Texhnolyze (2003) is a haunting descent into a crumbling dystopia, blending cyberpunk visuals with themes of human fragility, existential dread, and the collapse of societal systems. Its slow-burn storytelling, fractured characters, and willingness to subvert traditional anime tropes make it unforgettable—but also overlooked by many.
For fans craving similar experiences—series with intricate power struggles, bleak underdog stories, and unconventional narrative styles—these 15 underrated anime deliver equally powerful journeys that deserve far more recognition.
1. Ergo Proxy (2006)
- Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 23
- MAL Rating: 7.9
- Studio: Manglobe
- Summary: In a domed city controlled by authoritarian rule, inspector Re-L Mayer investigates murders linked to mysterious beings called Proxies.
- Similarities: Shares Texhnolyze’s cyberpunk despair, slow-paced philosophical narrative, and questions about humanity’s worth in a decaying society.
2. Shigurui: Death Frenzy (2007)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.3
- Studio: Madhouse
- Summary: Two rival samurai fight in a tournament during Japan’s Edo period, where honor, cruelty, and obsession intertwine.
- Similarities: Like Texhnolyze, it thrives on atmosphere and brutality, exploring human decay and ambition with unsettling realism.
3. Gilgamesh (2003)
- Streaming: HIDIVE, RetroCrush
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 6.7
- Studio: Group TAC
- Summary: After a terrorist attack scars the sky, siblings encounter a group of psychic outcasts battling humanity’s downfall.
- Similarities: Strikingly bleak, with heavy use of silence and philosophical musings, echoing Texhnolyze’s surreal tones and fractured characters.
4. Now and Then, Here and There (1999)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, RetroCrush
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.9
- Studio: AIC
- Summary: A boy is transported to a war-torn future where child soldiers and resource wars dominate survival.
- Similarities: Both dissect human cruelty, hopelessness, and the fragility of innocence within collapsing worlds.
5. Shion no Ō (The Flowers of Hard Blood, 2007)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 22
- MAL Rating: 7.4
- Studio: Studio Deen
- Summary: A young girl plays competitive shogi while grappling with the trauma of witnessing her parents’ murder.
- Similarities: Subdued tone and psychological focus, much like Texhnolyze’s meditative look at characters broken by circumstance.
6. Kaiba (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 8.2
- Studio: Madhouse, directed by Masaaki Yuasa
- Summary: In a surreal future where memories can be transferred between bodies, one boy searches for his identity.
- Similarities: Explores identity, dehumanization, and societal decay, mirroring Texhnolyze’s core existential themes with a contrasting art style.
7. Aoi Bungaku Series (2009)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.7
- Studio: Madhouse
- Summary: Anthology adapting famous Japanese literary works, including No Longer Human and Kokoro.
- Similarities: Dark explorations of despair and alienation align closely with Texhnolyze’s deep psychological storytelling.
8. Wings of Rean (2005–2006)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 6
- MAL Rating: 6.1
- Studio: Sunrise
- Summary: A modern teenager is dragged into a mystical civil war, forced to grapple with destiny and morality.
- Similarities: Like Texhnolyze, it’s heavy with symbolism, cryptic dialogue, and layered political undertones.
9. Mouryou no Hako (2008)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.7
- Studio: Madhouse
- Summary: Detectives investigate mysterious murders tied to a girl confined within a box, unraveling deep psychological horror.
- Similarities: Dense, atmospheric, and unnerving narrative style mirrors Texhnolyze’s layered mystery and unsettling tone.
10. Pet (2020)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 6.7
- Studio: Geno Studio
- Summary: Psychics who manipulate memories are entangled in a web of control, fear, and betrayal.
- Similarities: Its surreal visuals, mind games, and exploration of human fragility resonate strongly with Texhnolyze.
11. Karakuri Circus (2018)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 36
- MAL Rating: 7.0
- Studio: Studio VOLN
- Summary: A boy inherits a fortune and becomes targeted by deadly automatons, finding allies among traveling performers.
- Similarities: Echoes Texhnolyze’s underdog themes and hidden power structures, with tragedy laced into its narrative.
12. The Big O (1999–2003)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 7.5
- Studio: Sunrise
- Summary: In a city where memories are wiped, a negotiator pilots a giant robot while uncovering hidden truths.
- Similarities: Shares the same noir-inspired dystopia and philosophical undertones as Texhnolyze.
13. Dallos (1983)
- Streaming: RetroCrush
- Episodes: 4 (OVA)
- MAL Rating: 6.1
- Studio: Pierrot, directed by Mamoru Oshii
- Summary: Martian colonists rebel against Earth’s oppressive control, igniting the first major space uprising.
- Similarities: Political despair, class struggle, and Oshii’s minimalist storytelling echo Texhnolyze’s foundation.
14. Legend of Black Heaven (1999)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.0
- Studio: AIC
- Summary: A burned-out salaryman finds new purpose when his rock guitar becomes a weapon in an intergalactic war.
- Similarities: Uses surrealism and existential undertones, mirroring Texhnolyze’s exploration of identity and purpose.
15. Gasaraki (1998)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 25
- MAL Rating: 6.9
- Studio: Sunrise
- Summary: A military mecha drama blending political intrigue, economics, and ancient mysticism.
- Similarities: Dense political worldbuilding and spiritual undertones align perfectly with Texhnolyze’s layered narrative complexity.
Why These Anime Work for Texhnolyze Fans
What unites these series isn’t just their unconventional narratives, but their shared willingness to challenge expectations. They explore worlds collapsing under corruption, protagonists forced into impossible roles, and themes of identity, control, and survival. For Texhnolyze fans, these underrated titles extend the experience—offering new dystopian landscapes, haunting atmospheres, and equally unflinching explorations of humanity’s darkest corners.
