The 15 Anime To Watch To Recover After Devilman: Crybaby

Devilman: Crybaby is the modernized and contemporary version of Devilman, the iconic Go Nagai’s 1970s manga edited by Masaki Yuuasa, renowned for his spectacular and experimental animation.

Its success can be attributed to its animations, action scenes, and deep existential themes but also to its visual violence.

Our list will find the best anime to watch after Devilman:Crybaby, if you want something more cheerful or as sad as it gets.

15. Grave of the Fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies stands as one of Studio Ghibli’s greatest successes, and while it possesses a completely different plot compared to Devilman: Crybaby, there are certain similarities.

The story begins with the ending, directly from the death of the protagonist: it’s 1945, at Kobe Station, and a boy is starving to death amid the total indifference of passersby.

The only thing in his possession is a small tin box containing bones, which will be thrown away by an attendant. Here the ghost of the little girl appears and picks it up, soon being followed by the spirit of her dead brother.

We then move 3 months earlier, still in Kobe, and we can witness the story of the main characters from the beginning.

It doesn’t take a deep dive to see that when it comes to the storyline, these two anime have very little in common.

What we want to highlight is the theme of human cruelty and the way tragedy affects individuals and their mindsets, present in both anime.

If you’re a Devilman: Crybaby fan, this might resonate with you in Grave of the Fireflies, despite the fundamental differences in their plots.

14. Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul and Devilman: Crybaby might share more similarities than you’d anticipate, so let us get to the point. (Unfortunately, one of those similarities isn’t a stellar animated adaptation, and we’re looking at you, Tokyo Ghoul.)

The story focuses on Ken Kaneki, an ordinary college student who lives in a town plagued by strange and violent murders.

The agents suspect that the deaths are caused by Ghouls, mysterious creatures that feed on the bodies of their victims, but nobody has seen them yet.

If you take a closer look, Devilman: Crybaby and Tokyo Ghoul kick off from remarkably similar premises. In both, the protagonists unexpectedly acquire powers they never asked for, leading to profound personal transformations and impacting their lives.

Both series also delve into a fair amount of violence and dark moments, creating a similar vibe, while it’s worth noting, that Devilman: Crybaby takes it to a much more violent and mature level.

Despite the gigantic parallels between the two series, Tokyo Ghoul can’t rank too high on the list, due to its underwhelming animated adaptation.

If we were considering the manga instead, it would fare much better.

Shiki

Shiki is a horror and mystery anime from 2010 that shares several similarities with Devilman: Crybaby, even more than you might expect.

The anime’s plot revolves around Dr. Toshio, who is investigating a mysterious epidemic that has struck a small village.

But things become increasingly strange as the number of deaths rises. Is it really an epidemic or the deaths are connected to some supernatural entities?

While starting from different premises, Devilman: Crybaby and Shiki converge on the theme of man vs monster, grappling with morality and frequently leaving us questioning who is the actual villain of the story.

We are sure that if you’re a fan of Devilman: Crybaby, you’ll find Shiki incredibly enjoyable.

12. Elfen Lied

Devilman: Crybaby and Elfen Lied share as many similarities as differences, so stay with us to explore them.

The story starts in a lab where Diclonius, a race of beings with special abilities, are subjected to brutal experiments to make them lethal weapons.

The events begin to move with Lucy, one of the Diclonius, escaping the base, but after suffering a violent head injury, she loses her memory.

She is later found by a boy named Kota with a connection to her past, and that’s where the plot begins.

The initial key similarity between these 2 series lies in the intense presence of gore and visual violence.

The commonality extends beyond that.

Both Elfen Lied and Devilman: Crybaby grapple with the theme of the duality between humans and monsters, exploring the associated morality and putting pressure on viewers’ judgment regarding who is right within the two factions, reminiscent of what we just saw in Shiki.

Despite several differences, like Elfen Lied incorporating Sci-Fi themes compared to Devilman’s supernatural elements, these series share a thematic core.

11. Jujutsu Kaisen

Many of you might be skeptical about seeing Jujutsu Kaisen on a list of anime similar to Devilman: Crybaby, but let us get to the point and you’ll realize they have more in common than you might think.

The story revolves around Yuji Itadori, a young boy blessed with extraordinary physical abilities and unwavering loyalty to his friends.

Following a fateful incident at his school, he becomes the host of Sukuna, the most powerful cursed spirit, after ingesting one of its 20 fingers.

Consequently, he becomes the target of various enemies seeking to capture him and harness his power.

To protect and nurture his combat skills, he enrolls at the Tokyo School of Jujutsu Sorcery, a specialized institution in exorcism, where he encounters his master, Gojo, and forms alliances with other allies.

If you pay attention, both series kick off with the protagonist acquiring powers by becoming the vessel of a powerful demon. They then utilize these powers to do good in alignment with their morals.

As you might already be considering, Jujutsu Kaisen is less violent, with a different focus on action and story arcs, and a bit less emphasis on moral dilemmas.

So you could consider it as a Devilman: Crybaby with a more battle shonen formula, if you will.

10. Ajin

Ajin is remarkably similar to Devilman: Crybaby in several ways, most notably in the central theme of the battle between man and monster, questioning the morality of who truly is the villain in the situation.

The story is set in a world where mysterious immortal humans known as Ajin are viewed as a threat to society and hunted down by authorities worldwide.

The protagonist is high school student Kei Nagai, who survives a near-death experience and discovers that he himself is an Ajin.

Forced to radically change his life and evade capture by the entire world, Kei’s story is one of survival against all odds.

The similarities don’t end with the ones mentioned earlier, as both of these series have dark vibes, showcase gore and visual violence, and feature a protagonist grappling with newfound powers that they slowly learn to wield.

When it comes to differences, albeit purely aesthetic, Devilman: Crybaby boasts experimental and fluid animations, whereas Ajin is entirely CGI animated.

9. Inuyashiki

Inuyashiki shares as many similarities as differences with Devilman: Crybaby.

You can observe a certain parallel between the dualities of the key figures in these series: Inuyashiki and Hiro on one side, and Akira and Ryo on the other.

Ichiro Inuyashiki is a 58-year-old man down on his luck after finding out that he has stomach cancer. Ignored by his family when he tries to tell them, he goes to a nearby park with his dog and despairs about his situation.

Hiro Shishigami is an ordinary high school boy who spends his days talking about girls and manga. He also sometimes roams around aimlessly, looking for something missing inside.

Tragedy struck them as they were caught in an accident in the park after being hit by aliens that reconstructed their entire bodies using deadly machinery. What will they do now with their newfound capabilities?

Inuyashiki and Devilman: Crybaby share a pivotal similarity in their premise.

Both series kick off with the protagonists gaining their own powers, which they will learn to wield throughout the story, each with distinct purposes and moral implications.

It’s essential to note that Inuyashiki has a completely different setting and plot from Devilman: Crybaby, as you may have already noticed.

8. Kemonozume

Now with Kemonozume we embark on a series of shows that we consider perfect to watch after Devilman: Crybaby for a specific reason: their experimental, avant-garde, and simply excellent animations.

Shokujinkis are demonic creatures that feed on humans, and to hunt them they take on their guise, hiding among them.

To fight them, the Momota family founded a martial arts school whose deadly techniques are passed down from generation to generation.

But what happens when one day Toshihiko, the last heir of this technique falls in love with Yuka, a shokujinki?

Both Kemonozume and Devilman: Crybaby are directed by Masaki Yuuasa, and his distinctive style is recognizable from a mile away.

In addition to this, you’ll also encounter tragic themes and the duality between man and monster in both, though approached in entirely different ways.

7. Kaiba

For Kaiba, essentially the same point made for Kemonozume applies: if you still want to savor Yuuasa’s visual storytelling and animation, you shouldn’t miss it.

In this world, memories are stored in chips outside the body, and the show presents viewers with a range of scenarios showcasing the impact this technology could have on people’s lives.

From machines that allow interaction with a chip to shuffle multiple individuals into one body to save money, the creators deliver new and innovative ideas that will leave you captivated and engaged.

And in addition to the similarity in aesthetics and direction, Kaiba and Devilman: Crybaby share a tragic story full of pathos, despite having entirely different plots and themes.

6. Belladonna of Sadness

Belladonna of Sadness is a movie from 1973, openly inspired by the legends of the Middle Ages, particularly the book La Sorcière by French writer Jules Michelet.

And even though it’s not directed by Masaki Yuuasa this time, we’ve included it in this list for a specific reason: it stands as one of the most experimental and avant-garde works in the history of anime.

It tells the story of a recently married woman who lives with her husband in a rural village in medieval France. She gets raped by the local lord in a ritual deflowering where she loses her virginity.

This experience will obviously scar her for life and even her husband will not have sympathy for her.

Jeanne, this was her name, starts receiving visits from a spirit who suggests she takes revenge on the lord. To accomplish her plan, she will become a moneylender, gaining a lot of influence in the village.

This caused her to be kicked out of the village since the kingdom considered her a witch. It’s at this point that she will make a pact with the devil and try to lead a riot against the lord.

A plot brimming with pathos, esoteric elements, and incredible animations seem like compelling reasons for us to strongly recommend to watch this movie if you’re a fan of Devilman: Crybaby.

5. Hellsing Ultimate

Dark atmospheres, abundant violence and action, and the theme of men versus monsters are the key similarities between Hellsing Ultimate and Devilman: Crybaby.

The name of the series comes from the homonym secret organization Hellsing, whose duty is to hide the existence of Vampires and to keep the population safe.

The main character Alucard works for Hellsing as a vampire exterminator, being himself a member of the vampire race. He is supported by his new assistant Seras Victoria, a former policewoman who he saved in the past.

But a deep web of mysteries will soon arise.

Speaking of differences, Hellsing Ultimate is a lot more action-based than Devilman: Crybaby, which also delves into moral and philosophical themes.

If that’s what you’re seeking in a series similar to Devilman: Crybaby, then it might be just right for you.

4. Berserk

Berserk stands out in different aspects when compared to Devilman: Crybaby but they are both gory and dark.

As many already know, Berserk follows the story of Guts, the black warrior, as he struggles with his relentless quest for revenge against Griffith, his former best friend turned nemesis.

Berserk unfolds as a remarkable tale of betrayal, vengeance, growth, and particularly stands out as one of the most mature and intense series you can come across.

And there are already several bells that should be ringing when comparing it to Devilman: Crybaby, right?

But we’re not stopping there, since Berserk, like Crybaby, is one of the best series to depict dualism and the perpetual struggle between 2 protagonists.

Both series feature esoteric themes and a substantial amount of visual violence and gore. Do we need to add more to convince you that it’s an excellent choice to watch after Devilman: Crybaby?

3. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Evangelion could not be omitted from this list, and there’s no doubt about it.

Hideaki Anno, the creator of Evangelion, has openly admitted that he was strongly inspired by two series in creating his work: Mazinger Z and Devilman, and this influence is incredibly noticeable.

Created by Hideaki Anno and the Gainax studio in 1995, the anime portrays a world under attack by mysterious cybernetic entities known as Angels that threaten the peace of humanity.

To fight them, the Special Agency Nerv uses special mechas called EVAs. The protagonist, Shinji Ikari, is hired by this group to pilot one of the robots, EVA 01, and attempt to end these attacks.

The initial discussion about Devilman’s inspiration for Evangelion holds up perfectly when you notice the enormous similarities between the 2 series.

In both stories, the protagonists find themselves caught in a war between humans and monsters, even though they don’t want to be involved, and both explore profound themes with philosophical, religious, and moral references.

The only difference, albeit crucial, is the presence of mecha in Evangelion, as you are already aware. But apart from that, they are two incredibly akin anime.

2. Parasyte: The Maxim

Yes, we understand. Parasyte is much less tragic and filled with pathos when compared to Devilman: Crybaby. But the differences stop there because the rest is pretty much the same if you think about it.

In this story, Shinichi Izumi, a high school student, becomes a host to a parasitic alien called Migi, who fails to take over Shinichi’s brain, ending up in his right hand.

Now, they are forced to rely on each other and defend themselves against other hostile parasites seeking to eliminate their species.

Same premise, with the protagonist unexpectedly gaining powers that lead to significant changes during the series.

Both also share the theme of a struggle between man and monster, often challenging your morals by making you question who is right in the two factions.

And finally, both feature the usual significant share of visual violence and gore.

You can consider Parasyte as a version that relies more on its plot and character relationships than Devilman: Crybaby, which focuses on pathos and plot twists.

1. Chainsaw Man

We admit it was difficult to choose who deserved the top spot on this list. From position 4 up to here, the competition was fierce, and any of the top 4 anime could easily have claimed the top spot.

But in our opinion, at least for now, Chainsaw Man deserves the top spot for several reasons. Let’s begin by saying that Chainsaw Man was clearly inspired by Devilman in so many ways.

Both have a protagonist who merges with a devil to fight evil, and both have a plot that gradually becomes darker.

And we will say no more to avoid spoilers, but the Chainsaw Man anime will end in a tragic, full of pathos and bittersweet fashion that is close to Devilman.

And that is why we believe that, at least now, Chainsaw Man is the best choice for fans of Devilman: Crybaby.

Denji is a boy who because of his father, after his death, is in debt up to his neck. Because of this, he is forced to be a Devil Hunter, or demon hunter, to scrape together some money.

In all this he is joined by his companion and weapon Pochita, a chainsaw dog who one day, in a dangerous situation, will change his master’s life, making him the dreaded Chainsaw Man.