Mashle: Magic and Muscles (2023) blends absurd humor, overpowered protagonists, and subversive takes on magic-school tropes.
Like Mash Burnedead, who defies magical norms with brute strength, these lesser-known series celebrate underdog stories, unconventional power systems, and satirical twists on genre expectations.
1. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (2016)
- Streaming: Netflix, Crunchyroll
- Plot: Psychic high schooler Kusuo Saiki hides his absurd powers while navigating chaotic classmates and avoiding attention.
- Similarities: Overpowered MC using abilities for mundane solutions, deadpan humor, and parody of supernatural tropes.
- Rating: IMDb 8.4 | 120 episodes
- Studio: J.C.Staff
2. Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun (2019)
- Streaming: Netflix, Crunchyroll
- Plot: Human boy Iruma enrolls in a demon school, hiding his identity while surviving chaotic magical trials.
- Similarities: Fish-out-of-water comedy, unconventional magic systems, and lighthearted rivalry dynamics.
- Rating: IMDb 7.8 | 65 episodes
- Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures
3. The Daily Life of the Immortal King (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Overpowered cultivator Wang Ling tries to live a normal high school life while concealing his godlike abilities.
- Similarities: OP protagonist in a magic-school setting, slapstick humor, and subversion of cultivation tropes.
- Rating: IMDb 7.5 | 36 episodes
- Studio: Bilibili
4. Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Perfect student Sakamoto effortlessly outshines peers with absurdly cool solutions to mundane problems.
- Similarities: Satirical take on school life, flawless MC parodying shonen “perfection” tropes.
- Rating: IMDb 7.3 | 12 episodes
- Studio: Studio Deen
5. Fairy gone (2019)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Post-war mercenaries wield fairy-augmented powers while confronting political corruption.
- Similarities: Dark fantasy meets bureaucratic satire, blending magic systems with gritty realism.
- Rating: IMDb 6.1 | 24 episodes
- Studio: P.A. Works
6. Gintama (2006)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- Plot: Samurai Gintoki navigates an alien-occupied Edo with odd jobs, absurd humor, and fourth-wall breaks.
- Similarities: Blends action and comedy, subverts samurai tropes, and focuses on found-family dynamics.
- Rating: IMDb 8.7 | 367 episodes
- Studio: Sunrise
7. Undead Unluck (2023)
- Streaming: Hulu
- Plot: Immortal Andy teams with “Unluck”-cursed Fuuko to battle supernatural forces seeking world-ending artifacts.
- Similarities: Absurd power mechanics, comedic duo dynamics, and genre-blending action.
- Rating: IMDb 7.9 | 24 episodes
- Studio: David Production
8. Scissor Seven (2018)
- Streaming: Netflix
- Plot: Bumbling assassin Seven uses shape-shifting scissors and humor while uncovering his mysterious past.
- Similarities: Mixes slapstick comedy with hidden depth, unconventional weaponry, and stylistic animation3.
- Rating: IMDb 8.2 | 34 episodes
- Studio: Sharefun Studio
9. Bungo Stray Dogs (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Supernatural detectives with literary-themed powers solve cases in a divided Yokohama.
- Similarities: Quirky power systems, balancing dark themes with comedic relief, and eccentric ensemble cast.
- Rating: IMDb 7.7 | 49 episodes
- Studio: Bones
10. School Rumble (2004)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Plot: Delinquent Tenma’s chaotic crush on oblivious classmate Oji drives a rom-com packed with over-the-top gags.
- Similarities: Absurd school-based humor, exaggerated character reactions, and parody of romantic tropes.
- Rating: IMDb 7.8 | 52 episodes
- Studio: Studio Comet
11. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023)
- Streaming: Netflix, Crunchyroll
- Plot: Overworked salaryman Akira embraces life post-zombie-apocalypse by completing a whimsical bucket list.
- Similarities: Dark comedy meets wish-fulfillment, satirizing societal pressures through absurdity.
- Rating: IMDb 7.8 | 12 episodes
- Studio: Bug Films
12. Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies… (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Village powerhouse Lloyd attends a “starter town” magic academy, unaware of his OP strength.
- Similarities: OP MC in a magic-school setting, oblivious to their own power, with comedic misunderstandings.
- Rating: IMDb 6.5 | 12 episodes
- Studio: Liden Films
13. Eminence in Shadow (2022)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Plot: Chuunibyou Cid builds a secret organization to fight a fictional cult, unaware it’s real.
- Similarities: Satirical take on isekai tropes, blending delusion with accidental heroism.
- Rating: IMDb 8.0 | 20 episodes
- Studio: Nexus
14. Grand Blue (2018)
- Streaming: Prime Video
- Plot: College student Iori joins a diving club but spends more time in absurd drinking antics than underwater.
- Similarities: Over-the-top physical comedy, chaotic friend groups, and parody of slice-of-life tropes.
- Rating: IMDb 8.0 | 12 episodes
- Studio: Zero-G
15. Blood Blockade Battlefront (2015)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Superpowered agents maintain peace in a surreal New York overrun by interdimensional beings.
- Similarities: Blends supernatural action with eccentric humor and stylized animation.
- Rating: IMDb 7.7 | 24 episodes
- Studio: Bones
Why These Anime Work for Mashle Fans
These series mirror Mashle’s strengths:
- Underdog Charm: Protagonists defy expectations through unconventional means (muscles, wit, or sheer luck).
- Genre Subversion: Satirize magic school, isekai, and superhero tropes with self-aware humor.
- Visual Flair: Unique art styles, from Scissor Seven’s Chinese ink aesthetics to Gintama’s slapstick chaos.
- Balanced Tone: Blend high stakes with comedy, ensuring narratives never take themselves too seriously.
For fans seeking the same mix of absurdity, heart, and genre-bending creativity, these hidden gems deliver.
