One Punch Man
Anime Like Hunter x Hunter
First off, the obvious. One Punch Man and Hunter x Hunter are done by the same studio, Madhouse. This means at the very least the two shows have similar animation styles and themes, but the similarities go beyond that. The shows each revolve around becoming the best of something, the best hero or the best hunter. There’s even a direct similarity as One Punch Man has the Hero Association, while Hunter x Hunter has the Hunter Association. Both organizations have a ranking system, and send their respective professionals out to combat evil forces and protect humanity.
There’s plenty of crazy action to be found in both anime, and characters have specialized moves or powers. In many ways, One Punch Man feels like Hunter x Hunter with a superhero theme.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Anime Like Hunter x Hunter
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is easily one of the best Shounen style animes out there. Funnily enough, it’s the second Fullmetal Alchemist anime that basically disregards the first, similar to how the new Hunter x Hunter remakes the original.
The biggest similarity between the two shows come with their main characters. Both Gon and Edward aren’t exactly the most powerful fighters, and they often find themselves at a disadvantage. Many of the themes and action scenes in both focus on these two characters using great strategies and tricks to overcome their opponents. Friendship and brotherhood are central themes in each anime, and there’s a colorful cast of characters that pop up along the way. If you enjoy one of these shows, you’ll absolutely enjoy the other.
One Piece
Anime Like Hunter x Hunter
One Piece is just about the longest-running anime out there, and that high episode count is something it has in common with Hunter x Hunter. Both shows are very lighthearted in tone, with protagonists that seem like your typical shounen hero at first, but become much more interesting, layered characters the more you watch. Luffy is a bit sillier than Gon, but their personalities are actually a pretty close match. There’s a spirit of adventure that permeates throughout One Piece, that you can also find present in much of Hunter x Hunter.
While the protagonists are similar, both shows also have a quirky cast of supporting characters who each have their own goals and fighting styles. One Piece is a dead ringer if you’re looking for an anime with a similar tone to Hunter x Hunter, and you’ve got plenty to watch if you get into it as there are over 800 episodes and counting.
Yu Yu Hakusho
Anime Like Hunter x Hunter
Yu Yu Hakusho is an anime classic, up there with other 90s anime like Dragon Ball Z and Rurouni Kenshin. It’s an easy recommendation for any fan of Hunter x Hunter, considering they’re both created by the same manga artist, Yoshihiro Togashi. Because of this, you can expect a similar art style, story, and characters, even in the anime adaptions.
Yu Yu Hakusho is about a young boy named Yusuke who is struck and killed by a car, and eventually is resurrected and appointed the title of “Underworld Detective,” tasked with investigating cases involving demons and apparitions in the human world. Both Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter x Hunter have a group of four main heroes, that each possess their own unique power. Although they each have their serious moments, both shows are also quite comical and have some great character development throughout their various arcs. If you haven’t watched Yu Yu Hakusho yet, you owe it to yourself not just because it’s like Hunter x Hunter, but because it’s an all-time anime classic.
My Hero Academia
Anime Like Hunter x Hunter
My Hero Academia is another anime that has a similar protagonist to Hunter x Hunter. Izuku Midoriya is an idealistic young man that’s given a power he can’t control, and throughout the course of the show has to learn how to harness it. Much like One Punch Man, the show revolves around superheroes, in this case, heroes in training attending the prestigious UA Academy.
My Hero Academia places a large emphasis on its ensemble cast, just as much as it does on Midoriya. Every character has their own specific power known as a “Quirk.” This can lead to some really fun fight scenes with characters using their specific powers against one another. My Hero Academia is a shounen anime that’s very light on the fanservice elements, instead, giving you meaningful character moments with emotion. It’s a fun, colorful anime that should be an easy transition from Hunter x Hunter.
Magi: Labyrinth of Magic
Anime Like Hunter x Hunter
Aladdin in Magi is a lot like Gon, an innocent young boy who only has the purest of intentions. Both characters possess unique powers that they don’t know how to use at first, but over the course of the show learn to harness. While it appears cutesy and lighthearted at first glance, like Hunter x Hunter, Magi does explore some dark and mature themes at times. There’s plenty of action in the series that focuses on the use of magic, with some pretty crazy battles taking place due to the character’s various powers.
Hunter x Hunter definitely puts more of an emphasis on action, while Magi more so on its themes. Magi is a fun shounen romp that fans of Hunter x Hunter should find themselves drawn into.
Made in Abyss
Anime Like Hunter x Hunter
Made in Abyss has a similar setup to that of Hunter x Hunter, with the main character Riko venturing into the Abyss to find her mother, while Gon goes on a journey to find his father. Riko, like Gon, is also quite naive at the start of the series, and goes through some serious character development. The Abyss itself is a fascinating setting that really allows for some creative storytelling, which becomes progressively darker as the show goes on. That lighthearted start into darker storytelling is also something that makes it quite similar to Hunter x Hunter.
The key difference between these two shows is that Hunter x Hunter definitely has better action and fight scenes, while Made in Abyss is definitely more imaginative with its creatures and setting. Because of this, the shows end up feeling a bit different, even for all the similarities they have, but that’s not a bad thing.
About the author
