Guts, a lone mercenary, navigates a brutal, dark fantasy world while seeking vengeance against his former brother-in-arms, Griffith.

March Comes in Like a Lion (Anime & Manga). For those seeking quiet character study over explosive action, this is a pinnacle of the medium. It follows Rei Kiriyama, a young, depressed professional shogi (Japanese chess) player living alone in Tokyo. The story masterfully balances two tones: the crushing, introspective loneliness of Rei’s depression and the warm, healing, almost whimsical presence of the three Kawamoto sisters who slowly adopt him into their family. Chica Umino’s manga uses abstract, poetic layouts to visualize Rei’s mental state, while Shaft’s anime adaptation is a surreal, artistic triumph. It is the most honest portrayal of depression and found family in any visual medium.

: A pure, heartwarming comedy following the daily antics of a naive five-year-old girl. It is the ultimate feel-good reading experience.