Anime Like Once Upon a Time

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.

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.

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.

The world’s greatest assassin, who devoted his life to the organization that raised him, is betrayed and killed by that very group. Haunted by lingering regrets, he meets a goddess impressed by his skills. She offers him a new life in a fantasy world of magic and steel, charging him with a crucial mission: kill the hero destined to destroy that world. Reborn as Lugh Tuatha Dé, heir to a noble family of assassins serving the Alvan Kingdom, he learns from his father techniques that differ from his earlier ruthless style. As he hones his other talents and forges new connections, Lugh remains painfully aware that his present abilities fall short. To fulfill his divine task, he must attain absolute perfection to defeat such a formidable opponent.

The world has been transformed into a hunting ground for the Crimson Denizens, enigmatic entities from a parallel dimension that feed on human life energy. These ruthless killers leave behind only faint remnants of souls known as "Torches," which are mere residues destined to be destroyed, erasing the victims' existence from the memories of the living. To halt this silent, voracious slaughter, warriors known as Flame Hazes engage in an endless battle against these monsters. One day, Yuuji Sakai’s life changes drastically when he finds himself trapped in a time distortion and attacked by a Denizen. He is saved at the last moment by a nameless hunter who appears to be an ordinary girl, save for her fiery crimson hair and intense eyes. Before Yuuji can fully understand what is happening, he realizes he has already been reduced to a Torch—a fragment of memory poised for extinction.

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.

The continent of Atlatan has fallen into turmoil after the Great Hall Tragedy, a catastrophic incident that destroyed the fragile peace between the Fantasia Union and the Factory Alliance. The wedding of Sir Alexis Douse and Lady Marrine Kreische, meant to unite the two factions, was overtaken by a surge of "Chaos," a dark dimensional energy that summons monsters and demons. From this corruption emerged the Demon Lord of Diabolos, who killed the archdukes of both sides, crushing all hope for reconciliation. Siluca Meletes, a mage from the Alliance, journeys through the ravaged countryside to study under a master magician. On her way, she is rescued from Federation soldiers by Theo Cornaro, a young warrior wielding a mysterious "Crest" that can repel Chaos. Sworn to no particular domain, Theo aspires to become a Lord and liberate his hometown, Sistina, from its tyrant and the spreading corruption. Inspired by his noble ambition, Siluca enters a magical pact with Theo, and together they set out to restore balance to their fractured world.

Decades from now, humanity faces a relentless threat from an alien species called the Novas. Wherever they emerge, these inhuman creatures leave destruction in their wake, and the battles to repel them are known as Nova Clashes. To fight back, young women—dubbed "Pandoras"—and young men—called "Limiters"—are implanted with stigmata granting them superhuman abilities. They train at military academies, learning to cooperate if humanity hopes to survive. Freezing follows Kazuya Aoi on his first day at West Genetics military academy, which coincides with a Pandora battle royale. There, he mistakes Satellizer el Bridget—a formidable Pandora known as the "Untouchable Queen"—for his deceased sister and embraces her. Although his action costs her the match, she discovers that his touch does not repel her and decides to take him as her Limiter. The question remains whether their partnership can endure the schemes of their upperclassmen and the looming conflict with the Novas.

Denizens from the Crimson Realm keep slipping into Misaki City, draining life energy from humans. To counter this threat, Flame Hazes are deployed to rescue people from having their existences erased. However, though protecting humans is a Flame Haze's mission, Shana—known as the "Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter"—appears to be directing her attention toward a single individual: Yuuji Sakai, a teenage boy caught in the conflict between Crimson Denizens and Flame Hazes without his consent. Ever since their first meeting, Shana has begun to see Yuuji as more than just a companion. In fact, Yuuji suspects that Shana may have confessed her emotions to him at one point, but her erratic temperament makes it hard for him to be certain. Still, their everyday life continues as usual, until a new transfer student appears at their school—someone who looks uncannily like a former foe. Yuuji and Shana cannot afford to tiptoe around their relationship; as their enemies within the Bal Masqué organization prepare their next move, the pair must remain vigilant while probing the mystery behind the treasured artifact inside Yuuji, the "Midnight Lost Child."

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.

In November 1998, a double murder takes place at the newly built Ogawa apartment complex in central Mifune City. The killer, Tomoe Enjou, flees in a state of panic. To his surprise, the police do not pursue him, and the incident receives no media coverage. After Shiki Ryougi protects Tomoe from a group of thugs, she lets him hide out at her place. A few days later, Tomoe is horrified to find that his mother is still alive, even though he is certain he killed her. Meanwhile, Mikiya Kokutou looks into a tip that his associate Touko Aozaki receives concerning the murder at the unusual apartment complex. As Mikiya uncovers more details about the incident, he becomes especially interested in Tomoe. Deciding to investigate him further, Mikiya soon learns the disturbing truth behind the ominous Ogawa complex. The fifth entry in the Kara no Kyoukai film series, Mujun Rasen blends an intricately constructed mystery with established themes and characters to create a dark, thought-provoking story.

On the night he was supposed to choose between fighting evil at Shana's side or living as a normal teenager, Yuji vanished. Returning from the brink of death, he now leads the Crimson Denizens in a suspicious plan to bring peace to the universe—but Shana is not deceived. In a fiery reunion, the blazing warrior confronts her most unlikely opponent, while Flame Hazes from around the world band together to ignite a war that will decide the fate of all supernatural beings.

In the arid realm of Clow, princess Sakura and her archaeologist companion Syaoran enjoy quiet days, despite the king's disapproval of their growing bond. Their peaceful existence is disrupted when Sakura, in a trance-like state, appears before Syaoran with wings sprouting from her back. The wings scatter into feathers and she collapses, prompting Syaoran to act. Syaoran discovers that to save Sakura, he must gather her feathers, which have been dispersed across numerous dimensions. He strikes a bargain with the Dimensional Witch Yuuko Ichihara and gains the aid of Mokona Modoki, a creature capable of crossing between worlds. Joining this quest are Fai D. Flourite, a lighthearted mage escaping oppression in his own realm, and Kurogane, a warrior sent on this journey to hone his skills and temper his nature. This unlikely group sets out to retrieve Sakura's feathers, a task that seems nearly hopeless.

In a world where witches were once revered and feared for the divine magic they used to guide humanity's progress, times have shifted. As science advances, humans have caught up to witches in power, and the mighty Redia Empire now seeks to eradicate all witches and claim dominance over the world. Fleeing this deadly decree, the renowned witch Chloe and her apprentice Adonis seek shelter, but the Empire corners them and brutally executes Chloe. Devastated by his master's death and humanity's cruelty, Adonis swears revenge, promising to use the very magic they aim to destroy to wipe out mankind.

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!

As the millennium turned, Ginei Studio's decaying structures were scheduled for demolition. Former employee and filmmaker Genya Tachibana chooses to mark the event by creating a documentary about the studio's leading lady, Chiyoko Fujiwara, the reclusive darling of Shouwa cinema. After securing permission to interview the retired actress, an infatuated Genya brings along skeptical cameraman Kyouji Ida to visit her, eager to bring his lifelong idol back into the limelight. Nestled in this remote mountain hideaway is a millennium of history compressed into a single lifetime, awaiting telling. Chiyoko's memories guide them on a fantastical trip through Japan's film history, blurring the lines of reality; the story of her acting career merges with her movie roles, the people from her life become indistinguishable from the characters she played, and the present fuses with the past. Even though the actress stepped away at the peak of her career three decades ago, the final curtain on her life's performance has not yet dropped.

In the woods, a girl named Eruruu discovers an injured man whose origins are entirely unknown. He has no recollection of his past or even his own name, and she brings him to her home. There, Eruruu's grandmother and younger sister Aruruu give him the name Hakuoro. While the villagers possess large ears and tails, Hakuoro lacks both—his only defining trait is a mask he cannot remove. Soon after he becomes part of the community, a rebellion against the land's tyrannical emperor begins, and the conflict reaches his new home. Hakuoro must do everything he can to protect the people and village he has grown to love, all while uncovering the mysteries that shroud his past.

As technology continues to advance rapidly, humanity develops hIEs—human-like robots serving as both public and personal assistants in society. The compassionate high school student Arato Endou treats these androids as equals, though his limited finances prevent him from ever owning one. His ordinary life is disrupted when a simple trip to the grocery store takes a terrible turn. Attacked violently by a rogue hIE, Arato finds himself near death, but he is rescued by an unusual hIE carrying a coffin-like weapon. Her name is Lacia, one of five exceptionally advanced hIEs that have recently escaped from the mysterious MemeFrame Corporation. When a hacked car threatens to run them over, Lacia proposes a deal to Arato: in return for saving his life, he must register as her new owner, assuming full responsibility for her actions. With no real alternative, he agrees to trust this artificial girl and lets her live in his home. As Lacia grows accustomed to her newfound peaceful life, she warns the fascinated Arato of one important fact—she does not possess a soul.

After the 10th NOVA battle, the Chevalier determined that the NOVA are appearing more frequently and that they are losing Pandoras faster than they can create new ones. Their answer is the E-Pandora Project, which grants ordinary humans the ability to become Pandoras. Pandoras from across the globe are invited to the Alaskan base to witness the unveiling of this new initiative, with Satellizer, Kazuya, and Rana among those summoned. But as time passes, the E-Pandora Project begins to seem increasingly suspicious, and the Pandoras' worries continue to grow.

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.