Drama (1560)

Plot-driven stories focused on realistic characters experiencing human struggle. Because drama stories ask the question of what it means to be human, the conflict and emotions will be relatable, even if the settings or characters themselves are not. Here, you will see humanity at its worst, its best, and everything in between. Simply having a serious tone, dramatic moments, or evoking tears does not equal Drama. If the narrative focuses on eliciting emotional reactions rather than on characterization, then it is melodrama and not Drama. Slice of Life and Drama are incompatible by definition.

Ai yori Aoshi

Fumizuki, Kou 2024
Kaoru Hanabishi is a kind, earnest college student with many friends and potential love interests. One day at the train station, he meets a beautiful girl wearing a kimono, who has plans to visit someone but is struggling with directions. Kaoru decides to help her find her way; however, upon arrival at the location, they find an empty plot of land. While searching for any outstanding clues, the girl shows Kaoru a photo of the person she is looking for.

As destiny would have it, Kaoru immediately recognizes the individual as himself with his childhood friend—the previously betrothed Aoi Sakuraba from the esteemed Sakuraba family—who is now sitting across from him. Their wedding was canceled many years prior after Kaoru left the highly regarded Hanabishi clan for personal reasons. Despite their time apart, Aoi remains committed to Kaoru.

With this fateful encounter, Kaoru and Aoi are reunited, though they must keep their relationship a secret to preserve the reputation of the Sakuraba family. This is only complicated by the different women that Kaoru finds himself surrounded by. Even so, Kaoru and Aoi wish to learn more about each other and stay together against their families' wishes.

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
Nov 27, 1998 to Aug 26, 2005 | 153 chp | Publishing

Alice 19th

Watase, Yuu 2024
The story follows Alice Seno, a 15-year-old girl forever shadowed by her older sister Mayura, who is good at everything she does. At school she is known as "Mayura's little sister" and is relentlessly tormented by the older girls who know that Alice is too weak to fight back.

Alice harbors a deep affection for Kyo Wakamiya, a handsome upperclassman who is on the archery team with Mayura. On the way to school one day, Alice rescues a white rabbit from the road despite the danger to herself, but gets rescued by Kyo and receives a bracelet with a single red stone. The rabbit she saves, however, is no ordinary rabbit. She reveals her true form to Alice and introduces herself as Nyozeka. Alice is told that she is destined to become a Lotis Master. The Lotis Masters use the power of words and communication to enter the Inner Heart of others. It is a powerful ability to be used carefully as Alice soon finds out.

Using the power of the Lotis Words, which reveal themselves to be in the form of runes, Alice accidentally makes her older sister disappear during a dispute over Kyo, whom Mayura had begun dating. Alice then must use the Lotis Words to try and bring her sister back from the dark. She is joined by Kyo who proves to have the Lotis powers as well, and by Frey, another Lotis master who had trained with the masters and arrives with the intention to marry Alice. Unfortunately, Mayura has been taken by the power of the Maram Words, the dark reflection of the Lotis Words. Their only hope lies in Alice and Kyo becoming the legendary Neo-Masters to discover the lost word bonding both Maram and Lotis.

(Source: Mangatraders)
Jun 20, 2001 to Mar 5, 2003 | 40 chp | Publishing

Aria

Amano, Kozue 2024
In the distant future, humanity has terraformed Mars into an oceanic planet to suit their needs. Now known as Aqua, the planet serves as a new home for people discontent with living on Manhome—the planet formerly known as Earth. Being a perfect imitation of Manhome's Venice, the town of Neo-Venezia has inherited all of the rustic charms of the original. Gondolas weave their way through the waterways of the dreamy town while nostalgic alleys await those who travel on foot.

Akari Mizunashi, a young Manhome native, has recently made Neo-Venezia her new home. To pursue her dream of becoming a gondolier tour guide—or Undine—Akari joins the Aria Company, one of the most renowned water guide companies in town. As she basks in a simple lifestyle unavailable on Manhome, Akari cheerily ambles through her daily life in Neo-Venezia: the town where magic and miracles abound.

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
Feb 28, 2002 to Feb 29, 2008 | 67 chp | Publishing

Ayashi no CeresCeres: Celestial Legend

Watase, Yuu 2024
Aya and her twin brother Aki thought they were going to a celebration of their sixteenth birthday at their grandfather's home, but the funeral-like atmosphere tips them off that something's not right. Their "birthday present" turns out to be a mummified hand—the power of which forces an awakening within Aya, and painful wounds all over Aki's body! Grandfather Mikage announces that Aki will be heir to the Mikage fortune, and Aya must die! But Aya has allies in the athletic cook and martial artist Yuuhi, and the attractive, mysterious Touya. But can even two handsome and resourceful guys save Aya when it's her own power that's out of control?

(Source: VIZ Media)
Aug 5, 1996 to Jan 20, 2000 | 83 chp | Publishing

Brain PowerdBrain Powered

Sugisaki, YukiruTomino, Yoshiy 2024
The discovery of an alien organic vessel submerged in the ocean reveals a plot to unleash planetary destruction... A collective of evil scientists called the Reclaimers works to hasten mankind's extinction. As one of Earth's defenders, Hime Utsumiya fights on a team of mecha called Brain Powered's to combat them. Unfortunately the Reclaimers also have these mecha and mankind's fate hangs in the balance.

(Source: Tokyopop)
Nov 26, 1997 to Oct 26, 2000 | 26 chp | Publishing

Imadoki!Nowadays

Watase, Yuu 2024
For Tanpopo Yamazaki, life at the elitist Meio Academy seems way out of her league. The daughters of wealthy families snub her, other students make light of the fact that she actually tested into Meio instead of relying on family connections, and the cute boy she saw tending a dandelion the day before wouldn't even acknowledge her existence. Hoping to make friends and have some fun, Tanpopo starts up a gardening committee, but will this help her survive in a school where superficiality and nepotism reign supreme?
(Source: Viz)
May 2000 to Jul 2001 | 26 chp | Publishing

Bus Gamer: The Pilot Edition

Minekura, Kazuya 2024
Toki Mishiba, Nobuto Nakajo, and Kazuo Saitou are hired to play the Biz Game, a game much like capture the flag, only with company secrets and insane amounts of money involved. At first they think it's a crazy but fun way to get some money, but as the game goes on, they hear stories about mysterious deaths on the news, and recognize the victims as members of the teams they've beaten in the game. When one of the losers of a game dies right in front of them, they realize what is really at stake—their very lives!

(Source: MU)
1999 to Nov 28, 2001 | 11 chp | Publishing

Chronicles of the Cursed Sword

2024
Rey Yan was an orphan with no home, no skills, and no purpose. But when he comes upon the PaSa sword, a cursed blade made from the bones of the demon king, he suddenly finds himself with the power to be a great hero. The sword's creator is the evil Shiyan, the royal vizier who needs the sword to assist him in releasing his ancestor, the demon king. (Source: Tokyopop)
1999 to 2009 | 163 chp | Publishing

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon)

Takeuchi, Naoko 2024
"In the name of the moon, I shall punish you!"

Usagi Tsukino is a cheerful, odango-haired 14-year-old who attends Juuban Municipal Junior High School. She prefers eating and playing video games to studying, which results in her notably poor grades. She also gets easily upset, whether by baseless insults or reasonable reprimands. It's very unlikely that she could be known as anything but a bad influence and a crybaby, but that begins to change when she meets a black cat.

Given a special brooch from the black cat named Luna, Usagi can use it to transform into a guardian of justice named Sailor Moon! She is now tasked to protect the Earth from all that is evil and to find both a missing princess and a sacred jewel known as the Legendary Silver Crystal. Whether she likes it or not, Usagi's beautiful transformation marks the start of meeting the mysterious Tuxedo Mask, fighting alongside new comrades, and learning to take responsibility in this acclaimed magical girl classic.

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
Dec 28, 1991 to Feb 3, 1997 | 61 chp | Publishing

Megami KouhoseiThe Candidate for Goddess

Sugisaki, Yukiru 2024
It is the year 4088. It has been over one thousand years since the Crisis of Systems (Lost Property), which resulted in the destruction of four planetary systems, leaving only a single inhabitable planet, Zion. Mankind is forced to live in space colonies, since that one planet is constantly being invaded by alien life forms that have come to be known as Victim.

To stop the aliens and to allow people to land on Zion, mankind has developed the astronomical humanoid weapons, Ingrids, also known as Goddesses. G.O.A. (Goddess Operation Academy) is a school dedicated to the training of young men to pilot these Ingrids...

(Source: Tokyopop)
Nov 1996 to 2001 | 27 chp | Publishing

Rozen Maiden

PEACH‐PIT 2024
The legendary dollmaker Rozen created several unique dolls throughout his life, but it was not the materials he used that made them special. Known as Rozen Maidens, each doll was imbued with a Rosa Mystica—a precious gem that gives them life. But these dolls have a specific purpose: they must fight each other in a contest called the Alice Game. The winner becomes Alice, the perfect girl who will have the chance to meet their father and creator.

Jun Sakurada, a middle school shut-in, experiences the Alice Game up close and personal when one of these dolls arrives at his house. After winding her up with the spring provided, she comes to life and introduces herself as Shinku, the fifth Rozen Maiden. Despite Jun quickly becoming annoyed by her haughty attitude, they find themselves working together when they are attacked by another doll. At Shinku's behest, Jun becomes her medium, allowing her to use his life force as a power to defeat their enemies.

In the aftermath of the fight, more Rozen Maidens appear and decide to live at Jun's house. But can there be any peace when their very existence means they must fight each other?

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
Aug 12, 2002 to May 30, 2007 | 46 chp | Publishing

Fruits Basket

Takaya, Natsuki 2024
Tooru Honda is an orphan with nowhere to go but a tent in the woods, until the Souma family takes her in. However, the Souma family is no ordinary family, and they hide a grave secret: when they are hugged by someone of the opposite gender, they turn into animals from the Chinese Zodiac!

Now, Tooru must help Kyou and Yuki Souma hide their curse from their classmates, as well as her friends Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima. As she is drawn further into the mysterious world of the Soumas, she meets more of the family, forging friendships along the way.

But this curse has caused much suffering; it has broken many Soumas. Despite this, Tooru may just be able to heal their hearts and soothe their souls.

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
Jul 18, 1998 to Nov 20, 2006 | 136 chp | Publishing

B'T X

Kurumada, Masami 2024
The story begins with Teppei Takamiya, as he travels to China after years of living quietly in the fictional Kamui Island. He attempts to reunite with his brother Koutarou, who left Germany five years ago to study robotics at a university. Unfortunately, no sooner than his brother begins an exhibition about an advanced form of machine, he's kidnapped by a mecha in the shape of a wasp and a servant of the Machine Empire. Teppei starts a chase, using a gauntlet known as the "Messiah Fist" to hold onto the wasp as it travels to a secretive base in the Gobi Desert which serves as the Empire's headquarters.

Getting thrown into a garbage heap and facing a cyborg he somehow is familiar with, Teppei's blood awakens a relic from the past; a kirin-type B't known only as "X" which, five years ago, was considered the most powerful B't in existence. Both are equally stubborn, although quite different in many ways, and after a few initial squabbles, X resolves to help Teppei in his quest to save his brother.

(Source: TVTropes)
Oct 26, 1994 to Dec 26, 1999 | 63 chp | Publishing

Mondaiteiki SakuhinshuConfidential Confessions

Momochi, Reiko 2024
Confidential Confessions is a shocking new manga series that deals with many of the hard-hitting issues that teens face today. Using emotionally moving story lines and multi-dimensional characters, each groundbreaking volume tackles such topics as teen prostitution, rape, HIV, stalkers, suicide, and sexual harassment.
(Source: Tokyopop)
2000 to 2002 | 23 chp | Publishing

Tsuiteru Kanojo

Zappa, GouFujima, Takuya 2024
Have you ever lost anything that was so precious to you, that if it were gone you wouldn't know what to do? For Otokawa Natsuru, that item is a keychain. Hearing from Kazama Miori, a fellow student with renowned psychic powers, that taking something precious can help with relationships, Natsuru takes her keychain on a date with childhood friend Yanagi Eitaro. But somewhere along the date, her precious keychain is lost...

(Source: MU)
Aug 9, 2004 to Jun 9, 2005 | 9 chp | Publishing

Kindan no Koi wo Shiyou

Ohmi, Tomu 2024
Hisako was saved from a drunkard by a wolf. She decides to adopt the beautiful, and entrancing creature, but Hisako's new pet turns into a fine-looking guy! Somehow his entrancing eyes remain in her mind...

One-Shot: A Request to the Vampire
Ryouko is targeted as an anorexic, or shall we say, unappetizing, girl. But when her want to die overflows when she meets a vampire, he turns her world around.

(Source: MU)
2000 | 5 chp | Publishing

Kindan no Koi de Ikou

Ohmi, Tomu 2024
Hisako is saved by a beautiful wolf that turns into an even more beautiful man...but can a relationship like this work!? The continuation of the story of Hisako and Yato seen in Kindan no Koi wo Shiyou and Zoku Kindan no Koi wo Shiyou!
(Source: ShojoMagic)
2001 to 2005 | 50 chp | Publishing

Tokyo Babylon

CLAMP 2024
Subaru Sumeragi is the thirteenth head of his powerful onmyouji clan. Until the time comes when he must succeed his grandmother fully, Subaru is allowed to live in Tokyo with his fraternal twin Hokuto. While Subaru is kind and shy, Hokuto has exuberance to spare, and her favorite pastime is designing bold matching outfits for the two of them to wear. Her next favorite thing to do is try to set up Subaru with their veterinarian friend Seishirou Sakurazuka who, oddly enough, is always readily available to accompany the Sumeragis throughout the city.

Subaru has to resolve a variety of spiritual conflicts in Tokyo: some are cases formally brought to him by clients, and others are matters in which he decides to involve himself. A selfless teenager, he empathizes with others to the point that their pain may as well be his own. This leaves him vulnerable in a city where nearly everyone makes decisions that only benefit themselves as individuals. Hokuto hopes that if Subaru develops feelings for Seishirou, their relationship will be the one thing that he never gives up for the sake of anyone else. However, is Seishirou the best candidate for her brother's love, or is he hiding sinister secrets?

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
1990 to 1993 | 18 chp | Publishing

Battle Royale

Taguchi, MasayukiTakami, Koush 2024
Every year, a class is randomly chosen to be placed in a deserted area where they are forced to kill each other in order to survive. Initially believing to be on a graduation trip, Shuuya Nanahara and the rest of Shiroiwa Junior High's Class B find that they have been chosen to participate in this game of life and death known as "The Program."

Waking up to the realization that they have been quarantined on an island, the 42 students discover they have been fitted with metal collars which will detonate if certain conditions are not met. In order to obtain freedom, they must slaughter everyone else by whatever means necessary, and the last one standing is deemed the winner. As each member of the class heads down their own path, Shuuya makes it his goal to get off the island without playing the game in order to put an end to this madness once and for all.

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
2000 to 2005 | 119 chp | Publishing

Beck (BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad)

Sakuishi, Harold 2024
Yukio "Koyuki" Tanaka wasted away his middle school days listening to Japanese pop music and apathetically trudging through life—until a casual run-in with the enigmatic guitarist Ryuusuke "Ray" Minami. Through this encounter, Koyuki realizes what he has been missing all this time as Ray introduces him to western rock music and jumpstarts his desire to play guitar.

Although various struggles plague his path to rock fame, Koyuki refuses to abandon the passion that gave his life purpose, balancing it together with school, work, and friends. Beck tells the story of the love and trial that accompanies pursuing a professional career in music as Koyuki and Ray work toward realizing the guitarist's dream of the ultimate band.

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
Feb 17, 2000 to Jun 5, 2008 | 103 chp | Publishing

Blame!

Nihei, Tsutomu 2024
In an enormous steel labyrinth riddled with horrifying creatures, humanity is forced to isolate itself in small enclaves while living in constant fear of its annihilation. In this dystopia, only a strange young man known as Killy is brave enough to traverse its unforgiving territories.

Possessing superhuman strength and a rare Graviton Beam Emitter, Killy fights off bloodthirsty beasts and other fiendish forces in his desperate search for a human with the Net Terminal Gene—genetic information that holds the potential to restore the corrupt world.

The dark world of Blame! follows Killy as he meets new people, sheds more blood, and draws closer to finding the Net Terminal Gene. Through these exploits, the true nature of the world is slowly pieced together.

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
Jan 25, 1997 to Jul 25, 2003 | 66 chp | Publishing

Sennen no YukiMillennium Snow

Hatori, Bisco 2024
Chiyuki Matsuoka's given name literally means "thousand snow," and it embodies her parents' wish for her to witness the first snowfall of the year perennially. This wish is exceedingly optimistic due to Chiyuki's heart condition, which increases the risk of seizures and decreases her life expectancy. The doctor who presided over her birth said she would be lucky to live 15 years.

Chiyuki is 17 years old when she meets the unlikely vampire Touya Kanou. He claims to hate blood, and he refuses to find a human partner with whom to share the rest of his life. Touya is 18 now, but if he took blood continually from a partner, then they both might live to be a thousand years old.

Chiyuki immediately volunteers to be Touya's partner, but he shoves her away in disgust, inadvertently learning of her poor health when she starts to spasm. Touya treats Chiyuki more kindly after that, but still refuses to drink her blood. She begins to suspect that there is a different reason why he keeps turning her down, but will she live long enough to discover the truth?

[Written by Animeranku Rewrite]
Included one-shot:
Volume 1: Isshunkan no Romance (A Romance of One Moment)
Nov 24, 2000 to Dec 10, 2013 | 18 chp | Publishing

Zipang

Kawaguchi, Kaiji 2024
In the year 200X, a Japanese fleet consisting of 3 vessels leave on a mission to South America. After encountering a storm, the ship JDS Mirai find themselves without their escorts and in 1942, traveling towards the island of Midway to face the American fleet in one of largest battles in naval history. The crew of Mirai must decide whether or not to change the course of history by involving itself in WWII.

(Source: MU)
Jul 27, 2000 to Nov 5, 2009 | 422 chp | Publishing

Zig☆Zag

Nakaji, Yuki 2024
Freshly enrolled in Seifuu Academy, Takaaki Asakura (aka. Taiyou*-kun) is now living in a boys' dormitory. He has a strange and incomprehensible roommate named Sonoh Kirihara. Furthermore, his neighbor is Tatsuki Suwa, whom he hasn't seen since elementary school!? Meanwhile, he becomes friends with his classmates, Saho and Mei, and has high hopes for his new school life!

(Source: Maboroshi Scanlation)
Included one-shot:
Volume 4: Heaven Company
Sep 24, 2004 to Sep 24, 2008 | 44 chp | Publishing