Akudama Drive (2020) from Studio Pierrot and Too Kyo Games stunned viewers with its cyberpunk visuals, antihero cast, and relentless pace. At its core, the series thrives on chaotic power struggles, underdog narratives, and stories that consistently subvert expectations.
Yet while it gained cult status, many anime with similar DNA often remain overlooked. Below are 15 underrated series that carry the same spirit—whether through sharp world-building, morally gray characters, or stylish narrative execution—that deserve more attention from Akudama Drive fans.
1. Texhnolyze (2003)
- Streaming: HIDIVE, RetroCrush
- Episodes: 22
- MAL Rating: 7.7
- Studio: Madhouse (directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki, concept by Yoshitoshi ABe)
- Plot: In a decaying underground city, Ichise, a prizefighter, is drawn into conflicts involving cybernetic body modification and control of the city’s future.
- Similarities: Shares Akudama Drive’s bleak cyberpunk setting, exploration of human augmentation, and heavy reliance on atmosphere and visual storytelling.
2. Ergo Proxy (2006)
- Streaming: Hulu, Funimation
- Episodes: 23
- MAL Rating: 7.9
- Studio: Manglobe
- Plot: In a domed city post-apocalypse, inspector Re-l Mayer investigates murders tied to AutoReivs—androids infected with self-awareness.
- Similarities: Philosophical themes, noir cyberpunk style, and protagonists forced into moral ambiguity, mirroring Akudama Drive’s layered world.
3. No Guns Life (2019)
- Streaming: Hulu, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 24 (2 seasons)
- MAL Rating: 7.0
- Studio: Madhouse
- Plot: Ex-soldier Juzo Inui, whose head is literally a gun, becomes a freelance resolver handling conflicts in a tech-dominated society.
- Similarities: Combines action-driven storytelling with corporate corruption, gritty cyberpunk tones, and antihero figures.
4. Deadman Wonderland (2011)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 6.7
- Studio: Manglobe
- Plot: Wrongfully imprisoned, Ganta Igarashi must survive in a twisted prison where inmates battle with deadly powers called “Branches of Sin.”
- Similarities: Underdog survival themes, high-stakes violence, and morally ambiguous allies echo the dynamics of Akudama Drive.
5. Speed Grapher (2005)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.3
- Studio: Gonzo
- Plot: Former war photographer Saiga gains a deadly camera power while uncovering an underground society obsessed with indulgence.
- Similarities: Stylish grit, criminal underworld settings, and characters wrestling with corruption and excess, much like Akudama Drive’s cast.
6. Blassreiter (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 6.9
- Studio: Gonzo
- Plot: In a future Germany, humans infected with a virus transform into biomechanical creatures called Demoniacs, leading to violent conflict.
- Similarities: Combines futuristic bio-tech with moral decay, and focuses on redemption arcs within high-stakes battles.
7. Witch Hunter Robin (2002)
- Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 7.1
- Studio: Sunrise
- Plot: Robin Sena joins a special organization tasked with hunting witches, but soon questions the morality of her mission.
- Similarities: Shares noir atmosphere, team dynamics built on distrust, and themes of questioning authority and systemic corruption.
8. Black Cat (2005)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 23
- MAL Rating: 7.3
- Studio: Gonzo
- Plot: Assassin Train Heartnet abandons his organization to forge his own path, leading to clashes with former allies.
- Similarities: Underdog antiheroes, sharp action choreography, and redemption arcs echo the tonal energy of Akudama Drive.
9. Gunslinger Girl (2003)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 13 + OVA
- MAL Rating: 7.4
- Studio: Madhouse
- Plot: Cybernetically enhanced young girls are conditioned into assassins for a shadowy government organization.
- Similarities: Blends tragedy, manipulation, and stylized violence with questions of autonomy—paralleling Akudama Drive’s critique of control.
10. Un-Go (2011)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 7.3
- Studio: Bones
- Plot: Detective Shinjurou and his mysterious partner Inga solve crimes in a post-war Tokyo shrouded in government secrecy.
- Similarities: Clever mysteries with anti-establishment undertones and characters who reveal hidden truths fit well with Akudama Drive’s tone.
11. C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (2011)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 7.0
- Studio: Tatsunoko Production
- Plot: College student Kimimaro is pulled into a parallel financial district where futures are wagered in deadly battles.
- Similarities: Surreal survival battles, critiques of systemic greed, and fast-paced narrative twists echo Akudama Drive’s societal commentary.
12. Zankyou no Terror (Terror in Resonance, 2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 8.0
- Studio: MAPPA (directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, music by Yoko Kanno)
- Plot: Two teenage terrorists orchestrate bombings in Tokyo to expose hidden government atrocities.
- Similarities: Antiheroes with sympathetic motives, subversive storytelling, and sleek, modern visuals mirror Akudama Drive’s intensity.
13. Kekkai Sensen (Blood Blockade Battlefront, 2015)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 12 + 12 (two seasons)
- MAL Rating: 7.6
- Studio: Bones
- Plot: In a city where humans and monsters coexist, a secret society prevents chaos while balancing bizarre supernatural conflicts.
- Similarities: Shares chaotic ensemble storytelling, hyper-stylized action, and eccentric yet heartfelt characters.
14. ID: INVADED (2020)
- Streaming: Funimation, Hulu
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.7
- Studio: NAZ
- Plot: A detective enters the subconscious “id wells” of killers to solve crimes, blurring reality and psyche.
- Similarities: Subversive narrative style, mind-bending visuals, and morally gray protagonists align with Akudama Drive’s narrative daring.
15. Kaiba (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 8.0
- Studio: Madhouse (directed by Masaaki Yuasa)
- Plot: In a world where memories can be transferred between bodies, one boy journeys through surreal landscapes to reclaim his past.
- Similarities: Unique animation, questions of identity, and tragic explorations of freedom and control echo Akudama Drive’s existential undertones.
Why These Anime Work for Akudama Drive Fans
Each of these underrated anime pushes boundaries—whether through daring visuals, unconventional storytelling, or characters who challenge societal norms. Like Akudama Drive, they thrive on unpredictability, moral ambiguity, and the adrenaline of stories where survival is never guaranteed. For fans craving more stylish antihero narratives and dystopian undertones, these series offer fresh yet thematically familiar journeys worth exploring.
