This article is part of a directory: Summer 2023 Anime Season – Complete Guide
Table of contents

It’s one thing to watch a shonen anime, but quite another to get enamored with gorgeous anime designs, a compelling narrative, and engaging combat design; all things that Bleach has in abundance. This action-packed shonen anime stars Ichigo Kurosaki, an ordinary high school student dragged into the world of the supernatural as he temporarily gets the powers of a Shinigami: a Soul Reaper. Armed with the zanpakuto and newfound strength, Ichigo has to fight various supernatural threats to stop them from harming the mortal world.

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Unlike other shonen anime, the supernatural “punk” aspect of Bleach makes it extremely attractive to fans who just want a weekly dose of awesome. And, for fans still waiting for the anime adaptation of the manga’s final arc, there are a couple of other anime that are similar to Bleach.

Updated on November 27, 2023, by Rhenn Taguiam: With Ichigo and the rest of the Shinigami slowly forming their comeback against Yhwach and the Quincies in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, fans of the series may be eager to find out how Ichigo saves Soul Society from its greatest threat. However, Bleach fans who have read the manga may want to watch anime that has some similarities with Ichigo’s experiences in Tite Kubo’s hit work. With the likes of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Hunter X Hunter, and Yu Yu Hakusho leading the charge, anime fans have a lot of options to choose from in order to get their Bleach fix. However, anime enthusiasts may also want some hint as to how each of these entries compares to Ichigo’s adventures with the Shinigami.

20 Flame Of Recca (1997)

MyAnimeList: 7.34

Flame of Recca
Release Date July 19, 1997
Studio Pierrot
Episodes 42
Network Fuji TV, Animax, AXN

Despite its age, Flame of Recca has quite the accessible premise that the typical shonen enjoyer may get into. The ninja anime stars the eponymous Recca Hanabishi, a wannabe ninja who learns he can control flames, and his promise to protect his self-proclaimed princess Yanagi, who is hunted down by evildoers for her ability to heal any injury.

Unfortunately for the duo, things get complicated when they get absorbed into the world of Madogu or psychic devices that grant users special abilities. With the realization that he descended from a Sengoku-era ninja clan who created the very Madogu, Recca and his friends take it upon themselves to protect the world and Yanagi from the threats these devices pose. While its premise is a bit convoluted, Flame of Recca doesn’t slack off with its breathtaking action scenes. Not only that, the technicalities of how each Madogu is used have paved the way for memorable and interesting fights.

Flame Of Recca: The Similarities With Bleach

Be it the Shikai and Bankai for Shinigami, the Resurreccion for the Arrancar, and the Schrift for the Quincy Sternritters - each new combatant’s ability is a much sought-after revelation throughout the series. This concept is similar to the Madogu in Flame of Recca, as many fighters across the anime developed some form of mastery with their special mystical weapon. Seeing Fuko Kirisawa develop mastery with her air-based Fujin gauntlet and Tokiya Mikagami demonstrate immense water control with the Ensui can make for interesting match-ups with flame-toting Recca.

19 Saint Seiya (1986)

MyAnimeList: 7.75

Saint Seiya
Release Date October 11, 1986
Studio Toei Animation
Episodes 114
Network TV Asahi, Cartoon Network

While the original Saint Seiya anime aired in 1986, an assortment of spinoffs and reboots paved the way for one of the most iconic anime franchises of all time. Starring the eponymous Seiya, the protagonist pledges to become a warrior Saint to protect the Goddess Athena in exchange for help finding his sister. Despite this personal goal, Seiya’s eventual friendships with his fellow Saints make him more than willing to put his life on the line to protect Athena from other gods who want to defeat her and dominate Earth.

Typical with most shonen anime, the loyal Seiya is accompanied by various Saints with different personalities and motivations. Each of them can wield special armors called Cloths that grant them special abilities, with Seiya’s Pegasus Cloth endowing him with great speed. Fights in Saint Seiya usually start with action-packed fistfights before evolving into grand showcases of power not dissimilar to Bleach’s more chaotic fights.

Saint Seiya: The Similarities With Bleach

The Saints being bestowed special armor to protect and defend Athena are reminiscent of the Shinigami being assigned to protect Soul Society. While technically not facing ghosts and supernatural threats, both Saints and Shinigami share similar powersets, with the Saints’ specific Cloths and a Shinigami’s specific Zanpakuto being the only aspects of their fighting styles that add a bit of variability. Despite its age and multiple iterations, seeing each Saint Seiya anime tackle characters grows into their Cloth’s special abilities.

18 Jujutsu Kaisen (2020)

MyAnimeList: 8.63

Jujutsu Kaisen
Release Date October 3, 2020
Studio MAPPA
Episodes 40
Network JNN

Anime fans interested in paranormal stories that mirror Bleach’s Shinigami concept may take a liking to Jujutsu Kaisen, detailing the adventures of Jujutsu Sorcerers who can manipulate negative energy in their body to fight Curses, malevolent manifestations of the same power. The series stars Yuji Itadori, a high school student taught to always help others, and a dangerous mishap involving the local Occult Club. When he swallows a finger in a sealing gone wrong, Yuji gains the powers of the Curse named Sukuna.

With other Jujutsu Sorcerers witnessing Yuji retaining control over his body, he’s taken to Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School to train as a Jujutsu Sorcerer. Jujutsu Kaisen can be a decent watch for Bleach fans looking for intense action that remains grounded on how techniques and special abilities are used, letting viewers speculate on how matches go based on the knowledge the anime gives them.

Jujutsu Kaisen: The Similarities With Bleach

Much like how the Shinigami maintain the balance of souls between Soul Society and the Human World, Jujutsu Sorcerers of Jujutsu Kaisen are in charge of helping mankind defend itself from cursed spirits. Whereas Shinigami use Reiatsu to aid their abilities, Jujutsu Sorcerers use curse energy for their abilities. Similar to a Shinigami’s Hado or Kido, Jujutsu Sorcerers project these energies into Cursed Techniques that are both taught and innate to individuals. This allows Jujutsuu Kaisen characters to work within similar powersets, making fights more technically compelling.

17 Freezing (2011)

MyAnimeList: 6.80

Freezing
Release Date January 8, 2011
Studio A.C.G.T
Episodes 12
Network AT-X, Tokyo MX, CTC, SUN, TV Aichi, tvk, TV Saitama, Funimation Channel

One can’t deny that the women of Bleach gained huge fan appeal not just for their appearances but also for unique power sets, something that Freezing also offers action fans. This shonen anime stars pairs of Limiters and Pandora, students with special abilities to fight the global threat of monstrous Nova. Protagonist Kazuya Aoi is a Limiter, meaning he can immobilize Nova through an ability called Freezing, who becomes a person of interest in West Genetics Academy as his sister is a Pandora. Partnered with him is Satellizer el Bridget, a powerful Pandora known as the “Untouchable Queen” for her intense apiphobia and intense personality.

Despite the immediate romcom element with Kazuya and Satellizer’s partnership, much of Freezing’s appeal lies in its action scenes. While all Limiters aid their Pandora by Freezing their opponents, all Pandora have access to Stigmata that augment their physical attributes and summon weapons. While all Limiters and Pandora have similar power sets, every Pandora has a unique fighting style that explores the depths of just how creative combatants could get while using the same abilities.

Freezing: The Similarities With Bleach

Similar to Bleach, the anime adaptation of Freezing has quite a lot of fanservice tied to its female characters. It’s a common sight for intense fights to result in school uniforms being torn apart, explaining the gravity of battles involving the characters. Moreover, Freezing abilities working within the same powerset means fights are always a matter of who can utilize their skills better, something that Bleach fans would find reminiscent of Tite Kubo’s technical approach to fights.

16 Claymore (2007)

MyAnimeList: 7.74

Claymore
Release Date April 4, 2007
Studio Madhouse
Episodes 26
Network Nippon TV, Funimation Channel

Perhaps Claymore holds the distinction of being the most action-packed take on the “superpowered women” concept in anime, as what it lacks in wild abilities it more than makes up for with technical mastery. Set on an unnamed island, Claymore stars the eponymous Claymores, or special female soldiers trained to kill monstrous Yokai. Armed only with their silver garb and signature Claymore, these warriors use physical prowess, enhanced speed, and improved senses to overpower various monsters - much like the Shinigami in Bleach.

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The anime in particular tells the story of No. 47, nicknamed Claire, whose adventures lead her to cross paths with Raki, a young boy who aspires to become a warrior. Although they don’t adventure together, their interactions with other Claymore flesh out a gripping story made only more intense with fairly technical fights. Despite their similar powersets, the different personalities and fighting styles of Claymores give combat a distinct flair where no one unnecessarily overpowers another with no proper explanation.

Claymore: The Similarities With Bleach

Despite being similar to Freezing in having characters work in similar powersets, Claymore stays true to its monster-hunting themes, much like how Bleach focuses on different spiritual entities. The individual Claymores function like Shinigami Captains with stronger base abilities and the lack of elaborate Bankai, transforming fights against Yokai and with each other more tense due to the reliance on the same skillset. Seeing Claymores push their limits in both swordplay, speed, and accessing their Yokai abilities can lead to intense encounters.

15 Bungo Stray Dogs (2016)

MyAnimeList: 7.82

Bungo Stray Dogs
Release Date April 7, 2016
Studio Bones
Episodes 61
Network Tokyo MX, TVA, KBS, TVS, CTC, tvk, GBS, MTV, SUN, TVQ, BS11, Wowow, Aniplus Asia

It’s not uncommon for an action anime to feature protagonists with supernatural abilities. Still, Bungo Stray Dogs kicks this up with a rather somber story and many literary references. The story focuses on the budding friendship of weretiger Atsushi Nakajima and ability-nullifying Ozamu Dazai and their eventual establishment of the Armed Detective Agency. Their adventures would eventually have them recruit other supernaturally powerful individuals into their team and discover their desire to protect Yokohama against the mafia.

Like the Fate franchise, Bungo Stray Dogs not only appears with its action premise but also in its portrayal of its characters based on authors. While not extremely accurate to a tee, the anime’s take on these protagonists, who in some way carry traits of the authors they’re named after alongside their works, adds a new level of awesome to both fight scenes and drama.

Bungo Stray Dogs: The Similarities With Bleach

While Bungo Stray Dogs has a more self-contained story, fans of Bleach may appreciate each character having different powersets much like how Shinigami has different Zanpakuto. Moreover, the smaller-scale stories give Bungo Stray Dogs a lot of room for personal development, giving readers a chance to see how characters with a similar quirkiness to those in Bleach could get further developed as a small cast.

14 Akame Ga Kill! (2014)

MyAnimeList: 7.47

Akame Ga Kill
Release Date July 7, 2014
Studio White Fox, C-Station
Episodes 24
Network Tokyo MX, MBS, BS11, AT-X, Anime Network, Adult Swim

Fans of anime who want a more straightforward take on the action genre may appreciate Akame ga Kill! In its story, young fighter Tatsumi only planned on going to the Capital to earn money and help his poverty-stricken village when he got himself tangled up with the assassin group Night Raid. In the group, he meets warriors such as eponymous swordsman Akame alongside other assassins who wield mystical weapons called the Teigu, who serve as part of the anime’s main selling point.

Similar to other action-packed anime, scenes in Akame ga Kill! are sights to behold, especially when Teigu users such as Akame and her Kiriichimonji get to fight one another. While simplistic in terms of its premise, the story’s eventual intensity becomes something worth the watch, especially to those looking for a gritty

Akame Ga Kill: The Similarities With Bleach

Night Raid being a division of the Revolutionary Army is reminiscent of the Shinigami Corps being a division of Soul Society, with each assassin’s mysterious Teigu Weapons reminiscent of the Zanpakuto used by Shinigami. Whereas Teigu lacks the “basic katana” form of all Zanpakuto, all Teigu have unique appearances much like Shikai associated with each Bleach weapon. Moreover, Teigu all contain a Danger Beast that risks “leaking out” through overuse, similar to how each Zanpakuto has a “spirit” inside it that regularly communes with its wielders.

13 Seven Deadly Sins (2014)

MyAnimeList: 7.65

Seven Deadly Sins
Release Date October 5, 2014
Studio A-1 Pictures
Episodes 24
Network JNN, Animax

Action fans interested in a unique take on the supernatural fantasy genre may want to consider giving Seven Deadly Sins a shot. In its story, protagonist Meliodas sought to reunite his formerly-disbanded Seven Deadly Sins to liberate the land of Britannia from the corrupted Holy Knights. Throughout their journey, Meliodas discovers himself in a conflict against his brother Zeldris and his team, the Ten Commandments.

It’s interesting how Seven Deadly Sins isn’t solely based on Christian lore with its inclusion of the “Sins” and the “Commandments,” but it also had its spin on other fantastical concepts such as those of fairies and magic. Alongside the fact that each of its characters has unique abilities that reflect their titles, Seven Deadly Sins has equal parts compelling story arcs and intense action sequences.

Seven Deadly Sins: The Similarities With Bleach

Fans eager for a story similar to Bleach in using supernatural themes could appreciate the way Seven Deadly Sins makes use of Sins, Ten Commandments, and even Holy Knights to populate its setting of Britannia. Despite being forces of “good,” the titular Seven Deadly Sins carry the burden of their sins as the cruelest among the Holy Knights while they are tasked to fight the Demon Clan’s Ten Commandments. All characters in the anime boast a unique ability, with fights revolving around outsmarting each other’s usage of their skills amid flashy combat - much like how Bleach emphasizes technical powersets amid spectacular fight scenes.

12 Fairy Tail (2009)

MyAnimeList: 7.57

Fairy-Tail-1

Release Date

October 12, 2009

Studio

A-1 Pictures, Satelight, Bridge, CloverWorks

Episodes

328

Network

TXN, Animax Asia, Funimation Channel

Set in the world of Earth-land, Fairy Tail shows the adventures of traveling wizard Natsu Dragneel and his spellcasting guild, the Fairy Tail. Although his initial goal is to look for the dragon Igneel to help him finally come to terms with his past, Natsu’s adventures lead to him eventually recruiting other wizards into the guild and helping them resolve their conflicts.

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Aside from giving a spellcasting take on the One Piece adventure formula, Fairy Tail boasts a solid magic system to complement its fair share of intense fight scenes. With wizards being categorized as having specific forms of magic that they may share to varying degrees, Fairy Tail has become a decent anime to watch, especially for theorycrafters and action enthusiasts interested to see how creative these protagonists could approach their fight scenes.

Fairy Tail: The Similarities With Bleach

Despite its fantasy premise, Fairy Tail has a rather elaborate magic system that encompasses a multitude of sub-types, much like how using Reiatsu in Bleach can extend not just to physical displays but also to Kido and Hado. Fights in Fairy Tail may resemble how Shinigami “spellcasters” use Kido, Hado, and even Shunpo in combat. A particularly interesting magic concept in Fairy Tail is Erza Scarlet’s Requip, wherein her particular version “The Knight” allows her to wield more than 100 sets of armor.

11 Demon Slayer (2019)

MyAnimeList: 8.49

Demon Slayer
Release Date April 6, 2019
Studio Ufotable
Episodes 55
Network Tokyo MX, GTV, GYT, BS11, Fuji TV, Adult Swim

Fans of Bleach would immediately see similarities when they realize that Demon Slayer has a premise involving blade-toting, kimono-wearing warriors slaying demons. However, whereas Bleach is set primarily in the various realms of the afterlife, Demon Slayer’s Taisho-era Japan setting adds a Feudal Japanese twist to its action premise. In its story, kindhearted Tanjiro Kamado undergoes training as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps to avenge his family and turn his sister, who had become a demon, back to human form.

Unlike other typical supernatural anime, sword-fighting in Demon Slayer isn’t solely a matter of having flashy techniques to accompany their swords. Rather, Demon Slayer has “Breathing Techniques,” or sword-fighting styles that use breathing during strikes to summon various elemental powers. Combined with its stellar use of animation, Demon Slayer is a treat in terms of narrative and action scenes.

Demon Slayer: The Similarities With Bleach

Demon Slayer's eponymous Demon Slayer Corps functions quite similarly to the Shinigami Corps. However, while the Shinigami can work across different planes of existence, Demon Slayers operate in secret within Japan. On top of both anime featuring groups of monster hunters, action fans may appreciate the more grounded nature of Demon Slayer fights. While the anime’s demons have different abilities, Demon Slayers use a similar powerset via Breathing Techniques that augment their swordsmanship, making for stylish but also technical fights.

10 Soul Eater (2008)

MyAnimeList: 7.84

Soul Eater
Release Date April 7, 2008
Studio Bones
Episodes 51
Network TXN, Funimation Channel, Toonami

What better anime to watch after Bleach than one that has a thematically-similar motif? Soul Eater fits that demographic perfectly. Whereas the Shinigami of Bleach are tasked to exterminate supernatural threats, Soul Eater has Death himself head a school for supernatural warriors. The anime stars Maka Albarn, a Weapon Meister, and her transforming Demon Weapon Soul Eater as they embark on various adventures to save the underworld from powerful Witches and their cohorts.

While Bleach handles matters in the real world, Soul Eater deals with things exclusively in the underworld, sporting a unique supernatural punk aesthetic that focuses more on musical themes. However, its rather straightforward technical combat system is a delight to see, especially when viewers see how Demon Weapons use their forms while dishing out unique techniques.

Soul Eater: The Similarities With Bleach

While Soul Eater only has a single “Shinigami” in the form of DWMA’s principal, Weapon Meisters and Demon Weapons perform the same purpose as Bleach’s Shinigami: hunt monsters. And while Bleach appeals to fans by doing the “rule of cool” to the traditional samurai aesthetic, Soul Eater does the same to students by applying a combination of gritty “skullcore” and musical themes. Fans looking for fights featuring diverse powersets that remain grounded within proper progression may appreciate Soul Eater’s fight scenes, especially when each of its characters not only has different abilities but also receives relevant character development arcs.

9 Hellsing Ultimate (2014)

MyAnimeList: 8.35

Hellsing Ultimate
Release Date February 10, 2006
Studio Satelight, Madhouse, Graphinica
Episodes 10
Network Madman Entertainment, Crunchyroll

While not necessarily dealing with death gods and death reapers, Hellsing Ultimate deals with something just as bad: vampires. And, with the world being plunged into a conspiracy involving vampire soldiers, Integra Hellsing of the Hellsing Organization activates her team’s ultimate vampire-killing weapon: Alucard, the first vampire himself.

Alucard’s adventures as the overtly violent and chaotic vampire slayer aren’t easy, though, as he sires police officer Seras Victoria as his vampire servant. Despite the crazy premise of the series, Hellsing Ultimate is very similar to Bleach in terms of its over-the-top plot. Its crazy battles involving swords and spiritual blasts are somewhat reminiscent too, though they tend to feature a lot more bullets.

Hellsing Ultimate: The Similarities With Bleach

Viewers wondering about Hellsing Ultimate should focus on two key visuals from Bleach: Ichigo resorting to his Hollow Form or moments when “Number One” plays with his scenes. These Bleach scenes are often characterized by flashy visuals and intense fights, often capitalizing on moments of lost hope that Ichigo revitalizes by clinging to mysterious powers. This is a feeling encapsulated by Hellsing Ultimate’s fight scenes with a penchant for the hyper-violent. Bleach fans who want to see supernatural creatures get messed up will appreciate Hellsing Ultimate for Alucard never showing mercy to his opponents - especially with his signature grin.

8 Yu Yu Hakusho (1992)

MyAnimeList: 8.46

Yu Yu Hakusho
Release Date October 10, 1992
Studio Pierrot
Episodes 112
Network Fuji TV, Cartoon Network

Despite its age, Yu Yu Hakusho is probably one of the first modern supernatural anime to fit the classification. The anime stars delinquent Yusuke Urameshi as he loses his life saving a kid from a car accident, which then ends up giving him a second chance in life as a Spirit Detective. His cases solving supernatural mysteries lead to Yusuke and his newfound friends saving the world against numerous threats.

While Yu Yu Hakusho has quite a straightforward way of dealing with its narratives, such as tournament arcs and one-on-one battles, their displays of supernatural abilities aren’t over-the-top to the point of exaggeration. Not only that, but even the character development of Yusuke would give Ichigo vibes, especially when Yusuke is a delightful ball of arrogance mixed with an odd sense of loyalty and friendship.

YuYu Hakusho: The Similarities With Bleach

Yusuke Urameshi being dragged into a job as a Spirit Detective after death has all the tellings of Ichigo’s first job as a Substitute Shinigami, at least without the dying part. Ichigo defending Karakura Town from Hollows without being seen can easily be juxtaposed with Yusuke’s first missions, and Ichigo eventually becoming allies with other humans is similar to Yusuke earning companions in the form of fellow delinquent Kuwabara, the mysterious Kurama, and the rather aggressive Hiei.

7 Dragon Ball (1986)

MyAnimeList: 7.96

Dragon Ball
Release Date February 26, 1986
Studio Toei Animation
Episodes 153
Network Fuji TV, Cartoon Network

While the first episode of Dragon Ball debuted as far back as 1986, fans and newcomers to the franchise certainly couldn’t deny that the franchise has come a long way since then. Son Goku and his signature Kamehameha have evolved with multiple Super Saiyan forms, an extended family, and even a heritage that spans across planets. And while fans might think that each iteration of Dragon Ball is getting more and more ridiculous, giving Goku and his pals vastly broken power scaling, fans of Bleach should feel right at home.

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After all, even Bleach started relatively mundanely, with Ichigo struggling to use his newfound Shinigami powers against ordinary creatures. As the story progressed, however, Ichigo not only had to face enemies of increasing orders of magnitude. But rather, Ichigo somehow defeats them by accessing a form similar to the enemies he’s facing. Did it make sense in the end? It tried. But, like in Dragon Ball, it doesn't really matter.

Dragon Ball: The Similarities With Bleach

Fans of Bleach who appreciate the flashier takes on fight scenes involving Ichigo and his fiercest rivals would appreciate the escalation of combat in the Dragon Ball series. Goku’s desire for growth and sheer talent for adapting to fights is reminiscent of Ichigo’s ability to turn the tide of battle out of sheer willpower. Moreover, Goku and his friends’ constant display of improving over time through different Super Saiyan transformations are similar to Ichigo’s own progression - from his Hollow Forms, his Bankai, and everything in between.

6 Fire Force (2019)

MyAnimeList: 7.71

Fire Force
Release Date July 6, 2019
Studio David Production
Episodes 48
Network MBS, Aniplus

Fans of Bleach who want to see what it would feel like if elements from the real world dealt with supernatural threats will appreciate Fire Force. This story, which is confirmed to be a prequel to Soul Eater, stars members of the Fire Force as they defend the Tokyo Empire from Infernals or people who spontaneously combust and transform into demonic beings.

At first glance, its firefighter aesthetic is certainly a fresh sight to see in terms of shonen anime. However, its fire-heavy motif greatly grounds Fire Force in terms of combat mechanics; there’s a lot of flexibility involved in how abilities are used in fights. For instance, Shinra Kusakabe can use fire to speed himself up, allowing him to fight Infernals through sheer mobility. This kind of flexibility in combat will greatly appeal to Bleach fans, especially when Ichigo and his comrades have to use their powers in unique ways to fight threats.

Fire Force: The Similarities With Bleach

Action fans who want the familiar flashiness of Bleach’s combat may appreciate Fire Force, especially given its heavy emphasis on using fire to fight Infernals. However, unlike in Bleach where Shinigami have similar powersets but vastly different special abilities, combat enthusiasts will delight in seeing the various ways members of Fire Force use flames to their advantage. This potential of the anime to bring more technical fights without sacrificing visual allure easily makes it a decent Bleach-esque experience.

5 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012)

MyAnimeList: 7.89

JoJos Bizarre Adventure
Release Date October 6, 2012
Studio David Production
Episodes 26
Network Tokyo MX, MBS, TBC, RKB, CBC, BS11, Animax

While JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has a ton of seasons under its belt, the anime series is quite accessible as fans only ever need to focus on one season at a time, thanks to their standalone stories. However, what makes JoJo quite similar to Bleach is its impeccable sense of style, with protagonists, antagonists, and even supporting characters sporting rather memorable visual accents that make them irresistibly appealing to fans.

Not to mention, Jojo has quite an interesting battle system involving Stands and their unique abilities, forcing combatants not just to compete in tests of strength but also to outwit each other in often ridiculous ways. Even then, a lot of JoJo stories stun viewers with their remarkable sense of depth.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: The Similarities With Bleach

Bleach fans who read through the Thousand-Year Blood War arc may delight at how diverse the Bankai belonging to the Shinigami Captains can be. This upgrade was a sought-after element for fans in the series, especially as these were teased to be the pinnacle of a Shinigami’s experience. Seeing how these special abilities work and how they coincide to defeat threats is also a common sight in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, especially by the time Stands was introduced. Seeing each JoJo iteration boast unique Stands with different abilities can make for visual treats, especially when they start fighting other Stand users.

4 Naruto (2002)

MyAnimeList: 7.99

Naruto
Release Date October 3, 2002
Studio Pierrot
Episodes 220 + 500
Network TXN, Cartoon Network

Despite the relative age of Naruto, one can’t deny that it remains a great anime to watch after fans enjoy Bleach for its action-packed combat and deep storylines. Whereas Ichigo is dragged into supernatural fights to protect his friends, Naruto Uzumaki of Naruto is thrust at the core of various crises on his path to becoming Hokage or ninja leader of the Hidden Leaf Village.

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Two of the core highlights of Naruto that resemble Bleach would be Naruto and Ichigo’s unrelenting sense of perseverance in the face of danger, especially more so with regard to their strive for growth. While Ichigo whips out something incredible when all seems lost in a fight, Naruto shows that every defeat lets him rise into something greater, especially with Naruto’s signature techniques.

Naruto: The Similarities With Bleach

Being a fellow member of Bleach’s generational “trio,” Naruto boasts a different story but a similar appeal to fans invested in protagonists who grow out of their shells. Despite having different struggles, people constantly underestimate Ichigo for being a “mere” Substitute Shinigami and Naruto for being an orphan Jinchuriki have always motivated them to exceed their limits. Moreover, the evolution of the Naruto series from small-scale technical fights to visual spectacles is comparable to Ichigo’s first Getsuga Tenshou and its iterations as he developed his skills as a warrior.

3 Hunter X Hunter (2011)

MyAnimeList: 9.04

Hunter x Hunter
Release Date October 2, 2011
Studio Nippon TV
Episodes 148
Network Animax

While fans of Hunter X Hunter have qualms about the “hiatus or not hiatus” status of the story, Bleach fans can likely appreciate the anime for its equally crazy take on characters, stories, and plot. At first, Hunter X Hunter simply tells the story of Gon: a youngster hoping to become a Hunter to find his father. However, he’s soon thrust into adventures involving criminal syndicates, virtual games, horrific creatures, and much more.

Fans who have no qualms about the rather mixed bag that is Bleach’s story arcs will have no problems with the wonderful world of Hunter X Hunter. Moreover, the anime also takes pride in its combat mechanics, all of which involve the use of Nen or spiritual energy. Despite the wacky nature of its combat, though, Nen is actually extremely grounded in terms of concepts, making out-there techniques just as plausible under its rules.

Hunter X Hunter: The Similarities With Bleach

Compared to the Shinigami, the Hunters Association of Hunter X Hunter feels like a more grounded version of the Shinigami Corps, where this time Hunters do as many errands as they do fights with other combatants. Fans of Bleach’s fights may appreciate the concept of Nen, especially since the “basic” attributes of Nen Types expand into vastly different powersets, making for interesting fights involving each character. Gon’s janken-inspired attacks compared to Killua’s lightning-based abilities while being Nen Users feel reminiscent of different Bankai locked in similar Zanpakuto concepts.

2 My Hero Academia (2016)

MyAnimeList: 7.88

My Hero Academia
Release Date April 3, 2016
Studio Bones
Episodes 138
Network JNN, Cartoon Network

While My Hero Academia showcases actual superheroes and villains, its stories about growth, friendship, hope, and destiny resemble those of Bleach’s core themes. The anime stars Izuku Midoriya or Deku as he struggles to live as a powerless teenager in a world where almost everyone has a Quirk or superpower. However, kindhearted Deku is thrust into the world of superheroes after getting the powers of All-Might, perhaps the greatest hero of all time.

Fans can already see the similarities between Bleach and My Hero Academia, where both Ichigo and Deku initially borrowed their powers while coming to terms with their responsibilities. While Ichigo is tempered by combat-facing monsters that threaten the world, Deku’s outlook on the world is constantly challenged, not just by the people that he encounters in superhero school but also by the villains they have to defeat.

My Hero Academia: The Similarities With Bleach

While fights in My Hero Academia aren’t as riddled with constant energy blasts and slashes as in Bleach, fans of action anime will appreciate the sheer level of technical flair My Hero Academia provides its users. On top of all characters getting decent character development, all powers or Quirks, no matter how mundane, are all given opportunities to shine in both combat and non-combat scenarios. Quirks also range from standard abilities such as pyrokinesis and cryokinesis to more specific powersets such as nitroglycerine-based explosive sweat, encouraging viewers to theorycraft on how to fight and defeat Quirk users similar to what characters do in the show.

1 Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (2009)

MyAnimeList: 9.10

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Release Date April 5, 2009
Studio Bones
Episodes 64
Network JNN, Animax

Although not as long as Bleach, fans looking for a technical combat system applied to an overarching storyline should appreciate how Fullmetal Alchemist shares similarities with the former. Unlike other stories, Fullmetal Alchemist is short and packed as it intends to share a story from the get-go. It focuses on brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who are working as State Alchemists while finding the coveted Philosopher’s Stone to reverse a terrible curse that they’ve afflicted upon themselves.

Aside from its compact story, Brotherhood shines in its technical magic system. In the anime, Alchemy has straightforward rules that force characters to make use of creativity to whip out unique but realistic effects, all to the amusement of fans. This is quite similar to Bleach, whose excellent visual fights are also fought under the backdrop of strict rules and terminologies.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: The Similarities With Bleach

Despite the brief but well-grounded story of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, it’s the flashy but technical take on alchemy that makes its fight scenes on par with Tite Kubo’s best fights in Bleach. Alchemists having specific areas of specialization pave the way to both philosophical and combative applications. Moreover, even with a limited roster of ability users, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood arranges interactions and fight scenes so intricately that they’re easy to invest in.

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