Let’s kick this list off with an action anime already laced with comedy. Coming in at number ten is Gurren Lagann. The story follows our two heroes, Simon and Kamina. Both lived in an underground village where neither fit in. Until a giant robot known as a Gunman came crashing through their very own roof. With the help of a spunky sniper, Yoko, they have now been freed from their underground world. Now Simon, Kamina, and Yoko live on the surface to fight back against the Gunman and their pilots known as Beastman. In episode twelve, the members of Simon’s team, Dai Gurren, take a day to relax and have fun at a beach. The beach itself has clear water, beautiful white sand, and the nearest clouds are out in the distance leaving them with plenty of sun to take in. While there, Dai Gurren enjoys playing volleyball, and smash the watermelon. To top it off, Simon and his team end their experience with a good old fashioned sea shore barbecue. How else are you suppose to enjoy a trip to the beach? Maybe, spend the rest of the time gawking at the girls in their swimsuits like Kittan and the rest of the clowns from team Dai Gurren. Though when Yoko is getting less attention than Nia she begins to lash out in a fit of jealousy. So, the competition to see who’s better kicks off as Yoko tries to show off her strengths, literally, with some volley ball and smash the watermelon.

High school is one of the craziest points of anyone’s life. This goes double for Rin Tsuchimi who finds himself torn between countless women that want him in our number nine entry, Shuffle!. Now that I think about it, his high school experience isn’t bad. Verbena Academy has allowed gods and demons to join the school after a mysterious gate opened years ago. One day, Rin is given a choice to be king of the gods or the demons by taking on one of the current king’s daughters, Sia or Nerine. Episode nine has Rin and his harem enjoying their summer break at the beach. There’s a few things that put this beach on our list. The male reaction to Sia, Nerine, Asa, and the rest of the girls coming out in their swimsuits was hilarious, and the youngest girl, Primula, goes out and builds sandcastles, that get washed away by the tide. The most important factor is the romantic setting at night. The calm water reflecting the light of a pale white moon as Rin and Sia spend the last few hours together in paradise looking into each other’s eyes under the stars as they lean in for, what would be, their first kiss. And it would have happened if Rin and Sia’s friends weren't peeping on them. Poor Sia can’t catch a break.

The beach can be a magical place for anyone, especially for a powerful mage. Number eight for best anime beach scenes is Fairy Tail. Lucy Heartfilia, an aspiring celestial mage, teams up with Natsu Dragneel when he invites Lucy to join his guild, Fairy Tail. The guild consists of many mages that take on job requests, hone their magic, and enjoy spending time with those they have forged bonds with. Lucy and Natsu, along with Erza, Gray, and Wendy, embark on many adventures that will leave you laughing or crying, sometimes in the same episode. In episode one-hundred and fifty three, Lucy and Natsu head to the beach for some training, along with others from Fairy Tail. This beach has a lot of fun to offer, like building sand castles and laying out to tan. What really sets this beach apart is the theme park complete with roller coasters and a ferris wheel, which adds on to the excitement. Not to mention the awesome beach side hotel where you can kick back and unwind from a full day spent in the sun. Still, Lucy and Natsu’s team still take time to train. Natsu uses the underwater pressure of the ocean to amp up his fire dragon roar. Gray and Juvia use the ocean to focus on control over their magic and the water that surrounds them. Erza takes on sprays from the waves by slashing at water droplets to hone her accuracy, and Lucy uses the peaceful atmosphere to meditate so she can call upon more magic.

When you go to the beach you typically bring your friends, but it doesn’t hurt to have an exorcist in training either. For number seven we give you Blue Exorcist. Rin Okumura is a rebellious teenager who is trying to find his way in life. Too bad his journey leads him to finding out that he is the son of Satan. After turning his father down regarding taking over the human world, Rin decides to become an exorcist to combat Satan’s plans. This is where Rin’s training begins to control his newfound demon powers with the help of his brother, Yukio. Episode seven of Blue Exorcist puts Rin on a “mission” that turns out to be working a barbecue stand at the beach. Anyone would take this mission on. This beach has beautiful, calm waters with wildlife like Seagulls enjoying the sun with everyone else. Here you have tourist attractions like Rin’s barbecue stand on the actual beach along with other attractions like a lighthouse. There’s plenty to enjoy and relax with in this beach scene.

For number six on the list we are going to hit the beach like we are kids again! Up next we have Love, Chunibyo & other Delusions: Heart. The second season to the original Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions has Yuuta and Rikka living together. Yuuta is having to learn how to date a chunni girlfriend while trying to keep their living situation a secret. Things get a little complex when an old friend of Yuuta’s, Sophia, shows up and old feelings begin to come back. This beach scene was really cool because it takes you back to how you would play on the beach as a kid. Having “sword fights” and pranking friends was definitely on the agenda. This beach scene is also good because it’s a bay so the water is calm for tubing, and there’s even a food shack on the beach where Yuuta, Rikka, and their friends hang out. During this scene there was also a love rivalry that escalated to a “magic” fight.

For number five we’ve got Bokurano. Takashi Waku and his 14 campmates are hanging out by the ocean when they find a grotto. In the grotto they find a lot of tech and it’s creator, Kokopelli. Kokopelli convinces the kids that he is developing a video game, and wants Takashi and his friends to test it out. All of them sign a contract to do so except for one. Next thing you know, Takashi and the 14 other kids wake up on the beach and believe their experience to be a dream. The beach in Bokurano, in episode one, is awesome because of it’s natural setting. This beach is virtually untouched by man so the entire scene is natural. So, this beach is hidden from the world and Takashi and his campmates have it all to themselves. What else could a group of kids ask for but to have their own private beach?

Creeping in for number four is none other than Another. Middle schooler Kouichi Sakakibara transfers to class 3-3 at Yomiyama North. While there he finds that there is a dark presence looming over the class. Sakakibara begins to get close to what seems to be the social outcast of the class, Misaki. However, the closer he gets to Misaki the closer Sakakibara gets to knowing exactly what this dark feeling is. Even dark anime can have their bright moments. In episode eight, Sakakibara and his friends spend time at the beach for some fun in the sun. This beach in particular is stunning with the way it’s portrayed. The crystal blue water shimmers in the sunlight, as the thick clouds glide over the horizon. Gentle waves roll in as Sakakibara and Misaki enjoy their time with their friends by swimming, eating watermelon, and playing jokes on each other.

Where’s the best place to take the girl you like? The beach of course! That’s what we plan to do for number three in Nisekoi. Bonyari High School first-year student Raku Ichijou is completely in love with his long time friend Kosaki Onodera. However, he couldn’t get any farther from her when, to stop a war between the Yakuza and the Mob, he gets an arranged marriage to the Mob boss’ daughter, Chitoge Kirisaki. To make things worse Raku and Chitoge can’t stand each other, yet they have to pull off being the “perfect couple” to prevent their families from fighting. Episode eighteen had a lot of good points for being so high up on our top ten. The most notable points are the scene and the mood it sets. You already have a beautiful shimmering sea and golden clouds as the sunsets. When the sun’s down and the moon is high with this beach scene, it may be the perfect opportunity to get closer to the girl you love. Raku took advantage of this and got to sit with Onodera on the pier under the moonlight. Even being with the girl he loves, Raku still finds himself alongside the ocean with Chitoge. This really is a love triangle.

Let’s jump into the future a bit to see what the beach scene will be in a few years. For number two we have Guilty Crown. In the year 2039, Japan has been placed under the rule of the organization GHQ to prevent the spread of the “Apocalypse Virus” that’s plagued the country for ten years. Shuu Ouma is a timid individual that is forced into a life as a “terrorist” when he aids Inori Yuzuriha, a member of the group Funeral Parlor. When Shuu gains the King’s Power, he has to fight against GHQ and begin to find who he truly is. This beach scene, in episode 8, is an incredible set up. You have your own personal beach house on the same beach as a high end resort. Clear blue water and white sand in front of you and there’s not a care in the world. Then to make things better you have the girl of your dreams with you in this setting. This is paradise at it’s finest. Shuu and the members of funeral parlor do take advantage of this scene as a cover up for an operation. See, work can be fun too. Even if it is to break into a top secret GHQ base.

Coming in at number one we finish our list with Expelled from Paradise. When the world as we know it has become uninhabitable where can humanity run? All of life can’t be placed in space with the limited resources the Earth has. So, humanity had it’s mind digitized and lives in a virtual reality within the space station DEVA. When a hacker on Earth threatens this new way of life, it is up to Angela Balzac to protect the current way of life. This movie opens up with a very good beach scene. There’s the main beach with crystal water and bright sunshine. There’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves to the fullest and really brings a piece of mind. What really makes this the best scene is that since this is a virtual world, you have the capability to create your ideal beach scene. The scene is literally what you make it to be, and the opening scene already has an incredible beach. Just imagine the possibilities from there.

Bianca is a lovely chibi white wolf with a lot of attitude. She’s quite feminine and sophisticated as we can judge from her elegant style, her makeup, the delicate tuft of hair on her forehead and her fashionable summer and winter dressing styles. This wolf lady is quite confident as she’s very much aware of her own sex appeal. In the movie, it is hinted several times that she had been in a relationship. This may be a reason why she’s such a knowledgeable and experienced girl who can go around giving advice on femininity and relationships. This posh wolf girl definitely seems hard to tame.

Lupusregina Beta is one of the hottest of the “Pleiades Six Stars”, the maid squad in charge of the last defense line at the Great Tomb of Nazarick. She’s at Ainz’s entire disposition at all times and, just like the rest of the maids and Albedo, Lupu-chan seems to be quite interested in her master. She can be very confident, friendly and even a bit of a tomboy, but that’s what makes her so sociable and such a valuable asset for Ainz Sama. Her social skills make her a great spy, which is why she’s often assigned to watch on humans. She’s actually very fond of humans and enjoys being in their company, which may be related to her wolf instincts. She also has some wild instincts that are made evident every time she makes a lewd joke that makes her master blush.

Liru is one of those sexy animal girls we love so much. Her wolf ears and her sexy furry wolf tail have the same effect as those breathtaking neko-chan we just can’t get enough of. Plus, her bikini top is unbelievably hot and fits her lovely and charismatic personality perfectly. Of course, Liru is not just a sexy wolf girl. She can also be the cutest puppy ever! Every time she sees a full moon shaped object she turns into the most adorable and playful golden wolf cub. She’s clearly the dream of any sixteen-year-old.

Arf is very likely the hottest wolf babe on our list. She was actually born a wolf puppy, but she was destined to die young due to a deadly disease she had contracted. Fate was the one who found her and saved her from her ill destiny by transferring her soul into a magical body sustained by Fate’s mana. Clearly, Fate did an awesome job, not only in saving Arf but also in giving her a fine body. Of course, Arf is not just a pretty face (and smoking hot body), she’s also Fate’s powerful protector. She can use some powerful magic and turn into a fearsome red-wolf. She’s definitely not to be messed with.

Riza is a half-breed werewolf, since her father is a werewolf and her mother is human. As such, she doesn’t quite have the strength and physical abilities of a pure werewolf, although she’s much stronger than the average human. Plus, she has those big scary and furry paws with which she can fight anyone. As we would expect from a good wolf girl, Riza is quite wild and she has very sharp canine instincts. She loves fighting head-on and never backs away. She also loves the adrenaline of driving fast vehicles. She’s not called Wildman for nothing.

Nozomu Ezomori is a wolf-spirit girl who hides a lot behind her seemingly quiet and shy personality. She’s deeply in love with Kota and, despite she accuses her rival, Chizuru, of being a “horny beast”, Nozomu often tries to get physical with him too. This shy girl definitely seems to have a wild side. Despite looking like a child, Nozomu is quite sexy in her loli way. She likes sleeping completely naked on the floor, which is probably related to her wolfish nature. She can also shift at will into her wolf-spirit form, in which she looks exactly the same except for her cute wolf ears and her furry and sexy tail.

Yuki is a charming and adorable young girl who’s half-werewolf. She can shift into werewolf and wolf forms at will or unintentionally when she gets mad. She has heightened physical abilities, although she has to take lessons to master her wolf skills. She actually likes being a wolf girl and, as a child, she used to play a lot with her different wolf forms. However, as she grows up, Yuki realizes that being a werewolf keeps her from having a normal life, human friends and human relationships. She’s a very special girl indeed, although sometimes she just wishes she was a normal teenager.

Moro is the perfect representation of maternal instinct. She’s a 300 year old wolf goddess who lives in the forest with her two pups and her adoptive daughter, San. Moro has been taking care of San ever since her parents left her to her fate in the forest when she was a baby. Instead of devouring the baby, this wolf mother raised and nurtured San as she was another one of her cubs. She taught her human daughter to run, move, hunt and behave as a wolf. Moro may be wild, savage and tough but she certainly has a great heart.

One of the things I find so awesome and captivating about wolves is that, unlike other canines, they mate for life (that’s right, they’re monogamous). Blue is the living proof of this behavior. Once her wolf side is awakened, she leaves her dark past behind and becomes a member of the wolf pack, where she meets Hige and eventually falls desperately in love with him. As her name indicates, she’s a dark blue (almost black) wolf with deep blue eyes. In her human form she’s a very beautiful woman, although a bit dark and mysterious. However, her most important trait is her loyalty, especially towards Hige. She would just follow him to the end of the world if she had to. She’s perfect! <3

Holo is without a doubt one of our favorite wolf-deities. In her real form she’s a large and fearsome wolf that inspired awe and reverence among villagers. Tired of life in the village where she was no longer appreciated and honored as the great wolf goddess she is, she journeys far away to find out about the world. On her travels with Lawrence, her companion, she takes the form of a gorgeous teenage girl, although her cutest and most important wolf features remain; namely, her wolf ears and her sexy tail. As a goddess, she is very wise, smart and self-sufficient, although sometimes she uses Lawrence to get what she wants, especially food. She has her sexy wolf charm and she definitely knows how to use it.

When a mysterious virus suddenly appears and kills everyone over the age of 13, vampires that had kept their existence hidden suddenly began to take over in order to rule over the survivors. A Colonel of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army tasked to defeat these vampires, Norito Goshi tends to be laid back and good natured and yet has a tendency to be rebellious. Goshi suffers from an inferior complex due to his younger brother being much more talented than him, resulting in him not being motivated to work very hard. However, he gets by with the help of his friends in the Moon Demon Company, especially Guren. Goshi’s fighting ability revolves around an illusory style as opposed to fighting directly, and this is aided by his demon weapon Kakuze, which takes the form of a smoking pipe. Goshi’s illusory techniques all begin with the smoke he blows out of the pipe, leading to a variety of powerful illusions such as a field of lava or numerous soldiers. Definitely a unique way of using smoke in combat.

Evil spirits are awakening all across the world, and many of them will stop at nothing to defeat JoJo and his friends as they journey to Cairo, Egypt in order to save Jotaro’s mother. Redefining the cray definition of “crazy Grandma”, Enya is one of these main villains Jotaro’s group goes up against in Stardust Crusaders. Despite her age, Enya seems to be able to do things no normal elderly woman should be able to do, such as run at the speed of a normal adult. She is also twisted and evil, delighting in murdering those that stand in her way. Speaking of, her Stand is Justice, a massive fog that takes on the form of a skeleton looking phantom. Enya’s main technique involves sending strings of Justice’s smoke form into her opponent’s wounds and controlling them like puppets to fight her other opponents. In addition, because of Justice’s smoke form, no other Stand can harm it; the only method of defeating it lies with the connection Justice has to Enya. It is because of Justice’s smoke like qualities that Enya is as powerful as she is.

As a Spirit Detective, it is Yusuke’s Urameshi’s job to protect both the Spirit World as well as Earth from some of the most powerful demons, and one of his missions involves him and his friends competing in the Dark Tournament. One of the 5 shinobis that make up Team Masho during the Dark Tournament, Bakken is very much like Risho and Gama in the sense that he is very boastful about his strength and how his opponents have no chance of defeating him. Despite the numerous attempts at bravado, however, Bakken ends up being the weakest member of the group, easily getting pummeled by Yusuke. Bakken’s ultimate technique, however, is his White Mist. A popular smoke variation branching from general smoke, Bakken’s mist envelops the immediate area around him, allowing him to be a shinobi in the truest sense and attack his opponents from the shadows. If it weren’t for his cowardice as well as his lack of other techniques, Bakken could be a much more powerful fighter.

As hundreds of Shamans compete for the title of Shaman King, Yoh Asakura comes to learn that he and his friends will eventually have to defeat his ancestor Hao and his followers. As one of many of Hao’s followers, Kanna Bismarch is a no-nonsense fighter who hates humanity based on her troubled past with her family and how they took advantage of the deaths of her parents. Like many of the other followers of Hao, Hao himself came to her rescue and destroyed those that were bringing her harm, earning her trust and extreme loyalty. Although we see Kanna multiple times watching many of the other fights that take place, we only get to see her fighting style once, in her battle with Ren’s sister Jun. Even though the audience is led to believe that Kanna’s spirit medium is the armor which her spirit fights in, it is actually revealed that the true medium is Kanna’s cigarette smoke, and were it not for Yoh’s father intervening, Kanna would have won the fight. Yet another creative way of using smoke as an effective means of combat.

With Planet Earth possessing the 7 Dragonballs needed to make anyone’s wish come true, a lot of villains turn up seeking this power. In this case, the Dragonballs helped unlock the main villain of the 13th Dragonball Z movie: Hirudegarn. Hirudegarn is simply a blind beast that attempts to destroy everyone and everything within its reach. Described as “a phantom of mist and shadow” by the legendary warrior Tapion, Hirudegarn lives up to the name, revealing the ability to briefly turn itself into smoke and teleporting incredibly quickly, resulting in much difficulty for the Z warriors as they try to destroy it. There’s not many villains that can say they’re powerful enough to force Goku to use Dragon Fist as a Super Sayian 3 in order to beat them. Were Hirudegarn to resemble Vegeta in his Oozaru form in terms of having intelligence and cunning, he could have been an even more deadly villain, as his power alone made truly made him a force to reckon with as well as almost impossible to hit.

With the world being rebuilt in a negative light after a cataclysmic event 50 years ago, it’s up to Haru Glory and his friends to find the Rave Stones before it’s too late. One of the first villains we see Haru, Elie, and Plue go up against, Georco is a Demon Card member that serves as the president of the dog racing track in Hip Hop Town. Georco is easily caught up in both money and accessories, placing a lot of value on these items. Despite having some good skills as a tactician, Georco’s weakness of underestimating his opponents when he has the upper hand proves to be his downfall in his fight against Haru. Georco’s Dark Bring is Smoke Bay, which allows Georco to turn any part of his body into smoke as well as release poisonous gasses. Georco’s abilities certainly make him formidable; if only he had a stronger tactical sense and a weaker ego to accompany it.

There exists in Magnolia Town a powerful wizarding guild named Fairy Tail whose members use their incredible abilities to fulfill certain quests in exchange for certain rewards. A veteran member of this Fairy Tail Guild, Wakaba Mine is certainly quite the character. A perverse man that hates the idea of marriage (despite being married and having a daughter), Wakaba constantly harasses Laki Olietta and Kinana, and seems to be obsessed with Mirajane Strauss most of all. Despite this behavior, Wakaba is a caring man at heart, and is often seen getting into antics with Macao Conbolt, his long-time friend. Wakaba’s style of fighting revolves around Smoke Magic; he is able to manipulate the pink-colored smoke from his pipe in various ways, such as creating multiple copies of himself, forming fists to punch his opponents, and into the shape of a girl. Even though he has little control over transforming himself into smoke, Wakaba’s mastery of the techniques he does transform his smoke into are why he’s so high on this list.

Naruto Uzumaki has one goal: to become the Hokage of his village so that everyone will finally respect him. In order for Naruto to achieve his dream, he will have to go through many trials and defeat some of the most powerful ninjas in order to make his dream come true. Such as Orochimaru. A prisoner of Orochimaru whose name literally means “devil fog”, Kigiri, like many of his fellow captives, wanted nothing to do with Orochimaru. The laid-back member of his group who never recklessly runs into a fight, Kigiri shows promise in his fights both with Rock Lee and Kakashi. Kigiri’s multiple smoke techniques were impressive; he showed the ability to create solid clones out of smoke to assist him, he could create a giant blinding smokescreen to disguise himself, and he could even manipulate his smoke to wrap itself around his opponent. Even though his appearance was brief, the number of effective techniques Kigiri possessed using smoke was impressive.

Twelve-year-old Gon Freecss will stop at nothing to achieve his dream of becoming a Hunter and finding his father. Along his incredible journey, Gon forms close friendships and encounters many powerful Hunters. One of these is Morel Mackernasey, a Single-Star Sea Hunter as well as a Manipulator. Morel Mackernasey has a vast amount of experience as a Hunter, possessing both a keen sense for strategy as well as the resourcefulness needed to survive. Morel is very perceptive, and uses his calm demeanor to his advantage against his opponents. Using a giant smoking pipe and smoke as his weapons of choice, Morel has 2 fighting styles. The first is with his giant pipe; because of its size, Morel’s strength, speed, and reflexes are enhanced, making his skills with the pipe in close combat quite impressive. In addition, Morel can also manipulate the smoke from the pipe into various animals or Smoke Troopers that follow his command. He can also create an impenetrable circle of smoke that prevents anyone from escaping or breaking into his barrier. Morel is truly a master when it comes to smoke-related abilities.

Monkey D. Luffy’s dream: to be the King of the Pirates. That isn’t going to come easy with the strongest pirates in the world seeking the same goal as well as the Marines seeking to stop them all. A strong white-haired Marine, Smoker is one of the most powerful members of the military with the attitude to match. Rarely seen without a cigar to smoke, Smoker is unlike most Marines in the sense that he not only understands how truly unique Luffy and his crew are early on in the series, but also doesn’t follow the Marines’ rule of Absolute Justice, instead following his own code. Like Luffy’s crew, Smoker grows in strength throughout the series as well as in rank, rising to Vice Admiral at the current point in the story. Smoker ate the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, allowing him to become, create, and control smoke as he sees fit and perform some impressive feats, such as making himself intangible as well as creating a unique form of flight. Combined with smoke’s unique properties and his immense physical strength, it appears the only way to damage Smoker is by using Haki, which is fortunate for Luffy, as his 1st battle would have ended in defeat had it not been for Dragon’s intervention. It’s pretty clear that out of all smoke users, Smoker is easily the most powerful.

Far from the perfect straight A student, Louise happens to be a spell caster with a somewhat difficult time handling her magic. Her shortcomings have consequently earned her the nickname “Zero Louise”. As a test, she must summon a familiar (or servant) that will aid in her magical workings but instead, to her dismay, she mistakenly summons a normal Japanese boy. Both Louise and Saito refuse to work with each other as they both feel shortchanged, as she cannot perform another summoning spell and he cannot return to his normal life. Just like Ash Blake, Louise is the school’s outcast and some would say just a plain old zero. While their individual searches leave them confused and bewildered, what both characters are truly searching for is that magical element that could dissolve their angst and alleviate their confusion. In a twist of events, the main characters in both stories end up finding their power in stubborn, albeit cute, little packages. Both Louise and Ash require the help of unlikely sources that take the shape of a little girl, Eco (from Dragonar Academy) and a little boy, Saito (from Zero no Tsukaima). Eco and Saito allow Ash and Louise to change their perspective and realize what is truly important; only through that lesson can they reach their full potential and attain their true power, hidden within.

In a world separated by three thin veils, demons, sorcerers, and humans dwell in their respective realms. Although the humans are unaware of the constant havoc wreaked between the god’s and demon’s ongoing battles (as most of the fighting takes place in the other dimensions), Magician’s Academy is a tale that follows an up-and-coming sorcerer who inhabits more than just one world, beginning with (yep, you guessed it) another summoning exam gone awry. Magical mishaps abound when Takuto’s failed summoning spell results in the appearance of a girl named Tanorette. This small girl is in fact a potential half-demon/goddess who possesses a lethal dose of magical mana, with enough power to lay waste to the entire country. But, to Takuto’s relief, Tanorette is unyieldingly loyal and consequently pledges her allegiance. All the while, a behind the scenes plot, in fear of Takuto’s immense power, is hatched to thwart his efforts and wipe him out of existence. Just like Dragonar’s Academy, this tale deals with big things that come in small packages (this time the packages being unassuming girls with loads of power, be it magic or dragon rage). Both series explore themes related to coming to terms with one’s willpower and strength, and claiming those things for oneself. In Magician’s Academy, Takuto was deemed to be too dangerous as his power was seen as a liability, on the other hand, Ash Blake is seen as the only one who can summon himself to wield the power needed to defeat certain enemies in Dragonar Academy. Regardless, the two end up being outcast by their abilities and respective magical powers. Both series offer viewers a similar curriculum that includes all the fire, action, and energy that makes Dragonar Academy so thrilling.

Following the tragedy of his parent’s passing after a space shuttle disaster and the impending threat of an asteroid impact wiping out all life on Earth, we find Jin Kamishina. The series unfolds as Jin finds himself uncovering mysteries regarding his family’s death while trying to survive the impeding annihilation of the planet. After uncovering a dragon egg under the ocean, the International Solarsystem Development Agency, or ISDA, creates a weapon or (Dragonaut) to combat the asteroid’s potential wrath, but this celestial Molotov is just one of Earth’s concerns as Earth-bound dragon creatures begin to wreak havoc on their collision course with the planet. Jin’s fate becomes entangled with the enigmatic appearances of a sensuous half-humanoid/half-dragon being, named Toa. But who really is this female dragon being who has taken human form? Despite their backgrounds, our unlikely duo must fight the odds and try to survive, at the same time though, could an explosive revelation lead to their destruction? While both Dragonar Academy and Dragonaut (obviously) deal with the mythical power of fire-breathing creatures and how to control them, there are key elements that link the two even further. Both stories enlist unlikely duos in the union of a human male and a female dragon-being that has taken on a humanoid form to communicate with their male counterpart. The focus of Dragonaut shifts when you realize the sheer force and brute power of the winged beasts will not be tamed. Only the main characters in both series can summon their own will to save their respective worlds, as they try to sift through a world on the verge of becoming cinders. Be it against evil-doers in control of dragons like Ash in Dragonar Academy, or from the apocalyptic power of extra-terrestrial dragon-like beings hailing from their asteroid home, like Jin in Dragonaut. Perhaps both Dragon Academy and Dragonaut can be said to inhabit the same dragon universe (whose one to say); the only difference is that in Dragonaut: The Resonance, the dragons have turned on the humans trying to harness their power, and they may have already won.

Like Dragonar Academy, Dragon Crisis begins with an unsuspecting, seemingly normal high school boy whose life is uprooted when his second cousin Erika decides to pay him a visit. The tale unfolds as they both seek a relic box from a nefarious character also known as a black broker. Eventually, they end up finding the box and unleashing a red dragon girl named Rose. Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones after her. In order to protect their newfound friend and ally, both Erika and Ryuji decide to take a stand against the black organization as Ryuji uses his latent powers as a relic handler. Both Dragon Crisis! and Dragonar Academy share the same theme of a dragon embodied in the form of a little human girl, although their wild nature proves to be too much for their handlers to do just that (handle them). In order to do this, both Ash (in Dragonar Academy) and Ryuji (in Dragon Crisis!) must search within themselves for the power they possess. Dragon Crisis! sees Ryuji as he tries to protect Rose from the world, while Dragonar Academy’s girl-dragon, Eco, does most of the protecting herself. In the end, both stories are about boys who share a love for a special little dragon girl that is truly their wilder half. This is classic anime: non-complicated magic, action, mystery, and dragons, what more could we ask for?

Boasting a wide array of larger than life characters including adolescent 165 year-old elves, a millennium-old demigoddess, a sorcerer’s apprentice, and a rampaging dragon to boot. Gate follows Yoji, a newly promoted JSDF officer, who investigates the peculiar going-ons of the ‘other world’. As a portal opens in Ginza, one of Tokyo’s central districts, the Japan Self Defense Force or JSDF manages to thwart the army’s advances. But questions quickly arise as to the very nature of the beings that inhabit it and how they got there in the first place. Walls between the worlds blur and combatant legions heralding from this otherworldly dimension threaten to endanger Tokyo. In this series, there’s no shortage of fast, fun, swooping through the air in a gust of wind, kind of action. Like Dragonar Academy, Gate involves an all-star cast of mythical beings that clash in epic battles. This time it’s between Japanese special forces who collide with legions from other realms. Like Dragonar Academy, Gate boasts a slew of fairy creatures; but in both, dragons are still the wildest, most misunderstood, and most dangerous of them all. In both series, there’s no shortage of fire breathing dragons with twisted appetites for destruction and mayhem. The poignant difference between the two series is that, in Gate, JSDF is able to eventually pacify the mythical realm’s inhabitants but seeks to subdue and ultimately control them, while Dragonar’s two-winged beasts remain allies who fight alongside their human counterparts, still retaining their wild nature.

Although an oldie, it’s nonetheless still a goldie and a must see if you really want a healthy dose of dragon’s breath and searing fire. Like Ash Blake in Dragonar Academy, Orphen follows Krylancelo and Azalie, two up and coming student sorcerers attending one of the land’s most prestigious magic schools. One fateful day, Azalie’s experimentation goes awfully wrong as one of her spells rebounds and transforms her into a grisly dragon nicknamed Bloody August. In an act to upkeep the prestige of their institution, the Tower of Fang Elders, however, deny the incident and claim that she is indeed dead. Five years later, we find Krylancelo in search for the Sword of Baltanders, one of the artifacts needed to redeem his long lost, beloved friend Azalie to her former self and take a stand against the Tower of Fang Elders. Fighting the forces of evil may be a common theme among many stories, but when you have dragons on your side, whether they were born that way or accidentally morphed into being through magic, the results can be problematic. While both stories involve prestigious academies, and both also deal with female dragons, Orphen is in a way a reversal of Dragonar Academy. In Dragonar Academy (the latter), Ash is expecting a fire breathing dragon pal to tame, but unexpectedly gets Eco, a little dragon girl. On the other hand, Azalie, from Orphen, is a young girl herself who inadvertently becomes something unexpected, a dragon. In a way both stories deal with the illusion of appearance, its irony and fateful consequences. Through the transformation of characters into beings that are unexpected, the series embark on different journeys that lead our characters in a fight towards fulfilment and redemption.

Los Angeles, California Website:http://www.animejungle.net/ Located in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo, Anime Jungle is a hub for those on the west coast trying to get their anime fix. The store is a decent size and chock full art books, figures, and bags, plus they have a buy back counter for those who want to offload items they don’t want anymore. For anyone who has to carry stuff around, Anime Jungle has the biggest selection of anime messenger bags, purses, and backpacks of any other store around and they’re sorted by series in alphabetical order. Older series are even represented so that anyone can accessorize their life in anime fashion. Anime Jungle also has a large wall filled to the brim of both newer and older manga from the long gone TOKYOPOP, available for purchase making it easy for readers to finally complete their collections. From popular titles such as One Punch man to more obscure series like Red River, Anime Jungle will have it. One of the best parts about Anime Jungle is its location! After buying some manga, hop over to one of the many ramen shops and have a tasty meal while relaxing with your favorite stories.

City of Industry, CA Website:http://www.frankandsonshow.net/ When SoCal residents are asked to name just one anime shop off the top of their heads, Frank and Son is usually the first to come to mind. The store has been a staple since 1988 in the general nerd community and has more recently picked up vendors that cater to the needs of the ever growing anime community. The building covers a sprawling 65,000 square feet and it keeps growing in popularity. There are various vendors in Frank and Son’s and it feels almost like a collectible flea market or a convention exhibition room from the way it is set up. Since the individual vendors decide the prices of the products, many customers can oftentimes haggle to save money. The stores are always changing their stock so there is something new with each visit.

Chicago, IL Website:http://www.nakamatoys.com/ Nakama Toys is a tiny hole in the wall store in Chicago’s Logan Square, but that doesn’t fool anyone since the store offers many services for figure collectors. The store itself houses a decent selection of figures and blind boxes, but also offers pre-orders on rare and limited figures releasing from Japan such as the new Sanji POP from Megahouse. To find such a store is rare indeed. The store is a tiny mom and pop shop started by a couple who loves anime and manga just as much as the customers, making this store have a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. What started out as an online only store quickly turned into a physical shop where Chicago residents can scratch their itch for a good figure.

Fullerton, CA Website:http://robot4less.com/ Like the name says, Robot4Less specializes in selling…wait for it…robots for less. Well, not REAL robots, but Gunpla and various other mech models are this store’s specialty. Robot4less is one of the best places in SoCal for model builders to shop due to the extensive amount of models for sale and various other accessories to customize them, including LED kits and airbrushing kits. The store even guarantees its low prices. Not only are the prices cheap here, but there are even more ways to save money. The store frequently offers coupons via their various social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. By following their accounts, users are updated with information about new models and sales coming up in the store. Robot4Less also makes its way around the convention circuit and offers discounts on the last day of cons, but don’t wait too long for an item or it may already be gone!

Multiple Locations Across Japan Website:http://www.mandarake.co.jp/en/shop/ Mandarake is an excellent place to go for deal hunters and also a great place to get rid of extra anime goods lying around the house as they specialize in used goods. While the products may be used, all goods are inspected and priced according to the condition of the item being sold. Items without boxes typically run much cheaper so this is the place to go for great bargains. Each location typically has different items such as doujinshi, figures, vintage toys (both US and Japanese), manga, art books, Gunpla, original soundtracks, cosplay items, and much, much more. Three locations that are quite popular are located in Shibuya, Ikebukuro, and Akihabara. The Akihabara location consists of eight floors separated by sections and is a more well-rounded stores. Both the Shibuya and Ikebukuro stores are mostly known for their large doujinshi sections catering to mostly women. While the Shibuya store also has figures, the Ikebukuro location only has doujinshi since it’s located on the famous Otome Road. The best part about Mandarake is their online database. Customers can find whatever they are looking for beforehand on Mandarake’s website and see which store has the item in stock. If the product is too far away, Mandarake will send a request for it! The customer service here can’t be beat making Mandarake a must for anyone visiting Japan.

Tokyo, Japan Website:https://www.volks.co.jp/page_ex.jsp?CONTROLID=SC0010&BUSINESSID=InitDisp&version=en It’s really hard to miss Volks when visiting Akihabara since it sits just outside the station taking up eight floors of a corner building. The floors are divided by interest, with the first and basement floors devoted to rental boxes for otaku to sell their anime goods. Going up the stairs leads customers on a spiral staircase through different genres. Some of the more notable floors consist of the model floor that mainly houses Gunpla and assorted painting supplies and the high end figure floor where Nendoroids, Figmas, and various other figure lines are sold. Garage kits or customizable figures that can be made from scratch are also sold on the high end figure floor. The other floors cater mostly to products consisting of video games, harem, and otome games. Volks is a good one stop shop for those with a limited amount of time to spend in Akihabara. Whatever you’re looking for, Volks most likely has it.

Tokyo, Japan Website:http://www.nbw.jp/index_e.html A well-kept secret, Nakano Broadway isn’t so much a store as it is a giant shopping mall consisting of mainly anime stores. The complex is THE best place to shop for anime goods and requires at least a full day to explore the three floors packed to the brim of goodies. Before visiting Akihabara for goods, visit Nakano Broadway because chances are it is cheaper here, though customers may have to do a little digging around. Since the complex is completely indoors, Nakano Broadway is a great place for a rainy day visit and visitors won’t even have to leave for meals! One of the best tempura shops in town is located on the second floor and was even featured on several variety shows. Nakano Broadway is also the home of Mandarake headquarters, so don’t’ be surprised to see so many within the mall. There are other specialty shops inside including a store that only sells items from magical girl shows, a ball jointed doll store, AND a store completely dedicated to pirates with fish tanks and everything. Each store is unique, quirky, and filled to the brim with both newer and older items that are no longer made. If only one day were available, go to Nakano Broadway over Akihabara any day. Your wallet will thank you, too.

Osaka and Tokyo, Japan Website:http://www.kotous.com/ The home of those adorable little Danbou figures photographers seem to love so much, Kotobukiya’s main store located in Akihabara showcases an exceptional amount of popular anime goods. While the prices may be high, Kotobukiya is a great place to get a feel for what’s new and popular in the world of anime since they rarely stock older series goods and their displays are impeccable. While the smaller knick knacks may be purchasable elsewhere in various other anime shops, Kotobukiya has the best selection of figure displays in Akihabara. From acrylic stands to cheaper plastic display cases, figure collectors come here to find the best case to showcase their waifu (or husbando). No matter the size, there is a display case here that will fit it and the prices are quite reasonable in comparison to online stores. Speaking of waifus and husbandos, Kotobukiya has two floors dedicated to just that. On one of the upper floors, women gather in flocks to leave birthday messages at the large displays the store makes for those special husbandos with large followings. Fans show their love by purchasing more character items than anyone will ever admit and it is not a bad thing since the floor above, men are doing the same with their waifus. For those who have a 2D love in their life, Kotobukiya is a must.

Multiple Locations Across Japan Website:http://benelic.com/service/donguri.php One of the best shops that can be found in most of Japan’s bigger cities is Donguri Kyowakoku, a Ghibli lover’s dream. The store always stands out from whatever is around it due to its woodland themes and giant Totoros everywhere, giving customers a relaxing atmosphere to shop in. Almost every Ghibli franchise is represented in the store (save Grave of the Fireflies for obvious reasons) and visitors have the pleasure of listening to various soundtracks from the different movies while contemplating how to stay within their budget. The store has a wide variety of items that are well made and guaranteed to last. Some of the highlights include various kitchenware with Porco Rosso or Howl’s Moving Castle, customized luggage, plushies, stationary, and collectable rubber figurines that are quite affordable. The stock changes depending on the season so there are always new items rotating in and out of the store. Since there is no online store, it is best to save up for a visit here considering many of the items offered are either seasonal or limited, and will not be offered again. The money is well worth it though!

Many Locations Throughout Japan Website:http://www.animate-world.com/ By far the most popular and well-known store both in and outside of Japan, Animate carries whatever young Otaku are looking for. From cell phone straps to body pillows, Animate has all these and more including its own cosplay section in partnership with ACOS, a famous cosplay supply company in Japan. No matter where anyone visits in Japan, chances are high that at least one Animate will be located nearby. Each store is laid out slightly different, but is usually sectioned off by series. All the sports anime usually get their own aisle, followed by Otome games, Shounen Jump series, and as of right now, Touken Ranbu. Each aisle is filled with keychains, clear files, pencil boards, and various other goodies for otaku to collect and express their love for their favorite show. In addition to the smaller charms and random item box figures, some Animate stores also carry supplies for artists to create their own manga including Copic markers, pen and ink, and different graphic effects that can be added. For those visiting Tokyo, the Ikebukuro flagship store is a dream come true. Nine floors of otaku goodness that will certainly make a person question what financial responsibility means.