Anime like Yuri Kuma Arashi

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 , Denpa , Inseki , Henshin , Trains , Surreal Comedy , Heterosexual , Crime , Memory Manipulation , Magic , Satire , Cult , Ghost , Psychosexual , Twins , Primarily Teen Cast , Achronological Order , Fairy Tale , Love Triangle , Incest , LGBTQ+ Themes , Age Gap

Shoujo Kakumei Utena

Also known as Revolutionary Girl Utena.

Studio: J.C. Staff , TV Tokyo , The Right Stuf International , Central Park Media , Yomiuri Advertising , SoftX
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

Just after Utena's parents died she was consoled by a prince who gave her a ring with a rose crest on it. Utena was so impressed by the Prince that she vowed to become one herself one day. A few years later Utena is attending Ohtori Academy where she gives all the teachers headaches because she dresses in a boys uniform so she can be like the prince she met long ago.

After Utena's friend is insulted by a member of the Student Council, Utena fights in a duel for her friends honor. Utena's rose crest allows her to enter the dueling arena where Utena wins the duel and becomes engaged to the Rose Bride. Unknowingly, Utena is pulled into a series of duels with other members of the Student Council for the possession of the Rose Bride. As she becomes fond of Anthy, the Rose Bride, she must fight to keep her friend safe and to discover the horrifying secret behind Ohtori Academy.



Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Philosophy , Fairy Tale , Tomboy , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Swordplay , Yuri , Incest , Bisexual , Tragedy , Psychosexual , Surreal Comedy , Age Gap , School , Ojou-sama , Henshin , Love Triangle , Conspiracy , Memory Manipulation , Fencing , Episodic , Meta , Crossdressing , Magic , Witch , Bullying , Twins , Kuudere , Aliens , Suicide , Astronomy , Boarding School , Boys' Love , Athletics , Body Swapping , Politics

Flip Flappers

Also known as FLIP FLAPPERS.

Studio: Studio 3Hz , Infinite , Happinet , Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures , GAGA , Lantis , Medicos Entertainment , AT-X , Sotsu , BS Fuji , TOKYO MX , Ray
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Psychological , Sci-Fi

As a middle school student, Cocona has been trying to decide what to do with her life. Magical Girl, however, wasn’t a career path that she’d ever considered. When suddenly a strange girl named Papika thrusts her into a secret organization called Flip Flap, Cocona’s outlook does a radical flip-flop. Her views start to change when she is dragged into an alternate dimension called Pure Illusion where she’s charged with gathering crystal shards and fighting strange creatures. Now, between running missions and facing off against a rival organization, Cocona doesn’t have much time to consider alternate career choices. What are these shards, and why is gathering them so important? There’s a mystery to be solved and multiple worlds to be saved in FLIP FLAPPERS!



Tags: Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Henshin , LGBTQ+ Themes , Meta , Yuri , Magic , Primarily Female Cast , Surreal Comedy , Memory Manipulation , Super Power , Cult , Dissociative Identities , Time Manipulation , Isekai , Episodic , Tragedy , Age Regression , Twins , School , Love Triangle , Tsundere , Surfing , Parody , Yandere , Super Robot , Heterosexual

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

Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight

Also known as Revue Starlight.

Studio: Kinema Citrus , Pony Canyon , OVERLAP , APDREAM , TBS , Sound Team Don Juan , Nelke Planning , Bushiroad , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Music , Psychological

The franchise centers on "Starlight" — the song and dance revue troupe loved throughout the world. Karen and Hikari make a promise with each other when they're young that one day they'll stand on that stage together. Time passes, and now the girls are 16 years old. Karen is very enthusiastic about the lessons she takes every day, holding her promise close to her heart. Hikari has transferred schools and is now away from Karen. But the cogs of fate turn, and the two are destined to meet again. The girls and other "Stage Girls" will compete in a mysterious audition process to gain acceptance into the revue.



Tags: Musical Theater , Primarily Female Cast , Ensemble Cast , Acting , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , Meta , Fairy Tale , Battle Royale , Yuri , School , Coming of Age , Henshin , Time Loop , Swordplay , Dancing , Time Manipulation , Boarding School , LGBTQ+ Themes , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Revenge , Tomboy , Archery , Writing , Motorcycles , Baseball

Wonder Egg Priority

Also known as WONDER EGG PRIORITY.

Studio: CloverWorks , Aniplex , D.N. Dream Partners , NTV Music , Nippon Television Network
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Thriller

This is the story of Ai, an introverted girl whose fate is forever changed when she acquires a mysterious “Wonder Egg” from a deserted arcade. That night, her dreams blend into reality, and as other girls obtain their own Wonder Eggs, Ai discovers new friends—and the magic within herself.



Tags: Tragedy , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Urban Fantasy , Suicide , Bullying , Coming of Age , Alternate Universe , Primarily Teen Cast , Denpa , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Hikikomori , Afterlife , Transgender , LGBTQ+ Themes , Artificial Intelligence , Body Horror , School , CGI , Episodic , Tomboy , Age Gap , Kuudere , Isekai , Guns , Idol , Gore

Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Adolescence Mokushiroku

Also known as Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena.

Studio: J.C. Staff , Central Park Media , Toei , Shogakukan , GANSIS
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

In a loose retelling of the Revolutionary Girl Utena TV series, Utena Tenjou arrives at Ohtori Academy, only to be immediately swept up in a series of duels for the hand of her classmate Anthy Himemiya and the power she supposedly holds. At the same time, Utena reunites with Touga Kiryuu, a friend from her childhood who seems to know the secrets behind the duels. Utena must discover those secrets for herself, before the power that rules Ohtori claims her and her friends, new and old.



Tags: Yuri , Coming of Age , LGBTQ+ Themes , Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , Swordplay , Magic , Tomboy , Philosophy , Bisexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Cars , School , Boarding School , Nudity , Twins , Kuudere , Drugs

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: Tragedy , Magic , Female Protagonist , Witch , Primarily Female Cast , Time Manipulation , Urban Fantasy , Philosophy , Alternate Universe , Primarily Teen Cast , Yuri , Time Loop , Coming of Age , Henshin , Kuudere , Survival , Aliens , Urban , Primarily Child Cast , Ensemble Cast , Gods , Anti-Hero , Suicide , Love Triangle , Guns , Spearplay , School , Tomboy , Anthropomorphism , Achronological Order

Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijou.

Also known as I'm in Love with the Villainess.

Studio: Platinum Vision , King Records , Asmik Ace , Ichijinsha
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

The world turns upside down when a corporate drone wakes up as Rae Taylor, the heroine in her favorite otome game, Revolution. Rae is elated at the opportunity to court Claire François, the game’s villainess and the object of her affection. Armed with her knowledge of the game and events to come, Rae sets out to make Claire fall for her. But how will the villainess take Rae’s romantic advances?



Tags: Yuri , Villainess , LGBTQ+ Themes , Female Protagonist , Isekai , Reincarnation , Ojou-sama , Tsundere , Video Games , Magic , School , Maids , Class Struggle , Primarily Teen Cast , Boarding School , Politics , Primarily Female Cast , Bullying , Love Triangle , Bisexual , Slapstick , Foreign , Royal Affairs , Crossdressing , Incest , Heterosexual

Princess Tutu

Also known as Princess Tutu.

Studio: Hal Film Maker , ADV Films , Memory-Tech , GANSIS , Marvelous , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

In a fairy tale come to life, the clumsy, sweet, and gentle Ahiru (Japanese for 'duck') seems like an unlikely protagonist. In reality, Ahiru is just as magical as the talking cats and crocodiles that inhabit her town - for Ahiru really is a duck! Transformed by the mysterious Drosselmeyer into a human girl, Ahiru soon learns the reason for her existence. Using her magical egg-shaped pendant, Ahiru can transform into Princess Tutu - a beautiful and talented ballet dancer whose dances relieve people of the turmoil in their hearts. With her newfound ability, Ahiru accepts the challenge of collecting the lost shards of her prince's heart, for long ago he had shattered it in order to seal an evil raven away for all eternity.

Princess Tutu is a tale of heroes and their struggle against fate. Their beliefs, their feelings, and ultimately their actions will determine whether this fairy tale can reach its "happily ever after."

Princess Tutu aired in two parts. The first part included 13 25-minute-long episodes, while the second part consisted of 24 12-minute-long episodes with a 25-minute-long final episode for a total of 38 episodes.

Tags: Fairy Tale , Dancing , Meta , Henshin , Writing , Female Protagonist , Surreal Comedy , Tragedy , Magic , Anthropomorphism , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , Animals , Tsundere , Episodic , Boarding School , Unrequited Love , Shounen , Shapeshifting , Foreign , Reincarnation , School , Dissociative Identities , Ghost