Best Anime To Watch If You Love Naruto

Naruto Uzumaki’s journey from a novice shinobi to the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village is the stuff that icons are made of. Naruto chronicles the eponymous character’s adventures across a whopping 770 episodes, which is still a feat to watch despite the series’ critical acclaim. Regardless, Naruto easily highlights the hallmarks of shonen anime: a hero’s journey, friendship conquers all, and the value of hard work and perseverance.

RELATED: Amazing Anime That Should Have Ended After Season 1

Thankfully, viewers who found themselves wanting more anime action don’t necessarily have to watch another 500+ episode series. In fact, some anime may carry just as much impact as Naruto while packing everything in their own unique, condensed narratives. Let’s take a look at some great anime similar to Naruto.

Updated November 11, 2023 by Mark Sammut: The specifications have been added for every anime like Naruto.

23 The Seven Deadly Sins

MyAnimeList: 7.65 (Season 1)

In the land of Britannia, knights known as the Seven Deadly Sins are on a quest to redeem their name after being accused of plotting a coup against the Liones Kingdom. A series of events would have the Sins’ leader, Meliodas, reform the team and fight against his brother, Zeldris, and the Ten Commandments, his own group of Holy Knights.

What’s perhaps interesting about Seven Deadly Sins is how each member of both the Seven Deadly Sins and the Ten Commandments have abilities uniquely tied to the Sins and Virtues they represent. The anime also boasts quite a new take on the idea of humans, demons, and other mythological creatures as they coexist in war-torn Britannia.

22 Gintama

MyAnimeList: 8.94 (Season 1)

Even if it never quite reached the same level of popularity as One Piece or Naruto, Gintama was nevertheless a staple of shonen jump for the best part of two decades. The anime also produced more than 300 episodes over the same time span, with most seasons garnering very positive receptions. Basically, anyone into battle shonen should read or watch Gintama, but they should prepare themselves for a drastically different experience than most of its long-running contemporaries. During the first half of its run, the show primarily consists of standalone comedy episodes, with the occasional action arc thrown in for good measure. Eventually, the series begins to prioritize its main storyline, which can be frustrating if someone primarily enjoys its humor.

RELATED: Gintama: Most Powerful Characters, Ranked

Regardless of someone’s genre preferences, Gintama is both a great comedy and a fantastic action anime. The former segments frequently parody other popular shonen properties, including Naruto, and tend to go in very wild and unpredictable directions. When the focus shifts to drama and fights, Gintama delivers some of the most brutal sequences in battle shonen.

21 King Of Nabari

MyAnimeList: 7.26

Airing in 2008, Nabari no Ou is a ninja anime set in the modern era that features quite a unique roster of characters. From his teacher, Miharu learns that he inherited a powerful secret art that many ninja clans want to possess, which puts the teenager in grave danger. However, Miharu does not care all that much about his own safety or the people around him. One day, he is kidnapped by Yoite, a ninja who wants to use the protagonist’s power to erase his existence from the world. While they are not initially on the best of terms, Miharu and Yoite eventually grow to care about each other.

Nabari no Ou‘s ninja-themed concepts are fairly run-of-the-mill, although they do lead to a couple of fun fights. The show’s strongest component is its characterization, particularly the presentation of Yoite and Miharu. The story explores its characters’ loneliness, apathy, and isolation, and it handles these themes quite well.

20 Blue Exorcist

MyAnimeList: 7.49 (Season 1)

Naruto Uzumaki isn’t the only protagonist to discover a horrific lineage that he manages to stop controlling his destiny. In Blue Exorcist, twins Rin and Yukio Okumura learn that they are the sons of Satan, giving them traits of both humans and demons. After witnessing the death of their surrogate father, Rin uses the demon-slaying sword Kurikara and releases the full extent of his demonic heritage. Vowing to stop demons from hurting others, he enrolls in Cross Academy to become an Exorcist, a demon hunter.

Much to his surprise, Rin discovers that Yukio isn’t just an Exorcist by secret, but he is also veteran enough to become his teacher. Such begins Rin’s journey to accepting his demonic heritage but also maintaining his humanity despite seeing the horrors of the demons he’s fighting. Blue Exorcist boasts spectacular fights and abilities, something Naruto fans will undoubtedly delight in seeing.

19 Fairy Tail

MyAnimeList: 7.57 (Season 1)

Taking after guilds of fantasy worlds, Fairy Tail tells the exploits of Dragon Slayer wizard Natsu Dragneel as he searches for his missing father. Accompanied by his companions from the Fairy Tail guild, Natsu meets and recruits other powerful wizards, each boasting unique forms of magic, and ends up fighting villain after villain who want to use their abilities to harm the world at large.

Similar to Naruto, Fairy Tail boasts hundreds of episodes. The anime has its fair share of epic battles, with wizards displaying the full brunt of their unique abilities – from ice and fire magic to armor-changing magic and even summoning creatures.

18 Ranking Of Kings

MyAnimeList: 8.53 (Season 1)

Ranking of Kings is a fairly unique shonen anime in more ways than one. The story centers around a deaf and mute protagonist, which is almost unheard of in the industry. Wit Studio’s art style is also quite unusual for an anime, and it seems to take some influence from Western animation. Lastly, the first season largely avoids introducing traditional battle shonen villains, with the narrative repeatedly twisting expectations in relation to character motives. Also, while not devoid of action, Ranking of Kings is an adventure show first and foremost.

RELATED: Anime To Watch If You Like Ranking Of Kings

Despite all these differences, the 2021 anime is still an easy recommendation for Naruto fans, and that goes beyond the mere fact it is a quality series. Somewhat similar to Naruto, Bojji, the protagonist, is largely looked down upon and mocked by everyone around him; yet, he tries to maintain a positive outlook despite experiencing constant adversary and rejection. Bojji is inspiring, and his journey deserves to be experienced.

17 One Piece

MyAnimeList: 8.71

Predating and outlasting Naruto, One Piece is THE battle shonen story of the last two decades. Eiichiro Oda’s ambitious manga chronicles Monkey D. Luffy’s journey to become the Pirate King, which involves finding the titular treasure. Naturally, a pirate-themed adventure would not feel complete without a crew and a ship, prompting Luffy to create the Straw Hats.

Although cut from the same cloth, One Piece and Naruto shine in different areas. The former is far more concerned with crafting and maintaining a sense of adventure than delivering non-stop action, and the anime’s fight sequences are generally a touch below Naruto’s quality. More importantly, One Piece might just have the best overall roster of characters in shonen, and that goes way beyond just the Straw Hats. Although One Piece’s massive length can make it seem unapproachable, the manga is generally an engaging and consistent read. In comparison, the anime suffers severe pacing issues during its later arcs, causing storylines to drag; nevertheless, the show is still entertaining.

16 Reborn!

MyAnimeList: 8.13

While not as popular as Naruto or One Piece, Reborn! was relatively successful during the late-2000s. The anime follows Tsuna, a meek high schooler who suddenly learns that he is the new head of an Italian mafia family, news that is delivered via a baby assassin. Along with bestowing him with a unique fire-based power, the Japanese teenager finds himself in a world of danger as he is targeted by rival groups.

Except for a rather awful opening 20 episodes that are not representative of the rest of the series, Reborn! is an enjoyable battle shonen featuring a fun and ever-expanding cast of characters. Tsuna is not as loud, confident, or charismatic as Naruto, but they are both driven by a desire to protect their friends. Reborn! generally handles its fights well, both narratively and aesthetically.

15 Basilisk

MyAnimeList: 7.54 (Season 1)

Based on a seinen manga, Basilisk revolves around two ninja clans stuck in a blood-soaked conflict that could spell the end for both of them. With the shogun’s time coming to an end, the clans are asked to pick their best fighters to engage in a battle royale to determine which group will rule, and nobody is safe. Complicating matters is a Romeo & Juliet romance between Gennosuke and Oboro, two in-love warriors who belong to opposing clans.

When it comes to beautifully animated action sequences, Basilisk more than matches Naruto; however, the former’s fights are typically far more brutal than the latter’s battles. Basilisk‘s characters also reflect the unforgiven world they live in, as the anime has very few thoroughly honorable or “good” people.

Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls, a sequel released more than a decade after the original series, should be skipped since it is nowhere near as good as its predecessor.

14 Tokyo Ghoul

MyAnimeList: 7.79 (Season 1)

It’s not all the time for dark fantasy manga to feature vampire analogs in a modern setting. In Tokyo Ghoul, mysterious human-eating creatures known as Ghouls secretly coexist with humans. Unfortunately for Ken Kaneki, a violent interaction with a Ghoul would have him thrust into their world and fight for his own survival. Throughout Tokyo Ghoul, Kaneki would have to preserve his humanity while coming to grips with his new identity and abilities.

RELATED: Best Anime Filler Arcs Fans Need To Watch

Fans of dark fantasy are likely to enjoy Tokyo Ghoul for its unique depiction of “creatures of the night,” presenting Ghouls as being both similar to yet separate from vampires. With Ghouls possessing unique abilities and the Commission of Counter Ghoul hunting them down with unique armaments, fights, and storylines in Tokyo Ghoul are both gripping and suspenseful.

13 Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku

MyAnimeList: 8.14

Completing its opening season in Spring 2023, Hell’s Paradise largely succeeded in living up to its pre-debut hype. Based on Yuji Kaku’s manga, the story takes place on a surreal and dangerous island that reportedly holds the key to eternal life. Ordered by the Shogunate to find the Elixir of Life, criminals are sent to the island to engage in what is essentially a rat race, and they are accompanied and kept in check by executioners.

While boasting an expansive cast, Hell’s Paradise mainly centers around Gabimaru, a ninja with a long history of kills, and Sagiri, an executioner riddled with doubts. Hell’s Paradise targets an older audience than Naruto, something reflected by its gory battles and willingness to tackle mature and even spiritual themes.

12 Bleach

MyAnimeList: 7.93 (Original Series)

Whereas Naruto explores the eponymous shinobi’s journey to becoming Hokage, Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki as he protects the world from supernatural threats. Ichigo is thrust into the affairs of Soul Society as he takes on the role of a Substitute Shinigami. At first, the calm protagonist is tasked to eliminate Hollows and preserve the balance between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Unfortunately for Ichigo, his involvement will soon attract the attention of unsavory powers in Soul Society. Viewers intrigued by the premise will love Bleach’s intense battles, highlighted by author Tite Kubo’s specialty in creating unique abilities and techniques.

11 Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files

MyAnimeList: 8.46

When Yusuke Urameshi dies to save a child, a crazy series of events transforms him into a Spirit Detective to solve supernatural cases that plague the real world. Being the loudmouthed troublemaker that he is, Yusuke often ends up in trouble, to the point of making a few friends in his many adventures. Armed with his Spirit Gun, Yusuke continues to dish out spiritual justice to baddies that try to harm innocents and the people he cares about.

Fans of Naruto should find Yusuke’s comedic and troublemaking exploits extremely similar to Uzumaki’s. However, Yusuke should also appeal to fans due to his immense pride in his skills which just screams pure determination with a dash of badassery.

10 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba

MyAnimeList: 8.49 (Season 1)

Tanjiro Kamado’s peaceful life in Taisho-era Japan ends abruptly when demons kill his parents and inflict a demonic curse on his sister Nezuko. Soon enough, Tanjiro finds himself joining the Demon Slayer Corps, a secret cadre of humans trained to fight the threat of demons in the land.

RELATED: Best Action Anime To Watch If You Love Demon Slayer

Fans of Naruto will appreciate Demon Slayer‘s strong attachment to themes of justice, friendship, and overcoming perseverance. Action lovers will also admire the anime for its unique Breathing Styles concept, captivating combat, and jaw-dropping action sequences.

9 Jujutsu Kaisen

MyAnimeList: 8.63 (Season 1)

Along with My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen is arguably the biggest battle shonen anime of the last five years. Gege Akutami’s manga is nothing short of fantastic, and MAPPA has generally done an admirable job of adapting the source material into animated form. Strong and driven by a desire to live up to his grandfather’s expectations, Yuji Itadori winds up exposed to the world of Curses and the sorcerers who keep them in check. A string of unfortunate situations causes Yuji to become the vessel of a powerful Curse, a connection that comes with some benefits but also puts the protagonist at constant risk of losing control.

Jujutsu Kaisen blends fast-paced and well-choreographed action with inherently captivating characters, both in terms of heroes and villains. Similar to Naruto’s education, Yuji learns his sorcerer trade through a partnership with two other students, all of whom are under the tutelage of the powerful Satoru Gojo.

8 Claymore

MyAnimeList: 7.74

Claymore is set on a medieval island infested by the monstrous Yoma. To fight these threats, the mysterious Organization employs female warriors called Claymores. Named after their signature claymore weapon and silver eyes, Claymores use their half-Yoma physiology to gain power and strength equal to the monsters they face.

In this story, Claymore No. 47, Clare, ends up embroiled in a conspiracy that has her question the very Organization she grew up in. Unlike the more cheerful Naruto, Claymore has a darker and more realistic take on the horrors of life in a world plagued by monsters. However, similar to Naruto, Claymore boasts its fair share of exciting fights.

7 Soul Eater

MyAnimeList: 7.84

Soul Eater takes viewers to the afterlife, where the Death Weapon Meister Academy trains students to hunt the souls of evil humans, Witches, and other supernatural entities. Headed by Death himself, the DWMA is composed of two-person teams consisting of a Demon Weapon, or a human that can transform into a weapon, and a Meister who wields them.

In the story, Maka Albarn and Soul Eater team up with fellow students to stop the ever-present threat of Witches. The Witch Medusa, in particular, appears to have a sinister plot that will upend the status quo of the afterlife at large. Soul Eater is easily a must-recommend for Naruto fans courtesy of its amazing action scenes, interesting power concepts, and strong themes of friendship.

6 Black Clover

MyAnimeList: 8.15

Created by the same studio behind Naruto, Black Clover was immediately positioned as a replacement for the ninja series. However, the anime’s opening episodes are notoriously rough as they feature annoying voice acting, uneven pacing, and a rivalry that seems to unabashedly ape Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship.

While it stumbles out of the gate, Black Clover steadily improves, eventually transforming into one of the best battle shonen anime of the last decade. Even Asta and Yuno’s rivalry develops into something fantastic, and the fact they are supportive of each other is refreshing. Just power through the slow and frustrating start to get to Black Clover‘s good arcs.

5 Ushio & Tora (2015)

MyAnimeList: 7.57 (Season 1)

A cult classic shonen manga that enjoyed a successful run during the ’90s, Ushio & Tora had to wait until 2015 to receive a proper anime adaptation. Even though it boasts rather impressive modern visuals, the series is otherwise ripped right out of its decade of origin, which is highlighted in its characters and humor.

Ushio & Tora‘s title refers to the show’s leads; At his father’s temple, Ushio is left with no choice but to unleash Tora, a powerful and manipulative youkai. The two wind up working together as they face the many supernatural dangers that plague their world.

4 Hunter X Hunter (2011)

MyAnimeList: 9.04

Set in a world where Hunters exist to hunt a variety of things (from treasures and exotic species to people), Gon Freecs of Hunter X Hunter aspires to become a Hunter and look for his missing father. Along the way, Gon meets fellow Hunter hopefuls, each with backstories that drag them into various adventures.

RELATED: Best Magical Girl Anime, Ranked

At his core, the cheerful Gon is quite different from the rowdy Naruto. However, both protagonists stick true to the values of friendship, hard work, and resolve. Not to mention, those missing Naruto’s action scenes will love Hunter X Hunter, as its Nen concept provides a common powerset that characters eventually transform into unique abilities.