15 Anime To Watch Similar To Attack On Titan- Similar in Atmosphere, Plot or Theme.

Attack On Titan is a masterpiece. Page after page, season after season, it has managed to horrify us with its brutal deaths, baffle us with its plot twists, keep the adrenaline pumping in our veins with its crazy fights, and make us question morality and the idea of justice in war. Above all, the characters of AOT have captured our hearts and will forever keep them hostage. Like many of us, you might have finished watching the series or reading the manga and are left with plunging depression and a hole in your heart resembling the blackhole our sun is currently orbiting. Fear not, similar anime to Attack On Titan exist, with convoluted plots blended with violence, philosophy, and monstrosities: look no further than this list if you are looking for epic and heartbreaking shows with a sprinkle or handful of violence.

+In no special order:

1.Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ - Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch

“A skilled dictatorship is much more beneficial to humanity than a democracy of ignorant people”

Plot: This anime takes place in an alternate history where the world is controlled by three distinct superpowers: Britannia, The European Union, and The Chinese Federation. The story begins after the conquest of Japan by the Britannian Empire who renames it 'Area 11'. Lelouch Lamperouge, a citizen of area 11, finds himself caught in a crossfire of these two countries, and as he struggles to survive, meets 'C.C,' a mysterious girl who signs a contract with him: she grants him the power of the Geass, which allows him to control anyone and bend their will to his. Feeding on his hatred for Britannia and his natural intelligence, Lelouch crafts out an ingenious and mysterious plan to eradicate the Empire.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: Highly unpredictable plot. Same grand themes: war, morality, a multitude of grey areas rather than everything being black or white, dark psychology, global conflicts, and fighting through the bias of giant super weapons (let’s just all agree that Titans are basically giant meat robots). There’s also a lot of mass-murdering if you’re into that. The biggest similarity might be the character development: it is so substantial that you will feel the lack of your own character. However, when it comes to protagonists, Lelouche resembles Erwin Smith more than Eren Yeager (most of the time).

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Funimation + Bandai Entertainment

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Mecha + Military + School + Super Power + Action + Drama + Sci-Fi

Number of episodes: 50

Number of seasons: 2

Lists containing this anime: Top 11 Anime You Should Watch At Some Point In Your Life

2.KABANERI OF THE IRON FORTRESS

甲鉄城のカバネリ - KOUTETSUJOU NO KABANERI

“We humans are miserable creatures. We reject what we fear. We attack because we don’ t understand. Human cowardice… breeds war.”

Plot: A mysterious virus (yea again) suddenly infects the world, ripping through the flesh of human beings and turning them into flesh-eating monstrosities who can spread it by biting other people. The infected's hearts are coated with steel, as the only way to kill them is by piercing through it. The rest of civilization survives living inside fortified walls whose only access is via heavily-armored trains. One day, monsters infiltrate one of these trains, which slams against the walls of the fortress, and penetrate the land, wreaking havoc. Ikoma, a young engineer, sees this as his opportunity to test out a weapon he's been building to kill the monsters, but he gets bitten in the process.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: The origin of the main enemy is unknown and shrouded in mystery. Post-apocalyptic steampunk world where humankind lives, threatened, inside fortified walls. Protagonist is similar to Eren with dead parents, a close female friend who is incredibly strong, and an extremely loyal childhood best friend. Characters die when you least expect them. Kabaneri is a ripoff of Shingeki No Kyojin, but it's a nice ripoff that is worth a watch as it is the most similar anime to AOT you will find.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Wit Studio

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Drama + Fantasy + Horror + Supernatural

Number of episodes: 12

Number of seasons: 1

3.NEON GENESIS EVANGELION

新世紀エヴァンゲリオン

“Man fears the darkness, and so he scrapes away at the edges of it with fire.”

Plot: Like any true fan of NGE, I will preface this by saying that no one in their right mind actually understands the plot of NGE. With that being said, here is a quick summary: Neon Genesis Evangelion is set in futuristic Tokyo, 15 years after a cataclysmic event known as ‘the Second Impact’ took place. There, an organization called NERV has been formed to develop bio machines named ‘Evangelion’ and train their pilots to combat monstrous celestial beings known as ‘Angels’ who keep trying to destroy the capital. The plot centers around Shinji Ikari, a teenage boy recruited by this organization, and two other teenage girls. The main story explores pseudo-religious and philosophical concepts and dives deeply into the characters' psyche and the dark truth of the origin of ‘Angels.’

Similarity to Attack on Titan: NGE is mysterious when it comes to the origin of the enemy and their intent. Similar setting with fortified cities that are always under-sieged by the enemy. Extreme violence and gore on screen. Plot advances on a grand scale where the future of humankind is at risk. Part depression and tragedy mixed in with some comedy. Eren Yeager and Shinji Ikari have some similarities in their psychological trauma and the fact that they are thrown into their position and power due to a secretive father -although Eren is much more lovable than Shinji, who you will want to slap repeatedly throughout the show.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Gainax + Tatsunoko Productions

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Sci-Fi + Psychological + Drama + Mecha + Military

Average episode length: 24m

Number of episodes: 26

Number of seasons: 1

Lists containing this anime: Top 26 Action Anime With Epic Fights + Top 15 Anime Movies To Watch During The Coronavirus Quarantine + Top 11 Anime You Should Watch At Some Point In Your Life

4.Blue Exorcist

青の 祓魔師 エクソシスト - AO NO EKUSOSHISUTO

“O lost little lamb - confess your sins and say your prayers.”

Plot: Ao no Exorcist follows Rin Okumura, a troublesome and fiery teenager living with his father, a priest. One day, he gets ambushed by demons and discovers that he is the son of Satan, who transferred his evil powers to him in the womb for him to act as a bridge between the demon world and the human one. His evil powers now awakened; he must fight not to give into them and decides to train to become an exorcist to defend the mortal world against the growing threats of devils.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: The protagonist has a similar power to the enemy he is fighting. The enemy is a threat to humanity. Rin’s power sometimes causes him to lose control, and he is often seen as a danger and is consequently strictly supervised. Rin and 15-year-old Eren have similar fiery personalities that act on emotions rather than logic. Blue Exorcist is much less ‘serious’ and tense than Shingeki No Kyojin and will serve as comic entertainment with some seriousness here and there.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: A-1 Pictures

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Demons + Fantasy + Shounen + Supernatural

Number of episodes: 25

Number of seasons: 1

Lists containing this anime: 15 Anime To Watch Similar to Jujutsu Kaisen

5.Tokyo Ghoul

東京喰種 トーキョーグール -

“There’s no such thing as fate. It’s simply a combination of one circumstance and the next.”

Plot: Tokyo Ghoul is set in a dark alternative reality of Tokyo. There, cannibal creatures known as ghouls roam the streets in their human forms, secretly terrorizing and eating the inhabitants. The story is told from the perspective of Ken Kaneki, an ordinary college student who becomes a ghoul after barely surviving a deadly encounter with one. He must now learn to live with a constant need to consume human flesh and survive in a hellish territorial society filled with gore and violence.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: A lot of gore and epic, very well-animated fights. Lots of psychological depth, dealing with the different facets of the human psyche when exposed to trauma and injustice. Very dark and suspenseful atmosphere. Titans and Ghouls both eat humans (yum!), some characters share a lot of similar traits to those of AOT, and the protagonist gets pushed into very tragic and devastating moments. Although both anime deal with a ‘fight for humanity’ theme, Tokyo Ghoul is not as intense and doesn’t deal with it on a grand scale.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Pierrot

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Psychological + Supernatural + Mystery + Drama + Horror + Seinen
Number of episodes: 48

Number of seasons: 3

Lists containing this anime: Top 26 Action Anime With Epic Fights + 15 Anime To Watch Similar to Jujutsu Kaisen + Top 16 Most Violent, Bloody and Gory Anime + Top Dark Psychological Thriller Anime That Will Have Your Skin Crawling -[II]-

6.Hellsing Ultimate

“Resignation is what kills people. Once they’ve rejected resignation, humans gain the privilege of making humanity their footpath.”

Plot: Hellsing is an organization whose goal is to protect humanity against vampiric forces. No Edward Cullens here; the vampires are as bloody and violent as they get and have the power to turn the people they bite into ‘ghouls,’ the equivalent of brainless zombies. The plot follows a couple of characters, notably Alucard, a vampire that works for Hellsing and is absolutely bat-shit insane (see what I did there?). The story opens up as the number of vampire-related murders has suddenly gone up, indicating a change in the way they behave.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: Very dark and sinister atmosphere. Main enemies devour people, Hellsing (like the Survey Corps) use a version of the enemy to fight it with (Eren the Titan, Alucard the vampire). The fate of the entire world and the survival of the human race is at risk. Intense battle sequences and solid character development. Hellsing Ultimate is not as emotional as Shingeki No Kyojin in the sense that you probably won’t get attached to the characters nor get your heart crushed. Watching Hellsing Ultimate is the equivalent of taking a blood bath, so fans of the slaughter and carnage of AOT are sure to enjoy it.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Madhouse + Satelight + Graphinica

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Military + Horror + Supernatural + Vampire + Seinen

Average episode length: 49m

Number of episodes: 10

Number of seasons: 1

Lists containing this anime: Top 26 Action Anime With Epic Fights + Top 16 Most Violent, Bloody and Gory Anime

7.Seraph Of The End

終わりのセラフ - Owari no Seraph

“I need power to get revenge. As long as it’s within my reach, I don’t care if it’s from a demon or a devil.”

Plot: A mysterious virus appears and kills a good portion of the human population, enabling vampires to emerge from the shadows and subjugate society to their will. In exchange for protection, they treat the remaining survivors as blood banks. Yuuichirou and Mikaela Hyakuya are two young boys treated like livestock under the vampire reign, who one day decide to escape. Doomed to fail, their escape plan results in their friends dying. Only Yuuichirou makes it out alive, where he is found by the Moon Demon Company, a military organization dedicated to exterminating vampires.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: The plot is about humanity’s survival as it is on the brink of extinction and endangered by another species. The protagonist is highly similar to Eren Yeager: he loses his family to the enemy and is filled with a need for revenge, hot-blooded, impulsive, stubborn, and reckless. His friends and mentors also share similar character traits to those in AOT (friends who try to stop him from doing stupid things, badass mentors).

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Wit Studio

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Drama + Supernatural + Military + Vampire

Number of episodes: 24

Number of seasons: 2

8.Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

鋼の錬金術師 - HAGANE NO RENKINJUTSUSHI

“War Does Not Determine Who Is Right — Only Who Is Left.”

Plot: After an alchemy experiment goes horribly wrong, brothers Edward and Alphonse are left with missing limbs and body. Edward manages to bind his brother's soul to a giant armor and later on get an Automail prosthesis. Intent on reconstructing their bodies, the brothers embark on a quest to find the Philosopher's stone: a powerful gem that grants alchemists the power to violate the laws of equal exchange: ''something cannot be created from nothing.'' Their journey makes them become alchemists employed by the Amestrian State Military, where they discover the threatened state of the current world.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: The trigger of the story is the death of their mother. There is a focus on the military. Strong female characters without fan service (thank god). Revenge, political conspiracy, genocide, suffering, and agony are common recurrences. Great character development with intellectually engaging conversations and plot evolution.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Bones

Trailer: Link

Genre: Action + Military + Adventure + Comedy + Drama + Magic + Fantasy + Shounen

Average episode length: 24m

Number of episodes: 64

Number of seasons: 1

Lists containing this anime: Top 26 Action Anime With Epic Fights

9.Jujutsu kaisen

呪術廻戦- CURSE MAGIC

“The Accumulation Of Those Little Despairs Is What Makes A Person An Adult.”

Plot: One day, Yuuji Itadori unknowingly encounters a cursed item that turns out to be one of the 20 fingers of the most powerful devil to have ever lived: Ryomen Sukuna. This triggers a series of supernatural events where Itadori suddenly finds himself forced to eat the finger, consequently becoming cursed and awakening Sukuna inside of his body. He then gets enrolled at the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College, where he begins his training as a sorcerer and gets tasked with finding and eating the rest of Sukuna’s fingers before someone else uses them to reawaken a terrible power.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: The protagonist has the same powers as the enemy he is fighting. There is an undercover plot with a lot of history and twits and turns that we slowly learn about. The fight scenes are epic and mind-blowing in their visuals, details, and animations. The fate of the world is at stake. Jujutsu Kaisen is much more laid-back and comedic than Shingeki no Kyojin, and there is no deep psychological or moral discourse: Yuuji is a nice guy, the only bad thing about him is the couple of fingers he swallows.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: MAPPA

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Demons + Supernatural + School + Shounen

Average episode length: 23m

Number of episodes: 24

Number of seasons: 1 (ongoing)

Lists containing this anime: Top 26 Action Anime With Epic Fights + 15 Anime To Watch Similar to Jujutsu Kaisen

10.God eater

“Would you have run away and left a comrade to die just because you’re unharmed?”

Plot: In the year 2071, humankind is almost extinct due to flesh-eating monsters known as ‘Aragami.’ To combat them, the Fenrir organization has developed ‘God Eaters,’ humans injected with special cells that give them the power to wield the only weapons that can kill the enemy. The story follows Lenka Utsugi; a god eater injected with a new type of these cells which turn him into one of the greatest weapons of Fenrir.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: An apocalyptic and military setting with creatures that threaten humanity. ‘Last’ civilizations entrapped in the walls. The main lead is impulsive and reckless. There are a lot of mysteries to unravel when it comes to the origin of the monsters and the creation of the special weapon cells. Note that the animation is in CGI; while it’s not horrible, it’s not as sexy as typical anime.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Ufotable Studio

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Fantasy + Sci-Fi + Military

Number of episodes: 13

Number of seasons: 1

11.Aldnoah.Zero

アルドノア・ゼロ

“Warfare is nothing but a means of negotiation between states. Wars break out even when there is no hatred. Territory, resources, or interests that you are determined to own. Ideology, religion, pride. Wars are fought over those objectives all the time. Meaning that when those objectives are met, the war will end. That, or the war will end when the human cost outweighs the gains. Anger and hatred are only tools to tilt a war in your favor.”

Plot: After a hypergate was discovered on the Moon, humans found themselves able to teleport to Mars. There, as some were settling, they discovered an ancient technology named ‘Aldonah,’ which gave them God-like powers due to its unimaginable advancement compared to human machinery. The growing gap in power between Marsian society and Earth eventually leads to war between the two planets. As the Vers Empire of Mars invades the Earth, high school student Inaho Kaizuka finds himself in the middle of the battle. As he uses his intellect to defeat the enemy, he starts to play a critical role in determining who will win the war.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: Battles are similar in the way they are planned as it’s not a show of who is the strongest but who is the smartest (the same way Erwin and Armin plan them). There are lots of twists and turns and traitors hiding in the ranks. A lot of deaths and a similar struggle for the survival of humanity. Everything is engineered on a grand scale, with plots and subplots being interlinked. Side characters are given development and also play a major role in the story.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: A-1 Pictures + Troyca

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Drama + Science Fiction + Mecha + Military

Number of episodes: 24

Number of seasons: 2

12.DEMON SLAYER

鬼滅の刃 - KIMETSU NO YAIBA

“Feel The Rage. The Powerful, Pure Rage Of Not Being Able To Forgive Will Become Your Unswerving Drive To Take Action.”

Plot: One day, Tanjirou Kamado heads to the village from his home in the mountains to sell charcoal. On his way back home, as night falls and the snow accumulates, Tanjirou is forced to take refuge in the house of a strange man who tells him about the existence of carnivorous demons lurking in the forest. The next day, as he heads home, he is greeted by a terrifying sight: his whole family has been slaughtered, and his sister, barely alive, seems to be turning into a demon in front of him. Tanjirou is consumed by vengeance and swears to join the Demon Slayer Corps to protect the rest of humanity and find a way to turn back his sister into a human.
Similarity to Attack on Titan: Protagonist loses all of his family, swears vengeance, and is initially very naive and optimistic. Enemies eat humans and can only die if you cut off their nape/head. Demon Slayer corps is similar to the Survey corps. Lots of tragedy and death of friends with demonic/dark themes. Fights are epic with stunning animation. The biggest difference is that Shingeki No Kyojin is more political and deals with ‘deeper’ subjects.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Ufotable Studio

Trailer: Link

Genre: Action + Demons + Historical + Shounen + Supernatural

Average episode length: 23m

Number of episodes: Ongoing

Number of seasons: 3

Lists containing this anime: Top 26 Action Anime With Epic Fights + 15 Anime To Watch Similar to Jujutsu Kaisen

13.AJIN: DEMI-HUMAN

亜人 - AJIN

“A winning hand is only good when you keep your cards hidden”

Plot: Immortal beings known as ‘Ajin’ started to appear in the world 17 years ago. Immediately, they were labeled as a threat to humanity because they could use their powers for evil and could never be killed. As Kei Nagai, a high schooler walks back home from visiting a friend one day, he is hit by a bus and discovers that he is an Ajin after surviving the accident without a scratch. He suddenly finds himself on the run from the entire world.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: Dark and gritty atmosphere filled with action and violence. Very diverse and complex characters across the moral spectrum. Protagonist has the same stranger powers as the 'enemy' and struggles to control them. He also has sociopathic tendencies and a sometimes very frustrating way of thinking. Nothing is as it seems, with a plot full of unexpected outcomes and radical change in directions. The origin of 'Ajins' is unknown.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Polygon Pictures

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Horror + Mystery + Supernatural

Average episode length: 23m

Number of episodes: 26

Number of seasons: 2

Lists containing this anime: Top 11 Anime To Watch On Netflix Right Now + Top Dark Psychological Thriller Anime That Will Have Your Skin Crawling -[I]- + Top 16 Most Violent, Bloody and Gory Anime

14.RahXephon

ラーゼフォン

“The individual exists because there is a point of reference to identify itself.”

Plot: Amidst the chaos of Tokyo suddenly becoming invaded by futuristic fighter jets, Ayato Kamina encounters a woman who informs him that she is working for a government organization called TERRA and reveals to him that he’s been living in a concealed time bubble built by Murrians (humanoids from another dimension). Confused and flustered, he runs away in a panic and ends up in a place where he comes face to face with a being called RahXephon, a celestial entity whom he is able to take control of.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: Very confusing past, present, and future where you think you understand what's happening, but something new comes up that shifts your whole perspective. There is a lot of human psyche exploration and a plot that centers around saving the human race. You get the enemy's perspective, which leads to morally confusing areas. Slow-paced and lacks vitality but is worth a watch nonetheless.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Bones

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Drama + Mystery + Romance + Sci-Fi + Mecha + Psychological

Number of episodes: 26

Number of seasons: 1

15.Black Bullet

ブラック・ブレット

“Haven’t you already lost all hope for this world?”

Plot: In 2021, a parasitic virus, ‘Gastrea,’ starts infecting humans and turns them into monsters. As humanity succumbs to the disease and these new creatures, monolith walls are erected across cities to protect their inhabitants. Among the sick emerge children who are infected yet remain human but with superhuman abilities. They get enlisted by civil security assigned to partners who guide and use them. The plot of Black Bullet follows a team of them, Enju Aihara and Satomi Rentaro, as they go on missions to fight and try to eliminate the threat of these monsters in Tokyo.

Similarity to Attack on Titan: The remainder of the human race hides inside of walls. An apocalyptic world where monsters kill humans. The rich and powerful rule the rest of the population and hide the truth from civilians. Grey areas and moral questions on the differences between good and bad. Dark tones and graphic violence, political elements.

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Kinema Citrus + Orange

Trailer: Link.

Genre: Action + Mystery + Sci-Fi

Number of episodes: 13

Number of seasons: 1