Anime Like Gatchaman Crowds: Embrace

Simon and Kamina grow up in a deep subterranean village, hidden from the legendary surface world. Kamina is a wild, impulsive rebel determined to carve out his own legend, while Simon is a shy boy without any real dreams. While digging through the earth one day, Simon uncovers a strange object that proves to be the activation key for an ancient war machine, which the two name Lagann. With their newfound weapon, Simon and Kamina repel a sudden assault from the surface, aided by Yoko Littner—a fierce redhead with a large gun who roams the world above. After the fight, the sky becomes visible for the first time, inspiring Simon and Kamina to embark on a journey with Yoko across the barren surface. They soon join the struggle against the "Beastmen," humanoid monsters that torment what remains of humanity using powerful mecha called "Gunmen." Despite encountering difficulties and losses, the trio courageously battles these foes alongside other survivors to take back the surface, gradually uncovering a mystery that spans the entire galaxy.

Deep within the earth lies a vast chasm known as the Abyss, teeming with strange creatures and ancient relics from ages long gone. Its origins and what exists at its deepest point remain unsolved mysteries that countless explorers, called Divers, have risked their lives to uncover by descending into its darkest reaches. The most skilled and courageous Divers—the White Whistles—are celebrated as legends among those who stay above. Riko, the daughter of the missing White Whistle Lyza the Annihilator, dreams of following in her mother's footsteps and exploring the Abyss's farthest depths. However, she is only a novice Red Whistle, permitted to venture no further than the uppermost layer. One day, she stumbles upon a mysterious robot who looks like an ordinary boy. She names him Reg, and he has no memory of what happened before his discovery. Convinced that the technology behind Reg must originate from deep within the Abyss, the two decide to journey into the chasm—Reg to recover his lost memories, and Riko to see the bottom of the great pit with her own eyes. Yet they remain unaware of the cruel truths awaiting them in the Abyss's true reality.

Vash the Stampede carries a 60 billion double-dollar bounty on his head. The reason: he is supposedly a heartless outlaw who destroys anyone who stands in his way and levels entire cities for amusement, earning him the nickname "The Humanoid Typhoon." Wherever he goes, death and ruin follow, and rumor says that even making eye contact with him means certain doom—or so the stories claim. In truth, Vash is an enormous softie who insists he has never killed anyone and does everything he can to avoid violence. With his absurd doughnut obsession and clownish demeanor in tow, Vash travels across the desert planet Gunsmoke, constantly tailed by two insurance agents, Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson, who try to keep his collateral damage under control. Before long, their chaotic adventures turn into life-or-death struggles when a group of legendary assassins is called in to bring suffering upon the trio. Vash's painful past comes to light, and his beliefs and moral code are pushed to their absolute limits.

In 2026, four years after the infamous Sword Art Online incident, a new technology called the Augma emerges, employing an Augmented Reality system. Unlike the NerveGear and Amusphere's Virtual Reality, it is completely safe and can be used while conscious, quickly becoming a market sensation. The Augma's most popular app is the game Ordinal Scale, a fantasy role-playing game featuring player rankings and rewards. Caught up in the trend, Kirito's friends dive into the game, and despite his own misgivings about the system, Kirito eventually joins them. What initially seems like harmless fun soon reveals that the game holds something far more sinister beneath the surface.

A decade and a half ago, civilization collapsed, unleashing flesh-eating monsters upon the ruined world and threatening the lives of the few survivors left. Inside a secluded sanctuary, children are raised in safety, unaware of the dangers outside. Yet, as some of them uncover the truth beyond the facility's walls, their curiosity about the outside world begins to bloom. In the wasteland beyond, Maru and Kiruko journey together toward a mythical location known as Heaven, driven by their own distinct motivations. Haunted by painful pasts and hidden secrets, they seek solace and answers for the suffering they have endured in a broken world.

Having survived the brutal trials of Idofront, Riko now holds a White Whistle, granting her passage into the Abyss's sixth layer—the Capital of the Unreturned. Together with Reg and Nanachi, Riko begins exploring this uncharted territory, where the ruins of the promised Golden City lie. As the trio adjusts to the harsh surroundings, they soon encounter dangerous creatures and treacherous terrain. Their journey leads them to a village inhabited by strange beings called "hollows." Despite the unsettling atmosphere that greets them, the three press onward to uncover the secrets of the settlement and the forgotten legacies of adventurers who once descended into the unexplored Abyss's horrors.

Having bonded through shared grief, the weary Nanachi accompanies Riko and Reg as they venture deeper into the Abyss. They face the Sea of Corpses, the fifth layer and the deepest point from which one can return without losing their humanity. Standing in their way is the masked sadist Bondrewd, whose gruesome laboratory acts as a final barrier for those seeking to go further. The sociopathic scientist intends to exact a heavy toll from Riko’s group. Haunted by Bondrewd’s past cruelty, Nanachi struggles with intense inner turmoil upon his reappearance. The group discovers that Bondrewd’s sole vulnerability is Prushka, an impulsive girl who claims to be his daughter. Riko, Reg, and Nanachi befriend Prushka and collaborate with her to thwart her father’s schemes and reach the sixth layer of the Abyss.

In the sleepy town of Bellforest, 14-year-old Renton Thurston dreams of escaping his ordinary life to join the mercenary group Gekkostate. Caught between his grandfather's push for him to become a mechanic and the weight of his late father's reputation, Renton finds his only thrill in riding Trapar wave particles—a form of air surfing that fills the local skies. His world changes when a mysterious object crashes through his family's garage: a Light Finding Operation mecha called the Nirvash typeZERO, which can surf the Trapar waves. Its pilot is a young girl named Eureka, a member of Gekkostate, who asks Renton to tune up the machine. Their encounter sparks Renton's journey into the group as he takes off beside Eureka as the Nirvash's co-pilot.

In the desolate ruins of what was once a bustling city, the only sound breaking the frigid winter silence is the rumble of a motorbike. Its passengers, Chito and Yuuri, are the final survivors in this war-ravaged urban landscape. As they forage through old military installations for food and spare parts, the two girls traverse the barren wastelands and ponder the mysteries of the bygone era to fill their days. Occasionally, Chito and Yuuri each grapple with the encroaching sense of isolation, but having each other makes bearing the burden of being among the last humans a little more manageable. Between Yuuri's clumsy enthusiasm and Chito's calm demeanor, their bleak days are brightened by target practice, discovering new books, and engaging in snowball fights across the frozen battlefield. Set against a backdrop of empty landscapes and abandoned structures, Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou tells an uplifting story of two girls on a journey to uncover hope in a grim and fading world.

Long after most of humanity abandoned Earth, the Galactic Alliance of Humanity was established to lead exploration and secure mankind's future. A grave danger emerges in the form of mysterious creatures known as Hideauze, sparking an interstellar conflict to save humanity from annihilation. Armed with his autonomous robot Chamber, 16-year-old lieutenant Ledo of the Galactic Alliance joins the fight against these monsters. During the battle, Ledo loses control and is flung across space, crash-landing on a flooded Earth. On this blue world, Gargantia—a massive fleet of salvage ships—discovers Chamber and hauls it from the sea, believing they have found something valuable. Misinterpreting their actions as hostile, Ledo sneaks aboard and takes a young messenger girl named Amy hostage, only to realize the people of Gargantia are not the threat he imagined. Stranded and unable to contact his comrades in space, Ledo struggles to adapt and find his place in this unfamiliar lifestyle. Yet his peaceful days will not last, for this ocean-covered planet hides deeper secrets.

In the year 2063, space travel has become a practical and commercial reality. When the cheerful Aries Spring arrives at the spaceport for a camp on the distant planet McPa, a reckless thief snatches her purse. The athletic Kanata Hoshijima quickly retrieves it, and Aries learns he is among the group of teenagers joining her on the excursion as team B-5. After reaching their campsite, the trip takes a sudden turn when a strange sphere of black light pulls them into the depths of outer space. Stranded with little hope, they discover an abandoned ship nearby that offers a way home. However, they soon realize they are not near their campsite but are actually thousands of light-years away from home. Faced with this reality, the nine members must carefully manage their resources, preserve their strength, and work together to overcome the challenges of space. Though the reason for their abrupt predicament remains unclear, they set out on the perilous journey back home aboard their new ship, the Astra.

In the distant future, the sudden emergence of creatures called Gadoll threatens humanity. The last humans on Earth confine themselves to the Tank, a lower district within the colossal mobile fortress Deca-Dence. The Gears living on the upper floors serve as warriors who go out to fight as part of the Power, while most Tankers are content to provide support from the rear—processing Gadoll meat and reinforcing defenses. Natsume is one of those who would rather be on the front lines; undeterred by her prosthetic right arm, she aims to join the small number of Tanker soldiers who fight alongside the Gears. However, despite the other children at the orphanage each receiving their work assignments, Natsume’s enlistment in the Power remains unapproved. In the meantime, she starts a job as a cleaner on an armor repair team led by the stern and indifferent Kaburagi, who seems to be more than he appears. Though initially cold to his idealistic subordinate, he soon recognizes in her the potential to disrupt the world’s established order. As her new mentor, Kaburagi prepares Natsume for the special and unique role of a game-changing bug in the system.

Patema is a spunky young girl who lives in an underground civilization with an extensive network of tunnels. Inspired by a friend who vanished under mysterious circumstances, she often gets scolded for her frequent explorations of these tunnels because of her royal position. When she ventures into what is called the "forbidden zone," she accidentally plunges into a vast, seemingly bottomless pit after being startled by a strange creature. Upon finding herself on the surface—a world that is literally upside down—she begins to fall upward toward the sky, only to be rescued by Age, a disillusioned student from the totalitarian nation known as Aiga. The citizens of Aiga are taught that "Inverts" like Patema are sinners who will be "swallowed by the sky," but Age has rejected this propaganda and chooses to protect his new friend. A chance encounter between two curious teenagers leads them to explore two distinct worlds as they join forces to uncover the truth behind their origins in Sakasama no Patema, a heartwarming film about overcoming differences in order to coexist.

Shiki has spent his entire life surrounded by machines. At Granbell Kingdom, a deserted amusement park that hasn't seen visitors in a century, he is the only human. Everything changes when Rebecca Bluegarden and her cat companion Happy show up, hoping to film content for their B-Cube channel. Instead, they befriend the socially awkward Shiki. When Granbell becomes too hazardous for the trio, they embark on a journey across the Sakura Cosmos. Their goals include creating more exciting videos and searching for the legendary goddess Mother, while Shiki—inspired by his late grandfather's words—seeks to make more friends. The path won't be easy, since no one has ever encountered Mother, but Shiki is determined to reach his objective and explore the vast reaches of space alongside his newfound companions.

Train Heartnet, a cold-blooded assassin known for his flawless execution of every mission, carries the alias "Black Cat" within the criminal underworld. He works for Chronos, a powerful secret organization. One dark night, this indifferent gunman meets Saya Minatsuki, a mysterious bounty hunter with a bright outlook on life. They form an unusual friendship, and her positive influence prompts Train to reconsider his existence. He decides to leave his role as the Black Cat behind and pursue a new path as an honest bounty hunter. But Chronos—especially Creed Diskenth, Train's possessive subordinate—is unhappy with this change of heart. Creed is determined to use extreme methods to bring back the agent of misfortune. The former assassin, now a stray cat, can only roam so far before the sound of gunfire erupts again.

A catastrophic event has turned Japan into a vast desert, and a mysterious rusting plague is devastating what remains of civilization. The authorities blame the spread of mushroom spores for this grim new reality, pointing to Bisco Akaboshi, whom they call the "Man-Eating Mushroom," as the culprit. Bisco, however, sees things differently. He is a "Mushroom Protector" on a mission to find the fabled "Sabikui" mushroom, believed to be the ultimate remedy for the rust disease. Accompanying him on this journey are his giant crab, Akutagawa, and Dr. Milo Nekoyanagi, a kind physician seeking a treatment for his sister's rust poisoning. Despite the prejudice he faces from the public, Bisco remains determined to cleanse the decaying world.

On the desert planet Noman's Land, journalists Meryl Stryfe and Roberto De Niro search for the notorious outlaw Vash the Stampede. However, the person they encounter near the barren settlement of Jeneora Rock is nothing like the deadly terrorist they anticipated. Instead, Vash is a gentle and easygoing wanderer who advocates for peace and is cherished by the locals. His false notoriety comes from the terrible acts carried out by his twin brother, Millions Knives. Nonetheless, Vash is known as "The Humanoid Typhoon" because violent chaos often seems to trail behind him. Trouble does come when bounty hunters arrive, chasing the large reward on Vash's head. Their aggressive hunt endangers the town and its vital power plant. With his exceptional skill with a gun, Vash manages to fend off most of these hostile forces. However, he must eventually confront the greatest threat: the overwhelming destructive might of his wicked brother.

In a world devastated by monstrous creatures known as Limbeekoon or Filth Monsters, humanity survives within enormous mobile cities called Regios, where they wield special weapons named Dite by channeling the energy known as Kei to protect themselves. Layfon Alseif arrives at the Academy City of Zuellni seeking a fresh start and to leave his troubled history behind. But his past draws the interest of Karian Loss, the manipulative Student Council President, and Nina Antalk, a Military Arts student who leads the 17th Military Arts Platoon. Nina quickly recognizes Layfon's skills and tries to recruit him into her group. However, burdened by a secret past that refuses to fade and possessing extraordinary powers beyond the norm, Layfon may not easily accept the role thrust upon him.

In ancient times, a band of young men dedicated their lives to protecting Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and War. These warriors could fight unarmed—a single punch was strong enough to tear open the sky and shatter the ground below. Known as Saints, they could unleash the power of the Cosmos from within. In the present day, a new generation of Saints is about to rise. The energetic Seiya battles fiercely for the Sacred Armor of Pegasus, refusing to let anyone stand in his way. Six years of hard training pay off as he claims victory and becomes one of Athena's Saints. Yet Seiya's struggle is far from over. Numerous dangers and formidable enemies lie ahead for him and the other Saints. What new challenges await the heroes of the epic Saint Seiya saga?

Cocona is a typical middle schooler who lives with her grandmother. Still uncertain about what she wants to pursue in life, she suddenly encounters a peculiar girl named Papika, who invites her to join an organization called Flip Flap. Pulled along by this energetic newcomer, Cocona ends up in Pure Illusion—a strange alternate dimension—where she helps Papika search for crystal shards. After completing their task, the two are transported to another realm within Pure Illusion. A dangerous creature appears, and the girls use their crystals to transform into magical girls: Cocona becomes Pure Blade, while Papika becomes Pure Barrier. As they attempt to defeat the monster, three individuals from a rival organization intervene, slay the creature, and take a fragment left behind from its remains. In the aftermath, Cocona and Papika realize that to stand a chance against both their competitors and the threats within Pure Illusion, they must cooperate and align their emotions to transform more effectively.

Over many decades, steadily falling birth rates have driven human civilization nearly to extinction. The few remaining people scrape by in a post-apocalyptic world, using whatever the previous generations left behind. Fairies now rule the Earth—tiny beings armed with ultra-advanced technology, an insatiable craving for sweets, and zero concern for human well-being. A young woman who has just completed her education returns to her hometown and is appointed an official United Nations arbitrator. Her job is to act as a bridge between humans and fairies, convincing both sides that peaceful coexistence is possible. She expects the role to be straightforward, but reining in the disasters caused by the oblivious fairies as they chase after candy proves far more challenging than she ever anticipated.

On the planet Prester, air travel reigns supreme, powered by Claudia Fluid—a liquefied form of crystals native to the world. A mysterious organization known only as the Guild holds absolute control over the skies, maintaining a monopoly on the engines that utilize this fluid. As ecological disasters destabilize the warring nations of Anatoray and Disith, the Guild also serves as an arbitrator in their conflicts. Caught in the middle are Sky Couriers, who pilot small, two-person vanships freely through the air. Last Exile follows two teenagers striving to surpass their parents: Claus Valca, the son of a famed vanship pilot, and Lavie Head, his best friend and navigator. Their courier work requires them to traverse a dangerous air current called the Grand Stream that separates the hostile nations—a passage even standard airships struggle to survive. But when they accept a high-stakes delivery, transporting an orphan girl named Alvis Hamilton to the battleship Silvana, they are pulled into a far greater conflict that sets them against the might of the Guild.

In a world where memories are stored on chips separate from the body, physical death no longer means the end of the soul. These chips can be viewed, altered, and transferred between bodies. The wealthy use them to achieve eternal life by selecting ideal vessels, while the poor often have to sell their bodies and preserve their souls in chips just to survive. A barrier of electrolytic clouds separates the heavens of the rich from the underworld of the poor, making this social divide absolute. One day, a man named Kaiba wakes up in an empty room with no memories, a mysterious hole in his chest, and a locket containing a picture of an unknown woman. After escaping an attack and arriving at a decrepit village of underworld residents, he sets out on a journey across the different planets of this strange universe to uncover the truth about his identity and the woman he once knew. Through a voyage of self-discovery and acceptance, Kaiba weaves together stories of souls and spirits, exploring the significance of memories.

In a far-off future, Earth is a barren wasteland and humanity has vanished completely. Only sentient robots remain. They were meant to be immortal—until the death of the one named Luna triggered the Ruin. Their bodies corrode, and no cure exists. Now the robots can only dwell on their own end, sustained solely by the rumor that consuming the one called Casshern grants eternal life. Casshern remembers nothing of his past, his purpose, or his very nature. Yet he must uncover these truths, or else endure the unrelenting pursuit of robots desperate to stave off death. Wherever Casshern goes, he leaves death in his wake, but he must confront that reality if he is to discover the truth about this world.