Black Bullet (2014) is a dark science fiction anime set in a near-future Tokyo where humanity has been ravaged by the Gastrea Virus—a parasitic biological agent that transforms infected humans into monstrous creatures. The series follows Rentaro Satomi, a Promoter working for the Civil Security Corporation, and his Initiator partner Enju Aihara, one of the “Cursed Children” born with the virus who possess superhuman abilities.
These themes—power systems derived from biological afflictions, underdog protagonists fighting against overwhelming odds, and narratives that subvert expectations—are what make Black Bullet unique. The following 15 underrated anime share similar thematic DNA, offering dark sci-fi worlds, children with extraordinary abilities, and dystopian settings that deserve far more attention than they received.
1. Coppelion (2013)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll and Funimation
Plot Summary: In the ruins of a radiation-contaminated Tokyo, three genetically engineered teenage girls—immune to nuclear fallout—are dispatched as a rescue unit to find survivors of a catastrophic power plant meltdown. As Ibara Naruse, Aoi Fukasaku, and Taeko Nomura navigate the desolate landscape, they encounter desperate survivors and uncover dark secrets about the disaster’s true cause.
Similarities to Black Bullet: Both series feature young female protagonists with biological modifications (radiation immunity vs. Gastrea virus) who are sent on dangerous missions by government organizations. The Coppelion girls, like the Cursed Children, face discrimination and are viewed as less than human despite being humanity’s only hope. The post-apocalyptic setting and focus on child soldiers bearing adult burdens mirror Black Bullet’s core themes.
Technical Details: 13 episodes | Studio: Studio Gokumi | MAL Rating: ~6.0/10 | Director: Shingo Suzuki (known for K Project)
2. M3: The Dark Metal (2014)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll
Plot Summary: Akashi and his classmates are drawn into the “Lightless Realm,” a mysterious dimension where a substance called Necrometal devours anything it touches. Using massive combat robots called Vess, the teenagers must confront their traumatic pasts while fighting the Corpse monsters that emerge from this darkness.
Similarities to Black Bullet: The biological threat of Necrometal parallels the Gastrea Virus, transforming individuals into monstrous entities. The series explores the psychological toll on child pilots forced into combat, much like the Initiator-Promoter pairs in Black Bullet. The dark, oppressive atmosphere and themes of infection creating both monsters and heroes align closely.
Technical Details: 24 episodes | Studio: Satelight | MAL Rating: ~6.4/10 | Directed by Junichi Sato (Sailor Moon, Aria) with mecha designs by Shōji Kawamori (Macross)
3. Blue Gender (1999–2000)
Streaming: Available on Funimation and RetroCrush
Plot Summary: In the 2030s, Earth has been overrun by the Blue—insectoid aliens that have forced humanity to flee to the space station Second Earth. Yuji Kaido, a “Sleeper” awakened from cryogenic stasis after 20 years, must fight alongside soldier Marlene Angel to survive the Blue-infested wasteland.
Similarities to Black Bullet: Both series depict humanity driven to the brink of extinction by monstrous creatures (Blue vs. Gastrea) and feature protagonists working with military organizations to reclaim their world. The hopeless, dystopian atmosphere and the theme of ordinary humans being thrust into extraordinary survival situations are prominent in both.
Technical Details: 26 episodes + OVA | Studio: AIC | MAL Rating: ~7.0/10 | Aired on Adult Swim in North America
4. Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation (2015)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll
Plot Summary: In 2015 A.D., Tohru Kazasumi discovers he is connected to a parallel “Black World” version of himself. The two worlds are locked in a conflict orchestrated by the Timekeepers, forcing alternate versions of the same people to fight each other in their shared past to determine which reality survives.
Similarities to Black Bullet: The dual-world setup and the mystery of the Timekeepers’ agenda creates a similarly complex narrative to Black Bullet’s conspiracy elements. Both series feature protagonists grappling with identity and the nature of their existence while fighting in high-stakes battles. The gravity-defying combat and dark sci-fi tone draw parallels to the Varanium-enhanced battles in Black Bullet.
Technical Details: 12 episodes | Studio: A-1 Pictures | MAL Rating: ~6.1/10 | Music by Tetsuya Komuro
5. Infinite Ryvius (1999)
Streaming: Available on RetroCrush and select platforms
Plot Summary: After a terrorist attack on their space training station, a group of teenagers finds themselves stranded aboard the Ryvius spacecraft with no adult supervision. As they attempt to survive and govern themselves, the pressure of their dire situation leads to psychological breakdown and shifting power dynamics.
Similarities to Black Bullet: Like Black Bullet’s young Initiators, the teens of Infinite Ryvius are forced into adult roles before their time. The psychological exploration of children under extreme pressure, the collapse of social order, and the Lord of the Flies-style narrative of young people managing their own survival echo the darker themes of Black Bullet’s child soldier narrative.
Technical Details: 26 episodes | Studio: Sunrise | MAL Rating: ~7.4/10 | Directed by Gorō Taniguchi (Code Geass)
6. Aldnoah.Zero (2014–2015)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu
Plot Summary: After the discovery of a hypergate on the Moon, humanity colonizes Mars, only for a war to erupt between Earth and the newly independent Vers Empire. Inaho Kaizuka, a high school student with exceptional tactical abilities, pilots a mecha against the technologically superior Martian Kataphrakts while navigating political intrigue and betrayal.
Similarities to Black Bullet: Both series feature underdog protagonists using tactics and ingenuity to fight against superior forces. The military organization structure, the presence of super-powered antagonists (the Aldnoah abilities vs. Gastrea powers), and the dark, unpredictable narrative twists create a similar viewing experience. The socio-political commentary on discrimination and war also parallels Black Bullet’s exploration of the Cursed Children’s treatment.
Technical Details: 24 episodes across 2 seasons | Studio: A-1 Pictures and TROYCA | MAL Rating: ~7.4/10 (Season 1) | Music by Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan)
7. Kakumeiki Valvrave (Valvrave the Liberator) (2013–2014)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll
Plot Summary: Haruto Tokishima, a student in the neutral nation of JIOR, discovers a powerful mecha called Valvrave during a Dorssia military invasion. After being transformed into a vampire-like “Holy Spirit” by the machine, he must pilot it to protect his friends while grappling with his newfound thirst for blood and immortality.
Similarities to Black Bullet: The transformation mechanic (becoming a Valvrave pilot vs. being a Cursed Child) parallels Black Bullet’s themes of biological alteration granting power at a personal cost. Both series feature teenagers fighting against invading forces while dealing with the stigma of their changed nature. The dark sci-fi elements and consequences of power are central to both narratives.
Technical Details: 24 episodes across 2 seasons | Studio: Sunrise | MAL Rating: ~7.1/10 | Character designs by Katsura Hoshino (D.Gray-man)
8. Captain Earth (2014)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll and HIDIVE
Plot Summary: Daichi Manatsu returns to Tanegashima Island after his father’s mysterious death and discovers the “Livlaster,” a device that allows him to pilot the Earth Engine Impacter—a massive mecha built to defend against the Kill-T-Gang, aliens who seek to drain humanity’s life force for their immortal existence.
Similarities to Black Bullet: The threat of the Kill-T-Gang parallels the Gastrea as an existential threat to humanity. The young protagonist working with a defense organization (Globe vs. Civil Security), the cosmic-scale stakes, and the emphasis on family connections and loss align with Black Bullet’s narrative structure. The bio-mechanical nature of the enemies creates similar horror elements.
Technical Details: 25 episodes | Studio: Bones | MAL Rating: ~6.4/10 | Directed by Takuya Igarashi (Ouran High School Host Club)
9. Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse (2012)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll and HIDIVE
Plot Summary: Set in an alternate timeline where humanity is losing a war against the BETA—aliens who have overrun Earth—cadet Yui Takamura trains to pilot Tactical Surface Fighters (mecha) at the UN’s Alaska base. The series follows the development of new weapons and the political tensions between nations as they fight for survival.
Similarities to Black Bullet: Both series depict humanity on the verge of extinction against overwhelming biological threats (BETA vs. Gastrea). The military training and deployment of young pilots, the emphasis on weapon development to counter the enemy, and the dark, hopeless atmosphere of a losing war parallel Black Bullet’s setting. The stigma faced by those closest to the conflict also mirrors the discrimination against Cursed Children.
Technical Details: 24 episodes | Studio: ixtl and Satelight | MAL Rating: ~7.2/10 | Based on the visual novel franchise
10. Suisei no Gargantia (Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet) (2013)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll and HIDIVE
Plot Summary: Ledo, a soldier from the Galactic Alliance fighting the Hideauze aliens, is thrown off course and wakes up on a flooded Earth where humans live on massive ships. Stranded among people who speak a different language and have no concept of his war, he must adapt to their peaceful lifestyle while hiding his combat capabilities.
Similarities to Black Bullet: The fish-out-of-water narrative of a soldier adapting to civilian life parallels Rentaro’s struggles between duty and normalcy. The post-apocalyptic setting (Earth flooded rather than viral infection), the presence of monstrous threats (Hideauze vs. Gastrea), and the theme of communication barriers between different groups of survivors create thematic resonance. The character of Chamber (Ledo’s AI) provides the same tactical support relationship seen between Promoters and Initiators.
Technical Details: 13 episodes + OVA | Studio: Production I.G | MAL Rating: ~7.4/10 | Written by Gen Urobuchi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Psycho-Pass)
11. Darker than Black (2007–2010)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Hulu
Plot Summary: After the appearance of mysterious “Heaven’s Gate” and “Hell’s Gate,” the sky is replaced by a false starscape, and individuals known as “Contractors” emerge—humans who have gained supernatural powers at the cost of their humanity. Hei, a masked assassin known as the “Black Reaper,” works for a shadowy organization while pursuing his own agenda.
Similarities to Black Bullet: Contractors and Cursed Children share the same narrative DNA—individuals with powers derived from otherworldly phenomena who are viewed as tools rather than humans. The dark, noir atmosphere, the presence of government conspiracies, and the theme of maintaining humanity while wielding inhuman powers parallel Black Bullet’s core questions. The episodic structure introducing various Contractor abilities mirrors the variation seen in Gastrea encounters.
Technical Details: 37 episodes across 2 seasons + OVA | Studio: Bones | MAL Rating: ~7.7/10 | Directed by Tensai Okamura (Wolf’s Rain)
12. Chrome Shelled Regios (2009)
Streaming: Available on Funimation and Crunchyroll
Plot Summary: In a post-apocalyptic world where the air is poisonous, humanity survives inside mobile cities called Regios that roam the wasteland. Inside these cities, martial artists wield “Kei” energy to fight the Filth Monsters (Contaminoids) outside. Layfon Alseif, a former elite military swordsman hiding his past, enrolls in the Academy City of Zuellni.
Similarities to Black Bullet: The mobile cities provide a parallel to Black Bullet’s Monolithic walls, both serving as humanity’s last defense against overwhelming monsters. The power system (Kei vs. Gastrea abilities), the academy setting masking military preparation, and the protagonist with a hidden past and superior abilities create similar narrative dynamics. The discrimination faced by those with military backgrounds parallels the Cursed Children’s treatment.
Technical Details: 24 episodes | Studio: Zexcs | MAL Rating: ~7.2/10 | Based on the light novel series by Shusuke Amagi
13. 11eyes (2009)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll and HIDIVE
Plot Summary: Kakeru Satsuki and his childhood friend Yuka Minase are suddenly transported to the “Red Night,” a parallel dimension where they must fight Black Knights to survive. As they encounter other students who can also enter this dimension, they discover that the Red Night is connected to the tragic death of Kakeru’s sister seven years ago.
Similarities to Black Bullet: The parallel dimension of the Red Night parallels the enclosed, dangerous world of the Tokyo Area in Black Bullet. Both feature teenagers suddenly thrust into life-or-death combat, supernatural powers emerging from trauma, and a mystery connecting past events to present dangers. The group dynamic of survivors fighting together mirrors the Civil Security teams.
Technical Details: 12 episodes + OVA | Studio: Doga Kobo | MAL Rating: ~6.4/10 | Based on the visual novel by Lass
14. Towa no Quon (2011)
Streaming: Available on HIDIVE and Amazon Prime
Plot Summary: In a futuristic Tokyo, “Attractors”—humans with special abilities—are hunted by the secret organization Custos. Quon, an immortal who has lived for over a millennium, protects these Attractors while seeking to understand his own powers and the crystals that grant them.
Similarities to Black Bullet: The Attractors and Cursed Children are both persecuted groups with biological powers that society fears and seeks to control. The secret organization protecting them (Quon’s group vs. Civil Security), the theme of immortality and the cost of power, and the dark sci-fi setting with government conspiracies align the two series. The focus on children with dangerous abilities being hunted creates similar tension.
Technical Details: 6 films (50 mins each) | Studio: Bones | MAL Rating: ~7.4/10 | Directed by Umanosuke Iida (final work before his passing)
15. Tokyo ESP (2014)
Streaming: Available on Crunchyroll and Funimation
Plot Summary: After a mysterious incident involving glowing fish swimming through solid objects, certain humans in Tokyo develop ESP (extrasensory perception) powers. Rinka Urushiba, a high school girl who gains the ability to phase through objects, becomes a hero fighting against other ESPers who use their abilities for crime, while the government moves to control all powered individuals.
Similarities to Black Bullet: Both series feature young protagonists with powers that emerge from a biological phenomenon (ESP fish vs. Gastrea Virus) who are viewed as threats by the government. The themes of discrimination against the powered, the formation of special teams to handle ESP-related threats, and the urban setting with supernatural combat create parallel narratives. The mix of action and social commentary on how society treats the “different” is central to both.
