In 2024, The World is a large scale MMO which has captivated players across the planet. All save for one it seems, as middle school girl Seto Yuuki isn’t like the rest of her peers who seem to gravitate around the game. When she finally gets around to it, she discovers that it’s worth its reputation. However, her involvement reveals a hidden connection between this virtual game and the real world; a connection that bears a cost to everyone who plays. To those who remember the .hack//SIGN anime and Playstation 2 games, this movie is a stark departure from that series. While they both revolved around the online game The World, the characters, situations, and driving force are different. It takes a more modern approach to the themes found in the 2002 release of the first saga while it tries to remain true to the series. Like No Game No Life: Zero, this is a departure that tries to instill the same feeling as the original work.

The Holy Grail War has persisted for years as a victor-takes-all battle between the greatest sorcerers on the planet. Young Emiya Shirou has unwittingly stepped into this as a candidate, commanding his very own heroic spirit, the legendary Saber. Although he is completely outclassed as a mage, he is desperate to bring about change and an end to this brutal tournament. Will he survive and put a stop to this senseless bloodshed, or will he become its next victim? The Fate/Stay Night series has multiple adaptations of the visual novel’s numerous routes. Unlimited Blade Works is one that was adapted into a 24 episode 2 cours anime, and this film is the retelling of that. The film is visually striking and a fantastic feast for the eyes, animated by the charismatic ufotable studio. If you’re looking for a blend of sci-fi and fantasy action similar to what’s found in NGNL Zero, you’ve come to the right place.

The unparalleled beauty and devastatingly powerful witch Bayonetta has awakened after 500 years of slumber. However, seeing as her ancient enemies are still around and kicking, she isn’t happy and cannot remember why. Setting out on a quest to regain her lost memories, she cuts down any foe that seeks to impede her path. Based on the Bayonetta video game, Bloody Fate has just as much action and gratuitous fan service as the mainline game series. In the war of witches against lumen sages, Bayonetta reigns supreme, and her bloodlust is seductively sated on screen. For anime fans looking to see a protagonist leave a high body count, this is the right movie to watch.

Four years following the events that led Kirito Kagiya to save thousands of players trapped in the original VRMMO Sword Art Online, Ordinal Scale has him facing off against another virtual conflict. With new Augmented Reality tech called the Amusphere, players interact with the real world overlayed with that of the game. However, when players from SAO are targeted by monsters of the game and being hospitalized in the real world, Kirito takes action. He and his friends must find out what the link between this new game and SAO is and how they can avoid being its victims. Ordinal Scale is a large departure from the previous series in its setting as almost the entirety of the action takes place in the real world. Even though their bodies and skills aren’t quite as durable as their in-game avatars, the action and fights are still just as fantastic. This movie sequel takes everything good about the main series and improves upon it, allowing for fans and newcomers to enjoy.

Forced to watch his parents brutally murdered before his young eyes, Ciel was powerless to avenge them. However, after forming a contract from an underworldly butler, Sebastian, he has the means to seek justice. In Book of the Atlantic, Ciel chases a lead to his parents’ murder which takes him aboard a luxury cruise on the high seas. However, the dead are coming back to life in a gruesome fashion, pitting his butler Sebastian in a fight for their lives. The film is a side story from the main series, and fans will enjoy the humor and action which carries over from the show. If you want an action anime film with more than a touch of the otherworldly, you might want to give Book of the Atlantic a watch.

In a world where demons and humans battle daily, Rin Okumura lives his unsuspecting life thinking he’s just like everyone else. However, after an encounter with a band of demons, he learns that he is, in fact, the son of Satan. After this revelation, he seeks to battle demons alongside humans as an exorcist. Blue Exorcist The Movie takes place as a side story to the main anime and features a new storyline. Fans of the original series and manga will enjoy the additional plot, and newcomers will also appreciate the action and comedy. It’s definitely something that fans of No Game No Life: Zero could take interest in watching.

This scene demands inclusion based on novelty value alone. After a strange dream where Ren sees Yuzu running away from a bunch of giant eggs, she wakes up with a huge bulge on her stomach. This is played up for pregnancy jokes and other gags as one might expect. Since Ren sleeps next to Natsume she demands that she “takes responsibility” for what she thinks is their child (despite both of them being female). Natsume opens up Ren's kimono to see what's actually going on which reveals the bulge is actually a giant egg!? The mysterious egg is attached right below Ren's navel which we see in a revealing shot that serves as probably the strangest instance of fanservice in Konohana Kitan. Natsume tries to pull it off to no avail, shaking Ren's petite body around without success. While not the most overtly sensual scene, it's quite memorable. It's cute seeing how flustered Ren is around Natsume (whom she has a crush on) and how seriously Natsume seems to take the situation despite its obvious absurdity, plus we get a little peek at Ren's body!

Ah, beginning episodes are always a lot of fun and set up your expectations for what's ahead. Episode 1 is the start of Yuzu's adventures in Konohanatei after her adoptive mother Bikuni drops her off after she and Yuzu meet with the owner Okami and manager Kiri. The main cast is introduced and Yuzu begins learning what her new job entails but not before a little titillation! Yuzu is surprised by an “All right, clothes off!” from Kiri almost as soon as she walks into the next room from where she was meeting with Okami. Yuzu is super kawaii as we see her embarrassingly trying to cover herself up (with limited success) while Natsume and Kiri tease her as she's being washed. The playful camera movement further highlights this short but sweet look at our similarly short and sweet protagonist!

Oh my goddess! In episode 9, Konohanatei receives a surprise from the high-ranking goddess of water bubbles Awanami. She arrives completely unannounced, which leaves the staff a bit flustered trying to make sure their important guest is well taken care of. Ren, who we learn from Natsume has always wanted to serve an important deity, is ecstatic when Kiri chooses her to be Awanami's head attendant but is annoyed that she is paired with the often clumsy newbie Yuzu. Being that this is a bathhouse, we inevitably see the lovely goddess without the trappings shortly after she is introduced with a classic slow pan upwards and subsequent shots from both front and back showcasing her heavenly body! As somewhat of an aside, we'll also mention that she doesn't suffer tail-related bottom-blockage as our main cast does. If you were a little put off by that aspect of our foxy friends, Awanami offers some divine retribution!

A misunderstanding caused by the impetuous Sakura eating all of the snacks in the attendant room leads Satsuki to be shrunk down to a tiny size after she accidentally eats a special medicine that was set aside for a guest to return to his original size. Now less than a foot tall, Satsuki is on par with living doll Okiku and is similarly given a cute, handmade dress by Ren to wear, much to Okiku's chagrin.Told that the effect will simply wear off over time, Satsuki's day is spent riding around on Yuzu's shoulder, comically giving her and others orders. After the work day is over, we see Satsuki and the rest of the staff bathing together, which has some sexy shots of the girls. The most notable being a dramatic shot of Yuzu quickly standing up from the water to declare she really wants Satsuki back to her normal self after Natsume makes a joke about things working out fine with Satsuki being tiny and a short shot of Satsuki herself bathing in a tiny wooden cup. What really takes the cake, though, is shortly after when Satsuki wakes up next to Yuzu the next morning completely nude! A glorious side shot! Apparently, during the night, the medicine man brought the antidote and Kiri gave it to her while Satsuki was sleeping. Kiri teasingly jokes about the cure being from a lover's kiss, which leads to even more precious, blushy embarrassment.

Another Satsuki scene! One of Satsuki's notable traits is her incredible work ethic; diligent to the point of overdoing it and being a workaholic. Satsuki thinks that if she works especially hard that it might let her leave Konohanatei sooner and become a shrine maiden like her sister Hiiragi who was chosen over her by her parents to take on that role. However, Kiri insists that she takes off the next day. While initially annoyed to be out of her normal schedule, Satsuki -with a little help from Yuzu- lets loose and enjoys herself for a change. This brings us to our number one favorite fanservice scene in Konohana Kitan! Sitting in the onsen under a shining full moon, we find Satsuki brooding about her situation only to be surprised by a special cherry blossom bath by Yuzu, who throws the petals when Satsuki is underwater. The floating blossoms paired with moonlight and the misty water make for an especially beautiful backdrop that enhances Satsuki's exquisite form in a series of sexy shots. Add some sake-influenced playfulness with Satsuki pulling Yuzu into the bath and this showcase of Satsuki's rarely-seen lighthearted side is a highlight of the series fan's won't soon forget!

Mizuki is a Japanese-American girl famous for her talent in track-and-field who has recently transferred to an all boys’ high school to go to the same school as her high jumping idol, Sano Izumi. To accomplish this, however, Mizuki has disguised herself as a boy and must stay in the dorm! This decision is not without luck as Mizuki finds herself rooming with Izumi at the dorm. Mizuki is going to have to hide her true identity everywhere, but she may have quite a few people questioning their own sexual orientation with her little stunt. When it comes to any sports related gender bending shoujo manga, you know you have to think of Hana Kimi, a manga so popular that it has been adapted into a Japanese drama, a Japanese remake of the drama, a Taiwanese drama with another one on the way, and a Korean drama, similar to the way Hana Yori Dango was. Like Kyo, Mizuki finds herself in a situation where she must hide her identity as a girl at school. Kyo is forced into it while Mizuki does it to get closer to her idol, and ends up having a rather fun and chaotic school life because of it. There’s a lot of laughs and hijinks in this all boys school, but that’s what makes Power!! so much fun!

Yamate Midori is a teenage girl who lives on an island. One day, a boy named Hino Tsukasa comes to holiday on Midori’s island. This fateful encounter leads Tsukasa to teach Midori how to play soccer, but it also results in a romance that Midori can never forget. Unfortunately, when they meet again, Tsukasa breaks Midori’s heart so she decides she wants revenge and she’s going to do it by enrolling in an all boys’ school to play on their soccer team. Midori and Kyo both start off hating these boys that they come across at the beginning of their manga, and that’s the driving point for part of the plot in their own way. Like Kyo, Midori strives to outdo Tsukasa who seems to reign supreme in the world of soccer. In order to do that, Midori joins an all boys school dressed as a boy to play soccer against Tsukasa. Uwasa no Midori-kun is cute and has a few funny moments, but the focus is more on romance than the sport itself. If you love love triangles, a bit of drama, and a splash of soccer, come check out Uwasa no Midori-kun!

Takabayashi Hikaru wishes to be a wallflower thanks to her childhood bullies following some brief commercial fame she experienced as a child. As such, Hikaru enrolled in an all girls school, but things may become complicated when she finds out that her new dorm mate is the popular idol, Kido Izumi. Not only is Izumi a popular female idol in school and on TV, but as it turns out, Izumi is only masquerading as a girl, and Hikaru going to be forced to be the keeper of his secrets! While in Tenshi Ja Naii!! the female lead is not the one crossdressing, Izumi does it for his own reasons the same way Kyo does. However, Hikaru and Kyo may have a lot more in common than Izumi would. Still, the dynamic between Izumi and Hikaru is rather comedic for the most part and you know you will just fall in love with this unusual pairing, especially since Hikaru only ever dreams of being a wallflower as you will see in the manga. Hikaru has her own past which has her wanting to be a wallflower, but she and Kyo go through this similar experience of self discovery in a high school experience they never thought they’d have to go through.

Crime rates have escalated in Tokyo making life really touch. Crimes against women are at an all time high right below murder. In order to protect their daughter, Tsukasa’s parents forced Tsukasa to masquerade as a male. Much like her parents, Tsukasa dreams of being a police officer in order to fight against the crimes caused by the yakuza. One day, though, Tsukasa finds herself orphaned along with her 3 brothers. In order to take care of her family and deal with her family’s debt, Tsukasa takes on the job of bodyguard for her classmate and infamous yakuza leader Ryuji. While Tokyo Crazy Paradise is a bit different from Power!! with Tsukasa being raised as a boy for her own safety, we do have a similar premise with both characters having to crossdress for their own reasons. The dynamic between Tsukasa and Ryuji are fun and while there may be a threat in this new crime ridden Tokyo, the manga does have a good amount of comedy and enjoyable moments that makes it such a great read, even if it is older than the mangaka’s Skip Beat!

Momoko’s life was supposed to normal and blissful, but she’s found herself in a ridiculous and miserable situation. She’s been tossed out of her own home to attend an all boys’ school where she has to live with an absolutely awful roommate and dress as a boy in clothing that are just abhorred. The worst part of her teenage life is that all of these good looking guys are around Momoko, but there’s not a shot in Hell that she’ll get to experience the high school romance of her dreams. Boku ni Natta Watashi is a fun manga about a girl who is forced into a situation where she must crossdress and attend an all boys’ school as a boy. The plot is silly and as such, you can expect the actual story itself to be rather funny as well. While Momoko does not play sports, she’s just looking to get through high school without any problems. The plot is mostly centered on Momoko, but it’s really fun just watching a girly girl like Momoko have to adapt to an all boys setting whether she likes it or not.

Nonomiya Yuuta has all the skills to aim for the Olympic Gold as a ski jumper, but there’s a bit of a problem. Yuuta is actually Nono, Yuuta’s twin sister, who cannot compete in the women’s division as it is not an Olympic category. In order to achieve her dreams, Nono will have to disguise as her twin brother. Now, let’s hope that no one else finds out. Like Power!!, Nononono features a female protagonist who must crossdress in order to compete in a sport. Nononono has a greater deal of drama to it, and some rather serious portions, but that’s what makes this manga such a great read. Nono does get caught at one point, but watch as she does all she can in order to achieve her dreams in the Olympics, even when everything is against her and her secret can jeopardize everything! The scale is wide and the risks are large, but that’s just what Nono will have to deal with in order to fight for her dreams.

Deep Love: Ayu no Monogatari is the story of Ayu, a teenage girl who has no belief in the future nor the possibility of happiness. Without knowing much meaning in life, Ayu sells her body and becomes involved in drugs. One day, an older lady comes across Ayu and the two form an unlikely friendship that might just help Ayu believe in happiness. One manga that is so similar to Koizora has to be Deep Love: Ayu no Monogatari as it follows a teenage girl who seems to find happiness. Unfortunately, the happiness is short lived as life becomes more and more complicated. Just like Koizora, Deep Love is based on a popular cell phone novel series that was adapted into a manga as well as two Japanese dramas and a movie. If you are prepared for a rather dramatic and tragic ride just like Koizora, Deep Love: Ayu no Monogatari is the manga for you.

Takuma and Mayu are childhood friends following Takuma’s hospitalization as a child. Mayu’s father is the doctor in charge of Takuma’s case. As such, the two became close as they grew up and fell in love. However, their love story is complicated by the fact that Takuma will not be able to fulfill his promise to Mayu. Boku wa Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu follows a rather similar romantic trajectory as Koizora where the two characters are deeply in love, but that romance is complicated by the health problems that Hiro and Takuma face. However, Boku wa Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu has a more dramatic story as Takuma strives to make light of his heart problems while Mayu is fully aware of the complications in his health. As the two struggle to find and fulfill their hopes for love despite the health problems that threaten Takuma’s life, things like learning to move on and deal with other romantic interests get in the way.

Suwa Daisuke is a popular boy at school who dislikes the new girl, Aikawa Hinako for how she initially treated him. One day, Daisuke accidentally overhears Hinako’s confess the sins of the past at a church. Now, Daisuke wants to protect Hinako and her secrets, even if she doesn’t know why. Koizora is a story featuring many tragic events, and one of the hardest ones to deal with had to be Mika’s rape, a result of Hiro’s crazy ex-girlfriend’s possessiveness. However, as the manga goes on, we see Mika try to make the best despite the things that occur in her life. This same plot point is explored in Bitter Virgin with Hinako being the rather poor and innocent victim of a rapist, aka her stepfather, but despite the years of sexual and physical abuse that she experienced, Hinako still wishes to move onward with her life and find happiness, something that Daisuke wishes to help her with whether she knows it or not. If you want a story based on a similar tragic event but with a more hopeful turn than Koizora’s and a romance that may bring relief to you, Bitter Virgin is the perfect manga to read as it touches on so many points so well that you won’t have any regrets reading it.

Wakamiya Hikaru has dreamed of having a boyfriend who is like prince charming thanks to the countless shoujo manga she can be seen reading. Unfortunately for her, Hikaru’s first kiss is stolen by a handsome yet devilish boy that she deems the “Perverted Prince.” Later, Hikaru comes across a boy who looks just like the Perverted Prince but with different colored eyes and a more princely demeanor. Who is he? Ikeyamada Go’s Moe Kare!! Is a rather light hearted manga compared to many of the manga on this list, but it can still hold its own fairly well. With the innocent premise of a girl who just wants to find love, the same way Mika did in Koizora, Moe Kare!! slowly descends into drama as some unexpected hitches occur in Hikaru’s love life, making it impossible for her to be with the one she loves. However, unlike Koizora, Hikaru is forced to learn to live without the love of her life and find it anew elsewhere. For a happier ending with fewer moments of crying yet plenty of drama, come read Moe Kare!!

Takamiya Naho is a rather shy and soft spoken girl, but a letter from 10 years in the future is going to force her to change. The letter is very detailed and tells her of the events that will occur throughout the day. While Naho thinks it is a prank, everything unfolds as described. The letter goes on to tell Naho about her future regrets, all of which seem to be about the transfer student, Kakeru. Future Naho explains that unless Naho does something to change the course of the future, Kakeru will no longer be able to be with her friends in the future. If you watched the anime, don’t be deterred. The manga for Orange is multitudes better than its anime counterpart which could not capture its greatness in animated form. Orange is a rather dramatic story of trying to find oneself and help others despite your own inadequacies, which we all know are strong as teenagers. Naho is fully aware of the consequences of her actions, but she continually fights against her own nature and her desires for a better future. Yet just because she’s going through many of these thoughts internally, it doesn’t mean life won’t move forward. Like Koizora, tragedy feels like it’s at every corner with many moments of frustration and regret, but that’s what makes Orange so worthwhile to read.

Mutou Juri is a talented pianist who has experienced many difficulties in her pursuit to become a famous pianist like her mother that has led to Juri’s three suicide attempts. In order to save Juri, nun as well as her aunt Monica has asked Juri to pay a visit to one of the people she is mentoring who is on death row. Yuu is on death row due to his murdering three people, but it’s not as simple as that, as Juri is going to learn. Juri and Yuu are about to meet and their meeting could change everything. If you are looking for another painful love story, look no further than Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan. Like Mika, Juri has gone through a lot in her life, as well as Yuu, but when Yuu and Juri meet each other, they find themselves feeling hopeful for the future, regardless of what happens in the past. Juri and Yuu have something that Mika and Hiro had, and it really clenches at your heart as you learn about their difficulties and their fates. If you are looking for a somewhat realistic yet tragic romance similar to Koizora, come read Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan, as it is truly worth reading.

Let's start this list with Ou-sama no Shichiya! This shoujo manga revolves around Amy, a very naive girl who keeps choosing the wrong guys. Every single time she fell in love with a boy, he turned out to be a tricky guy who just wanted to play her. After being turned into a slave by her first crush, being pushed down by another guy and being betrayed by her former boyfriend, Amy is sick of misjudging people! Shuu runs a pawnshop, and Amy works for him. Will their relationship turn to something deeper, or is Amy miscalculating something again? Even though the premises obviously show that these two series are different, Nodame Cantabile and Ou-sama no Shichiya share some important similarities. Their characters are very much alike, as both Nodame and Amy seem to be almost stupid, but then they show their skills, proving the contrary. Nodame and Amy are treated harshly by their counterparts, Chiaki and Shuu, who are very cold. Both the girls fall in love first, while their counterparts need a little push. All in all, though, these two series share the exact same good vibes, and comedy. If you enjoyed one, you'll enjoy the other, as well!

Subaru Miyamoto is a five-year-old child with a twin, Kazuma. Her brother, though, is dying and so Subaru has no longer time to play with her friends, nor to dream. Every single day she visits him, as he is gradually forgetting everything, even his twin sister Subaru. She dances for him, talks with him, and tries to make it so that he won't forget her. When a friend notices how much Subaru is talented, she encourages her to join ballet classes. That's how Subaru falls in love with dance, and how her life changes for the best! Even though these two stories may look different, they both share the same feeling. Both the heroines, Nodame and Subaru, are prodigies in their field. Nodame is a skilled pianist, while Subaru a skilled dancer. They both struggle to decide if that's the path they should follow, or not. If Subaru lacks the romantic part as a central theme, it still wields the same atmosphere as Nodame Cantabile. Both are unique in their own way, so you should pick Subaru up if you liked Nodame Cantabile!

Sumire Iwaya is a 27-year-old woman who works as a reporter. She looks like a very put-together person and her colleagues look up to her. Her situation suddenly changes during a holiday party: after drinking too much, she shows her true colors by punching her boss. She ends up demoted to life style affairs in the newspaper, and if things could go worse, her boyfriend leaves her. Tired and sick of feeling down, she wants to shake her life, so she picks up a boy on the street and decides to take him home. What will become of Sumire's impetuous decision? Both Nodame Cantabile and Kimi wa Pet are non-conventional josei manga full of comedy. Even if the themes are different, these two manga are very similar, as in both we find prodigies – Nodame, who is a pianist, and Takeshi, who is a dancer – who develop a sort of pet-like relationship with their counterparts. Sumire and Chiaki, too, share some similarities, as they both are cool, and seemingly unfazed, while actually struggling with their own demons. These manga are both romantic comedies which can make you laugh and think at times.

Suguri Miyauchi is a 18-year-old girl who, after living in the countryside, wishes to move to Tokyo in order to begin a brand-new life. Her new adventure, though, doesn't begin in the best way, as she is kidnapped and Lupin, her mutt dog, ends up mating a purebred dog while its owner – Teppei – is not looking. Suguri, in order to make up for Lupin's doing, accepts to work in the pet store run by Teppei, showing love for everything related to the canine world. Her new adventure finally begins! Although we realize that by the premises Nodame Cantabile and Inubaka don't seem to share much, they actually do. If we put aside the world of music for Nodame Cantabile, and the canine world for Inubaka, what remains are a range of characters and events which are very much alike. In both there's a chance meeting between a dimwitted girl, and a talented guy, but then the dimwitted girl shows to be actually very skilled and catches the male character's attention. Both these couples' romance develops step by step, in the exact same way. So, these two stories share similar characters, and events, giving off the same good vibes!

Piano no Mori revolves around two very different boys. Kai Ichinose looks like a problem child, as he is the son of a prostitute and lives in a run-down neighborhood which is situated near the forest. Here, he has been playing the abandoned piano since he was very young. Shuuei Amamiya, on the other hand, comes from a prestigious family of pianists. Kai and Shuuei's love for piano will make them cross paths, and eventually change their lives. Both Nodame Cantabile and Piano no Mori are humorous stories about music, where the main characters are on the polar opposites: there's the odd one – Nodame and Kai – and the perfectionists – Chiaki and Shuuei. While Piano no Mori lacks the romantic trait altogether, both these stories share the main concept of characters who want to succeed in music and raise their talents to the highest level. What's more, both share witty dialogues, and the storytelling goes by very smoothly. As Nodame Cantabile is a josei, and Piano no Mori a seinen, both depict stories which are very realistic and somewhat relatable. It's not a stretch to say that you'll love Piano no Mori, if you liked Nodame Cantabile!

Cat Street revolves around Keito Aoyama, who was a child actress. Keito had to give her dream up due to an accident, and that event led her to gradually withdraw from society, as well. Years go by, and now 16-year-old Keito is holed up in her room, doing nothing aside from dragging her life on, day after day. Her situation begins to change when someone takes her to El Liston, a high school for reject kids like her, and Keito will start to fight her way up to the top once again! Although Nodame Cantabile is a comedy, and Cat Street wields tragic elements, these two stories are similar. They both explore the idea of being successful, and what impact and importance it wields in everyone's life. Both our protagonists, Nodame and Keito, need to struggle with themselves, in order to figure out if they want to follow the path of their talents, or if they should give up and live differently. All in all, these two stories give off the same good vibes, so you should give Cat Street a try!