10 More Shows With Intricate Narratives!
Odd Taxi is a breath of fresh air. It tackles many adult-oriented topics from gambling to addiction and every subject inserted into its story is handled proficiently. Furthermore, this anime isn’t afraid to highlight the participants’ consequences for dabbling in these areas. Horisho, the anime’s walrus protagonist, serves as a bridge between the viewer and the people who’ll share these adult-themed tales. He’s a great protagonist and many folks enjoyed following him from the anime’s start to its conclusion.
Fear not if you’re having trouble finding anime similar to Odd Taxi! We’ve discovered 10 alternate shows that’ll give you a similar experience as Odd Taxi.
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/anime that should whet your appetite when you’ve finished streaming Odd Taxi!
Durarara
Similarities – Ensemble Cast, Mystery, Crime
Durarara delivers a fascinating tale about Mikado, who happens to be a new resident in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district. This area houses a rumor about a headless Black Rider, but Mikdao doesn’t believe it. That is until he meets the Black Rider and ends up engulfed in numerous situations that make him regret moving here. Like Odd Taxi, this anime focuses on multiple perspectives to tell its narrative.
The plot revolves around several interconnected characters whose lives intersect in mysterious manners. This adds complexity to the story’s plot, allowing people to witness its tale from different angles. Both anime feature fun plot twists and turns. Durarara likes to subvert viewers’ expectations, with shocking reveals and unexpected character actions.
Similarly, Odd Taxi’s central mystery builds slowly, with several shocking moments sprinkled in between to keep viewers guesstimating until the anime’s conclusion. Durarara’s cast is complex, with many of them having conflicting motivations and goals. For those looking for a story full of suspenseful moments, check out Durarara.
Beastars
Similarities – Complex Animal Characters
If you’re in need of another deep anime with animal characters, Beastars should satisfy you. Both anime insert animals in human-like situations and have them assuming roles humans would tackle from mafia bosses to high school attendees. It’s about a wolf named Legoshi, who lives in a world where carnivores are frowned upon after his herbivore friend Tem dies.
One day, Legoshi’s Drama club friend Louis trains Tem’s replacement and asks Legoshi to monitor the surroundings for suspicious activity. During his shift, Legoshi meets a rabbit named Haru and must keep his predatory instincts in check if he wants to get closer to her. Odd Taxi and Beastars feature complex animalistic characters with conflicting motivations and emotions.
In Beastars, the characters navigate through a complex web of social hierarchies and moral dilemmas, with their animal instincts clashing with their human-like behaviors. Beastars also has its share of unpredictable plot twists that will keep viewers guessing like its murder mystery plot involving Tem. If you’re looking for another deep anime featuring anthropomorphic characters, check out Beastars.
You can read our thoughts on Beastars in our full-season review here!
The Tatami Galaxy
Similarities – Complex Storytelling & Themes
The Tatami Galaxy is an artistic and mind-bending tale that’ll leave a lasting impression on fans. It follows Watashi, a 30-year-old college student who gets hurled into the past. This gives him another shot at better college life. Like Odd Taxi, this anime introduces an ensemble cast with different motivations, personalities, and quirks.
Each character has a story to tell and you’ll find most of their tales to your liking. Both anime utilizes surrealism as a way to explore complex emotions and ideas. The Tatami Galaxy’s time loop and alternate realities create an abstract but relatable depiction of regret and acceptance. As for Odd Taxi, talking animals and abstract dream scenes help the anime explore ideas of escapism.
Both anime delve into the idea of loneliness and the importance of connecting with individuals. Watashi learns that his life is ultimately fulfilling because of the friendships he formed during this time in the past. This will remind folks of Hiroshi’s taxi endeavors since it will help him overcome his personal struggles.
Monster
Similarities – Mystery
Monster is one of the best crime thrillers you’ll ever watch. While it doesn’t feature anthropomorphic animals, it features morally complex characters, and intricate plotlines, and provides viewers with an overarching sense of mystery. It also delves into themes like power, corruption, and morality. It’s about a surgeon named Kenzou. He chooses to save a child’s life over his mayor’s.
He’s ridiculed for his decision. To make matters worse, his child patient becomes a murderer and gets Kenzou blamed for crimes he didn’t commit. To fix his life, Kenzou flees his job and vows to bring this child to justice. Like Hiroshi, Kenzou is a multifaceted character many people will grow attached to over the course of the story. The child villain, Johan Liebert, is equally complex.
Although he doesn’t appear in the story as often, you’ll always feel tense when he appears on screen. From his shady practices to his somber voice, he’ll put fear into any viewer’s eyes. This anime also has gripping cliffhangers and plot twists that will keep you invested in its plot. For those looking for another well-executed slow-burner anime series to watch, Monster is worth your time.
Death Note
Similarities – Themes
Death Note is a classic Shonen Jump title with more emphasis on strategic mind games than physical brawls. It follows Light, a boy who wants to remove all the criminals in his world using the Death Note. With the help of a shinigami named Ryuk, Light massacres many evildoers under the alias Kira. However, when a young detective named L challenges Light, an epic cat-and-mouse-like battle ensues.
Like Odd Taxi, Death Note explores themes of justice and power. Light’s actions are driven by his desire to make the world a better place by eliminating criminals while L is driven by his version of justice. As for Odd Taxi, Hiroshi and the other characters find themselves embroiled in a larger conspiracy involving power and control. If you’re looking for an anime with great mind games and thrilling segments, check out Death Note.
You can read our thoughts on Death Note in our full-season review here!
Psycho-Pass
Similarities – Themes
Psycho-Pass is a great sci-fi series that takes place in a futuristic version of Japan that’s monitored by the city’s Sibyl System. At the center of our tale is Akane, an officer who vows to report the system’s shortcomings to the world. Like Odd Taxi, Psycho-Pass’s society explores morality and justice. The characters must grapple with the ethics of the Sibyl System, and whether it’s important to punish people for a crime they haven’t committed yet.
Odd Taxi’s character’s moral compass is tested as they navigate through the criminal underworld. Hiroshi must choose between protecting his passengers or his own safety while maintaining his own take on justice. Furthermore, Akane and Hiroshi get roped into thrilling situations that will put their lives on the line. Psycho-Pass includes some entertaining gunfights that will leave you speechless too. If you’re looking for a fun, futuristic series with a stellar cast, check out Psycho-Pass.
Baccano
Similarities – Intricate Storytelling & Dialogue
Baccano offers Odd Taxi viewers a distinct and intricate story. It follows multiple protagonists who have different backgrounds, personalities, and motivations. Their short tales will unite to form something viewers will find entertaining in the end. Like Odd Taxi, this anime offers an ensemble cast of well-written characters who give viewers different perspectives on the story’s events.
Baccano likes to jump back and forth across different time periods and perspectives, often leaving the viewer to piece together the events. Similarly, Odd Taxi uses flashback scenes and backstories to reveal more information throughout the series. These different takes on storytelling will entice viewers to figure out how it all merges together by their conclusion.
Both anime contain unforgettable interaction scenes. Baccano is known for having snappy, fast-paced dialogue while Odd Taxi has witty dialogue that’s delivered in a deadpan fashion. With its strong ensemble cast, non-linear storytelling, and compelling dialogue, Baccano is a complex and unforgettable anime everyone should check out.
Paranoia Agent
Similarities – Mystery & Characters
Paranoia Agent is a mind-numbing psychological thriller with great twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. The story revolves around a delinquent named Lil’ Slugger. He spends his time hitting people with his bat and vanishes the scene without getting caught. With all the stress on their backs, the town’s police force vows to bring Lil’ Slugger to justice.
This anime creates an eerie and unpredictable atmosphere with its multiple mysteries surrounding Lil’ Slugger and other paranoia-inducing occurrences. Lil’ Slugger isn’t the only issue that’ll plague our casts’ minds. You’ll see some suffering from poor relationships or mental health issues regarding depression or suicidal tendencies. It all adds up to give viewers an anime full of dread and intensity.
Both anime have a diverse cast and explore their individual psychological turmoil. Where Hiroshi gets to see the good and bad sides of his passengers through their tales, Paranoia Agent showcases various characters undergoing emotional breakdowns due to the stresses in their life. If you’re looking for a great thriller littered with intriguing mysteries, check out Paranoia Agent.
Sonny Boy
Similarities – Complex Storytelling & Ensemble Casts
Sonny Boy offers a phenomenal coming-of-age tale with fantasy elements. It follows 36 students who find themselves teleported to a weird dimension along with their school. Some students will develop supernatural abilities and will attempt to rebel against each other. Although they all want to return home, they’ll find themselves stuck in a weird dimension-hopping loop.
They’ll need to set aside their differences if they hope to figure a way out. Like Odd Taxi, Sonny Boy gives viewers a character-driven story with its ensemble cast. Each character receives enough screen time to showcase their differing traits and abilities. This will allow viewers to grow attached to the characters whose ideals and personalities they resonate with the most.
Sonny Boy’s storytelling is complex. It likes to shift between the past and present countless times and unveils the characters’ backstories and motivations throughout the series. This enables viewers to continue watching it, so they can uncover the truth about the cast before judging them. Sonny Boy’s art style is vivid and its use of colors helps it pop off the screen, giving viewers an otherworldly experience.
Aggretsuko
Similarities – Characters
Aggretsuko is an entertaining animal anime with a distinct art style and charming cast. It follows a red panda named Retusko who vents her frustrations about life by singing death metal music. Like Odd Taxi, Aggretsuko is a character-driven narrative with well-defined and relatable characters. Many people will resonate with Retsuko’s daily struggles with her horrendous boss and adult life.
As for Odd Taxi, we examine Hiroshi’s struggles in developing solid connections due to his alienated habits. Both anime provide viewers with insight into their respective protagonist’s inner workings, making them easy to relate to and pity. These anime also contain worlds filled with animals who take part in various human-like activities from shopping at stores to working day jobs in a city environment.
Both anime use music to reflect upon their overarching themes. For Retsuko, heavy metal provides her with an outlet to let out her qualms and true feelings about her life. In Odd Taxi, the surreal and chilling music reflects the show’s foreboding atmosphere. If you want an animal anime that offers more humor than mystery though, I’d recommend giving Aggretsuko a shot.
So there we have it, our 10 anime/TV show alternatives to watch when you’ve caught up with Odd Taxi!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!