When you think of anime in the 2010s, one of the titles that might immediately come to mind is “Attack on Titan.” Adapted from the manga by Hajime Isayama, the series follows Eren Yeager and the members of the Scout Regiment as they defend the last vestiges of humanity against hordes of man-eating giants known as Titans. During its original run, the series received critical acclaim and widespread popularity for its animation and ambitious themes. It may not even be a stretch to say that it ushered in a whole new era for anime’s international appeal that has persisted in the decade since its release.
The anime ended in 2023 with an epic conclusion that many fans believe to be an improvement on the original manga’s ending. But just because there’s no more Titan-related action in our immediate future doesn’t mean that there aren’t other amazing shows that fill those niches. In the decades before “Attack on Titan” and the years since its release, there have been plenty of anime that feature amazing animation and heavy subject matter that can keep your Titan-sized appetites sated. If you want more anime like “Attack on Titan,” check out these projects.
1. “Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress”
On its face, this steampunk series features all of the action, drama, and willpower that “Attack on Titan” displays with each episode.
In the Industrial Revolution, a mysterious virus turns infected people into violent, undead monsters known as “Kabane” that can only be defeated by destroying either the head or its glowing heart protected by iron. Survivors on the island of Hinomoto reside in fortresses called “stations,” and transport themselves or precious cargo via steam train. When a train full of Kabane crashes into Aragane Station, an inventor named Ikoma fights them off with his new “Piercing Gun.” Though he is infected in the initial fight, he manages to resist the transformation and retain his humanity, turning him into a “Kabaneri.” With his signature weapon and new abilities, Ikoma defends survivors as they board a train to seek proper shelter.
2. “Chainsaw Man”
Already a global phenomenon, “Chainsaw Man” is chock full of violence and epic fight sequences that may even make Eren blush.
In a world where demonic creatures known as Devils terrorize humanity, Devil Hunters (professional or otherwise) are the only line of defense against them. As a young and impoverished teenager, Denji works as a Devil Hunter alongside his canine-like Chainsaw Devil Pochita in a vain attempt to pay off his deceased father’s debt to the yakuza. After he is betrayed by the yakuza and dies to a Zombie Devil, Pochita enters a contract with Denji to save his life and grant him immense power as Chainsaw Man.
He is then recruited by the Public Safety Division, led by the mysterious Makima. With his newfound powers, he works as an official Devil Hunter and strives to live as humble a life as possible. Unfortunately, the deadly Devils that threaten the city hardly make it easy for him.
3. “Kaiju No. 8”
For fights against giants and visceral transformations into awesome monsters, look no further than “Kaiju No. 8.”
Modern day society is plagued by regular kaiju attacks, and Japan has the highest concentration of kaiju in the world. In order to combat these monsters, the government employs the Japanese Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, an organization of elite kaiju exterminators.
Ever since he was a boy, Kafka Hibino and his childhood friend Mina Ashiro longed to become the greatest fighters in the Defense Force and save the world from kaiju. But while Mina was able to become a captain, Kafka leads a much more humble life as part of a cleanup crew for kaiju remains. However, his dreams have never been snuffed out as he strives to catch up to Mina one day. He eventually gets his chance, albeit in a most unexpected manner.
When a parasitic creature enters Kafka’s body, he is granted the ability to become a humanoid kaiju. While the Defense Force looks to apprehend him, Kafka tries to use his powers to defend humanity as Kaiju No. 8.
4. “Seraph of the End”
This anime was produced by Wit Studio, the same company that worked on the first three seasons of “Attack on Titan.” So you can be sure that “Seraph of the End” will feature stellar animation for its vampire fights.
In a fictional 2012, a man-made virus has decimated the global population and left only children under 13 years of age. As survivors struggle in the aftermath, vampires emerge from the darkness and turn the vast majority of humanity’s remnants. Yūichirō and Mikaela, two young captives of a vampire-run orphanage, seek to escape their imprisonment alongside their younger friends. But when their plan goes awry, everyone in their found family winds up dead at the hands of a vampire except for Yūichirō and Mikaela. As a final act of love, Mikaela sacrifices himself so that Yūichirō can escape and seek out a vampire extermination team known as the Moon Demon Company.
Years later, Yūichirō becomes a cadet in the Moon Demon Company and seeks revenge against the vampires who took away his family. Unbeknownst to him, however, Mikaela now lives as a vampire and hopes to find Yūichirō once more.
5. “Gurren Lagann”
If “Attack on Titan” illustrates overcoming despair in the face of impossible odds, “Gurren Lagann” is its antithesis — a series that encourages you to maintain hope in those same odds.
In this beloved mecha anime from 2007, mankind lives underground as the Spiral King Lordgenome and his Beastmen rule the surface with their giant “Gunmen” mechs. Young and timid driller Simon lives a humble subterranean life while his best friend, the brash delinquent Kamina, encourages him to dream bigger. One day, Simon uncovers a small Gunmen and the “Core Drill” key that operates it. At Kamina’s insistence, Simon uses the Gunmen to run through the Beastmen and break their way to the surface world. Now, with their new companions and Gunmen of their own, Simon and Kamina aim to take down Lordgenome and reclaim the surface for humans.
6. “Tokyo Ghoul”
In “Attack on Titan,” Eren Yeager often deals with retaining his own humanity amidst their fight against the Titans. If anyone knows about the painful struggle to remain human, it’s Ken Kaneki in “Tokyo Ghoul.”
Within modern-day Japan lives a species known as ghouls. While they appear human, they are far more powerful and can only survive by eating human flesh. 18-year-old student Ken Kaneki has a morbid encounter with one such ghoul named Rize Kamishiro, who tricked him into going on a date so that she could eat him. By sheer coincidence, Rize dies in a construction accident before she can eat him, but not before he is mortally wounded. An emergency operation saves his life. Unfortunately, the surgery ended up placing some of Rize’s organs inside of him. The process turns him into a half-ghoul, half-human hybrid, giving him the same insatiable appetite for human flesh as a regular ghoul.
7. “BNA: Brand New Animal”
If you’re looking for the race politics of “Attack on Titan” combined with the zaniness of Studio Trigger, then “BNA: Brand New Animal” may just be what you need.
In the world of “BNA,” humans live alongside beastmen, a species that faces discrimination for their ability to transform between humans and humanoid animals. A young human girl named Michiru Kagemori comes face to face with beastmen prejudice after a mysterious blood transfusion turns her into a beastman with the ability to shapeshift into different forms. After being persecuted by human society, she is forced to seek refuge in Anima City, a haven for beastmen. There, she meets the wolf beastman detective Shirou Ogami, who helps her investigate her circumstances and find a new life in Anima City.
8. “Ajin: Demi-Human”
This dark thriller is rife with enough action and political conspiracy to satisfy any “Attack on Titan” fan.
“Ajin” follows Kei Nagai, a cold and calculating young man who accidentally discovers that he’s an Ajin, immortal beings that can survive and heal from any mortal wound. Though Ajin are rare, they are often persecuted by the government and subject to cruel experimentation. Kei is forced to run from the government in order to survive, but he soon encounters other Ajin who present an even greater threat.
9. “Promare”
This popular mecha film combines the racial conflicts of “Attack on Titan” with the high-octane giant robot fights of “Gurren Lagann” for a truly epic story.
The world has been ravaged by the Great World Blaze, a massive series of spontaneous human combustions that killed over half of the world’s population. The catastrophe gave rise to Burnish, a species of humans with pyrokinetic abilities.
Thirty years after the disaster, Galo Thymos and his firefighting team, Burning Rescue, work to extinguish fires and fight against the Mad Burnish, a radical group of Burnish labeled terrorists by the government. Upon encountering the leader of Mad Burnish, Lio Fotia, Galo learns that there’s more to the Burnish than their capacity for destruction. What’s more, Galo begins to uncover a government conspiracy that involves his colleagues in the Freeze Force, a police organization that apprehends Burnish.
10. “Parasyte: The Maxim”
When it comes to sci-fi, violence, and the struggle for humanity, “Parasyte: The Maxim” has got it all.
A strange species of alien called Parasytes arrives on Earth and takes over human hosts by entering their brains. Many of them also kill and devour other humans in order to survive.
High school student Shinichi Izumi nearly becomes host to an alien himself. However, the alien fails to enter his brain, so it takes over his right arm instead. Regaining its sentience, the alien now regularly interacts with Shinichi, who both agree to keep their relationship a secret to assure their mutual survival. But when other Parasytes threaten humans, Shinichi tries to use his new abilities to protect them, despite the alien’s protests.
Have you seen any of these anime yet? Comment below!
