Anime like Benghuai: Xingqiong Tiedao - Gelamo de Yujin

Yuanshen: Jin Zhong Ge

Also known as Genshin Impact: The Song Burning in the Embers.

Studio: miHoYo Anime
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy

Some believe that growing up is to gradually break free from the shackles. Fate sets the most brutal rules for us, turning day into night, leaving the future dwelling in but the lingering warmth of dreams. Thus, our weapons clash, burying the remnants of another setting sun, and welcoming the next rising dawn. Then, when the cage shatters, once and for all— May gentle flames envelop the shriveled flowers, with their song echoing in the embers.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Primarily Child Cast , Tragedy , Curses , Orphan , Time Skip

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

Magic Knight Rayearth

Also known as Magic Knight Rayearth.

Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha , Discotek , Yomiuri TV , Dentsu
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Mecha

Three young girls, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, are transported to a magical world called Cephiro during a field trip to Tokyo Tower. They are soon greeted by Master Mage Clef, who explains to them that they have been summoned to become the Legendary Magic Knights and save Cephiro. The girls are less than enthusiastic about this idea, and only want to return home. Clef further explains that they must seek out the three Rune Gods to help them fight. He bestows armor and magical powers to each of them. They learn from Clef that High Priest Zagato has kidnapped the Pillar of Cephiro, Princess Emeraude. The Pillar of Cephiro has the sole responsibility of keeping Cephiro alive and in balance with her prayers. Without Princess Emeraude, Cephiro would fall into ruin. Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu must fight off Zagato's henchman and find the Rune Gods if they ever want to get back home. They soon learn that friendship and loyalty are the only things they can rely on in the crumbling Cephiro.



Tags: Magic , Super Power , Swordplay , Isekai , Female Protagonist , Medieval , Shoujo , Tragedy , Primarily Female Cast , Ojou-sama , Henshin , Super Robot , Elf , Primarily Teen Cast , Dissociative Identities , Archery , Desert , Gender Bending , Chibi , Age Gap , Kuudere , Tanned Skin , Matriarchy , Heterosexual , Gambling , Space , Dragons

Magic Knight Rayearth II

Studio: TMS Entertainment , Discotek , Dentsu , Yomiuri TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Mecha , Romance

Soon after Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu return to Tokyo, the three of them meet at Tokyo Tower to talk. Hikaru says that she wishes they could return to Cephiro and do something good for the land that Princess Emeraude protected so dearly. Umi and Fuu agree. Suddenly, a light appears in the sky and they are transported to Cephiro. Clef explains to them that with no Pillar to keep Cephiro peaceful, it has fallen into chaos. Monsters are multiplying and the land is becoming desolate. All the remaining inhabitants of Cephiro have moved into a magical castle. Clef also tells the girls some alarming news; three other countries, Chizeta, Fahren, and Autozam are trying to invade Cephiro and take over the Pillar system for their own purposes. The girls must stop the invaders as well as the mysterious and evil Lady Debonair, who believes she is the rightful Pillar, all the while desperately hoping and searching for a new Pillar to make Cephiro into the beautiful land it once was.



Tags: Magic , Swordplay , Isekai , Shoujo , Super Robot , Female Protagonist , Henshin , War , Tragedy , Primarily Female Cast , Yandere , Elf , Super Power , Heterosexual , Age Gap , Primarily Child Cast , Love Triangle , Politics , Twins , Memory Manipulation , Drawing , Space , Matriarchy , Revenge

Rayearth OVA

Also known as Rayearth OVA.

Studio: Polygram Japan , Kodansha , TMS Entertainment , TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Mecha

The Earth lies darkened and deserted. Despite the best efforts of the film's heroine, Hikaru, the evil-filled castle of Cephiro has taken over the world and stands in the center of a lifeless Tokyo. Before the ice-witch Alcyone can take her revenge on Hikaru, she is rescued by Lantis, a young man who seals her into a magical maze where she is challenged to prove her powers while her friends are hunted down by Cephiro's warlocks.

Fleeing through the silent city, Umi and Fuu must seek out the sleeping Mashin; godlike creatures that will fuse with them to form giant warriors of awesome destructive power. But the Magic Knights are afraid, untrained and alone... will even the Mashin be enough to save them from the evil acts of Cephiro?

Note: During 1998 Toshihiro Hirano released a Director's cut called "Special Edition - The Wings of Hope", including the three episodes in a two-hour movie with some new scenes and dialogue changes

Tags: Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Super Power , Time Manipulation , Magic , Henshin , Tokusatsu , Tragedy , Super Robot , Primarily Female Cast , Shoujo , Environmental , Reverse Isekai , Nudity , Fairy , Achronological Order , Ghost , Post-Apocalyptic

Shin Seiki Evangelion Movie: Air / Magokoro wo, Kimi ni

Also known as Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion.

Studio: Gainax , Production I.G , TV Tokyo , Toei Animation , Kadokawa Shoten , Movic , Sega Games , TV Tokyo Music , Selecta Visión
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Psychological , Sci-Fi

NERV faces a brutal attack from SEELE, but with Asuka in a coma, and Shinji in a nervous breakdown, things soon turn into the surreal. This movie provides a concurrent ending to the final two episodes of the show Neon Genesis Evangelion.



Tags: Philosophy , Tragedy , Coming of Age , Post-Apocalyptic , Meta , Denpa , Dystopian , Gods , Male Protagonist , Body Horror , Super Robot , Psychosexual , Conspiracy , Gore , Afterlife , Cosmic Horror , Kaiju , Mythology , Primarily Teen Cast , Robots , Religion , Female Protagonist , Mixed Media , Nudity , Clone , Masturbation , Tsundere , Guns , Politics , Space , Kuudere , Boys' Love

Shin Seiki Evangelion Movie: Shi to Shinsei

Also known as Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth.

Studio: Gainax , Production I.G , Movic , Sega Games , TV Tokyo Music , Kadokawa Shoten
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mecha , Psychological , Sci-Fi

Compilation recap movie for the series Shin Seiki Evangelion. Due to the struggling production of the movie 'End of Evangelion' delaying the film a month before it was set to release, this film was announced to 'hold fans over'.

During the early 21st century a meteorite crashed into Antarctica. After scientists went to study the crash a gigantic explosion followed, classified as the 'Second Impact'. Shinji Ikari is a fourteen year-old boy who has come to Toyko3, a city that also serves as a fortress, to meet up with his father who left him many years ago. The city also happens to be under siege by monstrous creatures called 'Angels' at the time of his arrival. Somehow Shinji finds himself in Evangelion Unit 01, and manages to synchronize with the giant robot. Shinji is told to become its permanent pilot, and is thrown into combat as the city's last defense for fighting off the angels. However, as Shinji fights, he begins to realize the truth behind the Angels, the Second Impact, man's struggle against God and what he truly is afraid of.



Note: Exists in several versions: (with most appearing on the Japanese 2015 Blu-ray Boxset)
• Evangelion: DEATH & REBIRTH, released theatrically on March 15, 1997 - 2-part feature, the first 2/3rds titled 'Death' consisting of a recap of the TV series with new/re-drawn animation added in, and the later 1/3rd titled 'Rebirth' consisting of the first 28 minute rough cut of End of Evangelion.
• Death(True), aired on TV channel WOWOW on January 2, 1998 - re-edited version of 'Death' by director Masayuki, with most of the new animation cut (as it was moved to the "Directors Cut" of Episodes 21-24), but with some new shots added. Later released on the 'ARCHIVES OF EVANGELION' DVD Boxset.
• Death(True)², released on March 7, 1998 - a further edited down version of Death(True), but with some new animation added. Regarded as this film's 'definitive' release, this is the version opted to be licensed by Netflix.
• Revival of Evangelion, released theatrically on March 8, 1998 - Theatrical double feature consisting of Death(True)² + 4 minute intermission + End of Evangelion.

For simplicity's sake, we are only counting the first theatrical release in this entry.

Tags: Primarily Teen Cast , Achronological Order , Tragedy , Dystopian , Super Robot , Military , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Denpa , Real Robot , Philosophy , Post-Apocalyptic , Kaiju , Conspiracy , Politics , Cultivation , Gore , Kuudere , Tsundere , Nudity , Band

Evangelion Shin Movie: Jo

Also known as Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone.

Studio: Gainax , Studio Khara , Funimation , KLOCKWORX , Selecta Visión
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Psychological , Sci-Fi

After the second impact, all that remains of Japan is Tokyo-3, a city that's being attacked by giant creatures that seek to eradicate the human kind, called Angels. After not seeing his father for more than eight years, Shinji Ikari receives a phone call in which he is told to urgently come to the NERV Headquarters, an organization that deals with the destruction of the Angels through the use of giant mechs called Evas. Shinji's objective is to pilot the Eva Unit 01 while teaming up with the Eva Unit 00 pilot, Ayanami Rei.

Note: Exists in several versions, as denoted by the version number:
• 1.0: Sep 1, 2007 - Original theatrical release
• 1.01: Apr 25, 2008 - DVD release containing minor adjustments and fine tunings in picture, editing, and sound quality.
 • Explanation of Evangelion 1.01 - Included with the special edition DVD release of 1.01, overlays large captions to provide the "official designations" of people, locations, weapons, technology, and so forth.
• 1.11: May 27, 2009 - Blu-ray/DVD re-release with 3 minutes of new animation added to the first 15 minutes and fixing video issues present in the previous release.

Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Coming of Age , Super Robot , Dystopian , Male Protagonist , Military , Kaiju , CGI , Kuudere , Aliens , Denpa , Real Robot , Primarily Teen Cast , Urban , Nudity , School

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 , Space , Super Robot , Cosmic Horror , Denpa , Tomboy , Time Manipulation , Guns , Male Protagonist , Survival , Kaiju , Tsundere , Spearplay , CGI , Agriculture , Ships , Body Horror , Gore , Kuudere , Space Opera , Primarily Teen Cast , Clone , Nudity , Video Games , Iyashikei

Evangelion Shin Movie: Kyuu

Also known as Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo.

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

14 years after third impact, Ikari Shinji awakens to a world he does not remember. He hasn't aged. Much of Earth is laid in ruins, Nerv has been dismantled, and people who he once protected have turned against him. Befriending the enigmatic Nagisa Kaworu, Shinji continues the fight against the angels and realizes the fighting is far from over, even when it could be against his former allies. The characters' struggles continue amidst the battles against the angels and each other, spiraling down to what could inevitably be the end of the world.



Note: Exists in several versions, as denoted by the version number:
• 3.0: Nov 17, 2012 - Original theatrical release
• 3.33: Apr 24, 2013 - Blu-ray/DVD release with minor visual changes.
• 3.333: Jan 8, 2021 - Theatrical IMAX screenings mastered in 2K with numerous small adjustments to lighting and color, as well as a new preview at the end of the film.
 • Aug 25, 2021 - 4K Blu-ray release of 3.333

Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Time Skip , LGBTQ+ Themes , Male Protagonist , Super Robot , Boys' Love , Tragedy , Alternate Universe , Philosophy , Denpa , Kaiju , Cosmic Horror , CGI , Bisexual , Memory Manipulation , Meta , Primarily Teen Cast , Gore , Kuudere , Tsundere , Tomboy