Anime like Kaleido Star

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."

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 , Dancing , Meta , Henshin , Writing , Female Protagonist , Boarding School , Surreal Comedy , Kuudere , Philosophy , Anthropomorphism , Tragedy , Magic , Heterosexual , Shapeshifting , Love Triangle , Animals , Episodic , Unrequited Love , Foreign , School , Tsundere , Reincarnation , Dissociative Identities , Necromancy , Super Power , Ghost , Swordplay

Full Moon wo Sagashite

Also known as Looking for the Full Moon.

Studio: Studio DEEN , Viz Media , NAS
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Mahou Shoujo , Music , Romance , Supernatural

Twelve-year-old Kouyama Mitsuki was devastated when she was diagnosed with a malignant tumor of the throat. She had made a promise to the boy she loves that she would one day become a singer, but her illness made singing impossible. To make matters even worse, two angels of death, Takuto and Meroko, appeared to Mitsuki and informed her that she only had one year left to live. This news provides an even greater motivation for Mitsuki to fulfill her dreams, and with a little bit of divine intervention, she begins her quest to become a professional singer so she can be reunited with Eichi before time runs out.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Afterlife , Idol , Musical Theater , Shoujo , Angels , Tragedy , Heterosexual , Urban Fantasy , Work , Unrequited Love , Henshin , Youkai , Rehabilitation , Age Gap , Found Family , Kemonomimi , Orphan , Disability , Primarily Child Cast , Suicide , Mythology , Nekomimi , School , Denpa , Animals , Philosophy , Love Triangle , Reincarnation

Glass no Kamen (2005)

Also known as Glass Mask (2005).

Studio: MediaNet , Sentai Filmworks , TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

Two Girls. One Dream. And the entire world for a stage.

At 13 years old, Maya Kitajima seems destined to spend the rest of her life toiling in a crowded restaurant alongside her bitter and unstable mother. But when her incredible acting talent is discovered by the legendary diva Chigusa Tsukikage, Maya finds a new future filled with both golden opportunities and terrifying risks.

For Ayumi Himekawa, success has always been assured, yet she longs to be recognized for her own talents and skills, not her famous parents' connections.

For both, the ultimate prize is the role of The Crimson Goddess in the play of the same name, a part created by Chigusa. To achieve this goal, both Maya and Ayumi must seek out and conquer every acting challenge, pushing the limits of their talent and endurance to the utmost, until they are worthy of the part…

But for one to win, the other must fail!



Tags: Acting , Work , Shoujo , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Age Gap , Tragedy , Idol

Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream

Studio: Nomad , Tatsunoko Production , TV Tokyo , Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions , Avex Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Sports

Prism Stars are performers on the new popular ice show, Prism Show. They are superidols whose techniques, singing and fashion sense are a cut above all others. Aira and Rizumu are two Prism Stars whose goal is to become the best, the Prism Queen. However, the road to success is bumpy.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Ice Skating , Primarily Female Cast , Fashion , Musical Theater , Idol , CGI , Kids , Police , Amnesia , Adoption

Glass no Kamen

Also known as Glass Mask.

Studio: Eiken , Studio Jack
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Kitajima Maya, a 13-year old girl with a talent for acting, was discovered by the reclusive actress Tsukikage. The story follows Maya's growing up, intense training, overcoming challenges, and evolving into the foremost actress of her generation (she is about 20 so far). Maya's greatest rival is Himekawa Ayumi, the beautiful daughter of a famous movie couple. They ultimately vied for the most sought-after role - the "Crimson Goddess". An equally important subplot Maya's relationship with the handsome and ruthless entertainment mogul Hayami Masumi, who secretly became her number one fan, but misunderstandings and bad-timing obstructed their romance...



Tags: Acting , Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Work , Love Triangle , Estranged Family , Unrequited Love , Age Gap , Coming of Age , Ojou-sama , Classic Literature , Urban , Heterosexual

Ginban Kaleidoscope

Also known as Skating Rink Kaleidoscope.

Studio: Aniplex , Karaku
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Sports , Supernatural

With $10 billion worth of beauty (or so she says), Sakurano Tazusa is a contestant for the selection of the Japanese representative at the winter Olympics' figure skating competition. However, her ability is questionable in the eyes of the media and public, as she constantly falls during critical moments in her competitions. During a particular fall, at the same time, a Canadian teen by the name of Pete Pumps perishes as an accident occurs during an air stunt. Before being allowed to pass on into the after life, Pete possess' Tazusa supposedly for a hundred days, living on in her body. Despite the discontent and anger Tazusa faced having her body and privacy invaded by this Canadian ghost, she moves her focus onto improving herself in hopes to be selected for the Olympics.

Tags: Ice Skating , Ghost , Dissociative Identities , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Aviation , Conspiracy

HUGtto! Precure

Studio: Toei Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo

Nono Hana is an 8th grade student who wants to be a stylish and mature big sister like figure. She always puts on a lovely smile and loves to search for exciting things. One day, Hana meets a baby named Hug-tan and her guardian fairy named Harry who had fallen from the sky. At that exact moment, an evil organization called Dark Tomorrow suddenly appeared! They're trying to forcefully take Hug-tan's Mirai Crystal! In order to protect Hug-tan, Hana wishes to do something to help her, and her wish is granted, as she gains a Mirai Crystal and transforms into Cure Yell. The world is overflowed with Tomorrow Powerer, which is the power to create a brilliant tomorrow, which is crystallized into the Mirai Crystals. If it's stolen, everyone's future will not exist. To protect Hug-tan and everyone's future, Cure Yell will do her best!



Tags: Magic , Primarily Female Cast , Henshin , Female Protagonist , Superhero , Coming of Age , Time Manipulation , Tokusatsu , Rehabilitation , Heterosexual , Isekai , Super Robot , Fairy , Parenthood , Super Power , Family Life , Memory Manipulation , Cheerleading , Urban Fantasy , Artificial Intelligence , Urban , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Primarily Child Cast , Bullying , Crossdressing , LGBTQ+ Themes , Acting , Episodic , Kids , Robots , Animals , Adoption , Anthropomorphism , CGI , Kemonomimi , Nekomimi , Swordplay , Archery , Idol , School , Ice Skating , Kuudere , Age Regression , Educational , Crossover , Mermaid , Tragedy

Taisou Zamurai

Also known as The Gymnastics Samurai.

Studio: MAPPA , Aniplex , Dentsu , Funimation , TV Asahi , Movic
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sports

Joutarou Aragaki, former member of the national team, had given his whole life for gymnastics and was fighting against his age and physical strength. However, one day he is told by his coach to start thinking of his next career. Joutarou struggles, but his daughter, Rei, is always there by his side. But with one fateful encounter, the Aragakis’ lives change drastically.



Tags: Family Life , Athletics , Rehabilitation , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Acrobatics , Dancing , Ninja , CGI , Gyaru , Bullying

Aikatsu!

Studio: Sunrise , TV Tokyo , Bandai Visual , Dentsu
Status: Finished
Genres: Music

Ichigo Hoshimiya is a regular, ordinary middle school girl. But when her best friend, Aoi, invites her to join the idol training academy, Starlight Academy, her whole world is turned upside down. As she encounters all kinds of rivals and learns what it takes to be an idol, she uses her Aikatsu Cards to challenge countless auditions.



Tags: Idol , Primarily Female Cast , School , Female Protagonist , Fashion , Dancing , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Ensemble Cast , Episodic , Henshin , CGI , Work , Kids , Fitness , Primarily Teen Cast , Boarding School , Acting , Outdoor Activities , Card Battle

Chihayafuru

Also known as Chihayafuru.

Studio: MADHOUSE , VAP , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life , Sports

Chihaya Ayase is a girl who has spent most of her life simply supporting her sister in her model career. That changes when she meets a boy named Arata Wataya, a talented karuta player who recognizes Chihaya's potential to become a great player herself. As Chihaya takes on a new dream of becoming Japan's best karuta player, she is soon separated from her karuta playing friends, Taichi Mashima and Arata Wataya, as they grow up. Now in high school, Chihaya still continues to play karuta in the hope that she will one day meet her friends again.



Tags: Karuta , Female Protagonist , School Club , Coming of Age , Love Triangle , Josei , School , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Unrequited Love , Athletics , Bullying , Slapstick , Tomboy , CGI