After the invention of the “Infinite Stratos” powered exoskeletons, the world became quite a different place, with the units only able to be piloted by women and the offensive capability of countries increasingly vastly. After an unusual encounter with an IS unit, it’s discovered that Ichika Orimura is the only male in the world capable of piloting one, after which he is whisked away to the renowned Infinite Stratos Academy. As the only male in a school full of girls, expectations are high, as are the chances of misunderstandings. With childhood friends, hopeful classmates and stubborn rivals appearing, all the form of beautiful girls, Ichika’s time at the IS Academy is sure to be an interesting one. Before even finishing the first episode of Hundred, Infinite Stratos came to mind. Although men are able to use the Hundred weapons, the fact that every character introduced so far has been female makes both shows feel incredibly similar. The protagonists seem unable to walk three steps before tripping over a new member of their harem. On top of that, the battles with the Hundred and IS units play out in much the same way, as although the IS units are much larger, the weapons they use are very similar. Although the girls so far haven’t been incredibly similar, the harem aspect is very strong in both series, so if you’re watching Hundred for the girls then Infinite Stratos won’t disappoint. Additionally the important ecchi element is present in both shows, though it’s fairly softcore, and the focus is more on making the girls seem cute than anything else. If you want a show that does basically what Hundred does, just more, then Infinite Stratos is a great watch.

Prince of the fallen Arcadia Empire, Lux messes up while trying to retrieve a purse and finds himself falling into the women’s baths of the Royal Knight Academy. Fortunately his fall is broken by a very naked Lisesharte Atismata, princess of the New Kingdom of Atismata, who is understandably not too happy about his intrusion. After challenging Lux, the “weakest undefeated”, to a Drag-Knight duel, he ends up becoming the Academy’s latest male student. Much like Infinite Stratos, Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut is based around a school training in the use of “battle suits” that only women are normally able to operate. So as before, the almost entirely female cast is definitely a point in Bahamut’s favor. Along with that, the series starts off with a remarkably familiar duel between the main protagonist and the school’s top girl. We’ll give you three guesses to work out how that ends. Both have a good amount of ecchi, fan service moments, though Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut’s art is certainly the better of the two, from the first steamy bath scene, to the satisfyingly tight combat suits the girls wear. In addition to the art, Bahamut’s story feels more solid than Hundred’s as well, with the story progressing fairly quickly, but still managing to introduce the majority of Lux’s harem with ease. If your weekly dose of Hundred fan service and cute girls isn’t enough, then Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut can easily fill that void.

After the appearance of humans with special abilities, known as Genestella, schools like Seidoukan Academy were created to train young ability users. A new student at Seidoukan, Amagiri Ayato starts off his school life with style, by accidently peeping on Julis Riessfeld changing. A princess and powerful fire user, Julis challenges him to a duel so she can kick his ass, which is fair enough really. Along with the appearance of a teasing student council president, a childhood friend, and damsels that need rescuing, it might be a while before Ayato gets around to his true objective: finding his missing sister. With its second cour currently airing, Gakusen Toshi Asterisk is one of the more recent and popular harem shows, and rightfully so, with a kick ass sound track, pretty art and, amusing characters. While not the most original of concepts, Gakusen Toshi Asterisk gives us the same fun and easy to watch entertainment that Hundred does, with some cool battles, cute girls, and a well-paced story to keep things moving. If you’ve not already, why not catch up on the first cour now, so you can keep up with the second cour’s latest episodes as they air this season. We promise it’ll be worth your time!

Blazers, humans capable of using magical powers to materialize weapons. Ikki Kurogane is a new student at Hagun Academy, an academy for Blazers, and one of the worst students at that, an F rank Blazer. After catching one of the academy’s A ranks, Stella Vermillion, undressing, she’s quick to challenge him to a duel, with the winner taking ownership of the loser. But Ikki isn’t quite the F rank weakling everyone thinks he is, which Stella’s about to find out the hard way. Plot look familiar at all? Not only did Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry and Gakusen Toshi Asterisk air in the same season, but the two were known for their incredibly similar plotlines, so you can see where we’re going with this recommendation. Much like Gakusen Toshi Asterisk, Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry shares the same battles, plot themes, and fan service as Hundred. On top of that, the first episode duel with the school’s “queen” shows up again. Though don’t let all that fool you, Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry gets a little bit darker than the other shows listed so far, and is more of a romance than a harem despite the number of cute girls. There’s even another male character amongst the main cast, which in these kinds of shows is generally the signal for “we’re taking this plot kind of seriously”. A solid series all around, Cavalry is ideal if you’re after something like Hundred, but with a little bit more substance, and a little bit less ecchi.

In a world where magic is as real as science, those with the ability to use it, magicians, hold tremendous power over those who cannot. Tatsuya Shiba, a magician whose powers cannot be measured by normal methods, has just enrolled at the prestigious First High School, along with this sister Miyuki. After being assigned to the Second Course for weaker magicians, questions begin to rise when Tatsuya’s true strength surfaces, as in-school quarrels get out of hand, and outside forces start causing trouble. If you love watching over powered protagonists kick ass, few shows do it better than Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei, with Tatsuya going from zero to hero, and beyond with no apparent difficulty. Another school based sci-fi show, like Hundred, Rettousei spends most of the series outside of boring classes, and more time handling bad guys and terrorist organizations. Although certainly featuring some fan service, Rettousei focuses more on plot and character development, with a decent sized cast and enough time to establish a solid story in its 26 episode run. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei feels like the school, sci-fi anime that so many recent series want to be. Although it certainly has a more serious feel compared to Hundred, Rettousei is definitely a show any fan of the genres will enjoy.

Throughout the world there are humans who retain memories of their past lives called Saviors. Able to use Ancestral Arts known to their previous selves, Saviors serve to protect the world from evil creatures known as the Metaphysical. Moroha Haimura is one such Savior, now attending Akane Private Academy and trying to piece together broken and half formed memories of his past self. But with the appearance of a girl who was once his ancestor’s little sister, and another who’s quick to get cozy with him, it becomes evident that Moroha had no one past life, but two. While Seiken Tsukai no World Break focuses on magic rather than science, it has a very similar set-up to Hundred with an amnesia ridden protagonist, a school for groups of special ability users, and an invasion of dark creatures. In fact the first few episodes play out like a fantasy version of Hundred, with duels, a protagonist surprised by his incredible powers, and girls in need of saving. One of the most notable differences is actually the show’s harem, with both series having quite different character designs for their main heroines. In terms of ecchi, World Break isn’t quite as intense as Hundred, although significant fanservice is certainly present, with tight battle suits and ample chests a frequent sight. Seiken Tsukai no World Break focuses a lot on action and fight scenes, so if you’re into awesome magic and epic battles with mythical creatures, World Break might be the show for you.

Britannia has become the hegemony in 2010; Britannia’s first conquest is Japan beginning with renaming the country to Area 11 and stripping the freedoms from the Japanese, but many rebels continue to resist. Lelouch Lamperouge is a Britannian high school student who also happens to be the exiled prince of the Holy Empire of Britannia. He comes across C.C., a strange girl who gives him the Geass “Power of Kings.” With this Geass, Lelouch will venture out as the masked rebel, Zero, to gain vengeance against the Holy Empire of Britannia. There is no end to how Code Geass and Big Order are familiar. Lelouch is given a supernatural ability that gives him the power to bend a person’s will, much like Hoshimiya Eiji. With his Geass, Lelouch wants to make the world a better place for his younger sister. As Zero, Lelouch also becomes the figurehead for the rebellion. Do you see the resemblance to Big Order? As the story of Code Geass delves in further, we see what it takes to lead a rebellion, how to change the tide in politics, and what happens if mistakes are made. You may not realize it, but it’s not easy leading a resistance.

Amano Yukiteru spends much of his time alone, writing in a cell phone diary or talking to imaginary friends Deus Ex Machina, the god of time and space, and his servant, Murmur. One day, Yukiteru discovers that Deus Ex Machina is actually a real deity who has brought Yukiteru into a game of life and death over the crown for the next god of time and space. Armed with only a future diary, Yukiteru must fight to survive against the other 11 future diary holders. Among them is Yukiteru’s stalker, Gasai Yuno, who decides that she’s in charge of Yukiteru’s safety. And Yuno is willing to do just about anything for Yukiteru. Not only are both Mirai Nikki and Big Order produced by the same company, they follow a similar plotline. Yukiteru faces a power struggle over the title of god of time and space which is essential to the function of the world, while Big Order centers around a power struggle between Eiji and the existing regime which could change everyone’s lives. Yukiteru and Eiji also both have female companions who have odd personalities and a rather strong thirst for blood. As an added similarity, Yukiteru looks similar to Eiji while Yuno looks eerily similar to Rin. Mirai Nikki isn’t for the feint of heart, however, as there are darker tones and gruesome scenes in this anime, but Mirai Nikki isn’t an anime you want to miss out if you can stomach it.

Ten years have passed since the Apocalypse Virus, also known as “Lost Christmas,” led to the nation’s downfall under GHQ, a military force determined to take order. The only resistance to the GHQ is a guerilla group called Funeral Parlor with Tsutsugami Gai to spearhead the resistance. One day, Yuzuriha Inori, a special member of the resistance, meets Ouma Shuu giving him the “Power of Kings.” Although Shuu did not ask for the gift, he must now learn to use it to save the future of Japan from the GHQ as a member of Funeral Parlor. The bases of Guilty Crown revolves around the event “Lost Christmas” which has set a chain of events leading to a fight for power between Funeral Parlor and GHQ, which is very similar to the foundation of Big Order’s plot. Also, Shuu is given the power which can ultimately change the direction of the battle. However, Guilty Crown has a very dark tone the deeper the story goes and the viewer gets to witness what power does to some people. As lives hang in the balance, we are faced with the question: “How do you decide who's worth living?”

Demi-humans called Ajin were discovered seventeen years ago in Africa. Ajin possess immortality as well as supernatural abilities while bearing the same resemblance to humans, but no one knows what their purpose is. Many regard Ajin as myths or news stories, including our protagonist, Kei, but Kei is in for a big revelation. There is no doubt that Ajin is very similar to Big Order. There are characters with the power to control shadow monsters and revive in both Big Order and Ajin. Even Kei’s sister is sick, much like Eiji’s sister in Big Order. In Ajin, for Kei who has just discovered his new found powers, Kei is fighting for his life and finding out what it truly means to be human.

Leonardo Watch is content with living a rather boring life with his family while pursuing his love of photography. One day, Leonardo receives the “All-Seeing Eyes of the Gods” at the cost of his own sister’s eyesight. To help her, Leonardo goes to what was formerly known as New York City, Hellsalem’s Lot which is full of monsters from another dimension. Here, Leonardo joins LIBRA, a group of rather strange superhumans who work to maintain the order in Hellsalem’s Lot. Now, Leonardo is living a rather unusual life venturing through the oddest place on Earth. Much like Big Order, Leonardo’s sister is debilitated and he wants to make things better for her. With his new power, Leonardo ventures out with an eclectic group of super beings, as Eiji does, to bring order to Hellsalem’s Lot. Both main characters also go through a somewhat similar situation involving their sisters when gaining their new found powers and the fact that the world changed during that process is another similarity with each other.

Ciel Phantomhive is a young boy who is regarded as “The Queen’s Guard Dog” due to the fact that he settles some rather gruesome events in England per Her Majesty’s order. By Ciel’s side is Sebastian Michaelis, a butler with extraordinary abilities who seems a bit too extraordinary for a butler. There lies a secret in Ciel’s past that led to him to form an agreement with a demon, Sebastian, to attain revenge in exchange for Ciel’s soul. Now, Ciel and Sebastian work together as master and servant to find all the pieces to Ciel’s past. Ciel is chasing after a person who has destroyed his future by messing with his past, however much like Eiji, there seems to be more to Ciel’s past than he seems to know. However, Ciel seals his future by signing a contract with a demon to gain a supernatural entity, Sebastian, to help Ciel attain his goal. While Big Order is still new, Kuroshitsuji evolves into a tale much darker than you can imagine. There is countless bloodshed, wicked murderers, and mysteries that may be better hidden. Kuroshitsuji is a tale of revenge, but there is so much more to revenge than the act itself.

First up on this list is Kill la Kill which offers action, comedy and ridiculous fighting scenes in one show. Ryuuko Matoi is driven by her goal to take revenge on the person who killed her father. Her path leads her to Honnouji Academy, a place that is ruled by power and authority. Equipped with a massive scissor blade and an outfit that grants her special powers Ryuuko is ready to take on anyone standing in her way and find the one responsible for her father’s death. Kiznaiver and Kill la Kill are both creations of Mari Okada from the animation studio Trigger, so you can already expect that they are similar in some ways. It’s not only the fact that both shows have high school settings, but they both combine drama with comedy and top it off with lots of action. Kiznaiver and Kill la Kill could be common school anime, but manage to stand out with their special charm. Kill la Kill is our first recommendation!

Mekakucity Actors is loved by its fans, but how can it compare to Kiznaiver? This story starts with otaku and shut-in Shintarou Kisaragi leaving his room and stumbling into the busy streets outside his safe home. What should have been a quick trip turns into something bigger when he runs into a group of young people calling themselves "Mekakushi Dan”. Mekakucity Actors will slowly introduce you to each of these characters as they spend more time together. The selling point of Mekakucity Actors is without a doubt its distinctly unique character design. It isn’t afraid to stand out and in a way resembles the freshness of Kiznaiver. Both shows put a lot of effort into their characters and the way they are presented to the audience. Also, Mekakucity Actors has a similar mix of action, comedy, supernatural and a little bit of Sci-Fi to offer so chances are high that if you like one of the two shows you will also enjoy the other one.

We hope you haven’t forgotten about Charlotte yet, the hit show of summer 2015 and our next recommendation on this list. High school student Yuu Otosaka is a loner with a special power; for a couple of seconds he is able to take control over the bodies of the people around him. Too bad that he doesn’t use this power for a greater purpose, but for his own selfish reasons. But his ruthless days are about to end when he meets Nao Tomori who recruits him to join her group of other gifted people. A great adventure is about to begin. We have a high school setting, a supernatural theme and two main heroes who are introduced into a new world. But these resemblance points are not necessarily the reason we had to include Charlotte on this list. It is more the interaction between the main characters and how they slowly grow closer to one another that connects the two shows for us. Fans of high school stories that also have a deeper storyline will enjoy this one!

We’re continuing the theme of high school stories and moving on to the afterlife with Angel Beats!. What happens after we die? It’s a question we all have, but high school boy Otonashi might actually have an answer. He wakes up on a school campus he has never seen before only to find out that he has died. Now he is about to join a group of rebellious and equally dead students in their fight against an enemy that is greater than all of them: God himself. Angel Beats! is a crazy mixture of cute character design with a high school story and a rather dark theme. The main cast of this show reminded us of the Kiznaivers which also couldn’t be more different from each other. Both groups have to work together and in between fun scenes and light-hearted moments you actually get to reflect on the greater meaning behind the storyline. If you enjoy good comedy, but also want something to think about, then check out this show.

There is one show that has been compared to Kiznaiver more than any other and that show is Kokoro Connect. Set in a typical high school, this is the not-so-typical story of the members of the Cultural Research Club. Without warning, the students start switching bodies with no control over when or where it will happen. Besides making for some hilarious situations, this experience also reveals some hidden secrets and feelings and the group of friends has to decide whether this will drive them apart or bring closer together. You might have already guessed it, but what makes this story so similar to Kiznaiver is the fact that it revolves around a group of students who are connected in a special way. In both anime the main cast is first pushed together by an external force and then has to find a way to work things out as a group. Kiznaiver could be described as a more adventurous and action-filled version of Kokoro Connect, so check it out if that’s what you are looking for in a good show.

Last but definitely not least we have the most recent show on this list with Nanatsu no Taizai. In this heroic journey you are thrown into a fantastic world filled with kingdoms, knights and other heroes. In a strategic move, a group of fighters called the Holy Knights were able to take control over the Kingdom of Liones and start a tyranny. The only one who can stop them are the Seven Deadly Sins, a group of legendary knights. Can princess Elizabeth find and unite them in time? Already in the very first episode of Kiznaiver the Seven Deadly Sins are mentioned. While they are not one of the main aspects of the show, they are still used to describe the different personalities of the main cast. Nantsu no Taizai takes this idea a step further and turns these sins into actual people. Either way, both shows have a unique set of people that are thrown into constantly new situations which require them to work together as a team. Nanatsu no Taizai shows you how we can work together despite our differences and is thus our final recommendation.

Sawada Honoka is 14 years old and has been living with her aunt after her parents had passed away. She is timid which makes her the subject of frequent bullying by her classmates and is not a believer in god, angels, and demons. One day, a baby devil appears in her room, and Honoka then takes care of it. Each episode is only about 5 minutes long, which makes it easy to watch. Thus, do not expect this series to have a complicated plotline or great character development. This baby anime is rated PG which is for children, so the older audience may not find this series very enjoyable. Chibi☆Devi! is simply a story about how fun it is to take care of a baby, so it is a pretty light-hearted series which many can still enjoy.

Katakura Kippei is a popular high school student who is also a playboy. He enjoys flirting around with pretty much every girl he sees. His life takes on a different twist when he is left to take care of his 5-year-old cousin named Yuzuyu. Yuzuyu’s mum, Miyako, appears to have abandoned her, so Kippei, who does not have much knowledge in taking care of a baby, has to shoulder the role of a parent! Although Aishiteruze Baby ★★ is categorized as a shoujo romance, it is really not about it, but rather it is geared towards the slice of life genre. This is a sweet and touching story which revolves around a reformed playboy who begins to develop a sense of responsibility when he has to take care of his young cousin. The baby anime also explores more serious themes like emotional traumas, abusers, and stalkers.

Miyu Kouzuki is an 8th grade student. As her parents travel to America to work for NASA, Miyu is left under the care of Mr. Saionji. However, Mr. Saionji then left Miyu under the care of his son, Kanata, as Mr. Saionji will be going to India for a year. Out of nowhere, an alien baby and his cat-like babysitter crash in their house. The alien baby has ESP power and started calling Kanata and Miyu, Dad and Mom. Miyu and Kanata have to assume the roles of parents and take care of the alien baby, but can they really do it with all the immature bickering? As the baby is not a regular human being but an alien with psychic abilities, you can imagine the kind of mess that the baby can make. In the meantime, Miyu and Kanata have to fight against their parental attachment towards the baby upon knowing that the baby will be returned in the future when rescuers from the baby’s alien planet arrive.

Kaede is an 8th grade student who is cheerful but shy with boys. While on her way back home, she goes to a mysterious shop and buys a cocoa mug. On the bottom of the mug is written that a love fairy will appear and make a person’s wish come true if he or she reads aloud the written message while pouring hot cocoa into the mug. Kaede follows the instructions and wishes to date the class heartthrob, Yuuki. What appears next is a blue Mirumo who looks like a baby and creates mischief instead of helping Kaede with her wish. Mirumo may seem like a baby but he is actually a prince who is supposed to marry the clingy Ririmu. Thus, Mirumo only has the appearance of a baby, but he can talk and move about. It may please the audience who find babies cute, but do not like the personalities of babies! The series focuses on love and friendship, and there are even certain parts which may cause tears to stream down your face!

Takuya Enoki’s mother died due to an accident, and as a result, he has to become more independent and face a more challenging life. Despite being just a fifth grader, he is forced to be mature and take care of his baby brother, as his father works long hours as a salaryman. It is not an easy task seeing that he is still so young, but due to his tough life, he may learn what family really means. This is a series which is close to real life instead of having a fantasy spin. It details the hardship of Takuya who has to sacrifice his childhood for the sake of his baby brother. While it may seem ordinary and boring in that it is a story which focuses on the love and responsibilities of family members, it really is not boring at all. Instead, it is a touching and beautiful story which may at times be too poignant that it would turn on the waterworks.

Natsuki Mizuki’s parents had gone to London, and since Natsuki is only a 4th grader, her Aunt Izumi takes care of her while her parents are away. On the first night, a baby appears in front of Natsumi. As Aunt Izumi is an aspiring manga writer, she really does not have the time to take care of the baby, in addition to Natsumi, so Natsumi takes on the role as the baby’s caretaker. Natsumi and Aunt Izumi later learn that the baby is actually the baby of the future Natsumi!? Mama wa Shougaku 4 Nensei does not only deal with handling a baby, but also time travelling. If you are intrigued by time travelling and time paradoxes, then give this anime series a shot! The only downside is that the series is a pretty old anime that is not exactly very well-known, so you may have troubling finding this series. Natsumi has to juggle between taking care of the baby and living her life as a 4th grader, such as attending school!

Tsunayoshi Sawada is known as the loser in school, due to him being so clumsy and talentless, that it seems like he is a pretty hopeless person. Not only that, but he has a crush on Kyoko Sasagawa, a girl who is way out his league. His life begins to change when he encounters a mysterious baby who is also a hitman. The baby named Reborn, is actually sent by a Mafia group in Italy, to convince Tsunayoshi to lead the Vongola family. Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is a rarity in that it is a baby anime that is actually not shoujo, but shonen. Therefore, you cannot really expect tons of pampering and taking care of a baby. What you should be expecting from this series is a powerful baby hitman who will be tutoring Tsuna to prepare him for the path to become a mafia boss. In spite of Reborn’s baby appearance, he is definitely not one to mess with!

One Christmas Eve, three homeless people with very different backgrounds, namely a girl who ran away from home, a transvestite, and a middle-aged alcoholic, find a baby when they were scouring through the trash. The trio goes on a journey to find the baby’s parents by using the clues found next to baby. Along the way, they stumble upon things that remind them of the lives they have abandoned. Tokyo Godfathers captures one’s interest just from the use of its main characters that consists of what we would consider social rejects. Despite the trio’s own problems and lack of resources, they are determined to go through the trouble to find the baby’s parents, using the minimal clues they are left with. This is a family-focused anime which is suitable to be watched on Christmas Day or really, any day of the year if you really want to enjoy a great anime film.

Sana Kurata has a life that many girls wanted. Not only is she a child actress who stars in a hit TV comedy, but her mother is a renowned writer. In school, Sana encounters a new arch enemy, a rowdy boy named Akito Hayama, who causes chaos in the classroom. In a bid to win back the class, Sana assigns her manager, Rei, to help her out. While technically, the characters are not babies but kids, let’s just consider them to be in the same category. Kodomo no Omocha is basically about a boy and a girl who cannot get along with each other, so it is basically kids’ fight. Whether you find that cute or annoying, you will find yourself siding with either one of them! It is deemed as a romance series, but of course you cannot expect a full-blown, intense love story, but rather a cute infatuation.

Tatsumi Oga is a student at a high school meant for delinquents called Ishiyama High. One day while he is sleeping next to a river, he spots a man floating downstream. Upon saving the man, he splits in half and what appears is a baby boy who is purportedly the Demon King’s son. Tatsumi has been chosen to take care of the baby with the help of a maid named Hilda. Baby Beel has certainly introduced more troubles in Tatsumi’s life and creates many awkward situations for him. The humor in Beelzebub is really amusing that you will find yourself laughing hard after a few minutes into the series. Although Tatsumi is a delinquent, he also has a tender side which is revealed from the way he takes care of the baby even though the baby causes him so many inconveniences.

Let's get this list started with Another! This story revolves around a high school boy named Kouichi Sakakibara, whose life is shaken when he has to move from Tokyo to Yomiyama to live with his grandparents, as his father had to move to India due to his job. As Kouichi misses the first three weeks of school, because of a health problem, his new classmates go visit him to the hospital. There, Kouichi meets Misaki, a strange girl with an eye patch. When he finally starts going to school, he realizes that Misaki is one of his classmates. The strange thing, though, is that nobody seems to be able to see her, and whenever he asks the other about Misaki, no one seems to know her. Not knowing exactly what's going on, Kouichi decides to get closer to Misaki, to discover the truth firsthand. Did we talk about mystery up above? Well, Another has plenty of mysteries! It shares with Mayoiga a very eerie atmosphere and a lingering sensation that something bad is going to happen any moment. As in Mayoiga our protagonist, Mitsumune, and the others want to start a new life, for Kouichi a new life begins without him wanting it. During both these shows a lot of bad things keep on happening: people disappearing, people dying, strange visions. What's more, all the characters, struck with fear, start accusing each other in the attempt to find the culprit. Even the two protagonists are very similar: Kouichi and Mitsumune, they both try to get closer to the most suspicious of the girls, Misaki and Masaki. Although Another has a horror orientation, these two shows manage to keep you glued to the screen as you want to know how the situations will be resolved. If you are enjoying Mayoiga, but feel brave enough to watch something even stronger, give Another a try!

Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni revolves around a high school student – Keiichi Maebara – who suddenly moves in the little village of Hinamizawa and befriends his cute female classmates. His life goes on peacefully, and Keiichi thinks he has found a very nice place to live in. In fact, he sticks to his classmates and joins all the activities they do as well. Suddenly, though, the situation turns for the worse. After the annual Watanagashi Festival, a festival held to thank Oyashiro-sama – the local god – he discovers a series of terrific events happened for the last four years, related to that festival. After that moment onward, other horrific events start happening, and a bitter truth strikes him: his classmates may not be what they really seem. There are a lot of similarities shared by Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni and Mayoiga. First of it all, everything starts from a situation that could be somehow normal; Maebara moves from the city to a village, exactly how in Mayoiga they move to the countryside. Then, the initial idea of it being a calm and peaceful place gets spoiled by some inexplicable happenings. The characters, in both these anime, show a side of them that suddenly changes when their psyche is being tested. The atmosphere is eerie; it starts one way, but suddenly the viewers get the feeling that something is wrong with the entire background. Both villages, Nanakimura and Hinamizawa, are full of strange legends and have a creepy folk song. What's more, in both these shows there are a lot of fear inducing situations, like people dying, or disappearing. As like Another, Higurashi has a horror trait with it, but the atmosphere and the situations are very similar to the ones in Mayoiga, so if you like one, you will like the other for sure!

Let's go on with Danganronpa: The Animation and its protagonist, Makoto Naegi. After winning a lottery as the “Ultimate Lucky Student”, he gained the chance to attend the Hope's Peak Academy. This is a high school that only accepts elite students, who once accepted, receive a title describing their own talents and skills. Makoto Naegi, though, is just an ordinary boy who won that title by chance, so he is overly happy to attend that rumored high school, that will give him a bright future. The moment he steps into the Academy, he faints; when he wakes up, he realizes that he is trapped into the school, with no way out. When he and the other 14 students meet the school president – Monokuma, a little bear – he makes a scary announcement: they will be able to graduate only if they will manage to kill one of their classmates, without being discovered! Danganronpa and Mayoiga share the initial idea of a new hope. In Danganronpa is the idea that the elite school will give all the students a bright future, while in Mayoiga is the idea of a new life. In both these shows we find more characters, with different personalities, who don't agree with the other party's way of thinking, starting fights over and over. Of course, the creepy atmosphere is another trait they share, as suddenly the viewers have the strange feeling that the lucky chances the characters were given, are just hiding something else. In both the situations, all the characters have to find a way to sort things out, by cooperating and accepting the other party's way of thinking. As like in Mayoiga, even in Danganronpa there are murders, crazy characters and inexplicable happenings that will make you wonder what is going on. All the characters will have their psyche tested, and they will be put into situations that will shake them at the core. So, the mystery and drama traits are exactly the same you can find in Mayoiga. If you are liking Mayoiga's themes, then, you are bound to like Danganronpa as well. Why don't you give it a try?

Let's move on with a mystery anime revolving around a professor named Souhei Saikawa and his assistant, Moe Nishinosono. The story begins with the two protagonists wishing to meet the genius programmer Shiki Magata. She has been living isolated for fifteen years on a solitary island, since she was a 13-year-old, due to the fact that she killed her parents. Due to her intelligence, Shiki Magata is admired by professor Saikawa, but a shocking truth will unravel in front of him and his assistant. When they arrive to the island, and finally are about to meet Shiki Magata... They find a corpse and get caught up into a series of murders. As for the similarities that Subete Ga F Ni Naru shares with Mayoiga, we need to go deeper this time. In both these anime there's a new start; in Mayoiga there's this trip from the city, to the countryside, while in Subete Ga F Ni Naru there's this strong willing for both Saikawa and Nishinosono to meet the genius programmer, so much so that they decide to go to that solitary island to meet her. So, different backgrounds, but still something that start from a very normal situation only to get worse later on. As for the mystery part, just how in Mayoiga we find the unsettling atmosphere, the eerie sounds and visions that allow the viewers to perceive that there's something wrong, the same happens in Subete Ga F Ni Naru. In fact, when Saikawa and Nishinosono find a corpse, and start to investigate, there's a crescendo of suspense that make the viewers wonder how everything will be solved and if it is even possible to be solved. In both these shows we find people who are put in a corner, and struggle to keep themselves sane. Even though Subete Ga F Ni Naru has psychological and philosophical traits with it as well, it's not a stretch to say that it will give you the same feeling you have while watching Mayoiga!

Let's talk about this wonderful masterpiece born from Sanbe Kei's pen and adapted into an anime that gained a great popularity among viewers! This is a story revolving around a guy named Satoru Fujinuma, with a strange power that brings him back in time by few minutes, whenever a tragedy is about to happen, to allow him to fix it. Satoru calls his power “revival”. When a tragedy strikes him, his mother's killed and he is the prime suspect, his power sends him 18 years back in time. He soon realizes that probably his mother's murder is connected to the abduction and murder of his lonely classmate, Kayo Hinazuki. Satoru starts to work for that purpose, trying hard to save his friends and his mother's lives, only to discover a shocking truth that will change his life forever! Athough Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi has a strong supernatural trait with it, it's clear as day that it has some similarities with Mayoiga as well. First of it all, both these shows are mystery and drama genre. Then, let's talk about the atmosphere surrounding the characters. In Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi, the viewers have this constant feeling that whatever Satoru does, can turn out to be the wrong decision, with no time to fix it back anymore. So there's this anxious feeling that will keep the viewers glued to the screen, strongly cheering for Satoru. At the same time, in Mayoiga we find the same unsettling feeling, given by the fact that all the characters have absolutely no clue about what's going on, so it's like they're moving blindly in a setting that they don't know and anything bad can happen any moment. What's more, in Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi, bad things happened to children, who were abducted and killed by someone. Even when Satoru will go back in time for the first time, it'll happen again. At the same time, in Mayoiga there are people disappearing, leaving the viewers with a lot of questions about whom, or what made them disappear. As for the background, just how in Mayoiga they start a new life somewhere else, equally Satoru finds himself 28-year-old, in the body of a 10-year-old child, starting from the beginning his childhood. What else can we say? It's about time you catch up Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi, over all if you're enjoying Mayoiga right now!

Let's close this list with a masterpiece come from a successful novel, written by Yusuke Kishi and adapted into an anime later on. This story takes place in Japan 1000 years from here, and revolves around the lives of five children: Saki, Satoru, Shun, Maria and Mamoru. They grow up in a quiet village, in the 66° district of Kamisu. Their village is like a utopia: full of vegetation, full of clear water, with breathtaking views and the sounds of the nature. Due to some circumstances, though, the utopia comes down crushing and unveiling them the sad truth. In fact, not only they discover about the sudden outbreak of the psychokinesis that can make people become violent and destructive, and a real danger for other people's lives, but they also will finally discover the truth behind the bloody past that brought mankind to that point. They will begin their adventure, trying to save their friends from a world on the verge of the downfall! If in Mayoiga the characters want to live in a utopia and for that purpose they join the tour, in Shinsekai Yori they start from a utopia that falls down bit by bit. Everything in Shinsekai Yori is unsettling and eerie; in fact the viewers will expect the worse to happen from the first episode. The disappearing people theme here is strong; what's more, and what's very distressing, is that when in Shinsekai Yori someone disappears, suddenly no one can remember about that person anymore. The same unsettling sensation the viewers can feel in Mayoiga, for example when a certain character is suspected to be dead and disappearing. As like in Mayoiga, even in Shinsekai Yori we can find characters that try to get along, but keep on bickering because of their differences in character. The setting is very similar as well; even though Nanakimura is an abandoned village, it is very similar to the 66° district of Kamisu in Shinsekai Yori. Even though Shinsekai Yori has a horror and supernatural trait with it, it shares with Mayoiga the same drama and mystery orientation, as the viewers will keep on wondering what's going on and will remain glued to the screen until the end. Well, what are you waiting for? It's time to catch up with Shinsekai Yori as well!

The SSS or the Afterlife Battle Front could never have continued its war against the Angel and the status quo if Chaa and the members of the Guild hadn’t been there to furnish them with guns and ammo. Chaa is the leader of the Guild and, if we can judge by his beard, may be the oldest non NPC at the school. He and the other members of the Guild can fashion weapons out of dirt in a large subterranean lair. He’s also one of the founding members of the SSS and an indispensable member of the organization. Chaa makes this list because of his important role in the SSS as their military quartermaster. The involvement and creation of the Guild in the plot is important and gives us an explanation for how Uzis and rocket launchers appear in this purgatory. He also gives an entire group of boys a purpose in creating weapons for the battles in the afterlife, a group of boys whose lives before purgatory could have been hard. We know this because they can’t fashion anything they weren’t familiar with while alive.

TK is a member of the Afterlife Battle Front and in a collection of odd kids he is pretty strange. He’s a tall, thin, blond, English-speaking teenager. The weird part is that everything he says seems to be a catch phrase, sheer nonsense, or music lyrics. He even quoted Bob Dylan at one point. TK is a mystery. We don’t get a chance to hear any of his back story, but we can assume he loved to dance while he was alive. TK is seen dancing in almost every scene; he even dances while he fights, combining break dancing and gun play. TK makes the list for his ability to enjoy his afterlife. He doesn’t seem to waste one moment sitting still. He is also dedicated to the SSS and fights by them every step of the way. TK, despite his odd demeanor, fits in with the rather odd collection of rebels.

Takeyama, username Christ, though he is the only one who ever calls himself that, is one of the few members of the After Life Battle Front who has some technical expertise. He is the classic arrogant computer nerd, thinking he is smarter than the rest of the other members of Battle Front. We don’t see him in combat, but he does provide technical support to the other members. He has the ability, which may or not really exist but is as impressive as hell, to recite Pi to an almost infinite number of decimal places. He even overwhelms a rival through his recitation. Takeyama is on the list for what his technical expertise brings to the team. Yes, the team would have been able to carry on their battles without his computer knowledge, but the battle plans they preview at headquarters wouldn’t look as snazzy. The team also would never have learned that computers, like the dirt the Guild uses, can construct anything as long as you have the foreknowledge.

The halberd wielding, purple-haired, hothead Noda is one of the most reliable members of Battle Front. We are led to believe that his loyalty is inspired by his unrequited love for Yuri, the leader of Afterlife Battle Front. He never questions Yuri, yet would question anyone else about their motives for anything. He also has an unjustified sense of superiority as we witness many of his failures. He did, however, really know how to use the halberd, making him an extremely effective close-quarter combat specialist. Noda makes the list 50% for his combat ability and 50% for his comic relief. The ways and number of times he dies, and then is resurrected (since no one can actually die in this world) can leave you laughing out loud. For example he manages to be killed – twice -- by a trap he designed and set himself. He can be a moron, but a loyal moron, and loyalty can count for a lot in a battle in the afterlife.

Naoi is the vice president, and at one point the temporary president, of the student council in the school in this purgatory. He is always seen wearing the traditional school uniform: black pants, white shirt, gakuran and a Mao hat. He can be sadistic, angry, and a classic power-hungry villain, especially since he wields the power of hypnotism. Naoi strives for perfection he calls himself God. He goes mad with power when he assumes the role of president and is determined to take down the SSS. We eventually hear his back story and he is turned to support the Battle Front. Why is Naoi on this list? For being one of the few characters with a deep and meaningful back story. Naoi has a personal history that motivates him and drives him toward what he might consider perfection and the obedience he believes that is needed to achieve that. His story also explains why he latches on to the main protagonist of the story after he uncovers, sympathizes and accepts and forgives Naoi for what he did to the members of the SSS.

Iwasawa is the lead singer and song writer of the girl rock band Girls Dead Monster. The band is a part of the Afterlife Battle Front and functions as the “Distraction Unit”. The band holds guerilla concerts attracting the attention of the student body, NPCs included, and faculty allowing the SSS to conduct their operations, like stealing lunch tickets and finding other ways to disrupt school life. She doesn’t speak much and often lets her music emote for her. Her mortal life was spent in a home filled with anger and violence. She found a refuge in music and dedicated her life to a craft that could take her away from her small, miserable home. Iwasawa makes the list because of her contributions to the operations of battle front. Her music is also the soundtrack for the series and at times it is really rocking. The second reason she makes the list, and spoiler ahead, is the way she finally found peace. She was cornered by the faculty at an unsanctioned concert and plays her heart out. She plays a ballad that encompasses all the pain and hope for a better life. The soul she poured into her music honestly set her free.

We know this might be a bit controversial since the hyperactive girl wearing demon wings and a tail my not seem too pivotal to the plot, but she doesn’t have to be to be a well developed character. We are first led to believe that she is nothing more than a groupie for Girls Dead Monster, citing Iwasawa as her idol. Her outlandish and childish behavior seems to reinforce that fact. She is constantly bubbling over with energy trying to do everything and help everyone. We find out that she can play the guitar and is an adequate fill-in front woman after Iwasawa moves on. Yui is on this list because of her back story. We find out her childhood was spent in bed with nothing but TV and her mother for company. She believes herself to have been a burden on her mother and was happy when she died knowing that her mother would be free of taking care of her. She viewed the afterlife as a place to do all those things she never got to do in life including finding love. The what-if story recited by Hinata, the boy she loved, about what their life together would have been like and how he felt they would have been happy even in her condition is extremely moving.

Kanade is a small, quiet girl who is the student council president of the purgatory high school. She has dedicated her afterlife to promoting order to ensure a happy school life for all the souls who find themselves there. Her efforts to help others move on have often left her isolated. The SSS misinterprets this as her “obliterating” students and sending them literally God-knows-where. The rebels simply refer to her as an angel, believing that she actually is a messenger from the God that gave them all such a raw deal in life. We find little about the back-story of Kanade. Her time in purgatory is spent helping others and defending herself from the attacks and mischief of Battle Front. Kanade is on the list for her willingness to let bygones be bygones and throw her lot in with the SSS when they work out their issues with each other. You also have to respect her single-mindedness in protecting the peace at the sacrifice of her own happiness to ensure other students move on.

We are introduced to the world of the Angel Beats! through Otonashi when he wakes up on the sidewalk, is confronted by a girl with a gun and is moments later stabbed through the heart. He suffers from amnesia in the first half of the series and doesn’t know how he died or much about his life other than he felt like he didn’t accomplish anything with it. We also find him functioning as the straight man in many of the comedic situations. He seems to have a bit more common sense than the other members of the Afterlife Battle Front. We quickly learn he is kind, willing to listen and tries to understand even those who seem to be his enemy, namely Kanade. Otonashi makes the second spot on this list not because of what he accomplished in death, but what he accomplished in life. We eventually learn, as does Otonashi, that he was about to enter medical school to become a doctor – inspired by the death of his sister. The train he was on derailed in a tunnel and was stranded for days. He took it upon himself to take care of the injured, despite being injured himself. In the final moments of his life he inspires others to become organ donors and feels fulfilled knowing his life could save others. We, (I), would like to thank the writers for making this an important plot point.

Yuri is the leader of Afterlife Battle Front and is the first person Otonashi meets in purgatory. She is considered not only the leader but also the chief strategist of the resistance movement. She is charismatic, hard-working and determined. She does take part in operations, in many cases when it is hopeless and everyone will end up “dead,” but often sits back and watches from their headquarters through binoculars. We find out that when she was a child she was forced to watch her younger siblings die one by one during a home invasion. Her life sucked; it was unfulfilled and she was sent to this purgatory for a second chance at peace. Yuri is number one because she picked a fight with God. The rage and bravado to be willing to go to war with God is worth a number one ranking. She felt any god that let her younger siblings die in such a horrible way didn’t deserve her respect. She figured if the purgatory school was part of the divine’s plan she would wreck it out of spite. Again, Yuri is number one on this list because of the brass pair she must be hiding under her skirt. She is one tough girl.