Tragedy , Love Triangle , Politics , CGI , Achronological Order , Meta , Espionage , Isekai , Military , Swordplay , Class Struggle , Ensemble Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes

Shin Evangelion Movie:||

Also known as Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.

Studio: Studio Khara , KLOCKWORX , Toho , Toei Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Psychological , Sci-Fi

In the aftermath of the Fourth Impact, stranded without their Evangelions, Shinji, Asuka, and Rei find refuge in one of the rare pockets of humanity that still exist on the ruined planet Earth. There, each of them live a life far different from their days as an Evangelion pilot. However, the danger to the world is far from over. A new impact is looming on the horizon—one that will prove to be the true end of Evangelion. Finally, the Human Instrumentality Project is set in motion, and WILLE makes one last grueling stand to prevent the Final Impact.

Note: Exists in several versions, as denoted by the version number:
• 3.0+1.0: March 8, 2021 - Original theatrical release
• 3.0+1.01: June 12, 2021 - A second theatrical release which features updated cuts of various scenes while not changing the overall story of the film.
• 3.0+1.11: March 8, 2023 - A home media release scheduled for the film's two-year anniversary.

Tags: Coming of Age , Rehabilitation , Post-Apocalyptic , Alternate Universe , Meta , Gods , Robots , Philosophy , Time Skip , Super Robot , Cosmic Horror , Denpa , Space , Time Manipulation , Tomboy , Guns , Male Protagonist , Spearplay , Survival , Kaiju , CGI , Agriculture , Ships , Body Horror , Tsundere , Kuudere , Gore , Primarily Teen Cast , Clone , Space Opera , Nudity , Video Games , Iyashikei

Change!! Getter Robo: Sekai Saigo no Hi

Also known as Getter Robo: Armageddon.

Studio: Bandai Visual , Marubeni , Dynamic Planning , Brain's Base
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Horror , Mecha , Sci-Fi

Sent to jail after being accused of murdering Getter Robo creator Dr. Saotome, Ryoma Nagare must once again team up with his former comrades and pilot Getter Robo when Saotome returns from the dead and threatens humanity by unleashing his greatest creation - the Shin Dragon. Their efforts, however, are in vain as they fail to stop a nuclear warhead from hitting Shin Dragon, resulting in a massive Getter Ray contamination that wipes out 99% of the planet's population. Thirteen years after this great catastrophe, mankind continues to fight for survival against the Invaders. Out of the remains of the nuclear blast comes Shin Getter, piloted by the artificial human Go. With remnants of the Japanese military by his side, Go - along with co-pilots Kei and Gai - must use Shin Getter to exterminate the Invaders once and for all.



Tags: Super Robot , Shounen , Space , Amnesia , Body Horror , Survival , Aliens , Post-Apocalyptic , Gore , Dinosaurs , Kaiju , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Transgender , Female Protagonist , Nudity , Guns

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