Anime like Gakkou Gurashi!

Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica

Also known as Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

Studio: Aniplex , Shaft , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Movic , Nitroplus , Aniplex of America , Madoka Partners , Houbunsha , Manga Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Psychological , Thriller

One night, 14-year-old Madoka Kaname has a terrible nightmare - against the backdrop of a devastated city, she witnesses a girl fight a losing battle against a dreadful being lingering above, while a cat-like magical creature tells Madoka the only way to change such tragic outcome is for her to make a contract with him and become a magical girl.

The next day, the teen's dream seemingly becomes reality as the girl she saw in her dream - Homura - arrives at Mitakihara Middle School as a transfer student, mysteriously warning Madoka to stay just the way she is; but when later on she and her best friend Sayaka encounter the same cat-like magical creature from her dream - who introduces himself as Kyubey - the pair discovers that magical girls are real, and what's more, they can choose to become one. All they must do is sign a contract with Kyubey and agree to take on the duty to fight abstract beings called 'witches' that spread despair to the human world, and in return, each one of them will be granted any single wish they desire. However, as Homura's omen suggests, there might be far more to becoming a magical girl than Madoka and Sayaka realize...

Notes:
Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the broadcasts of episodes 11 and 12 were delayed and were later aired as a double feature on April 21, 2011.

Tags: Magic , Tragedy , Cosmic Horror , Female Protagonist , Witch , Primarily Female Cast , Time Manipulation , Time Loop , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Teen Cast , Philosophy , Alternate Universe , Henshin , Coming of Age , Survival , Primarily Child Cast , Aliens , Kuudere , Urban , Mixed Media , Gods , Anti-Hero , Suicide , LGBTQ+ Themes , Denpa , Yandere , Guns , Swordplay , Spearplay , School , Achronological Order , Tomboy , Yuri , Anthropomorphism , Archery

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

Also known as When They Cry.

Studio: Studio DEEN , Frontier Works , Sotsu , DAX Production , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends. However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa. From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem. Based on the amateur mystery game by 07th Expansion, the story is told in a series of different scenarios.

Tags: Denpa , Alternate Universe , Ensemble Cast , Time Manipulation , Tragedy , Conspiracy , Rural , Achronological Order , Gore , Time Loop , Body Horror , Bullying , Torture , Urban Fantasy , Male Protagonist , Yandere , Twins , Chibi , Mythology , Pandemic , Primarily Female Cast , School Club , Shrine Maiden , Primarily Teen Cast , Police , Historical , Crossdressing , Board Game , Surreal Comedy

Shuumatsu Train Doko e Iku?

Also known as Train to the End of the World.

Studio: KADOKAWA , EMT Squared , Movic , flying DOG , DAXEL , TOKYO MX , AT-X
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

In a seemingly ordinary rural town, something strange is happening to the residents. But Shizuru Chikura is more concerned for her missing friend. Determined to find her, Shizuru and three other girls board an abandoned train and travel to the outside world, unsure if they’ll make it back alive. As they venture toward the unknown, the question looms: What awaits them at the final stop?



Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Trains , Travel , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Surreal Comedy , Cosmic Horror , Memory Manipulation , Rural , Episodic , Shapeshifting , Philosophy , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Gyaru , Coming of Age , Anthropomorphism , Military , Animals , Zombie , Denpa , Time Skip , Tragedy , Archery , Shogi

Happy Sugar Life

Also known as Happy Sugar Life.

Studio: Ezo’la , Square Enix , VAP , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Bit promotion , Genco , Studio Blanc
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

Satou Matsuzaka is a beautiful high schooler who has a reputation for being permissive with men. However, a chance encounter with a young girl named Shio Koube makes Satou realize that this is her first and only true feeling of love. Telling others that she lives with her aunt, Satou secretly shares an apartment with Shio. Despite her innocent appearance, Satou is willing to do anything to protect her beloved, resorting to desperate measures to ensure that their "happy sugar life" remains intact.



Tags: Found Family , Tragedy , Yandere , Crime , Female Protagonist , Urban , Age Gap , Anti-Hero , Primarily Female Cast , Suicide , Psychosexual , Hypersexuality , Denpa , Yuri , Gore , Amnesia , Cohabitation , Ensemble Cast , Work

Zom 100: Zombie ni Naru Made ni Shitai 100 no Koto

Also known as Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead.

Studio: Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions , BUG FILMS , Shaft
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Horror , Supernatural

Surviving a zombie apocalypse beats being a wage slave any day! After spending years slaving away for a soul-crushing company, Akira's life has lost its luster. He lives in a trash-filled apartment, his pay is abysmal, and he can't even muster up the nerve to confess his love to his beautiful co-worker. But when a zombie apocalypse ravages his town, it gives him the push he needs to live for himself. Now Akira's on a mission to complete all 100 items on his bucket list before he...well, kicks the bucket.



Tags: Zombie , Travel , Post-Apocalyptic , Surreal Comedy , Survival , Rural , Male Protagonist , Urban , Revenge , Urban Fantasy , Slapstick , Primarily Adult Cast , Rehabilitation , Work , Seinen , Gore , Tsundere , Body Horror , Tragedy , Nudity , Agriculture , Heterosexual , Motorcycles , Rugby , Achromatic , Office , Suicide , Cultivation

Mieruko-chan

Also known as Mieruko-chan.

Studio: Passione , KADOKAWA , Magic Capsule , Docomo Anime Store , BS Nippon , AT-X , Kadokawa Media House , TOKYO MX
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Horror , Slice of Life , Supernatural

She can see dead people…she just chooses to ignore them. That’s Miko’s plan, anyway, but it doesn’t seem to be working for her in this love letter to the horror genre that will send shivers down your spine—and occasionally tickle your funny bone.



Tags: Ghost , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Urban Fantasy , Body Horror , Youkai , Seinen , School , Gods , Nudity , Animals , Bullying , Yuri

Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou

Also known as Girls' Last Tour.

Studio: WHITE FOX , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Sci-Fi , Slice of Life

Civilization is dead, but Chito and Yuuri are still alive. So they hop aboard their beloved Kettenkrad motorbike and aimlessly wander the ruins of the world they once knew. Day after hopeless day, they look for their next meal and fuel for their ride. But as long as the two are together, even an existence as bleak as theirs has a ray or two of sunshine in it, whether they're sucking down their fill of soup or hunting for machine parts to tinker with. For two girls in a world full of nothing, the experiences and feelings the two share give them something to live for…



Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Lost Civilization , Philosophy , Episodic , Iyashikei , Travel , Female Protagonist , Environmental , Tragedy , Survival , Urban , Primarily Female Cast , Chibi , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Denpa , Military , Seinen , Robots , Tanks , Snowscape , Kuudere , Artificial Intelligence , Aliens , Photography , Guns , CGI , Language Barrier , Aviation , Nudity , Anthropomorphism , Proxy Battle

Made in Abyss

Also known as Made in Abyss.

Studio: Kinema Citrus , Media Factory , AT-X , Sony Music Communications , Sentai Filmworks , Cygames
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Sci-Fi

The "Abyss" is the last unexplored place in the world. Strange and wonderful creatures roam within, and it is full of precious relics that present humans can't recreate. Those that dare to explore the depths are known as "Cave Raiders." An orphan girl named Riko lives on the rim. Her dream is to become a Cave Raider like her mother and solve the mysteries of the cave system. One day, Riko starts exploring the caves and discovers a robot who resembles a human boy.



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

Tags: Survival , Outdoor Activities , Primarily Child Cast , Environmental , Travel , Cosmic Horror , Body Horror , Curses , Tragedy , Chibi , Philosophy , Lost Civilization , Dungeon , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Gore , Orphan , Amnesia , Wilderness , Eco-Horror , Anthropomorphism , Robots , Male Protagonist , Steampunk , Nudity , Human Experimentation , Food , Amputation , School , Dissociative Identities , Crossdressing , Religion , Maids , Femboy , Rehabilitation , Time Manipulation

Yakusoku no Neverland

Also known as The Promised Neverland.

Studio: CloverWorks , Aniplex , Dentsu , Fuji TV , Shueisha , Aniplex of America
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Thriller

Emma, Norman and Ray are the brightest kids at the Grace Field House orphanage. And under the care of the woman they refer to as “Mom,” all the kids have enjoyed a comfortable life. Good food, clean clothes and the perfect environment to learn—what more could an orphan ask for? One day, though, Emma and Norman uncover the dark truth of the outside world they are forbidden from seeing.



Tags: Dystopian , Survival , Primarily Child Cast , Orphan , Tragedy , Found Family , Prison , Demons , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Gore , Shounen , Tanned Skin , Male Protagonist

Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku

Also known as Magical Girl Raising Project.

Studio: Lerche , flying DOG
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Fantasy , Horror , Mahou Shoujo , Psychological , Thriller

A social game called The Magical Girl Raising Project allows one in tens of thousands of people to be a "magical girl" — possessing extraordinary physical capabilities and looks, as well as special magical powers that set them apart from the rest of the human race. But one day, in a district containing 16 magical girls, the administration announces that it must halve the number of magical girls to solve the problem of magical energy.



Tags: Super Power , Magic , Urban , Battle Royale , Death Game , Video Games , Tragedy , Kuudere , Superhero , Primarily Female Cast , Swordplay , Urban Fantasy , Witch , Robots , Ensemble Cast , Chibi , Tsundere , Revenge , Denpa , Female Protagonist , Gore , Henshin , Angels , Crime , Primarily Teen Cast , Suicide , Spearplay , Guns , Nun , Tomboy , Gender Bending , LGBTQ+ Themes , Elf , Twins , Cowboys , Ninja , Bullying , Pregnancy