Animes Similar To Inuyasha – Inuyasha has stolen the hearts of anime fans with compelling mythological themes, intriguing characters, exciting battles, and deep drama. However, this beloved series is not the only anime with such characteristics!
Inuyasha remains an anime beloved by many for its mythological themes, compelling characters, intense battles, and riveting drama. For many fans, this anime represents their entrance into the world of anime.
Although the show ended with the final season of Act in 2010, fans didn’t have to worry about finding another outstanding historical fantasy anime. There are still many anime shows that cover the essence and themes that make Inuyasha so special.
The story begins when Kagome Higurashi’s 15th birthday takes a sudden turn when she is forcefully pulled by a demon into an old well at her family’s shrine. Transported back in time to an era of feudal Japan where demons roam, Kagome has always been the target of these evil creatures, all in an attempt to obtain an object she unknowingly possesses: the Shikon Jewel, a small orb that has incredible power.
Here are 15 anime choices that we recommend for Inuyasha fans to explore.
List of Animes Similar to Inuyasha
1. Kamisama Kiss (2012)
In recent times, high school student Nanami Momozono has faced a series of challenges, starting with her absent father’s huge debt, which results in the loss of everything they own. Left homeless and in a slump, his life takes a sudden turn when he helps a man who is attacked by a dog. Thanking him for his help, the man offered her his house, which turned out to be an old and broken temple.
Initially, Nanami tries to leave, but she is captured by two temple spirits and a fox known as Tomoe. They mistakenly think that Nanami is the person he has saved, namely Mikage, the god of the land from the temple. Believing that Mikage has sent Nanami as his replacement, Tomoe leaves abruptly, refusing to serve humans.
Similar to Inuyasha, the series features an initially somewhat naive and helpless schoolgirl who discovers a pent-up power she never knew she had. They meet various Youkai and go on exciting adventures.
Inuyasha combines Shounen elements with action scenes and a bit of rom-com, while Kamisama Hajimemashita is more inclined to rom-com with occasional action scenes. Both series feature magical powers and a significant ‘Youkai’ presence.
2. Demon Slayer (2019)
Since his father’s death, Tanjirou Kamado has been in charge of his family. Although they live a simple life on a remote mountain, the Kamado family enjoys a relatively peaceful and happy life. One day, Tanjirou tries to go to a nearby village to make a little money selling charcoal.
However, when night falls on his way home, he seeks refuge in the home of a mysterious man who warns him of a flesh-eating demon lurking in the forest at night.
Demon Slayer is similar to Inu Yasha in that both series center on male protagonists and their journey in eradicating demons. The historical setting of Japan and the immersive characters, including the background of the devil, make both events interesting.
If you enjoyed Inu Yasha and are looking for a similar experience, Kimetsu no Yaiba offers fantastic animation, adorable characters, and a touch of comedy throughout the compelling shounen narrative.
Read also: 15 Best Animes Similar To Demon Slayer
3. The Vision of Escaflowne (1996)
Hitomi Kanzaki is an ordinary 15-year-old high school student with an interest in tarot cards and divination, but one night, a man named Van Fanel suddenly appears from the sky with a ferocious dragon.
Thanks to Hitomi’s premonition, Van manages to kill the dragon, but a pillar of light appears and envelops them both. As a result, Hitomi finds herself transported to the mysterious world of Gaea, where the Earth hangs in the sky.
Similar to Inuyasha, the Vision of Escaflowne reflects the classic trope of a high school girl being transported to another world. There, she falls in love with a young man who is not entirely human, and the two series often feature battles. In addition, the girl in both series has similar pendants of the same color and plays an important, if not the main, role in the plot (Shoujo anime).
4. Dororo (2019)
The land of the greedy samurai lord Daigo Kagemitsu was languishing, and he craved power so much that he was willing to leave the Buddha and make a pact with the Demons.
His pleas were answered by 12 demons who gave him the power he wanted, helping his territory expand rapidly, but at a great price. When Kagemitsu’s eldest son was born, the baby was born without limbs, nose, eyes, ears, or even skin—and yet he remained alive.
This abandoned child was thrown into the river and forgotten. However, good fortune smiles on him when he is rescued by a healer who equips him with prosthetics and weapons, allowing him to survive and be independent.
Similar to Inuyasha, this anime is set in the past with a core story of Japanese mythology. In Inuyasha, the group searches for Shikon no Tama shards, while Hyakkimaru embarks on a quest to return his lost body parts. Exciting adventures ensue in both of these stories.
5. Mysterious Play (1996)
During a visit to the National Library, Miaka Yuuki and Yui Hongo discover an ancient book that emits a mysterious red light and transports them to an alien world.
In this new world, they encounter hostile slave traders, but with the help of Tamahome, a young man with a Chinese symbol on his forehead, they manage to escape. However, the red light reappears and takes Yui away.
Desperate to reunite with her friend, Miaka seeks Tamahome’s help. The situation is further complicated when they meet the Emperor of the kingdom, Hotohori, who believes that Miaka is a prophesied priestess of the kingdom’s patron god, Suzaku.
Similar to Inuyasha, the series has similarities in that both present modern girls catapulted into an alternate feudal Chinese world. They also refer to elements of ancient Chinese myths and legends.
Although both are fantasy anime, Fushigi Yuugi goes deeper in the dramatic plot, intensifies the romance between the main characters, and sometimes explores serious topics to give depth to the characters and reveal their psychology. Overall, Fushigi Yuugi and Inu Yasha have awakened characters with humor and interesting narratives.
6. Yona of the Dawn (2014)
The kingdom of Kouka is blessed with a beautiful princess whose innocence enchants anyone who meets her. Named Yona, she grew up in the royal palace, protected from any threat. However, all good things must come to an end.
Yona’s beautiful world is shattered when a heinous act of betrayal threatens everything she loves, including her birthright as Princess Kouka. Abandoned without being able to trust anyone other than his childhood friend and loyal bodyguard, Son Hak, he is forced to flee the palace. Faced with the challenge of surviving in the wild while being chased, Yona realizes that her kingdom is no longer the sanctuary it once was.
Yona of the Dawn resembles Inuyasha, as both stories present the viewer in Asian folklore with mystical and fantasy events. In addition, the main characters in both series are strong, charismatic, and adorable. Fans of both anime series will surely appreciate the enthralling storyline. Highly recommended!
7. Bleach (2012)
Ichigo Kurosaki, an ordinary high school student, experiences a life event that changes everything when his family is attacked by Hollow, an evil spirit that thirsts for human souls.
During the meeting, he meets Rukia Kuchiki, a soul reaper who sacrificed her powers to protect Ichigo’s family. In a desperate attempt to save his loved ones, Ichigo accepts Rukia’s offer, inheriting her Soul Reaper abilities.
With Rukia unable to regain her powers, Ichigo assumes the responsibility of cleaning up the hollows that terrorize their town.
Similar to Inuyasha, the series features intense sword fighting, reminiscent of the battles of samurai and demon hunters.
8. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan (2010)
Rikuo Nura, a child of mixed youkai and human blood, grows up as the young ruler of the Nura Clan, a diverse community of youkai.
Although Rikuo considers this clan to be his chosen family, he quickly realizes that the outside world fears them as bloodthirsty creatures, according to folklore, especially when it comes to eating children. Affected by this perception, he vows to live life as an ordinary human being.
Similar to Inuyasha, the main characters in the series are a mix of humans and youkai, with long white hair while in youkai form. Their strength and harmonious relationship with humans are central themes in their stories.
9. Tsubasa Chronicle (2005)
During excavations in the mysterious ruins of Clow Country, Syaoran witnesses the sudden appearance of his childhood friend, Princess Sakura, who appears with wings that turn into many feathers. As these feathers spread out into different dimensions, so did Sakura’s memories.
In an attempt to save his life and restore his lost memories, Syaoran embarks on a journey to explore an alternate world. With the only solution left being to retrieve Sakura’s scattered feathers, she is helped by her friends: Kurogane, an exiled ninja from the country of Japan who wants to return to his world; Fay, a runaway magician who wants to traverse between worlds without returning to his world; and Mokona, a strange creature resembling a white bun.
Similar to Inuyasha, Tsubasa Chronicle features a group of five individuals united in a mission. In Inuyasha, they search for shards of jewel shards, while in Tsubasa, their mission is to collect feathers. Expect spectacular fight scenes in both series.
10. Noragami (2014)
In moments of desperation, if you happen to come across a strange phone number written in red ink, you may be about to make a life-changing call. Dial the number, and you will be greeted by a young man who introduces himself as the God Yato.
Yato is a minor deity who claims to be the God of Shipping, with dreams of gathering millions of his loyal followers. Unfortunately, his dream remained far from being realized, as there was not a single temple dedicated to his name. He spends his days running odd jobs for five yen per job, until his gun partner finally gets fed up with his seemingly useless master and abandons him.
Similar to Inuyasha, the anime offers a fun mix of comedy, fantasy, and serious moments. Although there is an element of romance in both series, it is not the main focus but rather a complementary element.
If Noragami gets a second season (hopefully), there will most likely be more romance aspects tucked in. Both series are very entertaining, featuring humor and an exciting storyline.
11. Fairy Tail (2009)
In the mesmerizing Kingdom of Fiore, spirited girl Lucy Heartfilia has one desire close to her heart: to become a member of the famous guild Fairy Tail, one of the many magical mage guilds scattered across the continent.
Fortunately, a chance encounter with Natsu Dragneel, known as Fairy Tail’s Salamander, brought him into the legendary guild. From Natsu’s rivalry with the ice wizard Gray Fullbuster to the fearsome presence of the incomparable swordsman Erza Scarlet, Fairy Tail’s formidable wizards tend to get involved in a variety of adventures.
Similar to Inuyasha, the series combines elements of action and romance, focusing on the dynamic of two boys, two girls, and a little animal friend. While other characters who appear periodically enrich the narrative, romance remains a side plot in these adventures.
If you like action scenes more than the romance elements in Inuyasha, Fairy Tail offers a greater emphasis on action while still tucking in the romance elements.
Read also: 15 Best Animes Like Fairy Tail
12. Zakuro (2010)
Second Lieutenant Kei Agemaki, the son of a famous general, has long hidden his deep fear of supernatural beings throughout his life.
However, a new assignment in the Ministry of Spirit Affairs brings him face to face with his greatest fear when he, along with two others, is given the task of living and working alongside youkai beings. Guided by the fox spirit Kushimatsu, Agemaki and his comrades must learn to work together with the female youkai—Zakuro, Susukihotaru, Hoozuki, and Bonbori—to solve paranormal cases.
Faced with an alternate version of Japan undergoing the process of Western civilization, Otome Youkai Zakuro explores the encounters and relationships that occur when east meets west, local meets foreign, and women interact with men. This unusual partnership between a female youkai and a human attendant navigates the changing world around them.
Similar to Inuyasha, the show involves half-demons fighting real demons. The protagonists in both series initially operate independently but slowly build up a circle of friends. Along the way, they also find love.
13. RIN-NE (2015)
Rinne Rokudou faces greater challenges than ordinary students, especially with regard to his task of helping spirits in the transition to the afterlife. These obligations often left him struggling financially, struggling to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and exercise tools.
Sakura Mamiya, on the other hand, has the ability to see spirits from a young age. Despite hoping he would grow out of this ability, he continued to see spirits, even when entering middle school.
To complicate matters, when her ever-absent classmate Rinne finally shows up at school, only Sakura can see him. Naturally, he thought Rinne was a ghost. However, Rinne surprises her by attending school like a normal student the next day. Kyoukai no Rinne chronicles Sakura’s journey as she reveals Rinne’s true nature and the existence of a hidden supernatural world.
Similar to Inuyasha, the series is the work of Rumiko Takahashi and has a storyline involving a young man who is half human, half demon/shinigami, teaming up with a girl who has supernatural powers or visions to eradicate or exorcise demons or ghosts.
As the story progresses, they will have to face antagonists who have a relationship with the main male character.
14. Kyou kara Maou! (2004)
Kyou kara Maou! It tells the story of Yuri Shibuya, an ordinary Japanese teenager. One day, Yuri saw a classmate who was harassed by bullies. Thanks to his intervention, his friend was able to escape, but unfortunately, Yuri became the new target of the bullies in the process, and his head was instead immersed in a toilet.
However, surprisingly, this toilet is a portal to another world reminiscent of medieval Europe. In this new world, Yuri is told that he will be the next Demon King due to his unique black hair and black eyes, traits only possessed by the Demon Kingdom lineage.
Similar to Inuyasha, the series is equally fun to watch and has common elements such as love, magic, otherworldly, combat, humor, and more. Both involve characters traveling between the real world and the fantasy world.
15. D.Gray-man (2006)
The loss of a loved one can be so painful that some may wish they could be brought back to life—an emotional vulnerability exploited by the mysterious Millennium Earl.
To create his mechanical weapon, known as Akuma, he uses the souls of the dead, summoning them back from the afterlife. Once the souls are placed inside the Akuma, they are trapped forever, and the only way to save them is by exorcism using the anti-Akuma weapon, innocence.
After spending three years as a disciple of General Cross, Allen Walker joins the Black Order, an organization determined to fight the Akuma and the Millennium Earl, and becomes an official exorcist.
Similar to Inuyasha, both series have the theme of not entirely normal individuals fighting against demons and protecting ordinary people. Both series also involve formidable opponents who use demons as their tools.
For those of you who love anime Inuyasha and are looking for anime similar to Inuyasha, the list above is a recommendation for some selected anime similar to Inuyasha that you might be able to watch. Thank you very much for reading this article, and see you in the next article. Enjoy watching, and have a nice day.
