Charlotte (2015), created by Jun Maeda and produced by P.A. Works, is an emotional rollercoaster that blends supernatural abilities, teenage struggles, and shocking narrative turns. Its core themes revolve around power systems that feel more like burdens than gifts, underdog characters fighting hidden battles, and storylines that constantly subvert expectations.
While many anime fans have discovered Charlotte, there’s a treasure trove of underrated series that explore similar territory with unique styles and compelling narratives. Here are 15 anime you might have missed but deserve your attention.
1. The Lost Village (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HiDive
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 5.7
- Studio: Diomedéa
- Plot: A group of strangers travel to a mysterious village in hopes of starting new lives but uncover disturbing secrets about themselves.
- Similarities: Like Charlotte, it balances ensemble drama with supernatural undertones, exploring the hidden traumas of youth while subverting audience expectations.
2. Zetsuen no Tempest (Blast of Tempest, 2012)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.9
- Studio: Bones
- Plot: Two friends are dragged into a conflict involving magic, revenge, and the fate of the world.
- Similarities: Shares Charlotte’s balance of action and emotional storytelling, with shocking twists and deep bonds between flawed characters.
3. Un-Go (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 11 + 1 OVA
- MAL Rating: 7.3
- Studio: Bones
- Plot: A detective duo solves mysterious crimes in a futuristic society, blending logic with supernatural powers.
- Similarities: Like Charlotte, it fuses episodic mystery-solving with larger arcs of identity, secrecy, and hidden powers.
4. Kiznaiver (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HiDive
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.4
- Studio: Trigger
- Plot: Teenagers are forced into an experiment where their pain is shared through a strange connection.
- Similarities: Both shows focus on emotional bonds forged under extreme circumstances, with science-fiction twists highlighting human vulnerability.
5. C³: Cube×Cursed×Curious (2011)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 6.6
- Studio: Silver Link
- Plot: A cursed object takes the form of a girl, dragging a high school student into battles against deadly relics.
- Similarities: Like Charlotte, it uses the premise of unusual powers as both a gift and a curse, wrapped in dark undertones.
6. Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku (Magical Girl Raising Project, 2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.3
- Studio: Lerche
- Plot: Magical girls are chosen for a survival game where only half can remain alive.
- Similarities: Mirrors Charlotte’s sharp tonal shifts and themes of loss, betrayal, and the burden of extraordinary power.
7. Big Order (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 10
- MAL Rating: 5.4
- Studio: Asread
- Plot: A boy with the power to dominate anything faces the chaos caused by his abilities.
- Similarities: Both series explore unstable powers that spiral out of control, tying in emotional trauma and responsibility.
8. Shinsekai Yori (From the New World, 2012)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HiDive
- Episodes: 25
- MAL Rating: 8.3
- Studio: A-1 Pictures
- Plot: Children in a utopian society discover dark truths about their psychic powers and their civilization.
- Similarities: Like Charlotte, it blends coming-of-age drama with chilling reveals about powers and their consequences.
9. Gokukoku no Brynhildr (2014)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Episodes: 13 + OVA
- MAL Rating: 6.9
- Studio: Arms
- Plot: A boy meets girls who have escaped a lab where they were experimented on for supernatural abilities.
- Similarities: Shares Charlotte’s blend of tragic character backstories, hidden powers, and emotional stakes.
10. Seikaisuru Kado (KADO: The Right Answer, 2017)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 6.8
- Studio: Toei Animation
- Plot: A mysterious cube and alien entity challenge humanity’s future, pushing moral and personal dilemmas.
- Similarities: Both weave character-driven drama with sci-fi twists that force unexpected decisions and sacrifices.
11. Darker Than Black: Gemini of the Meteor (2009)
- Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.4
- Studio: Bones
- Plot: Contractors wielding strange powers live in secrecy, struggling with morality and survival.
- Similarities: Like Charlotte, it combines flawed antiheroes with unstable supernatural powers and emotional sacrifice.
12. Aquarion Evol (2012)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 7.1
- Studio: Satelight
- Plot: A new generation of pilots uses mechas to protect humanity from mysterious enemies.
- Similarities: Its heavy emotional beats and ensemble cast mirror Charlotte’s teenage drama mixed with action.
13. Persona -trinity soul- (2008)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 6.9
- Studio: A-1 Pictures
- Plot: Siblings get caught in battles involving psychic powers linked to Personas.
- Similarities: Explores the psychological toll of supernatural abilities with strong focus on family bonds, just like Charlotte.
14. Karakuri Circus (2018)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 36
- MAL Rating: 7.5
- Studio: Studio VOLN
- Plot: A boy inherits a fortune but is hunted, drawing him into a centuries-old battle involving puppets and alchemy.
- Similarities: Underdog characters face overwhelming odds while powers are both salvation and burden, echoing Charlotte’s tension.
15. Norn9: Norn+Nonet (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HiDive
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 6.5
- Studio: Kinema Citrus
- Plot: Gifted individuals board a mysterious ship, each with unique abilities and hidden pasts.
- Similarities: Mirrors Charlotte’s mix of ensemble cast, supernatural gifts, and exploration of destiny versus free will.
Why These Anime Work for Charlotte Fans
Each of these series—whether tragic, psychological, or emotionally driven—echoes what made Charlotte resonate: flawed yet relatable characters, supernatural powers treated as heavy burdens, and narratives that constantly defy expectations. By exploring these underrated gems, fans can relive the same emotional highs, shocking twists, and heartfelt connections that made Charlotte unforgettable.
