Anime like Tsuritama

Sarazanmai

Also known as Sarazanmai.

Studio: MAPPA , Lapin Track , Aniplex , Dentsu , Movic , Fuji TV , Crunchyroll
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Psychological , Supernatural

The stage is Asakusa. One day, three 2nd-year middle school students — Kazuki Yasaka, Tooi Kuji, and Enta Jinnai — meet a mysterious kappa-like creature named Keppi, who forcibly takes their shirikodama (a mythical organ kappa steal through a person's anus) and transforms the boys into kappa.

Keppi informs them, "If you wish to return to your former selves, you must connect in 'that way' and bring me the shirikodama of zombies." Will the three boys be able to connect as they steal shirikodama from zombies?! Meanwhile, two policemen — Reo Niiboshi and Mabu Akutsu — are up to something at the police box where they are stationed.



Tags: Satire , Shapeshifting , Surreal Comedy , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Urban Fantasy , Tragedy , Youkai , Philosophy , Henshin , Zombie , Police , Primarily Teen Cast , Musical Theater , Meta , Boys' Love , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , LGBTQ+ Themes , Episodic , Slapstick , Crime , Crossdressing , Football , Suicide , Tanned Skin , Bisexual , Delinquents , Idol , Guns , Drugs , Nudity

Mawaru Penguindrum

Also known as Penguindrum.

Studio: Brain's Base , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Once you make a decision, does the universe conspire to make it happen? Is destiny a matter of chance, a matter of choice or the complex outcome of thousands of warring strands of fate? All twins Kanba and Shoma know is that when their terminally ill sister Himari collapses at the aquarium, her death is somehow temporarily reversed by the penguin hat that she had asked for. It's a provisional resurrection, however, and it comes at a price: to keep Himari alive they need to find the mysterious Penguin Drum. In order to do that, they must first find the links to a complex interlocking chain of riddles that has wrapped around their entire existence, and unravel the knots that tie them to mystifying diary and a baffling string of strangers and semi-acquaintances who all have their own secrets, agendas and "survival strategies." And in order for Himari to live, someone else's chosen destiny will have to change. It's a story of love, fate, life, death... and Penguins!



Tags: Philosophy , Found Family , Family Life , Tragedy , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Meta , Terrorism , Parody , Psychosexual , Denpa , Inseki , Henshin , Trains , Surreal Comedy , Heterosexual , Crime , Memory Manipulation , Magic , Satire , Cult , Ghost , Fairy Tale , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Twins , Love Triangle , Achronological Order , Incest , Age Gap , LGBTQ+ Themes

Houkago Teibou Nisshi

Also known as Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater.

Studio: Doga Kobo
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life , Sports

Introverted Hina Tsurugi is trying to adjust to her new school since moving from the countryside. And in spite of her unease around sea life, classmate Yuuki Kuroiwa somehow convinces her to join the Breakwater Fishing Club. She wants to be open to these new friends and experiences, but some of them are as strange as the fish they’re supposed to hook. Is she biting off more than she can chew?



Tags: Fishing , School Club , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , Outdoor , Primarily Teen Cast , Iyashikei , Food , Coastal , Educational , Rural , Seinen , Environmental , Cycling , Kuudere

Uchouten Kazoku

Also known as The Eccentric Family.

Studio: Bandai Visual , Lantis , P.A. Works , YTV , Magic Capsule
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Slice of Life , Supernatural

In Kyoto, there are three kinds of residents: humans, raccoon dogs, and tengu. Shimogamo Yasaburou is the third son of the Shimogamo raccoon dog family. His father, Souichirou, had been the head of Kyoto raccoon dog community until he was eaten by the human members of "Friday Club". While taking care of old tengu, fighting with other raccoon dogs, and playing with a psychic human girl, Yasaburou approaches the truth of his father's death.

Tags: Mythology , Urban Fantasy , Family Life , Male Protagonist , Shapeshifting , Youkai , Philosophy , Animals , Primarily Adult Cast , Gender Bending , Age Gap , Surreal Comedy , Crossdressing , Tragedy , Twins , Love Triangle , Bar , Archery , Nudity

NegaPosi Angler

Also known as Negative Positive Angler.

Studio: NUT , KADOKAWA , bilibili , Tencent , AT-X
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life , Sports

The anime's story centers on Tsunehiro Sasaki, a university student with a large debt and is told by his doctor that he only has two years left to live. Living the rest of his days in depression, Tsunehiro one day gets chased by a debt collector and falls into the sea. He is rescued by Hana, a girl who loves fishing, and her fishing friends including Takaaki.
Hana urges Tsunehiro to experience fishing for the first time in his life and he starts to develop friendship with other fishing enthusiasts. Things start looking up for Tsunehiro as he starts working at the convenience store where Hana and Takaaki work, and he slowly gets hooked into fishing.



Tags: Fishing , Rehabilitation , Found Family , Iyashikei , Male Protagonist , Urban , Outdoor , Konbini , Ensemble Cast , Hikikomori , Primarily Adult Cast , Estranged Family , Food , Work , Bisexual , Educational , Chibi , Suicide , Female Protagonist , Boys' Love , LGBTQ+ Themes , Homeless , Natural Disaster , Fugitive , Primarily Male Cast

Taisou Zamurai

Also known as The Gymnastics Samurai.

Studio: MAPPA , Aniplex , Dentsu , Funimation , TV Asahi , Movic
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sports

Joutarou Aragaki, former member of the national team, had given his whole life for gymnastics and was fighting against his age and physical strength. However, one day he is told by his coach to start thinking of his next career. Joutarou struggles, but his daughter, Rei, is always there by his side. But with one fateful encounter, the Aragakis’ lives change drastically.



Tags: Family Life , Athletics , Rehabilitation , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Acrobatics , Dancing , Ninja , CGI , Gyaru , Bullying

Hoshiai no Sora

Also known as Stars Align.

Studio: 8-bit
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life , Sports

Due to the apparent incompetence of its members and lack of results, the boy's soft tennis team is on the verge of being shut down. Toma Shinjou, captain and seemingly only motivated member, seeks the help of newly transferred, and old friend, Maki Katsuragi to improve the club's track record but soon it becomes apparent that what is holding the boys back are problems that run far deeper than the simple sport.

Tags: Coming of Age , Tennis , School Club , Primarily Male Cast , Family Life , Tragedy , School , Male Protagonist , Primarily Child Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Bullying , Revenge , Ensemble Cast , Adoption , LGBTQ+ Themes , Boys' Love , Crossdressing , Twins , Transgender

Arakawa Under the Bridge

Also known as Arakawa Under the Bridge.

Studio: Shaft , Square Enix , Starchild Records , Rakuonsha , NIS America Inc.
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance

Ko Ichinomiya's family motto is "Never be indebted to anyone," but after losing his pants and falling into the Arakawa River, he quickly finds himself in debt to his savior, the cutely insane Nino (who happens to live under the bridge). To repay her, he vows to help her with her desire to "experience love." Along the way he'll meet the river's other residents, including a hot-blooded kappa, a Sister in drag, and a literal rock star. Sorry, Ko—when you fell into that river, I guess you really got in over your head!



Tags: Surreal Comedy , Seinen , Ensemble Cast , Philosophy , Male Protagonist , Outdoor , Nun , Homeless , Episodic , Kuudere , Heterosexual , Love Triangle , Samurai

Kaijuu no Kodomo

Also known as Children of the Sea.

Studio: Studio 4°C , Madman Entertainment , GKids , DMM pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Supernatural

One summer vacation, Ruka meets two boys, "Umi" and "Sora," whose upbringing contains strange and wonderful secrets. Drawn to their beautiful swimming, almost more like flying, Ruka and the adults who know them are intertwined in a complex mesh...
Meanwhile, an unexplained anomaly is occurring all over the world: fish are disappearing. Thus begins a marine adventure of boys and girls to captivate all the senses!

Tags: Philosophy , Primarily Child Cast , Space , Environmental , Animals , Cosmic Horror , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Mythology , Swimming , Seinen , Astronomy , Urban , CGI , Bullying , Ships , Kaiju , Monster Boy , Handball , Amnesia , School

Yoake Tsugeru Lu no Uta

Also known as Lu Over the Wall.

Studio: Science SARU
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy , Music , Supernatural

Kai Ashimoto, a gloomy young middle schooler, lives in Hinashi Town, a lonely fishing village, with his father and his grandfather, a parasol maker. He used to live in Tokyo, but after his parents divorced he moved back to his father's home town. Kai has trouble telling his parents the complicated feelings he has for them, and he's lonely and pessimistic about his school life. One of his joys is uploading songs he writes to the internet. One day, his classmates Kunio and Yuuho invite him to join their band, "SEIREN". As he reluctantly follows them to Merfolk Island, their practice spot, they meet Lu, the mermaid. Lu sings merrily and dances innocently. As Kai begins to spend time with her, he starts to be able to say what it is that he's really thinking.


Tags: Mermaid , Mythology , Coming of Age , Fishing , Dancing , Male Protagonist , Band , Fairy Tale , Coastal , Swimming , Ships , School , Monster Girl