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Anime Like Demon Slayer

Anime Like Demon Slayer You Need to Check Out

Here are some anime like Demon Slayer that are similar in their characters, themes, and overall feel!

Kristin
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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is one of the best anime to come out in recent years. With bold colors and a unique art style, it stands out amongst the rest and has asserted itself as a unique title in the shonen genre. Because of these reasons and more, it landed a spot on our top anime of 2019 list!

Another thing about Demon Slayer is that it’s one of the few titles where I’d recommend the anime over the manga. The manga is great, but the anime brought it even more to life and this is something that I’ve hardly, if ever, said before. If you want to check out the manga though, I highly recommend getting the Demon Slayer Complete Box Set since the volumes are cheaper in price in the box set versus buying them individually.

With that all said, here are some anime like Demon Slayer that you need check out! Hopefully there’s something on this list you have yet to watch or fully catch up on.

Anime Like Demon Slayer - My Hero Academia

#8 My Hero Academia

Synopsis: In a world where eighty percent of the population has some kind of super-powered Quirk, Izuku was unlucky enough to be born completely normal. But that won’t stop him from enrolling in a prestigious hero academy.

Why My Hero Academia Is Like Demon Slayer

My Hero Academia is somewhat of an obvious choice when talking about anime similar to Demon Slayer, but the two have quite a few parallels that warrant it to be mentioned. These are both extremely popular releases that, while great, still receive some hate just because they are more mainstream and highly talked about series. But their similarities go way past the fact that they’ve blown up in recent years. Check them out below!

  • Both are shonen full of action and fight scenes
  • Two groups, heroes vs. villains and demons vs. slayers, are battling it out
  • Deku and Tanjiro have very similar personalities with both being gentle, hardworking, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect the ones they care about
  • Main characters are highly motivated to become stronger and train extensively with their teachers

Where to Watch My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia is streaming now on Hulu and Crunchyroll.

Anime Like Demon Slayer - Hunter x Hunter

#7 Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Synopsis: Hunters are a special breed, dedicated to tracking down treasures, magical beasts and even other people. But such pursuits require a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam. Those who do pass gain access to restricted areas, amazing stores of information and the right to call themselves “Hunters.” Can Gon, a country boy, follow his father and join their ranks?

Why Hunter x Hunter Is Like Demon Slayer

Hunter x Hunter as a whole may be different than Demon Slayer but there are a few arcs, particularly the Chimera Ant Arc, as well as some personalities and themes that make the two similar to one another. Here are some reasons why:

  • Both are shonen full of action and adventure
  • At different points, the main characters lose a person/people close to them and they seek to avenge them
  • Both have villains that are inhuman and feel they are superior to the human race
  • Contain darker themes than most shonen
  • Have extremely likable characters

Where to Watch Hunter x Hunter

Hunter x Hunter is streaming now on Netflix (6 seasons), Hulu (2 seasons), and Crunchyroll.

Anime Like Demon Slayer - Black Clover

#6 Black Clover

Synopsis: In a world where magic is everything, Asta and Yuno are both found abandoned at a church on the same day. While Yuno is gifted with exceptional magical powers, Asta is the only one in this world without any. At the age of fifteen, both receive grimoires, magic books that amplify their holder’s magic.

Asta’s is a rare Grimoire of Anti-Magic that negates and repels his opponent’s spells. Being opposite but good rivals, Yuno and Asta are ready for the hardest of challenges to achieve their common dream: to be the Wizard King. Giving up is never an option!

Why Black Clover Is Like Demon Slayer

Most shonen, as seen with My Hero Academia and Hunter x Hunter, share similarities with Demon Slayer. Black Clover is another high-energy and action-based anime within this category that you’ll most likely enjoy. Here are some reasons why:

  • Action-packed and full of interesting battles
  • Main characters work hard to become the best they can be to achieve their goals
  • Main characters use swords to fight
  • Both Asta and Tanjiro come from humble beginnings
  • Both have unique styles that are in a league of their own

Where to Watch Black Clover

Black Clover is streaming now on Hulu, but its also one of the best shonen anime on Crunchyroll.

Anime Like Demon Slayer - Attack on Titan

#5 Attack on Titan

Synopsis: The battle to retake Wall Maria begins now! With Eren’s new hardening ability, the Scouts are confident they can seal the wall and take back Shiganshina District. If they succeed, Eren can finally unlock the secrets of the basement—and the world. But danger lies in wait as Reiner, Bertholdt, and the Beast Titan have plans of their own. Could this be humanity’s final battle for survival?

Why Attack on Titan Is Like Demon Slayer

Attack on Titan is about to reach its conclusion with its final season kicking off in December and Part 2 coming in 2022. If you have yet to start or catch up on the series, you definitely should, especially if you are a fan of Demon Slayer‘s darker, more gory side. Here are some reasons why you’ll like it:

  • Full of dynamic and thrilling action scenes
  • Based in a similar time period
  • Main characters experience similar traumas, like losing one’s family
  • Each have a group (Demon slayers, Survey Corps) that are fighting against a threat to humanity (Titans, demons)
  • There is an air of mystery within both and MC’s are searching for answers
  • Main villains eat humans
  • Get bloody and gory on many occasions throughout
  • Contain darker themes
  • They both have a whiny, slightly annoying character (Zenitsu and Armin) you still somehow like

Where to Watch Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan is streaming now on Hulu, Netflix (1 season) and Crunchyroll.

Anime Like Demon Slayer - Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

#4 Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is an original anime by Wit Studio (Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga) that is chock-full of thrilling scenes and incredible animation, much like Demon Slayer. As far as the story goes, humanity is on the brink of extinction and hides in fear of zombie-like creatures called Kabane. They have taken shelter in fortresses known as “stations” to protect themselves from the threat.

The only way you can kill these creatures is if you pierce through their hearts, which are protected by a layer of iron. The story really gets interesting though thanks to our main character Ikoma, who is working on an anti-Kabane weapon he calls the “piercing gun”.

In addition to their top-notch animation, Demon Slayer and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress are also known for their music. Hiroyuki Sawano created the music for Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. You may already know him for his work on Attack on Titan, Kill la Kill, 86, and more. He is also doing the music for Netflix’s upcoming and highly-anticipated anime film Bubble.

If you loved Demon Slayer, here’s why you’ll enjoy Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress too!

  • Both feature incredible animation and a unique style
  • Both have historical settings, Taisho Period for Demon Slayer and Industrial Revolution for Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
  • Full of thrilling, dynamic, and well-animated battles
  • Society lives in fear of otherworldly creatures
  • Individuals can be “infected” by the creatures in their world
  • They have amazing music

Read more about why I think Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is worth watching!

Where to Watch Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

Anime Like Demon Slayer - Jujutsu Kaisen

#3 Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen is the breakout anime of 2020 and Demon Slayer is the breakout anime of 2019. Both Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen blew up and rose quickly in popularity, but they are both hyped for good reason. Also, as far as shonen titles go, they have an edge and darker tone to them that sets them apart from other series. The most obvious answer to why Jujutsu Kaisen is like Demon Slayer is the fact that they both are set in supernatural worlds and their main characters have to overcome fearsome enemies and harsh battle conditions.

Jujutsu Kaisen‘s story follows Yuji Itadori, a high schooler who likes to spend his time with his friends in the Occult Club. Because of his immense physical strength, every sports club at the school wants to recruit him, but he has other interests. His life changes, however, when he encounters a cursed item and is thrust into the world of Curses after he swallows said item. The finger he ate just so happened to belong to Sukuna Ryoumen, the “King of Curses.”

After seeing the danger of curses firsthand, he joins Tokyo Jujutsu High and heads out on a journey to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer. The synopsis is definitely pretty similar to Demon Slayer. Both main characters see a threat to society, experience that threat firsthand, and want to put a stop to it.

There is also an anime movie of Jujutsu Kaisen‘s prequel, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, coming in 2022!

If you loved Demon Slayer, here’s why you’ll enjoy Jujutsu Kaisen as well!

  • Both delve into the supernatural
  • Both are fighting against a massive threat to society, curses in Jujutsu Kaisen and demons in Demon Slayer
  • Their training arcs are more interesting than other shonen
  • Both have a darker tone in comparison to other shonen
  • Both have incredible battles and fight scenes
  • Both have a great cast of characters
  • Both rose quick in popularity but are hyped for good reason

Where to Watch Jujutsu Kaisen

Anime Like Demon Slayer - Kemono Jihen

#2 Kemono Jihen

Kemono Jihen and Demon Slayer are very similar to me thanks to their similar style, but also because of the otherworldly worlds they are set in. They both feature a dark tone and they are just as thrilling as they are heart-warming. In many ways as well, Kabane and Tanjiro remind me of one another as they both work to navigate the obstacles of the worlds they live in, build relationships, and attempt to understand what it means to be human.

Kemono Jihen is about a special detective named Kohachi Inugami, who is sent to investigate a gruesome phenomenon in a remote mountain village. There, he runs into a strange boy named Kabane who offers to help him in his investigation. Inugami uncovers the secrets of the killings and the boy who may not even be human.

Here are more reasons as to why Kemono Jihen is like Demon Slayer!

  • They are supernatural shonen
  • Demons are a main theme in both stories
  • They are darker in tone
  • Feature a similar art style and character designs
  • The main characters are both in search of something
  • Both explore what it means to be human
  • They are action-packed but also heartfelt

Where to Watch Kemono Jihen

Kemono Jihen is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

Anime Like Demon Slayer - Dororo

#1 Dororo (2019)

Synopsis: In Japan’s Warring States period, Lord Daigo Kagemitsu makes a pact with 12 demons, exchanging his unborn son for the prosperity of his lands. The child is born malformed and is set adrift in a river, while Kagemitsu’s lands thrive as promised. Years later, young thief Dororo encounters the mysterious “Hyakkimaru”, a boy whose arms are blades and whose visionless eyes seem able to see monsters.

Why Dororo Is Like Demon Slayer

Perhaps the most similar anime to Demon Slayer is Dororo and it is one of my favorite anime of 2019. If you aren’t familiar with the studio behind the series, MAPPA, they have done some of my favorite work. They are also the studio behind more recent standouts The God of High School and Jujutsu Kaisen. Here are some reasons why Dororo is similar to Demon Slayer:

  • Both live in a world where demons reside with demon slayers seeking to extinguish them
  • Setting exists in traditional Japan
  • Main character has lost something that mean’s a lot to them at the hands of another and are on a journey to get back what was wrongfully taken from them/those they love
  • A strong connection exists between the two main characters, one who is an actual sibling and the other who is like one.
  • Thrilling action sequences involving the use of swords
  • Each have a unique style and great animation

Where to Watch Dororo

Dororo is streaming now only on Amazon Prime Video.

Other notable anime like Demon Slayer that are worth watching: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Seraph of the End, Sirius the Jaeger, Goblin Slayer, Noragami and Fire Force.

In other anime news, check out all of the anime that have been confirmed for 2022 so far!

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