Anirban Bhattacharya
‘Akame ga Kill’ is a fine piece of fantasy anime. Over the course of some 30+ episodes, you develop a special connection with all the characters and feel sad when the series ends. It is a really well-crafted series with lots of action and fun. The plot follows Tatsu, who goes to Capital city in hopes of saving his starving village. He later joins forces with a vigilante group called Night Raid, whose goal is to dethrone the corrupt government. The plot is great, the visuals are stunning, and the characters are awesome. If you want to watch more anime that are stylistically and tonally similar to this one, then you have come to the right place. Here’s the list of best anime similar to ‘Akame ga Kill’ that are our recommendations. You can watch several of these anime like ‘Akame ga Kill’ on Netflix, Crunchyroll or Hulu.
1. Code: Breaker (2012)
Sakurakouji Sakura had a normal life until the day she saw a horrific scene. People were being burnt alive in a blue flame while a boy standing nearby watched. She later finds out that the boy is Oogami Rei and he is the one who killed those people. He is a supernatural assassin of sorts and kills people who are corrupt. However, Sakura doesn’t think killing people is the correct way to solve the problem. So, she makes it her mission to stop Oogami from killing people and try to change his heart.
2. Attack on Titan (2013)
3. Bleach (2004)
There are some similarities between ‘Akame ga Kill’ and ‘Bleach’. Both the lead characters set out on a goal to save their personal relatives but later ended up serving a larger goal for the greater good. In ‘Bleach’, Ichigo Kurosaki becomes a soul reaper to save his family from monstrous creatures known as Hollows. But he later gets entangled in the complexities of the soul world, a place where souls and soul reapers live. As the plot advances, we see there are greater evils lurking in the darkness ready to pounce. Ichigo vows to defend humanity from these evils.
4. Tokyo Ghoul (2014)
Up next is the horror fantasy anime ‘Tokyo Ghoul’. I finished watching it recently and enjoyed it a lot. It has got that entertaining anime feel to it that just makes it impossible to stop watching it until the end. The story is set in a world where both humans and ghouls, who are ghastly creatures who disguise themselves as humans, exist. Our main character in the series is Ken Kaneki whose life changes when he is attacked by a ghoul. As a consequence of this, he has now become half-ghoul, half human. The action sequences of the anime are pretty decent and the twists and turns that the plot takes will keep you on your toes. Be sure to watch it first, if you haven’t already.
5. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2011)
This is another great series I would recommend to anyone who loves anime. It has got a similar concept to ‘Akame ga Kill’ although the plot is completely different. We see two brothers Edward and Alphonse in search of some magical stone named Philosopher’s stone in hopes of reviving their bodily features. Their bodies were lost when they tried to revive their mother using alchemy. In hopes of finding the stone, Edward joins the military. Later, the brothers find out there are other people who will do anything to get the stone. It’s a highly interesting anime series that will keep you invested.
6. Mirai Nikki (2011)
This anime has a fairly new concept and plot. The story follows the life of a lonely teenager named Yukiteru Amano. He tries to keep himself in the third person and writes his observations on his mobile. He later conjures up an imaginary friend, Deus Ex Machina with whom he spends time. Later, he finds out that Deus Ex is not just a figment of his imagination but rather is very much real and is God of Time and Space. She gives Amano’s phone the ability to record the future of 90 days. Deus now asks Amano to participate in a competition with other similar individuals. The survivor will become next Deus.
7. Kill la Kill (2014)
Ryouko Matoi is in search of her father’s killer. Her only clue is a scissor-like blade. Her search leads her to Hannouji academy. This academy is ruled by Satsuki Kiryuin and her four subordinates known as Elite four. Matoi decides to challenge the authority of Satsuki and the elite four. This battle soon engulfs the whole academy. Satsuki later finds out that Ryouko possesses a scissor-like a sword which makes her think if this was fate or coincidence. To know the rest, you have to watch it. This anime is pretty entertaining and is sort of a parody. I mean, with outfits like that it has to be one; the more powerful the characters become the skimpier their outfits become.
8. Nanatsu no Taizai (2014)
The series ‘Nanatsu no Taizai’, which translates to ‘Seven Deadly Sins’, deals with a group of knights. They are known as ‘Seven Deadly Sins’. One day, they tried to make a coup to overthrow the corrupt government of the king. Their attempt failed as they were defeated by the Holy Knights, but the sins survived. Later, the Holy Knights themselves overthrew the government to become the new rulers. This made the third princess, Elizabeth, go on a journey to find the sins in order to seek their help to regain her kingdom.
9. Garo: Honoo no Kokuin (2015)
Up next is another knight themed anime named ‘Garo: Honoo no Kokuin’. Here we have an evil minister who wants to rule over the kingdom. He thus poisons the king and tricks everyone into thinking that the Makai Knights and Makai priests are evil witches and they need to be hunted down. Then one fine day, when a Makai priest was to be burned at stake, a child is born, who is saved by the Gold Knight. After a few years, the king’s health starts declining and the minister takes control. To stop him, the king’s son must seek out the child saved by the Gold Knight.
10. Gantz (2004)
This is a very strange anime series. At least that’s what I think. The story follows the life of Kei Kurono, who one day has to help his friend save a drunkard fallen on subway tracks. Their attempt fails and they are both run over by a train. But they are not sent to heaven or hell, rather they are transported to a building called Gantz where they need to participate in a deadly game with other recently deceased people.
11. Owari no Seraph (2015)
‘Owari no Seraph’ is an action anime with lots of violence like ‘Akame ga Kill’. Here, the protagonist has a similar motivation like Tatsumi from ‘Akame ga Kill’. Both the protagonists are driven by rage and their willingness to change the current state of their homeland and eradicate the forces oppressing them. This makes them train hard and even though they are weak at first, they become quite strong to take on the opposing forces.
There is an outbreak of a deadly virus which is able to kill anyone above the age of 13. This gives rise to a new problem as now vampires emerge from the dark, promising to protect humans in exchange for their blood. They begin to oppress people. Yuuichirou and Mikaela are among the orphans who have been taken captive. Mikaela is fed up of being fodder for the vampires and plans their escape. But the plan fails and the sole survivor seems to be Yuuichirou. Moon Demon Company is a rebel army with the goal of exterminating the vampires. The company picks Yuuichirou up and trains him to become a formidable opponent in the fight for their freedom.
12. High School DxD (2012)
‘High School DxD’ is on this list because of the fantasy theme and that the characters use magic and powerful weapons to fight battles. In this anime too, the protagonist suddenly becomes part of something much larger and serious. The first season of the series has a total of 12 episodes with each episode being around 24 minutes in length. It is an ecchi, harem anime show. So, if you are into such stuff, you will definitely enjoy this anime.
The protagonist of the anime is Issei Hyoudou. He is a high school student who is a pervert and likes to peep on girls. So, when a girl asks him out on a date, he instantly agrees. But at the end of the date, the girl reveals herself to be a fallen angel and kills Issei. Thanks to the beautiful senior Rias Gremory, who is a top-class devil, Issei is reincarnated as a devil and he is now a slave of Rias. Now a devil, Issei must learn to adapt to his new lifestyle and become stronger to face the factions and the fallen angels opposing the devils.
13. Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch (2006)
‘Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch’ is pretty similar to ‘Akame ga Kill’ when it comes to the predicament of the protagonist, which leads him to become one of the main factors in a power struggle to overthrow the current oppressive regime. Also, both shows deal with magic and action. The anime takes place in 2010 when the Britannia Empire is slowly emerging to be the most powerful military nation. It is slowly making its presence known by dominating other nations and kingdoms. Japan falls down under the power of Britannia and now has the name Area 11.
However, there has been a significant rise in the rebellions trying to oppose this oppressive regime. Lelouch Lamperougue is a student from Britannia. He is unfortunate enough to get stuck in the middle of the crossfire between the army of Britannia and the rebels of Area 11. A mysterious girl by the name of C.C. arrives and thanks to her, Lelouch is able to escape. The girl bestows on him the power of the kings. Lelouch realizes the potential of his powers and takes the alter ego of a vigilante by the name of Zero to try and defeat Britannia once and for all.
14. Claymore (2007)
‘Claymore’, like ‘Akame ga Kill’, is an action, adventure, fantasy anime that has a lot of violence. Both the anime have some badass female characters flinging some badass weapons to fight against monsters or villains. Also, in this anime, the female main character brings the protagonist to join her in her quest. Youma are evil creatures who feed on humans. They are shapeshifting demons and thus can be hard to find.
Raki is the male protagonist of the anime. A Youma attacks his village and unfortunately ends up killing his parents. Thanks to a woman who possesses a big sword, Raki is able to survive. The woman is Clare and she is a claymore, a human-youma hybrid. Her sole purpose is to find and exterminate all the Youma. Raki is banished from his home. So, Clare decides to let him tag along in her journey. As the series progresses, we get a better picture of the scenario and the organization that Clare belongs to, as we slowly get closer and closer to the Youma that Clare seeks vengeance upon. The anime has a total of 26 episodes with each episode being 23 minutes in length and is also a bit slower than ‘Akame ga Kill’.
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15. Guilty Crown (2011)
‘Guilty Crown’ is pretty similar to ‘Akame ga Kill’ and ‘Code Geas: Hangyaku no Lelouch’ when it comes to the premise and the setting. Again, there is an oppressive regime and there is a rebel force trying to overthrow it. Then a young boy gets drawn into all this and becomes one of the key factors in determining the outcome of the struggle. The series contains lots of violence. It has a total of 22 episodes with each episode being 24 minutes in length. The anime takes place in 2039 Japan.
After the outbreak of a virus, Japan crumbles as a nation and an independent military group by the name of GHQ takes control. Funeral Parlor is a rebel group consisting of freedom fighters. Their leader is Gai Tsutsugami and his group is the only force resisting the GHQ. Inori Yuzuriha is an important member of Funeral Parlor and during a mission, she encounters the weak Shuu Ouma and as a result, the latter ends up gaining the power of kings, which enables him to draw out manifestations of people’s personalities. He now becomes an unwilling participant in the power struggle to overthrow the GHQ.
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16. Rokka no Yuusha (2015)
‘Rokka no Yuusha’ is on this list because of its array of characters, each of whom has a unique set of skills and powers. The violence, or rather the gore, is much low in this anime. It is an action, adventure anime like ‘Akame ga Kill’ that explores themes of magic and fantasy. The anime has a total of 12 episodes with each episode being 24 minutes in length. Demon God is a vile creature who along with his demons want to turn the Earth into a living hell. There’s a legend which gives some hope though.
With the revival of the Demon God, there will be the oncoming of six brave heroes whom the Goddess of Fate will choose. The goddess will give them the power to rise against the fiends and defeat them. Adlet Mayer, the protagonist of the anime, proclaims himself to be the strongest man in the world. He wants to become one of the Braves and so he arrives at Piena. He ends up becoming a Brave although not in a way he would have wanted. During this, he encounters Nashetania Loei Piena Augustra, who is the crown princess and is also a Brave. Together, they go on a journey to meet up with the other Braves at a temple outside the demon territory. But when they arrive at the place, they find out that there are 6 of them. Everyone starts suspecting Adlet and he now has to run from the Braves and using his skills, he not only has to survive but also has to find out who the real impostor is.
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17. Black Lagoon (2006)
‘Black Lagoon’ is an extremely good anime. The feel and atmosphere it creates are similar to that of a good Hollywood TV series. It gets a spot on this list because of the predicament of its protagonist. Even in this anime, the protagonist ends up in a dire situation and gets entangled in its numerous complexities. Both the protagonists, Tatsumi from ‘Akame ga Kill’ and Rokurou Okajima from ‘Black Lagoon’, go through various stages of self-discovery during their adventure. Rokurou Okajima is a normal businessman who goes to Roanapur in Thailand for some business work. But Roanapur is sort of a safe haven for criminals and mercenaries. Unfortunately, a mercenary group by the name of Black Lagoon kidnaps him. But when his superiors decide to cut him loose, the group does not know what to do with him. So, he decides to join the group and become a mercenary himself and begins his journey in the dangerous territories of Roanapur.
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