Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a cult classic among anime fans because it is the perfect blend of a revenge plot with a supernatural background. Tanjiro Kamado and his younger sister, Nezuko, are the main characters. Tanjiro appears to be a bright, sensitive young man who becomes the family’s sole earner after his father’s death. His and Nezuko’s life is flipped upside down when a demon “Muzan” attacks and kills their family, while Nezuko transforms into a demon himself. Despite her change, Nezuko still has the ability to receive and express emotions and thoughts like a human.
Tanjiro gets recruited into the Demon Slayer Corps after the incident, where he is trained to become a demon slayer. Tanjiro begins training with the goal of avenging his family’s loss and helping his sister in regaining her humanity. The anime is a traditional tale of good vs evil told through a well-crafted script that leaves us wanting more. If you enjoy “Demon Slayer” we’ve assembled a list of similar anime that you might enjoy as well. The majority of these shows are available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Funimation, Hulu, and Crunchyroll, with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba being one among them.
Inuyasha (2000-2010)
“Inuyasha,” based on an award-winning manga of the same name, follows Kagome Higurashi, a 15-year-old girl. Instead of striking the bottom, Kagome is sent back in time 500 years as she falls into the cursed fountain of her family’s altar. Kagome must now face a monster who desires a diamond hidden in her body which is a far cry from the regular life she has left behind.
To keep the demon away from the shattered jewel and the fragments scattered over different locations, she enlists the help of a half-demon Inuyasha. The story of ‘Inuyasha’ is similar to that of ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’ with demon killers and a demon-human hybrid teaming up to battle the forces of evil. Kagome and Tanjiro are both committed to their families and will go to great lengths to protect them.
Attack on Titan (2013-2022)
“Attack on Titan” known in Japanese as “Shingeki no Kyojin” is a highly acclaimed and award-winning manga adaptation set in a universe where huge humanoid animals known as Titans continue to cause havoc and ruin the world by consuming humans. After their families are slain in the attack, three young kids, Eren Jeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert enlist in the Survey Corps. Eren realizes he has exceptional power when the three buddies are training with an elite group of militants tasked with destroying the titans.
Although “Attack on Titan” and “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” sound dissimilar their main plots are more similar than dissimilar. Anime characters, for example, train alongside an experienced squad to combat a common enemy who is ruining their homes. Furthermore, the series’ primary characters, Eren and Nezuko, are not totally human.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009-2010)
“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” is a 64-episode anime series about two alchemist brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who conduct a ritual to bring their dead mother back to life. Alphonse loses his entire body in the process, while Edward loses a hand. The brothers are on a journey to improve their alchemy expertise in order to heal their bodies. However, there are a number of roadblocks along the way, including a deep government conspiracy and homunculi, or artificial people trained in alchemy.
“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” involves a pair of brothers with terrible pasts, one of whom is not in their pure human form, while the other one is dedicated to saving them, similar to “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.” In both anime, the brothers combat strong opponents with their abilities and knowledge, and the idea of good versus evil prevails.
Claymore (2007)
“Claymore” is set on a medieval island where Yoma, humanoid demons who change shape and consume humans are continuously attacking the human population. The Organization has devised a way to exterminate these monsters. Claymore, a Yoma man-hybrid created by the organization works for a fee to kill Yoma. Clare, a Claymore is dispatched to Raki’s village, where a Yoma wreaks havoc and murders Raki’s entire family.
After saving his life from Yoma and being expelled from the community, Raki follows Clare from city to city. The biggest resemblance between “Claymore” and “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is the tale, which follows the human world’s struggle against demons that seek to destroy it. We also have demon-man hybrids and ferocious warrior characters in this story.
Goblin Slayer (2018)
While wicked entities in “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” are demons, evil entities in “Goblin Slayer” are Goblins. The anime sparked outrage after the first episode’s graphic depictions of death and sexual assault, causing Crunchyroll to apologize and issue a content warning for all the episodes. The protagonist, a Goblin Slayer, is on a mission to wipe out all goblins from the face of the earth, and the anime is set in a beautiful setting. After all, the two anime aren’t all that dissimilar.
Kekkaishi (2006-2008)
The Kekkaishi in the “Kekkaishi” anime are burdened with one main purpose, similar to the Demon Slayers in “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” The story follows the exploits of Kekkaishis Yoshimori Sumimura and his childhood buddy and neighbor Tokine Yukimura as they battle the wicked creatures who occasionally infiltrate the human realm. The two companions are Hazama clan heirs and share their forefathers’ extraordinary skills, which they use to kill demons. Yoshimori and Tokine are each other’s emotional anchors, same as Tanjiro has an emotional anchor Nezuko in “Demon Slayer”.
Blue Exorcist (2011-2017)
Like Demon Slayer “Blue Exorcist” offers a revenge story set in a realm of demons and magic. The original plot of protagonist Rin Okumura, who realizes he is the son of Satan, is what sets the Blue Exorcist apart. Rin vows to become an exorcist to defeat Satan after the death of the man who raised him. He joins True Cross Academy, an exorcist school. Rin like Tanjiro embarks on a path of discovery and vengeance. Rin has a twin brother, Yukio, and the two form a system of mutual support, similar to Tanjiro and Nezuko in this anime.
