Bleach is a Japanese anime television series based on the manga of the same name by Tite Kubo. Bleach has a legendary status in the anime community and is unquestionably one of the most iconic shnen anime of all time.
Fans are excited to see Tite Kubo’s epic return in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, which is set to be released in October 2022. For the time being, we are compiling a list of the top ten anime similar to Bleach that every fan should watch.
Best Anime like Bleach!
10. Blue Exorcist (2011)
- Episodes: 25
The plot revolves around Rin Okumura, a teenager, and his younger twin brother, Yukio Okumura, who were raised by Shiro Fujimoto (an Exorcist). Rin discovers one day that he and his twin brother Yukio are the sons of Satan, and that he is the heir to Satan’s powers.
When Satan murders Shiro Fujimoto in order to protect them, Rin enrols in the enigmatic True Cross Academy and becomes an exorcist himself in order to defeat Satan (The God of demons).
Blue Exorcist is a fantastic anime that is similar to Bleach in that it perfectly blends magic and action to create a high-intensity drama. The details vary greatly, but the overall sense and flow of each series are strikingly similar.
9. Black Clover (2017)
- Episodes: 170+
On the same day, Asta and Yuno were both abandoned and raised in a church. In a world where magic is everything, everyone is born with the ability to use magical power; Yuno is gifted with extraordinary magical power, whereas Asta possessed no magic at all and had to train physically.
Both receive grimoires (magical books that increase the holder’s magic) at the age of fifteen. As a talented mage, Yuno received a legendary four-leaf grimoire, and Asta received a rare and mysterious five-leaf grimoire of Anti-Magic, which ignores and repels his opponent’s spells.
The two friends are now venturing out into the world, both pursuing the same goal, that of becoming the wizard king.
There are some parallels between Bleach and Black Clover in that both anime feature rival magic teams (Gotei 13 & Magic Knights) with powerful commanders.
Both anime’s protagonists are outcasts in their respective worlds, with Ichigo serving as a substitute soul reaper and Asta serving as a Magic Knight without any magic. Both anime series, without a doubt, prioritise action over story. In some ways, we could say Black Clover is the next Bleach.
8. Samurai Champloo (2004)
- Episodes: 26
The plot revolves around a tea waitress named Fuu who saves two swordsmen, Mugen and a Ronin named Jin, from execution and they promise to assist her in finding the samurai who smells of sunflowers.
They travel through Edo period Japan together, encountering battle and comedy wherever they go. Mugen, Jin, and Fuu are all homeless, each for different reasons. This anime is all about the journey, a road story, rather than the destination.
Samurai Champloo is a fantastic show that combines hip hop and traditional Japanese music, has colourful and fun characters, plots, and twists, and has the better soundtrack overall. If you liked Bleach, you’ll like Samurai Champloo because they’re both anime with a lot of cool sword fights.
Jin/Ishida and Ichigo/Mugen (both act stupid and goofy, but when it comes down to it, they are totally serious and expert fighters) are very similar characters. The music in each anime is of the hip-hop/rap genre. We highly recommend it if you’re looking for an anime similar to Bleach.
7. Inuyasha (2000)
- Episodes: 167
Kagome Higurashi, a 15-year-old middle school girl from modern-day Tokyo, is transported 500 years into the past during Japan’s Sengoku period after falling into a well in her family’s holy place.
There she meets Inuyasha, a half-dog, half-human demon. When the sacred Shikon Jewel (wish-granting jewel) resurfaces from deep within Kagome’s body, she unintentionally shatters it into several fragments that scatter throughout Japan.
Now, Inuyasha and Kagome set out to recover the fragments of the wish-granting Shikon Jewel before they fall into the hands of the vicious half-demon Naraku. Despite being classified as a shonen, Inuyasha is a time-traveling, isekai-like, historical, fantasy, and romance-based anime.
Inuyasha is strikingly similar to Bleach, both of which feature a lot of swordplay. Inuyasha is an anime that combines comedy, love, romance, and, of course, swordplay. Ichigo and Inuyasha share traits such as being easily enraged and having a sense of “true justice.”
6. Afro Samurai (2007)
- Episodes: 5
The plot revolves around a mysterious warrior known only as the Afro Samurai, who seeks vengeance on the evil villain known as Justice, the man who murdered his father.
Justice is wearing the number one headband, which is said to give the wearer the power of a God, while Afro is wearing the number two headband, which means he is the only one capable of killing him, but it will be difficult.
Afro’s Samurai story is simple and straightforward. It’s very simple and enjoyable. Did you ever think to yourself while watching Bleach, “Man! Sword fights are my favourite! But what’s with all this filler? Why is it taking so long? “I’d like to see more sword fights!” or simply how long everything takes?
Take a look at Afro Samurai! It replaces the cliche plot, lengthy dialogue/conversation, and filler with incredible action, violence, blood, and more style than Bleach at its peak. The only reason to switch from Bleach to Afro Samurai is to get more action and sword fight scenes right away.
5. Gintama (2005)
- Episodes: 201
The anime is set in Japan’s Edo period, when humanity is conquered by Aliens named Amanto. The samurai of Edo Japan fought to defend Earth, but Amanto ended the samurai era by being powerful and having highly advanced technology.
The plot follows the life of ex-samurai rebel Gintoki Sakata, who began working as a freelancer with his friends Shinpachi and Kagura.
Gintama is, in some ways, an inverted version of Bleach, though they are strangely similar. Gintama is an emotional comedy series with moments of incredibly fantastic action, whereas Tite Kubo’s magnum opus is an action series with moments of humour and sentiment. Gintama contains numerous references to Bleach, and it’s awesome to acknowledge that fact.
4. Rurouni Kenshin (1994)
Episodes: 95
The plot revolves around Himura Kenshin, a retired samurai. He is ready to leave his old life behind and devote his life to helping the innocent and weak and protecting them from the cruel authorities.
When forced into combat, he employs a non-lethal sword with a reversed blade. However, his destiny soon leads him to new events and a different path when he meets new friends and attempts to build a peaceful life with them. But is life really that lucky?
Bleach and Rurouni Kenshin are both great if you enjoy flashy sword fights and long, breathtaking battles. The most important thing they both have in common is that they both have a main protagonist who fights to protect with a sword.
Both are distinct anime, distinguished by their outstanding swordplay. Overall, this is an excellent anime similar to Bleach that will quickly capture your attention!
3. D.Gray-man (2006)
- Episodes: 103
It tells the story of a young Allen Walker, who joins an exorcist organisation called the Black Order in an alternate 19th century. Allen Walker is a young Exorcist with the cursed eye that can tell who is human and who is a devil.
Allen and the Black Order must find all 109 pieces of innocence in order to save the world and defeat Earl.
There are many parallels between Bleach and D.Gray-man. Allen Walker, like Ichigo in Bleach, is attempting to restore world peace. Nonetheless, in Bleach, they kill Hollows, and in D.Gray-Man, they kill devils, but in Bleach, Swords are used, and in D.Gray-Man, strange weapons are used.
There are also members of a supernatural organisation whose mission it is to defeat demons/spirits who prey on humans. If you’re looking for something similar to Bleach, this is a great action anime to watch.
2. Yu Yu Hakusho (1992)
- Episodes: 112
The anime follows Yusuke Urameshi, a troubled fourteen-year-old teenager who is given a second chance after being hit and killed by a car while attempting to save a child’s life.
Yusuke is resurrected and appointed as a “Underworld Detective” after proving himself to Koenma (the son of the ruler of the afterlife Underworld). Now, he and his comrades must investigate various cases involving demons and ghosts in the Human World.
Yu Yu Hakusho anime is similar to Bleach in that both are spiritual combats with shonen lead characters (Ichigo and Yusuke) and both have supernatural abilities and skills.
In both anime, an excellent supporting cast surrounds each lead character, providing encouragement, friendship, and a slew of alluring powers. If you like Bleach, you should check out this anime.
1. Shaman King (2001)
- Episodes: 64
It follows the adventures of Yoh Asakura, a young boy who can communicate with spirits and aspires to be the Shaman King by winning the Shaman Fight tournament.
If he defeats all of his opponents, he will be able to communicate with the Great Spirit and desire anything in the world! This show contains just as many battles and comedic elements as Bleach or any other Shonen Jump anime.
Shaman King, one of the most similar anime to Bleach, is highly recommended to all Bleach fans. Shaman King, which is organised as action and journey, also has the theme of ghosts and spirits.
Yoh and Ichigo, the protagonists in both anime, have a strong desire to protect their friends as well as an incredibly interesting storyline. Both Bleach and Shaman King feature kick-ass spirit fighting.
Final Thoughts!
So, what are your thoughts on our list of 10 anime that are similar to Bleach? Did each of the preceding delights grasp the nature of the series in question, or did we miss a few?
We’d like to hear what all of you anime fans have to say. Please leave your comments in the section below, and stay tuned for more such alternatives in the near future.
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