Manga Like Penguindrum

At Grace Field House, the orphans enjoy an idyllic life. Though they lack parents, they live alongside other children and a gentle "Mama" who nurtures them, creating a close-knit family. No child is neglected, especially since everyone gets adopted by age twelve. Their daily routine includes rigorous tests, but they are allowed outdoor play afterward. There is just one rule they must follow: never leave the orphanage. But one day, two top-scoring children, Emma and Norman, step beyond the gate and uncover the horrifying truth behind their existence. Relying on their sharp wits, the kids must work together to change their predetermined fate.

The American Old West sets the stage for the planet's most monumental race. A massive crowd gathers in San Diego as thousands prepare to journey more than six thousand kilometers, competing for the fifty-million-dollar grand prize. Since the age of the horse is drawing to a close, participants may employ any type of vehicle. Racers must survive harsh conditions, covering up to one hundred kilometers daily across unexplored desert lands. The Steel Ball Run is an unparalleled competition. Young Johnny Joestar, a former horse racer now confined to a wheelchair, arrives in San Diego just to see the race commence. There he meets Gyro Zeppeli, a competitor who carries two steel spheres at his hip rather than a firearm. Johnny watches as Gyro uses one sphere to generate a supernatural effect, forcing a man in a standoff to turn his gun on himself. During the commotion, Johnny accidentally touches the steel ball and experiences energy flowing into his legs, enabling him to stand for the first time in two years. Determined to uncover the mystery behind the steel balls, Johnny joins the race, launching his bizarre journey across America in the Steel Ball Run.

As the 20th century draws to a close, people worldwide grow uneasy, sensing that the world is shifting—and likely not for the better. Kenji Endou, an ordinary convenience store manager just trying to get by, learns that an old friend nicknamed "Donkey" has suddenly died by suicide. At the same time, a new cult led by a figure called "Friend" is gaining notoriety. Kenji begins to feel that something is deeply wrong. With a few crucial clues left by his deceased friend, he realizes this cult is far more than he ever imagined—not only is this mysterious organization directly targeting him and his childhood friends, but the entire world faces a grave threat that only the friends have the key to stop. Kenji's simple life of barely scraping by is turned upside down when he reunites with his childhood friends. Together they must uncover the truth of how their past connects to the cult, as the turn of the century could mean the possible end of the world.

Kenzou Tenma, a celebrated Japanese neurosurgeon working in postwar Germany, is forced to decide between saving Johan Liebert, a dying orphan boy, or the mayor of Düsseldorf. He ultimately chooses to risk his reputation by operating on Johan, allowing the mayor to die. As a result, hospital director Heinemann strips Tenma of his position, and Heinemann's daughter Eva calls off their engagement. Disgraced and abandoned by his peers, Tenma watches his career prospects vanish—until Heinemann is mysteriously murdered, giving him a second chance. Nine years later, Tenma is head of the surgical department and nearly the director himself. At first everything seems promising, but he soon gets caught up in a series of brutal murders across Germany. The perpetrator is a monster—the very same one Tenma saved that fateful day nine years earlier.

In a world buried under eternal snow and ice, civilization teeters on collapse because of the elusive Ice Witch. The struggle against the freezing cold has driven humanity to its worst extremes—cults, violence, and persecution of the Blessed, individuals born with supernatural abilities. Orphans Agni and Luna, both Blessed with the power of regeneration, try to live peacefully among a small community of elders. Their love for each other provides a brief respite from the lethal climate. But their fragile peace shatters when army commander Doma passes through and sets their refuge village ablaze, killing everyone including Luna. Doma's cursed flames never die until their victim is completely consumed; Agni’s regeneration keeps him perpetually burning, enduring unimaginable agony. After nearly ten years of suffering, Agni has learned to withstand Doma’s fire. Yet his thirst for vengeance burns just as intensely as the day Luna died. Traveling across a frozen wasteland, he swears to kill Doma and avenge his sister.

Twenty-Fifth Bam lived in solitude for his entire life until he met Rachel. But now, Rachel has made up her mind to climb the Tower, and she is prepared to leave Bam behind to achieve that goal. After Rachel vanishes behind a curtain of light, Bam chases after her, determined to ascend the Tower in the hope of reuniting with her. However, the Tower is a perilous realm filled with ancient mysteries, terrifying monsters, and malicious people. Each floor is overseen by an Administrator who subjects the daring challengers to grueling trials that test their every limit. When he confronts Headon, the Administrator of the first floor, Bam discovers that he is an "Irregular"—someone who was not chosen by the Tower but managed to enter it on his own, an extremely uncommon occurrence within the Tower. Despite this revelation, his course remains clear. Whether it is wealth, power, glory, or even being reunited with Rachel, every desire can be fulfilled at the pinnacle of the Tower.

The mystical Abyss, a terrifying realm reminiscent of a broken toy box, is home to monstrous creatures known as Chains. Most people dismiss it as a mere fairy tale, used to frighten misbehaving children. Oz Vessalius, the cheerful and mischievous heir to the noble Vessalius family, was one of those skeptics—until his coming-of-age ceremony. There, the mysterious Baskerville Clan suddenly appears and condemns him to the Abyss for a sin he neither committed nor understands. In an effort to escape, Oz forms a contract with Alice, a unique Chain capable of taking human form. As Oz struggles to uncover the truths behind his sin, the nature of the Abyss, and a tragedy that occurred a century ago, he and his allies find themselves confronted by the Baskervilles and echoes of the past. Meanwhile, his journey home is haunted by unrelenting despair. Included one-shot: Volume 8: Pandora Hearts (pilot)

In 2011, Yasuho Hirose and Joushuu Higashikata, who grew up together as friends, find a naked man buried in the ground on the outskirts of Morioh. The man cannot recall his name or anything from his past life; the only thing he remembers is how to use his Stand, a supernatural power that manifests as a humanoid figure. The stranger is soon named Jousuke, and Joushuu's father, Norisuke, chooses to take him into the Higashikata household until he can locate his own residence. As Jousuke starts looking into his history, it becomes clear that he is no typical amnesiac. His true identity holds far more than he initially realized, and when he is forced into intense Stand confrontations, he gradually uncovers a deadly scheme that involves the entire town.

Susumu Nakoshi is a middle-aged man who divides his time between a luxury hotel and a park frequented by the homeless. One day, a strange young man approaches Nakoshi, seeking volunteers for trepanation—the act of drilling a hole in the skull. This mysterious individual claims Nakoshi is the ideal candidate for the experiment. Nakoshi initially refuses, but after his car is towed, he changes his mind. He agrees to let 22-year-old medical student Manabu Ito drill a hole in his skull in exchange for 700,000 yen. At first, the procedure yields no visible results, and Nakoshi exhibits no unusual symptoms. However, this normalcy is shattered when Nakoshi starts perceiving a homunculus in every person he encounters. With his vision now warped, how will Nakoshi confront these homunculi?

Hidden in the English countryside is the eerie estate of the Phantomhive family, known as the cold and ruthless "Queen's Watchdog" as well as the head of London's underworld. After a tragedy kills the Earl and his wife, many are surprised when their young son, Ciel, takes over as the new Earl of the Phantomhive house. Initially, he is seen as just a child with odd servants, but people soon learn it is unwise to challenge Ciel and his demonic butler, Sebastian. Set in the late 19th century, Kuroshitsuji follows the pair as they confront countless mysteries and dangers that torment England and threaten the Queen, all while uncovering the truth behind Ciel's parents' death.

Seventeen years ago, immortal soldiers called divine warriors appeared on African battlefields. These entities, later named Ajin or demi-humans, were hailed as one of humanity's most significant discoveries. Officially, the government declared them compatible with humans, but rumors persist that bounties are placed on captured Ajin so that they can be subjected to secret, inhumane experiments. Kei Nagai, an indifferent high school student studying to become a doctor, only wants a normal life. That simple desire shatters when he is caught in a fatal traffic accident. Revived at the scene, he is instantly branded an Ajin by witnesses eager for the reward. Unable to grasp his own immortality or prove his innocence, Kei goes on the run, fighting to survive. He barely evades government capture when a group of anarchistic Ajin reaches out, urging him to join their forces and strike back against the government. As the conflict between humans and Ajin escalates, Kei must decide who his true enemy is and which side he will choose.

Seon Jin finds no refuge anywhere. At school, he suffers constant bullying because of his unnervingly quiet demeanor and weak physique. Yet this is not the root of his overwhelming horror—what he dreads even more is his own father. To the outside world, Jin's father is a thriving businessman, a charitable volunteer, and an affectionate parent. But this is only a disguise. In truth, he is a twisted serial killer, and Jin is his reluctant accomplice. For years, they have kept up this pretense without the police ever catching on. When his father sets his sights on the attractive transfer student Yoon Kyun, Jin must decide—stay the coward who delivers her to the same doom as the previous victims, or become the bastard son who stands up to his monstrous parent.

The celebrated Swiss robot Montblanc, renowned for his service in the 39th Asian War, is brutally killed. Humans and robots across the globe grieve the loss of the beloved figure, whose popularity only increased after the war due to his devotion to nature conservation and his warm character. Gesicht, a robotic Europol detective and fellow war veteran, is assigned to probe Montblanc's tragic death. During his investigation, Gesicht finds clues pointing to a mysterious entity called "Pluto" and uncovers a conspiracy aimed at eliminating the eight specialized robots from around the world who fought in the war. With time running out to protect those still alive, Gesicht struggles with his memories, his sense of right and wrong, and a world filled with hatred, desperately trying to uphold the fragile balance between humans and machines.

In 1999, a meteorite struck Antarctica, causing the continent's ice sheet to melt and global sea levels to rise dramatically. This event altered the world's climate and wiped out more than half of humanity. By 2015, mysterious beings known as Angels—monsters of unknown origin—are laying waste to the remnants of civilization. In the fortress city of Tokyo-3, 14-year-old Shinji Ikari is fated to stop the Angels' attacks. Summoned by his father's covert group NERV, Shinji becomes the pilot of an Evangelion, a gigantic bio-organic robot built specifically to fight the Angels. Burdened with the fate of the world, Shinji must find the bravery and will to defend the future—and himself. Yet as battles between Evangelions and Angels grow frequent, the terrible reality of the world gradually comes to light.

At Suzaku High, Ryuu Yamada is well-known as a troublemaker and a delinquent. After getting scolded for his bad grades and attitude, he spots Urara Shiraishi, the top student in their grade. As Shiraishi climbs the stairs, Yamada tries to rile her up but trips and falls, pulling her down with him. When he wakes up in the infirmary, he realizes he's in someone else's body—he has swapped places with Shiraishi. Confronting her, he learns that the accidental kiss during the fall caused the swap. Armed with this newfound power, Yamada's chaotic high school life is only beginning.

After Kenji Endo and his childhood friends end their struggle against the cult leader "Friend," two questions stay unanswered—Friend's real name and whether his final warning about an "anti-photon bomb" was genuine. To find out, Kenji works with the United Nations to use a virtual reality program built from Friend's childhood memories in this finale to a journey that extends over many decades.

Kazuki Hoshino treasures his mundane routine above anything else. He spends his school days carefree with his friends, until that uneventful bliss is shattered when the aloof beauty Aya Otonashi transfers into his class and immediately delivers a cold, dramatic statement to him: "I've come to break you. This is my 13,118th transfer. After so many times, it's starting to grate on me, so this time I'm spicing things up with a proper declaration of war." With those puzzling words, the ordinary days Kazuki loved so much become a cycle of turmoil and fear—Aya's sudden appearance signals the unraveling of unseen mysteries surrounding his seemingly normal friends, including the discovery of strange devices known as "boxes."

Atsushi Nakajima is near death after being thrown out of his orphanage. With no food and no place to stay, all hope seems lost—until he rescues a mysterious man named Osamu Dazai from drowning. Despite annoyance from his colleague Doppo Kunikida, Dazai feeds Atsushi and explains they belong to the Armed Detective Agency, a group of gifted individuals handling criminal cases the authorities can't solve. The two ask for Atsushi's help tracking down a supernatural tiger terrorizing the city, and he reluctantly goes along. Once the case is closed, Dazai offers him a job at the agency. But things turn more perilous when the Port Mafia, the local crime syndicate, starts moving against them. Stuck in the middle of a turf war, Atsushi must master his newfound special ability to protect himself, his new allies, and the whole city.

Mushi represent the most fundamental forms of life in existence. They have no goals or purposes, existing only for the sake of being itself, and operate entirely outside the concepts of good and evil. They appear in countless varieties and can imitate natural phenomena such as plants, diseases, and even rainbows. However, this description only scratches the surface of these elusive entities that fill the vibrant world—calling them a mere form of life would be too simplistic. Information about mushi remains scarce because most humans are oblivious to their presence. The core question—what exactly are mushi and why do they exist—is what drives Ginko, a Mushishi. Mushishi are people who study mushi, seeking to understand their role in the world's hierarchy of life. Ginko tirelessly follows rumors of events that might be linked to mushi, all in the pursuit of an answer. After all, that answer could reveal the very meaning of life itself.

Satoru Fujinuma is a 29-year-old who works a part-time job delivering pizza to support himself because his career as a mangaka never took off. But this struggling adult hides a secret: he possesses a mysterious ability that sends him back in time just before a life-threatening event occurs. When this power—which he calls "Revival"—activates, it keeps pulling him backward until he manages to save the people involved. However, Satoru's life takes a dark turn when a loved one is murdered by an unknown assailant, and he is framed for the crime. Desperate to escape and figure out his predicament, he is inexplicably thrown 18 years into the past—right before the disappearance and death of his classmate, Kayo Hinazuki, an incident that has haunted him since childhood. Now an elementary school student once again, Satoru must gather his wits and rescue the young girl from an untimely death by uncovering the culprit's identity. But what connection does Kayo's murder have to the present day?

In a certain imperial court, a 17-year-old girl named Maomao was abducted and compelled to serve as a low-ranking attendant in the emperor's palace. Despite her situation, Maomao holds onto her inquisitive and practical nature, intending to endure her servitude until it ends. One day, she hears that the emperor's two infant children have fallen seriously ill. Drawing on her background as a pharmacist raised in the impoverished red-light district, she secretly intervenes. Though Maomao tries to remain hidden, her actions draw the notice of Jinshi, a powerful eunuch who recognizes her abilities. Maomao soon finds herself in the emperor's inner court, where she steadily earns a reputation by applying her expertise and eccentric demeanor to unravel various medical mysteries.

After his parents died, high school student Kimihiro Watanuki lives by himself and possesses the ability to see supernatural creatures that are drawn to him. These spirits constantly harass him, and he desperately wants to be free from this burden. One day, while being pursued by a swarm of these entities, he stumbles into a strange shop seeking refuge. There he encounters Yuuko Ichihara, the store's owner, who claims she can fulfill any wish. She offers to grant Kimihiro's desire, provided he pays a suitable price. Consequently, Kimihiro starts working at her shop to earn the compensation needed for his wish. Under Yuuko's guidance, he must immerse himself deeper into the world of spirits and the occult before he can eventually leave it behind. How will he cope with the mysterious encounters that lie ahead?

Japanese-American Kevin Yamagata creates the popular detective comic "Billy Bat" after fighting for the Allied Forces in World War II. When the series becomes a tremendous success, Kevin learns that his character Billy Bat had already appeared in a Japanese comic. Fearing he may have unconsciously copied something he saw while stationed in Japan, Kevin travels there to track down the original artist and ask permission to keep using the character. As he investigates the origins of Billy Bat, he uncovers a dark and disturbing chain of murders that are somehow connected to the character he believed he invented.

A rumor persists that a magician lives inside a tent at an abandoned theme park, and some even insist his tricks are genuine. Yet before every performance, he poses the same question: "Do you believe in magic?" For Yoon Ah-ee, magic feels like a distant dream. Stuck in crushing poverty, she spends every waking hour studying, working, and looking after her younger sister while their parents are absent. She has lost all faith in magic's wonders, just like her skeptical classmate Na Il-Deung, who was raised to see a good education as the only sensible path in life. When Ah-ee accidentally wanders into the abandoned theme park and crosses paths with the magician, her existence is forever altered. Annarasumanara unfolds as a philosophical, heartfelt, and thought-provoking story about what it truly means to grow into the person you wish to become.