Meliodas and his team of knights have been accused of betraying the righteous empire, while the real culprit runs rampant causing more havoc. To reestablish the trust and love of the kingdom, Meliodas must reunite with his squad in order to unmask who the true culprit is, and to put an end to the evil schemes this unknown character is about to release onto the world. Many of the knights have either been exiled or sealed away, so with the help of Elizabeth along with Hawk to lead the way, the mission to put an end to this uncertain terror begins. The similarities that both of these anime share is that a kingdom has been overthrown, and it's now up to a team of respected warriors to team up to restore balance to the nation. Arslan in the beginning is somewhat reluctant to challenge the powers that be, but throughout the series he builds enough confidence to lead his own army. The same can be said about Meliodas and his trusted team of allies, as he felt that he couldn't receive any trust from his people, but over time regained his confidence to win them back. Corruption and betrayal follow the lives of both characters as they're constantly challenged with new affairs, and must use their tact and strategy to take down the opposition that threatens them.

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic looks at the life of very curious and adventurous Aladdin who seeks out to discover more about the Djinns that rule over the Labyrinths. Along with his mentor Ugo and local merchant Alibaba, they all set out to explore the dungeons that wait for them. This epic adventure follows the pack as they make their way throughout many dungeons to seek out more behind the work of rare magicians, while coming to terms with their own fates as the world evolves around them. The second season of Magi is also out, but we suggest tuning in the original to have a better idea of how the story progresses. Magi and his team must come together to face an ongoing conflict pertaining to war, and the fate of the Kou Empire. Both shows deal with very serious political issues, the presence of slavery, and the responsibility of being ruler. While Arslan puts more emphasis on a very serious narrative relating to corruption, Magi places more importance on the value of building relationships and wild adventures. Where they both come together however, is that the two are young princes who want nothing more than to see these political controversies ironed out, and making sure every nation involved is treated fairly.

Akatsuki no Yona tells the beautiful and powerful story of red-haired princess Yona, on her quest to seek out truth as to why she was thrown out of her own kingdom. Coming from a life of luxury and being well taken care of, Yona is then thrown into the midst of battle and she must fend for herself against the new king of Kouka, while seeking aid from new friends on her way. She tells us the story of coming-of-age, as she confronts the realities of life while working hard to ensuring she restores Kouka to its former glory. Arslan and Yona are two very young individuals who have their lives taken from them, and the kingdom falls into ruin. The society they once knew has now been destroyed by exhibitions of disloyalty, mass murders, and an insane new ruler with no compassion for the people. These two must come up with strategies in order to overthrow the new face of government, while ensuring the safety of the townspeople as well as their own team. Arslan and Yona encounter an individual that soon becomes a mentor to them, paying close attention to their intentions and moral choices. Hak is to Yona as Daryun is to Arslan, and they all must put their heads together to create a new path and end the exploitation of the enemy.

Kingdom is an incredible anime that looks at China’s Warring States period, and the many ordeals that went down during that era. In the kingdom of Qin, Xin Li, a war-orphaned slave, trains intensely with fellow slave and best friend, Piao, who shares his proud dream of one day becoming a Great General of the Heavens. However, the two are suddenly forced to go separate ways when Piao is recruited to work in the royal palace by a retainer of the King. Kingdom follows Xin as he takes his first steps into the great blood-stained pages of China's history. He must carve his own path to glory on his long quest to become a Great General of the historic Seven Warring States. China’s Warring States period was a time where corruption and breach of trust were very common, and the nation needed someone to bring an end to it all. Xin sees all that is happening all around him, and must ensure that this doesn't continue on for much longer. Xin must now place his life on the life, along with the lives of his nation to ensure that communities are reformed, and relationships rekindled in a constant battle for power and supremacy. We watch as a young prince soon transforms into a well respected king, as he is constantly put through many tests to his morals, skills, and leadership to the people.

Nakajima Youko is your average somewhat timid high school student. One day, a strange man named Keiki appears before her, swearing allegiance. Before she could properly register what was happening, demon-like creatures attack Youko and her friends, after which they are pulled into a different world. A world unlike what she has ever known. Separated from Keiki, Youko and her friends must do whatever they can if they wish to survive in this new world. Arslan told a powerful story of a young man with a strong ambition to save his nation from dismay, and unify a world that had been separated by mistrust along with dark intentions. Youko shares the same story where she must now come to terms with all that is taking place, and assemble a strong team that can assist her in bringing reform back to the broken nation. Both Arslan and Youku start off with a very naive and timid approach to their objective, but soon mature and grow wiser through the struggle of a nation trying to restore itself through war. Through their determination and strong ambition, they find loyal supporters who fight alongside them to make the world a better place.

In the world of Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Seneki, two countries, Donatia and Kouran, are embroiled in a war of supremacy that is tearing the world around them apart. The small island Nil Kamui has suffered dearly from the war, with lands subjugated in the name of each kingdom and stolen away from the people. Matters only worsen as their deity, the Red Dragon, has gone mad, rampaging about Nil Kamui burning villages and killing people mercilessly. Ibuki, a descendant of Nil Kamui's royal family, resides at an orphanage and refuses to take on the role of king. Doing anything to avoid conflict, Ibuki desires a peaceful resolution, however the chaotic world will not allow for such pacifism when it is being torn apart by war. Despite his reluctance, Ibuki is drawn deep into this conflict. War and a battle for supremacy are common in both anime, where there's a constant struggle between political factions at every moment. The two main characters must come to terms with their new responsibility and ensure that every decision they make brings peace back to the land. Arslan bands together with his loyal army to fight for the nation of Pars, while Ibuki must lay down the law for the Revolutionary Army (Nil Kamui) against other invading countries. Both tell a powerful story of an agenda that must be fulfilled, and it's up to a young ambitious individual to take the reigns and lead a nation to victory. Both strive for peace while the enemy will do whatever it takes to see that doesn't happen, and so constant battles ensue without warning.

Kicking off the series and this list is Goku and Piccolo vs Raditz. This is the first time ever that team battles have been emphasized as previous fights have been more man-to-man. Despite being the two most powerful fighters on earth, the combined strength of Goku and Piccolo are no match for the might of Goku’s elder brother, who is far weaker compared to the competition to come. They go as far as removing their weighted clothing and they still move like tortoises compared to Raditz. It took an intervention from Gohan’s inner rage to make any dent on Raditz, and Goku’s first sacrifice to allow Piccolo to concentrate the necessary energy for his newest finishing move, the Makankousappou. It did the deed and it took out Raditz and Goku. But this fight was simply a preview of things to come with how intense, fast paced, and disastrously explosive the action of DBZ can get.

Back by popular demand (at least to the Japanese audiences who love Freeza), Freeza has come back to life thanks to the Dragon Balls of the Earth and his medical team, and he is back with a vengeance! So what does he do this time? He’s going to get in the best shape of his life and obtain a new form, Golden Freeza. Thankfully, after the battle with Beerus and learning that Whis, his attendant, is also his master, Goku and Vegeta take advantage of the opportunity to train under him. Surprisingly, Freeza isn't the only one in town with a new power-up transformation as Goku and Vegeta obtained Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, or just Super Saiyan Blue for the Super animated series. Goku takes first shot against Freeza and is barely on equal terms with him. Unfortunately, Freeza’s cardio gives out and it gives Goku the advantage. After Goku is shot by one of Freeza’s minions before he can do anything significant, Vegeta steps up to the plate and fights with no mercy for the man that destroyed his planet. Before Vegeta is about to deliver the final blow, Freeza cops out by destroying the Earth. Thankfully, Whis was able to save a good number of the cast in a small remaining crust, turn back the clock three minutes, and have Goku deliver a no mercy kill but at the cost of robbing Vegeta his vengeance. Though Goku has demonstrated that his compassion has cost him on numerous occasions, he is able to take one mercy back.

Outside of the official Dragon Ball Z series canon, we have the Z Warriors (consisting of Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Future Trunks, Piccolo, and Krillin) up against one of the most overpowered characters of all time, Brolly. Upon reuniting with Goku ever since they were born, his blind rage takes over and fuels his testosterone to unbelievable proportions and powers only one can imagine. Heck, Broly can make an energy ball the size of his fist and send it to a neighboring planet destroying it like nothing. Every attack the Z Warriors do on Broly is about as useful as Mr. Satan trying to attack Cell. Eventually, it took Goku absorbing the energy of his comrades to deliver a blow that was of significant damage. The frightening thing about Broly is that despite how powerful he is, he is not motivated by universal domination, immortality or power. Just total indiscriminate destruction (who even refers to himself as the devil) and the annihilation of Goku, and that is what make him one of the most devastating foes in Dragon Ball history.

In a bout that brings Dragon Ball Z back in the spotlight, we have Goku vs Beerus, the God of Destruction. Looking for a good fight, both men accept each other’s challenges with the fate of the earth in balance. In this fight, with the help of all living Saiyan blood, Goku attains the form of Super Saiyan God and it gives him barely enough power to face Beerus on equal terms. The blows they exchange cause damage beyond the sound barrier and soars the skies all the way to earth’s atmosphere. Goku fights to exhaustion and accepts defeat. Out of respect for Goku being his second strongest opponent (and his love for Earth’s treats), he decides to spare the earth and becomes a passive ally to our heroes.

At the end of the first Dragon Ball series, Goku faces one of his first fiercest rivals, Piccolo or Ma, Jr. in the finals of the Tenkaichi Budokai tournament. Though Piccolo is motivated by his previous life incarnation’s (or you can say his father’s whose soul he has) lust for revenge and world domination, he is willing to follow the rules of the tournament and fight Goku honorably. In this fight, he shows his Super Namekian form by growing big but hasn't used this form since this fight since it takes too much energy and limits his mobilization. But what makes this fight amazing is that even though Piccolo at this point in this story is a villain, he is willing to obey a good portion of the rules and when he loses according to the rules (despite the destruction of the ring and arena), he takes his defeat like a true warrior.

In Dragon Ball Z’s final story arc, they face one of their most destructive threats ever, Majin Buu who has destroyed numerous galaxies. After being unsealed by Babidi, the son of his creator, Buu once again seeks to wreak havoc across the universe. However, it took almost the entire core team and numerous methods to stop him. Even Goku at Super Saiyan 3 could barely go blow-for-blow against the fat Buu and would get his ass handed to him at Buu’s true form. Vegeta went as far as blowing himself up causing little to no damage. Virtually other methods were tried. Goten and Trunks fusing as Gotenks wasn’t enough and when they were sealed in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Buu escapes by creating a hole just by screaming at an intense enough frequency to do so. Gohan goes under intense training to become Mystic Gohan. He does well but gets absorbed by Buu. Goku and Vegeta also put on the earrings to fuse as Vegetto, but with the need to save their friends sealed within Buu, they go as far to get absorbed by Buu but the effects defuse them and Vegeta destroys the earring not wanting to fuse again. Then the battle goes as far as Buu destroying the earth and having to fight on Kaioshin’s world. With the help of Fat Buu (who has become separate from Kid Buu), Vegeta, Mr. Satan, and all life in his universe and being re-energized from a wish from the Dragon Balls, Goku destroys every single remaining molecule of Buu with an epic Spirit Bomb.

Despite becoming Super Saiyan and developing his Big Bang Attack by taking out Android 19, he is no match for his next opponent, Android 18. This shouldn't qualify as a fight, but more as a one sided ass beating. The way she fights Vegeta and the way she calculatingly moves and follows him, it appropriately reflects that she is an android following data in her programming. The way Android 18 smiles as she just uses punches and kicks shows that she is just simply toying with Vegeta. This fight just simply shows how fearsome Android 18 is and why the Future Trunks is afraid of her. Despite her good looks, she is a vicious monster. When fans look back on this fight, some might wonder why Krillin is able to manage a woman like her.

The unique thing about this fight is that by bringing Gohan into the spotlight, we get to see how he differs from his own father on what drives him to fight. Unlike Goku who grew up uneducated and with little to no social skills for the real world, Gohan has goals and motivations that are more in touch with his human side. While Goku fights to fight, in a sense, Gohan fights so he doesn't have to fight again. His protection of others is always his primary focus. When he steps up to face Cell after his father forfeits, Gohan shows he has reservations and hesitation and doesn't exactly have that same Saiyan warrior spirit as Goku and/or Vegeta. But after Cell stomps on Android 16 when he pleads him to protect Mother Nature, Gohan’s inner rage takes over and triggers his Super Saiyan 2 transformation. The ways he fights Cell shows that his emotions dictate how he fights and also shows more of his Saiyan side when instead of instantly finishing Cell, he decides to torture him, which comes across as pleasurable to him. But after the death of his father and his spiritual support, he kills Cell with a one-handed Kamehameha.

In one of Dragon Ball Z’s first epic battles, Goku faces off the prince of his people, Vegeta. Before battling, as opposed to looking at each other with intense hate, they actually smile at each other thinking it more as a game. While some combat sports experts like to say you play baseball but you don't play fighting, these guys like to indicate that Saiyans see combat sports as a sport that you play. A good portion of the fight has them on equal terms. They knock each other into mountains caving them in and creating craters the size of Texas. Both are pushed to the point of desperation. Goku had to use the spirit bomb. Vegeta had to resort to using his Gallick-hou, forming enough energy to destroy the entire Earth. Goku uses Kaio-ken to a point that it pushes his body beyond his limits. Then Vegeta turns Oozaru through an artificial moon. Eventually, Gohan, Krillin, and Yajirobe had to intervene to make the fight equal. With both men broken and with no decisive winner, with Krillin milliseconds away from cutting down Vegeta with Yajirobe’s sword, Goku pleads to spare his life. Thankfully, this paid off in the long run.

Coming off the tails of the previous story arc, Goku vs Vegeta, Goku finally learns of his origins and rejects his Saiyan heritage. But upon Goku’s recovery with his battle with Captain Ginyu, he finds Vegeta in his final moments telling him the truth about what happened to their people, and to avenge him and the Saiyans. Not only does the fight with Freeza encourage Goku to embrace his Saiyan roots, but also become its ultimate savior by becoming the legendary Super Saiyan as the result of Freeza killing Krillin, his best friend. The intense danger of this battle is measured when Freeza decides to put a special attack on the planet rendering it within moments (or in the viewer's case, episodes) of its destruction. Knowing Goku, not only does he want to avenge his people and save his friends, the Saiyan side of him can’t reject a good fight to test himself. It was a true battle of attrition. In many instances, viewers and both combatants thought it was going to be the end, but each character always had something up their sleeves. Goku used the Kaio-Ken, the Spirit Bomb, everything you can think of. But after Goku turned Super Saiyan, Freeza was forced to power up to 100% full strength and go toe-to-toe with the new Super Saiyan Goku. Eventually, Freeza’s own attack would become his own undoing and rejecting Goku’s mercy would bring him to his first defeat.

Watari is the playboy of the show. He is the best friend of Tsubaki and Kousei and he tags along with their development throughout the show. Though he ends up being used by Kaori to fulfill her greater ambition, he actually presents a very important message to the viewers. Many of the characters in the series have tragic backgrounds or harsh regrets. Watari is one of the most normal ones. And that’s exactly the point. Many a times, we imagine that we are the hero of the story and have to carry the greatest of burdens on our shoulders. But that’s not usually true. We are usually just the average Joe with very normal everyday problems. However, it doesn’t diminish his character in the slightest. He provides support to his friends, lives each day with enthusiasm and grieves when tragedy strikes. Being normal is completely okay.

Many viewers won’t remember who Saitou is just from hearing his name alone. For all you viewers out there suffering from amnesia after a year of not watching the show, Saitou is the guy that Tsubaki dates during a majority of the series. She confesses to him and they start dating early on, developing a strong rapport. However, Tsubaki is actually in love with Kousei but is unable to come to terms with it. Saitou is one of the first characters to learn the theme of the series; letting go. He recognises what Tsubaki doesn’t, and breaks up with her not out of malice, but out of care. Rather than drag on the relationship for the sake of attachment, he lets her go so that she can pursue the one that she can truly love.

Nagi is the younger sister of Takeshi Aiza, one of Kousei’s rivals. She initially despises Kousei because of her natural loyalty to her older brother. Later on, she gets saddled with Kousei as her tutor and is extremely unhappy about it. They have to practice a piece for her school performance and she constantly protests over that arrangement. Over time, she gets closer to Kousei but is still nervous about performing for her schoolmates. This nervousness carries forward to even the point right before the performance. However, when it’s her time to shine, she buckles down and performs with all her heart. She presents a simple message of growth, and her natural character development shows us that anyone can become a better person each and every day.

Tsubaki has been best friends with Kousei since young. She has seen his rise and fall as a musician and has stayed with him every step of the way. She harbours a crush on him but doesn’t seem to be aware of the fact. Because of this, she is reluctant to “allow” Kousei to revisit his musical roots, because she fears that music will take him away from her. The important fact here is that she goes along with the theme of the show despite her reservations. She let him go so that he can pursue his own happiness. Despite that, she still remains his friend and doesn’t angst about his decisions at all. Sometimes letting go isn’t just about our happiness, but that of our loved ones as well.

Like Kousei, Takeshi has been playing the piano since young and religiously practices each and every day. He was inspired early on by the methodical and masterful performances that Kousei puts on and he dreams of surpassing him as a result. This all comes crashing down when Kousei faces his tragedy and quits out of the blue. While viewers and characters close to Kousei understand why this happened, Takeshi wouldn’t know why his inspiration has disappeared. Despite that, he continues to practice constantly to pursue the figure that he looked up to, even if it is now a ghost and no longer present. His dedication alone is a testament to what any person should aspire to. And now, years later, he gets to pit himself against Kousei at last.

Emi has similar roots to Takeshi with regards to Kousei. She sees a performance of his while she is still young and gets inspired by the high level of performance. However, here is where the deviation lies. Takeshi sees Kousei as a rival, but Emi sees him as an ideal. She saw how pure and passionate his first performance was and becomes very troubled when his later performances become dull and monotonous. She spends a majority of the series trying to push Kousei further in order to once again see the Kousei that she believes is real. Her insight into his character seems to be very unique from the other characters. And she shows us that sometimes a different perspective is important when evaluating our lives.

Saki is vilified by the show early on and is often attributed as the reason that Kousei has lost the ability to hear the notes that he plays. Often, she is portrayed with a shadow cast over her face as she pushes him harder and harder, straying further into abuse territory the more she goes on. However, we later learn that she has good intentions for doing so. Upon learning that her son has talents in playing piano, she pushes him to become the best he can be because she wants him to have the capability to make a living when she’s gone. This, coupled with her desperation brought on by her terminal illness causes her to act more and more deranged. While it might sound macabre, Saki shows us just what kind of lengths a mother will go to protect her children, even if it means to harm them as a result.

Hiroko is the tutor of Kousei and she was the one who initially introduced Kousei to the joy of playing the piano. When she discovers his natural talent, she encourages him and his mother to allow him to be tutored by her. This goes well at first. He advances at a significant rate and everyone is proud of what he has done. But it all goes into a downward spiral his mother’s death. With him falling into depression and Saki departing the mortal realm, the one that gets saddled with all the guilt is her. She constantly second guesses her decision to bring him into the world of music. The inner turmoil that comes with her new responsibility for Kousei coupled with her guilt must be absolutely crushing on a normal person. Despite all that, she forges forward and does her best to take care of her daughter and Kousei at the same time. It’s understandable for anyone to give up under these circumstances, but she didn’t. And it’s a simple concept, don’t give up.

Kousei is one of the protagonists of the series. When his mother left the mortal coil, his ability to hear the notes he plays goes along with her. For years, he has lived under the crushing pain of depression at his inability to pursue the art that he once held a great passion for. As the series goes on, he learns to acknowledge that it is not her death but his fear that holds him back. And he faces his fear head on by the end, playing a beautiful song with the greatest passion he can muster. It is said that courage is not being fearless, but having fear and carrying on in spite of it. Kousei possesses a courage that very few possess. After all, who can claim to shine despite being under the oppressive weight of depression and the death of a loved one?

“We should live our lives to the fullest. You never know, we may be dead by tomorrow.” Kaori is a violinist that was also inspired by Kousei when she was younger. Originally, she played the piano. But after seeing his performance, she dropped the piano altogether to play the violin because she dreamt of playing alongside him on the stage. However, she is hindered by a crippling illness that causes her to constantly revisit the hospital. At some point, she learns that she might die anytime from her illness, despite her parents’ best effort to keep it from her. Yet, she doesn’t give up. Instead, she starts to live each day like it's her last, because it could literally be her last. She eats what she wants, dresses how she wants and does everything in her power to pursue Kousei despite being too shy to do so before. We don’t need an illness to do the same. Each day could literally be our last. It is very easy for us to do due to a freak accident or a sudden onset of illness that we couldn’t diagnose earlier. So like a violinist once said: “We should live our lives to the fullest. You never know, we may be dead by tomorrow.” And so she did so. Starting by contacting Tsubaki and pretending to like Watari, all so she can get close to Kousei. It was her lie in April.

We’ll start off the list with an obvious pick. Spanning up to 3 seasons with an upcoming 4th season in the future, we can’t deny that Utapri paved the way for male idol anime. It’s a fairly famous show that started off being an Otome game that got an anime adaptation which was a huge success. The story revolves around our heroine, Haruka Nanami, who dreams to one day write songs for her favorite Idol, Hayato Ichinose. Determined to make her dream come true, she enrolls in Saotome Academy, where she encounters different kinds of people that will one day become famous. The overall premise of these two anime is the same. To start off, B-project is made by the same creators who made Uta no Prince-sama. They have been produced by the same studio, which is A-1 pictures. Both also feature girls who have a unique talent when it comes to music. Haruka of Utapri is gifted with exceptional composing skills while Tsubasa Sumisora of B-pro has keen hearing that can detect the slightest wrong note/ tone in any music. These two girls are also surrounded by talented young males who would like to get their attention. As the show progresses, Haruka and Tsubasa learn something new about each male character that will help these talented idols to work together as a team and reach their full potential. The similarities between these two shows are endless! In terms of atmosphere, characters, and music, you can never go wrong with Utapri!

Tsukiuta has gained wide success and an anime adaptation through wonderful music made by Vocaloid producers. Initially having female idols as well, it seems the anime will only be focusing more on the male idols that form Six Gravity and Procellarum. Each episode features one character at a time and they each represent and are themed around the 12 months of the year. With well known Seiyuu and talented Vocaloid composers, Tsukiuta will never disappoint! Tsukiuta. The Animation is another ongoing anime that is currently airing alongside B-pro. Just like some selections in this list, Tsukiuta and B-pro revolve around handsome male idol singers. The songs, the characters, even the dance moves and the overall vibes will remind you of B-pro. In Tsukiuta, the groups Six Gravity and Procellarum are often paired together to perform. Each character’s interaction with the other team ranges from friendly rivalry to sibling-like relationship. Just like in B-pro, the group Kitakore, THRIVE, and MooNs perform together as one team under the name B-project. Though they are essentially rivals, they bicker, help one another, work together as a whole, and treat each other like a family. Watch this along with B-pro and be amazed at Tsukiuta’s jaw-dropping visuals during their performances which are done by Studio Pierrot by the way.

During his 2nd year in middle school, Yuuta Hoshitani was dazzled at the touching performance of a certain high school student. Dreaming of one day performing alongside that unknown student, he uses the performer’s uniform as a hint to where Yuuta can encounter the person in question. He then enters Ayanagi Academy and applies in the musical department. There, he was paired with 4 other potential candidates under the team of Itsuki Ootori. Yet another anime that has a great remembrance to B-project is Starmyu. Much like B-pro, Stamyu offers talented, good looking males with wonderful music to boot. 5 unlikely males are paired together to work as a team in order to be accepted permanently in the musical department section of the school. As they train hard to become future idols, each individual’s own back stories are revealed, showing how these people are heavily connected by music. They don’t start off well, but as the show progresses, they reveal their closeness to one another and make a great team. The improved relationship of team Ootori reflects the amazing relationship within B-pro. Like some of our other selections, Starmyu has an upcoming new season for its fans! So while waiting for it, why not go on your way to watch it and its ongoing OVA this season.

Shounen Hollywood was originally a novel that revolves around the 1st generation of the group of the same name. This anime, however, tells a newer story. It starts 15 years after the original ending of the novel where it now shows the 2nd generation of Shounen Hollywood. If you want something that is a bit realistic when it comes to the world of male idols, then Shounen Hollywood is your best bet. Shounen Hollywood exhibits not only the bright side of being an idol, but it also presents us with the darker side of the industry. You will literally see them being upset at things that male idols must uphold for the media and realize that the great competition in the industry is not at all fun and games. Just like B-pro, the viewers are given the chance to know each male character and why they chose the path of being an idol. You will see them work hard and train hard just to give the perfect performance for their fans. Shounen Hollywood is more than attractive male idols who just sing and dance, it is a slice of life anime that will show you what it truly takes to become an idol, despite their sparkling image. If you want to see more of Shounen Hollywood, then watch Shounen Hollywood: Holly Stage for 49 and maybe help them in their crowdfunding for new animation.

Cyan Hijirikawa is a cute shy girl who has a hidden talent when it comes to music. One quiet night, she was sucked in her favorite game and turned into a catgirl in a place known as Midi city. She is then recruited by Branded Rocking Labels where she becomes the leader of Plasmagica. Along with her new found friends, she defeats evil with her music in hopes of getting back home. Show by Rock!! Short!! Is currently airing as of now with an upcoming season 2 Show by Rock!! # is on the way. Similarly, Show by Rock!! and B-project are both music anime about idols. Show by Rock!! has a fair share of male and female idols for viewers to watch. Though, unlike B-pro who mainly sing and dance as a way to entertain their fans, Show by Rock!! uses only the harmony of their instruments to touch the hearts of their fans. They may differ overall when it comes to plot progression, but one thing is for certain for these two shows. They aim to be the very best in their field as they give the magic of music to their beloved fan base. Much like B-pro consists of 3 different idol groups, Branded Rocking Labels consists of 2 different groups which are Plasmagica and ShinganCrimsonZ. Being a music anime, Show by Rock!! Also gives off the same feel that B-pro has. It’s an unpredictable Kemonomimi anime that you definitely don’t want to miss!

Miki Ishimoto, an art student graduate, received the great news of her life when Holbein Entertainment Co. Made her the manager of “The Rockies”. However, upon meeting the Idols, she is in shock to discover that “The Rockies” are indeed hard rock. They are statues that have feelings and personality. The boy band features 4 well-known sculptures, St. George, Medici, Mars, and Hermes. Follow along with Ishimoto as she ventures into the world of entertainment! This is one of those shows that will make you question yourself, “What am I even watching?”. Despite the weird funny roller coaster that this anime has to offer, you just can’t simply take your eyes off of it as you watch along. Sekkou Boys has a lot of base elements that B-pro has, the trials of becoming an idol, the hardships of being a manager, handsome men (in these case statues), the quirkiness of each character, and the comedy. Oh the comedy! In B-pro you are left breathless because of how handsome they are with their magnificent music, in Sekkou Boys, however, it will leave you breathless because of their hilarious comedy. Sekkou Boys’ comedy centers around funny puns and good old parodies about idol anime. And just like Tsubasa Sumisora who acts as a manager for B-pro, Miki Ishimoto takes on this role for Sekkou Boys. They do their job very well in supporting their assigned male idols for their respective companies. Sekkou Boys doesn’t showcase any music unlike our selections above. But hey, if you want to hear them sing, then listen to the anime ending song as it was sung by the same Seiyuu of the Rockies. It’s a rare hidden gem and a good short watch for the fans of this genre.

Oe Kintarou is a brilliant young mind who was on the brink of graduating university when he decided to quit despite completing all of his courses. Now, Kintarou is a student who wanders around the country learning new things about life---and women. Kintarou has no qualms about doing any job so long as he can prove himself and learn new skills. While wandering, Kintarou will come across new women and many great opportunities. Golden Boy is a classic comedy anime that fans will enjoy worldwide. Based on a sex comedy manga, Golden Boy brings to viewers a combination of comedy, ecchi, and stupidity. Kintarou takes on any task, no matter how small, and somehow, despite being a disgusting pervert who initially repulses all, wins the heart of every woman he comes across. Except, Kintarou never sticks around long enough to enjoy his popularity. Kintarou is always moving onto the next lesson!

Three unusual students joined together at Kaimei High School to establish the Living Assistance Club (also known as the Sket Brigade). As part of their club activities, they help with any problem no matter what, although the requests are not as frequent as you can imagine. These three usually lay around the clubroom bored, but they never deplete their vigor for a new case. SKET Dance has everything you need for a quality comedy: a light, an inconsequential plot, goofy characters, and stupidity all around! Whacky things are always going on in SKET Dance and our main characters always manage regardless of the situation. Really, SKET Dance is a modern day Gintama without aliens. You’ll understand when you watch!

Oga Tatsumi is the most ferocious fighter of Ishiyama High, a school of delinquents where there is endless violence. One day, Oga rescues a man from the river who splits open allowing a baby to crawl out and attach itself to Oga. The baby is the son of the Demon Lord, Kaiser de Emperana Beelzebub IV, also known as Baby Beel. Oga is now tasked with teacher Baby Beel how to be a proper Demon Lord, even though he wants nothing to do with Baby Beel. Except, Baby Beel’s nursemaid Hildegard will make sure Oga will get the task done! Beelzebub is going go to be one of those classic anime comedies one day. The craziest things are constantly going on. With Baby Beel, nothing ever turns out normal. From rivers of urine to electrical tears, you can’t say that you were ever bored watching Beelzebub. Let’s not forget Alaindelon, shall we? Beelzebub just has a great cast of characters that never fail to crack you up. You’ll have to watch and find out how!

Sakamoto is the epitome of perfection: he’s elegant, sophisticated, graceful, patient, and handsome. Sakamoto has managed to win the hearts of all the girls in school and the anger of all the boys, and Sakamoto is only a first year! Now, Sakamoto’s classmates plot his demise, but can they succeed? They can try, but Sakamoto’s sangfroid cannot be broken! A favorite from this spring season, Sakamoto Desu Ga is just a hodge podge of goofiness. You might think that Sakamoto is too perfect, but he combats hate so perfectly that you just can’t hate him! Combine that with the odd side characters and you’ve got yourself an amazing comedy anime! You can’t get enough of the Sakamoto obsession that drives every character over the edge. Are they in love? Are they jealous? Are they angry? Who knows? Everyone has a Sakamoto complex!

Onizuka is pursuing his dream to be the world’s greatest teacher---but only so he can meet high school girls. That is the goal that caused him to leave his bike gang ways, however, his new class really puts him to the test. They are actually delinquents who try to cause as much trouble for Onizuka as possible to drive him away. But, you can’t let your guard down because the Great Teacher Onizuka is not your average teacher and he won’t stand for your troublesome ways. GTO is another classic comedy anime that never fails! Combine an ecchi teacher, delinquent students, a hot mom, a hot coworker, and trouble, and you’ve got yourself GTO! Onizuka is not your conventional teacher, and you don’t want him to be one. Great Teacher Onizuka explores how Onizuka solves the problem of having delinquent students. Oh, let’s not forget that Onizuka is a bum who doesn’t even have a home! Oh, how can he be a great teacher? Well, you’ll just have to see!

The Demon Lord Satan was in the midst of conquering the continent when the hero Emilia thwarts him, sending him through a dimensional portal which lands Satan and his general Alsiel in present day Tokyo. Without any power in Tokyo, Satan feigns being human as Maou Sadao and becomes employed at MgRonald’s to help pay the bills. Maou’s lust for power has not disappeared like his powers, however, and Maou soon devises a plan to rule the world through his work at MgRonald’s! This little comedy anime takes the job of being a fast food worker up a notch as Maou contemplates ruling the world from his burger flipping job! Who knew you could have so much power prepping fries? Along the way, you get to meet some pretty fun characters like Lucifer and Emilia who are also just trying to survive in Tokyo, although some try harder than others. You may think this is going to be some epic battle between good versus evil, but watch and see just how wrong you are.

Sakura Chiyo has fallen for the overly oblivious Nozaki Umetarou. Chiyo has attempted to confess to Nozaki, but Nozaki believed her to be his fan and hands her an autograph. Apparently, Nozaki is the popular shoujo mangaka Yumeno Sakiko. In an effort to get closer to Nozaki, Chiyo is somehow pulled in as one of Nozaki’s assistants. Now, Chiyo gets to learn just what goes into making a manga and all the inspirations that go with it. Do you like shoujo manga? Whatever your answer is, you’ll love Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, a series that completely mocks shoujo tropes that we are all too familiar with. And while most people hate oblivious characters (i.e. Hikari from Special A or Ichika from Infinite Stratos), it’s hard to hate Nozaki who makes half of the comedy! Oh, Nozaki, your obliviousness, and pettiness shan’t be forgotten easily. Of course, there are many other characters that help make Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun one of the top comedy anime on our list! Did we mention that this is actually a shounen anime?

Nichijou is the story of three childhood friends who are now in high school, a genius, a robot, and a talking cat. Everything seems normal, but there’s plenty of the absurd. These six characters experience life as they are bitten by a talking crow, hang out together, watch their principal suplex a deer, and walk to school. No day is a dull one in Nichijou. If you’re looking for ridiculously stupid, you’ve got Nichijou. Nichijou takes everyday events and cranks up the craziness of these events ten fold! From falling octodogs to a trolling loli professor, it’s hard not to find a character to like in Nichijou. Nichijou is one of the top slice of life comedies, but is it truly a slice of life?! You know how Lucky Star is so ordinary it’s extraordinary? Well, Nichijou is so crazy it’s insane! Insanely good, though. And don’t you forget it!

Saitama is an unassuming man who quit his day job to pursue his dream of being a hero. Through intensive training for three years, Saitama has lost his hair in exchange for great power. Now, Saitama is able to defeat even the greatest enemy with just one punch! But where’s the thrill in that? Saitama is seeking an adversary who will put his power to the test. Along the way, Saitama gains a word named Genos who is a model-like cyborg who recruits Saitama into joining the Hero Association so they can gain recognition as heroes. Ah, one of the top anime from Winter 2016 has made it on our list! One Punch Man is a superhero anime that completely and utterly makes fun of superheroes. First off, Saitama’s sidekick is more likable among civilians, and you can’t forget his model-like good looks. Saitama is utterly plain and dull looking, but when he wants to be, he can actually look like a superhero---until he goes back to being dull looking. And we can’t ignore the fact that Saitama wears that ridiculous yellow jumpsuit that actually make other shounen jumpsuits better looking.

The Amanto reign supreme over feudal Japan and have outlawed swords, putting an end to the samurai way. However, Sakata Gintoki refuses to relinquish the way of the samurai. Gintoki works with Shimura Shinpachi, a meganekko with passion, and Kagura, a bottomless pit for a stomach, and together, they do odd jobs to make ends meet. Barely. Along the way, they run into the Shinsengumi, terrorists, and amanto. Gintama is an anime unlike any other. The most ridiculous things happen and most of the jokes will catch you completely off guard! Some episodes may make you question Gintama’s placement on our list, but when the comedic moments happen, you will literally be on the floor laughing hysterically. Every single one of the characters makes Gintama to be the supreme comedy anime king. Gintama makes fun of every aspect of society in the strangest setting possible. From bazookas indoors to giant bird-like creatures that have man-ish legs, you should love Gintama, buttfro and all!

Naruto never fails to impress the millions of anime fans out there with its action packed scenes, epic tales of hardships and triumphs, but most importantly a sense of reward. A huge demon known as Nine-Tails attacks the local village that Naruto resides in, and leaves a trail of destruction behind it. To put a stop to the onslaught and save what remained of the village, the fourth hokage sacrificed his own life and sealed the furious beast inside the newborn Naruto. The story continues as we follow Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja that is constantly searching for recognition, and has dreams to become the top hokage in order to put a stop to all evil and become a strong leader for everyone. So why did we choose Naruto as one of our six picks? There's a never ending story that happens throughout Naruto, with every turn he takes leading him down paths which he never imagined, while encountering new friends and building strong bonds. Every episode is filled with so much action that it's hard to even comprehend what's going on at certain moments. Both Bleach and Naruto have such strong character development, while taking the viewer on an everlasting journey that leaves you craving more each time. Ichigo and Naruto share the extreme passion to set things straight for those around them, dedicating their entire life to ensuring their safety and security. Both have such epic tales of struggle, but have you cheering for the both of them to succeed in overcoming their obstacles.

Blue Exorcist looks at the life of Rin, who at first enjoyed the wonders of his normal school life, then is suddenly thrown into a world that is full of destruction and suffering. Rin soon discovers that he's the son of Satan, and that his father insists that he return to Assiah so the two can rule the nation. After being attacked by a pack of raging demons, Rin turns down the offer and instead trains to become an exorcist to exterminate the demon population. Rin along with the help of his younger brother Yukio, team up to put an end to the uncertain events that are about to transpire, end the demon onslaught, and to protect the innocent with everything they've got. Rin and Ichigo both have a very arduous task that lies ahead of them, which the two never really anticipated since they were thrown right into it all. It becomes their purpose to join a special organization in order to restore peace to their home, but more importantly to use their new abilities to destroy all evil that threatens them. The two shows both have a premise, and it's that when you're caught in the whirlwind of disasters along your path, you maintain your cool and work together with others to make sure everything returns to normal. Rin works with his brother Yukio to stop the reign of terror that these demons are creating, while Ichigo along with his entire soul society family to capture and end the tyranny of a traitor.

As a reminder, we'll be focusing on the first season of Ushio to Tora, but we encourage you to check out its second season because it's truly epic. In the first season, Ushio comes across a mysterious creature located in his grandfather's secret storage area. The intimidating creature, Tora, was sealed there with the legendary Beast Spear and cannot leave unless someone pulls the spear from out of his shoulder. Ushio confronts Tora reluctantly with Tora warning him if he were to do so, he would not hesitate to rip him apart. Having no fear in his heart, Ushio pulls the spear from Tora's shoulder thus granting him the ultimate power of the Beast Spear. From here, the two join forces to help put a stop to an endless army of ghouls who terrorize the city, and to discover the truth behind who created the Beast Spear. Ushio and Ichigo were dragged into a huge mess, and it's now their responsibility to help clean it up. They were gifted with new abilities that defied human capability, and used them in order to erase all threats from existence. Both were in a sense, shinagami, who had to fight off ghouls/hollows in order to find out who the culprit truly was. They also wield powerful weapons that once equipped, allow them to transform into superhuman beings with extraordinary powers. So much action takes place all throughout each series, so we highly recommend watching Ushio to Tora to see it all happen.

Gintama really draws you in with its quirkiness, and many references to other anime. Japan ranks it highly on their own top list of hot anime series, as its extremely popular with every age group all across the country. This journey takes us back to feudal Japan yet again, but this time with main character Gintoki. This isn't your ordinary feudal Japan however, as every encounter Gintoki meets is unusually odd and quirky, which is what adds the spice and flavoring to this tasty treat of a series. Gintoki isn't very keen on finding a job like most other citizens and so we see Gintoki on an endless adventure seeking whatever job comes his way, while battling strange looking monsters, a weird Yakuza clan and much more. Gintama much like Bleach both live under the Jump umbrella, and so you'd expect there to be lots of great stories along with action along the way. Gintoki much like Ichigo, start off with very boring and normal lives but then fate somehow shows up with a big mess they must deal with. One fantastic aspect as well about Gintama is that there are so many bleach references sprawled all throughout the series, that it's hard not to notice them. The two end up joining a group of other powerful allies which help them along their way in becoming stronger, but also building strong relationships with everyone. Their dedication and drive help them grow into more responsible individuals, while developing compassion within themselves to ensuring a better life.

Hunter x Hunter takes place in a world where skilled hunters go through the dangerous tasks of capturing criminals, and bravely searching for lost treasures in risky territories. Gon strives to become the best hunter in hopes to finding his father, who too was a hunter but abandoned Gon to pursue his dream. Gon comes to realize that this path is unlike anything he'd ever imagined, and that if he ever wants to serve a purpose he'll need the right allies to guide him. Gon teams up with Leorio, Kurapika, and Killua who all plan to strive to succeed in taking the hunter exam, while taking on a plethora of monsters along their journey. Throughout their newly carved path, they all will learn what it takes to be a true hunter and put their abilities to the test against the evil that awaits them. Bleach is so full of ups and downs throughout the entire story, that you're constantly pulled in every direction wondering what will happen next. The same can be said about the epic story of Gin and his team, as they trudge along being tested with every step they take towards becoming skilled hunters. You're never sure as to what will happen since every episode leaves you at such a climax, that sweat starts to drip down the side of your head craving more each time. Most of the shows on this list share a valuable treasure that we all should learn from, and that's to surround yourself with the right people who not only drive you towards success, but guide you towards becoming your greatest version.

Humans on Earth have been under the impression that they've been the only species that exist in the universe, but face a rude awakening when a much stronger dangerous species arrives out of the blue. An advanced force known as Neighbors, have come to threaten the existence of humanity and conquer the world. Fortunately for planet Earth, an special organization known as Borders hears of this ordeal and sends out their most skilled members onto the battlefront. It now becomes the responsibility of Osamu, Yuuma, and the rest of the team to put an end to the incoming terror before it's too late. Osamu much like Ichigo find themselves in situations that are entirely out of their control, and are confronted by an unknown person who insists they help save the world from ruin. Osamu encounters Yuuma while Ichigo meets Rukia, and the two are thrown into the pits of fire as they now must use whatever tools they have to take out the enemy. Along the way the two come across great friends and build some romantic relationships, which end up guiding the two further in their adventures. The two were initially students who then became trainees in their respective fields, one being a shinagami, and the other part of the Borders squad. The two shows have such a deep cast of characters, all of which possess unique skills which help to aid them along their dark paths.

Is she a succubus or a vampire? Kanzaki is your typical high school hero who received a love letter from a girl with suspiciously pointy ears named Mari and have her meet in the gym tool shed. It turns out Mari wants to suck his blood because she’s a vampire, but the problem is Mari is not used to drinking blood. Thankfully she can alternatively drink any fluid that has life energy, so try to guess which bodily she’ll end up sucking? You’ll know from the get-go this show is going to be funny because our hero is no idiot and happily pulled his pants down and invited Mari for an energy drink. And the story is basically Mari relying on Kanzaki to provide her with daily nutrients around the school. The story is pretty barebones, but the show has a sense of humor.

Admittedly, episode 1 will be hard to swallow at first because the girl died after getting raped by the teacher. Once you’re past that, the rest are just fun to watch. Toshi Densetsu or Urban Legends tells the stories of popular urban legends with a kinky twist ranging from a girl haunting the bathroom to haunted VHS tapes. Toshi Densetsu Series currently has 2 episodes and it’s safe to assume that this series will give some a few laughs. Not slapstick kind of laughs, they’re more like the funny because the characters are thrown into bizarre situations kind of funny. From a ghost trying to seduce the teacher to a ghost finding new ways to haunt people because VHS tapes are already outdated.

An adaptation to one of the popular hentai manga series by Kisaragi Gunma, Love Selection the Animation tells two stories about young people love having sex. Episode 1 is about a group of girls proposing they have sex before their school life ends and episode 2 is about a guy frequenting a restaurant with the girl of his life working there, and the twist is the restaurant has a secret menu involving lust and bodily fluids as the main course. Arguably the best part of Kisaragi Gunma’s style is the very detail fellatio scenes and thankfully this translated well to the anime. Regardless, though, Love Selection is a very tame hentai with lots of sex and without the rape and despair. This hentai has some funny moments like the guy in episode 1 ended up with a harem and the guy in episode 2 got something he didn’t expect. Everything is in the spirit of fun, and this can also be considered a good hentai for first timers.

School trips are fun activities for the class and let them experience new things outside their boring classrooms. There are trips to historical monuments, museums, etc., but there’s one school in particular that sent their class to a nudist beach! Young people with raging hormones in a beach where you all go naked? Oh, man! It’s one field trip you’ll never forget! The anime is still ongoing and so far the story is pretty simple with the entire class naked and the guys checking out their crushes without their uniform. But like most hentai stories, Nudist Beach will end up being a harem anime because that one guy with the nerdy glasses happens to have the biggest fishing rod around.

Kitano Jun is an erotic manga artist who is good at drawing every bit of lewd details of the human anatomy. He is living the dream after he marries his assistant-turned-fiance Miyuki. The day after their honeymoon, the chief editor of a manga publishing company, Sonoko Mifuji, arrived at their home and is given the task to create an anthology manga with a very tight deadline. With the help of his wife Miyuki, Jun will use all of his strength and bodily fluids to meet the deadline. Hyper Erection Mode activated! Darling is about poking fun on hentai tropes, turning extreme stuff like rape, and tentacles to funny moments through Jun’s story-making methods and with the help of his lovely wife Miyuki acting as a model. There’s nothing offensive about Darling so you’re guaranteed to have a good time watching the anime while laughing in the process.

Student council president and role model Mitarai Keiko has a problem: She can’t stop thinking about a man’s wiener! Sometimes she can’t control it, she tends to handle any phallic-like objects like handlebars in a suspiciously lewd manner. Thankfully for her, she lets out her urges towards the nearest guy in her immediate vicinity: her younger brother Noboru. The title of the anime is very self-explanatory and man, chances are you’ll have a good time watching the anime or ended up completely dumbstruck at how the siblings go to great lengths to expel their lust with their parents around like putting a hole in the wall so they can, well, do things without needing someone going to the other room. Talk about convenience!

Takahashi is one of the unfortunate girls in the world — she died in an accident after saving her crush Oohara, became a ghost haunting her school and she couldn’t return her feelings to the boy she loves after he confessed his feelings post-mortem. As she wanders around the school, she bumps into another ghost named Sakurako, who happens to be the first ghost haunting the school. The anime tosses Takahashi into bizarre, kinky and funny situations thanks to Sakurako ghost power and do kinky activities ranging from exhibitionism, bondage, tentacles, and borrowing a penis so the girls can, well, you know… Alignment You! You! is a raunchy experience that sometimes you wish there were horny ghosts haunting your school.

Uh… The title says it all. There is an anti-hero prowling the night for evildoers and he is only known as the Rapeman. He rapes women for GREAT JUSTICE. It’s VERY hard to keep a straight face for typing that. The tone of the anime is on the serious side and the stories involve the hero (Rapeman) accepts a client’s request, find and rape the target, and the lives of his victims and clients change for the better. For example, the daughter of a Yakuza boss cares only the looks of men and never considers what’s on the inside, mother of daughter calls the Rapeman to rape her daughter in hopes for the daughter to change for the better. It’s hard to explain this without watching the anime itself, but good things happen in the end. The funny part of the anime? THE ENTIRE THING! The anime tries to be serious, but with a premise like that, it’s hard to take this seriously. It’s Rapeman raping women for GREAT JUSTICE!

Who do you like most, me or that vibrator? This is probably the most important question a man has to ask a girl he loves. Well, that’s assuming the girl you’re asking is Fujino Shion. Our hero Fukuya has ended up dating his class Fujino Shion after one freak moment inside the train. Still, the two are officially couples now, but there’s one problem: Shion loves to use the vibrator so much, she hardly takes it off. This worries Fukuya because he thinks he’s no better satisfying Shion than a vibrator. Does Shion love Fukuya or is she just addicted to her toy? Will Fukuya convince Shion that he has more battery life than a vibrator? Fujino Shion is a strange kind of woman. Hatsu Inu is love comedy at best with Fukuya having to deal with the silent Shion and her vibrator. There is a developing relationship between the two and while it’s not the best if you compare to non-hentai love comedy hentai, their relationship is just enough for you to care and support the guy. Seriously, it’s a story of a guy trying to win over a girl who loves vibrators. The premise alone is worth a few chuckle!

The first erotic game of all-female developer, Flower, didn’t sell too well, and with sales tanking, the company is on the brink of shutting down. The problem of the company lies within the crew’s inexperience with sex and have zero know-how to excite their target audience. Enter our hero Mochizuki Tomoya, a part-timer hired by the company, and with his experience in playing erotic games, he helps the crew at Flower to develop a game that will appeal to their audience by, well, showing them some inspirations. You see this hentai a lot with good reasons: It’s a hentai series that caters to almost everyone, it has great art and animation, a decent story and lots of sex. Best of all, it’s enjoyable and fun. Our hero Tomoya is helping out the company and one of the ways to do that is to basically give the all-female crew some sexual experience. Since every girl has their own sexual preferences, Tomoya fumbles a bit and ended up creating silly situations he wasn’t expecting.

When you’re on a show where most of the characters have over-the-top super powers, it takes a lot to stand out, which is a testament to Port Mafia member Ichiyō Higuchi. Historically, she’s unique in that her literary style wasn’t modeled off of Western authors, as was popular at the time, and relied heavily on classical Japanese. Historians and literati are reluctant to modernize her writing, which means that it’s quite difficult for even some Japanese readers to digest! On the show, she’s the fiercely loyal subordinate to the temperamental Akutagawa, which is both her strength and her weakness. She’s willing to go up against any of the Port Mafia’s enemies, and even put herself in the line of fire if need be to keep her boss safe.

A member of the mysterious Fellowship of the Guild made up of non-Japanese members, Canadian girl Lucy Maud Montgomery pays a visit to Yokohama to raise a bit of hell for the Armed Detective Agency. Perhaps best known for her series Anne of Green Gables, which is beloved around the world, the show’s take on Lucy Maud Montgomery sees her endowed with the special power “Anne of the Abyssal Red.” This ability allows her to create an alternate dimension nightmare playroom populated by a monstrous version of her most popular character. She forces those inside into a malicious game of tag with Anne, who traps all those she catches in an inescapable prison. It’s definitely best not to get on her bad side.

Every well-run business needs an organized, somewhat anal brainy type to keep things in order, and for the Armed Detective Agency, Kunikida Doppo fits the bill. He was a Meiji-era novelist and poet noted as one of the inventors of Japanese Naturalism, which emphasized observation and scientific thought in writing, which is clearly demonstrated on the show by his need to have everything properly planned and organized. One of his most famous works is a posthumously published private diary, which informs his special power. Called “The Lone Poet,” Kunikida’s special ability lets him bring any object he writes down in his notebook into existence, provided it isn’t bigger than the notebook itself, and that he understands the fundamental nature and workings of the object. With a power so reliant on a scientific mind, it’s easy to see why Kunikida is the way he is.

An optimistic and carefree country bumpkin from rural Japan, Miyazawa Kenji provides the Armed Detective Agency with some much needed down-home charm. His personality allows him to make friends quite easily, who in turn are more than willing to provide him with information when he is on the job, basically providing him with a civilian spy network. Historically, Miyazawa was a poet and author of children’s literature, perhaps best known for “Night on the Galactic Railroad,” which was also adapted into anime. His special ability is called “Undefeated by Rain,” which bestows him with superhuman strength whenever he is hungry. As long as his stomach is empty, he can hold his own in a fight and perform incredible feats, even lifting cars, but the second he’s full, it’s lights out.

Hirotsu is the leader of the Black Lizards, a sub-branch of the Port Mafia that they send in whenever they need to hit an enemy hard and fast. He’s a sharply dressed professional with a taste for the finer things in life. He is credited as having developed the art of the “tragic novel” in Japan, and one of his most famous works, “Kurotokage,” actually translates to “black lizard.” His special ability “Falling Camilla” sends any object he touches flying with incredible force, making him the obvious choice for infiltrating places he might not normally be wanted, or clearing the way of any unwanted obstacles.

Self-proclaimed master detective, Edogawa Ranpo is the wunderkind member of the Armed Detective Agency capable of solving the most complex of mysteries, even though he can’t seem to remember simple, everyday things like the right train to take, or how to get back to headquarters. Edogawa Ranpo is a writer who popularized mystery novels in Japan, and his character Kogoro Akechi was heavily influenced by Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Edogawa dubs his supernatural ability “Supernatural Deduction,” due to his ability to discern information and solve mysteries others seem incapable of. However, other members of the agency realize that this isn’t a super ability at all, merely a manifestation of his superb intellect. Of course, with an ego like his, it’s probably best not to tell him that.

Yosano Akiko is the feisty medic of the Armed Detective Agency. She is outspoken, always willing to speak her mind. As a literary figure, she was highly prolific feminist poet who published tens of thousands of Japanese tanka poetry and was considered quite controversial at the time. One of her most famous poems, “Thou Shalt Not Die,” was addressed to her brother and considered a very powerful anti-war poem. It also informs the name of her special ability, which allows her to heal herself and others back from the brink of death, provided they’ve incurred serious injury. Because of this ability, she is often underestimated by her enemies and considered down for the count, only to get back into the fray when they least expect it.

Akutagawa is one of the most prolific members of the Port Mafia, seemingly in charge of day to day operations. He is short-tempered and revels in the violence that accompanies the work he does. However, the mere thought that anyone in the Armed Detective Agency could go toe-to-toe with him drives him nuts. Historically, he is considered the father of the Japanese short story, and his influence is felt even today in the form of the Akutagawa Prize, which is one of the most prestigious literary awards in Japan. His power, “Rashōmon,” is derived from a popular short story that was adapted into a movie of the same name by legendary director Kurosawa Akira. It is a fiendish black coat capable of turning into a beast that can tear apart anything it touches, be it human flesh, metal, or even space. His brutal, violent tendencies have caused any member of the agency to have a standing order to flee if they encounter him.

Dazai Osamu is a veteran member of the Armed Detective Agency whose carefree attitude is belied by his constant, unsuccessful attempts to commit suicide. He has a shady past that involves the Port Mafia, and he used to be Akutagawa’s partner, before turning over a new leaf. He is a wildly influential literary figure whose works are considered classics and are taught at schools and enjoyed by many, even today. His works deal with complicated themes that are often unspoken in Japan, such as mental illness, and one such work, “No Longer Human,” shares its name with his special power. His ability is incredibly powerful, as it allows him to cancel the superpowers of anyone he touches. While he can still be harmed by normal means, most of the characters in the story rely on their powers in sticky situations, which means he has an incredibly useful ace up his sleeve, should he ever decide he would rather not shuffle off this mortal coil.

Nakajima Atsushi is the main protagonist of the series. After being forced out of the orphanage in which he was raised, in connection with a series of incidents, he encounters Dazai trying to drown himself in the river. He is saved from the brink of starvation and joins the Detective Agency after being taken under Dazai’s wing. He has incredibly low self-esteem due to his treatment at the orphanage but begins to find himself in his work. As a writer, he wrote many fantastical short stories, as well as one longer, major work, before his untimely, asthma-related death. His ability “Beast Beneath the Moon” transforms him into a white tiger with superhuman healing abilities that can bring him back even from the brink of death. However, unlike other members of both the Agency and the Mafia, he is unable to call on his power at will. Although he is incredibly powerful when transformed, the temperamental nature of his ability definitely puts him into some sticky situations.

An arch-wizard of the Crimson Demons and the first person to join Kazuma's party, Megumin is a perfect example of a mage who definitely defies appearance. At first glance, one might assume that she’s either an average girl or a witch of some sort. However, Megumin is actually an Explosive mage who has to create at least one explosion per day; otherwise, she’ll die. Even though her skills are limited to only creating explosions, Megumin’s explosions actually result in a higher burst damage output than most mages, and Megumin further develops her technique by building a higher speed incantation as well as passive enhancements to her explosions. Even though she refuses to learn other types of magic, Megumin is certainly a recent example of a powerful mage not to underestimate.

Despite living up to her nickname as “Louise the Zero” at the beginning of the series by being unable to perform magic properly, Louise grows to be a mage not to underestimate. The main female protagonist and the 3rd daughter of the Vallière family, Louise soon learns that she is one of a select few whose specialty is Void Magic, explaining the difficulty in her use of other types of magic due to its destructive nature as well as the lack of anyone to properly teach her. Eventually Louise learns to utilize other techniques such as creating an illusion and teleporting as far as she can see. She’s even able to create a World Door near the end of the series. Louise’s progression from someone lacking any ability into a certified mage earns her a spot on this list.

The Magician of Zetsuen and a minor character in the series, Hanemura Megumu serves as someone who possesses a lot of power yet is unaware of how powerful they really are. Hanemura enters the series curious as to whether he may be the Magician of Zetsuen, and decides to journey to the tree of Beginnings. Not only does he effortlessly defeat Hakaze along the way, Hanemura ends up destroying part of the Tree of Beginnings itself, leading him to become part of the Kusaribe clan and engaging in their schemes. Drawing upon the Tree of Zetsuen as his source, Hanemura’s can manipulate the red electrical energy generated into various forms, usually into various types of weapons such as a sword. Even though the magic itself is very simple, Hanemura’s presence as someone far stronger than most of the character take him to be proves how assuming how powerful someone is because of their appearance can be costly.

The main female protagonist, Index enters the series as someone on the run from multiple magicians threatening to harm her for the knowledge she possesses. Index is unusual for a mage in the sense that she herself cannot cast spells in the typical manner, but rather uses abilities costing no mana, such as intercepting her opponent’s spells as well as various defensive techniques that can result in powerful spells being casted despite her being almost lifeless. In addition, Index has an eidetic memory, allowing her to memorize the forbidden 103,000 magical texts known as grimoires, making her very dangerous as she consults this knowledge to aid her in combat by pinpointing weakness in her opponents spells. Index may not be a standard mage, but her vast knowledge of magic combined with the skills she does possess make her a legitimate threat.

One of the 3 main heroines of the series and the successor to the Tohsaka family, Rin serves as a mage with an incredible amount of potential who actually brings it to fruition. Rin is one of the rare mages in the series born with the capability to manipulate all 5 of the Elements: Water, Earth, Fire, Wind, and Ether. In addition, Rin perfects the use of storing magical energy into objects such as jewels as well as her signature attack of concentrating energy into her forefinger and firing it at her opponent. Rin can also rely on reinforcement spells to allow herself to run faster than normal people can perceive. Combined with her items and an affinity for magic that far exceeds the typical magi in the series, Rin deserves a spot in this ranking.

A magician who specialize in Ice Magic, Judar tends to revel in his mockery of others and tend to be both cruel and arrogant. However, Judar can back up his arrogance due to being trained since infancy by the members of Al-Thamen in magic, therefore having an almost limitless amount of Magoi, or energy. In addition, Jugar grows even more powerful when he obtains the memories of Matal Mogamett, adding more offensive spells to his arsenal of ice-related spells and defensive maneuvers. With an incredible fighting ability, multiple techniques to utilize, and a vats source of Magoi to draw from, Judar deserves to be among the most powerful mages.

Regarded as the greatest mage in Britannia, Merlin is one of the members of the 7 Deadly Sins and is known by the sin of Gluttony. Merlin is aided in her magical techniques by Morning Star Aldan, a special orb she can summon at will to aid her in techniques such as telekinesis or looking at various locations. Some of Merlin’s techniques include casting various types of illusions, levitation, and instantly teleporting herself, others, and items to distant places. Her strength is best demonstrated by defeating some of the greatest Holy Knights in Liones as well as Vivian, Liones’ most powerful mage. In addition, Merlin also possesses some powerful defensive spells such as canceling out her opponent’s magical attacks as well as reflecting her opponent’s attacks back at them. With a vast range of spells to choose from both offensive and defensive, Merlin certainly belongs on this list.

Despite the number of powerful mages that exist in Fairy Tale, Natsu Dragneel can’t be overlooked. The main protagonist of the series and the younger brother of the main antagonist Zeref, Natsu is trained to be a Dragon Slayer, learning the only known magic able to kill dragons. As a result, Natsu not only has enhanced speed and strength, he is also immune to flame and can ignite any part of his body with fire in order to strike his opponents. Despite being extremely reckless, Natsu’s loyalty to the Fairy Tail guild is second to none, and as the series progresses, he only becomes stronger and stronger as he furthers his understanding of Dragon King Magic. Definitely a very powerful mage when it comes to offense.

A young boy who serves as the protagonist in this anime, Ryner was formerly a student of Roland Empire's Magician Academy, a school devoted to training magicians. However, after a war results in the loss of many of his friends, Ryner and his best friend Sion Astal swear an oath to bring peace to their nation. While Sion serves as king, Ryner journeys throughout the land searching for relics belonging to heroes of the past in order to help bring peace as well as uncover the secret behind why his eyes are Alpha Stigma, or eyes that can analyze all forms of magic. Ryner’s display of natural ability is absolutely amazing not only through his magic, but also through hand to hand combat, assassination, and understanding ancient lore. What sets Ryner apart from most mages is the fact that he was able to demonstrate such amazing gifts at an early age as well as be the only mage not to lose his sanity when losing control of his Alpha Stigma abilities. With such a deadly combination present in one mage with a knack for magic, Ryner easily ranks among the best magi in anime.

An extremely talented yet mysterious character loosely associated with Demon Card, Sieghart feels that it is his purpose to protect the passage of time from the power of Etherion. Sieghart possesses an incredible affinity to create, control, and manipulate a vast amount of different elements: fire, water, earth, air, light, darkness, and even time and space itself just to name a few. As a result, it is almost impossible to defeat him in combat, and Haru finds out the hard way when Sieghart sets his sights on Elie. With a mastery of a massive list of different elements in addition to using the extent of his powers over time and space to help save the world at the end of the series, Sieghart is certainly the most powerful mage.

Reikenzan is about a boy named Ouriku. Before he was born, a large comet fell upon the earth causing widespread death and destruction. However, it was Ouriku who was blessed somehow at birth by this calamity causing comet. Fast-forward to 12 years later aka present day, and the Reiken Clan, one of the most sought after families is holding a competition to accept new disciples. These disciples have the potential to be the best in the world due to the power and influence of the Reiken Clan. Ouriku decides that this is the clan for him and not realizing or knowing that he is blessed by that comet, he enters. What happens next is a rapid and unique journey by Ouriku. Betrayal, comedy, action and more await him and you the viewer! Right off the bat, let us be clear. Both of these originate from China which means that culturally speaking, a lot of things are the same. Humor is the same, which is not weird, but just does not fall where we, the viewers, expect it to. In anime from Japan, there is almost always a pause for the humor, while with these two shows, they go full speed into and out of the jokes. Both Ouriku, as well as Chulan, have a power deep inside of them, and while Ouriku might not recognize it 100%, it is still there. This is a big theme you will see on these articles. Both actually are quite OP for starting protagonists while Chulan is forced to lose sometimes for the sake of humor. Both are also about journeys of self-discovery, so while at first glance, it may not seem like your thing, if you even cracked a slight smile during Hitori no Shita, then you will enjoy Reikenzan and Ouriku dealing with the lecherous Oubu.

Taboo Tattoo follows Seigi, nicknamed Justice, who has trained in martial arts and knows that he is quite powerful compared to his peers. The series actually opens with him holding something that looks like a clear rock with a tattoo inside of it that melts into his skin and marks his hand. America and it’s #1 rival, the Serinistan Kingdom, are working hard against each other in an arms race. Seigi is approached one day by Bluesy Fluesy, a representative from America who also uses her tattoo in a unique way. Trying to find a way to help Seigi trigger his, she accidentally does in a conflict but then finds out that he has one of the most dangerous tattoos, the void. He can either cooperate with her, Tom, and the American government, or at the very least lose an arm. What is a student to do? At the same time, strange characters are beginning to come after Seigi and target not only him but those close to him. Pushed to the brink, he begins to learn more about his tattoo while fighting for his life. Much like with Chulan, Seigi, or Justice, also has to struggle to deal with the fact that an unknown female character is coming after him. They assume that she is the enemy at first, but soon are essentially forced to deal with the problems at hand. Both of them also have a very powerful ability or power that is locked inside them that they feel compelled to use when necessary. All the meanwhile, they being to be pursued by these evil beings bent on either kidnapping or killing them. The road is going to be a long and narrow one for both Chulan and Seigi, but it is definitely well worth watching!

Ikoma is an engineer working in Aragane train station. Trains are how humanity gets around in a post-apocalyptic world where there are monsters called kabane that roam the Earth. Just one bite from these zombie-like monsters means one thing; death. One must kill themselves if bitten or turn into a Kabane themselves. The only way to kill Kabane is to pierce through their hearts which are encased with a sort of web of steel around it. Ikoma is also researching a weapon to pierce through the heart if the need ever arose. Well, one day the Hayajiro arrives and with it brings a strange girl named Mumei. Befriending her, he moves on and later that night, runs into her. Tragedy befalls the somewhat peaceful Aragane station as the Hayajiro explodes and bringing with it Kabane. Suddenly Ikoma has a chance to use his new toy. Away he goes. Kabaneri and Hitori no Shita share a lot of similar parallels. One of them is the quick action scenes. Not to say that they are rushed, but when the characters clash with someone or something, they seem to move like lightning. Ikoma much like Chulan, has to dig from deep within to find not only the strength but also the courage to fight. Also much like Chulan, Ikoma’s fate as a Kabaneri is thrust upon him. He did not ask nor want it like Chulan does not want to be an outsider, but eventually, is forced to take action. Kabaneri is a little more serious and a lot less in the humor department. Koutetsujou no Kabaneri is great for those drama and action junkies!

Humanity now lives in perpetual fear of Ghouls. They have assimilated into human society for the most part however, it is not uncommon to hear of a human being attacked by one. That’s right; Ghouls feed on humans. Painted as bloodthirsty devilish abominations, some just hide and drink blood in private (since they cannot consume food) while others rebel against the oppressive government by actually going out of their way to attack humans. Ken Kaneki is your average bookwork college student. Not really stellar in any way, he is shocked when he scores a date with Rize Kamishiro. After what seems like a fun day, he walks her home only to be assaulted by her as she is, yup you guessed it, a Ghoul. He somehow manages not to die while she is killed due to some unfortunate incidents however he is lethally injured. Doctors take her organs and place them in Ken to try and save him; while unknowingly turning him into a Ghoul. Ken eventually finds café Anteiku where he can hide out among other Ghouls, but not all is as it seems in society. Hitori no Shita and Tokyo Ghoul can be surprisingly similar. Both tell different stories but both also hold unique setups that are similar. In both stories, Kankei, just like Chulan and actually much like Ikoma (catching a theme here?), have the power from within to be strong and actually much more like Chulan, Ken is VERY reluctant at first to do things. He has a plan of how he wants to do things and it takes time but he gets there when he is forced to, much like how Chulan is forced to be reveal his powers. Both Chulan and Ken are considered outsiders and hide who they are in order to be safe. No humor in either of these series though, and while it is a slightly different creature, both series have a protagonist that is attacked by a supernatural being and continue to be. Check out the trailer below.

As a future one would hope to live in, Academy City is at the crossroads of science and education. Students from all over the world come and comprise 75% of the society. Here, in this city, students are espers, able to control some sort of power in some way and hone their powers in Academy City. Touma Kamijou however, has no powers, except for an ability that allows him to cancel out all other abilities called imagine breaker. No one can understand exactly how a level 0 esper, no power, can suddenly be so powerful. One day, he meets a little girl dressed as a nun named Index Librorum Prohibitorum who is being chased by the church for her knowledge of forbidden Grimores locked away in her brain. His protective instinct kicks in and he decides to help her. What comes next is his introduction into the strange realm of the supernatural. Much like Index, Hitori no Shita also has many unique powers. While they manifest slightly differently, they essentially function in the same manner. The mysterious foes as well seem to appear one by one and each more unique than the last in Index, which is essentially the same thing in Hitori no Shita. Chulan does his best to hide his powers per his grandfather’s instructions much like Touma is looking to hide index from her assailants. Also, both anime feature ranking systems when it comes to each level of power that characters hold as well.

Like spores, one night these parasite flowed into the earth taking over whatever organic matter they touched. Through this, if they landed on or near the brain, they would be able to easily turn their human or animal host into a monster for them to help them dominate the human race. Shinichi Izumi is one such victim. However, luckily or unluckily for him, the parasite did not reach his brain, but his right hand. It cannot move one it takes over something so Migi, as he now calls it, is simply stuck with him and being his right hand. They now have to work together to ensure that no one dies in this setup. Shinichi is not going to get his hand back and Migi will never get to his brain, so thus a team is formed. Much like Hitori no Shita, Chulan has to come to terms with the fact that he is an outsider much like how Shinichi has to accept that the life that he once knew, is over. Both Chulan and Shinichi too must survive in a world that is clearly not only out to get them, but kill them as well! They do not want this obviously and must fight now to survive to the end. Foe against endless foe will rise to challenge them and they must persevere.