10 Anime to Watch if You Love Tokyo Ghoul

The anime world is hounded by several series about darkness, identity and struggling between being human and non-human. Tokyo Ghoul is also one of the most influential modern anime of this type, a mixture of psychological suspense, horror and action that also referred to the picture of man and his good and evils. To the audience that was amazed by the intensity of it and the philosophizing essence, there are a number of other anime that can give a similar feeling of fascination and dread. These shows are not similar to Tokyo Ghoul in every detail, yet they have both the feel of psychological complexity and emotional connection.

The exceptional thing about Tokyo Ghoul is that it builds on balance between the hero and the monster. The storyline about a shy human boy becoming an uncertain half-ghoul gets to the audience since it attracts the attention of the interested audience with the plot sharing survival stories, personal struggles, and what it costs to have power. In case you were obsessed with the way Tokyo Ghoul deals with trauma, identity, and the thin veil between worlds, then you must add the following anime to your list.

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10 – Ajin: Demi-Human

Ajin: Demi-Human is a thrilling anime that is based on the tale of humans who abruptly discover they are Ajin immortal beings that are also hunted by society. Like Tokyo Ghoul, it is the story of the protagonists that are still at war with their newly found non-human selves as they have to evade organizations that aimed to profit off their newly found status. The issues of alienation, fear and betrayal may be balanced with what Kaneki goes through and action sequences are violent and thought provoking. In case you enjoyed the tension and the paranoia in Tokyo Ghoul, you will enjoy it here as well.

9 – Deadman Wonderland

The series exposes the viewers to a prison where deathly games are played by the convicts because they are required to entertain the people. The main character, similar to Kaneki in Tokyo Ghoul, is a normal boy who was forced into a nightmare that he can do nothing about. There is a heavy psychological thriller undertone behind Deadman Wonderland, a story of survival, violence and moral corruption. The artistic abilities of its characters and the touch of continuous danger makes it an ideal suggestion to Tokyo Ghoul enthusiasts wanting more dark actions.

8 – Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji)

Being more gothic in style, Black Butler appeals to Tokyo Ghoul fans because of its preoccupation with such things as death, supernatural agreement with the devil, and ethical confusion. Ciel Phantomhive and demonic butler Sebastian build a duo encompassed with misery and mystery. The Victorian horror aesthetics, the emotional plot and the complex relations between the characters, this anime adaptation is bound to appeal to those who appreciated the dark, stylish and philosophical tone of Tokyo Ghoul.

7 – Elfen Lied

Elfen Lied is popularly known to have graphically violent scenes coupled with deep emotional episodes. Just like Tokyo Ghoul, it portrays creatures, Diclonii, that have a hard time with their lives because of their rejection by the world they live in. The tragic nature of the character Lucy is an echo to the duality of Kaneki, trying to overcome monstrosity and the human nature of his feelings. The contrast between the brutal intensity and the delicate scenes of vulnerability leaves Elfen Lied as a natural suggestion to people who liked Tokyo Ghoul.

6 – Another

Evocative of Tokyo Ghoul in terms of its dark mood and its emphasis on both death and survival, Another is mostly a horror-mystery series. The series is in the format of a cursed classroom in which students are being killed grotesquely one after the other. Although it does not have the same non-human factor of Tokyo Ghoul, the clammy tone, the suspenseful narration, and the terrifying imagery make it just as creepy. Another is unmissable for any Tokyo Ghoul fans that appreciated both the horror and psychological horror of the anime.

5 – Seraph of the End (Owari no Seraph)

Seraph of the End takes place in a post-apocalyptic world ruled by the vampires which has now turned human into a slave race. Themes like revenge, loyalty and survival are played out in the show. It has its characters put through fairly analogous moral dilemmas as Tokyo Ghoul and the question of where the border begins and ends in regards to being a human and struggling against monstrosity, is raised. Friendship and betrayal-bound relations too form part of the series and they also parody the emotional level of that which Kaneki is involved in. It is a quite captivating mix of dark fantasy and action, which is extra appealing to the Tokyo Ghoul fans.

4 – Hellsing Ultimate

Hellsing Ultimate is among the most memorable anime of the vampire genre and centers around a mighty creature of the undead, Alucard, who is a member of Hellsing Organization. It has similar gothic style, supernatural fighting and morality issues; all of these are reasons why it is an ideal choice for a fan of Tokyo Ghoul. The anime juxtaposes over-the-top violence with a look at what it is to be a monster. Viewers will be reminded of the darker side of Tokyo Ghoul because of the mature tone and heavy atmosphere of this anime.

3 – Devilman Crybaby

There are not many successful anime that can pull out human darkness and tragedy as much as Devilman Crybaby does. This is because, as the protagonist Akira turns into a half-demon, half-man, he has a problem in retaining his humanness as he is exposed to apocalyptic consequences. The core of the conflict of the story is practically the same as Tokyo Ghoul, which also attracts fans of the latter. The looming style of animation, the haunting soundtrack, and the heart-wrenching gutturalism of Devilman Crybaby stake a definite claim to be one of the most substantive spiritual successors to Tokyo Ghoul.

2 – Parasyte: The Maxim

Parasyte: The Maxim is the most similar anime to Tokyo Ghoul in terms of spirit. It has a character known as Shinichi Izumi who is transformed into half-man half-parasite when an alien being gets attached to his hand. Similar to Kaneki, Shinichi is also struggling with his sense of self, questions of humanity, as well as survival threats when compared to his opponents, who are much stronger than he is. Technically the series is also very good both in terms of animation and plot, with a lot of action scenes as well as deep thoughts about coexistence and morality. It is one of the most recommended animes to Tokyo Ghoul fans.

1 – Attack on Titan

On top of the list is Attack on Titan: one of the most internationally successful anime over the last decade. It is based on the struggle of man against the super-size Titans, but its topics of survival, moral compromise, and transformation are heavily reminiscent of Tokyo Ghoul. The evolution of Eren Yeager and the psychological inner turmoil have a similar resonance with the struggle of Kaneki, and the thematic concepts of the anime, the freedom and the identity of oneself as well as sacrifice, reaches the same depth. Offering all of the visual spectacle, interconnected world-building, and emotional heft that a fan of Tokyo Ghoul would want in an anime, Attack on Titan is a masterpiece of modern action manga.

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Why Fans of Tokyo Ghoul Will Love These Anime

All the aforementioned anime have the core features of what made Tokyo Ghoul a show worth watching: the struggle between something that is human and something that is not, the price of power, the price of morality and the emotional toll that has to be paid to survive. The themes in each of the series are similarly explored in whatever manner they actually choose whether it is through psychological horror, supernatural contracts, apocalyptic battles or simply an existential tragedy; still, they all seem to leave that same feeling of unease and introspection so cherished by Tokyo Ghoul fans.

Mirrored in the tragedy of Elfen Lied or infiltrated by tonal philosophical inquiry like in Parasyte: The Maxim or a grand scale war dominated narrative such as Attack on Titan, these anime continue in carrying on the tradition of dark thoughtful storytelling. If there is yet someone, who is still not over the trips of Kaneki in Tokyo Ghoul, this list promises them the right follow-up to that experience.