Anime like Hi no Tori: Houou-hen

Mononoke-hime

Also known as Princess Mononoke.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , Tokuma Shoten , GKIDS , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

A calm village residing in the mountains comes under attack from a demon-possessed boar one day.

Ashitaka, a young man and prince of the tribe, engages the creature in an attempt to save his village. During the battle, the boar bites him on the arm, leaving it blackened and cursed. Following his village's traditions, Ashitaka is exiled and becomes a wanderer, looking for a solution to the curse before it engulfs him.

Iron Town is a fortress under the leadership of Lady Eboshi. Through the clearing of the surrounding forests, Iron Town produces large amounts of Ironsand, used for gunpowder and other machinery. However, because of the forests destruction, nearby animal clans seek revenge led by a human girl of the Wolf clan called San.

When Ashitaka comes to Iron Town, he discovers the area consumed in battle. Horrified, he attempts to create peace and befriend the Wolf Clan. However, after the forest's eradication and the ongoing war between Human and Beast, will the Spirit of the Forest be forgiving and accept Ashitaka's request to expel his curse?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Environmental , Animals , Mythology , Philosophy , Eco-Horror , War , Gods , Wilderness , Demons , Rural , Youkai , Revenge , Female Protagonist , Curses , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Guns , Disability , Travel , Urban Fantasy , Samurai , Archery , Tomboy , Outdoor Activities , Body Horror , Gore , Slavery , Swordplay , Kaiju , Indigenous Cultures

Hi no Tori: Hagoromo-hen

Studio: Tezuka Productions
Status: Finished
Genres:

The movie was shown at the Tezuka Osamu World Cinema in Kyoto from July 17, 2004 until the theater was closed on January 16, 2011. The production team was almost identical to the Hi no Tori TV anime series' production team, but the voice actress of the Phoenix was changed.

Tags:

Doujouji

Studio: Kadokawa Pictures Japan
Status: Finished
Genres: Supernatural

Based on an ancient legend, Dojoji Temple tells the story of a young priest who finds himself the object of intense infatuation and lust from a young woman. As he rebuffs her advances she becomes more and more desperate eventually turning herself into a gigantic serpent. The priest is hidden under the bell of the temple but the woman's passion is so intense that escape is impossible.

A short animation from filmaker Kihachiro Kawamoto. This film utilizes both stop motion and standard animation techniques.

Tags: No Dialogue , Historical , Religion , Puppetry , Stop Motion , Mythology , Dragons , Demons

Shisha no Sho

Also known as The Book of the Dead.

Studio: SLOW TIDE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Supernatural

When a young noblewoman, Iratsume, falls into a trance after copying Buddhist sutras and walks to a remote temple that women are forbidden to enter, she stirs up the ghost of the executed Prince Otsu. Otsu's ghost then mistakes Iratsume for one of her ancestors, a young woman who came to watch his execution. The beautiful face of this young woman was the last thing the Prince saw before he died, and his ghost cannot rest while her face haunts his sleep.

Tags: Puppetry , Stop Motion , Ghost

Vampire Hunter D (2000)

Also known as Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Movic , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Romance , Sci-Fi

The story revolves around D, the infamous "dunpeal" (born of a vampire father and a human mother) outcast and renowned vampire hunter. His prowess at hunting the creatures of the night allowing his acceptance among humans, he is called upon to locate Charlotte Elbourne, the lovely daughter of an affluent family who has been mysteriously kidnapped.

When the sun sets, the hunt goes on! Charlotte`s father offers a rich bounty, be she dead or alive, a task D willingly accepts, even with notorious Markus brothers and their gang of bounty hunters seeking the prize as well. Amidst the chase and unknown to all lurks a sinister evil which has been secretly manipulating their every move and has set a chilling trap that none will expect and few will survive. With the tables turned and the secrets revealed, the hunters could quickly become the hunted!



Tags: Vampire , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Dystopian , Fugitive , Post-Apocalyptic , Travel , Swordplay , Guns , Primarily Male Cast , Heterosexual , Tragedy , Magic , Monster Girl , Tomboy , Gore , Steampunk , Nudity , Time Skip , Werewolf , Age Gap

Cyber City OEDO 808

Also known as Cyber City Oedo 808.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Central Park Media , Japan Home Video
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Sci-Fi

It is the year 2808. Three convicts are recruited as members of the Cyber Police to keep major criminal activity in Oedo (formerly Tokyo) in check. In return, their life sentences will be reduced by a few years for every mission accomplished. However, to ensure that these convicts are doing their job, the police have secured special collars around their necks. If they attempt to remove their collars or fail to meet the time limit of their mission, the collars will self-destruct.



Tags: Cyberpunk , Crime , Police , Primarily Adult Cast , Episodic , Vampire , Male Protagonist , Body Horror , Cyborg , Death Game , Guns , Space , Urban Fantasy , Detective , Espionage , Super Power , Cars

Dororo to Hyakkimaru

Also known as Dororo.

Studio: Mushi Production , Tezuka Productions , Fuji TV , Studio Jack
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Supernatural

Hyakkimaru is a young man who lacks 48 body parts because they were taken from him by demons before birth, as payment by his father, Kagemitsu Daigo, to obtain his wish to take over the country. When the baby boy was born he was missing 48 parts of his body, and thus was abandoned—thrown into a river. Hyakkimaru has grown up and now has obtained fake body parts so he can eliminate the 48 demons that were made from his body, and to retrieve his missing parts. Along for the adventure is the boy thief, Dororo, with whom he becomes friends.



Tags: Youkai , Demons , Swordplay , Anti-Hero , War , Historical , Achromatic , Samurai , Gore , Dystopian , Body Horror , Disability , Travel , Orphan , Time Skip , Crossdressing

Kataku

Studio: Video Market
Status: Finished
Genres: Supernatural

Many years ago, a young woman named Unai-Otome lived in the village of Ikuta. As she was beautiful it was no surprise that she had two suitors, both deeply in love with her. The girl was torn apart over which one to choose. In her desperation she chose a third option - taking her own life. Although her intentions were absolutely pure, not even in death did she find the solace she desired. Many decades later, a pilgrim walking by her grave meets a beautiful young woman and her story once again rises from the depths of time.... With a plot based on a classic play of Noh traditional theatre, the film presents the peak of Kawamoto’s mastery thanks to its expert mediation of the absurdity of the human condition.

Source: http://www.kviff.com/en/film-archive-detail/20050895-house-of-flames/

Tags: Demons , Historical , Afterlife , Puppetry , Stop Motion

Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Tsuioku-hen

Also known as Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal.

Studio: Studio DEEN , Aniplex of America
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Romance

In the days before the Japanese Revolution, Hiko Seiijuro, a wandering master swordsman and hermit, encounters a bandit raid on a slave wagon. Hiko kills the raiding bandits in hopes of saving as many lives as possible, but only manages to spare one life from the massacre. Hiko leaves the child, advising him to go to the nearby village and have them take care of him. A few days later, as Hiko comes back to check upon the child he saved, he is shocked to see the child had created graves, both for the slaves he befriended and the bandits who killed them. Seeing potential in the young one, Hiko takes the child under his wing, names him Kenshin, meaning "heart of sword," and teaches him about the art of swordsmanship under the Hiten Mitsuruugi Ryu.

Struggling in a constant challenge with his ideal beliefs reflecting against the harshness of reality, Tsuiokuhen tells the melancholic and dark story of Himura Kenshin as one of the most feared assassins of the Japanese Revolution: the Hitokiri Battousai.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Samurai , Revenge , Tragedy , Historical , Philosophy , Swordplay , Heterosexual , Male Protagonist , Gore , Primarily Adult Cast , Shounen

Metropolis

Studio: MADHOUSE , Kadokawa Shoten
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Romance , Sci-Fi

In the great city of Metropolis, severe community structures and prejudice dominate a world where humans and robots live together. Unrest and violence increase with each new day.

Searching for the scientist Dr. Laughton, suspected to violate human rights by trading organs, the Japanese detective Shunsaku Ban and his nephew Kenichi arrive at Metropolis. In the scientist's laboratory, Kenichi discovers a girl without any memory of her past life. He decides to help her, so they run away together. His uncle follows him and penetrates the dark secrets of the city to find Duke Red, the man ruling from the shadows. Meanwhile, Kenichi desperately tries to protect the mysterious girl from the people hunting her. However, Duke Red and his adoptive son have their own deep reasons for chasing the girl. These reasons are connected to her true identity and the struggle for the domination of Metropolis...

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Robots , Dystopian , Artificial Intelligence , Fugitive , Detective , Urban , Female Protagonist , Politics , Cyberpunk , Police , Male Protagonist , Crime , Class Struggle , Terrorism , Guns , Foreign , CGI