The original Devilman , created by Go Nagai, is a landmark anime that blends horror, action, and psychological depth. With its unique power systems, underdog protagonist Akira Fudo, and its bold subversion of moral binaries, Devilman set the stage for countless darker anime to come.
1. Demon Lord Dante (2002)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video (varies by region)
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 6.44
- Studio: Magic Bus
- Notable Staff: Based on another Go Nagai manga
A teenager becomes the vessel for an ancient demon god while the world spirals into a war between humanity and demons.
Devilman fans will appreciate this spiritual predecessor with its heavy religious undertones, grotesque visuals, and moral ambiguity.
2. Garo: The Animation (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.18
- Studio: MAPPA
- Notable Staff: Directed by Yūichirō Hayashi (Attack on Titan Final Season)
In a world plagued by demons, Makai Knights protect humanity in secret, wielding supernatural armor and powers.
The demon-slaying, armored transformations, and darker tone echo Devilman’s atmosphere, with a more fantasy-centric twist.
3. Blue Gender (1999)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 7.07
- Studio: AIC
- Notable Staff: Koichi Ohata (MD Geist, Burst Angel)
In a future ravaged by alien creatures, a cryogenically frozen man awakens to fight for survival.
Shares Devilman’s apocalyptic dread, character trauma, and themes of losing humanity in a violent world.
4. Wolf’s Rain (2003)
- Streaming: Hulu, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 26 + 4 OVAs
- MAL Rating: 7.98
- Studio: Bones
- Notable Staff: Keiko Nobumoto (Writer, Cowboy Bebop), Yoko Kanno (Music)
Wolves in human form search for paradise in a dying world.
Shares Devilman‘s existentialism, poetic tone, and emphasis on outsiders trying to find meaning.
5. Texhnolyze (2003)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 22
- MAL Rating: 7.73
- Studio: Madhouse
- Notable Staff: Directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki (Steins;Gate)
A man modified with cybernetic limbs finds himself entangled in a brutal, decaying underground society.
Offers Devilman’s nihilistic worldview and intense body horror, combined with slow-burn philosophical storytelling.
6. The Big O (1999)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, RetroCrush
- Episodes: 26 (2 seasons)
- MAL Rating: 7.52
- Studio: Sunrise
- Notable Staff: Kazuyoshi Katayama (Director)
In a city with no memories, a negotiator pilots a giant robot to uncover the truth.
Mysterious world-building and noir aesthetics match Devilman‘s surreal tension and existential mystery.
7. Ergo Proxy (2006)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 23
- MAL Rating: 7.91
- Studio: Manglobe
- Notable Staff: Dai Satō (Writer, Cowboy Bebop)
A dystopian society faces chaos as androids and humans question reality and existence.
Tackles human evolution, identity, and free will in ways reminiscent of Devilman’s core conflicts.
8. Shinreigari: Ghost Hound (2007)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 22
- MAL Rating: 7.74
- Studio: Production I.G
- Notable Staff: Masamune Shirow (Creator, Ghost in the Shell)
Three teenagers explore out-of-body experiences to uncover dark truths about their past.
Explores psychological trauma and supernatural forces like Devilman, but with a more introspective, cerebral approach.
9. Kaiba (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 8.17
- Studio: Madhouse
- Notable Staff: Masaaki Yuasa (Director, Devilman Crybaby)
In a future where memories can be extracted and sold, a man wakes with no identity.
Yuasa’s art style and themes of memory and soul echo Devilman‘s philosophical questioning and emotional storytelling.
10. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (2004)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 8.17
- Studio: Gonzo
- Notable Staff: Mahiro Maeda (Director, Blue Submarine No. 6)
A futuristic, psychedelic adaptation of the classic revenge tale, focusing on betrayal and redemption.
Deals with moral duality, revenge, and identity — central Devilman themes — and uses innovative layered animation.
11. Boogiepop Phantom (2000)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.14
- Studio: Madhouse
- Notable Staff: Takashi Watanabe (Director, Slayers)
A wave of mysterious disappearances hits a city, tied to a supernatural being known as Boogiepop.
Shares Devilman‘s abstract horror, fragmented storytelling, and deep psychological themes.
12. Now and Then, Here and There (1999)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 8.18
- Studio: AIC
- Notable Staff: Akitaro Daichi (Director, Fruits Basket 2001)
A boy is transported to a dystopian future where war, suffering, and survival are brutal truths.
Features a kind-hearted protagonist like Akira, thrust into horror beyond his control, underscoring lost innocence.
13. Hells (2008)
- Streaming: YouTube (Official, Free), DVD
- Episodes: 1 Movie
- MAL Rating: 7.45
- Studio: Madhouse
- Notable Staff: Directed by Yoshiki Yamakawa (Little Busters!)
A girl dies and finds herself in a surreal school for the dead.
Combines chaotic visuals with a heartfelt journey through death, morality, and redemption, echoing Devilman’s tonal shifts.
14. Kemonozume (2006)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.13
- Studio: Madhouse
- Notable Staff: Masaaki Yuasa (Director)
A love story between a monster hunter and a flesh-eating demon.
Merges grotesque horror with emotional storytelling, just like Devilman, and uses raw, expressive animation.
15. Key the Metal Idol (1994)
- Streaming: RetroCrush, Tubi
- Episodes: 15
- MAL Rating: 7.28
- Studio: Studio Pierrot
- Notable Staff: Hiroaki Sato (Creator)
A robot girl seeks to become human by gaining 30,000 friends.
Themes of humanity, emotional suppression, and identity mirror Devilman’s tragic, philosophical roots.
Why These Anime Work for Devilman Fans
Each of these series—whether through demonic transformations, post-apocalyptic settings, or deep psychological exploration—carries the DNA of Devilman (1972). These shows embrace emotional rawness, challenging moral frameworks, and unique animation styles that reward viewers willing to dive deeper.
