Anime like Narutaru: Mukuro Naru Hoshi Tama Taru Ko

Bokurano

Also known as Bokurano.

Studio: GONZO , diomedéa
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mecha , Psychological , Sci-Fi

During a summer camp, 15 children, 8 males and 7 females, find a grotto by the sea. Deep within they discover working computers and some electronic equipment, and later the owner, a man called Kokopelli. Kokopelli claimed to be a programmer working on a brand new game, in which a large robot has to defend the Earth against alien invasions. He persuades the children to test the game and sign a contract. All but one of them signs, barely a moment later they mysteriously awaken on the shore believing what happened was just a dream.



Tags: Tragedy , Ensemble Cast , Super Robot , Alternate Universe , Philosophy , Denpa , Military , Death Game , Aliens , Politics , Seinen , Yakuza , Heterosexual , Age Gap , Tomboy , Love Triangle , Conspiracy , Nudity

Alien 9

Also known as Alien Nine.

Studio: J.C.STAFF , Genco , MediaNet , Central Park Media , Nippon Columbia , AT-X , Bandai Visual , Hanabee Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Slice of Life

Yuri Ootani, a girl who has been afraid of aliens, has been chosen to be on the alien party with the class president Kumi Kawamura, whose only intention to join the alien party is to get out of presidential duties, as well as Kasumi Tomine who is perfect at everything she does, including fighting all the aliens that come in their way.

Tags: Aliens , Coming of Age , Denpa , Body Horror , Primarily Child Cast , Cosmic Horror , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , School , School Club , Tragedy , Philosophy , Seinen , Post-Apocalyptic , Gore , Dullahan , Nudity , Vore ,

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

Shin Seiki Evangelion

Also known as Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Studio: Gainax , TV Tokyo , ADV Films , Kadokawa Shoten , NAS , Tatsunoko Production , GKIDS , Madman Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi

In the year 2015, the Angels, huge, tremendously powerful, alien war machines, appear in Tokyo for the second time. The only hope for Mankind's survival lies in the Evangelion, a humanoid fighting machine developed by NERV, a special United Nations agency. Capable of withstanding anything the Angels can dish out, the Evangelion's one drawback lies in the limited number of people able to pilot them. Only a handful of teenagers, all born fourteen years ago, nine months after the Angels first appeared, are able to interface with the Evangelion. One such teenager is Shinji Ikari, whose father heads the NERV team that developed and maintains the Evangelion. Thrust into a maelstrom of battle and events that he does not understand, Shinji is forced to plumb the depths of his own inner resources for the courage and strength to not only fight, but to survive, or risk losing everything.



Note: Later releases include edited versions of Episodes 21-24 called the "Director's Cut" with some visual editing and adding extra scenes that appeared in the theatrical recap 'Death'.

Tags: Philosophy , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Super Robot , Dystopian , Post-Apocalyptic , Angels , Cosmic Horror , Psychosexual , Kaiju , Primarily Teen Cast , Male Protagonist , Conspiracy , Meta , Denpa , Aliens , Suicide , Mythology , Body Horror , Military , Religion , Clone , Kuudere , Tokusatsu , Tsundere , Politics , Gore , Found Family , Estranged Family , Trains , Bisexual , Espionage , LGBTQ+ Themes , Boys' Love , Episodic , Nudity , Artificial Intelligence

Kamisama Dolls

Studio: TV Tokyo , Media Factory , Brain's Base , AT-X , Sentai Filmworks , flying DOG , Sony Music Communications , Shogakukan
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Supernatural

Kyouhei, after moving away to Tokyo from his old town to get away from the events that happened, is on a goukon with his friends, including his old neighbor, Shiba. After drinking for a whole night, he and Shiba discover a dead, bloody body in the elevator. He is told by his younger sister, Utao with her Kamisama Doll, that Aki, an old friend, and his Doll are the culprits responsible.

Tags: Rural , Urban , Urban Fantasy , Fugitive , Seinen , Artificial Intelligence , Shrine Maiden , Heterosexual , Twins , Tragedy

Digimon Tamers

Studio: Toei Animation , Yomiko Advertising
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

Takato Matsuda, Ruki Matsuno, and Lee Jenrya are children who have, by fate, received real Digimon, unlike the imaginary ones in the card game they play. Each of the children, or "Digimon Tamers", have their different views on how Digimon should be treated. But when other Digimon begin to appear around Japan, they must put aside their differences to fend off the digital intruders; even though Yamaki, who is the head of a secret organization called Hypnos is trying to eliminate all of the Digimon himself.



Tags: Primarily Child Cast , Virtual World , Artificial Intelligence , Tragedy , Denpa , Kids , Cosmic Horror , Proxy Battle , Male Protagonist , Kaiju , Dinosaurs , Henshin , Isekai , Animals , Card Battle , Kuudere , Anthropomorphism

Digimon Adventure

Also known as Digimon: Digital Monsters.

Studio: Toei Animation , Yomiko Advertising , Fuji TV
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

Seven kids are transported to the Digital World, a strange place where digital creatures called "Digimon" reside. A group of Digimon soon befriend them and keep the kids out of harm's way. The children then discover they are the Chosen Children, which protect the Digital World from evil Digimon like Devimon and Vamdemon.

Tags: Isekai , Virtual World , Primarily Child Cast , Proxy Battle , Ensemble Cast , Artificial Intelligence , Coming of Age , Kaiju , Kids , Henshin , Wilderness , Animals , Anthropomorphism , Reverse Isekai , Dinosaurs , Creature Taming , Cosmic Horror , Angels , Primarily Animal Cast , Camping , Survival , Travel , Family Life , Time Skip , Dragons , Demons , Male Protagonist , Urban , Adoption , Desert , Tomboy , Vampire

KEY THE METAL IDOL

Also known as Key the Metal Idol.

Studio: Studio Pierrot , Pony Canyon , Fuji TV , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Music , Sci-Fi

Her classmates at school called her Key, as in the "key" to a strange mystery. Key's "grandfather" was a kindly old scientist wanting to use his skill in robotics to create peace and love in the world. But when that kindly old scientist passed away, poor Key was left behind, lacking even the ability to smile.
There still is hope, however a message left behind for Key suggests a fantastic possibility. Could it really be possible for Key to become a real, live human, if she can only win the love of 30,000 people? A dark, haunting tale of cybernetic sci-fi dreams, spiritual visions, and the turbulent world of Japanese pop music.



Note: The two last episodes have a duration of ~98 minutes

Tags: Robots , Idol , Female Protagonist , Artificial Intelligence , Denpa , Conspiracy , Cyberpunk , Tragedy , Dissociative Identities , Gore , Kuudere , Cult , Amnesia , Super Power , Nudity , Guns , Shrine Maiden , Urban

Takopii no Genzai

Also known as Takopi's Original Sin.

Studio: ENISHIYA , TBS
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Sci-Fi

A Happy alien, Takopi, lands on Earth with one mission: to spread happiness! When he meets Shizuka, a lonely fourth grader, he vows to bring back her smile using his magical Happy Gadgets. But as he uncovers the pain in her life, Takopi learns that true happiness may require more than gadgets.



Tags: Tragedy , Denpa , Bullying , Parenthood , Primarily Child Cast , Time Manipulation , Estranged Family , Suicide , Aliens , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Crime , Philosophy , School , Time Skip , Shapeshifting , Revenge , Memory Manipulation , Ensemble Cast , Rural , Heterosexual , Achronological Order , Gore , Clone

Shinreigari: Ghost Hound

Also known as Ghost Hound.

Studio: Production I.G , Pony Canyon , Sentai Filmworks , Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

In an isolated region of Kyushu lies the town of Suiten. Though seeming small and modest, Suiten is not a picturesque place for a vacation, unless it is from the “Unseen World”. Taro, Makoto and Masayuki, three boys with traumatic pasts, learn to let their souls cross between the two parallel worlds. However, the Unseen World is no mere copy of the real Apparent World. The Unseen World is the home of ghosts, but changes are now allowing the souls of the dead to pass over into the Apparent World, with unpredictable effects. Follow the journey of Taro, Makoto and Masayuki, as they cross between the two worlds, trying to unravel a great mystery.



Tags: Denpa , Ghost , Rural , Dissociative Identities , Cosmic Horror , Rehabilitation , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Cult , Kuudere , Conspiracy , Mythology , Seinen , Bullying , Philosophy , Love Triangle , No Dialogue , Nudity