15 Animes Similar to The Death of Superman

Anime often explores themes of power, sacrifice, and unexpected narrative turns, much like The Death of Superman‘s iconic storyline. This article highlights 15 underrated series that echo its core elements: underdog triumphs, complex power dynamics, and subversive storytelling.

These selections—ranging from psychological thrillers to dystopian epics—deserve recognition for their innovative approaches and emotional depth.

1. One Outs (2008)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A cunning pitcher uses psychological warfare to dominate professional baseball, turning each game into a high-stakes battle of wits.
• Similarities: Like Superman’s struggle against insurmountable odds, protagonist Toua Tokuchi embodies the underdog who outsmarts overpowered foes through intellect. The series subverts sports anime tropes with ruthless mind games and moral ambiguity.
• Stats: 25 episodes, MAL Score: 8.32 (#264), produced by Madhouse.

2. Akame ga Kill! (2014)

• Streaming: Hulu, Crunchyroll
• Plot: Assassins battle a corrupt empire, facing brutal sacrifices and moral dilemmas in a fight for justice.
• Similarities: Mirrors Superman’s sacrifice through character deaths that defy expectations, emphasizing that heroism often demands irreversible costs. The narrative challenges shōnen clichés with relentless twists.
• Stats: 24 episodes, MAL Score: 7.41.

3. Symphogear (2012)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: Girls fuse song and combat to fight alien threats, using powered armor that amplifies their emotions.
• Similarities: The underdog heroes harness unique “power systems” (song-based abilities) akin to Kryptonian powers, blending raw strength with vulnerability. Its high-energy battles and character-driven stakes parallel superhero narratives.
• Stats: 5 seasons, MAL Score: 7.23.

4. Last Exile (2003)

• Streaming: Funimation
• Plot: Sky couriers navigate political warfare between aerial nations while uncovering a guild’s tyrannical control.
• Similarities: Features an underdog duo challenging absolute authority, echoing Superman’s defiance against oppressive forces. Its steampunk world-building and aerial combat offer a fresh take on power dynamics.
• Stats: 26 episodes, MAL Score: 7.88, produced by Gonzo.

5. Ghost Hound (2007)

• Streaming: HiDive
• Plot: Traumatized teens explore astral projection to unravel a town’s supernatural secrets.
• Similarities: Delves into psychological trauma and hidden powers, reflecting Superman’s internal struggles. Its slow-burn suspense and realistic character development subvert typical supernatural tropes.
• Stats: 22 episodes, MAL Score: 7.52.

6. Gunslinger Girl (2003)

• Streaming: Hulu, Funimation
• Plot: Cybernetically enhanced girls serve as government assassins, grappling with artificial emotions and loyalty.
• Similarities: Explores the ethics of power and sacrifice through child soldiers, paralleling Superman’s moral conflicts. The tragic, character-driven narrative highlights the cost of manufactured heroism.
• Stats: 13 episodes, MAL Score: 7.38, produced by Madhouse.

7. Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple (2006)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A bullied teen trains under eccentric martial artists to become a formidable fighter.
• Similarities: Pure underdog triumph—Kenichi’s growth from weakness to strength mirrors Superman’s journey. The series emphasizes hard work over innate power, with intense combat and strategic depth.
• Stats: 50 episodes, MAL Score: 8.05.

8. Space Brothers (2012)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A fired engineer pursues his dream of becoming an astronaut, competing against elite rivals.
• Similarities: Celebrates late-blooming heroism and perseverance, akin to Superman’s humanity. Its grounded storytelling and emotional stakes redefine the underdog archetype.
• Stats: 99 episodes, MAL Score: 8.49.

9. Monster (2004)

• Streaming: Netflix
• Plot: A surgeon hunts a psychopath he saved, unraveling a conspiracy that challenges his ethics.
• Similarities: A cat-and-mouse thriller exploring moral ambiguity, much like Superman’s battles with villains who blur good and evil. Its psychological depth and realism subvert genre expectations.
• Stats: 74 episodes, MAL Score: 8.87 (#28).

10. Psycho-Pass (2012)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
• Plot: In a dystopian future, cops enforce law using a system that predicts criminal intent.
• Similarities: Questions power and justice through a totalitarian “power system” (Sibyl). Like Superman’s conflicts with societal flaws, it critiques systemic corruption with grim twists.
• Stats: 22 episodes, MAL Score: 8.27, produced by Production I.G.

11. Kingdom (2012)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: An orphan rises from slavery to become a general in war-torn ancient China.
• Similarities: Epic underdog story where raw determination triumphs over privilege, reflecting Superman’s origin. The political intrigue and large-scale battles emphasize sacrifice for a greater good.
• Stats: 77+ episodes, MAL Score: 7.93.

12. K Project (2012)

• Streaming: Hulu
• Plot: A student is framed for murder and thrust into a clan war waged by superpowered kings.
• Similarities: Complex power hierarchies and alliances mirror superhero team dynamics. Its stylized animation and moral gray areas subvert typical action tropes.
• Stats: 13 episodes, MAL Score: 7.21.

13. Ghost Hunt (2006)

• Streaming: Funimation
• Plot: A high schooler joins a psychic research team to solve supernatural cases.
• Similarities: Investigates hidden powers and ethical dilemmas, akin to Superman’s heroics. The episodic mysteries build tension through psychological horror, not brute force.
• Stats: 25 episodes, MAL Score: 7.74.

14. Hikaru no Go (2001)

• Streaming: Netflix
• Plot: A boy masters the game of Go with guidance from a ghostly mentor, facing prodigious rivals.
• Similarities: Underdog narrative where mental prowess trumps physical power. Its focus on strategy and growth parallels Superman’s reliance on intellect over strength.
• Stats: 75 episodes, MAL Score: 8.08.

15. Tiger & Bunny (2011)

• Streaming: Hulu, Netflix
• Plot: Veteran superheroes navigate corporate sponsorship and public image while fighting crime.
• Similarities: Deconstructs superhero tropes by blending action with satire, questioning the commercialization of heroism—much like critiques of Superman’s iconography.
• Stats: 25 episodes, MAL Score: 7.83.

Why These Anime Resonate with Fans of The Death of Superman

These series excel in portraying heroism through vulnerability, whether via underdog triumphs (Kenichi, Space Brothers), moral sacrifices (Akame ga Kill!, Gunslinger Girl), or systemic critiques (Psycho-Pass, Tiger & Bunny). They subvert expectations by emphasizing that power—like Superman’s—carries profound costs, and victory often lies in resilience, not invincibility. Their innovative storytelling and emotional depth make them essential viewing for fans seeking narratives beyond mainstream hits.