Anime Like Aquarion

By the beginning of the 21st century, magic—once dismissed as myth and legend—has been transformed into a structured technology and taught as a technical discipline. At First High School, an institution for magicians, students are divided into two groups based on their entrance exam scores: "Blooms" are those who earn high marks and are placed in the First Course, while "Weeds" are reserve students assigned to the Second Course. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei follows the siblings Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba, who enroll at First High School. After taking the exam, the gifted Miyuki is placed in the First Course, whereas Tatsuya ends up in the Second Course. Despite his low practical test scores and his status as a "Weed" suggesting magical incompetence, Tatsuya possesses remarkable technical knowledge, strong physical combat skills, and unique magical abilities—making him the irregular at a magical high school.

Thirty years ago, a massive "spatial quake," a phenomenon involving space vibrations of unknown origin, devastated the Eurasian continent and claimed over 150 million lives. Since then, these quakes have continued to occur worldwide, though on a smaller scale. Shidou Itsuka is an ordinary high school student living with his younger sister, Kotori. When an impending spatial quake threatens Tengu City, he rushes to save her but gets caught in the eruption. At the quake's epicenter, he finds a mysterious girl who is identified as a "Spirit," a supernatural being whose appearance triggers such quakes. Soon, he is caught in a battle between the girl and the Anti-Spirit Team, a ruthless task force dedicated to eliminating Spirits. Yet there is a third group that believes in saving the Spirits: "Ratatoskr," which, surprisingly, is commanded by Shidou's little sister! After the clash, Kotori forcibly enlists Shidou and offers him an alternative approach to handling the danger Spirits pose—make them fall in love with him. Now, the world's fate depends on his dating skills as he sets out to charm the Spirits.

Spirits are otherworldly entities of immense power whose appearances cause devastating spatial quakes. While certain factions seek their annihilation, others prefer to capture their affections and neutralize their powers. Having already sealed three Spirits, Shidou Itsuka continues his work with Ratatoskr, seeking out new targets and romancing them to safeguard the world. However, this time around, the pair confronts a growing menace that extends beyond the Spirits themselves, as a far more dangerous force begins to observe their activities.

Willem Kmetsch risks everything, leaving his loved ones behind to fight a mysterious monster. Though he emerges victorious, he ends up frozen in ice. During his long slumber, terrifying creatures called "Beasts" appear on Earth, threatening humanity's existence. When Willem awakens 500 years later, he discovers he is the last surviving human—his entire race has been wiped out. Alongside the other remaining races, Willem seeks refuge on floating islands in the sky, living in constant fear of the Beasts below. He leads a solitary life, taking odd jobs just to get by. One day, he is assigned to serve as a caretaker for a weapon storehouse. Thinking nothing of it, Willem accepts—only to realize these weapons are actually a group of young Leprechauns. Though they look just like humans, they have no regard for their own lives, seeing themselves as mere tools of war. Among them is Chtholly Nota Seniorious, who is ready to sacrifice herself if it means defeating the Beasts and achieving peace. Willem becomes a father figure to the young Leprechauns, watching over them fondly and supporting them however he can. He, who once fought bravely on the front lines, can now only hope that those sent into battle return safely from the monsters that destroyed his kind.

Shidou Itsuka keeps carrying out his duty for Ratatoskr, finding Spirits and sealing their abilities while strengthening the connections he's built with the ones he's already sealed. When new Spirits appear, he has to tackle more difficult problems to stop additional catastrophes, and along the way, he discovers more about where the Spirits truly come from.

After the Scorched Halloween incident, the world learns of a Strategic-class magician with extraordinary power. To track down this individual, the United States of the North American Continent sends its elite magician unit, Stars, led by commander Angie Sirius, on a secret mission to Japan. At First High School, Tatsuya Shiba and his friends hold a farewell party for Shizuku Kitayama, who is leaving for an exchange program in the USNA. Her replacement is the striking Angelina Kudou Shields, also known as Lina. Around this time, Tatsuya discovers that the USNA is trying to uncover his true identity. Meanwhile, in Tokyo, a series of bodies drained of blood are found, blamed on a vampire. Tatsuya quickly connects the clues and concludes that these attacks are unlikely to be coincidental.

Shidou Itsuka’s mission with Ratatoskr continues despite the many obstacles he has already surmounted. His routine is disrupted when he finds and aids a starving woman on the street, who then leads him to her apartment. There, she reveals her true identity as Nia Honjou, a well-known manga artist writing under a pseudonym, and discloses that she is a Spirit who knows the details of his secret work. Eager to test his charm, Nia dares Shidou to take her on a date. While attempting to seal her powers, Shidou uncovers more about Nia and her past connection to Deus Ex Machina Industries, an organization he knows all too well.

As the comforting warmth of daylight fades, ethereally beautiful beings become the unchallenged rulers of the night, striking terror into all living things. Water freezes solid at the approach of these blood-drinking monsters, and their victims recognize that this eerie cold signals their unavoidable end. Fortunately, the vampire population is shrinking, thanks to the fearless bounty hunters who pursue and destroy these nearly immortal predators. One night, tragedy strikes the Elbourne family when their daughter Charlotte is taken by Meier Link, a highly respected vampire lord protected by a horde of monsters. To rescue their beloved Charlotte, the family enlists the Marcus Brothers, a ruthless crew of vampire hunters, and D, a sword-wielding dhampir—a half-vampire, half-human possessing the strengths of both kinds and the weaknesses of neither. The hunters rush to save Charlotte, but if her captor decides to make her a vampire, they must kill her. Furthermore, their mission must succeed before Meier reaches the impenetrable vampire castle of Carmilla and takes Charlotte beyond humanity's grasp forever.

War (Date) resumes. Itsuka Shidou's peaceful days had returned, no longer requiring him to save the Spirits from endless battles. However, this tranquility is shattered by the sudden appearance of a mysterious sphere emitting spiritual waves—alongside a strange girl who reveals herself at the same time. What is her purpose in watching Shidou...? Under these tense circumstances, the mission entrusted to Shidou is: "Date all of the Spirits and make them fall in love?!" ——With humanity's fate hanging in the balance, the war (date) resumes!

The anti-magic movement is picking up dangerous speed, pushed forward by rival interest groups. After receiving a warning from the Yotsuba family, Tatsuya Shiba takes steps to thwart the schemes of corrupt politicians and dishonest journalists. He manages to stop the first assault, which had set up First High School as an unofficial site for military training, but his toughest opponents have yet to make their move. To maintain his tranquil life alongside his sister Miyuki, Tatsuya must prove once again that nobody in the world can outmaneuver him.

Shidou Itsuka faces an even greater threat than before due to his ongoing work with Ratatoskr. Having already sealed 10 Spirits, Isaac Westcott, the head of Deus Ex Machina Industries, has resolved to kill Shidou and seize the Spirits' powers for himself. To make this happen, Isaac declares total war on Ratatoskr, forcing the organization to stretch its resources thin to keep Shidou alive. Greatly outnumbered and outmatched, a faint hope emerges in the form of the Spirit of Time, Kurumi Tokisaki. Shidou must seal and gain Kurumi's power to travel back in time and face the Spirit of Origin—the one who started everything.

A dozen millennia after the events of Genesis Aquarion, humanity dwells on the star Vega, constantly threatened by trans-dimensional raiders called Abductors. These enemies come from Altair, Vega’s sister star, and attack Vega to steal human lives. In response, the organization Neo-DEAVA was created to fight the Abductors. Its pilots use advanced mecha suits known as Aquaria, which are strictly divided by gender. Boys and girls are prohibited from interacting and are even kept from fighting on the same battlefield. But when an advanced Abductor mecha suit appears, everything changes. Two teenagers, Mikono and Amata, are swept into the conflict. Without realizing it, Amata commits a taboo by summoning an Aquaria and initiating the Forbidden Union between male and female Aquaria. Neo-DEAVA is horrified, and the consequences of Amata’s actions extend far beyond what he understands. How was he able to summon an Aquaria? Where did he learn to perform the Forbidden Union? And why could Mikono also pilot that mecha?

In a futuristic age, an entity called "The World" maintains peace across the globe. Its actual location remains hidden, but it has watched over Earth for so long that warfare has become nothing more than a legend. The airship Norn is assigned to carry nine individuals who possess special abilities to The World. Once the last passenger is gathered, Norn lifts off. Aboard are eight men and three women: Koharu, who has finally freed herself from loneliness and despises her own ruinous power; Mikoto Kuga, born into a noble household, who employs her barrier ability to shield the Norn and everyone on it; and Nanami Shiranui, whose talent only brings her agony, and who wishes to die to atone for a past transgression. During the voyage, doubt spreads among the passengers when they notice there are more people on the ship than there should be. As they attempt to uncover who has secretly boarded, the vessel is assaulted by an unknown enemy determined to stop the Norn's journey at any price. From this upheaval emerge questions: for what reason were they bestowed these powers, and what is their purpose once they arrive at The World?

Two decades before the events of the story, an asteroid on a collision course with Earth destroys Pluto. The destruction halts the asteroid, named Thanatos, and it becomes stationary for a time. To prevent Earth's impending annihilation, the International Solarsystem Development Agency (ISDA) undertakes the "D-Project," discovering a dragon egg beneath the ocean and creating the "Dragonaut." This weapon is intended to destroy the asteroid when it resumes its approach. However, the ISDA soon realizes that the asteroid is not the only danger, as destructive dragon-like creatures begin appearing on Earth. Jin Kamishina, an 18-year-old boy who lost his family in a shuttle accident two years prior, witnesses one of these creatures kill someone. He becomes entangled in the mysteries surrounding the dragons and is chosen as the Dragonaut's pilot. A mysterious girl named Toa saves him from falling to his death after the creature attacks him, and she helps him on his journey. As they delve deeper into the secrets of the dragons, they encounter both new allies and adversaries, and their bond grows stronger.

Three centuries prior, a flawed genetic experiment triggered the mutation of all Earth’s forests. The sentient vegetation turned against humanity, waging a war that transformed the world into a dystopian wasteland. In the present, Agito resides with his father in Neutral City, a settlement existing in a fragile truce with the adjacent woods. While gathering water, Agito loses contact with his companion and discovers a relic from the past: a girl slumbering within an enigmatic machine. After waking Toola Cm Sacl, he brings her to the village, but external powers covet her as the key to restoring the planet. Led astray by Shunack, a soldier from the old era obsessed with annihilating the forest, Toola departs with him, ignoring Agito’s pleas. Resolute in saving Toola and reconciling humans with nature, Agito harnesses the forest’s power to chase after her.

This anthology consists of seven distinct and original short stories, ranging in mood from heartfelt to utterly strange. Each piece differs from the one before, featuring monsters attending school, a man struggling to come to terms with himself, and a child learning the harsh truth about the cycle of life, along with many other unique characters and experiences. Taking viewers on a journey through the imaginations of Japan's most renowned artists, this compilation truly captures the spirit of a Genius Party.

Living in poverty, detective Kurou Daijuuji is approached by Ruri Hado of the Hado Financial Group to find a specific magical tome. Although he initially declines, the promise of a substantial financial reward convinces him to take the job. During his search, Kurou encounters Al, a beautiful young woman who is secretly a potent grimoire. The two form a pact, granting Kurou access to formidable magical abilities. Shortly after, Al awakens Demonbane, a massive deus ex machina belonging to the Hado Financial Group, to fight against the mechanical forces of the Black Lodge. This confrontation marks the beginning of the conflict between the Hado Financial Group and the Black Lodge.

For more than five centuries, mysterious white-haired children, forever appearing as eleven-year-olds, have been sighted across Europe. Displaying maturity beyond their years and aging never, they possess supernatural abilities. Their eternal quest is for a specific girl, guided only by a clue featuring a crescent moon. In 2012, an athletic boy named Tohma becomes entangled in this long-standing mystery.

An anime movie adapting the Yotsuba Succession Arc.

For thousands of years after its creation, humanity employed the written word to communicate across people and generations. As centuries passed and technology advanced, writing—and therefore communication itself—declined until it existed only on cell phones and computer screens. Seizing the opportunity, the sorcerer Sogan Kenzaki begins infecting words with the Nesta Virus, which brings them to life and transforms them into monsters called MJBK (Menace of Japanese with Biological Kinetic energy). To combat this threat to humanity, an organization called DEAVA (Division of EArth Verbalism Ability) assembles a group of young people who possess the ability of "Verbalism." These individuals must pilot the vector machines, which combine to form the mecha known as "Aquarions." The unpredictable factor in this situation is the self-proclaimed "savior," a young man who is the direct descendant of a famous calligrapher, named Akira Kaibuki.

In the year 2023, extraterrestrial entities called Lucifer Hawks launch an invasion of Earth from a parallel dimension. The sole barrier against their subjugation of humanity is the Attacked Mystification Police Department, an elite Tokyo Police unit composed of female officers possessing extraordinary supernatural powers.

In 2017, a team of brilliant scientists achieves a major breakthrough in bioengineering. However, all the new technologies are redirected for military purposes, sparking a fresh round of arms race. Vanguards—the most significant product of modern bioengineering and the ultimate weapon—become widely deployed in this competition. Although vanguards are exceptionally effective in combat, the nanomachines they rely on shorten their lifespans. Typically, most vanguards retire from military service after several years of active duty. The heroine Liuli has also exhausted too much of her lifespan after carrying out missions over a long period. With only 380 days left to live, Liuli receives a new assignment: to rescue a hostage held inside a civilian facility. This is undoubtedly a difficult task for a vanguard like Liuli, who knows only how to kill and fight. Nevertheless, Liuli obediently decides to accept the mission in the end. During the operation, Liuli is surprised to discover that the man holding the hostage was once a vanguard. The former vanguard, Zhongrong Zhou, tearfully demands that the government hand over the Son of Eden. As a vanguard, Liuli feels deep contempt for Zhou. To eliminate this disgrace among vanguards, a battle between two vanguards begins.

Five supernatural factions have been locked in conflict for countless centuries, always keeping the arrival of the Aquarian Age in mind. Kyouta begins having visions of mystical girls battling, and soon discovers they are real. He and his girlfriend Yoriko are drawn into the struggle, and the fate of Earth and the Aquarian Age rests in their hands.

The Magic User's Club consists of five well-intentioned oddballs who can wield actual magic, not just perform parlor tricks. Using that magic, they successfully took down a massive ship from outer space. However, their encounter left an enormous cherry blossom tree planted in the middle of the city, so large that it blocks out the sun entirely. Takeo Takakura, the club's well-meaning yet perverted president, summons an emergency Sunday meeting to deal with the tree. The task seems straightforward, but with magic in play, nothing ever goes as planned. To make matters worse, a ghostly figure lurks among the branches, observing their every move. Who is this silent specter, and what does he want?