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Readers of the Chainsaw Man manga can confirm that it’s impossible to tell what’s going to happen next, who is going to die, and where the story is even going at any point in Denji’s story, and that heightens the experience so much more. So, rather than look at other anime in the same genre, let’s take a look at some recommendations that fit the same “off-the-wall” niche.
8 Jujutsu Kaisen: A Similar Type Of Crazy
Starting things off with one of the more mainstream inclusions that comes with an action-packed movie to boot, its Jujutsu Kaisen! It’s obvious the two mangakas of the series, Akutami Gege (JJK) and Tatsuki Fujimoto (CSM) know of each other, and it’s even been shown in official artbooks and interviews that they’re fans of each other’s work.
Jujutsu Kaisen isn’t quite as unpredictable as Chainsaw Man tends to be in the moment-to-moment stuff. But, those who went into Jujutsu Kaisen thinking it would just be another “Hero punches bad guy extra-hard to win” series know that this anime is at least unpredictable in regards to the story beats.
7 Dorohedoro: The Most Unpredictable Of Shows
Dorohedoro is deliciously violent, hilariously chaotic, and the conversations are on a similar level in terms of raw hilarity. Viewers never know if the next enemy to show up in either series is going to be the literal devil itself or just a dude with a turkey for a head, and that’s a special bond the two of these series share. Whenever someone asks “What else out there is like Chainsaw Man?”, the first response is always Dorohedoro, outside of Fujimoto’s other works of course (AKA Fire Punch). Instead of Devils, Dorohedoro has magic, but then eventually actual Devils also get introduced! So, these two series are absolutely cut from a similar cloth.
6 Berserk: An “Always Recommend”
Recommending Berserk in comparison to a violent manga/anime is probably the oldest trick in the book at this point, especially since the series has now started up again after Kentaro Miura’s tragic passing. But, in terms of raw violence, pure shock factor in a single frame, and demonic designs, Berserk is assuredly similar. That said, it’s hard to recommend any of the animated forms of Berserk other than the CG Movies, as the manga is by far still the best way to experience this odyssey.
5 Devilman Crybaby: A Hyperviolent Light Show
Devilman Crybaby sits just barely below Dorohedoro with regard to raw chaotic energy. The rave scene in which Akira first becomes a Devilman is a perfect example of why these two shows are comparable.
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Additionally, both Devilman and Chainsaw Man are a similar type of bumbling hero that power through most situations with raw destructive violence rather than any sort of critical thinking. Plus, both series just have so much fun with their terrifying Devil designs, and it shows.
4 Gantz & Gantz 0: The Stuff Of Nightmares
Gantz, like Berserk, is actually a story best experienced in the manga format. But, both the 2004 two-season anime adaptation and the 2016 film (Gantz:0) based on the property are both great watches as well. For those who are unfamiliar with Gantz, it’s probably the only other property on here that has enemies that are both hilarious and terrifying like Chainsaw Man does.
Hiroya Oku truly is a master at creating alien designs that seem so absurd and then quickly become the stuff of nightmares, and Tatsuki Fujimoto is of a similar breed. Of course, there are also the violent, fanservice, nihilistic, and apocalyptic factors that both series have as well.
3 Hunter X Hunter: A Surprise Inclusion
The intention with the recommendations on here was less going for the obvious picks and more for anime that would fit the “off-the-walls” theme but were also unexpected as well, and Hunter X Hunter is the best example of this. HxH is one of the most popular Shonen series of all time, how could it possibly be similar to such a violent and hyper-sexualized series like Chainsaw Man?
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Well, Hisoka alone fills the quota for one of those aspects, in the worst way with his obsession with Gon. Meanwhile, the Chimera Ant arc, in particular, is an easy fit for the violent side, boasting some of the most horrifying moments in Shonen history such as the “I’ll use everything” moment in this arc that blew fans away. The darker and more serious moments of HxH,especially in the latter parts of the 2011 anime, absolutely strike a similar chord as Chainsaw Man likely will when its adaptation comes out.
2 Kekkai Sensen: A Kindred Sort Of Setting
Kekkai Sensen or Blood Blockade Battlefront is probably the most unexpected anime on here, but it absolutely deserves a spot. While BBB isn’t nearly as violent, dour, or destructive as Chainsaw Man is, the narrative and setting both have a very similar “fish in a small pond” vibe where the audience never knows the full scope of the setting, the events of the story, or even what’s going to happen in the next ten seconds. Plus, Chainsaw Man is a world where Devils suddenly manifested into the human world, and Kekkai Sensen is a setting where New York City suddenly merged with “The Beyond” and all sorts of lifeforms suddenly started inhabiting our realm.
1 Psycho-Pass: Not An Obvious Recommend, But Still A Worthy One
And last up, Psycho-Pass. This one is absolutely more of a tangentially related recommendation, as the tone, style, setting, and narrative of Akane’s story are of an entirely different breed. But, when Psycho-Pass gets dark or shows characters with a high “Crime Coefficient”, that’s when the series starts to scratch that Chainsaw Man sort of itch. The series itself is about catching off-the-walls sort of people before they even realize they’ve lost their minds, and this concept both plays into the Chainsaw Man-esque vibe and is a major reason why fans keep clamoring for more seasons.
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