On February 24, 2017, indie game darling Hollow Knight took the world by storm. Developed by Team Cherry, the game is as challenging as it is artistically wondrous. Rich with lore for you to uncover throughout your journey, the team would go on to release a sequel that retains the charm of the first entry while adding to the intriguing narrative that started all those years ago. Now taking place in a new land, Hollow Knight: Silksong gives us control of Hornet as she tries to make sense of what she’s been pulled into. I, admittedly, got into Hollow Knight late, but once I got a hold of it, I quickly understood why so many people love this series. As someone who generally doesn’t play “die a whole lot” games, the aesthetics, the story, and the rewarding feeling of finally getting the hang of the gameplay kept me going. As soon as Silksong was released, it was a day one purchase for me, and the only reason I put it down is, well, someone has to write this article, right? There’s a lot to love about Silksong , and if you’re looking for something to watch that’ll capture those vibes, then I’ve got 10 anime that may be of interest. NOTE: Spoilers for Hollow Knight: Silksong throughout. The Apothecary Diaries RELATED: How The Apothecary Diaries Explores the Beautiful Nuances in Female Relationships Maomao lived a rather ordinary life until she was kidnapped and sold off. Now forced to work as a servant in the Imperial Palace, Maomao plans to keep her head down. Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately , for those around her), this poison-obsessed apothecary can’t help but step in when a medical emergency transpires at the palace. Maomao may want to go unnoticed, but she’s constantly becoming more important at work. This plot thread in The Apothecary Diaries is very similar to the way Hornet’s story starts in Silksong . Kidnapped by mysterious bugs on behalf of the Citadel, she’s taken to the kingdom of Pharloom, though she doesn’t know why. She sets off to seek answers, but usually ends up helping others along the way. Hornet has a very “I didn’t help you, my actions just so happened to align with your needs” kind of attitude at first, though deep down, like Maomao, you can tell that she actually does care and wants to try and do what’s best for the bugs in Pharloom as she gets deeper into the situation at hand. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End RELATED: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and the Beauty of Age At the start of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End , we see that the elven mage doesn’t think too much about the passing of time; after all, she’s got many years ahead of her. This changes after she sees her former party many years later, leading to the death of the now elderly hero, Himmel. It’s here that Frieren realizes how much she took her time with her past companions for granted. From there, she begins to learn how to appreciate all that life has to offer, even if she (and we) know that she’ll outlive those around her. You get a similar feeling while playing as Hornet. By piecing together the ongoing lore found in the world of Hollow Knight , you find out that this is a character who knows she’ll be alive much longer than pretty much everyone she meets. That doesn’t stop her from spending time with them and even offering words of wisdom to good bugs like Sherma. Revolutionary Girl Utena RELATED: Revolutionary Girl Utena Is Surreal, That's Why It Works As you wander through the Deep Docks of Silksong , you can hear someone humming in the distance. This is the introduction to Hornet’s rival of sorts, Lace, leading to a duel and, probably, several defeats until you figure out the pattern of attack. As soon as I heard Lace’s patented “oh ho ho” laugh, I got flashbacks to Revolutionary Girl Utena ’s Nanami, but that’s not the only comparison to the classic shojo anime. On top of having your second encounter take place in a literal rose garden, Silksong feels like a game full of deeper meanings if you take the time to really dig into it. In Utena , there’s a lot more meaning to all the roses and duels as the titular character impacts everyone around her while also discovering, and exploring, new things about herself. Hornet feels the same way to me as she forges her own path while making sense of who she is and the new world around her. I can’t prove that Team Cherry listened to “Rinbu Revolution” while developing Silksong , but I’d like to think that both Utena and Hornet would “smash the world’s egg.” Puella Magi Madoka Magica RELATED: Best Pink-Haired Anime Characters to Brighten Your Day Puella Magi Madoka Magica is known for being a lot darker than what you expect it to be. With gorgeous visuals and magical girl aesthetics, the more you uncover, the more sinister the narrative feels — which, to me, is the point. What feels like a good idea (becoming a magical girl) isn’t, revealing a disturbing truth behind the power in question and the motives of the deceptively cute Kyubey. And the attempts to break the cycle only seem to make things worse. Silksong is full of fascinating layers, but only if you want it to be. It is possible to go through the world without learning the full story, but if you do the work and learn the truth behind the Citadel, the silken threads infecting the land, Hornet herself, and even certain NPCs, it can get pretty heavy. Like Madoka Magica , everyone, and everything, feels like it has a secret or a bigger purpose, and you’re not always sure what the “right” answer is. Like Madoka, all you can really do is keep moving forward with whatever decision you make, even if the results of that decision are uncertain. Gachiakuta RELATED: Gachiakuta and the Importance of Anger Silksong Act 2, the Citadel of Song, takes players to the Citadel that’s been praised (and criticized) by the bugs you’ve met on your journey. Many a bug go on an excruciating pilgrimage to try and reach this holy land, dying along the way because of all the journey’s hazards. When you reach the Citadel, it’s completely barren with barely any sign of life until you take a broken elevator down into what’s known as the Underworks. The Underworks feels like it comes straight out of Gachiakuta , where there’s a clear divide that’s so ingrained in everyone that Rudo, the protagonist, is condemned early on for stealing trash from the wealthy — yes, even taking their trash is looked down upon. In the Underworks, all the bugs are being overworked and dreadfully underpaid, and absolutely everything you do costs money (even sitting at a bench to rest). If you try to help or even suggest rest, bugs like the large and exhausted Loam ignore your pleas and just keep working. Despite the dire circumstances, no one’s fighting against it, as the Citadel reminds them of how devalued they are. It’s the exact opposite of the pristine image the Citadel has been built up to, making you question its intentions… assuming you weren’t already doing that in the first place. The Promised Neverland RELATED: Your Halloween Anime Watchlist, From Kooky to Spooky In The Promised Neverland , life is perfect for Emma and the rest of the children of Grace Field House. The orphanage takes good care of the kids, keeping them well fed, letting them run around and play, and making sure they study to their fullest potential. At a certain point, a child is adopted and sent away. No big deal, right? It is an orphanage after all. But that’s when Emma and her friends discover the horrifying truth: being adopted means being sent off to be fed to demons. This sort of utopia not being what it says it is feels like the entirety of Silksong ’s second act. I suspected going in that the Citadel wasn’t what was promised, but it’s actually a whole lot worse than I imagined it would be. Not only are the same threads that are haunting Pharloom spread all over the Citadel, but there’s areas that hint at some rather distressing activities. To be honest, I’m still combing through the rather large map, but between the Underworks and the Whiteward, the Citadel’s a bit of a nightmare that only gets darker the more you explore. Kill la Kill RELATED: What Kind of Anime Delinquent Are You? Ryuko Matoi is on a quest to find out who killed her dad. She doesn’t know who did the deed, but she does have a clue that revolves around “the woman with the scissor blade.” This brings her to Honnouji Academy and its fearsome student council led by Satsuki Kiryuin. Here, the students gain superpowers through the uniforms they wear, as seen when Ryuko is easily defeated shortly after she arrives. After the fight, Ryuko discovers a secret in her father’s basement: a sentient uniform she can use to channel her own power. The sewing and fashion motifs in Kill la Kill may make you think of Silksong , a game where the protagonist is seen as a special case since she can create her own silk. Hornet also battles with a needle, can use thread in a variety of ways (like healing), and comes across friends and foes who use all sorts of crafting tools in a way that makes them feel magical. Both Kill la Kill and Silksong embrace sewing in a unique way, treating its tools and fabrics as weapons that can either do harm or good, depending on how they’re used. Conversely, the two also have white-haired mother figures with daughters who may not be as antagonistic as they initially seem to be. Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- RELATED: Every Time Subaru Dies in Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Look, there’s no gentle way to say this. You’re going to die a lot in Silksong . It could be an environmental hazard. It could be a boss. It could be an enemy gauntlet. It could be an enemy that catches up to you when you’re swimming in the water. It could be the boss you thought you defeated coming back, but in lava this time to spice things up . It could be Bilewater. Let’s be real, it’ll be all those things, multiple times. That’s just how the world of Hollow Knight goes, which is why watching Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- may give you similar vibes. Here, ordinary high school student Natsuki Subaru is isekai’d to a world where he’s able to come back from the dead whenever he’s killed. While “Return by Death” sounds like a nifty skill to have, being killed over and over again (and remembering the painful experience each time) can take its toll on a person. While Hornet probably doesn’t remember each time I died to Widow, or the Last Judge, or that bed of spikes I had to bounce across, or that other bed of spikes I had to bounce across, I sure do. My New Boss is Goofy RELATED: My New Boss is Goofy Is the Softest Anime of the Season My New Boss is Goofy is a workplace palette cleanser after seeing the harsh conditions of the Underworks in Silksong . While that was a hellscape of harsh work conditions and misery, My New Boss is Goofy treats its workers with kindness and grace. After finally leaving his toxic work environment, Momose gets a new job and a new boss who, as the title says, is goofy. Momose doesn’t realize this at first, nervous that Shirosaki will be just as abusive as his previous boss, but over time, he realizes that he’s working at a place that actually cares about him. Shirosaki is an absolute dream of a boss who cares about Momose’s well-being. That said, he’s the kind of guy who would forget where his phone is even if he’s holding it in his hand. Think of this anime recommendation as Silksong ’s cozy Flea Caravan, full of warm and fuzzy, good feelings to bask in after surviving whatever nightmare you encounter in Pharloom. Mr. Villain's Day Off RELATED: Mr. Villain’s Day Off Has Brought Us Anime’s New Perfect Man If you take the time to read what Hornet has to say about the various creatures she encounters in Pharloom, you make a rather fun discovery. Despite her cool demeanor, she is a huge fan of fluffy bugs. This is similar to the General of Mr. Villain’s Day Off , an excellent, feel-good anime choice after walking the halls of the Underworks. On the outside, he comes off as intimidating and unapproachable, but on his day off, he relaxes and does the one thing that puts a smile on his face: visiting pandas at the zoo. Like Hornet, he too is an aloof figure who has a surprising soft side. If he could live in a world full of pandas, he would smoosh his face against every single one of them. Hornet’s entries about fluffy bugs are pretty much the same. She even laments not being able to fully appreciate them since she, most likely, has to strike down with her needle. Like pandas, the floofy bugs can be a threat, but their friendly appearance makes you want to pet them. At least there’s a Bell Beast to ride… after taming it, of course. SEE MORE ANIME RECS Anime Like Superman Anime Like The Apothecary Diaries Anne Shirley and Other Anime Based on Novels Anime Like Naruto Anime Like Solo Leveling Anime Like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Cyberpunk Anime Like Metallic Rouge Anime Like Fallout Anime Like Yu Yu Hakusho
