Star Wars Rebels is a celebrated animated series that follows the crew of the Ghost starship as they resist the Galactic Empire, blending space opera with deep character bonds and underdog resilience. Its core themes—found family dynamics, rebellion against oppressive forces, and the moral complexities of power—resonate through these 15 underrated anime selections.
While mainstream hits often dominate discourse, these hidden gems offer similar narrative depth, unique animation styles, and thematic richness, making them essential viewing for Rebels fans seeking fresh yet familiar adventures.
1. Full Metal Panic! (2002)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Plot: Mercenary Sousuke Sagara protects Kaname Chidori, a high school girl targeted for her latent psychic abilities, while combating the shadowy organization Amalgam.
- Similarities: Rebels’ “found family” dynamic mirrors Sousuke’s bond with Kaname and his Mithril comrades, while its blend of tactical combat and character-driven stakes echoes Rebels’ balance of action and heart.
- MAL: 7.8 (24 episodes)
- Studio: Gonzo (S1), Kyoto Animation (S2-3)
2. Outlaw Star (1998)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- Plot: Rogue Gene Starwind and his eclectic crew hunt the mythical Galactic Leyline, facing assassins and rivals in a lawless cosmos.
- Similarities: Like the Ghost crew, Gene’s team embodies scrappy underdogs navigating moral gray areas, with ship-based camaraderie and high-stakes space chases mirroring Rebels’ episodic adventures.
- MAL: 7.7 (26 episodes)
- Studio: Sunrise
3. Crest of the Stars (1999)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Plot: Prince Abriel and diplomat Jinto flee an interstellar empire’s genocide, forging an alliance amid political turmoil.
- Similarities: Its focus on resistance against tyranny and evolving character relationships parallels Rebels’ exploration of loyalty and sacrifice in the face of imperialism.
- MAL: 7.8 (13 episodes)
- Studio: Sunrise
4. Planetes (2003)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Debris collectors in 2075 confront corporate greed while safeguarding space travel, blending hard sci-fi with human drama.
- Similarities: Rebels’ theme of small-scale heroes challenging systemic corruption aligns with Planetes’ underdog crew fighting for justice beyond battlefields.
- MAL: 8.3 (26 episodes)
- Studio: Sunrise
5. Knights of Sidonia (2014)
- Streaming: Netflix
- Plot: Humanity’s last generation battles alien entities aboard a generation ship, with pilot Nagate Tanikaze uncovering political conspiracies.
- Similarities: The claustrophobic ship setting and youth-led resistance against extinction mirror Rebels’ tone, emphasizing survival and unity.
- MAL: 7.2 (24 episodes)
- Studio: Polygon Pictures
6. Heroic Age (2007)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Young warrior Age, bearing god-like powers, guides humanity’s exodus fleet against alien overlords in an epic space odyssey.
- Similarities: Its “chosen one” narrative and ragtag fleet’s struggle evoke Ezra Bridger’s journey, while cosmic-scale conflicts echo Rebels’ grand stakes.
- MAL: 7.4 (26 episodes)
- Studio: Xebec
7. Last Exile (2003)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Sky couriers Claus and Lavie join rebels fighting an authoritarian regime in a steampunk world of aerial combat.
- Similarities: The focus on flight-based rebellion and class disparity reflects Rebels’ anti-imperialism, with dogfights replacing lightsaber duels.
- MAL: 7.8 (26 episodes)
- Studio: Gonzo
8. Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (2013)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Mecha pilot Ledo crash-lands on a waterlogged Earth, learning peace from locals while confronting his warlike past.
- Similarities: Ledo’s redemption arc mirrors Kanan Jarrus’ growth, emphasizing how war veterans adapt to newfound family and purpose.
- MAL: 7.5 (13 episodes)
- Studio: Production I.G.
9. Tiger & Bunny (2011)
- Streaming: Netflix, Hulu
- Plot: Veteran hero Wild Tiger mentors rookie Barnaby in a corporatized superhero league, tackling corruption behind flashy heroics.
- Similarities: Its critique of power structures and mentorship dynamics align with Rebels’ exploration of legacy and moral ambiguity in conflict5.
- MAL: 7.8 (25 episodes)
- Studio: Sunrise
10. The Big O (1999)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Plot: Negotiator Roger Smith pilots a giant mech in amnesia-plagued Paradigm City, uncovering dystopian secrets.
- Similarities: The noir-inspired mystery and protagonist’s fight against hidden oligarchs reflect Rebels’ blend of episodic intrigue and overarching rebellion.
- MAL: 7.5 (26 episodes)
- Studio: Sunrise
11. Scrapped Princess (2003)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Plot: Pacifica, prophesied to end the world, flees with her siblings through a magic-steeped fantasy realm hunted by church and state.
- Similarities: Its “family on the run” narrative and anti-dogma themes parallel the Ghost crew’s evasion of the Empire and Jedi lore deconstruction.
- MAL: 7.6 (24 episodes)
- Studio: Bones
12. Toward the Terra (2007)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Telepathic youth Jomy leads a rebellion against AI-ruled humanity in a future where emotions are suppressed.
- Similarities: The psychic protagonist’s fight for freedom mirrors Ezra’s connection to the Force, while its critique of conformity echoes Rebels’ resistance ethos.
- MAL: 7.7 (24 episodes)
- Studio: Tokyo Kids
13. Zegapain (2006)
- Streaming: No official streaming (DVD-only)
- Plot: Amnesiac Kyo fights mech-suited battles in a virtual world, unaware his reality is a simulation hiding humanity’s extinction.
- Similarities: The twist-driven narrative and crew-based combat against existential threats mirror Rebels’ blend of mystery and team-driven action.
- MAL: 7.4 (26 episodes)
- Studio: Sunrise
14. Dai-Guard (1999)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Corporate office workers pilot a salvaged mech against monsters, balancing bureaucracy with world-saving heroics.
- Similarities: Its “everyday heroes” premise and satirical take on institutional incompetence reflect Rebels’ emphasis on ordinary people rising against oppression.
- MAL: 7.2 (26 episodes)
- Studio: Xebec
15. RahXephon (2002)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Plot: Teen Ayato Kamina pilots a mech to battle alien invaders, unraveling a conspiracy tied to his own identity.
- Similarities: The coming-of-age story amid war, layered with mythological symbolism, parallels Ezra’s journey and Rebels’ fusion of personal and epic stakes.
- MAL: 7.5 (26 episodes)
- Studio: Bones
Why These Anime Work for Star Wars Rebels Fans
These series excel in echoing Rebels’ core appeal: underdog narratives where diverse crews challenge authoritarian forces (e.g., Full Metal Panic!’s Mithril vs. Amalgam), thematic depth exploring sacrifice and belonging (e.g., Gargantia’s pacifism vs. wartime conditioning), and innovative storytelling that subverts genre tropes (e.g., Tiger & Bunny’s deconstruction of heroism). Their underrated status often stems from niche appeal or overshadowing by blockbuster franchises, yet each offers a distinct lens on rebellion—whether through space opera (Outlaw Star), mecha allegory (Dai-Guard), or intimate character studies (Scrapped Princess). For fans seeking Rebels’ spirit beyond the Star Wars galaxy, these titles deliver resonant adventures with similarly rich worldbuilding and emotional stakes.
