Anime like Inu-Oh | Anime Like List

What is Inu-Oh about?

Studio: Science SARU
Status: Finished

Musical fantasy film based on Hideo Furukawa's Heike Monogatari: Inu-Ou no Maki (Tales of the Heike: Inu-Ou) novel.

Inu-Oh is born with unique physical characteristics. His parents cover every inch of his body with garments, including a mask on his face. One day, Inu-Oh meets a blind boy named Tomona, a biwa player. As Tomona starts to sing and play, Inu-Oh is amazed to discover he has an incredible ability to dance. The two become inseparable. Tomona and Inu-Oh start sharing their talent with audiences. Their performances quickly gain acclaim and draw crowds. But why is Tomona blind? Why was Inu-Oh born looking like he does? A story about a legendary artist from 14th-century Japan, who defied fate to forge his own destiny. An anime in the form of a rock operetta with spectacular music and dance sequences.

Note: The film received an early premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 9, 2021.

Tags: Anachronism , Band , Musical Theater , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Dancing , Tragedy , Historical , Disability , Rock Music , Acting , Time Skip , Samurai , Demons , Gender Bending

Where to watch?

Hulu

Netflix

Heike Monogatari

Also known as The Heike Story.

Studio: Science SARU , Asmik Ace , Dentsu , Fuji TV , bilibili , Pony Canyon , BS Fuji
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Supernatural

A young orphan named Biwa is taken in by the powerful Taira Clan—also known as the Heike—after their leader witnesses her extraordinary psychic abilities. Unfortunately, what she predicts is a future of bloodshed, violence, and civil war. Inspired by the 12th-century epic tale Heike Monogatari.

Tags: Tragedy , Politics , Classic Literature , War , Historical , Philosophy , Military , Religion , Suicide , Ghost , Female Protagonist , Orphan , Conspiracy , Samurai , Archery , Time Skip , Tomboy , Adoption , Ships , Transgender

Where to watch?

Crunchyroll

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Ongaku

Also known as ON-GAKU: OUR SOUND.

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

When you’re a bored teenager looking for thrills, sometimes the only thing you can turn to is rock ‘n roll. Having no skill, money, or even a full set of drums, a feared trio of high school delinquents nevertheless decide they are destined for musical glory in a quest to impress their only friend Aya, avoid a rival gang, and – most importantly – jam out. Animated almost entirely by director Kenji Iwaisawa, and featuring a lead performance by Japanese alt-rock legend Shintaro Sakamoto, ON-GAKU: OUR SOUND brings its own sound and vision to the Hiroyuki Oohashi manga from which it was adapted. With pitch-perfect deadpan humor, the film presents a highly original take on the beloved slacker comedy: a lo-fi buddy film with a blaring musical finale that will leave you wanting an immediate encore.

Tags: Band , Delinquents , Rotoscoping , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Rock Music , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , School

Where to watch?

No streaming links available

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Dororo

Also known as Dororo.

Studio: MAPPA , Twin Engine , Tezuka Productions , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Supernatural

Dororo, a young orphan thief, meets Hyakkimaru, a powerful ronin. Hyakkimaru's father, a greedy feudal lord, had made a pact with 12 demons, offering his yet-unborn son's body parts in exchange for great power. Thus, Hyakkimaru - who was born without arms, legs, eyes, ears, a nose or a mouth - was abandoned in a river as a baby. Rescued and raised by Dr. Honma, who equips him with artificial limbs and teaches him sword-fighting techniques, Hyakkimaru discovers that each time he slays a demon, a piece of his body is restored. Now, he roams the war-torn countryside in search of demons.

Tags: Demons , Revenge , Disability , Swordplay , Tragedy , Samurai , Estranged Family , Youkai , Anti-Hero , Orphan , War , Male Protagonist , Curses , Historical , Rural , Travel , Urban Fantasy , Gore , Episodic , Philosophy , Crossdressing , Female Protagonist , Body Horror , Tomboy , Kuudere , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Ghost , Cannibalism , Heterosexual , Prostitution , Nun

Where to watch?

HIDIVE

Amazon Prime Video

Hulu

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Mononoke

Also known as Mononoke.

Studio: Toei Animation , Asmik Ace , Sony Music Entertainment , Dentsu , SKY Perfect Well Think , Fuji TV , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Mononoke is a spin-off of the Bakeneko story arc of Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror. It follows the Medicine Seller as he deals with various spirits or "Mononoke" in feudal Japan. Just like in the Bakeneko story, he combats with a series of tools and his vast knowledge of the supernatural on his side, but can only slay the Mononoke when he uncovers its form (Katachi), the truth behind its appearance (Makoto) and the reason for its unusual behavior (Kotowari).

Tags: Youkai , Demons , Ghost , Historical , Anthology , Detective , Philosophy , Body Horror , Gore , Exorcism , Male Protagonist , Episodic , Cosmic Horror , Primarily Adult Cast , Cult , Travel , Incest , Trains , Time Skip , Mixed Media , LGBTQ+ Themes

Where to watch?

Tubi TV

Netflix

Bilibili TV

Crunchyroll

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Mind Game

Also known as Mind Game.

Studio: Horipro , Studio 4°C , GKIDS , Madman Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Psychological , Romance

Audiences will begin to grasp what they are in for early on, as loser Nishi, too wimpy to try to save his childhood sweetheart from gangsters, is shot in the butt by a soccer-playing psychopath, projecting Nishi into the afterlife. In this limbo, God - shown as a series of rapidly changing characters - tells him to walk toward the light. But Nishi runs like hell in the other direction and returns to Earth a changed man, driven to live each moment to the fullest.

Tags: Surreal Comedy , Reincarnation , Philosophy , Heterosexual , Primarily Adult Cast , Afterlife , Male Protagonist , Nudity , Seinen , Yakuza , Gods , Swimming , Mixed Media

Where to watch?

No streaming links available

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Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight Movie

Also known as Revue Starlight: The Movie.

Studio: Kinema Citrus , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Music , Psychological

The stage emulates life and compresses it, setting free skills learned over lifetimes in brief but dazzling displays for the amusement and judgment of others. For the performers, it is the ultimate risk, and some will rise while others must fall. Nowhere is this truer than at the Seisho Music Academy, where music, dance and real weapons all come into play in the creation of the next great Star. Karen and Hikari’s destinies have been linked since a childhood promise, but their journeys here have taken very different paths. Now, after Hikari leaves, Karen must discover who she is without her opposite, while Hikari must rediscover her own course.

Tags: Acting , Coming of Age , Musical Theater , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Female Cast , Meta , Female Protagonist , Swordplay , Primarily Teen Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes , Animals , Love Triangle , Yuri , Trains , Dancing , Henshin , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Urban , Desert , Yandere , Archery , Athletics , Boarding School , School , Foreign , CGI , Classic Literature

Where to watch?

HIDIVE

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Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen

Also known as Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju.

Studio: Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

Unable to forget a performance of "Shinigami" performed by the rakugo master Yakumo in the prison where he was being held, Yotaro's first act upon his release was go right to the theater, where he begged, pleaded, and was finally accepted as Yakumo's live-in apprentice. After years of refining his art, Yotaro was promoted to the rank of Shinuchi and inherited the title of 3rd Generation Sukeroku. For the sake of his master Yakumo, Konatsu, and to change the image of Sukeroku inside them both, what kind of rakugo will Yotaro discover?

This celebrated human drama, based on a story by Haruko Kumota, offers an honest and sympathetic look into the lives and livelihoods of rakugo storytellers in the Showa era.

Tags: Rakugo , Josei , Acting , Elderly Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Afterlife , Male Protagonist , Time Skip , Historical , Suicide , Yakuza , Inseki , Gods , Memory Manipulation

Where to watch?

Crunchyroll

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Radio City Fantasy: Machikado no Märchen

Studio: Kitty Film
Status: Finished
Genres: Romance

A boy with a drawing book meets a mysterious girl in the streets of Tokyo. They become friends and enjoy each other's fantasies.

Tags: Musical Theater , Urban , Female Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , No Dialogue

Where to watch?

No streaming links available

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Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Also known as Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju.

Studio: Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

The story revolves around a mature prisoner who was released on good behavior during Japan's Shouwa Genroku era (1960s to early 1970s). He is called Yotarou by others, a term that means an "anti-hero" or a "dim-witted man." When he returns to society, he starts a new life in rakugo (comic storytelling). Touched by Yakumo's role as the "grim reaper," he asks the master to take him in as an apprentice. Most of the season delves into Yakumo's own past during World War II and the years afterward.

Note: The first episode aired with a runtime of 48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

Tags: Rakugo , Tragedy , Acting , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Love Triangle , Time Skip , Josei , Male Protagonist , Disability , Meta , War , Suicide , Elderly Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast

Where to watch?

Crunchyroll

Amazon Prime Video

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BLUE GIANT

Also known as Blue Giant.

Studio: Toho , NUT
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

Dai Miyamoto's life is turned upside down the day he discovers jazz. A former high school basketball player, Dai picks up a saxophone and begins practicing day and night, determined to become one of the greatest of all time. He leaves his hometown Sendai for the bustling nightclubs of Tokyo, but soon finds the life of a professional musician is not for the faint of heart. His passion eventually wins over the cocky but talented pianist Yukinori, and after Dai convinces his friend Shunji to learn the drums, they launch a new jazz trio whose rough sound contains a raw energy that quickly wins attention from local audiences. But what does it take to truly be great?

Tags: Jazz Music , Urban , Band , Male Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Seinen , Primarily Male Cast , CGI , Bar , Tragedy

Where to watch?

Netflix

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