Cross Academy is an elite boarding school with two separate, isolated classes: the Day Class and the Night Class. On the surface, Yuuki Cross and Zero Kiryuu are prefects of the academy, and attempt to keep order between the students as classes rotate in the evenings. As the night class is full of utterly gorgeous elites, this can sometimes prove to be a bit difficult. It is completely necessary, however, as those "elites" are actually vampires. Yuuki and Zero act as guardians, protecting the secrets of the Night Class and the safety of the ignorant day class. Rima Touya is one such member of this Night Class, the most diminutive in stature and also the youngest member of the class. Rima in fact works as a model alongside Senri Shiki who is heavily rumoured to be her lover by the end of the manga run. Rima’s appeal is largely in her style, in true Victorian era vampire mythology she is rocking a seductive Lolita get up. Rima combines her fashion sense with a refined air that makes her the epitome of charming vampire nobility.

Fortune Arterial is an anime adaptation of a 2009 adult eroge visual novel game/ Fortune Arterial's story revolves around the male protagonist Kohei Hasekura, who transfers into a prestigious public school in the style of an English six-year school encompassing junior-high and high school students. The school is on an island named Tamatsu Island off-shore from mainland Japan, and the only way to get there is by boat. Soon after transferring, he discovers that one of the student in the class next door to his, Erika Sendou, is in fact a type of vampire. As you can expect from a harem anime adaptation of an eroge visual novel, Erika Sendou is at the peak of moe powers. Wide eyed, beautiful and with an air of innocence to appeal to otaku’s everywhere, Erika is a worthy addition to this vampire gilr list for visual and romantic reasons alone. Personality wise she is in fact rather driven and once she has her sights set on a target she will go to any length to achieve it. Erika is also capable of touching moments beyond her more styling, obviously uncomfortable with her family history and her own vampiric qualities, she eventually decides she would like to forgo her vampire life for a chance of a normal love life with protagonist Kohei. If only real life was a moe eroge…

Taito has been really sleepy lately, and keeps dreaming of a girl vampire (Himea Saito) who says she has given him her "poison." Sometimes he even thinks he hears her voice when he's awake. But after surviving an accident that should have killed him, Taito's world changes drastically and he realizes that his dreams are more real than he thought. It turns out that Taito has indeed met Himea years before when she fell in love with him and cursed him to always be with her. However due to unforeseen circumstances they were separated… Himea is a top female vampire due to her appealing moe design but also due to her deep rooted vulnerability. For an all powerful vampire, Himea has quite a self esteem problem, something many of us can relate too. Tired of humans wanting her purely for her supernatural abilities, Himea falls head over feels (wink wink) for Taito when he is the first human to view her as her own person, rather than just a vampire. Seeing her pain at Taito having forgotten her, her vulnerability and loneliness is palpable when she attends his human high school in the hopes of being able to win his heart back.

From the SHAFT animation studio comes this visually striking tale of the ruler and guardian of all vampires, Mina Tepes. After millennia in hiding, Mina Tepes, the Princess of the ancient covenant and ruler of all vampires, wants change. Using the vast wealth of the Tepes line, she has paid off the entire gross national debt of Japan and in so doing, gained the authority to create a "special district" off the coast of Japan that is to become the future haven to vampires the world over! Now, on the eve of the landmark press conference announcing the existence of vampires to the world, terrorists and rival factions are plotting to assassinate Mina Tepes before she has a chance to make her world-changing announcement. Mina Tepes takes on the appearance of a cute, haughty pre-pubescent girl despite being centuries old. Dance in the Vampire Bund does an excellent job of encapsulating the time span of a vampire’s life and particularly in Mina’s long struggle to protect her fellow vampires. As the Queen of vampires she has a strong feeling of obligation towards her own kind, feeling as if a mother to all vampires everywhere. Her iron will to provide a safe haven for vampires across the world is what makes Mina Tepes stand out from other girl vampire characters.

Hellsing follows the anti-heroic vampire, Alucard, and a police girl-turned-vampire, Seras Victoria, two vampires employed by the vampire-extermination group of England, the Hellsing Organization. Slowly but surely, through their active duty, they find a new breed of vampires beginning to arise. This initial anime incarnation of the Hellsing legend was written largely independently of the manga and therefore focuses on offering a more visceral and visual spectacle with a love for graphic violence, style and sex appeal. Few female anime vampires can encapsulate all these qualities than Seras Victoria, the legendary vampire Alucard’s trusted partner. At first reserved in using her powers, certain event in particular causes her to fully unleash in gut wrenching glory. Seras is in fact far more fleshed out in this anime adaptation than in the original manga and in many ways is the central focal point rather than her more historically illustrious companion Alucard. Her search for answers is intense and captivating, as is Seras and Alucards methods of dealing with their enemies in order to obtain them. Seras is the epitome of cool when it comes to a vampire girl representation.

Izayoi Sakamaki, Asuka Kudou, and You Kasukabe have tremendous psychic powers and are bored with the regular world. An envelope arrives for each person, and when each opens their envelope, they are stunned to see the scenery around them change to a world they had never encountered before. They've been summoned by the Black Rabbit to help the community "No Name" to overthrow the Devil King. In this ‘No Name’ world, the four heroes will encounter and do battle with all manner of mythical creatures, including Gods, wizards and vampires. Leticia Draculair is one such vampire girl character that the gang will meet on their journey. Leticia serves as the mad to the community of ‘No Name’ complete with full French maid outfit and demure sensibilities. Her true impact comes from her history, Leticia is in fact a former demon lord herself and despite her young appearance is actuall 500 years old. While very proud of her past and her former power, she is more than willing to give up all her power to help support and provide happiness to the community of her world. An essential part of the team in Mondaiji and a truly selfless and beautiful vampire, Leticia is a very different breed of night walker.

By a bizarre coincidence, Tsukune Aono has accidentally gotten himself admitted to a youkai academy, a school attended by monsters. Just when he thinks he'll run away from there, he meets the beautiful Moka Akashiya and his mood turns ultra happy. However, Moka is not necessarily all she seems. While beautiful, shy and incredibly popular, if the rosary on her chest is removed, her other self emerges, an all powerful, vengeful master vampire! Moka is an excellent Jekyll and Hyde style character, her outer self is a high school moe princess whom all the guys idolise and long for. Her secret inner self, is a visually darker and more aggressive tsundere vampire girl persona. These are two separate characters as vampire Moka even says to Tsukune ‘be kind to the other Moka’. The true key to Moka’s character is that in fact the outer version that everyone knows and loves is in fact false and is merely a method to protect herself until she finally meets someone that can love her truly. What isn’t there to love about a brooding and deadly vampire tsundere just waiting to be won over!

Jitsu wa Watashi wa centres on high school protagonist Kuromine Asahi, "the man who can't lie." On the way home from school one day, he learns an important secret. His crush, Youko Shiragami, is actually half vampire! Will Kuromine be able to keep this most delicate of secrets and preserve the hidden identity of his idolized muse. What follows is a romantic vampire harem comedy that has been a smash hit in Japan this past summer season. It’s easy to see why Kuromine fell in love with Youko Shiragime, she is undeniably cute and also has a level of vulnerability that is often absent from vampire girl characters. Youko is desperate to maintain her human identity as she promised her vampiric father and human mother. However that is easier said than done, especially when it comes to hiding her fangs or staying clear of direct sunlight. Youko is ditzy and shy by nature which makes her a perfect candidate to be many an otaku’s number one new waifu!

Thanks to Meme Oshino, Koyomi Araragi, a high school student, is able to remain a human after coming across a female vampire. However, since the incident, Koyomi seems to meet girls who have an apparition-related issue. Hitagi Senjougahara doesn't weigh anything. Suruga Kanbaru’s left arm resembles that of a monkey’s. Nadeko Sengoku was afflicted by curses from her classmates. Mayoi Hachikuji, a young girl who cannot find her way home no matter how many times she tries. Koyomi, a Mr. Nice Guy, ends up helping each and every girl solve her problem with the help of Meme Oshino and her constant companion, the demure and cute young girl Sinobu Oshino. However Shinobu Oshino is certainly not all she seems. She was formerly the powerful 500-year-old vampire, coming from a royal bloodline, named Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. Quite the impressive name and title, which she fully justifies in terms of the power she possesses. According to a number of manga adaptations, Shinobu was said to have the purest heart in the world, so much so that it caused her parents and many followers to commit suicide as they felt they had reached the pinnacle of their existence. In the present day she is a mysterious character that develops entirely through physical actions and expressions due to her preference to remain silent. A rich character arc and excellent interaction with Koyomi make Sinobu an excellent anime vampire girl.

Blood + is the tale of a secret war that has been raging for centuries. There are two major groups involved in this conflict; the first consists of monsters known as Chiropterans who can change their appearances into that of human beings. They are actually immortals who feed on the blood of the living. The second group is an organization known as the "Red Shield," formed to track down these monsters and exterminate them. This is ostensibly a battle between two alterations on vampire mythology. Otonashi Saya is a high-school girl who lives a peaceful life with her family. The only problem is, she has no recollections of her life beyond that of the past year; however, a fated incident will lead to the restoration of her memories and of her vampire identity. Throughout the 50 episode Blood + series, Saya undergoes a drastic transformation from a typical high schooler with everyday ambitions to a powerful, driven and relentless vampire hunter of demons. Saya is an iconic female lead that refuses to be downgraded into a damsel in distress or in need of a male counterpart to save her. Saya possesses few of the common vampire weakness we understand from the myths, sunlight is no danger, only religious paraphernalia and the mention of Deity’s is enough to deter her hunt. An iconic vampire character regardless of gender, Otanashi Saya deserves her spot as the number one female vamp!

First up is Nisekoi which is another stunning title from Shaft. You can expect the same brilliant animation and artwork of Owarimonogatari and the Shaft's specialty head tilt as well. Whereas the story is not as deep as Bakemonogatari, the level of comedy and romance that is present in the Nisekoi series is comparable to Owarimonogatari (but there is not as much fan-service though sorry!) Nise as everyone knows, means fake and koi, love. The title therefore means False/Fake Love and this is the main plot of Nisekoi. Nisekoi explores Raku Ichijou and Chitoge Kirisaki relationship as they were forced to be lovers under special circumstances. However, it wasn't a beautiful meeting between the two of them at first and you will see that still go head to head with each other as often as possible. Unfortunately for him, Raku's heart happens to be with his classmate Kosaki Onodera while he is pretending to be Chitoge's boyfriend. How will he manage the situation and find true love instead of false love? As a fan of rom-com and the stunning visuals of Shaft, I couldn't ask for more. The manga itself was impressive. When I heard Shaft is the studio producing it, I literally went weeb for 5 whole minutes. Oh god... I can feel the chuunibyou feels hitting me… But seriously go check this series out. It's like Owarimonogatari minus heavy plot but topped up with light hearted humour. It definitely will break a smile on you!

Mekakucity Actors in particular gives off an odd-vibe and it garners mixed reviews as well. Unfortunately, those that disliked it were more than those that loved it, which gave it an overall bad standing on MyAnimeList. To be honest, this series has the same abstract feel and weird vibe that the Monogatari series exudes. It is also dialogue heavy (in fact dialogue centred) and retains Shaft's unique brand of animation. What is particularly memorable to me was the choice of music in this anime. I'm pretty sure some of you heard of Kagerou Daze from Vocaloid right? Most of you would also know that the song is a story on its own. Therefore, Mekakucity Actors is the story behind those popular Vocaloid hits. One of the characters Eno, even looked like Miku. I actually thought it was a Vocaloid anime before realising that the characters just looked like them. The story is based on the individual's ocular powers (not Mangekyo... I know what SOME of you are thinking) and how they meet each other and find meaning to their gifts as well as to solve the mystery behind their powers. I would say the most attractive quality in this series is the music and fans can expect familiar songs from Vocaloid. Don't forget to count the number of Shaft head tilts in the series!

This anime is just weird... And I don't mean the good kind of weird that Shaft does. I mean actually weird... Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei revolves around the school teacher Itoshiki Nozumu - a pessimistic person with a poor outlook on life who sees everything is gray. Everything about him is just negative. To balance the anime out, put one Kafuka Fuura in there, an overly-optimistic girl who never falters even in the depths of despair. Now, pair them together and watch the comedy unfold. Most of the anime is just that. This series employs dark humour and this brand of humour is very hard to pull off as it touches on sensitive topics. You know the feeling when you know that you're not supposed to laugh but find it a tad comical and people finds you weird and gives you "the look"? That's what I meant by the opening sentence. This anime is quite old and the animation does not remind you of Shaft. What is retained however, is Shaft's tenacity to delve into the obscure and unknown and managing to bring up something fresh. You can be sure that this series exudes the same off-vibe and the abstract art form of the monogatari series but the humour employed in this case is very different. Owarimonogatari is already an abstract anime as it is very different. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is very similar but yet very different from Owarimonogatari. So you can say that this anime is different from the other different kinds of difference out there... Wait, I don't even understand the last statement. Think I went too deep there.

I'm pretty sure most of you are asking by now, what's with all the shaft selections? Well Shaft is unique that's why. If there are so many other kinds out there, then it wouldn't be called unique now wouldn't it? However, for diversity though, the next half of the list will comprise of different studios. This anime is set in an urban city. However, the urban concept emanates a vibe that almost seems unreal. It's very similar to that of Mekakucity Actors and has very similar vibes that the monogatari series gives off. Filled with equally interesting characters, some of them supernatural entities as well, it feels that the series borrows certain traits and elements of the monogatari series and is equally exceptional itself based on its own merits. Set in Ikebukuro, a suburban district, this district is filled with various strange rumours as gangs roamed the street. Various rumours include a headless knight rider known as the Black Rider speeding the highways, a mysterious information broker who is as sly and cunning as he is well-informed, an over powered bartender whose strength cannot be equalled as well the strange group known as Dollars. As these factions are pulled together by connected events, what secrets will be uncovered along the way and what is the district hiding? That's Durarara for you. It casts off the same level of uniqueness and enigma of the monogatari series. The story starts off slow and doesn't pick up till midway prompting much of the viewers to lose interest. However, at its peak it shares the same level of excellence as the monogatari series by making viewers think while watching. Dialogue driven as well, viewers are treated with the power and action of words in creating an impressionable tale accompanied by great visuals. This is an anime which made me reminisce the good old days of watching the monogatari series. It can be called a close companion of the monogatari series.

When we talk about Owarimonogatari, we talk about the witty dialogue that keeps us captivated to the story as it makes us think as the series is filled with double meanings and progresses in a fast pace like an action anime but with words. Hyouka is an anime which features a lazy genius (a Shikamaru if you will), Oreki Houtarou. He is shown to be adept in solving mysteries and puzzles but have no interest in doing so as he is simply content with a simple life. He meets one Chitanda Eru, an overly inquisitive girl whose catchphrase is Watashi, Kininarimasu (I'm curious) which is heard too often in the anime and is popular enough to spawn off several memes. Hyouka shares the same level of wit as the monogatari series and the animation is visually stunning as well, but it is not a Shaft style. One thing I would really like to commend the series on, is its well balanced portrayal of the situation. Sometimes the scenes will change into a surreal form, which resembles the monogatari series. While the animation is exceptional in its own rights, all it does is make you vaguely remember the monogatari series. What truly makes you connect this series with the monogatari series is the wittiness of both series

Also known as The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, this is yet another dialogue driven anime in which the story progresses through dialogues and monologues within the anime. The world of Haruhi is set in a high school setting where everything goes according to the whims of the titular character - Haruhi. Viewers can expect strong character development through speech, very much like the Monogatari series. Dealing heavily with supernatural entities and oddities as well such as aliens, espers and time travellers, the story deals with the club known as the SOS Brigade and their misadventures as dictated by Haruhi. The whole series is simply her pulling her group members around on a whim. Much like Owarimonogatari, random occurrences happen in the anime and portrays the character dealing with them. It is because of the fanciful Haruhi such that the world appears to be distorted as well and this isn't your simple everyday school life club activities showcase and you can expect interesting developments that will catch your attention. While it is not the animation nor the vibe or feel of the anime that gives a strong impression of it being similar to the Monogatari series, it is however, the strong propensity of the series leaning towards the oddities of supernatural instances that drew me to this anime much like how it drew me to the Monogatari series. You can expect the story to expand via intense dialogue coupled with strong character developments as well as the same kind of obscure, surreal environment that the Monogatari series presents

The world is dominated by the Empire of Britannia, which has set it’s sight on Japan. Britannia swiftly overpowers the Japanese forces with it’s Knightmare frames, and occupies the Country. Japan’s identity and right’s are swept away, and the area is dubbed Area 11. Lelouch Lamperouge is an exiled Britannian prince, who find the power of Geass, the power to dominate the will of one person, and plots to bring down Britannia. Code Geass and Gundam Tekketsu are similar in that both shows have protagonist’s that are mostly children. Lelouch Lamperouge might be a different type of character than Mikazuki and Orga, but they seem to be similar enough in that they have some deep, secret pasts and are trying to liberate an area from foreign rule. Code Geass also had a lot of intense, factional plots and counter plots, with individuals vying for control of different groups trying to exert their will on the grand picture of things. Definitely a show Gundam Tekketsu fans should watch.

It’s been long since that humanity faced it’s greatest threat, the threat of the Gauna, which consumed earth. Sidonia, a huge ship with a city in it’s hulls, drifts through spaces. Nagate Tanikaze, raised in the underground of Sidonia, trains to pilot a Garde, and fight Gauna to protect Sidonia. Knights of Sidonia has some of the best Mecha action scenes in the last couple of years. The 3d might take a little getting used to, but this series makes as good of use of it as any other out there, with ‘camera’ movement and panning shots that really showcase what 3d animation can do. They also have a real sense of stake, and you feel at any moment that a main character might lose their life. The story and character development also majorly picks up in the series second season.

Rygart Arrow is an ‘Unsorcerer’, a one in a million person who can’t harness energy from Quartz stones which are being used as an energy source for everything in the world. Rygart is looked down upon for his lack of ability by the rest of the world. However, this enables him to pilot an ancient golem, which becomes essential when his country Krisna is invaded by neighboring Athens. Break Blade is a TV series but there’s also a series of movies that are adapated from the same Manga. If you like Gundam Tekketsu, you’ll enjoy the setting and world design of Break Blade, which is full of the same feuding factions and individuals caught between them as Gundam. Break Blade also uses traditional hand-drawn animation for it’s Mechs, just as we see in Gundam Tekketsu. It’s a technique that, sadly, seems less and less common. So if you like hand-drawn Mechs like the good ol’ days, check out Break Blade.

Fossil Fuels on the earth have run dry, and Humaity has aligned itself into 3 main factions which eath have an orbital elevator with which to generaGute energy. Those nations left out of these pacts are left to widespread mistrust, and conflict. Seemingly out of nowhere, an organization called Celestial Being appears which seeks to forcibly prevent war using their mobile suits, the Gundams. The Gundams are extremely powerful, however, taking on the whole world might be more than they can chew. Beyond the obvious similarity, they’re both Gundam shows, there’s more that connects Gundam Tekettsu and Gundam 00. Mikazuki and Setsuna F. Seiei, the central character of Gundam 00 are very similar personalities. The setting of the world is also similar, with the Earth in Gundam 00 and Gundam Tekketsu split up in to large macro-nations or economic blocks. It’s probably the best original gundam series to come out in the last 10 years, and Gundam Tekketsu will have done well for itself If it can approach it in quality.

Kamina and Simon live in Jeha village, and dig tunnels endlessly. Kamina though, desires a better life beyond in the surface and an escape from their dark, dreary and cramped environs. Simon finds a mysterious drill and mysterious robot called Lagann, when suddenly the beast men show up, who rule the world above, and put the entire village in danger. Kamina, Simon and their friend, Yoko, must fight the beast-men and reclaim the world above for humanity. Kamina and Simon have a type of relationship that has some similarities between Mikazuki and Orgus. At the very least, you can tell they deeply care about eachother and look to eachother a lot when a decision needs to be made. It also has the plotline of trying to throw off an occupying power. There’s a much different tone and atmosphere, but TTGL is definitely a must see for all Mecha fans and if you like Gundam Tekketsu you should watch TTGL.

After a dimensional gate was found on the moon to Mars, and a energy substance called Aldnoah was discovered which made life on Mars possible, the Kingdom of Vers was established which ruled over the red planet. Earth and Vers, which have already fought a long, brutal war are on the brink of a new conflict. The plot follows Inaho Kaizuka, a young recruit for the earth forces, Princess Aseseylum, who want’s peace between earth and vers as well as her attendant, Slaine Troyard. Aldnoah Zero’s biggest strength is the initial conception of it’s world. Mars is resource starved and want’s to take over the Earth Sphere to flourish. The Aldnoah drive gives the Vers forces a huge technological advantage, but they’re outnumbered by the Earth Forces. It’s kind of a more extreme example of how the original Mobile Suit Gundam balance of power in the early days of the one year war. There’s lots of plots, counter-plots and scheming, similar to Gundam Tekketsu, and good mecha battles as well. The writing is shoddy at that times, but you will come to care for some of the characters and their fates.

Drawing inspiration from the classic Arabian story-collection One Thousand and One Nights, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is set in a fantasy world where one, if he or she manages to survive a quest through one of the many ‘Dungeons’, can acquire the magical abilities of so-called Djinns. Although not a main character, princess Hakuei Ren stands out as both a capable army commander who controls her own corps in the army of the Kou Empire, as well as being able to summon powerful tornadoes through her Djinn. Echoing the personality of other characters of a certain famous anime studio that you may or may not encounter upon scrolling further down the list, Ren Hakuei noted for her strong will and bravery, but also has second doubts commanding an army due to her pacifist leanings.

Named after the popular Puerto Rican cocktail made from pineapple, coconut and rum, princess Piña Co Lada lives up to her name – though it uncertain whether she likes getting caught in the rain, feeling the ocean or the taste of champagne (obscure song reference, check), she is certainly sweet. As the princess of a kingdom of another dimension that launches a devastating fail of an attack on present-day Japan, she pushes for a diplomatic solution to the problem, thereby playing an important part in this cross-dimensional conflict. While most of the other princesses on this list probably are the objects of many an otaku’s desire, Pina Col is actually an otaku herself, as she fell in love with a certain brand of boys’ love. Maybe that’s the kind of soft power Japan should focus on in the future?

In the immensely popular reboot of the original Full Metal Alchemist, brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric encounters princess May Chang of the Xing-empire, the series equivalent to ancient China. May is short of growth and carries a pet panda named Xiao-Mei (little sister in Chinese), but despite her cutesy appearance and age – she is eleven at the start of the series – as well as her tendency to be a bit too over-imaginative, she is an independent character who also possesses powerful martial arts as well as being able to perform Alkahestry, the Xing equivalent of Alchemy. One might say she embodies a perception Japanese often have of Chinese woman as more powerful, independent and generally stronger than the Japanese.

While there are at least four different princesses in 2006’s Code Geass, Cornelia li Britannia stand out as the most interesting. Originally an antagonist, she later takes a more neutral role, and is characterized by her cold demeanor and military-strategic brilliance. She also has one of the hottest rides of the princesses on the list – a customized Gloucester. Known for brute force and ruthlessness, she has a soft spot for her own soldier, among which she is held in high regard, and has a strong sense of honor. After her little sister Euphemia gets murdered, she becomes bent on seeking revenge and gives away her royalty to solve the riddle of her murder.

The most fairy tale-ish princesses on the list, Tutu Ahiru is actually a duck – Ahiru meaning domestic duck in Japanese – but gains the ability to transform after receiving a magic pendant from the ghost of a writer of a tale named The Prince and The Raven, because she’s head over heels with the prince who, together with the evil raven, managed to escape the tale and come into the real world. (Sounds random? Well, fairy tales weren’t supposed to make sense, were they?) Initially she can only transform into an ordinary human girl, but is later able to take the form of Princess Tutu, an elegant ballerina, all because she desperately wants to see Mytho, the aforementioned prince, smile. Princess Tutu is certainly unlike the other figures on this list in that she’s a girly magical girl, with labels such as ‘kind’ and ‘helpful’ fitting to her personality, but is interesting in the fact that she still retains some of her duck-like traits in her human form, to great comic effect.

Long before Frozen, we had Revolutionary Girl Utena. Or, that is, Japan had Revolutionary Girl Utena, a series where the prince vs princess motif is used and critically investigated, but which unfortunately remains criminally overlooked in the rest of the world. Although the symbol-heavy and sometimes obscure scenes most likely prevented it from inspiring young girls to be strong and independent like Frozen and Sailor Moon, its intriguing plot and characters challenged the way we grownups thought about gender roles, among other things. Main character Tenjou Utena is a girl with a tragic past, who, after being consoled by a mysterious prince when she was a child, later decides to become a prince herself. As Utena arrives at Ohtori Academy, a mysterious high school with critique-worthy management, she meets Himemiya Anthy, the so-called Rose Bride, who is doomed to be the slave of the champion of the school’s sword dueling league. Utena joins the competition to protect the mysterious Anthy, who represents the submissive and passive often found in such fairy tales, but can she, and does she actually really desire to be set free?

The first few episodes of this mecca anime left many wondering whether there were anything more to Cross Ange than blatant fan-service and exploitation, but ultimately most people agreed that there were more to the erstwhile princess Angelise Ikaruga “Ange” Misurugi than initially met the eye. In an Animal-Farm-meets-Harry-Potter universe where the “Norma” – people who can’t use magic – are abused and oppressed, Angelise falls from grace after it is revealed that she cannot use magic, or ‘mana’ as the series call it. Stripped from her title, exiled, and forced to live with the commoners, Angeline (or “Angie”, as she calls herself) is forced to reflect on issues related to identity, as she now belongs to a people she used to despised when she was a princess.

Protagonist Ashitaka, the last prince of his tribe, meets an puzzling girl, whom he later learns was raised by wolves, and is none other than the princess of the Wolf Gods. She’s on nature’s side in this environmentalist epos, putting her at odds with the movie’s main antagonist, Lady Eboshi of Irontown. The other iconic Miyazaki princess, San or princess Mononoke clearly draws on Nausicaä, in that both movies has a strong female character that show a strong love for nature, as well courageous, selfless behavior. While Nausicaä got her name from an idealistic character from Homer’s Odyssey, ‘Mononoke’ is similar to Yokai, a kind of monster in Japanese folklore, and their personality differ in a similar way: In contrast to Nausicaä’s ‘humanity’, San is preoccupied with protecting nature, and identifies more with nature than with humankind. Her role in the movie also differs from that of Nausicaä, and it is ultimately Ashitaka that is responsible for making peace between the human and the natural world. The love-story element is more pronounced in Princess Mononoke, and some might, depending to what generation you belong to, be reminded of either Pocahontas or Neytiri.

As this series, to my great frustration, didn’t reach the particular corner of Europe where I happened to be born and raised, I get incredibly jealous every time I hear Americans sharing their fond Sailor Moon childhood memories. In this definitive Magical Girl anime by the same name, protagonist Tsukino Usagi is just a normal school girl before a black cat named Luna discovers that it is actually her destiny to take the role as Sailor Moon, and thereby defending the earth against evil. Differing from for example Ghibli’s princesses, Sailor Moon wasn’t the feminist idol she eventually came to be from the very start, in the beginning she was rather reluctant and often filled with self-doubt, and had to be rescued by Tuxedo Mask more than once. Gradually, however, her character develops as she gets more mature, and while her feminist credentials has been contested more than once, she undoubtedly inspired a whole generation of young (and not so young) girls, and certainly also boys, both in Japan and internationally.

Ghibli Miyazaki has given us some of the best female characters we in this reactionary genre known as Japanese anime probably will see in a long time, and not few of those were princesses, as will be evident by the fact that three of them are included on this very list. She is in many ways the ultimate Miyazaki heroine: She can fight, and even kill if the circumstances absolutely requires it, but what she really wants is for humanity and nature to coexist peacefully, values for which she is willing to bravely fight. Not only an idealist, though, also possesses first-class diplomatic and leadership ability, hindering the outbreak of a probably devastating war and basically singlehandedly saving the world. Often considered the first movie of Studio Ghibli (although it wasn’t yet created at the time of the movie), Nausicaä laid the blueprint for characters in later Miyazaki and Ghibli movies, and, princess or not, female or not, remains one of the most memorable anime characters of all time.

Living in a big city can be exciting – sometimes too exciting. In Durarara!! Ikebukuro is a hotbed of unsavory characters and gang activity. A series of events that defy all logic have begun to unfold there, crossing the paths of an unlikely group of characters and setting the stage for the series. Two such characters that are followed in this show are Mairu and Kururi – twin sisters. Though they share the same brown hair and eyes, their personalities could not be more different. Kuriri is introverted, while Mairu is the extrovert of the pair. Despite their outward differences, they share a particularly close sisterly bond, and are very protective of each other.

Nothing is what it seems in the quiet little village of Hinamizawa, but surely if you’ve seen Higurashi you already know this. If you haven’t, it is a complex series, and any explanation of what follows would be rife with spoilers, save to say that a horrific series of brutal murders occur, and what’s even more shocking is the eventual explanation for them. Mion and Shion are identical twin sisters, though they can sometimes be told apart by looking at their hair – Shion wears her hair down, while Mion typically wears it up. Higurashi as a series is quite creepy, and there’s something extra unsettling about twins in horror shows. Their personalities may seem different, but once you learn their story you realize exactly how similar they really are.

Clannad is a heart wrenching drama that chronicles the life of Okazaki Tomoya and his classmates. The story begins when he meets a girl named Nagisa, and after growing close to her, he discovers an unfulfilled dream of her's that he is determined to help her achieve. This isn't something he can do on his own, and he enlists the help of other students along the way. Even with their help, this will prove to be no simple task. Two of the characters he encounters are Ryou and Kyou Fujibayashi. Ryou is the quieter sister, while Kyou is a bit of a firecracker. The two are protective and supportive of one another, even in the face of a love triangle that eventually emerges, including both of them. Their sisterly bond remains strong, resulting in one of the many touching scenes in the series, and putting them on this list.

Lucky Star has been described as a show about nothing - but don't let that deter you from watching it. It follows the hilarious and adorable antics of a group of students who share a close friendship, as they go through their everyday lives. Each character has a unique personality, and among the cast is a pair of twins named Kagami and Tsukasa. The most obvious difference between the two is that Kagami has long lavender hair she wears in pigtails, and Tsukasa keeps her purple locks cut short. But you really don't need their appearances to help you tell them apart. Tsukasa is clumsy and loves naps, while Kagami is a bit more gregarious bordering on conceited, with an odd affinity for shooting games. Their sisterly dynamic is charming, and a joy to watch.

Humans and demons abound in the world of Ao no Exorcist. Luckily, they are separated into two different universes, quelling what would otherwise be a pressing need for coexistence. There is still tension – demons can move between the two worlds, using human beings as vehicles in which to travel outside their realm. Rin lives a blissfully ignorant life in the human realm, until he has a chance encounter with demons that changes everything for him. He soon starts out on the path to become an exorcist. Yukio, his twin, reveals that he already knows a great deal more than his sibling about exorcism and the ways of demons. However, Rin will need more than just his brother's help to overcome the obstacles that follow.

This trio has to be one of the most bizarre love triangles in anime. Maiku lives with Mina and Karen, two beautiful girls. The trouble surfaces when a photograph from their childhood reveals that one of them is his twin, while the other one is unrelated to him. He comes to develop feelings for both of the girls, to his great confusion. Both of the girls also have feelings for Maiku which further complicates matters. The only physical similarity the three potential twins share is their eye-color – a striking green. Each of them has a different hair color, and totally different personality – Maiku is a guarded introvert, Mina is gregarious and charming, and Karen is downright shy. Their differences make them a colorful cast of characters. Eventually the series reveals the identities of the siblings, but you’ll have to watch to find out who.

There's the trope that all harem anime follow: an average protagonist is simultaneously pursued by a group of beautiful women. This invariably results in conflict, confusion, and heartache for all parties involved. What could be more romantically complicated than a love triangle? High school student Futami Nozomu soon finds out that it is much more difficult to navigate such circumstances when all the women involved are twins. Shared attraction to Futami Nozomu sparks various sibling rivalries and conflicts amongst the twins of Futakoi. After all, there is only one of him to go around. However, Kira and Yura are two twins that decide to work together to achieve their romantic goals, and this collaboration puts them on this list. They are just one of many pairs of sisters in this show, and if you like twins, then you’re sure to love Futakoi.

Cross Academy isn't your average school. It's split up into two sections - the day class, and the night class. The day class is, for the most part, average students. The night class is an entirely different story - they are bloodsucking monsters. Luckily, there are guardians that are responsible for keeping the peace between the two. Ichiru and Ryu are twins who attend this school, and have been raised together to be vampire hunters. While both brothers received the same lessons, Zero has natural aptitudes that Ichiru does not. In addition to this, Ichiru is frail and sickly, envying not only his brother's ability as a hunter, but also his health. This creates a conflict - he loves his brother, but at the same time he hates him. Being estranged for years has also complicated their relationship. There is an interesting dynamic between these twins, putting them on this list.

Chii is a persocom – an abbreviation for personal computer. In the world of Chobits, these androids perform all manner of functions for their human owners, from sending out emails, to playing music. There are models that are rumored to be special, having qualities that set them apart. Not too soon after Hideki finds Chii does it becomes apparent that she’s not your average persocom. Not only is Chii exceptional in many ways – the plot thickens when another persocom named Freya, identical in appearance to her, shows up. Though Chii appears to have no real memories of her origins at the onset of the series, it becomes clear that this other twin persocom may hold the key to her mysterious past.

Host Clubs are venues where people go, often paying hefty sums, to enjoy the company of attractive entertainers of the opposite gender. The plot of Ouran Koukou Host Club revolves around a host club that runs out of a high school. All of the hosts at the club are charming in their own respect. Two of the hosts are a pair of twins, Kaoru and Hikaru Hitachiin. This duo uses the taboo of “brotherly love” to woo the female patrons of the host club. Though they often finish each other’s sentences or speak in unison and are almost physically identical except for the direction they part their hair, they have individual personalities which become more apparent throughout the series. Their development is interesting to watch, and with their irresistible, mischievous charm they top this list.

Akaza Akari is finally reunited with her childhood friends, Funami Yui and Toshinou Kyouko at an all girls' school, where they have started the Amusement Club in the tea ceremony club's old clubroom. Yoshikawa Chinatsu arrives at the clubroom but is shocked to find out that the tea ceremony club has disbanded. When the three explain to her what happens, Chinatsu decides to join the club. This is the story of the Amusement Club and their silly antics drinking tea, playing games, and fawning over each other while forgetting about the main character, Akari. While the third season is airing this season, Yuru Yuri never fails to entertain. It features an all female main cast like Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?? minus Tippy, and follows their everyday lives as they go to school, hang out on holidays, and attend club "activities". While Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?? is set mainly in a cafe, Yuru Yuri is usually set in the tea ceremony club room. You have characters that fawn over each other and other characters who hide their feelings a little better. An added bonus for some but not a deal breaker for others is the yuri fan service, as the name implies, that will either make you laugh or whatever else you do with yuri.

Everyone thinks the countryside is boring, but in Asahigaoka, there are 5 students who bring color to the countryside. Miyauchi Renge may be the youngest, but she's got wit and personality. The Koshigaya siblings including Suguru, Komari, and Natsumi have their quirks that will surprise you. It is with the recent addition of Ichijou Hotaru from Tokyo who adds a touch more adult-like maturity to this group of rambunctious country kids. With these 5 kids, they keep Asahigaoka from being a complete bore. A clear similarity between Non Non Miyori and Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?? is the clear idolization of Komari by Hotaru. Hotaru has a (scary) obsession over Komari similar to how Sharo idolizes over Rize. Also, you have to admit that Chino and Renge seem similar in personality, age, and appearance. Although there is nothing quite significant or exciting about Asahigoaka, it's the characters that really bring it to life.

Oomiya Shinobu is a 15 year old girl who is back in her home country of Japan after a homestay in Great Britain. Shinobu does relish her time in Great Britain still. She receives a letter from a girl from her host family that reads: "Shinobu, I'm coming to Japan!" This is the story with a mix of Japan and England, and the lives of Shinobu, Alice, and their friends. Friendship is clearly reflected in Kiniro Mosaic, especially as Shinobu adjusts to having her Japanese friends and English friend in the same school, but it's not just her. Alice must also learn that her friends can have friends, too, as she finds out what it means to have multiple best friends. The relationship between Alice and Shinobu is very similar to Chino and Cocoa's. While Cocoa gushes over Chino constantly, Shinobu also fawns all over Alice, but in the end, Alice and Chino are both lost without their other half. Actually, Shinobu is very similar to Cocoa; she's absent-minded, clumsy, and child-like as well as obsessive, though Shinobu obsesses over England while Cocoa obsesses over little sisters. In fact, many of the other characters share similar characteristics to the characters from Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?? If you are looking for an anime with a similar tone and feel, but with a different setting a plot, this may be a great pick-me-up after Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka??

Hirasawa Yui is a simple girl with no cares, but when she comes across a poster for the Light Music Club, she decides she wants to join even though she doesn't have any musical experience! The club consists of Ritsu, Mio, and Tsumugi who are trying to recruit members to keep the club from disbanding, so they convince Yui to stay despite her inability to play an instrument. When they perform for her, however, Yui becomes determined to join the club and be the new guitarist. Now, they have to teach her how to play the guitar while she juggles school and homework, all in time for their musical debut! There's no doubt that Yui is similar to Cocoa. They are simple, carefree characters who also seek out their niche. For Yui, it’s guitar while Cocoa's is coffee art. K-On! is a good anime to start watching for those who enjoy some light music, silly characters, and big dreams involving playing music on stage. These girls will warm your heart with their tea and cake, and steal the show with their determination.

Yonomori Kobeni is just a normal high school girl, but when she turns 16, she finds out that she has an arranged marriage with a boy named Mitsumine Hakuya. Hakuya and his sister Mashiro come to live with Kobeni, her sister, and her mother so that Kobeni can learn more about Hakuya. The more time she spends together with the Mitsumine siblings, the more Kobeni learns that these two are no ordinary kids and there's a past that Kobeni long forgot about. Mikakunin de Shinoukei may have some notable differences from the anime on this list like one of the main characters being male and some mystery in the plot, but it is still a good anime to consider if you are a fan of Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?? Kobeni is very similar to Chino in that she is a dependable young girl who manages to take care of as much as possible all on her own. Her big sister Mashiro is like Cocoa due to the fact that they both share an intense obsession with little sisters. You may want to consider watching this anime if you are a fan of a little mystery, romance, and some supernatural elements as well.

Shinomiya Kyouya finds himself as the (forced) newest addition to the GJ club in a room of a former building of his school. The club leader Mao may be small but she's got some attitude, but her little sister Megumi is a bipolar angel. Shion's an eccentric genius with more genius siblings than common sense and Kirara is some sort of cat-like creature who is always hungry! This club is a little strange, but it's never boring! Centered around the GJ club, GJ-bu is a fun anime revolving around the life of poor Kyouya, who got roped into the club. The characters are all quite eccentric, much like in Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka??, but they all have their own stories to tell. You'll have some fun with GJ-bu as they drink tea, mess around, and try figure out what exactly the GJ club is all about. Why go home when you can join the GJ club?

The teacher with the characteristic eye patch seems to have himself together. Standing tall and well composed you might not expect what lies underneath this facade. Igor starts out as just one of many lecturers of True Cross Academy. Soon enough, however, it becomes obvious that he keeps pushing Rin harder than the other students and forces him to use his demonic powers. As he pursues Rin in an attempt to actually kill him in his sleep it is easy to believe that Igor is a heartless person, blindly following orders. The truth, however, is that he was once a loving man that lost everything close to him because of Satan. Even though he had to move on with his life he could never forget the past and with Rin he might get the chance to finally find revenge. Igor Neuhaus is easy to hate at first, but his motives are clear. Having his family die by the hands of Satan filled him with rage that eventually breaks his cold and emotionless facade.

The girl with the distinct eyebrows knows where to go in life and will keep her eyes fixed on her goals. But that doesn’t mean that she never cares about the people around her. Izumo is your typical tsundere character that does not waste time socializing with the people around her. Coming from a background of skilled shrine maidens, she knows her spot as a top student and is not afraid of letting you know. She even takes advantage of innocent Shiemi, treating her like her personal slave when the girl was actually looking to be her friend. But as it goes with tsundere characters, soon you will also see another side of her. I cannot say that the girl ever completely opens up to her classmates, but she does show a level of compassion. She was the first one to accept Rin as the son of Satan and also fights vigorously to protect the people around her.

Everything about Ryuji’s appearance screams scary, violent and cold-hearted. But could Rin’s rival have another side to him? Judging from his piercings, bleached hair and evil-looking eyes you might think Ryuji is the typical delinquent and school bully kind of guy. It is true that he isn’t easily approachable and is barely seen smiling. But even he has a more immature and adolescent side to him and his temper can get him into unnecessary fights. As the prodigy of his class he is driven by endless determination to defeat Satan and get revenge. His dislike towards Rin is due to the fact that he doesn’t seem to take his studies serious enough - something that is unacceptable for Ryuji. As the story progresses and the two guys get to spend more time together, they start to understand more about each other’s backgrounds. They might not necessarily become friends, but Ryuji opens up and is ready to support Rin more. Who would have thought that grim-looking Ryuji had a compassionate side to him?

Not only the people of True Cross Academy have multiple personalitites. No, even the animals in Blue Exorcist have more than just one side to show. Kuro is first seen terrorizing school grounds in his monster-like form. The normally small black cat has the ability to grow to a couple times its size, equipped with long sharp teeth and evil-looking eyes. After Rin befriends him, he gets to see Kuro’s real form: a two-tailed cat that is always seen smiling and is just afraid of being left alone. He quickly grows close to Rin and follows him around on his adventures. When Kuro gets drunk on catnip wine it is hard to imagine that he can go berserk and turn into a beast. Once again, a seemingly bad character of Blue Exorcist turns out to be a loyal companion and partner in crime.

Let’s continue with a character that most people are not sure whether they should be afraid of or not. Amaimon looks and acts like a teenage boy. He is childish and likes to view battles as games rather than actual fights. At the same time he always seems to be incredibly bored, especially when he doesn’t have someone to entertain him around. This child-like behavior does not mean that Amaimon should not be taken seriously. He is, after all, a son of Satan just like Rin and Yukio and certainly knows how to fight. He loves destruction and does not seem to have any human compassion. Amaimon is a character that acts like a spoiled teenager, but is ready to kill anyone without flinching. Another great example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

Imagine having to protect your twin brother and fighting his powers at the same time. Sounds hard, doesn’t it? It certainly isn’t an easy task resting on Yukio’s shoulders and this hardship reflects in his personality. As opposed to his older twin brother, Yukio is mostly seen as calm, collected and straightforward. He is often called a genius and excels at his studies to become an exorcist. He knows his role in life and his responsibilities and does not try to fight them. Yukio can keep his cool; most of the time. Because just like Rin, he is still the son of Satan. When he is pushed too far you will see a new and unexpected side that is frightening enough to even scare twin brother Rin. Yukio hides a boiling temperament behind his cold facade and this deserves him the fifth spot on our list.

Next up on our list is the laid-back and foul-mouthed teacher of True Cross Academy, Kirigakure Shura. The crazy hairstyle, the big smile and the revealing fashion choices already hint at the type of personality Shura shows. The teacher, who is in fact an inspector of the Vatican sent to keep an eye on Rin, isn’t afraid to speak what’s on her mind, often using slang and straightforward words. She likes to drink and slack off while letting others do the work for her. But Shura wouldn’t have earned her position if she didn’t have another side: when it comes down to it, she is a skilled fighter that will defeat anything and anyone standing in her way. Shura is loyal, but keeps her mind open and prefers to observe things for herself before forming an opinion. When she needs to take action she will do so; if not, she prefers to lean back and relax with a bottle of alcohol.

It should come as no surprise that I simply had to include the hero of the story, Rin Okumura, on this list. After all, the whole show revolves around him being torn between his good and bad side. Rin is two-sided in several ways. He grows up as a good-for-nothing kind of guy that cannot get a job, doesn’t excel at his studies and generally cannot keep himself out of trouble. However, he does not behave this way in order to harm anyone, but simply got himself into a situation he cannot get out of anymore. In fact, he has a kind character and is ready to fight for the things he believes in. He protects the people close to him and even seems to have a weak spot for animals. Let’s not forget that Rin is also the son of Satan and has diabolic powers he struggles to control. His heritage might not be his fault, but Rin still has to accept a darker side to him that is connected to the person he hates the most. Rin’s personality truly has many aspects to it, which is just one of the reasons why he is the main character of this show.

Some characters are good, others are bad. And for some characters you are never really sure of what to make of them. Mephisto Pheles is one of those characters. The principal of the True Cross Academy came to orphaned Rin at the right moment and saved him by enrolling him in his school. His more than just a little bit eccentric fashion choices don’t make it easier for the viewer to categorize Mephisto Pheles. He is an exorcist and demon king at the same time, known to love sweets and Japanese pop culture. His motives are never clear and throughout the show you will question whether he is the good or the bad guy. Either way, Mephisto likes to play games and the only rules he follows are his own. No other character might be harder to judge than this one. Some characters turn from good to bad or from bad to good; Mephisto on the other hand always stays between the two extremes and just acts the way that will benefit him the most.

Including Satan - the ultimate antagonist of the whole series - on this list might be a risky choice. Even though his personality does not change completely over the course of the show, there is still something more to him than just being the evil ruler of the demon world. It is never revealed whether Satan fell in love with Yuri, mother of Rin and Yukio, the same way she did, but he at least saved her life when she was sentenced to death because of their connection. She was able to see more in him than just pure evil and even pities him for the lonely life he has to lead. Now, Satan wishes to destroy the distinction between the world of humans and the world of demons and let all beings coexist. This might be solely due to selfish reasons, but just maybe he has dreams for a new and better world. Deciding to give Satan some human-like traits and not simply making him a power-driven maniac really shows the originality of the producers. Not even the antagonist of Blue Exorcist is simply evil, and thus shows us that no one is ever completely good or bad.

Gantz is the name of a mysterious black orb in the middle of an apartment room in Tokyo. Inside is a wide arrange of handguns, suits, and other weapons. Without giving away too many spoilers, the black orb sends out various people on missions to kill off aliens who are attacking Tokyo. These people have been chosen by Gantz to complete its missions. The bodysuits are particularly important because they provide their user with a variety of defensive and offensive capabilities. They are specifically tailored to their user’s body. The suit itself is skin-tight, black, covers the user from the neck down to the feet, and has many “caps” placed along the suit’s surface. These caps are the source of the suit’s power. It allows provides the user with a huge boost in physical strength. In fact, they are capable of lifting over fifty times their body weight. Also, they gain increased speed, stamina, and the ability to leap extremely high and land without sustaining damage. It protects them from conventional attacks such as physical blows, sword stabs, or bullets. It does not however provide protection from weapons such as lasers or some acidic chemicals. However, if the suit takes on too much damage or the user undergoes heavy emotional strain, the caps on the suit burst open and release the black substance that powers it. At that point it becomes just as useful as normal clothing.

Alfonse (“Al”) Elric is a 14 year old boy who has been trained from a young age in the ways of alchemy. He is highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, has genius level intellect, and can transmute matter without the use of a transmutation circle. However, his most shocking feature is that he no longer has a human body. Instead, his soul is bound to a gunmetal-colored steel armor body. He and his brother suffered immense physical losses after a failed Human Transmutation. His brother, Edward, lost an arm and leg while Al had his entire physical being taken from him. It was only through a desperate last minute measure that Edward was able to attach Al’s soul to the plate of armor. Luckily, Al still has access to his alchemic abilities and is actually able to enhance his fighting capabilities with the suit of armor. Obviously, his strength and durability have increased to beyond human levels. But, he also never needs to eat, sleep, or even breathe. It might seem that he’s unstoppable. But, everything he can do is kept in check by one thing, the Blood Seal. This is a special symbol drawn on the inside of the armor with blood. If this seal is damaged or erased then the soul bound to the object is lost forever. It returns back to The Gate of Alchemy.

Gowther aka the Goat’s Sin of Lust is a powerful wizard and a member of the Nanatsu no Taizai (Seven Deadly Sins). Before the band of knights became fugitives, none of Gowther’s allies had ever seen his physical appearance. He always wore a large suit of armor. This actually leads to a bit of confusion when the knights reunite together ten years later. The completely silver body armor has a horned helm with one of them broken off. It also has giant spiked shoulder plates. Although the suit is comparatively larger than other knights’ armor it is also special for other reasons. For one, it was created by Merlin and given specifically to Gowther. Second, it has the ability to suppress the power of its wearer. So, though it makes the user stronger physically because of its size and weight, it also prevents their powers from getting out of control. This was most evident when Gowther placed the armor upon a Dale after he had been mutated into a hybrid demon. This reincarnation of Dale was so powerful that Gowther had no choice but to subdue its strength with the help of the magical armor. It wasn’t until ten years later that King, Gowther, Ban, and Meliodas managed to work together and defeat the demon abomination. It’s possible that the armor has other magical properties, but this is all that’s been shown so far in the anime.

The Golden Armor is worn by the greatest king in the world’s history. Gilgamesh is the half-god, half-human who ruled Sumeria, the capital city of Mesopotamia in B.C. times. He is the strongest human to ever walk the earth and he is the legend upon which all hero stories and myths are based upon. He actually holds the title of King of Heroes. Because he predates all other heroes, he possesses every Noble Phantasm in existence. If that isn’t broken, I don’t know what is! Gilgamesh is usually seen wearing his trademark Golden Armor. Like everything about Gilgamesh, his armor is on a completely different level than any other. It has innate magical resistance properties, capable of withstanding A-rank spells from powerful mages. And its physical durability is strong enough to withstand the incredible Tsubame Gaeshi technique. This is a sword technique that breaks the laws of physics in order to create a slash that arrives three different directions instantaneously. The power and skill needed to use the Tsubame Gaeshi is said to be something that “surpasses even the Servants”. But, I guess Gilgamesh didn’t get that memo because he his armor blocks the slashes with ease. The Golden Armor is so impressive that Shirou Emiya originally thought it was Gilgamesh’s personal Noble Phantasm. Of course, Gilgamesh doesn’t actually “need” the Golden Armor to face off against any of the other Servants. His physical strength is about on par with Berserker and he already possesses all of the Noble Phantasms. He has a title separate from “King of Heroes” and that is “Servant Killer”. He is able use all of the Servants weaknesses against them and even use the Noble Phantasm that killed a Servant in their original life. His Golden Armor is more like a taunt or slap in the face to anyone that would try to face off against him. It’s the icing on the cake to his already overpowered abilities and weaponry.

The Nakagami Armor is one of the most powerful defensive and offensive weapons seen in Fairy Tale. It’s so powerful that no one has been able to summon this suit of armor in over ten years. It comes coupled with a large halberd capable of immensely powerful physical and magical attacks. Erza was able to “Second Origin release” and equip this armor during one of her fights against Minerva Orland. People were shocked, most of all Minerva, when they realized that the Nakagami puts tremendous strain and drains the Magical Power of anyone who uses it. The two ladies had been dueling for a while so it was astonishing that Erza was still capable of pulling out this trump card. She stated that she was would never stand down until she had revenge for her friends and guild. Using its ability to dispel any type magic, she sliced through Minerva’s spell and then struck her down with the Nakagami’s signature attack: Nakagami Starlight. Some Fairy Tail fans would argue that Erza’s Armadura Armor is her strongest one. That is because her counterpart from Edolas, Erza Knightwalker, declared that the Armadura was the strongest. But, that statement could be based off of her own abilities and knowledge. So far, Erza Scarlet has defeated a stronger opponent using the Nakagami Armor and she did it in one blow. Most likely she’ll show off even stronger armor and abilities as the story progresses. But, this is the strongest one we’ve seen yet.

The Demon Armor: Incursio has its origins as the Danger Beast Tyrant. According to legend, Tyrant was a nomadic beast that devoured any foe that it came upon. It was widely feared for its ability to adapt its body to any environment. Because of this, as a Teigu, it is able to evolve throughout all of its battles. It even adapts to its user’s fighting style and abilities. In its dormant state, it takes on the farm of an elaborate short-sword with a chain link tassel attached. In its released form, this full body Armor-type Teigu boasts incredible defensive protection while providing the user, Tatsumi in this case, with enhanced agility, strength, and speed. Tatsumi’s determination and training allow him to bond to Incursio at an astonishing rate. When he first puts on the armor it is slightly reminiscent of the form it had when it was worn by Bulat (its previous user). But as Tatsumi begins to master the armor it becomes more streamlined and aerodynamic to accommodate for Tatsumi’s agile fighting style. Tatsumi has pushed Incursio to its limit and created a new form. In its evolved form, the armor gains a more reptilian appearance, grows claws on the hands and feet, increased the size of the Neuntote Spear, and gains more resistance properties to magical attacks.

A thousand years ago, a lone warrior (The Ancient One) managed to defeat Talpa (Emperor of the Evil Dynasty) and seal away his evil spirit. But, in order to prevent his return, The Ancient One separated Talpa’s armor into nine separate suits of armor. Four of them were created to represent the four seasons. The other five covered the elements. The White Armor of Inferno is a special suit that draws its power from the five elemental armors worn by the Ronin Warriors. The user of this legendary armor is none other than the leader of the Ronin Warriors, Ryo Sanada. He has an affinity for the Wildfire armor and he uses it with great skill to fight Talpa and his evil dynasty. His primary weapons are twin katanas named the Swords of Wildfire. However, when he combines the energy from his four comrades he is able to summon and don the White Armor of Inferno. At that point, his power is too much for the wildfire swords to handle. Eventually, he gains new weapons, The Swords of Fervor. He uses them to unleash his ultimate attack “Sen Ko Zan” or Rage of Inferno. The same signature attack of his Wildfire armor, but in this form it is much more powerful and unleashes a tangible stream of white hot fire. According to legend, the White Armor of Inferno is capable of destroying the world. Ryo proves its strength by harnessing its energy to defeat the evil ruler. Talpa himself has acknowledged how powerful that one suit of armor is. He stopped all attempts of retrieving the other armors and focused his attention solely on the Inferno. With that much power you can see why it made this list. [Picture of Armor of Inferno]

Kazuma Torisuna is an Alter user whose Shell Bullet takes on the shape of an armored gauntlet that covers his right arm in orange, red, and gray plating. It provides some protection but its main purpose is to generate “Alter” energy that it then releases to propel Kazuma forward at incredible speeds and increases the power of his strikes exponentially. This Shell Bullet takes on several forms as it increases in strength, but it eventually evolves into its final form: Proud Fist. The Proud Fist is a full body-suit that covers his body in the same orange, red, and gray plating that had previously only enveloped his arm. It also creates a mask over his face for additional protection. He also gains additional parts to his armor such as a tail-like propeller that allows him to move with more speed, agility, and force during all of his attacks. In this form, his abilities are only matched by his arch-rival Ryuhou Ryu (who becomes an S-CRY-ed as well). Besides the enormous boost in strength and speed, he gains access to two abilities: The Dimensional BFR and the Giant Explosion Fist. Dimensional BFR allows Kazuma to punch open a hole in the fabric of space and crate a rift that leads to the “Alter” dimension. He uses this to throw enemies inside and trap them there forever. Only other Alter users who have achieved the same level of strength as him are able to break out. Giant Explosion Fist is just an upgrade in raw power to all of his punches. But, the boost is so great that he can actually harness their energy into a beam form. When he does this, the range of his strikes increases to almost unbelievable lengths. His punches are able to break past Earth’s orbit and they can cover large portions of the Earth’s surface. His attacks are viewable from outer space!

Only shinobi who have access to the Mangekyo Sharingan are able to activate this ability. Susanoo is a gigantic humanoid being made entirely of chakra. It forms around the user and is becomes an extension of them. It’s very unique in its defensive capabilities because it can selectively defend against various attacks. What that means is that Susanoo can deflect physical attacks, it can allow them to pass through without hindrance, or it can be brought within Susanoo itself. Not only that, the user can use Susanoo to attack opponents as well. His giant sword and shield are capable of incredible destruction. Susanoo undergoes several versions as its user learns to fully control this ability. It can start off as a simple extension of the arm to increase striking capability. Or it can be a simple skeletal structure capable of protecting the shinobi. Once the user has mastered this technique they add on more layers to Suasanoo’s body and eventually reach the Complete Body Susanoo. This is when it takes on its colossal-like appearance and looks like an ancient Tengu figure. Its most prominent usage was when Uchiha Sasuke used the Complete Susanoo to envelop Kurama (the Nine-Tailed Beast) and greatly enhance its defensive and offensive capabilities.

The strongest armor on this list belongs to the pantheon God Athena. The Athena Cloth is just like what it sounds: cloth worn by Athena during her various battles with other Gods and during the Holy Wars. This particular cloth falls under the Kamui or God cloth category. Clothes are armor types worn by the Saints of Athena. The three main categories are Bronze, Silver, and Gold. There are several other clothes of unknown material that have not been shown and cannot be categorized. Then, there are the Kamui. The only one shown so far has been Athena’s. It’s likely that each member of the Olympian Pantheon has their own Kamui, though it may not necessarily be called a “cloth”. For example, Hades has his personal “God Surplice” and Poseidon uses his “God Scales”. The comparison between these types of items is unclear. Though, it would make sense that whatever kind of Kamui Zeus possesses should be the most powerful. Athena’s Cloth has been shown to sustain almost an endless amount of damage. The only time it was actually heavily damaged was from a full-attack from Abzu, the creator of the Universe. Even, Hades was not able to put a dent in her cloth and he actually fears it. He has made several attempts to render the cloth unusable in his battles against his niece, Athena. While wearing the Cloth, Athena is able to use her Cosmo to its full potential. Though possibly not on par with the Big Will, or divine Cosmos, of a higher God, such as Hades or Poseidon, her abilities are still way above even that of a Saint with 8th Sense. Her Kamui provided her with enough defense to sustain attacks from Hades and ultimately turn the tide in her favor in her multiple wars against him.

Pokémon is an anime about Ash Ketchum and his quest of becoming a Pokémon Master which is about collecting all of the Pokémon out in the world. When Ash became 10 years old, he was old enough to be given his first Pokémon which allowed him to start his adventure throughout the world in search for new Pokémon and friends. This anime is one of those stories which has it all. We’ve got the drama, adventure, action and of course the Pokémon, big and small. The anime gets into this list because of the feelings we get from the main characters of the anime. We have Ash, who’s kind of an outcast when it comes to Pokémon trainers. He is that cool and nerdy underdog of a character which many viewers can relate to. This is one of the reasons why Ash is such a good main character. Because he has that nerdy feel, but also because of his friends and of course Pikachu, he becomes that cool character we have grown to love throughout the Pokémon franchise. Beyond that it’s a truly original anime. Catching strange and cool monsters around the world, who wouldn’t want to do that?

Berserk... everything which the anime stands for is in the name. It’s about Guts, a young warrior, but one of the most brave. He fights for his life in the name of fortune all for himself. Berserk is an anime you quickly will learn about when you get into anime and manga. Perhaps the name has crossed your path in the search for a new anime and it isn’t so easy to get anything out of just the name but the thing that makes Berserk so cool is the ridiculously big sword our hero wields in this anime. Guts is a cool character because of the strength he possesses and the over-the-top courage he has which makes him a true and cool hero of the anime Berserk. In short, he makes this a truly amazing anime, and that is why it needs to be on this list.

Mirai Nikki is about Yuki, a lonely boy who has a hard time making friends. He’s seen as a weak young kid who doesn’t have much to back him up when getting into a fight. Because of his imaginary friend, Deus Ex Machina (The God of Time and Space), Yuki learns quickly that this made-up friend is more real than he could have thought. This is an anime which will draw you in real quick because of the story and the style. What makes it cool is the characters in the anime and because of the gore and the fighting styles and because of the mix of the genres it will stick with you for a long time. All the characters have very strong personalities, which is why Mirai Nikki gets a spot at this list. The main character, Yuki, is our normal weakling of a boy, but the coolness here comes from our scary but cool character Yuno who has a girlish look. But don’t let that fool you – what makes her cool is her strength with regards to how far she will go for Yuki.

It’s the year 2022 and video games in the area of virtual reality have gone beyond what has ever been possible. With the help of the Nerve Gear, people are now able to enter a virtual game called Sword Art Online. But the main question still lingers: what if something goes wrong with this new technology? This anime is cool and truly awesome because of the imaginative lengths the creators have gone to. We all know about the limited virtual reality technology in our time, but what happens when we actually reach that point where it’s practically real and what if when you die in the game, you die in real life? The main character is what makes SAO cool – mostly because of Kirito’s skill and because of his philosophy of not giving up. Staying strong even though everything seems lost is what makes him so cool. But it’s not just him, many other characters in the anime add to the coolness level.

This anime takes place in modern-day Tokyo, Japan where new monsters have become a reality. These monsters are called Ghouls and they coexist with the humans. The only problem is that these ghouls love human flesh and blood which makes it a scary place to be living in. Tokyo Ghoul is cool because of the set of main characters the anime possesses, even though the main character has a weak kind of persona. We still get to see cool gear which the characters use and many other cool main characters and villains. It’s an anime worth a watch because of the cool style and the storyline. When it comes to cool characters in this anime, one clear favorite has to be Touka and later on, the main character grows into a more cool character which is hard to believe when being introduced to his passive persona.

Naruto is a story about a young energetic ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village with the goal of becoming the strongest ninja in his village, The Hokage. At the time of Naruto’s birth, the giant demon fox, the Nine Tails, was going to destroy the village but with the help of the Fourth Hokage, the village was saved. However the Fourth Hokage had to sacrifice his life and in the process, seal the demon fox inside Naruto. Naruto is the kind of anime that will have you screaming for more quickly. It’s cool how the worlds of ninja and superpowers are mixed in a very good way. Throw in a bunch of loveable characters and a lot of cool heroes and villains, and you begin to see what makes this anime so cool. What makes these characters cool would be the powers they possess, such as with the Uchiha clan that has the sharingan and when it comes to Naruto, we have his power of never giving up and the will to do everything he can to achieve his dream. It’s definitely an anime that any anime lover should see because of how cool and exciting it is.

Dragon Ball Z is the story of a more grown up Goku with his son Gohan. Of course, all of the other characters of the previous Dragon Ball Anime make a comeback because of the Saiyans, who are coming to Earth in order to get their hands on the seven magic Dragon Balls. Dragon Ball Z is of course on this list because of how cool and popular it is. One could say that without this anime, we wouldn’t even have many of the awesome shows we have grown to love over the years. What makes Dragon Ball Z cool is the main characters, such as Goku and, well, I don’t know if we need much of an explanation here. He looks cool, and he has a positive and strong attitude. He’s a cool character all over, but in short, Dragon Ball Z is a anime everyone should watch because of the characters and the story.

This one’s set in a world with Death Gods and a notebook which is most deadly in the hands of a simple human. Death Note is about just that, in a modern-day Tokyo, Japan where Yagami Light gets his hands on such a Death Note and goes on in his quest of getting rid of the criminals of this world. But with the power of a Death God, will it transform Yagami Light to a just God or something completely different? Death Note is one of those anime with something completely new and original. What is cool about this anime? For starters, we’ve got this notebook which can kill a person in any exact way possible. More cool things about the anime are the characters such as Lawliet L and of course, the Death Gods. What makes L cool is his weird way of doing things and because he is sort of a genius and as we all know, with geniuses, they will always be a little weird. But as for L, he comes across as cool because of his hairstyle, body language and also because of the fact that he is really intelligent.

Long ago, the humans were almost on the brink of extinction because of Titans, giant manlike creatures whose sole purpose was to eat humans. Now mankind has not seen these titans for over one hundred years, but will the big walls keep the humans protected from these giant, terrifying creatures forever? Attack on Titan is an anime in it’s own league because of the old style which melds perfectly together with the scary titans. As an anime, it’s cool because of the gear which is used to fight the titans and mostly because of the main characters and the giant monsters surrounding them. When it comes to the main cast, Eren, Mikasa, and Levi are just some of the characters that will bring out that cool feeling all over. With all three of these characters, we have personalites which are cool because of how they fight for their lives and their families and friends. Of course, we have other things as well which make them cool too – like the way they fight and act around other characters in the anime. It’s a clear favorite among many anime fans.

Fullmetal Alchemist is an anime about the amazing Elric Brothers and the art of alchemical transmutation. In an accident were Edward Elric and his younger brother Alphonse try to bring back their late mother with alchemy, things go terribly wrong and in order to make everything right, the two boys head out on a journey to find the Philosopher’s Stone which will amplify their powers and allow them to retrieve their bodies. What makes Fullmetal Alchemist so cool is of course Edward Elric and his brother Alphonse. The characters become cool because of their skill in alchemy and the strong bond they share as brothers. Not to mention, Edward’s arms and legs being made of automail is quite awesome. But other things which make the anime cool are the mystery behind alchemy and the amazing storyline. This is one of those anime that needs to be on everyone’s list of watched anime. It’s a must-watch because of the plot, characters, brothers, adventure, and of course alchemy.

Bols, the masked flamethrower, formerly a member of the Incineration Squad then recruited as a member of Jaegers, is at number ten in our selection. Though his appearance often creeps people out, Bols is a sweetheart with a shy personality. With his ruthless killing pattern, the dissonance between his personality and fighting style, makes Bols an interesting character that contributed to the humour in this gruesome anime. Bols death may have caused you a teary eye. His open acceptance towards the consequences of his past atrocities makes his death an inevitable one. Nevertheless, he remains a kind and caring soul right till the end, which ultimately causes his demise. Clearly, Bols is a trapped man who was carrying out deathly orders which haunt him till the end. His death perhaps gave viewers closure for his lovable character.

Chelsea’s death is one of those slowly approaching events that suddenly blind-sighted viewers. Although she is able to contribute greatly in the downfall of two large players from Jaegers, her adorable Teigu, Gaea Foundation (I bet a true envy from all girls), didn’t allow her a fighting chance in a real vicious battle. Chelsea is killed by Kurome and her puppets while carrying out her solo mission. Her death comes in at number nine, mostly because of the shock value it carries. After being defeated in an obviously biased battle, Chelsea is decapitated and her head is left to hang in the capital for Tatsumi to find. A truly memorable scene in the anime. The unfortunate part about her death is that her character was only starting to get good or at least useful to the Night Raid.

Tatsumi’s death comes close to the anime’s completion. He dies in the final battle with the massive Shikoutazer, wielded by the boy Emperor. Calling forth his memories of his good friend, Bulat, Tatsumi further evolves his Incursio and dons it with Dragon wings. Unfortunately, the impact in his fight is too much to let him live. His final moments on screen show his battered armour, protecting the citizens from the crushing Shikoutazer. Later, his body shatters away with Esdeath. As the main protagonist, Tatsumi’s death is quite unexpected. I thought with the power that is solely anime, he would be somehow protected from an unfortunate end. However, that is not how the creators of Akame ga Kill!’s anime envisioned his conclusion. True to his noble spirit, he dies saving innocent people. Although it was a great lost because he had just evolved his Teigu into a cooler winged form, which would have been a badass to look forward to. The only plus side is that he could reunite with all his other dead friends.

Let’s all talk about this crazy b*tch. Seryu, poor girl. She is extremely misguided by her justice seeking and vengeful spirit. As a result of a lab experiment, Seryu is able to last longer in the anime with her ammunition regrowing abilities. Her character’s story ends with her body splitting into two by Mine’s Pumpkin. Seryu’s death is a long awaited event by most people. It would almost be insane to allow this twisted character to last so many episodes into the anime. The best part about her death is that she held on to her ideals no matter how wrong they were and ignored the truth about her soiled perception of the Empire. Her death is quite satisfying to say the least.