Anohana tackles an emotional subject; death and the lingering effects it can have on people’s lives. With striking introspection, Arohana brings a delicate touch to the heavy topics of grieving, adolescence, and moving on. With only 11 episodes, an intense impact is able to be made in an extremely short amount of time.

Similar to the slice-of-life style that Aria: The Origination utilizes, this anime focuses on a snapshot of a boy struggling to reconcile with the things he has lost and attempting to overcome the void that tragedy has created in his life. The fantasy elements still remain as well, as Jinta is haunted by the ghost of his deceased childhood friend, Menma, which elevates the show beyond a general, run-of-the-mill narrative following the life of a group of friends. The impeccable combination of the supernatural with honest emotional development is a can't miss combination. Any fan that possesses a working heart should watch this.

Azumanga Daioh’s success lies solely in the likability of its characters, who all happen to share the same homeroom in the freshman year of their high school, and all are strange and endearing in their own unique ways. Chiyo Mihama, a 10 year old prodigy, befriends, through the course of the school year, people as diverse as Tomo Takino, a rambunctious and excitable tomboy, to Sakaki, a gentle yet physically imposing athlete.

This anime follows the adventures of the ragtag collection of high school girls; much like Aria: The Origination, Azumanga Daioh focuses on the trials and triumphs of an extremely likable group of diverse female characters. Both anime have a common mood of capability and whimsy, and teaches an appreciation for the little moments in life that are humorous and enjoyable.

Providing scene after scene of hilarity, the adventures and experiences of the characters of Azumange Diaoh should not be overlooked, and will have you laughing every episode.

Sweet in the manner that Aria: The Origination is, K-On! possesses an indomitable aura of carefree adventures, following the story of Hirasawa Yui, a motivated girl who has just entered high school, and whose one sudden ambition is to join the “Light Music Club.” The only problem is that she can’t play an instrument. Yui, together with the rest of the members of the Light Music Club, must overcome obstacles and prepare for their performance at the schools festival.

The individual focus on perseverance and the antics of the club members in every episodic mirrors the structure of Aria: The Origination. Additionally, the plot follows a group of girls in both shows as they pursue a goal, striving time and time again to do their best. The tenacity of their personalities and the friendship that evolves around Yui is comparable to the relationships expressed between Alice, Aika, and Akira in Aria: The Origination.

With a light-hearted whimsy and situational humor, K-On! is as sweet as dessert, and is a treat worth indulging in.

Kokoa Hoto, a vivacious and outgoing persona, moves in with the Kafuu family to study away from home. It doesn’t take her long to meet and befriend the cafe owner’s granddaughter, the eccentric Chino Kafuu, who is most distinguishable for her tendency to wear her pet rabbit on her head.

Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? follows the humorous tales of the five young waitresses who have jobs at the cafe, and their everyday struggles of working together. Each waitress has a distinct personality, ranging from the militaristic behavior of Rize Tedeza to the sophisticated airs of Sharo Kirima.

The comedic airs and common-core female characters are both elements that are similar between Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka and Aria: The Origination. Both anime specialize in the slice-of-life genre, and do not disappoint in giving expectant fans what they desire. Additionally, the main characters are similar in overcoming their own obstacles in entertaining manners.

The unadulterated friendship that arises between the main character, Seishuu Handa, and the horde of overbearing and eccentric villagers that he is forced to interact with is nothing short of heartwarming. Handa, a talented calligrapher with a temper, is exiled to a rural village in order to seek more creativity after a poor review on one of his pieces. Despite his annoyance with the obtrusive behavior of his neighbors, including the group of children run by Naru Kotoishi, Handa ends up discovering more than he ever could have previously imagined.

Barakamon is simple, without the added fanfare of fights or supernatural beings or a threat of the earth exploding, and it is precisely that pure simplicity that makes it so addicting. The beauty of Barakamon stems from the worth found in the everyday moments of life, especially those spent surrounded by children in a place quite the opposite from Tokyo. The anime mimics reality so well that it effectively allows the viewer to forget about their own for the length of an episode, or the series.

What is most similar between Barakamon and Aria: The Origination is the depth that comes from exploring the everyday lives of the characters. Both Handa and the girls of Neo Venezia must continuously overcome obstacles in order to progress with their lives. The characters actively pursue their goals, which is what drives the plot and makes both shows worth investing in.

Tomoya Okazaki is not in the market for friends; a delinquent with a harrowingly morose outlook on life who doesn’t see the point in putting effort into anything. The eccentric Nagisa Furukawa suddenly and inexplicably strikes his attention. Although he tries to deny her advances, Tomoya finds himself drawn to helping her achieve her goal of bringing the school’s old drama club back to life with the additional help of four other girls.

By learning to care about someone other than himself, Tomoya learns to care about life as well. Unlike past slice-of-life anime, like many of the ones mentioned previously above, Clannad differs in that Tomoya mainly grows not through overcoming his own obstacles, but by helping Nagisa in her own ambitions. Heartfelt and empowering, Clannad offers an irresistible sweetness that comes from learning to change one’s perspective on life and appreciate what at first glance might appear boring or commonplace.

Both Clannad and Aria: The Origination feature a calming type of serenity from watching the adventures of the female characters. In Clannad, it is the overwhelming amount of moe and sweetness that is known to win fan’s hearts; in Aria: The Origination, it is the faultless persistence and wholesome of the entire group of main characters. Clannad possesses more of a romantic element, as the relationship between Tomoya and Nagisa develops over the course of the season, but at its core, Clannad remains focused on the friendship that arises between everyone, making it similar to Aria: The Origination, and a show that must be watched.