Jujutsu Kaisen has redefined modern shonen with its sky-high production fights, iconic character roster and willingness to have real consequences. If you've finished both seasons — and the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 prequel film — and don't know what to watch next, this guide brings together the 12 anime most similar to JJK you can watch right now: from series sharing the same supernatural combat universe to those reaching its same narrative depth.
What makes Jujutsu Kaisen special?
Before the recommendations, it's worth identifying which elements make JJK so hard to replace. Not every series on this list replicates all these points, but each shares at least three defining characteristics:
- Power system with internal rules: curses and exorcism techniques have their own logic — not arbitrary powers.
- Organization with hierarchy and internal politics: the Jujutsu Headquarters is not just a backdrop; its decisions drive the plot.
- Secondary characters as strong as the protagonist: Gojo, Nanami, Nobara and Megumi each carry their own narrative weight.
- Reference-level combat animation: MAPPA raised the standard of anime fights with JJK.
- Permanent consequences: characters are not protected by their plot importance. JJK kills without warning.
- Dark tone without sacrificing humor: the balance between tragic moments and absurd comedy is part of the series' identity.
The 12 best anime similar to Jujutsu Kaisen
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man is the most obvious recommendation for very specific reasons: same studio (MAPPA), same animation quality, same tone of darkness mixed with absurd humor and the same premise of a protagonist who fuses his body with a supernatural entity to fight demons. Denji, like Yuji, is an ordinary guy who absorbs the power of a non-human being and works for an organization that hunts demons. The difference is that Chainsaw Man is even more nihilistic and experimental in its storytelling. Season 2 is in production.
Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
The most frequent comparison in modern shonen. Demon Slayer shares with JJK the structure of a ranked hunter organization, demonic antagonists with personality and their own motivations, and reference-level animated fights (ufotable instead of MAPPA, but equally spectacular). The main difference is tone: Demon Slayer is more emotional and family-oriented. If you liked JJK for its fights and enemy design, Demon Slayer is the most natural transition. The Mugen Train film is one of the biggest box-office successes in anime film history.
Naruto / Naruto Shippuden
JJK draws directly from Naruto: the ninja academy as institution, the protagonist trio (Yuji-Megumi-Nobara echoes Naruto-Sasuke-Sakura), the selection exams as arc, and relaxed-looking powerful mentors hiding extreme power (Gojo-Kakashi). If you want to understand the DNA of Jujutsu Kaisen, watching Naruto is practically mandatory. Shippuden significantly raises the dark tone. The Pain Saga and Fourth Ninja War arc are absolute shonen benchmarks.
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
The anime with the most elaborate power system in shonen history. Hunter x Hunter shares with JJK the ranked organization (Hunters), supernatural powers with complex internal rules (Nen instead of cursed energy), and the willingness to go to dark places other shonen avoid. The Chimera Ant arc — the second half of the series — is as ambitious and disturbing as JJK's Shibuya arc. The downside: the manga has been on hiatus for years, and the anime leaves it unresolved.
Blue Exorcist (Ao no Exorcist)
The most direct premise connection: exorcists trained in an academic institution to fight demons, a protagonist with a cursed power tied to his blood, and the tension of belonging to both the human and supernatural worlds. Blue Exorcist follows Rin Okumura, son of Satan who becomes an exorcist. Season 1 deviates from the manga in its final arc, but Season 2 (Kyoto Saga) is faithful and higher quality. The manga by Kazue Kato is still ongoing and digs much deeper into the lore.
My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia)
The quintessential superhero academy. My Hero Academia shares with JJK the academy structure for young people with powers, legendary mentors guiding the new generation and antagonists with motivations the viewer ends up understanding. The later seasons shift toward a darkness and stakes that earlier seasons lacked, moving closer to JJK's tone. If you liked JJK for the generational conflict between institutions and enemies, MHA has a parallel arc with the same narrative weight in its final stretch.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
The benchmark for mature shonen. FMA:Brotherhood shares with JJK the antagonists with comprehensible motivations, worldbuilding with a corrupt organization that protagonists must navigate, and secondary characters as well-constructed as the main duo. Alchemy has internal logic as elaborate as JJK's cursed techniques. It's the shonen with the most satisfying closed story and the one most JJK fans recommend as the next mandatory watch.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
Bleach TYBW is the return of one of shonen's great franchises with animation quality comparable to JJK at its best. The Bleach universe — shinigami, hollows, secret organizations with ranks, spirit-sword-based powers — shares the same supernatural DNA as JJK. The Quincy arc is the darkest and most elaborate of the entire franchise. If you want more high-quality fights with the same type of supernatural powers and hierarchical organization, Bleach TYBW is the answer.
Soul Eater
Soul Eater has one of the most original concepts in shonen: academy students who fight evil souls, where partners can transform into weapons. Shibusen Academy serves the same institutional function as the Jujutsu Headquarters — training young people with special powers to maintain world balance. The art style (dark, expressive, Tim Burton-influenced) and absurd humor recall JJK's visual identity. The anime ending differs from the manga, which is darker.
Noragami
Noragami blends the world of Japanese gods (kami) with evil spirits in contemporary Japan. Yato, a minor god without followers, works as an ayakashi exterminator with his Shinki (a weapon with the soul of the dead). It shares with JJK the modern Japan setting with a supernatural world overlaid, absurd humor mixed with genuine darkness and secondary characters who prove more complex than they appear. More accessible than JJK but with the same underlying energy.
Black Clover
If you liked JJK for the school setting, companions and power escalation, Black Clover is the natural follow-up. Protagonist Asta has no magic in a world where everyone does and compensates with raw strength and an anti-magic grimoire. The series has magic knight guilds (JJK school equivalent), antagonists with secret organizations and a rule-based magic system. The early pacing is slow, but from the Elf Forest arc the series finds its footing and clearly surpasses its starting point.
Dororo (2019)
Also produced by MAPPA, Dororo adapts Osamu Tezuka's classic manga with unexpected darkness. Hyakkimaru was born without organs or limbs because his father bargained them with 48 demons. Each demon he kills recovers a piece of his body. It's a supernatural demon-hunting anime — dark and poetic — without JJK's academic structures but with the same willingness for permanent consequence and the same type of combat against Japanese supernatural entities. An underrated gem in MAPPA's catalog.
Comparison table: anime similar to Jujutsu Kaisen
| Anime | Length | Key similarity | Tone | Watch if… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chainsaw Man | 12 ep (S1) | MAPPA + supernatural fusion + darkness | Very dark + absurd | You want the closest in style |
| Demon Slayer | 4 seasons | Hunters/sorcerers + epic combat | Emotional + dark | You want the same animation level |
| Naruto / Shippuden | 720 ep (filtered) | Genre DNA, academy + mentors | Varies greatly | You want to understand JJK's origins |
| Hunter x Hunter | 148 ep | Most elaborate power system | Dark (escalates) | You value internal power logic |
| Blue Exorcist | 37 ep | Exorcist academy + cursed power | Dark but accessible | You want the most direct premise |
| My Hero Academia | 7 seasons | Academy + mentors + complex villains | Balanced → dark | You prefer more episode content |
| FMA: Brotherhood | 64 ep | Corrupt org + twists + antagonists | Mature + balanced | You want the best closed story |
| Bleach TYBW | 52 ep | Organization + supernatural powers + combat | Dark + epic | You want more high-quality fights |
| Soul Eater | 51 ep | Academy + soul hunting + dark humor | Dark + humor | You liked JJK's visual tone |
| Noragami | 25 ep | Supernatural world in modern Japan | Light → dark | You want something more accessible first |
| Black Clover | 170 ep | School + power escalation + rivals | Classic shonen | You want many hours of content |
| Dororo (2019) | 24 ep | MAPPA + demon hunting + darkness | Dark + poetic | You want MAPPA's hidden gem |
Where to start after finishing JJK?
It depends on what you miss most about Jujutsu Kaisen:
- The animation and visual style: start with Chainsaw Man. Same studio, same level, same chaos.
- Spectacular combat: Demon Slayer has the highest-budget fights currently available.
- Depth of the power system: Hunter x Hunter and its Nen system are the absolute benchmark.
- The academy and secondary characters: My Hero Academia or Blue Exorcist.
- A closed, satisfying story: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, without question.
- Something short to try: Noragami (25 ep) or Dororo (24 ep).
Gege Akutami's manga is complete in 27 volumes. The final arc has story developments the anime will take years to adapt, plus lore details the animation condenses.
Shop Jujutsu Kaisen manga on AmazonAffiliate link: we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Where to watch these anime in 2026
| Anime | Main platform | English dub | English subs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chainsaw Man | Crunchyroll | Yes | Yes |
| Demon Slayer | Crunchyroll / Netflix | Yes | Yes |
| Naruto / Shippuden | Crunchyroll | Yes | Yes |
| Hunter x Hunter | Netflix / Crunchyroll | Yes | Yes |
| Blue Exorcist | Crunchyroll | Yes | Yes |
| My Hero Academia | Crunchyroll | Yes | Yes |
| FMA: Brotherhood | Crunchyroll / Netflix | Yes | Yes |
| Bleach TYBW | Disney+ | Yes | Yes |
| Soul Eater | Crunchyroll | Yes | Yes |
| Noragami | Crunchyroll | Yes | Yes |
| Black Clover | Crunchyroll | Yes | Yes |
| Dororo (2019) | Prime Video | No | Yes |
Frequently asked questions about Jujutsu Kaisen and similar anime
What anime is most similar to Jujutsu Kaisen?
Chainsaw Man (MAPPA, 2022) is probably the closest in tone, animation style and darkness. Both are produced by MAPPA, feature protagonists fusing their body with a supernatural entity and combine brutal action with emotional moments. Demon Slayer is another very direct option if you want high-budget fights with a similar aesthetic.
How many seasons does Jujutsu Kaisen have?
Jujutsu Kaisen has 2 seasons (2020 and 2023) plus the prequel film Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021), centered on Yuta Okkotsu. Season 2 includes the Shibuya Incident arc, considered one of the best moments in modern shonen. The manga by Gege Akutami has concluded and Season 3 is confirmed.
Where to watch Jujutsu Kaisen in 2026?
Jujutsu Kaisen is available on Crunchyroll with English subtitles and dubbed audio. The prequel film Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is also on Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll is the most reliable option for both complete seasons.
Is Chainsaw Man better than Jujutsu Kaisen?
Depends on personal preference. Chainsaw Man has a more experimental and nihilistic narrative with a more antiheroic protagonist. Jujutsu Kaisen has better secondary character development and a more elaborate power system. Both are benchmark works of modern shonen. Ideally, watch both.
What anime has a power system similar to Jujutsu Kaisen?
Hunter x Hunter's Nen system is considered the best designed in shonen. Naruto has chakra with complex internal rules. My Hero Academia has Quirks with clear physical limitations. Blue Exorcist shares the supernatural-powered exorcist premise.
Is Demon Slayer similar to Jujutsu Kaisen?
Yes — both share hunter/sorcerer organization with ranks, demonic antagonists with personality, very high-budget animation fights and protagonists training to surpass their limits. The main difference is tone: Demon Slayer is more emotional and family-oriented, while JJK tends to be darker and more cynical.