While no recent series can compare toDemon Slayer’s level of success and influence in terms of impact on the industry, this doesn’t mean that viewers can’t find compelling animes to watch after finishing Ufotable’s adaptation. Fortunately,there are several animes that not only share similar thematics withDemon Slayerbut are also equally enjoyable, allowing viewers to pleasingly watch while waiting for the premiere of theanticipatedInfinite Castletrilogy film.
Just likeDemon Slayer’s author has revealed that the story wasinspired by iconic series likeBleach,Naruto, andJoJo, and fans can easily track their similarities, some animes share many elements with Koyoharu Gotouge’s story. Either because of the characters’ setting, worldbuilding, or having a katana-wielding protagonist fighting some monster creature,these animes are a must-watch for every fan ofDemon Slayer.
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
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Hell’s Paradise delivers a harrowing narrative set in the Edo period, following condemned ninja Gabimaru and executioner Yamada Asaemon Sagiri as they journey to a mysterious island in search of the elixir of immortality, facing monstrous creatures and moral dilemmas along the way.
While it is far from resemblingDemon Slayerin terms of story,Hell’s Paradiseis a great option for any dark shōnen fan, and viewers will certainly find Gabimaru’s journey exciting, since he fights to look for the elixir of immortality and go back to his normal life, which recalls the way the Kamado brothers slay demons to find a cure and turn Nezuko human again. This way, in their long mission, Tanjiro and Gabimaru participate in numerous stunning battles that invite viewers to reflect on human values.
Furthermore,the fights inHell’s Paradisealso highlight different forms of sword skillsfrom the Yamada Asaemon clan members, and very much like Nezuko and Tanjiro’s endearing sibling relationship, the blossoming partnering of Gabimaru and Sagiri showcases many instances where they value and protect each other in battle.
The Elusive Samurai
The Elusive Samurai is set during the Kenmu Restoration between the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. It follows Hojo Tokiyuki, a young boy whose family is overthrown by Ashikaga Takauji. Accompanied by a priest and his followers, he seeks revenge using his extraordinary abilities to evade capture.
One anime whose introduction is similar toDemon SlayerisThe Elusive Samurai, as both series are set in a historical Japanese period (Taisho Era and Kamakura Period), though Tanjiro’s story takes place several hundred years later, and also, just like the Kamado Family minus Nezuko, Tokiyuki’s family and clan are brutally slaughtered. This way, both characters, despite having different motivations—Tanjiro curing Nezuko and Tokiyuki restoring his honor—are driven by their desire for justice and revenge and must face enemies much more dangerous than themselves.
AlthoughDemon Slayeris a dark fantasy focused on the eradication of demons, whileThe Elusive Samuraiis based on the fight between Japanese historical figures, the latter not only includes paranormal elements and many tragic situations but also features enemies who are just as viciously evil and with a desire for power as demons. Furthermore,The Elusive Samuraishowcases spectacular action enhanced by some of the best animation the medium has to offer, which makes it the perfect anime for those who missDemon Slayer.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen follows Yuji Itadori, a high school student with extraordinary strength, who becomes intertwined with curses after ingesting a cursed object. Under the guidance of sorcerer Satoru Gojo, Yuji joins Tokyo Jujutsu High School to combat malevolent forces and navigate his new, perilous existence.
One of the seriesDemon Slayershares similarities with is undoubtedlyJujutsu Kaisen. Even thoughJujutsu Kaisenis set in a modern time,both animes focus on supernatural themes, showcasing intense battles against evil beings. The Demon Slayer Corps members need to kill the Twelve Moons as they strive to eliminate the strongest demon, Muzan, while inJujutsu Kaisen, sorcerers fight curses and collect Sukuna’s fingers to defeat him, who is considered the King of curses.
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25 Saddest Demon Slayer Deaths, Ranked
Deaths are unavoidable in Demon Slayer, as characters constantly fight for their lives. Some deaths are sadder than others, though.
In both cases, the protagonists, Tanjiro and Yuji, join an organization responsible for combating and exterminating those entities that threaten humanity, which are born from the fear, hatred, and negative emotions of humans. Moreover,both animes have a tragic tone despite having comedy elements, as death is a central theme, since the characters face constant threats and have to overcome the deaths of companions who sacrifice themselves for the cause.
Attack On Titan
Based on the manga, Attack on Titan is a dark-action fantasy series set in a world where humanity has been corralled into walled cities from fear of monstrous human-eating Titans that exist outside of them. When protagonist Eren Yeager’s mother is killed in front of his eyes at a young age, his thirst for vengeance leads him to join an elite group of soldiers created to fight back against the Titan menace.
Despite having completely different premises,Attack of TitanandDemon Slayerboth present an organization whose members have different ranksand with the sole objective of eradicating human-eater monsters. The Demon Slayer Corps goal is to eliminate Muzan Kibutsuji and the demons he creates, and the Survey Corps protects humanity on the walls from the titan’s threat.
Additionally, the protagonists’ journey starts fairly similarly, since being affected by a family tragedy propels them on a path of revenge, Tanjiro’s family is killed by Muzan and after witnessing his mom being devoured, Eren swears to kill every titan. Also, the enemies in both series have regenerative abilities, and the way to kill them is similar. But the main aspect thatDemon Slayer’s fans will find appealing inAttack on Titanis the upsetting tone of the series and the highlighting of intense fights and sacrifices for the sake of a mission.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric who use alchemy in a quest to restore their bodies after a failed transmutation. The series explores themes of sacrifice, the consequences of ambition, and the quest for truth in a richly developed world.
Even thoughFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhooddoesn’t have demons but other supernatural creatures,its most notable similarity withDemon Slayeris the relationship of Edward Elric with his brother Alphonse, since both animes follow the story of brothers whose change of destiny caught them in a blown-up conflict.
InDemon Slayer, Nezuko is forcefully turned into a demon, and inFMAB, Alphonse ends up trapped in medieval-style armor, making both brothers start searching for a way to revert them to their normal bodies. In this way, both animes show strong familial relationships whose unbreakable bond is proved by how they support and protect each other in every situation.Both series also include a great deal of humorby introducing hilarious allies for Tanjito and Ed, which helps balance the most emotional moments in the story.
Seraph of the End
Seraph of the End is a dark fantasy anime series depicting a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious virus has nearly wiped out humanity, and the survivors are enslaved by vampires, focusing on a young boy’s quest for vengeance.
The comparisons betweenSeraph of the EndandDemon Slayerare inevitable because of their introduction filled with tragedy and also for presenting an organization at war for the sake of humanity. Like inDemon Slayer,Seraph of the Endfollows a world inhabited by supernatural creatures (demons/vampires) and protagonists who become orphans like Tanjiro and Nezuko.
Also, both Yuichiro Hyakuya and Mikaela share a sibling-like relationship, but only one of them ends up being saved by the Japanese Imperial Demon Army.Yuichiro’s desire to take revenge on those who kill his family drives him to join the Moon Demon Company,a group dedicated to killing the vampires who use weapons specifically designed to exterminate them. Additionally,Seraph of the Endhas a high-quality adaptation, interesting characters, and intriguing twists, which makes it a great shōnen battle anime.
Blue Exorcist
Blue Exorcist is an anime series that follows Rin Okumura, a teenager discovering he is the son of Satan. Determined to challenge his demonic heritage, Rin enrolls at True Cross Academy to become an exorcist and protect the world from demonic forces. The show explores themes of identity, family, and the battle between good and evil with a mix of action and supernatural elements.
InBlue Exorcist, the demon theme is also the central point, like inDemon Slayer, with the protagonist having a more direct connection, since Rin Okumura and his brother are none other than the children of Satan. However, despite this fact,the brothers share the same goal as Tanjiro: take revenge and put an end to the existence of the demons that threaten humans.
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This way,Rin shares a lot of similarities with Tanjiro, since he and his brother joined an exorcist’s organization to kill these demons, share a strong bond that makes them protect each other, and he also uses a sword to fight and has a kind, lively, and energetic personality. This anime is one of themost underrated shōnen, partly because of its early adaptation, which strayed from the original story; however, asBlue Exorcistrecently released a third season, now is the best chance to start it.
Inuyasha (2000)
LikeDemon Slayer,Inuyashaalso takes place in a feudal world where active demons endanger humans, borrowing many aspects of Japanese folklore. These demons are also created by a villain, which helps highlight the humanity within these creatures, similar to howDemon Slayer does by presenting their emotional backstories.
Moreover, both major villains, Muzan and Naraku, are similar in presence and personality, counting with strong henchmen who follow their orders. Though,Demon Slayeris far more dark and tragic thanInuyasha, where romance has greater relevance; they have in common the struggles of dealing with a demonic condition, since Inuyasha is a half-demon and he fights his inner nature just like Nezuko does to protect Tanjiro and safeguard her remaining humanity.Inuyashais a timeless classic and a must-watch series for those wanting to find the best anime about fighint demons.
Dororo
Dororo (2019) is a Japanese anime series based on Osamu Tezuka’s classic manga. Set in the Sengoku period, it follows the journey of Hyakkimaru, a young samurai whose body parts were sacrificed to demons by his father in exchange for power, and Dororo, a young thief. Together, they seek to recover Hyakkimaru’s stolen body parts by defeating the demons that possess them.
Dororois one of the best recommendations for those wanting to enjoy an anime likeDemon Slayer, not only because Hyakkimaru faces demonic entities during a historical Japanese period, but also because of its stunning animation and battle choreography.
Although both protagonists begin fighting with demons to recover something, the evolution of both stories gives more importance to the human connections formed in times of suffering, represented in Tanjiro, whose new friends become like a found family, and Hyakkimaru, who finds company in Dororo. Even thoughDemon Slayeris miles away fromDororo’s ruthless representation of war and the most horrific part of the human condition, viewers craving a grounded, self-contained anime will find Osamu Tezuka’s masterful story more than enjoyable.
D.Gray-man (2006)
D. Gray-Manis an essential classic anime that resemblesDemon Slayerin both its main plotline and villains. InD-Gray Man, Allen Walker joins the Black Order, an organization that opposes the Millennium Earl, which has many similarities with Muzan, not only because they both create supernatural creatures, the Akuma and demons, but also in the groups led by them, the Noah and the Twelve Moon.
However, what makesD. Gray-Mangreat is the scale involved in the fight, as the Earl possesses great influence, putting the whole world in danger, making the stakes higher than inDemon Slayer, where Muzan only looks to reach immortality. Despite its slower story and less dark tone, it’s an absolute iconic reference in the medium, influencing many series likeJujutsu Kaisen, makingD. Gray-Manan anime that every Demon Slayer fan will enjoy.
Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibais a wildly popular anime and manga franchise created by Koyoharu Gotouge. Set in Taishō-era Japan, it follows Tanjiro Kamado as he battles demons and seeks a cure for his sister, Nezuko, who was turned into one. The franchise includes a manga, anime TV series, films, video games, and spin-offs. Known for its stunning animation and gripping storyline,Demon Slayeris one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
