15 Animes Similar to Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths explores multiverse threats, heroic sacrifices, and ensemble dynamics against apocalyptic stakes. Like the film, these anime delve into power systems, underdog narratives, and subverted expectations—often overshadowed by mainstream hits.

Here are 15 underrated gems that resonate with its themes, offering unique animation styles and profound character arcs.

1. Darker than Black (2007)

• Streaming: Funimation (region-dependent)
• Plot: In a world altered by spatial anomalies “Gates,” superpowered “Contractors” undertake covert missions for shadowy organizations. Agent Hei navigates moral ambiguity while uncovering conspiracies tied to Tokyo’s Hell’s Gate.
• Similarities: Espionage-driven team dynamics and morally gray heroes mirror the League’s covert operations. The high-stakes conspiracy echoes Crisis‘ multiverse threat.
• Details: 25 episodes, Studio Bones, MAL: 8.04. Won “Best Original Anime” (GoGoplex, 2007).

2. R.O.D the TV (2003)

• Streaming: Not widely available (formerly Funimation)
• Plot: Yomiko Readman, a “Paper Master” who manipulates paper, leads a team of bibliophile agents against global conspiracies threatening literary and human history.
• Similarities: Team-based action with uniquely powered heroes (like the League) and large-scale threats. The blend of espionage and supernatural stakes parallels Crisis.
• Details: 26 episodes, Studio Gonzo, MAL: 7.78. Praised for innovative action choreography.

3. Yu Yu Hakusho (1992)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
• Plot: After dying to save a child, delinquent Yusuke Urameshi becomes an “Underworld Detective,” battling demons alongside allies to protect humanity.
• Similarities: Team camaraderie and underdog-to-hero journeys reflect Justice League’s unity against overwhelming evil. The tournament arcs parallel Crisis‘ dimensional battles.
• Details: 112 episodes, Studio Pierrot, MAL: 8.01. Influenced shonen team dynamics.

4. Trigun (1998)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu (US); Funimation (New Zealand)
• Plot: Pacifist gunslinger Vash the Stampede, hunted for a $$60 billion bounty, protects innocents on a desert planet while confronting his dark past.
• Similarities: Vash’s moral code (like Superman) and cosmic-scale conspiracies echo Crisis‘ ethical dilemmas. The blend of action and philosophy resonates with DC’s tone.
• Details: 26 episodes, Studio Madhouse, MAL: 8.24. Critically acclaimed for narrative depth.

5. Saint Seiya (1986)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: Warriors called “Saints” don constellation-based armor to defend Athena against gods threatening Earth. Seiya, a Bronze Saint, rises against divine foes.
• Similarities: Mythic battles, team-based heroism, and underdog triumphs align with the League’s god-tier conflicts. The armor system parallels DC’s diverse power sets.
• Details: 114 episodes, Toei Animation, MAL: 7.75. Pioneered armored-hero tropes.

6. BNA: Brand New Animal (2020)

• Streaming: Netflix
• Plot: Michiru, a human-turned-tanuki Beastman, uncovers political corruption in Anima City—a refuge for marginalized superhumans—with wolf ally Shirou.
• Similarities: Discrimination themes and found-family dynamics reflect X-Men/Justice League social commentary. The vibrant, fluid animation enhances its superhero-esque action.
• Details: 12 episodes, Studio Trigger, MAL: 7.34. Praised for urban-fantasy worldbuilding.

7. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: Girls gain magical powers via Faustian contracts, only to face tragic truths about their role in battling witches. Madoka Kaname reshapes fate itself.
• Similarities: Deconstructs heroism like Crisis‘ subversion of tropes. The cosmic stakes and sacrificial themes mirror the film’s multiverse sacrifices.
• Details: 12 episodes, Shaft, MAL: 8.38. Won Animation Kobe Award (2011).

8. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, Netflix
• Plot: Simon and Kamina pilot mechas to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, evolving from underground miners to universe-saving revolutionaries.
• Similarities: Escalating multiversal threats and team-driven resolve mirror Crisis‘ scale. The “never-give-up” ethos embodies underdog heroism.
• Details: 27 episodes, Gainax, MAL: 8.65. Lauded for kinetic animation and thematic depth.

9. Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor (2009)

• Streaming: Funimation
• Plot: Hei mentors Suo Pavlichenko, a young Contractor, while evading global manhunts and confronting new anomalies linked to the Gates.
• Similarities: Expands the first season’s moral complexity and team dynamics, akin to Crisis‘ character-focused sequels. The stakes feel personal yet apocalyptic.
• Details: 12 episodes, Studio Bones, MAL: 7.57. Explores trauma and redemption.

10. Read or Die OVA (2001)

• Streaming: Limited (DVD-only regions)
• Plot: Prelude to R.O.D the TV, starring Yomiko Readman as she thwarts a global plot using paper-based powers to protect historical manuscripts.
• Similarities: Solo-hero origins (like early League stories) and inventive power usage. The blend of action and intellectual stakes mirrors DC’s tone.
• Details: 3 episodes, Studio Dean, MAL: 7.52. Influenced supernatural-espionage genres.

11. Black Clover (2017)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, Netflix
• Plot: Magicless Asta defies fate to become the “Wizard King,” leading a squad against demonic threats in a world where power defines worth.
• Similarities: Underdog perseverance and squad-based battles echo the League’s teamwork against insurmountable odds. The anti-discrimination themes align with DC’s social justice focus.
• Details: 170 episodes, Studio Pierrot, MAL: 7.78. Sustained popularity through character growth.

12. Darker than Black Gaiden (2010)

• Streaming: Funimation
• Plot: Four OVA episodes bridging Seasons 1 and 2, focusing on Hei and Yin’s relationship amid Syndicate betrayals and new Contractor threats.
• Similarities: Character-driven interludes deepen lore, much like Crisis’ emotional beats. The noir tone mirrors Batman’s narratives.
• Details: 4 episodes, Studio Bones. Explores sacrifice and loyalty.

13. Baccano! (2007)

• Streaming: Funimation
• Plot: Immortals, mafia, and alchemists collide on a 1930s train, weaving non-linear tales of chaos and camaraderie across timelines.
• Similarities: Ensemble cast and intersecting timelines reflect Crisis’ multiverse structure. The moral ambiguity parallels DC’s antiheroes.
• Details: 16 episodes, Brain’s Base, MAL: 8.33. Acclaimed for narrative innovation.

14. Kekkai Sensen (2015)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: In a monster-filled New York, Libra Organization members with supernatural abilities maintain balance between humans and extradimensional beings.
• Similarities: Team-based chaos and dimensional riffs evoke the League’s interdimensional crises. The stylized animation heightens superhero flair.
• Details: 12 episodes, Studio Bones, MAL: 7.92. Won awards for art direction.

15. Scryed (2001)

• Streaming: Funimation
• Plot: In an earthquake-ravaged Japan, “Alter Users” Kazuma and Ryuhou clash over using powers for justice or control, culminating in ideological warfare.
• Similarities: Rivalry-driven narrative and power-system conflicts mirror hero-villain dynamics in Crisis. The underdog rebellion resonates with DC’s themes.
• Details: 26 episodes, Sunrise, MAL: 7.41. Notable for gritty character arcs.

Why These Anime Work for Justice League: Crisis Fans

These series prioritize team synergy against existential threats, much like the League’s multiverse battles. They subvert expectations—Madoka Magica deconstructs heroism, while Darker than Black explores moral ambiguity. Underdog journeys (Black Clover, Yu Yu Hakusho) mirror Barry Allen’s resilience. Stylistically, Gurren Lagann’s escalation and BNA’s visual creativity parallel DC’s bold storytelling. For fans seeking depth beyond mainstream hits, these titles offer nuanced takes on heroism, sacrifice, and unity.