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While visiting her grandparents on a remote island, Shiina Tamai, our young protagonist, inadvertently finds a strange star shaped creature, which she names Hoshimaru. This creature, while seemingly harmless and unusual, holds many secrets. As Shiina and her new friend Akira soon find out, their creatures are much more than they seem to be...and against their will, they are thrown into a dangerous and hostile situation of trying to save the world from others who would use their dragonets to enslave it.
For Kouta and Yuka, finding the bloody naked young girl on the beach would change their lives forever, for better or for worse. Unable to speak or function as a normal human being, she is named Nyu by the duo, and taken into their home in an effort to save her. But what neither teenager knows is that this innocent young girl is actually a killing machine -- an experiment gone terribly wrong -- and it is only a matter of time before the murderer in her awakens again...
Narutaru and Elfen Lied are easily related, as far as the sheer shock of how messed up and disturbing they are. Combine cute animation with horrific acts, both violence of the highest degree, as well as moral situations that will make you cringe, and you have a very unusual watch. You easily would like one if you liked the other.
Both Elfen Lied and Narutaru have the "That's just wrong" disturbing feel. Elfen does this more graphically, yet the violence actually seems appropriate and enhances a wonderful, bitter story. Narutaru is less graphic and more implied... which makes it the creepier of the two. Narutaru has the most "WTF" moments I've seen in any series, anime or not!
Elfen Lied and Narutaru share a similar atmosphere, where the situation constantly goes from normality to something deeply disturbed.
Of the two Elfen Lied is the far superior show. I got the feeling Narutaru is often disturbing for the sake of being disturbing, but in Elfen Lied it is an integral part of the plot.
Narutaru and Elfen Lied contain a certain shock value that is really rare to find in most anime. They are very dark animes and they are both about the same length if I recall correctly.
They tell rather tragic tales that can be very nerving to some. Narutaru is more spastic and weird where as EL is more violence and gore. Still they are alot alike in principal and those who enjoy dark anime should give both of them a watch.
Both Elfen Lied and Shadow Star Narutaru are mystery series with grabbing plots. The similarities between the two are very numerous, ranging from superficial things (cuteness and everyday life mixed with suspense and gore) and certain plot elements to shared themes.
Creatures that have never existed are fighting weapons in both of these anime. As per usual with dark anime, their is someone who craves power and seems to be willing to kill and destroy everything to get it. While the creatures in Elfen Lied are more complex and have more of a seperate will from their creators, they all ending fighting either to save themselves or because of the whims of others. Both animes also contain a military theme. Difference is that the military in Shadow Star is trying to stop the creatures, while the military in Elfen Lied is the reason that the creatures exist.
One word: Disturbing. Both Narutaru and Elfen Lied have their fair share of sick scenes, usually executed by teenagers with an extraordinary power. Elfen Lied is more showing with the gore and bloodbath, but Narutaru makes up for it with... err... more "creative" ways of suffering. Basically, if you want to sick back, relax and feel your stomach turn, I'd recommend both these shows to you.
If you want something extremely violent and shocking than both Elfen Lied and Narutaru are the animes for you. However both these anime suffer from a similar problem; the manga is vastly superior and expansive. Give both a shot and if you find yourself wanting more, read it and you will not be disappointed.
When a group of children discover a strange cave at the beach, their lives are forever changed. Inside they find a hide out filled with computers and a man named Kokopelli who gives them a curious offer: to participate in a special game in which they save Earth from fifteen giant monsters. To defeat the invaders, he will give them a powerful mecha of black armor. The children eagerly sign the contract, name their new weapon Zearth, and must now take turns to pilot it; but the 'game' is in fact all too real and the consequences of battle become the stuff of nightmares. With no option to cancel the contract, is there any way to stop the game before it is too late for all of them?
Interestingly enough, after I had come up with this recommendation I discovered that the same minds behind Narutaru created Bokurano -- I guess it makes sense that I'd naturally think of this recommendation anyways, right? Both Bokurano and Narutaru have something in common: a MESSED UP story involving kids. Not only is the animation style similar, but the amount of implied disturbing violence is prevalent in both.
If you like watching things that are dark, violent, and sometimes wrong (you'll know what I mean when you watch either of these), check out either Bokurano or Narutaru. Narutaru is more of a "here's what Pokemon would look like in hell" feel, while Bokurano has more of a "GANTZ with kids" feel.
Both Narutaru and Bokurano are adaptations of manga from the same mangaka, and they both have a dark theme. The main characters are kids between 11-13 years old; and among them, there are some who have many problems, while some other kids are pretty cruel and don't mind killing people or care what happens to innocent bystanders. There is considerable violence in both and some mysteries for anyone who likes that kind of stuff.
Shadow Star Narutaru and Bokurano share the same general atmosphere of fateful horror. The same creator is behind both series and it shows. Children caught in a recurring pattern of violence and death form the basic premise of both series. The issue of the value of life is prominent in both, as is the role of responsibility. These series are character-driven and extremely dark; Bokurano focuses on the destiny of the whole planet, while Shadow Star Narutaru deals primarily with the cast itself, but in both cases children are pushed to the limit, making for agonizing situations that are masterfully handled.
Darkness prevails among school kids; Bokurano and Narutaru have the same creator behind them, and it shows. They are violent but philosophical, sometimes delving into their horror repertoires. The characters are far from simple, and topics such as rape and murder are broached in both, with some shocking results.
Both Bokurano and NaruTaru take a familiar genre (Bokurano takes mecha, and NaruTaru takes Pocket Monster) and bring them out of their comfort zones by bringing in dark elements, violence, and philisophical points. Also, both anime delve into a well known, yet seldom aknowledged fact: Children can be cruel.
Very dark and disturbing in many ways, focussing on the relationships between children and their reaction to receiving destructive power.
Again both anime is about effects of power on human personality but Bokurano has less graphic violence than Narutaru.If you line up GANTZ -> Narutaru -> Bokurano these three anime are about the same concepts, but graphic violence decreases in that order while proportions increase.
Both are about children that get amazing powers that they get to use at will. Eventually it turns out they must save the world with these powers. Something that they did not sign up for. Messed up situation for children to be in. Check out one if you liked the other.
What would children do were they given an extraordinary power? Narutaru and Bokurano are both anime that adress this question. With a group of children in possession of a powerful companion of sorts, everyone responds to their newfound might in their own way. The plot in Bokurano is done better, is a tad more mature and has less loose threads, and Narutaru has more disturbing violence, but if you liked one of these shows, it's worth checking out the other.
Bokurano and Narutaru both star a group of kids put in two very different, but equally disturbing situations. Though the similarities don't end there. The 'realistic' character designs along with the dark themes each show features, make them an easy recommendation for each other.
Child death. That's the key selling point on both these series. Bokurano's stakes may be higher than Narutaru's but both series deal with some heavy subjects and will tug at your moral strings. If you watched Bokurano and wished for a more personal and character focused story try Narutaru. Also, if you watched Narutaru and felt the stakes weren't large enough, definitely give Bokurano a chance.
At a typical elementary school in Japan, yearly chores are being distributed. Yuri and 3 other students are chosen to be the beneficiaries of the alien hats for the year. Alien hats?! Yuri's sentiments, exactly. Despite her misgivings, she and her classmates must round up stray aliens that have escaped from a crashed spaceship -- with the help of the alien hats, of course.
I honestly can't think of any other series as fucked up as Narutaru, than Alien Nine. Narutaru starts off cute, but then is just ULTRA messed up. Alien Nine keeps the cuteness throughout the series, but always is just... yea. Really, really bizarre. Both have cute monsters that then get really violent, really fast.. both will leave you with the "wtf!" face. Both are excellent, and very dark.
Without revealing too much of the plot, it is hard to say why these two anime are so similar. Let it be enough that anything that you may find remotely cute or charming about the series' nonhuman characters will not last long. These are two very, very creepy anime.
I want to thank the other users here for making the recommendation between these two series. I saw Narutaru a few years ago, and love the darkness of a seemingly innocent series. I didn't think anything could come close to giving me the same feeling, but Alien Nine hit the spot!
Neither series is for the faint of heart, and do not be decieved by the cute animation as these are certainly not for kids.
Both series are based around kids getting power through a creature/alien becoming partners with them. Starting out looking at their lives, friendships and then their "discovery", both series soon take a turn to the darkness.
Don't expect anything to be explained at the end,just enjoy the openness that allows you to fill in the blanks yourself.
If you enjoyed Shadow Star Narutaru or Alien Nine, i would bet on you enjoying the other.
Both shows use deception to trick the viewer, while at first seemingly cute and nice, both are in fact very dark.
Both shows deal with the emotional and psychological pain of mere youngsters, forced into using bizzare alien beings.
Where Narutaru is much darker than it's frog headed counterpart, Alien Nine certainly isn't easy going.
Both end without much explanation but do carry on from thier respective Manga, if your looking for a taster in the wierd, one of these shows will be for you.
Both series have children who have strange relationships with alien like creatures to protect the world. Alien Nine is "slightly" more light hearted than Narutaru but both will leave you wondering what on earth you are watching. Check one out if you liked the other.
Kids + violent alien creatures, both a little psychologically perplexing and disturbing. Hoshimaru is a lot cuter than Yuri's borg, who is actually kinda creepy. Or maybe you'll find it the other way round. Alien Nine is heavier on the wtf factor, but Narutaru has the better characters. If you liked one, try the other for something similar but just as unique.
Both series are about cute young girls and their alien "friends." The odd thing about watching these two anime is that there is a lot of information they don't tell you. The big questions are never answered in either making you ask yourself, "what the fuck was that?" Both of these anime are based on larger written works that hopefully fill in some of the gaps that were left in the animated narrative. While not following exactly the same plot, both of these are psychological mind rapes of a similar caliber.
Maebara Keiichi, an ordinary high-school boy, has transferred to a new school in Hinamizawa, a small rural village. At the outset everything seems peaceful and Keiichi becomes friends with a nice group of schoolgirls with whom he spends many idle summer afternoons. Suddenly violence encroaches upon the blissful peace of the village and Keiichi becomes entangled in an endless cycle of fear and death. The inconsistent, but inevitable horrors of Hinamizawa are told and retold becoming an endless and inescapable nightmare of insanity. Will it end even if the mystery of Hinamizawa is solved?
These are series that deal with the effect of violence and abuse when experienced by children. While Higurashi no Naku Koro ni might be more graphic and more consistently so, Shadow Star Narutaru's later episodes are extremely disturbing. Both series force the viewer into a tour de force in which the duality of innocence and horror is pervasively effective.
Horror anime don't come around much, and when they do they're usually nothing but gore that's labeled "horror", without a thrilling feeling. With Higurashi and Narutaru you actually have two anime that build up great suspense and let everything turn into a horror fest. Higurashi doesn't waste much time though, while Narutaru takes its time to build things up.
Both Narutaru and Higurashi appear at first to be innocent mainstream shows, but soon horribly graphic and sadistic things happen. If you loved one, I'm certain you'll get a kick out of the other.
Dark and twisted through and through, both shows pack a punch by coming from far outfield and producing surprise after surprise.
Both can be quite difficult to watch at times, but are a must-see for anyone who likes horror and psychological thrills.
Both ShadowStar and Higurashi have elements of cute interspersed between the madness and violence. When I first watched both anime I thought "...is this the right anime?" because the cuteness put me off, but as both series grow, they both become more twisted and sick.
Strange things have been happening at a local high school... mysterious disappearances, strange powers and brutal murders all emerge amongst kids who, up till now, have been perfectly normal. Even the Shinigami (Angel of Death) herself has been sighted. What's happening? The answers lie in the mysterious creature known as Boogiepop...
If you are looking for twisted plots that leave you guessing right till the end and maybe even after that both these anime are for you. Boogiepop has a darker tone to the animation where Narutaru is bright and cheerful but both clearly demonstrate their dark underbelly with ease. Check one out if you liked the other.
