Masaaki Yuasa’s Devilman Crybaby (2018) pushed the boundaries of anime with its visceral storytelling, raw themes of morality, and a haunting exploration of humanity’s darkest impulses. At its core, it blends power struggles, tragic underdogs, and a subversion of typical good-vs-evil narratives—leaving viewers shaken yet captivated.
While many fans turn to classics like Neon Genesis Evangelion or Paranoia Agent, there’s a wealth of lesser-known series that deserve the same spotlight. Below are 15 underrated anime that echo the themes, character arcs, and narrative daring that made Devilman Crybaby unforgettable.
1. Texhnolyze (2003)
- Streaming: HIDIVE, RetroCrush
- Episodes: 22
- MAL Rating: 7.7
- Studio/Staff: Madhouse; directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki (Steins;Gate)
- Awards: Praised for avant-garde storytelling and atmosphere
Plot: In a decaying underground city, factions fight for dominance as humanity experiments with cybernetic body replacements. An unwilling fighter, Ichise, becomes a central pawn in the city’s fate.
Similarity: Like Devilman Crybaby, it delves into humanity’s collapse, moral decay, and the thin line between survival and monstrosity, with bleak but unforgettable visuals.
2. Kaiba (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 8.0
- Studio/Staff: Madhouse; directed by Masaaki Yuasa (Devilman Crybaby)
- Awards: Excellence Award at the 2008 Japan Media Arts Festival
Plot: In a future where memories can be stored and swapped, a boy with no recollection of his past travels to uncover who he truly is.
Similarity: Masaaki Yuasa’s surreal style, tragic love stories, and reflections on identity mirror Crybaby’s blend of experimental art and gut-wrenching storytelling.
3. Ergo Proxy (2006)
- Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 23
- MAL Rating: 7.9
- Studio/Staff: Manglobe; directed by Shukou Murase (Witch Hunter Robin)
Plot: In a post-apocalyptic dome city, humans coexist with androids until a mysterious virus sparks rebellion and existential dread.
Similarity: Shares Crybaby’s dystopian atmosphere, philosophical undertones, and a protagonist who questions both humanity and their own existence.
4. Kemonozume (2006)
- Streaming: Not currently licensed (DVD import)
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.1
- Studio/Staff: Madhouse; directed by Masaaki Yuasa
Plot: A forbidden romance blooms between a monster-hunter and a flesh-eating creature, leading to chaos in their war-torn world.
Similarity: Its raw animation style, forbidden love theme, and human-vs-monster conflicts make it a direct spiritual cousin to Devilman Crybaby.
5. Shigurui: Death Frenzy (2007)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.5
- Studio/Staff: Madhouse; directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki
Plot: During Edo-era Japan, two rival samurai crippled in body but sharp in spirit fight to the death in a gruesome duel.
Similarity: Like Crybaby, it thrives on body horror, relentless violence, and a grim portrayal of ambition destroying lives.
6. Blue Gender (1999)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 7.0
- Studio/Staff: AIC; directed by Ryousuke Takahashi (Armored Trooper Votoms)
Plot: A man awakens from cryosleep to find Earth overrun by monstrous alien bugs, forcing him into a desperate survival war.
Similarity: Its body-horror aesthetic and apocalyptic dread echo Crybaby’s hopeless tone, exploring humanity at its breaking point.
7. Boogiepop Phantom (2000)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.1
- Studio/Staff: Madhouse; directed by Takashi Watanabe
Plot: A city is plagued by mysterious events as a supernatural being, Boogiepop, quietly fights an unseen war.
Similarity: Its nonlinear storytelling, urban horror, and psychological dread resemble Crybaby’s chaotic yet poetic approach.
8. Aku no Hana (Flowers of Evil, 2013)
- Streaming: HIDIVE, RetroCrush
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.1
- Studio/Staff: Zexcs; rotoscoped animation style
Plot: A boy is blackmailed into a toxic relationship by a manipulative classmate after being caught stealing.
Similarity: While not supernatural, its raw human depravity, experimental visuals, and spiraling tragedy parallel Crybaby’s psychological cruelty.
9. Garo: The Animation (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.2
- Studio/Staff: MAPPA
Plot: Knights wielding mystical armor fight demonic entities while navigating betrayals, sacrifice, and cursed legacies.
Similarity: Dark fantasy themes, moral ambiguity, and MAPPA’s stylized brutality create echoes of Crybaby’s doomed heroism.
10. Pet (2020)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 6.8
- Studio/Staff: Geno Studio; directed by Takahiro Omori (Durarara!!)
Plot: Psychic agents manipulate memories and emotions while serving shadowy organizations, often destroying themselves in the process.
Similarity: Its surreal visuals, tragic characters, and mental corruption align closely with Crybaby’s dark psychological descent.
11. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (2004)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 8.0
- Studio/Staff: Gonzo; directed by Mahiro Maeda
Plot: A futuristic retelling of Dumas’ classic, with betrayal, revenge, and tragedy at its core.
Similarity: The experimental art style and moral complexity resonate with Crybaby’s subversion of expectations.
12. Requiem from the Darkness (2003)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.1
- Studio/Staff: Daume
Plot: A writer travels Edo-period Japan collecting ghost stories but instead encounters horrifying truths about humanity.
Similarity: Both series fuse horror, morality, and surreal storytelling with heavy emphasis on the grotesque.
13. Casshern Sins (2008)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.4
- Studio/Staff: Madhouse; directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Plot: A mysterious warrior wanders a dying world, seemingly cursed to bring death wherever he goes.
Similarity: Its existential tragedy, wandering antihero, and apocalyptic imagery recall Crybaby’s doomed atmosphere.
14. Now and Then, Here and There (1999)
- Streaming: HIDIVE, RetroCrush
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.6
- Studio/Staff: AIC; directed by Akitaro Daichi
Plot: A cheerful boy is dragged into a brutal alternate world ruled by tyranny and child soldiers.
Similarity: Subverts the “hero transported to another world” trope into harrowing tragedy, just as Crybaby twists shonen expectations.
15. Devil Lady (Devilman Lady, 1998)
- Streaming: DVD release only
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 6.9
- Studio/Staff: TMS Entertainment; adaptation of Go Nagai’s manga
Plot: A woman transforms into a monstrous demon yet struggles to hold onto her humanity while protecting others.
Similarity: As another Go Nagai adaptation, it shares thematic DNA—tragic transformations, doomed romance, and human cruelty.
Why These Anime Work for Devilman Crybaby Fans
What ties these series together is not just their darkness, but their willingness to push boundaries. They shatter expectations, blur morality, and explore the fragility of humanity in the face of chaos—just as Devilman Crybaby did so masterfully. Whether through experimental visuals, psychological torment, or apocalyptic themes, these underrated gems will resonate with anyone still haunted by Akira and Ryo’s tragic story.
