Love doesn’t come easy these days and for Tarou Kurume, he just isn’t having any of it. His lack of wanting a love interest lets him focus on his own life and rules, but one day that all changes. A ball hits him on the head knocking him out cold, and the minute he regains consciousness he’s greeted by a floating girl in front of him. Tarou is completely unsure as to what just happened, and now he’s totally unaware of who this mysterious girl is. So while you might be thinking, wait this doesn’t sound anything like a gender bender, once you see who this “girl” truly is then everything will start to make sense. Eve is a witch who is a girl but appears as a boy to fool around with Tarou as she pleases. Unfortunately Tarou is having none of it, and the moment anyone tries to throw love his way, he ships them back out doing his best to focus on whatever is on his mind. His behavior is what creates the laughter with some unrequited love that transpires between other characters, and the non-stop matchmaking just makes you wonder why Tarou just doesn’t give into Eve.

Hiroki thought that women just had the easy life and had nothing much to be concerned about, since his sister spends most of her time lying around indulging herself in video games. Seeing just how laid back her life was he decides that he wants to become a woman to enjoy that very same lifestyle, and maybe take on new ventures as well. After much ranting about his sister on an online blog, a mysterious reader claims to know a way to transform into a woman and from hearing that Hiroki was immediately intrigued. Unfortunately for Hiroki, he’s about to learn what life’s really like being a woman. While the summary may sound very light hearted and whimsical, the actual story once you really dive deeper is full of darkness and despair as Hiroki discovers that there’s a lot more to this situation than there is. Hiroki really just wanted to test the waters and see what life would be like as a woman, but as it turns out an incredibly tragic event has occurred and now Hiroki is on a mission to find out more details. It’s a major plot twist that unfolds right at the beginning, and so without spoiling too much of what happens next we’ll keep you guessing as to the outcome of how Hiroki’s turbulent life turns out.

Three young boys in Junior High School all have a passion for cross dressing, each with their own reasons behind it and decide that it would be time to meet up in real life to share their passions together. Parou grew his interest in crossdressing when he fell in love with a boy that he liked, Marika is transgender but classifies herself as a female, while Yui adopted the persona of his older sister shortly after her passing. When they all meet up only Marika and Parou seem very pleased, but for Yui it all feels like a blur. This story is truly an emotional one because it delves into topics that many of us cope with on a daily basis, one of which being depression. After losing his older sister Yui’s life just never felt the same, and despite trying to cover up his pain by dressing like her, it still couldn’t bring her back which left a huge void in his heart. Bokura no Hentai isn’t a hentai by any means but rather, it’s a story that looks at the darker side of human nature and how many of us have to deal with serious issues while striving to seek solace in our soul. There are of course some very endearing moments that will brighten your mood, although much of it is overshadowed by the many reminders of how reality can truly be at times for just about anyone.

Amagai Gakuen was unfortunately hit by a severe spring storm during the entrance ceremony, causing huge uproar and panic. This storm came with more than just wind and rain however, as a strange phenomenon transformed five guys into girls and now must cope with living in the body of the opposite sex! This slice of life manga will take you on a wild ride full of twists and turns, while uncovering the truths behind relationships and coping with love. Ame Nochi Hare is truly an entertaining story not just for the shoujo fans, but anyone who really enjoys stories that look at love and the coming of age that many of us have experienced in our lives. Hazuki, Toma, Yusuke, Madoka, and Junta were the boys who turned into girls, and for them it became this new adventure into a world of the unknown. They go through their school lives in a different way which really shows the reader just how sexuality is handled and how we look at relationships based on our gender is entirely different. There’s a ton of romantic encounters in this one, with a lot confusion behind them because so many of them deal with multiple love interests that you’re never too sure who they’ll end up with!

Kagami is totally obsessed with the latest VRMMORPG and is considered to be one of the veteran players, and his character in the game shares a similar appearance to another familiar character from Lord of the Rings. One day he decides to make some online purchases that allows him to change his character appearance at the last minute, and so he thinks of what his character would look like in female form. Tired from all of the grinding Kagami falls asleep, but suddenly is shocked when he wakes up in the very same world he obsesses over and now things are starting to feel a lot more real. We’ve all dreamed of someday waking up in a video game world and being surrounded by all of the wonderful creatures we admire, while battling enemies who threaten our existence. For Kagami it just wasn’t what he expected because now he’s experiencing it all in a female body, and if his true identity were to be revealed it would most likely damage his reputation. So he embarks on his normal journey trying to seek out the mysteries behind his sudden appearance in the game, learning more about himself through the process, and coming to terms with what it’s like being a female in a video game.

Based on the classical Shakespeare piece Richard III, this reinterpretation looks at the life of Richard from Aya Kanno’s standpoint and her take on the story. Richard is the ambitious third son of the House of York, but he somehow thinks that he’s been cursed from birth and must succumb to his dark and twisted life for all eternity. Whether it’s fate or not is not up to him, but we walk along with Richard as he uncovers more behind his turbulent life, which eventually becomes riddled with betrayal and wars. Fans of Shakespeare may fancy this one because it truly embodies the story of Richard III, and tells the story in a more modern way. Richard feels that his life is confusing because he was born intersex, and so despite considering himself a male he often times is troubled by visions that bring out his feminine nature. The plot gets more interesting when his father gets involved, attempting a coup d’etat in hopes to claim the throne during a bloody war. All of this conflicts in Richard’s mind as he must deal with constant battles not only in his personal life, but the bloodshed that surrounds him. Gender issues play a major role in later chapters, so if you want to know how it all ends for Richard be sure to read this soon!

We all have our own dirty little secrets, and Mashiro Ichijo is no different. Mashiro is neither male or female but spends most of his life portraying that of a young boy. That all seems to change when he’s notified that in order to pass and graduate from his prep school he must find the “key”, and the only way to track it down is to enter an unknown world where his body and soul are tortured by his worst enemy: his classmates. Mashiro is an androgynous character and just doesn’t seem to know what gender suits him best, so he usually goes along with whatever makes him feel comfortable. This story is just all over the place and it’s right in doing so because Mizushiro’s idea was to make it feel like you’re in a dream, and so everything feels very jumbled. There are a lot mature themes that are discussed in this manga as well so if you’re sensitive to such things as rape and sexual abuse, be forewarned since it does play a part in the story progression. Love triangles, overly possessive lovers, dealing with gender indifference, all of these are what you’ll find in this crazy tale of a young man just trying to fit himself into the puzzle that is life.

We’ve all discovered puberty and the obstacles that follow along with it, but for some reason it’s these very same experiences that mold us into the beings we are today. For Shuichi and Yoshino, they both come from a very warm and cordial upbringing and are well respected among their peers at school. However despite having a very rewarding and care free life, the two have secrets: Shuichi is a boy who has a desire to become a girl, while Yoshino is a girl yearning to become a boy. You can clearly see their nascent behavior all throughout this manga, as the two young individuals try to uncover more about life through sexuality more than the usual activities that most children partake in. It tells the story of how transgender issues are still prevalent in our society, and the setbacks it can have when it comes to dealing with friendships, family, and love. Shuichi and Yoshino are so innocent and yet they both yearn to cope with their emotional complexities and become more expressive in their own way. A lot of what happens throughout the story is very unpredictable, but we see that as a nod to real life because you’re just never in control of anything that happens around you and times can be bittersweet.

Mizuki is a Japanese-American and just enrolled into an all boys school to follow her idol, Izumi Sano. She now must don the outfit of a boy so that she can get closer to him at whatever cost. Fortunately for her, Mizuki ended getting paired with him and now the two share the same dorm, but now this causes even more of a stir since she now has to maintain the identity no matter where she goes. You pretty much know where this story is going because the moment that Mizuki dressed up as a boy, there’s nowhere she can run to change back into her true form. It’s funny because no matter how hard she tries to avoid her feminine ways, it comes back to haunt her in the most awkward of situations, especially when dealing with Sano and her random encounters. It’s like a reverse harem and now Mizuki is trapped in this world, while having to deal with not only her sexuality but also a budding romance that may put her in danger even more. We’ll warn you that the romance does take off quite slowly, so if you’re looking for a quick shoujo fix you’ll need more patience.

Tsukimi just relocated to Tokyo to pursue her dream as an illustrator, and the jellyfish otaku finds herself in the most weirdest of apartments. This women’s only apartment, named Amamizukan, includes a wide array of characters ranging from NEETs, fujoshi, and random people who despise fashion calling themselves “amars”. One day Tsukimi comes face to face with Kuranosuke, a beautiful woman who saves a dying jellyfish at a pet shop. She then discovers that Kuranosuke is merely crossdressing to avoid receiving inheritance from his father. The summary itself should be enough to sell you on picking up a copy of this very entertaining manga, because there’s just so much laughter and randomness that happens all throughout. Tsukimi’s neighbours are completely weird yet interesting in their own right, but it’s her conversations with Kuranosuke that really crack us up. Despite the serious undertones that the manga tries to actualize, it does so with a great sense of humor to help bring the reader back into all of the fun but also educate the reader on social issues such as prejudice towards women, and corrupt politicians, which still plague humanity in this day and age.

Let's start this ranking with a non-conventional show that surprised everyone. Binan Koukou shows how it's not always up to magical girls to save the world from people deprived from love, on the contrary, boys can do it better! Our five protagonists are summoned by a pink wombat who gives them the power to turn into princes to fight against the evil. As the premises say, it's a show full of gags and a bit of a parody of magical girls shows, but whatever, we loved it! Among all the princes in the show, the one with a passion for girls was Ryuu Zaou, alias “Thrilling Prince, Battle Lover Vesta”. This cute little pink time-bomb is depicted as a cheater, but don't be fooled! He is bound to give you a very interesting Christmas. Ryuu is playful and jovial. It's difficult to see him depressed, or too serious about pretty much anything. Since he is so open and cheerful, and loves girls very much, there are high possibilities that he will be willing to do whatever pleases you. Don't forget he is a prince, this is a guarantee that you'll enjoy your Christmas to the fullest!

Hachimitsu to Clover is a show revolving around the lives of five college students. As these five students struggle with their studies and their failures, love strikes and a lot of even harder situations unravel themselves in front of their eyes. Yet, they all will understand the meaning of true friendship, and that love is not always easy. Among the amazing characters we can find in Hachimitsu to Clover, we believe that the best to spend Christmas with is Yuuta Takemoto! Takemoto looks younger than he actually is, and is often mistaken for a sophomore. But he is not one to feel down about it; on the contrary he usually plays along. This boy is not that tall, but he is a cutie pie that will make you fall head over heels. He is serious, and yet so easy to be with that your Christmas will probably be all about long conversations on pretty much anything, and end with both of you on a Ferris wheel. How romantic! Takemoto is very considerate of other people's feeling, so your Christmas with him will be sweeter than honey!

Karneval is a story about a government defense agency called “Circus”, that deals with those criminals who are too hard for the police to handle, and protect civilians from monsters called “varuga”. When Nai and Gareki face a varuga, and manage somehow to escape, they are found by Circus, and both are forced to join the agency. During their trip they'll face a lot of hardships, and come to know all the members of Circus, who are one weirder than the other. Among the members of the agency, the one who immediately caught our eyes was Yogi. He is just perfect to spend Christmas with! Yogi is beautiful, like a prince; he is tall, blonde-haired and kind. He is loved by children, since he works as “Nyanperona” and wears a cat's costume, and he loves sweets. There are high possibilities that you'll spend Christmas eating cakes to your heart's content, while enjoying Yogi's company, whose childish side will put you at ease. Well, he is beautiful but not pompous, he is good with children, he is easy to be with... Just the perfect husbando to spend your Christmas with!

As the title suggests, this is a story about Rakugo and two guys who found themselves involved with this traditional Japanese form of comedic storytelling. This story unravels as a tale narrated by one of the two protagonists – Yakumo – when a former yakuza member asks him to become his apprentice. While considering whether to take the former yakuza in or not, Yakumo remembers about his greatest rival, and dearest friend. Sukeroku is the other protagonist of this story, and the one bound to give you a pleasant Christmas, all the more so if you like drinking. Sukeroku is known to be a womanizer, but he is so funny and cheerful that you'd want to spend a lot of time with him. You can put up with his shabby figure, as he will impress you with his skills with Rakugo. He is a heavy-drinker, so there's a chance you will be making a toast before night falls, but don't worry, you'll have a lot of fun!

The Millennium Earl creates Akuma with the suffering souls of the dead. Since Akuma are mechanic weapons bringing chaos and killing people, to fight them, an organization – Black Order – made of Exorcists was born. The Exorcists fight against Akuma with the “Innocence”, a power given to those who are apostles of God. Our protagonist, Allen Walker, together with his comrades Exorcists, has to stop the Millennium Earl before it's too late for the world to be saved! Among all the Exorcists, the cutest and funniest is Lavi Bookman. His looks are just amazing, as he is red-haired, with green eyes and plus he is very tall. Even though he doesn't seem shy, he actually is, so during your date you can try holding his hand and enjoy seeing him blush. Don't worry, since he has to deal on daily basis with Allen and Kanda's quarrels, he won't mind your teasing. Since he is attentive and caring, he will ask you what you prefer to do, and will shield you from cold wind – to blush even harder after. He is just a hot boy, with a cute way of acting, your Christmas time with him will be worth it!

After being thrown away from the orphanage, while Nakajima Atsushi is starving on a riverbank, he has a fated meeting. Or better, he saves an eccentric man whose name is Osamu Dazai. He is a supernatural detective with a passion for suicide. Since Dazai, same as Atsushi, is investigating on a tiger which has been hunting Atsushi, they try to solve the mystery together and in the end, Atsushi is forced to join the detective agency as an actual member. Osamu Dazai is an eccentric man with a passion for women. Even though he seems to be lost in his own world, he shows to be a loyal comrade when pushes come to shove. He is covered with bandages, due to his attempted suicides, but don't worry, he is funny to be with. Dazai will show you all of his gentle manliness, by kissing your hand, and playing along with whatever you decide to do. There's only one problem, there's a chance that he will ask you to commit suicide together by the end of your date, but don't worry... That just means you have caught his heart!

Nijiiro Days is a slice of life, shoujo anime revolving around four high school boys and their delusional love stories. Natsuki, Tomoya, Keiichi and Tsuyoshi have totally different characters, and yet they get along very well and help each other. During the show the four of them will learn what it means to fall in love, and how love can be full of misunderstandings! With his tallness and his looks, Tomoya Matsunaga would be your perfect Christmas date even with just this. Mattsun – the way his friends call him – is a player when it comes to love, in fact he loves flirting and has a lot of girlfriends. Table turns when Mattsun actually falls in love; he becomes honest, caring and sincere. A Christmas date with a Mattsun head over heels for you is a date meant to be romantic, full of tenderness and cuddles. Mattsun is very reliable and sweet, and he will do whatever to show you how much he cares; you won't be disappointed!

Called back in Canada by his mother, Haru meets Ren; a little boy acting like a beast. Spending his summer trying to tame little beast Ren, who is eight years younger than 16-year-old Haru, the two of them gradually learn to get along. Years after, when Haru, his two twin brothers, and Ren from Canada start to live together in Tokyo, the situation turns for the worse. Haru and Ren fall in love with each other, and trouble arises! Haru's looks are amazing, since he is half Japanese and half Canadian. He has platinum blonde hair, emerald eyes and he is 190cm tall! And, well, he is a former host. Who better than him knows how to treat a woman on a date? So don't be shy, let him pour you champagne on a Christmas night! Use his host-like behavior to coerce him into the perfect Christmas date! Haru is kind and cheerful, and will make you feel at ease. There's a chance he will start bragging about his brothers while a bit tipsy, but that just shows how much family-oriented and sweet he actually is.

Kae Serinuma is a high school student with a big passion for boys love. She reads manga, watches anime, she is a real otaku. And she's fat. When her favorite character – Shion – dies, she is so depressed she loses a lot of weight. That's when her popularity starts! She is surrounded by cute boys trying to get her attention, and she is not used to all that popularity, Serinuma is at a loss on what to do... and when even a girl confesses to her, things get even more complicated! Among the cute boys surrounding Serinuma, the best one is probably Mutsumi-senpai. It's not just because a senpai is always more appealing than a kouhai, but because of his way of acting. Mutsumi-senpai is guarantee of a perfect Christmas. He is a listener, a mediator and a helper. What's more, he is so open-minded (or even dense) that he is unfazed whatever happens. In fact, he didn't act surprised with Serinuma's passion for BL, on the contrary he was interested. Since Mutsumi-senpai is a boy who is curious, he will listen honestly interested to what you'll tell him, be it about your hobbies or about what you did during the day, and he will never judge you. By the end of the Christmas date, you will probably be head over heels for him, shouting “notice me, senpai!”

Yuri!!! on Ice revolves around Yuuri Katsuki, a japanese ice skater who, after the defeat, is thinking to retire. Back at his parents' home, he spends his time eating and ice skating his pain away. When one night he decides to performance Victor Nikiforov's choreography and his performance is secretly uploaded on the net, Victor sees it and decides to become his coach, as he can understand how talented Yuuri is. That's how Yuuri's mixed feelings end up even messier, and yet he will understand how much ice skating means for him. We would say that Victor Nikiforov is the number one anime boy who is worth your Christmas time. Coming from the cold Russia, he knows how to warm your heart up. Contrary on the Russian's cold, he is hot and beautiful, with his 180cm disposed in a mighty and muscular body. Victor is bound to give you the most dreamy Christmas date ever! Being Victor whimsical, he will probably tease you a bit, knowing your weak points, but fear not! By the end of the Christmas date, he'll win you over with his lively personality and his spontaneous way of acting. He is able to deal with his juniors, and with his elders, and is a beautiful Russian prince; the perfect husbando you can bring home to meet your parents during Christmas holidays, because rest assured, his charm will conquer even your dad!

No slice-of-life can describe the hardships a single dad can go through and the sweetness of the bond that can generate between a caring father and his lovely daughter better than Amaama to Inazuma, that’s considered one the best anime in its genre. This is the story of Kyōhei Inuzuka, a teacher who lost his wife too early and that found himself taking care of his cute, little kid Tsumugi alone. Events suddenly took a turn he was unprepared for, so Inuzuka never had the time to learn of to prepare decent meals for his child and has no choice but feeding her with ready-made food bought at the convenient store. One day he decides to take Tsumugi to the restaurant one of his students, Kotori, runs together with her mother. That is when their cooking adventures begin. Similar to Usagi Drop, Amaama to Inazuma shows the life of a goofy average-looking man leads on his first experience with parenthood and the difficulties he has to face to make his family work, being careful to protect his kid by the suffering for her missing mother. The plot is simple and full of cute scenes involving a very special daddy-daughter bond, so you absolutely can’t miss it, if you are Usagi Drop’s fans.

Set in France in the second half of the 19th century, Ikoku Meiro no Croisée is the story of Yune, a little girl who left Japan to accompany Oscar, a traveler, in his journey back to his home country. Everything is new and foreign to the young Yune, but she decides she’ll do her best to adapt to her new life in Paris and to pay Oscar and his family back, since they were so kind to let her stay in their place. Glad with Yune’s goodwill to be helpful, Oscar entrust her to his nephew Claude, who owns an ironwork shop. Reluctant in the beginning, he finally accepts to take care of the young lady and to let her work for him, so from then on they’ll live together. Surely, Ikoku Meiro no Croisée is an anime about an unofficial and unconventional kind of family. Just like Usagi Drop, its story develops around the bond that creates between two strangers, who get to know each other by chance and to the point they come to build a sort of peculiar relationship. Despite the fact Claude isn’t much older than Yune, he acts sometimes like a fledgling daddy and has her handsome guardian. Definitely a fine designed slice-of-life you should take a look at, if you liked the sweet atmosphere in Usagi Drop!

Talking about sweetness, the little Naru in Barakamon could really be considered the cutest thing in the whole world, and you can easily fall in love with her by watching this show, that’s filled with the same light feeling you can find throughout Usagi Drop! Barakamon is the story of Seishū Handa, a full of himself calligrapher from Tōkyō who decided to retire in the Goto Islands, in the countryside, as punishment for having been labelled as “unoriginal” by a well-regarded senpai. Determined to find inspiration to renew himself and his style in a peaceful place, Handa will end up facing wacky and nosy neighbors and the super carefree Naru Kotoishi, who will teach him something more than just how to be a good calligrapher. Barakamon isn’t exactly about parenthood or taking care of a child, because the role of the kid and the guardian are inverted. It’s Naru who metaphorically adopts Handa, looks after him without even being aware of it, and helps him to grow and find his own way and inspiration, creating a strong bond that will tie them together forever. Full of funny moments and eccentric characters, Barakamon is probably one of the best slice-of-life anime of the last years, so you can’t lose it if you want to revive the cutest moments in Usagi Drop!

Taking care of a child isn’t just a work for parents and, talking about family-like environments a kindergarten is the perfect place for children to grow up, learn about life... and find your first love in your fine-looking caretaker! Hanamaru Yōchien perfectly fits this description, with a story that tells about little pest Anzu and his friends’ desperate attempts to attract teacher Tsuchida’s attention, that’s gentle and caring with them like a good daddy, but that’s unfortunately more interested in the beautiful Yamamoto, the advisor of the next class. Hanamaru Yōchien is clearly less dramatic and has a lighter atmosphere than Usagi Drop, but share with it the close relationship that comes to life and consolidate between a caretaking man and his kids, who sees him as some sort of parent they need and want to be loved by. With heartbreakingly cute moments, Hanamaru Yōchien is a daily life anime close to Usagi Drop that you really need to try to watch!

A slice-of-life like Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai! is, yes, similar to Usagi Drop, but also particular and funny! One day, a university student, Sagawa Yuta, is asked to take care of his three daughters by his sister Yuri, who is going on a trip with her husband. He doesn’t want to, thinking of them as a bother, but then the plane they were on went mysteriously missing. Based on the fact that the girls will be separated from each other and their family destroyed, he decides to take them in and let them stay together. Like Usagi Drop, also in Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai! an outsider finds himself playing the role of the father for an offspring that isn’t even his own, because of circumstances who force him to. And maybe Yuta’s situation is even harder than Daikichi, because he has to look after not one, but three pests, who are also pretty close to his age. If you try to watch this anime, the common point with Usagi Drop is clear, and if you are curious to find out how Yuta, differently from Daikichi, will deal with the situation he got in, well, then you absolutely need to give Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai! a try!

Last but not least, Ōkami Kodomo no ame to Yuki deals with parenthood and caretaking in a deeper way than the other anime mentioned before, and that makes it very similar to Usagi Drop, despite the fact it’s a mother, this time, to be her children guardian. The heroine of this story is a hard-working college student, Hana, who falls in love with a young man attending one of her classes. One day, on a full moon night, she finds out he’s a werewolf, the last of his species, but despite his nature Hana decides to accept him and decide to start a family together. Later, Hana gives birth to two children, Ame and Yuki, that has the same ability has their father to turn into human-like wolfs. Hana’s happiness, unfortunately, won’t last long and she will have to raise all by herself because of her lover’s sudden death. Watching this anime, fans of Usagi Drop will certainly note the points that make these two masterpieces so similar to each other. Hana, like Daikichi, is a sort of guardian of an unconventional family, that she tries to protect from the judgments of a merciless society, and has to fight all by herself to make them live a normal and happy life by playing both the role of the mother and the father. Be sure you don’t miss it, because you won’t regret, it if you like Usagi Drop-like slice-of-life stories!

Doudou is a beautiful animation by Kazuhiro Hotchi that captures the life of an adorable little piggy, Doudou. This fantastic two-part episode is accompanied by serene and peaceful instrumentals. We watch our featured character navigate through breathtaking countryside surroundings, encountering various natural and manmade life forms. Although without dialogue, viewers can interpret in their own way, what the illustrator is suggesting in his OVA. Could it be about the country of Japan itself, with the melding and transition of the traditional and modern? Or could it be about survival in an ever-changing society? Whatever the meaning may be, viewers can be sure to enjoy not only developing perceived intentions, but also paying keen attention to the wonderful, whimsical artistry and music.

The story begins with a young woman, naked, and uncertain of who she is and how she arrived to her circumstance. She views her unfamiliar surroundings, yet feels at ease. She hones in on things that can give her clues, trying to make sense of the many questions that need answers. She sees writings on her hands, “Agartha” and “One who eats dragons.” Is what’s written on her who she is and her overall purpose? As she wanders her surroundings, she encounters a ghastly creature. Instincts overwhelm her and she doesn’t know whether to flee or fight. A voice out of thin air tells her to fight. After defeating the beast, she remembers everything. Utilizing minimal colors and amazing water paints, G-9 is a captivating and daring fantasy OVA. Does she become her own savior or to humanity’s consciousness? Find out for yourself.

Canary is a fantasy, comedy, slice of life anime that tells the story of Mika Katagiri, an ambitious girl set on making it big with her band. Mika and her band mates have the greatest opportunity that any school-aged students can imagine: performing at the upcoming local festival. Unfortunately, prior to the big event, there is some drama between band members, as their keyboardist refuses to perform. From this, their performance slot was canceled, and Mika was devastated. Spirited and determined, Mika doesn’t let this hurdle get in her way, as she and the other bandmates do anything and everything in their power to regain their slot at the local festival. Displaying outlandish and over the top scenes, Canary is a humorous anime that presents many of our wildest dreams in becoming a mega huge musician.

“There was a time when the Spirits, enraged by the desecration of nature, plunged man into an era of fear and dismay. In that maelstrom of chaos, a shrine maiden appeared among the people. She admonished them for their ways and used her powers to seal the Spirits in the forest trees. All who knew where those trees grew are no longer. And that knowledge drifted ever further away…” Princess Suzu is the heroine of this epic fantasy. Starting this journey with the discovery of a parallel dimension, lying within the ruin and rubble of some ancient civilization, Princess Suzu is caught off-guard by her loyal guardian, Ji. Princess Suzu is the legacy of a distinguished heroic shaman, who in the past saved his society from catastrophic destruction. An adventurous girl, nonconforming to her royal duties, Princess Suzu sets out on a journey with her spiritual companion, Coluboccoro, who she recovered from the Forbidden Grounds, to retain the harmonious balance between mankind and nature. In search of her true calling and purpose, Princess Suzu believes that her answer in “guiding the people” lies outside the castle walls.

Iblard Jikan is a visually stunning OVA created through the ever-famed Studio Ghibli. Illustrating the vast and picturesque countryside, we observe all forms of life at a calming slow-pace. Accompanied by a variety of instruments, we watch the country folk go about their daily chores, in combination with modern, futuristic, and dream-like elements. Vibrant and intricate details are portrayed throughout each scene. A fantasy world in and of itself, Iblard Jikan is an original piece, an unrecognized score, but overall, a must see.

An original composition by Amano Yoshitaka, we follow a young man who ventures on a new path on his way home. While on his walk, he encounters what he deems to be the loveliest girl he’s set his eyes on. As the weather shifts and the rain comes down hard, this young man is joined under shelter with this young lady. He hopes for it to continue to rain so that he never has to part ways with her. Time passes slowly, yet at the same time, this instance can go by so quickly, and all that is heard is the sound of the rain and the fluttering of a bird that flies around them. This young woman offers the young man a gift of a feather from the bird that kept them company. She tells him to keep it in remembrance of her and that one day, they’ll meet again. The following day, the path that the young man ventured off to had disappeared. Day after day, he relentlessly looked for this path. “I don’t even know her name.” Fifty years later, the once young man, now aged, returns to his hometown. So much time has passed and everything around him once familiar is so different. Does he face this young woman again? If he does, what happens then? Collectively, Yoshitaka’s sketching is impressive, centering on monochromatic tones except when he highlights the lady of the story. Truly, an amazing romantic fantasy with hints of dark themes.

We at Honey’s believe that any crazy cat lady or cat guy would enjoy this OVA as it deals with a fantasy world filled with cats! What a dream come true! Together with attractive, dark tone artwork and a tranquil voice narrative, we watch how this un-illuminated cat city came to be. In an environment where cats are the only inhabitants, we unveil the fear and uncertainty that follow our felines when their territory becomes encroached by humans. Moreover, the author speculates this perspective through the eyes of the cat community with much thought and detail. While we imagine many works involving cats to be bright and cheery, Neko Machi takes a contrasting approach that nonetheless is captivating.

Mezame no Hakobune is an audio/video extravaganza. The story begins in outer space, where forces impact their presence onto a planet. We see these cloth-laden figures standing broad in a dark and damp forest. Images moving constantly in the foreground, we suddenly see sea animals appear; fish, jellyfish, whales and sharks, circling around a starry sky. From this, the setting shifts; what appeared before was a scene of space, now it has changed to a picture of water. Seconds later, again, the setting is altered from vast oceans to blue skies. We soar above the aqua clear ocean, flying as birds with the wind breezing through our feathers. Moments have passed and our flight resumes again in space. After exhausting our wings, we descend back to the earth; the laws of gravity tell us that what goes up, must come down. Trees shed their leaves, covering the forest floor. Past this imagery, we see a canine with human features, an adlet, perhaps. How this creature came to be is unknown, but from it, springs the countless sequences of life forms that exist. Traveling back into space, we come across a multiple headed sculpture that leads us back into the forest where we first began this journey. On and on, through a time lapse, we encounter various atmospheric transmutations and elemental reactions. What can this entirely mean? Sho-ho, Hyakkin, Ku-nu, Mezame no Hakobune demonstrates an interesting take on the origins of life.

Sweat Punch is a five episode OVA that chronicles various comedic, dark, and fantasy themes. Each episode varies in story and they are not joined or connected in plot. We run into various walks of life, are introduced to random facts, and the author utilizes a myriad of artistic styles to convey this OVA. The absurdity and unexpected, we suppose, are a part of life and we could interpret that the author wants people to enjoy the serendipitous moments that often occur while living. Furthermore, the author also wants us to reflect on the value of life and how the sins of humanity can lead to more chaos. Additionally, in one of the episodes, the dark and morose topic of murder is weighed so lightly, countering the previous emphasis on the importance of living. Lastly, Sweat Punch is an interesting compilation of stories that will not leave viewers bored.

Karas takes place in a universe where humans and demons exist, although at first glance, you are unable to differentiate the two. While the two species are able to live harmoniously, occasionally, rogue demons stir up chaos. As humans have grown accustomed to this peace between humans and demons, they have forgotten how threatening demons can be. In keeping the peace, a young woman named Yurine, alongside the Karas, the protector of the city, is activated, defending its citizens against these villains. In a later instance, humanity is reminded of how dangerous demons are when an old Karas revolts against his duties, raising an army to eliminate the human race. From this, we are introduced to Otoha, who takes up this new duty in restoring the balance between humans and demons. Overall, this action, sci-fi fantasy is filled with constant excitement, taking on the iconic storyline of saving the innocent and the world!

Tsareena has come to us at a time when mono Grass-types are in a bit of a revival. Thankfully for those of us who enjoy Grass-types, Tsareena can be a lot of fun. You can actually encounter its earliest evolution, Bounsweet, right before the Water Trial meaning that you can lay waste to that one rather quickly. After Bounsweet evolves at level 18, it can further evolve after learning Stomp at 29 and when you get Tsareena, she learns her unique and signature move Tropical Kick. For her ability, Tsareena does get the garbage Leaf Guard ability, but she can also get Queenly Majesty which allows her to out speed all priority moves. That means that moves like Bullet Punch, Quick Attack, and Astonish will not hit first unless her opponent is naturally faster than her. Speaking of speed, Looking at her stats, she boasts a mighty 125 in Physical Attack and a 98 in both Defenses. Her Speed and HP both come in at 72, which is not amazing, but certainly faster than most in-game pokes. Tsareena is a pure grass type so she does have issues with weaknesses but that is what U-turn is for which should let her get out before she gets in trouble! She also does get High Jump Kick which is fantastic for those Steel-types that wall her. Tsareena also learns Teeter Dance if you want to mess with types that you are going to switch out on on the next turn. Overall Tsareena is great for in-game, but you have problems dealing with many post game battles.

Decidueye is the final evolution of the cutest Pokémon in existence, Rowlet. Decidueye is a departure from the previous two Pokémon in its line in that when it reaches its final evolution, it goes from Grass/Flying-type to Grass/Ghost-type. This too is a boon for it in that the Ghost typing and subsequent moves helps it become stronger. Decidueye loses its weakness to Rock, Poison, and 4x weakness to Ice and trades them for a Dark and Ghost weakness. Not too shabby at all. Its hidden ability, Long Reach, is the one you want with it letting him use Physical Attacks without touching the foe. Stat wise, Decidueye has a nice 107 in Attack with a 100 in both Special Attack and Special Defense. Its speed comes in just behind its HP which is 78, and 70. Again though, this is not too bad for in-game battles. When Dartrix evolves into Decidueye, it does come with a nice new move called Spirit Shackle. Gamefreak is trying to expand the games so it is going to make up new moves as well which helps Decidueye because there are not a lot of really good Ghost-type Physical moves. Spirit Shackle also binds Pokémon to the field not allowing it to run away. Excellent. It learns Brave Bird to help with those bug and fighting types, U-turn to get you outta there fast, smack down for more coverage as well as low sweep. It leans more to the physical, but Decidueye could be a mixed sweeper as well if you want.

Tapu Bulu is as close as we are ever going to get to a Grass-type sweeper, so here we go. No punches withheld, Tapu Bulu is power. Grass/Fairy-type, it is weak to Fire, Flying, Steel, and Ice while being 4x weak to Poison. So there is a lot to look out for. What can Tapu Bulu do for you? Grassy Surge is its ability which activates Grassy Terrain for five turns when it switches into battle. This too is important because Grassy Terrain powers up grass type moves as well. Tapu Bulu has a beautiful 135 in Physical Attack, a 115 in Defense, and a 95 in Special Defense. It has a semi-decent Special Attack, but its movepool pulls you towards physical attacks. It does learn the Fairy-type move Nature’s Madness, but that is not tied to an attack stat and rather just cuts your foe’s HP in half, so use it if you feel like it. It can learn Rototiller as well further boosting its two Attack stats if you want. Wood Hammer is a no-brainer for STAB and it learns Superpower as well. Stone Edge, Megahorn, and Zen Headbutt are all other movepool coverages if you want them. How you use him, though, is up to you!

Kartana is evidence yet again that Grass-types are on the rebound. Death machine incarnate, this legendary is what we have been waiting for since we were given Shaymin and a load of disappointment with it. Kartana boasts Beast Boost as its ability which is an improvement on the ability Moxie. Knock something out, and your highest stat will rise. Speaking of, Kartana has an obscene 181 in Physical attack and a 109 in Speed. So, death machine. You do have to be careful though. While it may have a 131 in Defense, its Special Defense is a paltry 31. This Steel/Grass type only needs to be concerned about Fighting-types and Fire-types. Naturally you want two STAB moves on Kartana. Grass-wise, you have Leaf Blade, but tragically and very oddly, Kartana does not learn a Steel-type move?? We are so confused. You can however, at least teach it Smart Strike, so there is that. Other than that, you can learn Sacred Sword, X-Scissor, Psycho Cut, and Night Slash. How you run it, though, is up to you. One thing is for sure, Kartana can and will do damage and you can make it happen either STAB or not. 181 is nothing to laugh at. Sad news though, this legendary is only available to the players of Sun! Moon players will have to trade for it.

The final new poke, and it’s not a legendary, Dhelmise is the first ever pseudo-triple type. Why you ask? Let’s delve on in. Dhelmise is Ghost/Grass type and deals with weaknesses to Fire, Ice, Flying, Ghost, and Dark while nulling Normal and Fighting while resisting four other types. However, it essentially has a third time. Its ability, made solely for it, is Steelworker which powers up steel type moves by 50%. See the third type? It’s right there. Essentially we are looking at, and let us know if we are wrong, but the first triple type in all of Pokemon history! Dhelmise too is built like a steel type with good Defense at 100 and Special Defense at 90. The attack though, is a kickass 131 which means it is going to leave a body of pokes in its wake. The only real downside to this Pokemon is that it has 40 in Speed. However, the Defenses and Attack will allow it to do so much more. For moves, Dhelmise gets Power Whip for that Grass STAB and Phantom Force for that Ghost STAB. Should you not want to deal with a two turn attack, you can teach it Shadow Claw for a -20 in power. It can learn Payback as well which is good for this slow poke. Now to play on that amazing Steel ability, it learns the Steel version of Spirit Shackle, which is called Anchor Shot. This Steel-type move allows Dhelmise to get that beautiful 131 attack power in play, but it also blocks foes from running away or switching out. It can learn Earthquake, too, to shut down Fire-types that try to switch in. The best part to Dhelmise has to be it does not inherit that 4x fire weakness by staying only Ghost/Grass. Dhelmise may be a pain in the neck to catch, but it certainly will be a pain in the neck for your opponents, so do not miss out on this amazing Pokemon!