Anime like Sarazanmai

Mawaru Penguindrum

Also known as Penguindrum.

Studio: Brain's Base , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Once you make a decision, does the universe conspire to make it happen? Is destiny a matter of chance, a matter of choice or the complex outcome of thousands of warring strands of fate? All twins Kanba and Shoma know is that when their terminally ill sister Himari collapses at the aquarium, her death is somehow temporarily reversed by the penguin hat that she had asked for. It's a provisional resurrection, however, and it comes at a price: to keep Himari alive they need to find the mysterious Penguin Drum. In order to do that, they must first find the links to a complex interlocking chain of riddles that has wrapped around their entire existence, and unravel the knots that tie them to mystifying diary and a baffling string of strangers and semi-acquaintances who all have their own secrets, agendas and "survival strategies." And in order for Himari to live, someone else's chosen destiny will have to change. It's a story of love, fate, life, death... and Penguins!



Tags: Philosophy , Found Family , Family Life , Tragedy , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Terrorism , Meta , Denpa , Parody , Trains , Inseki , Henshin , Surreal Comedy , Heterosexual , Crime , Memory Manipulation , Magic , Satire , Cult , Ghost , Fairy Tale , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Twins , Achronological Order , Love Triangle , Psychosexual , Incest , Age Gap , LGBTQ+ Themes

Shoujo Kakumei Utena

Also known as Revolutionary Girl Utena.

Studio: J.C.STAFF , TV Tokyo , The Right Stuf International , Central Park Media , Yomiuri Advertising , SoftX
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

Just after Utena's parents died, she was consoled by a prince who gave her a ring with a rose crest on it. Utena was so impressed by the Prince that she vowed to become one herself one day. A few years later, Utena is attending Ohtori Academy where she gives all the teachers headaches because she dresses in a boy's uniform so she can be like the prince she met long ago.

After Utena's friend is insulted by a member of the Student Council, Utena fights in a duel for her friend's honor. Utena's rose crest allows her to enter the dueling arena, where Utena wins the duel and becomes engaged to the Rose Bride. Unknowingly, Utena is pulled into a series of duels with other members of the Student Council for the possession of the Rose Bride. As she becomes fond of Anthy, the Rose Bride, she must fight to keep her friend safe and to discover the horrifying secret behind Ohtori Academy.



Tags: Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Psychosexual , Philosophy , Fairy Tale , LGBTQ+ Themes , Ensemble Cast , Tomboy , Incest , Yuri , Primarily Teen Cast , Swordplay , Tragedy , Witch , Bisexual , Time Manipulation , Orphan , Shoujo , Surreal Comedy , Age Gap , School , Memory Manipulation , Conspiracy , Time Loop , Unrequited Love , Ojou-sama , Meta , Henshin , Love Triangle , Fencing , Cheating , Cars , Episodic , Boarding School , Crossdressing , Magic , Bullying , Kuudere , Politics , Twins , Suicide , Boys' Love , Astronomy , Athletics , Body Swapping , Aliens

Wonder Egg Priority

Also known as WONDER EGG PRIORITY.

Studio: CloverWorks , Aniplex , D.N. Dream Partners , NTV Music , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Thriller

This is the story of Ai, an introverted girl whose fate is forever changed when she acquires a mysterious “Wonder Egg” from a deserted arcade. That night, her dreams blend into reality, and as other girls obtain their own Wonder Eggs, Ai discovers new friends—and the magic within herself.



Tags: Tragedy , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Urban Fantasy , Suicide , Bullying , Coming of Age , Alternate Universe , Primarily Teen Cast , CGI , Denpa , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Hikikomori , Afterlife , Body Horror , Artificial Intelligence , LGBTQ+ Themes , School , Transgender , Episodic , Tomboy , Age Gap , Kuudere , Gore , Isekai , Idol , Guns

Yuri Kuma Arashi

Also known as Yurikuma Arashi.

Studio: SILVER LINK.
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Psychological , Romance

At some point, somewhere in outer space, the small planet Kumalia exploded. As the particles of what used to be Kumalia showered upon Earth as a meteor shower, for some reason all the bears on earth stood up to attack humanity! In due time, a great "Wall of Extinction" was built between humans and bears, and they could no longer show aggression towards one another... One morning, Kureha Tsubasa and Sumika Izumino were alone watching lily flowers blooming. Just then, a Bear Warning pierces loudly through the air! Mystery brings on more mysteries, a series of one raging blow after another!



Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Yuri , Primarily Female Cast , Bullying , Love Triangle , Female Protagonist , Philosophy , Satire , Achronological Order , Fairy Tale , Henshin , Nudity , School , Anthropomorphism , Meta , Animals , Amnesia , Guns , Tragedy , Gods , Cohabitation , Religion

Tsuritama

Also known as Tsuritama.

Studio: Aniplex , Dentsu , A-1 Pictures , Fuji TV , Sentai Filmworks , tsuritama partners , Sakura Create
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Sci-Fi , Slice of Life , Sports

You can't catch fish if you don't go fishing, and you can't make friends if you don't at least try.

Which is how relationship-challenged student Yuki finds himself on a fishing trip to a tiny island with three other boys he barely knows. Well, two other boys and Haru, who claims that he's an alien. Not that constantly stewing Natsuki or mysterious Akira are any more likely as prospects for good companionship.

But there's something about fishing that makes it unlike any other pastime, and maybe that quiet sense of companionship and hopeful expectation is just what Yuki needs to start charting the unfamiliar waters of personal connections. Or maybe it will turn out that Haru's right and they're going to have to save the entire planet.

There are lots of different kinds of fish stories, from the "ones that got away" to the "best catches ever," but whichever way the currents of life take them, for four young men, this trip may turn out to be the biggest whopper ever!



Tags: Fishing , Coming of Age , Aliens , Male Protagonist , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Tanned Skin , Primarily Teen Cast , Family Life , Coastal , Shapeshifting , Memory Manipulation , Primarily Male Cast , Fugitive , Outdoor Activities , Dancing , School

Hoshiai no Sora

Also known as Stars Align.

Studio: 8-bit
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life , Sports

Due to the apparent incompetence of its members and lack of results, the boy's soft tennis team is on the verge of being shut down. Toma Shinjou, captain and seemingly only motivated member, seeks the help of newly transferred, and old friend, Maki Katsuragi to improve the club's track record but soon it becomes apparent that what is holding the boys back are problems that run far deeper than the simple sport.

Tags: Coming of Age , Tennis , School Club , Primarily Male Cast , Family Life , Tragedy , School , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Primarily Child Cast , Bullying , Revenge , Ensemble Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes , Boys' Love , Adoption , Transgender , Crossdressing , Twins

Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight

Also known as Revue Starlight.

Studio: Kinema Citrus , Pony Canyon , OVERLAP , APDREAM , TBS , Sound Team Don Juan , Nelke Planning , Bushiroad , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Music , Psychological

The franchise centers on "Starlight" — the song and dance revue troupe loved throughout the world. Karen and Hikari make a promise with each other when they're young that one day they'll stand on that stage together. Time passes, and now the girls are 16 years old. Karen is very enthusiastic about the lessons she takes every day, holding her promise close to her heart. Hikari has transferred schools and is now away from Karen. But the cogs of fate turn, and the two are destined to meet again. The girls and other "Stage Girls" will compete in a mysterious audition process to gain acceptance into the revue.



Tags: Musical Theater , Primarily Female Cast , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Acting , Female Protagonist , Meta , Fairy Tale , Battle Royale , Boarding School , Unrequited Love , Philosophy , Animals , Spearplay , School , Time Loop , Coming of Age , Henshin , Swordplay , Yuri , Dancing , LGBTQ+ Themes , Love Triangle , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Archery , Tomboy , Motorcycles , Urban

Fairy Ranmaru: Anata no Kokoro Otasuke Shimasu

Also known as Fairy Ranmaru.

Studio: Pony Canyon , Studio Comet
Status: Finished
Genres: Ecchi , Mahou Shoujo , Slice of Life

This world is all about do or die. There ain't no paradise. You go down once and you're out. This world is filled with people who suffer believing that. Hey, you there. Are you really going to pretend not to notice? We, however, cannot do that. Let us wipe away your tears. We'll put that smile back on your face. But it's not going to be for free. Please come by Bar F. Have no fear. We don't need any money. There's only one thing that we want... "We'll take your heart!!"



Tags: Primarily Male Cast , Henshin , Magic , Fairy , Parody , LGBTQ+ Themes , Boys' Love , Suicide , Elf , Idol , Bar , School

FLCL

Also known as FLCL.

Studio: Gainax , Production I.G , Starchild Records , Funimation , GANSIS
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Mecha , Sci-Fi

Naota is a detached sixth grader afflicted by the pangs of puberty. He's fooling around with his brother's ex-girlfriend when a crazed girl on a motor scooter runs him over, brains him with a bass guitar, and moves into his house. This pink-haired girl, Haruko - who claims she's an alien - hurls Naota into the middle of a mega-corporation's secret agenda. Oh, and now giant battling robots shoot from his skull. Mix in mind-bending animation and tunes that echo through your cerebellum to top off the trip that will have you falling hard for FLCL.



Tags: Coming of Age , Surreal Comedy , Psychosexual , Male Protagonist , Age Gap , Female Protagonist , Meta , Philosophy , Robots , Slapstick , Primarily Teen Cast , Denpa , Aliens , Love Triangle , Parody , Heterosexual , Mopeds , Vore , Amnesia , Guns , Kaiju , Urban , Gods , Super Robot , Body Horror , Real Robot , Nudity , Episodic , Baseball , CGI

Flip Flappers

Also known as FLIP FLAPPERS.

Studio: Studio 3Hz , Infinite , Happinet , Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures , GAGA , Lantis , Medicos Entertainment , AT-X , Sotsu , BS Fuji , TOKYO MX , Ray
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Psychological , Sci-Fi

As a middle school student, Cocona has been trying to decide what to do with her life. Magical Girl, however, wasn’t a career path that she’d ever considered. When suddenly a strange girl named Papika thrusts her into a secret organization called Flip Flap, Cocona’s outlook does a radical flip-flop. Her views start to change when she is dragged into an alternate dimension called Pure Illusion where she’s charged with gathering crystal shards and fighting strange creatures. Now, between running missions and facing off against a rival organization, Cocona doesn’t have much time to consider alternate career choices. What are these shards, and why is gathering them so important? There’s a mystery to be solved and multiple worlds to be saved in FLIP FLAPPERS!



Tags: Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Henshin , LGBTQ+ Themes , Yuri , Meta , Magic , Kemonomimi , Desert , Archery , Guns , Urban , Urban Fantasy , Swordplay , Robots , Primarily Female Cast , Surreal Comedy , Memory Manipulation , Super Power , Dissociative Identities , Cult , Time Manipulation , Episodic , Age Regression , Isekai , Tragedy , Twins , Surfing , School , Love Triangle , Tsundere , Super Robot , Parody , Yandere , Heterosexual