Anime like Grimm Kumikyoku

Aoi Bungaku Series

Also known as Blue Literature Series.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Romance , Thriller

Anthology series adapting six modern classics of Japanese literature:

No Longer Human (Ningen Shikkaku) by Dazai Osamu — A high school student becomes lost and alienated. Despondent and aimless, he falls into a cycle of self abuse, depression and drugs that taints his life for years. Told in three chapters, each chapter deals with a different point in his life and the final chapter leaves him standing alone — an empty and hollow caricature of his former self.

In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom (Sakura no Mori no Mankai no Shita) by Sakaguchi Ango — A love story between a 12th-century woman and a mountain bandit who abducts her.

Run, Melos! (Hashire, Melos!) by Dazai Osamu — An updated retelling of a classic Greek tale of the story of Damon and Pythias. Unwavering friendship is the most prominent theme of this retelling. Despite facing hardships, the protagonist Melos does his best to save his friend's life, and in the end his efforts are rewarded.

Hell Screen (Jigoku Hen) by Akutagawa Ryuunosuke — A famous artist is commissioned by a great lord to create a series of paintings depicting scenes of the Buddhist Hell. The artist is unable to paint scenes that he has not seen himself, prompting him to torture and torment the Lord's staff to create his imagined images of hell. His creative efforts taint the household, as the story descends into madness and destruction.

Kokoro by Natsume Souseki — A 1914 tale of a young man's life journey during the Meiji era. The work deals with the transition from the Japanese Meiji society to the modern era, by exploring the friendship between a young man and an older man he calls Sensei. It continues the theme of isolation developed in Souseki's previous works, here in the context of interwoven strands of egoism and guilt, as opposed to shame.

The Spider's Thread (Kumo no Ito) by Akutagawa Ryuunosuke — The Buddha Shakyamuni chances to notice a cold-hearted criminal suffering in Hell. But this criminal did perform one single act of kindness in not stepping on a spider in a forest. Moved by this selfless act, Shakyamuni takes the silvery thread of a spider in Paradise and lowers it down into Hell, but it falls upon the criminal to seize the opportunity and pull himself out — if he can.



Tags: Classic Literature , Tragedy , Philosophy , Anthology , Historical , Suicide , Autobiographical , Urban , Primarily Adult Cast , Drawing , War , Gore , Ojou-sama , Politics , Rural , Demons , Writing , Psychosexual , Religion , Trains , Female Harem , Fairy Tale , Afterlife , Delinquents , Mythology

Shadows House

Also known as SHADOWS HOUSE.

Studio: CloverWorks , Aniplex , WOWOW , Shueisha , TOKYO MX , BS Asahi , Funimation
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Slice of Life , Supernatural

High atop a cliff sits the mansion known as Shadows House, home to a faceless clan that pretends to live like nobles. They express their emotions through living dolls that also endlessly clean the home of soot. One such servant, Emilico, aids her master Kate as they learn more about themselves and the mysteries of the house.



Tags: Conspiracy , Slavery , Maids , Female Protagonist , Butler , Primarily Child Cast , Memory Manipulation , Amnesia , Cult , Super Power , Magic , Brainwashing , Ojou-sama , Seinen , Tragedy , Drugs , Death Game , Urban Fantasy , Kuudere , Fairy

xxxHOLiC

Also known as xxxHOLiC.

Studio: Production I.G , Funimation , BMG Japan , Kids Station , Kodansha
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Watanuki Kimihiro can see spirits and other assorted supernatural creatures, which is quite a bothersome ability he strongly dislikes. On the way home one day, while plagued by some spirits, he is inexplicably compelled to enter a strange house. There, he encounters Yuuko, a mysterious woman who claims to be able to rid him of the ability to see and attract the troublesome creatures – for a price. She demands for him to work at her "store" that grants wishes to people, and thus begins Watanuki's adventures through weird and wonderful events.

Tags: Urban Fantasy , Mythology , Youkai , Male Protagonist , Episodic , Philosophy , Seinen , Football , Curses , Work , Denpa , Animals , Ghost , Ensemble Cast , Orphan , Unrequited Love , School , Gods , Twins , Heterosexual , Archery , Witch

Grimm Meisaku Gekijou

Also known as Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics.

Studio: Nippon Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy

The series consists of mostly stand-alone episodes which retell different fairy or folk tales. Despite the title, they are not all based on fairy tales collected by the Grimm Brothers.

Note: As streaming on RetroCrush, the multi-part episodes of 'Puss in Boots', 'Snow White', & 'Cinderella' are combined.

Tags: Classic Literature , Fairy Tale , Anthology , Foreign , Animals , Kids , Magic , Anthropomorphism , Rural , Witch , Medieval

Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon

Also known as My Happy Marriage.

Studio: Kinema Citrus , KADOKAWA , Square Enix , Bandai Namco Music Live , Toy's Factory
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Supernatural

Despite being born into a noble family, Miyo lost her birth mother at a young age and grew up being abused by her stepmother, stepsister, and father.

When she finally receives news that she's to be married off, she finds out that her husband-to-be is Kiyoka, a soldier with a reputation for being cruel and heartless. In fact, he's had numerous previous fiancées who have all fled his household; none lasting even a mere three days.

Resigned to the fact that her family had abandoned her, Miyo knocks on the gate of the Kudou household to find herself greeted by a beautiful man with pale skin. Despite the poor treatment she receives from her husband-to-be during their first meeting, Miyo is unable to return to her old home and spends her time cooking and doing chores. However, as the days pass, Miyo and Kiyoka being to slowly open their hearts to each other...



Tags: Marriage , Arranged Marriage , Female Protagonist , Bullying , Historical , Heterosexual , Urban Fantasy , Kuudere , Shoujo , Super Power , Politics , Rehabilitation , Primarily Adult Cast , Military , Coming of Age , Age Gap , Royal Affairs , Fairy Tale , Guns , Clone , Makeup

Fujimoto Tatsuki 17-26

Also known as Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26.

Studio: ZEXCS , Lapin Track , 100studio , Studio Kafka , P.A.WORKS , Avex Pictures , GRAPH77
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Romance , Sci-Fi , Slice of Life , Supernatural

An anthology series adapting 8 short stories created by manga artist Tatsuki Fujimoto between ages 17 and 26.

1) A Couple Clucking Chickens Were Still Kickin' in the Schoolyard (Dir. Seishirou Nagaya, ZEXCS)
2) Sasaki Stopped a Bullet (Dir. Nobukage Kimura, Lapin Track)
3) Love is Blind (Dir. Nobuyuki Takeuchi, Lapin Track)
4) Shikaku (Dir. Naoya Ando, GRAPH77)
5) Mermaid Rhapsody (Dir. Tetsuaki Watanabe, 100Studio)
6) Woke-Up-as-a-Girl Syndrome (Dir. Kazuaki Terasawa, Studio Kafka)
7) Nayuta of the Prophecy (Dir. Tetsuaki Watanabe, 100Studio)
8) Sisters (Dir. Osamu Honma, P.A.WORKS)

Note: This anime had a pre-release world premiere at the "Global Stage Hollywood 2025" film festival on October 5, 2025. A general two-week theatrical run in Japan divided into two parts released on the same day October 17, 2025. The anime series later streamed worldwide in Amazon Prime Video on November 8, 2025.

Tags: Episodic , Anthology , Surreal Comedy , Urban Fantasy , Female Protagonist , School , Male Protagonist , Magic , Urban , Family Life , Found Family , Aliens , Heterosexual , Dystopian , Assassins , Coastal , Monster Girl , Shapeshifting , Gender Bending , Nudity , Mermaid , Vampire , Drawing , LGBTQ+ Themes , Language Barrier , Time Skip , Disability , Transgender , Shounen , Fugitive , Henshin , Space , Modeling , Kaiju

Itou Junji: Collection

Also known as Junji Ito Collection.

Studio: Studio DEEN , Crunchyroll
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

In the light of day and in the dead of night, mysterious horrors await in the darkest shadows of every corner. They are unexplainable, inescapable, and undefeatable. Be prepared, or you may become their next victim.

Sit back in terror as traumatizing tales of unparalleled terror unfold. Tales, such as that of a cursed jade carving that opens holes all over its victims' bodies; deep nightmares that span decades; an attractive spirit at a misty crossroad that grants cursed advice; and a slug that grows inside a girl's mouth. Tread carefully, for the horrifying supernatural tales of the Itou Junji: Collection are not for the faint of heart.



Note: Anime adaptation of stories from both the 11-volume Ito Junji Kessaku-shuu series and the Fragments of Horror book.

Tags: Anthology , Episodic , Gore , Body Horror , Tragedy , Ghost , Demons , School , Super Power , Cosmic Horror , Crime , Urban , Ensemble Cast , Heterosexual , Curses , Monster Girl , Suicide , Unrequited Love , Alternate Universe , Circus , Filmmaking , Urban Fantasy , Family Life , Nudity , Kaiju , Josei , Male Protagonist

Itou Junji: Maniac

Also known as Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre.

Studio: Netflix , Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

A Netflix produced anime series adapting 20 stories chosen by Junji Ito, including from:
Tomie
Souichi
The Hanging Balloons
The Strange Hikizuri Siblings: The Séance
Unendurable Labyrinth
The Long Hair in the Attic
Bullied
Where the Sandman Lives
Ice Cream Truck
Tomb Town
Library Vision
Headless Statue

Tags: Anthology , Episodic , Cosmic Horror , Ghost , Curses , Tragedy , Denpa , Body Horror , Religion , CGI , Monster Girl , Ensemble Cast , Urban , Alternate Universe , Bullying , Photography , Revenge , Josei , Family Life , Suicide

Howl no Ugoku Shiro

Also known as Howl‘s Moving Castle.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , d-rights , Tokuma Shoten , Walt Disney Studios , GKIDS
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell.



Tags: Magic , Female Protagonist , Interspecies , Steampunk , Witch , Elderly Protagonist , Found Family , War , Monster Boy , Shapeshifting , Curses , Heterosexual , Fairy Tale , Disability , Age Gap , Travel , Time Manipulation , Philosophy , Rural , Politics , Royal Affairs , Maids , Demons , Aviation , CGI , Coming of Age

SPY×FAMILY

Also known as SPY x FAMILY.

Studio: CloverWorks , WIT STUDIO , Toho , Shueisha , TV Tokyo , Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Everyone has a part of themselves they cannot show to anyone else.

At a time when all nations of the world were involved in a fierce war of information happening behind closed doors, Ostania and Westalis had been in a state of cold war against one another for decades. The Westalis Intelligence Services' Eastern-Focused Division (WISE) sends their most talented spy, "Twilight," on a top-secret mission to investigate the movements of Donovan Desmond, the chairman of Ostania's National Unity Party, who is threatening peace efforts between the two nations.

This mission is known as "Operation Strix." It consists of "putting together a family in one week in order to infiltrate social gatherings organized by the elite school that Desmond's son attends."

"Twilight" takes on the identity of psychiatrist Loid Forger and starts looking for family members. But Anya, the daughter he adopts, turns out to have the ability to read people's minds, while his wife, Yor, is an assassin! With it being in each of their own interests to keep these facts hidden, they start living together while concealing their true identities from one another.
World peace is now in the hands of this brand-new family as they embark on an adventure full of surprises.



Tags: Espionage , Family Life , Found Family , Fake Relationship , Parenthood , Assassins , Adoption , Conspiracy , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Urban , Slapstick , Crime , Super Power , Shounen , School , Ensemble Cast , Heterosexual , Surreal Comedy , Episodic , Parody , Politics , Unrequited Love , Cohabitation , Guns , Urban Fantasy , Orphan , Martial Arts , Tsundere , Bullying