10 More Demon or Action-Oriented Shows!
Blue Exorcist is a fun shonen anime with a fun storyline, cast, and fights. Some characters don’t get as much spotlight as others, but those that do offer enough intriguing qualities to keep you invested. This story follows Rin Okumura, who attends an exorcist school that’ll help him sharpen his demonic and exorcist abilities. His goal is to become powerful enough to defeat Satan, who happens to be his father. He’ll endure many challenging scenarios, but is determined to bring an end to Satan’s scheme.
Fear not if you’re having trouble finding anime similar to Blue Exorcist! We’ve discovered 10 alternate shows that’ll give you a similar experience as Blue Exorcist.
Additionally, for each anime we’ve reviewed, we’ve included a link that allows you to view our full thoughts about the series to see if it’s worth your time.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet your appetite when you’ve finished streaming Blue Exorcist!
D.Gray-Man
Similarities – Action & Atmosphere
D.Gray-Man is a dark shonen anime with a great cast. The cast has wonderful abilities, personalities, and backgrounds that help them stand out. Our tale revolves around Allen Walker, a boy trained by an elite general named General Cross. He sends Allen to the Black Organization, a group tasked with defeating the Millennium Earl.
Earl has infused the people’s dead souls into weapons called Akuma. When Allen arrives at the organization, he becomes an exorcist. With his new anti-Akuma weapons and help from others, he plans to foil Earl’s world-ending plot. This anime contains fabulous character development, lighthearted segments, and entertaining bouts.
If you’re looking for another dark shonen anime to watch from the past, D.Gray-Man’s worth it.
Noragami
Similarities – Mythology, Action, Comedy
Noragami is an incredible anime series that took a while to obtain a following. Although it hasn’t attained a new season for some time now, many fans can’t wait to dive into it again. This anime delves into the supernatural and contains excellent swordsmanship and lore like Blue Exorcist. The protagonist has a deity-like background similar to Rin and is fun to follow.
The protagonist in question’s named Yato. His goal is to obtain more fame than what he has now. However, he gets roped into a dilemma with a girl named Hiyori. Hiyori and Yato establish a wonderful bond over time full of friendship. There are subtle hints of a romance between the two characters too.
Noragami offers a similar dark setting and supernatural atmosphere as Blue Exorcist. Things aren’t always doom and gloom, though. The show incorporates enough comical humor to lighten the show’s mood. If you’re looking for a funny show with great action and supernatural concepts, check out Noragami.
Soul Eater
Similarities – Setting, Action, Characters
Soul Eater is an entertaining supernatural series full of comedy and action. It harbors a more unique art style than Blue Exorcist does. Everything may appear cartoon-like and wacky on the surface, but the show harbors enough mature content to hold your attention. Things can get gruesome for our cast in this show, but nothing too violent.
The humor’s well-varied. There’s some entertaining slapstick, one-liners, and situational humor to get a laugh from you. The anime includes some great facial expressions and reactions that’ll remind you of Rin’s interactions with his companions. Furthermore, both anime take place in a school-like setting and features characters attending classes hoping to improve their craft.
With colorful animation and a distinct art style, this is a must-watch for all shonen fans.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Similarities – Characters, Action, Comedy
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an excellent adventure series. This anime contains beautiful visuals, epic fights, well-developed characters, and a well-written plot. It has everything you want from clever-written humor to mind-numbing bouts. Furthermore, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood serves as a more faithful adaptation of the original series.
In it, we follow Edward and Alphonse Elric. They’re two brothers who embark on a quest for magical stone. With the magic stone, the brothers hope they can revert their bodies to normal. After tampering with alchemy as a young kid, Alphonse’s soul had been sealed inside a giant suit of armor while Edward lost a few limbs.
Like other shonen series, you can expect Edward and Alphonse to encounter many foes during their journey. Some foes won’t appear as powerful as others, but they’ll leave a strong impact on the brothers. With its dark themes, setting, and premise, you can’t go wrong with watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Naruto
Similarities – Characters & Story
Naruto is regarded as one of Shonen Jump’s classic series. This anime paved the way for many shows to follow with its fun character dynamics, charming shinobi world, and emotional storytelling. In it, we examine the life of a knucklehead ninja named Naruto. He likes performing pranks and getting on his fellow villagers’ nerves.
Many villagers can’t stand him for two reasons. One is his immature behavior and the other’s due to Naruto harboring the dangerous creature called the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama. Despite the constant ridicule he receives, Naruto vows to become his village’s Hokage. This anime will leave you heartbroken, pleasant, and excited the whole way through.
Naruto’s simplistic plot spirals into something more complex the further you get into it. It’s not the most well-written Shonen Jump series, but it delivers enough emotional sequences, epic battles, and charming character moments to keep you invested. If you’re looking for a ninja-themed anime that touches upon concepts like death, friendship, and betrayal well, check out Naruto.
Black Clover
Similarities – Fantasy & Drama
Black Clover is a modern shonen anime with a large following. It contains a beautiful medieval setting full of magic and formidable warriors. It has a gorgeous art style that looks impressive from an animation perspective. It follows Asta, a boy who wants to become his world’s, Wizard King.
He’ll endure multiple fights and challenges to reach that point. These obstacles will show him no mercy and will force Asta to strive for immense strength, endurance, and power. He’s not alone on his journey, as he’ll be accompanied by folks who’ll entice him to go beyond his current capabilities.
Like Rin, Asta harbors demonic powers within himself and comes across as weak to people at first. If you adore shonen works with great characters, storytelling, and themes, check out Black Clover.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Similarities – Exorcism, Action, Characters
Jujutsu Kaisen is a modern shonen that’s taking the world by storm. It features stellar action, complex principles, and fun characters. The anime’s extremely exposition-heavy at first. This is due to the show wanting to implant its DNA into viewers’ heads regarding its laws, principles, and ideas.
Like Rin, Jujutsu Kaisen’s protagonist Yuuji harbors a demonic power within himself. This power allows him to triumph over many formidable villains and monsters he meets in the show. However, the demonic power’s more sentient than Rin’s as it has a mind of itself. Think of it like Naruto and Kurama’s bond in early Naruto.
On that note, Jujutsu Kaisen’s visuals and animation exceed Blue Exorcist’s by a large mile. While the fights contain some expositional moments, they offer enough hand-to-hand combat to entice action fans. Give this show a shot if you adore supernatural-themed works like Blue Exorcist.
Attack On Titan
Similarities – Characters & Action
Attack On Titan is immensely popular. It boasts four incredible seasons full of engaging fights, stupendous lore, and fun characters. Nevertheless, fans shouldn’t get attached to its cast. It’s one of those series where your favorite character could die in the blink of an eye. However, the show makes sure to give these characters enough screen time to make you care for their deaths.
This anime takes place in a world where humanity resides in large cities guarded by giant walls. These walls prevent monstrous creatures called Titans from entering. One day, a large Titan opens a pathway inside one of the city’s walls, leading to Titans wreaking havoc upon humanity. Unfortunately, this is where our protagonist Eren resides.
After losing many people to the Titan threat, Eren vows to seek vengeance on all Titans. This is anime full of impressive twists, turns, and nightmarish scenery that’ll get under your skin. If you’re looking for a swell time, check out Attack On Titan.
You can read our thoughts on Attack On Titan in our full-season review here!
Hunter X Hunter (2011)
Similarities – Characters, Story, Violence
Hunter X Hunter (2011) is a fantastic action-adventure series. This anime follows a boy named Gon Freecss. He sets out on a journey to become a professional hunter like his absentee father Ging. Along the way, Gon will meet a boatload of allies and enemies–each with different goals and strengths. With his friends’ help, Gon wishes to make his dreams come true.
Like Blue Exorcist, Hunter X Hunter contains fabulous drama, action, and fantasy elements. This anime’s better-written than Blue Exorcist and contains a more complex battle system. Furthermore, the anime’s animation feels more fluid at times and the fights can appear more gruesome. Action fans have a lot to digest in this show and will walk away from it highly satisfied.
Hunter X Hunter balances its dark and cheery atmosphere well. The series will feature times when our characters compete in harmless challenges and other times when their lives are at risk. If you’re looking to experience Gon’s adventure from start to finish, check out Hunter X Hunter.
Chainsaw Man
Similarities – Characters & Action
Chainsaw Man is a fabulously brutal work. This anime contains more bloodshed, sexual tension, and humor than Blue Exorcist. While its CGI animation isn’t stellar, fans will enjoy the multiple fights inserted in it. The monsters in this show have great designs and vary in strength and ability. Some characters are coated in mystery and will make viewers ponder what’ll happen next.
In it, we follow Denji and his chainsaw devil companion, Pochita. They take on multiple missions for the yakuza in hopes of repaying a debt left behind by Denji’s father. Denji and Pochita get taken to a warehouse to fulfill a mission but get murdered by the Zombie Devil and his henchmen. After forming a contract with Pochita, Denji becomes Chainsaw Man and murders everyone.
The next day, a woman named Makima and her Public Safety officials arrive at the warehouse. She offers Denji a luxurious lifestyle in exchange for working with Public Safety to slay devils. This anime contains some raunchy humor and jaw-dropping settings. Although the show has spotty CGI, its calming moments will make viewers question the authenticity behind these scenes. Give this anime a watch if you’re looking for a bloody great time.
You can read our thoughts on Chainsaw Man in our full-season review here!
So there we have it, our 10 anime/TV show alternatives to watch when you’ve caught up with Blue Exorcist!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!