First up on our list is one of the most recent shows which - similar to Angel Beats! - was able to gain a big fanbase in a very short time: Charlotte.

There are people on this earth who are more than they seem to be. Yuu Otosaka looks like a common high-school student, but he has the ability to take over the minds of anyone near him for a couple of seconds. Too bad that he uses these amazing abilities only for his own good. His selfish days might be over after he meets the mysterious Nao who wants to recruit him for an organization that supports special kids just like him.

Is the fact that both Angel Beats! and Charlotte are written by Jun Maeda reason enough to include Charlotte on this list? No? Okay, then let us list a couple more similarities. Both shows have school settings but revolve around supernatural themes that force the main cast of teenagers to become more mature than they are. All of them are part of organizations where they combine their strengths to make sense of what’s happening to them. Lastly, both shows are definite must-watch anime that every anime lover needs to give a try, regardless of preferences. So what are you still waiting for?

Finding yourself trapped in the afterlife is already bad enough, but imagine waking up in a world abandoned by God where people are unable to die. This scenario becomes a reality in Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi.

In a world without God, people are neither able to die nor produce new life. Only so-called Gravekeepers have the power to grant the dead eternal peace through a burial ceremony. Usually, these Gravekeepers are austere individuals which demand your utmost respect, but 12-year-old Ai seems to be an exception to the rule with her innocent face and cheerful smile. This is the story of Ai who travels the world to put people to rest and question how and why God has abandoned them.

Just like Angel Beats!, this show seems pretty cheerful at first glance. Ai is a cute heroine who travels in a beautifully designed universe. However, both shows have more to offer than that. Their storylines become progressively deeper and make you question the meaning of life, what happens after you die and the existence of God himself. If you like deep and thoughtful shows while also having a little bit of humor to keep you from becoming too depressed, then Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi should be on your must-watch list.

We already mentioned Clannad in the previous list, but we need to say it again: Clannad is a great show and definitely a must-watch for fans of Angel Beats!.

High school is tough for most students, but it is especially tiresome for Tomoya Okazaki who’d much rather just skip school and stay at home. It’s only by chance that he meets Nagisa, an adorable yet absent-minded girl. Tomoya decides to help Nagisa out and soon enough he not only grows close to her but also some other girls at his school. Who would have guessed that these encounters might change his life forever?

We simply couldn’t resist including Clannad on this updated list as well. After all, if you are truly looking for a show similar to Angel Beats!, then Clannad should be one of the first shows to look into. Not only was it also directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, but it is equally dramatic and emotionally touching as Angel Beats!. Both shows rely on their main cast and put the relationship between each character above other parts of the story. As a result, you will grow attached and share the characters’ pain as if it was your own. Fans of thoughtful and touching stories need to watch Clannad, no matter what.

Next up is Rewrite, the most recent anime on our list which is based on a visual novel of the same name.

Kotarou Tennouji cannot stay out of trouble since the arrogant high-school boy likes to get himself involved in other people’s business. As a result, he gets closer to a group of girls at his school and learns more about the fates of each one of them. Mysterious things start happening in his otherwise peaceful city and in his private life and soon enough Kotarou has some big decisions to make.

Rewrite was produced by Key which also took part in the creation of both Angel Beats! and Charlotte, so you could expect this show to be at least somewhat similar to Angel Beats!. Sure enough, we have another high school story that becomes increasingly more mysterious and thought-provoking as the story moves on. Rewrite sets itself apart from Angel Beats! by having a stronger harem aspect, but you still have similar action, school and romance elements. Fans of Clannad’s art style will also certainly enjoy this little gem.

You’ve already cried your eyes out with Angel Beats! and Clannad left you feeling empty inside? Then brace yourself, because Anohana has made more than just a few people bawl like babies.

Jinta and his friends are enjoying the best part of youth together: fun, freedom and friendship. But when one of them dies, the group of friends falls apart and each one of them continues living alone. They would prefer forgetting about the past, but when the ghost of their lost friend suddenly appears they have to find back to each other once again.

Just like Clannad, Anohana was part of our first list but had to be included again since it is so relevant. This show will take you on an emotional rollercoaster similar to Angel Beats!. You’ll first grow to love the main cast and enjoy watching their carefree adventures, only to be smacked in the face with a big baseball bat named “feelings”. Both shows combine the innocence of youth with something as dark and depressing as death and in the process teach you about the power to move on from your past. Grab a pack of tissues and watch Anohana if you haven’t already!

In Angel Beats!, life after death takes place at a high school. In Death Parade, the afterlife is depicted as a bar where you gamble for a chance to be reincarnated. Welcome to Quindecim, your establishment of the supernatural kind!

After your death, you will find yourself inside a mysterious bar where a white-haired man awaits you. His name is Decim and he is a game master who decides your ultimate fate. He challenges every lost soul to a game where winning means reincarnation while losing will lead to your ultimate end. Life after death has never been this entertaining.

We’ll be the first ones to admit that Death Parade is way darker than Angel Beats! and lacks its uplifting school or comedy aspects. However, it shares the core concept of Angel Beats!, namely the question of life after death. Both stories are set in the afterlife and mainly revolve around the backstories and previous lives of the main cast. If you enjoyed Angel Beats! for its thoughtful aspects and interesting premise, then you should definitely check out Death Parade next.