From CBR · Maria Remizova · · 2m
6 Masterpiece Anime Like Jujutsu Kaisen, But Better
Chainsaw Man, Devilman Crybaby, Hunter x Hunter, Attack on Titan, Parasyte: The Maxim, and The Garden of Sinners offer darker, more nuanced alternatives to Jujutsu Kaisen.
In brief
Chainsaw Man, Devilman Crybaby, Hunter x Hunter, Attack on Titan, Parasyte: The Maxim, and The Garden of Sinners offer darker, more nuanced alternatives to Jujutsu Kaisen. Six anime series surpass Jujutsu Kaisen in narrative depth, thematic complexity, and visual storytelling despite shared dark fantasy elements…
Chainsaw Man Hides Nuance Beneath Chaos
Chainsaw Man offers more gruesome combat and tonally unorthodox storytelling than Jujutsu Kaisen, with deeper narrative complexity.
“Chainsaw Man is the series most often recommended to Jujutsu Kaisen fans searching for something similar”
Devilman Crybaby's Apocalyptic Story
Devilman Crybaby provides a concise, nihilistic narrative exploring cruelty and fear in just ten episodes, contrasting Jujutsu Kaisen's approach.
“Devilman Crybaby is a concise, avant-garde piece of apocalyptic fiction that explores the horrifying destructiveness of cruelty”
Hunter x Hunter's Power System
Hunter x Hunter features a detailed Nen power system that allows creative combat strategies without rigid rules, surpassing Jujutsu Kaisen's structure.
“Hunter x Hunter’s Nen is shonen anime’s most in-depth power system”
Attack on Titan's Narrative Depth
Attack on Titan centers on a slow-burn mystery thriller with intricate themes of ethical relativism and psychological burdens of war.
“Attack on Titan evolves from a mystery-filled survival fantasy into a tense political thriller”
Parasyte: The Maxim's Human Exploration
Parasyte: The Maxim explores humanity through extreme body horror and a parasitic alien, offering a more reflective narrative than Jujutsu Kaisen.
“Parasyte: The Maxim is a must-watch series for all fans of dark, psychologically heavy anime like Jujutsu Kaisen”
The Garden of Sinners' Philosophical Depth
The Garden of Sinners uses a non-linear structure to explore philosophical ideas within a gritty urban fantasy setting, rivaling Jujutsu Kaisen's complexity.
“The Garden of Sinners’ greatest strength lies in the dark complexity of its narrative”
Why These Series Stand Out
All six series surpass Jujutsu Kaisen in narrative depth, thematic complexity, and visual storytelling despite shared dark fantasy elements.
“Chainsaw Man, Devilman Crybaby, Hunter x Hunter, Attack on Titan, Parasyte: The Maxim, and The Garden of Sinners offer darker, more nuanced alternatives to Jujutsu Kaisen”
Shared Studio Quality
Both Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan are animated by MAPPA, ensuring high visual quality and experimental storytelling approaches.
“Attack on Titan was animated by Studio MAPPA, which also handles Jujutsu Kaisen”
Narrative Complexity Comparison
Jujutsu Kaisen often sidelines worldbuilding, while Hunter x Hunter invests in a sprawling universe with varied tones and genres.
“Jujutsu Kaisen often sidelines worldbuilding and doesn’t take many risks with its arc structure”
Thematic Depth in Action
Attack on Titan explores ethical relativism and psychological burdens of war, making it a masterwork of dark fantasy storytelling.
“Attack on Titan’s narrative remains gripping throughout its many transformations and plot twists”
Parasyte's Human Focus
Parasyte: The Maxim focuses on humanity through extreme body horror and a parasitic alien, avoiding Jujutsu Kaisen's tropes.
“Parasyte: The Maxim is a substantially more focused and reflective story than Jujutsu Kaisen”
The Garden of Sinners' Structure
The Garden of Sinners uses a non-linear narrative structure to explore philosophical ideas within a gritty urban fantasy setting.
“Each of the eight movies tells the story of Shiki, a demon hunter helping a local agency with paranormal investigations, out of chronological order”
Why Jujutsu Kaisen Falls Short
Jujutsu Kaisen lacks narrative depth and thematic complexity compared to these six series, despite its popularity and visual quality.
“Jujutsu Kaisen is hardly a flawless series, and criticisms have been leveled against it despite the show dominating most other similar titles in terms of popularity”
The Six Series' Collective Strength
These six anime series collectively offer superior narrative depth, thematic complexity, and visual storytelling compared to Jujutsu Kaisen.
“Chainsaw Man, Devilman Crybaby, Hunter x Hunter, Attack on Titan, Parasyte: The Maxim, and The Garden of Sinners offer darker, more nuanced alternatives to Jujutsu Kaisen”
At a glance
Six anime series surpass Jujutsu Kaisen in narrative depth, thematic complexity, and visual storytelling despite shared dark fantasy elements.
