Anime like Kitarou Tanjou: Gegege no Nazo

Mushishi

Also known as MUSHI-SHI.

Studio: Artland , Marvelous Entertainment , Funimation , Delfi Sound
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Neither good nor evil, they are life in its purest form. Vulgar and strange, they have inspired fear in humans since the dawn of time and have, over the ages, come to be known as "mushi." The stories of the Mushi and the people they affect are all linked together by a traveling Mushi-shi, or "Mushi Master," who seeks rare Mushi sightings and uses his shaman-like knowledge of Mushi to help the affected people.

What are the Mushi and what do they want?



Tags: Environmental , Youkai , Mythology , Episodic , Philosophy , Rural , Travel , Male Protagonist , Animals , Iyashikei , Outdoor Activities , Exorcism , Tragedy , Snowscape , Eco-Horror , Seinen , Historical , Wilderness , Coastal , Primarily Adult Cast , Amnesia , Cult , Monster Girl , Suicide

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 , Male Protagonist , Yandere , Twins , Urban Fantasy , Chibi , Mythology , Pandemic , Primarily Female Cast , School Club , Shrine Maiden , Primarily Teen Cast , Police , Historical , Crossdressing , Board Game

Akuma-kun (ONA)

Also known as Akuma Kun.

Studio: Toei Animation , Encourage Films
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy , Horror , Supernatural

Akuma-kun is a boy who was adopted and risen by the former Akuma: Shingo Umoregi. He works as a paranormal investigator and solves murder mysteries with the helping hand of his half-human partner Mephisto the Third.

The show, despite being an alternate story, is set to be the adventure of Shingo's "son", therefore, it could be considered as a sequel to the 1989 original



Tags: Detective , Monster Boy , Youkai , Episodic , Demons , Crime , Urban Fantasy , Magic , Anti-Hero , Family Life , Adoption , Angels , Urban , Male Protagonist , Body Horror , Guns , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Gore , Suicide

Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu

Also known as The Summer Hikaru Died.

Studio: KADOKAWA , CygamesPictures , Netflix , CyberAgent , CygamesPictures , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

Two best friends living in a rural Japanese village: Yoshiki and Hikaru. Growing up together, they were inseparable… until the day Hikaru came back from the mountains, and was no longer himself. “Something” has taken over Hikaru’s body, memories, feelings… and everything they know begins to unravel.



Tags: Monster Boy , Rural , Tragedy , Cosmic Horror , Male Protagonist , Mythology , Body Horror , Gods , LGBTQ+ Themes , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Teen Cast , Curses , Unrequited Love , Boys' Love , Seinen , Mixed Media , Philosophy , School , POV , Detective , Denpa , Asexual , CGI , Aromantic , Disability

Vampire Miyu

Also known as Vampire Princess Miyu.

Studio: AIC , AnimEigo , Pony Canyon , Soei Shinsha
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Psychological , Supernatural

A quiet gothic horror story about a vampire girl, Miyu, whose destiny it is to hunt down murderous demons known as Shinma and return them to their land of origin, the Dark. Miyu is pursued by the Spiritualist Himiko, determined to find out who Miyu is and to stop her from sucking the life blood from helpless humans. Each of the four episodes chronicle one of Miyu's encounters with a Shinma and the humans that it is affecting, from the perspective of Himiko's pursuit of Miyu.



Tags: Demons , Vampire , Time Skip , Philosophy , Cosmic Horror , School , Body Horror , Gods , Episodic , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Afterlife , Tragedy , Unrequited Love

Vampire Miyu (TV)

Also known as Vampire Princess Miyu (TV).

Studio: AIC , Arts Pro , Victor Entertainment , Maiden Japan
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Supernatural

Evil Shinma (shape-shifting monsters and vampires) roam the Earth on a mission to unleash their darkness upon the Human race. Miyu Royal Princess from the dark is the Chosen One—the one being who must banish the Evil Shinma from the Earth. She has the power to offer Humans the gift of eternal happiness, yet is herself, trapped between two worlds; destined for perpetual solitude and internal conflict.

Miyu's only companion is Larva, once an evil Shimna; now her devoted guardian. Together they share a dark journey through the weakness of the human heart and the tragic loss of innocence. Cut off from humanity by the knowledge of what she is, Miyu lives an endless quest as both the hunter and the hunted, on the edge of darkness.



Tags: Demons , Episodic , Anti-Hero , Vampire , Youkai , Shoujo , Tragedy , Female Protagonist , Body Horror , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Urban Fantasy , Gore , Yuri

Hakaba Kitarou

Also known as Graveyard Kitaro.

Studio: Toei Animation , Sony Music Entertainment , Fujipacific Music
Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Supernatural

Kitarou is a youkai boy born in a cemetery, and aside from his mostly-decayed father, the last living member of the Ghost tribe. He is missing his left eye, but his hair usually covers the empty socket. He fights for peace between humans and youkai, which generally involves protecting the former from the wiles of the latter.

This version of the Kitarou story is based on the original Hakaba Kitarou manga, the manga which inspired the popular Gegege no Kitarou series in the late 60's.



Tags: Youkai , Suicide , Tragedy , Orphan , Anti-Hero , Male Protagonist , Vampire , Kemonomimi , Homeless

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

Kurenai no Buta

Also known as Porco Rosso.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , Tokuma Shoten , Walt Disney Studios , GKIDS
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Romance

Take flight with "Porco" Rosso, a valiant World War I flying ace! From tropical Adriatic settings to dazzling aerial maneuvers, this action-adventure from world-renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki is full of humor, courage and chivalry. When "Porco" —whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell— infuriates a band of sky pirates with his aerial heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a rival pilot, to "get rid" of him. On the ground, the two pilots compete for the affections of the beautiful Gina. But it is in the air where the true battles are waged. Will our hero be victorious?



Tags: Aviation , Foreign , Anthropomorphism , Historical , Philosophy , Primarily Adult Cast , Coastal , Age Gap , Male Protagonist , Pirates , Fugitive , Travel , Military , Heterosexual , Fairy Tale , War , Primarily Male Cast , Guns , Boxing , Gambling

Tetsujin 28-gou (2004)

Also known as Tetsujin 28.

Studio: Genco , Palm Studio , Discotek , GANSIS
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Mecha , Sci-Fi

In post-WWII Japan, Prof. Shikishima has built up Shikishima Industries to be a technological powerhouse, working on developing robots. However, at the heart of their success lurks a dark secret from the war, something that cost the life of Prof. Kaneda, the mentor of Prof. Shikishima. Now Kaneda's son, Shoutarou, is about to learn the truth, and it will change him forever.



Tags: Philosophy , Shounen , Tragedy , Real Robot , War , Historical , Guns , Male Protagonist , Detective