Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse revolutionized animation with its psychedelic visuals, multiverse storytelling, and themes of self-discovery.
These 15 underrated anime share its innovative spirit, blending unique art styles, underdog narratives, and emotional depth.
1. Land of the Lustrous (2017)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Immortal gemstone beings defend themselves against moon-dwelling predators. The youngest gem, Phosphophyllite, seeks purpose beyond combat.
- Similarities: Striking 3D animation with translucent character designs and existential themes mirror Spider-Verse’s visual experimentation. Both explore identity through unconventional visuals.
2. Bubuki Buranki (2016)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Plot: Five teens pilot mechanical limbs of a giant robot (“Buranki”) to protect their world.
- Similarities: Hybrid 2D/3D animation with “impossible” camera angles and kinetic fight choreography. Its limb-based mecha combat parallels Spider-Verse’s dimension-hopping fluidity.
3. Promare (2019)
- Streaming: Netflix, Crunchyroll
- Plot: Fire-wielding mutants battle an elite rescue squad in a world ablaze.
- Similarities: Vibrant, high-contrast color palettes and non-stop action. Studio Trigger’s signature “over-the-top” style echoes Spider-Verse’s energy.
4. Mob Psycho 100 II (2019)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A powerful psychic teen learns emotional control while facing supernatural threats.
- Similarities: Dynamic “psychic explosion” sequences with paint-splatter effects and Miles-like coming-of-age themes. Both blend humor with existential weight.
5. Tekkonkinkreet (2006)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime
- Plot: Orphans Black and White defend Treasure Town from yakuza using street smarts and surreal powers.
- Similarities: Gritty, graffiti-inspired cityscapes and distorted perspectives. Its twin protagonists reflect Miles and Gwen’s duality.
6. Mind Game (2004)
- Streaming: Tubi
- Plot: A murdered man escapes death through a psychedelic rebirth, challenging fate.
- Similarities: Experimental mixed-media animation and trippy multiverse concepts. Both redefine reality-bending visuals.
7. Ranking of Kings (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A deaf prince and his shadow companion defy expectations in a world ranking strength.
- Similarities: Deceptively simple art style hiding profound emotional depth. Bojji’s underdog journey parallels Miles’ growth.
8. Paranoia Agent (2004)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A bat-wielding boy attacks Tokyo residents, revealing hidden societal fractures.
- Similarities: Satoshi Kon’s surreal narrative structure and critique of urban alienation. Shares Spider-Verse’s layered storytelling.
9. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (2023)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: An elf mage processes grief after her hero companions’ deaths.
- Similarities: Time-jumping narrative exploring legacy and change. Its painterly backgrounds evoke Spider-Verse’s dimension-hopping artistry.
10. Redline (2009)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Drivers compete in a deadly intergalactic race with no rules.
- Similarities: Seven years of hand-drawn animation create explosive, graffiti-like motion. Pure adrenaline matching Spider-Verse’s chase sequences.
11. Kaiba (2008)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Plot: In a world where memories are tradable, an amnesiac searches for his identity.
- Similarities: Masaaki Yuasa’s fluid, retro-futuristic art and body-swapping themes. Both challenge perception through visual metaphor.
12. The Tatami Galaxy (2010)
- Streaming: Netflix
- Plot: A college student relives alternate timelines to fix his regrets.
- Similarities: Rapid-fire narration and kaleidoscopic visuals dissecting choice. Its time-loop structure mirrors multiverse consequences.
13. Mononoke (2007)
- Streaming: Netflix
- Plot: A “Medicine Seller” exorcises spirits by uncovering their traumatic origins.
- Similarities: Ukiyo-e-inspired art and psychedelic horror. Each arc’s visual style shifts like Spider-Verse’s dimensions.
14. Ping Pong The Animation (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Two ping-pong prodigies clash in a tournament defining their futures.
- Similarities: Expressionist character designs and kinetic match sequences. Explores rivalry and self-worth like Miles vs. Spider-Punk.
15. Sonny Boy (2021)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Plot: Students drift through abstract dimensions after their school mysteriously vanishes.
- Similarities: Surrealist animation exploring isolation and rebellion. Its existential multiverse resonates with Spider-Verse’s “canon events.”
Why These Anime Work for Spider-Verse Fans
These series prioritize visual innovation (e.g., Promare’s neon infernos, Land of the Lustrous’ gem physics) and thematic depth (Frieren’s meditation on mortality, Ranking of Kings’ subversion of strength). Like Spider-Verse, they prove animation isn’t a genre—it’s a limitless storytelling tool.
