10 Anime to Watch in 2023 If You Like Stranger Things

While not necessarily an anime, Stranger Things is one of the greatest shows you can stream right now because it has a lot of different themes covered in a great series. It has romance, action, drama, fantasy, and supernatural elements while following a group of kids and teens that are still in the middle of their own personal growth and development. In that regard, it is similar to a lot of coming-of-age anime where we see teenage protagonists growing throughout the series.

So, in that regard, if you are into the themes that Stranger Things tends to cover, let us look at some of the anime series that are very similar to this amazing show.

10. Demon Slayer (2019 – Present)

Demon Slayer is one of the most popular anime today because it explores a group of teenagers that joined the Demon Slayer Corps in the hope of ridding the world of demons, which are bloodthirsty creatures that prey on humans. The series follows Tanjiro and his friends as they grow up together and become stronger as they earn experiences along the way of defeating powerful demons. It is one of the best anime when it comes to pure aesthetics and animation, as you have to see it for yourself to appreciate the artistry in this series.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: At first, Demon Slayer might not seem like it is similar to Stranger Things. But the fact that this anime follows the story of teenagers basically growing up and learning how to defeat demonic creatures to save the world is what makes it similar to Stranger Things. In that regard, we also see a coming-of-age story from all of the characters involved in Demon Slayer because they learn more about themselves as the series proceeds.

9. Jujutsu Kaisen (2020 – Present)

Another popular anime that people can’t get enough of is Jujutsu Kaisen. The series follows the story of a teenage boy that got swept into the entire Jujutsu sorcerer issue when he swallowed a finger that once belonged to the king of curses named Sukuna. In that regard, he became partially possessed by this demonic entity as he was forced to join the other Jujutsu sorcerers to learn more about how to use curses so that he could put his powers to good use against the different cursed monsters plaguing the world.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: The somewhat bleak and dark yet entertaining and hilarious atmosphere that Jujutsu Kaisen comes with is what makes it similar to Stranger Things. Of course, we also look at the fact that Jujutsu Kaisen follows the story of teenagers who are battling demonic entities as well. There aren’t a lot of similarities between the two, but we do feel like the atmosphere that Jujutsu Kaisen comes with is what allows it to be on par with Stranger Things in terms of the emotional impact on the audience.

8. The Promised Neverland (2019 – 2021)

One of the most wasted anime was The Promised Neverland, which had an incredible first season that was followed by a rushed and lazy second season that forced the anime to end without even giving justice to the manga. The story follows a group of children in an orphanage as they discover that they are actually living on a meat farm located in the world of demons. They were being raised and groomed to be the best so that the demons could enjoy high-quality mean. And a good part of the anime focused on their attempts to find a way out of the orphanage and the demon world.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Even though none of the kids in The Promised Neverland have any powers, they mirror the kids that you can see in Stranger Things. That’s because they are trying to go up against demonic creatures despite the fact that they don’t even have any powers and special abilities. Instead, they rely on a good combination of teamwork, heart, and intelligence to find a way to escape their fate.

7. Akira (1988)

Akira may not be a full-length anime series, but it is a great series to watch if you’re into a story that comes with a lot of the elements that make Stranger Things great. The story of this anime follows a group of kids that ended up getting stuck in a mystery that could very well affect the world around them. As such, it is up to them to solve the mystery so that they can save the world and avoid a terrible disaster that could potentially affect everyone.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Akira comes with a lot of things that are similar to Stranger Things, and that’s why it is actually one of the anime series that inspired the Duffer Brothers to create Stranger Things. Aside from the heavy 80s themes that come with Akira, there are also kids with psychic abilities in this anime. On top of that, it follows a group of kids that try to solve a mystery that could potentially affect the entire world, much like how the Hawkins children need to solve their own mystery as well.

6. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (2016)

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is one of the most entertaining anime to watch if you’re simply into a funny and hilarious story that comes with a few action scenes and hints of romance. This anime follows the story of Saiki, who has incredible psychic powers that are nearly godlike. He could read minds, move anything with his mind, and do almost anything imaginable. This has forced him to live a boring life as he has to navigate his way through high school.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. may not seem like it has the same kind of dark atmosphere that Stranger Things comes with, but the fact that it follows the story of a teenager with psychic abilities makes them similar to one another. Saiki K., however, is more of a story that follows the everyday life of the character instead of following a narrative that has world-ending consequences involved.

5. Mob Psycho 100 (2016 – Present)

One of the funniest and most action-packed anime today is Mob Psycho 100, which follows the story of an incredibly powerful psychic named Mob. In this anime, Mob is an awkward teenager that works for a fake psychic and gets involved in a greater issue involving powerful psychics that are trying to take over the world. As the story unfolds, Mob learns how to control his powers better as the series showcases just how incredibly powerful his psychic abilities are compared to all of the other psychics in the series.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Mob Psycho 100 is similar to Stranger Things in the sense that they both follow a story involving an incredibly gifted psychic. While we do know that Eleven eventually learns how to use her powers better in Stranger Things, Mob Psycho 100 also allows us to see how Mob learns how to use his powers better for the sake of the people that he loves. The hilarious atmosphere that this anime comes with may be different compared to Stranger Things, but the struggles that their heroes encounter are similar.

4. Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1996)

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ is a series that follows the story of a huge space war involving multiple factions that make use of mobile suits in battle. Of course, like most other Gundam series, the heroes in this anime are able to gain the upper hand because of the Gundam mobile suit, which is more powerful than any of the other mobile suits that exist. And the fact that this series follows the story of an incredibly gifted child is what will make you want to keep your eyes glued to the screen.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Yes, we are well aware of the fact that a space war involving robots doesn’t seem like an anime that’s similar to Stranger Things. But you have to watch Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ to appreciate how similar they really are. This series follows a gifted child, much like how Eleven is the star of Stranger Things. And there’s also the fact that the 80s themes in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ are quite similar to what you can see in Stranger Things.

3. Elfen Lied (2004)

Elfen Lied is a somewhat dark anime that allows you to show just how similar it is to Stranger Things. The series follows the story of a seemingly harmless girl that actually has psychic abilities and a split personality with killer tendencies. In that regard, we get to see a bloody, gory, and action-paced anime that anyone who enjoys a good combination of fantasy, action, and drama will really love.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: The Duffer Brothers would be the first to tell anyone that Elfen Lied is one of the inspirations for Stranger Things, and that can be seen in the fact that Lucy, the protagonist of the anime, has similar powers and abilities to Eleven. However, as dark as Stranger Things may be, it really doesn’t have the same dark elements that Elfen Lied is. In a way, you can say that Stranger Things is the toned-down version of Stranger Things.

2. Digimon Adventure (1999 – 2000)

Digimon Adventure is the anime that started a franchise that is still going strong today because of how kids and kids at heart love the storyline and the entire premise of the anime. The series follows the story of a group of kids that somehow got transported to an alternate world where monsters exist. But the good news was that they had their own partner monsters that could transform and fight other monsters in this Digital World. And their goal is to fight their way out of this alternate world while saving it from the evil entities trying to take it over.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Digimon Adventure may not have the dark elements that Stranger Things comes with, but it does have the very same theme that follows the story of children trying to do great things with what little they are capable of. Stranger Things is focused on the story of Mike and his other ordinary friends as they seek to save their town from monstrous creatures. In the same way, Digimon Adventure follows the story of a group of kids with no extraordinary abilities as they try to save the Digital World.

1. Erased (2016)

Erased is one of the most underrated anime of the 2010s because of how it didn’t come with a lot of fanfare, but its storyline and themes are excellent. This anime follows the story of an adult that ended up living a mediocre life but has the power to turn back time a few seconds. When his mother was murdered, he somehow was able to turn back time all the way to his childhood years, where a huge event in his life was the cause of everything bad that happened to him during his adult years. And as a child, he teamed up with his friends to change the course of history.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Erased carries the same supernatural elements that Stranger Things has in the sense that we follow the story of a protagonist with supernatural abilities, even though their abilities may be different. On top of that, what makes Erased so similar to Stranger Things is the fact that we are looking at a group of children trying to make a big difference in a town that is in danger, just like how Mike and his friends team up with Eleven to try to save the entire town of Hawkins in Stranger Things.

While not necessarily an anime, Stranger Things is one of the greatest shows you can stream right now because it has a lot of different themes covered in a great series. It has romance, action, drama, fantasy, and supernatural elements while following a group of kids and teens that are still in the middle of their own personal growth and development. In that regard, it is similar to a lot of coming-of-age anime where we see teenage protagonists growing throughout the series.

So, in that regard, if you are into the themes that Stranger Things tends to cover, let us look at some of the anime series that are very similar to this amazing show.

10. Demon Slayer (2019 – Present)

Demon Slayer is one of the most popular anime today because it explores a group of teenagers that joined the Demon Slayer Corps in the hope of ridding the world of demons, which are bloodthirsty creatures that prey on humans. The series follows Tanjiro and his friends as they grow up together and become stronger as they earn experiences along the way of defeating powerful demons. It is one of the best anime when it comes to pure aesthetics and animation, as you have to see it for yourself to appreciate the artistry in this series.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: At first, Demon Slayer might not seem like it is similar to Stranger Things. But the fact that this anime follows the story of teenagers basically growing up and learning how to defeat demonic creatures to save the world is what makes it similar to Stranger Things. In that regard, we also see a coming-of-age story from all of the characters involved in Demon Slayer because they learn more about themselves as the series proceeds.

9. Jujutsu Kaisen (2020 – Present)

Another popular anime that people can’t get enough of is Jujutsu Kaisen. The series follows the story of a teenage boy that got swept into the entire Jujutsu sorcerer issue when he swallowed a finger that once belonged to the king of curses named Sukuna. In that regard, he became partially possessed by this demonic entity as he was forced to join the other Jujutsu sorcerers to learn more about how to use curses so that he could put his powers to good use against the different cursed monsters plaguing the world.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: The somewhat bleak and dark yet entertaining and hilarious atmosphere that Jujutsu Kaisen comes with is what makes it similar to Stranger Things. Of course, we also look at the fact that Jujutsu Kaisen follows the story of teenagers who are battling demonic entities as well. There aren’t a lot of similarities between the two, but we do feel like the atmosphere that Jujutsu Kaisen comes with is what allows it to be on par with Stranger Things in terms of the emotional impact on the audience.

8. The Promised Neverland (2019 – 2021)

One of the most wasted anime was The Promised Neverland, which had an incredible first season that was followed by a rushed and lazy second season that forced the anime to end without even giving justice to the manga. The story follows a group of children in an orphanage as they discover that they are actually living on a meat farm located in the world of demons. They were being raised and groomed to be the best so that the demons could enjoy high-quality mean. And a good part of the anime focused on their attempts to find a way out of the orphanage and the demon world.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Even though none of the kids in The Promised Neverland have any powers, they mirror the kids that you can see in Stranger Things. That’s because they are trying to go up against demonic creatures despite the fact that they don’t even have any powers and special abilities. Instead, they rely on a good combination of teamwork, heart, and intelligence to find a way to escape their fate.

7. Akira (1988)

Akira may not be a full-length anime series, but it is a great series to watch if you’re into a story that comes with a lot of the elements that make Stranger Things great. The story of this anime follows a group of kids that ended up getting stuck in a mystery that could very well affect the world around them. As such, it is up to them to solve the mystery so that they can save the world and avoid a terrible disaster that could potentially affect everyone.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Akira comes with a lot of things that are similar to Stranger Things, and that’s why it is actually one of the anime series that inspired the Duffer Brothers to create Stranger Things. Aside from the heavy 80s themes that come with Akira, there are also kids with psychic abilities in this anime. On top of that, it follows a group of kids that try to solve a mystery that could potentially affect the entire world, much like how the Hawkins children need to solve their own mystery as well.

6. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (2016)

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is one of the most entertaining anime to watch if you’re simply into a funny and hilarious story that comes with a few action scenes and hints of romance. This anime follows the story of Saiki, who has incredible psychic powers that are nearly godlike. He could read minds, move anything with his mind, and do almost anything imaginable. This has forced him to live a boring life as he has to navigate his way through high school.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. may not seem like it has the same kind of dark atmosphere that Stranger Things comes with, but the fact that it follows the story of a teenager with psychic abilities makes them similar to one another. Saiki K., however, is more of a story that follows the everyday life of the character instead of following a narrative that has world-ending consequences involved.

5. Mob Psycho 100 (2016 – Present)

One of the funniest and most action-packed anime today is Mob Psycho 100, which follows the story of an incredibly powerful psychic named Mob. In this anime, Mob is an awkward teenager that works for a fake psychic and gets involved in a greater issue involving powerful psychics that are trying to take over the world. As the story unfolds, Mob learns how to control his powers better as the series showcases just how incredibly powerful his psychic abilities are compared to all of the other psychics in the series.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Mob Psycho 100 is similar to Stranger Things in the sense that they both follow a story involving an incredibly gifted psychic. While we do know that Eleven eventually learns how to use her powers better in Stranger Things, Mob Psycho 100 also allows us to see how Mob learns how to use his powers better for the sake of the people that he loves. The hilarious atmosphere that this anime comes with may be different compared to Stranger Things, but the struggles that their heroes encounter are similar.

4. Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1996)

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ is a series that follows the story of a huge space war involving multiple factions that make use of mobile suits in battle. Of course, like most other Gundam series, the heroes in this anime are able to gain the upper hand because of the Gundam mobile suit, which is more powerful than any of the other mobile suits that exist. And the fact that this series follows the story of an incredibly gifted child is what will make you want to keep your eyes glued to the screen.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Yes, we are well aware of the fact that a space war involving robots doesn’t seem like an anime that’s similar to Stranger Things. But you have to watch Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ to appreciate how similar they really are. This series follows a gifted child, much like how Eleven is the star of Stranger Things. And there’s also the fact that the 80s themes in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ are quite similar to what you can see in Stranger Things.

3. Elfen Lied (2004)

Elfen Lied is a somewhat dark anime that allows you to show just how similar it is to Stranger Things. The series follows the story of a seemingly harmless girl that actually has psychic abilities and a split personality with killer tendencies. In that regard, we get to see a bloody, gory, and action-paced anime that anyone who enjoys a good combination of fantasy, action, and drama will really love.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: The Duffer Brothers would be the first to tell anyone that Elfen Lied is one of the inspirations for Stranger Things, and that can be seen in the fact that Lucy, the protagonist of the anime, has similar powers and abilities to Eleven. However, as dark as Stranger Things may be, it really doesn’t have the same dark elements that Elfen Lied is. In a way, you can say that Stranger Things is the toned-down version of Stranger Things.

2. Digimon Adventure (1999 – 2000)

Digimon Adventure is the anime that started a franchise that is still going strong today because of how kids and kids at heart love the storyline and the entire premise of the anime. The series follows the story of a group of kids that somehow got transported to an alternate world where monsters exist. But the good news was that they had their own partner monsters that could transform and fight other monsters in this Digital World. And their goal is to fight their way out of this alternate world while saving it from the evil entities trying to take it over.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Digimon Adventure may not have the dark elements that Stranger Things comes with, but it does have the very same theme that follows the story of children trying to do great things with what little they are capable of. Stranger Things is focused on the story of Mike and his other ordinary friends as they seek to save their town from monstrous creatures. In the same way, Digimon Adventure follows the story of a group of kids with no extraordinary abilities as they try to save the Digital World.

1. Erased (2016)

Erased is one of the most underrated anime of the 2010s because of how it didn’t come with a lot of fanfare, but its storyline and themes are excellent. This anime follows the story of an adult that ended up living a mediocre life but has the power to turn back time a few seconds. When his mother was murdered, he somehow was able to turn back time all the way to his childhood years, where a huge event in his life was the cause of everything bad that happened to him during his adult years. And as a child, he teamed up with his friends to change the course of history.

Why It’s Like Stranger Things: Erased carries the same supernatural elements that Stranger Things has in the sense that we follow the story of a protagonist with supernatural abilities, even though their abilities may be different. On top of that, what makes Erased so similar to Stranger Things is the fact that we are looking at a group of children trying to make a big difference in a town that is in danger, just like how Mike and his friends team up with Eleven to try to save the entire town of Hawkins in Stranger Things.

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