Batman Beyond took the legacy of the Dark Knight into a dystopian future, replacing Bruce Wayne with the rebellious but brave Terry McGinnis.
The series blended cyberpunk aesthetics, moral complexity, and coming-of-age grit into a bold, emotionally charged superhero story.
Themes of mentorship, corporate corruption, advanced tech, and a teen stepping into a legendary role make it one of the most layered animated superhero series ever created.
If you’re drawn to Batman Beyond‘s mix of futuristic noir, underdog hero arcs, and thematic depth, these underrated anime offer compelling alternatives—often overlooked, yet packed with similar character struggles, aesthetic edge, and narrative weight.
1. Megalo Box (2018)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Netflix
MAL Rating: 7.9 | Episodes: 13
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Plot: An underground fighter enters a high-tech boxing league to challenge the elite with only raw instinct and heart.
Similarities: A gritty, underdog journey in a cyberpunk world. Terry’s rebellious spirit and inner drive resonate here.
2. Zetman (2012)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 6.9 | Episodes: 13
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Plot: Two genetically altered boys grow into opposing forces—one a hero, one an antihero—in a world of engineered villains.
Similarities: Bio-enhanced protagonists, corporate manipulation, and dark futuristic themes like those in Batman Beyond.
3. No Guns Life (2019)
Streaming: Hulu, Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.4 | Episodes: 24
Studio: Madhouse
Plot: A man with a literal gun for a head works as a Resolver in a dystopian world where humans are modified for war.
Similarities: Tech-heavy noir setting, gritty hero with a sense of justice, and corruption that mirrors Gotham’s future.
4. Casshern Sins (2008)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.3 | Episodes: 24
Studio: Madhouse
Plot: A lone warrior wanders a dying world, battling robots and seeking answers about his violent past.
Similarities: Solitary hero in a desolate future grappling with legacy and personal redemption, echoing Terry’s arc.
5. Ergo Proxy (2006)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.9 | Episodes: 23
Studio: Manglobe
Plot: A young investigator uncovers a twisted government conspiracy involving emotion-capable androids in a domed dystopia.
Similarities: Futuristic mystery, psychological themes, and a strong-willed lead navigating identity in a high-tech society.
6. Karas (2005)
Streaming: Amazon Prime
MAL Rating: 7.1 | Episodes: 6
Studio: Tatsunoko Production
Plot: A resurrected warrior defends Tokyo’s spiritual balance using a blend of ancient myth and advanced technology.
Similarities: Visually stunning with dark, superheroic energy; its armored hero feels like a supernatural Terry in Tokyo.
7. Texhnolyze (2003)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.4 | Episodes: 22
Studio: Madhouse
Plot: A brutalized man receives cybernetic implants and is drawn into an underground war for a crumbling city’s soul.
Similarities: Bleak tone, cybernetics, and slow-burning existentialism that parallels Batman Beyond’s deeper episodes.
8. Gungrave (2003)
Streaming: Hulu
MAL Rating: 7.9 | Episodes: 26
Studio: Madhouse
Plot: A betrayed gangster is revived from death to hunt his former friend who now rules a dystopian empire.
Similarities: Revenge, resurrection, and a noir revenge narrative set in a tech-heavy underworld.
9. Dimension W (2016)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.2 | Episodes: 12
Studio: Studio 3Hz
Plot: In the future, illegal power coils grant limitless energy—and a bounty hunter teams up with an android to stop abuse.
Similarities: Combines action, detective elements, and future tech with a buddy-dynamic reminiscent of Terry and Bruce.
10. Appleseed XIII (2011)
Streaming: HIDIVE
MAL Rating: 6.6 | Episodes: 13
Studio: Jinni’s Animation Studio
Plot: In a cyber-enhanced society, a soldier and her cyborg partner fight threats to global peace.
Similarities: Futuristic gear, political tension, and questions about power vs. peace echo Neo-Gotham’s conflicts.
11. B: The Beginning (2018)
Streaming: Netflix
MAL Rating: 7.2 | Episodes: 12
Studio: Production I.G
Plot: A genius detective and a genetically enhanced vigilante cross paths while solving a string of supernatural murders.
Similarities: Features biotech experiments, rogue heroes, and secret organizations like those Terry often faces.
12. 009-1 (2006)
Streaming: HIDIVE
MAL Rating: 6.8 | Episodes: 12
Studio: Ishimori Entertainment
Plot: A female cyborg spy works during a prolonged cold war using tech-infused espionage and manipulation.
Similarities: Futuristic espionage with retro-noir flair and personal cost—paralleling Terry’s world of secrets and sacrifice.
13. Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 (1998)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 7.2 | Episodes: 26
Studio: AIC
Plot: Four armored women battle rogue AI in a corporate-controlled Tokyo.
Similarities: Cyberpunk visuals, vigilante justice, and corrupt institutions much like Wayne-Powers and Neo-Gotham.
14. The Big O (1999)
Streaming: HIDIVE
MAL Rating: 7.5 | Episodes: 26
Studio: Sunrise
Plot: In a memory-wiped city, a suave negotiator with a giant robot unravels the mysteries of the past.
Similarities: Bruce Wayne-like protagonist, noir tone, and episodic structure with deep philosophical undertones.
15. C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (2011)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.2 | Episodes: 11
Studio: Tatsunoko Production
Plot: A student is pulled into an alternate dimension where money and future potential fuel violent financial duels.
Similarities: High-stakes futuristic battles with personal consequences and allegories of power and responsibility.
Why These Anime Work for Batman Beyond Fans
From sleek cityscapes drenched in neon to young protagonists forced to step up in broken systems, these anime capture the spirit of Batman Beyond.
Whether it’s technological intrigue, dark justice, or the burden of legacy, each show adds its own twist to the cyberpunk superhero mythos.
For fans of Terry McGinnis’s evolution from punk kid to futuristic legend, these series offer parallel journeys, equally bold and emotionally charged.
