Hero Circle follows a motley high-school club of fledgling superheroes whose quirky power system, scrappy underdog spirit, and constant genre subversion push every episode in unexpected directions. Viewers drawn to its “zero-to-hero” arcs, inventive abilities, and tongue-in-cheek twists often struggle to find equally adventurous series once the final bell rings.
The 15 titles below—spanning 2002-2024—share those same storytelling muscles yet remain quietly overlooked. Each deserves far more love for the way it mixes imaginative powers, earnest growth, and rule-breaking narrative tricks.
1. World Trigger (2014)
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll / Hulu
- MAL rating: ~7.6
- Episodes: 99 (3 seasons)
- Studio / Staff: Toei Animation; manga by Daisuke Ashihara
- Recognition: Tokyo Anime Award nominee, 2016
- Plot (2-line): Border Defense Agency recruits teens to fight inter-dimensional “Neighbors” with personalized Trigger weapons. Tactical team battles emphasize brains over brute force.
- Why it echoes Hero Circle: Elaborate gear-based power system, a rookie squad climbing the ranks, and constant strategic curveballs keep the underdogs guessing.
2. Katekyo Hitman Reborn! (2006)
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll / RetroCrush
- MAL rating: ~8.0
- Episodes: 203
- Studio / Staff: Artland; director Kenichi Imaizumi
- Plot: Timid Tsuna learns he’s heir to an Italian mafia and trains under a baby hitman to wield Dying-Will Flames.
- Similarities: Starts as slapstick but pivots into deep lore, inventive flame attributes, and a nobody-to-hero rise.
3. The Law of Ueki (2005)
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll
- MAL rating: ~7.5
- Episodes: 51
- Studio / Staff: Studio Deen; based on Tsubasa Fukuchi’s manga
- Plot: Schoolkid Ueki gains the odd power to turn trash into trees and enters a cosmic tournament to become “God.”
- Similarities: Ridiculous yet rule-heavy abilities, school-club camaraderie, and clever subversions of shōnen tropes.
4. Zetsuen no Tempest (2012)
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll / Hulu
- MAL rating: ~7.9
- Episodes: 24
- Studio / Staff: Bones; writer Mari Okada
- Plot: Two teens weaponize Shakespearean magic to upend a world ruled by rival Trees of Genesis and Exodus.
- Similarities: High-stakes power schema, twisting betrayals, and protagonists who outwit fate itself.
5. Kaiba (2008)
- Where to watch: HIDIVE
- MAL rating: ~8.2
- Episodes: 12
- Studio / Staff: Madhouse; creator Masaaki Yuasa
- Plot: In a universe where memories are commodities, an amnesiac hero travels across surreal realms in search of identity.
- Similarities: Bold visual experimentation, social satire, and constant reality-flipping surprises echo Hero Circle’s tonal pivots.
6. Deca-Dence (2020)
- Where to watch: Funimation / Hulu
- MAL rating: ~7.3
- Episodes: 12
- Studio / Staff: NUT; director Yuzuru Tachikawa (Mob Psycho 100)
- Plot: A mobile fortress fights monstrous Gadoll while secretly housing an MMO-like metagame run by cyborgs.
- Similarities: Underdog mechanic heroine, hidden game-within-a-game mechanics, and a mid-series twist that redefines the rules.
7. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (2007)
- Where to watch: Prime Video
- MAL rating: ~8.2
- Episodes: 26
- Studio / Staff: Production I.G; director Kenji Kamiyama
- Awards: Japan Media Arts Festival Jury Prize
- Plot: Spear-wielding bodyguard Balsa protects a prince possessed by a water spirit, sparking political intrigue.
- Similarities: Reluctant heroes, elegant fight choreography, and nuanced growth from self-doubt to self-mastery.
8. Astra Lost in Space (2019)
- Where to watch: Hulu / Crunchyroll
- MAL rating: ~8.1
- Episodes: 12
- Studio / Staff: Lerche
- Plot: A field-trip gone wrong strands nine students light-years away; teamwork (and clever tech) is their only ticket home.
- Similarities: Club-like ensemble, inventive gadgetry, and constant plot feints that challenge viewer expectations.
9. Ranking of Kings (2021)
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll / Funimation
- MAL rating: ~8.5
- Episodes: 23 (+ special)
- Studio / Staff: WIT Studio; director Yōsuke Hatta
- Awards: Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2022 (Best Boy)
- Plot: Deaf prince Bojji dreams of becoming the world’s greatest king despite ridicule and political machinations.
- Similarities: Heart-tugging underdog journey, deceptively storybook art style, and power systems built on courage vs. might.
10. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (2004)
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll / Funimation
- MAL rating: ~8.2
- Episodes: 24
- Studio / Staff: Gonzo; art director Mahiro Maeda
- Plot: A sci-fi retelling of Dumas’ revenge epic where shifting textile textures and psychedelic palettes rule every frame.
- Similarities: Dazzling visual experimentation and intricate schemes that keep both heroes and audience guessing.
11. Mononoke (2007)
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll / HIDIVE
- MAL rating: ~8.4
- Episodes: 12
- Studio / Staff: Toei Animation; director Kenji Nakamura
- Plot: A mysterious medicine-seller exorcises spirits only after uncovering their Form, Truth, and Reason.
- Similarities: Rule-bound supernatural mechanics, ukiyo-e-inspired art, and subversive episodic morality tales.
12. Ping Pong the Animation (2014)
- Where to watch: FUNimation / Hulu
- MAL rating: ~8.6
- Episodes: 11
- Studio / Staff: Tatsunoko; director Masaaki Yuasa
- Awards: Tokyo Anime Award (Animation of the Year, TV) 2015
- Plot: Two childhood friends chase table-tennis glory, confronting self-worth, rivalry, and pressure.
- Similarities: Stylized visuals, emotionally charged underdogs, and constant defiance of sports-anime clichés.
13. Katanagatari (2010)
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll
- MAL rating: ~8.3
- Episodes: 12 (45-min specials)
- Studio / Staff: White Fox; original story by Nisio Isin
- Plot: A strategist and sword-less swordsman hunt twelve legendary blades across Edo-era Japan.
- Similarities: Monthly, dialogue-heavy episodes subvert fight-scene expectations while exploring evolving partnership.
14. Akudama Drive (2020)
- Where to watch: Hulu / Funimation
- MAL rating: ~7.7
- Episodes: 12
- Studio / Staff: Pierrot × TooKyo Games; designer Rui Komatsuzaki (Danganronpa)
- Plot: In cyberpunk Kansai, a nameless civilian is mistaken for a master criminal and thrust into a heist-gone-haywire.
- Similarities: Color-splashed action, ever-shifting loyalties, and power-tier chaos that flips viewer predictions.
15. Princess Tutu (2002)
- Where to watch: HIDIVE
- MAL rating: ~8.1
- Episodes: 26
- Studio / Staff: Hal Film Maker; creator Ikuko Itoh (Sailor Moon character designer)
- Plot: A duck magically transforms into a ballerina-magical-girl who rewrites fairy-tale fate through dance.
- Similarities: Whimsical school setting, meta-story tricks, and a heroine who weaponizes art—much like Hero Circle’s playful genre bends.
Why These Anime Work for Mentioned Anime Fans
Every series above marries inventive abilities, unlikely heroes, and narrative rug-pulls—the very DNA that makes Hero Circle a hidden gem. Whether you crave elaborately codified powers (World Trigger), earnest misfits punching above their weight (Ranking of Kings), or mind-warping stylistic leaps (Kaiba, Gankutsuou), these fifteen shows push beyond standard shōnen formulas while keeping that same sense of boundless, screwball adventure. Dive in and discover the next club of heroes waiting for their spotlight.
