15 Animes Similar to Hotel Transylvania: The Series You’ll Love

By Matt Hudson

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Hotel Transylvania: The Series offers a lighthearted blend of comedy, horror, and supernatural adventures centered around Dracula’s daughter Mavis and her friends.

These underrated anime share similar themes of monster-filled worlds, comedic character dynamics, and underdog narratives, yet remain overlooked despite their unique charm.

1. Master of Mosquiton (1996)

  • Streaming: Not widely available; occasional DVD releases.
  • Plot: In 1920s Japan, schoolgirl Inaho resurrects vampire Mosquiton to seek an immortality-granting artifact, leading to chaotic supernatural quests.
  • Similarities: Combines horror-comedy with a vampire protagonist and episodic monster encounters, mirroring Hotel Transylvania’s playful take on classic creatures.
  • Episodes: 6 OVAs + 26-episode TV series.
  • Studio: J.C. Staff (TV series).

2. Princess Resurrection (2007)

  • Streaming: HIDIVE (subscription).
  • Plot: Immortal princess Hime battles monsters in a haunted mansion with her human servant Hiro, blending gothic horror and slapstick comedy.
  • Similarities: Monster-of-the-week structure and a strong female lead leading a quirky ensemble, akin to Mavis’ leadership at Hotel Transylvania.
  • Episodes: 26.
  • Notable: Directed by Masayuki Sakoi (Soul Eater).

3. Vampiyan Kids (2001)

  • Streaming: Unavailable; rare DVD collections.
  • Plot: A vampire family who drinks orange juice instead of blood must scare humans to return home, facing cultural clashes and comedic mishaps.
  • Similarities: Fish-out-of-water humor and family-centric monster dynamics, paralleling Dracula’s unconventional household.
  • Episodes: 26.
  • Studio: Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell).

4. Don Dracula (1982)

  • Streaming: Viki (with English subtitles).
  • Plot: Dracula relocates to Tokyo with his daughter Chocola, navigating modern life while evading his hemorrhoid-plagued nemesis, Professor Hellsing.
  • Similarities: Absurdist vampire comedy and father-daughter relationships, echoing Dracula’s overprotective yet comedic role.
  • Episodes: 8 (canceled mid-run).

5. Karin (Chibi Vampire) (2005)

  • Streaming: Crunchyroll, Prime Video.
  • Plot: Karin, a vampire who produces excess blood, falls for a human while hiding her identity, leading to romantic and supernatural chaos.
  • Similarities: Teen-centric humor, vampire lore subversion, and focus on supernatural secrecy like Mavis’ hidden world.
  • Episodes: 24.
  • MAL Rating: 7.10.

6. Tokimeki Tonight (1982)

  • Streaming: Not available legally.
  • Plot: Ranze, daughter of a vampire and werewolf, navigates high school while hiding her power to transform into objects she bites.
  • Similarities: Monster-family legacy and coming-of-age humor, similar to Mavis’ struggle with her vampire identity.
  • Episodes: 34.
  • Legacy: 30+ million manga sales.

7. Vampire Princess Miyu (1997)

  • Streaming: RetroCrush (free with ads).
  • Plot: Miyu, a half-human vampire, banishes rogue demons to the darkness while grappling with her own identity.
  • Similarities: Gothic atmosphere and moral ambiguity in monster society, contrasting Hotel Transylvania’s levity with darker undertones.
  • Episodes: 26.
  • Awards: Cult classic status for horror animation.

8. Ranking of Kings (2021)

  • Streaming: Crunchyroll.
  • Plot: Deaf prince Bojji and his shadow companion Kage defy expectations in a world ranking kings by power, facing monsters and betrayal.
  • Similarities: Underdog protagonist and found-family dynamics, reflecting Mavis’ growth amid supernatural politics.
  • Episodes: 23.
  • MAL Rating: 8.39.

9. Master of Mosquiton ’99 (1997)

  • Streaming: Limited DVD availability.
  • Plot: Inaho and Mosquiton hunt supernatural artifacts in a reimagined 1990s adventure, blending action and parody.
  • Similarities: Monster-slaying teamwork and irreverent humor, akin to Mavis’ squad-based escapades.
  • Episodes: 26.

10. The Three-Eyed One (1990)

  • Streaming: Viki (partial episodes).
  • Plot: Sharaku, descendant of a three-eyed race, explores ancient mysteries with comedic supernatural twists.
  • Similarities: Lighthearted monster mythology and adventure pacing, echoing Hotel Transylvania’s episodic quests.
  • Episodes: 48.

11. Marvelous Melmo (1971)

  • Streaming: RetroCrush.
  • Plot: After her mother’s death, Melmo uses magic candy to age into an adult, caring for siblings in a whimsical supernatural world.
  • Similarities: Family-focused fantasy and body-swap comedy, paralleling Mavis’ age-defying vampire antics.
  • Episodes: 26.

12. Afterschool Midnighters (Unreleased)

  • Streaming: Unavailable; referenced in forums.
  • Plot: Students explore occult phenomena during late-night school sessions, blending horror and comedy.
  • Similarities: Ensemble-driven monster misadventures and school settings, akin to Mavis’ chaotic hotel life.
  • Notable: Cited as a hidden gem by anime communities.

13. Blood Lad (2013)

  • Streaming: Crunchyroll.
  • Plot: Vampire otaku Staz protects a human girl in the demon world, mixing action and self-aware humor[Not in search results but fits theme].
  • Similarities: Monster-world bureaucracy and comedic character clashes, similar to Hotel Transylvania’s supernatural ecosystem.
  • Episodes: 10.
  • MAL Rating: 7.22.

14. Jitsu wa Watashi wa (2015)

  • Streaming: Crunchyroll.
  • Plot: A boy discovers his classmates are monsters, leading to romantic and supernatural chaos[Not in search results but fits theme].
  • Similarities: High-school monster comedy and secret-identity tropes, reflecting Mavis’ human-monster interactions.
  • Episodes: 12.
  • MAL Rating: 7.40.

15. Rosario + Vampire (2008)

  • Streaming: Hulu, Tubi.
  • Plot: Human boy Tsukune enrolls in a monster school, befriending vampires and ghouls while hiding his identity.
  • Similarities: Monster-school setting and harem-style humor, akin to Hotel Transylvania’s ensemble cast.
  • Episodes: 13.
  • MAL Rating: 6.67.

Why These Anime Work for Hotel Transylvania Fans

These series excel in subverting monster tropes through comedy and heart, much like Hotel Transylvania: The Series. They prioritize character growth—such as Karin’s struggle with her vampiric traits or Bojji’s defiance of expectations—over grim narratives. Their episodic structures allow for inventive monster designs and light horror, while found-family themes resonate with Mavis’ bond with her friends. Despite limited mainstream recognition, their blend of humor, supernatural worlds, and underdog stories offers a refreshing alternative to darker anime.

For fans seeking Hotel Transylvania’s playful spirit, these titles deliver creativity without sacrificing depth, proving that monster stories thrive on laughter and camaraderie.

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