Beastars stands out for its unique take on anthropomorphic drama, blending noir aesthetics, adolescent coming-of-age, societal metaphors, and raw emotional vulnerability.
Its exploration of identity, interspecies tension, power dynamics, and self-restraint makes it far more than just “Zootopia for adults.”
If Beastars hooked you with its layered storytelling, moral ambiguity, or artful animation, you’ll love these 15 underrated anime that echo its thematic brilliance, emotional complexity, or narrative edge.
1. Paranoia Agent (2004)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Episodes: 13
MAL Rating: 7.69
Studio: Madhouse
Director: Satoshi Kon
Plot: A mysterious attacker dubbed “Lil’ Slugger” strikes random Tokyo citizens, but each victim seems to find twisted peace afterward.
Similarities: Surreal visuals, social commentary on repression and identity, and psychological unraveling beneath the surface of daily life.
2. Aggretsuko (2018)
Streaming: Netflix
Episodes: 50 (5 seasons, short episodes)
MAL Rating: 7.62
Studio: Fanworks
Plot: A red panda office worker vents her frustration with toxic corporate life by screaming death metal karaoke.
Similarities: Anthropomorphic society, internalized rage, critique of societal expectations, and subversion of “cute” visuals for dark themes.
3. The Eccentric Family (2013)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 25 (2 seasons)
MAL Rating: 7.79
Studio: P.A. Works
Plot: A tanuki family navigates Kyoto’s magical underworld where tengu, humans, and tanuki coexist under uneasy peace.
Similarities: Human-animal coexistence, existential musings, legacy burdens, and deeply personal character arcs.
4. Dorohedoro (2020)
Streaming: Netflix
Episodes: 12 + 6 OVAs
MAL Rating: 8.06
Studio: MAPPA
Plot: A lizard-headed man searches for the sorcerer who cursed him, wading through a grotesque and chaotic city.
Similarities: Distorted realities, hybrid identities, ultra-violent surrealism, and unexpectedly warm friendships amidst chaos.
5. Kaiba (2008)
Streaming: YouTube (Noitamina Channel)
Episodes: 12
MAL Rating: 8.14
Studio: Madhouse
Director: Masaaki Yuasa
Plot: In a world where memories can be transferred between bodies, a boy awakens with no identity and sets out to discover the truth.
Similarities: Emotional storytelling beneath whimsical art, exploration of identity and physical form, and philosophical tension.
6. Wolf’s Rain (2003)
Streaming: Funimation
Episodes: 30
MAL Rating: 7.97
Studio: Bones
Plot: In a dying world, wolves disguised as humans seek the mythical paradise they believe only they can find.
Similarities: Animal-human duality, existential yearning, poetic melancholy, and underdog survival themes.
7. BNA: Brand New Animal (2020)
Streaming: Netflix
Episodes: 12
MAL Rating: 7.19
Studio: Trigger
Plot: A girl suddenly turns into a tanuki beastman and takes refuge in Anima City, a segregated zone for beastkin.
Similarities: Animal-based society, discrimination, identity politics, vibrant color palette, and action-thriller elements.
8. Sarazanmai (2019)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 11
MAL Rating: 7.52
Studio: MAPPA, Lapin Track
Director: Kunihiko Ikuhara (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Plot: Three boys are turned into kappas and must extract secrets from humans to restore the world’s balance.
Similarities: Surrealism, repressed emotion, taboo subjects, and transformative storytelling about desire and connection.
9. Odd Taxi (2021)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 13
MAL Rating: 8.73
Studio: OLM, P.I.C.S
Awards: Anime Trending Awards Winner
Plot: A socially withdrawn walrus taxi driver gets caught in a web of disappearances, secrets, and criminal plots in Tokyo.
Similarities: Animal society allegory, slow-burn mystery, noir atmosphere, and complex human conditions behind cute facades.
10. Gleipnir (2020)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 13
MAL Rating: 6.87
Studio: Pine Jam
Plot: A high schooler transforms into a monster mascot suit and partners with a manipulative girl for brutal survival games.
Similarities: Human-monster duality, suppressed instincts, teenage angst under extreme pressure, and moral gray areas.
11. Kemonozume (2006)
Streaming: Not widely available (DVD/import)
Episodes: 13
MAL Rating: 7.08
Studio: Madhouse
Director: Masaaki Yuasa
Plot: A forbidden romance blooms between a monster hunter and a flesh-eating beast in human form.
Similarities: Star-crossed lovers, societal taboo, abstract animation, and primal hunger for connection.
12. Devilman Crybaby (2018)
Streaming: Netflix
Episodes: 10
MAL Rating: 7.77
Studio: Science SARU
Director: Masaaki Yuasa
Awards: Crunchyroll Anime Awards (Anime of the Year)
Plot: A sensitive teen becomes a devil-human hybrid and is thrust into a brutal war between humanity and demons.
Similarities: Animalistic urges, coming-of-age tragedy, hyper-stylized violence, and societal collapse themes.
13. Princess Tutu (2002)
Streaming: HiDive, Amazon Prime
Episodes: 26
MAL Rating: 8.15
Studio: Hal Film Maker
Plot: A duck transforms into a magical girl ballerina to help lost hearts reclaim their emotions in a fairy tale world.
Similarities: Anthropomorphic metaphors, performance as expression, deeply psychological character arcs, and subversion of genre tropes.
14. Land of the Lustrous (2017)
Streaming: Prime Video, HiDive
Episodes: 12
MAL Rating: 8.38
Studio: Orange (Beastars)
Awards: CG World Award for Best Visual Innovation
Plot: Genderless gem people protect their kind from moon dwellers while questioning their own existence and purpose.
Similarities: CGI animation, outsider protagonists, emotional vulnerability, and existential themes within fantastical allegory.
15. It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012)
Streaming: Vimeo, Blu-ray
Runtime: 62 minutes (film)
MAL Rating: 8.35
Director: Don Hertzfeldt
Plot: A stick-figure man named Bill experiences surreal mental episodes while navigating his disintegrating world.
Similarities: Minimalist style with heavy psychological depth, fragile identity, and a raw portrayal of life and memory.
Why These Anime Work for Beastars Fans
Beastars isn’t just a drama about animals—it’s a profound mirror held up to our deepest fears, instincts, and desires.
These 15 titles share that introspective spirit. Whether it’s through psychological storytelling, surreal allegories, or twisted coming-of-age journeys, they tackle taboo topics with bravery and artistry.
If you crave more than surface-level conflict—if you’re drawn to stories where the characters bleed, question, transform—these underrated anime will satisfy that hunger.
