Best Anime Like Naruto

Naruto Uzumaki’s journey from a novice shinobi to the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village is the stuff that icons are made of. Naruto chronicles the eponymous character’s adventures across a whopping 770 episodes, which is still a feat to watch despite the series’ critical acclaim. Regardless, Naruto easily highlights the hallmarks of shonen anime: a hero’s journey, friendship conquers all, and the value of hard work and perseverance.

Thankfully, viewers who find themselves wanting more anime action don’t necessarily have to watch another 500+ episode series. In fact, some anime may carry just as much impact as Naruto while packing everything into their own unique, condensed narratives. Let’s take a look at some great anime similar to Naruto.

Updated on August 10, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The Summer 2024 anime season is roughly halfway through by this point, and the lineup does not contain many shows that are similar to Naruto. Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest is the main exception, although the sequel can only be recommended to people who have watched its predecessor. While none deserve unique entries, let’s highlight a few airing series that might strike a chord with Naruto fans:

• The Elusive Samurai – A historical epic with great animation, likable characters, and outlandish humor. The story has little in common with Naruto, but The Elusive Samurai is nevertheless shaping up to be a memorable shonen adaptation.

• Tower of God: Return of the Prince – A controversial show due to being a rather poor adaptation of the source material. Still, the anime has pretty decent fights that often focus on teamwork.
• Wistoria: Wand and Sword – Boasting stellar animation, Wistoria’s fight sequences have been constantly top-notch, standing out in a season not lacking in top-tier visuals. The protagonist, Will, is treated as an outcast at his school, which is somewhat similar to Naruto’s initial situation.

Boruto is not included because it is way too obvious of a recommendation.

29

Kaiju No. 8

Proving The Doubters (& Himself) Wrong

Taken at face value, Kaiju No. 8 and Naruto have little in common. The former is set in an alternate version of the modern day and features humans going up against massive monsters, aka kaiju. Still, despite these differences, there are enough elements to warrant a recommendation. Kaiju No. 8 follows Kafka, a guy in his early 30s who dreamed of joining Japan’s defense force; unfortunately, he never managed to pass the exam, forcing him into the disposal unit instead. However, he decides to reapply one last time before he ages out, and he has a secret that might give him an edge: he swallowed a small kaiju that gives him unique powers.

While technically the opposite of Naruto’s initial predicament in the Hidden Leaf Village, Kafka is nevertheless trying to gain control of a beast within him, all the while attempting to keep his kaiju form a secret since the defense force considers it to be a must-kill threat. Their personalities are also quite similar, with both characters being loud goofballs who are willing to fight against the odds even when they are underestimated (or feared). Similar to Naruto, Kaiju No. 8 also focuses on teamwork, as the defense force’s strength lies in a unit’s coordination.

28

Bungo Stray Dogs

Inner Demon (Or Weretiger)

Based on a seinen property, Bungo Stray Dogs built on a mediocre opening season to become a fantastic supernatural action show. Seasons 4 and 5 were among 2023’s best anime of any genre or demographic, and they warrant sitting through all the previous content (most of which is, in fact, quite good). Generally, the series focuses on the Armed Detective Agency, a specialized group that investigates cases involving people with unique powers (inspired by literary authors). Although that description fits most of the main arcs, it fails to highlight the anime’s character-driven nature, with each saga diving into a few key figures while also setting the stage for future players.

Besides its overall quality, Bungo Stray Dogs might also hit the mark with Naruto fans due to one of its protagonists: Atsushi Nakajima. An orphan who is cast out of his home due to his ability to transform into a weretiger (and inability to control it), Atsushi struggles consistently with self-worth and guilt, going on a series-long journey to achieve self-acceptance. Although not quite as charismatic as Naruto, he is still likable, and he is aided by a very strong roster of secondary characters, some of whom are pushed to the front during a couple of storylines.

27

The Seven Deadly Sins

Fun Action In A Fantasy Setting

In the land of Britannia, knights known as the Seven Deadly Sins are on a quest to redeem their name after being accused of plotting a coup against the Liones Kingdom. A series of events would have the Sins’ leader, Meliodas, reform the team and fight against his brother, Zeldris, and the Ten Commandments, his own group of Holy Knights.

What’s perhaps interesting about Seven Deadly Sins is how each member of both the Seven Deadly Sins and the Ten Commandments have abilities uniquely tied to the Sins and Virtues they represent. The anime also boasts quite a new take on the idea of humans, demons, and other mythological creatures as they coexist in war-torn Britannia.

26

Wind Breaker

Warring School & Stellar Fight Sequences

OK, Wind Breaker is undeniably a very different beast than Naruto, with the former taking place in modern times and featuring no fantasy elements except for teenagers who are ridiculously great martial artists. Still, fans of the shonen classic should check out the Spring 2024 release, and this recommendation goes beyond the fact they are both action-driven shows.

Similar to Naruto, Wind Breaker‘s Sakura has been an outcast for most of his life, a situation stemming from his somewhat unusual appearance and understandably prickly personality. Finding relief in fighting, Sakura heads to the worst town in Japan and enrolls at Furin High School, a place known for its violent delinquents. Also, similar to Naruto’s goal to become Hokage, Sakura aims to stand at the top of this school’s mountain. While he initially plans to go at it alone, he slowly comes to realize that he does not have to walk alone.

Wind Breaker presents schools as gangs defined by unique ideologies. The anime only scratches the surface of this world’s potential, but the first season is very good. Most importantly, the fights are fantastic, delivering smooth animation while highlighting unique blends of martial arts.

25

Gintama

Shonen Parody With Fantastic & Brutal Serious Arcs

Even if it never quite reached the same level of popularity as One Piece or Naruto, Gintama was nevertheless a staple of shonen jump for the best part of two decades. The anime also produced more than 300 episodes over the same time span, with most seasons garnering very positive receptions. Basically, anyone into battle shonen should read or watch Gintama, but they should prepare themselves for a drastically different experience than most of its long-running contemporaries. During the first half of its run, the show primarily consists of standalone comedy episodes, with the occasional action arc thrown in for good measure. Eventually, the series begins to prioritize its main storyline, which can be frustrating if someone primarily enjoys its humor.

Regardless of someone’s genre preferences, Gintama is both a great comedy and a fantastic action anime. The former segments frequently parody other popular shonen properties, including Naruto, and tend to go in very wild and unpredictable directions. When the focus shifts to drama and fights, Gintama delivers some of the most brutal sequences in battle shonen.

24

King Of Nabari

Character-Driven Ninja Anime

Airing in 2008, Nabari no Ou is a ninja anime set in the modern era that features quite a unique roster of characters. From his teacher, Miharu learns that he inherited a powerful secret art that many ninja clans want to possess, which puts the teenager in grave danger. However, Miharu does not care all that much about his own safety or the people around him. One day, he is kidnapped by Yoite, a ninja who wants to use the protagonist’s power to erase his existence from the world. While they are not initially on the best of terms, Miharu and Yoite eventually grow to care about each other.

Nabari no Ou‘s ninja-themed concepts are fairly run-of-the-mill, although they do lead to a couple of fun fights. The show’s strongest component is its characterization, particularly the presentation of Yoite and Miharu. The story explores its characters’ loneliness, apathy, and isolation, and it handles these themes quite well.

23

Blue Exorcist

Satan’s Child

Naruto Uzumaki isn’t the only protagonist to discover a horrific lineage that he manages to stop controlling his destiny. In Blue Exorcist, twins Rin and Yukio Okumura learn that they are the sons of Satan, giving them traits of both humans and demons. After witnessing the death of their surrogate father, Rin uses the demon-slaying sword Kurikara and releases the full extent of his demonic heritage. Vowing to stop demons from hurting others, he enrolls in Cross Academy to become an Exorcist, a demon hunter.

Much to his surprise, Rin discovers that Yukio isn’t just an Exorcist by secret, but he is also veteran enough to become his teacher. Such begins Rin’s journey to accepting his demonic heritage but also maintaining his humanity despite seeing the horrors of the demons he’s fighting. Blue Exorcist boasts spectacular fights and abilities, something Naruto fans will undoubtedly delight in seeing.

22

Fairy Tail

Cut From The Same Cloth

Taking after guilds of fantasy worlds, Fairy Tail tells the exploits of Dragon Slayer wizard Natsu Dragneel as he searches for his missing father. Accompanied by his companions from the Fairy Tail guild, Natsu meets and recruits other powerful wizards, each boasting unique forms of magic, and ends up fighting villain after villain who want to use their abilities to harm the world at large.

Similar to Naruto, Fairy Tail boasts hundreds of episodes. The anime has its fair share of epic battles, with wizards displaying the full brunt of their unique abilities – from ice and fire magic to armor-changing magic and even summoning creatures.

21

KenIchi: The Mightiest Disciple

The Long Journey To The Top

The 2000s produced quite a few battle shonen anime that have since been forgotten or relegated to minor footnotes in the industry’s storied history. While nowhere near as popular as the likes of Naruto or Bleach, KenIchi: The Mightiest Disciple deserves to be more than just a hazy memory, especially since the main series is readily available on YouTube. The definition of “weak,” Kenichi could not put up a fight to save his life, despite being part of his school’s karate club. However, this changes when he follows a female classmate to her family dojo and decides to become a member, setting him down the path to physical supremacy.

While touching upon some serious themes like bullying, KenIchi: The Mightiest Disciple generally maintains a silly tone that leans heavily into comedy and fanservice, the latter of which mostly revolve around Miu and Shigure, who are by far the show’s most recognizable characters. Still, the anime has quite a few great action sequences and takes its martial arts fairly seriously, going out of its way to chronicle Kenichi’s growth in detail. The 2006 series’ scope is not quite as grand as Naruto‘s, but they are fairly similar in other areas.

20

Ranking Of Kings

Proving Everyone Wrong

Ranking of Kings is a fairly unique shonen anime in more ways than one. The story centers around a deaf and mute protagonist, which is almost unheard of in the industry. Wit Studio’s art style is also quite unusual for an anime, and it seems to take some influence from Western animation. Lastly, the first season largely avoids introducing traditional battle shonen villains, with the narrative repeatedly twisting expectations in relation to character motives. Also, while not devoid of action, Ranking of Kings is an adventure show first and foremost.

Despite all these differences, the 2021 anime is still an easy recommendation for Naruto fans, and that goes beyond the mere fact it is a quality series. Somewhat similar to Naruto, Bojji, the protagonist, is largely looked down upon and mocked by everyone around him; yet, he tries to maintain a positive outlook despite experiencing constant adversary and rejection. Bojji is inspiring, and his journey deserves to be experienced.

19

One Piece

The Pirate Life

Predating and outlasting Naruto, One Piece is THE battle shonen story of the last two decades. Eiichiro Oda’s ambitious manga chronicles Monkey D. Luffy’s journey to become the Pirate King, which involves finding the titular treasure. Naturally, a pirate-themed adventure would not feel complete without a crew and a ship, prompting Luffy to create the Straw Hats.

Although cut from the same cloth, One Piece and Naruto shine in different areas. The former is far more concerned with crafting and maintaining a sense of adventure than delivering non-stop action, and the anime’s fight sequences are generally a touch below Naruto’s quality. More importantly, One Piece might just have the best overall roster of characters in shonen, and that goes way beyond just the Straw Hats. Although One Piece’s massive length can make it seem unapproachable, the manga is generally an engaging and consistent read. In comparison, the anime suffers severe pacing issues during its later arcs, causing storylines to drag; nevertheless, the show is still entertaining.

18

Reborn!

Underappreciated Shonen Classic

While not as popular as Naruto or One Piece, Reborn! was relatively successful during the late-2000s. The anime follows Tsuna, a meek high schooler who suddenly learns that he is the new head of an Italian mafia family, news that is delivered via a baby assassin. Along with bestowing him with a unique fire-based power, the Japanese teenager finds himself in a world of danger as he is targeted by rival groups.

Except for a rather awful opening 20 episodes that are not representative of the rest of the series, Reborn! is an enjoyable battle shonen featuring a fun and ever-expanding cast of characters. Tsuna is not as loud, confident, or charismatic as Naruto, but they are both driven by a desire to protect their friends. Reborn! generally handles its fights well, both narratively and aesthetically.

17

Under Ninja

An Absurdist Ninja Comedy

​​​​​​​

Under Ninja is nothing like Naruto or any other ninja anime out there. If someone is specifically searching for an action-heavy show set in a fantasy world, they will need to look elsewhere; however, anyone craving something a bit different should give this bizarre anime a try.

Set in modern Tokyo, this story envisions an alternate reality where the country’s peace is safeguarded by an army of hidden ninjas, all of whom are ready to take on life-and-death missions. Under Ninja has an absurdist sense of humor that is played completely straight, which just adds to the hilarity. The story’s non-linear structure is purposefully convoluted, with the anime only giving the audience snippets of the overall situation.

16

Basilisk

Vicious Historical Fiction Action

Based on a seinen manga, Basilisk revolves around two ninja clans stuck in a blood-soaked conflict that could spell the end for both of them. With the shogun’s time coming to an end, the clans are asked to pick their best fighters to engage in a battle royale to determine which group will rule, and nobody is safe. Complicating matters is a Romeo & Juliet romance between Gennosuke and Oboro, two in-love warriors who belong to opposing clans.

When it comes to beautifully animated action sequences, Basilisk more than matches Naruto; however, the former’s fights are typically far more brutal than the latter’s battles. Basilisk‘s characters also reflect the unforgiven world they live in, as the anime has very few thoroughly honorable or “good” people.

Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls, a sequel released more than a decade after the original series, should be skipped since it is nowhere near as good as its predecessor.

15

Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku

Survival Of The Deadliest

Completing its opening season in Spring 2023, Hell’s Paradise largely succeeded in living up to its pre-debut hype. Based on Yuji Kaku’s manga, the story takes place on a surreal and dangerous island that reportedly holds the key to eternal life. Ordered by the Shogunate to find the Elixir of Life, criminals are sent to the island to engage in what is essentially a rat race, and they are accompanied and kept in check by executioners.

While boasting an expansive cast, Hell’s Paradise mainly centers around Gabimaru, a ninja with a long history of kills, and Sagiri, an executioner riddled with doubts. Hell’s Paradise targets an older audience than Naruto, something reflected by its gory battles and willingness to tackle mature and even spiritual themes.

14

Bleach

The Shonen Big Three

Whereas Naruto explores the eponymous shinobi’s journey to becoming Hokage, Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki as he protects the world from supernatural threats. Ichigo is thrust into the affairs of Soul Society as he takes on the role of a Substitute Shinigami. At first, the calm protagonist is tasked to eliminate Hollows and preserve the balance between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Unfortunately for Ichigo, his involvement will soon attract the attention of unsavory powers in Soul Society. Viewers intrigued by the premise will love Bleach’s intense battles, highlighted by author Tite Kubo’s specialty in creating unique abilities and techniques.

13

Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files

’90s Action Shonen Masterpiece

When Yusuke Urameshi dies to save a child, a crazy series of events transforms him into a Spirit Detective to solve supernatural cases that plague the real world. Being the loudmouthed troublemaker that he is, Yusuke often ends up in trouble, to the point of making a few friends in his many adventures. Armed with his Spirit Gun, Yusuke continues to dish out spiritual justice to baddies who try to harm innocents and the people he cares about.

Similar to Naruto, Yu Yu Hakusho starts fairly small scale, with its opening arc largely revolving around small cases that Yusuke has to take on. Throughout these missions, he meets a few key figures who would become his close companions, and their dynamics become a core part of the overall story. The anime fully hits its stride during its second arc: The Dark Tournament. Arguably the best tournament saga in anime, Yu Yu Hakusho delivers one fantastic fight sequence after another, while also not neglecting character development. The series becomes more experimental after this point, although it remains generally fantastic except for a rushed final arc.

12

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba

Stellar Action

Tanjiro Kamado’s peaceful life in Taisho-era Japan ends abruptly when demons kill his parents and inflict a demonic curse on his sister Nezuko. Soon enough, Tanjiro finds himself joining the Demon Slayer Corps, a secret cadre of humans trained to fight the threat of demons in the land.

Demon Slayer‘s strong attachment to themes of justice, friendship, and perseverance will likely hit a chord with Naruto fans. The anime is well-known for its gorgeous fight sequences, with ufotable elevating the source material through the sheer quality of its animation. While the story plays things fairly safe, Demon Slayer does a great job of presenting its villains as genuine threats.

11

Jujutsu Kaisen

Set The Standard For Modern Action Sequences

Along with My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen is arguably the biggest battle shonen anime of the last five years. Gege Akutami’s manga is nothing short of fantastic, and MAPPA has generally done an admirable job of adapting the source material into animated form. Strong and driven by a desire to live up to his grandfather’s expectations, Yuji Itadori winds up exposed to the world of Curses and the sorcerers who keep them in check. A string of unfortunate situations causes Yuji to become the vessel of a powerful Curse, a connection that comes with some benefits but also puts the protagonist at constant risk of losing control.

Jujutsu Kaisen blends fast-paced and well-choreographed action with inherently captivating characters, both in terms of heroes and villains. Similar to Naruto’s education, Yuji learns his sorcerer trade through a partnership with two other students, all of whom are under the tutelage of the powerful Satoru Gojo. Season 1 did a great job of establishing the main characters while engaging in some important world-building for its sequel, which ended up being even better.

10

Dragon Ball

The Widest Shadow

Dated as some elements might be, the shonen grandfather shows from the ’80s will always be recommendable. Anime like Fist of the North Star and Ranma 1/2 were highly influential, and their impact can still be seen to this day. While those two series hold up well, Naruto‘s biggest influence was almost certainly Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama’s international phenomenon. This recommendation is so obvious that it barely seems worth mentioning. If someone is a fan of Naruto, they must have also watched Dragon Ball. That just seems logical.

However, as the original show and its sequel, DBZ, grow older, a time will come when it will struggle to reach new anime viewers. In fact, an argument could be made that Dragon Ball has long since been replaced as the gateway show by the likes of Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and Demon Slayer. Therefore, anime beginners should still check out the franchise.