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If you liked Gakuen Alice add

...then you might like Yume-iro Pâtissière add

The main character in both is a clumsy, energetic, and well-meaning young girl thrust into an extraordinary school environment. She starts at the bottom of the social hierarchy and has to endure ridicule from her classmates, but through positivity and hard work, she gradually wins over the trust of her classmates, while achieving a new level of maturity and self-actualization. While in Yume-iro, Ichigo has something more tangible to work on (improving as a patissiere), Mikan from Gakuen Alice mostly directs her efforts towards interpersonal relationships and defining where her morals stand. Regardless, the two really go through the wringer, making it all the more satisfying when we see them triumph in the end.

If you liked Gankutsuou add

...then you might like Nana add

Okay, so one is an avant-garde sci-fi retelling of a literary classic and the other is a shoujou grounded in reality. What kind of similarities could possibly exist? Quite a few actually. First and foremost, both shows are about things not going the way you want them to go, not only for the characters, but for the audience. Boasting wide casts of characters, all with unique, separate motives, both shows will find you rooting for one character, only to have you question whether their motives were just in the first place. You'll thus switch allegiances only to find yourself in the same cycle again and again. However, in the end, you will unfortunately realize that nobody will leave this situation in a better position than the one they came into it with. These shows reaffirm that life is tough and even fiction doesn't always conform to your desires or expectations. Outside of this primary similarity, both shows are written with many cliff-hangers and hold crucial information from the viewer until a well-built dramatic reveal. I can't promise that if you like one, you'll like another, but if you loved how bittersweet either Gankutsuou or Nana is and are tired of formulaic stores, the opposite show is at least worth your time.

If you liked Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai. add

...then you might like Nagi no Asu kara add

Both NagiAsu and AnoHana are some of the best works that the oddly-specific "teens in a love polygon with a fantasy or supernatural element" genre has to offer (seriously, there are so many of these, it's ridiculous.) Aside from their typical genre trappings, both center around the themes of maturing and the emotional confusion that said maturing can bring to a group of childhood friends. Both have a beautiful art style with vivid colors, and both first and foremost, want you to cry. If you are a fan of this genre and have seen only one of these, I highly recommend watching the other.

If you liked Hajime no Ippo add

...then you might like Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor add

Both of these shows are over the top, intense shows about overcoming odds and facing adversity. While Kaiji does take a more calculated route than Ippo who often just gets into his zone, they both are giving it their all in high-stakes situations that last a long span of episodes. Both also make me want to scream a whole bunch because of how insanely tense everything is.

If you liked Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu add

...then you might like High School Fleet add

Alright, so this is gonna be a little out there, but hear me out, because while I was watching High School Fleet, I kept thinking about LotGH and for good reason. Both shows boast a very wide roster of characters all who have specific jobs within their fleet. The way the characters complete their duties and the tasks they are given logically flow into the way they think and their overall personality. Often, the crew is left with a difficult decision as to what course of action to take, and it falls unto the captain to make the best decision based off their knowledge as well as the input of all the crew members around them. On that note, the captain often seems ill-fit to being a commander, opting to charge recklessly onto the front lines. However, it is this passion and refusal to sit back and let others do the work for them that captures the loyalty of their crew in the long-run. Of course, there is an apparent difference in quality and purpose between the two shows. If you have a low tolerance for the whole "cute girls doing cute things" phenomenon, you probably don't have much use for Haifuri. On the other hand, if you just wanna have a fun time and don't want to have to dedicate yourself to a 100+ episode continuous narrative, LotGH isn't for you.

If you liked Sakamichi no Apollon add

...then you might like Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso add

Your Lie in April is to classical as Kids on the Slope is to jazz. Both shows have superb soundtracks that work perfectly with the show to capture the best attributes of each musical genre. On top of this, both shows involve a love web between lovable characters trying to find themselves through their music. If you watch either of these, expect to be left in emotional shambles. Coincidently, these are my brother's two favorite shows. Lol, nerd.

If you liked Serial Experiments Lain add

...then you might like Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica add

Madoka and Lain both are seemingly normal girls thrust into a trippy, dark predicament. Both pose some interesting and engaging social and psychological questions. They have a lot more similarities, but diving into these would bring up a lot of spoilers. I've heard a few people say that Madoka is a rip-off of Lain, touched up for mainstream consumption, however I feel like this is a short-sighted idea. While Madoka clearly does take heavy influence from Lain, the two pose very unique themes and styles. That being said, you might find one a tad redundant after watching the other, but they are both excellent shows in their own right.

If you liked Gunslinger Girl add

...then you might like Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World add

Both shows bring up questions regarding society and humanity, allowing the viewer to come up with their own interpretation and opinion. They also have enough action dispersed throughout to keep the atmosphere tense and the audience engaged. ...plus, you know, girls with guns are awesome. ^^

If you liked Yama no Susume add

...then you might like Wakako-zake add

While the two seem really distant in premise, I felt like Wakako-zake and Encouragement of Climb had a similar goal and overall feel. Both shows depict a cute, lovable introvert going out into the world and appreciating some of the simpler things in life (food and nature respectfully). While Wakako is content with her solitude and doesn't try to interact with others, Aoi from Encouragement of Climb is kinda forced into being social and attempts to sate her introversion while maintaining her friendships. Both also use a light color palette and focus most of their artistic energy towards making the food/mountains look appealing. Although, I suggested the first season of Encouragement of Climb, since both are in a short format (2-3 minute episodes), bear in mind that the second season of Climb is where it starts to really get good (switching to half-length episodes). You should think of the first season as more of an introduction to the characters and overall feel.

If you liked Nichijou add

...then you might like Tonari no Seki-kun add

Both of these comedies work at the same pace, moving fast, but giving the audience enough time to get invested in the shenanigans and appreciate the execution. Both also work on the same magnitude, creating absurd, random scenes while maintaining a sense of cohesion, as if all of their events are happening within the set parameters of their own quirky little world. Last, but not least, both have lovable, extremely expressive characters with great voice actors. What more could you ask for?

If you liked Cowboy Bebop add

...then you might like Space☆Dandy add

Space Dandy is pretty much the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop, or at the very least, an ascended AU. If you watch one, you have to watch the other (preferably watching Cowboy Bebop first). While Bebop is serious, occasionally breaking out into comedic scenes, Dandy is comedic, occasionally breaking out into serious scenes. Regardless, both share a style and flair that help them stand out from the often cliché-riddled sci-fi genre.

If you liked Koi Kaze add

...then you might like Hourou Musuko add

Both handle complicated social concepts is a very mature manner. They tell a concrete story, but leave the verdict of whether the actions characters take are ultimately right or wrong up to the viewer. Outside of the expressive minimalist art style the two share, what struck me the most about both of these is the use of silence in sound design. Both of these shows have a lot of scenes in which there's sparse music and dialogue, creating this personal, uncomfortable, and awkward feeling that greatly works to the shows' advantage.

If you liked Gintama add

...then you might like Osomatsu-san add

The most obvious recommendation I could make. The two share the same director, and it really shows. They both have the same comedic timing, utilize pop culture references, and are completely littered with dirty humor. Both also occasionally get serious, which is something that often doesn't work in comedy-focused anime, but this director and the writers are REALLY good at blending it so it feels genuine and not heavy-handed. In fact, if I had to describe Osomatsu-san, I'd say it was what happens when you give Fujita a 50 year old show and tell him to go wild. Wait, why am I suggesting Gintama on MAL? You guys all know Gintama is great, lol.

If you liked Tsuritama add

...then you might like Haikyuu!! add

While Tsuritama doesn't root its focus on its particular sport, opting to go the slice-of-life route, both are shows about lovable guys who mature through their dedication to an active passion. The two also share a colorful art style and engaging character dynamics. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised nobody else has made this recommendation. Most of the people I've seen who like Tsuritama also like Haikyuu and there's a considerable amount of crossover fanart, considering how relatively unknown Tsuritama is.