“Justice League: Gods and Monsters” (2015) reimagines DC icons through a dark, morally complex lens, featuring a vampiric Batman, Zod’s son as Superman, and a war-driven Wonder Woman. This alternate universe explores power, identity, and the blurred line between heroism and tyranny within a dystopian framework.
For fans seeking similarly underrated anime with mature themes, subverted tropes, and intricate character studies, these 15 lesser-known series offer profound narratives beyond mainstream hits.
1. Ergo Proxy (2006)
Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Plot Summary: In a domed city, Inspector Re-L Mayer investigates murders linked to self-aware androids and encounters Proxies—mysterious beings tied to humanity’s fate. Her journey unravels government conspiracies in a cyberpunk wasteland.
Similarities: Explores moral ambiguity, god-like beings (Proxies), and dystopian governance, mirroring “Gods and Monsters”‘ antihero themes.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.90
- Episodes: 23
- Studio: Manglobe
- Awards: Nominated for Tokyo Anime Award (2007).
2. Casshern Sins (2008)
Streaming Availability: Prime Video, Crunchyroll
Plot Summary: An amnesiac cyborg, Casshern, wanders a ruined Earth plagued by “Ruin,” hunted by robots and humans who blame him for the apocalypse. He battles to uncover his past while seeking redemption.
Similarities: Post-apocalyptic setting, morally gray protagonist, and themes of inherited sin align with the dark tone of “Gods and Monsters”.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.16
- Episodes: 24
- Studio: Madhouse
- Awards: None, but critically acclaimed for its art direction.
3. Space Patrol Luluco (2016)
Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
Plot Summary: Ordinary student Luluco joins the Space Patrol after her father is frozen, teaming with aliens to defend her city from intergalactic criminals. Each mission escalates into absurd, high-stakes chaos.
Similarities: Subverts hero tropes with surreal humor and alternate realities, akin to the twisted reimaginings in “Gods and Monsters”.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.22
- Episodes: 13 (7-min episodes)
- Studio: Trigger
- Awards: Praised for inventive animation.
4. Kaze no Stigma (2007)
Streaming Availability: Funimation, Hulu
Plot Summary: Exiled fire-magic user Kazuma returns as a master wind manipulator, accused of murders in his clan. He partners with his rival cousin to unmask the true killer.
Similarities: Power-system subversion (elemental magic vs. divine powers) and antihero dynamics echo the redefined hero roles in “Gods and Monsters”.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.16
- Episodes: 24
- Studio: Gonzo
- Awards: None, but a cult classic for action romance.
5. Yuki Yuna Is a Hero (2014)
Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, HiDive
Plot Summary: Schoolgirl Yuna and her clubmates gain magical powers to battle “Vertex” monsters threatening their world. Their victories come at a hidden, devastating cost.
Similarities: Dark deconstruction of heroism and sacrifice parallels the film’s exploration of power’s consequences.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.38
- Episodes: 12 (Season 1)
- Studio: Studio Gokumi
- Awards: Won Newtype Anime Award (2015).
6. Ghost Hound (2007)
Streaming Availability: HiDive
Plot Summary: Three traumatized boys gain astral projection abilities, confronting psychological horrors and a small town’s dark secrets. Their journey blends supernatural mystery with existential dread.
Similarities: Psychological depth and blurred reality/identity themes resonate with the film’s complex character studies.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.60
- Episodes: 22
- Studio: Production I.G
- Awards: None, but praised for sound design.
7. Gunslinger Girl (2003)
Streaming Availability: Funimation
Plot Summary: Brainwashed cyborg girls serve as assassins for a government agency, grappling with their humanity amid brutal missions. Their relationships with handlers blur loyalty and exploitation.
Similarities: Explores engineered “heroes” and moral decay, reflecting the film’s take on manufactured power.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.40
- Episodes: 13
- Studio: Madhouse
- Awards: Nominated for Tokyo Anime Award (2004).
8. From the New World (2012)
Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, HiDive
Plot Summary: In a utopian society where humans wield psychokinesis, children uncover systemic atrocities and genetic manipulation hiding beneath the order.
Similarities: Dystopian control and ethical ambiguity mirror “Gods and Monsters”‘ themes of power corrupting utopias.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 8.30
- Episodes: 25
- Studio: A-1 Pictures
- Awards: Top 10 Anime of 2013 (Anime News Network).
9. Wolf’s Rain (2003)
Streaming Availability: Funimation, Hulu
Plot Summary: Wolves disguised as humans search for paradise in a dying world, facing betrayal, loss, and their own fading hope.
Similarities: Post-apocalyptic grit, antihero journeys, and philosophical weight align with the film’s darker tone.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.80
- Episodes: 26
- Studio: Bones
- Awards: Iconic for its soundtrack and atmosphere.
10. .Hack//Sign (2002)
Streaming Availability: Funimation
Plot Summary: A player trapped in an MMORPG must navigate virtual mysteries and psychological trauma to escape, questioning reality and identity.
Similarities: Blurs hero/villain roles in a digital realm, akin to the film’s subversion of archetypes.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.00
- Episodes: 26
- Studio: Bee Train
- Awards: Pioneered “trapped in a game” tropes.
11. Symphogear (2012)
Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
Plot Summary: Girls fuse music with combat armor to fight alien threats, balancing personal struggles with world-saving duties.
Similarities: Underdog heroes wielding unconventional powers echo the film’s reimagined hero dynamics.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.20 (Season 1)
- Episodes: 13 (Season 1)
- Studio: Encourage Films
- Awards: Cult following for action-music fusion.
12. BNA: Brand New Animal (2020)
Streaming Availability: Netflix
Plot Summary: A human-turned-tanuki teams with a wolf ally to expose discrimination in a beast-person sanctuary, uncovering political conspiracies.
Similarities: Themes of prejudice, dual identities, and societal corruption reflect the film’s focus on marginalized heroes.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.40
- Episodes: 12
- Studio: Trigger
- Awards: Praised for vibrant animation.
13. Made in Abyss (2017)
Streaming Availability: HiDive, Amazon Prime
Plot Summary: A girl and a robot descend into a monstrous abyss to find her mother, facing body horror and ethical horrors.
Similarities: Dark exploration of power and innocence lost parallels the film’s mature storytelling.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 8.70
- Episodes: 13
- Studio: Kinema Citrus
- Awards: Crunchyroll Anime Award (Best Animation, 2018).
14. Ghost Hunt (2006)
Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
Plot Summary: Paranormal investigators tackle hauntings using science and spirituality, revealing human darkness behind supernatural cases.
Similarities: Investigative team dynamic and moral ambiguity echo the film’s ensemble conflict.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.80
- Episodes: 25
- Studio: J.C.Staff
- Awards: None, but a horror classic.
15. Last Exile (2003)
Streaming Availability: Funimation
Plot Summary: Sky couriers join a rebellion against an oppressive empire, navigating aerial battles and class warfare in a steampunk world.
Similarities: Underdog revolution and dystopian politics mirror the film’s critique of power structures.
Additional Details:
- MAL Rating: 7.80
- Episodes: 26
- Studio: Gonzo
- Awards: Excellence Prize (Japan Media Arts Festival, 2003).
Why These Anime Work for Justice League: Gods and Monsters Fans
These series resonate by subverting hero tropes, embedding moral complexity, and crafting dystopian worlds where power corrupts. Like “Gods and Monsters,” they prioritize psychological depth over black-and-white morality, featuring protagonists who grapple with identity, legacy, and redemption. Their underrated status stems from niche appeal—prioritizing philosophical weight over mainstream action—yet they deliver the narrative innovation fans crave. For viewers seeking alternatives to conventional superhero tales, these anime offer rich, mature storytelling that challenges perceptions of heroism.
