Black Cat centers around Train Heartnet, a legendary assassin turned bounty hunter who abandons his cold-blooded past after meeting Saya, a bounty hunter who teaches him the value of human life.
The 24-episode series, which aired from 2005-2006, masterfully blends action, character development, and themes of redemption while exploring how former enemies can become allies. Despite featuring compelling power systems, underdog transformations, and morally complex characters navigating between their dark pasts and hopeful futures, Black Cat remains overshadowed by mainstream battle shonen series.
1. GetBackers (2002-2003)
Streaming: HiDive, Amazon Prime Video
Episodes: 49 | MAL Rating: 7.57
Ban Mido and Ginji Amano run a retrieval service, recovering anything lost or stolen using Ban’s “Evil Eye” illusion powers and Ginji’s electricity manipulation. Their mysterious pasts slowly unravel as they take on increasingly dangerous jobs that blur the lines between right and wrong.
Similarities to Black Cat: Like Train, both protagonists have dark, gang-related pasts they’re trying to escape—Ginji was formerly the leader of the violent “VOLTS” gang. The series excels at redemption arcs, power-based combat systems, and the theme of former enemies becoming trusted allies. Studio Deen’s animation brings the same kinetic energy to fight scenes that made Black Cat’s action memorable.
2. Kaze no Stigma (2007)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
Episodes: 24 | MAL Rating: 7.15
Kazuma Yagami returns to his fire-magic family as a powerful wind user after being banished for his lack of fire abilities. When family members start dying mysteriously, he must work with his hot-tempered cousin Ayano to uncover the truth while confronting his traumatic past.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both feature protagonists who were cast out by their organizations (Chronos/Kannagi family) and return as changed, more powerful individuals. The relationship between Kazuma and Ayano mirrors Train and Saya’s dynamic—a stoic, seemingly emotionless male character learning to value human connections through a determined female partner. The series explores themes of family betrayal and finding new purpose after losing everything.
3. Rave Master (2001-2002)
Streaming: Previously on Cartoon Network, currently limited availability
Episodes: 51 | MAL Rating: 6.8
Haru Glory inherits the Rave stones and must collect five fragments to defeat the criminal organization Demon Card. Accompanied by the amnesiac Elie and the silver-controlling Musica, he discovers his connection to his missing father’s legacy while battling increasingly powerful enemies.
Similarities to Black Cat: Created by Hiro Mashima (Fairy Tail), this series shares Black Cat’s focus on a hero’s journey involving the destruction of a criminal organization. Both protagonists wield unique weapons (Train’s gun/Haru’s sword) and gather diverse allies with tragic backstories. The show’s exploration of memory loss and identity echoes Black Cat’s themes of personal transformation and finding family among unlikely companions.
4. The Law of Ueki (2005)
Streaming: Crunchyroll (limited regions), Apple TV
Episodes: 51 | Studios: Studio Pierrot
Kosuke Ueki gains the power to turn trash into trees and must compete in a supernatural tournament where the winner’s sponsor becomes the next Celestial King. As Ueki faces opponents with increasingly bizarre abilities, he learns that true strength comes from protecting others rather than winning.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both series feature tournaments/conflicts where characters with unique powers battle for higher stakes. Ueki’s transformation from an ordinary student to someone who fights for justice parallels Train’s evolution from assassin to protector. The series excels at creative power systems and moral complexity, questioning what it means to use power responsibly.
5. Flame of Recca (1997)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Peacock, Prime Video, Pluto TV
Episodes: 42 | Studios: Studio Pierrot
Recca Hanabishi discovers he can control fire and is drawn into a world of modern ninjas with supernatural powers. When his friend Yanagi is kidnapped for her healing abilities, Recca must enter a deadly tournament to save her while uncovering his connection to 400-year-old ninja clans.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both protagonists start as seemingly ordinary individuals who discover extraordinary combat abilities tied to secretive organizations. The series shares Black Cat’s tournament arc structure and features characters who must confront their violent heritage while protecting those they care about. Like Train’s relationship with Chronos, Recca’s connection to ancient ninja clans creates conflicts between loyalty and personal morality.
6. Peacemaker Kurogane (2003-2004)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Apple TV
Episodes: 24 | Studios: Gonzo
Set during Japan’s Bakumatsu period, young Ichimaru Tetsunosuke joins the Shinsengumi to avenge his parents’ death. As he trains alongside legendary swordsmen, he must grapple with the violence required to protect peace and the moral complexities of serving a dying regime.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both series explore the psychological toll of violence on protagonists who fight for justice within morally ambiguous organizations. Tetsunosuke’s journey from revenge-seeking child to mature warrior mirrors Train’s evolution from cold assassin to protector. The series excels at character development within a historical setting that parallels Black Cat’s themes of loyalty, betrayal, and finding purpose beyond revenge.
7. Trigun (1998)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Episodes: 26 | Studios: Madhouse
Vash the Stampede, a legendary gunman with a massive bounty on his head, travels a desert planet preaching love and peace while hiding his tragic past. Despite his goofy exterior, Vash struggles with the weight of his destructive power and his complicated relationship with his brother Knives.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both feature gun-wielding protagonists who appear lighthearted but carry deep emotional scars from their pasts. Vash and Train share similar character arcs—former weapons of destruction who choose to protect life rather than take it. The series explores themes of redemption, the value of human life, and how one’s past doesn’t have to define their future, making it a spiritual predecessor to Black Cat’s core messages.
8. Gunslinger Girl (2003-2004)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Episodes: 13 | Studios: Madhouse | MAL Rating: 7.38
Terminally ill girls are given cybernetic bodies and trained as assassins by Italy’s Social Welfare Agency. The series follows these “cyborgs” and their adult male handlers as they carry out government missions while grappling with questions of humanity, memory, and free will.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both examine the psychological cost of being trained as weapons and the possibility of finding humanity despite a violent upbringing. Like Train’s relationship with Chronos, the girls must navigate loyalty to their organization while developing personal relationships. The series shares Black Cat’s mature approach to themes of identity, loyalty, and what it means to live beyond one’s programmed purpose.
9. One Outs (2008-2009)
Streaming: Limited availability
Episodes: 25 | Studios: Madhouse | MAL Rating: 8.3
Toua Tokuchi, a pitcher who relies on psychological warfare rather than raw talent, joins a professional baseball team under an unusual contract. Using his gambling background and strategic mind, he transforms both his team’s fortunes and the corrupt baseball industry.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both feature protagonists who use intelligence and psychology rather than brute force to overcome stronger opponents. Tokuchi’s calculated approach to competition mirrors Train’s strategic combat style, and both characters operate in morally gray areas where winning often requires questionable methods. The series shares Black Cat’s focus on outsmarting opponents and the theme of individuals challenging corrupt systems.
10. Darker than Black (2007)
Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
Episodes: 25 | Studios: Bones
In a world where people gain supernatural abilities at the cost of their humanity, Hei works as a Contractor for a mysterious syndicate. Known as the “Black Reaper,” he struggles to maintain his human emotions while carrying out assassination missions in a reality where the very stars have changed.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both protagonists are legendary assassins with codenames (Black Cat/Black Reaper) who work for secretive organizations while questioning their humanity. The series explores similar themes of what it means to be human when trained as a weapon, and both feature protagonists who maintain emotional connections despite their deadly professions. Like Black Cat, it blends supernatural action with deep character introspection.
11. Black Bullet (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Episodes: 13 | Studios: Kinema Citrus
In a post-apocalyptic world overrun by insect-like Gastrea, Rentaro Satomi partners with the young Enju to fight these monsters using special weapons. As a “Civil Security” operative, he must protect humanity while navigating the complex politics surrounding the cursed children who possess Gastrea powers.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both feature protagonists who work in pairs (Train/Sven, Rentaro/Enju) as specialized operatives fighting against overwhelming odds. The series shares Black Cat’s themes of protecting the innocent, working within flawed systems, and the bond between partners who complement each other’s abilities. Like Train’s struggle with his past as an assassin, Rentaro must balance his protective instincts with the harsh realities of his world.
12. Chrono Crusade (2003-2004)
Streaming: Limited availability
Episodes: 24 | Studios: Gonzo
Rosette Christopher, a nun and exorcist, partners with the demon Chrono to fight supernatural threats in 1920s America. Their contract allows Chrono to fight at full power but slowly drains Rosette’s lifespan, creating urgency in their mission to find Rosette’s missing brother.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both series feature partnerships between characters from opposing sides (human/demon, assassin/sweeper) who develop deep bonds while fighting for justice. The time limit element in Chrono Crusade mirrors the urgency often present in Black Cat’s missions. Both explore themes of sacrifice, redemption, and how unlikely partnerships can lead to profound character growth.
13. Black Lagoon (2006)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Episodes: 24 | Studios: Madhouse
Rokuro “Rock” Okajima, a Japanese businessman, is kidnapped by the Lagoon Company pirates and eventually joins their crew. Operating in the criminal underworld of Southeast Asia, he struggles to maintain his moral compass while adapting to a world where violence is the primary language.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both feature protagonists who transition from conventional lives into the criminal underworld, where they must adapt their moral frameworks. Like Train’s evolution from assassin to protector, Rock’s transformation from businessman to pirate shows how circumstances can fundamentally change a person. The series shares Black Cat’s mature themes about loyalty, survival, and finding purpose in morally ambiguous situations.
14. Bungo Stray Dogs (2016-present)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Episodes: 50+ across multiple seasons | Studios: Bones/Studio Deen
Atsushi Nakajima joins the Armed Detective Agency, an organization of individuals with supernatural abilities named after famous authors. As he learns to control his tiger transformation ability, he becomes involved in conflicts between various factions of ability users while uncovering conspiracies that threaten the city.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both series feature protagonists who discover hidden organizations of people with supernatural abilities and must find their place within these groups. The Armed Detective Agency’s mission to protect people mirrors the sweepers’ role in Black Cat, and both series blend action with character development. Like Train’s journey, Atsushi must overcome his traumatic past to become someone who protects others.
15. Cowboy Bebop (1998)
Streaming: Crunchyroll,
Episodes: 26 | Studios: Sunrise
Spike Spiegel and his crew aboard the Bebop work as bounty hunters in a future where humanity has colonized the solar system. Each crew member carries emotional baggage from their past, and Spike in particular must confront his former life in a criminal syndicate when his past catches up with him.
Similarities to Black Cat: Both series center on bounty hunters (sweepers) with criminal pasts who struggle to escape their former lives. Spike’s relationship with the Red Dragon Syndicate mirrors Train’s connection to Chronos, and both protagonists must face former comrades who represent their abandoned paths. The series shares Black Cat’s themes of redemption, the weight of the past, and finding meaning through protecting others rather than destroying them.
Why These Anime Work for Black Cat Fans
These underrated series succeed because they understand what made Black Cat compelling beyond its surface-level action. Each explores the psychological complexity of violence and the possibility of redemption for characters who have done terrible things. They feature protagonists who must reconcile their destructive capabilities with their desire to protect others, creating internal conflicts that drive character development.
The power systems in these anime serve narrative purposes rather than just enabling flashy fights—they reflect characters’ personalities, histories, and growth arcs. Whether it’s Kazuma’s wind magic representing his freedom from family expectations or Vash’s incredible marksmanship contrasting with his pacifist ideals, abilities become extensions of character themes.
