Looking for the best anime like Demon Slayer? Since its transition from the pages of manga to television screens in 2019, Demon Slayer has taken the world by storm. It introduced audiences to Tanjiro and his sister, as they try to hunt for the demon responsible for the death of their family, known only as Muzan Kiutsuji.
During their journey across Japan, Tanjiro learns to become a demon slayer alongside other young swordsmen, while also looking for a cure to turn his sister back from a demon into a human. While fans wait in anticipation for the third season to be released, there are plenty of other anime films and television shows where heroes take on demonic forces to protect their innocence.
Elsewhere, we've got plenty of other anime guides for you to check out. Check out our list of the best Naruto movies if you're a fan of the franchise, alongside the best short anime for series you can binge over the weekend. On top of that, you can take a look at the best new anime of 2022.
Best anime like Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer fans will find plenty to love about these other shows and films that are filled with as much heart and gore as the beloved franchise. Give them a try, and you're bound to enjoy them!
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
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+ 5For the uninitiated, Bleach was one of the biggest titles among Shonen Jump's range of manga series like Naruto and One Piece. It tells the story of Ichigo, a high school student who becomes a Soul Reaper and learns to fight off against monsters known as Hollows, before its cancellation in 2014.
However, its sequel series, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, recently returned to end the overarching story on a high note. Based on the manga's final storyline, Ichigo must fight off a threat unlike any other, with power that he or any other Soul Reaper has witnessed before.
It may have over the top action and spectacle that makes it more extravagant when compared to Demon Slayer, but the friendship between unlikely characters will no doubt be familiar and appealing for some. With a focus on antagonists being more than simply evil, it make those baddies a standout compared to other action anime shows.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
click to enlarge + 5A prequel that took many by surprise, Jujutsu Kaisen's first film was both an exhilarating introduction to the series, and a story that fans were excited to explore. After witnessing his best friend die in a car accident, Yuta becomes the unsuspecting host of her spirit, which has manifested into a powerful and dangerous curse.
Its theme of love is important to this story and brilliantly told, even in a film filled with all kinds of supernatural monsters and threats. Developing a strong bond despite her passing and what she has become to stay with Yuta, it offers plenty of action and fun choreography that only MAPPA can deliver on with such precision and detail.
Tokyo Ghoul
click to enlarge + 5Filled with plenty of gore and a dark side of Tokyo that some may have never seen before, Tokyo Ghoul was probably one of Pierrot's most violent shows ever produced. Telling the story of Ken Kaneki, he becomes a hybrid between human and ghoul after nearly being eaten by one of the demons who hide in the city's shadows. While his new life may give him power, he must also learn to tame the hunger for flesh that ghouls desire.
Tokoy Ghoul is only made up of twelve episodes in total, and didn't reach the same successful quantity as its manga origins. Regardless, Tokyo Ghoul and its sequel series, Tokyo Ghoul: re, offer enough bloody action and heartache as Ken struggles to evade the taste of flesh and lose his humanity. Sympathisers of Tunjiro's sister, Nezuko, will find this touching and sad while being entertained by the transformations and carnage on screen.
Princess Mononoke
click to enlarge + 5Studio Ghibli is no stranger to those passionate about anime and animation, as their films have become some of the biggest box office draws in Japan. We've also seen talented actors dubbing the English release, gaining the studio a global audience. One such film is Princess Mononoke, which tells the story of Ashitaka, who tries to get rid of a curse placed upon him by finding the Great Forest Spirit.
Many will have undoubtedly seen this cinematic masterpiece, but it's certainly worth rediscovering to see how much this 25-year-old film inspired the countless anime that followed it. Demon Slayer is no exception, as it uses demons and curses to tell its story and the dangers it causes during ancient Japan. It may not be as heavy with its themes of change and conflict as much as Princess Mononoke, but it's one that audiences can enjoy for its world and its colourful cast of characters.
Black Clover
click to enlarge + 5Adapted from the pages of the manga of the same name, Black Clover introduced audiences to Asta, an orphan who wishes to become the next Wizard King of his world. However, he is also seemingly the only person known to possess no magical abilities whatsoever, even though everyone around him does to some extent. Even though the fourth season wrapped up last year, a feature-length film is set for a 2023 release, and will continue his adventures.
It's a long wait until both the Black Clover film and the third season of Demon Slayer come out, making this a great time to explore Black Clover's world and get hyped for both of their glorious returns. Newcomers will get to enjoy a series unlike any other with its magical warriors, knights wielding unfathomably large and unique weapons, and a young protagonist who earns the hearts of viewers as much as the cast of characters who surround him.
That's it for our picks of the best anime like Demon Slayer! If you want even more recommendations, check out the best mecha anime, the best One Piece movies, and the best romance anime.