Inuyashiki (2017) stands out as a dark, emotional sci-fi anime that subverts expectations at every turn. Centering on an elderly man and a teenage boy who both gain mechanical superpowers after a mysterious explosion, the story examines the morality of power, societal alienation, and what it means to be human. Its blend of psychological intensity, hyperreal violence, and poignant social commentary is rare—and exactly what makes it unforgettable.
If you’re looking for underrated anime with similar emotional depth, complex characters, and bold storytelling, this curated list will point you to 15 under-the-radar gems. These series share Inuyashiki’s DNA through themes like technological transformation, outsider protagonists, philosophical undertones, and unexpected character arcs—all waiting to be discovered.
1. Texhnolyze (2003)
- Streaming: HIDIVE, RetroCrush
- MAL Rating: 7.73
- Episodes: 22
- Studio: Madhouse
- Awards: None, but considered a cult classic
In the dystopian city of Lux, where limbs can be replaced with cybernetic “Texhnolyze” parts, a mute underground fighter is pulled into a collapsing social order. Grim and atmospheric, the anime explores existential dread and humanity’s mechanical evolution.
Why it’s similar: Inuyashiki and Texhnolyze both explore post-humanism, alienation, and brutal transformation, using stark visuals and quiet philosophical tension.
2. Bokurano (2007)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- MAL Rating: 7.61
- Episodes: 24
- Studio: Gonzo
- Awards: None
A group of middle-school students unknowingly sign up to pilot a mecha that sacrifices their lives for Earth’s survival. What starts as a sci-fi adventure becomes a somber meditation on life, death, and responsibility.
Why it’s similar: Both shows force characters into extreme moral dilemmas and challenge traditional hero narratives, wrapped in science fiction.
3. Kaiba (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- MAL Rating: 8.14
- Episodes: 12
- Studio: Madhouse
- Awards: Jury Selection at Japan Media Arts Festival (2008)
In a world where memories can be stored and transferred between bodies, a boy with amnesia travels through surreal worlds to find his identity. Vibrant, experimental animation contrasts with its dark themes of memory, identity, and loss.
Why it’s similar: Kaiba and Inuyashiki both use sci-fi to dissect the fragility of humanity and ethical consequences of advanced tech.
4. No. 6 (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- MAL Rating: 7.29
- Episodes: 11
- Studio: Bones
- Awards: None
In a seemingly perfect city, a gifted boy shelters a fugitive, leading him to discover the state’s dark secrets. Their relationship unfolds amidst a backdrop of dystopian decay.
Why it’s similar: Features a harsh critique of society, underdog rebellion, and morally grey authority—hallmarks of Inuyashiki.
5. Ergo Proxy (2006)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- MAL Rating: 7.90
- Episodes: 23
- Studio: Manglobe
- Awards: None
After a mysterious murder committed by sentient androids, a female investigator uncovers a vast conspiracy about identity, godhood, and control. Visually noir and intellectually dense.
Why it’s similar: Like Inuyashiki, it’s a thought-provoking sci-fi tale that questions the boundary between man and machine.
6. Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- MAL Rating: 7.58
- Episodes: 5
- Studio: David Production
- Awards: None
A scavenger in a post-apocalyptic world encounters a robot girl still faithfully running a planetarium for no one. Their meeting sparks a quiet, tragic exploration of hope.
Why it’s similar: Emphasizes emotional connections in bleak settings and examines AI’s role in preserving humanity.
7. Casshern Sins (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- MAL Rating: 7.38
- Episodes: 24
- Studio: Madhouse
- Awards: None
A reimagining of the classic Casshern, this version follows an amnesiac android in a dying world where robots and humans face extinction. Stark visuals and philosophical pacing define the narrative.
Why it’s similar: Both protagonists grapple with new destructive powers, guilt, and the value of life amidst chaos.
8. Zankyou no Terror (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- MAL Rating: 7.77
- Episodes: 11
- Studio: MAPPA
- Awards: Tokyo Anime Award Festival (Best Animation, 2015)
Two teenage terrorists execute cryptic attacks in Tokyo while hiding a tragic origin story tied to government experiments. Stylish and cerebral, it delves into trauma and societal corruption.
Why it’s similar: Like Hiro in Inuyashiki, its young antagonists blur the line between villain and victim.
9. Dennou Coil (2007)
- Streaming: Netflix, HIDIVE
- MAL Rating: 8.04
- Episodes: 26
- Studio: Madhouse
- Awards: Excellence Prize, Japan Media Arts Festival
Set in a future where augmented reality overlays real life, a group of children investigate strange digital phenomena. Intelligent and subtly emotional.
Why it’s similar: Explores the merging of digital and physical worlds with an eerie, reflective tone, echoing Inuyashiki‘s use of futuristic tech.
10. Now and Then, Here and There (1999)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- MAL Rating: 7.69
- Episodes: 13
- Studio: AIC
- Awards: Jury Recommended Work, Japan Media Arts Festival
A boy is transported to a desolate future war zone where survival and cruelty reign. It pulls no punches in its depiction of war’s horrors.
Why it’s similar: Understated animation belies a heavy narrative of morality, like Inuyashiki’s grounded yet powerful story.
11. Time of Eve (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- MAL Rating: 8.06
- Episodes: 6
- Studio: Studio Rikka
- Awards: Jury Selection, Japan Media Arts Festival
In a future where androids are common, a hidden café allows them to act as humans. A quiet story that questions emotional intelligence and social bias.
Why it’s similar: Shares themes of AI and what it means to be human, seen through a subtle, touching lens.
12. Blassreiter (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- MAL Rating: 6.97
- Episodes: 24
- Studio: Gonzo
- Awards: None
In a near-future Germany plagued by biomechanical monsters, individuals with similar powers rise to combat them. Dark and gritty, it combines sci-fi with religious symbolism.
Why it’s similar: Mirrors Inuyashiki‘s body horror, reluctant heroes, and hyperviolent aesthetic.
13. Shigofumi: Letters from the Departed (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- MAL Rating: 7.40
- Episodes: 12
- Studio: J.C.Staff
- Awards: None
A stoic girl delivers final letters from the dead, revealing uncomfortable truths to the living. Each episode unveils emotional and moral complexity.
Why it’s similar: A dark, episodic look at death and emotional resolution, much like the emotional fallout in Inuyashiki.
14. Gantz: O (2016, film)
- Streaming: Netflix
- MAL Rating: 7.56
- Runtime: 95 min
- Studio: Digital Frontier
- Awards: None
A CGI reimagining of part of the Gantz manga arc, this film drops a dead man into a brutal alien-hunting death game. Visually stunning with relentless pacing.
Why it’s similar: Also adapted from Hiroya Oku’s work (Inuyashiki’s creator), featuring violent rebirth and existential undertones.
15. Kino’s Journey: The Beautiful World (2003)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- MAL Rating: 8.38
- Episodes: 13
- Studio: A.C.G.T
- Awards: None
Kino travels from country to country on a talking motorcycle, staying only three days in each place. Every episode is a philosophical fable about humanity.
Why it’s similar: Both shows examine humanity through speculative, sometimes harsh scenarios that challenge viewer morals.
Why These Anime Work for Inuyashiki Fans
Each anime listed offers more than just action or aesthetics—they tap into deeper, often uncomfortable questions about what makes someone human, how power shapes identity, and what morality looks like in an increasingly complex world. Whether it’s through cybernetic transformations, existential crises, or morally conflicted protagonists, these underrated series deliver the same gut-punch impact and narrative boldness that made Inuyashiki so compelling. If you’re drawn to stories that defy convention and force you to think, this list is your next binge.
