Even thoughAttack on Titanended in November 2023, it still left an indescribable void for many fans who just wish to rewatch it again to find any missing foreshadowing in Hajime Isayama’s incredible story. However, althoughAttack on Titanis considered one of the best anime of all time and no series is exactly the same, there are still options that share the same essence and can attract any fan of dark fantasy shōnen or stories about survival in a dystopian world.
WhileAttack on Titanis an unforgettable series for its plot twists, morally complex characters, and impeccable animation, there are still a variety of excellent animes that cover similar premises. Either because of their worldbuilding, mysteries, or deep themes like humanity, sacrifice, war, and social classes,these animes are similar toAttack on Titanand are sure to delight those looking for what to watch next.
Kaiju No. 8
Cast
Kaiju No. 8 follows Kafka Hibino, who dreams of joining The Defense Force alongside childhood friend Mina Ashiro in a world beset by Kaiju. Kafka’s path diverges as he works cleaning up post-battle, but his encounter with Reno Ichikawa reignites his vow to defend humanity. Released in 2024.
2024
Number of Episodes:
12
Kaiju No. 8’s plotline shares common elements withAttack on Titan, as the protagonist, Kafka Hibino, unexpectedly gains the ability to transform into a kaiju, a giant threat attacking humanity like the Titans, and the same type of creature he’s seeking to destroy. Also, Kafka wishes to join a military organization, the Japanese Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, to protect his country, which reminds fans of Eren Yeager’s story.
Another similarity is the squads to eliminate Kaijus and titans found in bothKaiju No. 8andAttack on Titan, the fact that both protagonists have a ‘childhood friend’ who is an extremely lethal soldier prodigy, and that both Kafka and Mina and Eren and Mikasa lost their homes after being attacked by one of these creatures. However, these stories are still different, sinceKaiju No. 8is inspired byShin Godzillaand is more lighthearted thanAOT, having a great emphasis on comedy.
2014
13
Black Bulletis an underrated anime that has some of the elements that characterizeAttack on Titan. InBlack Bullet, the world is divided not by a wall but by a walled fortress due to a virus that devastated the Earth, generating giant monsters called Gastrea. In addition, there are hybrid children like Eren, who, although they do not become Gastrea, are at an intermediate point that grants them superhuman abilities and allows them to fight with these monsters.
Another similarity is that a special team is formed to stop the Gastrea, like the Survey Corps, and the anime also deals with topics such as tragic deaths, oppression of the social classes and discrimination, like the one suffered by Ymir’s children, which gives rise to representing the internal conflict caused by the humans themselves rather than what exists beyond the monsters.
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.
2015
24
Another anime from Wit Studio,Seraph of the End,upon its airing, caused many viewers to make many comparisons withAttack on Titan, as its protagonist,Yuichiro Hyakuya, also fights for the sake of humanity and to seek revengeagainst the creatures that murder his family, proclaiming that he will kill them all.Seraph of the Endfollows a post-apocalyptic setting where humanity is on the brink of extinction, not because of the Titans, but because of a disease and a vampire insurrection.
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Likewise, just like Eren, Armin, and Mikasa join a special force, Yuichiro joins an organization, the Moon Demon Company, which is aresistance group dedicated to killing vampiresby using specifically designed weapons. Also, both Yuichiro and Mikaela shared a sibling-like relationship, like Eren and Mikasa.
2016
Deca-Dencemixes the best elements ofAttack on Titan,Gurren Lagann, andNausicaä of the Valley of the Windand delivers an enjoyable story that has flown under the radar of many viewers. Like inAttack on Titan, inDeca-Dence,strange giant space monsters called Gadoll wiped out almost the entire human population, and the survivors are forced to lock themselves behind a gigantic fortress or traveling city.
Like Eren, Natsume also lost a parent and dreams of peace and longs to become a Gear to fight the Gadoll, sharing the same unbreakable fighting spirit but with a much more upbeat perspective. Also, the Gear are part of a military organization called The Power, whose purpose is to fight the gadoll, like the Survey Corps inAttack on Titan,and similar to the ODM gear, the characters inDeca-Denceuse jetpacks to maneuver in battle.
Parasyte: The Maxim
Parasyte: The Maxim (2014) is an anime series that follows high school student Shinichi Izumi, who becomes partially infected by a parasitic alien. As the parasite takes control of his right hand, the two must coexist and collaborate to survive against other parasites that seek to consume humanity. The series explores themes of identity, morality, and survival within a modern urban setting.
23
An anime whose plotline resemblesAttack on Titanand whosemanga came out two decades earlier isParasyte -the Maxim-. Even thoughParasyteisn’t set in a different dystopic world but in a modern reality, in the anime, humanity is also at risk due to a parasitic species that takes control of humans. Also, these parasites devour humans just like the titans.
Another way in whichParasyteis related toAttack on Titanis in the unexpected metamorphosis of its protagonist Shinichi, who becomes a kind of hybrid when a parasite takes over his right arm, and how he must protect himself from other parasites that want to attack him and also help other humans. A theme that both animes have in common is offeringunique perspectives on humanity and the morality of society.
God Eateris an anime based on a game that is inevitable to draw comparisons withAttack on Titanbecause of their similar setting, as it also showcases a post-apocalyptic world where most of the humanity lives confined in bases surrounded by walls to protect themselves from the Aragami, who are giant monsters that can only be defeated with special weapons.
InGod Eater, its protagonist Lenka, like Eren, enlists as a soldier in a unit due to his tragic past, but since it’s not shown from the beginning, he has an aura of mystery, being revealed as the anime progresses thanks to flashbacks. Because of this, inGod Eater, the background of the world isn’t unknown like inAttack on Titan, but as it is gradually explained, this keeps the revelations interesting.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is an anime series set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is threatened by undead creatures called Kabane. The story follows Ikoma and Mumei, members of a group of survivors who must navigate a perilous journey aboard an armored train. Battling the relentless Kabane and internal conflicts, they aim to reclaim their world. Directed by Tetsuro Araki, the series merges action and steampunk elements.
12 + 2 recopilatory films + 1 sequel film
One anime that shared more withAttack on Titanbesides havingthe same director and composer and being animated by the same studioisKabaneri of the Iron Fortress. Upon its release,Kabaneriwas referred to by many as a ‘steampunkAttack on Titancopy’, as its plotline was too similar since the series also places humanity behind ‘walls’ in the face of a supernatural threat. But inKabaneri, the walls are actually walled stations and a reinforced high-speed train, and the threats aren’t titans, but rather zombies named Kabane.
However,Kabaneriproved to be a great series on its own despite the clear inspiration. Not only isKabaneri’s animation visually striking, but it also has great character design that recallsAlita: Battle Angeland fast-paced moments full of absolute frenzy, unlike the calm moments ofAttack on Titan. Additionally, its story is also simpler, so it could appeal to viewers who want to experience a pure action anime.
The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland is a suspenseful anime series set in an orphanage where children, led by the intelligent Emma, uncover a dark secret about their idyllic home and plan a daring escape.
2019
Just like inAttack on Titan,inThe Promised Neverland, the main group of characters is completely unaware of the reality outside the small world they live in. Moreover, like the walls inAttack on Titanare made to ‘protect’ the characters, inThe Promised Neverland,the characters live in an orphanage that also keeps them from finding the truthand those controlling everything from the shadows. Also,The Promised Neverlandbrilliantly conveys tension and psychological terror like few animes can, keeping viewers hooked to see if the characters can survive.
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Unfortunately, whileThe Promised Neverlandseason 1 was considered a masterpiece by many, the quality takes a drop in the next season, from the animation to cutting many important storylines, which leads to a rushed, lackluster ending. So, as it is fairly short for a shōnen (181 chapters), going straight to the manga after the first part is recommended.
Knights of Sidonia
In a future where Earth is destroyed, humanity clings to survival aboard the spaceship Sidonia. This anime series follows Nagate Tanikaze, who emerges from isolation to join a renewed fight against ancient alien enemies known as Gauna, exploring themes of identity and duty within a militarized society.
24 + 1 recopilatory film + 1 sequel film
Knights of Sidoniais theperfect anime for mecha lovers wanting to see howAttack on Titan’s premise will work in space. In the anime, humanity is almost extinguished by creatures called Gauna, which are even more enigmatic than the titans inAOT. However, instead of humanity being confined behind walls, the earth was destroyed, and the survivors formed nomadic space colonies, escaping from the creatures that hunt them.
As inAOT,Knights of Sidoniafeatures a complex militarized society, and even though they have lived far from the Gauna attack, it showcases a fleet of pilots trained to face these monsters. Also, likeAttack on Titan, it’s loved for its dark story, political intrigue, and well-thought-out mysteries.Knights of Sidoniaraises many questions for viewers, like what these creatures are, what they want, and what the truth is surrounding the ship.
86: EIGHTY-SIX
Set in a dystopian future, this military sci-fi series follows the struggle of Shin, a commander of the oppressed Eighty-Sixers, who are forced to pilot combat drones in a relentless war. The series explores themes of injustice, humanity, and the personal sacrifices made amid conflict.
2021
86 Eighty-Sixis one of thebest underrated modern animeand has many similarities withAttack on Titan.In both animes, squads of elite fighters are formed to combat an impending threat, which leads to losing many lives in the process. On the other hand, in Attack on Titan, the people seem to peacefully live behind walls without knowing the truth, and in86, most of the society is unaware of the true horrors the soldiers face on the battlefield.
Despite being a mecha anime,86, likeAttack on Titan, has a great representation of warbut shows it from a different perspective, more focused on the consequences and toll on people than on its nature. The anime also showcases intriguing twists and how politics and racism affect society while also featuring well-crafted, complex characters, each one with their own struggles. This makes86 Eighty-Sixan anime similar toAttack on Titanthat any fan will enjoy.
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titanis a globally successful manga and anime franchise created by Hajime Isayama. The story is set in a world where humanity lives inside walled cities, threatened by giant humanoid creatures called Titans. The series follows Eren Yeager and his friends as they fight to uncover the truth about the Titans and the world. First serialized in 2009, the franchise has expanded into anime series, films, video games, novels, and live-action adaptations.
