Anime Like No Money

Chisato Takatsukasa is a 35-year-old writer who looks young enough to pass for someone in his early twenties. He draws inspiration from his idol, the bestselling mystery novelist Saki Shunka, whose own personality is just as puzzling as the stories she crafts. Additionally, Chisato is the fiercely overprotective father of his 15-year-old son, Riju. He believes that every "friend" his son brings home is a predator just waiting for a chance to corrupt his beloved child. Consequently, he will go to any lengths to prevent those visits from happening again, using the most drastic measures possible. However, no man earns more of his hatred than Riju's stubborn best friend Shunsuke Sakaki, who never seems to leave no matter what Chisato attempts. Yet the true intentions of these characters remain hidden just beneath the surface. What is the real reason Chisato distrusts Riju's companions, and what does Shunsuke actually know about the enigmatic author that his friend's father admires so deeply?

Renowned actor Kyousuke Munakata projects a charming playboy image to the public, concealing a taboo secret: he is engaged in a sexual relationship with his teenage son, Mira. Mira is deeply in love with his father, but the strain of keeping their romance hidden while navigating his first year of high school and enduring Kyousuke’s sexual demands pushes him to his breaking point. As stress mounts and paparazzi circulate rumors of Kyousuke’s upcoming marriage, Mira must weigh whether this forbidden affair is worth sacrificing his mental well-being.

Yuuzou Kokusai, the student council president, appears to be a typical high schooler, but he possesses an unusual magnetic pull that draws in men who cannot resist making inappropriate physical contact. When Kokusai requires a new vice president, he chooses his dependable friend, Yasuhiro Chiga. After seeing Kokusai get groped on a train, Chiga decides to take on the role of his personal bodyguard. However, as the two spend more time together, Chiga discovers that he is not immune to Kokusai’s allure either.

Yashiro commands the Shinsekai yakuza group with ruthless efficiency, yet he is also a brazen sexual deviant and masochist. After being wounded by the only person he ever loved, he restricts himself to purely physical relationships. When his superior assigns Chikara Doumeki, a recently freed prisoner, as his new bodyguard, Yashiro is dismayed by the stoic and observant but clumsy and impotent Doumeki. Although Yashiro forbids fraternizing with subordinates, he feels an inexplicable pull toward Doumeki, who consistently rejects his advances. While Doumeki finds Yashiro beautiful and desires to remain by his side, he is certain he cannot satisfy his boss. As their bond deepens, their complicated histories surface, raising the question of whether their pasts will hinder their budding romance.

In the society of Amoi, social hierarchy is determined by hair color, with the AI supercomputer Jupiter and its council of elite blondes, the Blondies, ruling from the capital city of Tanagura. Meanwhile, those with darker hair, known as mongrels, are confined to the golden pleasure city of Midas and its impoverished slum, Ceres. Three years prior, Riki, formerly the respected leader of the Bison gang, vanished from Ceres after a fateful encounter with Iason Mink, an elite Blondie. This meeting compelled Riki to abandon his former life, as he was taken to Tanagura and reduced to Iason’s pet. For the past three years, Riki has endured severe humiliation and suffering in a place that feels like torture. Now that he has returned, the Bison gang reunites under his command. However, Riki faces unprecedented danger, as there are always individuals willing to betray him to gain favor or advantage.

Set in the future on the planet Amoi, which is ruled by the supercomputer Jupiter, the narrative unfolds in a society where the light-haired elite class may temporarily keep dark-haired "mongrels" as pets among a predominantly male population. Iason, a member of this elite, discovers a mongrel named Riki in the slums and brings him home. However, Iason retains Riki far longer than social norms permit, leading to widespread rumors concerning the nature of their bond.

In a world torn apart by conflict, a master-servant bond is forged between Taki Reizen, a commander of breathtaking beauty who bears the weight of his nation’s destiny, and Klaus, a knight known as the Mad Dog for his fierce temperament. Although Klaus has sworn absolute loyalty to Taki, their relationship is met with coldness and disapproval from those around them. Amidst such hostility and the brutality of war, their genuine affection is twisted by cruelty, raising the question of what fate awaits their love.

Lee Myeongyi has endured pneumothorax, a collapsed lung, for his entire life. He resents the attention his condition garners at school, stemming from his loud hyperventilation episodes, prolonged coughing fits, and exemptions from physical education and military service. Whether facing curiosity or hostility from his peers, Myeongyi feels like a total outcast. In contrast, class president Han Seonho frequently offers Myeongyi kindness and understanding. Seonho’s gentle demeanor and handsome appearance become the object of Myeongyi’s first romantic infatuation. Nine years later, Myeongyi returns to his high school reunion solely to see Han Seonho again. He clings to a faint hope regarding Seonho’s feelings for him, but this optimism is swiftly crushed when he notices a gold ring on Seonho’s left hand and hears probing questions from their classmates. Ignoring his lung condition, Myeongyi excuses himself to smoke outside, where Seonho unexpectedly follows. This encounter marks the start of their secret romance.

A typical high school boy named Norio finds himself the sudden target of unwelcome romantic advances. After a tumble down a staircase lands him in the arms of a mysterious handsome stranger, the truth begins to unravel—a truth Norio could never have anticipated. He is thrust into a hidden world where a secret society exists: people who evolved not from monkeys, but from other animals. Norio himself is an especially rare breed, making his DNA highly sought after. Now a target, he must struggle to survive in this modern-day jungle. The story follows a high school boy who learns he belongs to a special group of humans descended from creatures like leopards and black bears, rather than primates.

Kyousuke Iwaki and Youji Katou are the adorable and attractive leads of Haru wo Daiteita, both working in the film industry after starring in adult videos and striving to climb the ladder of success to become better actors. Iwaki lands a role in a popular movie, beating out Katou during auditions. As they spend time together, Katou believes he has fallen in love with Iwaki-san, but Iwaki refuses to accept that he is in love. Later, another gay actor returns to Japan and co-stars with Katou, causing problems to surface. It is from that point onward that the two finally realize where their hearts truly lie.

Takaba Akihito, a twenty-three-year-old freelance photographer, is driven by professional pride and the ambition to capture a major scoop. His life changes drastically after he photographs the criminal activities of crime lord Asami Ryuichi. In retaliation, Asami kidnaps and assaults Akihito, initiating a twisted, sadomasochistic dynamic between them as they become inexplicably drawn to each other. Meanwhile, Fei Long, a rival Chinese boss who holds Asami responsible for his father's death, takes notice of Akihito, seeing him as a potential tool for revenge.

Unlike the other members of the Choshu Clan, Touma Kusaka does not share their anti-foreigner sentiment. After reuniting with Keiichirou Akizuki—a vassal of the Tokugawa family who once helped him escape from government authorities—the two begin secretly studying English together. As they continue to meet behind the backs of their feuding families, a romance starts to develop between them. However, with war between their respective clans on the horizon, Kusaka and Akizuki's hope for a world where they can be together may never come to pass if their obligations and bloodlines stand in the way.

Renai Ruby no Tadashii Furikata · Extra Suzuki Hiromu and Natsuo Washizawa decide to cohabit, but Natsuo's overbearing sister insists on meeting his boyfriend beforehand. Concerned for her brother, she simply wants to verify that Suzuki is a suitable partner. Kuroneko Kareshi no Mittsu no Himitsu Shingo possesses the power to transform into a black cat. Keiichi Kagami, a fellow werecat, chooses to fondle him purely for his own entertainment. Sange no Negai Genma Yashiro brings Himi to a remote mountain canyon to admire a cherry blossom tree. Kurose-kun to Shirotani-san to Android? Tadaomi Shirotani suffers from a severe aversion to physical contact with other humans and questions whether he can ever overcome his obsessive-compulsive disorder to live a more relaxed life. Wanting to experience Shirotani’s touch, Riku Kurose fabricates a story about being an android, leaving Shirotani uncertain if he is telling the truth. Himitsu Tape While spying on celebrities with binoculars in search of gossip, Satoshi Onoe becomes aroused by an indecent sight. Observing his dilemma, Motoharu Kaburagi seizes the opportunity to assist Satoshi. Seitokaichoutachi no Nichijou Yasuhiro Chiga feels jealous seeing his boyfriend, Yuuzou Kokusai, spending time with his senior. However, Yuuzou is only interested in Yasuhiro, and when he invites him to a movie date, Yasuhiro becomes flustered.

After finishing his late-night shift at a gas station, Takuto Izumi discovers a young man lying unconscious on the roadside, clearly intoxicated. Feeling obligated, he brings the man to his apartment to recover, only to be astonished the next morning to learn that the person he helped is the wildly famous musician and model Kouji Nanjou. Takuto hopes to cut ties immediately so he can concentrate on becoming the top player in high school soccer, but something in Takuto's gaze makes Kouji determined to stay involved. Once Kouji finds out that Takuto's mother murdered his father and Takuto was the only witness, his curiosity turns into an even stronger fixation. As their lives keep intersecting, Kouji's feelings evolve from mere admiration into a perilous obsession.

Atsushi Nagai goes to a bar to drown his sorrows after his best friend and longtime crush Toshihisa Saitou marries a woman. There, he strikes up an acquaintance with Kenzou Honda, a friend of the bride, and the two share an odd night together. The next morning, Nagai is stunned to find out that Saitou's bride fled on her wedding night with her secret lover. Caught between wanting to comfort the man he has loved for so long and his emerging feelings for the stranger he just met, Nagai wrestles with his confused desires.

A youthful kendo prodigy, Ranmaru Samejima, catches the eye of Kei Enjoji, the illegitimate son of a yakuza boss. Determined to build a connection with Ranmaru, Kei fosters a friendship grounded in trust and self-sacrifice, which gradually deepens into love. After Ranmaru saves Kei from a yakuza hit-and-run attack, he is forced to abandon kendo forever, leaving the two with nothing but their faith in each other. Swearing to stand by one another far from the yakuza underworld, they begin living together as a couple. Yet when a mysterious figure from their past reappears in search of Ranmaru, they are pulled back into the world they struggled to escape—and their love may not prove strong enough to withstand it.

As the relationship between rockstar Kouji Nanjou and high school soccer star Takuto Izumi deepens, Kouji's obsession intensifies. A misunderstanding shakes Kouji to the point of causing a motorcycle accident, leaving Takuto to determine the future course of their bond. Kouji's condition reopens old wounds in Takuto, forcing him to question the right path when both of their once bright futures now hang in uncertainty.

The Fujimi Orchestra is overjoyed when they succeed in bringing the brilliant Kei Tonoin on board as a conductor. However, his demanding approach and exacting standards cause friction with some members, especially the concertmaster Yuuki Morimura. With each rehearsal intensifying the discord, the group appears on the verge of breaking apart. Yet beneath these opposing attitudes lie emotions that cannot be resolved as simply as a typical disagreement between musicians.

On his first day of junior high, Kei Enjoji experienced love at first sight. His heart was instantly captured by the dazzling Ranmaru Samejima, a young kendo prodigy, and over time the two formed a deep romantic bond. Now as adults living together happily as a couple, things appear to be going smoothly for Ranmaru and Kei. One morning, host Kei returns home after a night of drinking with a client. Though this happens often, Ranmaru is initially unbothered by Kei's drunken state—until he notices three extremely suspicious details: Kei's clothes smell of makeup, his chest has lipstick stains, and he's carrying matches branded with a love hotel's name. To make matters worse, a woman calls the apartment asking for "Kei-chan," and at that point Ranmaru loses his temper. Hurt by Kei's unfaithful behavior, Ranmaru storms out. He spends the day reflecting on years of precious memories, deciding to leave them behind for good—and when a woman "picks him up" on the street, he comes to terms with reality. If this is what society wants, and if Kei has truly fallen for a woman, then who is he to stand in their way?

Summary of the Fuyu no Semi OVA with revised animation and some extra scenes.

Clutching his Gibson guitar tightly, Mafuyu Satou leaves his dim apartment to start another day of high school. While dozing off on a quiet stairwell in the gymnasium, he stumbles into fellow student Ritsuka Uenoyama, who scolds him for letting his guitar strings rust and snap. Seeing Uenoyama's familiarity with the instrument, Satou begs him to repair it and teach him to play. Uenoyama eventually consents and asks him to join a jam session with his two bandmates: bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji. Satou's voice is stunningly beautiful, driving Uenoyama to make him the band's lead singer. Though hesitant at first, Satou accepts after an emotional encounter with an old friend. With his new companions' support, Satou must learn to play guitar and also confront the mysterious circumstances that made him its owner.

High school student Misaki Takahashi comes home to find his older brother being caressed by a stranger. Shocked by this scene, Misaki learns the man is Akihiko Usami, a famous novelist and his brother's closest friend. As the two grow closer, Akihiko becomes Misaki's private tutor. But after Misaki discovers the author's latest boys-love novel, he starts to doubt Akihiko's intentions regarding his friendship with the student's brother. Meanwhile, Hiroki Kamijou, a university professor of classical literature and Akihiko's friend, mourns a failed relationship. On the verge of a mental collapse, he meets student Nowaki Kusama, who seeks his help for an upcoming exam. Despite repeatedly turning Nowaki down, Hiroki eventually agrees to assist. As they grow closer, more truths about the student come to light. Furthermore, wealthy teenager Shinobu Takatsuki learns that his older sister has divorced Hiroki's coworker You Miyagi. He immediately wants to date the same man—who saved Shinobu from a robbery three years prior. However, You does not reciprocate and tries to drive him away. But the educator soon realizes that Shinobu will stop at nothing for their fated romance. Junjou Romantica gathers three love stories, chronicling each couple's romance.

The band "given"—made up of Ritsuka Uenoyama, Mafuyu Satou, Haruki Nakayama, and Akihiko Kaji—has made it to the final round of the Countdown-fes Amateur Contest, where their live performance will be the deciding factor. Despite their excitement, they are concerned about having just one original piece to play. Mafuyu is eager to deepen his understanding of music so he can craft new songs with emotional depth. In this effort, he gets surprising assistance from Ugetsu Murata, Akihiko's on-and-off partner. Ugetsu has been struggling to move on from Akihiko, who is caught between lingering feelings for his past and an uncertain commitment to the future. As the contest approaches, Haruki starts to question his role in the band and the bond he has with Akihiko, which is unusual for him. It is a given that not all connections last forever, but what can be salvaged from the wreckage of a broken heart—or if only regret will remain—is still unclear.

The second part of Junjou Romantica continuing the story.