When you think of anime, it’s easy to think of monster-fighting action or romance. But the reality is that anime can cover many genres, from coming-of-age dramas to sports stories to slice-of-life comedy to even historical and military epics.
Hunter x Hunter is an anime adaptation of a popular shonen manga series released in 1998. The original anime adaptation release was an anime television series in 1999 and revamped with a 2011 series still following the original story.
It is a fantasy action anime about an ambitious young boy named Gon Freecss who sets out on a quest to become a Hunter. Hunter X Hunter is the perfect example of a well-rounded anime because it offers everything from heart-pounding battle scenes to laugh-out-loud humor to some of the deepest character designs in all of anime history with an equally lovable and essential supporting cast of characters. Even the bad guys get awesome character designs like the band of thieves with A-Class bounties on their heads and that member with a removable spider tattoo.
If you enjoy the adventure and sense of wonder, then there are plenty of other anime to enjoy. To help you find the best anime like Hunter x Hunter, we have compiled a top ten anime list like Hunter x Hunter.
#10 Seven Deadly Sins
Based on a top-selling manga: Nanatsu no Taizai, released in 2012 and published in North America, in English, in 2014, the anime follows the adventures of the Seven Deadly Sins, their leader Meliodas and princess Elizabeth as they try to uncover the mystery behind the destruction of their homeland and the loss of life of the Great Holy Knight years ago.
Why it’s similar to Hunter x Hunter:
Both Seven Deadly Sins and Hunter x Hunter are action anime series with fantasy themes. They also have plots that revolve around a group of powerful individuals called “The Seven Deadly Sins” and “The Hunters,” respectively, trying to complete a quest. The main characters in both stories undergo very similar character development arcs.
In both stories, there is a group of influential beings and their clans trying to keep the world in balance; the Phantom Troupe; the Holy Knights; the Seven Deady Sins; the Hunter Association; the Zoldyck Family. In both series, the characters are almost always fighting against formidable opponents, and it’s not very uncommon for the characters to lose in these fight scenes.
Check Out: 13 Must Watch Anime Like Seven Deadly Sins
#9 Black Clover
This new Black Clover anime is based on the manga series written by Yuki Tabata, released in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2016. It is the story of Asta, a young boy who is born without any magical powers and the struggles that he faces as he tries to become the Wizard King.
The first Black Clover anime series premiered in 2017 and ended in March 2018, with 51 episodes in total. The anime series has been directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara and produced by Pierrot Studios. The anime aired on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Setouchi, TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting, and was streamed worldwide on Crunchyroll and other streaming services.
Asta and Yuno are orphans who want the same thing: to become the Wizard King. Locked in a friendly rivalry, they work hard towards their goal.
Why it’s similar to Hunter x Hunter:
Hunter x Hunter and Black Clover have similar story and plot because both anime series tells the tale of a young boy who is determined to become the best and unintentionally gathering remarkable achievements along the way. They want to be stronger for their parents, friends, or partner. Both anime have a strong theme about friendship in them too.
Both Hunter x Hunter and Black Clover also have many amazing animations and battles that will keep you wanting more.
Though Hunter x Hunter is a fun, enjoyable anime in the first few story arcs, it gets really dark towards the end, like the Chimera Ant arc. At the same time, Black Clover is pretty light-hearted, with Asta being the anime’s comedic relief.
Check Out: 15 Animes That Are Just As Exciting Like Black Clover
#8 Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen is a shonen manga written and illustrated by Gege Akutami and is published in Weekly Shonen Jump and adapted into an anime series in 2020.
The story of Jujutsu Kaisen is set in a world where Cursed Spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, and fragments of the legendary and fearedfallen angel Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about.
Should any curse consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of Jujutsu Sorcerers. They exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
Why it’s similar to Hunter x Hunter:
There are many anime out there that have a similar storyline. One great example is Hunter X Hunter and Jujutsu Kaisen. Both animes have a unique power system, such as Nen users on Hunter x Hunter and Jutsu users in Jujutsu Kaisen.
Both of the anime contains bits of gritty and dark scenes, such as the Chimera Arc and Mahito turning people into curses to keep you on the edge of your seat.
#7fallen angel Slayer
The plot of the Kimetsu No Yaiba anime is mainly driven by the story of the swordsman Tanjiro, who is the main character of the series. Tanjiro is an ordinary kid, living with his sister and his mother until one day he discovered all of them were took the life of by a fallen angel, with one of his siblings surviving the attack but was transformed into a fallen angel.
Tanjiro was consumed by rage and strong dislike: he vowed to avenge his family and turn his sister back to a human.
Why it’s similar to Hunter x Hunter:
These two series are similar in that they both have a revenge theme. They both have a main character who lost their family or friend and vowed to avenge them.
Both series have a remarkably similar villain in Muzan and Meruem. Both villains are extremely powerful and have subordinates worshipping them as a god.
Both the Royal guard of Meruem and Muzan’s Twelve Kizuki is capable of taking the life of anyone that their master desires.
Check Out: 11 Of The Best Anime Likefallen angel Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba
#6 Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball is a top-selling manga and anime franchise worldwide and one of the biggest franchise in anime history. Spanning multiple generations and thousands of episodes: the series follows the adventures of Goku from his childhood into adulthood.
Goku is a Saiyan, a warrior alien from the planet Saiyan. His journey as a martial arts warrior takes him through encounters with a variety of enemies, as well as friends. The series often follows a traditional martial arts storyline but also features many fantasy elements.
Throughout the series, he meets and becomes a disciple of Master Roshi and learns martial arts from him and his friends Krillin, Yamcha, Bulma, and more. Later in his life, he faces many foes and enemies, including his greatest rival, Vegeta.
Why it’s similar to Hunter x Hunter:
Dragon Ball is an anime that aired in the late 1980s and early 1990s, while Hunter X Hunter premiered in the last decade. The similarities between these two series are pretty apparent: Both feature a young protagonist with a long list of enemies and allies, each with their own abilities.
The most obvious similarity is that both series have a tournament-style fighting format. The protagonist and antagonists fight each other to get something they want.
A quick glance at the protagonist of both series will show that the two characters share similar personalities. While Goku is a happy-go-lucky young fighter who loves to fight for fun, Gon Freecss is also a young and playful boy who loves to have fun but is no longer livingly serious in battle. When it comes to fighting skills, both Goku and Gon have advanced far beyond their years and can control their abilities with ease.
And there was this one time I could have sworn Gon turned into a super Saiyan when he lost control of his super power in that battle scene against Neferpitou!
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#5 Naruto: Shippuden
Based on a top-selling manga: Naruto: Shippuden is the continuation of the Naruto anime series. Betrayed by one of his friends, Naruto Uzumaki must now prepare for the ultimate battle against the snake-like Shinobi, Orochimaru.
To do this, he must learn to control the Kyuubi, the largest and most powerful of all the Biju. He must follow the teachings of Jiraya, another powerful Shinobi, while also avoiding the bad intentions of Orochimaru, who wishes to take the life of Naruto so that he can take the Kyuubi for himself.
Naruto and his friends all face new and more powerful enemies and meet familiar allies and opponents from the original story.
Why it’s similar to Hunter x Hunter:
In both of these anime series, there are various types of fighting skills or abilities that Gon and Naruto have yet to master. One type is the trademark skill that they’re known ( Kagebunshin technique and Janken pon) for or excels at. And both anime protagonists have an older friend who they trust to help them in their time of need and in a pinch.
They also have to face the harsh realities of their world and learn how to overcome this obstacle along the way. In Hunter X Hunter, Gon wants his father‘s approval, and Naruto wants Sasuke’s acceptance. And there is this idea of being a hero for others to find love and happiness within themselves.
#4 Magi: The Labyrinth Of Magic
Magi has been published in the manga magazine Shonen Sunday since June 2009. Magi is written and illustrated by Shinobu Ohtaka with 37 volumes. The Magi anime series was released in 2012 and gathered more fans to the franchise. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is only one of Shinobu’s remarkable achievements.
In the Magi universe, several bizarre labyrinths, dispersed around the world, are hiding incredible treasures within them. These mysterious places, known as “Dungeons,” are said to be the work of Magi, a class of rare magicians who also help people build their empires by guiding them to a dungeon.
Djinns, supernatural beings that rule over the labyrinths, grant successful conquerors access to their immense power and choose them as potential king candidates to rule the world.
Having spent life in isolation, Aladdin, a kind and young magician, is eager to explore the world upon finally leaving his home behind. He begins his journey only accompanied by his mentor Ugo—a djinn that Aladdin can summon with his flute. However, Aladdin soon becomes friends with the courageous Alibaba Saluja after causing the destruction of a local merchant’s supply cart.
To pay for the damages, Alibaba suggests that they attempt to conquer the nearest dungeon, taking the first step in an epic adventure that will decide the fate of the world itself.
Why it’s similar to Hunter x Hunter:
Both series look like light comedy/action at first, yet both end up having much deeper and darker story arcs. Despite its bright colours, some dark themes are explored, and both are not afraid to take the life of people here and there. They all have young main characters set on an adventure where they meet a lot of new people and friends. The super power concept is also a similar theme used in both anime.
Other major focal points such as friendship, teamwork, good defeating evil also make the two anime surprisingly similar.
Check Out: How To Watch Magi Anime’s In Order
#3 My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a shonen anime released in 2016 serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. It tells the story of Izuku Midoriya, who lives in a world where everyone has superpowers, but he was born without them. Dreaming of becoming a superhero anyway, he’s eventually scouted by the world’s best hero, All Might. He enrolls in a school for professional heroes. The story is your typical coming-of-age superhero story. Still, My Hero, Academia is distinguished by its quirky characters and fantastic artwork.
In My Hero Academia 80% of the world’s population has some kind of superpower. Some have a so-called “quirk,” i.e., the ability to manifest a superhuman ability. It’s not just cool looking. These abilities are incredibly useful and can help you in all aspects of your life. Those who have a quirk go on to become heroes. In contrast, the rest of the population going on to become normal citizens.
Why it’s similar to Hunter x Hunter:
Both Hunter x Hunter and My Hero Academia share several similarities: their unique art style, incredible storyline, and fantastic animation.
The character designs are so well done that they make the characters really stand out. For example, when you look at Gon Freecs and Midoriya Izuku, you can see how much effort was put into designing their physical appearances.
The motivation in both series is also quite similar. In Hunter x Hunter, you have the main character whose goal is to become the strongest hunter there is. In My Hero Academia you have a main character whose goal is to be the number one hero. These goals are very similar to each other, and they make the characters go through hard times to achieve them.
Another thing that makes the art so great is how it can show battle scenes and still be able to keep them interesting to watch, especially with the different coloured blood and action scenes.
Another similarity this two anime share is how awesome their stories are. Both of these anime stories are so great and interesting that it really makes you want to keep watching.
Check Out: Must Watch Anime Like My Hero Academia
#2 Yu Yu Hakusho
YuYu Hakusho is one of the most famous and popular anime series of the 90s. YuYu Hakusho has a pretty standard shonen anime plot, with a few details that set it apart from other shounen anime.
The story follows Yusuke Urameshi, a juvenile delinquent hit by a car and took the life of in an attempted act of bravery. However, he is then revived by the Spirit World, and they force him to become a Spirit Detective, whose job is to protect Earth from demons.
To do this, he has to train to become stronger, and he is helped along the way by both friends and foes, including a couple of demons he captures himself.
Why it’s similar to Hunter x Hunter:
Hunter x Hunter and YuYu Hakusho share similarities in the story and plot. They are both action-packed, but one is more dramatic than the other. The main characters in both series have some of the same personality traits, like being a little naïve or stubborn at times.
Both main characters have a rival that they fight against and team up with for various reasons.
Both main characters are considered to be “good” and have a good heart. They are also both liked by their friends. They both like to fight but will avoid taking the life of a person. They also both have a teacher that is a mentor to them. The main characters are very similar but differ in many ways as well.
These two series are action shows, but the drama involved with the characters and their relationships are also noteworthy.
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#1 Full Metal Alchemist
Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, released in 2001 and published in English for North America in 2005. Having become a top-selling manga, it prompted the creation of anime adaptations in 2003!
It follows the story of brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric and their quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone.
Ed, the older of the two brothers, was born in the Empire State of Amestris and was a gifted alchemist. He was able to perform alchemy without the use of a transmutation circle.
The Elric brothers discover a way to resurrect their mother using the science of Alchemy. However, in the process, they pay a steep price. Edward loses an arm and a leg, and Al loses his entire body.
Why it’s similar to Hunter x Hunter:
The two anime both contain a number of similarities that can be traced back to the original top-selling manga, the most prominent of all:
Both depict the struggle between good and evil as well as the concept of given choices and both anime have similar and magical tones, which serve as plot devices throughout either series.
We hope you enjoyed this list of anime recommendations similar to Hunter X Hunter. If we missed your favorite anime with your favorite character, leave a comment and let’s discuss! Enjoy the rest of your day!
