Once long ago, humanity was assaulted by a powerful being known as the vampire queen. Despite putting up their best efforts, humanity couldn’t match the sheer power of the vampire queen and began to lose hope. However, in one last ditch effort humanity sealed away the vampire queen temporarily till they could find a power rivaling hers. Meanwhile, the vampire king left his kingdom filled with his half-human and half-vampire followers—known as dhampirs—behind to search for his beloved queen. In fear that the king will find the seal and save the queen, humans and dhampirs team up together to stop the vampire king and keep the world safe from possible destruction. If you loved the action elements of Vampire Knight, we recommend Vampire Juujikai as a good alternative read. We absolutely loved the gorgeous art Kimura Yuri and the impressive storytelling by mangaka Shirodaira Kyou. At 9 volumes, Vampire Juujikai might be a quicker read than Vampire Knight but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get less to enjoy. Vampire Juujikai is a truly incredible manga that we know you’ll appreciate if you loved Vampire Knight. Now go pick up Vampire Juujikai and give it a try!

Gil is a young man trying to join the Twelve Apostles so he can fight with them against the vampire race plaguing the world. However, Gil isn’t done with his tests yet and has one left to hopefully join their ranks. Gil’s final test is to travel to a nearby area and kill a vampire target known as Aran. Assigned to Gil to join him on his mission is a girl named Luna who must aid the young apostle in training. However, why has Luna been assigned to Gil and can Gil accomplish his mission so he can save the world alongside the Twelve Apostles? Another recommendation we have for those who love Vampire Knight comes in the form of Blood Parade by mangaka Karasawa Kazuyoshi. Blood Parade is only 2 volumes in length but we truly enjoyed the short story as it presented an interesting world with some truly cool vampire themes. Equally, we loved the action scenes in Blood Parade which reminded us heavily of the moments found in Vampire Knight. If you don’t want another 19-volume read like Vampire Knight and need something shorter, we recommend Blood Parade. Now let’s hope maybe we get an OVA of Blood Parade some day as we’d love to see it animated.

Vampire Guilt-Na-Zan was sealed away more than a hundred years ago and placed within a cross. Now in present time, Kyouji has undone his ancestor’s seals on Guilt reviving him but in a rather strange way. Guilt is now trapped in a doll’s body and finds he is only able to become full sized when he sucks the blood of Kyouji’s sister Tonae. What lies in wait for Guilt when Kyouji is a pervert with some rather strange fetishes? Find out in this comedic vampire story called Vampire Doll: Guilt-na-Zan! If you need a break from vampire action and want some comedy with a tinge of horror then we have a manga for you. From mangaka Kari Erika comes Vampire Doll: Guilt-na-Zan! Despite some rather strange elements for a vampire manga, Vampire Doll: Guilt-na-Zan still has some bloodsucking creatures of the night all within in a rather unique josei manga series. Get ready to wonder what Kyouji and Guilt will do next in Vampire Doll: Guilt-na-Zan!

Bloody Cross follows the tale of Tsukimiya and Hinata both of which are half angels. Those who are labeled as half angels are known as cursed beings due to their impure bloodlines. Both Tsukimiya and Hinata are on a quest in search of a book called God’s Book of Prophecy. If they can accomplish this task, they might be able to remove the curse they have. Unfortunately, this mission won’t be easy seeing as how Tsukimiya and Hinata both want the book which makes their already troubled alliance even more problematic… Don’t you love team up manga where two partners must work together despite their rocky relationship? We do too here at Honey’s Anime and that is what makes Bloody Cross so appealing to us. We loved the weird relationship Hinata and Tsukimiya have and also love the action scenes when they do work together as a team. Mangaka Komeyama Shiwo did an incredible job with the action, art and narrative seen in Bloody Cross’ 12 volume run. Honestly, we are surprised no anime was ever made of Bloody Cross as we think it would make for an amazing series but for now we’re okay with just reading it in manga form. We full recommend checking out Bloody Cross if you liked Vampire Knight.

Life was pretty good for Kana Takachiho. Not only did she excel at sports but Kana was doing well in life overall. Unfortunately, Kana got hurt in a strange manner losing her classmates’ respect and the scholarship she needed for school. Kana still has one thing though in the form of Aki her friend since they were kids and her boyfriend, sort of. Aki though isn’t exactly normal as he proves to Kana by sucking her blood during their first date! Aki is actually a vampire and his goal in life is to save his twin from a strange slumber by finding stigmas. What lies in store for Kana now seeing as how she’s Aki’s slave? Imagine finding out that your love/friend was a vampire? Seriously, that would shock us just as much as it shocked Kana in Junketsu + Kareshi. This very fun multi genre series kept us hooked from start to finish here at Honey’s Anime HQ and we think those who loved the various genres seen in Vampire Knight will like them in Junketsu + Kareshi. Plus, if you’re looking for a shoujo themed vampire manga then you’ll like Junketsu + Kareshi even more! At 10 volumes, Junketsu + Kareshi will keep you busy for a bit and make you hopefully forget about Vampire Knight for a little while at least.

Vivi Akuma has grown bored of his 200-year demon life and has left the comforts of the demon realm for the human world. Upon arriving in the human world, Vivi finds a baby who seems to have been abandoned and decides to take her for himself. Naming her Hana, Vivi raises her up and lives together like normal humans. However, can a demon and a normal girl truly live together? Find out in Hana to Akuma where a truly interesting tale is about to unfold. Ending our 6 Manga Like Vampire Knight list, we look at Hana to Akuma which might not be about vampires but still will be perfect for those who love Vampire Knight. We truly were mystified at how great Hana to Akuma is at telling an emotional tale that keeps you glued to your manga pages while you watch Vivi and Hana’s lives unfold volume after volume. We won’t spoil Hana to Akuma but we will say this shoujo demo story will truly make your heart melt and that is because mangaka Oto Hisamu did a terrific job with this 10-volume series. We can’t recommend Hana to Akuma enough folks and you’ll be glad you read it when you do.

When it comes to vampire anime, one would be remiss to not mention the Blood franchise. With its breathtaking action and visuals, Blood: The Last Vampire was an important release for the industry and genre. Over the years, its successors have tried their best to replicate the movie's magic; unfortunately, the results have been rather mixed. Blood-C: The Last Dark is probably the best release associated with the series since 2005's Blood+. Saya Kisaragi's life has been destroyed by the many monsters that plague her village. Working as a bonafide hunter, Saya only exists to quench her thirst for vengeance. She is driven by anger and hatred, as she tracks down and slaughters any creature unfortunate enough to get in her way. The Last Dark sees Saya joining a group of hackers, although they might not be particularly trustworthy. While nowhere near as experimental as Kizumonogatari, Blood-C: The Last Dark remains a visual spectacle. If nothing else, Production I.G. knows how to present a gorgeous final product. The action is fast and horrific, with the story incorporating elements of horror. The Last Dark is perfect for those who enjoyed Kizumonogatari's scenes with the vampire slayers and would like something that focused more on the action.

Shiki is a terrifying anime that blurs the line between human and monster. With barely any action or comedy, Daume's series dedicates a great deal of time to establishing the characters who exist within the village of Sotoba. Young and slightly arrogant, Megumi Shimizu dreams of leaving her humble village to live in a metropolis. Sadly, Shimizu's life is tragically cut short and the teenager is found dead. This marks the start of a strange epidemic that slowly takes hold of Sotoba. Toshio Ozaki, a doctor working on the case, starts to wonder whether there is something more to this unexplainable disease, as rumors spread that Shimizu's ghost has been seen walking around town. With the epidemic worsening by the day, a struggle begins to decide the faith of Sotoba village. Shiki and Kizumonogatari are both slow-paced anime that place importance on creating a sense of mystery and intrigue around their narratives. Shiki tackles vampirism in a relatively realistic way and humans are portrayed as grey characters. Shaft's movie and Daume's series are unique, they approach a popular genre from a fresh perspective, resulting in a final product that is otherworldly.

Owari no Seraph is a shounen anime that takes place in an alternate reality where mankind was enslaved by powerful vampires. Serving as blood banks for their overlords; Yuuichirou, Mikaela Hyakuya, and a group of other children are captured within an orphanage and turned into livestock. With their future prospects seeming slim, Mikaela plans an exciting escape from their hell. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned and only Yuuichirou manages to escape. Once out in the open, the young boy is picked up by the Japanese Imperial Demon Army and joins their ranks. From this point forward, Yuuichirou dedicates his life to destroying the vampires who killed his family. Primarily, Owari no Seraph is an action series with military and supernatural elements. Stylistically, the anime is rather straightforward, but the vampires are allowed enough character development to not come across as mindless monsters. Similarly to Kizumonogatari, Owari no Seraph's nightwalkers are educated and humanized, making them an interesting group to follow. Araragi's goal is to defeat the slayers who hurt Oshino, while Yuuichirou seeks revenge for the vampires who slaughtered his family.

If there is one studio capable of matching Shaft's stunning animation, Madhouse would be it. Spanning over six years, Hellsing: Ultimate delivered ten stunning OVAs packed to the brim with fantastic characters, graphic violence, and deranged humor. A faithful adaptation of Kouta Hirano's long-running manga, Ultimate finally gave Alucard the respect he deserves. You know what is worse than vampires? Neo-nazis who just cannot die. Alucard is a bloodthirsty and sadistic creature who works for Hellsing, an organization dedicated to destroying monsters threatening humanity's very survival. Led by Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, they must fight off monsters and humans who oppose their existence. Hellsing: Ultimate's sense of humor is a perfect alternative to the Monogatari series. While it lacks the subtlety of Shaft's anime, Madhouse more than makes up for it with over-the-top showdowns and bombastic fights. Both series prioritize character development, although Ultimate moves at a faster paced than Kizumonogatari. With their huge weapons and cool demeanor, the trilogy's vampire slayers could easily pass for Hellsing villains.

Split into eight different chapters, JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken is one of the most popular manga of the last few decades. Capable of being funny, terrifying, and progressive; JoJo's Bizarre Adventure introduces a fresh protagonist with every new season. Whether referring to Phantom Blood or Stardust Crusaders, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is defined by a unique art style and quirky characters. Jonathan Joestar is the heir to the Joestar family fortune but things take an expected turn when the ambitious but sinister Dio Brando is adopted by Jonathan's father. This triggers a tiring battle for dominance, one that involves vampires and strange powers called stands. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is Kizumonogatari's shounen equivalent. Both series make great use of editing and visual exaggerations to establish an otherworldly tone to their stories. The rotating cast is always stacked with memorable personalities, as they deliver hilarious punchlines and battle an array of supernatural entities. Kizumonogatari follows a human who is forced to engage in an ancient conflict between vampires and hunters, while JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's protagonist tends to be a normal person who has to deal with supernatural entities trying to take over the world.

The Garden of Sinners is a challenging anime to explain. Based on a series of light novels written by Kinoko Nasu and illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi, the movies center around supernatural cases investigated by Shiki Ryōgi and Mikiya Kokutō. The former possesses an ability known as the "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception," which allows her to predict an object's death and prevent it. Describing Kizumonogatari as a vampire anime would be misleading, and the same can be said for Kara no Kyoukai. The story is dense and demands the audience's full attention. Similarly to Shaft's anime, the movies are not presented in chronological order, but they do make sense when experienced as a whole. When talking about mystery anime, these two franchises are among the very best. We are not just talking about an interesting or unpredictable investigation, but the stories are presented in a way that challenges viewers. Kara no Kyoukai 5: Mujun Rasen is arguably the best of the bunch, although it would not be recommended to skip its predecessors. A common theme in Monogatari is duality, especially between Araragi's human and supernatural lives, which is quite similar to Ryougi's conflicting personalities. Born into a mostly male family, the investigator ends up developing masculine and feminine personas. Kara no Kyoukai 5: Mujun Rasen can be rather disturbing and, in terms of graphic violence, eclipses Kizumonogatari.

We don’t know much about Mrs. Tachibana and her son Ryouta except for Aiko’s memories, but what we see is more than enough to know that in a very short time, they suffered a lot. After being a very close and happy family, things started to go wrong on Aiko’s birthday. First, Aiko and her dad were involved in a terrible car accident, where he died protecting her. Then, Mrs. Tachibana had to keep her feelings controlled, as her daughter was the subject of a very dangerous and experimental surgery in order to save her life. And while said surgery was taking place, the Burst happened and she was helpless, watching how her daughter was taken away and everyone around her and her son died at the Matter’s hands. From Aiko’s memories, we could only imagine that their last moments were terrifying. However, Yuuya Kanzaki revealed to Aiko that that wasn’t the truth. While her memories of seeing her mother and brother run away from the helicopter that took her to safety were correct, Aiko was wrong in thinking that they had died. Instead, they were trapped by the Matter, inside a semi-transparent cocoon filled with an unknown liquid. So that’s another tragedy to layer upon them: even if they could be saved, in the end, they would’ve lost two years of their lives. Not an easy thing to wake up to. And with this tragedy, they open up our list on the tenth place.

Maho Shiraishi looks very out of place among the divers. She looks very fragile, as if she would be better placed as a kindergarten teacher, or a gentle housewife. This is especially obvious when she takes her time to make food for everyone, trying to make their rations more appetizing despite the situation. She also acts like a mother to all of them, worried for their health and keeping their diver suits and their vehicles perfectly maintained. She’s Daisuke Shinoyama’s partner and what little we know of their past makes it clear that she loves him dearly. And it’s her gentleness what makes her so tragic. Because she shouldn’t be there, watching the man she loves and the people she cares for risk their lives time and time again. And as they get closer and closer to the Burst’s Ground Zero, she has to witness more death, and even worse, is made complicit of a terrible choice. And yet, she manages to maintain her gentleness. Her tears for those lost are what give her the ninth place on our list.

At first, we don’t see much of Yuzuha Izasu. She appears only in her father’s memories as a very talented girl who loves the violin and is friendly with everyone. However, at some point possibly before the Burst, she suffered a terrible accident that left her in a comma. Since then, her father has been doing everything in his hands to try and restore her consciousness. A little girl in a comma is quite tragic, but as the story unfolds, things get worse. When the Divers arrive at Ground Zero, Yuuya is captured by the Matter and is sent to a place that seems to be the mental link between the Matter and human brains. And that’s where he meets Yuzuha, who has been lost in limbo, unable to find her way back to her body. The idea of a little girl lost without being able to communicate with anyone and only seeing through the matter as people get hurt or killed by the artificial life form is nothing short of horrifying. And that is exactly why Yuzuha has the eighth place on our list.

One of the most experienced Divers in the team and Shiraishi’s partner. They were together even before the burst, as their dialogue implies they were in the military together. Of all the Divers, he’s the only one who knew Kurose before the mission, and because of that, he feels very responsible for the team. Even more when he finds out that Yuuya lied to them and to Aiko, so he swears that if anyone in his team gets hurt, he’ll get to kill Yuuya. He’s a hardened soldier, who has seen the horrors of combat. He also had a lot of experience in the darkest, more dangerous parts of the Gorge against the Matter. And yet, he never lost his good heart, or his gentleness with everyone around him. This is what makes it more tragic when he is the first death on the team. His loss is felt hard by everyone, and what makes this death hurt more is that it could’ve been prevented if only the team had had more information about their mission. These are all the reasons why Daisuke Shinoyama climbs to the seventh place on our list.

Few people shoulder as much guilt as Susumu Kurose does. He was one of the original team of researches in the Kiryu Biotech Research Facility, and was also the developer of the Cell Assembler technology that helped the project. Single and apparently carefree, he was also one of the doctors in charge of Aiko Tachibana’s care once the Burst happened. At first, it seems that he’s just one of the many people trying to keep her in the dark of her true nature, but soon we learn that he is one of the very few allies Yuuya Kanzaki has in his mission to undo the Burst. It’s when you realize that he is the only person who knows who Yuuya Kanzaki really is and what their connection to the Burst is that the true tragedy of his life comes to focus. He’s sacrificing everything he worked hard to get in order to help someone else redeem their sins, and by doing that, he’s also risking his friend’s lives. It comes to a point where you wonder if Kurose made things worse by lying, and then it’s possible to believe that maybe he did, and he knows. Which makes him even more tragic and a worthy contender for the sixth place on our list.

Kaede is one of the youngest of the Divers we met, and Haruka’s partner. At first, it seems as if nothing really worries her. She is in the Diver business for the money and has excellent reflexes, which makes her one of the best. At times, Kaede may seem uncaring and cold, especially with people she doesn’t know well, but Haruka knows that it’s because she has learned to hide her feelings to avoid being hurt. At one point, she implies she’s a runaway, and that she wouldn't go back to her family even if she got paid which hints to a very bad childhood. Because she’s a secondary character in Aiko’s journey, we don’t get to see much of her or her story. But what we know is enough to make her endearing to everyone. She is completely loyal and easy to anger when her abilities are called into question. Although she doesn’t want to accept it, she’s completely in love with Yoshihiko Sagami and, as she learns to open up, she becomes a bit more obvious in her affections even as she tries to keep her feelings hidden. It’s a paradox that makes the viewer wonder if she will have the opportunity to tell him the truth before the Matter engulfs them all. Because of her mysterious past, and the small hints of tragedy that we can hear in her words, Kaede has the fifth place on our list.

If you told any of the other divers that Kasuki has tragedy in his past, they would probably laugh. He’s the least experimented Diver we meet and partners with Yoshihiko Sagami who, most of the time, seems to be there to keep Kasuki out of danger rather than to pay attention to the mission. Kasuki is very outgoing, expressive, and friendly, which makes him stand out among the divers that are helping Aiko. At some point in his past, he lost his right arm, but because his family has a lot of money, he got an artificial one, so he doesn’t really seem to suffer from the loss. What makes Kasuki tragic is his big heart. From the moment he met Aiko, he fell in love with her and tried hard to make her feel welcome among the Divers. He was always there, trying to cheer her up and assure her that they would find her family, even when he could see that Aiko was more interested in Yuuya. And here’s where the tragedy begins, when Yuuya reveals that Aiko is not real, but an artificial brain created to keep the real Aiko’s body working during the surgery to save her life and that, for the Burst to end, she has to die. Kasuki then has to watch the woman he loves insist that she’s not real, that she can’t be loved. That, and the last twist of the series, are what make Kasuki earn the fourth place on our list.

The head of Kiryu Hospital, and thus, the man in charge of Aiko’s treatment and care. He also used to be part of the Kiryu Biotech Research Facility and one of the three doctors who were in charge of the artificial lifeforms. While this would mean that he’s the man to come to with questions, the truth is that Aiko and Yuuya spend most of their time running away from him because he is not willing to destroy the Matter yet, as he is convinced it holds the key to saving his daughter. This makes everything he does tragic because, later on, we find out that the Matter itself is what’s keeping Yuzuha from reaching him. As she is connected to it –something that may have been done before the Burst but is not really explained- she can’t find the way back to her body. So while the solution would be to just turn everything off, which is what Yuuya wants to do, Kyousuke is convinced that what he needs is more Matter. So he is, effectively, working against his own goal without knowing it. Because he is his own worst enemy, and how tragically his story ends, Kyousuke climbs to the third place on our list.

Aiko Tachibana seems to have had it pretty rough. As we said in the opening of the article, she was in a terrible car accident that killed her father and put her in a wheelchair, even after a very dangerous life-saving surgery. But that is just the beginning of the tragedy of the girl we get to know as Aiko. Once Yuuya manages to get her away from the school and the watchful eye of the Kiryu Hospital, he explains to her what the surgery was: Her human brain was put in an artificial body, and an artificial brain was put in her body to keep it alive during the operation. This was what caused the Burst, so in order to reverse it, they need to put the original brain in the human body and vice versa, which will effectively kill the copy. This is hard enough for poor Aiko, as she really doesn’t want someone –even an artificial copy of herself- to die. Still, she wants to save her family, so she soldiers on with Yuuya and the Divers to Ground Zero. And that’s where she finds out the truth: She is not the original brain, but the artificial brain, and thus, she’s the one who has to die for the Burst to be over. And this is where her true tragedy begins, when she has to decide if she’s a real person deserving to live or a copy of the real Aiko who should die to let the real human live. Due to this impossible choice, and the way it’s resolved, Aiko earns the second place on our list.

Yuuya Kanzaki is a man of mystery. We meet him when he is introduced to Aiko’s class as a new transfer student and no one knows anything about him. Some students suppose he’s a “burster”, an orphan from the Burst, others that he may be rich. But they all are wrong as, in fact, he was only there in order to make contact with Aiko Tachibana and make her trust him enough to get her away from the Kiryu hospital. Once he does that, not only do we realize he is part of a group dedicated to study and stop the Burst, but that Yuuya Kanzaki is not even his real name. Legally, he doesn’t exist and everything he used to get close to Aiko was faked somehow. It’s not until much, much later that we find the truth. Just as the Aiko Tachibana we know is an artificial brain inside a human body, Yuuya Kanzaki is a human brain inside an artificial body. He was originally Yura Toshihide, the doctor in charge of Aiko’s surgery and thus, the one responsible for the Burst. He got fatally injured in the event, but thanks to Kurose and an artificial body that was not reclaimed, he managed to live and create a new identity for himself. And yet, he can’t stop feeling guilty for every life lost in the Burst and is determined to atone for his sins, even if that means dying again. Because of the guilt he carries, and the fact that he has to kill an innocent in order to undo his greatest mistake, Yura Toshihide, now known as Yuuya Kanzaki, earns the first place on our list.

Shelter is a short anime film/music video capturing the day-to-day events of Rin, a 17-year-old girl who lives within a virtual reality simulation. Every morning she wakes up, checks her tablet, logs in frequently to view her new messages and scans for different places to venture off. Her tablet is essential because it allows her to have control over her environment. Everything changes one day when Rin discovers the origins surrounding her life inside this VR realm. Her shelter from loneliness can no longer hold Rin’s curiosity. Shelter and La Maison en Petits Cubes heavily rely on their unique and beautiful styles of animation to tell their stories. Shelter is very futuristic and La Maison is classical, but both share intriguing tales. The events that exist in Rin and the elderly man’s pasts are vital components, shaping who they are in the present and guides which paths to take in their future. The films are short but share a captivating and straightforward narrative. Furthermore, viewers are swept into sorrow as the elderly man and Rin are solitary figures, later demonstrating that their happiness rests with specific memories.

The setting of Shashinkan takes place before the war. Viewers are exposed to a beautiful, romantic couple that visits a photo studio. Shy and timid, the photographer tries to figure out how to capture an image of the blushing bride. A talented man, the photographer highlights her personality and beauty through the photos he takes. Months later, the couple arrives at the studio again, this time with their daughter, who also has difficulty posing for the camera. No matter what the photographer does, he can’t get her to smile! As time passes, the mother and daughter, sans father, continue to take their family portraits at this studio. Beyond many years and decades, the daughter has a life and family of her own, continuing this sweet and simple tradition. Donning her trademark grumpy face, she and the photographer have developed a close friendship. Lining up for their final photo, will she finally smile like all others photographed before her? Shashinkan and La Maison en Petits Cubes are both lovely and heartwarming short films that highlight the importance of family keepsakes and traditions. We often hear that it is easy to forget about what you have until it’s gone. This statement is true for both anime films in that the moments tied to a particular photo or item can provoke strong emotions that grow with intensity when the person or thing is no longer present. Moreover, Shashinkan and La Maison en Petits Cubes show us the immense impact of various people traveling in and out of our lives.

Tabisuru Nuigurumi: Traveling Daru illustrates a child’s imagination and devotion to her first companion, a stuffed toy named Daru. One day, while rushing onto their flight, the young girl accidentally drops Daru. With no chance of retrieving him, the girl is distraught because Daru is her first real friend. Feeling the same way, Daru stows away on another child’s carry-on, trying to find his way back to his owner. Exceedingly determined, Daru travels to many different countries asking various characters if they have seen his owner and BFF. As we are drawn into whether or not Daru will find his pal, we can only hope that the girl reunites with her long lost friend. Tabisuru Nuigurumi: Traveling Daru and La Maison en Petits Cubes are both captivating shorts that display the significant strength of the human heart. Many years have passed for both the young girl and elderly man and we notice that relationships grow more precious as the value of their memories inflates. With neither film having any dialogue, interpretations can vary with each viewer. Nevertheless, the sweet and simplistic message captured is to treat your loved ones with compassion each day.

Rain Town is set in a grey, gloomy and uninhabited town. In desolation, the overcast seems to make this place drearier than it already is. Broken down machines and junk scattered about, the scene suddenly changes when a young girl in a brightly colored raincoat enters into the spotlight along with her new mysterious robot friend. Together, the girl and the robot bring light and life into this constantly rainy place. They return to one another with a sense of joy and warmth, shedding away the pains of loneliness and former sorrow. Mainly, they are the sunshine in each other’s lives. Rain Town and La Maison en Petits Cubes are two bittersweet short anime movies that don’t contain any dialogue, but direct viewers to imagine what is said by using beautiful musical accompaniment and animation. Water in both solid and liquid form is a similar theme in both and coincidently is a necessity of life. Furthermore, Rain Town and La Maison en Petits Cubes are simple and easy to follow, but leave a trail of questions to answer once viewers have reached the end.

Iblard Jikan takes us to the vast and picturesque countryside where we observe all forms of life moving at a relaxing and calming slow pace. Accompanied by a variety of musical instruments, we watch the country folk go about their daily routine, combined with modern, futuristic, and dream-like components. Iblard Jikan is visually stunning with vibrant and intricate details throughout each scene. This anime film is an original piece created by the ever-famed Studio Ghibli. Both set in a fantasy world, Iblard Jikan and La Maison en Petits Cubes are both films that have slid under the radar but are movies that will leave you speechless from start to finish. Viewers feel a wide range of emotions by only audiovisual channels, overall sending a rich and powerful message. The content of each storyline is unique and motivating. Iblard Jikan and La Maison en Petits Cubes are fantastic films that present to viewers the swift and delicate passage of time.

My Life is a short film that documents the timeline of a girl’s life. She recounts her past, seeing herself as she is in the present and ponders her future. All of these events are exposed to her in this 4-minute anime movie. Many of us wonder if we have done enough fulfilling things in our lives to make them worthwhile. My Life helps us reflect on that question, inspiring viewers to do a little more with the only life the cosmos has given us. Our stories are not all the same, and the life of an individual can be short-lived or an epic tale. We are never confident about what tomorrow holds for any of us, and that is the message both My Life and La Maison en Petits Cubes share. Both the young girl and elderly man reflect on memories that had an impact on their soul. Whether it was a good or bad memory, it is something they long to hold on to because it is a part of them. As My Life and La Maison en Petits Cubes are similar in theme and storytelling style, the characters make us think about the different ways we can define the meaning of life.