Atsushi Nakajima has had some incredibly bad luck lately and he feels it might be due to a white tiger that only he can see. Thrown out of his orphanage, Atsushi is now homeless and in fear of the white tiger that seems to be causing chaos to all those around him. Continuing his bad luck, Atsushi meets a man who tried—but failed—to kill himself called Osamu Dazai. Despite his strange looks, Dazai claims he can help Atsushi but only if he joins his agency. Atsushi, with no other option, takes Dazai up on his offer but will soon learn that his choice will lead to him being put into a supernatural war where he will learn of his own powers linked to that tiger only he can see.

Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma and Bungou Stray Dogs have not only similar names but very similar themes. Bungou Stray Dogs focuses on launching various authors into its tale but each author wields powers—based on stories/books they created—that let them duke it out in supernatural conflicts. We here at Honey’s Anime absolutely love Bungou Stray Dogs for its fantastic action, animation, and story and we know many of you will too. You might not love Bungou to Alchemist but enjoy the themes it has within. If you fall into that category, then we recommend Bungou Stray Dogs!

Based on the mobile game, Grimms Notes The Animation is set in a bizarre world where fairy tales aren’t that fictional. Long ago, the world was forged by “Story Tellers” and inhabitants of this world find themselves given a special book at birth that dictates their lives. However, Chaos Tellers are able to manipulate the stories within the “books of fate” and alter someone’s life! In order to stop Chaos Tellers, special people with blank books of fate must use their abilities to save the world and usher in a time of peace.

Grimms Notes The Animation released last year to minimal fanfare but we think is a nice anime like Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma. Both stories focus on works of literature—though Grimms Notes The Animation is more fairy tale-oriented—to tell an interesting adventure story. Fans of RPGs will also no doubt get hooked on Grimms Notes The Animation as it has a very game-like feel. Those who didn’t give Grimms Notes The Animation a try but love Bungou to Alchemist will find both series are quite similar. Maybe you’ll realize that you missed out on a decent anime if you watch Grimms Notes The Animation!

During the battle of Sekigahara, Toyohisa Shimazu fell in battle trying to assist in his armies retreat. As the darkness began to consume the proud warrior, Toyohisa finds himself in a hallway full of unfamiliar doors and with a man sitting behind a desk. Despite his multitude of questions, Toyohisa is told he will be joining a new war and is thrown through one of the doors flinging him to yet another unfamiliar location! Toyohisa quickly learns he was sent with various warriors from other timelines and is meant to aid this world in defeating an opposing threat of warriors just like himself. The battlefield might have changed but gripping his swords tightly, Toyohisa once more yearns for the taste of blood that only can be obtained in the hell that is war.

Drifters—by the same creator of the famed Hellsing—is like a myriad of histories thrown into one anime series. Just like how Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma teaches the audience about literature—albeit in a silly way—Drifters teaches about various samurai, warriors, and killers all from various points in time. If you need a bit more action and way more blood—Drifters is very similar to Hellsing in that regard—then you’ll no doubt love this wicked action and pseudo-historical series.

Tsugumi Kuze has found herself in quite a strange set of circumstances. Forced to marry a complete stranger for her noble family, Kuze only cared if the marriage would keep her brother—Hitaki—safe and sound. Unfortunately, just as the marriage was to begin, Hitaki is found dead from setting himself on fire with the only clue to his odd suicide in the form of a book found on his person. Kuze soon discovers Hitaki didn’t kill himself but it was the book cursed by a strange power dubbed Maremono that did it. Kuze soon realizes she can see the Auras of Maremono and is hired by a special investigation force—Intelligence Asset Management Bureau—to work alongside their team in stopping these powerful works of literature from causing more damage to society. Now it falls upon the bureau to use Kuze’s powers and prevent a hidden group from using the Maremono to change the powers of society.

Literature can be considered a powerful tool but in the case of Nil Admirari no Tenbin, books can also kill! While the stories of both Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma and Nil Admirari no Tenbin are quite different, they do share two qualities; handsome dudes and a look at literature in a way only anime can do. There’s plenty to like about Nil Admirari no Tenbin from the quirky cast of male leads to the occasional action/mystery the series occasionally throws in to keep the viewers hooked. Just like a good book, once you watch Nil Admirari no Tenbin you’ll find it hard to stop!

Aoi Bungaku is a series aimed at retelling the tale of several stories from classic literature but focusing on specific characters first and foremost. Each story created by various writers such as Osamu Dazai, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, and Ango Sakaguchi shows the strengths—and flaws—of humanity all the while proving that many of these older tales can be quite relatable in the darkest ways. Aoi Bungaku animates these short stories and allows you to see them in a whole new creative way.

There is a big difference in style between Aoi Bungaku and Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma as the latter aims to take liberties with various authors/short tales but they still beat to the same drum. While Aoi Bungaku is focused on retelling short stories of past literature, it does it in a way that allows the viewer to understand these classic works and see them from a different perspective. You might not find caricatures of Dazai like you do in Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma but what you will discover is stories that make you realize the trials and tribulations of man but in a more condensed way. In many ways we would recommend watching Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma first and then later Aoi Bungaku to see a more accurate retelling of stories like Hashire, Melos—written by Dazai—and how they were originally meant to be told.

A student’s biggest worries should be whether they will pass an upcoming test but for Yoshiharu Sagara, his fear is failing to save an alternate history! Sagara woke up one day to find himself transported to the feudal days of Japan. On top of that, Oda Nobuna—a woman version of the feared Oda Nobunaga—is saved by Sagara and now he must aid her conquest of Japan. With a slew of female versions of famed leaders/warriors around him, Sagara must prove his worth to find a way back home and steal the hearts of these beautiful girls.

Rounding off our anime list of altered realities we look at Oda Nobuna no Yabou which released in late 2012. Studio Madhouse, alongside Studio Gokumi, worked to create a semi-historical series that was both comedic and filled to the brim with cute waifu. Like Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma, Oda Nobuna no Yabou takes some big liberties with historical context but still creates an exciting series that will certainly make you cry with laughter. Those looking for an older series to check out like Bungou to Alchemist: Shinpan no Haguruma will no doubt want to watch Oda Nobuna no Yabou!