Anime Like Mao

Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high school student, survives a vampire attack thanks to Meme Oshino, an odd man who lives in an abandoned building. Although he is restored to humanity, lingering side effects like superhuman healing and enhanced vision remain. With support from his friend and class president Tsubasa Hanekawa, Araragi tries to maintain a normal student life. When he catches fellow classmate Hitagi Senjougahara as she falls down a flight of stairs, Araragi realizes she is unnaturally weightless. Despite Senjougahara's reluctance, Araragi insists on helping her and turns to Oshino—the same man who once resolved his own crisis. Through a series of stories involving demons and gods, Bakemonogatari follows Araragi as he works to aid those suffering from supernatural afflictions.

In the downtown area of Tokyo's Ikebukuro district, strange rumors swirl about anonymous gangs and dangerous individuals, but the most famous urban legend is the headless "Black Rider"—a figure seen riding a jet-black motorcycle through the city streets. Mikado Ryuugamine has always craved the excitement of city life, and an invitation from a childhood friend convinces him to move to Tokyo. On his very first day, he glimpses the Black Rider, and it seems his wish for adventure has been fulfilled. However, as supernatural events unfold, ordinary people like himself, along with Ikebukuro's most eccentric residents, become entangled in the chaos erupting throughout the city.

Young Ciel Phantomhive holds the title "the Queen's Guard Dog," handling the various unsettling incidents that arise in Victorian England on behalf of Her Majesty. With the help of Sebastian Michaelis, his faithful butler who possesses seemingly superhuman abilities, Ciel employs whatever methods are required to accomplish his tasks. Yet, there may be more hidden behind this black-clad butler than initially appears. Ciel's past conceals a tragic secret that plunged him into perpetual darkness—in one of his most desperate moments, he forged a contract with Sebastian, a demon, trading his soul for retribution against those who harmed him. Nowadays, Sebastian is not only one hell of a butler but also the ideal servant to execute his master's commands—all while eagerly anticipating the delicious meal he will eventually make of Ciel's soul. As the pair works to solve the mystery behind Ciel's series of misfortunes, a connection develops between them that neither heaven nor hell can break.

Set in Chicago during the early 1930s, the legendary transcontinental train Flying Pussyfoot embarks on a journey that will leave a trail of blood across the nation. Simultaneously, in New York, the ambitious scientist Szilard and his reluctant assistant Ennis search for missing bottles of the immortality elixir while mafia conflicts escalate. In 1711, aboard the Advena Avis, alchemists are about to discover the true cost of immortality. Based on the award-winning light novels, Baccano! weaves together seemingly unrelated events in time and place into a larger narrative involving alchemy, survival, and eternal life. The kindhearted aspiring thieves Isaac and Miria act as a nexus, connecting various characters with their own hidden agendas and creating lifelong bonds and consequences for everyone involved.

Mushi represent the most fundamental expressions of life, existing solely to be, entirely free from the constraints of moral concepts like good and evil. These entities manifest in myriad forms, capable of imitating elements of nature such as flora, illness, and even atmospheric events like rainbows. However, this description barely scratches the surface of the mysterious beings that populate the world of Mushishi; labeling them as life is itself a reduction. Comprehensive knowledge about Mushi is rare, as most people remain oblivious to their presence. This ignorance fuels the constant inquiries of Ginko, a Mushishi who dedicates his life to studying these creatures to comprehend their role within the natural order. He follows whispers of events potentially linked to Mushi, driven by the hope that uncovering their truth might ultimately reveal the very meaning of existence.

Fourteen-year-old Lain Iwakura, a shy and socially awkward student, receives a peculiar email from Chisa Yomoda, a classmate who has recently taken her own life. Despite having no interest or experience with technology, Lain opens the message, which transports her into the Wired, a digital communication network akin to the real-world internet. Her existence is upended as she faces a series of enigmatic puzzles. Individuals known as the Men in Black start appearing in her vicinity, interrogating her with knowledge of her life that surpasses her own self-awareness. As the line between physical reality and cyberspace grows increasingly indistinct, Lain is drawn into increasingly surreal situations that challenge traditional notions of identity, consciousness, and perception. Created by Chiaki J. Konaka, the creator of Texhnolyze, Serial Experiments Lain is a psychological, avant-garde mystery that tracks Lain’s pivotal decisions, which resonate across both the tangible world and the Wired. Only Lain can grasp the true weight of these dual existences as one realm closes and another opens.

Ryuu Yamada started high school hoping for a fresh start and a more productive life. He chose Suzaku High so that no one would know about his violent delinquent past. But boredom quickly set in, and by his second year, Ryuu had reverted to his old ways—lazy, failing grades, and constantly fighting. One day, after another visit to the office, he runs into Urara Shiraishi, a beautiful honors student. A moment of clumsiness sends them both tumbling down the stairs, resulting in an accidental kiss! The two discover they can swap bodies with a kiss—a power that proves both convenient and troublesome. When student council officer and sole member of the Supernatural Studies Club, Toranosuke Miyamura, learns of their ability, he recruits them for the club. Joined by Miyabi Itou, an eccentric who is fascinated by all things supernatural, the group uncovers the legend of the Seven Witches of Suzaku High—seven female students who each possess a unique power activated by a kiss. The Supernatural Studies Club sets out on its first mission: to find all the witches.

Koyomi Araragi has only recently recovered from a vampire assault and encountered multiple girls plagued by supernatural afflictions. On top of everything else, he wakes up one morning to find himself abducted and bound by his girlfriend Hitagi Senjougahara. Araragi's sister Karen has gotten into trouble with Deishuu Kaiki, a con artist who once swindled Senjougahara's family. Consequently, Senjougahara has trapped Araragi to protect him from the cunning Kaiki. Yet when Araragi receives a desperate message from Karen, he leaves to save her. Beyond Karen's predicament, Tsukihi, Araragi's other sister, is dealing with her own problems. And when two enigmatic women enter their lives, not even Araragi can foresee their real intentions or the devastating secrets about his family that are soon to be uncovered.

Oddities, apparitions, and deities keep appearing around Koyomi Araragi and his tight circle of companions: Tsubasa Hanekawa, the group's modest intellectual; Shinobu Oshino, the vampire with a fondness for doughnuts; athletic troublemaker Suruga Kanbaru; the bite-prone spirit Mayoi Hachikuji; Koyomi's sweet admirer Nadeko Sengoku; and Hitagi Senjougahara, Koyomi's eclectic girlfriend. A fresh term has started, and with graduation approaching, Koyomi must urgently decide his future path, the relationships he will nurture, and which friends he will rescue. However, as strange incidents begin to occur, Koyomi is missing, and in his absence, a vicious tiger oddity appears. Hanekawa becomes its target and quickly realizes she must defend herself.

After the death of his parents, Shinpei Ajiro grew up with the Kofune family and their daughters, Mio and Ushio. He later left his home island to study in Tokyo, but returns when Ushio tragically drowns while trying to save a little girl. At her funeral, his best friend tells him about bruises found around Ushio’s neck, raising questions about the true cause of her death. Believing a murder may have occurred, Shinpei starts reexamining recent events, yet strange occurrences only keep happening. People vanish, and other unexplainable events lead Mio to remember an old folktale about beings called “Shadows” that might not be mere fiction. According to legend, meeting one’s Shadow foretells that person’s imminent death. Confronting the dark side of Hitogashima Island, Shinpei fights against his grim destiny in order to carry out Ushio’s last wish—to protect Mio.

One chilly December day, Kyon heads to school expecting another outing with his SOS Brigade comrades. But to his astonishment, nearly everything has drastically altered: Haruhi Suzumiya and Itsuki Koizumi are missing; Mikuru Asahina has no memory of him; Yuki Nagato is an ordinary human; and Ryouko Asakura has inexplicably reappeared. Though no stranger to the supernatural, Kyon is unsettled by this strange development and sets out to investigate alone. Realizing he is the sole person who recalls the former reality, Kyon faces a tough decision: accept the ordinary life he once craved, or find a way to reverse time and restore his chaotic but familiar world.

In the quiet village of Sotoba, life is peaceful and everyone knows each other. However, things take a dark turn when Megumi Shimizu, an ambitious young girl, dies suddenly from a mysterious illness. As the hot summer progresses and more unexplained fatalities occur, local physician Toshio Ozaki starts to believe there is a more malevolent force behind the deaths. Toshio joins forces with detached teenager Natsuno Yuuki and siblings Kaori and Akira Tanaka—friends of Megumi—to uncover the truth about the town's deaths. Their collaborative investigation steers them toward a disturbing secret connected to the newly arrived family residing in the Kanemasa mansion.

Yuuki Cross and the stern Zero Kiryuu serve on the disciplinary committee at Cross Academy, an institution divided into the Day Class and the Night Class. Their duty involves maintaining order during the transition between these groups. However, the Day Class remains oblivious to the reality that the students of the Night Class are actually vampires. A decade prior, Yuuki was rescued from a vampire assault by Kaname Kuran, a Pureblood. Kaname now leads the Night Class, and Yuuki’s role allows her to encounter him frequently, deepening her complicated emotions. In contrast, Zero harbors intense hatred for vampires, convinced that humans and vampires cannot coexist peacefully. Yet, a hidden aspect of Zero’s history soon jeopardizes the delicate balance at the academy, promising to change everything forever.

The mysterious immortal entities known as Ajin first appeared in Africa seventeen years ago. Because their indestructible bodies pose a threat to humanity and they could be exploited for malicious purposes, they are immediately detained upon discovery. Kei Nagai, a hardworking high school student with aspirations of becoming a doctor, largely ignores the school curriculum concerning these beings, having only seen them occasionally in the news. Although he is taught that Ajin are not human, his ignorance proves irrelevant when he survives a fatal accident that triggers his transformation into an Ajin, plunging him into intense suffering. As he flees alone from a world that hunts him, Kei learns that other members of his kind might be hiding in plain sight.

After surviving a vampire attack, Koyomi Araragi notices that his friend and savior, Tsubasa Hanekawa, has been acting strangely. When he happens to run into her on his way to a bookstore and sees she has a bandage on her face, he knows something is definitely wrong. Araragi wants to help her, but Hanekawa insists the wound is just something she got at home and that he should not worry about it. However, when a white cat with no tail is hit and killed by a car, the two bury the creature, and the real trouble begins. When Araragi later visits his friend Meme Oshino and tells him about the day's events, he learns that what they buried is actually an apparition—one perfectly suited for Hanekawa in her current state. Tasked with finding his friend to confirm she is safe, Araragi discovers that she has attacked her parents, possessed by the "Sawari Neko." Now it falls to Araragi to help Hanekawa just as she once helped him.

While in his second year at Naoetsu Private High School, Koyomi Araragi happens to meet Tsubasa Hanekawa, the top student in his class. During their chat, she shares a disturbing rumor about a vampire with stunning blonde hair and icy eyes haunting the area. Araragi dismisses the tale as he enjoys the company of a new friend. Later, on his way home, he notices bloodstains leading down to the subway stairs. Intrigued, he follows the trail deep into the station. There, he discovers the source: the blonde vampire mentioned in the rumor, torn apart. When she asks for his assistance, Araragi faces a choice that could alter his fate forever.

Youkai, spirits coexisting with humans, generally maintain peace, though a dangerous minority threatens the fragile balance between their world and ours. Kotoko Iwanaga, bearing the title of God of Wisdom, serves as a mediator to settle these supernatural conflicts. She approaches university student Kurou Sakuragawa, whose recent breakup has left him vulnerable, suspecting he is connected to a hidden supernatural presence. Harboring feelings for Kurou, Kotoko recruits him to assist in handling youkai. Two years later, a tragic accident claims the life of an idol, but she returns as a faceless woman wielding steel beams. Kotoko and her partner investigate the haunting, only to uncover a case far more sinister and personal than they initially anticipated.

Having assisted in the resurrection of the formidable vampire Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade, Koyomi Araragi has transformed into a vampire and taken on the role of her servant. While Kiss-shot is convinced that she can restore his humanity once she recovers her complete strength, Araragi must now confront the consequences of his actions. He has successfully tracked down the three vampire hunters who previously defeated Kiss-shot and reclaimed her limbs. Yet, as he nears the fulfillment of his goal, he begins to question whether reviving such a powerful and immortal being is truly what he desires, especially since there would be no way to control her afterward. Araragi faces deeper mysteries regarding the past conflict: if he, a newly turned vampire, could overcome the hunters, why did they overpower Kiss-shot initially? He must also determine if he can trust her promise to restore his human form and understand how such a feat is even possible. Pushed to his limits, Araragi must make a critical choice, potentially requiring an action he will deeply regret to resolve the situation.

Despite the return of peace to Ikebukuro, strange phenomena have become a regular part of daily life. The police continue their relentless chase of Celty Sturluson, the Headless Rider, while a substantial bounty placed on her head motivates various gangs to hunt down the supernatural being. In the meantime, Mikado Ryuugamine is confronted by Aoba Kuronuma, an enigmatic kohai with hidden motives, who discloses that he is aware of Mikado’s true identity. However, the city’s calm is fleeting as a new menace emerges in the guise of a killer known as "Hollywood," who dons a different mask for each crime. As these disparate incidents reveal their underlying connections once more, Ikebukuro is plunged into fresh turmoil, risking total chaos for the entire metropolis.

Ougi Oshino, a strange new student, arrives at Naoetsu Private High School and is introduced to Koyomi Araragi by their mutual friend Kanbaru Suruga, who seeks advice about a peculiar discovery. Upon inspecting the school, Ougi spots a classroom that has materialized in a previously empty space, a location that shouldn't exist. Suspecting supernatural involvement, Araragi and Ougi investigate the mystery. After being trapped inside with Ougi, Araragi realizes the room contains the memories of an event he had long forgotten.

Koyomi Araragi, now no longer fully human, sets out to recover the severed limbs of Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade, stolen by three powerful vampire hunters. Standing in his way are Dramaturgie—a vampire who hunts his own kind; Episode—a half-vampire capable of turning into mist; and Guillotinecutter—a human priest who is the most dangerous of the trio. Unbeknownst to Araragi, each moment he spends chasing down Kiss-shot's body parts pushes him further from humanity and deeper into vampirism. Can he hold onto his hope of becoming human again by the time his battles come to an end?

The notorious Shounen Bat is spreading fear throughout Musashino City. Gliding on rollerblades and striking people down with a golden baseball bat, the attacker remains elusive and baffling. His first victim, the famous but shy character designer Tsukiko Sagi, is suspected of masterminding the assaults. Only her anthropomorphic pink plush toy, Maromi, believes her innocence, as Tsukiko becomes one of many targets. As Shounen Bat relentlessly continues his attacks, detectives Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa launch an investigation into the assailant's identity. Yet more individuals fall prey to the infamous golden bat, and news of the perpetrator spreads throughout the town. Paranoia takes hold as chilling rumors circulate among both adults and children. Can the two detectives uncover the truth behind Shounen Bat, or will the paranoia consume them first?

With Koyomi Araragi and Hitagi Senjougahara having moved on after graduation, Naoetsu Private High School now has few familiar students left. Among them is Suruga Kanbaru, who still bears the Monkey's Paw. When she catches wind of rumors about a mysterious figure called the "Devil" that supposedly solves any problem through supernatural means, Kanbaru immediately suspects the talk is about her and sets out to investigate. She finds that the Devil is actually Rouka Numachi, a former basketball rival from junior high who can no longer play due to a leg injury. Rouka offers free advice to anyone who comes to her, acting as a collector of misfortune and enjoying the relief her clients feel from the false hope that their problems will be solved. While Kanbaru sees no real harm in this, she still scolds Rouka for lying and returns home, relieved that she is not the source of the rumors. However, she may have reason to worry after all: she discovers that her left hand has transformed back into its human form.

Seikyou Private Academy, a school steeped in the allure of traditional occult legends, conceals a grim history—for six decades, it has been stalked by a ghost named Yuuko, a girl who met an unexplained death in the basement of the old school building. Unable to recall either her life or her passing, Yuuko secretly establishes and leads the Paranormal Investigations Club in her quest for answers. When she encounters the bright freshman Teiichi Niiya, who can see the peculiar specter, Yuuko latches onto him. The two quickly bond, and Teiichi resolves to assist her. Together with Kirie Kanoe, a relative of Yuuko, and the unaware second-year student Momoe Okonogi, they plunge into the notorious Seven Mysteries that haunt the storied campus.