Anime like Odd Taxi

Durarara!!

Also known as Durarara!!.

Studio: Aniplex , Brain's Base , Movic , Aniplex of America , ASCII Media Works , Hakuhodo DY Media Partners , Mainichi Broadcasting System
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Mystery , Supernatural

In Tokyo's downtown district of Ikebukuro, amidst many strange rumors and warnings of anonymous gangs and dangerous occupants, one urban legend stands out above the rest—the existence of a headless "Black Rider" who is said to be seen driving a jet-black motorcycle through the city streets.

Ryuugamine Mikado has always longed for the excitement of the city life, and an invitation from a childhood friend convinces him to move to Tokyo. Witnessing the Black Rider on his first day in the city, his wishes already seem to have been granted. But as supernatural events begin to occur, ordinary citizens like himself, along with Ikebukuro's most colorful inhabitants, are mixed up in the commotion breaking out in their city.



Tags: Urban Fantasy , Gangs , Urban , Ensemble Cast , Dullahan , Achronological Order , Delinquents , Crime , Female Protagonist , Mythology , Yandere , Male Protagonist , Motorcycles , School , Orphan , Otaku Culture , Amnesia , Swordplay , Heterosexual , Bullying , Incest , Suicide , Anti-Hero , Seinen

Baccano!

Also known as Baccano!.

Studio: Aniplex , Brain's Base , Aniplex of America , Sakura Create , Happinet Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Mystery , Supernatural

During the early 1930s in Chicago, the transcontinental train, Flying Pussyfoot, is starting its legendary journey that will leave a trail of blood all over the country. At the same time in New York, the ambitious scientist Szilard and his unwilling aide Ennis, are looking for missing bottles of the immortality elixir. In addition, a war between the mafia groups is getting worse. On board the Advena Avis, in 1711, alchemists are about to learn the price of immortality.

Based on the award winning light novels of the same name, this anime adaptation follows several events that initially seem unrelated, both in time and place, but are part of a much bigger story—one of alchemy, survival and immortality. Merging these events together are the kindhearted would-be thieves, Isaac and Miria, connecting various people, all of them with their own hidden ambitions and agendas, and creating lifelong bonds and consequences for everyone involved.



Tags: Mafia , Ensemble Cast , Crime , Achronological Order , Alchemy , Historical , Trains , Urban Fantasy , Foreign , Noir , Primarily Adult Cast , Guns , Urban , Gore , Travel , Heterosexual , Torture , Anti-Hero , Vore , Demons , Surreal Comedy , Meta , Disability

BEASTARS

Also known as BEASTARS.

Studio: Orange , Toho , Fuji TV , Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures , Akita Shoten , Bandai , BANDAI SPIRITS , Movic , BS Fuji , Q-Tec
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

In a world populated by anthropomorphic animals, herbivores and carnivores coexist with each other. For the adolescents of Cherryton Academy, school life is filled with hope, romance, distrust, and uneasiness.

The main character is Legoshi the wolf, a member of the drama club. Despite his menacing appearance, he has a very gentle heart. Throughout most of his life, he has always been an object of fear and hatred by other animals, and he’s been quite accustomed to that lifestyle. But soon, he finds himself becoming more involved with his fellow classmates who have their own share of insecurities and finds his life in school changing slowly.



Tags: Anthropomorphism , Coming of Age , Animals , Cannibalism , Full CGI , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Male Protagonist , Boarding School , CGI , Psychosexual , Female Protagonist , Love Triangle , Gangs , Ensemble Cast , Heterosexual , Philosophy , Crime , Bullying , Shounen , School Club , Acting , Primarily Animal Cast , Gore , Politics , Mafia , Urban , Vore , Class Struggle , Nudity

MONSTER

Also known as Monster.

Studio: MADHOUSE , VAP , Viz Media , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Thriller

Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a renowned Japanese brain surgeon working at a leading hospital in Germany. One night, Dr. Tenma risks his reputation and career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy over that of the town mayor who had been planning to support the hospital financially. A string of mysterious murders begin to occur soon after the operation, and Dr. Tenma emerges as the primary suspect despite no incriminating evidence.

A doctor is taught to believe that all life is equal; however, when another series of murders occur in the surgeon's vicinity, Dr. Tenma's beliefs are shaken as his actions that night are shown to have much broader consequences than he could have imagined. Leaving behind his life as a surgeon he embarks on a journey across the country to unravel the mystery of the boy he saved.

Tags: Crime , Seinen , Detective , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Fugitive , Primarily Adult Cast , Revenge , Noir , Twins , Memory Manipulation , Tragedy , Urban , Conspiracy , Adoption , Foreign , Police , Politics , Male Protagonist , Dissociative Identities , Medicine , Amnesia , Travel , Orphan , Historical , Time Skip , Guns , Suicide , Torture , Primarily Male Cast , Crossdressing , Episodic , Gore , Nudity , Rescue , Bullying

Mousou Dairinin

Also known as Paranoia Agent.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Asmik Ace , Geneon Entertainment , Tohokushinsha Film Corporation , WOWOW , Techno Sound , Chaos Union
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

An elementary school kid dubbed with the title "shounen bat" or "lil slugger" has been going around attacking people with his bent, golden bat. Now, two detectives are investigating so they can stop this kid from making any more attacks, but they will find out soon enough... that this case is much more than they expected.



Tags: Denpa , Crime , Detective , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Urban Fantasy , Police , Urban , Meta , Episodic , Female Protagonist , Nudity , Dissociative Identities , Disability , Satire , Suicide , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Prostitution , Chuunibyou , Bullying , Ghost , Cosmic Horror , LGBTQ+ Themes

Aggressive Retsuko

Also known as Aggretsuko.

Studio: Fanworks , Sanrio , Netflix
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Music , Slice of Life

Some offices have stereotypical dynamics: the chauvinistic pig of a boss who never does any real work; the employees whose goal is to suck up to the boss; the ones whose lives seem perfect; and the individuals who have all the actual work pushed onto them. Retsuko the red panda is in the last group, as she stays late most nights to make up the work her coworkers are too lazy to do themselves.

Her relief from the stress of her everyday life comes in the form of singing death metal at a local karaoke club. Night after night, Retsuko channels her grief into a microphone and considers the place to be her own personal sanctuary. But as she moves further away from her comfort zone and the ideas people have of her, she discovers that letting others into her world of death metal may not be such a bad thing.

Tags: Work , Office Lady , Anthropomorphism , Metal Music , Urban , Primarily Adult Cast , Female Protagonist , Office , Animals , Chibi , Primarily Animal Cast , Unrequited Love , Flash , Rock Music

Bakemonogatari

Also known as Bakemonogatari.

Studio: Aniplex , Shaft , Kodansha , Aniplex of America , Hanabee Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Romance , Supernatural

First season of the Monogatari Series, part 1/6. Contains the arcs Hitagi Crab, Mayoi Snail, Suruga Monkey, Nadeko Snake, and Tsubasa Cat from the Bakemonogatari light novels.

Thanks to Meme Oshino, Koyomi Araragi, a high school student, is able to remain a human after coming across a female vampire... However, since the incident, Koyomi seems to meet girls who have an apparition-related issue. Hitagi Senjougahara doesn’t weigh anything, Suruga Kanbaru’s right arm becomes like that of a monkey’s, and a young girl, Mayoi, cannot find her way home no matter how many times she tries. Koyomi, a Mr. Nice Guy, ends up helping each and every girl solve her problem with the help of Meme Oshino.



Tags: Youkai , Ensemble Cast , Urban Fantasy , Male Protagonist , Surreal Comedy , Kuudere , Philosophy , Coming of Age , Vampire , Ghost , Primarily Female Cast , Satire , Primarily Teen Cast , Meta , Heterosexual , Dissociative Identities , Psychosexual , Curses , Monster Girl , Mixed Media , Yandere , Female Harem , Love Triangle , Tomboy , Parody , Gore , Rotoscoping , Nekomimi , Gods , LGBTQ+ Themes , Tsundere , CGI , Rehabilitation , School , Amnesia , Aliens

BNA

Also known as BNA.

Studio: TRIGGER
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Fantasy

In the 21st century, the existence of animal-humans came to light after being hidden in the darkness of history. Michiru lived life as a normal human, until one day she suddenly turns into a tanuki-human. She runs away and takes refuge in a special city area called "Anima City" that was set up 10 years ago for animal-humans to be able to live as themselves. There Michiru meets Shirou, a wolf-human who hates humans. Through Shirou, Michiru starts to learn about the worries, lifestyle, and joys of the animal-humans. As Michiru and Shirou try to learn why Michiru suddenly turned into an animal-human, they unexpectedly get wrapped up in a large incident.



Note: The TV broadcast ended on June 25, 2020.

Tags: Animals , Shapeshifting , Anthropomorphism , Kemonomimi , Conspiracy , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Politics , Detective , Cult , Dystopian , Class Struggle , Tomboy , Lost Civilization , Police , Urban , Coming of Age , Mafia , Bullying , Idol , Baseball

Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei

Also known as The Tatami Galaxy.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Funimation , Sony Music Entertainment , Fujipacific Music
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

When a college dropout stops for a late night bite at a mysterious ramen stand, he crosses paths with a self-proclaimed deity of matrimony. This bizarre meeting sends the young man hurtling through a horrifying flashback to his not-so-glorious college days when the influence of a cruel new friend turned him from a hopeless romantic into a mischievous “black cupid.”



Tags: Coming of Age , College , Time Loop , Surreal Comedy , Philosophy , Male Protagonist , Alternate Universe , Primarily Adult Cast , Episodic , Time Manipulation , Achronological Order , School Club , Cult , Meta , Heterosexual , Satire , Ensemble Cast , Mixed Media , Proxy Battle , Hikikomori , LGBTQ+ Themes , Cowboys , Mythology , Cycling , Tennis , Gods

PERFECT BLUE

Also known as Perfect Blue.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Rex Entertainment , ONIRO , Techno Sound , GKIDS
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Psychological , Thriller

Rising pop star Mima has quit singing to pursue a career as an actress and model, but her fans aren’t ready to see her go... Encouraged by her managers, Mima takes on a recurring role on a popular TV show, when suddenly her handlers and collaborators begin turning up murdered. Harboring feelings of guilt and haunted by visions of her former self, Mima’s reality and fantasy meld into a frenzied paranoia. As her stalker closes in, in person and online, the threat he poses is more real than even Mima knows, in this iconic psychological thriller that has frequently been hailed as one of the most important animated films of all time.



Note: The film received an early premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival on August 5, 1997.

Tags: Dissociative Identities , Denpa , Female Protagonist , Acting , Idol , Meta , Primarily Adult Cast , Work , Philosophy , Filmmaking , Tragedy , Gore , Nudity , Noir