The series follows Mikawa Fumika who is a mail carrier of 'Shigofumi', letters containing the words of the dead which express feelings left hidden and unsaid while alive. Mikawa goes along and delivers these letters to the living. However, there's an problem at hand. Shigofumi carriers are deceased humans who look just as they did before death. Despite this, Mikawa is still getting older. Shigofumi is similar to Kara no Kyoukai in a couple of ways. Both series incorporate a lot of supernatural and fantasy elements. They often both have a similar tone and atmosphere, and have an eerie unease to both of them. Furthermore, both deal very much with themes of death in their own ways. Finally, Shiki and Mikawa both have their pasts slowly revealed throughout the series as well.

Fate/Zero is the prequel to Fate/stay night, yet can be viewed independently. It revolves around the preceding Holy Grail War that is covered in the original Fate story. Fate/Zero follows Kiritsugu Emiya who is contracted by the Einzberns to win the holy grail. Kiritsugu, in love with Irisviel Einzbern, accepts and summons Saber to fight in the conflict. Opposite Kiritsugu is Kotomine Kirei, who's seeking purpose and resolve to his existential issues by fighting in the Grail War. Fate/Zero, although written by Gen Urobuchi, is still part of the Nasuverse, same as Kara no Kyoukai, and it shares a lot of similarities with what's typical of Nasu's works. Fate/Zero and Kara no Kyoukai are both dark, urban fantasy stories that deal with the supernatural, and are very dialogue heavy. They also have a strong action bent to them as well, balanced nicely with the emphasis on the dialogue which can get a little dense at times. And of course, they're both Ufotable adaptations which have given both wonderful animation and general design.

Mima Kirigoe stars in an idol group but after giving her future some thought she decides to try her hand at becoming an actress. For Mima, this is a step in the right direction, but one of her most obsessive fans is very unhappy about the decision she took. Mima accepts a peculiar role which her manager isn't completely sure about. While filming, strange things happen to the cast and crew and Mima begins to suffer mental breakdowns and becomes less and less able to separate, what’s real and what’s not. Kara no Kyoukai was never completely straightforward from the very first film but the 5th film in particular is a bit of a trip. With the 5th film, often thought of as the series best, being such a mindfuck, perfect blue feels definitely similar in that regard. Moreover, both films have elements of horror and mystery and have an eerie atmosphere to them. They also explore psychological themes in an urban setting, albeit with Kara no Kyoukai delving much more into fantasy elements.

Advances in cybernetics have allowed human beings to replace their physical bodies with cybernetic prosthetics. Motoko Kusanagi is a 'full cyborg', someone whose body is completely mechanical, however, she still retains her human consciousness, her 'ghost', despite her prosthetic body, her shell. She's a member of section 009, a police anti-terrorism and security unit that's tasked with tracking down a hacker called the puppet master. What occurs forces Motoko to think more deeply about her identity, and how humanity and technology coexist. Ghost in the Shell and Kara no Kyoukai both examine themes of identity albeit through different angles. GITS does it through technology and Kara no Kyoukai takes a more spiritual/fantasy approach. Likewise, both have strong female leads, Motoko for GITS and Shiki for Kara no Kyoukai. Both have great dialogue, with a lot of meat to chew on in terms of different ideas and concepts, but also include a lot of high-quality action, as well as, great overall presentation.

Oosawa Maria is a Japanese photographer who's stationed in Shanghai. Maria , along with her partner named Mino, search for stories throughout the city. She investigates claims of strange occurrences at a local festival and unwittingly jumps into the middle of a fight between a mysterious white haired women and equally odd masked men. Just as it appears, she won't make it out, her old friend Canaan appears to save her. However, Canaan and Maria aren't completely in the clear. Canaan and Kara no Kyoukai are both written by Kinoko Nasu, and Canaan is also under the Type Moon umbrella. While Kara no Kyoukai is a little bit denser, Canaan isn't completely straightforward in its storytelling style either and sort of leaves you in the thick of things with a lot left to your own devices to figure out. They both feature strong female leads and a lot of action.

Juuzawa Juu is a high school student who seeks simply to be left alone, fueling his delinquency. He has a strange encounter with Ochibana Ame who claims to have known him in a previous life. She asks to serve him as his 'knight', but Juu doesn't want anything to do with her. However, after a classmate is killed, Juu changes her mind and asks for her help to look for the killer. This series feels similar to Kara no Kyoukai in a number of ways. It's a mystery story about finding a murderer which echoes a number of the plotlines going on in Kara no Kyoukai. They share the same urban setting and the atmosphere often feels very similar. They both deal with fairly dark themes and content and the duo of the main characters feels somewhat similar to how those in Kara no Kyoukai interact.

Satoru Fujinuma is a 29 year old manga artist who suddenly has the ability to go back in time several minutes whenever anything dangerous happens to him. Calling this ability “Revival”, Satoru uses this powerful ability to try and save as many lives as he can. However, after being falsely accused of murdering someone, Satoru somehow finds himself going back 18 years to a mysterious event that happened to a classmate named Kayo Hinazuki that may be somehow related. The story focuses on Sartoru’s quest to save Kayo and protect those he cares about back in the present day. Erased is similar to Steins;Gate in the sense that the main character in both series uses their special time travel ability to prevent bad things from happening to those they care about. In addition, both Okarin and Satoru are primarily focused on preventing the murder of a childhood friend of theirs. Erased’s mystery and supporting characters may not be as developed as the characters in Steins;Gate, but if your favorite episodes of Steins;Gate are the ones involving Okarin trying to save Mayuri, then this is a short series you’ll enjoy.

Subaru Natsuki was just a normal kid; the last thing on his mind was being suddenly taken from his normal life, get thrust into some kind of strange fantasy land, get beat up by some thugs, meet a beautiful girl, and get killed by a mysterious darkness alongside said girl. Yet Subaru suddenly awakens to the same exact scenario of confronting the thugs from before and meeting Satella all over again. As Subaru tries to cope with how exactly he was able to go back in time, he soon realize that he’ll have to use this new ability to help protect his new friends and save this new land. This anime is very much like Steins;Gate in terms of the main characters not only being similar in personality, but also having the same time travel ability as well as very similar motivations for using said ability. In addition, Re:ZERO is also another of the select few time-travel stories to not have any plot holes result as a result of time travel being used in its story. It also bears a resemblance to the story in terms of getting more and more suspenseful as well as developing a more psychological tone as both Okarin and Subaru get more and more desperate in their attempts to fix their mistakes. Definitely a series to check out, as it resembles Steins;Gate in more ways than one.

Takumi Nishijou is a reclusive high school student at the Private Suimei Academy. When killings dubbed as the “New Gen” murders begin happening around the city, Takumi dismisses them as he has no connection to them whatsoever. But when strange events begin happening around him to the point where he doesn’t know what’s real or what’s simply a delusion, it’s up to Takumi to figure out who the mastermind really is and where his fate truly lies. If you found yourself liking the concept of Okarin meeting new people that ended up becoming new lab members, then you’ll like Chaos;Head, as Takumi goes from being a loner to meeting multiple girls connected to stopping the person behind the New Gen killings. In addition, although it might not seem obvious at first glance, Takumi bears some resemblance to Okarin in the sense of their belief that very few if any people really understand them, resulting in their eccentricities leading them to being almost entirely alone. Chaos; Head may only be 12 episodes long, but if you liked the method of character building in Steins;Gate, then you’ll enjoy Chaos;Head.

Jinta Yadomi was spending his days as a recluse playing video games until his childhood friend, Meiko "Menma" Honma, suddenly shows up. Only one problem; she died many years ago. Slowly believing that what he saw wasn’t a hallucination and actually Menma, Jinta goes to reunite his old group of childhood friends who all grew apart after her accidental death. As Jinta slowly reunites the group, their desire to help fulfill their former friend move on grows stronger as they also try to bring closure for themselves as well. Steins;Gate may be a sci-fi anime, but the relationship between the characters, especially Okarin and Kurisu, is what helps set it apart from most other sci-fi anime. The Flower We Saw That Day may utilize flashbacks in terms of its connection to time, but it strongly delivers on the emotional front. Each of Jinta’s friends have different ways of coping with what happened to Menma, just like how each of Okarin’s friends have different reactions and hopes regarding his ability to change the past and create a different future. The Flower We Saw That Day may focus more on the concept of death as opposed to time travel, but if you were a fan of the romance and characters reacting differently to the same event in Steins;Gate, check out this anime.

In her final year of high school, Makoto Konno is dealing with the normal struggles one has with family, school, friends, and the future. That is, until Makoto finds a unique item that allows her to literally leap backward in time. Makoto has fun with this amazing ability at first by preventing small accidents, avoiding embarrassing situations, and overall having fun with knowing what will happen beforehand. However, she soon learns firsthand how truly complicated time is and how each choice has a consequence. This movie is probably the go to example of what someone would probably do when realizing they can go back in time for the first time, making it more believable. Steins;Gate works the same way, as Okarin and his friends send the unique text messages in the past regarding small situations at first before building to bigger and bigger changes. Both are also similar in the sense that they feature devices as the source of the time travel ability as well as a character from the future that’s come back to the past. If time travel is your pure interest in Steins;Gate, check out The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, especially for the reveal at the end.

Central Tanegashima High School's Robotics Club is in danger of being shut down. Kaito Yashio, one of the club’s two members, is only focused on robot fighting games, and Akiho Senomiya, the club head, aims to complete a giant robot and save prevent the club from losing its status. However, it is Kaito’s discovery of the Kimijima Report that soon sets the wheels in motion as the club gets more and more members while also becoming vital to stopping Kou Kimijima's conspiracy… Robotics;Notes does not really have any time travel. However, what it lacks in time travel it makes up for in terms of world building. Steins;Gate was able to establish a backdrop to their world that invited people to take a closer look into what exactly is going on in terms of technology, and Robotics;Notes takes a further step in that direction. Robotics;Notes in itself has a lot of themes to digest, but if you appreciated the setup and format that Steins;Gate took in setting up the characters and the story, Robotics;Notes takes a similar approach with its story as well.

Akame ga Kill tells the epic story of a team of assassins out to stop the threat to mankind. Akame and the Night Raid must uncover the truth behind Prime Minister Honest's plans to bring disaster upon the towns people and his true intentions behind it all. We follow Tatsumi as he is put through intense training in order to discover not only what's transpiring within the empire, but to challenge his own morals and values along his new journey as an assassin. Wherever there's space to unleash your immense power, the Night Raid are sure to use every bit of it at their disposal to save the world. Akame ga Kill, much like Attack on Titan, showcased a team of highly skilled individuals out to serve a purpose, and that was to eliminate the enemy at all costs. Brutality is most surely part of the recipe as each fight scene in Akame ga Kill is full of blood and body parts flying in every direction. Both shows don't hold back on killing characters regardless of how important they were to the story, which gave these anime a very shock factor feel. You could never really draw a line between what was good or evil, while the pursuit for power was clearly shown throughout. These anime make it very clear to the audience that justice must be served, and in order to do so lines must be crossed to ensure that humanity stays clear of any deadly attack. We may not entirely agree with how certain acts are acted out, but it serves a purpose knowing that lives are saved and the hero can stand tall above the enemy.

The plot takes place in a world that is currently in the industrial revolution, where blood-thirsty monsters harm the town and cannot be killed unless you pierce its iron heart. With every deadly bite that the undead inflicts, humans become infected, slowly morphing into undead creatures called Kabane. The show stars Ikoma, a young hardened boy with a purpose to put an end to the monster's onslaught of terror. He creates a weapon called “Tsuranukizutsu” with the sole intent of destroying everything in his path. Created by the same team who made Attack on Titan, it's no surprise this made the list. The premise reflects that of Eren and his team, as Ikoma and his team would fight against a horde of undead creatures who plan on terrorizing humanity. A lot of gruesome action takes place all throughout both anime, with bodies flying across the screen, leaving a sea of blood everywhere the main protagonists go. Both anime have centered themselves around building a fortress, with hopes to protecting what's left of humanity before it's too late. One thing to also consider is how strikingly similar each of the main characters are to each other, with both males receiving some sort of devilish power, while the female leads possess lethal skills and a passion to protect those they love.

Knights of Sidonia was one of the sleeper hits of 2014, showcasing a great story along with a sequel that truly delivered tons of action. An alien race called Gauna destroyed the solar system, leaving humans to reside in "seed ships", which they also used to escape over a thousand years ago. After many years of solace and rebuilding, Sidonia, a large seed ship with a large population of humans, is once again targeted by Gauna. The plot follows Nagate Tanikaze, an intelligent young man from the deep corners of the ship, and his friends as they try to fight back against these mammoth creatures, and at the same time understand what must be done for the sake of humanity's survival. What really stands out from the two shows is how much they try to restore balance in a world that has been torn apart by strife. They've built a barrier around their community with fears of being attacked once again, deciding to live in seclusion away from everything else. Years have passed but then suddenly a new breed of the same monsters emerge and bring havoc back to the community. Both main characters must now come up with new strategies to eradicate the enemy, and prevent them from destroying what they've rebuilt. Each team must deal with a threat that is much larger and more sinister than the last, with characters dying left right and center without reason. You're always left at a stand still because of so much happening all at once, that you can only pray for the hero to pull through.

Terraformars takes place in the 21st century, where scientists were given the task of warming the planet Mars, so that humans could inhabit it. The plan was to send cockroaches and mold to the surface so that the mold would be absorbed, while the roaches would serve as the food source. A manned ship was sent to Mars to see the results of their research, but what they find once they arrive would blow their minds. Giant humanoid cockroaches with superhuman strength have inhabited the planet, and have completely eviscerated the entire crew who landed there. Now with a new more powerful threat at hand, Earth has geared up and dispatched an elite team of warriors to exterminate these human-like roaches, and claim back the planet Mars. Terraformars along with Attack on Titan share a similar plot where mutated creatures with insanely powerful strength threaten to terrorize humanity, leaving no survivors behind. A team of elite soldiers must come together in order to stop the onslaught before it erupts, while making sure no one gets killed. Every scene is full of explosive action, as we see good and evil battle it out to see who comes out on top. You're almost always reeling back in your seat because of how impactful each scene is, with surprises always being thrown at you at unexpected times. No one is safe as each main protagonist is pushed to their limits in order to stop a threat that is so sinister, that it requires more than just small weapons to stop them.

Humanity has been pushed to the brink of extinction following the evolution of man-eating monsters called “Aragami”. They conquered their territory, devouring almost everything in their path and leaving nothing behind. To defeat them, an organization named Fenrir was established as Earth's answer to save humanity through the use of “God Eaters. Lenka Utsugi is a New-Type whose God Arc takes the form of both blade and gun. Lenka must learn to master his God Arc if he is to fulfill his desire of wiping out the Aragami once and for all. The monsters continue to multiply while the fragments of humanity struggle to survive. God Eater is much like Attack on Titan where much of the team has to deal with a problem that they can't fix right away. Team mates die by the minute and without much time to figure out the next plan of action. Everything is thrown at the main character so quickly that they have no choice but to resort to their secret weapon to take down the enemy. We don't want to spoil too much of each story, but we will say that both protagonists must rely on a special power they've acquired from their enemy in order to defeat them. They both tell a story of a society that is on the brink of being wiped out, and must now use every ounce of energy to end the struggle before it swallows them up.

Humans on Earth have been under the assumption that they've been the only species that exist in the universe, but face a rude awakening when a much stronger dangerous species arrives out of the blue. An advanced force known as Neighbors, have come to threaten the existence of humanity and conquer the world. Fortunately for planet Earth, an special organization known as Borders hears of this ordeal and sends out their most skilled members onto the battlefront. It now becomes the responsibility of Osamu, Yuuma, and the rest of the team to put an end to the incoming terror before it's too late. World Trigger was a fantastic show where Osamu and Yuuma teamed up together to put an end to a threat that could destroy all existence. Both anime focus on an organization that must hire elite soldiers in order to subdue the enemy, and prevent any casualties from serious harm. The monsters have extraordinary powers that surpass human capability, and so each team must rely on a secret weapon to terminate them. Both stories start off with the main character going through intense training in order to level up their abilities, having to fight against enemies twice their size, and learning to perform well under extreme pressure. Eventually both protagonists build enough confidence to stand toe to toe with the enemy, preventing the world from danger.

Okay, remember the opening paragraphs that Subaru will meet characters that are straight up creepy? This one’s a doozy. Aside from the obvious signs of a straight up creep, with the bowl-cut green hair, dark hooded outfit, Petelgeuse can be a bit of a quirky goofball in its own way; always babbling about ‘sloth’ this and ‘sloth’ that, repeating multiple times to express something, and making things a bit more complicated to be understand since it sounds like gibberish when he speaks. Petelgeuse is a Sin Archbishop in the Witch’s Cult that represents sloth, which explains his tendency to use the word sloth in sentences which makes no sense at times (until you watch the more recent episodes, then it kind of makes sense). The anime took a really dark turn as Subaru had to witness some graphic scenes where Petelgeuse killed Rem in a bizarre and twisted way. To sum it up, Petelgeuse is the very definition of crazy, maniacal, twisted individual. This guy got some serious issues.

Moving away from the creepy guy, here’s a sight for sore eyes. Emilia, one of the series’ most popular female character. Emilia is, in fact, a half-elf with silver hair and white dress which just make this character so beautiful. Looks aren’t the only thing that this girl got going, she has an amazing attitude and a kind heart. This can be seen in the 1st episode of the series, as she intentionally stopped to help Subaru even though she was in a hurry to find a thief. Her quirkiness came to light when she had to make up lame excuses to Subaru for saving him so that he would not feel indebted to her. Another case of her quirky behavior is how Emilia acted so strangely when Subaru complimented on her beauty even when she revealed that she was a half-elf. She awkwardly crouches down and cover her head with her hands, presumably to hide the blushing.

You might already know this character for being a demon with an angelic personality. Literally. Rem is a twin sister of Ram, both who served as housemaids under Lord Roswaal L. Mathers in Margrave Mathers Mansion. One noticeable trait from Rem is that despite being the better twin at doing general housework, she often feels inferior to Ram who happened to possess extraordinary abilities as a demon despite only having a single horn. It’s also cute to see how both twins, Ram and Rem to take turns insulting and throwing slurs at Subaru during the early episodes of the series. Her appearance already reeks quirkiness, with her bright blue hair with bangs that covers her right eye, and her somewhat monotone way of speaking is the cherry on top for the Top 10 quirky characters list.

Moving on the list, we have Priscilla Barielle taking the number 7 spot. Judging from her appearance, one might say that everything is normal. But if you have seen episode 12 of the series, you would find her quite the quirky one. Although Priscilla can be fearless and at times quite full of herself, she isn’t just all talk. She, in fact, is the head of Barielle House and one of the opposing rivals to Emilia. She truly believes that the world is designed to somehow work in ways that are best for her, so that she is never at a disadvantage, hence her annoying attitude. She seems to have little knowledge over outside world, as she never seen an unpeeled “appa” or apple in real life perhaps due to her extremely lavish lifestyle.

Felix Argail, or Ferris, is a knight for the Crusch Karsten, one of the candidates to the royal selection as well as an opposing rival to Emilia. The very first impression you get from this character is that it has a cute voice, cat-like ears, cute dress, and even a tail, basically, everything from Ferris reeks femininity, and you’d think that this character is indeed a woman? Ha! SIKE! The fact is, Ferris is a male and is one of the most gender misleading characters in the series so far. The fact that he is a male was first presented in episode 12, the same episode where Ferris first appeared. From all his character traits, the quirkiest thing that stood out is the way that Ferris speaks. He adds the prefix ‘–ny’ to words, having a distinctive resemblance to a cute cat-like voice when he speaks. “Ah, nyow I see… Of course. You must be the boy Emilia-sama mentioned.”

Next, we have Beatrice, a mage who works in Roswaal L. Mathers’ manor. Despite her petite appearance, Beatrice is actually quite a powerful mage, since she was hired as a librarian by Roswaal to oversee and protect his forbidden library filled with secrets and mystery. As a mage user herself, Beatrice uses her Door Crossing Magic, a spell that can connect any door in the mansion to her own room, making it impossible to find Beatrice unless you try every single door in the mansion. This is also an act of preventive measure for intruders if they ever want to steal or break into Roswaal’s secrets. In hindsight, Beatrice may look cute and quirky but she is actually really snarky towards Subaru, this can be seen in episode 4, where Subaru was able to correctly guess which room Beatrice is in at the moment which kind of annoys Beatrice, but at the same time admired by Pack. Sneers and slurs aside, Beatrice still agrees to help Subaru if he ever needs help, which goes to show that Beatrice isn’t that bad after all.

The next characters to take a spot on the list is also another cat-like character with fluffy ears and a small stature. Meet Mimi Pearlbaton, a cat-like female child who serves under Anastasia Hoshin. Her stature, voice, and even personality, is of a kid’s, being so carefree, goofy and not taking things seriously around her makes this character, in its own way, a quirky one to be around with. Even with her childish traits, Mimi is second-in-command in Anastasia Hoshin’s private army, the mercenary group, Fang of Steel. Although the extent of her powers hasn't been revealed in the series yet, but from her position in a mercenary group is a testament as to how powerful Mimi can be. Definitely not to be underestimated upon. She seems to show a lot of amusement for a hamburger, this was seen in episode 16 of the series.

After the altercation in the looted house, Subaru passed out and was brought to the mansion by Emilia as a token of gratitude. It was there then that Subaru meets the man that owns the Margrave Mathers Mansion, Roswaal L. Mathers. The quirkiest thing that stood out about this character is his bizarre sense of fashion as well as his voice and way of speaking. With his bluish hair and purple tacky robe, Subaru even mistook Lord Roswaal for a clown during their first encounter, though Roswaal seemed to not mind it as well. Roswaal is the official sponsor and benefactor for Emilia’s candidacy for the royal election. Not only that, Roswaal is known to be the greatest magic-user in the kingdom capable of powerful spells, and knowledge of secrets in books that are protected by his librarian, Beatrice. Roswaal is also known to be able to fly as seen in episode 9, an ability that was attained thanks to his superiority over magic.

Felt is a girl that lives in the slums and relies on her ‘sticky fingers’ to live by. Despite the poor conditions, Felt has a lot of life in her, refusing to be compared to the other losers that live in the slums and tries very hard to get out of her current lifestyle even if it comes to the need of thieving. In fact, she is also the one responsible for stealing Emilia’s insignia in the first place. In the later episodes of the series, Felt was taken by Reinhard to the capital city of Lugnica, only to reveal that Felt was a legitimate candidate for the royal election. Even when she has dressed accordingly, her quirky behavior from her slum life doesn’t seem to fade away. Nonetheless, Felt is surely one of the most likable characters in the series!

Taking the number 1 spot of the Top 10 Quirky Characters list is Pack. Who doesn’t love a furry little sidekick? Pack is Emilia’s guardian spirit that takes the appearance form of a cat. He is also the one that grants Emilia the capabilities of using ice magic spells. He may be furry and cute, but being a spirit, he has the ability to alter his own size of appearance as seen in episode 1. The quirkiest thing about Pack is his appearance. His soft ears and fur, cute cat-like fluffy body, just makes you want to pet him. Subaru is known to love petting him, as well as Beatrice who seem to be obsessed with Pack, even having her own nickname for Pack as she refers him as Bubby. The furry little friends can have quite the behavior, as he was seen in the very first episode when he intentionally talks in a high pitch voice when talking to Subaru when he first woke up making this character so lovable.

Mayu Ootsuka is a member of the Public Security Bureau of Foreign Affairs, Section 4, of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. This is the division of the police that is most important to Darker than Black because Section 4 specifically deals with Contractor-related cases. Thus, all the members of Section 4 are directly related to Hei's story. Mayu is no different. Her role in the division is significant because she serves as the liaison to the astronomy division, which keeps track of the Contractor star related activities. Without Mayu, it would be much harder for Section 4 to operate sufficiently and do their jobs. As we said, Mayu's role in Section 4 is very crucial to the operation and efficiency of the division, which makes her a very important character. Beyond that, though, Mayu serves as an excellent source of comic relief in a very dark story, because outside of work she is an otaku who writes strange fanfiction. She is even central to an entire "spoof" style episode of the anime where Hei stars as a main character in her latest fanfiction, unbeknownst to her that he is the Contractor she is constantly searching for at work. Mayu is great for giving everyone something to smile and laugh about, and perhaps even a character that some viewers can identify with easier than others. She may not have much screen time outside of that episode, but she deserves to be on our list of Underappreciated Darker than Black characters all the same.

Nick Hillman is one of the few friends that Hei makes throughout the series. Hillman works at PANDORA, and Hei meets him when he infiltrates under the cover of just being a janitor. He soon discovers that they both have a common interest in telescopes and stargazing, with a dream to see the "real sky" someday, and become friends quickly. As more of his story is revealed, it turns out they have even more in common - Hillman is a Contractor with the ability to manipulate electricity, just like Hei. He tries to hide this about himself to keep Hei, who he believes to just be an ordinary citizen, safe and uninvolved. In the end, the two end up fighting over an artifact and the truth is revealed. Hillman might seem like nothing more than a minor character, but he is very intriguing and he still plays an important role. Whereas Contractors are not meant to display emotions, Hillman had very real ambitions and goals that are revealed throughout his time in the show - though an answer to why is never given. He also allows Hei to show his more human side by befriending someone and talking about his very normal interest in astronomy, highlighting a side of Hei that is often overshadowed by his role as an assassin and deadly Contractor. He is also the only other Contractor revealed to have the same ability as Hei, though, his does have a very clear remuneration while Hei's does not.

Yuusuke Saito is another member of Section 4 of the Foreign Affairs Bureau, and one of the direct subordinates beneath Misaki Kirihara. He is an officer in the division that is tasked with carrying out important and dangerous missions dealing with Contractors including undercover work. However, despite these assignments, Saito seems to lack common sense. For example, he goes undercover while using his real name! He means well though and fights hard in the name of what he feels is right, and always looks out for his fellow officers however he can. When one remembers Section 4 in Darker than Black, one usually only thinks of Kirihara herself and never her underlings. However, without people like Saito, Kirihara wouldn't have a team and wouldn't be able to do anything! Saito is one of her main supports and is in the anime regularly as a side character. He is one that you aren't likely to completely forget but definitely doesn't get the appreciation he deserves for his loyalty, support, and the occasionally humorous situations he finds himself in.

Yutaka Kouno is Yuusuke Saito's partner, and thus another member of Section 4. He also directly reports to Misaki Kirihara, though he doesn't treat her with the same fear and respect his older partner does. Kouno is presumably the youngest member of the team and often acts like it. While he does get the job done and serves as a formidable officer, more often than not Kouno's light-hearted, more immature attitude and demeanour are there to add some humour to an otherwise serious and sombre police station. Like Saito though, there is more to Kouno than just being a comical outlet - he also is critical in Section 4 missions and helps make the team a worthy adversary for the Contractors. Yutaka Kouno is definitely worthy of mention on our Top 10 Underappreciated Characters in Darker than Black. He is in the show fairly regularly, almost as often as Kirihara is. Just because he is in the background it doesn't make him any less important. Beyond being the comic relief in the division, which does make him cool and important already, he is yet another critical member of the team. Without Kouno, Section 4 would not be able to do the things that it does - and arguably would be a much more boring place, with not much else to lighten the mood!

Havoc is a Contractor like Hei, and the two have a history together during the incidents surrounding the Gate in South America. However, unlike Hei, when the Gate there disappeared Havoc lost her powers and many of her memories. For a long time, she lived with a family in Romania and learned how to enjoy the simple things in life like cooking and being with children, who she discovered she loved. She eventually is discovered and brought back to PANDORA though and learns the horrible truth that her remuneration used to be drinking the blood of children - but in return she had a powerful ability to create a vacuum that killed thousands in South America, making her one of the most notorious Contractors ever. Havoc may not be in many episodes but she is a very important and cool character none the less. She reveals more of Hei's mysterious back story, even alluding to a potential past relationship or at the very least friendship. She tells the viewer that he had become more emotional, and talks more about Hei's ties to his sister. Her own personal struggle to come to terms with who she is now, and who she used to be, reveals a very emotional and human side to Contractors that we don't usually see. It makes Havoc interesting and believable and gives a different perspective to Contractors than many of the others ever reveal.

April is a key member of the MI6 division that comes to Tokyo consisting of herself, her partner November 11, and a doll named July. April's power as a Contractor is to manipulate water, and when paired with November's power to freeze, they are a deadly duo when fighting together. She also has the ability to surround only a person's head in water, personally drowning them. She is constantly fighting against Hei and is a very serious enemy that he must face - even if he does eventually defeat her. Because April dies much sooner than November or July, she is a less memorable character than her counterparts. However, it doesn't make her any less cool! April is great at fighting and makes a fantastic partner for November, and they cause quite an obstacle for Hei to have to overcome. She also loves her remuneration, which is rare amongst the Contractors - but that is because her payment is to drink beer, and she loves alcohol. April's very demeanour is cool and casual, displaying her as a confident and strong woman - and being able to hold her own against Hei, even if it wasn't forever, shows that her self-confidence was not misplaced. When you remember MI6, be sure to not forget about April!

Amber is the first known Contractor, and has the ability to freeze and rewind time. If she uses her ability enough she can even foresee future events so that she can respond appropriately to them. With such a strong power, her remuneration is also high - she ages backwards, appearing younger and younger, and that means she has a limit to how many times she can use her power. Amber had changed organisations many times, including fighting in South America alongside Hei and Bai, but spends the majority of Darker than Black as the leader and founder of Evening Primrose. Despite fighting in opposition regularly to Hei as she works towards her goal of destroying the Gate without killing all Contractors, she does her best to protect him and keeps her people from harming him no matter what. Being the first Contractor already makes Amber significant, and her power is undeniably cool. But beyond those things, Amber is a central character to the story told in Darker than Black. She and Evening Primrose are always fighting against the Syndicate and trying to bring down the Gate, and in the end, she sacrifices herself to help lead Hei towards an option that would do so without killing all Contractors and destroying Japan. Her feelings for Hei are clearly strong and persistent despite his cold feelings towards her since she changed her allegiance after South America, showing a deep commitment and touching story amidst a much darker plot.

Aside from all the big name security operations operating in Darker than Black, there is also the private detective Gai Kurasawa and his assistant Kiko Kayanuma, who had earned her place on our list of the Top 10 Underappreciated Darker than Black Characters. Kiko is a massive anime fan and cosplayer, but despite having what might be seen as an air-headed and overtly flamboyant personality, she actually had a strong business mindset. Kiko is always more concerned than her boss about their business' financial situation, which is often dire, and will do anything to help them earn the money they need. Kiko Kayanuma is a character that shows up at random intervals throughout the story of Darker than Black, mostly in OVAs, and while she is a source of comic relief she is also significant to showing different sides to characters and developing their personalities. For example, she tries extremely hard to befriend Yin, despite Yin's lack of emotion, all the way to including her in cosplay. She also lusts after Hei on a regular basis without knowing who he is beyond his false daily identity. She sometimes shows up in the middle of his missions in some way or another, adding another element to them or at least breaking up the dark tone with something light-hearted. Her role as the exaggerated fan girl also gives her the chance to say what many viewers might be feeling or thinking about the show and its characters, putting Kiko in a very interesting position.

Bai is Hei's younger sister and a very powerful Contractor. While the full extent of her powers is never explored, it is eluded to that they go far beyond just the power to control electricity. On top of that, she also excels in molecular reconstruction. Bai is the Contractor responsible for the destruction of the Gate in South America prior to the beginning of the anime and has since disappeared. It is later revealed that the reason that Hei, previously only a bodyguard to his little sister, became a Contractor with her electrical power is because Bai still exists through him by using her molecular reconstruction ability to form a fusion. Bai is never actually seen in the series because she had disappeared before it started, but that doesn't make her any less significant. Without Bai, Hei would not have any of his powers and wouldn't be in the Syndicate, let alone a powerful Contractor. Bai's destruction of Heaven's Gate is the backdrop for the story told in Darker than Black, and without it, the story wouldn't be at all the same. She has an incredible impact on the story without ever being present - though she is mentioned quite regularly at least. And on top of her significance to the story, Bai was an extremely powerful Contractor, and the fact that she destroyed the Gate is pretty cool too.

Like everyone in Hei's immediate group tied to the Syndicate, Huang's name is a cover alias derived from the Chinese word for a colour, and Huang's is yellow. He is the leader of their group and their essential contact directly to the Syndicate. Aside from his role as a leader, he also shows up fighting when necessary and is responsible for saving the lives of many of his team members. Huang has a dislike for both Contractors and Dolls due to his rough personal history with them, but works with Hei and Yin anyway - at first because he has to, but arguably later because he wants to. Huang is far from the usually attractive, young important male character that is in most anime - in fact, he's quite the opposite. Huang is a middle-aged, heavier set man with a gruff voice and far from an attractive face, usually wearing a trench and old beret while smoking a cigar. This alone can make him a forgotten character for many people when they are discussing their favourites or who was the coolest or most desirable, but in reality, Huang is one of the most important characters. He is central to the plot of the show as the leader of Hei's group and the one directly in contact with the Syndicate leaders. He makes most of the decisions, gets the new jobs, and deals with any trouble that might arise. Without Huang, Hei's group wouldn't be able to function so he hardly deserves to be a forgotten character! He may not be pretty, but Huang is so important to Darker than Black that he easily is our number one underappreciated character.

Parasyte looks at the world of Shinichi Izumi, whose life takes a huge turn for the worse when parasitic aliens invaded his city causing extreme chaos. These aliens burrow themselves into the brains of vulnerable humans, using their body as a shield and can morph into an array of forms to feed on other unsuspecting targets. One of these parasites finds its way into Izumi's body, but fails to find his brain and ends up in his right hand instead. The parasite named Migi tells Izumi of the threat that these parasites pose to the Earth, and so the two must work together hand in hand to put an end to the threat, while relying on each other to stay alive. Izumi and Ken have both been thrown into a world where they never expected themselves to be in, which led to an extreme life changing experience. They both were the victims of an attack which cursed them with a power that took over a part of their body. The two must now come to terms with their new destiny, while also understanding how to fully utilize their new forms. Izumi undergoes a huge change in his character once he realizes how much of his life is affected, and how big of an impact he has on the world around him. Now Ken and Izumi have to both rely on tactical measures in order to outsmart their opponents, who too also have extremely intelligent strategies to be one step ahead. It's a huge chess match to see who can perform the checkmate first before it's too late, and that's what brings the excitement to the series.

Deadman Wonderland throws you right into the action, as we see Ganta fighting for his life within the first few episodes. Ganta finds himself in the midst of struggle as he is framed for a gruesome crime at school he didn't commit. His entire classroom is butchered by a mysterious individual in red, and it's now Ganta who must find out who this enemy is while at the same time, keeping his head atop his shoulders. Ganta encounters a mysterious young girl named Shiro, who teams up with him in order to run through the gauntlet of deadly events at the prison. Ganta must now use his wits along with strong teamwork to get him out of the situation he's in and bring himself one step closer to the answer. Both anime involve a young boy whose life takes a turn for the worst when they're thrown into an unexpected scenario without their consent, and must now come up with ways to survive at all costs. Ken and Ganta have been shunned from society and are seen as the enemy, and now must try and convince the world around them that there's a greater threat ahead. Brutal murders constantly take place in both anime, where the weak are weeded out from the pack, and the strong continue to dominate. These shows give us a glimpse real life problems that we currently face in society, where segregation and neglect run rampant and now the world needs immediate change before it escalates.

Ajin tells the story of a species of the same title that had been tracked down in Africa. Ajin are said to have immortality along with supernatural powers, but behave just like any normal human being. Since its first discovery, more and more Ajin have found their way into the present world, and Kei Nagai is one of the characters who encounters one in a tragic way. After walking home from school, Kei is killed instantly by an oncoming truck, but is revived by a mysterious dark matter. After rising from the dead, the towns people immediately targeted him as an Ajin, and from there the action begins. The anime tries to express some complex truths about life and death, while showing us the more dark side of human nature along with it. Kei and Izumi suffer at the hands of another by some tragic event, which leads them into a world they never asked to be a part of. They both have transformed into a completely different being, allowing both protagonists to revive themselves after being killed. They both must now use these new forms as defense mechanisms to help put an end to the constant terror that threatens their city, but to also protect the ones they care about. Neither characters posed a threat to the world prior to their curse, which was undeserving, but now are both targets by humans because of their accidents.

Mirai Nikki is a supernatural thriller produced by Kadokawa Shoten, which places focus on Yukiteru, who soon discovers that his habit of conversing with imaginary friends through his cellphone (his diary), eventually becomes a terrifying reality. By fate, Yukiteru is confronted with a girl named Yuno who he builds a romantic connection with 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. Kei and Yukiteru get pulled into a world that they never wanted to be in, and must now roll the dice playing the game pertaining to life and death. The two must contemplate their intentions as they must risk taking the lives of others in order to survive, while encountering enemies who show no remorse to kill them. Their every decision leads them down various paths which they must evaluate, and see what solution prevents them from dying the fastest. Kei and Yukiteru start off quite weak early in the series, but as the story progresses they too find strength in their ability to stay alive at all costs.

Mirai Kuriyama is a member of the Spirit World warriors, who wield the power to employ their blood as weapons. Mirai is given the task to track down and kill creatures known as “Youmu”, who are said to take the appearance of negative human emotions in physical form. Mirai encounters Akihito Kanbara, a rare half-breed of Youmu in human form. She plunges her blood saber into him in a state of panic, only to realize that he's been granted immortality. The two form an unscripted friendship from then on that revolves around Mirai constantly trying to kill Akihito, to boost her confidence as a Spirit World warrior. Akihito and Kei are both half-breeds which allow them to utilize the powers that their enemies use at any time. This however leads to them becoming the hunted instead of the hunter because the world sees them as different, and must now be eliminated as a result. The two must come to grips with their new powers, and somehow find solutions to use them effectively in order to survive. There's always an obstacle that they must face which challenges their sanity, since they must sacrifice one thing for another at all times. Extreme decision making have become the responsibility of these two main characters, and whenever they're faced with dilemmas the two must always use their correct judgment, otherwise they suffer.

Robin is a 15 year old craft specialist who came to Japan from Italy, to work for the STN- Japan Division. She was to replace a member who was killed in battle, and so it became her mission to capture witches alive to further discover why they became witches in the first place. In a world full of betrayal, Robin is on a journey to not only uncover the mysteries of the existence of witches, but to uncover the dark pasts of her own life leading up to Japan. Robin comes across a male individual named Amon, who she becomes attracted to, and the two work together to chase conspiracies. Amon shares somewhat of a similar dark past to Robin, and so her mission is to dig into his life to find more answers. Kei and Robin find it extremely difficult to fit in with society because of how different they are. They both resemble the look of a human, but possess abilities that surpass the human capability. Whenever confronted with the choice of choosing a side to fight with, the two find it very hard and are always constantly running back and forth trying to decide. Both Kei and Robin enlist in an organization that will help them to put an end to the threat that the two never expected to be a part of in the first place. So now with their life in a whirlwind of affairs, they must now collect all of the pieces to the puzzle and place them together to find the right solution.

Kakeru and his friend Yuka are suddenly transported to a not so friendly parallel world. They manage to escape, but soon they discover that four other students can also travel between worlds and they must figure out why they have been sent to this Red Night. Things get worse when six shadows appear in front of them. The plot twist comes after many chapters, when you are totally hooked with the storyline. You were thinking the leading group is doing the right thing, but the plot hits you in the face and turns out that you were wrong the whole time. The good ones are actually the bad ones, and vice versa. And then you find out that it’s also too late to change the course of the events and everything turns out a complete mess.

The main storyline of this anime is quite original: a group of students are stuck in the afterlife because they still have unfinished business with the world and with themselves. Angel Beats! also knew how to combine music, humor and action perfectly. The main character of this anime is a boy who has lost his memories and can only remember his last name: Otonashi. By the end of the anime, when everyone except Kanade and Otonashi have already moved on, it’s revealed that Otonashi’s heart is inside of Kanade. She confesses that the reason she was in the Afterlife, is because she wanted to thank the person who had donated her heart. This plot twist is really good, but there’s something that doesn’t fit right, and it’s that Otanashi should have been in the school before Kanade. In addition, the plot doesn’t explain why Kanade isn’t alive.

Don’t judge a book by its cover! At a first glance you may think that this is the typical kawaii magical girl show with a cute protagonist and a sweet story, but no… it isn’t, it’s a very dark and crazy anime actually. Kaname Madoka is a normal student whose life takes an unexpected turn after rescuing a “cat-like animal” named Kyuubey. As a reward, Kyuubey offers Madoka and Sayaka (a friend of hers) to become Magical Girls. Wait… no, you aren’t watching Sailor Moon. The whole ambience changes in episode 3. When Mami is fighting an enemy horde, she looks so confident, proud and smiling that she makes you think everything is going to be all right. But then Charlotte appears, opens her big mouth and decapitates her with her sharp teeth. Mami’s lifeless body falls on the ground and Charlotte eats her. Many viewers start to take the anime seriously from this chapter and find in Madoka Magica an anime unique in its kind. Fun fact, Charlotte’s second form is inspired by Takashi Murakami's art.

In the quiet town of Naraba, a series of mysterious deaths are happening. The corpses are found hanging from TV antennae and telephone poles. At the same time, the “Midnight Channel” is growing in popularity among high school students because it is said that when you watch it, your soulmate is revealed on the screen. Yuu Narukami is a transfer student who discovers that he and his friends can travel through the TV into another world. Throughout the whole anime, Tohru Adachi was the clumsy and cheerful new cop, messing things up because of his inexperience and getting on Ryotaro Dojima’s nerves. It’s only by the end of the anime, when everything seems lost, that the team ties up all the loose ends and Adachi becomes the main suspect of the murders. Once unmasked, he confesses he has been manipulating the Investigation Team and withholding information from the beginning just for fun.

This anime has roused opposite emotions, you may love it or you may hate it, but it’s hard to remain impartial. And that’s because it’s wildly exaggerated. Simon and Kamina live in the underground village of Jeeha under the rule of The Spiral King. They are like day and night: Simon is timid, mediocre and plain; while Kamina is a cool free-spirit. One day, Kamina finds a big robot which is an ancient artifact of war: a Laggan. Using the Laggan, they manage to escape to the surface world. In episode 8, Kamina, the guy who seems to be the protagonist, dies from his injuries after winning a battle. This death is quite surprising and really affects the rest of the cast, because now the crew is left with the worthless Simon and a downhearted Yoko. And this may sound paradoxical, but the show gets better from here.

This anime is already a classic, and if you are an anime fan, I’m sure you’ve already watched it. If you haven’t… what are you doing with your life? Go and watch it NOW! The story begins when the bright student, Light Yagami finds a notebook called the Death Note. If you write a name on the Death Note, this person will die immediately. Light realizes how great the power of the Death Note could be. But you know, with great power comes great responsibility. I know this isn’t an innocent anime, and I probably should’ve seen it coming, but I really didn’t expect L‘s death. The whole show revolved around the battle between Light Yagami and the eccentric L. Even though Light was brilliant, and one of my favorite anime characters, I was expecting L to win, because the good ones, or at least the less evil ones, always win. Right? Well, silly me. When L dies in episode 25 I was shocked, mainly because I knew there was more series to come. So basically, after L’s death the fans had no clue how the anime was going to continue.

When you first watch this anime, you may think it’s a classic harem anime, but as the story progresses you find out that the main character, is a complete bastard and you come to hate him. The anime is an adaptation of a visual novel, telling the story of Makoto who is in love with Kotonoha. Makoto’s friend Sekai is in love with Makoto but helps him to pick up Kotonoha. And a complex love triangle begins. The problem is that of all the possible endings of the visual novel, they just picked the worst one. As you get to know Makoto, you realize he’s a horny boy who took advantage of girls anytime he could. So when Makoto dies stabbed by Sekai, you can feel a sort of satisfaction. But then, things go too far, and a romance harem anime turns into a gore psycho one. When Kotonoha returns from shopping, she finds Makoto’s body. Then, she texts Sekai asking to meet her in the school roof. Once there, Kotonoha pointing at a bag, states that Makoto is there with them. Of course, inside the bag is Makoto’s head. Kotonoha kills Sekai and slices her stomach, just to check if she was really pregnant. The anime ends with Kotonoha on a yacht cuddling Makoto’s head and mumbling they are finally alone.

In the year 2010, Japan, now renamed Area 11, was under the dominion of the Britannian Empire. Lelouch Lamperouge, is an exiled prince of Britannia that in a middle of a terrorist attack comes across a mysterious girl named C.C. Then, she grants Lelouch the "Power of the King," also known as the power of Geass. This power allows him to make people obey him without questioning. With Geass, Lelouch stars a rebellion against the empire. The big surprise in this anime comes when Lelouch joking with Euphemia, his half sister and one of the people he cares about the most, accidentally gives her the Geass to kill all the Japanese. This joke turns to an order to Euphemia, and she leads the Britannian Army to a brutal killing of innocent Japanese. Trying to protect himself from the terrible mistake he made, Lelouch commands to stop the Britannians, to save the Japanese, and to kill Euphemia.

This anime is about time travel and parallel timelines, so it’s basically one plot twist after another. The mad scientist Rintarou Okabe and his fellow lab members spend most of the time inventing useless things. Their last invention, the “Phone Microwave” surprisingly works and it can send emails to the past and change the flow of time. Eventually, they discover that playing with time is not harmless, and they must repair the mess they caused. But to set things back to normal implies the sacrifice of one of their friends. And then you are reminded that Kurisu died in the beta timeline, her father took her research, failed, and started World War III. But she is still alive in Steins;Gate and World War III never happens. Okabe finally manages to fake Kurisu’s death and somehow cheat time. I strongly recommend this anime, it’s like The Butterfly Effect turns into an anime.

This plot twist is just amazing, it reveals how “twisted” a human being can be and that’s why it’s in the top position of the list. Mirai Nikki is also an anime about time travelling so there are a few plot twists during the show. But when we discover the truth about Yuno Gasai, it’s definitely one of the greatest shocks you can receive. Yuno’s obsession with Yukiteru Amano, the main character, is gradually revealed throughout the anime, but then you discover that she has already won the survival game. Of course, in order to win she had to kill Yukiteru and everyone else. The point is, that she is so fixated on Yuki, that her plan is to reset time and go back to her final days with him in a full circle. But to do so, she has not only to go back in time, but also to find and kill the current Yuno in that timeline, and thus take her place. That, ladies and gentlemen is what I call a yandere, and the rest is nonsense.

Gamou Jirou is the only featured spy who isn’t affiliated with the D-Agency, but rather its rival organization, another Japanese spy group called Wind Agency. As the Japanese military had yet to officially incorporate an intelligence agency, both D-Agency and Wind Agency are vying for the single open spot to be recognized by the military. Gamou Jirou is one of the star members of this group, who also has a lot in common with his D-Agency counterparts. He’s a civilian who wants to become a spy for the mental stimulation. Gamou is highly skilled in reading people, finding out how they tick. With this skill, he has become a master at chess and gained notoriety among foreign diplomats. He also uses this skill to aggressively manipulate people to complete in his missions. Easily slipping between appearing friendly and downright menacing, it’s hard to tell which is his true nature; but compared to the D-Agency members who don’t kill, Gamou is quite violent. Gamou has many qualities that could easily make him a top spy, but it becomes clear the importance of rigorous training when he is flawlessly bested by D-Agency’s Jitsui in Episode 9. Preview quote: Chess isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about living or dying.

Odagiri is hand-selected by spymaster Yuuki to join the D-Agency. He is one of the only spies to be affiliated with the military. Additionally, he is the only spy whose real name is revealed in the anime, along with a detailed background story. Odagiri is deemed “un-trainable” by his military superiors after he openly refuses to follow his superior’s commands in order to help another soldier. Just when Odagiri is ready to put the military behind him, Yuuki picks him up and brings him into the D-Agency. For the most part, Odagiri feels a little out of place amongst the civilian spies. Although not adhering to military mannerisms as much as Sakuma, he does have a “military man” feel to him, especially when he assumes that spymaster Yuuki has taken him off of his mission after what he sees as a major failure. With strong power of deduction and detailed investigative skills, Odagiri is a very competent spy and eventually can extract all the information he needs; however, he is distracted by the specter of his former caretaker. After realizing this himself. Odagiri leaves the agency and returns to the military as Lieutenant Tobisaki Hiroyuki. Preview quote: “We are all beautiful in passing,” right?

Amari has a friendly and approachable demeanor. He easily gains a report with strangers and is seen as trustworthy by those around him, even if they are only acquainted with him for a short time. People naturally let out information around him, even though he does give even the smallest bit of information himself. It is also implied that Amari is popular with women, with whom he is constantly breaking up, because there is “no point in staying with one for too long.” Add on top his calmness under pressure, and what we get is a well-dressed, well-liked, womanizing spy, much like Mr. You Know Who. But this friendliness isn’t all for show. After discovering a covert assassin, instead of being ruthless, he empathizes with her and lets her turn herself in. After this, he does end up becoming the temporary guardian of a little girl and her dog, but in the end, he is able to successfully uncover the secret to the mysterious death of his target. Preview quote: Flow into the ocean. What awaits beyond is boundless freedom.

Tazaki is one of the more recognizable characters due to his particular magician-like skills. Not only is he highly skilled in card manipulation and slight of hand, but he also carries around pigeons in his suit. Pigeons in his suit aside, Tazaki is has a caring way of talking that allows him to win over people with ease. In a train assassination mystery, Tazaki employs the help of three young boys in order to solve the case within a short time limit. He pulls together a multitude of little pieces of information in order to discover the assassin and the motive. He also is able to rope in a new foreign operative that will be useful to Japan’s young intelligence network. With a youthful face and a mature way of talking, D-Agency’s magician has a pleasant charm to him. As his feature episode closes, we get a nice look into his inner thoughts, which much like the way he talks is extremely intellectual. He laments about not being able to effectively use the information they collect and about the diminished value of spies once war is declared. Nonetheless, he is satisfied with his career choice and his spymaster’s guidance. Preview quote: It’s not the cards I’m manipulating. It’s your heart.

We learn in a mind-blowing and episode-ending reveal that Fukumoto is a master of disguise, who prefers to work behind the scenes on his missions. In Shanghai, a “city of sin,” where corruption is running rampant in the Imperial Army, Fukumoto has taken on the identity of a journalist for quite some time. He has already gotten a number of connections with the military police, who are not aware of his primary profession. Tall but unassuming, Fukumoto easily blends in with a crowd, which makes the identities he takes on that much more amazing. He invents another clandestine identity in order to lead a military officer Homma to uncover that his captain Oikawa is involved in drug trafficking and civilian murder for his own monetary gain. He easily accomplishes his mission to uncover and bring to light corruption in the military without necessarily doing so in person. He remains at his post in Shanghai for an extended period of time without gaining attention and avoiding suspicion. Fukumoto is a spy that you will never know existed. Preview quote: (On gambling) To taste the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

Jitsui is soft-spoken but can become hostile and even sadistic in front of an enemy. He uses his appearance to take on an identity specifically made to entrap the rival spy organization Wind Agency. Under disguise as a houseboy for a prominent Japanese diplomat, Jitsui dedicates his life to the assumed identity for over a year, much to Gamou Jirou’s surprise. Although much smaller in stature, Jitsui also bests Gamou physically with surprise and superior fighting skills. Highly skilled and dedicated to a fault, Jitsui is a spy we can’t help but root for. Despite being put up against Gamou Jirou, there are a lot of similarities in their personalities, especially with the transitions between kind and hostile. Gamou fails when he underestimates Jitsui based on his usually correct judgments. Jitsui lets himself appear to be threatened by the Wind Agency, thus convincing them that he can be used and manipulated. The hunters of the Wind Agency have no clue they are being hunted by the D-Agency, thanks to Jitsui’s impeccable performance. Preview quote: You need to be prepared for consequences if you go tomb raiding. Sometimes the mummy hunter ends up becoming the mummy.

Kaminaga is sent specifically to take on one of the finest intelligence networks in the world in the heart of London. After arriving in the United Kingdom, Kaminaga is promptly arrested for espionage after an unfortunate information leak. Taking on both truth serum and British spymaster Mark Howards, Kaminaga relies on his training in order to deliver the message he has been captured, and then to make his escape with the help of a sleeper, a foreign operative who only “wakes up” as an intelligence support operative in times of trouble. In the end of Episode 5, we learn that not only did Kaminaga start his mission with knowledge that he would be caught, but he was also given no information about the existence of a sleeper in London. Well, we know that Kaminaga wasn’t sleeping during training. With the book Robinson Crusoe as the only clue given to him by Yuuki, Kaminaga is able to recognize a marking on a door as a symbol of a support sleeper, the astronomical sign of Venus, which is associated with the day Friday, the name of a main companion character in Robinson Crusoe. He makes this connection in a split-second. Kaminaga begins his return trip to Japan, hopefully wondering where his next mission will take him. Preview quote: Sleep when you’re sleepy. When the time comes, you’ll wake up on your own.

Before Japan allies with Germany, Hatano is posted in France as a foreign exchange student. He befriends a group of people working with the Resistance movement in France. At the beginning of the episode he awakens after a blow to the head with amnesia. Although he doesn’t have memories, he instinctively knows to keep much to himself and remain in his assumed identity. Hatano is unaware of his primary mission, but he quickly takes assessment of the information around him. He even has the capacity to make a dust bomb from flour and reassemble a gun as he and his friends escape German soldiers. Noting suspicious behavior in one of his French friends, he takes note not to trust her and outs her as a double agent. After his memories return, he gains a stronger connection with the remaining Resistance member, who invites him to enter the Resistance, his primary goal. Unfortunately, though, his time in France comes to an end, as Japan allies with Germany. In his usual cheeky way, Hatano tells Yuuki, “Next time, give me a mission that requires a little more mettle.” Hatano may have included amnesia in his calculations, but if memory loss isn’t enough to trip up this spy, perhaps nothing can. Preview quote: Don’t worry about it. Memories aren’t important. It was the right decision.

Miyoshi is one of the first spies we are really introduced to when he is put in charge of a mission to find hidden microfilm obtained by an enemy spy. Spymaster Yuuki normally turns to Miyoshi first for answers on spy theory and appears to trust his espionage skills the most. As brainy and narcissistic as he is, Miyoshi is the best at knowing what make people tick. He has the respect of Yuuki and his fellow spies and is thought to become Yuuki’s successor. Knowing fully well that Sakuma looks down on spies, Miyoshi reveals to Sakuma the shortcomings of the military, namely how little they value the lives of their soldiers. By putting Sakuma in the position of giving his life for military duty, Sakuma is able to use quick thinking to save himself. Miyoshi is devoted to espionage and believes in the value of gathering intelligence. After creating and controlling the local spy network in Germany, this devotion is later exemplified in Episode 11 in a tragic but fitting ending for a spy that completes his mission even in death. Preview quote: What we’re looking for may be closer than we think.

Who else could possibly top Miyoshi but the spymaster himself? Lieutenant Colonel Yuuki’s past is shrouded in mystery, although we can easily gather that his military contemporaries hold a lot of resentment for him. After learning espionage in Europe, Yuuki is determined to bring Japan into the intelligence game by founding Japan’s first intelligence agency. This conflicts with the military’s interpretation of spies as “cowards,” but Japan is feeling the pain of lack of information, and they start to see the benefits of having covert operatives. Yuuki fabricated a back-story in order to out foreign spies looking into the D-Agency. The story is so airtight that we may never know the true story. Still, we do know that Yuuki was once a spy in Germany and was captured due to an information leak. He escaped by blowing his own arm off. Although the spymaster, Yuuki will often join missions because he can enter places where his young spies would appear suspicious. Master of disguise and manipulation, with veteran experience and body-sacrificing determination, Yuuki is a spymaster in more ways than one.

We can’t forget Sakuma, the military officer meant to a messenger between the military and the D-Agency. He uses his own quick thinking and knowledge of the military police in order to uncover where a foreign spy has hidden microfilm with Japanese military secrets. He may have just been trying to save his own skin, but Sakuma’s quick thinking under pressure is not his only spy-tastic trait. He also is able to investigate Yuuki without the spymaster’s knowledge and discover that Yuuki is actively working to get more funding from the military through information collection. These skills attract Yuuki’s attention. The spymaster asks if Sakuma wants to take the D-Agency training and join the spies he’s been living with. Sakuma would probably make a darn good spy.

Don’t let that innocent and affable looking face fool you. The Baby might be a small man, but he is in the bad guys side. Even worse, he has traces of psychopathy. The Baby is part of an organization of Neo-nazis who dream with a superior race and a perfect leader to follow after all. This means he takes part in tortures, riots, and other atrocities. The Baby might be xenophobic, but he is a resourceful man who knows how to get the (dirty) job done. And that means he has to have guts. Although he lived long years putting his strength at the service of the ultra nationalists, he was finally finished by a prostitute he confided in. That is why he is in a low post of our Top Ten.

Karl is a business management student in the Munich University, while Lotte is studying in the cultural anthropology department. They had normal lives until they become accidentally involved with Johan (our main antagonist) and his plan of ruling the world. All this was due to Karl’s past, as he is the illegitimate son of Hans Georg Schuwald, who holds the economy of Germany in his hands. Although Karl wishes to reveal himself to his aging father, he knows he is far from perfect. Meanwhile, Johan passes as a law student in the Munich University, winning the favor of Schuwald. Karl and Lotte start to notice strange things going on. It is Lotte who gets the idea to follow Schuwald on his night strolls, triggering their further involvement with him. Karl and her eventually discover the creepy truth behind Johan and remain with Schuwald once the Monster changes the direction of his plans, departing from Germany. Lotte also met Nina Fortner and through their acquaintance realized which other deaths were connected to Johan. In short, Karl and Lotte remained clever, positive, generous, kind and supportive throughout the ordeals… which are true signs of strength.

In the beginning, there were four ambitious soldiers with dreams of creating a superior race on their heads. One of the soldiers was Helmut Wolf. He encountered Johan and his sister when the children were trying to cross the border between Germany and the Czech Republic. From that point on, Wolf’s life would be manipulated by Johan. The scary thing is that he did not notice it soon. Nevertheless, this also showed Wolf’s strength and endurance. Although Johan systematically suppressed any evidence of his existence, and killed every living being who knew him, Helmut Wolf lived until a very old age. That was a hard lesson on not harming others due to your ambitious, right? But Wolf learned it and he was the only out of the four soldiers who did not want Johan to become a new Hitler. So he gathered his strength to live and tell the tale to Dr. Tenma (our main protagonist), so that he could stop Johan.

Meet this happy man who is a master at looking, well… affable. But remember that everyone in Monster has something to hide. In Wolfang’s case, he has worked for the Czech secret police and is now a journalist. He is trying to uncover the truth behind the mysterious Kinderheim 511, the place where he later would confess he was raised in. Wolfang looks strong because he easily outsmarts everyone and he even can kill in cold blood when his life is in danger. Nevertheless, his true strength comes from the fact that he realizes that he is disconnected from his emotions (a consequence of being “educated” in Kinderheim 511). He undergoes therapy to learn to react properly and has genuine concerns for people, especially children. Although he does not burst into tears until near the end of his life, he remains a positive character who assumes responsibility for his actions, both good and bad. That is a sign of true strength.

Eva is that type of woman you would not like to be involved with at first. She is the beautiful and sophisticated daughter of Udo Heinemann, the director of the hospital where Dr. Tenma works at the beginning of the story. Eva is also our protagonist’s fiancee. Nevertheless, when Dr. Tenma almost loses his job, Eva coldly breaks up with him. But fortune changed quickly, Dr. Tenma gets an even better job and now rejects her advances. Eva decides to get revenge for this, but she changes her mind after being involved with the Neo-nazis schemes. She even finds a good man who wants to escape with her, but he is killed and instead re encounters Dr. Tenma, who apologizes for all the bad things that happened in her life due to him. Perhaps Eva does not look as a strong character, but she is, as she was involved in perilous situations but lived to tell the tale. This woman even went very close to the most evil ones in the story, but was capable of redeeming herself and finally got a peaceful life and a better character.

If we have one persistent character in Monster besides the protagonist and antagonist, that character is Lunge. Faithful to his nature as Police Inspector, this highly intelligent man is obsessively convinced that Dr. Tenma murdered the directors who died mysteriously after his nearly demise from the hospital. Having no proof, Lunge had to patiently wait until ten years later, when he was investigating a series of murders that ended up connected with Dr. Tenma and Johan. Although the doctor tells the Police Inspector everything he knows about the murderer, Lunge thinks the man is insane. After his family leaves him for being too focused on his work, he decides to pursue Tenma full time. So yes, Lunge might look too stupid (and weak) at this point, but he eventually found enough evidence in Germany to make him change his mind and even support Tenma in the end. He even risks his life to stop Johan’s plans at the Hotel Bergbach. Thus, Lunge’s true strength is on the pursual of truth regardless of the consequences.

Dieter has had a hard life for his short age. In the first place, he is an orphan. This little guy’s guardian, Mr. Hartmann, was fascinated by the manipulative abilities of Johan at Kinderheim 511. That is why he decided to replicate the experiment in Dieter, thus, the poor boy was constantly physically abused. Fortunately, he encounters Dr. Tenma during his travel to find the truth behind Johan’s past. The Doctor convinces him to not become a monster, and thus they become travel companions. Dieter would know a lot of people (including Nina), and help them. Despite his insecure personality, he choses to save people even at the risk of his own life. Also, although Dieter is in constant contact with twisted personalities (Martin for example), he shows horror over their actions and empathy towards the innocents. His refusal to turn to the dark side makes of him a strong character.

What can be said about Johan? His childhood was difficult and disturbing, starting from the point that he never had an official name. It could be alleged that few would have grown out of such ordeals fully sane, or at least not as corrupted as Johan did. This guy is the living proof that you just can not simply make psychological conditioning experiments to raise a new Hitler to conduct a superior human race to… glory. Most of what Johan left behind him was chaos, destruction and mental suffering. His strongest point was his ability to manipulate others into causing the destruction and/or violence themselves. Remember how he provoked everyone, teachers and children, to kill each other at Kinderheim 511 while he simply sat watching? But we must admit that Johan’s other abilities are handy too: his superior intelligence, his charisma, and his good lucks opened doors that none others could have. Plus, he was captured but always escaped! This handsome guy is definitely one of the creepiest and strongest antagonists ever created in the history of anime.

Nina used to be known as Anna Liebert. She is Johan’s twin sister, thus, she lived throughout a lot of the same ordeals. Johan even asked Anna to shoot him when they were kids, so that “the monster could not get them”. But they eventually separate and Anna is adopted by the Fortners, taking the name of Nina. Contrary to what might be expected, Nina grew up to become a kind, brilliant, truth and justice seeker. She could not remember what happened in her childhood in the beginning of the story, until she was contacted by her brother anonymously through e-mail. Needless to say that Nina is one of the strongest characters of the story, being capable of understanding the perilous situations quickly. She even saved Dr. Tenma during their first encounter and learned to use firearms. Nina is one of the few who understand Johan and even tries to kill him, although deep inside, she knows she can not kill. She even tells her brother that she will always forgive him. It is her deep compassion and her resilience that make of her a strong girl.

Although we have seen great stories of redemption and forgiveness in Monster, the strongest character should be Dr. Tenma. It is not only because he is the protagonist. This man went from one hell to another, being pursued for years due to crimes that he did not commit. At the same time, Tenma was hunting down the true killer, who was none other than Johan. Throughout his adventures, we can see the struggles of this man to do what is morally correct. He keeps saving people, operating people and trying to make the best of the most awful situations. Tenma assures Nina that he won’t let her or Johan become monsters. He convinces Dieter to not be like Johan. Tenma also eventually makes amends with Eva and even with Lunge (both of whom were trying to get him arrested). This is a man who recognizes his mistakes and, although they are difficult to fix, he at least apologizes and tries to correct his course. And well, Tenma survived the whole ordeal to become a member of Doctors without Borders. After so many years of fighting to find truth and redemption, we can safely say that he is the strongest character in Monster.

Claudio is the head waiter of Casetta Dell'Orso, the restaurant owned by Nicoletta’s mom. His complete name is Santo Claudio Paradiso, but everyone just calls him Claudio. Like the rest of the employees of the restaurant, he wears glasses, which actually fit him well. He is probably in his late 50s, but he looks younger, since he’s gentle and such a fancy man. Even though he is divorced, he still wears his wedding ring, because he doesn’t want women trying to seduce him. Claudio immediately becomes Nicoletta’s love interest, but it seems that he still has feelings for his ex-wife and doesn’t want to give Nicoletta false hope. He has a beautiful but slightly sad smile that only makes Nicoletta care more about him.

Well… his complete name is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but friends usually call him England or Britain. His human name is Arthur Kirkland (so British right?). Although he was raised to be a pirate, he chose to be a gentleman. But he still has a sharp-tongue and a potty mouth, using British expressions like “bloody” or “git”. England has an unusual relation with France, they love and hate each other and even though they deny it, they’re close friends (more than friends in France’s dreams). England also raised America as a brother, but then America declared his independence fighting against him, leaving England totally heartbroken. He becomes romantic and nostalgic at night, mostly when he drinks, but since he is a gentleman, by the morning he’ll show composure and pretend nothing happened. He is always trying to avoid uncivilized behaviors, seeking refuge in manners and tradition. And of course, nothing is going to prevent him from drinking his afternoon tea.

How can we not love him? He is not only a gentleman, but a prince. Mamoru, or Mamo-chan, is a stoic and introverted young man who lost his parents on a car crash when he was a boy. This accident made him block all his childhood memories but unblocked his past life memories as Prince Endymion. Since he remembers his previous life, he created and alter ego named Tuxedo Mask, for hunting the Silver Crystal and protecting the Sailor Senshi. When he is playing Tuxedo Mask, he is not only a gentleman, he also dresses like one. He wears a tuxedo (of course he does), a top hat, a white mask, a cape and a cane. His trademark is a red rose, which he also uses as a weapon. Soon after getting his memories back, he is kidnapped by Queen Beryl, who uses him for her evil plans. When he finally becomes Usagi’s official boyfriend, his personality changes to calm and kind.

He is a former detective of the International Bureau of Investigation who now works as a sweeper and is Train Heartnet’s partner. He is always kind and respectful to women and children, following a strict “gentlemen’s code”. Sven took Eve as a daughter after what happened at Torneo’s place. He’s far more logical and calmer than Train. As he doesn’t have Black Cat's power, Sven is a very creative thinker, using his brain to win the battles. He never loses his temper, even in the most dangerous situations. In many occasions he got seriously injured, but he never betrayed his codes. He also has a vision eye, which was transplanted from his partner Loyd, a clairvoyant. This eye later evolves into to Glasper Eye.

Shouta is Sawako’s classmate, and one of the sweetest and kindest boys you could ever meet. Due to his friendly attitude and his good looks, he’s the most popular in the class. He met Sawako the first day of school, when he was lost and Sawako showed him the way to school. He fell in love with her immediately when he saw her smiling. Shouta is so popular among girls, that they formed an Alliance called “Kazehaya is Everyone's” to preserve the peace between all the admirers. But this sweetie only has eyes for Sawako, and after a lot of misunderstandings they finally begin to date. But he’s not only attractive to girls; many boys also admire him and long to be his friend. He is very jealous when it comes to Sawako, and also hates rumors, because they’ve hurt Sawako in the past.

Also known as “The Prince” or “Prince Yuki”, he is a beautiful and refined boy. He is so pretty, that he looks like a girl. Because of his delicate looks, he tends to feel insecure and has problems socializing, not knowing how to talk to people. However, he always keeps calm and cool and usually is very formal when he speaks with others. Like every member of the Souma family, Yuki keeps a secret: he has the ability, rather the curse, to transform into a rat, one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Thus, even though he is popular among the girls, he must avoid them so as not to transform. Despite of his traumas, he is talented in everything he does, except cooking and cleaning. When he first met Tooru Honda, he was polite to her and they quickly became good friends. That night, he found Tooru climbing into her tent and he couldn’t stand seeing a girl having a bad time, so he invited her to live with him and Shigure.

He is the coolest, smartest and most handsome student of his class, and probably of the entire school, and probably of all Japan, and probably… ok I should stop here. Sakamoto is the human closest to perfection that has ever existed. Even though all the girls fall for him, Sakamoto seems not to show interest in any of them. He is just a perfect gentleman with everyone. He helped Kubota when he was being bullied and when the girls were fighting for his attention he faked being possessed, and made the girls work together in other to bring him back. No matter what, Sakamoto is always one step ahead and he seems to know what is going to happen. He always does the right thing, at the right time and with all the style in the world. He also has a variety of “secret skills” which allow him to do a lot of difficult and strange things that nobody else can do. If you ever have a problem, just call Sakamoto, he can make everything seem possible.

This anime is full of handsome and sexy guys, but if we are talking about real gentleman, Kaname gets all the credit. He is a pureblood vampire who saves Yuki when she was a child. He always took care of her, and now that she is a woman, Kaname fell in love with her. He is the president of the Night Class, the class where all of the students are vampires. He is feared and respected by his classmates, since he’s cold and a man of few words. Kaname longs for the peace between human and vampires working alongside the Chairman for making it possible. He is able to control lesser vampires, but he chooses not to do it, respecting both vampires and humans. Usually he is calm, elegant and arrogant, but he completely changes his character when he is around Yuki; he becomes gentle and caring. He never hides the fact that anything he does is for Yuki’s sake.

He is the founder and the president of the Host Club, and therefore he is considered by the rest of the members as “The King”. He is half French, half Japanese, and has blonde hair and blue eyes that make him the “prince type”. Even though he may be emotional, dramatic, and fancy, he is a charming gentleman with girls, and especially with Haruhi. Tamaki is totally in love with her, but he doesn’t realize it, and plays the role of Haruhi’s father. Tamaki is completely devoted to the Host Club and to his friends. He has a noble and caring heart, and he just can’t stand to see anyone suffering. He’ll do anything to make the female guests happy. That works really well, since he is the most requested member of the Host Club. He is also a talented pianist, and even though he looks goofy sometimes, he is surprisingly intelligent.

Finally we reach the first position of the list, and who else would be there if not him? Sebastian is so perfect that it’s hard to describe him only using words. Ok, he is a demon, but who cares, he is sexy, elegant, manly and skilled in every subject. He describes himself as “One hell of a butler”, which in Japanese is a play on words for “a demon and a butler”. His physical appearance is that of a tall, handsome man with black hair and red eyes . He’s always wearing his spotless butler outfit, which suits him perfectly. Sebastian is totally devoted to his master, Ciel Phantomhive, following every order Ciel commands saying “Yes, my lord” with one of the sexiest voices you could ever hear. This amazing man also speaks French, Latin and German. He is a controversial character, he can be really sadistic, but he’ll never lose his manners.

The first on my list is the one and only Death Note, a true spectacle of a mystery and psychological thriller that has many intense moments that bring you to the very edge of your seat. It follows the story of Yagami Light, a high school genius who one day finds a supernatural notebook that had fallen from the sky, from the realm of the death gods. A notebook that has a very unique ability; any name that is written within its pages will die. The notebook belonged to the Death God Ryuk, who was bored of life and decided to stir up some fun by releasing the power of death into the human world. It may seem like unstoppable power to have, however an unmovable force lurking in the shadows opposes Light. A young and clever man that goes by the name of L is a genius detective that has never failed to solve a case. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an unmovable object? This is the epic story and battle of wits between the two geniuses, each with their own view and way of bringing justice to the world. This is one of my top anime because of its action packed storyline and unique art, which brings a perfect combination of excitement and tension throughout the series. The psychological battle between Light and L entice the mind in a way that is unfathomable, there are many clever moments that make you appreciate the level of thought the writer has put into the series.

The next anime on this list is Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, part of the Fate/stay night series. It is about a secret magical war that has been going on for generations between seven mages and their heroic spirit servants for the all mighty, wish-granting Holy Grail. The servants are beings that had once existed in the history of the world, who are summoned belonging to a particular class system. The protagonist of the story is Shiro Emiya who accidentally enters the fifth Holy War and ends up summoning the saber class hero, known as Saber. Together they form a temporary alliance with Toosaka Rin, one of Shiro’s classmates who turned out to be a mage with a family lineage that has been involved with the war for generations, she is the successor who was brought up and trained as a mage for this very purpose. Rin has the servant Archer and she also saved Shiro’s life when he was accidentally caught up within her fight with another mage, and their servant. With mutual enemies, together they face the other 5 mages in hopes of winning the ultimate prize, a holy grail capable of granting any wish. I had watched the original Fate/stay night anime when it came out in 2006 and it has been one of my favorite anime for a long time, until I watched this version of the series. The reason this is one of my top anime is because of the great story and in-depth character development. It also has many amazing fight scenes that leave you amazed. The beautiful animation quality and style are one of a kind and it is definitely an anime I would personally recommend to everyone.

Next up is Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, an action and adventure anime that follows the story of two brothers that go on a journey to discover a way to retrieve what they had lost. Edward and Alphonse Elric are alchemists, people that have the ability to change the properties of something into something else as long as it follows the law of equivalent exchange. They set their sights on an item known as the philosopher’s stone that is an all-powerful legendary item, which allows one to overcome the law of equivalent exchange. The brothers lost their mother at a young age and attempted to revive her with alchemy, known as human transmutation, it is one of the taboos of the art. Their attempt fails, resulting in Edward losing his left leg and Alphonse losing his entire body. In a moment of distress, Edward saves his little brother by attaching his soul to a suit of armor, and in the process he loses his right arm. Edward finds himself obtaining a metal arm and leg known as ‘automail’ that allow him to perform alchemy again, which gains him the name of ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’. I had also watched the original rendition of this anime, but I found that this remake was one of the best things they could’ve done with the series. It stayed true to the original manga source and had better animation quality that brought a new, and lighthearted feel to the otherwise dark tale of two brothers. The story of the two brothers is of epic proportions and is definitely an anime everyone should watch.

The runner up on this list belongs to Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai, otherwise known simply as AnoHana. This is an anime about a solitary boy named Jinta Yadomi who spends his days at home playing games. He has been this way ever since a childhood accident that left him traumatized for life, the death of his friend Menma. One hot summer day, Menma suddenly appears to Shinta and starts to pester him about fulfilling a forgotten wish. He believes that she is a figment of his imagination but soon begins to realize that she actually exists, as a ghost that only he seems to be able to see. Shinta slowly begins to break out of his shut-in lifestyle as he begins to figure out what the forgotten wish is. He ends up reuniting with his other childhood friends that had moved on with their own lives separately since the incident many years ago. One by one, he convinces them that Menma has re-appeared but his friends are skeptical of Jinta, thinking that he has finally broken and become mentally unstable. Soon after, they begin to believe Shinta and together they try to find what the wish that Menma had made was but they had forgotten, to bring peace to her soul. This is a fairly short anime, however it is one of the only anime that has been able to reduce me to tears with its heart-wrenching story. It is a beautifully animated and written story that shares a lot of emotional moments between the characters. There are no other words that I can use to describe this anime other than it’s beautiful.

On the top of my list is the one and only Clannad: After Story, though I’d like to also include the first season, Clannad. This is an emotional rollercoaster of a slice of life anime that follows the story of Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa, who became good friends and lovers after they graduated from high school together. Following the events of the first season, they get married and begin to live together. Tomoya struggles to decide his own future but is determined to do his best for Nagisa, by enduring the hardships of adult life and finding time to be with her. One day, Nagisa reveals to Tomoya that she is pregnant; Tomoya who is overwhelmed by the news works harder than ever to be able to support his family. Though the journey is both difficult and strenuous, together they try their best to push forward and overcome any problems whilst maintaining contact with their friends and family. Clannad: After Story in my opinion is the best anime I have seen so far, with its powerful drama and moving storyline. It is breathtakingly wonderful with great character personalities and development. It tells a story that is true to life itself, making you realize that everything in life is not as easy as it seems and it shows you the importance of family. Clannad: After Story mixes a lighthearted slice of life style of anime with deep emotional moments that are simply magnificent. It is really hard to put this into words, but Clannad is an anime that leaves a long lasting impression and is truly one of a kind.

Is an explanation even necessary? If you know anime, then you know Dragon Ball Z. A franchise that transcends generations. A show that was the derivation of the love of anime for many; but for me, it was the single seed that blossomed into the first flower of a blooming garden. Dragon Ball Z not only opened a gateway into to the world of anime, but it also set me on course to become who I am now, and for that I am forever grateful. As I watched this young kid named Goku triumph over his enemies one by one, I was filled with courage and temptation. Then, to witness that young boy grow into a highly respected warrior; both in the anime and in the real world, was only more resolve for me to keep tackling forward. I knew less of what I was actually watching back then, and was more so enticed by the exciting action passing before my eyes. Now; however, I can truly understand that DBZ had kick started the engine to the train that would get me to where I am now. Everything from my love of art, to my decision to relocate from The Big Apple all the way over to the Land of the Rising Sun, all had a bit to do with my exposure to Dragon Ball Z all those years ago. Maybe I would have ended up doing the same things I’m doing now without it; who knows, but at the end of the day, Goku’s charm and Vegeta’s terrible choice of hairstyle has left a footprint on the story that is my life, and I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

Look around you and you will believe that what you see is all that is in existence. That of what you can feel, smell, hear, taste, and see, is reality. After all it’s been that way since the day you were born. But, what if there was something else sharing this world without you even knowing? Could you accept that some things are meant to exist beyond our knowledge? Or would you be afraid? Worried that the unknown may hide more dangers than you could imagine. In our world, the unknown can come in many forms, but in Ginko’s they come in the form of Mushi. “Mushi” are the unanswered question of life in the world of Mushi-Shi. They are very simple life forms that exist without any reason known to man. They, simply put, just “are”. To discover a purpose to these anomalies is the life set out for Ginko; and while most of the world may be unaware of their existence, those who do know of them know of their incredible capabilities. From mimicking the everyday objects around you, to turning dreams into reality; Mushi can affect the world in many ways. But can they unlock the secrets to life as well? That is a question that we all ask, and a grave reason as to why Mushi-Shi has crawled its way onto my Top 5 Anime list. It is a masterpiece that almost sinks my mind into a deep meditation, and has opened up my thoughts to several new avenues of understanding the world around me. Mushi-Shi is a must watch, for I have high hopes that it won’t disappoint.

When terror befalls upon you, the guaranteed thing a person will do is react in some way or another; but how you react will set in motion the creation of an outcome. A cause and effect that can be good, or entirely bad. So, when facing your next obstacle be sure to tread carefully, for every move you make can lead to carnage like never before, and can help ignite the flames of terror in resonance. This is a scenario that is very much true to our world today; and while that may be a heart wrenching horror realistically, such a scenario has set the stepping stone for some of the greatest anime to date. One of those being none other than Terror in Resonance. When Tokyo is hit by a terrorist attack, the city is thrown into a frenzy in its aftermath. The only evidence of the culprits behind such a tragedy? A taunting video uploaded to the internet. The problem is, such a video only helps to scream fire louder into a bigger crowd; striking all of Japan with paranoia. A psychological thriller presented with perfection, Terror in Resonance turned all of the right knobs. Stretching from its mind-jarring twists and delectable storytelling, to its great character development; Terror in Resonance just knows how to; well, ‘resonate’ with my preferences in the world of anime. To watch as two young men forcefully cascade their beliefs onto a society in order to “wakeup the world” can only leave one with the lingering question of, why? Not necessarily why cause such a tragedy, but more so, why set your beliefs above everyone else’s? It allowed me to reposition myself against the rest of the world and try to understand just exactly what this life is that we live day in and day out. But most of all, Terror in Resonance allowed me to experience 11 episodes of just fantastic anime.

Here goes another anime that could make its way into any room without the necessity of an introduction; and maybe one that you all have already expected to show up on this list of Top 5 Anime. But when anime does it right, it does it right! We all have a Sasuke in our lives; that bitter friend who is clouded by their own need to get ahead. We all have a Sakura also; that one neverending love that is painfully one sided. We all have a Kakashi Sensei, an Iruka Sensei, and a Jiraiya Sensei; but most of all, we all have a bit of Naruto inside of us as well. Naruto is unique, to be placed in lesser terms. It was like a breath of fresh air when I first came across this anime, and throughout the many years that have passed since, it has remained one of the most imaginative pieces of creation that I have ever come across. We wake up every morning to a world looking to beat us down at every corner, and using what we can, we fight to stay atop our own two feet. In that sense, watching Naruto defy expectations was almost like picturing myself successfully moving the tallest of mountains. When it comes to individual growth and accomplishment, I wanted to be Naruto in every way. Okay, maybe not so much the whole orange jumpsuit thing; but in spirit, Naruto was, and still is a huge inspiration. Life can be hard at times, and when it is, sometimes all it takes to help you out of the rubble is a great anime. Naruto, is that great anime.

The feeling of a bad essence lurking above you, casually grazing over your shoulder as it trickles its maliciousness down your spine. Hanging you from your fragile neck as you dangle in the limbo between life and death; as if taunting at your concept of reality. This is the feeling of fear, the feeling of a loss of grip on what’s real; the feeling, of a great anime. After the death of Misaki, a student from Yomiyama’s North Middle School’s class 3-3; things in the town of Yomiyama took a turn down a dark windy road. Plummeting Yomiyama’s North Middle school into a world of terror. 26 years following that tragic event, a young 15-year-old boy by the name of Kouichi Sakakibara finds himself in the midst of Yomiyama’s circling mysteries after transferring into that very same class. With the atmosphere feeling off, alongside the peculiarities of Mei Misaki; a girl whom may or may not exist, Kouichi can’t help but set out to answer his own looming questions. As he digs deeper into the ambiguities of class 3-3, Kouichi finds himself just as boggled as a child witnessing the pulling of a bunny out of a hat as the paradox that is Yomiyama North’s class 3-3 just keeps stretching onwards. So, what makes Another take on the high seated chair of number 1? Well that’s easy enough to answer… because it’s perfect. At least in my eyes, and here on my Top 5 Anime list, I guess you can say that my eyes see the clearest. But, as a thank you towards the lovely community that is Honey’s Anime, allow me to share my vision with you a bit. Questioning the reality around us is an unavoidable hiccup within human society. No matter how much we wish to remain in the “right now” and live our lives without any worry, we simply can’t help but create obstacles for ourselves as we hunt down the true meaning of life. I believe that Another helps approach that life question in an interesting way that gravitates me to its story. The simple questions of whether or not ghosts exist, and if curses are true. The questions of whether or not I am real, or if what I perceive around me is truly reality. Another manages to take on these elements in a beautifully satisfying way, and sometimes that’s all it takes. No over packed action, no flashy sequences, and no overtly imaginative concepts. Just simple, great story telling.

Don’t get fooled by the art and those pretty bright colors as this Mahou Shoujo is more than that. Drosselmeyer, wanting to give an ending to the fairytale “The Prince and the Raven” decides to take an actual duck to continue on with the story. Now, as a human, Ahiru learns that she can transform into Princess Tutu, at which point she can dance to relieve any disturbances of the heart. As time goes by, she finds out that she needs to find the broken pieces of the Prince’s heart in order to make him whole again, but not without being stopped by the Raven’s daughter, Princess Kraehe. Simply, Princess Tutu’s whole premise is “story within a story”. The beginning of Princess Tutu may not differ from some Mahou Shoujo clichés, but once you watch along, you’ll notice a darker turn of events, making the show more unique and very original. The visuals were stunning and the music was great, but the real gem of this anime is the great writing and execution along with its memorable characters. The complexity of the characters is superb. They are very believable and very likeable. I like how their beliefs and feelings are constantly played with and tested by the crazy Drosselmeyer who wants a tragic end for the characters. It’s wonderful to see that these characters break away from who they were supposed to be and create their very own “happily ever after”. The overall anime was good. But it was so unexpected that when the ending finally came, I felt betrayed and happy at the same time. Until now, every time I remember that ending, it still gives me that bittersweet feeling. I’m not saying the ending was unsatisfying, it is actually one of the best endings I’ve watched in an anime. The show incorporates ballets and gives off that fairytale atmosphere. It might put off some viewers at first, but give it a chance, and you’ll see the beauty of this majestic anime.

Air Gear focuses on the adventures of the hot-headed teenager Itsuki “Ikki” Minami as he aims to be at the top of the Trophaeum Tower by using air treks - high-end motorized roller skates -. I actually kept on pondering if I should put down Haikyuu!! for this selection or Air Gear. But as you can see, Air Gear won me over. I will admit that Haikyuu!! is my most favorite sports anime as of now, but after remembering Air Gear, I felt that this anime should be on my list! Call it feeling nostalgic or whatever, Air Gear takes this 4th place. As for some who know me personally, they would know that usually for me anime+harem+excessive fanservice= dropped anime. Well, surprise, surprise! This is one of the few cases where this simple rule wasn’t applied. Yes, there was a lot of fanservice here and there and to make things worse, this anime has a lot of typical shounen anime clichés. Weirdly enough, I didn’t notice it, well, sometimes that is. The fan service hasn’t really bothered me that much and as for the clichés, they were utilized in a different manner, developing it more to keep things interesting. I’m sure the main point that made me fall in love with this anime, is the concept behind those roller skates, and of course its quirky characters. Every time I see Ikki Minami riding on those air treks, I feel like I am flying with him. It’s funny, but this is one of those shows that I was so immersed in that I wished air treks were real. Not only that, I also like the idea behind the sport. It was well thought out. The show was so fun to watch! The moment I finished the anime, I immediately went straight to reading the manga. It’s an entertaining show that gives you a lot of that adrenaline rush. Just don’t expect any logic when it comes to the physics and science behind this anime.

The anime that opened the Horror and Psychological genre for me was Psycho Pass. Without this anime, I wouldn't have known titles such as Tokyo Ghoul, Ajin, Parasyte, Monster, Aoi Bungaku, Shingeki no Kyojin, Zankyou no Terror, and many more of the like. In a futuristic Japan, the country implemented the Sibyl System as a way of enforcing the law. It scans a person’s mental state to determine if said person could commit a criminal act. Join the new rookie officer, Tsunemori Akane, as she begins to unfold the truth behind the Sibyl System’s “perfect judgment”. As I have said earlier, Psycho Pass was an eye opener to other anime that didn’t really quite attract me before. The premise alone was enough to captivate me. Couple it up with nice soundtracks, animation, and distinctive characters and this show was a gold mine for someone like me who was new to this kind of genre. Although almost all of the main characters are captivating as they are, Makishima Shougo, the main antagonist of the show, really stood out for me. Makishima’s actions are indeed ruthless and inhuman, but once you hear his side of the story and his intentions, he does make a point. And then we have Kougami Shinya who has a great sense of justice but doesn’t believe that Sybil System is just. Because of that, he is ready to take justice into his own hands, albeit at the price of becoming a criminal. Lastly, we have the female lead, Tsunemori Akane, who is too idealistic. Her character drastically develops from an inexperienced officer to a more mature and solid character. Psycho Pass is a good watch, it shows us that even the so-called “perfect system” can have its flaws. There is also a thin line between good and evil that makes you question yourself about what truly is “Justice”.

Natsume Yuujinchou was written and illustrated by Yuki Midorikawa which was also known for the wonderful story behind Hotarubi no Mori e. Because of his ability to see youkai, Natsume Takahashi has isolated himself from people. He inherited the book of friends from his grandmother, which contains names of youkai that his grandmother bullied and teased. It is said the one who holds the book of friends has the control over the youkai, whose names were written in the book, thus the reason why Natsume is being constantly chased by these beings. Until the day he accidentally unleashes a powerful youkai named Madara, who then declared to act as Natsume’s bodyguard. Madara’s true intention is to get the book of friends, but as times goes on, he becomes so attached to the boy that even he begins to help Natsume on returning the names of the youkai albeit with its power diminishing. Natsume Yuujinchou is very simple. It is very episodic but each episode holds a beautiful meaning that can be reflective. When this anime was suggested by someone I knew, I was skeptical about it. I thought I might get bored of this and just sleep away. Fortunately, that didn’t happen, all thanks to our protagonist Natsume Takahashi. Natsume’s development as a character was absolutely captivating. As he interacts with different youkai, he becomes more open and becomes accepted for who he really is. This anime holds a special place in my heart because I somehow relate to Natsume on a personal level. Watching it really gave me some insights about myself and gave me a new, fresher perspective about family and how I need to open up to other people too. It’s really hard to explain how phenomenal this show was, but once you’ve begun to watch it, it’s hard to go back. A very emotional and inspirational anime for me to enjoy anytime.

Even before the anime came out and had gained a lot of fans, I was already a fan of its manga back in the day when it only had 12 chapters. Magi is very special to me because this was the 1st Shounen manga that I’d read. I also watched it grow, and really, I didn’t expect that Magi would someday become an anime with a fairly large fan base behind it. You could say I’m very proud of the author, Ohtaka Shinobu, who has come a long way. The story is loosely based on the classic tale of Arabian Nights. It centers around Aladdin and his adventures of being a Magi. Magi starts off very slow, but it uses this to introduce the abundant world of Magi and how these characters are woven to meet each other. Unlike other Shounen anime, Magi has this realistic tone despite it being a fantasy, supernatural anime. It discusses real issues like slavery, corruption, politics, and wars. Conflicts are usually nicely presented and resolved in an excellent way. Sometimes they can be solved through action packed fights, or some can be solved through diplomatic talks. Just like with my previous selections, the most endearing part of the anime has been its characters. Even with its wide array of characters, Magi never fails to flesh them out and give importance to them. Everyone has their own convictions, and really, it’s hard to follow who is good and evil when all of their ideals do make some sense. Magi is simply magical to me, It really is hard to pinpoint all the good things Magi has one by one because it has a lot! Of course, it has some minor flaws here and there, but I believe there are only a few. Though I admit that the anime did miss some important key elements in the manga and changed some scenes, nevertheless, I still enjoyed it. It has everything I want in an adventure anime. For me, Magi deserves to be my number one on this list.

First up on our list is one of the most recent shows which - similar to Angel Beats! - was able to gain a big fanbase in a very short time: Charlotte. There are people on this earth who are more than they seem to be. Yuu Otosaka looks like a common high-school student, but he has the ability to take over the minds of anyone near him for a couple of seconds. Too bad that he uses these amazing abilities only for his own good. His selfish days might be over after he meets the mysterious Nao who wants to recruit him for an organization that supports special kids just like him. Is the fact that both Angel Beats! and Charlotte are written by Jun Maeda reason enough to include Charlotte on this list? No? Okay, then let us list a couple more similarities. Both shows have school settings but revolve around supernatural themes that force the main cast of teenagers to become more mature than they are. All of them are part of organizations where they combine their strengths to make sense of what’s happening to them. Lastly, both shows are definite must-watch anime that every anime lover needs to give a try, regardless of preferences. So what are you still waiting for?

Finding yourself trapped in the afterlife is already bad enough, but imagine waking up in a world abandoned by God where people are unable to die. This scenario becomes a reality in Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi. In a world without God, people are neither able to die nor produce new life. Only so-called Gravekeepers have the power to grant the dead eternal peace through a burial ceremony. Usually, these Gravekeepers are austere individuals which demand your utmost respect, but 12-year-old Ai seems to be an exception to the rule with her innocent face and cheerful smile. This is the story of Ai who travels the world to put people to rest and question how and why God has abandoned them. Just like Angel Beats!, this show seems pretty cheerful at first glance. Ai is a cute heroine who travels in a beautifully designed universe. However, both shows have more to offer than that. Their storylines become progressively deeper and make you question the meaning of life, what happens after you die and the existence of God himself. If you like deep and thoughtful shows while also having a little bit of humor to keep you from becoming too depressed, then Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi should be on your must-watch list.

We already mentioned Clannad in the previous list, but we need to say it again: Clannad is a great show and definitely a must-watch for fans of Angel Beats!. High school is tough for most students, but it is especially tiresome for Tomoya Okazaki who’d much rather just skip school and stay at home. It’s only by chance that he meets Nagisa, an adorable yet absent-minded girl. Tomoya decides to help Nagisa out and soon enough he not only grows close to her but also some other girls at his school. Who would have guessed that these encounters might change his life forever? We simply couldn’t resist including Clannad on this updated list as well. After all, if you are truly looking for a show similar to Angel Beats!, then Clannad should be one of the first shows to look into. Not only was it also directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, but it is equally dramatic and emotionally touching as Angel Beats!. Both shows rely on their main cast and put the relationship between each character above other parts of the story. As a result, you will grow attached and share the characters’ pain as if it was your own. Fans of thoughtful and touching stories need to watch Clannad, no matter what.

Next up is Rewrite, the most recent anime on our list which is based on a visual novel of the same name. Kotarou Tennouji cannot stay out of trouble since the arrogant high-school boy likes to get himself involved in other people’s business. As a result, he gets closer to a group of girls at his school and learns more about the fates of each one of them. Mysterious things start happening in his otherwise peaceful city and in his private life and soon enough Kotarou has some big decisions to make. Rewrite was produced by Key which also took part in the creation of both Angel Beats! and Charlotte, so you could expect this show to be at least somewhat similar to Angel Beats!. Sure enough, we have another high school story that becomes increasingly more mysterious and thought-provoking as the story moves on. Rewrite sets itself apart from Angel Beats! by having a stronger harem aspect, but you still have similar action, school and romance elements. Fans of Clannad’s art style will also certainly enjoy this little gem.

You’ve already cried your eyes out with Angel Beats! and Clannad left you feeling empty inside? Then brace yourself, because Anohana has made more than just a few people bawl like babies. Jinta and his friends are enjoying the best part of youth together: fun, freedom and friendship. But when one of them dies, the group of friends falls apart and each one of them continues living alone. They would prefer forgetting about the past, but when the ghost of their lost friend suddenly appears they have to find back to each other once again. Just like Clannad, Anohana was part of our first list but had to be included again since it is so relevant. This show will take you on an emotional rollercoaster similar to Angel Beats!. You’ll first grow to love the main cast and enjoy watching their carefree adventures, only to be smacked in the face with a big baseball bat named “feelings”. Both shows combine the innocence of youth with something as dark and depressing as death and in the process teach you about the power to move on from your past. Grab a pack of tissues and watch Anohana if you haven’t already!

In Angel Beats!, life after death takes place at a high school. In Death Parade, the afterlife is depicted as a bar where you gamble for a chance to be reincarnated. Welcome to Quindecim, your establishment of the supernatural kind! After your death, you will find yourself inside a mysterious bar where a white-haired man awaits you. His name is Decim and he is a game master who decides your ultimate fate. He challenges every lost soul to a game where winning means reincarnation while losing will lead to your ultimate end. Life after death has never been this entertaining. We’ll be the first ones to admit that Death Parade is way darker than Angel Beats! and lacks its uplifting school or comedy aspects. However, it shares the core concept of Angel Beats!, namely the question of life after death. Both stories are set in the afterlife and mainly revolve around the backstories and previous lives of the main cast. If you enjoyed Angel Beats! for its thoughtful aspects and interesting premise, then you should definitely check out Death Parade next.