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Best Anime Like Bleach
Key Takeaways
Table of Contents
- Dive into a world filled with supernatural battles and intriguing narratives – just like Bleach’s action-packed universe.
- Experience the thrill of engaging combat designs and captivating characters in anime similar to Bleach.
- Discover a weekly dose of awesome with supernatural elements, just like the “punk” aspect that made Bleach so attractive.
It’s one thing to watch a shonen anime, but quite another to get enamored with gorgeous anime designs, a compelling narrative, and engaging combat design; all things that Bleach has in abundance. This action-packed shonen anime stars Ichigo Kurosaki, an ordinary high school student dragged into the world of the supernatural as he temporarily gets the powers of a Shinigami: a Soul Reaper. Armed with the zanpakuto and newfound strength, Ichigo has to fight various supernatural threats to stop them from harming the mortal world.
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Unlike other shonen anime, the supernatural “punk” aspect of Bleach makes it extremely attractive to fans who just want a weekly dose of awesome. And, for fans still waiting for the anime adaptation of the manga’s final arc, there are a couple of other anime like Bleach.
Updated on November 26, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War about to reach its climax with Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends facing off against Yhwach in a bid to save all three realms, fans of the series might be wondering if there are other anime like Bleach that could help viewers reach similar levels of worldbuilding and intense fights. Thankfully, the anime scene does provide many anime similar to Bleach in different ways – some of which include an anime adaptation of a manhwa that involves humans borrowing abilities from gods and spirits, a mediator between realms solving spiritual crimes, and a world where the supernatural and paranormal clash together.
1 God Of High School
Dominate High School With The Power Of Mythology
In the world of God of High School where taekwondo specialist Jin Mori participates in “The God of High School” tournament in the hopes of attaining any wish, he gets thrust in a supernatural conspiracy involving gods, demons, and humans who can access “Borrowed Power” from these supernatural entities. Accompanied by karate expert Han Daewi and swordsmaster Yoo Mira, the trio fight against other martial artists from other schools in order to slowly make their way to the top.
Regardless of the anime’s premise of being a standard tournament, the trio’s emergence as users of Borrowed Power will pave the way for spectacular battles and intrigue surrounding their very allies and higher powers. While much of the action in God of High School is confined in the tournament proper, its power scaling and high-octane fight scenes can scratch the itch for anyone missing Bleach fights.
God Of High School: How Is It Similar To Bleach?
The three-world premise of God of High School can immediately remind fans of the structure of Bleach’s Soul Society. In the former, the universe is separated into the Sage Realm populated by mythical creatures, the Heavenly Realm containing the gods, and the Human World where humans are blessed with the ability to use Borrowed Power to fight against demons. Unlike Bleach where characters often have wildly different abilities, Borrowed Powers taking some inspiration from pre-existing mythological figures will leave fans with some idea of how these abilities manifest, making fight scenes more exciting as viewers have to anticipate just how the story will showcase these powers in a visually-spectacular fashion.
2 In/Spectre
A Wild Supernatural Investigation
In/Spectre
- Release Date
- January 12, 2020
- Studio
- Brain’s Base
- Number of Episodes
- 24
The story of In/Spectre is wild even in the context of anime – a university student named Kotoko Iwanaga approaches a fellow student named Kuro Sakuragawa, who at the time is struggling to move on from a break-up. In their encounter, Kotoko declares she has been in love with Kuro for the past two years, that she’s a “Goddess of Wisdom” in charge of mediating on matters between yokai and humans, and she believes Kuro is hiding something supernatural. One thing leads to the other and the two pair up to investigate supernatural mysteries.
This crazy premise extends to one overarching mystery, which in itself is slowly tackled from the perspective of different cases. In/Spectre focuses on Kotoko “solving” what actually happened in the case they were presented, piecing together blocks of what happened until she lands into the closest-possible version of events. Unlike other supernatural mystery-esque anime that devolves into a full-blown drama mid-way, In/Spectre strives to remain a mystery show through and through – something Bleach fans would appreciate in terms of consistency.
In/Spectre: How Is It Similar To Bleach?
While there are less spectacular fights in In/Spectre compared to Bleach, fans of the latter would appreciate the former for exploring the more mysterious side of living in two worlds. Whereas Shinigami of Bleach are mostly in charge of leading souls into Soul Society and exterminating Hollows, In/Spectre taps into the mystery-solving aspect that the first part of Bleach tried to pursue during Ichigo’s time as a Substitute Shinigami. This more subtle approach to exploring a supernatural world can be much-appreciated by Bleach fans who wanted a more grounded approach to tackling mysteries involving supernatural creatures.
3 Dandadan
Aliens And Ghosts Unite In Crazy Psychic Hijinks
The story of Dandadan is as wild as it gets – highschooler Momo Ayase believes in ghosts but not aliens, and her friend Ken Takakura believes in aliens but not ghosts. Unfortunately for them, a dare to visit sites related to the supernatural end up convincing them that the things they didn’t believe in were actually real… and they got more than what they bargained for. Now, Ayase gets abducted by aliens and unlocks her latent psychic abilities and Okarun is possessed by a ghost and can undergo a transformation. Since these events, the duo encounter various spirits and aliens – of which they fight with the help of friends and family.
The story of Momo and Okarun and the “Family” throughout Dandadan is filled with equal parts hijinks, intense fights, and serious moments. Unlike other supernatural anime which focuses on a hard story with equally-captivating fight scenes, it’s the innate silliness of Dandadan that makes it quite the must-watch for Bleach fans.
Dandadan: How Is It Similar To Bleach?
Fans of Bleach don’t just stay for the story and the fight scenes – especially when Tite Kubo also excels in building rapport between characters through funny moments and witty banter. Now imagine Dandadan as taking this banter to 100, with a lot of high-octane action pieces often including this in the process. Fans who love Bleach for its fight scenes will appreciate the level of detail in Dandadan’s fights, especially
4 Tokyo Revengers
A Gutsy Time-Traveling Gangster Story
- Release Date
- April 11, 2021
- Studio
- Liden Films
- Number of Episodes
- 38+
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
Gangsters and time travel are two themes that don’t often mix in media, and yet Tokyo Revengers makes the concept work in a gutsy and angsty pseudo-sci-fi story. Set in 2017, the story of Tokyo Revengers begins when freeter Takemichi Hanagaki learns that his middle school ex-girlfriend Hinata Tachibana and her younger brother were killed by the Tokyo Manji Gang. When a trip to the subway ends with Takemichi being pushed to a train platform, his supposed death instead brings him twelve years in the past in 2005.
Now dead-set on preventing the events that led to the death of his ex-girlfriend, Takemichi realizes certain actions in the past spiral into drastic events in his present. However, his efforts to find ways of saving Hinata lead to more complicated consequences that become out of his control.
Tokyo Revengers: How Is It Similar To Bleach?
Despite its gangster time travel premise, Tokyo Revengers has a unique take on its aesthetic that may interest Bleach fans. While Takemichi’s crybaby nature is a far cry from Ichigo’s cool demeanor, their resolute nature and desire to overcome all odds make both of them attractive protagonists. Not only that, Tokyo Revengers has quite a vibrant supporting cast that meshes well with its sci-fi elements – two things that flow and clash beautifully by the time the plot starts getting neck-deep into their time travel shenanigans.
5 Witch Hunter Robin
A Self-Contained Story Of Science And Witches
Witch Hunter Robin
- Release Date
- July 2, 2002
- Studio
- Sunrise
- Number of Episodes
- 26
Set in a world where Witchcraft is a dormant trait in humans, Witch Hunter Robin stars Craft user Robin Sena as she’s drafted into the ranks of Solomin’s STN-J branch in Japan to help them hunt Awakened Witches. Robin and her companions are all Seeds, or natural-born unawakened Witches who can access unique powers who have yet to experience the homicidal madness accompanied by their eventual Awakening.
The series initially follows a monster-of-the-week format, with Robin using her pyrokinesis to capture other Awakened Witches while her companions use power-dampening Orbo bullets to weaken them. As the series progresses, Robin starts to see something amiss in their cause to “keep the world safe” – a discovery that would put grave danger to herself.
Witch Hunter Robin: How Is It Similar To Bleach?
The supernatural premise of Witch Hunter Robin can capture the interest of Bleach fans, especially with the latter beginning its initial storyline with Shinigami hunting Hollows. Not only that, Witch Hunter Robin having a more toned-down world can be a breath of fresh air to Bleach’s theatrics. This time around, the suspense isn’t necessarily with how the protagonist can scale up to the level of a powerful villain – but rather how a meek protagonist like Robin can begin to fight a system that is slowly turning against the very things they wanted to save.
6 Blue Exorcist
An Action-Packed Story In An Exorcist Cram School
Blue Exorcist
- Release Date
- April 17, 2011
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures, Studio VOLN
- Number of Episodes
- 49
- Japanese Title
- Ao no Exorcist
Set in the material world of Assiah and the underworld of Gehenna, Blue Exorcist explores the life of twins Rin Okumura and Yukio Okumura as they’re revealed to be sons of Gehenna’s ruler Satan, and how the untimely death of their adoptive father Shiro introduces them to the dangerous world of Exorcists and Demons. When Rin enrolls at the True Cross Academy to cram his way into being an Exorcist, his twin Yukio is already a full-fledged Exorcist.
With Rin unlocking a unique power that allows him to burn almost anything he touches, Rin will try to find a way to navigate this new world as he and his comrades stop Gehenna’s forces from world domination. Throughout the anime, Rin slowly makes his way through the ranks of an Exorcist – from being a lowly Page to discovering his specialization Meister, and even encountering rivals along the way.
Blue Exorcist: How Is It Similar To Bleach?
Fans of Bleach will appreciate Blue Exorcist for having a more “direct” similarity in terms of overall plot and feeling. While twin protagonists Rin and Yukio Okumura provide a breath of fresh air as comrades compared to the initial hostility between Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryu Ishida in Bleach, the overall setting of Blue Exorcist feels like home to Bleach aficionados. Exorcists having specializations in the form of Meisters helps divide characters across power categories that don’t stray too far from the anime’s premise, allowing action enthusiasts to savor fight scenes and theory-crafting between characters.
7 Beelzebub
Street Fights With The Devil
Beelzebub
- Release Date
- January 9, 2011
- Studio
- Pierrot Plus
- Number of Episodes
- 60
It’s not often that a student finds a random baby who somehow bestows on him the power of demons, but this is what happens to Tatsumi Oga when he finds baby Beel at the beginning of Beelzebub. After finding the mysterious infant near a river, he initially tries to give him to other troublemakers in the juvenile delinquent school of Ishiyama High. Unfortunately for Oga, constant troubles with other students would just increase Beel’s admiration for his first benefactor, eventually gaining enhanced physical abilities due to his newfound demonic power.
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Oga’s encounter with Beel will send forces from the Demon World right to his doorstep – something that isn’t ideal for the protagonist, who’s already constantly in trouble with his schoolmates. Regardless of how intense things can become, Oga’s penchant for street fighting will help him and his friends save the day in the nick of time.
Beelzebub: How Similar Is It To Bleach?
While Beelzebub’s stories are not as intense as Bleach’s storylines, the school setting of Beelzebub is a perfect callback to the beginning parts of Tite Kubo’s acclaimed hit. Denizens of the Demon World wreaking havoc at school can give Bleach fans a sense of nostalgia about Ichigo’s first adventures as a Substitute Shinigami, especially when they come in the form of various factions with unique motivations and personalities. The comedic focus of Beelzebub can be a welcome change of pace for Bleach fans, who appreciate good fights with none of the pressures of understanding technical concepts.
8 Ajin: Demi-Human
Immortals Who Live Among Humans
Ajin: Demi-Human
- Release Date
- January 16, 2016
- Studio
- Polygon Pictures
- Number of Episodes
- 26
- Seasons
- 2
When Nagai Kei dies in a fatal traffic accident, he miraculously revives with his body intact. In the world of Ajin: Demi-Human, Kei discovers that he’s part of the said mysterious species. While most people see him as an ordinary human being, he is something more sinister. Ajin are mysterious humans with miraculous regenerative abilities, and are practically immortal, as they can resurrect from any leftover body parts. They are made out of mysterious Invisible Black Matter, which they can also control to create Black Ghosts that they can command remotely.
In the world of Ajin, the dangerous nature of the Ajin makes them detested by both humans and governments. Due to their mysterious nature, Ajin are often the subjects of human experiments. Kei’s main objective in the series is to fight Satou, a fellow Ajin who gets fed up with the government experimenting on them for nefarious reasons.
Ajin: Demi-Human: How Similar Is It To Bleach?
While Ajin: Demi-Human does lack some of the supernatural elements of Bleach, the idea of a species blending in with humans and fighting with each other is reminiscent of the Shinigami versus Quincy conflict. All Ajin possess the same properties, which can make fights fairly technical, with minor changes in fighting style having a huge impact on the outcome of battles. Bleach fans who appreciate technical fight scenes may be interested in theory-crafting Ajin’s own fights, especially when Kei starts to have better control over his abilities.
9 Durarara!!
Unlocking The Mystery Behind Ikebukuro
Durarara!!
- Release Date
- January 8, 2010
- Studio
- Brain’s Base
- Number of Episodes
- 60
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
When Mikado Ryugamine reunites with his childhood friend Masaomi Kida at Raira Academy, Mikado’s thirst for adventure in Durarara!! encourages him to explore the streets of Ikebukuro. Despite Masaomi’s guidance against interacting with suspicious Ikebukuro folk like The Dollars and the supposedly headless Black Rider, circumstances would eventually put the duo at the center of an incident that no one could exactly piece together.
Throughout the anime’s first season, viewers are treated to a mystery that would have them try to piece together a narrative involving all the main characters equally. When Mikado and his new acquaintances become centerpieces of every episode, and with every episode offering a new take on the central narrative, exactly whose perspectives are real?
Durarara!!: How Similar Is It To Bleach?
Unlike Bleach, fans of Durarara!! would describe the anime as more of a mystery story with a dash of the supernatural. Bleach lovers who get invested in the series’ lore, even outside the fights, would appreciate the sheer thrill in Durarara!!’s exploration of a pseudo-criminal underworld, especially with its ongoing mystery elements. While the anime’s pacing gives it a slice-of-life feel, the eventual reveals of the darker parts of every character’s personality can make the progression as worthwhile as the buildup towards Bleach’s Sosuke Aizen as one of its central villains.
10 Devilman Crybaby
A Protagonist Who Becomes The Devil Incarnate
Devilman Crybaby
- Release Date
- January 5, 2018
- Studio
- Science SARU
- Number of Episodes
- 10
- Seasons
- 1
Created as a celebratory piece to Go Nagai’s 50th Anniversary, Devilman Crybaby is a modern reimagining of Nagai’s Devilman manga. Now set in the 21st Century instead of the 1970s, Devilman Crybaby depicts a world where an ancient race of demons are blending in with humanity, with friends Akira Fudo and Ryo Asuka working together to fight them in secret. When Akira manages to unite with a demon called Amon, he uses its powers to become Devilman and fight the forces of demonkind before it’s too late for humanity.
Praised for both its animation quality and its renewed take on a classic narrative, Devilman: Crybaby tackles themes of coming-of-age, love and sexuality, and even bigotry, as it explores the friendship of Akira and Ryo. While fans criticize the anime’s ending, Devilman: Crybaby blends supernatural action with a dash of philosophy as humanity slowly descends into chaos.
Devilman Crybaby: How Similar Is It To Bleach?
Akira taking on the powers of a demon to fight demons is similar to how Ichigo has taken on the powers of the Shinigami to fight supernatural Hollows. Seeing Akira as Devilman rip demons to shreds while learning how to control his powers is reminiscent of Ichigo’s journey from a mere sword-swinging Substitute Shinigami into a force to be reckoned with across Bleach. The darker nature of Devilman: Crybaby’s story can make fans wonder how grim Bleach could have been had Tite Kubo decided to not tackle a traditional shonen premise of Ichigo being able to eventually defeat most threats.
11 Fate/Zero
A Look Into The Tragic Holy Grail War
Fate/Zero
- Release Date
- October 1, 2011
- Number of Episodes
- 25
- Studio
- Ufotable
- Seasons
- 2
The world of Fate is known for its Holy Grail War – a secret conflict between Masters and summoned Servants as they fight for the wish-granting Holy Grail. While Shiro Emiya and Saber become prominent figures in the Fate/Stay Night series, Shiro’s adoptive father Emiya Kiritsugu takes center stage in Fate/Zero – the prequel series that would explore the origins of many of Stay Night’s popular figures and the grim background of their motivations.
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Set in the Fourth Holy Grail War, Fate/Zero reveals a darker past to the adoptive father Shiro constantly idolized. As the Holy Grail War is do-or-die, Masters and Servants will do whatever it takes to win – be it lie, deceive, or cheat their way into defeating their enemies. As a series penned by Gen “Urobutcher” Urobuchi himself, fans can expect no traditional happy endings for any member of the series’ cast by the time it ends.
Fate/Zero: How Similar Is It To Bleach?
The setting of Fate/Zero is that of a world with secret societies fits right into the premise of a Bleach-esque series, especially with the realization that Servants being Heroic Spirits given form is quite similar to Soul Society’s denizens attaining a physical presence whenever they travel to Earth. The premise of a secret Holy Grail War unknown to man is akin to the secret conflict between Shinigami and Hollows, only this time there’s no bystander like Ichigo who’s suddenly thrust into an unknown world. The Fate/Zero cast knowing exactly what is going on in their high-stakes Holy Grail War adds a level of intensity that Bleach only achieves in its boss-level fights, especially with the Nasuverse’s rather technical magic and ability system. As such, the guessing game between Servants as they try to outwit each other through their unique abilities can make each battle just as intense as the last – especially with Ufotable at the helm with its impressive animations.
12 Flame Of Recca (1997)
The Tale Of A Ninja Who Masters Flames
Release Date |
July 19, 1997 |
---|---|
Studio |
Pierrot |
Episodes |
42 |
Network |
Fuji TV, Animax, AXN |
Despite its age, Flame of Recca has quite the accessible premise that the typical shonen enjoyer may get into. The ninja anime stars the eponymous Recca Hanabishi, a wannabe ninja who learns he can control flames, and his promise to protect his self-proclaimed princess Yanagi, who is hunted down by evildoers for her ability to heal any injury.
Unfortunately for the duo, things get complicated when they get absorbed into the world of Madogu or psychic devices that grant users special abilities. With the realization that he descended from a Sengoku-era ninja clan who created the very Madogu, Recca and his friends take it upon themselves to protect the world and Yanagi from the threats these devices pose. While its premise is a bit convoluted, Flame of Recca doesn’t slack off with its breathtaking action scenes. Not only that, the technicalities of how each Madogu is used have paved the way for memorable and interesting fights.
Flame Of Recca: The Similarities With Bleach
Be it the Shikai and Bankai for Shinigami, the Resurreccion for the Arrancar, and the Schrift for the Quincy Sternritters – each new combatant’s ability is a much sought-after revelation throughout the series. This concept is similar to the Madogu in Flame of Recca, as many fighters across the anime developed some form of mastery with their special mystical weapon. Seeing Fuko Kirisawa develop mastery with her air-based Fujin gauntlet and Tokiya Mikagami demonstrate immense water control with the Ensui can make for interesting match-ups with flame-toting Recca.
13 Saint Seiya (1986)
Wielding Suits With The Power Of The Stars
Saint Seiya
- Release Date
- October 11, 1986
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Number of Episodes
- 114
- Seasons
- 6
While the original Saint Seiya anime aired in 1986, an assortment of spinoffs and reboots paved the way for one of the most iconic anime franchises of all time. Starring the eponymous Seiya, the protagonist pledges to become a warrior Saint to protect the Goddess Athena in exchange for help finding his sister. Despite this personal goal, Seiya’s eventual friendships with his fellow Saints make him more than willing to put his life on the line to protect Athena from other gods who want to defeat her and dominate Earth.
Typical with most shonen anime, the loyal Seiya is accompanied by various Saints with different personalities and motivations. Each of them can wield special armors called Cloths that grant them special abilities, with Seiya’s Pegasus Cloth endowing him with great speed. Fights in Saint Seiya usually start with action-packed fistfights before evolving into grand showcases of power not dissimilar to Bleach’s more chaotic fights.
Saint Seiya: The Similarities With Bleach
The Saints being bestowed special armor to protect and defend Athena are reminiscent of the Shinigami being assigned to protect Soul Society. While technically not facing ghosts and supernatural threats, both Saints and Shinigami share similar powersets, with the Saints’ specific Cloths and a Shinigami’s specific Zanpakuto being the only aspects of their fighting styles that add a bit of variability. Despite its age and multiple iterations, seeing each Saint Seiya anime tackle characters grows into their Cloth’s special abilities.
14 Jujutsu Kaisen (2020)
Set In A School For Controlling Cursed Energy
- Release Date
- October 3, 2020
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Number of Episodes
- 47
- Japanese Title
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- Seasons
- 2
Anime fans interested in paranormal stories that mirror Bleach’s Shinigami concept may take a liking to Jujutsu Kaisen, detailing the adventures of Jujutsu Sorcerers who can manipulate negative energy in their body to fight Curses, malevolent manifestations of the same power. The series stars Yuji Itadori, a high school student taught to always help others, and a dangerous mishap involving the local Occult Club. When he swallows a finger in a sealing gone wrong, Yuji gains the powers of the Curse named Sukuna.
With other Jujutsu Sorcerers witnessing Yuji retaining control over his body, he’s taken to Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School to train as a Jujutsu Sorcerer. Jujutsu Kaisen can be a decent watch for Bleach fans looking for intense action that remains grounded on how techniques and special abilities are used, letting viewers speculate on how matches go based on the knowledge the anime gives them.
Jujutsu Kaisen: The Similarities With Bleach
Much like how the Shinigami maintain the balance of souls between Soul Society and the Human World, Jujutsu Sorcerers of Jujutsu Kaisen are in charge of helping mankind defend itself from cursed spirits. Whereas Shinigami use Reiatsu to aid their abilities, Jujutsu Sorcerers use curse energy for their abilities. Similar to a Shinigami’s Hado or Kido, Jujutsu Sorcerers project these energies into Cursed Techniques that are both taught and innate to individuals. This allows Jujutsuu Kaisen characters to work within similar powersets, making fights more technically compelling.
15 Freezing (2011)
Partners Fight Aliens With Their Freezing Abilities
Release Date |
January 8, 2011 |
---|---|
Studio |
A.C.G.T |
Episodes |
12 |
Network |
AT-X, Tokyo MX, CTC, SUN, TV Aichi, TVK, TV Saitama, Funimation Channel |
One can’t deny that the women of Bleach gained huge fan appeal not just for their appearances but also for unique power sets, something that Freezing also offers action fans. This shonen anime stars pairs of Limiters and Pandora, students with special abilities to fight the global threat of monstrous Nova. Protagonist Kazuya Aoi is a Limiter, meaning he can immobilize Nova through an ability called Freezing, who becomes a person of interest in West Genetics Academy as his sister is a Pandora. Partnered with him is Satellizer el Bridget, a powerful Pandora known as the “Untouchable Queen” for her intense apiphobia and intense personality.
Despite the immediate romcom element with Kazuya and Satellizer’s partnership, much of Freezing’s appeal lies in its action scenes. While all Limiters aid their Pandora by Freezing their opponents, all Pandora have access to Stigmata that augment their physical attributes and summon weapons. While all Limiters and Pandora have similar power sets, every Pandora has a unique fighting style that explores the depths of just how creative combatants could get while using the same abilities.
Freezing: The Similarities With Bleach
Similar to Bleach, the anime adaptation of Freezing has quite a lot of fanservice tied to its female characters. It’s a common sight for intense fights to result in school uniforms being torn apart, explaining the gravity of battles involving the characters. Moreover, Freezing abilities working within the same powerset means fights are always a matter of who can utilize their skills better, something that Bleach fans would find reminiscent of Tite Kubo’s technical approach to fights.
16 Claymore (2007)
Yokai Hunters Known For Their Silver Claymores
- Release Date
- April 4, 2007
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Number of Episodes
- 26
Perhaps Claymore holds the distinction of being the most action-packed take on the “superpowered women” concept in anime, as what it lacks in wild abilities it more than makes up for with technical mastery. Set on an unnamed island, Claymore stars the eponymous Claymores, or special female soldiers trained to kill monstrous Yokai. Armed only with their silver garb and signature Claymore, these warriors use physical prowess, enhanced speed, and improved senses to overpower various monsters – much like the Shinigami in Bleach.
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The anime in particular tells the story of No. 47, nicknamed Claire, whose adventures lead her to cross paths with Raki, a young boy who aspires to become a warrior. Although they don’t adventure together, their interactions with other Claymore flesh out a gripping story made only more intense with fairly technical fights. Despite their similar powersets, the different personalities and fighting styles of Claymores give combat a distinct flair where no one unnecessarily overpowers another with no proper explanation.
Claymore: The Similarities With Bleach
Despite being similar to Freezing in having characters work in similar powersets, Claymore stays true to its monster-hunting themes, much like how Bleach focuses on different spiritual entities. The individual Claymores function like Shinigami Captains with stronger base abilities and the lack of elaborate Bankai, transforming fights against Yokai and with each other more tense due to the reliance on the same skillset. Seeing Claymores push their limits in both swordplay, speed, and accessing their Yokai abilities can lead to intense encounters.
17 Bungo Stray Dogs (2016)
A Detective Story With Literary References
Bungo Stray Dogs
- Release Date
- April 7, 2016
- Studio
- Bones
- Number of Episodes
- 61
- Japanese Title
- Bungou Stray Dogs
It’s not uncommon for an action anime to feature protagonists with supernatural abilities. Still, Bungo Stray Dogs kicks this up with a rather somber story and many literary references. The story focuses on the budding friendship of weretiger Atsushi Nakajima and ability-nullifying Ozamu Dazai and their eventual establishment of the Armed Detective Agency. Their adventures would eventually have them recruit other supernaturally powerful individuals into their team and discover their desire to protect Yokohama against the mafia.
Like the Fate franchise, Bungo Stray Dogs not only appears with its action premise but also in its portrayal of its characters based on authors. While not extremely accurate to a tee, the anime’s take on these protagonists, who in some way carry traits of the authors they’re named after alongside their works, adds a new level of awesome to both fight scenes and drama.
Bungo Stray Dogs: The Similarities With Bleach
While Bungo Stray Dogs has a more self-contained story, fans of Bleach may appreciate each character having different powersets much like how Shinigami has different Zanpakuto. Moreover, the smaller-scale stories give Bungo Stray Dogs a lot of room for personal development, giving readers a chance to see how characters with a similar quirkiness to those in Bleach could get further developed as a small cast.
18 Akame Ga Kill! (2014)
A Rebellion Featuring Assassins And Mysterious Weapons
Akame ga Kill!
- Release Date
- July 7, 2014
- Studio
- White Fox
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.47
Fans of anime who want a more straightforward take on the action genre may appreciate Akame ga Kill! In its story, young fighter Tatsumi only planned on going to the Capital to earn money and help his poverty-stricken village when he got himself tangled up with the assassin group Night Raid. In the group, he meets warriors such as eponymous swordsman Akame alongside other assassins who wield mystical weapons called the Teigu, who serve as part of the anime’s main selling point.
Similar to other action-packed anime, scenes in Akame ga Kill! are sights to behold, especially when Teigu users such as Akame and her Kiriichimonji get to fight one another. While simplistic in terms of its premise, the story’s eventual intensity becomes something worth the watch, especially to those looking for a gritty narrative.
Akame Ga Kill: The Similarities With Bleach
Night Raid being a division of the Revolutionary Army is reminiscent of the Shinigami Corps being a division of Soul Society, with each assassin’s mysterious Teigu Weapons reminiscent of the Zanpakuto used by Shinigami. Whereas Teigu lacks the “basic katana” form of all Zanpakuto, all Teigu have unique appearances much like Shikai associated with each Bleach weapon. Moreover, Teigu all contain a Danger Beast that risks “leaking out” through overuse, similar to how each Zanpakuto has a “spirit” inside it that regularly communes with its wielders.
19 Seven Deadly Sins (2014)
A Supernatural Fantasy Story Set In Various Realms
Action fans interested in a unique take on the supernatural fantasy genre may want to consider giving Seven Deadly Sins a shot. In its story, protagonist Meliodas sought to reunite his formerly-disbanded Seven Deadly Sins to liberate the land of Britannia from the corrupted Holy Knights. Throughout their journey, Meliodas discovers himself in a conflict against his brother Zeldris and his team, the Ten Commandments.
It’s interesting how Seven Deadly Sins isn’t solely based on Christian lore with its inclusion of the “Sins” and the “Commandments,” but it also has its spin on other fantastical concepts such as those of fairies and magic. Alongside the fact that each of its characters has unique abilities that reflect their titles, Seven Deadly Sins has equal parts compelling story arcs and intense action sequences.
Seven Deadly Sins: The Similarities With Bleach
Fans eager for a story similar to Bleach in using supernatural themes could appreciate the way Seven Deadly Sins makes use of Sins, Ten Commandments, and even Holy Knights to populate its setting of Britannia. Despite being forces of “good,” the titular Seven Deadly Sins carry the burden of their sins as the cruelest among the Holy Knights while they are tasked to fight the Demon Clan’s Ten Commandments. All characters in the anime boast a unique ability, with fights revolving around outsmarting each other’s usage of their skills amid flashy combat – much like how Bleach emphasizes technical powersets amid spectacular fight scenes.
20 Fairy Tail (2009)
A Fantasy Anime Featuring Guilds And Magic Systems
- Release Date
- October 12, 2009
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures, Satelight, Bridge, CloverWorks
- Number of Episodes
- 328
- Seasons
- 9
Set in the world of Earth Land, Fairy Tail shows the adventures of traveling wizard Natsu Dragneel and his spellcasting guild, the Fairy Tail. Although his initial goal is to look for the dragon Igneel to help him finally come to terms with his past, Natsu’s adventures lead to him eventually recruiting other wizards into the guild and helping them resolve their conflicts.
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Aside from giving a spellcasting take on the One Piece adventure formula, Fairy Tail boasts a solid magic system to complement its fair share of intense fight scenes. With wizards being categorized as having specific forms of magic that they may share to varying degrees, Fairy Tail has become a decent anime to watch, especially for theory-crafters and action enthusiasts interested in seeing how creative these protagonists could approach their fight scenes.
Fairy Tail: The Similarities With Bleach
Despite its fantasy premise, Fairy Tail has a rather elaborate magic system that encompasses a multitude of sub-types, much like how using Reiatsu in Bleach can extend not just to physical displays but also to Kido and Hado. Fights in Fairy Tail may resemble how Shinigami “spellcasters” use Kido, Hado, and even Shunpo in combat. A particularly interesting magic concept in Fairy Tail is Erza Scarlet’s Requip, wherein her particular version “The Knight” allows her to wield more than 100 sets of armor.
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