10 More Incredible Tales That Appease Viewers!
Welcome to the NHK is a great anime that gives younger viewers a taste of adulthood. It follows Satou, a college dropout and conspiracy theorist who spent most of his life isolated from society. Fortunately, a fateful encounter will give Satou a chance to break free from his comfort zone to pursue life on a better scale. From its handling of mental health subjects to its relatable cast, Welcome to the NHK is a must-watch for those who like deep narratives.
Fear not if you’re having trouble finding anime similar to Welcome to the NHK! We’ve discovered 10 alternate shows that’ll give you a similar experience as Welcome to the NHK.
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 Welcome to the NHK!
Serial Experiments Lain
Similarities – Characters, Psychological, Themes
Serial Experiments Lain is a mind-numbing sci-fi series. It’s about a girl named Lain who receives a weird email from a deceased classmate. After opening the email, Lain gets sent to Wired. In this virtual world, Lain uncovers cryptic mysteries and encounters strange men called the Men in Black who know more about Lain than she does.
Like Welcome to the NHK, this anime explores the idea of social isolation well. Before her endeavors in Wired, Lain’s known for being an awkward introvert. As the series progresses, we see Lain navigate her way through life in hopes of feeling accepted. Satou’s a character who feels disconnected from the world in his series too.
Both characters also suffer from severe mental illnesses. Where Satou suffers from depression and social anxiety, Lain experiences paranoia and dissociation in her series. Many people who suffer from any of these will empathize with Lain and Satou. For those looking for something that’s more avant-garde and delves into its science-fiction aspects more, check out Serial Experiments Lain.
The Tatami Galaxy
Similarities – Psychological & Characters
The Tatami Galaxy is a great psychological series with a supernatural twist. It revolves around Watatashi as he literally relives his college days after receiving an opportunity from a mysterious eggplant-shaped-headed individual. Watashi hopes to make friends and confess his feelings to his college crush.
Like Welcome to the NHK, this anime features a depressed protagonist transforming into a stronger individual. Watashi and Satou will become better people over time through their interactions with quirky individuals. Welcome to the NHK has more of a somber tone compared to The Tatami Galaxy which feels mostly surrealistic. Both anime highlights notions of societal pressure and expectations.
Where Satou struggles to find ambition and purpose in his life, Watashi is a lazy person who only puts in effort into his hobbies. However, as both series progress, our protagonists become more determined, giving viewers reasons to stay invested. Therefore, The Tatami Galaxy is a must-watch for anyone looking for an artistic and thought-provoking experience.
WataMote
Similarities – Comedy & Characters
WataMote delves into its protagonist Tomoko’s daily endeavors. While Tomoko’s known for having over 100 boyfriends and buddies online, she’s a socially awkward teenager in real life. Through the help of her brother and close friend, Tomoko hopes to overcome her personal issues to secure a fulfilling life for herself. Tomoko feels like a female variant of Satou.
She tries her hardest to get people to notice her presence, but it ends up backfiring on her, making her look foolish as a result. Watamote handles its character’s social issues in a comedic manner while Welcome to the NHK feels more serious and dramatic. Despite that, both anime explore mental health and its effects on people’s lives.
Both protagonists struggle with depression, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy. Tomoko’s strange methods will prevent her from forming meaningful relationships and make her realize that simple choices are the best options. For those looking for a more lighthearted comedy with a great stance on mental health issues, check out WataMote.
Genshiken
Similarities – Themes & Characters
If you’re craving another anime about a male lead character who struggles to find his spot in society, Genshiken should satisfy you. This anime follows Sasahara, an introvert who joins the Genshiken Club. Through his interactions with his club members, Sasahara will find himself in a better spot than he was in prior to his recruitment.
Firstly, Genshiken feels more harmonious than Welcome to the NHK. It instills viewers with messages on why it’s great to cherish your hobbies and pursue a goal that may not align with others’ opinions. Welcome to the NHK delves into the disadvantages of Satou’s shut-in lifestyle and paints it in a negative light. Nevertheless, both characters find comfort in interacting with others.
Genshiken’s supporting cast is as entertaining as Welcome to the NHK’s roster. They all have intruiging personalities, goals, and hobbies many people will cherish. They all play a key role in helping our male leads move forward in life and help them tackle their internal and external issues head-on. If you loved Welcome to the NHK but wanted something that feels more wholesome, check out Genshiken.
March Comes In Like A Lion
Similarities – Themes & Drama
March Comes In Like A Lion is a great slice-of-life anime. The struggles and issues that crop up in the protagonist Rei’s life will remind folks of Satou’s journey in Welcome to the NHK. Unlike Satou, Rei is a gifted shogi player with enormous pressure on his back. He cares little for the sport and feels isolated from society. This all changes when he meets three women who’ll help him become a better person.
Both anime delve into the negative aspects of loneliness and social isolation well. Through Rei and Satou’s perspectives, you’ll learn of the reasons and situations that lead people to alienate themselves from other people. At the same time, the supporting cast will leave the audience realizing how a couple of interactions with the right people can make a huge impact on troubled folks’ lives.
Welcome to the NHK and March Comes In Like A Lion emphasizes the significance of self-reflection and personal growth. After he establishes close connections with people, Rei learns to confront his inner demons, leading to many jaw-dropping and motivational animated segments. March Comes In Like A Lion is a must-watch for anyone looking for an introspective series about mental health.
Bocchi The Rock
Similarities – Comedy, Characters, Themes
Bocchi The Rock is a popular anime from late 2022. It gained a massive following because of its well-written characters, compelling humor, incredible animation techniques, and excellent handling of social anxiety. It follows the journey of Hitori, Nijika, Ryo, and Kita as they vow to make their band called Kessoku Band popular. Hitori is this anime’s main star and hopes to overcome her anxiety.
Like Welcome to the NHK, this anime explores the concept of isolation and how it affects individuals. Hitori struggles to fit in at school and in her friend group. This leads to undergo feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. Satou feels the same way and often flees to his world of conspiracy theories and elusions to comfort himself.
Despite their characters’ depressing circumstances, both anime have great humorous bits to avoid feeling too dramatic and melancholic. In Bocchi The Rock, you can expect to see Bocchi flail at the notion of having an Instagram account or dread having to communicate with people at her Starry Club job. It’s these moments that help her character feel grounded and relatable to many people. In addition to informing viewers about the intricacies of the music industry, check out Bocchi The Rock.
You can read our thoughts on Bocchi The Rock in our full-season review here!
Clannad After Story
Similarities – Drama & Themes
Clannad After Story is one of the best sequels you’ll ever watch. It’s a huge improvement over the first season due to its richer interactions, heartbreaking scenarios, and the challenges it places in front of our characters’ pathways. In it, we examine Tomoya and his friends’ transition into adulthood. They’ll come face to face with many situations like finding work and maintaining healthy bonds.
Like Welcome to the NHK, this anime delves into themes of self-discovery and personal growth. Tomoya and Satou must grapple with the complexities of life and overcome the personal demons that still reside inside their heads. Tomoya must confront his troublesome father and work diligently to maintain his loving relationship with Nagisa.
As for Satou, he must conquer his personal qualms and overcome his struggles with mental health and social isolation. On that note, both anime give a raw and honest look at mental health. Tomoya deals with severe depression sometime in Clannad After Story’s plot and must learn to accept the loss. It’ll be hard for viewers to sit through this instance without tearing up themselves. Therefore, if you’re looking for a romance anime that’s earned its title as one of the best, check out Clannad After Story.
ReLife
Similarities – Characters & Themes
Knowing Satou’s character, he’d probably love having the opportunity Arata receives in ReLife. In ReLife, Arata receives an opportunity to change his teen years and believes everything will be easy for him due to having knowledge about his previous life. Unfortunately, Arata only experiences more failures concerning weight gain and meeting expectations.
Welcome to the NHK and ReLife explore deep themes involving self-discovery, mental health, and the challenges with social isolation. Both characters struggle to find purpose in life but will meet multiple people who’ll guide them down brighter paths. At the same time, the side characters have their own hurdles they’ll need to overcome, making matters feel realistic.
These anime will make viewers reflect upon the blunders they’ve made over time. You’ll also ponder ways to improve your life to avoid causing more problems in your life. If you’re looking for an anime with relatable characters and scenarios, check out ReLife.
Bakemonogatari
Similarities – Themes
Bakemonogatari is intriguing mystery series with supernatural elements. In it, our protagonist Araragi gains vampiric powers that’ll improve his healing and vision capabilities. He tries to live a mundane life but develops a passion for helping people who are struggling with similar issues. Despite sounding cheery, this anime delves into deep themes like depression, social anxiety, and personal identity.
Although he’ll be fighting supernatural creatures, Araragi must grapple with his share of personal demons. Viewers will appreciate this anime for giving us a glimpse into our protagonist’s psyche in a discreet and deep manner. Both male leads will be surrounded by many colorful characters who’ll enjoy interacting with them. Their interactions will help our protagonists grow and mature.
Bakemonogatari relies heavily on its dialogue to advance its plot and share insight into the characters’ lives and thoughts. During these extended conversations, the characters often receive subtle development. It also gives viewers time to speculate about future scenarios or the topics being brought up in our characters’ conversations.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Similarities – Psychological & Societal Commentary
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a popular sci-fi anime known for flipping the mecha genre on its head. Instead of focusing on giant robots fighting evil monsters or other machines, it delves into the issues that plague our characters’ minds. Many characters, like its protagonist Shinji, come from heartbreaking backgrounds similar to those humans endure in real life.
Shinji is a troubled boy who has a terrible relationship with his father Gendo. Gendo forces Shinji to pilot Evangelion Unit 01 since he’s the only one capable of using it. Now he must save humanity and learn to set aside his differences with his father. Although Shinji’s issues far out-way Satou’s, both characters struggle with depression and identity issues.
They must grapple with their personal demons if they hope to resolve difficult scenarios. Welcome to the NHK and Neon Genesis Evangelion offer a satirical take on society’s standards and anticipations. Where Neon Genesis Evangelion shows the downfalls of mankind’s overreliance on technology, Welcome to the NHK critiques Japan’s societal norms. In addition to giving our characters memorable personalities and a distinct set of issues, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a must-watch.
So there we have it, our 10 anime/TV show alternatives to watch when you’ve caught up with Welcome to the NHK!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!