12 Anime Shows Like Demon Slayer That You Can Binge Today

"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" is a remarkably popular series. The manga of the same name currently has over 150 million copies in circulation, and the television anime adaptation, created by anime juggernauts Ufotable, is listed among IGN's best anime series of all time despite only having premiered in 2019. The show resonates profoundly on multiple levels as it tracks hero Tanjiro Kamado and his quest to vanquish Kibutsuji, the demon responsible for turning his sister, Nezuko, into one of the same.

The conventional shōnen elements are all there. Tanjiro, for his part, is unequivocally good. Yet, the way the show merges familiar elements into something wholly unique and resonant is unmatched. Its most recent season, the "Entertainment District" arc, ended wonderfully, and with a forthcoming third season on the way, fans are likely as eager as ever to find something to mind the gap. Like the best of them, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" is gateway anime, an entry point for those unfamiliar with the genre. Here, we're looking at 12 shows that satisfy that same bloody, sweet shōnen itch.

In "Demon Slayer," Tanjiro is committed to tracking down the demon responsible for turning his sister in hopes of saving her from a fate alleged to be worse than death. In "Fire Force" by David Production follows fire soldier Shinra Kusakabe and his quest to save his brother and, ultimately, find out the truth about his mother's death. If it sounds familiar, it's because it is, but "Fire Force," like Atsushi Ohkubo's other series, "Soul Eater," consistently transcends expectations. With its bass-heavy action sequences, a smattering of heart, and fatalistic interrogations, it's no less a visual or thematic treat than "Demon Slayer."

The core connective tissue might seem small, but both series deserve credit for their treatment of their antagonists. Both the demons in "Demon Slayer" and the Infernals (humans who have spontaneously combusted) in "Fire Force" are treated as human beings led astray. The protagonists of both series see them as more than monsters. Instead, they're perceived as damned souls, and both Tanjiro and Shinra make it their mission to not just slaughter them but save them, absolving their souls of sin in the process. It's weighty stuff, par for the course with shōnen series, but remarkably thrilling all the same.

On the surface, Yusei Matsui's "Assassination Classroom" is about as diametrically different from "Demon Slayer" as an anime can get. While "Demon Slayer" adheres to the well-trod path of the shōnen that came before, "Assassination Classroom" is a truncated morality play and a pretty effective one at that. Koro-sensei, an alien being, has promised to destroy the world in a year, assuming no one is capable of assassinating him in the interim. While government efforts have failed, Koro-sensei suggests Class 3-E, a group of delinquent middle schoolers at Kunugigaoka Junior High School, be trained to take him out. Better still, he requests that he be the one to train them. In other words, they're an assassination classroom. Alongside math and science, they're being trained to kill.

Yet, for as different as their subgenres are, the underlying ethos is remarkably similar, especially matters of fate, the futility of vengeance, and the enduring nature of one's most precious memories. Both strike the heart as often as they dazzle with their action sequences (and despite the slice-of-life framework, "Assassination Classroom" has plenty of action), and both are as liable to elicit applause as they are tears. Not that it needs to be said, but in terms of anime as a bona fide art form that can meet or exceed the conventions of live action, it rarely gets more affecting than "Assassination Classroom."

The title of "Akame ga Kill!" doesn't lie. This series abounds with deaths, some at the hands of protagonist Akame, the sword-carrying member of Night Raid, and plenty of others at the hands of all manner of baddies. Night Raid is introduced through the eyes of fresh recruit Tatsumi. The members all wield Imperial Arms, unique weaponry created millennia ago, the power of which is strong enough to defeat most enemies, with the chief caveat that if two wielders face off, one is bound to die.

Tasked with assassinating political enemies and tyrants, the short series is a masterstroke of brutal violence and political resiliency, even if it's more likely than most to devastate its audience along the way. No one here is safe, and like "Attack on Titan," it's not worth getting too attached to any particular character because odds are they won't make it to the finale. The violence parallels "Demon Slayer's," as does its preeminent interest in the innate humanity of all persons, good, bad, and everything in between. Stylistically compelling, it's a grim yet noteworthy addendum to the work "Demon Slayer" carries on.

"Chainsaw Man" is the newest entry on this list. Widely anticipated and critically praised, the series may have just premiered, though it's poised to be the next anime must-watch. The anime follows the titular "Chainsaw Man" who is first introduced as Denji, a poor teenager bearing an enormous debt. It's a heartrending introduction that immediately distinguishes him from the likes of Deku or Gon. His upbringing is grim, much like "Demon Slayer's" Tanjiro, and consequently, he has little choice but to become a demon fighter.

And a demon fighter he becomes. Denji joins the Public Safety Devil Hunters, a government agency that focuses on combatting a burgeoning devil (demon) threat. If it sounds familiar, it's because it is. Yet, like "Demon Slayer," it's not the conceit that matters most, but the execution. "Chainsaw Man" is hyper-stylized and violent, and the requisite carnage the title suggests is there in all its gory glory. It started as strong as "Demon Slayer," and while time will tell, it's looking likely to be just as consistently thrilling.

While "Demon Slayer" is very much a shōnen anime, it additionally works well as a horror-adjacent property. While never especially scary, it's hard to not be horrified as the "Entertainment District Arc" collapses into flames, echoing real tragedy with a scale and attention to detail not often seen. Hitoshi Iwaaki's "Parasyte" veers considerably closer to horror, but its thematic structure is much like "Demon Slayer's," making it the perfect companion for fans of the former who wish Tanjiro's quest was just a little bit scarier.

Shinichi Izumi is a high school senior whose body is taken over by a parasitic alien organism. Izumi miraculously survives, preventing the parasite from completely taking over his body. Instead, like "Chainsaw Man," he gets a wickedly cool alien arm that allows him to effectively combat other parasitic organisms strewn about town. Pondering deep philosophical questions about the nature of humanity, the environment, and the roots of good and evil, it's no less heavy than "Demon Slayer" and no less compelling.

"Sword Art Online" is considerably more "anime" than "Demon Slayer." With a movie, various series, and dovetailing franchise entries, it's not necessarily the most accessible entry point for the burgeoning anime fan, especially those bewitched by "Demon Slayer" and eager to find anime that is much the same. While "Sword Art Online" won't work for every "Demon Slayer" fan with its more mainstream, commercial Western feel, it's worth checking out. The more time fans spend in its digital world, the clearer the links to "Demon Slayer" become.

Taking place in the near future, "Sword Art Online" follows its protagonists as they play through MMORPG worlds. It's a conventional, childhood fantasy, fictionalizing the early aughts' wish to live in the worlds of "World of Warcraft" or "Everquest" — a kind of fantastical "Ready Player One." Kirito and "Demon Slayer's" Tanjiro have a lot in common, and truth be told, the heart is as strong in both. Stylistically, they might not seem that much alike, but dig beneath the surface, and you will find the action-packed beating heart that binds them together.