Atsushi Nakajima has been expelled from his orphanage and is starving. In his unfortunate moment, he sees a man floating down the river, legs up. After jumping in to save the man, Atsushi learns that he has just interrupted the man’s suicide attempt. If that isn’t unusual enough, the man—named Dazai—works with the Armed Detective Agency, using his supernatural abilities to solve crimes too tricky for the police. Atsushi joins the same agency, learns more about his own mysterious past, and works with a group of other gifted individuals.

If you like the light-hearted play between Vanitas and Noé, then you will definitely enjoy Bungou Stray Dogs. Both anime were produced by the same studio and have a similar vibe. Though Vanitas is more visually striking, Bungou Stray Dogs is an enjoyable watch in terms of comedy and having a whole cast of interesting characters. These stories are very different, but it is worth the watch. With several seasons and a movie, there is a lot of love about Bungo Stray Dogs!

Of all the things that can end a person’s life, spontaneous human combustion is the cause of death that everyone fears the most. Uncurable and without a defined cause, this type of death causes the afflicted to become an infernal. They burn to ash and continue to burn those around them. The Special Fire Force arrives to lay an infernal to rest and save the general public in these moments. Shinra Kusakabe joins the Fire Force on a personal journey to become a hero, find his long lost brother, and learn the cause of human combustion.

Fire Force and Vanitas no Carte share an exciting and obscure enemy. In Vanitas, the Charlatans seem not to have a physical body and are an intelligent and evil mass. In Fire Force, the infernals and creatures of Adolla (supposedly heaven) are both entities that will remind you of Vanitas no Carte. The main character takes a similar journey to end the incurable affliction as well, though they go about it much differently. In addition, Vanitas no Carte is a beautifully animated creation, and so too is Fire Force. Check it out!

Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation is a detective-themed anime featuring Muhyo, a master of magical law, and Roji, who is still learning. If you have an unwanted possession, are being haunted, or have monsters you can’t get rid of, Muhyo and Roji will take the case. Ghosts have their own set of laws that include not harassing humans, and when they are broken, Muhyo compares the act against magical law and passes judgment.

Both anime include people investigating things to do with supernatural beings, though they are specifically different. Muhyo practices magical law and encounters ghosts who break it, while Vanitas is a vampire doctor looking at a more extensive condition. Muhyo is also a cape-wearing, overconfident person who wields a remarkable book to accomplish his tasks. He can be a jerk and doesn’t lose any sleep based on what you think about him. Does this sound familiar? Take a look at Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation!

The grandfather of Lord Hugh Anthony Disward, called Huey, has passed away, and Huey is the beneficiary of his will. His grandfather was a known collector of rare and unusual books and though Huey inherits his mansion, he is also instructed to take responsibility for his grandfather’s forbidden archives of ancient knowledge, Bibliotheca Mystica de Dantalian, and a girl named Dalian. It becomes the journey of Huey and Dalian to solve mysteries caused by Phantom books, which are cursed and have a significant amount of power.

The Mystic Archives of Dantalian is like Vanitas in that it involves a bookkeeper that protects books of mystical power and abilities. Like Noé searches for Vanitas to observe his book, Huey has been instructed to take care of Dalian in his grandfather’s will. Both Noé and Huey find themselves helping their bookkeeping and arrogant partner in crime, who seems to know much more about the situation than they do. For another great adventure involving a mysterious book, check out The Mystic Archives of Dantalian!

It has been a decade since the Holy Grail War, and Waver Velvet, who fought in the war, is now known as Lord El Melloi II. This title is primarily cosmetic and was given to him by the younger sister of the first El Melloi. Waver is acting as a placeholder for the Lord’s title until the young girl is old enough to rule the House of El Melloi. He is an instructor for the Clock Tower and teaches new generations of mages in Modern Magecraft Theory. Lord El Melloi II solves supernatural cases with his grave keeper sidekick, Gray, when he is not teaching.

Both anime deal with a supernatural mystery, though in Rail Zeppelin Grace Note, the danger seeks him out, and in Vanitas, the protagonist does everything he can to look for more patients. This anime lacks the humor of Vanitas, but that contributes to the more mature feel of adult relationships that is also present in Vanitas. If you like the segment in Vanitas where the book opens, you will enjoy the fight scenes of Gray, the assistant of Lord El Melloi. She wields a scythe, and while we won’t spoil the transformation here, do keep an eye out for it.

In Tokyo’s year 1923, there is a massive increase in the number of vampires. They have always been present, but with an influx of a black market artificial blood, people are starting to become vampires against their will, and more people are dying because of that. With their numbers increasing, the government puts together an all-vampire military unit called Code Zero. They hunt other vampires in Japan that indiscriminately hurt humans and dispose of them. Much about this situation has not been figured out yet, and ethics are questioned as emotions run high.

Both anime feature a hated vampire population and a crisis facing how to keep the peace between vampires and humans with unknown forces causing it to spiral out of control. The Charlatans in Vanitas look to increase curse bearers, and Mars Red has more people surviving vampire attacks than should, indicating that someone is helping them. More than that, if you love how beautiful Vanitas is, you will appreciate the old-style cinematography feel of Mars Red. Like Vanitas, Mars Red is more mature with adult relationships and problems.