Fox Kids’ The Tick (1994) turned superhero bombast into slapstick, following a near-invulnerable yet naïve blue crime-fighter who parodies every cape trope in sight.
Each episode fuses earnest underdog perseverance, over-the-top power gags, and constant subversion of expectations, all wrapped in big-band exuberance. The 15 anime below echo that spirit—through tongue-in-cheek heroics, inventive power systems, or plot swerves that keep viewers guessing—yet still fly under most radars.
1. Tiger & Bunny (2011)
- Streaming: Hulu / Netflix / Hoopla (US)
- Episodes: 50 | Studio: Sunrise & B.N. Pictures
- Plot: Corporate-sponsored heroes chase ratings on live TV, forcing veteran Wild Tiger to team up with charismatic rookie Barnaby.
- Why it feels like The Tick: Spoofs superhero branding, pairs an earnest underdog with a straight-laced partner, and balances action with broad comedy.
2. SSSS.Gridman (2018)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll (widely licensed – author inference)
- Episodes: 12 (inference) | Studio: Trigger
- Plot: Amnesiac teen Yuta Hibiki merges with digital giant Gridman to battle kaiju warping his city’s reality.
- Similarities: Winks at tokusatsu clichés, features an oblivious yet sincere hero, and routinely flips audience expectations about what’s real.
3. Garo: The Animation (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll (author inference)
- Episodes: 24 | Studio: MAPPA
- Plot: Haunted prince Leon inherits the Golden Knight armor to defend a corrupt kingdom from demonic “Horrors”.
- Similarities: Over-the-top armor “power system,” morally conflicted underdog knight, and genre-savvy take on classic hero myths.
4. Shy (2023)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll (author inference)
- Episodes: 12 (inference) | Studio: 8-bit
- Plot: Japan’s national superhero is a timid teenager who must overcome crippling anxiety to save the world.
- Similarities: Combines heartfelt character growth with slapstick heroics and pokes fun at cape-wearing bravado.
5. Muteking the Dancing Hero (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll (author inference)
- Episodes: 12 (inference)
- Plot: A carefree dancer gains disco-powered armor to battle alien invaders—with every fight turning into a musical set-piece.
- Similarities: Campy satire, flamboyant power-ups, and a hero whose optimism mirrors the Tick’s unbreakable spirit.
6. Blood Blockade Battlefront (2015)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll / Funimation (author inference)
- Episodes: 24 (inference) | Studio: Bones
- Plot: Photojournalist Leonardo joins Libra, an oddball team protecting a monster-filled New York analogue.
- Similarities: Anything-goes power systems, rapid-fire comedy, and a lovable everyman stuck among absurd supers.
7. World Trigger (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll / Hulu (author inference)
- Episodes: 99 (inference) | Studio: Toei
- Plot: Ordinary student Osamu teams with alien-born Yuma to repel extradimensional invaders using modular “Triggers”.
- Similarities: Strategic power mechanics, an outmatched lead who relies on grit, and constant underdog victories through wit.
8. Katekyo Hitman Reborn! (2006)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll / Tubi (author inference)
- Episodes: 203 (inference) | Studio: Artland
- Plot: Hopeless teen Tsuna is trained by an infant hitman to become a mafia boss, unlocking seven “Dying-Will Flames”.
- Similarities: Gag-heavy hero training, wildly stylized power sets, and a parody of crime-fighter tropes.
9. Deca-Dence (2020)
- Streaming: Hulu / Funimation (author inference)
- Episodes: 12 | Studio: NUT
- Plot: Tank-repair rookie Natsume discovers her post-apocalyptic fortress is really a theme-park for cyborg gamers.
- Similarities: Massive mid-series twist that gleefully subverts genre rules, plus a spunky underdog taking on systemic absurdity.
10. Odd Taxi (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 13 | Studio: OLM & P.I.C.S.
- Plot: Deadpan walrus cabbie Odokawa is dragged into a kidnapping mystery involving idols, gangsters, and viral fame.
- Similarities: Dry, off-beat humor, an everyman protagonist who stumbles into heroics, and sharp narrative bait-and-switches.
11. Shadows House (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 25 | Studio: CloverWorks
- Plot: Living “doll” Emilico serves a faceless aristocrat, slowly uncovering the manor’s sinister secrets.
- Similarities: Gothic yet playful tone, protagonists challenging oppressive systems, and revelations that flip viewer expectations.
12. Akudama Drive (2020)
- Streaming: Hulu (author inference)
- Episodes: 12 | Studio: Pierrot
- Plot: A nameless courier, hacker, and “ordinary girl” join a high-octane heist in dystopian Kansai.
- Similarities: Hyper-stylized action, comedy born from exaggerated archetypes, and a finale that gleefully undercuts genre norms.
13. Dimension W (2016)
- Streaming: Funimation / Hulu11
- Episodes: 12 | Studio: Studio 3Hz & Orange
- Plot: Grizzled collector Kyouma and android Mira hunt illegal energy coils connected to a fourth dimension.
- Similarities: Tech-driven “power” gimmicks, buddy-cop banter reminiscent of Tick & Arthur, and stylish subversions of sci-fi staples.
14. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (2007)
- Streaming: HIDIVE / Hulu (author inference)
- Episodes: 26 | Studio: Production I.G.12
- Plot: Spear-wielding bodyguard Balsa protects a prince possessed by a water spirit while confronting her own past.
- Similarities: Stoic yet compassionate lead, rock-solid action choreography, and themes of duty over glory that mirror Tick’s earnestness.
15. ID: Invaded (2020)
- Streaming: Hulu / Funimation (author inference)
- Episodes: 13 | Studio: NAZ
- Plot: Detective Sakaido dives into killers’ subconscious “id wells” to solve crimes—while hiding his own violent past.
- Similarities: Inventive mind-scape power mechanics, twist-heavy plotting, and a protagonist whose identity is constantly questioned.
Why These Anime Work for Mentioned Anime Fans
Each series above blends at least two of The Tick’s calling cards: a lovable underdog lead, a power system that invites parody or strategic play, and narratives that happily swerve away from genre convention. Whether you crave corporate-sponsored capes, disco-powered dance-offs, or reality-bending plot twists, these 15 shows deliver the same off-kilter energy that made The Tick a cult classic—while giving you fresh worlds (and laugh-out-loud moments) to explore.
