15 Animes Similar to Superman: Brainiac Attacks

Superman: Brainiac Attacks showcases Superman’s struggle against the super-intelligent Brainiac and Lex Luthor, blending high-stakes heroism with cosmic threats. The film emphasizes themes like underdog resilience, moral complexity in power dynamics, and visually intense battles.

These 15 underrated anime series echo similar elements—heroic journeys against overwhelming odds, unique power systems, and subverted tropes—while deserving wider recognition for their innovative storytelling and thematic depth.

1. Birdy the Mighty: Decode (2008)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
• Plot: Intergalactic agent Birdy Cephon Altera accidentally merges with a human boy while chasing criminals on Earth, forcing them to share a body during high-stakes missions.
• Similarities: Galactic-scale threats and a powerhouse heroine facing extraterrestrial enemies mirror Superman’s cosmic battles. The body-sharing dynamic parallels Superman’s dual identity struggles.
• Details: 25 episodes, produced by A-1 Pictures. MAL score: 7.8/10.

2. Casshern Sins (2008)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, HiDive
• Plot: An immortal android, Casshern, wanders a ruined world hunted by robots who believe his destruction will grant them immortality.
• Similarities: Explores immortality and sacrifice like Superman’s moral dilemmas, with brutal, high-impact fights evoking Brainiac’s relentless onslaught.
• Details: 24 episodes, Madhouse studio. Won “Best Animation” at Tokyo Anime Awards.

3. Pluto (2023)

• Streaming: Netflix
• Plot: Robot detective Gesicht investigates a string of murders targeting the world’s most powerful robots in a society where humans and AI coexist.
• Similarities: Based on Naoki Urasawa’s Astro Boy reinterpretation, it delves into artificial intelligence ethics and god-level threats akin to Brainiac’s technological tyranny.
• Details: 8 episodes, Studio M2. MAL score: 8.5/10.

4. Saint Seiya (1986)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, Netflix
• Plot: Warriors called Saints defend Athena against Olympian gods using constellation-themed armors and cosmic powers.
• Similarities: Underdog heroes battling divine entities reflects Superman’s clashes with god-like foes, emphasizing courage against impossible odds.
• Details: 114 episodes, Toei Animation. Influenced Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel choreography.

5. Ghost Hunt (2006)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A skeptical student joins a paranormal investigation team tackling supernatural cases involving vengeful spirits and ancient curses.
• Similarities: Investigative pacing and confrontations with unknowable threats echo Superman’s battles against Brainiac’s unpredictable tech.
• Details: 25 episodes, J.C.Staff. MAL score: 7.7/10.

6. Barakamon (2014)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A perfectionist calligrapher moves to a rural island after a creative crisis, finding inspiration through quirky locals.
• Similarities: The protagonist’s journey from arrogance to humility mirrors Superman’s growth, emphasizing inner strength over raw power.
• Details: 12 episodes, Kinema Citrus. Won Best Slice-of-Life (Crunchyroll Awards).

7. Hyouka (2012)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: An apathetic genius joins his school’s Classics Club, solving mundane mysteries that unravel deeper secrets.
• Similarities: While less action-focused, its intellectual challenges and character-driven tension parallel Superman’s investigative confrontations with Brainiac.
• Details: 22 episodes, Kyoto Animation. MAL score: 8.3/10.

8. Carole & Tuesday (2019)

• Streaming: Netflix
• Plot: In a Mars-dominated future, two girls from opposing backgrounds unite to pursue music stardom against corporate greed.
• Similarities: Underdog resilience against systemic oppression reflects Superman’s fight for justice in a cynical world.
• Details: 24 episodes, Bones studio. Won Best Original Anime (Anime Trending Awards).

9. Casshern (1973)

• Streaming: RetroCrush (limited)
• Plot: A cyborg warrior battles rogue robots in a post-apocalyptic wasteland to save humanity.
• Similarities: Grounded exploration of heroism and sacrifice, with bleak aesthetics mirroring Brainiac’s dystopian influence.
• Details: 35 episodes, Tatsunoko Production. Pioneered robotic anime tropes.

10. Birdy the Mighty (1996 OVA)

• Streaming: Not widely available (DVD-only)
• Plot: Alien agent Birdy pursues interstellar criminals on Earth, adopting a human host’s body temporarily.
• Similarities: Raw, kinetic fight scenes and moral ambiguity in power use align with Superman’s early struggles.
• Details: 4 episodes, Madhouse. Cult classic for its gritty animation.

11. The Big O (1999)

• Streaming: HiDive
• Plot: A negotiator pilots a giant mech in a city with lost memories, battling rogue robots and uncovering dark conspiracies.
• Similarities: Noir-esque mystery and colossal threats evoke Brainiac’s manipulation of society.
• Details: 26 episodes, Sunrise. Influenced Batman: The Animated Series.

12. Kaiba (2008)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: In a world where memories are stored in chips, an amnesiac searches for his identity while fleeing body-swapping villains.
• Similarities: Themes of identity loss and corporate tyranny parallel Superman’s battles against psychological manipulation.
• Details: 12 episodes, Madhouse. Directed by Masaaki Yuasa (Devilman Crybaby).

13. Tiger & Bunny (2011)

• Streaming: Netflix, Hulu
• Plot: Superheroes compete in a reality-TV landscape to fight crime while managing public image and corporate sponsorships.
• Similarities: Satirizes hero commercialization like Superman’s media portrayal, with underdog partnerships against systemic corruption.
• Details: 25 episodes, Sunrise. Won Tokyo Anime Award for Best TV Series.

14. Concrete Revolutio (2015)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A government agency regulates superhumans in 1960s Japan, exploring moral ambiguity in heroism during social upheaval.
• Similarities: Examines power ethics and societal fear of the extraordinary, echoing Superman’s complex relationship with humanity.
• Details: 13 episodes, Bones. Praised for political commentary.

15. Gatchaman Crowds (2013)

• Streaming: HiDive
• Plot: A hyper-optimistic heroine joins a superhero team using social media to combat aliens, blurring lines between heroism and activism.
• Similarities: Deconstructs hero tropes through technology’s role in society, akin to Brainiac’s fusion of intellect and control.
• Details: 12 episodes, Tatsunoko Production. MAL score: 7.5/10.

Why These Anime Work for Superman: Brainiac Attacks Fans

These series excel in translating Superman’s core themes into diverse narratives:

• Underdog Resilience: Protagonists like Casshern Sins’ redemption-seeking android or Barakamon’s humbled artist embody Superman’s perseverance against personal and external battles.
• Power Systems: Saint Seiya’s constellation-based combat and Pluto’s robotic hierarchies mirror Brainiac Attacks’ exploration of power as both weapon and burden.
• Subverted Expectations: Concrete Revolutio and Gatchaman Crowds challenge hero tropes, much like Brainiac’s manipulation of Superman’s ideals.
• Visual Innovation: Birdy the Mighty’s dynamic choreography and Kaiba’s surreal art styles offer fresh takes on superhero spectacle.

These anime prove that heroism’s essence—courage, sacrifice, and moral complexity—transcends cultural boundaries, offering nuanced alternatives to mainstream hits.