Back to Joe_Devaney's Profile Joe_Devaney's Profile

If you liked Air Gear add

...then you might like The God of High School add

Both are sports shonen battle anime that follow a fight-loving, spiky-haired protagonist (Ikki/Mori) who has no real goal except moving up the ranks in their respective fields. In both cases, they're accompanied by a red-haired glasses-wearing girl with some kind of inheritance (Mira is heir to the Moonlight Sword style, while Ringo is heir to the Sleeping Forest). Both shows also have great music. I prefer "The God of High School", as it has better visuals and a story that actually feels like it goes somewhere. Even so, if you like one, you will probably like the other.

If you liked Kimi ni Todoke add

...then you might like Suki tte Ii na yo. add

Both are romantic slice-of-life shoujo anime following a friendless girl who ends up grabbing the attention of the most popular boy in her school. However, they're friendless for different reasons- in "Kimi ni Todoke", Sawako wants friends but can't make any due to always causing misunderstandings about herself, while in "Say I Love You", Mei avoids making friends due to being betrayed in the past. Either way, both of them end up making real friends due to the help of the boy they befriend (Shota Kazehaya and Yamato Kurosawa, respectively). "Say I Love You", however, is a lot darker and heavier than "Kimi ni Todoke". I prefer "Kimi ni Todoke", as it's just better in every way except visuals. Essentially, it's definitive proof that 'lighter and softer' is sometimes the best way to go.

If you liked Ergo Proxy add

...then you might like Fractale add

Both are dystopian sci-fi anime set in societies that seem peaceful on the surface, but in truth are glorified cages where people have their every move monitored by a sinister government, though "Fractale" has a happier tone overall. Several characters in both shows can also be compared to each other: Vincent=Clain Re-l=Phryne Pino=Nessa Raul=Dias There are a couple others, but that would be a spoiler. Interestingly, both shows trick you into believing one character's the protagonist when it's actually another- "Ergo Proxy" makes you think Re-l's the main character when it's actually Vincent and "Fractale" makes you think Clain's the main character when it's actually Phryne. I prefer "Ergo Proxy", as it has much better visuals and more character development.

If you liked Seiken no Blacksmith add

...then you might like Mahoutsukai no Yome add

Both are fantasy anime starring a red-haired heroine who ends up having a chance encounter with a mysterious man (the titular Ancient Magus/Sacred Blacksmith) and end up forming a strange relationship with them. Chise and Cecily both start off rather weak and requiring others to save them but become far more capable as time goes on. While their demeanours are very different, Elias and Luke are very alike overall. They're both aloof, selfish, have a mixed reputation among those they are acquainted with, live in a house in the middle of nowhere and have a mysterious blond-haired girl working for them as their assistant. They even have the same friggin' surname! The main difference between the two anime is that "The Sacred Blacksmith" is a straight medieval fantasy, while "The Ancient Magus' Bride" is a contemporary fantasy in which the main characters just happen to be old-fashioned. That said, "The Ancient Magus' Bride" is better in pretty much every way.

If you liked Fractale add

...then you might like No.6 add

Both anime are set in post-apocalyptic futures where humanity has fallen under control of a draconian system that watches and dictates their every move. Clain and Shion are both highly intelligent boys who start off living in blissful ignorance but have their worldviews turned upside down when they encounter a mysterious individual (Phryne/Rat) whom they ultimately fall in love with. However, the main characters are quite different in personality- Clain is colder and more pessimistic than Shion while Phryne is a lot warmer and more playful than Rat. I prefer "Fractale", mostly because it doesn't try to ram so much into only 11 episodes. I also think the romance in "Fractale" is done better than in "No.6" (and no, I do not have anything against gays).

If you liked Kaichou wa Maid-sama! add

...then you might like Suki tte Ii na yo. add

Both are slice-of-life romance anime following teenage girls who have mixed reputations in school and a single mother whom they work part-time in order to support. Against all odds, they attract the attention of the most popular guy in their school and develop a somewhat strange relationship with them. They also have a couple of the same voice actors (Misaki and Asami are both voiced by Monica Rial, for example). However, Misaki and Mei are overall quite different character-wise- Misaki is an extroverted tsundere and has some friends at the start of the series, while Mei is an introverted kuudere who not only starts off with no friends, but goes out of her way to avoid making them. In other words, her personality is closer to Suzuna's than Misaki's. I prefer "Maid-Sama", as it has better pacing and is more enjoyable.

If you liked Guilty Crown add

...then you might like Accel World add

Both are sci-fi anime set in the near future, and follow withdrawn teenage boys voiced by Yuki Kaiji who spend their time escaping reality (Haruyuki by playing video games, Shu by watching videos). In both cases, they become acquainted with a girl they admire and end up getting a lot more than they bargained for. Both shows also have great music. In addition to Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime being similar to Shu and Inori, Chiyuri is similar to Hare (both being nice girls with healing abilities) and Taku is somewhat similar to Gai (for reasons I can't say). I prefer "Accel World" as it's more original and enjoyable, though "Guilty Crown" has better visuals.

If you liked Vandread add

...then you might like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann add

This is an easy one. Both are mecha anime that have space battles, fanservice, combining mechs, comedy and romance. The main characters are both very short for their age (though Hibiki is a lot more abrasive than Simon) and end up forming a bond with an outlandish girl who is very kind and helpful (Nia/Dita). Humorously, Hibiki's dub voice actor, Tony Oliver, also serves as the narrator in the dub of "Gurren Lagann". Essentially, if you liked "Vandread", you will love "Gurren Lagann".

If you liked Gosick add

...then you might like Hidan no Aria add

Both shows follow teenage boys (Kazuya/Kinji) who come from distinguished families and have poor reputations in school. In both cases, they meet a diminutive teenage girl (Victorique/Aria) who is very skilled at detective work but also very bossy and treats the male lead like her servant. They also both have distant relationships with their mothers, albeit for different reasons, and eventually warm up to their respective partners. The main villains of both shows are quite similar to each other, though "Gosick"'s has a clearer motive and end goal. Essentially, "Gosick" can be read as the series that "Aria the Scarlet Ammo" should have been.

If you liked Shakugan no Shana add

...then you might like Gosick add

"Gosick" can basically be summed up as "Shakugan no Shana" meets "Sherlock Holmes". Both shows follow a rather average teenage boy who, by pure chance, encounters a mysterious young girl who is very short and bossy but highly intelligent, and end up getting dragged into one crazy adventure after another, all while trying to live a normal school life in-between. Not only are Kazuya and Victorique quite similar to Yuji and Shana, respectively, but Avril is also very similar to Kazumi, albeit with more personality and backstory and a lot less focus. Put simply, if you like one, you will probably like the other.

If you liked Guilty Crown add

...then you might like Aldnoah.Zero add

Both are military mech anime with the same composer (Hiroyuki Sawano) and revolve around a resistance group trying to free Japan from a group of oppressors. The protagonists (Shu/Inaho) are both stoic teenage boys who start off believing that they should be doing more than they are, and end up becoming key figures in the resistance. In both cases, they develop a rivalry with a mysterious blonde-haired man (Gai/Slaine) who has some sort of connection to the main heroine (Inori/Asseylum). Both shows also have a red-haired mech pilot (Ayase/Rayet). However, if you're expecting a grey-and-gray morality conflict similar to what you'd find in "Gundam", you'll be disappointed, as while Funeral Parlour and the crew of the Deucalion have some skeletons in their closest, GHQ and the Vers Empire are unambiguously evil. I prefer "Guilty Crown", as it has better visuals and more character development.

If you liked Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari add

...then you might like Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu add

Both are isekai anime featuring a guy who gets pulled into a world and ends up with two slave girls (Naofumi by necessity, Diablo by accident). In both cases, the girls are a demi-human (Raphtalia/Rem) and a blonde girl who isn't particularly bright (Filo/Shera). Additionally, much like the Three Heroes, Diablo has a tendency to approach things similar to a game he's played, though in his case, this works just as much for him as it does against him, since he's actually in the game he's played rather than a world very similar to it. Emile is also comparable to Motoyasu, though he's also a lot nicer and more willing to listen to reason- essentially, he's the kind, noble, woman-loving knight that Motoyasu THINKS he is. Basically, "Shield Hero" can be read as a darker, more serious and complex version of "How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord".

If you liked Monster add

...then you might like Death Note add

"Monster" can be read as the antithesis to "Death Note" (or vice-versa, given that the latter aired a couple of years after the former). Both are neo-noir psychological crime thrillers animated by Madhouse featuring a handsome, blond-haired, manipulative serial killer who is highly intelligent and charismatic and a rugged, black-haired man who is determined to put an end to their rampage, with the hero being notably older than the villain in both cases. However, that's where the similarities end: * Light has his motivations known from the beginning, is heavily reliant on his supernatural murder weapon, has no real reason for being a narcissistic sociopath and is completely convinced that he's the hero despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. By contrast, Johan remains an enigma for most of the series, comes up with all sorts of ways to kill and torment his victims, doesn't even try to justify his actions and his entire character arc can be summed up as "What would it take to create such a monster?" * L is an unscrupulous hero at best and a nominal hero at worst, only taking cases that personally interest him and being more than willing to make sacrifices to achieve his goals, while Dr. Tenma is an incredibly kind and heroic man who believes that all lives are equal and goes out of his way to help and save as many people as he can. * The female leads are also total opposites; Misa is, to put it bluntly, an overgrown spoiled child who's madly in love with Light and is completely on board with his agenda simply because he helped her once, while Nina is a kind, mature and responsible woman dedicated to stopping Johan at any cost, despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that he is her brother. * "Death Note" is firmly a thriller that focuses almost entirely on the mind games between L and Light, with the other characters contributing every now and then, while "Monster" is more drama-based and, while initially focusing only on Tenma and Johan, gradually expands to focus on many other characters. * Finally, "Death Note", despite being a shonen, is shockingly cynical, with Light being consistently portrayed as completely irredeemable despite his supposedly noble goals and the detectives after him, while disgusted by his actions, having no desire to make the world a better place themselves. On the other hand, "Monster", despite being a seinen, is surprisingly idealistic, with Tenma's kindness being at least as much a strength as it is a weakness and the series making a point that even the worst people have a chance at redemption if they're simply willing to take it. I prefer "Monster", as it has better plot, characters, music and voice acting, though "Death Note" has a better art style.

If you liked Tsuritama add

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

Both are fantastical slice-of-life anime that revolve around the meeting between land people and sea people (in "A Lull in the Sea", the sea people are a different type of humans while in "Tsuritama", they're aliens). They're both set primarily in rural towns beside the sea, but also have a few parts set in the city. The main casts are overall very different, though I do find Kaname and Haru to be quite alike, in that they're both the best friend of the protagonist who are generally friendly and cheerful but have a habit of saying what's on their mind when they REALLY shouldn't, though Haru at least has the excuse of being an alien. Ironically, Kaname shares his seiyu with Yuki, who is basically Haru's opposite. The main difference between them is that "Tsuritama" is a lot more lighthearted, as well as being a lot more wacky and comedic. Additionally, "A Lull in the Sea"'s main cast is gender-balanced, while "Tsuritama"'s main cast consists entirely of boys, though it's not without its female characters too. Essentially, "A Lull in the Sea" can be seen as a much smarter, more serious "Tsuritama".

If you liked Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu add

...then you might like Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari add

Both follow highly cynical and jaded protagonists who are despised by the world due to things that are out of their control (Naofumi for being the Shield Hero and Ryner for possessing Alpha Stigma). In both cases, they specialise in magic and team up with a young girl who is skilled with a sword (Raphtalia/Ferris). While Naofumi and Ryner would much rather not take part in the world's conflict, they are nevertheless forced into it by the King (Naofumi is fighting the Waves because it's his only way of returning home, while Ryner is gathering the Hero's Relics out of a favour to Sion). However, "The Rising of the Shield Hero" is better than "The Legend of the Legendary Heroes" in just about every way.

If you liked Scrapped Princess add

...then you might like Tsubasa Chronicle add

Both are science fantasy adventure anime revolving around a princess who ends up becoming the target of many people due to the mysterious powers they possess. In both cases, they find protection the form of a swordsman who is obviously in love with them (Syaoran/Leopold), a perpetually-smiling mage (Fai/Raquel) and a perpetually-frowning swordsman (Kurogane/Shannon). I prefer "Tsubasa Chronicles", as it has better music and voice acting and more character development.

If you liked Shinmai Maou no Testament add

...then you might like Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry add

Both anime follow 'failure knights' who are regarded as a disgrace by their clan for one reason or another. In both cases, they unexpectedly end up living with a big-breasted, red-haired princess with control over fire (being introduced to them in very much the same way) and eventually fall in love with them. In addition to Basara and Mio being similar to Ikki and Stella, Maria is also similar to Shizuku, in that they're both the "perverted little sister" type. Furthermore, "Chivalry of a Failed Knight" aired around the same time as the second season of "The Testament of Sister New Devil". I prefer "The Testament of Sister New Devil", as it has better music and more fleshed-out characters. In particular, Basara's past actually affects him and plays a part in moulding his character, rather than just being a background like Ikki's is.

If you liked Madlax add

...then you might like Princess Principal add

"Princess Principal" is regarded by those who have seen the "Girls with Guns" trilogy as the spiritual successor to those anime, and for good reason. Not only do they all feature badass female characters participating in shady professions, but they also have the same composer (Yuki Kajiura). Of the three, I'd say "Princess Principal" represents "Madlax" the most. Both have settings divided into two parts, with the deuteragonist (Charlotte and Margaret) being non-combatants with an upper-class background. The protagonists (Ange and Madlax) are both secret agents who are frequently deployed for missions by a mysterious contact and become the protector of the deuteragonist. In both cases, they are assisted by a bunch of other girls from various backgrounds. I also find Beatrice and Elenore to be quite similar in their kindness and devotion to Charlotte and Margaret, respectively. Both shows are also rather out of the ordinary- "Princess Principal" is steampunk while "Madlax" has various supernatural elements. While "Princess Principal" is still ongoing as of writing, I'd say that I prefer it to "Madlax", as it has better music and much better visuals.

If you liked Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo add

...then you might like ReLIFE add

Both are school life anime about a young man with no particularly outstanding skills who gets thrust into an environment of wacky people due to certain circumstances. Sorata and Arata have similar sounding names and serve as the straight man to the rest of the cast, while Mashiro and Chizuru are very smart but also socially awkward and borderline emotionless, as well as having the same seiyu (Ai Kayano). In both cases, the two main characters fall in love with each other overtime. Jin and Ryo act as an advisor to the main character but have a couple of traits that get on their nerves (Jin's a womanizer while Ryo enjoys winding Arata up), while Misaki and An are both very cheerful girls who are smarter than they look and act. Nanami and Rena are also quite similar, in that they're both popular and independent girls who face similar challenges over the story, though Nanami is undeniably nicer and more well-adjusted than Rena is. Even Ryunosuke and Kazuomi are similar- they're both voiced by Blake Shepard, are very intelligent and are often blunt and insensitive towards others, though Kazuomi is often unaware he's been rude, while Ryunosuke knows full well he's being rude but just doesn't care. Both shows also deal with similar themes, the most obvious being that life doesn't always go the way you want it to, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't keep trying and hoping for the best. The main difference between them is that "Sakurasou" is more lighthearted than "ReLife", while also being more grounded in reality. Both are well worth watching, though I prefer "Sakurasou" overall.

If you liked Higashi no Eden add

...then you might like Mirai Nikki (TV) add

Both are sci-fi anime with the same premise of 12 people with supernatural phones that help achieve their goals- in "Mirai Nikki", the 12 people are competing to become God, while in "Eden of the East", they're using money stored on the phone to benefit Japan and fulfill their roles as saviours. In both cases, they have a mysterious being whom they can contact and ask for advice from (Deus Ex Machina and Juiz). The main difference is that "Eden of the East"'s characters are older and have very different personalities. Essentially, "Mirai Nikki" can be seen as "Eden of the East"'s much more intelligent brother, being better in pretty much every way.

If you liked NHK ni Youkoso! add

...then you might like ReLIFE add

Both shows follow adult protagonists who have hit rock bottom and live alone in an apartment with little to support themselves. In both cases, they meet a mysterious person who is doing a program to help people readjust to society, and after thinking it over, they agree to take on the program. They also end up meeting a black-haired girl who seems to have it together by the protagonist's standards, but is soon to be revealed to have some serious issues of her own. The twist is that in "Welcome to the NHK", the person doing the program and the girl are the same person, while in "ReLife", they're different people. Personally, I think "Welcome to the NHK" is better, though both are well worth watching, especially if you enjoy mature slice-of-life anime.

If you liked Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo add

...then you might like Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka add

They have the same animation studio, and follow a young boy (Sorata/Bell) who ends up falling in love with a blonde, highly talented girl who doesn't show much emotion but is very kind-hearted (Mashiro/Aiz), and want nothing more than to stand alongside them, but often feel like their inferior. Both shows also have a number of the same voice actors (Sorata and Bell are voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Misaki and Hestia are voiced by Luci Christian, Jin and Ares are voiced by Scott Gibbs, Nanami and Loki are voiced by Christina Kelly etc.) The main difference between them, of course, is that "Sakurasou" is a slice-of-life show while "Danmachi" is a fantasy action series. I prefer "Sakurasou" as it has a deeper story, more developed characters and better music.

If you liked Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! add

...then you might like Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! add

Both are comedies which follow a brown-haired teenager who just wants to be a normal person instead of a great hero (Yuuta was a chunibyou in his past but now wants to be a normal guy, while Kazuma initially wants to be a hero but overtime is more concerned about just living his life). In both cases, they meet a young girl who wears an eyepatch and is a chunibyou who claims to wield dark magic (though Megumin is being serious when she says that) and keep getting dragged into one crazy situation after another in spite of themselves. In general, a lot of the characters can be compared: Yuuta=Kazuma Rikka=Megumin Kumin=Wiz Satone=Yunyun Nibutani=Aqua Dekomori=Darkness Isshiki=Kyoya Both shows have two seasons and a movie (though a third season of "Konosuba" has been confirmed), with the movie being the best part of both shows. They also can both be cringeworthy at times, but surprisingly wholesome when you look past that. I prefer "Love, Chunibyou & Other Delusions", as it has a much better story, better visuals and more likable characters, though "Konosuba" has better sound design.

If you liked Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica add

...then you might like Princess Principal add

Both are dark, complex anime with strong female characters, revolving around a group of 5 girls, and have the same composer (Yuki Kajiura). Additionally, pretty much all of the main characters can be compared to each other: Madoka====>Beatrice- Kindest members of the group who act as the emotional centre, disapprove of the more shady actions of the others and have similar hairstyles. Homura====>Ange- Very stoic and serious girls who care more about protecting the one they love than they do about the bigger picture. Sayaka====>Chise- Japanese, wield swords, very stubborn and cause the most conflict in the group. Kyoko====>Dorothy- Ruthless, slow to trust, prone to grinning menacingly, and have a very tragic past involving their father in some way. Mami====>Charlotte- Blonde, refined and generally very nice but also have their creepy moments. Both are well worth watching, though I think "Madoka Magica" is slightly better.

If you liked Higashi no Eden add

...then you might like Zankyou no Terror add

Both are conspiracy thriller anime centred around terrorism in Japan, revolving around people who are designated by numbers. Though ironically enough, despite being designated as No. 9, Takizawa acts a lot more like Twelve, with many of Nine's traits being present in Hirasawa instead. I also find Saki and Lisa to be quite similar, in that they're both ordinary girls who get pulled into the plot against their wills and develop a close relationship with Takizawa and Twelve, respectively. I do, however, find Saki a lot easier to put up with than Lisa, in that she's actually helpful and doesn't spend the whole series letting people walk all over her. Both shows also have a blue-haired woman who is clearly a bit unstable, despite their good publicity and respectable jobs. I prefer "Terror in Resonance" overall, as it has better plot, visuals and music, though "Eden of the East" edges it out in the character department.

If you liked Death Note add

...then you might like Charlotte add

For anyone who's seen "Death Note" and ever found themselves asking the question "What if Light Yagami was forced to use his powers for good?", "Charlotte" is here to provide that answer. The two anime start very much the same way, with a cynical teenager discovering a supernatural power (or rather weapon, if you want to be specific in "Death Note"'s case) and start using it for their own selfish gain. However, they end up going in completely different directions- while Light remains anonymous and quickly becomes the villain in his own story, Yuu is ousted early on and is forced to use his power for others instead of himself, becoming a lot more likable and heroic in the process. Additionally, even at his worst, it's clear that Yuu cares a lot about his sister Ayumi, while Light cares about his sister Sayu about as much as he does anyone else... which to say, not at all. I prefer "Charlotte", as it has better characters and is more enjoyable, though "Death Note" has a better story.

If you liked Amagi Brilliant Park add

...then you might like Charlotte add

Honestly, this recommendation is worth making for the show's protagonists alone. Not only do Yuu and Seiya look pretty much identical, and have the same seiyu, but they're both very intelligent yet egotistical teenagers who end up getting strong-armed by a girl into helping a group of people, and they ultimately yet reluctantly accept, though overtime they grow to genuinely care about the people they're trying to help. Nao and Isuzu also have somewhat similar appearances, though personality-wise, they're very different. While "Charlotte" doesn't have any particular advantages over "Amagi", I will say that I preferred it overall, though both are at least watchable.

If you liked Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu add

...then you might like Charlotte add

Both are anime focusing on teenagers who are members of a group investigating supernatural phenomenon. They both have a lot of the same elements like science-fiction, comedy, slice-of-life and conspiracy, as well as several characters with similar personalities: Kyon====>Yuu- Cynical, sarcastic, and have a younger sister who annoys them but whom they love regardless. Haruhi====>Nao- Bossy leaders of the group who aren't above using blackmail to achieve their goals. Itsuki====>Joujiro- The other guy in the group, who are generally friendlier and more cheerful than the main character but get on their nerves for one reason or another. Mikuru====>Yusa- Cheerful, orange-haired girls who have an unexpected side to them. However, the only thing "Charlotte" matches "Haruhi Suzumiya" in is visuals, as it is worse in just about every other regard.

If you liked Juuni Kokuki add

...then you might like Kyou kara Maou! add

Both are early-2000s anime about a teenager who is suddenly pulled into a fantasy world to be the new ruler of a kingdom, something that had been chosen for them before they were born. In both cases, they are brought there via a portal opening in a body of water, and meet various people who help them grow into their new role as they gradually learn more and more about the world. Amusingly, Dorothy Elias-Fahn, Youko's English voice actor in "The Twelve Kingdoms", voices Yuri's mother Miko in "Kyo Kara Maoh!". I prefer "Kyo Kara Maoh!", as it has better voice acting and music and is just a lot more fun while also managing to tell a good story.

If you liked Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo add

...then you might like No Game No Life add

The genres and stories are very different, but both shows have more in common than they seem. Both have two main characters with very similar sounding names, with Sora and Shiro being shortened versions of Sorata and Mashiro. They both star a young girl who is exceptionally skilled in a certain field (for Mashiro, it's art, for Shiro, it's video games) but ultimately are very dependent and can't do much on their own (Mashiro needs help with the most basic of things, while Shiro has a panic attack when separated from Sora). They also have the same voice actress in both languages (Ai Kayano and Caitlynn French). The male leads, Sorata and Sora, are normal in comparison to the female lead (though Sorata more so than Sora) and working to keep up with Mashiro/Shiro is a driving motivation for both of them. They also suffer from an inferiority complex, though Sora is better at hiding it. Personality-wise, they're very different, with Sora being a lot hammier, more vulgar and perverted than Sorata, though they are both voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka in Japanese, and while Sora's English voice actor, Scott Gibbs, doesn't voice Sorata, he's still present in the series as Jin (who funnily enough, has a fair bit in common with Sora himself). I think "The Pet Girl of Sakurasou" is better in pretty much every way, but that's just me, and I did overall enjoy both.