About Naruto

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Like Naruto? Watch Boku no Hero Academia!

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[Information episodes="13" aired="April 2016 - June 2016"]

Quirks have given normal people amazing powers and while 80% of the general population has a quirk, the remaining 20% are left defenseless without one. Midoriya Izuku’s parents both have quirks, but it turns out that Izuku doesn’t have one! All of his life, Izuku has looked up to his hero All Might and dreamed of becoming a hero just like him. Even the absence of a quirk hasn’t deterred Izuku. Lucky for him, though, All Might has chosen Izuku to be his successor! Thus begins Izuku’s life at the prestigious UA High, where heroes are made.

3 Major similarities between Naruto & Boku no Hero Academia

1. Everyone Belittles the Hero

Naruto is a character who no one believes in. They think he’s an idiot, a class clown. Naruto is someone everyone can relate to because he’s not perfect. Naruto has a lot of mistakes. In Boku no Hero Academia, Izuku plays the same part as he did not manifest a quirk like the others. Everyone thinks Izuku is worthless and foolish because he doesn’t have a quirk. And like Sasuke to Naruto, Katsuki is there to make sure that Izuku knows how much of a loser everyone thinks he is.

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Boku no Hero Academia Ep 3" url="" ]

2. The Hero is Ambitious

Despite being weak, Naruto dreams big in order to prove everyone wrong. Naruto works towards his dream of being Hokage. Likewise, Izuku has never let his lack of a quirk deter him from his dream of attending UA High and becoming a hero. Even when everyone has no faith in him, including his mother, Izuku knows that he wants to be a hero and nothing will stop him.

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Naruto Ep 94" url="" ]

3. Never Underestimate the Little Guy

Let us not forget the fact that Naruto has always surprised his fellow teammates with his abilities! Boku no Hero Academia is no different. Izuku may seem lacking in many ways, but in this short 13 episode season, Izuku has proven he has more to offer than meets the eye. Izuku is always showing off his bravery in the face of danger and his power right when he needs it.

Liked Naruto? Assassination Classroom!

[sourceLink asin="B00RGRMCEC" asin_jp="" text="" url="" ]

[Information episodes="22" aired="January 2015 - June 2015"]

Alright, technically Assassination Classroom came out in 2015, but the second season just came out! If you have hesitated to watch Assassination Classroom, you shouldn’t. There are some major similarities between Naruto and Assassination Classroom. You just don’t want to miss this anime, especially since the sequel just ended! Now, we aren’t saying Naruto is better than Assassination Classroom, but you should check it out first and make your own call.

3 Major similarities between Naruto & Assassination Classroom

1. Special

Like any shounen anime, Assassination Classroom has a protagonist a bit more special than the rest! In Naruto, Naruto had great power thanks to his being the vessel for the Kyuubi. In Assassination Classroom, Nagisa is our special protagonist who is a little better than the rest. Nagisa may be unassuming than the rest, but he has proven that he uses it to his advantage, surpassing the others as an assassin with his ability to hide his presence and thirst for blood. It sounds a bit odd, but it is definitely an interesting ability. However, what makes Nagisa so special? How does he use it to his advantage? Well, watch on and find out!

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Assassination Classroom Ep 2" url="" ]

2. Goofiness Galore

There is no doubt that Naruto is completely goofy. Hell, Naruto invented the sexy-no-justu just to seduce or distract other shinobi. What a troll! Assassination Classroom brings to you the same goofiness in a whole new setting with a different cast. Every time things seem to get a little too serious, they throw you a curveball and you find yourself laughing uncontrollably. Koro-sensei just makes it all better with his goofiness and perversion. How could you ever take Assassination Classroom seriously? The class even forces Nagisa to cross dress! Whoops. There is no end to their antics.

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Naruto Ep 24" url="" ]

3. Teachers are Better Than You Thought

Now, let’s get just a tad bit serious here. Naruto is constantly showing the passion teachers have their students, as goofy and irresponsible as some of them are, the teachers have nothing but love for them. They’ll do anything to protect their students or make them stand above the rest. In the same way, Assassination Classroom showcases a teacher that everyone is supposed to kill, yet each student develops their own relationship with the teacher. Koro-sensei may appear to be a grotesque monster, but his heart is made of gold and he protects his precious students at all cost. Let’s not forget that Koro-sensei also revives their belief in humanity again!

Final Thoughts

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Do you like mecha? Do you like school comedies? How about mysterious alien invasions taking over the world? Oh, and did I mention boobs? Yes, serious boobage. The story of Hybrid x Heart is simple: in a world that has been largely conquered by an unknown alien race, the only thing we have to stop them are girls with big breasts, wearing little clothing and piloting magical mecha. The big danger is that that they can’t use their Hybrid gear if their hybrid count falls too low. The only way for them to raise their hybrid count is to become sexually aroused. Yes, you heard that right; getting to third base is the key to unlocking their superpowers. Hida Kizuna is a special boy. He has the special ability to recharge the hybrid counts of the three teen defenders of the planet. Kizuna has no choice but to take on the task of supplying Aine, Hayuru and Yurishina with erotic energy in order to save the world. He also has to finish high school. The combination action and ecchi make the Hybrid x Heart series a great guilty pleasure and we emphasize the word pleasure.

Similar Anime to Masou Gakuen Hybrid x Heart / Similar Anime to Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia

1. High School DxD

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[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Jan. 2012- Mar. 2012 "]

Issei Hyoudou dreams of one day having his own harem the way a lot of girl-obsessed high school boys do. He doesn’t have much ambition otherwise. Issei jumps at the chance when a beautiful girl asks him out. The problem for Issei is the girl in question is a fallen angel with bloodlust. She makes quick work of killing him. He gets a second chance when a second beautiful girl, Rias Gremory, brings him back from the dead. Rias is a very powerful class of devil, the younger sister of none other than Lucifer. The price Issei has to pay for his second chance is he has to become Rias’ servant and join the Occult Research Club at their high school. Issei much like Kizuna has to learn how to survive fast, instead of fighting aliens like Kizuna, he is immersed in a violent world of warring angels and demons. Rias, his savior, is a 12th-grade girl with a very mature and curvy figure. Issei is a lucky guy since Rais doesn’t only want him as a servant. She seems to harbor deep affection for him, often donning revealing lingerie when she slips into his bed. His adventures are often dangerous, but the reward is being surrounded by beautiful and often lustful girls. Issei and Kizuna also have something else in common their need to be defended by the much more powerful women in their lives. Issei also has to keep all these changes in his life a secret from his family and friends, since the existence of angels and demons is unknown to most of the world. He often finds himself in very naughty situations that could be heaven or hell -- or both -- in this exquisite ecchi comedy.

Highschool DxD Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4E8al_wo8w&w=560&h=315]

2. So, I can’t play H (Dakara boku wa, H ga Dekinai)

[sourceLink asin="B00EZ229JO" asin_jp="" text="" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Jul. 2012- Sep. 2012 "]

So, I can’t play H is the story about a boy, his dog and boobs. There is a reference to boobs or bras 11 times in the first five minutes; after that we just stopped counting. The story starts with 17-year-old Ryosuke Kaga. He’s on his way home from school when he sees a beautiful red-headed girl named Lisara, soaking wet in the rain, standing outside his house. He lets her in and she stabs him with a magical sword, linking their souls. Lisara is a grim reaper and like all reapers needs to be linked with a human soul to survive in the human world. The downside of being linked to a smoking hot red-headed reaper is the death and destruction that surround them. The energy drained from Ryosuke into Larisa is the energy from his libido, leaving “his kingdom” as (he puts it) not well fortified afterward. Kizuna and Ryosuke have a great work ethic in common. Kizuna training hard every day to gain the stamina to lead his team of magical warrior into combat. Ryosuke’s training takes a different direction as he trains hard, studying a library worth of “material” so his libido can withstand the constant leeching of its pervy power. The show is full of some pretty risqué costume changes, since you can’t do battle unless you’re wearing skintight revealing clothing that often gets torn to shreds in the first engagement with the enemy. Ryosuke is living his dream at the center of a harem romance comedy. We get to sit and watch girl after voluptuous girl surround him, do battle, and pledge their undying loyalty to him. He’s a lucky boy.

So I Can’t Play H Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7QLbvl5iYU&w=560&h=315]

3. Trinity Seven

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[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Oct. 2014- Dec. 2014 "]

If Kasuga Arata is one thing, it’s honest. He accepts himself for who he is, a pervert. We’re sure at this point you’ve seen a theme in the male protagonists in these shows. The amazing thing about Arata is his confidence about his perviness makes him almost cool. He is also pretty level- headed. When he realizes that the world he is living in is a lie, it doesn’t even phase him. A big-busted girl named Lilith recruits him to attend the Royal Biblia Academy, which trains magicians. He decides then and there that he will become the greatest mage in history and restore the world, announcing it as if it was a matter of fact. The overall mission of these mages is to stop the end of the world, which in many ways has already happened, since the world outside of the mage academy is falling apart due to the breakdown phenomena. Arata is given a test to determine his magic aptitude and ranks very high; he is considered a demon lord candidate (a super-powerful mage likely to destroy the world with their power), exactly what everyone at the academy is trying to stop. He is determined to use his powers for good, especially to find his cousin who he loves deeply and who disappeared in breakdown phenomena. The journey for him to gain power has him surrounded by the Trinity Seven. They’re the most powerful mages in the school, all girls by the way, each a master of her craft. A key ecchi factor in this, Arata’s ability to dispel magic, has an interesting side effect: it often means dispelling clothes, leaving many of the women naked. We get to see a similar effect as the girl in H x H enter combat and their power drops and the already revealing wardrobe becomes even more revealing. Once or twice he wakes up in his bed with a naked girl draped over him, lucky dog. The story has all the girls you could want, tsundere sensei, a couple dirty minded lolis, a ninja, and two twin-tailed blonds (one sweet and one sexy) a lot like the girls in H x H who cover the shy, outgoing and overly conservative archetypes. Trinity Seven is an amazing adventure with a wonderful hero who says just what you’re thinking, and just like Lilith’s breasts it’s marvelous.

Trinity Seven Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO49_W622Rs&w=560&h=315]

Any Anime Like Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia / Any Anime Like Masou Gakuen Hybrid x Heart?

4. The Testament of Sister New Devil (Shinmai Maou no Testament)

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[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Jan. 2015- Mar. 2015 "]

We’ve all been there (or at least would if we lived in the world of anime): your father tells you out of the blue that he’s getting remarried and you’ll now have two younger sisters. You’ll never meet the woman and your father will take off the next day after the two girls move in; this is the life of Touji Basara. Your two new sisters, one a buxom redhead, Mio, and the other a purple-haired loli, Maria, try to evict you on the first night by doing a Jedi mind trick thing. It doesn’t work because you’re from a special tribe of spiritual warriors that fights demons. The complicated irony in your life is that your two new sisters are of course demons, one the daughter of the last demon lord and the other her succubus body guard. You take your job as their brother seriously and in spite of the fact that you were raised as enemies, you decide to protect them from a power struggle in the demon world that leaves their lives in danger. The story starts to get hot and heavy when Maria tricks Mio into making a pact with Basara. A big result of that pact is that he will always be able to sense her wherever she is so he can come to her rescue when she needs it. The other result, which Maria omits when explaining the pact, is that he is now Mio’s master and if she disobeys him there is a magical punishment. The punishment, since Maria is a succubus, is arousal, arousal that builds until the master finds a way to unleash it. Maria, Mio and Basara also find out that when the sexual energy is released he gains extra power, like absorbing a star in Super Mario Brothers. The roll of powering up belongs to Kuzina in Hybird x Heart. Kuzina is has to do whatever is necessary to get the ladies in the mood and on mission often in a advanced simulator, that almost always looks like a hotel room. The best part of this power up scenario is that each member of his harem, for some reason or another, makes a similar pact with him. Basara has multiple women crawling all over him at times, each wanting to play a part in his powering up. We also recommend looking at the uncensored versions of both series to do your own careful comparison.

Shinmai Maou no Testament Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfDCSdkWWxE&w=560&h=315]

5. Maken-Ki!

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[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Oct. 2011- Dec. 2011 "]

Takeru is a dork. Takeru is a non-athletic teenage boy who is completely ruled by his hormones. He isn’t the smartest guy in class, so he decided to enter a school that doesn’t have entrance exam. The school is even co-ed, a seemingly idyllic life for Takeru. A simple high school life filled with lazy days of easy classes and perving on girls. He eventually discovers that all the students at the school wield a magical mechanical item called a Maken. The device is often used for violent clashes between students. Being a dorky guy means he’ll be relegated to being a non-entity at school. But wait! This is an anime, or opposite world for most of us. Takaru and Kuzina whom are both rather plain and mild mannered quickly becomes the center of attention of a bevy of busty babes. Haruko, Takeru’s childhood friend, is one of the Maken-Ki ladies that quickly dotes on and protects the inept boy. He also finds a fiancée (though he doesn’t remember asking for one) in Inaho Kushiya. She is a sweet, bubbly girl waiting to smother him in her affection. He even turns the head of a blond twin-tailed tsundere named Kodama who wants to kill him at first, then grow much, much closer to him, as a good tsundere should. The women in Maken-ki are super powerful just like the girls in Hybrid x Heart each heroine bringing a unique skill and attitude to battle.

Maken-Ki! Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBlx0N9eLNY&w=560&h=315]

Queen’s Blade (Queen’s Blade: Rurou no Senshi)

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[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Apr. 2009- Jun. 2009 "]

The world of Queen’s Blade is simple. The queen of the land is chosen by combat every few years. A tournament with such a prize attracts all sorts of powerful characters. The current queen, Aldra, is a fearsome warrior. The story focuses on Leina, the heiress of the Vance family, and her quest to take the throne. We follow Leina on her way to the capital and see her adventures as she meets a varied group of femme fatale all guaranteed to get our blood boiling. The armor in Queen’s Blade kind of sets a high bar for bikini armor. The little-to-nothing coverage lets you see every contour of these battling babes. We see a similar look Hybrid x Heart whenever the girls go wild in combat and their skin tight suits become torn and tattered. We even a get a little S&M in both series as one of the girls in Hybrid x Heart realized that kind of behavior in the bedroom really raises her hybrid count. Queen’s Blade also gives us the wonderful treat of some hot and heavy yuri bringing this ecchi anime very close to crossing that line into Henati (and we love every moment). The series spawned at least three incarnations and we know how you can’t resist a threesome.

Queen’s Blade Grimoire Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYJ4yZNrmmQ&w=560&h=315]

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Conclusion

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Imagine yourself in a world where everyone was against you for being different. No matter what you tried to do to make everything better, the community turned a blind eye to it all. Now you're stuck in this mental abyss, wondering what direction you're headed in, with no support to guide you. This pathway through darkness is what Clare had to experience on her journey in order to discover her true purpose. The world will not always take your side, so you need to stand tall and take care of things yourself. In our six list like Claymore, we'll be taking a closer look at characters who've dealt with a troubled past, and must now walk alone on their path to salvation. If you'd like to see our previous list for this rewrite of six anime similar to Claymore, be sure to check it out down below!

Similar Anime to Claymore

1. Berserk

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[Information episodes=" 25 " aired=" October 8, 1997 - April 1, 1998 "]

After a run-in with the Band of the Hawk, a very strong troop of mercenaries, Guts is recruited by their larger than life leader Griffith, nicknamed the "White Hawk." As he quickly climbed the ranks in order to become the head of the offensive unit, Guts proves to be a mighty addition to Griffith's force, taking Midland by surprise. However, while the band's quest for recognition continues, Guts slowly realizes that the world is not as black-and-white as he once assumed. The story of Berserk is a dark, gritty tale that follows one man's struggle to find his own path, while supporting another's lust for power, and the unfathomable tragedy that begins to turn the wheels of fate. Guts is a man who is determined to survive by any means, throughout every battle he encounters, whether it be on the battlefield or within. Day in and day out he puts his life on the line to make sure that he gets by, moving on from one bloodshed to the next. His life is a constant cycle of ups and downs, but his tenacity to continue moving forward toward the light is something we can admire. Clare and Guts are very similar because they're two characters who were both ridiculed and thrown out of their society, with their sword in hand as the only answer. They had to fight their way back out of the trenches with every ounce of strength in their body, protecting those who mean everything to them. Both characters show raw power, and tenacity when faced with danger and never give up despite their odds. Be sure to check out the recent 2016 update to the Berserk franchise as well, as it continues from the last installment with more action!

Berserk Opening

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocQ6PDiP014&w=560&h=315]

2. D.Gray Man Hallow

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Official Twitter" url="https://twitter.com/aniplex_plus/status/750011400135667712" ]

[Information episodes=" 103 " aired=" October 3, 2006 - September 30, 2008 "]

Allen must deal with his past nightmares, and confront a much darker future, as the evil Millennium Earl plots to destroy the entire existence of humanity with his creation of Akuma. This incredible weapon uses the souls of the dead which are then trapped within it until the use of Innocence, an Anti-Akuma weapon, releases them from their prison. After spending a number of years under the guidance of General Cross, Allen decides to enlist himself with The Black Order in hopes to prevent Earl's evil reign of terror, while using his new weapons to bring peace back to the souls that have been tormented. Allen much like Clare had trouble fitting in with society due to their differences. Many ridiculed them for their flaws, and never displayed any care for their well being. It reminded us of the ugly ducking story where the duck was never accepted in the beginning, but through an incredible transformation, was able win over the hearts of those who initially didn't care. Clare and Allen put everything on the line in order to destroy the evil that was about to terrorize their town, and didn't care whether people liked it or not. Their mission was to eradicate evil and to bring peace into a world that was full of corruption and cruelty.

D.Gray Man Hallow Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXPdSTEBdhE&w=560&h=315]

3. Blassreiter

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[Information episodes=" 24 " aired=" April 6, 2008 - September 28, 2008 "]

Blassreiter is a sci-fi action anime which takes place in a fictional Germany. Joseph Jobson, the main protagonist is out to destroy the outbreak of biochemical creatures called “Demoniacs”, which have the ability to fuse with most technological advancements, such as motorbikes, and greatly intensify the overall performance of the vehicle. XAT, which stands for Xenogenesis Assault Team are the ones who eventually help to secure peace from the destruction of the Demoniacs, but to also discover the truth behind their unknown abilities. It's Joseph's job to survive while at the same time learning how to control the biochemical curse that lives within him. Joseph was an experiment that went wrong, and now his body has become half-human and half-demoniac. Similar to Clare's situation, the two just couldn't fit in with society and were chased out for not being entirely human. They now had to use their powers which were created by the enemy against them, in order to stop a major threat that could destroy the planet. The two never asked for their powers, and were thrown into the gauntlet to figure out why it all turned out the way it did. Both of them make use of a sword with immense power, and slash their way through enemies clean like butter. There's nothing but action in every scene that will leave you cheering for the underdog, to ensure that peace is restored not only around them, but within them as well.

Blassreiter Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYOGdv-yT7g&w=560&h=315]

Any Anime Like Claymore?

4. Canaan

[sourceLink asin="B0141I744G" asin_jp="" text="" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 13 " aired=" July 4, 2009 - September 26, 2009 "]

Maria is a Japanese photographer currently working in Shanghai, China. Along with her partner Mino, she searches for potential newsworthy stories throughout the city. When really odd events take place at a local festival, Maria and Mino decide to investigate. Quickly, the two are immersed in a battle between unknown masked men and a strange, white-haired woman. Just when Maria is about to be caught in the barrage of bullets, an old friend by the name of Canaan appears and helps Maria escape unharmed. But a sinister plot over a deadly virus soon develops, and Canaan learns she must face up to her dark past if she wants any chance at stopping the perpetrator and saving her friends. Canaan and Clare have a lot in common where the two have acquired a superhuman ability that allows them to kill their enemies with ease, and recover very quickly. They have male roles who assist them along their journey, acting more as a supporter more than the attacker. The two have a very dark and cold exterior which comes from their grim past, and now the two must learn to overcome the darkness within in order to find focus. Their inner rage comes out in their battles as it becomes their only outlet to unleash their pain onto the world, while trying to collect as much data as possible about their upbringing.

Canaan Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RybBYYnQmQ&w=560&h=315]

5. Pandora Hearts

[sourceLink asin="B004G7H8O4" asin_jp="" text="" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 25 " aired=" April 3, 2009 - September 25, 2009 "]

Based on the supernatural fantasy manga of the same name, Pandora Hearts tells the story of fifteen-year-old Oz's journey to discover the meaning behind the eerie events that have become a burden on his life. Teaming up with a mysterious Chain named Alice, whose nickname is "Bloodstained Black Rabbit," and members of a clandestine organization known as "Pandora," Oz begins to notice that his existence may have more meaning than he could have ever imagined. The major similarity with all of the anime on this list is that, each main character has gone through some sort of life changing experience that they now have to discover more about. Clare's past was filled with confusion and despair, while Oz must come to terms with how his entire life was a mere experiment and why he was chosen out of everyone. Two characters must deal with a huge conundrum, and they must scour every path they walk on for every piece of information they need in order to uncover the truth. Every direction that is taken is one that either leads them closer to their answer, or one that puts their strength to the test. Oz experiences many dark flashbacks which only cause more pain, much like Clare, but the two must learn to understand why these flashbacks continue to repeat themselves and seek the truth.

Pandora Hearts Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Psc_hBkOoc&w=560&h=315]

6. Black Bullet

[sourceLink asin="B010CVV2AI" asin_jp="" text="" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 13 " aired=" April 8, 2014 - July 1, 2014 "]

To overcome the threat that the Gastrea pose, "Cursed Children", who are essentially female children whose bodies contain trace amounts of the virus which grant them superhuman abilities, are given partners called Promoters. These are individuals who dedicate their time and energy to guide and protect the young Initiators. These teams of two are sent out on missions to fight the monsters created by the Gastrea virus and keep them at bay. The story of Black Bullet revolves around the strong team of Enju, an Initiator, and Satomi, a Promoter, as they go on missions to fight the growing threat of Gastrea in their hometown of Tokyo, while uncovering the truths behind why this ordeal is happening. Enju's body was tainted with the very same virus that she must now eliminate, and so she teams up with other individuals in order to destroy the threat before it spreads. Clare and Enju are essentially half and half, which means that they resemble that of a regular human, but now have the superhuman ability of the enemy as their wild card. The two never asked to be in the position they were in, and so their entire existence solely relies on having to fight for the peace of all society, while having to deal with a misfortune that were forced on them without their consent. Many people considered them to be trash and a waste of oxygen to the community, forcing them out of their normal lives and having to work with certain people who accepted them for their differences. These two shows have very powerful stories that we suggest watching, since both really show a determination to bring all evil to an end swiftly.

Black Bullet Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-VkhMyUT4w&w=560&h=315]

[sourceLink asin="B000UALA4U" asin_jp="" text="" url="" ]

Closing Statement

Claymore was a pretty intense and interesting anime because of its dark history and all the mysteries around the Organization. If the story could seem simple at first, with the classic battles against monsters, the truth beyond the main characters and their fate would be really catchy. Especially because of the psychological and dramatic aspects. Moreover, the character design was pretty cool and really appropriate to the atmosphere of the series, particularly to the bloody battle scenes. If you loved this anime because of all the tragic and mysterious aspects, then I'm sure you will also like the list of anime below ! Of course, it won't be exactly the same, but you will certainly find the same atmosphere as Claymore !

Similar Anime to Claymore

1. Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)

[Information episodes="25 " aired=" Apr 2013 – Sept 2013 "]

It should be clear why Shingeki no Kyojin is my first choice. If you haven't seen this anime before, you should watch it right now! Nearly a century ago, mankind was almost annihilated because of the sudden appearance of Titans, giant creatures who kill humans for pleasure and not really because they need to eat. To protect themselves from this threat, survivors built three concentric walls, big enough to prevent every Titan from coming in. Every wall was named and are distant by thousands kilometers each. As peace had finally settled, one day, a Titan of 60 meters appears and opens a hole in the first of the three walls. Which allowed a dozen of other Titans to enter the little town where the main character, Eren Yeager, and his friends, were living. After seeing his mother been devoured by one of the Titans, Eren decides to enter the Survey Cops, the military force against Titans, in order to take revenge. In this series, you have the classic fight against monsters who eat humans that you can find also in Claymore, but not just that. There are a lot of mysteries beyond the military force and also beyond the existence of Titans itself. The bloody and stressful scenes will remind you of the atmosphere in Claymore, so I really recommend this one!

Attack on Titan Trailer

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNemBgwZGPo&w=560&h=315]

[recommendedPost url="http://blog.honeyfeed.fm/6-different-anime-like-attack-on-titan/" img='' title="6 Anime like Attack on Titan (Recommendations)"]

2. Tokyo Ghoul

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Jul 2014 – Sept 2014 "]

In the peaceful city of Tokyo, anthropophagous monsters called Ghouls appeared, committing crime after crime. As they are living amongst humans, a special police force is settled in order to track and eliminate them. The story follows Ken Kaneki, an ordinary college student. In a coffeeshop, he met Rize Kamishiro and fell in love with her. As they going out one day, Ken realizes that Rize is actually a Ghoul who manipulated him in order to eat him. While torturing the poor Ken, Rize is suddenly killed by accident and dies. In critical condition, because of all the wounds he received, Ken receives transplants from some of Rize organs at the hospital. Because of the transplant, Ken becomes a hybrid half-human, half-ghoul, and has to fight his human meat hunger. Fortunately, he will find help in the coffeeshop, “Anteiku”, and learn how to live with his new abilities. This one is really interesting because the main character becomes a hybrid of what humans are the most afraid of. Because of that, it will discover what are really Ghouls and how some of them aren't so different from humans. Like in Claymore, you can see the perspective from another side than the human's one. The fighting scenes are pretty bloody and some characters are really disturbed. The story is as deep as Claymore's and there is a lot of turnarounds.

Tokyo Ghoul Trailer

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhsddLFyJHo&w=560&h=315]

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3. Blood-C

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Jul 2011 – Sept 2011 "]

Saya Kisaragi is a high-school student who, despite of being really clumsy, seems like an ordinary young woman. She lives with her father in a shrine and learns swordsmanship. What Saya's friends are ignoring is that she is more than a simple young woman. After school, at night, she has a particular mission and armed with her sword, she goes fight against creatures called “Furukimono” (or the “Ancient ones” in English). They are mysterious monsters who attack and terrorize humans in the little town. Saya fights against these creatures along the series, but she begins to wonder about her duty and even her own identity. The mysterious and psychological aspect is pretty similar to Claymore's. Saya's past is unclear and as you watch this series, you realize that the story is deeper than you can think.

Blood C Trailer

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqpRUvLoUuM&w=560&h=315]

Any Animes Like Claymore ?

4. Darker than Black : Kuro no Keiyakusha (Darker than Black : The black contractor)

[Information episodes=" 25 " aired=" Apr 2007 – Sept 2007 "]

Ten years ago, a mysterious area appeared in the city of Tokyo, destroying everything around and even distorting the sky. Because of this area, called Hell's Gate, fake stars appeared, replacing the real ones. Afterwards, individuals with supernatural abilities began to appear, each of them strangely linked to each of the false stars. These people, named “Contractors”, are nowadays living amongst humans and are mostly used by governments as murderers or spies. Each time a Contractor uses his power, he has to pay a price in return. According to each person, it can be a simple diet change or a radical physical change. Hei is a Chinese Contractor in mission at Tokyo. He is under the orders of a mysterious organization called the Syndicate, which also controls Dolls, beings created to mimic humans. This series isn't as bloody as Claymore's, but it's still quite violent in some parts. Contractors are more logical than humans and almost emotionless, which is why they are interesting. The Syndicate is said to have no apparent objectives but, like the Organization in Claymore, it isn't that simple and there is a lot of mysteries beyond.

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5. Tokko

[Information episodes=" 13" aired=" Apr 2006 – Jul 2006 "]

Ranmaru Shindo lives in Tokyo with his little sister, Saya. Because of the dead of his parents five years ago, Ranmaru decided to join the police force Tokki, in order to find out what really happened that day. The day of his graduation, he meets Sakura Rokujo, a young woman, also part of the police force. When he sees her, he realised she is the woman he dreams of every night, armed with a sword and covered in blood. Sakura Rokujo is part of a special unity called Tokko, on which rumors are saying members aren't even humans and responsible for horrific events. During his investigations, Ranmaru will discover the truth beyond the tragedy responsible for the death of his parents, which is directly linked with the existence of Tokko's unity. If you liked Claymore because of the monsters and the bloody scenes, this series is for you. Members of Tokko can be assimilated to Claymores because of their abilities and strength to fight against demons.

Tokko Trailer

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj8UJy-_T_A&w=560&h=315]

6. Blassreiter

[Information episodes=" 24 " aired=" Apr 2008 – Sept 2008 "]

In the near future, in Germany, “Demoniacs” are bio-mechanical creatures taking possession of corpses and attacking humans. Demoniacs have the ability to merge with any mechanics in order to evolve and become stronger. An unity force, the Xenogenesis Assault Team, also known as the XAT, aims to prevent any threat from them. During a motorbike Grand Prix, a Demoniac attacks and wreaks havoc on its way. Before the XAT could get in place, a mysterious man known as “Blue” destroys the Demoniac, saving the life of Gerd Frantzen, a famous motorbike champion. Gerd becomes a paraplegic because of the attack, he is offered a miraculous cure which saves him, but makes him become a hybrid. Because of this new status, Gerd will be under the surveillance of the XAT. In this story, because of the threat represented by Demoniacs, there are some appearances of humans turned into Demoniacs. Some of them are not able to control their powers and like in Claymore, you can find almost the same concept of “awakening”. With the different arcs, the story follows a lot of characters and help you understand how deep and dramatic the concept can be.

Blassreiter Anime Trailer

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twold_5x44M&w=560&h=315]

This concludes our list! Of course, there may be more anime like Claymore, but this should help your search if you want to watch dramatical anime full of monsters! Is there an other anime you would like to suggest? Let us know in the comments below!

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10. Kill la Kill (Kiryuin Satsuki vs Matoi Ryuko)

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Official Website" url="http://www.kill-la-kill.jp/special/04.html" ]

[Information episodes=" 24 " aired=" Oct 2013 - Mar 2014 "]

Kill la Kill is the perfect anime to start off our list because it’s impressive in so many different levels. The story is about Ryuuko Matoi who has been searching for her father’s killer. Equipped with only a half-scissor shaped weapon, she enters Honnouji Academy to try and find the culprit. Unfortunately, the school is ruled by Satsuki Kiryuuin along with some powerful student council members. She stumbles into meeting Senketsu, a talking uniform also known as a “Kamui” or God Clothing. Senketsu helps her to awaken a new power that will give her a chance against the elite members of the school and get a lead on her father’s murderer by looking for the other half of the scissor blade. This is a high paced show overflowing with great action scenes. The build-up on how Ryuuko Matoi encounters Kiryuin Satsuki is just epic in all proportions. Their amazing uniform transformations will make any anime fan drool plus the impressive battle scene itself is just something words cannot describe. You will have to experience it yourself. If you are familiar with the action that Gainax brings to the table, then you’ll surely have a lot of fun watching this action packed series.

9. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Alphonse vs Pride and Kimblee)

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Fullmetal Alchemist Ep 52" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 64 " aired=" Apr 2009 - Jul 2010 "]

Two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, have lost their mother. They turn to “alchemy” in order to revive her using the forbidden act of human transmutation. It quickly backfires and they both pay a horrible price for their wrongdoing. Edward loses his leg and sacrifices his right arm to affix Alphonse's soul to a suit of armor. The traumatic event motivates Edward to fix his body using mechanical limbs called “automail” to try and become a state alchemist. His brother joins the journey and they find a way to revert their bodies back to their original form. Let me quote their famous line "In order for something to be obtained, something of equal value must be lost". That might have been true for this series but the time we lost watching these epic anime was more than worth it. This impressive battle scene by Alphonse against Pride and Kimblee is just one of many epic moments of this series. This particular scene makes it in our list because it highlights the strength of Alphonse being on par with two powerful enemies. He somehow steals the spotlight from Edward to let the fans know he can fight as well. Get ready for an eye candy of fights and a great story when watching Fullmetal Alchemist.

8. Gangsta. (Nicolas vs Doug)

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Gangsta Ep 5" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Jul 2015 - Sep 2015 "]

In a mafia-governed city called Ergastulum, Nicholas Brown and Worick Arcangelo are mercenaries for hire known as “Handymen”. Both working for the police and mob syndicates, they will take any job for a price. After an assignment to kill a pimp, they meet Alex. A prostitute who got mistreated by the pimp they needed to eliminate. Caught in the dilemma of killing her because of her hopelessness, the two keep her as a reward for the current assignment and makes her a part of the team. A show not intended for the light hearted, this action-packed anime is filled with violent elements and adult themes. Nicolas and Doug take our number eight spot as they battle it out in the streets of Ergastulum. Nicolas is a badass no matter how you look at him and his recklessness just adds a more devilish aura to his very intimidating look. Doug, on the other hand, looks very young and energetic. The surprise on how evenly matched they are will keep you at the edge of your seat.

7. Shingeki no Kyojin [Attack on Titan] (Levi vs Female Titan)

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Attack on Titan Ep 22" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 25 " aired=" Apr 2013 - Sep 2013 "]

Hundred years ago, mankind was almost exterminated to extinction by giant monsters called Titans. This has forced humanity to hide behind extremely high walls enclosed to the reach of these terrifying creatures. After building a city with an impassable border for titans, the humans have lived peacefully for a hundred years. However, tragedy strikes as a much bigger titan appear, breaking their wall and breaching through the city. After witnessing her mother gets eaten by a titan, Eren Yeager vows his life to joining the military for the extermination of these merciless titans. You must be living in a cave if you haven't heard of Shingeki no Kyojin before. If you haven’t watched this series, you need to put this as the next series you will watch. Seriously speaking, this anime is over the top one of the best creations of mankind. Not only are the battles impressive, the story behind it is hands-down amazing. Taking a spinning turn on our seventh spot is the impressive battle of Levi and the mysterious Female Titan. This is the first time you will see Levi go toe to toe against a titan by himself. Be ready for some jaw dropping action and don’t say we didn’t warn you.

6. Gintama° (Gintoki vs Takasugi)

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Gintama Ep 39" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 51 " aired=" Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 "]

This is the fourth season of the great Gintama series. If you haven’t watched the first season, here’s a little backstory to it. Aliens called the Amanto have invaded Earth and have taken over Japan. Swords have been prohibited and samurais have been disregarded by society. Gintoki Sakata is an unconventional samurai who works as a “Yorozuya” or a person who offers to do almost anything for a fee. Accompanied by two other bizarre characters and an oversized dog, they try to do odd jobs that often lead them to very unfortunate and funny circumstances. Despite Gintama’s signature humor and funny references, the anime itself has a serious side to it. Entering our number six spot is a bloody battle against Gintoki and Takasugi. A big part of this impressive battle is the build-up using flashbacks on when they first met. You can somehow share their emotions during the fight and it was brutally beautiful to watch. The swordsmanship displayed by these two warriors is just awesome. If you are craving for an action-comedy anime, Gintama is the answer.

5. Psycho-Pass (Kougami vs Makishima)

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Psycho-pass Ep 16" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 22 " aired=" Oct 2012 – Mar 2013 "]

Psycho-Pass is a series set in the near future. Law enforcement has changed and Japan has obtained means of determining each person’s threat level by measuring their mental state for criminal intentions. This process referred to as “Psycho-Pass” enables inspectors to uphold the law by subjugating anyone caught with ill-will. The story mainly focuses on veteran enforcement officer Shinya Kougami and a young woman named Akane Tsunemori. Akane learns quickly that this new system is flawed and can easily be manipulated. Worthy of our Number five spot is another anime packed with action and suspense. The first encounter of Kougami and Makishima in Psycho-Pass is a feast for all martial artist fans. This impressive hand to hand battle will remind you of Bruce Lee. The dialogue that comes along with it also adds to the overall “bang” that you get after watching the scene. From the same studio that gave us of Ghost in the Shell and Attack on Titan, keep your expectations high as this anime will clearly not disappoint you.

4. Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' - (Goku vs Frieza)

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Dragon Ball Z Ep 1" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 1 (Movie) " aired=" Apr 2015 "]

Earth is finally at a peaceful state once again But, Sorbet and Tagoma, Freeza’s remaining servants has decided to revive their leader using the Dragon balls. Freeza’s resurrection has succeeded and he returns to Earth to take revenge on the Saiyans who defeated him before. Any top battle list will be incomplete without Dragon Ball Z. If you haven’t seen a Dragon Ball fight scene before, you’ll definitely think that it is somehow on fast forward. It’s funny how the characters seem to be in a hurry every time a fight ensues. This is the classic animation creativity that made this anime so big. The battle between Goku and Frieza was really intense; we ended up shouting along with the characters at one point of the fight. Expect a lot of terrain to explode because of their usual dose of massive fireballs and laser beams. This movie was a lot of fun from start to finish. We urge everyone to make sure they see it.

3. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (Emiya Shirou vs Gilgamesh)

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works Ep 24" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Oct 2014 - Dec 2014 "]

The Holy Grail is a magical artifact capable of granting any wish. In order to achieve this price, the Holy Grail War is held among seven magi. Setup as a free for all battle to the death, these Masters command heroic beings to fight for them. Fate/stay night focuses on the main characters Emiya Shirou and Rin Toosaka, who find themselves trapped in the never ending conflict that the Holy Grail has created. If you are a fan of magical fights, then the battle between Emiya and Gilgamesh would truly soothe your craving for an awesome battle. Want to see some flying swords? Leave it to these guys. This fast-paced action scene is one of the reasons why the Fate/stay night franchise has been so popular. The intriguing background of the characters, the nice overall story the series and the eye-candy fight scenes has blended well together creating a beautiful masterpiece.

2. Boruto: Naruto the Movie - (Naruto & Sasuke vs Momoshiki)

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="Naruto Ep 1" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 1 (Movie) " aired=" Aug 2015 "]

Naruto has become the 7th Hokage of Konoha and is now father to Boruto Uzumaki. This movie is about the new generation of young shinobis taking the Chunin exams. Boruto seeks his dad recognition but a harsh decision by Naruto has made a crack in their relationship. Fueled by an ambition to surpass his father using new skills, Boruto seeks the help of Sasuke Uchiha. Creeping on the sidelines is a mysterious enemy that will test Konoha’s resolve once again. Naruto and Sasuke have been a household name for a long time and the naruto series has shared a lot of impressive battles. Expect nothing less in this movie as they have set the bar another level higher. Naruto, who is now officially an adult bad ass, joins forces with Sasuke to defeat the evil boss, Momoshiki, in a battle that we will never forget. The combined powers of these ninjas are just exceptional and watching them deal a great amount of ass-kicking has never been so satisfying. We won’t spoil all the details but we highly recommend everyone to watch it, as the overall action in this movie is something that cannot be missed.

1. One Punch Man (Saitama vs Lord Boros)

[sourceLink asin="" asin_jp="" text="One Punch Man Ep 12" url="" ]

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" Oct 2015 - Dec 2015 "]

One Punch Man is the story of Saitama, a superhero who has trained relentlessly and lost all of his hair in the process. He is the most powerful hero alive thus beating his enemies with…Yes. As the title suggests, one punch. Saitama has become too powerful that he became quite bored from doing heroic deeds. He later meets Genos, a young cyborg who asks to be his disciple. They both join the Hero Association to gain popularity and help society by defeating all kinds of life-threatening monsters. It is hard to think of the most impressive battle scene for this particular anime because every fight is just mind blowing awesomeness. The combination of Saitama’s emotionless bald face while Lord Boros is doing his best moves is very funny and entertaining. The explosions and the super fast exchanges are epic and beautifully made. One Punch Man has set the bar high in our Most Impressive Battle Scenes and we hope to see more of our favorite hero soon.

Final Thoughts

10. Sonic “Speed of Sound“

Known to many as the man with the most redundant name ever, Speed of Sound, or Sonic for brevity, is one of the fastest characters in the series. Though he can’t really move fast enough to cause sonic booms, he is able to sprint across a long distance at extremely high speeds. When he attacks someone with his sword, it is reminiscent of a samurai using an extremely quick slash of Iaido as he appears behind his opponent after attacking. He is usually calm in battle, mostly due in part to his ninja training. However, hidden within him is a battle maniac that simply craves for battle. When he meets Saitama, the hero of the series, none of his attacks have any effect on the caped baldy. This gets his blood pumping as he enjoys fighting those who are stronger than him. Despite his skills however, he ranks quite low on the power chart. That just shows how strong some of the characters in One Punch Man are.

9. Puripuri Prisoner “Huff-Puff Prisoner”

Though he is the weakest hero on the S-rank list, Puripuri Prisoner’s strength is still nothing to scoff at. With rippling muscles from top the bottom, Puripuri Prisoner is built like a tank and he acts like one as well. Striding into combat with nothing but his bare fists, he blows away the opposition with his raw strength and musculature. Puripuri Prisoner also has a mode named Angel Style, in which he increases his strength to its maximum limit, bringing them beyond the threshold. It has the…unfortunate side effect of increasing his muscle mass, causing all his clothes to be torn off completely. Nevertheless, when in this mode, he’s shown to be many times stronger and has even caused severe damage to the Sea King, someone Genos had trouble with. Like him or hate him, Puripuri Prisoner is one tough son of a gun.

8. Bofoy “Metal Knight “

Often shown to be a callous individual, Bofoy’s hero name is “Metal Knight” because of his preference in using a robot that looks precisely what the name implies, a metal knight. Bofoy is a true scientist at heart, trying out different configurations with his robot or letting a bunch of hooligans steal his experimental suit just to see how far they can be pushed. His personality aside, an individual with access to all the technology he has at his disposal is not to be reckoned with. He has enough tech in his arsenal to arm an army and with the amount of robots he has, he could easily cause a disaster rating to rise in the cities of A-Z. Bofoy is definitely someone you don’t want to get on the bad side of.

7. Genos “Demon Cyborg”

A fan favourite, Genos is a cyborg who works together with his professor to find out who attacked his town and killed his whole family. One day, he runs into Saitama, who handily dispatches every foe in his way with a single punch. In awe of his power, Genos forces Saitama to apprentice him in hopes of somehow getting some of that strength for himself so that he may avenge his family eventually. But that doesn’t mean Genos is weak. Though his ranking on the S-rank list is still rather low, that can be attributed more to experience than any weakness on his part. With cybernetic enhancements boosting his physical abilities to the max, Genos moves at inhumane speeds and attacks with inhumane strength. On top of that, he has multiple projectile type attacks that can cause extreme devastation to his enemies. Out of all the heroes who attacked the Sea King, he was the one who did the most damage in the end, barring Saitama. With a thousand and one ways to kill anyone, it's doubtful anybody wants to cross him anytime soon.

6. Deep Sea King

Go back to the title, realise it says characters instead of heroes, then we can continue on with the article. Because how can we not include this beast when it comes to the strongest? The Sea King comes from the same cliché that perpetuates the entirety of the series, from the Ground King to the Air King to the Sea King. Arguably, the Sea King sounds like the strongest. When battling Puripuri Prisoner, he had some difficulty. But it was revealed that he wasn’t even in his full strength as it wasn’t raining. When the rain started pouring down, it became all over for the heroes fighting him. They were immediately batted aside and squashed under his heel. Only the timely intervention of Saitama saved them from him. And well…comparing anyone to Saitama isn’t that fair so the Sea King is still really tough.

5. Atomic Samurai

The Atomic Samurai is a cool operator who holds his pride close to his heart. When Saitama first tried to shake his hand, he refused, stating that he would only acknowledge him when he got into the higher ranks first. Despite that, he is not unkind. He has his own school of disciples who take after his unique techniques. One of his disciples, Iaian, becomes severely injured during the alien invasion and he shows a great deal of care and concern for him. Despite not being the highest on the list, the Atomic Samurai is nothing to scoff at. He uses a katana to dispatch most of his opponents with ease, not only boasting superior technique but all round better stats as well such as strength or reflexes. His signature technique, Atomic Slash, cuts the enemy into uncountable pieces in a single instant, leaving behind nothing but dust. When you meet him, don’t even blink, it’ll be over before you know it.

4. Bang “Silver Fang”

Bang is that one oldie that’s been around so long that he should have become old and frail, yet no one wants to mess with this guy. It’s partly due to his rank as number 4 on the S-rank list. However, it's most probably because of what a beast and badass Bang can be. Earning his moniker of Silver Fang, he darts around the battlefield decimating his foes with ease, his silver hair flashing all the while he is doing so. The Silver Fang utilises the style of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist. It’s a relatively powerful fighting style that seems to take after forms of martial arts like Tai-chi, in which strength is not used but rather the strength of the opponent is turned against them. Despite this high level of technique, Bang possesses one of the strongest bodies in the entire series. With a technique that requires zero strength wielded by a guy who has plenty to spare, it is no surprise that he places so high on the list at all. Just don’t let him con you into being his disciple!

3. Tatsumaki “Terrible Tornado”

The older of two sisters, Tatsumaki received her moniker due in fact to the powers that she has received from being an Esper. Unlike the sissy levitations that normal psychics do like lifting a spoon or a small object, Tatsumaki lifts whole cities at a time to bombard the enemy with. The trail of destruction she often leaves behind has lent her the name of Tornado of Terror. She doesn’t just have power. When needed too, she could precisely fire rubble into the cannons of the enemy ship and cause them to backfire on their own crew. With the further use of her psychic abilities to boost her lack of physical ones, Tatsumaki is a strong contender for being one of the most powerful beings in the series.

2. Boros “Lord Boros”

Boros is an extraterrestrial being that has conquered so many planets and galaxies that he has begun having an existential crisis. He’s very bored. There seems to be nothing capable of challenging him anymore and he’s unhappy about that. One day, he receives a prophecy that there exists someone on Earth who can give him a fight of the centuries. Like every cliché villain ever, he gathers his armada and invades Earth. This is an alien so powerful, that his underlings are capable of giving S-rank heroes a hard time. And it shows. When faced against the strongest character of the series, instead of going down with one punch like everyone else, he actually takes multiple hits from Saitama before losing. In fact, this is the first time we see Saitama putting effort into fights, using his special techniques like the serious serious series. Lord Boros is the second strongest throughout the series so far purely for the fact that he managed so long against the Caped Baldy, after who else can boast of that fact?

1. Saitama “Caped Baldy”

Was this surprising? With his life going nowhere, Saitama decided to become a superhero so that he could save people after an incident in which he saved a child from a crab monster. 3 years later, after his “intensive” (read: 100 push-ups, 100 squats, 100 sit-ups, 10k marathon and no air-con) workout, he has lost all his hair and become immensely powerful, defeating anyone he comes across with one punch. Which loops back to him feeling like his life is going nowhere as he can’t feel the thrill of battle because everyone else is just too weak. Yet, despite his overwhelming strength, he doesn’t abuse it for his own need. With power like that, he could have easily taken over the world or led a decadent life, however, he lives like a NEET most of the time. He didn’t even take credit for defeating the Sea King, a feat only he could’ve done at that point of time, just so the other heroes wouldn’t be looked down upon. His greatest strength in all this is his heart and kindness. Well…not really. His greatest strength is…ONE PUNCH!

Closing Paragraph

Prizes

1st Place

(1 of 3) One Punch Man Saitama Figurine

2nd Place

(5) A one-of-a-kind, special gift from Honey’s Anime

Terms and Rules

The contest has now closed. Thank you for your participation. The winners will be contacted shortly.

I would say one of the most funniest and serious anime I've seen have been with the main protagonist being a shy or weak male that encounters a strong female that changes his life somehow for the better... In most cases. Sekirei is an anime that will have you thrown into the world of Japanese anime in a serious and funny way. I have not read the manga but I have watched similar anime like Sekirei and I must say I have started to become a fan of those. The funny thing though, my recommendations for fans who like Sekirei is quite wide and different.

Similar Anime to Sekirei / Similar Anime to Wagtail

1. Infinite Stratos (IS)

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" January 7, 2011 – April 1, 2011 "]

In a not so distant future a exoskeleton called Infinite Stratos, brought peace to the world. A combat suit that could only be used by women until one day when Ichika Orimura, a 15-year old boy, enlist in the school for training to pilot the Infinite Stratos. In an all girls school, Ichika must train to become a Infinite Stratos fighter. The similarities with Sekirei is a boy surrounded by very strong women, and he must learn from them to get stronger. And it’s a weak young boy who gets ordered around by these girls. The genres are in the same class and the story is similar, but yet the opposite. Instead of super powered girls, they have super powered army suits that work in similar ways to fight.

Infinite Stratos OP

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_osYrBeJEBg&w=560&h=315]

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2. Akikan! (Empty Can!)

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" January 4, 2009 – March 29, 2009 "]

Akikan is a different anime about a boy named Kakeru Daichi. One day he drinks a Melon soda and when his lips touch the can it magically transforms into a girl. And not long after that, more girls start to appear and they must battle each other until one winner remains. A different kind of anime that is really funny and very similar to Sekirei. It has a weak lonely boy who encounters a strong woman with some kind of super power. And she needs to fight other women similar to her.

Akikan OP

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgTfLk4a11Y&w=560&h=315]

3. Hyakka Ryouran: Samurai Girls (Samurai Girls)

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" September 4, 2010 – December 20, 2010 "]

The anime is in a alternative version of Japan called, Great Japan. Where the Tokugawa Shogunate remain in power. And the story takes place in a school at the base of Mt. Fuji, where children of military families train to become samurai warriors. The story takes place where a power struggle between Yukimura Sanada and Matabei Goto of the Toyotomi faction and the powerful student council that rules the school. This anime is similar in many ways, it’s both in the genre of ecchi and with powerful girls that use an old fighting style. The main character is a strong male and is surrounded by powerful girls all the time. Thing that is different is the art style, which I personally was really surprised at, but love very much. I can definitely recommend this anime to those who want something similar to Sekirei, but also a bit different in a really good way.

Hyakka Ryouran: Samurai Girls OP

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmRGG1nZV6c&w=560&h=315]

Any Animes Like Wagtail / Any Animes Like Sekirei ?

4. Highschool of the Dead

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" July 5, 2010 – September 20, 2010 "]

Clear and simple it is a anime about a Zombie Outbreak in Japan at a high school, and it’s about a few of the students who that survives the outbreak and it revolves around their survival when society collapses. This has a more serious touch of ecchi. For me personally, I fell in love with this anime from the first shots of episode 1, because I love horror movies. I must say, anime zombies are quite different from tv-shows like, The Walking Dead. But it’s a zombie anime with a touch of ecchi, and I love it.

Highschool of the Dead OP

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DpUKYcnhRE&w=560&h=315]

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5. High School DxD

[Information episodes=" 15 " aired=" July 3, 2009 – June 25, 2010 "]

This anime takes place at the Kuoh Academy, an all-girls school which turned co-ed recently. Normal students in this school are unaware there are angels, fallen angels and other devils. Issei Hyodo is a second-year student at the school. After a normal school day, he is asked out on a date by a girl, Yuma Amano. Who is a fallen angel and kills him. Rias Gremory, also a student at the school, uses a summoning card to revive him. The next morning, he wakes up with her and she tells him that he has also become a devil and she is his new master. A very interesting anime which similar in many ways to Sekirei. The genres are both ecchi and it revolves around a weak younger boy who meets a powerful girl who isn't scared of taking charge. The stories are quite similar, as well as the way the characters fight too. A must watch for fans of both ecchi and people who want something similar to Sekirei.

High School DxD OP

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqu982I1Kks&w=560&h=315]

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6. Date A Live

[Information episodes=" 12 " aired=" March 31, 2013 – June 16, 2013 "]

Date A Live is an original story about Itsuka, a high school student who witnesses a so called, space earthquake. This happens all over the world and in order to save everyone from more disasters he needs to make these spirits (girls) fall in love with him. This anime is similar in the way of, yet again, a strong woman. Itsuka’s younger sister is the big boss and his mission is not to join the ranks of the other girls who fight, but to make the enemy fall in love with him. I felt a very warm feeling from this anime. It is more lovey-dovey, because of the cute atmosphere Itsuka’s younger sister gives throughout the anime. Sekirei and Date A Live are very similar but also very different.

Date A Live OP

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHJsdw1YZG0&w=560&h=315]

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All of these anime are special in their own way and I would think if you feel that Sekirei seemed interesting, then I can promise the other anime that I mentioned will be very easy to fall in love with. Most of them have similar concepts and I personally both like and dislike the anime with the male being a weakling, but have strong girls who push them through the story in order to achieve a greater goal. It builds something different and makes for a lot of funny moments. And it’s nice to see a strong woman for once, instead of the male always being the strong one.

One Piece Preview / Plot (No Spoilers)

Who does One Piece cater to?

What's so appealing about this piece of work.

One Piece Opening 18 "Hard Knock Days" by GENERATIONS from Exile Tribe

One Piece Main Characters List

Monkey D. Luffy

Voice Actor :Mayumi Tanaka

Born in the East Blue and grandson the famous Marine Monkey D. Garp, Luffy originally grew up in Foosha village on Dawn Island where he first met Red Haired Shanks. Fascinated by Shanks and his crew, Luffy decides he wants to become a pirate and begs Shanks to take him when they set sail. Shanks refuses profusely and Luffy is left disappointed. However, Luffy remains fiercely loyal and attempts to defend Shanks honor after being insulted by mountain bandits. Instead, Luffy is taken captive forcing Shanks to save him. In the end, Shanks thanks a crying Luffy for defending him. Shanks hands Luffy his hat and tells him to return it upon becoming King of the pirates. Often clueless, Luffy has a kind heart and would gladly give the shirt off his back to whoever needed it. He loves adventures and often forces his crewmates to take the more dangerous paths despite their pleas. Once he makes up his mind, he will not change it. Luffy also has a magnetism that draws people to him and so he has an easy time gaining allies and followers. As loyal as Luffy can be, he is not someone to make an enemy of. Once Luffy decides to defeat someone, nothing can stand in his way.

Roronoa Zoro

Voice Actor :Kazuya Nakai

When Zoro was young, he trained in a dojo diligently with his master’s daughter who had great talent. After frequently duels between the two, Zoro begins to become upset having never won. They agree to both chase the dream of becoming the best swordsman in the world, but the next day she dies in a terrible accident down the stairs. Zoro then decides to become the greatest swordsman in the world not just for himself, but also for her. Zoro’s signature style is known as Three Sword Style or Santoryu where he holds a blade in each hand and one in his mouth and he is one (if not the only) swordsman with this style. Because of this, Zoro is quite confident in his abilities and can often be found arguing with Sanji over battles. Despite being quite strong though, Zoro is not the best thinker as he easily becomes lost and separated from the crew.

Nami

Voice Actor : Akemi Okamura

Originally an orphan rescued with her adopted sister Nojiko by Belle-mere, Nami joined the Arlong Pirates as their navigator when she was child in an attempt to save her island from Arlong. Once Luffy discovers Nami’s past, justice is swiftly given to Arlong and his crew. Nami is an excellent navigator and cartographer, keeping the ship safe despite Luffy’s choices of paths. Her ultimate goal is to create a map of the entire world which makes traveling with the Straw Hat's quite useful. While she isn’t really a fighter, she is able to defend herself if need be with her Clima Tact that controls the weather. Nami also keeps the crew grounded with finances and is most often the voice of reason.

Usopp

Voice Actor :Kappei Yamaguchi

A habitual liar, Usopp could be the poster boy for The Boy Who Cried Wolf. So desperate for adventure is he that he ends up creating elaborate stories about his non-existent adventures. He uses his stories to entertain his mother who fell ill shortly after his father, Yasopp left to join Shanks’ crew. He tells his mother just before she passed that his father is coming to pick them both up and in his grief continued to tell lies. Usopp, along with Nami and Chopper, tend to air on the side of caution and are also referred to as the “weak” trio. The only thing that could possibly change Usopp’s mind is a compliment such as, “Well we don’t have to worry because Usopp is here!” causing Usopp to perk up and answer the call. Although he may be the first to run from a fight, Usopp has always pulled through for the team in the darkest of hours.

Sanji

Voice Actor :Hiroaki Hirata

The first crew member born in the North Blue, Sanji served as a sous chef aboard the ship Baratie and learned to fight with his legs so as not to ruin his hands for cooking. Before his life on the Baratie, Sanji served as a chef for another pirate crew before being attacked by Zeff and his own crew. A freak storm arrived during the battle causing both ships to collapse just after Sanji revealed to Zeff his desire to see the All Blue, a legendary sea where all the fish from every sea meet. Zeff saved Sanji and founded the Baratie, a restaurant ship. A powerful fighter, Sanji is one of the crew’s powerhouses along with Zoro and Luffy. Sanji can usually be found in the kitchen preparing lavish meals for Nami and Robin while also serving out Luffy’s usual rations of meat. Despite his fierce fighting skills, Sanji’s main weakness is women. There is nothing Sanji loves more than to fawn over beautiful women and many times this has led him into obvious life threatening traps.

One Piece Review

1. Devil Fruits

While not much is known about Devil Fruits, they can be either a curse or a blessing depending on their abilities. Users also lose the ability to swim and become weak upon contact with sea water or Kairoseki, a mysterious substance known to have similar traits as the sea. There are three basic types of fruits known as Zoan, Logia, and Paramecia. Zoans give their owners powers related to existing animals and in most cases give the user shapeshifting abilities. Paramecia users obtain superhuman abilities allowing their users to act almost as super heroes. Logia types are considered the strongest of the group and obtain the ability to physically change their bodies into an element.

2. Haki

Haki has become an essential part of the One Piece world now that the crew has entered the New World, but in reality it’s been around since the beginning of the series. Haki is essentially spiritual energy that everyone possesses and has the potential to awaken and train. Like Devil Fruits, there are three types of Haki: Kenbunshoku which allows users to sense the movements of those around them, Busoshoku which allows users to conjure up armor as hard as steel, and Haoshoku which allows users to overwhelm people with weak wills. The first two are quite common, but Haoshoku Haki is quite rare and cannot be obtained through training.

3. World Government

Formed after the void century 800 years ago, the World Government began when royalty from roughly 170 countries left their kingdoms to obtain the title of World Noble. Ruled over by the Gorosei, the founding members of the World Nobles believe in absolute justice and formed what is currently the Marines, their main military power. Since then, the World Government has managed to grow in power and even managed to convince 7 of the most powerful pirates in the world, known as the Shichibukai, to do their dirty work in exchange for immunity. The World Government is also extremely secretive and forbids research in regards to the void century, perhaps knowing that the information lost could lead to their demise.

To dismiss One Piece as a mere shounen anime would be a mistake. One Piece not only delivers action, adventure, and super powers, but also sends viewers on a journey into human nature. The characters, while sometimes absurd on the surface, are real and experience hardship, grief, and sorrow just as most human do. The struggles are real and the story progresses only when the characters do. Viewers hearts will pound during fights and cry during drama. There is certainly something for everyone in this powerful series.

Guilty Crown Preview / Plot (No Spoilers)

Released in the last quarter of 2011, Guilty Crown is an anime set in a timeline where Japan is recovering after a deadly outbreak. Called the Apocalypse Virus, the epidemic all but brought the country to its knees. Without any hope of containing the virus on its own, Japan sought the aid of the United Nations, which in turn sent the GHQ, a quasi-governmental organization. However, the summoning of the GHQ came at a price, as soon, Japan found itself under its oppression. Fast forward 10 years and the story starts. Shu Ouma, a 17-year old, passive, socially awkward young man, is pulled into an intricate web of deceit and controversy when a chance encounter with a mysterious girl leads him to acquire a mysterious vial that holds the “Power of Kings.” Inadvertently imbibed with a power that he did not ask for nor expect, Shu becomes a key player initiated by a rebel faction known as Funeral Parlor. As Shu gets deeper and deeper into the mystery of the Power of Kings and the reasons behind the rebellion against the GHQ, he has to be able to face the realities behind the secrets of his past, of the Apocalypse Virus, and of Funeral Parlor’s enigmatic leader, the charismatic and cunning Gai.

Who does Guilty Crown cater to?

Guilty Crown can best be summed up as an action-packed anime that utilizes a range of tried and tested tropes, animated in the best way possible. Indeed, a lot of critics have lambasted the show for using plot devices and character templates that have already been used in the past. However, just as many fans of the anime have praised it for doing the very same thing. After all, most anime tropes, though used frequently by a number of shows, still remain effective in telling a good story. Plot-wise, Guilty Crown may be considered a rare gem, but in its execution, it truly stands as one of the best. The pivotal scenes in the plot are animated in the smoothest way possible, emphasizing every little detail in the scene. The characters, though considerably falling under standard anime templates, evolve as the series progresses too. There are a number of times when the viewer will be pleasantly surprised by the developments done on even the secondary characters of the anime, as each character’s past and present motivations are revealed little by little.

What's so appealing about this piece of work.

Even critics of the show cannot deny the fact that Guilty Crown has a certain, inescapable appeal. In fact, even if one looks at the thousands of opinions on the show in the internet, one will find that viewers, critics and fans alike, are pretty unanimous that Guilty Crown is just simply aesthetically appealing. The character designs alone are worthy of mention, as every detail in each character is meticulously rendered and animated. Together with the rich backgrounds that never skipped on the color palette, Guilty Crown becomes one of the most visually-pleasing anime series that was ever made. This is mostly evident during battle scenes, where the term “animation bump” becomes commonplace. Indeed, the visual quality of this anime is top-notch. Apart from being a visual treat, Guilty Crown also features a soundtrack that is both subtle and beautiful. Featuring music from popular Japanese group Supercell, the series’ opening and ending themes frequently rank highly in the lists of best anime themes ever composed. Background music-wise, the series is spot on as well, as Guilty Crown utilizes tracks from numerous, even contrasting genres, all to great effect.

Guilty Crown Trailer

Guilty Crown Main Characters List

Shu Ouma

Voice Actor :Kaji, Yuuki / Tsuda, Minami

Shu is a rather passive, socially awkward 17-year old high school student. As the main character of the series, he is thrust into the conflict between the rebel faction Funeral Parlor and the GHQ when he chances upon a mysterious girl, Inori Yuzuriha, in his school’s modern image and video research club, who was taking refuge from the GHQ. Due to his inability to protect Inori when the GHQ manages to catch her, Shu takes it upon himself to finish the mission that Inori was initially entrusted with – to deliver a mysterious vial to Funeral Parlor’s leader, the charismatic Gai Tsutsugami. However, neither Shu’s nor Funeral Parlor’s plans do not go well, resulting in Shu gaining the Power of Kings from the mysterious vial, the Void genome instead of Gai. From that point on, Shu’s life is turned upside down as he becomes a member of the rebel group, serving as a central piece in the rebellion.

Inori Yuzuriha

Voice Actor :Kayano, Ai

Inori is portrayed as a relatively emotionless girl written in the template of Rei Ayanami of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Her past is a mystery, and she rarely shows emotion. An internet singing sensation from the musical group Egoist, she is also a key member of Funeral Parlor, the rebel faction opposing GHQ. Tasked with the mission of acquiring the Void Genome for Funeral Parlor’s leader, she ends up being injured. Taking refuge in an old building, she meets Shu, who fails to help her when GHQ forces finally caught up, beat, and capture her. After Shu gains the Power of Kings and becomes a member of Funeral Parlor, Inori starts attending the same school and even lives in the same house as him. As they spend more time together however, the cold Inori stars developing something that is completely out of her character – affection.

Gai Tsutsugami

Voice Actor :Watanabe, Akeno / Nakamura, Yuuichi

The charismatic and enigmatic Gai is the leader and figurehead of the rebel faction GHQ. Prior to the start of the series, he sends Inori off to a mission to retrieve a vial containing the Void Genome, which has the ability to grant a person the Power of Kings. However, the mission goes awry and, through a series of fateful circumstances, Shu ends up being granted the power instead. Despite not being able to acquire the Void Genome, Gai is still a highly skilled tactician, able to outplay even high-ranking officers in the GHQ with limited resources. He is also very proficient in hand to hand combat, as shown in numerous episodes where his fighting prowess is displayed in its full glory. However, there is much more to Gai than meets the eye, as his past holds many answers to Shu’s own.

Guilty Crown Review

When Guilty Crown came out, it was reviewed by critics and viewers alike as an anime that was aesthetically pleasing yet lacking in originality. The plot’s movement and elements, as well as the character archetypes utilized by the show have indeed been employed in other anime; hence, a huge part of the series felt relatively uninspired to many. However, while I do agree with some of the show’s criticisms at some points, I do believe that it is not really as bad as some of its critics paint it out to be. In fact, I am one of those people that can claim with all honesty that I have enjoyed Guilty Crown from its subtle beginning to its powerful finish. Simply put, I believe that Guilty Crown is one of those anime that came out at the wrong time. Several plot elements that received a lot of flak was the development of Shu’s character, as he started off in the anime as a weak-willed, regular high school student. True, this is something that has become a trope in anime nowadays, as employing the everyman as the center of its show usually results in the character being more relatable to the viewers. While it is true that Shu started off as a weak lead, he does develop in the series, eventually turning into a person leagues away from where he started by the end of the anime. Besides, the utilization of the flawed hero is something that was utilized by other anime, like Mirai Nikki and Evangelion, and those leads were, though criticized, were understood and even received fondly by many.

[sourceLink url="http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=22631188" a_text="Guilty Crown Illustrations"]

Another aspect of the show that is frequently criticized is the development of Inori, citing that her development was very flat and her character was very uninteresting. However, if one looks closely, her development and personality were written along the lines of fan favorites such as Evangelion’s Rei Ayanami. Overall, the characters in Guilty Crown are not as unique as they can be, but despite their similarities to more well-known characters, the fact remains that they work, and through the course of the story, they evolve. The ending of the anime is also one thing that has garnered less than positive reactions from critics, mainly due to its rushed nature and its sudden deluge of revelations that were crammed into the final few episodes. Again, as an objective viewer, I appreciated these as they were presented. Maybe the way that Inori sacrificed herself for Shu has undertones of other iconic events in other anime, maybe the show’s theme of music and the way it affects the heart of warriors has been explored before, and maybe Shu’s descent into darkness in the second half of the show echoed the events in anime like Gurren Lagann. Still, anyone cannot deny the power of the twists that happened during the final episode. Overall, I see Guilty Crown as a flawed masterpiece that should have come out at a different time. The show holds a great premise and boasts an equally great execution to boot. It also took a lot of risks in the unveiling of its plot. I see Guilty Crown as a rare anime, actually. It is an anime that was aware of its flaws and still went ahead with them anyway. If you are the type of person that can watch this series with an open mind, as a person who takes it for what it is, then I guarantee that you will enjoy every single episode in this show. I tried it, and I consider Guilty Crown as one anime that I really enjoyed.

1. Voids – Reflections of the Heart

The concept of voids is something that is unique in the show. Voids are generally items (weapons, usually) that can be conjured from a person’s heart. What I love about the voids is the fact that Guilty Crown obviously put a lot of thought in assigning each of the main and secondary characters’ voids. Hare’s void heals, just as her personality suggests, Souta’s void opens any obstacle, just like he wants to be open with his friends, Yahiro’s is a pair of shears, as reflected in his fearlessness to cut whatever is deemed unnecessary in his life. Apart from this, each person’s void is also imbibed with a unique ability, reflecting the fact that each person’s heart is incomparable to anyone else’s.

2. Inori and Mana – Two Sides of the Same Coin

Inori and Mana are two females that have affected Shu, the main character. Mana is his sister and is the trigger for the cataclysmic Apocalypse Virus outbreak, while Inori is a vessel for Mana’s soul, who happens to be Shu’s muse in the present. As separate people, Inori and Mana are very different. In a way, they can even be considered as opposites. Inori is known for her singing, while in the end, Mana displays skills in dancing ballet. Personality-wise, Inori is selfless while Mana is selfish. However, despite their differences, both of them are drawn to Shu, both for his strengths and his weaknesses. In fact, and ironically due to the fact that they are so dissimilar, they end up yearning for the same thing – Shu’s love.

3. The Price of Heroism

Guilty Crown is an anime that pulled no punches during its climactic final episode. By the end of the anime, no character remains the same, their lives irrevocably changed by the events in the series’ climax. The one that was affected most of all was the anime’s main character, Shu. Taking up the world’s weight by absorbing all of the Apocalypse Virus, he was nonetheless saved by Inori, sacrificing her life in the process. In the end of the anime, Shu was shown to have lost his sight (due to the Apocalypse Virus), as well as his arm, which was cut off by Gai when the students of the school rebelled against him. Apart from this, he was shown to be alone in the end. It is one scene that never fails to get me, as the sacrifices of one man, and its repercussions of the hero years later, was finally shown in its full reality by an anime.

As stated above, Guilty Crown is not a perfect anime. Far from it, actually. However, its flaws are what makes it endearing, and the manner unto which the plot was unveiled for the viewer is something that rarely gets shown in anime. Truly, it is what I would call an imperfect masterpiece.

Kekkai Sensen Preview / Plot (No Spoilers)

Kekkai Sensen is the story of New York City, where a gate has been opened to another world, and all sorts of creatures from eldritch abominations, to cutesy ghouls romping around. The new New York is christened Hell-Salem’s Lot, and it’s here that we meet our main character, Leonardo Watch. Leonardo becomes involved with an organization of super humans, called Libra, who fight crimes of a supernatural element. Leonardo has a power of his own, the all-seeing "eyes of the gods” that was given to him in a traumatic event from his childhood.

Who does Kekkai Sensen cater to?

If Kekkai Sensen outright tailors to any specific tastes unique to typical Anime Action/Sci-fi fare, it might be to a western one. It’s set in New York City, and it shows they did their research, nailing some NYC details on the nose. It boasts a robust soundtrack with a lot of jazzy pieces. Many who have seen the show have said it’s given off somewhat of a Baccano! feel, if you’ve enjoyed the atmosphere and style there, you’ll feel at home here. Despite attributes what I think would make the show popular in the West, Kekkai Sensen is just plain good. Anyone with a moderate interest in the action, sci-fi, supernatural genres should start tuning in if you haven’t already.

What's so appealing about this piece of work.

Kekkai Sensen has an excellent and under hyped pedigree. It’s based off a manga by Yasuhiro Nightow, of Trigun and Gungrave fame which both achieved western popularity. This may only be Rie Matsumoto’s second directorial credit but her first Kyusougiga was very well-received, and put her on a lot of folk’s respective radars. Acclaimed Studio Bones is handling the animation, and they’re a big part of what makes the show gorgeous. If there’s one area that Kekkai Sensen succeeds, its style. Everything from the story telling, to the music, to the shot composition and the directing, makes the show feel fresh and energetic. Its episodic format is sometimes hit and miss but the hits outweigh the misses and make this show a standout in the Spring 2015 season.

Kekkai Sensen PV

Kekkai Sensen Main Characters List

Leonardo Watch

Voice Actor :Daisuke Sakaguchi

Leonardo Watch is, pardon the Kendrick Lamar reference, a good kid in a mad city. He’s an everyman, and an excellent viewpoint into the antics of Hell Salem’s lot. Leonardo is given the "Eyes of the Gods” a sort of blessing and a curse. However, he did so when a strange being gave him and his sister the ultimatum to make one blind, and give the other this power. Leonardo’s sister volunteers to give up her sight for her brother and Leonardo feels indebted to her, and ashamed of his weakness. Leonardo starts up in Hell Salem’s lot in order to help her find a way to cure her blindness. Not the strongest fighter in the world, and out of step amongst the super-humans he’s involved with. But he’s good-natured, funny and goes out of his way to be kind. Leo is an easy guy to root for.

Klaus von Reinherz

Voice Actor :Rikiya Koyama

If Leonardo is a bit out of step with the superhuman’s of Libra, Klaus is definitely at home. The Leader of Libra, Klaus is also by far the strongest and extremely intelligent. His burly, animalistic appearance contrasts with his gentlemanly demeanor. Klaus, in addition to being extremely strong and intelligent is also honorable to a fault. Though being extremely strong, he’s kind, approachable and quirky. He’s the strongest fighter in Libra, and his noble qualities make him to a prototypical good guy but he’s still fun to watch.

Kekkai Sensen Review

It’s hard to begin to talk about Kekkai Sensen, which seems like a smattering of so many good things at once it’s difficult to pick a starting point. Now, Kekkai Sensen does have significant drawbacks, but they don’t take away from the fact that this well mad, memorable series. Rather than deal with the bad first, In this case, I think it might be better to start with what the show does right seeing as the reasons are bountiful and ultimately outweigh the bad. Kekkai Sensen is energetic almost to a fault. Whole episodes are packed with so much stuff you might feel the need to rewind 15 seconds here and there to catch all of it. Similarly, there’s just so much going on in some of the frames, particularly the action sequences it’s like looking at a feast that you can’t eat too much of. It works entirely to the shows favor, you’re left wanting more and you’re more prone to re-watching episodes. Of any show this fall, as of right now, Kekkai Sensen might be the one I’m looking forward to re-watching most because, like a plate at an all you can eat buffet, there’s just so much of it in one sitting. This energy is backed by a very solid world building that’s done mostly with visuals instead of long, boring info dumps which would severely clash with the frantic pace. Hell-Salem’s lot is a beauty to behold. Often the show uses wide-panning shots to fit as much as it possibly can of the surrounding sights and they are very much sights you want to see. As a Long Islander myself (Long Island lies next to the Isle of Manhattan, bordering NYC) it was awesome to see the detail put into making it feel like New York, but one gone even madder than it already is. Little things like subway signs, cop car designs, use of faux brands (A soda called "Peps”, a fast food joint called "Kentudgy Fried Chicken”) gives the show a definite New York-American feel.

[sourceLink url="http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=50173954" a_text="Kekkai Sensen Fan Art"]

But it’s definitely a New York that has gone mad. Creatures which drive the range of cute, Pokemon-esque critters to nightmare inducing ghouls abound. These beings called "Beyondians’ are mostly harmless though some of their stronger and more ambitious members (as well as some humans themselves) definitely cause a bit of havoc. The show does an excellent job visually of immersing you to this strange New York. Some of the prettiest moments to look at are dialogue scenes where you can see giant, flying Beyondians float in between sky scrapers. It gives the a show a sense of scale, wonderment and adds to show which already has so much going on in every frame. Bones has also done a great job with the animation as to be expected, and they’ve done a great job of making Nightow’s memorable character designs come to life. One of the show’s biggest drawbacks is its episodic format. Kekkai Sensen does have continuous currents going on underneath many of the episodes which come off as semi self-contained stories, and these are some of it’s more interesting elements. To its credit, the good episodes outweigh the bad episodes for sure, but they also make the bad episodes a little more glaring then they would if the show had more connected arcs. This might be an example of Kekkai Sensen pace being a little too fast. They jam so much into one episode that characters may feel a little less developed, or a have a fight scene that’s less engaging and more "SHOUT YOUR ATTACK BEFOREHAND” cliché filled. However, the show has some truly great entries. Episode 6 of Kekkai Sensen is, in my view, the single best episode of anime we’ve seen so far in Spring 2015. Much of the better episodes in Kekkai Sensen have a strong thematic element and a point to make. Episode 6 deals with discrimination in a way that’s almost too close to home in the United States, but is also present in a wide swath of countries. Beyondians are treated with a kind of casual disdain, that’s both pervasive and institutional. The cops look away when a creature called Nej is being abused by some humans, and some human on lookers make comments which range the gamut from victim blaming, to expressing concern but not doing anything about it. Leonardo, always characterized as kind, even makes a half derisive comment before realizing he’s actually saying it and then remarks "Eh, did I say that out loud?” It’s a powerful examination over how a lot of discrimination occurs in the modern day, less overt, but still pervasive and often times lying on the fulcrum of common practices and widely held beliefs.

[sourceLink url="http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=50427167" a_text="Kekkai Sensen Fan Art"]

Leonardo confronts the people abusing Nej and starts a sequence of events that lead him to question how he and his allies see Beyondians. Nej and Leonardo become friends, and the episode ends has a heartwarming, satisfying conclusion. This was truly a standout episode, that knew how to handle a delicate topic seriously all the while managing a softer, gentler tone and pace to it’s usual over the top, speed of light gauntlet. It knew how to have some comedic breaks in a serious tone that never make what’s going on feel too silly or ridiculous to lose its sense of importance. Episode 3 is another strong one. This is where see Klaus von Reinherz’s mettle as he plays a high stakes game of Pros fair with an alien who has studied the game for years. Pros fair is kind of like Chess on Bath Salts, played across multiple boards the longer the game goes on the more boards are added and some of them eventually become spheres. It’s a game that, like many things going on in Kekkai Sensen, defy any real-world limitations. The stakes being bet on is Klaus’s life, if he loses he dies, but if he survives the game and doesn’t lose in a certain amount of times, he saves a man's life. That man who recently just lost a game to the same alien Klaus is tangled with, and the man who asked that, if he won, the alien would kill Klaus. Klaus plays such a high risk, mind bending game to save someone who’s pretty wretched out of his sheer moral fortitude, stating "People are weak, and because of their weakness, they make decisions that disrespect themselves. But so what? That's no reason for me to alter the way I live my life.” There’s a lot to unpack in that sentence as it relates to human action, how we judge and are judged and the expectations to act on behest of others. But there’s no doubt, it establishes Klaus as a guys who’s willing to go any length and sacrifice for others. Oh, and this game of Pros fair? He plays it for 99 hours straight, no big deal. Though some episodes shine, a few don’t. And this is usually because Kekkai Sensen’s other big weakness is it’s characters. They are all fun to watch, no doubt, but few are compelling. Klaus hasn’t had a great episode since episode 3, and aside from Leonardo, we haven’t seen anything where a character comes off as truly compelling, complex or interesting. There’s no solid character drama or consistent emotional conflicts as of yet. As some of the continuous threads of the show keep unraveling, it appears we might be heading there, but for a show that’s 8 episodes in, that is strong on so many other aspects, it’s conspicuous in it’s absence. And that’s the point you should remember, it’s not as if the characters or so uncompelling or so unoriginal, but when everything else is so good, you really feel the lack of numerous gripping characters that could have taken this series into masterpiece territory.

1. Hell Salem’s Lot

Hell Salem’s Lot is the Island of Manhattan where ghouls, ghosties, aliens, vampires and all manner of strange folk run around, causing havoc. So basically, it’s not too much different from real life New York. Just kidding. But Hell Salem’s Lot is about as interesting a New York as you’ve ever seen in fiction, and it really does feel like they took the time and research into getting the city right and filling it with otherworldly denizens.

2. Beyondians

Beyondians are the otherworldly creatures that inhabit Hell Salem’s lot along with the Humans. Beyondians tow the line and are everything from total and complete monsters, to good, kind-hearted souls… not unlike the human race! Beyondians are a huge part of what gives the city it’s flair.

3. Libra

Libra is a lovable band of misfit super-humans who take to fighting supernatural crime in the city. They’re wild, vivacious and super strong. They’re the narrative lens behind a lot of the series vignettes and they’re a perfectly outlandish point to focus a series built on so much madness.

I’m very excited to see the path Kekkai Sensen takes us on, and I hope I inspired you to walk it if you haven’t already. Sometimes, I do feel the weight of style over substance when watching this show. But for most of the time, Kekkai Sensen is just pure fun to watch. It jam packs an episode full of content like it’s an little kid adding cookies to his lunchbox. I’ve expressed my misgivings, but they’re not a reason to turn away from Kekkai Sensen, rather, there a reason to tune in, and hope they improve. Overall, this is one of the strongest entries that Spring 2015 has to offer, and you don’t want to miss it.

Hunter x Hunter Preview / Plot (No Spoilers)

From the storyboards of Yoshihiro Togashi comes an anime that may very well stand just as tall as his other opus, Yu Yu Hakusho. Set in a world where those with the heart to pursue adventure, danger, and fame are celebrated, Hunter x Hunter follows the story of 12-year old Gon Freecss. A boy from Whale Island, he discovers that the father that left him back when he was a little boy is not dead at all, but making a name of himself as a world famous hunter. Intrigued about a career that his father chose over his own son, Gon sets out to become a Hunter himself. Entering the Hunter Exam, he befriends young Killua Zoldyck, a boy with a gentle heart but was raised as a deadly assassin, Kurapika Kurta, a sole survivor of his clan who is out for revenge, and Leorio Paladiknight, a man who seeks to become a Hunter in order to never witness pain caused by inadequacy again. Together, they aim to become Hunters, elite professionals who take on the world’s more dangerous jobs in the world’s most dangerous circumstances.

Who does Hunter x Hunter cater to?

Hunter x Hunter is for anime fans that love the shounen genre. If you enjoyed anime like Naruto or Yu Yu Hakusho (which also happens to be written by the same author, by the way), then you will surely enjoy Hunter x Hunter. With story arcs that are spectacular both in scale and in detail, the series becomes an entry into the fighting, adventure, and shounen genre that is a cut above the rest. As a matter of fact, a number of critics and its fans have hailed Hunter x Hunter as a shounen anime almost done to perfection. What particularly stands out in the series is the characters, as well as the numerous well-developed arcs that the narrative covered. The characters created by the author are not the run-of-the-mill anime stereotypes at all. Both in their backgrounds and their moral standpoints, the characters are not cut from the same block as the typical anime. The arcs in the narrative are very well developed as well. Prominent fight scenes are not dragged down by the pacing of the plot at all. It is an anime that refuses to sacrifice its quality over its length or its pace. Hence, this anime is definitely for people who like watching anime that are very well-written.

What's so appealing about this piece of work.

The writing of Hunter x Hunter is widely regarded by critics and viewers alike as one of the best in the shounen genre. Narrative-wise, it contains arcs that are very well-rounded, with enough twists and turns to make each individual arc engaging, and also with enough plot material to keep the main story going. Evidence of this can be seen in the story arcs when taken side-by-side, they can really be seen a part of a greater whole, and with each episode, the direction and pace of the story never wavers. Part of this is the fact that the series is adapted very closely to the manga. Hence, a lot of the themes that the author wanted to flesh out were explored more than adequately. In fact, this is probably one of the most appealing aspects of the anime. It is presented almost exactly the way the author wanted it to be presented; and, if there’s anything about the authors of stories, it is the fact that when it comes to presentation, they know best. Hence, though the 1999 adaptation of Hunter x Hunter may be good, the remake is extremely close to perfection.

Hunter x Hunter 2011 English Trailer

Hunter x Hunter Main Characters List

Gon Freecss

Voice Actor : Junko Takeuchi

Gon, a 12-year old boy (at the beginning of the story) is a young man from Whale Island. Being the main protagonist of the anime, he is an athletic, somewhat rustic, naïve, and extremely friendly boy. Due to his background and his experiences in the island, he has a strong affinity with animals. His senses are very keen too, to the point where his senses of smell, sight, and taste are close to being inhuman. Gon’s determination is a key point in the series, as his heart never wavers regardless of the strength of his adversary. Due to the strength of his heart, he naturally draws people in, down to people that can be considered as his enemies. He does have notable flaws though, as he has a tendency to become extremely impulsive and temperamental, especially when his strength is challenged. Whenever he does, he goes to extreme lengths just to prove his adversary wrong.

Killua Zoldyck

Voice Actor :Kanako Mitsuhashi

Killua is also a 12-year old boy who befriends Gon in the Hunter Exam. Quick-witted and kind to those he considers his friends, Killua is presented much like Gon, who he considers his best friend. Though the years of training he received under his family’s tutelage has endowed him with confidence in his abilities, he nonetheless gets easily flustered when his friends compliment him. However, behind his cheerful exterior lies the blood of a Zoldyck, a family world-known for being extremely effective assassins. Just as he can be cheerful, kind and friendly, Killua can also be ruthless, violent and bloodthirsty. In fact, this very nature cost him his license in his first attempt at the Hunter Exam, as his violent tendencies emerged and unfortunately claimed the life of a fellow examiner. However, regardless of his bloodthirstiness, Killua nonetheless never hesitates to put his life on this line for his friends, often putting himself in situations that put his life in danger.

Kurapika Kurta

Voice Actor :Miyuki Sawashiro

Kurapika is the only survivor of the Kurta clan, a race of people whose irises can turn completely scarlet when they get emotionally agitated. Being the sole survivor of a massive genocide that claimed his entire clan, Kurapika has taken it upon himself to exact vengeance with the men responsible for the fall of his people. What is particularly interesting about Kurapika is the fact that he lives according to a set of morals, yet becomes Machiavellan when it comes to his pursuit of revenge. He aims to become a hunter for the sake of exacting retribution, and he is not above stepping over his morals to achieve what he wants.

Leorio Paladiknight

Voice Actor :Keiji Fujiwara

Being the oldest of the series’ four main characters, Leorio seeks to become a Hunter mainly due to the fact that it is such a lucrative career. His epiphany and his relentless pursuit for financial gain emerged after a dear friend was lost to a disease that would have been curable had it not been for the fact that he could not afford the medical expenses for his friend. Hence, he aims to be a Hunter in order to pay for medical school, to be able to treat the poor for free. Though his fighting skills are usually outshone by the capabilities of his other three friends, Leorio is nonetheless a formidable fighter, exhibiting great skills in combat. Compared to an average man, Leorio is remarkable in his own right.

Hunter x Hunter Review

Hunter x Hunter may not be the anime that mainstream fans are clamoring about, but trust me on this, this series is one of the finest shounen anime around right now. Initially released in 1999, it was already very well-received. However, the series then was eclipsed by more prominent shows and, despite its good premise, the storylines diverged at times from the manga. As an anime fan, I believe anyone can relate to this. Take a look at Claymore, for example. It's a perfectly good example of an anime series that diverged very far from the source material just for the sake of creating a series that is complete. As a result, it felt rushed, and ultimately unsatisfying. Viewers of the 1999 series echoed this sentiment up to some point. In fact, in a 2010 poll by Mania.com, Hunter x Hunter was ranked 9th in the list of Anime Series That Need a Reboot. And what a reboot it received. Simply put, the depth of the story, the excellent development of its characters, its mature dialogue, and its intricate world-building is something that very few shounen anime can match. Indeed, the 2011 remake is arguably the shounen anime to beat when it comes to the sheer quality of the writing. Any viewer would not find it very difficult to engage in a lengthy, satisfying marathon with this anime, for sure.

What makes the story so well rounded is its variety. The first arcs in the series were fairly typical shounen faire, though they were executed in an excellent fashion. However, as the series progressed, the plot takes drastic turns. In fact, the story explores numerous genres, from fighting tournaments to crime thrillers to virtual realities and even politics. Apart from this, the story was able to accomplish the rare act of making each complete story arc flow smoothly to form a grand narrative. Each arc is already exceptional on their own, but together, the tapestry of the story is displayed in its full glory. Together with the shifts in genres come the shifts in tone, which are quite remarkable. The series is able to shift from a lighthearted mood to a darker one with ease, and vice versa. An example of this would be the Yorknew and Chimera Ant arcs, possibly two of the darkest, most mature arcs in shounen anime. The Yorknew Arc can be categorized as a dark crime thriller in a big city, almost echoing the darkness of theme in anime like Death Note. The Chimera Ant Arc, on the other hand, invokes themes akin to Shingeki no Kyojin in the way that it involves the anime’s heroes trying desperately to succeed against a vastly superior foe. As the theme changes of course, so does the story’s background music and color palette. Of course, the characters develop as the plot moves forward as well.

[sourceLink url="http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=1124308" a_text="Kurapika Fan Art"]

Character development is yet another notable point in this anime, as the characters mature together with the story. Each character has attributes that endear them to the audience, but each also has his or her own flaws that make them very much imperfect. A great example here would be Kurapika, who is initially shown as a boy with morals who is seeking justice. However, he eventually develops into a character that willingly ties himself to the mafia as a bodyguard, despite being fully aware of his employer’s immoral acts. He does this simply because aligning himself with the mafia will take him further into his quest for vengeance. Hence, he develops as a character who will justify his means by the ends that he seeks to meet. Another particular aspect of the anime that is very notable is that it defies the typical shounen lose-train-win trope, where the heroes lose at first, only to train and overcome their opponents later. Hunter x Hunter is very gutsy in this aspect, as the main character, Gon himself, practically fails more than he succeeds. Despite his training, an underlying theme of growth and potential is included in the narrative, as the story is able to exhibit the fact that its main characters are exceptional and nigh-gifted, they are kids nonetheless, and therefore, have much to learn. It is themes like this that make Hunter x Hunter such a great addition to shounen anime nowadays. With a nigh-perfect story and the execution to boot, it is one show that any anime fan should definitely never miss.

1. Hunters

Hunters are the world’s elite professionals, taking on a menagerie of jobs that range from exploring the most dangerous places on Earth to hunting down the world’s worst criminals. In a way, being a Hunter is the ultimate profession, for it provides the individual with the ultimate rewards based on the individual’s chosen preferences. There are many types of Hunters that were shown in the series, and their variations made the plot so much better. The Hunters alone, as well as each of their unique abilities, make the story what it is.

2. Nen

Nen is the factor in the anime that makes it cross over to the super power genre. However, one thing that sets Nen apart from the capabilities of the conventional anime hero is the fact that its application and its background is so well-rounded. In fact, the details and thought that the anime chose to put into the concept makes it almost like a science. Indeed, Nen and its numerous forms and rules are something that is definitely unique in this anime. Its effects and subsequent repercussions in battle is also something that viewers of the show can look forward to.

3. Character Dynamism

The dynamism of the characters in the anime is also worthy of mention, as protagonists and antagonists alike come alive and evolve before the eyes of the viewer. Each character in the show is so dynamic, the viewer will understand exactly how the character came to be the way he or she is. A great example of this would be Hisoka, the amoral clown that is both tarrying and endearing at the same time. Few anime can boast of the type of characters that Hunter x Hunter has. In fact, in this sense it is almost a league of its own.

What’s particularly unfortunate is the fact that though Hunter x Hunter is almost a perfect shounen anime, it nonetheless gets eclipsed by more mainstream anime fans around the world. What is particularly unfortunate is the fact that such oversight has already happened to it twice. Though it is something that definitely deserves an audience, it usually gets eclipsed by anime that conform to more standard templates. I believe it is up to us anime fans to take a stand on this show. This anime deserves an audience. True, it already has its millions of fans that it has garnered over the years, but the fact remains that its quality and the story it wants to tell deserves to be consumed by tens of millions of fans. We anime fans have done it for titles like Shingeki no Kyojin. I believe we can also push this one up. We know it deserves it.