Sakura Mamiya is a high school girl with a rather special gift, she can see and talk to spirits due to an incident from her childhood. While this could frighten a lot of folks, Sakura just accepts it as part of her everyday life like it’s nothing. She starts to understand the nature of her ability when she meets the newest boy at school, Rinne Rokudo, a student so poor he can only wear his PE clothes from junior high school as a substitute for a school uniform. So what is special about Rinne? It just so happens he happens to be a Shinigami, an individual who purifies the spirits Sakura can see so they can reincarnate to the next life, or combat them in case they are corrupted. Unfortunately, being a Shinigami doesn’t come cheap and Rinne’s father’s spending habits have forced him into the red. He supports himself by living in an abandoned clubhouse at the school and uses the school’s mini-shrine to get his classmates to put in offerings of food and money to take care of their supernatural problems.

For starters, both Kyoukai no Rinne and Inuyasha are adaptations of manga by Rumiko Takahashi. So naturally, they share numerous qualities. Both series explore aspects of the supernatural based on Japanese beliefs. However, Inuyasha deals with youkai, or demons who need to be slaughtered, while Kyoukai no Rinne deals with spirits who need to be reincarnated. Next, the romantic notions between Kagome and Inuyasha share similar traits with Rinne and Sakura as they start out as partners and remain that way without saying anything romantic despite developing a strong bond. However, both Inuyasha’s and Rinne’s feelings for their female co-leads are demonstrated in a defensive sense when they are challenged by Juumonji (for Rinne) and Kouga (for Inuyasha).

Last, some of the voice actors from Inuyasha happen to have some roles Kyoukai no Rinne. For starters, Kappei Yamaguchi, the voice of Inuyasha (and the voice of Ranma, another Takahashi original) happens to voice Sabato, Rinne’s father. While Yamaguchi plays Inuyasha rather aggressive and hard, as Sabuto, his voice comes across as rather soft and comedic. Another addition is Satsuki Yukino, Kagome’s voice actress as Rinne’s grandmother, Tamako. As opposed to being an aggressive schoolgirl as Tamako, she plays the role more politely and tends to have a more passive-aggressive personality in regards to Sabato.

You may think that Momiji Fujimiya is just a regular junior high school shrine girl living in Izumo of Shimane prefecture but think again. It turns out that she is the descendant of a mythical princess known as Kushinada. So how did she discover this? One day, she was attacked by a demon who refers to her as Kushinada. Thankfully, she is saved by agents of a secret organization known as the Terrestrial Administration Center or TAC for short. It turns out her ancestry is connected to the legend of the eight-headed serpent known as the Orochi is back and with a vengeance. Momiji accepts her destiny as the descendant of Kushinada and joins the TAC.

Both series takes influences from traditional Japanese folklore, but Blue Seed exclusively takes influence from the Yamada no Orochi legend. In addition, Momiji and Kagome reside in their ancestral shrines and assume the roles of their ancestors. While Kagome’s shrine does not seem to have any historical influence, the Izumo Shrine featured in Blue Seed happens to be one of Japan’s most famous shrines. But if there is one reason to enjoy his series, it certainly is the performance of Megumi Hayashibara (the voices of Rei in Evangelion, Lina Inverse from Slayers, and Female Ranma) as Momiji. If there is to be a list of who could be the best Japanese voice actress in history, it would no doubt by Hayashibara.

A great addition to this list is the Oscar-winning legend, Spirited Away. In this timeless Ghibli classic, Chihiro and her family are moving to a new town and along the way, make a quick stop after a missed turn within some abandoned real estate. While stepping out of the car, her parents find a food stand with no customers or cooks in attendance. With the food still fresh, her parents just indulge on their hunger and consequently turn into pigs. It just so happens that this ghost town is home to a parallel dimension where various spirits reside. Chihiro is stripped of her name and is given the name Sen by Yubaba, who you can say is like the Mama-san of the spirit world.

As for the name Sen, it shares the same kanji character as the Chi in Chihiro, and slowly forgets her real name (Miyazaki has stated that taking her name is meant to symbolize how the corporate working world can affect people’s personal identities). Now she must learn to live in the spirit world, get her parents back to normal, and find a way home.

Just like Inuyasha, it deals with ordinary modern girls who find themselves trapped in a world that resembles a more ancient Japan that is resided by spirits influenced by folk tales. While Kagome can freely go back to her time whenever she pleases, Chihiro does not have that privilege until she can regain her identity back. The biggest quality they both share is that they are unique coming of age stories for both Kagome and Chihiro in their own distinct ways. Both main leads find values in friendship and family in where they have their journeys, and in their places in the real world.

Based on the manga by CLAMP, Magic Knight Rayearth tells the story of Umi, Fuu, and Hikaru, three schoolgirls from separate junior high schools who were taking a field trip to Tokyo Tower. However, a brief flash of light brings them to the fantasy world of Cephiro, where all your RPG dreams come true. It just happens these three ordinary girls are the legendary Magic Knights, who are chosen to bring balance back to Cephiro. There they use their natural abilities and their newfound magical powers to stop Zagato and his allies from destroying Cephiro and to go back to their world.

From what you can tell, both Inuyasha and Magic Knight Rayearth deal with junior high school girls who are transported to a different world. From there, the similarities and differences kind of go hand in hand. For Inuyasha, Kagome goes to a world of demons and it is still connected to the history of her time. While with Rayearth, it is a world of every fantasy you can think of that doesn’t 100% rely on Japanese mythologies, but based on old-school Japanese RPGs.

Both series strongly explore themes of friendship that transcends between universes and with our own kind. While Umi, Fuu, and Hikaru tend to journey as a trio, they still make new friends such as Presea and Ferio, who highly contribute to the series. But what makes Rayearth very distinguishing is that upon the climax of the series (and in season 2 and the non-canon OVA), it becomes mystically mecha oriented and brings a very unique sense of action. Last, the opening theme, Yuzurenai Negai, is likely to have you hooked from the beginning and is a great representation of the themes of the series.

For five centuries in the basement of the temple where Ushio Aotsuki resides, is a demon sealed by his ancestors. One day while doing his chores, he accidentally finds himself face to face with the demon. Unfortunately, another demon is on the loose and is painting the town red. The sealed demon gets Ushio to unseal him by saying he can help. Ushio removes the spear and thinks he may have unleashed havoc on the world but it turns out that Ushio and the demon, who he names Tora meaning Tiger, become a unique set of partners where they work together and fight other demons. Though they don’t exactly show it, Ushio and Tora become the best of friends and are there for each other when it counts the most.

Comparing Ushio to Tora and Inuyasha is practically comparing apples to apples, but think of them of as different kinds of apples. Both series share a titular demon who was sealed by the ancestors of their human companions, only to be unsealed by the descendants, and begin with a difficult that develops to an unbreakable bond. Both series are very similar in terms of action, adventure, and comedy. Like some of the characters we listed, Ushio isn’t the most academically gifted, but what he lack in brains, he makes up in heart. Tora is a lot like Inuyasha who may not be 100% in touch with humans at first, but allows his time with them to appreciate them for who they are, but Tora tends to put a different put on a different kind of tough guy front in comparison to Inuyasha. And like Kagome, Ushio also joins in on the action and plays an active role.

Like most schoolgirls on this list, Miaka Yuuki and Yui Hongo were two ordinary Japanese 9th graders. All they wanted to do was pass their high school exams and go to high school together. All of that changes when they visit the library and find themselves at a section containing old books. There they find a Chinese novel called the Shijin Tenchisho, or The Universe of the Four Gods. Upon reading the first page, they are transported into the novel’s setting, Ancient China. Unfortunately, other circumstances make these two best friends become bitter rivals as they become Mikos, or priestesses for separate kingdoms.

Miaka becomes the Suzaku no Miko of the Southern Kingdom, while Yui becomes the Seiryuu no Miko of the Eastern Kingdom. If they can gather their respective seven warriors, then they can summon the God they are a priestess of and have any wish granted. However, Miaka finds herself torn apart between her love for one of her warriors, Tamahome, and wanting to fix her friendship with Yui. Can Miaka restore things to how they were and have true love conquer? Watch this anime to find out!

Inuyasha and Fushigi Yuugi deal with the supernatural, mythology, and magic but in different ways. Inuyasha takes more from Japanese influences while Fushigi Yuugi’s settings appropriately use Chinese mythology such as the four celestial beast gods. Both series share strong supporting casts. Inuyasha has Miroku, Sango, Shippou, Kouga, Myouga, and Sesshoumaru both as allies, rivals, and frenemies, while Fushigi Yuugi has a solid supporting cast that viewers will come to love such as Hotohori, Chiriko, Tasuki, and the ever so charming Nuriko, who is probably the breakout character. Last, we cannot deny the original creator’s favorite character, Nakago, the main antagonist.

Last, we recommend Fushigi Yuugi for its solid seiyuu cast and its upbeat soundtrack. For the seiyuu cast, Hikaru Midorikawa (who you may know as Heero Yuy in Gundam, Ali in Sailor Moon R, and Android 16 from DBZ) is simply perfect as Tamahome. His performance really brings out the perfect mixture of his warmth, innocence, and his drive to always protect Miaka. Takehito Koyasu (Zechs in Gundam Wing, Ryosuke in Initial D, Dio in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) as Hotohori appropriately brings an authoritative and yet soft performance as a young emperor. Kae Araki (most famous as Chibi Moon in the 1990s Sailor Moon anime) as Miaka perfectly shows her as vulnerable, caring, and driven throughout the character's development. As for the English dub, best to skip it.