Natsume Yuujinchou has a similar plot to xxxHOLiC, the main character, Natsume Takashi has the ability to see spirits and finds that his encounter with spirits are inevitable. His goal becomes clear when he inherited his grandmother’s Yuujinchou (Book of Friends) that can be used to control spirits.

Together with Nyanko-sensei, a Madara spirit that Takashi accidentally rescued, the pair embarks on a journey to free the spirits who are bound to the Book of Friends. The anime unfolds more like a slice-of-life with each episode, often including new spirit encounters that Takashi will have to deal with.

Rather than dealing with spirits, the main character in this anime, Mushi Master Ginko, deals with a form of life that can take on characteristics of the human world such as plants, animals, etc. These beings are commonly known as ‘Mushi’. He then embarks on a journey to help people who have problems regarding ‘Mushi’ since not everyone can see them. Journey with Mushi Master Ginko as he uncovers the true meaning of life behind the existence of ‘Mushi’ in this Mystery, supernaturally packed anime series.

Mushi-Shi has pretty much the same plot and theme as xxxHOLiC but with lighter settings and a more heart-warming outcome as the story progresses. As for the character development, the protagonists in both anime becomes more ‘mature’ during their respective journeys.

Here’s another anime that I reckon similar to xxxHOLiC. Ghost Hunt unfolds with a schoolgirl, Taniyama Mai that became acquainted with Shibuya Kazuya (the head of the Shibuya Psychic Research Company) and later became his assistant after an incident that resulted in the injury of his former assistant.

Mai helps Shibuya uncover mysteries and hunt for supernatural beings in their adventures. Ghost Hunt and its mystery, supernatural, and comedy themes will certainly give viewers what they expect from the series.

The plot is a bit different from xxxHOLiC, as this anime revolves more around hunting supernatural beings. However, it has the same theme: often displaying detective-like ways to solve the mysteries behind weird occurrences involving the supernatural beings they come across along their journey.

Although lacking a bit on the comedy side, this anime will still not fail to entertain those who like mystery and a side of supernatural to go with it. The main character, Yakumo Saito (a private detective and a college student) being born with a red left eye, has the ability to see spirits and ghosts around him.

He later gets acquainted with Haruka Ozawa after being asked for help. Together they help solve crimes and mysteries with the help of Yakumo’s abilities.

The setting in this anime is somewhat similar but darker than xxxHOLiC, as the plot presents a much more mysterious and darker sense of things around the characters as they receive help from spirits to solve cases. And there is a somewhat heart-warming twist in the plot involving the spirits that they encountered and helped.

If you really enjoy the essence of comedy in xxxHOLIC, chances are, you are going to enjoy the comedy offered up by this anime. Basically, it has every essence xxxHOLIC has to offer. The only difference this time is that this anime has more romantic comedy in it.

The plot centers on the Ministry of Spirits being built to establish a form of collaboration between the spirits and humans. The romantic comedy really flourishes as one of the lieutenants, Agemaki Kei, being very afraid of spirits, was chosen to live alongside those very spirits.

The chemistry between the characters in this anime is quite similar to that of xxxHOLiC, with Watanuki’s misguided infatuation towards Himawari. Here, we have a similar protagonist who’s terrified of spirits and later develops a closer relationship with his spirit partner. The setting is however much lighter than xxxHOLiC – often with no eerie music playing in the background. Nonetheless, the characters in this anime will definitely intrigue those who enjoy a good classic romantic comedy.

Nurarihyon no Mago is about a boy, Rikuo Nura, being born with the blood of the leader of Nura Clan is destined to be the next successor of his clan. But he wanted to have a normal life despite his destiny. He then slowly accepts his fate to lead demons after several encounters with other demons on several occasions.

The overall plot in this anime is similar to that of xxxHOLiC, as Nura, who possesses the ability to see other demons, tries to deny his destiny so that he can live a normal life. Despite the fact that this anime does come with a more action-based theme, it still gives the viewers a sense of comedic conflict between Nura’s normal life and his clan.

Dantalian no Shoka revolves around the story of Hugh Anthony Disward, who inherits an old manor and a personal library from his grandfather. Little does he know that the library houses a mysterious girl, Dallan, who is a gateway to Dantalian’s bookshelf, a repository for a number of demonic books that may very well endanger the balance of the world. Together, they solves mysteries and try to keep the ancient library away from the hands of undesirables.

The similarities between Dantalian no Shoka and Gosick are pretty overt. The dynamics of the two main characters, for one, are quite similar, with both anime featuring a good-hearted male lead and an assertive female led. The art style of both anime is dark and gothic, and both of them deal with the macabre theme of death and the supernatural. The quality of animation for both series is also excellent, with great backdrops and fluidly-animated scenes all throughout.

Kamisama no Memochou features the story of Narumi Fujishima, a typical high school student who has never really fit in with any group in his school. Being usually isolated from his classmates, his life takes a turn for the unnatural when Ayaka, the only member of the Gardening Club, introduces him to Alice, a young girl who is an expert hacker and a very exclusive private detective. Soon, Narumi finds himself taking on cases as part of Alice’s exclusive elite team of associate as they battle gang, murderers, drug lords, and many more.

One cannot really deny the similarity between Kamisama no Memochou and Gosick, with both anime featuring similar concepts such as the reclusive young female detective and and a male lead who is a lot less assertive than the female. The tsundere element is also very overt in both series. Lastly, both involve mysteries that the main characters are tasked to solve. Oh yeah, Kamisama no Memochou also aired on the very day that Gosick ended, catering to the very demographic that the latter was able to grasp.

Shinjurou Tuuki, a young man with a passion for mysteries and things that need to be solved, lives in the sinister underworld of a dystopian Tokyo. In a dangerous and deadly place, he pursues his job as “The Last Great Detective,” solving cases and coming head to head with sinister forces lurking within the ravaged city. WIth the help of his brilliant associate, Inga, he attempts to take on the dark underworld’s most protected and valued secrets.

Though Un-Go received some flak from its viewers during its run due to the pacing of the initial episodes, once the story picked up, however, it managed t draw a lot more viewers in. Both Un-Go and Gosick have great, pretty fluid animation, with characters who are talented at deductive reasoning. The backdrops for both anime are pretty intricate as well, and both feature good music that goes well with the series’ atmosphere. Overall, the story arcs for both anime are also enough to draw the viewers’ interest, culminating in a finale that is both memorable and worth it.

Umineko is a straight-up mystery anime, taking place on the island of Rokkenjima, which is owned by the wealthy Ushiromiya family. During their customary annual get together in the island, things turn dark, as the family patriarch, who has recently been fascinated by ancient black magic, attempts to revive his long lost beloved. Things do not go well, however, as a storm quickly batters the island, trapping everyone in it. Soon, the family members find themselves trapped in a deadly game of survival and a struggle between fantasy and reality.

Both Umineko and Gosick are anime which feature a distinctly European setting. The costumes of the characters, for one, are very Victorian. Also, both Umineko and Gosick deal with the supernatural, or at least the possibility of the supernatural. The sense of mystery i both anime is also very apparent, as well as the dark undertones and mystery that lie within the anime’s plot.

Ghost Hunt centers around Taniyama Mai, a schoolgirl who is fascinated with stories of the supernatural. A number of these supernatural stories is centered on an abandoned school building on campus. While investigating the building one day however, she inadvertently gets in the way of an investigation being initiated by Shibuya Kazuya, the 17-year-old president of the Shibuya Psychic Research Company. Soon, she finds herself being drawn to the group, solving mysteries and delving into the paranormal.

Both Ghost Hunt and Gosick are prime examples of the detective genre, featuring a cast of interesting characters, brilliant protagonists with an amazing ability to analyze and solve mysteries, and a dark undertone to the plot. Bofh series also offer pretty high production values, with a number of overarching story arcs that feature memorable mysteries set against a foreboding atmosphere.

Detective Conan is arguably anime’s most prolific detective series, spanning a run that is almost 20 years long. Yes, that’s right, the iconix story of young genius sleuth Shinichi Kudo and his team of detectives has managed to endear itself to viewers since 1996. With a storyline that has proven to be ever-engaging, as well as several arcs which made the series into a household name, Detective Conan is arguably the very definition of a detective anime.

With that said, the similarities between Detective Conan and Gosick are, just as other entries in this list, pretty overt. Both anime deal with characters who are well-rounded, and who are endowed with the most unique set of skills and powers of deduction. Plot-wise, both anime also feature a very rich plot that has layers beneath what is currently onscreen. Overall, these two anime provide enjoyment to the viewer in level rarely achieved by any other series.

Nekomusume translates to “cat daughter.” Nekomusume however is different from a cat girl because while she does show up as a full grown adult, she acts more like a cat. She is introduced in xxxHOLiC chasing a goldfish and eventually becomes a customer of the shop!

Nekomusume is really into wearing a red skirt with a black top and a red tie. She appears for the most part as this, but there is another time where she shows up in regular street clothes. One this that Nekomusume is always wearing is some form of a collar. It’s always on her wrist or her neck.

Maru and Moro are Yuuko’s assistants that are supposed to help her around the shop but they usually leave it to Watanuki to do. They always support Yuuko in every decision that she makes and that includes if that means delegating work to Watanuki! They are the two spirits that keep the shop visible in the real everyday world. They do not have souls which is why they cannot ever leave the shop.

Maru is the older of the two twins and has the long, curly blue pigtails while Moro is the one with the short pink bob hairdo. Maru predominantly wears a black and white old fashioned looking outfit that sometimes shows up as brown, while Moro wears a white outfit with a red ribbon tied around her waist. These are slightly indicative of their personalities as well. Maru is a bit more mature than her “twin” Moro who is innocent in contrast.

Originally, Kohane shows up on a TV show about psychics and Yuuko takes interest in her. As she does have a gift to see ghosts, her mother goes insane to try and keep her daughter in the limelight and making money. This makes Kohane a bit of a sad and quiet type of character. She eventually becomes isolated. Watanuki is the only one who can make her smile and thus, she is drawn to him when she happens to meet him by chance.

Because, for the most part in the anime at least, Kohane is 9 years old, she does dress like a child. In the OVA’s she does grow up a bit, but she’s usually a sweet girl around Watanuki wearing a green and white dress or a pale pink and white one while having a calm expression.

This woman I swear… Jorogumo which translates to, I kid you not, spider prostitute, is a quite well-dressed villainess if I do say so myself. She appears in the spirit world and (SPOILERS) kidnaps Zashiki Warashi. She also is the one who eats Watanuki’s eye to teach him a lesson. The irony is though, that while I would classify her as a villainess myself, apparently the jury is out on whether or not she is an actual villainess or just a character.

Jorougumo looks like she walked out of a Lolita magazine for adults. She is the ONLY character to have blonde hair. She also wears red lipstick and has black eyes. She shows up wearing fishnet gloves as well as what is supposed to be a frilly dress. The straps are undone though so that the dress can hang a bit lower on her body. The dress is purple by the way.

Jorougumo exists almost as a juxtaposition to Ame Warashi in the sense that her fashion is very open and shows skin while Ame Warashi’s is not. There is also a ribbon tied around her waist that flows longer than her body. She also has a spider choker that she wears and has long purple nails too.

I thought about originally putting Ame Warashi higher on this list, but her sour demeanor is what put her in at #6. Ame Warashi appears when she has a request for Yuuko to let her borrow Watanuki to help her with a plant at the park. She has a very short temper and holds humans in disregard. She has even been known to hit people, that’s right hit, with her umbrella! Speaking of umbrellas, she can summon rain!

She is a character who wears the other extreme of Lolita fashion. In a juxtaposition to Jorougumo, her fashion is very Victorian-esque with many frills, a flowing, fluffy dress that ends at her knees, and white lace on her socks. In regards to the spider choker that Jorougumo wears, she has a frilly neck choker type thing. One could say she is the antithesis of Jorougumo!

Zashiki Warashi is the partner in crime to the Ame Warashi. Well kinda… she’s a very sweet and mild girl. She is childlike in appearance and innocent while crying at the drop of a hat. She does get captured at one point by (SPOILER) Jorougumo and is rescued by Watanuki after he loses an eye in the process of saving her. She is a very tender individual as well.

As for her fashion, Zashiki Warashi goes all out and wears traditional Kimonos. She looks adorable in her pink kimono with the slight red flairs at the bottom of it. She has a wind pipe that she also does play from time to time. In the OVA’s however, she does switch it up and turn everything into what feels like a church going outfit. She wears a big white hat along with a white dress.

While Watanuki is busy trying to impress Himawari and win her feelings, Doumeki is there every time to foil his attempts by existing and causing Watanuki to burst out in anger. Now, Doumeki usually only has two outfits that he wears in the show, his school uniform and his archery getup. For this part and the next two characters, I will also be including some of the looks provided by the manga.

In the show, the relationship between Doumeki and Watanuki is very important and while it is a friendship, it often feels like it’s bordering on romance. So in order to keep things slightly vague, Doumeki tends to be fairly quiet, unless he’s messing with Watanuki, and his clothes represent that.

Now with reference to his manga getup, the included picture shows his latent power in reference to the falcon he had on his arm. He also is shown to be quite well dressed in tuxedoes and suits. He is usually matching Watanuki in some form or another as reference to their bond.

Himawari Kunogi is the classmate of Watanuki and Doumeki. She is actually cursed and brings bad luck to everyone who comes into contact with her. Watanuki is not elt down by this and still tried to pursue her. She usually appears with long spiral curls down her back and in her school uniform. She will always have a smile painted on her face as she tries to stay s upbeat as possible.

Due to her unfortunate role in this series as not “being Watanuki’s goddess of good luck,” she is given much more adorable clothing in the manga art. She is adorned with pearls in her hair along with a smile always. Keeping in theme with the Ame Warashi and Zashiki Warashi, she is given very regal, Lolita-esque fashion or traditional Japanese fashion. She really seems to have an amazingly bright personality when she shows up like this.

Watanuki is the center protagonist to xxxHOLiC. He works at Yuuko’s shop to pay back his debt of her removing the curse of spirits being attracted to him. Watanuki is a very spastic, and vibrant character that shows a range of emotions. He is essentially Yuuko’s slave though, and has to do all the cleaning, cooking, and shopping for her.

Watanuki is shown usually in his standard black school uniform, much like Doumeki and Himawari are, or in a bandanna and a giant apron because he’s cooking for/serving Yuuko. He does wear a yukata a few times, but the symbolic nature between Watanuki and Yuuko is shown more in the manga art when it shows them wearing either complementing or matching outfits.

I mean you saw this coming right? As the (SPOILERS) Witch of Space and Time, Yuuko has had a lot of time to amass a very interesting wardrobe. In the show, right from the first episode she is shown in a kimono with an oversize obi bow on the front. She tried to keep up her front of being stoic by smoking but she has expensive tastes as well as a love for sake.

Back to the outfit for the first episode, she wears a very large bow with a red kimono that has white patterns. She has been known to step out in everyday life but when she does, she will wear crop tops with unnecessarily long sleeves with jeans or something form fitting. When wearing kimono, she does sometimes wear head pieces like Ame warashi, but in the sense that it’s a flower or a hair clip.

She will usually also wear her hair down more often than not. However as the witch of space and time, she is drawn all out with all the bells and whistles and that is why she deserves to be number one on this list!

Amnesia's plot premise of having an amnesiac trying to recover her memories from interactions with other romantically-involved characters... is not entirely as ‘distinct’ as I have put. Yes, some other people have been crazy enough to think this up, even though it isn't that bad an idea really, just unique. In this case, being Golden Time, the main character is of the reverse gender, and so it is not exactly a Reverse Harem, but a Normal Harem, or whatever the equivalent for that is. They do share the same "golden" idea of a premise though, about amnesiacs or have you forgot ;)?

It seems it is proven my point on how unique the story of Amnesia is, given the difficulties I am facing in finding satisfactorily similar titles to it. So I have taken a dissection of the main themes, and by this thin association, have them related as "recommendations". With the second up, it is another Reverse Harem anime, Fruits Basket. This series have the same erotic arrangement of a Reverse Harem, lots of bishie men chasing the main character, who is in the best of descriptions, "shy". Or more flat-out without character, so if you want a Reverse Harem anime with the main character being "shy" but not boring, Fruits Basket is for you! In this case she is actually shy, and not no-life and no personality. And oh yeah, the premise of this is way cooler! Something about bishie-men transforming into Chinese Zodiac animals when they are hugged by the opposite sex. That is so...interestingly way out there, almost like Amnesia's but cuter.

I shall refer another anime based on the same theme, again. Called sensibly Brothers Conflict, we can only imagine that the conflict in question is the contest of love for the one individual that is the main character; it seems also that this anime has an incest theme. Simply because the girl is also their sister by marriage of their parents, and that is why I used the term incest for this anime. This is as standard as any Reverse Harem type anime, and the timeworn question it poses and asks: who gets the girl? For the Normal Harem type, I believe it is: can the guy get all the girls? So apart from that incest theme, there are strong similarities between the two anime, both originating first as visual novels. Also, if you like boring, flat female leads, both animes have that, together with the usual plot of lots of hot bishies falling for her, not to mention that plot device we call a spiritual aide, protecting and advising her.

Miracle Train has many similar aspects to Amnesia, one of them of course being both Reverse Harem, but also on the supernatual feel, for the Miracle Train being, well, the train itself, and how only the team of bishies, a host club of the train in question, has the ability to even see it in the first place, guiding those worried and troubled girls on a ride they will never forget. Not what you are thinking though, basically the host club is some sort of psychotherapy team. For Amnesia, you already know it as a one-dimensional girl, that speaks nothing beyond short sentences with a gasp at the end, who became an amnesiac after colliding with some supernatual spirit. So besides similarity on feel, the pacing of the story is very similar too, which I imagine as how each episode for both animes begins seemingly and entirely unrelated, with little true plot or character progress, although they both save themselves and get interesting by the 6th episode and yonder. The difference is in how Miracle Train doesn't revolve around a single female lead, with the bishounen of the host club interacting with the many women that board the train, and in Amnesia, the female lead passes through different alternate universes for each of her bishie encounter, all of which are represented by card suits, from Heart, Spade, Clover, Diamond and Joker. Miracle Train too has the bonus of introducing the scenic elements of the route the miracle train travels on, which is the Oedo-line, I believe. I suppose the creators thought that a train-line with a host club is a winning combo.

So far we have covered incest, host club in train stations with similar pacing, another anime about amnesia, and the last being about Chinese Zodiac animals, all of which have the bonus of being Reverse Harem animes at the same time. It is just so that I found another unlikely theme, one of confusion. It is not exactly that surprising, given there is only so much you can differentiate the plot of a Reverse Harem type anime. All the guys want a piece of the action, which is basically as normal and close to reality as it gets. Turning out that this is the fantasy of a lot of girls sure help us otakus to dream on that, so it appeals to both guys and gals. According to what is similar between the two, is the theme of confusion, partly mistaken as mystery, that you only get the idea of both plots at the end of the series. In light of that, I only recommend this anime, K, because quote for truth, "Worth watching if you like to get confused." Which is the strangest promotional caption I have ever heard.

At the sixth and last recommendation, I will end it with one last standard Reverse Harem anime, as classic and typical as it gets. It even shows in the name: it mentions the word prince. That's bound to get any girl wet. And just to show the quality of this Reverse Harem anime, it has been described as "just absolutely fun to watch". Both of the female leads are almost entirely emotionless, with the bishie guys all after her. In fact, they work along the same plot mechanic, with each guy having an episode or arc just devoted to them, and to her as well of course. It takes two to tango, although we can have more than just two persons of course, but then that will turn into a shounen genre, instead of a shoujo, if you know what I mean?

Adapted from a series of popular novels, this anime centers around Aya Tachibana, a sixth-grader who finds herself joining the eponymous Tantei Team KZ, a detective team comprised of young people, each with a unique set of skills. Joining the group as the “language expert,” Aya finds herself taking part in solving cases with the group, if only the others members can get along! Helmed by Kazuya Ichikawa, the director behind titles such as Monster Strike and the action-packed shounen anime Shadow Skill 3, Tantei Team KZ Jiken Note sure looks like a very a interesting entry in this year’s Fall anime list.

Yet another mystery anime that was adapted from a series of light novels, A Corpse is Buried Under Sakurako's Feet is the brainchild of author Shiori Ota and illustrator Tetsuo. The series proved to be very popular, with currently more than 600,000 copies in print. The story revolves around two protagonists, high school student Shōtarō Tatewaki and the beautiful Sakurako Kujyō. Together, the unlikely duo tackle and solve mysteries. The lineup of the minds behind the series is very encouraging, with director Makoto Kato, who served as the episode director for Servant x Service and Btooom! in the helm and Makoto Bessho, episode director for popular hits Death Note and Attack on Titan, serving as the assistant director. With the novel’s storyline, this anime is almost certainly going to be memorable and notable at the same time.

This particular title has its roots from a bestselling mystery novel written by acclaimed author Hiroshi Mori back in 1996. The main storyline revolves around Sōhei Saikawa, a member of the Saikawa Research Lab, who, while on vacation meets Moe Nishinosono, the daughter of his mentor. After finding a corpse, the two sleuths begin working together in order to solve a mystery that is soon developing into a terrifying serial murder case. The 1996 novel was widely successful, garnering praise from both readers and critics alike. In fact, it was so popular that a manga, a Playstation video game, and a live-action adaptation have already been done before. With this said, the anime has some pretty big shoes to fill. Nevertheless, with director Mamoru Kanbe in the lead, this anime just may be one of the best titles that will come out this Fall.

Serving as a prequel to one of anime’s most famous stories, Young Black Jack tells the story of Osamu Tezuka’s iconic doctor back in his medical school days, when his unique set of skills in the field of medicine are only starting to emerge. Based on a manga that has already proven itself successful, one can only hope that this anime adaptation will do the character, which is arguably the most notable doctor in the world of anime, justice. So far, early reviews of the anime have noted that the new adaptation has opted for a more modernized, thematically different approach, which surprised a number of hardcore fans of the original story. However, based from the initial impression of professional reviewers, one can really be certain of one thing - this anime has, just like Black jack himself, a lot of tricks up his sleeve.

Kagewani is quite a unique entry in this year’s Fall anime lineup, since the series opted for a somewhat unconventional approach to its storytelling. Telling its story as a series of short films and drawn in a fairly classic style, the story of Sousuke Banba, a scientist attempting to solve the mysteries behind the appearance of violent monsters that suddenly emerged, is something that is very much memorable. Early reviews of the anime lauded it for its bold approach to its storytelling. The departure of the format from the traditional 20+ minute episode to the shorter, more concise, 7 min episode actually works in the plot’s favor, creating a mood that is extremely creepy, and disturbing at the least.

Just like Young Jack Black, this anime is based off a bestselling manga series in the past, which is widely regarded as one of the first, and one of the best, real mystery manga ever written. Featuring the adventures of young, genius detective Hajime Kindaichi, the new season of the anime adaptation of this well-loved manga series is much awaited. So far, the reviews of the first season have been fairly positive, with viewers and critics lauding the series’ pace and storytelling. Some, in fact, have even gone as far as comparing the series favorably to Detective Conan, which is arguably the most notable detective anime series ever created. With clever stories, mysteries that are intelligently constructed, the second season of Kindaichi Case Files Returns is surely one to look forward to!

Yet another entry into the acclaimed Monotagari series, Owarimonogatari contains several notable arcs in the light novels that the anime is based from. Continuing the story of average high school student turned vampire turned altruistic friend Koyomi Araragi, Owarimonogatari is looking to be one of the best entries into the anime’s massive franchise. Early reviews of this anime have been universally positive, with viewers stating that it is one series that not only honors its roots, it also pushes the story further forward. Some reviewers have even dubbed this anime as a modern classic, with enough intelligent plot twists and realistic character development to keep the viewers guessing.

Kowabon is arguably the most unique mystery anime that is included in this Fall’s list. An original story that features a rare animation technique called rotoscoping, the haunting story f the darker side of technology and the way it takes control of our lives is fully brought into focus. Timely and eerily realistic, this anime is something that has induced chills up many viewers’ spines. Though a number of conventional fans of anime have shrugged off the series’ use of live action footage as a basis for the animation sequences, this use of rotoscoping in this anime is nonetheless very artistic. If you do get the chance to check this anime out, I would highly suggest that you try it! I myself am very excited for this, especially since its theme is highly relatable for the common man.

From the same creators of Monster, Death Note is without a doubt, the first thing on most anime lovers mind when it comes to the psychological genre. The battle of two geniuses of the mind is what kept the audience on the edge of the seats in this psychological masterpiece. On the side of the dark, Light Yagami (ironic) aka Kira believes that he can purge society's evilest of Men by using the Death Note, a mystical notebook that grants its user to command the death of others simply by writing their names and nature of death in the book. On the side of light and of law and order, the mysterious individual only known to most as 'L' is the world's leading detective who is committed to apprehending Kira as he find his methods misaligned. What captivates me and audience alike is the unpredictable situations that arise and the ingenuity of these two men to constantly find each other. There are a couple of close brushes, but who am I to spoil you. Between these two geniuses, there are no clear winners.

The mysterious death of a student 23 years ago. A town that is the embodiment of fear itself. Who is the girl donning the eye-patch? Koichi Sakakibara transferred into Yomiyama North. He will soon realise the dark secret haunting the community. To add to the suspense, the students of Yomiyama are dying off in gruesome deaths one-by-one. He will need to uncover the truth behind those deaths and the secret of the town as well. Yet another anime that compels you to watch just that one more episode. Another places more emphasis on the mystery. However, that is not to say that the psychological theme has been downplayed. Fans are still left to guess who the perpetrator of the mystery is. The series did great in portraying the protagonist thoughts brilliantly as well which makes viewer connect with the character even more. This is an anime that leaves anime lovers hungering for more until the mystery is solved.

Set in the town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi realises that the peaceful life that he presumably thought will not last. Just like Another, this village held its own dark secret. Separated into different arcs, the story presents itself in the viewpoint of the different characters. This serves to unfold the relations that each character have in relation to a murder in the village. The story starts out very sweet and pleasant almost kind of like the starting to any good slice of life/harem show. It is only towards the middle where the story gets progressively darker and the intentions of the characters start to show themselves. Did I mention that there will be more blood and killings? The title art may fool anyone into believing this to be a moe harem show but be warned, this show gives due credit to the psychological thriller genre.

Shinjurou Yuuki, also known as the Defeated Detective. Aided by his partner, an oddball only known as Inga, both of them tackle cases that baffled even the police. A well-written piece of work, it borders on the psychological genre as the story progresses along. Inga happens to also be a supernatural entity who allows Yuuki to force the suspect to answer a single question. This anime is filled with twists and it never fails to stimulate your mind as to how it can progress from thereon. Each episode is separated into different unique cases and along the way; Yuuki will also start to discover more about his strange partner and their encounter.

Shiki is a series about vampires in a rural town. It sounds cliché but what made it one of the better anime is the infusion of psychological traits in the series. Set in the village of Sotoba, the legend works the same way, get bitten by a vampire and you will turn into one too. Dr Toshio Ozaki is adamant on stamping out the epidemic only to soon realise that it is borders more on the supernatural than medical science. The next protagonist, Natsuno Yuuki came from the city and it wasn't long before he is left to wonder about the recent deaths occurring in the village. Both have to deal with uncovering the truth on the cause of the mysterious deaths, the revivals of supposed dead villagers as well as cope with the panic and mania as it ensues the village. Shiki is one of the more beloved anime of the genre. What is particular unique and poignant is that it takes an unorthodox route of story presentation and portrays the side of the 'antagonists' as well. The story is split between the humans and vampires with the humans fighting against the vampires and the vampire's own struggle to survive. This anime has a more endearing aspect to it despite its horror category in the way that it makes you sympathize with the supposed antagonist. It begs the question in the whole series - who are the true villains and are humans the biggest antagonists?. Vampires were not given a chance to decide their lives after all. For enthusiasts of Monster, this anime has the same level of thought provoking concepts and ideals and worthy of the psychological genre in anime.

Psycho-pass is set in a world where the culpability of committing crimes can be measured. Known as the Sibyl System, humans are measured based on their Crime Coefficient. In an almost dystopian future, where humanity is controlled by the Sibyl System, strict conformance to the system is mandatory. The story of Psycho Pass revolves around police work. These inspectors are aided by Enforcers who are individuals with a Crime Coefficient deemed too high by the system and as such, labeled latent criminals with the Sibyl System using them in order to apprehend more criminals. Shinya Kogami is an Enforcer and throughout the story, he is keen to arrest an enigmatic shadow who apparently, cannot be judged by the Sibyl System. The story places great emphasis on the apprehension of the mysterious individual whose identity is not revealed until the middle of the series with the story in suspense until its ultimate conclusion befitting the genre. Aiding Inspector Akane Tsunemori, both of them will work hand in hand to solve multiple cases while closing in on the mastermind of the crimes and the true nature of the Sibyl System. Viewers will be shown the thought processes of someone who is deemed as a latent criminal and someone deemed to be pure with both pondering the question of whether the Sibyl system is really a perfect system after all. An original anime, this is yet another masterfully crafted original from Gen Urobuchi who is well-renowned for his dark and mature style of anime.

In a post-apocalyptic future, mankind lives in domed cities scattered around the globe. One of these cities, Romdo, is controlled by a shady elite, and androids called AutoReivs are employed to assist humans in everyday life. When AutoReivs start going mad after infection with the Cogito virus, Real Mayer is asked to investigate. In the process her fate becomes intertwined with the mysterious Vincent Law, and the monsters known as the Proxies. Though not exactly a cyberpunk series, Ergo Proxy shares a lot of the futuristic and philosophical elements of Ghost in the Shell. Real Mayer is similar to Kusanagi in looks, and the fact that she is a total badass. Fans of GITS will also enjoy the dark tone of the series.

Psycho-Pass follows Akane Tsunemori as she begins her career as an Inspector for the Enforcement Division. Set in the near future, all citizens are under constant surveillance by a giant supercomputer known as the Sybil system. Criminals are now detected before they commit a crime, based on their Psycho-Pass, which is a measure of everything in the mind, including emotions, thoughts and fears. The series follows Akane as she loses her naivety in a cruel dystopian world, and discovers a terrible secret at the heart of this “perfect” world. Psycho-Pass bears much similarity to Arise, being episodic, but having an overarching plot which links everything together in the end. The two also show a future world where humans have become incredibly dependent on technology, and where virtual interactions are increasingly dangerous. Fans of the original GITS movie will also appreciate the dark plot and gory action.

Akira is set in the aftermath of World War III, and follows Kaneda and Tetsuo, two friends who are part of a biker gang in the post-apocalyptic chaos of Neo-Tokyo. Kaneda is confident and a natural leader, but Tetsuo is shy and often bullied. When military experiments awaken Testuo’s latent psychic powers, he sets out to take revenge on his past tormentors. The parellels between Akira and the original GITS movie are striking. Both are feature gorgeous hand-drawn panels, and have a dark cyberpunk aesthetic which excites fans even today. Akira features an incredible, twisting plot, and fans of GITS will enjoy the brutal gore of SWAT teams going toe-to-toe against powerful teenage psychics.

Hei and Yin are “Contractors”, individuals who developed psychic powers after the appearance of the mysterious Hell’s Gate. The duo, and many others like them, are kept secret by the world’s governments, whilst working in the shadows to perform tasks which no ordinary human can. Darker than Black is for anyone who enjoyed the style of Stand Alone Complex and Arise, but are also fans of fantasy series. Both franchises focus on individuals who are different from the rest of society; Contractors have psychic powers, and Motoko’s team are pretty much all full body cyborgs (both sets of characters are also damn cool!). Darker than Black is also (as the name suggests) pretty dark, and the plot is similar to GITS in that each episode features a new storyline, which all link up at the end of the series. Fans of SAC will also enjoy the Darker than Black’s killer soundtrack which is also by Yoko Kanno.

Set in Mardock, the First Compression takes place in a city stalked by a plague of brutal murders. In a last-ditch attempt to clean up the city, Scramble-09 has been enacted, which allows investigators to revive murder victims to aid their investigations. When Ruth Balot is revived as a full-body cyborg, she has only one thing on her mind; revenge. Mardock Scramble at first seems to be heavily influenced by Ghost in the Shell, but definitely manages to maintain its own identity and though both franchises have a female lead, the actual characters couldn’t be more different. That being said, GITS fans will enjoy the dark, cyberpunk world which Mardock Scramble plunges viewers into. Particularly appealing are the art style and awesome future tech!

It’s 2032, and MegaTokyo is faced with a menace. Boomers are near-invincible androids which are designed to perform menial tasks around the city. The problem is, they’re beginning to go haywire and attack people all over the city. The series follows a team of femmes fatales known as the Knight Sabers, as they face off, armed to the teeth, against a horde of crazed androids. Bubblegum Crisis is a cult series from the 90s, which will appeal to anyone who enjoyed Motoko Kusanagi’s badass antics in GITS. Both are set in a sprawling metropolis, in a world where the technology humans rely on can go horribly wrong. Bubblegum Crisis explores human identity in the cybernetic world, set to a backdrop of intense action!

An unsettling string of murders has taken place. Young school girls have been killed, chopped up, and placed into boxes. The story follows Shutaro Kiba. He is a private detective who has been hired by one of the victims’ mothers. He receives help from his colleagues and friends. Together they solve this bizarre case and seek justice. Though Mouryou no Hako makes use of the supernatural and has a bit more thought-provoking dialog, this intellectual thriller shares some similarities with Subete ga F ni Naru. For example: everything shown in flashbacks and mentioned by the characters is important. Though it may seem negligible at first it, it ties back to who the murderer is and their motivation. The dark atmosphere also contains some characters that seem fated to solve the mystery. In Moryou those characters are Kiba, Chuuzenji Akihiko, Enokizu Rejiro, and Sekiguchi Tatsumi. In Subete they are Professor Saikawa Souhei and Nishinosono Moe. The professor seems to be one of Magata Shiki’s biggest admirers. He can easily identify with her thought process and philosophy. Moe is infatuated with the professor so much that she went and visited Magata on the secluded island. She was one of the last people to have a conversation with her. So, it appears as if they are somehow connected to Magata’s death and were meant to discover her corpse.

Kazuya Kujo is a young man studying abroad at Saint Marguerite Academy. In that town, there are plenty of ghost stories and urban legends, but one stands above them all. The Queen Berry is a haunted ship that has a long history and was tied to a series of bloody murders during the First World War. Though Kazuya generally ignores the ghost stories, his eccentric friend, Victorique, loves the morbid tales. Her curious nature and extremely logical approach to problems has allowed her to solve some of the town’s most puzzling mysteries. One case leads to an elaborate dinner on the Queen Berry. This sets in motion events and connections that will uncover a much more dangerous issue than the individual cases they have been solving. The first thing that GOSICK shares with Subete is the atmosphere. Both shows have a dark tone and pacing that seems to weigh down the characters and story. An underlying sense of the supernatural surrounds them at all times. There are also female geniuses in both shows. GOSICK has Victorique while Subete has Shiki and Moe. Moe shares some personality traits with Victorique. Both can be rudely blunt, they react with quick whips when frustrated, and they have feelings for their male counterparts (though Moe is much more overt about hers).

Lain Iwakura is a fourteen-year-old girl who has trouble using even the most basic technological gadgets. One day she and other girls from her school receive a cryptic email from a fellow classmate that recently committed suicide. As if that wasn’t strange enough, when Lain opens the email she is introduced to a virtual world known as the Wired aka the Internet. From there, she has her world turned upside down. Cyberspace bombards her with bizarre messages and imagery that stretches her notions of existence and reality. And she comes into contact with people and events that force her to question what is an “identity” or “consciousness”. Lain plays various roles depending on the situation at hand. The show slowly reveals different sides of this aloof genius that the audience would have originally not believed. It’s difficult to pinpoint who she really is and what her motives are. It’s very similar to how Magata Shiki is portrayed early on in Subete. Though she doesn’t come off as aloof or naïve, she does keep her cards close to the chest, so to speak. Her facial expressions and probing questions reveal nothing of what she’s thinking or feeling. All you know for sure is that you can’t take anything she says at face value. There is a deep meaning in her words and even deeper meaning to her actions. Like Subete, Serial Experiments Lain utilizes atmosphere and philosophical thoughts concerning programming and computers. However it amps them up exponentially. Where Subete contains short esoteric dialogues about programming and consciousness, Serial takes those thought experiments and puts them in-plain-view. Lain (and the viewer) grapples with what she is shown and how it conflicts with what she (and the viewer) thought to be real.

Shoutarou Tatewaki is a high school boy who spends a lot of time with a very beautiful woman in her mid-20’s. The woman’s name is Sakurako Kujou and she has a strange fascination with bones. Shoutarou accompanies her on various cases where she uses her talent to analyze the remains of victims to uncover clues and ultimately solve cases. This is another mystery anime that happens to be airing this season as well. An interesting similarity to Subete is that they both have adult protagonists (Sakurako and Saikawa) and a sidekick in their teens. Plus, the main character, Sakurako-san, is prone to childish tantrums which mirror the personality trait that Moe has in Subete. Moe is very intelligent and mathematically gifted, but she behaves immature at times just so she can have the attention of those around her. Though both anime have a pair working together to piece together clues, Sakurako delves more into “how” cases are solved. By that I mean the show focuses more on forensics and the step by step process for analyzing evidence that leads to a suspect.

Ranpo Kitan starts out in a typical middle school where some unsolved murders have occurred. Akechi Kogorou is a young genius detective who comes in to investigate the cases. He gains the admiration of one of the students, Kobayashi Yashio. The middle schooler volunteers to become Akechi’s assistant. The two work together to get to the bottom of the puzzling investigation. Besides having a murder case that most of the anime on this list share, this show spends a fair amount of time using symbolism and imagery to discuss topics such as chaos theory and algorithms. Additionally, both shows highlight the dark side of human nature and twisted sexual relationships. These are the primary similarities with Subete. But, there are a few others. Such as a dark tone and intense atmosphere. It uses these to throw some “shock value” into some of the episodes. But Ranpo does a good job of balancing it out with some comedic moments and brightly animated scenes as well.

Two men have managed to steal an atomic weapon from a secure facility. Calling themselves “Sphinx”, they proceed to execute successful terrorist attacks throughout Tokyo. What’s more, they leave cryptic messages about the places they will hit next. The police slowly start to piece together who these two individuals may be. But, they are always a step behind them. Paranoia spreads and a larger conspiracy starts to come into view. Are these two really out to destroy the government and murder thousands of people? Or might there be something else that these two men are after? This is an interesting anime that differs from the others on the list. This is does not have a detective storyline or follow a mystery genre format. That’s because the leading characters are actually the ones committing the seemingly vicious acts of terrorism. You’re not trying to solve how they’re executing their plans, because they show you what they’re doing. Instead, you’re taken on a journey of their past and shown their motives. Subete uses this story telling technique as well. Each episode we are given snippets of what really took place on the night Shiki’s parents were murdered. Other ways the shows are alike: both take place in contemporary times, there are genius characters in both, the character designs are very similar, and the cinematography looks uncannily close between the two. These are psychological thrillers that deal with child prodigies and traumatic events that take place early in their adolescence.

Noragami Aragoto continues in its second season, which focuses more on Yato's rival Bishamon (I recommend watching the first season if you haven't), who is on a mission to finally put an end to the hatred that had boiled inside of her through Yato's past actions. This supernatural, action adventure takes place in a separate world where, much like Fate/stay night, uses a variety of spiritual magic alongside well developed character plot to give the viewer a great visual experience. Both anime focus on the use of spiritual guardians to overcome the enemy. Fate/stay refers to them as masters, while Noragami uses the term Shinki to define the same purpose. Both shows start off with an immediate taste of action, which is enticing since this encourages you to tune in more to what happens next. Yato and Shirou both share the same path where they both want to prove their innocence while helping to destroy the evil inside them and around them. If you love high octane action with beautiful production quality, use your spiritual energy and jump on in to Noragami Aragoto.

Mirai Nikki is a supernatural thriller produced by Kadokawa shoten, which stars a young boy named Yukiteru who soon discovers that his habit of conversing with imaginary friends through his cellphone (his diary), eventually becomes a fearful reality. By fate, Yukiteru is confronted with a girl named Yuno who he becomes quite fond of throughout the series. This close relationship however eventually becomes a survival game, where both Yukiteru and Yuno must eliminate their enemies while using their equipped diaries, that allow them to assist one another in this fierce battle conducted by God himself. The winner is rewarded with the throne, becoming the ultimate leader of the universe. Very similar to Shirou in Fate/stay night, Yukiteru finds himself having to confront the one person he cares about and eventually has to fight them for his own survival. In Fate/stay night, Rin and Shirou had to make the sacrifice to battle one another to overcome the evil casters that guarded the way. Both Yukiteru and Yuno find themselves having to not only risk their own lives to survive, but eventually come together to defeat the twelve enemies that are pursing them for the throne. The holy grail was the goal of Fate/stay night while the holy throne is what Yukiteru aims to grab in this action packed supernatural thriller. If survival is your game, then don't hesitate to check out Mirai Nikki to see who finally claims the ultimate throne of the universe.

Based off of the popular novel series written by Nasu Kinoko, Kara no Kyoukai stars Ryougi Shiki, who comes to realize that after a severe car accident, she possessed the supernatural power, eyes of death perception, which allowed her to foresee death and to kill anything by destroying its origin. In this action fantasy anime, we see Ryougi on a road of survival, to discover the true origins of her supposed dual life while battling against numerous enemies wielding only a knife in hand. With a number of adaptations and various movies to savor your taste buds, Kara no Kyoukai is sure to bring excitement to anyone who enjoys the game of survival. Akin to Fate/stay night, Kara no Kyoukai is an anime based off of survival while working together with various other characters to discover the true intent behind the enemies plans. Both anime represent the game of death philosophy, where the main character must do whatever it takes to stay alive, while formulating ideas with various characters throughout the story to find the best solutions. At every corner, their life is at stake with every enemy out on a mission to stop them in their tracks. Both Shirou and Ryougi's future are in their hands, and must avoid death if they intend to discover the origin behind their mysterious abilities. If you enjoy action packed survival, with a taste of adventure, then be sure to check out Kara no Kyoukai.

In a world where survival is the only means to live, Ryouta finds himself in the midst of a game of death, where every choice he makes can either make or break his entire existence. In Btooom, we see Ryouta being transported from the video game world which he loved, onto a mysterious island filled with killers out for his head, and their own survival. An unknown individual sought out to recreate the ultra violet btooom, and equipped every player with heavy explosives called BIM. His video game fantasy soon turns into a harsh reality, as he now must use the power of the embedded crystal in his hand, equipped with various tools of his own to not only escape this island, but to stay alive. Fate/stay night runs the same race with regards to how the main character must survive through an onslaught of various battles, by using fused weapons on their bodies. Both Shirou and Ryouta are in the midst of an incredible game of death, where each of them are pitted up against various enemies while discovering the reason behind their turbulent journey. Both anime take place in a mysterious world where they must eventually find their way out by teaming with up other characters to put a stop to the evil at hand. Both Ryouta and Shirou rely on a guardian, or partner, to help aid them on their survival quest. Himiko plays a major part in the story much like Rin, who establish a close relationship with the main character on a race to the top. If you enjoyed Fate/stay night then stop playing games and check out btooom!

Blassreiter is a sci-fi action anime which takes place in a fictional Germany. Joseph Jobson, the main protagonist is out to destroy the outbreak of biochemical creatures called “Demoniacs”, which have the ability to fuse with most technological advancements, such as motorbikes, and greatly intensify the overall performance of the vehicle. XAT, which stands for Xenogenesis Assault Team are the ones who eventually help to secure peace from the destruction of the Demoniacs, but to also discover the truth behind their unknown abilities. It's Joseph's job to survive while at the same time learning how to control the biochemical curse that lives within him. While Fate/stay night isn't sci-fi by any means, Blassreiter gives us a taste once again of sheer production quality with regards to action sequences. You're immediately greeted with a great intro, and well detailed character plot similar to Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works. The similarities lie in the fact that both have a lot to do with “fusing” in the sense that, Shirou fused with his swords to become stronger, while Joseph and the Demoniacs are able to fuse with various tools to enhance their own strength. Furthermore, both Joseph and Shirou are on a road to survival, where every decision they make could potentially threaten their lives. Using the powers bestowed to them, they are destined to seek out the truth while using every bit of their energy to restore balance. If you enjoy a lot of flare and special effects, then fuse with your mouse and check out Blassreiter.

Last on the list is another great anime called Blood Lad. This is another supernatural action style anime very similar to Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works. Blood Lad stars Staz, who is the boss of vampires in the demon world, but has no intention to seek blood from the human race. Staz comes across a teenage girl named Fuyumi, who mysteriously found herself in this new universe. Staz finds himself allured by Fuyumi and befriends her. This friendship soon turns deadly however, as Fuyumi is killed by a monster while Staz had his back turned. This unfortunate death led Staz to fight for the sake of Fuyumi to bring her back to life. While Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works explained the details of Shirou's revelations, Blood Lad explains the story of friendship and how important it is to protect the ones you care about. Both do incorporate the use of fusing with ones own weapon to help defeat the enemy while seeking truth and forming close bonds. You can clearly see a very close resemblance in terms of character with Shirou and Staz, in that they have a strong passion to help protect those around them, without much care for their own well being. That being said, you learn to love both characters due to their very clear intent to seek clarity and to survive at all costs. If you loved Shirou in Fate/stay night, then you'll love Staz in Blood Lad. Check it out.

GOSICK is probably the most similar anime to Beautiful Bones. GOSICK follows the story of a genius mystery solving girl, Victorique, and her reluctant partner, Kazuya. Victorique, is a chibi sized genius who seeks fun in solving crime. With Kazuya, she is able to see the world outside her confined one and help her brother, an actually detective, with his crime solving. The anime focuses a lot of the main character and her remarkable ability to see through murder and mystery, making her a heroine worth fawning over. Unexpected friends form a detective duo in this anime which is reminiscence of Sakurako-san and Shouta. Boy and girl pair like Sakurako-san, GOSICK features a interesting main lead that are intrigued in solving mystery. Not to mention, both Sakurako and Victorique have a childish side that balances their character and gives depth to the secrets that will unravel throughout the anime. With each case solved, more pieces of the main character is revealed to their partner. Ultimately, there is much development from both female character which is the main fold of both anime.

Death Parade tells the story of dead people and their encounters while in the state of limbo (between void and reincarnation). In this middle point, the dead meet with a bartender, Decim, who will engage them in a game to unveil their true colours which will in turn judge their eternal fate. One day in his regular activities, Decim meets a mysterious black haired lady who stirs up his routine. Death Parade is an anime that displays similar themes with Beautiful Bones. Reason being the both anime’s dealings with death of regular people and their lives. Just like Sakurako’s investigation, Death Parade likes to tell why and how these people died. Figuring out people’s death and the story behind Quindecim, the bar, puts Death Parade in the realm of mystery albeit it approaches it from a more supernatural aspect.

Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace is an anime set in a middle-school where several murder mystery occurs. Yoshio Kobayashi meets Kogorou Akechi, a genius young detective, in school. There, they form a friendship and Kobayashi begins assisting Akechi in their murder solving adventure. As a tribute to the famous Edogawa Rampo (Japanese Mystery Novelist), this anime draws many inspiration from Rampo and his prized creation Kogoro Akechi (similar name as the main character in Game of Laplace). Game of Laplace is definitely similar to Beautiful Bones as the anime’s art both aesthetically focus on bones and butterfly themes. Both anime have gorgeous drawing when it comes to bones and are very respectful towards the dead. Moreover, Akechi is also an intelligent character like Sakurako and the two are gifted in terms of solving mystery.

xxxHolic is a anime about the supernatural world and characters that are given with the ability to see or communicate with the supernatural beings. The story begins with Kimihiro Watanuki’s encounter with a mysterious woman, Yuuko Ichihara. With these two’s abilities to connect with supernatural beings and the dead, they both become accomplices that help assist mysteries surrounding these beings. On the shallow end, Yuuko’s appearance resembles Sakurako’s greatly. They are both beautiful black-haired women with pale white skin. Moving on to deeper territories, both characters are intelligent and mysterious, yet quirky. Their relationships with their assistant is also quite similar. Although xxxHolic doesn't focus on mystery of murder cases as much as Sakurako’s story, the anime resemble each other in odd ways. xxxHolic deals with the deceased and learns their story from these supernatural beings while Sakurako-san deals with death and its dead body which draws closer to reality. In a sense, xxxHolic is Beautiful Bones set in the supernatural realm.

The Perfect Insider is another anime that started airing in Fall of 2015. This anime features Souhei Saikawa, a professor, and Moe Nishinosono, his unlikely partner. These two collaborate to uncover the mystery behind the gruesome death of a genius programmer Shiki Magata. As people are getting murdered around them, the two attempt to figure out the killer before it’s too late. This anime is definitely one for the mystery lover. Similarly to Sakurako-san, Souhei Saikawa is a skilled mystery solver who is paired with Moe, a sidekick that pushes him beyond his abilities. This anime is also pretty gruesome in terms of its murders, just like Sakurako-san. However, The Perfect Insider tries to tear at every layer of mystery slowly, making its reveal more satisfying. While Sakurako-san solves a mystery per episode, The Perfect Insider only focuses on one murder case and stretches its investigation for an entire season. Nevertheless, its entertaining if you’re into a deeper research than Sakurako-san. Also, it’s nice to switch between two anime as we come to the conclusion of both seasons.

The final similar anime will be Hyouka, an anime about high-schoolers who are intrigued with figuring out simple daily life mysteries. The story focuses on four high-schoolers that are part of the same club, Classics Literature Club. The anime’s relation to mystery storytelling does run weaker than of Sakurako, nevertheless, it is still a lighthearted anime that includes friends working together to solve a puzzle. Main character, Houtarou Oreki, resembles Sakurako in this anime with his high ability to figure out things. While his personality leans toward a laid-back and bordering lazy side, when he’s invested in a mystery, he deals to find out its resolution, just like Sakurako. Though this anime includes three other main characters, they make a great team just like Sakurako and Shouta. Both anime features an obsession with telling the stories of people behind the mysteries while simultaneously allowing the main characters to find out more about themselves.

The Divine Gate opened and connected the human world, the fairy world and the demon world. Nobody knows why the gate opened, and in time it became a myth in a world where beings from all three worlds coexist. However, some people still believe in the existence of the Gate and some even claim to have seen it. Young people with special powers also began to appear and are recruited by the World Council. If these youths follow their desires to reach the Gate, they can change everything. Will it be for better? Or worse? Divine Gate begins with a beautiful demonstration of special powers and introduces 3 of the main characters. Akane is the fiery, short-tempered boy; Midori is cheerful and pure like the wind and Aoto is a gloomy rain cloud with a dark, dark past. From the first episode, the backstories are pretty emotional and there are a lot of mysteries behind most characters and the nature of the Divine Gate as well. The dark shading and the CG animation are just like in the video game and add a unique feel to the show. Some might love it, some may hate it. You be the judge! There’s still a lot to uncover in Divine Gate and coming from Studio Pierrot, you just know it’s worth the watch!

Chika Homura just entered a new high school, and she has decided to join the wind instrument club and become a new her. On her first day at the club, she runs into her childhood friend Haruta Kamijou who is a talented member of the club. Their friendship is rekindled with a bit of rivalry mixed in and they tackle mysteries that take place in the school, all while working towards making the wind instrument club the best it can be. HaruChika brings School Life and Mystery together with a bit of an unexpected rivalry between friends. It has the feel of Hibike! Euphonium with a bit of Tantei Team KZ Jiken Note style mystery. The kids work together to improve as performers, compete with each other and uncover secrets and riddles that keep popping up each episode. The art in HaruChika is smooth and beautiful, and the characters’ eyes are some of the most unusual ones this season. In a good way of course. Thankfully, this isn’t just another music club anime; there are some romantic interests and character backstories that will keep viewers coming back. If you like a little drama in your School Slice of Life, or you just like looking at beautiful art, give HaruChika a try!

There’s a lot going on in Ikebukuro. People are in the hospital, others’ lives are being threatened, and there is a power struggle being waged for control of the city between the Dollars, the Yellow Scarves and Saika. Somehow, during this time of turmoil almost everyone ends up in Shinra and Celty’s apartment looking for shelter. And then… Celty’s head appears on the news. If you haven’t watched the previous installments of Durarara!!... we can’t be friends. Just kidding! I’m sure you have your reasons. However, this is not a good place to start watching, so go back and watch the whole thing! For those following the story so far, you’re more than likely thrilled to follow the exciting conclusion that’s been in the making for so long and I may not need to tell you anything about it. Mikado seems to have manned up, Anri is coming to terms with herself and Saika and others are switching teams left and right. Izaya is having the time of his life, Celty knows where her head is and there are still 9 more episodes left!! It’s definitely gearing up to be a grand finale for the Durarara!! series!

(Rakugo: a one-man-show style of Japanese comedic storytelling told using only a fan and a handkerchief as props. The actor portrays all the characters in the stories by changing his voice and mannerisms). Set in the Showa period, this is the story of an ex-convict who finds his passion in Rakugo when a well-known storyteller, Yakumo, comes to the prison to perform. From that moment, he decides he will become his apprentice and goes to find him as soon as he completes his sentence. Yakumo is stern and has never taken an apprentice, but for some reason, he gives the ex-con a chance and nicknames him Yotaro. There is somebody else in Yakumo’s care though. Konatsu is the daughter of another well-known performer and she’s been in Yakumo’s care since her father’s death. She also loves rakugo, but there is no room for women in that world. Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is really more of a Period Drama. It’s very historical and educational. If you would like to know what Japan was like during the Showa Era, learn all you need to know about rakugo and learn some traditional Japanese stories in the process, don’t miss this series. The art and animation are beautiful, and it transports you to a different time and place with its artistic use of music, and woderful voice acting. There is comedy, mostly in the rakugo itself and sprinkled comic relief here and there. It is definitely a drama, but if you’re into learning more about Japan and enjoy a great story about struggling artists and their difficult pasts, you’ve got to check out Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu!

Ajin are immortal humans that appeared in a battlefield in Africa 17 years ago. Only 46 are known to exist in the world, but it’s impossible to know who they are until they are killed and come back to life. They are feared by society and coveted by the government who experiment on them when they find them. These experiments usually involve killing them over and over again to learn about their powers. One day after school, Kei is hit by a truck; and his life is turned upside-down. Ajin is certainly not for the faint of heart. It is graphic, bloody, violent and showcases probably all the worst traits of humanity. Fear of the unknown, hunger for power, discrimination, violence, you name it. There’s definitely a lot we still need to learn about Kei and his mysterious friend Kaito as well as the shady Ajin-chasing organization. In a very Tokyo Ghoul fashion, Kei is faced with becoming (or realizing that he is) the monster that everybody fears in his society. Ajin is without question, an exciting anime. The character design is crisp and clean, the story is dark and seems promising so far. However, the CG animation isn’t as fluid as it could be. (The CG in Divine Gate is definitely better). This may be off-putting for some but if it doesn’t’ bother you; you’re in for a treat! It is really dark though, so watch it with the lights off.

Satoru Fujinuma is a struggling manga writer working part time to make ends meet. He has trouble expressing himself, and is overall a bit jaded. However, he has an ability that sends him back in time before catastrophes occur so that he can prevent them. Usually it’s a short amount of time, but one day, he comes across an incident in which somebody dies and he is the main suspect of the murder. As he tries to grasp what’s going on and run from the police, he is sent back to his childhood a month before his classmate Kayo’s disappearance. In his 10 year old body, he must now save his friend Kayo and solve the mystery that sent him there in the first place. This was probably one of the most anticipated Drama anime this season. The story is intriguing, as are the mysteries behind it and the characters. Once again, this series is also graphic, though in a different way; little Kayo lives a very rough childhood, there’s a murder in the first episode and who knows what else they’ll throw at us! It's like a dark, supernatural Detective Conan. While it’s a serious dramatic show, there is a bit of dry, dark humor from Satoru who is a jaded thirty-something year-old stuck in the body of a child. The story will engulf you from the start. And it is also lovely to look at. The art is smooth and beautiful and the animation is well done. Coming from A-1 Pictures, expectations are high for Erased!

If you enjoyed Spirited Away in your younger days, the Mushishi series is what you watch fifteen years later. Mushishi is a supernatural, adventure, mystery anime that was first released in 2006, until it was restarted with two more seasons as Mushishi Zoku Shou (Mushi-shi Next Passage) in 2014. In the world of Mushishi, there are supernatural creatures called “mushi,” strange-looking and beautiful but nothing like the natural world that humans know. The mushi are intertwined with nature and can affect human life around them, but not everyone can see the mushi. Thus, there are specialists, called “mushishi” (mushi masters), who can deal with the mushi that negatively affect human lives. We follow one man Ginko, a mushishi who has no place to call home and wanders all over Japan to help people live peacefully with the mushi. Although largely episodic, we travel with Ginko in his quest to learn more about the mushi and also peek at Ginko’s scattered and long forgotten past on a journey that can best be described as “spiritual.” Bizarre, mysterious, and sometimes creepy, the mushi can easily reignite that strange sense of wonder you felt while watching Spirited Away. The mushi also represent nature, as the spirits do in Spirited Away. Mushishi shines a speculative light on the actions of humans who take advantage or misuse nature or the supernatural. Yet, the most striking similarity with Spirited Away is that Mushishi employs beautiful artwork of Japan’s mountainous landscape in gorgeous watercolor. If you’re interested in Japanese culture and haven’t peeked at this anime yet, you are doing a huge disservice to yourself.

If you really enjoyed the Japanese-style supernatural part of a young girl’s journey in Spirited Away, but wished there was a little bit more to the romance element, look no further than Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light. Hotaru is a young girl who gets lost in a forest that is inhabited by various kinds of supernatural beings. Scared and alone, she meets Gin, a spirit who resembles a young man wearing a festive mask. Gin leads her out of the forest to safety. From then on, every summer Hotaru visits the forest to play with her masked friend and meets many of the other spirits of the forest. Hotaru always looks forward to her time with Gin, but she is forbidden to ever touch him. The mountain god has cursed Gin so that if a human touches him, he will disappear. Although this supernatural, romance anime film is considered to be shoujo, existential themes add depth to this take on a young girl falling in love with a spiritual being. On one side is Hotaru, who has always only looked to Gin with a childhood crush, but what will happen as she gets older? On the other side is Gin, a spirit who has always avoided humans until meeting Hotaru, but why is he the only spirit in the forest who cannot touch a human? You can relive all those wonderful feelings of Spirited Away with Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light, a timeless tale of a forbidden love embellished with Japanese folklore. Short and sweet, this heartfelt tale will make you want to run to your nearest enchanted forest.

Usually rites of passage occur during childhood or adolescence, but it could happen when you’re 29 years old and trapped in a 10-year-old body. Boku dake ga Inai Machi is only a few episodes in but already has quite a fan following. In this supernatural mystery, Satoru leads an unremarkably ordinary life, except that he experiences “revival,” a supernatural phenomenon that sends Satoru moments back in time before something bad happens. Because of revival, Satoru has prevented deaths and other various accidents from occurring. Nonetheless, Satoru has trouble expressing himself, rarely smiles, and can’t seem to make his mark in any particular way. One day, Satoru finds himself framed for murder, and revival sends him back to when he was a grade-schooler before the tragic disappearance and death of a fellow classmate Hinazuki. Now, Satoru is trying to put together the pieces of his past, save Hinazuki, and rewrite the future. Some of the charm of Spirited Away is being able to re-evaluate our own lives by going on an adventure through the lens of a child, perhaps even revealing our hidden regrets of friendships lost and opportunities missed. In Boku dake ga Inai Machi, the main character does exactly that, but actually becomes 10 years old again. Satoru identifies his childhood weaknesses and tries to bring back memories he’s long forgotten in hopes to create a future without regrets. Meanwhile, we get to glimpse at a microcosm of Japanese culture of childhood in Hokkaido in the late 1980’s. The mystery is still unraveling, the kids are adorable, and the animation is marvelous. Try to catch this anime while it’s still fresh!

Spirited Away has an interesting kind of dualism that makes it appealing to both young and old. On the outside, it’s a fun little romp through the spirit world; but if you dig a little deeper, you can see a world corrupted by greed, pollution, and apathy. In a similar manner but definitely more adult in content, Puella Magi Madoka Magica looks very much like a bright, happy, and typical magical girl adventure featuring a cute but arguably creepy cat sidekick. The anime starts as a magical slice-of-life anime, but if you stick around for few episodes you realize something is very, very wrong with the universe in the most mind-boggling way. Puella Magi Madoka Magica is credited with single-handedly redefining the magical girl genre. Rather than playing to the genre, Puella Magi Madoka Magica instead uses the magical girl motif to deliver a hard-nosed messages about life, love, and how our decisions can affect the lives of others. Just as in Spirited Away, we follow the titular character, Madoka, into a dark unknown world that we slowly learn about throughout the show. Madoka, who is similar to Chihiro in personality, is just an average and cheerful junior high school student until a strange series of events leads her to meet a magical cat that gives Madoka an offer that’s too good to refuse. If Madoka becomes a magical girl and fights off evil witches, the cat will grant her any wish. Mothers often say, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” and this is no exception. What lies ahead for Madoka are the heart-wrenching realities of life in this strange coming-of-age thriller. Puella Magi Madoka Magica will take you on an emotional and psychological ride into a world of magic girls that you never knew existed with animation sequences so crazy you will need to watch them in full HD.

Director Makoto Shinkai is often thought to be a second Miyazaki, and Children Who Chase Lost Voices will show you exactly why that is. Children Who Chase Lost Voices is a fantasy adventure, starring a young girl Asuna who is both bright and courageous. She enjoys spending her free time playing in the forests of the mountain near her house and listening to a radio powered by a strange crystal. One day she hears a hauntingly beautiful melody from the radio and meets a mysterious boy who disappears almost as soon as they meet. He is thought to be dead. Asuna is compelled to meet him again and embarks on an adventure into the underworld where she learns important lessons about life, death, and love. The unfamiliar will often say, “Wait, that wasn’t Ghibli?” because Children Who Chase Lost Voices takes you to a new, strange world inhabited by even stranger creatures and filled with both beauty and terror. Melding together ancient mythology and a little romance, this anime feature-length film also manages to include everything about Spirited Away that hit you in all the right places: beautiful artwork, adventure at every turn, and adorable creatures all wrapped up in a timeless story. It’s safe to say, Children Who Chase Lost Voices will be an enjoyable journey for all who enjoyed Spirited Away.

Beautiful, touching, charming, these are just a few ways Natsume’s Book of Friends is described by fans. Natsume is a young man who had been ostracized as a child for acting strangely. That’s because he could see yokai, supernatural monsters that are usually invisible to human eyes. Orphaned, Natsume bounced from house to house, and finally has moved to grandmother’s hometown to start a new high school life, but the yokai of the area chase after him demanding that he return their names. Natsume learns that his grandmother had collected the names of many yokai and could subsequently control them. Thus, he decides to return all the names his grandmother collected. In each episode we meet a new yokai with his or her own story. Much like Spirited Away, one main theme of Natsume’s Book of Friends is forging meaningful friendships that cross supernatural boundaries. The book in question holds quite the treasure trove of names, but each story touches your heart and uplifts your soul in a very feel-good way. Through Natsume’s interactions with the yokai and his classmates, this relaxing slice-of-life series with a supernatural twist reminds us of all the little beautiful things life has to offer.

After getting kidnapped by a bunch of criminals, Kyuu Renjo was eventually rescued by a man Satoru Renjo, who was his mentor. From that point on, Kyuu became inspired to become a detective. Kyuu eventually grew out to be a sharp person, with great sense deductive mind. Kyuu then enrolled in DDS (Dan Detective School) to pursue his dream of becoming a great detective. Gifted as a detective, Kyuu became the leader of the Q class and with his friends, they solve crimes together. Kyuu’s mother, Sayuri Renjo, was originally against the idea of Kyuu being a detective, knowing that being a detective draws inevitable danger to himself. It was later revealed that Sayuri also hid the fact that Kyuu’s former mentor was his father.

After his encounter with Arsene Lupin III for the first time, Kouichi Zenigata became obsessed with apprehending Lupin who was said to be the greatest master thief ever lived. Zenigata even went as far as quitting his job as the Tokyo Police Inspector to join the ICPO or Interpol to gather leads and information to catch Lupin. Having a serious nature and demeanor, Zenigata often receives respect from his fellow colleagues, having proven his abilities of a detective as he solves numerous gang related crimes and criminals. Even Arsene Lupin himself respected Zenigata for being a good detective, as he was always close to apprehending Lupin. The story also shines on both characters, as they both resemble the human version of “Tom & Jerry”.

Being born with a special ability, Yakumo Saitou was able to see apparitions and ghosts thanks to his left eye. This enables him to communicate with apparitions, and thus helped him in his investigation on cases such as murders or kidnappings. Although Yakumo seems to have a cold demeanor towards other people, deep down he is willing to help others in need. Saitou, armed with his incredible intelligence and observant skills was able to solve cases together with his partner Haruka Ozawa ahead of the police. This becomes the testament of his abilities as a detective, a spiritual one at that. It was revealed on the series that even though Yakumo was able to see and communicate with the spirits, he was unable to exorcise them.

Houtarou Oreki is a lazy typical high school student who spends most of his time at home either reading the news or napping. Houtarou likes to conserve his energy and would not spend it on anything that doesn’t interest him. But even though Houtarou lives a very laidback lifestyle, underneath it all was his knack for solving mysteries very much like a detective. After his little sister sent a request to Houtarou to join the Classics Club to save it from disbandment, Houtarou became acquainted with other members of the club; Chitanda Eru, Fukube Satoshi, and Ibara Mayaka. Together with Houtarou, they begin to tackle a case that occurred 45 years ago which somehow related to a collection entitled “Hyouka”.

The Last Great Detective, The Defeated Detective, these are the names that Shinjuurou Yuuki earned as a self-proclaimed detective. Having superior deductive and reasoning skills, Shinjuurou Yuuki has made a reputation for himself amongst society and earned the respects of the authorities. Shinjuurou appears to be lean and very serious when it comes to handling cases. It was revealed in the series that Shinjuurou earned his nickname “The Defeated Detective” after failing to prove Rinroku Kaishou’s deduction were false. Accompanied by Inga, a mysterious kid that’s very loyal towards Shinjuurou, with the ability to transform into a mature woman, they both take on tough mysteries and uncover the truth behind those cases.

Yuuko Shionji is the mysterious girl who lives on the third floor of a ramen shop. Usually referred as ‘Alice’, she is a NEET (a young person who is "Not in Education, Employment, or Training".) and a self-proclaimed detective. It is unclear as to how Yuuko gained her unique skillset, but she is an expert hacker and a great detective. Utilizing her abilities and her network of NEET Detective Team, she uses gathered information to solve crimes and other mysterious cases. It was seen on the series that Yuuko was always surrounded by a pile of teddy bears, implying that she seem to really like them. It was also revealed that she is hikikomori and tend to avoid social contact. This was probably one of the reason why Yuuko chose to solve cases from afar, in her bedroom. But nonetheless, this hacking genius would definitely get to the bottom of cases!

Hajime Kindaichi by default might seem to be the run of the mill high school student, often times mischievous, lecherous, and acts aloof. But in fact, Kindaichi is a very intelligent, and have high quality deduction skills thanks to his I.Q. of 180. It was revealed on the series that Kindaichi looks up to his grandfather, who was also a great detective by the name of Kosuke Kindaichi. This became apparent because whenever Kindaichi solves a crime, he would always mention his catchphrase, “In the name of my grandfather…” Kindaichi’s more serious nature is drawn out when he takes on cases, showing his capabilities as a decent detective. It was speculated that Kindaichi’s prowess as a detective and intelligence was passed down from his grandfather.

In the year of 1924, Victorique de Blois exists as the enigmatic girl who spends most of her time in the library of the prestigious school, Saint Marguerite Academy. Despite her young age, Victorique de Blois has extremely good sense of observation skills, as she is keen to details making her an incredibly good detective. Besides her abilities to observe, Victorique also has a perfect eidetic memory, making her remember everything she has seen or read easily without repetition. Her skills and abilities as a detective even gained respect of fellow authorities. She is also seen in the series to be smoking a pipe, a trait similar to the original Sherlock Holmes character. Underneath all those intelligence, Victorique appears to be the typical tsundere character type, often times having a sharp tongue and is not afraid to be blunt towards others.

L Lawliet, or more commonly known as Ryuzaki, is the world’s greatest detective who operates under the mononym L to help solve the Kira case. Ryuzaki or L, like many great detectives possess a high level of observant and deduction skills. With little and almost none leads whatsoever, Ryuzaki was able to pinpoint the location of Kira. One of the main characteristics that people might remember of this character is the way that Ryuzaki moves around; always sitting and walking in a weird position. In the Death Note series, L eventually lost the battle with Kira or Light Yagami, and Yagami took on L’s identity. It was revealed that the closest candidate to succeed L was Near and Mello. Both young at age, but very gifted. Later in the series, Near became the leader of SPK (Special Provision of Kira) and Mello became the leader of the mafia.

Taking the number one spot on this list is the well-known protagonist of the Detective Conan Series, Conan Edogawa or Shinichi Kudo. Shinichi Kudo is a brilliant high school detective with a sharp mind able to solve crimes that the police could not. During a date night with his girlfriend, Ran Mouri, Shinichi ran into a mysterious pair of suspicious looking men. Upon investigating, Shinichi was ambushed from behind and forced to take a drug that shrunk his body into of a little boy. To protect his loved ones, Shinichi takes on a fake identity, Conan Edogawa, and acts as a distant relative of Dr. Agasa. Ran Mouri took in Conan afterwards, and Conan uses the opportunity of her father Kogorou Mouri who owns a detective agency to solve crimes. Besides his deductive skills, Conan was armed with several gadgets invented by Dr. Agasa to aid him in his case solving.