Gakuen Alice

Hidden behind the gates of a strict boarding school lies a secret society of children possessing supernatural abilities. Produced by Group TAC in 2004, this 26-episode series blends contemporary fantasy with lighthearted comedy. The story kicks off when Mikan follows her best friend Hotaru to Alice Academy, a special institution for kids who possess unique magical talents called Alices. To stay by her friend's side, Mikan must enroll herself, only to discover her own surprising abilities. However, the academy is not just a fun summer camp; it harbors a strict class system that ranks students based on the usefulness of their powers. The show uses this hierarchy to explore ideas of class struggle among its young cast, while injecting plenty of slapstick humor and action. Scoring a 7.7, it remains a nostalgic trip into mid-2000s shoujo tropes.