Mysterious Disappearances (2024) weaves urban legends and supernatural mysteries into a narrative centered on grief, friendship, and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy.
For fans captivated by its eerie charm, character-driven storytelling, and investigative thrills, these 15 underrated anime explore parallel themes of hidden truths, emotional growth, and the uncanny lurking in everyday life.
1. Ghost Hunt (2006)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A high schooler joins a paranormal research team to investigate hauntings using scientific and spiritual methods, uncovering dark secrets tied to Japanese folklore.
Similarities: Mixes episodic supernatural cases with character bonding, mirroring Mysterious Disappearances’ balance of mystery and emotional depth.
Details: 25 episodes | Studio: J.C.Staff | MAL: 7.6
2. Un-Go (2011)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A detective and his supernatural partner solve crimes in a post-war Tokyo riddled with political corruption and otherworldly phenomena.
Similarities: Explores moral ambiguity and societal critique through paranormal sleuthing, akin to the Adashino siblings’ covert missions.
Details: 11 episodes | Studio: Bones | MAL: 7.3
3. Boogiepop Phantom (2000)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A series of interconnected urban legends plague a city, revealing psychological trauma and existential dread among its residents.
Similarities: Non-linear storytelling and eerie atmosphere echo Mysterious Disappearances’ exploration of collective fear.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: Madhouse | MAL: 7.4
4. Hell Girl (2005)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
Plot: A supernatural entity grants vengeance to tormented souls, but at the cost of their afterlife.
Similarities: Moral dilemmas and cyclical revenge themes parallel Sumireko’s struggles with loss and redemption.
Details: 26 episodes | Studio: Studio Deen | MAL: 7.5
5. Shinrei Tantei Yakumo (2010)
Streaming: HiDive
Plot: A college student assists a psychic detective in solving spirit-related crimes while confronting his own traumatic past.
Similarities: Character-driven mysteries with a focus on healing emotional scars.
Details: 13 episodes | Studio: Bee Train | MAL: 7.3
6. Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (2018)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A duo enforces supernatural law, exorcising vengeful spirits while navigating bureaucratic absurdity.
Similarities: Blends dark humor with episodic supernatural cases, akin to the bookstore’s quirky investigations.
Details: 24 episodes | Studio: Studio Deen | MAL: 7.0
7. Dark Gathering (2023)
Streaming: HiDive, Hulu
Plot: A traumatized tutor and a vengeful girl collect malevolent spirits to confront a demonic entity.
Similarities: High-stakes ghost-hunting and emotional trauma resolution, echoing Oto’s quest for closure.
Details: 25 episodes | Studio: OLM | MAL: 7.7
8. Mononoke (2007)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A nameless “Medicine Seller” exorcises malevolent spirits by unraveling their tragic origins.
Similarities: Avant-garde visuals and folklore-inspired horror mirror Mysterious Disappearances’ surreal tone.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: Toei Animation | MAL: 8.3
9. Dorohedoro (2020)
Streaming: Netflix
Plot: A reptilian-headed man hunts sorcerers in a dystopian city to reclaim his memories.
Similarities: Gritty worldbuilding and dark comedy juxtaposed with existential mysteries.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: MAPPA | MAL: 8.0
10. Sonny Boy (2021)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Students trapped in a dimension-bending void develop powers while questioning reality’s rules.
Similarities: Philosophical exploration of isolation and self-discovery through surreal storytelling.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: Madhouse | MAL: 7.8
11. Durarara!! (2010)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Urban legends come alive in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district, intertwining the lives of gangsters, hackers, and a headless rider.
Similarities: Interconnected narratives and folklore-inspired chaos akin to the Adashino siblings’ cases.
Details: 36 episodes | Studio: Brain’s Base | MAL: 8.1
12. The Perfect Insider (2015)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A genius programmer’s murder in a locked-room lab sparks a battle of wits between a professor and his student.
Similarities: Intellectual puzzles and psychological depth reflecting Sumireko’s literary aspirations.
Details: 11 episodes | Studio: A-1 Pictures | MAL: 7.2
13. Paranoia Agent (2004)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A mysterious assailant terrorizes Tokyo, exposing societal anxieties through urban legend hysteria.
Similarities: Satirical take on collective fear and identity, mirroring the “curiosities” in Mysterious Disappearances.
Details: 13 episodes | Studio: Madhouse | MAL: 7.7
14. Shiki (2010)
Streaming: Hulu
Plot: A rural village’s residents succumb to a vampiric plague, sparking moral conflict between survivors.
Similarities: Slow-burn horror dissecting human nature amid supernatural crises.
Details: 22 episodes | Studio: Daume | MAL: 7.7
15. From the New World (2012)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: In a dystopian future, children with psychic powers uncover their society’s horrifying secrets.
Similarities: Themes of hidden truths and ethical decay resonate with the Adashinos’ interworld struggles.
Details: 25 episodes | Studio: A-1 Pictures | MAL: 8.1
Why These Anime Work for Mysterious Disappearances Fans
These series thrive on the tension between the ordinary and supernatural, dissecting human resilience through eerie mysteries.
From Ghost Hunt’s forensic occultism to Mononoke’s psychological depth, they mirror Mysterious Disappearances’ fusion of emotional vulnerability and supernatural intrigue. Whether through dystopian grit (Dorohedoro) or surreal philosophy (Sonny Boy), each anime challenges viewers to confront hidden truths—proving that the most compelling stories often lie in the shadows.
