10 Best Anime Like Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku, sometimes referred to as simply Hell’s Paradise, is a manga series that was created by Yūji Kaku. The series was released in English in North America thanks to a license from VIZ Media. It is set in the Edo era of Japan and centers on the pursuit of immortality by the assassin Asaemon Sagiri and ninja Gabimaru. The first episode of the MAPPA-produced anime series premiered globally on April 1, 2023. In this article, we have decided to compose a list of the best anime series you will enjoy if you liked Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku.
1. Demon Slayer
Original Release: April 6, 2019 – present
Number of Episodes: 34
What it’s about: Demon Slayer is set in Taishō era Japan. Tanjirō is the eldest son of a family of coal merchants whose father has passed away. To meet his needs, he left to sell charcoal in town. Despite life’s difficulties, the family manages to find little happiness in their daily life. One day, due to rumors circulating about a man-eating demon hanging around after dark, he cannot return home and ends up spending the night with a Good Samaritan in the city. Only, everything changes on his return when he finds his family massacred by a demon.
Why it’s like Hell’s Paradise: As far as Demon Slayer is concerned, this is by far your best pick. Both Demon Slayer and Hell’s Paradise are set in a historical period of Japanese history, they focus on sword fighting and supernatural elements, and the protagonists have to fight against monsters to save their loved ones. Need more? Check out Demon Slayer!
2. Tokyo Ghoul
Original Run: July 4, 2014 – December 25, 2018
Number of Episodes: 48 (+2 OVA episodes)
What it’s about: The story of Tokyo Ghoul revolves around the student Ken Kaneki, who falls in love with a young woman named Rize Kamishiro. After meeting her, she bites his shoulder in a secluded alley and reveals that she is a ghoul, which shocks Ken. As Rize is about to eat Ken, several large metal poles fall on her from the construction site of a building. Roze dies in the process, while Ken is rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Why it’s like Hell’s Paradise: Tokyo Ghoul is primarily an urban fantasy work set in the modern era. It is also a dark fantasy masterpiece with some similarities to Hell’s Paradise. Okay, we have the monsters and demons. Still, the main similarity is the protagonist, Ken Kaneki, who has a lot of shared elements with Gabimaru of Hell’s Paradise, and that is why Tokyo Ghoul is on our list.
3. Bleach
Original run: October 5, 2004 – March 27, 2012
Number of episodes: 366
What it’s about: BLEACH follows Ichigo Kurosaki. He is a young man gifted with the ability to see spirits. His life changes drastically when a Shinigami named Rukia Kuchiki crosses his path, searching for a Hollow. During the battle with the spirit, Rukia is seriously injured and is forced to transfer part of her powers to Ichigo, who accepts the Shinigami’s proposal in an attempt to protect her family.
Why it’s like Hell’s Paradise: This list definitely wouldn’t be complete without Bleach, a true shonen classic and one of the “Big Three” shonen anime titles. And while Bleach combines more elements than Hell’s Paradise, the battles and the similarities between Hell’s Paradise and Bleach‘s Soul Society were enough for us to put it on the list.
4. Samurai Champloo
Original Run: May 20, 2004 – March 19, 2005
Number of Episodes: 26
What it’s about: Fuu, a 15-year-old girl, worked in a tea house until it was destroyed after a violent three-way fight between Mugen, the vagabond, Jin, the wandering samurai, and the bodyguards of the Daikan’s son from that town. At the end of the fight, Mugen and Jin are arrested for being executed the next day. Fuu helps them escape in exchange for helping her find the “samurai who smell like sunflowers.” Despite agreeing to the deal, Mugen and Jin are always trying to end each other, in an almost professional rivalry. Both samurai have a blurred past.
Why it’s like Hell’s Paradise: Although Samurai Champloo is more similar to Cowboy Bebop, its historical setting, as well as the oddball nature of the characters, is something that you’ll definitely enjoy. It is set in the same period as Hell’s Paradise, but with a lot of anachronisms, and it doesn’t have as many monsters, but it’s still a great watch.
5. Himawari!
Original Run: April 8, 2006 – March 31, 2007
Number of Episodes: 26
What it’s about: In the fictional village of Kasumi Kogen (literally “Village of Mist”), the Shinobi Gakuen is an academy specializing in the training of kunoichi, or female ninja, which brings together the best students from all over Japan. New to the school, the young Hinata Himawari has sworn loyalty and protection to the one she considers to be her mentor, Marikouji Hayato, and to whom a mysterious past may bind her.
Why it’s like Hell’s Paradise: Himawari! might not be the best-known title on this list, but it makes up for its obscurity with a similar visual style, a historical perspective, and a great story. If you want something new and refreshing but similar to Hell’s Paradise, then Himawari! It will certainly be a great pick.
6. Mononoke
Original Run: July 12, 2007 – September 27, 2007
Number of Episodes: 12
What it’s about: Mononoke focuses on the character of the apothecary from the third narrative arc of Ayakashi: a traveling apothecary stingy with words, so his name is not even known. He travels accompanied by his medicine cabinet and a box containing a spiritual sword whose pommel is adorned with a monkey’s head.
Why it’s like Hell’s Paradise: Mononoke is actually similar to Hell’s Paradise in more ways than one. The style is very similar, especially when the heroes come to Jigokuraku, and the presence of monsters and demons also connects them. Mononoke might not have so much action, but we’re certain you’ll love it.
7. Bungō Stray Dogs
Original Run: 7 April 2016 – present
Number of Episodes: 36 + OVA
What it’s about: The story centers around certain individuals with supernatural powers who use them for different purposes like running a business, solving mysteries, and carrying out armed detective agency missions against the port mafia. It revolves particularly around the “armed detective agency” members and their everyday life.
Why it’s like Hell’s Paradise: Bungō Stray Dogs might look odd, but it combines reality with fantasy in such a great way that we had to list it here. It is a bit different than Hell’s Paradise, more modern and less historical, but it is still a great series that we think you’ll enjoy.
8. Akame ga Kill!
Original Run: July 7, 2014 – December 15, 2014
Number of Episodes: 24
What it’s about: The young swordsman Tatsumi travels to the imperial city together with two comrades. They want to earn money in the imperial city to help their village. But arbitrariness and violence have reigned in the city ever since Minister Honest manipulated the young emperor in his interests. The powerful exploit, torture, and kill the poor for their amusement. So Tatsumi and his comrades are first separated in a robbery, then Tatsumi is outwitted and loses his money and, like his comrades before, gets caught by one of the rich families. But he escapes with the help of Night Raid, a group of assassins.
Why it’s like Hell’s Paradise: And while Akame ga Kill! is certainly controversial because of its ending, it is still a series that has a lot of narrative elements that are similar to the fights and the main quest of the protagonists of Hell’s Paradise. It might not be your best pick, but it is more than enough to satisfy fans of this genre.
9. Noragami
Original Run: January 5, 2014 – December 25, 2015
Number of Episodes: 25 + 4 OVAs
Why you should watch it: Before she was struck by a bus while attempting to stop someone from being driven over, Hiyori Iki was an ordinary middle school student. Later revealed to be God Yato, the stranger is dressed in a sports suit and a scarf. She turns into half an ayakashi, a monster, as a result of this tragedy. She asks Yato to help her return to normal when she runs into him again and discovers that he is a deity. However, Yato recently misplaced his sacred sword (shinki), a different magical creature that aids a deity and increases his might.
Why it’s like Hell’s Paradise: If you like the supernatural, Noragami is definitely one of the best and most complex titles. The story of Noragami is set in a different time period, and it has more humor than you’d expect. Still, it is nevertheless a classic with more than enough elements for fans of Hell’s Paradise to enjoy.
10. Jujutsu Kaisen
Original Run: October 3, 2020 – March 27, 2021
Number of Episodes: 24
What it’s about: The plot of Jujutsu Kaisen takes place in a world where curses are created from the negative emotions of Humans. Thus, to protect places with a high concentration of these emotions, such as schools or hospitals, these infrastructures have a relic, a receptacle of a curse, because we can only fight against curses with a more powerful curse. These are invisible to human eyes except for a handful of people, for example, exorcists. The exorcist’s job is to eliminate the curses and thus protect the people from them, but this is not without risks because these plagues can be more or less powerful.
Why it’s like Hell’s Paradise: If you’re looking for another great shonen work with supernatural elements, look no further, as Jujutsu Kaisen is definitely one of the best series you can pick. The story is set in modern-day Japan, which is a major difference, but the dark fantasy and supernatural elements are quite similar, so we recommend it.