15 Animes Similar to Justice League: Doom

Justice League: Doom (2012) masterfully explores themes of betrayal, contingency planning, and moral ambiguity within a superhero team. Its core appeal lies in power-system vulnerabilities, underdog dynamics, and subverting heroic tropes—elements often overshadowed in mainstream discourse.

These 15 underrated anime echo those themes through strategic conflicts, flawed heroes, and narrative unpredictability, offering fresh perspectives for fans seeking depth beyond typical superhero fare.

1. Akame ga Kill (2014)

• Streaming: Hulu, Crunchyroll
• Plot: Assassins target corrupt officials in a dystopian empire, facing moral dilemmas and brutal consequences. The revolution demands sacrifices that blur lines between heroism and villainy.
• Similarities: Like JL: Doom’s contingency-based betrayal, it subverts hero tropes through main-character deaths and moral ambiguity, challenging “victory at all costs” narratives.
• Details: 24 episodes, MAL: 7.8. Studio: White Fox. Notable for ruthless plot twists.

2. Darker than Black (2007)

• Streaming: Funimation, Tubi
• Plot: Superpowered “Contractors” undertake covert missions amid government conspiracies, with powers demanding personal sacrifices.
• Similarities: Mirrors JL: Doom’s secret-organization intrigue and morally gray operatives, where powers come with severe costs akin to Batman’s contingency vulnerabilities.
• Details: 25 episodes, MAL: 7.8. Studio: Bones. Won Tokyo Anime Award (2008).

3. Ergo Proxy (2006)

• Streaming: Amazon Prime, Hulu
• Plot: Investigator Re-L uncovers android conspiracies in a post-apocalyptic city, grappling with identity and systemic corruption.
• Similarities: Echoes JL: Doom’s psychological tension and systemic betrayal, with heroes questioning their roles in a broken world7.
• Details: 23 episodes, MAL: 7.8. Studio: Manglobe. Cyberpunk aesthetics.

4. Casshern Sins (2008)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: An amnesiac android seeks redemption in a ruined world, hunted for causing humanity’s extinction.
• Similarities: Reflects JL: Doom’s themes of unintended consequences and hero-as-villain subversion, with Casshern’s past haunting his present.
• Details: 24 episodes, MAL: 7.4. Studio: Madhouse. Dark, philosophical tone.

5. Kaze no Stigma (2007)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: Exiled wind-mage Kazuma returns to confront his clan, blending action with familial conflict.
• Similarities: Parallels JL: Doom’s “hero vs. system” dynamic, where Kazuma’s outsider status and tactical prowess challenge tradition.
• Details: 24 episodes, MAL: 7.2. Studio: Gonzo. Focuses on elemental power systems.

6. Yuki Yuna is a Hero (2014)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, HiDive
• Plot: Schoolgirls become magical warriors protecting their world, facing physical and emotional tolls.
• Similarities: Like JL: Doom’s high-stakes sacrifices, it explores heroism’s hidden costs and unexpected betrayals within a team.
• Details: 12 episodes + sequels, MAL: 7.5. Studio: Studio Gokumi. Dark fantasy elements.

7. Wolf’s Rain (2003)

• Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
• Plot: Wolves seek paradise in a dying world, confronting hunters and despair.
• Similarities: Shares JL: Doom’s bleak tone and underdog perseverance, with protagonists battling impossible odds.
• Details: 26 episodes, MAL: 7.7. Studio: Bones. Critically acclaimed soundtrack.

8. Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple (2006)

• Streaming: Netflix, Hulu
• Plot: A bullied teen trains under eccentric martial artists to become stronger.
• Similarities: Embodies JL: Doom’s underdog ethos, with Kenichi’s growth mirroring heroes overcoming their weaknesses.
• Details: 50 episodes, MAL: 8.0. Studio: TMS Entertainment. Focus on hard-work triumph.

9. Kingdom (2012–present)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, Netflix
• Plot: Slave-turned-general Xin unites warring Chinese states through strategy and loyalty.
• Similarities: Like JL: Doom’s tactical depth, it emphasizes battlefield ingenuity and team-based trust amid betrayal.
• Details: 130+ episodes, MAL: 8.3. Studio: Pierrot. Historical epic scale.

10. Space Brothers (2012)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: Unemployed Mutta pursues astronaut dreams, competing against his prodigy brother.
• Similarities: Captures JL: Doom’s “flawed heroes” narrative, with Mutta’s resilience echoing Batman’s preparedness against odds.
• Details: 99 episodes, MAL: 8.5. Studio: A-1 Pictures. Realistic space-agency drama.

11. From the New World (2012)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, HiDive
• Plot: Psychic children uncover dystopian secrets in a utopian society.
• Similarities: Aligns with JL: Doom’s moral ambiguity, revealing how systemic lies corrupt heroism.
• Details: 25 episodes, MAL: 8.3. Studio: A-1 Pictures. Slow-burn psychological thriller.

12. R.O.D: Read or Die (2001)

• Streaming: Amazon Prime
• Plot: Book-loving agents use paper-manipulation powers to thwart global conspiracies.
• Similarities: Like JL: Doom’s unique-power clashes, it combines niche abilities with team strategy against overwhelming foes.
• Details: 3 OVAs + series, MAL: 7.8. Studio: Studio Deen. Creative power usage.

13. The Beast Player Erin (2009)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: Erin bonds with mythical beasts to prevent war, facing political treachery.
• Similarities: Reflects JL: Doom’s theme of unintended consequences, where Erin’s compassion sparks conflict.
• Details: 50 episodes, MAL: 8.0. Studio: Production I.G. Fantasy-political depth.

14. Space Patrol Luluco (2016)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A schoolgirl joins interstellar police, navigating absurd crises with humor.
• Similarities: Parodies JL: Doom’s team dynamics through chaotic, high-stakes missions with unexpected twists.
• Details: 13 short episodes, MAL: 7.4. Studio: Trigger. Energetic, surreal animation.

15. Made in Abyss (2017)

• Streaming: HiDive, Amazon Prime
• Plot: Orphan Riko explores a deadly abyss to find her mother, encountering wonders and horrors.
• Similarities: Matches JL: Doom’s bleak stakes, where curiosity and sacrifice drive heroes into darkness.
• Details: 13 episodes + films, MAL: 8.7. Studio: Kinema Citrus. Award-winning world-building.

Why These Anime Work for Justice League: Doom Fans

These series resonate because they prioritize strategic vulnerability (e.g., heroes exploiting their own weaknesses), moral complexity (no clear heroes/villains), and narrative subversion (defying typical “win” scenarios). Like JL: Doom, they frame power as a double-edged sword—where preparation (e.g., Batman’s contingencies) can become a weapon against the wielder. By spotlighting underrated titles, we uncover nuanced storytelling that challenges superhero tropes while delivering the tactical depth and emotional weight fans cherish.