Camp Lakebottom (2013) drops three misfit kids into a monster-filled summer camp, turning a routine vacation story into a goofy underdog fight for survival that constantly subverts expectations with every new creature or prank.
The shows below echo that energy—mixing friends who punch above their weight, weird power systems, or plots that zig when you expect them to zag—yet none has broken into true mainstream fame. Give them a look if you love Lakebottom’s “little guys vs. the unknown” vibe.
1. Ranking of Kings (2021)
- Stream: Crunchyroll / Funimation
- Episodes: 23 | MAL: 8.6
- Studio: WIT Studio
- Plot ‑ A deaf, tiny prince teams with a shadow creature to claim a throne everyone says he can’t have.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Both star kids deemed “too weak” who outsmart monsters and rivals while flipping fantasy tropes.
2. Odd Taxi (2021)
- Stream: Crunchyroll / Hulu
- Episodes: 13 | MAL: 8.7
- Studio: OLM, P.I.C.S.
- Plot ‑ A walrus cabbie gets dragged into a missing-girl mystery that binds Tokyo’s oddballs together.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Everyday setting turns bizarre fast; suspense and dark comedy ride side-by-side.
3. Hinamatsuri (2018)
- Stream: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12 | MAL: 8.1
- Studio: feel.
- Plot ‑ A yakuza adopts a deadpan psychic girl; chaos and found-family wholesomeness ensue.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Super-powered kid antics, gags that pivot to heartfelt moments.
4. Land of the Lustrous (2017)
- Stream: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 12 | MAL: 8.4
- Studio: Orange
- Plot ‑ Gem warriors defend their world while the frail Phos hunts for purpose in battle.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Underdog hero faces strange creatures in a vividly stylized landscape.
5. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (2020)
- Stream: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12 | MAL: 8.1
- Studio: Science SARU
- Plot ‑ Three schoolgirls form an indie animation club and imagine worlds wilder than reality.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Trio of misfits, hyperactive imagination turned into on-screen adventure.
6. Natsume’s Book of Friends (2008-2017)
- Stream: Crunchyroll / HIDIVE
- Episodes: 74 (6 seasons) | MAL: 8.3
- Studio: Brain’s Base, Shuka
- Plot ‑ A teen returns yokai names his grandmother stole, balancing peace between worlds.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Gentle monster-of-the-week format with warmth beneath the spooks.
7. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (2007)
- Stream: HiDive / RetroCrush
- Episodes: 26 | MAL: 8.1
- Studio: Production I.G
- Plot ‑ Spear-wielding Balsa protects a prince whose father orders his death for “possession”.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Protector-and-child bond, folklore beasts, and high-stakes travel.
8. A Place Further Than the Universe (2018)
- Stream: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 13 | MAL: 8.5
- Studio: Madhouse
- Plot ‑ Four girls chase a near-impossible dream: reaching Antarctica together.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Youthful camaraderie and comedy spun into an epic, unlikely expedition.
9. Kemonozume (2006)
- Stream: Funimation (sub)
- Episodes: 13 | MAL: 7.2
- Studio: Madhouse (Masaaki Yuasa)
- Plot ‑ A swordsman loves a flesh-eating monster, igniting a bloody, psychedelic chase.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Grotesque creatures, manic art style, and dark humor.
10. World Trigger (2014-)
- Stream: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 99 | MAL: 7.6
- Studio: Toei Animation
- Plot ‑ A “weak” trainee and an alien boy join Border to repel invaders.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Team-based power system where brains beat brawn; constant rivalry.
11. Zombie Land Saga (2018)
- Stream: Crunchyroll / Funimation
- Episodes: 24 | MAL: 7.5
- Studio: MAPPA
- Plot ‑ Seven resurrected girls must become idols to revive a rural prefecture.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Horror trappings played for laughs, plus underdogs fighting obscurity.
12. Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World (2016)
- Stream: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 50 | MAL: 8.2
- Studio: White Fox
- Plot ‑ An ordinary shut-in relives deadly loops to save friends in a fantasy realm.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Constant course-correction under impossible odds; surprises every arc.
13. Black Clover (2017-2021)
- Stream: Crunchyroll / Hulu
- Episodes: 170 | MAL: 8.0
- Studio: Pierrot
- Plot ‑ Magicless orphan Asta vows to become Wizard King in a world that mocks him.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Perpetual prankster hero, loud energy, and “never give up” rivalry.
14. Violet Evergarden (2018)
- Stream: Netflix
- Episodes: 13 + OVA | MAL: 8.6
- Studio: Kyoto Animation
- Plot ‑ A former child soldier writes letters to heal her war-scarred heart and others’.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Lush visuals and emotional growth after surviving trauma—softer but similarly cathartic.
15. Iruma-kun! Welcome to Demon School (2019)
- Stream: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 65 (3 seasons) | MAL: 7.7
- Studio: BN Pictures
- Plot ‑ A human boy sold to demons must hide his identity while climbing the school’s ranks.
- Lakebottom link ‑ Fish-out-of-water child thrives in a spooky, rule-twisting academy full of friendly fiends.
Why These Anime Work for Camp Lakebottom Fans
Every pick keeps the spirit of kids (or kid-at-heart heroes) versus the unbelievable alive. Whether through comedic horror, bold art, or plucky protagonists punching above their weight, these shows prove that underdogs—and viewers who back them—can still win big.
