7 Anime Better Than Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer is a hugely popular anime, breaking box office records and continuing to attract fans even though the original manga finished years ago. The story of Tanjiro and Nezuko has resonated with anime lovers worldwide, and the stunning animation by Ufotable is a major reason for its incredible success.

There’s a huge variety of excellent anime available. While Demon Slayer is currently very popular, many other series are also worth watching. Some people might even prefer them!

Soul Eater

Despite its initial popularity, Soul Eater often felt like it didn’t quite live up to its promise. Before creating Fire Force, Atsushi Ohkubo gained recognition with Soul Eater. While the anime adaptation ran for 51 episodes, it didn’t cover the entire manga series, which continued for another four years after the anime finished.

Even with some flaws, Soul Eater is a fantastic series that any fan of action-packed anime will likely enjoy. While the action is excellent, the show truly shines because of its memorable characters and incredibly creative world. The world of Soul Eater is truly one-of-a-kind, and the strong cast of characters makes every episode a pleasure to watch.

Samurai Champloo

Shinichiro Watanabe is famous for the classic anime series Cowboy Bebop, but he’s created many other excellent shows. While fans may know titles like Space Dandy, Kids on the Slope, and Carole & Tuesday, Samurai Champloo, released in 2004, is likely his most popular work besides Bebop.

With its distinctive style and amazing music, featuring artists like Fat Jon, Force of Nature, and the renowned Nujabes, Samurai Champloo is a truly original anime. The series follows Fuu as she searches for the mysterious “sunflower samurai,” accompanied by the rough-and-tumble Mugen and the stoic Jin. It’s a story that feels like a fresh take on classic samurai films. If you’re a fan of samurai movies and shows and want to see director Watanabe’s unique spin on the genre, this series is perfect for you.

Attack on Titan

For over ten years, Attack on Titan was a dominant force in the anime and manga community, becoming one of the most popular and critically acclaimed anime series of the 21st century. Even though the manga and anime have concluded a few years ago, Attack on Titan remains incredibly influential and popular today.

Attack on Titan tackles difficult and mature themes, and doesn’t shy away from putting characters in incredibly dangerous, often deadly, situations. The story of the people of Paradis as they fight against the mysterious Titans and try to escape the walls that both keep them safe and trap them is deeply emotional and impactful. Expect shocking twists, heartbreaking losses, and plenty of unexpected moments.

Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works & Heaven’s Feel

The 2006 anime adaptation of Fate/stay night by Studio Deen receives mixed reactions from fans, but most consider Ufotable’s versions to be much better. Before their success with Demon Slayer, Ufotable already proved their skill with Type-Moon properties, creating excellent adaptations of Fate/Zero and The Garden of Sinners. They then tackled the ‘Unlimited Blade Works’ route of the Fate/stay night visual novel, which became a major hit before Demon Slayer. Later, they adapted the ‘Heaven’s Feel’ route as a trilogy of films, with the final movie released in the same year as the Mugen Train film.

The Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works TV series and the Heaven’s Feel movies are both beautiful anime that successfully adapt their source material within the given timeframe. While Ufotable’s work on Demon Slayer is widely praised, their adaptation of Fate is equally impressive and deserves recognition.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Currently, only Jujutsu Kaisen seems to be reaching the same level of popularity as Demon Slayer. Both series were featured in Weekly Shonen Jump between 2018 and 2020 and quickly became fan favorites. While the Jujutsu Kaisen manga concluded last year, its anime adaptation remains incredibly popular.

The first two seasons of Jujutsu Kaisen were a huge success, largely thanks to the incredible atmosphere and stunning animation created by MAPPA. With season 3 coming in January, fans of JJK have a lot to look forward to.

One Piece

Few anime or manga series are as popular as One Piece. Created nearly thirty years ago, Eiichiro Oda’s story continues to captivate audiences worldwide. While the characters are much-loved, it’s the incredible world and storytelling that have truly made One Piece one of the most famous series of all time.

When it comes to action-packed anime like One Piece, it’s truly in a league of its own. For decades, the story has followed Luffy’s quest to become the Pirate King and discover the legendary One Piece treasure. What’s remarkable is how consistently popular it remains – it’s just as engaging now as it was fifteen years ago! With exciting new developments in the manga and the anime receiving a lot of positive attention, One Piece is undoubtedly one of the best anime and manga series available.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

There are two anime adaptations of Fullmetal Alchemist: the original series from 2003 and Brotherhood from 2009. While the 2003 version is good, most fans agree that Brotherhood is the stronger of the two, and they’re usually right.

The anime Brotherhood is a fantastic adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s manga. Its strength comes from well-developed characters and excellent voice acting in both Japanese and English. While the story centers on the Elric brothers’ journey to right past wrongs, the series is elevated by a memorable supporting cast that viewers genuinely connect with. Many consider Brotherhood to be one of the best anime of the 2000s, and a timeless classic.

2025-12-10 17:35