D. Gray Man
The crux of Claymore centers around Clare and other Claymores hunting down dangerous monsters, or Youma, that threaten the populace. D. Gray Man functions on a similar premise as Allen and other Exorcists are sent to take down dangerous monsters known as Akuma, that can take on the form of humans. In truth, Youma and Akuma are uncannily similar, and D. Gray Man has plenty of dark themes to match that of Claymore.
Both anime feature a white-haired protagonist with exceptional abilities, and a strong cast of supporting characters to back that up. Even the two series’ settings are similar taking place in a Medieval-style world. The key difference here is that Claymore has just a tad more violence and profanity. The similarities are uncanny, however, so you should absolutely check out D. Gray Man if you’re yearning for more Claymore.
Hellsing Ultimate
Hellsing Ultimate matches Claymore in that insane over-the-top violent vibe, although Hellsing goes even a little bit above. Like Claymore, Hellsing features an incredibly strong protagonist in Alucard, who’s basically an eternal vampire lord. Hellsing Ultimate follows the manga more closely than the previous anime iteration, simply titled Hellsing, and it focuses on an organization of the same name whose goal is to destroy undead and supernatural forces that threaten the British Empire.
As you can imagine, Hellsing is rife with supernatural elements, and there are some truly incredible fights to witness in the anime. Whether it’s Alucard facing down the crazed priest Alexander Anderson, or a battle between vampires and reincarnated Nazis, Hellsing never has a dull moment. If the action and general vibe of Claymore is what you enjoy most, look no further.
Elfen Lied
There’s probably a theme you’re noticing with a lot of anime of this type, focusing on a particular hero or heroine that has special powers and feels extricated from the rest of society. The series focuses on the differences and prejudice between humans and a mutant race known as Diclonii, specifically a Diclonii named Lucy.
Lucy has been shunned, rejected, and experimented on by humans, and wants nothing more than revenge. To call Elfen Lied gory would be an understatement, as the series is jam-packed with violent scenes and blood. Lucy and other Diclonii possess special telekinetic powers that they use to devastating effect. While Elfen Lied is incredibly violent it’s also thematically dark, and it takes its themes very seriously. The show deals with a range of topics like prejudice, abuse, and social alienation. With a strong female protagonist at its core, Elfen Lied is a surefire hit for fans of Claymore.
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan has taken the world by storm in recent years, and it likely needs little introduction. However, the series does have quite a lot in common with Claymore. Both series take place in a post-apocalyptic Medieval world, with humanity struggling to survive against an insurmountable enemy.
Attack on Titan has a similarly bleak tone to Claymore, although there are flashes of hope spread throughout. Just like Clare, Eren Jager possesses a unique ability that allows only him to fight the Titans, without spoiling what that power is. Another key similarity lies in the dark pasts of each series’ cast of characters. Almost everyone has some kind of secret or baggage, and vengeance is a central idea in both as well. Of course, it goes without saying there’s plenty of flashy animation and violence to be found in Attack in Titan, hand in hand with a generous helping of story twists.
Blood +
Blood+ is another prime example of a “dark anime,” and easily one of the most popular out there. The show has a bit of a different premise from Claymore, but the animation and art style of the two shows are definitely similar. In Blood+ Saya Otonashi is a normal schoolgirl, except for the fact that she’s an anemic amnesiac. One day she’s attacked by a strange creature called a Chiropteran, where she finds out her blood strangely makes the creatures crystallize and shatter.
This makes Saya the only person capable of fighting and killing the deadly creatures. The biggest difference between Blood+ and Claymore is the setting, as the former takes place in modern day Japan. Blood+ does focus largely on Saya, and how she grows and develops along with the newfound power – a similarity it shares with Claymore. Considering the name of the show is Blood+, you should expect plenty of that to pop up in the show’s many action scenes.
Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul uses the same concept as Claymore, but in a much more modern setting. Ghouls are carnivorous monsters that can disguise themselves as humans, but can only survive if they consume human flesh. This is very similar to Yoma, and the main character of Tokyo Ghoul, Ken Kaneki, undergoes a surgery that turns him into a half-ghoul.
Personality-wise, Kaneki and Clare also have a lot in common. Both characters deal with inner turmoil and conflict over the fact that they aren’t human. Kaneki is also quiet and reserved, except for when anger overtakes his emotions. Claymore is a little more complex in terms of character development, but Tokyo Ghoul definitely hits many of the same beats.
Berserk
Berserk is basically the grandad of anime like Claymore, and it’s been hugely influential ever since its manga inception in 1989. The show, and manga, focuses on a warrior named Guts, who joins the mercenary group known as The Band of the Hawk. There are quite a few different arcs to Berserk’s different series, but there’s a strong central mystery that plays out as Guts and the other mercenaries do battle with a powerful immortal being named Nosferatu Zodd.
Berserk doesn’t contain some of the themes of anime like Claymore, such as creatures hidden as humans and half-humans. However, it does take place in a gothic, Medieval world and features a plentiful amount of violence. Its crazy over-the-top violence, big sword-wielding hero, and grotesque creatures certainly inspired a wave of anime like Claymore.
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