“Superman: Red Son” (2020) reimagines Superman as a Soviet hero, exploring ideological conflict, moral ambiguity, and the consequences of absolute power. Its themes—authoritarian utopias, the corruption of ideals, and subverted hero tropes—resonate deeply.
These 15 underrated anime share similar narrative DNA, offering dystopian worlds, complex power dynamics, and philosophical depth, yet remain overlooked despite their brilliance.
1. Ergo Proxy (2006)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 23
- MAL Rating: 7.8
- Plot: In a domed post-apocalyptic city, inspector Re-L Mayer investigates sentient android rebellions and uncovers government secrets tied to godlike “Proxies.” Her quest reveals a decaying world where humanity’s survival hinges on monstrous truths.
- Similarities: Like Superman’s Soviet utopia, Ergo Proxy dissects authoritarian control and the cost of “perfect” societies. Both use sci-fi to question free will versus systemic oppression, with protagonists confronting their roles in oppressive systems.
2. From the New World (2012)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Episodes: 25
- MAL Rating: 8.3
- Plot: In a future where humans wield psychic powers, children Saki and Satoru discover their society’s dark underbelly: forced eugenics and genocide of “inferior” beings. Their rebellion exposes the brutality behind utopian facades.
- Similarities: Echoes Superman: Red Son’s critique of ideological purity. Both explore how “benevolent” powers enforce conformity, with characters grappling with moral compromise in systems demanding absolute loyalty.
3. Casshern Sins (2008)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.5
- Plot: In a robot-dominated wasteland, amnesiac warrior Casshern hunts for redemption after causing humanity’s extinction. Haunted by his past, he battles factions seeking to devour him for immortality.
- Similarities: Mirrors Superman’s existential crisis in Red Son. Both protagonists wield immense power destructively, facing guilt and societal collapse. Themes of immortality versus purpose align closely.
4. Space Patrol Luluco (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.4
- Plot: Ordinary girl Luluco joins an interstellar police force after her father’s cryogenic freezing. With alien partner Nova, she battles cosmic criminals in a surreal, rule-bending district.
- Similarities: Shares Red Son’s subversion of expectations—ordinary characters in extraordinary roles. Its satirical take on authority and chaotic pacing mirrors the comic’s blend of gravity and absurdity.
5. Kaze no Stigma (2007)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.2
- Plot: Exiled wind-magic user Kazuma returns to his clan, now a mercenary investigating supernatural murders. He clashes with fire-wielding cousin Ayano while uncovering a conspiracy exploiting their world’s power hierarchy.
- Similarities: Parallels Lex Luthor’s ideological rivalry with Superman. Kazuma’s outsider status and rejection of clan dogma mirror Red Son’s conflicts between tradition and revolution.
6. Yuki Yuna is a Hero (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.5
- Plot: Schoolgirl Yuna joins a magical-girl squad fighting eldritch “Vertex” monsters. As battles escalate, the heroes discover their powers come at a horrific cost: gradual loss of senses and mobility.
- Similarities: Critiques sacrifice-for-order like Red Son. Both reveal how systems exploit “heroes,” with utopian promises masking grim reality. Character arcs focus on rebellion against predetermined roles.
7. Wolf’s Rain (2003)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 7.8
- Plot: Wolves disguised as humans seek paradise in a dying world, guided by a mystical flower maiden. Their journey exposes human cruelty and the fragility of hope in a collapsing society.
- Similarities: Matches Red Son’s bleak, philosophical tone. Both question whether idealized futures justify brutality, with characters navigating moral decay in oppressive worlds.
8. Somali and the Forest Spirit (2020)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.8
- Plot: A stoic golem protects human child Somali in a world where humans are hunted. Their father-daughter bond challenges a society built on species-based prejudice.
- Similarities: Reflects Superman’s paternalistic role in Red Son. Both explore protectors in morally gray societies, emphasizing how care conflicts with systemic oppression.
9. The Beast Player Erin (2009)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Episodes: 50
- MAL Rating: 8.0
- Plot: Erin, a beastinarian’s daughter, bonds with divine creatures called Touda. After her mother’s death, she navigates political intrigue and war while challenging exploitative human-beast dynamics.
- Similarities: Like Superman’s rise in Stalinist Russia, Erin’s journey critiques power structures. Both feature protagonists reshaping systems from within, facing ethical dilemmas in hierarchical worlds.
10. Made in Abyss (2017)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 8.7
- Plot: Orphan Riko and robot Reg descend into a cursed abyss to find Riko’s mother. Each layer reveals grotesque wonders and horrors, testing their resolve against the abyss’s irreversible “blessings”.
- Similarities: Shares Red Son’s body-horror undertones and critique of progress. Both use fantastical settings to dissect exploitation, with characters confronting the cost of utopian ambition.
11. Akame ga Kill! (2014)
- Streaming: Hulu
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.6
- Plot: Country boy Tatsumi joins rebel assassins “Night Raid” to overthrow a corrupt empire. His idealism shatters as allies fall, forcing him to reconcile justice with brutality.
- Similarities: Mirrors Red Son’s anti-establishment fervor. Both deconstruct heroism in oppressive regimes, where rebellion demands moral compromise and sacrifice.
12. Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple (2006)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 50
- MAL Rating: 7.9
- Plot: Bullied teen Kenichi trains under martial arts masters to protect friends from gangs. His growth from weakling to warrior challenges the ethics of violence in a world of rival dojos.
- Similarities: Aligns with Red Son’s underdog narrative. Kenichi’s ideological clashes with mentors mirror Superman’s struggle against Soviet dogma, both questioning “strength” versus morality.
13. Baby Steps (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 50
- MAL Rating: 7.8
- Plot: Studious Eiichirō masters tennis through analytical rigor. His rise from novice to pro defies athletic norms, emphasizing strategy over raw power.
- Similarities: Like Superman’s methodical governance, Eiichirō’s intellectual approach subverts sports anime tropes. Both champion brains over brawn in systems demanding conformity.
14. Sket Dance (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 77
- MAL Rating: 7.8
- Plot: High school club “Sket-dan” solves peers’ problems, from bullying to trauma. Their camaraderie challenges a system ignoring student welfare16.
- Similarities: Contrasts Red Son’s dystopia with grassroots hope. Both explore community-building against apathy, emphasizing small-scale heroism in broken systems.
15. Full Metal Panic! (2002)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.7
- Plot: Child soldier Sousuke protects psychic schoolgirl Kaname from terrorists. Their bond blurs military duty with humanity in a Cold War-esque world.
- Similarities: Parallels Red Son’s Cold War tension and ideological spies. Sousuke’s conflict between orders and empathy mirrors Superman’s loyalty struggles.
Why These Anime Work for Superman: Red Son Fans
These series dissect power, ideology, and morality through unconventional lenses. Like Red Son, they reject black-and-white storytelling, instead embracing moral gray zones where heroes and villains are shaped by systems. Their underrated status stems from niche appeal—prioritizing philosophical depth over mainstream tropes—yet each offers the same rich narrative subversion that made Red Son legendary. For fans seeking thought-provoking alternatives, these hidden gems deliver profound, unflinching explorations of control, rebellion, and the cost of utopia.
