Clone High (2002) is a cult classic animated series known for its eccentric premise—teenage clones of historical figures navigating high school drama—and distinctive visual style combining sharp satire with raunchy humor. Its core themes include subversion of expectations, underdog narratives, and unique character designs that parody cultural icons.
The following underrated anime series deserve attention for sharing similar qualities: innovative animation, unconventional storytelling, and thematic depth often overlooked despite their brilliance.
1. Undergrads (2001)
Streaming: Physical media/niche platforms (no major streaming)
Episodes: 13
Studio: Decode Entertainment
Plot: College freshmen navigate university life, blending social misadventures with clashing personalities. The series balances crude humor with authentic coming-of-age struggles.
Similarities: Like Clone High, it features an ensemble cast in an educational setting, cult status from abrupt cancellation, and dry wit that satirizes youth culture.
2. Black Clover (2017)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu
Episodes: 170
Studio: Pierrot
MAL Rating: 7.2/10
Plot: Asta, born without magic in a magical world, strives to become the Wizard King using anti-magic swords. His journey challenges societal hierarchies through sheer determination.
Similarities: Mirroring Clone High’s underdog themes, it subverts power tropes (e.g., Asta’s anti-magic vs. historical clones’ absurdity) and blends action with character-driven growth.
3. Samurai Champloo (2004)
Streaming: Hulu, Crunchyroll
Episodes: 26
Studio: Manglobe
Awards: Tokyo Anime Award (2005)
Plot: A rogue samurai, a reserved ronin, and a waitress search for a mysterious warrior in Edo-era Japan, fusing hip-hop with historical action.
Similarities: Eccentric animation and anachronistic style parallel Clone High’s visual flair, while its ensemble cast drives both humor and poignant storytelling.
4. Air Gear (2006)
Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
Episodes: 25
Studio: Toei Animation
Plot: Teens use powered skates (“Air Treks”) for gang battles and stunts in a high-energy sports fantasy. The series explores rivalry and self-discovery through extreme competition.
Similarities: Shares Clone High’s raunchy humor and exaggerated character designs, with a focus on rebellious youth challenging norms.
5. Full Metal Panic! (2002)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 24
Studio: Gonzo
MAL Rating: 7.8/10
Plot: A military specialist poses as a student to protect a girl with advanced technological intuition, mixing mecha combat with high-school comedy.
Similarities: Blends absurd premise (espionage in school) with satire, echoing Clone High’s parody of institutional settings.
6. Btooom! (2012)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
Episodes: 12
Studio: Madhouse
Plot: A top video-game player is stranded on an island where survival requires real-life bomb combat, forcing moral dilemmas and alliances.
Similarities: Dark comedy and survivalist chaos reflect Clone High’s subversive edge, with characters defying expectations in lethal scenarios.
7. Zetsuen no Tempest (2012)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
Episodes: 24
Studio: Bones
MAL Rating: 8.0/10
Plot: Two teens wield magic to avenge a friend’s death amid apocalyptic events, weaving Shakespearean tragedy into modern fantasy.
Similarities: Intellectual humor and narrative twists parallel Clone High’s smart satire, using historical allusions for thematic depth.
8. Ouran High School Host Club (2006)
Streaming: Netflix, Hulu
Episodes: 26
Studio: Bones
Awards: Tokyo Anime Award (2007)
Plot: A scholarship student joins a flamboyant host club, parodying romance tropes through gender-bending antics and class disparity.
Similarities: Directly satirizes elite-school tropes like Clone High, with exaggerated character archetypes and sharp social commentary.
9. Durarara!! (2010)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
Episodes: 36
Studio: Brain’s Base
Plot: Urban legends collide in Ikebukuro as a cyber gang, a headless rider, and a mysterious doctor drive interconnected chaos.
Similarities: Ensemble-driven absurdity and stylistic eclecticism match Clone High’s approach, blending humor with supernatural intrigue.
10. Welcome to the NHK (2006)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 24
Studio: Gonzo
MAL Rating: 8.0/10
Plot: A reclusive conspiracy theorist is “rehabilitated” by a girl, exploring mental health through dark comedy and societal critique.
Similarities: Uses cringe humor and psychological depth akin to Clone High, subverting expectations about failure and redemption.
11. Serial Experiments Lain (1998)
Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
Episodes: 13
Studio: Triangle Staff
Awards: Cult status for avant-garde influence
Plot: A girl’s reality fractures when she enters “The Wired,” blurring digital and physical existence in a psychological thriller.
Similarities: Experimental animation and existential satire mirror Clone High’s risk-taking, challenging viewer perceptions.
12. Dead Mount Death Play (2023)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 24
Studio: Geek Toys
Plot: A necromancer reincarnates in modern Tokyo, navigating the criminal underworld with dark powers and comedic mishaps.
Similarities: Fish-out-of-water premise and supernatural satire align with Clone High’s historical clones, using absurdity to explore identity.
13. Orient (2022)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 24
Studio: A.C.G.T
Plot: In a demon-ruled feudal Japan, a boy forms a rebellion to reclaim humanity’s freedom through swordsmanship and loyalty.
Similarities: Underdog focus and stylistic hybridity (historical/fantasy) reflect Clone High’s genre-blending and visual inventiveness.
14. To Your Eternity (2021)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
Episodes: 20+
Studio: Brain’s Base
MAL Rating: 8.3/10
Plot: An immortal entity learns humanity by morphing into forms it encounters, spanning emotional journeys across lifetimes.
Similarities: Character evolution and thematic depth rival Clone High’s growth arcs, using unconventional protagonists to explore belonging.
15. Rave Master (2001)
Streaming: Retro streams (no mainstream)
Episodes: 51
Studio: Studio Deen
Plot: A boy wields magical stones to restore peace in a war-torn world, battling evil with allies and transforming weapons.
Similarities: Cult shōnen charm and quirky ensemble dynamics echo Clone High’s balance of action and humor, often overlooked despite its influence.
Why These Anime Work for Clone High Fans
These series resonate through shared DNA: subversive storytelling (e.g., Ouran’s romance parody), visual boldness (Samurai Champloo’s hip-hop Edo), and underdog spirit (Black Clover’s magic-less hero). Each prioritizes character evolution over convention, much like Clone High’s clones defying their origins. For fans seeking satire with heart or animation that challenges norms, these hidden gems deliver—proving innovation thrives beyond mainstream acclaim.
