Stranger Thingscaptivated audiences when it first came out in 2016. Focusing on a group of friends in the ’80s, the show involves a series of strange and supernatural events that turn everything the characters thought they knew upside down. While the inspiration from Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, and other horror greats is obvious, what many fans might not know is thatStranger Thingsalso draws heavily from several anime.
Stranger Things
With the fifth and final season ofStranger Thingsset to premiere later this year, we decided it was time to compile the anime that eitherdirectly inspiredStranger Thingsor share the same themes, character tropes, and/or overall atmosphere. From childhood adventures to supernatural nightmares, these anime are a great choice to watch in the run-up to the series' finale.
10’The Promised Neverland' (2019 - 2021)
The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverlandpresents a horrifying world where children are raised on a farm in order to be fed to monsters. When one of these children, Emma, learns what’s happening, she enlists the other children to try and escape. However, the evils of the world stretch far beyond the farm, and survival will come at a heavy cost.
The Traumas and Bonds of Childhoods
Stranger Thingsfans will appreciate the first season ofThe Promised Neverland,which focuses heavily on the children’s bonds.Friendship is a central themeofStranger Things,as evidenced by the focus on D&D party members and the oft-repeated phrase, “Friends don’t lie.” Fans will also have no trouble seeing the parallels between the supernatural struggles faced by the children in both shows. However, viewers should cautiously enter Season 2 ofThe Promised Neverland,since it’s also horrifying, but forall the wrong reasons.
9’Erased' (2016)
Satoru Fujinuma is a struggling manga artist who has the power of “Revival,” aka time travel abilities. After suffering a horrific loss, his Revival powers kick in, and he’s transported far into the past. Now, he has the chance to undo a string of kidnappings and killings and save his classmates—if he isn’t killed first.
Scary Circumstances and Supernatural Powers
Although different from Eleven’s powers, Satoru’s own are also compelling, and both characters face struggles controlling those powers early on. The show’s overall atmosphere is also reminiscent ofStranger Things,largely in that both deal with some very strange events. Excitingly, for those who enjoy theErasedanime, there’s alsoa live-action version.
8’Mob Psycho 100' (2016 - 2022)
Mob Psycho 100
Shigeo Kageyama, aka “Mob,” is a psychic middle schooler. While trying to live a normal life, he must also learn to control his abilities and figure out when’s the right time to use them, all while working under his mentor,the fake psychicReigen Arataka. But as Mob encounters other espers, he soon realizes his goals might not be quite so simple.
Similar Strangeness, Different Tone
Like withStranger Things,Mob Psycho 100tries to balance action, humor, and horror all at once. Both shows succeed, though in different ways. Additionally, the main characters both confront psychic adversaries but focus on normal, everyday problems alongside these supernatural threats. Tonally, they aren’t the same, but they do seem to be stressing similar lessons and focusing on some similar experiences.
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7’The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.' (2016)
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
Kusuo Saiki wants to live a normal life, buthis psychic powersoften make that impossible. Although he tries to hide them by wearing sunglasses, styling his hair, etc., he always seems to attract attention. And as classmates like Riki Nendou and Kaidou Shun try to befriend him, the peaceful life he aspires to begins to feel disastrous.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.ismuch more comedicthanStranger Things,which might create some tonal whiplash. However,there’s also a lot of overlap between the shows, including their focus on young characters trying to control extraordinary powers while overcoming the hurdles of growing up. Plus, much likeStranger Things,the anime sucks you in, making it hard to look away.
6’Higurashi: When They Cry' (2006)
Higurashi: When They Cry
Higurashi: When They Cryis a murder mystery, a psychological thriller, and a story about growing up all in one. After Keiichi Maebara moves to Hinamizawa village, he quickly learns that, every year during the village’s Watanagashi Festival, someone mysteriously dies. The story then shows key events from different POVs and timelines, often focusing on the characters' attempts to avoid tragedies while trying to uncover Hinamizawa’s secrets.
A Unique, Twisted Ride
Higurashican bea horrifying viewing experience, and sometimes, even a confusing one. Fans ofStranger Thingswill appreciate the anime’s unpredictability and narrative complexity, but they should know the show gets really dark, and really, really strange.
5’Another' (2012)
The horror animeAnotherbegins when student Kōichi Sakakibara goes to live with his grandparents in Yomiyama. After landing in the hospital, he meets Mei Misaki, a girl with a strange eye that helps her identify people who are about to die. He then learns that his new class, Class 3-3, has a terrible secret, and he must work with Mei to end a string of deaths and figure out which classmate is causing them.
A Terrifying Tale
Considered one ofthe scariest anime of all time,Anotheris gruesome, psychologically compelling, and just plain disturbing. Although more violent and outright frightening thanStranger Things,fans will appreciate the bond between Mei and Kōichi, the overall mystery, and the supernatural elements revolving around their classmates.
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4’Soul Eater' (2008 - 2009)
Soul Eater
Soul Eatertakes place in a school called the Death Weapon Meister Academy. Here, students are taught how to fight and capture wicked spirits and witches by becoming “Meisters” (weapon wielders) and “Demon Weapons” (the weapons themselves). The main character, Maka Albarn, is training to become the former, and she’s determined to collect 99 evil human souls and one witch’s to help her Demon Weapon, Soul Eater, become an all-powerful Death Scythe.
Dungeons and Dragons
Fans ofStranger Thingswill appreciateSoul Eater’s focus on friendship and bonds, as well as its connection toDungeons and Dragons.While not a direct parallel, the characters can be seen as in-game adventurers witha specific quest to fulfill. Plus, the bond between the Meisters and their Weapons is central to the story, as are the bonds between Eleven and her newfound friends inStranger Things.
3’Elfen Lied' (2004)
Elfen Lied
Elfen Liedcenters on the violent and traumatized Diclonius, Lucy, a creature who can use vectors, or invisible tentacles, to attack and defend herself. Upon escaping her imprisonment in a government facility, she loses her memory and creates a second personality, Nyu, who is far more childlike and innocent. While acting as Nyu, she is found and taken in by university students, Kouta and Yuka, and soon, the three are being pursued by government agents who are dead-set on getting Lucy back.
A Huge Inspiration
One of the anime thatgreatly inspiredStranger Things, Elfen Liedis a must-watch for any fan. Most of the overlap can be seen in the character of Eleven, including her own escape and attempt to hide from those pursuing her. However, viewers should know that the anime can sometimes be “edgy” and incredibly violent, even when compared to some ofStranger Things’most intense moments.
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2’Summer Time Rendering' (2022)
Summer Time Rendering
After the accidental drowning death of his childhood friend, Ushio, Shinpei Ajiro returns home to Hitogashima. He soon suspects something more is at hand when he discovers marks around Ushio’s neck, and upon learning about mysterious creatures called “Shadows,” he’s determined to uncover what happened to Ushio and save the rest of the island from a similar fate.
Supernatural Suspense
BothStranger ThingsandSummer Time Renderingfocus on high-stake, supernatural mysteries and a group of young friends coming together to solve them. While the exact specifics of those mysteries differ, fans ofStranger Thingswill appreciate the anime’s unique story, focus on friendship, andunexpected plot twists.
1’Akira' (1988)
31 years after a bombing in Tokyo, the rebuilt, dystopian Neo-Tokyo is once again in danger. When biker gang leader Shotaro Kaneda tries to save his friend, Testuo, from a government facility, Tetsuo awakens psychic powers that could repeat the devastation from decades earlier. Now, Kaneda must stop his friend and the government while also uncovering the secrets behind the mysterious “Akira” who caused the original tragedy.
Hugely Influential
LikeElfen Lied,Akiraalso heavily inspiredStranger Things.This is unsurprising, given the sheer number ofother shows and movies it also influenced. The bike scene alone has beenrecreated again and again(though, so far as we can tell, not inStranger Things—at least, not yet). A must-watch for anyStranger Thingsfan,Akirais a good way to spend some time as we await morenews about the final season’s release.
