More Magical Adventures Await You!
The Ancient Magus’ Bride is a great anime for those who adore magic. This series is filled with many magical creatures and spells that’ll scratch anyone’s fantastical itch. It follows a wizard named Eins who attends a slave auction and purchases a young girl named Chise Hatori. Chise’s lived a rough life as a “Sleigh Beggy,” so she’s thrilled to escape this entrapment with Eins. She learns about his wizarding status and that Eins wishes to wed her and make her his apprentice. We then follow the two’s growing relationship and the daily adventures that come with being a profound wizard. Fear not if you’re having trouble finding anime similar to The Ancient Magus’ Bride! We’ve discovered 10 alternate shows that’ll give you a similar experience as The Ancient Magus’ Bride. Additionally, for each anime we’ve reviewed, we’ve included a link that allows you to view our full thoughts about the series to see if it’s worth your time. So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet your appetite when you’ve finished streaming The Ancient Magus’ Bride!
Natsume’s Book of Friends
Similarities – Characters & Story
Natsume’s Book of Friends is about a boy named Takashi Natsume. He’s lived a rough life, going from one foster home to another because he can see youkai. He’s accepted his gift and chooses to alienate himself from others. One day, Natsume unknowingly frees Madara, a spirit who takes a cat’s form. Natsume connects Madara to his late grandmother. She’s highly regarded in the youkai world for creating an artifact called the Book of Friends. Natsume has the book in his possession but chooses to safeguard it from scheming youkai. He strikes a deal with Madara though. He plans to hand the book to him if Natsume acts as his bodyguard. Therefore, we follow our pair on their quest to free the youkai Natsume’s grandmother sealed away. In time, viewers will get to see Natsume’s relationship with youkai and humans improve. This is another anime that revolves around a protagonist with a terrible childhood and showcases their interactions with a world unfamiliar to humanity. If you enjoyed the magical mishaps Chise and Eins endure in their show, you’ll get a kick out of Natsume’s adventures in his.
Violet Evergarden
Similarities – Fantasy, Romance, Characters
Violet Evergarden is an incredibly animated work. This is one of Kyoto Animation’s best productions. It’s full of emotional scenes and likable characters. The visuals in this show will leave you speechless and will make you wonder if what you’re seeing on screen is real. Our tale takes place in a futuristic world where robots and humans live and work in unison. We follow Violet Evergarden, a girl who loses her spot in the army due to losing her arms and needing robotic limbs. She embarks on a quest to discover what her dying Major meant when he told her he loved her. This show set the bar for Netflix-produced shows moving forward. While some haven’t been as immaculate as this one, it was still an impressive feat on Netflix’s part. If you’re looking for another story that follows a character learning what it means to love and be loved, give this one a shot. You can read our thoughts on Violet Evergarden in our full-season review here!
Somali and the Forest Spirit
Similarities – Fantasy & Characters
Somali and the Forest Spirit offers viewers a sweet and heartwarming tale. Like The Ancient Magus’ Bride, viewers get to witness a relationship between inter-species characters blossom over time. However, the bond in Somali and the Forest Spirt tackles it from a Father/Daughter perspective, unlike The Ancient Magus’ Bride’s romantic angle with Eins and Chise. This story occurs in a world where humanity’s reached its breaking point. In this world, a golem discovers a young human girl lying around. Viewers will witness these two form an unlikely bond as they set out into a gorgeously rendered fantasy setting that’s unlike our own. You’ll be amazed by their ever-growing relationship. While it may not be as romantic as The Ancient Magus’ Bride, you’ll fall in love with Somali and the Forest Spirit’s characters, world, and fun storyline.
Yona of the Dawn
Similarities – Characters, Action, Fantasy
Yona of the Dawn is an underappreciated work that delves into fantasy, comedy, and romance. It takes place in the Kouka kingdom, where its princess Yona resides and lives a healthy life. This all crumbles before her when a maniacal act of treason takes away her luxurious lifestyle before her eyes. She flees with her friend Son into the wild. With a target on her back, Yona trains to become a stronger person and vows to seek vengeance upon the cruel individuals who ruined her life. Like Chise, Yona will learn what it means to feel loved and explores a world full of fantastical life. Both anime feature action bits to keep you hooked and clever drama segments to keep the tension flowing. The side characters have wonderful personalities and add to viewers’ immersion in the world. If you’re looking for another beautifully animated show with incredible characters and more action, check out Yona of the Dawn.
Spice & Wolf
Similarities – Characters, Setting, Romance
Spice & Wolf is an incredible slice-of-life anime. It follows a powerful wolf deity named Holo, whose been reduced to fodder because no one needs her blessings. She meets Lawrence, a traveling merchant who makes Holo his new business partner. He promises to take Holo to her homeland Yoitsu but secretly wants to open a shop. Despite his interests, Lawrence will grow a strong bond with Holo over time that’ll blossom into something magical. Like The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Spice & Wolf offers an excellent European setting that’ll resonate with many anime viewers. While it delves into romantic aspects of Holo and Lawrence’s relationship, the series isn’t afraid to discuss political and economical topics involving its world. This gives the series a more mature vibe to it. It also offers some excellent world-building and drama to keep viewers engaged with its storyline. If you’re looking for a more grounded work with fantastical and romantic elements, give Spice & Wolf a shot.
Made In Abyss
Similarities – Fantasy, Themes, Beautiful Animation
Made In Abyss is a rare anime that aims to deceive viewers. At first glance, it looks like a wholesome adventure shows about children discovering fantastical creatures. However, upon diving deeper into the hole, you’ll realize this show’s a lot darker than you’d expect. Made In Abyss tackles what it means to be human and involves our cast getting roped in traumatic situations. It’s not for the faint of heart. Viewers who don’t like seeing children experience extreme pain and agony will find this anime atrocious and overly barbaric. However, if you can overlook the show’s crude imagery, you’ll walk away from this one exceptionally pleased with its deep lore, engaging narrative, and mature tone.
Snow White With The Red Hair
Similarities – Magic, Characters, Romance
Snow White With The Red Hair is a complicated tale that plays out like a fairy tale. It follows a girl named Shirayuki, who attracts everyone’s attention because of her trademark red hair. Suddenly, she catches the attention of prince Raiji. He causes Shirayuki to flee the country and she’ll eventually meet an injured man named Zen. Shirayuki heals Zen’s wounds and to repay a debt Shirayuki travels with Zen to his home country to become a court herbalist. Her transition to this new occupation won’t be easy as Raji is on the hunt for her. This anime provides a wonderful spin on the classic Snow White narrative and uses tropes from that tale to tell a well-crafted story. Shirayuki and Zen’s relationship is handled with proper care like Chise and Ein’s. The romance between the former is focused on more since the latter chooses to explore its world-building heavily. If you’re looking for a great fairy-tale-inspired anime to watch with charming romance elements.
Mushishi
Similarities – Atmosphere & Fantasy
Mushishi is the pinnacle of atmospheric anime. This beautiful fantasy anime is a great watch for those looking to shut their brains off for a few minutes. With its likable protagonist, relaxing vibes, and adventurous feeling, you’ll find yourself falling head over heels for this show’s world and its scenery. This series follows a wandering traveler named Ginko. He visits multiple locations and has a high appreciation for nature. He’ll encounter many fantastical creatures small and large. Ginko leaves a lasting impression on everyone he meets and many will adore his pacifist demeanor and elegant tone. Viewers searching for an anime with a mellow tone and a comfortable atmosphere should look no further than Mushishi.
The Girl From The Other Side
Similarities – Supernatural
The Girl From The Other Side is a remarkable anime that won’t take you long to complete. Unlike the Ancient Magus’ Bride, this OVA has a runtime of about 10 minutes. While there was a 60+ minute film released afterward, the OVA provides enough juicy material to keep you entertained. Our story takes place in a world split into two realms. The two realms are called the Outside and the Inside. The former was roamed by creatures who can curse anyone they touch. The latter was inhabited by humans. One day, a human girl named Shiva and a monster named Teacher meet. Miraculously, their bond transcends the boundaries placed in these realms. Therefore, we examine their growing relationship. This is another tale featuring unlikely companions growing as a unit. Both anime share strong European settings. The Girl From The Other Side focuses on the darker aspects of the worlds its protagonists inhabit more so than The Ancient Magus’ Bride.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Similarities – Tone, Magic, Action
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an excellent adventure anime. It contains dark imagery, subjects, and fun action sequences. It’s another tale with a serious tone but offers some lighthearted comedy to balance things out. With its well-written protagonists and dark storyline, this is an epic tale every shonen anime fan should experience. This series follows the journey of Edward and Alphonse Elric. These brothers no longer have normal human bodies due to an accident involving alchemy. The brothers learn of a magical stone that can help them retain their former bodies. However, their quest won’t be an easy one as they’ll encounter numerous foes wishing to stop them. Brotherhood contains more action than The Ancient Magus’ Bride. Both anime tackle dark subjects and characters of all age ranges aren’t safe from the cruelties that lurk in their worlds. If you’re looking for a dark shonen anime with some joyful vibes and epic confrontations, give this one a shot. So there we have it, our 10 anime/TV show alternatives to watch when you’ve caught up with The Ancient Magus’ Bride! What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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