Anime like Fune wo Amu

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Also known as Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju.

Studio: Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

The story revolves around a mature prisoner who was released on good behavior during Japan's Shouwa Genroku era (1960s to early 1970s). He is called Yotarou by others, a term that means an "anti-hero" or a "dim-witted man." When he returns to society, he starts a new life in rakugo (comic storytelling). Touched by Yakumo's role as the "grim reaper," he asks the master to take him in as an apprentice. Most of the season delves into Yakumo's own past during World War II and the years afterward.



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

Tags: Rakugo , Tragedy , Acting , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Josei , Love Triangle , Time Skip , Male Protagonist , Disability , Meta , War , Suicide , Elderly Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast

SHIROBAKO

Also known as SHIROBAKO.

Studio: P.A.WORKS
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Slice of Life

Once upon a time, five girls made an animated film and it was so much fun that they pledged to get jobs in animation so that someday they could make another film together. Now, two years later, Aoi, Shizuka, Ema, Misa and Midori have learned the truth about the anime industry: it's not always fun, it's anything but easy, and having talent isn't always enough to open the right doors.

Which is why Aoi's overwhelmed by her job as a production assistant, Shizuka's waiting on tables between auditions, Midori's currently scriptless, Misa's switched to C.G., and Ema's working long hours as a key animator. Is it what they imagined? No. But are they ready to give up? Not just yet! Sometimes, when things happen in animation, they can happen in the most wonderful ways!



Tags: Work , Primarily Adult Cast , Drawing , Female Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Meta , Otaku Culture , Educational , Office Lady , Primarily Female Cast , Coming of Age , Office , Acting , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Cars , Kuudere , Primarily Teen Cast

Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru

Also known as Run with the Wind.

Studio: Production I.G , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sports

Former ace runner of Sendai Josei High School, Kakeru Kurahara is chased away from a convenience store for shoplifting. Shaking off his pursuer, he runs into Haiji Kiyose, another student from his university. Haiji is impressed by Kakeru's agility and persuades him to live in Chikusei-sou, the run-down apartment where Haiji resides along with eight other students. Having lost his entire apartment deposit at a mahjong parlor, Kakeru accepts the offer reluctantly. However, Haiji reveals a secret during Kakeru's welcoming party: the apartment is actually the dormitory of the Kansei University Track Club. He unveils his ultimate goal of participating in the Hakone Ekiden—one of the most prominent university marathon relay races in Japan. Unfortunately, all the residents apart from Haiji and Kakeru are complete running novices. Worse still, none of the inhabitants are even remotely interested in being involved with Haiji's ridiculous plan! With only months before the deadline, will the fourth-year student be able to convince them otherwise and realize his elusive dream of running in the Hakone Ekiden?

Tags: Athletics , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , School Club , Primarily Adult Cast , Fitness , Rehabilitation , College , Outdoor Activities , CGI , Twins , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Heterosexual , Tanned Skin , Food , Trains

Nami yo Kiitekure

Also known as Wave, Listen to Me!.

Studio: Sunrise , DMM pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

On a drunken night out to complain about an ex, Minare Koda absentmindedly shares too much information with a stranger from the radio station. The next morning, she’s shocked to hear her voice on the radio. Bursting into the station with intentions to justify her previous night’s rant quickly turns into an interview on-air and the offer to share her chaotic life with an unsuspecting audience!



Tags: Work , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Seinen , Restaurant , Urban , Educational , Food , CGI

Sakura Quest

Also known as Sakura Quest.

Studio: P.A.WORKS
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

Five young women have one thing in common—the careers they planned for themselves weren’t working out. Job dissatisfaction, trying to make ends meet, and personal insecurities lead each of them to start working at a local tourism bureau where their lives become intertwined. As the girls experience their first year on the job, they learn a lot about their town, their industry, and themselves.



Tags: Work , Rural , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Female Cast , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Politics , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Acting

Barakamon

Also known as Barakamon.

Studio: Kinema Citrus , VAP , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Slice of Life

Seishuu Handa is an up-and-coming calligrapher: young, handsome, talented, and unfortunately, a narcissist to boot. When a veteran labels his award-winning piece as "unoriginal," Seishuu quickly loses his cool with severe repercussions.

As punishment, and also in order to aid him in self-reflection, Seishuu's father exiles him to the Goto Islands, far from the comfortable Tokyo lifestyle the temperamental artist is used to. Now thrown into a rural setting, Seishuu must attempt to find new inspiration and develop his own unique art style—that is, if boisterous children (headed by the frisky Naru Kotoishi), fujoshi middle schoolers, and energetic old men stop barging into his house! The newest addition to the intimate and quirky Goto community only wants to get some work done, but the islands are far from the peaceful countryside he signed up for. Thanks to his wacky neighbors who are entirely incapable of minding their own business, the arrogant calligrapher learns so much more than he ever hoped to.



Tags: Calligraphy , Rural , Found Family , Iyashikei , Episodic , Male Protagonist , Rehabilitation , Family Life , Seinen , Philosophy , Coming of Age , Teacher , Coastal , Slapstick , Tsundere , Fishing

Hanasaku Iroha

Also known as Hanasaku Iroha ~Blossoms for Tomorrow~.

Studio: Bandai Visual , Yomiuri TV , Lantis , P.A.WORKS , Pony Canyon , NIS America Inc. , Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Slice of Life

After her single mother decides to run off with a boyfriend to dodge debt collectors, the young and energetic Ohana is sent to live with her grandmother. However, her grandmother is the strict owner of a hot springs inn and requires her to work at the inn to pay for her living expenses. Although Ohana is unhappy about this situation at first, she decides to make the best of her situation and work hard. Ohana's life is suddenly filled with fun, mischief, and drama!

Tags: Work , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Rural , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Family Life , Primarily Female Cast , Inn , School , Love Triangle , Writing , Trains , Crossdressing

Bakuman.

Also known as Bakuman..

Studio: J.C.STAFF , NHK , Media Blasters , NHK Enterprises , NYAV Post
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Moritaka Mashiro and Akito Takagi are pretty much foils of each other. Mashiro, an average 9th grade student but talented artist, and Takagi, an overall advanced 9th grader and aspiring writer. After great convincing, Takagi convinces Mashiro to join him in becoming the greatest mangakas Japan has ever seen. Takagi, with his gift of writing, hopes to become a successful mangaka, and Mashiro, with his gift of art, hopes to marry the girl of his dreams, Azuki Miho.



Tags: Work , Writing , Drawing , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Meta , Shounen , School , Primarily Teen Cast

Hataraki Man

Also known as Hataraki Man.

Studio: Studio Gallop , Kodansha , Fuji TV , Sony Music Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Hiroko Matsukata is a woman who works for a magazine company. She puts all she has into her work, and is known as a strong, straight-forward working girl, who can at will turn herself into Hataraki man (working man) mode. Despite Hiroko's success at work, her life lacks romance. Even though a hard worker, she'd leave early anytime to go on a date. Too bad her boyfriend is even bigger a workaholic than Hiroko.



Tags: Work , Female Protagonist , Office Lady , Office , Primarily Adult Cast , Seinen , Philosophy , Episodic , Nudity

Violet Evergarden

Also known as Violet Evergarden.

Studio: Kyoto Animation , Lantis , Pony Canyon , Rakuonsha , Madman Entertainment , ABC Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Slice of Life

A certain point in time, in the continent of Telesis. The great war which divided the continent into North and South has ended after four years, and the people are welcoming a new generation. Violet Evergarden, a young girl formerly known as “the weapon”, has left the battlefield to start a new life at CH Postal Service. There, she is deeply moved by the work of “Auto Memories Dolls”, who carry people's thoughts and convert them into words. Violet begins her journey as an Auto Memories Doll, and comes face to face with various people's emotions and differing shapes of love. There are words Violet heard on the battlefield, which she cannot forget. These words were given to her by someone she holds dear, more than anyone else. She does not yet know their meaning but she searches to find it.



Tags: Rehabilitation , Writing , Tragedy , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Kuudere , Work , War , Disability , Military , Episodic , Orphan , Travel , Philosophy , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Steampunk , Heterosexual , Foreign , Age Gap , Trains , Guns , Assassins