Linea wakes up in a capsule in the countryside of Japan, confused about where she is and who she is in Stainless Night. Lost and alone, she wanders into a research facility staffed only by women. Sayako, one of the researchers, is so taken by Linea that she leaves her current lover for this new, mysterious woman. However, when the two women become intimate for the first time, Sayako discovers that there is a lot more to Linea than she could have ever guessed - and the strange woman has powers she never imagined. Stainless Night is a yuri hentai, just like Shoujo Sect. The sex in it is more romantically done instead of hardcore like some hentai, so if you enjoyed the sex in Shoujo Sect you can expect to find the same style in Stainless Night. The characters are older and the situation is different, but both still tell a romantic and sexy story about two female lovers. If what captivated you in Shoujo Sect was the style that the hentai scenes took and the sex part of the story, then you're likely to enjoy it in Stainless Night as well (though be warned, without spoiling too much there is some futanari action too.) It's also a short watch at only two episodes, so if you don't have time for a long commitment, don't worry!

In Sakura Trick, Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda are friends from middle school who are now attending the same high school. While they decide to make the most of their high school year together and despite a few hiccups their year starts off well, Haruka becomes quite jealous when she sees Yuu making a lot of other new friends. To make it up to her and prove that Haruka is her best friend, Yuu decides they should share something that they don't share with any other girls - a kiss. And with one kiss, Haruka, and Yuu's friendship begins to change, and more kisses are soon to follow. Eventually, their friendship turns into a relationship together - but will everything fall apart when Yuu's older sister suspects their relationship? Like most of the anime on our list, Sakura Trick is about two high schools girls who transition from being friends to being something more. Their relationship begins quite early on in the series, so even though Sakura Trick is a lot longer than Shoujo Sect you get to see a lot of time with the girls together. There is also drama that comes into play in their relationship, and though it's a different kind than in Shoujo Sect, it still makes Sakura Trick interesting to watch. It still tells a sweet and romantic story, but the drama keeps it from being too sugary and predictable. For more bold, but romantic girl-on-girl action after Shoujo Sect (though in shoujo ai form this time) check out Sakura Trick!

When Fumi Manjoume begins her first year at an all-girls' high school in Aoi Hana, her heart is already broken from the end of a previous relationship. It's a hard way for a young high school girl to begin her school career. However, she soon finds her childhood friend Akira Okudaira, whom she hasn't seen in ten years! They both go to different girls' schools now, but they both have been struggling with relationship problems. As they help one another overcome their past hurts together and begin their life as high school students, they find themselves drawing closer together than ever before. Each romantic struggle brings the girls closer and closer to one another... Aoi Hana is a shoujo-ai again about a romance between two high school girls, like Shoujo Sect. In Shoujo Sect, they attend the same school while in Aoi Hana they attend different ones but they are both still all girls' schools. The biggest thing that these two anime have in common is that they are both about a romance between two girls that started as childhood friends, were separated for a long time, and then find each other again only to develop a relationship beyond just friendship! That transition from childhood friends to girlfriends over a long period of time is what really connects Aoi Hana to Shoujo Sect despite one being a yuri hentai and the other a shoujo ai anime. But if you like that kind of relationship story, you'll really enjoy Aoi Hana - and be happy to see it's actually 11 episodes long!

Kiko Kawakami and Aaya Saitou are in love in Kuttsukiboshi - a very real, very strong infatuation to the point where Aaya matters to Kiko more than anything else in the world. Kiko trusts her so much that she even reveals her biggest secret; she has psychic powers! The two then see how much they can push Kiko's powers, especially to keep their romance and intimate moments from being discovered at their school. Everything seems to be going smoothly and like the perfect secret romance, but when Aaya decides to reveal her dark secret to Kiko as well, will their relationship be able to remain the same? Like Shoujo Sect, Kuttsukiboshi is a love story between two classmates and set at their school. They both focus heavily on how their relationship develops and the ups and downs that go with that, and the common struggles that young lovers have together. It is a shoujo-ai and not a yuri, so be warned that it won't have any on-screen sex. However, Kuttsukiboshi leaves you certain of exactly how serious Kiki and Aaya's relationship is by doing everything except actual sex, so it's still satisfying and quite sexy to watch. If you enjoyed the relationship story in Shoujo Sect but want something with a darker or supernatural twist, Kuttsukiboshi is our recommendation for your next anime!

Strawberry Panic takes place at three private, all-girl Catholic schools that are on Astraea Hill - already a great setup for a shoujo ai. It follows transfer student Nagisa Aoi as she tries to make friends and fit in with her new classmates at this prestigious schools. The schools have a very intense internal hierarchy, though, which makes it hard to Nagisa to find her place in the chain. That is, until Shizuma Hanazono, a girl at the top of the hierarchy, takes an intimate interest in her. The more they get to know one another and the closer they get, the more things come to the surface. It turns out Shizuma has quite a troubled past, but maybe Nagisa can help her face it. Strawberry Panic is not a yuri hentai like Shoujo Sect, so don't expect the same on-screen sex. But if the setting and story are more what captured your interest in Shoujo Sect, then Strawberry Panic is a great similar choice for you! It's also set at a prestigious all-girls school, and like Shoujo Sect one girl in the relationship has a lot of power and control there while the other does not. It definitely leaves Shizuma, like Shinobu, in a powerful position - but both let down their guards around their respective lovers and show a different side to themselves. If you want to see a love story between two girls unfolding in a school through classes, club activities, and friendship again after watching Shoujo Sect, check out Strawberry Panic next!

Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke wo: Anata to Koibito Tsunagi is a love story between two school girls named Mai Sawaguchi and Reo Kawamura. While at first, Reo rejects Mai's affections and offer of friendship, when she realises that she is in love with Mai she responds in kind. The two develop a caring relationship with one another, even willing to both get sick when one has a cold and they decide to have sex anyway. Reo and Mai may have started off always fighting, and still have their silly arguments sometimes, but their relationship goes to a whole new dynamic and level when they become lovers. Together they learn what they like and what feels good when they spend time together and are intimate, strengthening their feelings each time. First and foremost, Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke wo and Shoujo Sect are both yuri hentai, with lots of girl on girl sex on screen for you to enjoy. They also both only feature yuri sex, so if you don't ever like seeing male characters or penises involved (or even in the show at all for that matter!), Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke wo is a great follow-up to Shoujo Sect. Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke wo is only one episode long, which forces it to move kind of quickly, but the story hints that Reo and Mai's relationship developed over a long time much like Shinobu and Momoko, whose friendship started when they were children. Both hentai showcase a relationship between two girls that is quite sweet and romantic as well, with sex scenes that reflect that. If you want something soft and touching without being hard-core, you'll really enjoy Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke wo!

Fuwa Fuwa Time, also known as Fluffy Time made its appearance very early on in the show. It was one of the first few efforts of the band to create an original song of their own after they finally picked up some proficiency in their instruments rather than having high tea in high school. The lyrics and melody were conceived by Mio as she went about her daily life, and ends up being the crystallisation of their hard work. Mio usually presents a stoic front and tries to be as cool and chill as she can, that’s why it’s quite strange early on that Mio makes a song called Fluffy Time. But ultimately, it reveals her true nature to the world at large; she’s just extremely soft and fluffy in her centre, which is why that song was conceived as she went about her daily life. Its cutesy lyrics and general light hearted tone just shows that off so well.

After two whole seasons of enjoyment with the girls in the light music club, it is all finally coming to an end. Nothing in life lasts forever, especially the good things. By this point, we’ve been through so much with the bunch of them, whether it’s through ups or downs or them being complete ditzy airheads. In an effort to bid farewell to our favourite light music club, a movie was made by the studio to end the series. With the overall theme of the series being so light and fluffy, it’s a given that this should be reflected in the opening theme of the movie to set the mood. And fluffy it is, as it was sung by the fluffiest member of the group, Yui. The song carries a very childish and dream like melody, having generally whimsical music that reflects so well on the personalities and adventures of the club as a whole. It’s a shame that things have to end, but at the least the beginning of the end was rather pleasant.

With the arrival of the unexpected season two, we join the girls of the light music club with a brand new member, Azu-nyan. With the ED of the first season being one of the most popular songs ever produced by the K-On series, creating a fitting ED for the second season was surely a tough act to follow. While Listen isn’t the best song in the series and is not a true match for the ED of season one, it definitely holds its own. Instead of competing with the ED of season one, it instead chooses to bring across its own message to the table. The lyrics of the song demand your very attention, as they state that they’ll sing as loud as they can to the rhythm of their hearts. Even without knowing the meaning of the lyrics, the audience know that this song signifies that they are back in business, better than ever before. And we can expect a wonderful season ahead of us.

This wonderful song was sung by our very own and fluffiest Yui. It’s position as the last OP of the second season is extremely important and tenuous as we didn’t know at this point whether there would be any continuation of the series or not. Therefore, most of us had to treat season two as the last season. This makes the last OP very important, especially in a music oriented anime. So how do they play it out? By having the some of the fluffiest lyrics to ever exist in an OP. The song literally starts with “I love you all!” The song carries on with the very lovely lyrics where it almost seems like the character itself is trying to convey to the audience how grateful she is that we are giving so much of our time to watch the entirety of the K-On series. At the same time, it’s quite sad, because it’s also saying farewell, for she ends by saying “Thanks for loving me too!”

Happy Sorry is one of the first songs released in an album by the K-On produces alongside the first opening, Cagayake Girls. While it does not appear in the anime itself, it is still sung by the voice actresses of the four girls in the light music club, but mainly by Yui’s voice actress. Even outside of the anime, the songs sung by them exemplify the spirit of the series very well, carrying an upbeat melody and carefree tone. The lyrics themselves speak of how much fun everyone is having singing the song and how great music is in general. It’s almost as if they are trying to tell us “Sorry, not sorry for having fun.” And that’s exactly what the K-On show is about, four girls doing their very best to have the time of their lives and going crazy with what limited time they have to be youths. It’s not a stretch to say that listening to the song itself could light up the inner youth that we have suppressed for so long by trying too hard to be Chuunibyou.

Like all the other ED of the series, this song is also sung by Mio. As we close on the last episode of season two, wondering if we are getting another season of the show, the last thing that we hear is this very song. Instead of being a tearful goodbye from the characters that we have come to love and hold dear, it’s instead a strong and powerful song that says NO, Thank You! It’s not a song about how we will hold the experiences that we have obtained close to our hearts, or how we hope to see each other again, but rather it says NO, Thank You to doing things like cherishing memories. Because rather than trying so hard to hold on to the moments forever, we should instead enjoy them as they are now. It reflects well on the series as a whole. The show in general is quite short lived. This mirrors on their high school life which is also short lived. Are they telling themselves to cherish their short time together, or us? Fun Fact: The title of the song is in fact based on the names of the characters. T-ainaka Ritsu, H-irasawa Yui, A-kiyama Mio, N-akano Azusa, K-otobuki Tsumugi forms the “Thank”, while “You” is just based on you, the audience. This shows that all this time, we were part of the experience rather than being a simple observer.

This song was sung by the fluffiest Yui. An opening song and sequence is very important to a series. It can make or break the show as a whole. Many people decide within the first five minutes whether a show is worth investing their time into watching and the OP takes up a third of that time by itself. In this regard, it could be said that this OP and sequence is the reason that K-On has such a large following. Immediately, the four main characters are established by showing them one by one. It proceeds to show them performing in their club room and their various activities together like having high tea. And from the song itself, we know just what kind of music to expect from the show from that point onwards, as well as the general tone that the show will take. It’s a definite that no one continued to watch the show expecting Titans to attack the school at some point after watching the first OP. And that’s why even though it’s not the best song of all their songs, it has such a high place in the list. Because it is this song that made the show as a whole.

This song was sung by Mio. This song is literally the last song that we will ever hear in the context of a show, because the journey ends with the movie and their graduation. It was super important that they got this one song right, because a build up to a climax with a horrible punch line spoils the experience. With so many great songs behind it, the ED of the movie has to be both good, and captures the feelings of the viewers. And its…good. On the surface it seems like another one of their typical power songs that they tend to sing as an alternative to their fluffier songs. So it’s good, but nothing special yet. But as the song goes on, it becomes more and more obvious the tone of the singer is equal parts strong and nostalgic. We aren’t the only ones who are sad to see the show go. The voice actress of Mio is equally reluctant to see this wonderful series leave. As they graduate, the lyrics sum up well what the future has in store. “Let’s advance on a pathless road, the place we step out to together is our road.”

This song was sung by Yui. As a song, it is extremely light hearted as a whole and can get the whole room moving by its energy alone. It helps that Yui sounds like she’s having a sugar high when she was performing this song for our hearing pleasure. It’s just so damn infectious that everyone can’t resist but to sing along to the sugary lyrics together. But what it means as a song is quite important as well. As the first OP of the second season, it’s basically the welcome back song for us who have viewed the entirety of the first season. Based on what we’ve watched in the first season, we more or less know what to expect, but the long gap between seasons can leave us without the “feel” of the show. The explosive energy of the song basically blasts us back into the mood of the series and acts like we’ve never left at all. “Tadaima!” “Okaerinasai!”

This song was sung by Mio. Throughout most of the article, the songs were given context as to why they carry importance to the series as a whole and how the mood of the songs were important in contributing to the enjoyment of the viewers. However, this section of the article won’t even try to do that, because everyone knows why this song is at the top of the list. It’s just that good. When K-On first came out, everyone enjoyed Cagayake Girls for sure, and Fuwa Fuwa Time was a respectable hit of its own, but the one song that everyone was humming along to was Don’t Say Lazy. It’s widely agreed by the many viewers that this is the best song to exist within the series, only matched by perhaps the ED of the movie. However, as the first smash hit of the show and being the same song that got many people to give K-On a try, it deserves it’s spot at the top of the list.

Hisa just became the soccer club’s new manager but underneath this exterior lies a secret that she’s trying to hide from everyone, and it’s that she has a part time job. If anyone were to find out about Hisa’s position she’d have to either quit the job, or give up the very sport that so much passion went into. One of the team’s strongest players, Sakyou, discovers the secret but luckily for Hisa, he has every intent to not only keep the secret close to him but her as well. While Minami’s structure of work focuses primarily on shoujo, she does enjoy throwing smut into the mix to keep her readers enticed. Chain of Pearls is a story about a young woman trying to better her life situation and things suddenly change when love makes its way into the picture. Hisa’s life in the beginning was in a bit of a blur and needed some sort of direction, which was why she insisted on getting a part time position to survive. Sakyou comes in and the two immediately hit it off and never shying away from being honest with each other. It’s a cute tale of love at first sight, which then quickly forms into a very sexual relationship that have the two all over each other. Of course you can’t have romance without some tension and the two often have those moments when other members of the soccer team try to make their move. Love triangles, bitter arguments, unconditional love, this one has it all and despite how short the story is it wraps everything up in one sweet little package for you smut fans to enjoy. There are two one shots included in the manga as well, so once you finish up on Hisa’s steamy life, be sure to hop into the others for more smut fun!

Seri is a well known martial arts specialist who’s trying to put her past behind her, and move onto bigger and better things. At a party she tries to grab the attention of a guy she’s attracted to, but the situation changes when her childhood crush Tamaki walks into the room, causing all sorts of alarms to go off in Seri’s heart. With their competitiveness still in tact, the two form a little game where if Seri loses she’ll need to become Tamaki’s toy, but little does she know that there’s a lot more in store than just a little kicking and punching. This story is full of sex--lots of sex--so expect to see a handful of it once you start reading further. As a warning however, this manga portrays a lot of mature adult themes pertaining to rape and sexual abuse, so if that’s something perhaps you’re not comfortable with then be advised. This is smut county and with smut comes a lot of sexual encounters, jealous competition, and rivalry that’s sure to spice up your evening while reading. Seri, however, seems to want to let herself go a little too much, and that often leads her into scenarios that she could’ve otherwise been avoided had she not exposed herself and just focused on Tamaki. Minami seems to have a strong fantasy around her main female leads being possessed by a number of men, and Ren-ai Shijou Shugi is one you don’t want to miss.

Yuzuru is in the prime years of her teenage life and is about to attend her first year at Houjou Academy. During her summer gig she meets a young but troublesome boy named Renge Kai, who surprisingly attends the same school as her. The reason why she had never encountered him at school was due to the fact that Kai is part of Kugeka, a class that’s only open to those of a wealthy background in Houjou. Another surprise hits Yuzuru at the end of summer when word gets out that she’s become Kai’s honey, which according to the Kugeka rules means that regular students are to be of assistance to the wealthy to ensure their success during school. The great thing about being a honey is that all is paid for but despite Yuzuru having financial troubles, she’d rather take the hard route...or will she? Honeys are in charge of ensuring that those in the wealthy class succeed in class. This is smut we’re talking about so while grades do come into the picture, there are some characters in the series that take advantage of the honeys. While Kai isn’t as aggressive as some, there’s a lot to be questioned about his character and just what his ulterior motive is. Yuzuru is caught up in it all and while she begins to grow feelings for Kai, you’re left wondering just how the other male classmates will feel towards their relationship. At times you probably want to smack some sense into Yuzuru and tell her to smarten up about her ways, but of course this is a romantic comedy so it should come with the territory. Nevertheless the story’s plot is sure to have your emotions in a twist, as it takes you in many directions and leaves you wondering how it’ll end between Kai and Yuzuru.

If there’s one thing that Miyu pledges her life to, it’s most certainly swimming. It became such a passion that it allowed her to grab a scholarship at the prestigious Tenkai Academy, so she could pursue it competitively at some point. However just as things were starting to heat up for Miyu, she encounters the handsome young boy named Suzuki Aoi, and is drawn into his charming demeanor that now takes Miyu on an adventure that she initially never planned for. Sex rears its head once again in Kyousou Heaven and it should once again come as no surprise considering how much Minami Kanan enjoys writing sultry stories to entice her audience. Miyu isn’t necessarily the brightest of the bunch and you can clearly see that in her relationship with Aoi, as the two grow to know one another. She often lets herself go at times which leads into serious sex scenes, and doesn’t really fight back when the situation clearly encourages it. Once the student council rolls in is when this story takes a much different direction, and it could either make you really excited or turn you off. Miyu is just a young girl who really just wants to explore her sexuality, but jealousy often gets in the way and causes a stir for everyone. There’s plenty of drama to keep you going through the chapters, and crazy romance thrown into the mix so be prepared for it all.

Tsubaki really loves her younger sister and would do just about anything, especially making sure that her hair is well taken of. One problem is that Tsubaki isn’t very secure with her own style and decides to go school without really considering how she looks. The day of her high school ceremony approaches and she finds herself sitting next to the top student of first years (which unfortunately she failed to become due to poor test scores), named Kyouta. Not being too keen on politeness Kyouta strikes with his sharp tongue towards Tsubaki and she doesn’t take his words very kindly, so she decides to cut off his hair in retaliation. Kyouta, totally furious at what just happened, insists that Tsubaki become his but Tsubaki decides to cut off even more of his hair. In spite of all that drama Kyouta lays a kiss down on Tsubaki who’s completely startled by it, and swears to her that she’ll become his girl. If that summary wasn’t enough to reel you in, then expect more outrageous comedy in this wonderful romantic comedy. Compared to Minami’s other more provocative and risque settings, Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu takes a more light hearted approach to love and really gives it a more realistic feel. Tsubaki and Kyouta’s relationship is like that of a married couple in their later years, bickering over the stupidest things, but then later making up for it all with something romantic. Tsubaki at times acted like a little child which often made her seem like a pushover to many, while Kyouta was credited as being the selfish playboy. Despite all of this their relationship matured much like a real pairing should be and so as you read through it all, you kind of get this sense of congruity because you know we’ve all been through it before. It’s essentially teenage love at its finest as two young spirits create this unique bond through moments of jealousy, inexperience in love, while developing a cohesive bond you grow to enjoy over time.

Tori no Uta is an intriguing and softly told love story on the background of ga-nime, which is an animation style that is similar to hearing the reading of a picture book. The art of the anime can be a little distorting, but also intoxicating. In the case of Tori no Uta, the art style enhances the dreamlike story of a fleeting encounter between a young man and a mysterious girl and their fantastical reunion. The narrator in his youth takes a new way home only to get caught in a sudden shower. There he meets a colorful girl and falls for her as they take shelter from the rain together. The girl gives him a feather, saying they will meet again for sure if he takes the feather with him. No matter how much he searches, he can’t locate the girl. He even searches in his dreams. Returning to his hometown 50 years later, he embarks on a strange journey in which “reality is a dream, and the dream is reality” with the young girl from his past. Tori no Uta is an abstract romance that somehow seems very much like the colors of love itself.

Episode 0 of World’s Greatest First Love tells us the background story we’ve been dying for to the popular BL anime, World’s Greatest First Love. In the original series, we quickly learn that Onodera Ritsu and Takano Masamune had dated in high school, but what exactly happened back then? With endearing, heartfelt confessions, we get to see how Ritsu’s love for Takano blossomed and Takano’s response to him. Perhaps not as much romance is involved as we had expected, but it’s a slightly different side to the pair that we don’t get to see in the original series.

This OVA is an addition to the anime series Blue Spring Ride. “Unwritten” is a prologue episode, also known commonly as Episode 0, and tells the story of Kou and Futaba’s relationship in middle school, when the pair first developed feelings for each other. This background story is often seen in flashbacks in the anime, but in the OVA, it is a pure and simple story of a puppy love that could have been. The story is both sweet and measured in its telling and doesn’t stray from what we already know as canon. Of course, we know how this OVA ends, but the beautiful development in its unfolding is certainly worth the watch.

It’s not often you come across an OVA of a TV anime that seems like it should have belonged in the original series, so that’s what makes Snow White with the Red Hair’s OVA that much more interesting. The OVA outlines a date between Zen and Shirayuki. The story contains background for Zen’s lifelong preparation for the date along with fun and beautiful character interactions between Zen and his faithful companions, Mitsuhide and Obi. Then, the date happens. Shirayuki, who is a little nervous before the date, enjoys her alone time with Zen, while we learn more about the relationship between Kiki and Mitsuhide. The quality and the storytelling are both worthy of being included in the TV series. There is enough character development to make one question why it wasn’t. As Zen and Shirayuki have an actual date out in the town, they act like their usually selves, but much more couple-like than what we’re used to seeing. As a holding-hands-though-town couple, Zen expresses his feelings for Shirayuki in very romantic fashion. Fans of the anime will be more than satisfied by the couple-ness in this OVA.

There is something beautiful and pure in the love of cat, and She and Her Cat is one of the most intriguing portrayals of this love. Short and sweet, clocking in just four minutes of your time, She and Her Cat is a heartwarming but strangely thought-provoking OVA from Makoto Shinkai, creator of the critically acclaimed Kimi no Na wa (Your Name). She and Her Cat is told from the point of view of Chobi, a stray cat who has fallen for the woman who saved him from the streets. Is the love of a cat, however, enough to save his owner? This is just a short and relatively older OVA, but it became the inspiration of a 2016 manga series and a 2016 TV series She and Her Cat: Everything Flows, which depicts a fuller relationship of a young woman and her cat. The OVA She and Her Cat: Their Standing Points, on the other hand, is a much more poignant story. It’s not a love story between humans, but the encompassing and unconditional love of this beautiful purring soul is nothing short of romantic perfection.

Hori-san to Miyamura-kun is a school, slice-of-life OVA series, based on a web comic manga of the same name. Hori is an outgoing high school girl with an equally outgoing appearance. Miyamura quiet and introverted high school boy, but outside of school, he has a different image: He has multiple ear piercings and a large tattoo. Hori discovers Miyamura’s secret life outside of school and becomes more interested in the quiet boy. They grow closer while keeping Miyamura’s secret together. As a slice-of-life, this OVA series is a relaxing watch with cute and sweet moments between our protagonists and their other classmates. These characters are also unbelievably cute in their interactions. Hori is popular at school, but Miyamura tends to stick to himself. Through Hori, Miyamura also starts to get along with other classmates, as well. Soon, what seems to be an odd couple will have everyone rooting for them.

Fuyu no Semi is a historical fiction, yaoi anime, comprising of three 30-minute episodes, set in a war-torn era of Japan during the Bakumatsu in the early Meiji Period. Although from different social standings, the Akizuki Keiichirou and Kusaka Touma meet by coincidence during an attempted arson at the British Embassy. They meet again years later, and Akizuki begins to teach Kusaka English, though the two must meet in secret because of their conflicting clans. Their love for each other grows and continues to hold strong even after years of battles has left the two men totally different people than when they first met. Fuyu no Semi’s historically-inspired, star-crossed lovers tale adds layers of depression fuel by delving into the effects of a war’s aftermath. Much of the dialog holds onto its historic roots, while we are presented with a complex story of honor, friendship, and love. We learn, however, that the love that Akizuki and Kusaka share, much like their ideals, is far too pure for the broken world they must live in.

At the heart of this mecha battle anime is a love story of two star-crossed lovers, again. This Gundam side story was presented as a 12-episode OVA that was later aired as a series in the USA. Ensign Shiro Amada is the leader of the 08th MS Team of the Earth Federation. They fight off Zeon in the lush green forests of Earth, but before going to Earth, he has a run-in with a Zeon pilot, Aina Sahalin, during a rescue mission. Will their love for each other be able to survive as fight for their respective sides? While Gundam titles often have at least one romance somewhere, The 08th MS Team takes a strong step in establishing the relationship as a major conflict in the series. This OVA series is, in fact, a series, telling a simple but deep story in the throws of war. The love between the two opposing pilots is filled with curiosity and respect for their respective strength. Even people who wouldn’t necessarily call themselves mecha fans will find themselves being drawn into this intricate love story.

Voices of a Distant Star is a 25-minute OVA from Makoto Shinkai. The animation itself may appear unsophisticated, but most viewers are entirely way too distracted by the intoxicating story to even notice. In search for aliens, Nagamine Mikako is selected to join a space expedition, leaving behind her classmate Terao Noboru. Truly, distance makes the heart grow fonder, leaving both Mikako and Noboru wondering what could have been. The two communicate through email messages, but as Mikako travels farther and farther into space her messages take longer and longer to reach Noboru. Love, however, truly knows no limits. Much like many of the 1-episode OVAs on this list, Voices of a Distant Star manages to tell a deep and fulfilling story in a miniature amount of time. The space travel spin on this long-distance love tale adds heft to an otherwise simple story, leaving behind only a flood of emotions and feels. Your everyday love story, that’s actually not so everyday, has enchanted viewers for over a decade and can easily be seen as a stepping stone to Shinkai’s newest blockbuster hit, Kimi no Na wa (Your Name).

Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen tells the story of Kenshin before he became a rurouni, starting from when he was a young boy and saved by a passing swordsman, who would become his master. Compared to the TV series, this OVA is intensely dark and intensely heartbreaking. As Hitokiri Battosai, Kenshin slays many, including a man named Kiyosato Akira, who desperately does not want to die, giving Kenshin the first half of his iconic cross-shaped scar. As we know, Kenshin will eventually receive the finishing half of the scar from the dead man’s fiancé, Yukishiro Tomoe. What Tsuiokuhen reveals, in beautiful realism, is the said fiancé crosses paths with Kenshin, and the two grow feelings for each other. Even after Tomoe realizes the man she has grown to love is the man who had caused her so much pain in the past, she still stays true to her heart. It’s a heartbreaking story that does well for such a popular character, adding much more depth to Kenshin through a young and tragic love story.

Mimi had good upbringing and lots of friends, one of which was Hoshiko. When Hoshiko decides to venture to the states to pursue studying abroad, Mimi convinces Hoshiko to promise that the two remain close friends even after they’ve separated. Years have passed on by since their last encounter but Mimi ends up meeting a new individual, Meca, who then becomes her new friend. However much of her character isn’t what Mimi had assumed it to be, as Meca continuously finds herself in trouble, saving the lives of others, and using her cell phone to summon various entities. Naoko had taken a long hiatus from creating manga due to a lot of major life changes ongoing at the time, one of which was of course marrying the famous Yoshihiro Togashi, and bringing two wonderful children into the world. Toki☆Meka! was her very first series after being away from the spotlight and due to this, many of her fans actually wanted her to continue the series. However Naoko decided that she wanted to pursue other ventures and left Toki☆Meka! as a one-shot. In spite of her decision, Toki☆Meka! really enticed readers because for the most part it was a fresh take on a new series, while still maintaining the same level of creativity that Naoko is quite known for. Mimi’s character is quite quirky as well which sort of reminds you of Usagi in a way because she’s always all over the place, and Meca just can’t seem to control herself. While the story is most certainly short when compared to that of her other works, Toki☆Meka! Is still a wonderful series that takes a very simple plot and expands on it to create a colorful and idiosyncratic experience.

If Yuri!! on Ice is a series that you’re enjoying, then you will most likely need to thank Naoko and The Cherry Project, as it’s one of the manga that truly inspired the growing popularity of ice skating. Chieri, also known as Cherry, was inspired to start ice skating after watching her idol and skating champion Tsuzuki Masanori take to the rink in spectacular fashion. Her dream is to skate alongside Masanori in hopes that she will someday overcome her rival Princess Canty, and win over the hearts of millions who tune in. As stated in the earlier paragraphs, Naoko achieved acclaim with her very simple plots which she then expands on to create a remarkable and exciting experience, that takes the reader on a crazy journey. Many of her manga do generally place precedence on romance which is what she became popular for, and so The Cherry Project fits perfectly into it all. Chieri had a passion for skating and it only took off even further when she fell madly in love with Masanori. We can all somehow relate to Chieri’s experience because we’ve all had that one person who, despite how far ahead they were in terms of their skill, we looked up to them not due to their talents but their character as well. Chieri put in every ounce of effort to ensure that she could live her dream and outpace her rival, and with all of the emotional drama that she has to deal with, it truly makes you cheer for her as the underdog to win not only the respect of fans but Masanori’s heart.

Maria is a young girl who currently attends a Christian private school. Much of her life is in disarray as her family is barely surviving off of what they earn, while her mother lies in the hospital with an illness. Their only way of moving forward is by depending on a man known as ‘Daddy Long Legs’ who stipulates that the only way for the support to continue is by Maria marrying him. With Maria unsure as to just who this mysterious man is, she sets out to uncover the truth behind his appearance and just why he’s made it a purpose to help her family. One selling point that will help to encourage readers to pick up Maria is in how powerful the plot is, and just how real the story feels once you travel further along into it. Maria’s family is destitute and this man somehow feels that it’s only right to support this woman in times of need. Their relationship slowly develops into something romantic because who can really say no to a man who’s committed to providing security and ensuring that your family is steady? Maria surely can’t and we probably couldn’t either because it just shows the beauty of human connection and how we gravitate towards those who’ve opened their heart to help others. While the story may purposely deviate you away from the main point at times, it reels you right back in because of how gratifying everything feels once the mystery man’s identity is revealed and your heart beats with joy as their romance only grows stronger.

For fans of the Sailor Moon series, Codename wa Sailor V is the precursor to the main series which follows Usagi on her adventures to save the world from evil. This prequel looks at the life of Minako, a normal high school student whose life takes an incredible turn when she’s approached by a white cat named Artemis and notifies her of the power to transform into the beautiful Sailor V. Now with her magic pen in possession, Minako must now use her superpowers to fight against the evil agents of the Dark Agency, to ensure that Earth remains intact and safe from terror. If you’re somewhat new to the world of Sailor Moon and you’re curious how it all began, then look no further for Codename wa Sailor V is the story that started it all. Before Usagi and her ditzy ways there was the outspoken and, often times, aloof Minako, who now has become the world’s hero to ensure that evil doesn’t consume humanity. What you’ll find in this story is nothing but action, laughter and romance, similar to what you’ll receive in Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. Minako and Artemis make up such a wonderful duo because of their contrasting personalities, much like how Usagi pairs well with Luna. The only difference is that Artemis is male while luna is female, and you’ll get to know a little more about their backstories in this wonderful series. We’ll admit though that while the story was well done and captured and really breathed life in Minako as a character, Naoko perhaps wanted to save a lot of the story for the sequel which was why the story at times had a lot of filler. Nevertheless Minako’s backstory truly sheds a lot of light on what’s to come, and what initially had been planned as a one shot now transformed into what we now know as Sailor Moon.

Growing up around the Sailor Moon series was truly a life changing experience because during the time of its release in the west, many of us were quite young and so the story felt more like a dream in many respects. Usagi had no intentions of becoming Sailor Moon until Luna comes in out of the blue informing her of the duties that comes with being a Sailor Scout. With her new powers at hand, Usagi must now fight for justice in the name of the Moon and the Moon Princess. Along her crazy journey she encounters other Sailor Scouts that team up with her to help battle the influx of enemies that torment planet Earth. The initial story for Sailor Moon took its inspiration from the prequel, as both start off with two young girls who are then thrown into a new world and must conquer the obstacles that lie ahead of them. What’s great is that Naoko took the remnants of Minako’s adventure and refined it well enough so that it would sync flawlessly with Usagi’s journey. Naoko is so clever when it comes to storytelling because she uses a basic framework and then builds on top of it, much like constructing a house. That framework is then altered over time to create a more robust and expansive story which then takes the reader on a wild ride full of romance, action, and tons of drama as Usagi and the Sailor Scouts not only battle evil but also their inner struggles. Each Sailor Scout is remarkably different from the next which is fantastic because they all have this unique personality that makes them attractive, and creates a wonderful plot line going forward. Tuxedo Mask then comes into the mix at some point and then more romance starts to roll in, along with Luna and Artemis having to put up with a lot of stupidity along the way. You’re never truly expecting the same thing to happen because each arc of the story takes you down a different road, which introduces new characters but also allows the spotlight to be shared among the Sailor Scouts allowing you to build a deeper connection to them.

Hanabusa is a handsome vampire that is idolized by the Day Class girls from Cross Academy. He is constantly careless in his attitude and flirting, so he is almost always on the edge of revealing his true identity. This attitude causes Hanabusa trouble with Yuki, who is trying to protect the vampires. And yet, there is more about Hanabusa than meets the eye. See, his careless attitude is the perfect way to disguise his intelligence. Hanabusa notices anomalies in the people around him. Nevertheless, he does not go boasting about i. He fully confides in Kaname, to whom Hanabusa sweared loyalty and protection. That is why Kaname gives him special missions that he quietly dispatches with other royal vampires.

Meet another of the most faithful allies of Kaname! Ruka is part of the Night Class in Cross Academy, which means she is a vampire, but this lady was raised in novelty, thus her tendency to reflect disdain in her face. That point makes her mysterious especially to the Day Class guys. Ruka looks like a very distant beauty to them! The first time we see the vampire side of this beautiful girl is when Yuki encounters Kaname drinking her blood. This gives us a hint that Ruka is very close to Kaname. She is very loyal to him, but in one occasion, Ruka kept the fact that Senri is possessed by Rido Kuran in secret. Ruka might not be the most mysterious of our characters, but especially for normal humans, she has a certain unexplained allure.

Senri is yet another member of the Night Class in Cross Academy. He is kinda mysterious at first because his role is not relevant on the first episodes of Vampire Knight. He is shown to be a model and not a fan of visiting his family home. One could say that maybe Senri will be revealed as important later. So, we just waited. And the wait paid off! Senri turned out to be the illegitimate child of Rido Kuran, one of the main antagonists in Vampire Knight. Poor Senri becomes possessed by his father, who targets Yuki (one of our protagonists). In one of such attacks, the possessed Senri wounds his best friend Rima. With this, Senri stopped being mysteriously apathetic and started to stand up more for himself. Looks like being mysterious isn’t always a good thing, right?

Meet Yuki’s long lost mother. Juri Kuran is a pureblood vampire from a noble family who married her brother, Haruka. Although physically very similar to her daughter, Juri has a completely different personality. She is loud, happy and straightforward. Juri Kuran is one of the few characters in Vampire Knight that states clearly what matters for her. She always had the dream of vampires and humans coexisting in peace. We consider Juri as mysterious because we don’t know much about her at first. Also, despite the fact that she died and was forgotten for so long, her influence is what made Cross Academy possible. It was Juri’s power which let her daughter Yuki live as a human without memories of her previous life as well.

Kaien is Yuki’s handsome father! Ok, not really. Kaien adopts her, so he somewhat counts as her father. This guy is also Zero’s guardian, the Cross Academy headmaster and the head for the Vampire Hunters Association. Kaien is a Jack of all Traits, right? Nevertheless, what stands out about Kaien is that he misleads us easily with his happy and easy going attitude. Kaien has a lot of secrets, like the truth about the vampires in the Night Class and Yuki’s origin. He is also abnormally talented as Vampire Hunter, meaning that he has a high amount of vampire DNA. The reason for that… is something that makes Kaien understand Zero ;)

Once upon a time, the now orphaned Zero had a family. Ichiru is his twin brother. Born in a family of Vampire hunters, the twins had a curse. This means that, while Ichiru is sickly and weak, Zero is very skillful as Vampire hunter. But Ichiru left the household without explanations just before Zero’s parents were killed... Some four years later, Ichiru joins the Day Class of Cross Academy. Although he at first wears a mask to hide his identity, Zero recognizes him easily. Ichiru is not easy to read unless he acts. Sometimes it is difficult to clarify if he loves or hates his brother. Besides that, Ichiru made a pact with Shizuka, who killed his parents. He wanted to become stronger, so he was Shizuka’s servan. It is even implied that maybe he fell in love with her! We can see how mysterious Ichiru is, as his loyalty and motifs are not clear throughout the series.

Meet another of the antagonists from Vampire Knight. Shizuka’s story is interesting and not straightforward. We meet her as the evil vampire who killed Zero and Ichiru’s parents. Shizuka also bites Zero to make him a vampire and manipulates Ichiru. The girl is playful in a bad way. She hides her soul in a weak relative of hers named Maria Kurenai. Posing as Maria, Shizuka enters Cross Academy to find Zero, but finds Yuki alluring. Planning to use Yuki to kill Kaname, Shizuka keeps making the lovely Maria’s personality switch to manipulate the people around her. Everyone is puzzled, but Zero and Kaname slowly figure out who is behind Maria and do what is necessary to stop her. Although Shizuka’s story and reasons for killing Zero’s family are discovered eventually, that does not take away the fact that this evil lady was an unusual and mysterious addition to Vampire Knight.

What is better than a kind and protective best friend? Well, a best friend that is also a vampire! And a vampire hunter! Confused? Yes, we can understand Zero’s story makes him fascinatingly mysterious but not easy to comprehend. Believe us, he is the first one that suffers the consequences. We already know he was born in a family of vampire hunters. In the beginning of the story, Zero is generally distant with other human beings except Yuki. Then, because of certain revenge, Shizuka bites him and transforms him in that which Zero hates the most: a vampire. To finish out his luck, Yuki is also revealed to be a vampire. Thus, Zero grows cold and aggressive towards her. Is he a friend or a foe? Will Yuki ever recover her friendship with him? That is a great question :s

Here we have our female protagonist, the serious, brave, collected and kind Yuki Cross. With no memories of her past, she is saved in her childhood from a vampire by Kaname, who entrusts her into Kaien Cross´ care. That is why Yuki grew up as the number one fan of Kaname, despite the fact that she knows he is a vampire. She even protects/guards the Night and Day class in Cross Academy from one another. One of the best mysterious points she has, is that Yuki is a vampire. And not just any kind of vampire! Yuki is a Pureblood princess, pursued by many vampires and vampire hunters with hidden agendas. Although most of the story is told from her point of view, there are moments when we are not sure if she is going to “go with the flow” or do something unexpected to protect those she cares about. She apparently is more emotional and connected to humans than other vampires.

We are finally arriving to our number one. The super handsome and mysterious Kaname! Yes, we knew he was a vampire all along, but the anime reveals secret after secret about him… in small doses. Deadly small doses. We meet him as some kind of protector for Yuki. For a fleeting moment, we thought this was a “notice me senpai” case. But no! Kaname was always thinking about Yuki in a romantic way. And the reason is not discovered until she goes back to being a vampire. These two had a long story together, but Kaname has heavy duties with the Pureblood Kuran family ancestry. In order to protect Yuki’s happiness and human life style as long as possible, this guy was always reticent and mysterious. That is why he is our number one!

Anybody who loved Bakemono’s showy spectacle of a final battle should immediately check out Gurren Lagann. The story follows Simon, a miner living in an underground city blocked off from the rest of the world, who works with the hope of acquiring delicious steaks. His best friend Kamina, has bigger dreams of one day escaping the city and following his father’s footsteps. As luck would have it, Simon discovers the key to an ancient artifact during the course of his daily mining routine. The two friends end up using the device to break free from the city and travel to the surface. There, they discover a conflict between other humans who live on the surface and the beastmen who suppress them. Simon and Kamina join the fight to free humanity from the shackles of oppression! Every scene in Gurren Lagann explodes from the screen with a gut-punch to the senses. Every battle is a sight to behold, with conflicts that are preceded by speeches delivered with deliciously melodramatic aplomb, and concluded with a barrage of hyper-stylized face-smashing blows. This is a BIG story of big personalities, with a climax that’s so grand that we dare not say another word, lest we spoil what is considered one of the all-time great final battles in anime history. Much like Bakemono, the real core of the story is found in the tale of Simon’s personal growth and how it influences the world around him. As with Ren in Bakemono, we follow Simon’s transition from an awkward child still struggling to find his place in the world, to an adult who finds himself in a new role he wasn’t sure he was meant to fill. It’s these scenes that are really the heart of Gurren Lagann, and watching Simon pull himself up and become the adult he was always meant to be is what pulls it all together.

Thankfully, fans who wanted another supernatural take on parenthood can just go back and check out Hosoda’s previous film! We begin this film following Hana, a college student who has recently fallen in love with a strange man by the name of Ookami. As it turns out, Ookami is in a bit of a hairy situation; he is, in fact, a werewolf! Thankfully, Hana looks past this issue, and the two end up marrying and having 2 beautiful children: the spirited Yuki and the more reserved Ame. Unfortunately, Ookami suddenly dies, leaving his wolf children without a parent who can teach them how to live in the world with their condition. Wanting to protect her children from the harsh realities of how they’d be treated in the city, Hana moves to the countryside where Yume and Ame can live freely. Ookami Kodomo is largely about the sacrifices parents make for their children. Hosoda is a big fan of pairing humans together with otherworldly creatures in parental roles as a visual metaphor for the divide between different generations. While in Bakemono we saw an animal father raising a human child, here we see the role reversed with a human raising animal children. It’s a different take on roughly the same topic, so fans of Bakemono will find a lot to like here.

Moving away from the realms of fantasy for just a bit, we’d like to draw your attention to a more down-to-earth, coming-of-age tale in Sakamichi no Apollon. Taking place during the 1960s, this series focuses largely on the struggle of Kaoru Nishimi, a wealthy boy with very frail disposition who moves out to the countryside to live with his uncle. An introverted pianist, Kaoru has always needed to keep a certain level of order in his life, as too much stress causes his stomach to act up to the point where he can barely function. One such incident occurs on his first day of school, and a chance meeting with local ruffian Sentarou on the school rooftop introduces him to a whole new world, where he sees how life in chaos can still be fun. The two end up bonding over a shared love of jazz, and Kaoru’s life changes forever. Those who specifically enjoyed the human world portions of Bakemono will find a lot to like in Sakamichi no Apollon. While their circumstances are quite different, both Ren and Kaoru find themselves as fish out of water, which forces them to re-evaluate their own values and what they consider to be a core part of their being. As a result of this displacement, both find a passion that they never knew they had within them: Ren for studying and learning to read, and Kaoru for this new, strangely alluring and chaotic style of music. It’s a great lazy afternoon watch.

Those who desire a more realistic setting but would enjoy a more dynamic animation style needn’t look any further than Ping Pong. Broken and beaten by the world, Makoto “Smile” Tsukimoto forces himself to play ping pong in order to keep his friendship alive with the passionate Yutaka “Peco” Hoshino. Peco, who believes himself to be God’s gift to the sport, joins his high school’s ping pong team with every intent of going to and winning nationals. Unbeknownst to Peco, Smile is an incredible player who can beat any challenger who comes his way, but is forcing himself to play poorly to avoid destroying Peco’s hopes. Can the pair maintain their friendship once this comes out? Don’t be turned away by Ping Pong’s angular, almost aggressively off-putting artstyle. It’s done all in service of Ping Pong’s insane animation. Bodies distort in desperation with every shot, as if everything they’ve ever worked towards depends on every exchange during a match... because it does. Antagonists like Kazama and Wenge have never taken a moment to reflect on why they play the game, and why it is they’re so intent on winning. These are characters who are still trying to find their place in the world, and like Ren of Bakemono, they eventually find their answers and their purpose. It’s a powerful coming-of-age story and will be sure to delight anyone who enjoyed Ren’s story of self-growth.

Here’s a familiar title for anyone who has even a passing interest in anime. Produced by the world Renowned Studio Ghibli, Spirited Away is an otherworldly story of a young girl by the name of Chihiro, who is traveling with her parents to their new home. Along the way, she and her family end up exploring an eerily isolated amusement park. Chihiro’s parents discover some delicious food, and after chowing down on it, they end up transforming into pigs! Chihiro, isolated and alone, discovers this amusement park is a gathering place for a society of spirits. In order to save her parents, she takes on work at a spirit bath house, where she works for the witch Yubaba, who promises to return her parents back to normal in exchange for her services. If you’ve somehow missed out on seeing Spirited Away all these years, now’s as good a time as any to go back and watch the only anime to ever win an Academy Award. The real core of this film comes from Chihiro’s personal growth. While we never see her make the full transition into adulthood like Ren in Bakemono, Chihiro is forced by her unique situation to start taking responsibility for her life. She goes from being a timid, scared little girl to a much more confident, self-assured person through the strange new experiences she is thrust into. Really, it’s the lavish visuals that make the film. There’s no scene that is lacking creative visuals and vibrant colors. This is the same kind of fluid, elegant animation style that you see in Bakemono. Watch as Chihiro washes a giant goo monster and the chaos that ensues, or as Chihiro sits on a train gliding across the sea. It’s a beautiful film that you’ll want to re-watch multiple times just to see what details you can spot in every scene.

It’s almost like a fairy tale; a young girl by the name of Hotaru Takegawa gets lost while exploring the forest outside her uncle’s home. A mysterious white-haired man by the name of Gin discovers her, and shows her the way out. His only request is that she must not touch him or else he’ll disappear. She returns the following day to say thanks, and they spend the afternoon together exploring the forest, playing by the pond and discovering different forest spirits. Hotaru enjoys her visit so much that she comes to see Gin every day for the rest of the summer and their relationship develops into being more than just friends. While Bakemono portrayed the parental bonds between a spirit and a human, Hotarubi no Mori e shows a more romantic take on the relations between these different groups. Gin’s curse is a beautiful allegory for this tension that builds between the two characters. They so desperately want to be a part of one another’s world, but they know the moment they take that step, it will all be gone in an instant. It’s very similar to the relationship that develops between Ren and Kaede, where the two come from completely different worlds and yearn to understand each other but can’t. It’s a short film, but for those who enjoyed watching the subtle love story unfold in Bakemono, Hotarubi’s heartbreaking tale will leave you in tears.