Tanjiro just carried his sister through another impossible night, and now you are scrolling for something that hits the same way. You do not want any action anime. You want the heart: a hero who fights for family, an enemy who is sometimes sad as well as scary, and swordplay that looks like a painting. The closest matches are Jujutsu Kaisen, Hell's Paradise and Dororo, and the other seven picks below cover every other thing Demon Slayer does well. We picked each show for what it shares with Demon Slayer and we say where it differs, so you can choose by mood.
The short version
- Closest in feel: Jujutsu Kaisen (secret fighters against monsters) and Dororo (a swordsman hunting demons).
- For sword fights and a wandering hero: Rurouni Kenshin and Hell's Paradise.
- For the long, big-battle shonen: Bleach and Fire Force.
- For the sibling bond: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. For the darker, stranger pick: Chainsaw Man and Tokyo Ghoul.
- For old-school demons and a long adventure: Inuyasha.
- Where to watch: it changes by service and region, so check your streaming service for each title.
What makes Demon Slayer work (and what to look for next)
Demon Slayer is the story of Tanjiro Kamado, whose family is slaughtered by a demon while his younger sister Nezuko survives as a demon herself. He joins the Demon Slayer Corps to avenge them and find a way to turn Nezuko human again. Koyoharu Gotouge wrote the manga and Ufotable animates it. The TV story ran from Season 1 in 2019 to Season 4, the Hashira Training arc, in 2024, and the Infinity Castle film trilogy started in Japan in July 2025.
So what are you actually chasing? Three things. A hero driven by love for family, fights with a clear style (breathing techniques, swords, a rank of strong allies) and monsters with a human side. Every pick below hits at least two of those, in rough order of how closely they match.
1. Jujutsu Kaisen
Best for: fans of a secret order of fighters facing monsters.
Yuji Itadori swallows a cursed finger to save a friend and becomes the host of the ancient sorcerer Ryomen Sukuna, then joins a hidden world of sorcerers. Gege Akutami wrote the manga and MAPPA animates it. Season 3, The Culling Game Part 1, aired in early 2026 and a fourth season, Part 2, has been announced.
Why does it fit? Dexerto's list of Demon Slayer follow-ups puts it there for the same reason we do: colourful animation, big fights and a dark world where monsters threaten people. The difference is the cast. Jujutsu Kaisen is more about a school of misfits than one family, and it is more modern and sarcastic. Start with our Jujutsu Kaisen watch order so you do not miss the film.
2. Hell's Paradise
Best for: fans of a hero fighting for someone he loves.
In the Edo period, the shogunate sends death-row convicts to an island said to hold the elixir of immortality. The ninja Gabimaru and his executioner Sagiri lead the story. Yuji Kaku wrote the manga and MAPPA animated Season 1 in 2023 and Season 2 in early 2026.
Gabimaru wants one thing, to get home to the person he loves, and that is Tanjiro's engine too. It is far bloodier than Demon Slayer, so it suits you if the fights were your favourite part and you can take the gore.
3. Dororo
Best for: fans of a lone swordsman and demons in old Japan.
Hyakkimaru was born missing parts of his body, and each demon he slays gives one back. He travels through the Sengoku era with a child called Dororo. Osamu Tezuka created the original manga, and Tezuka Productions and MAPPA made the 24 episodes that aired in 2019.
It is the most direct "hero slays demons in historic Japan" match, and Dexerto lists it for exactly that. It is a single, complete story, so it works well when you want a finish line and not another long wait.
4. Rurouni Kenshin
Best for: fans of a gentle hero with a sword and a dark past.
In 1878, the former assassin Himura Kenshin wanders Japan with a reverse-blade sword and a vow never to kill again. Nobuhiro Watsuki wrote the manga, and Liden Films made the 2023 remake, with its second season, Kyoto Disturbance, running from late 2024 into early 2025.
Kenshin is as kind as Tanjiro and just as haunted. If you love the moments where a swordsman refuses to be cruel, start here.
5. Bleach
Best for: fans of a long, stylish fight against monsters.
Ichigo Kurosaki gains Soul Reaper powers and defends people from Hollows while guiding souls on. Tite Kubo wrote the manga. The original anime ran for 366 episodes from 2004 to 2012, and Thousand-Year Blood War returned in October 2022, with its fourth cour starting in July 2026.
Dexerto also lists Bleach for Demon Slayer fans. It has the sword fights and the captains who are like the Hashira, though it is flashier and the story is huge. If you only want the newest arc, you can follow Thousand-Year Blood War, but the older episodes give it weight.
6. Fire Force
Best for: fans of a team fighting monsters and a hero with a goal.
Shinra joins a special fire brigade in Tokyo, the last city left after a global fire, to fight fire-wielding monsters. Atsushi Ohkubo wrote the manga and David Production animated it: Season 1 in 2019, Season 2 in 2020, and the final season in two parts in 2025 and 2026.
It has the same bright colours and big team moments as Demon Slayer's corps, with a faster, funnier tone. And since the final season is done, you can finish it in one go.
7. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Best for: fans of the sibling bond at the centre of Demon Slayer.
After a failed attempt to bring their mother back, brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric search for the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies. Hiromu Arakawa wrote the manga and Bones animated 64 episodes between 2009 and 2010.
Tanjiro and Nezuko are one of anime's great sibling pairs, and so are Ed and Al. It is not about demons, but it has the same promise: two siblings, one goal, and a world that tests them.
8. Chainsaw Man
Best for: fans who can handle a wilder, darker take.
Denji, a poor teenager, merges with the Chainsaw Devil Pochita and becomes a Devil Hunter in a government division. Tatsuki Fujimoto wrote the manga, MAPPA made the TV series in late 2022, and the film Reze Arc opened in Japan in September 2025.
The tone is messier than Demon Slayer, but the heart is there: Denji and Pochita are a bond you root for. Expect more swearing and more shock.
9. Inuyasha
Best for: fans of old-school demons and an epic road trip.
Kagome Higurashi falls through a well into feudal Japan, meets the half-dog demon Inuyasha and sets out with him to recover the shards of the Shikon Jewel before the villain Naraku can. Rumiko Takahashi wrote the manga and Sunrise animated the original 167 episodes from 2000 to 2004, with a 26-episode direct sequel, The Final Act, in 2009 and 2010.
It is long, but it is the classic of the genre, and you can see its fingerprints on a lot of the shows above. Pick it when you want a world to live in for weeks.
10. Tokyo Ghoul
Best for: fans of monsters with a human side.
Ken Kaneki becomes a half-ghoul after an organ transplant and struggles to keep his humanity. Sui Ishida wrote the manga and Pierrot animated it: Tokyo Ghoul in 2014, then Tokyo Ghoul √A in 2015 and Tokyo Ghoul:re in 2018.
Demon Slayer's best monsters are tragic, and Tokyo Ghoul builds a whole show on that idea. It is bleaker and slower, so keep it for a night when you want something heavy.
Which one should you watch first?
Not sure where to start? Match the show to what you miss most:
| If you miss... | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fighting monsters in an order | Jujutsu Kaisen | Secret sorcerers, big fights |
| A swordsman in old Japan | Dororo | Demon-slaying, one finished story |
| A gentle hero | Rurouni Kenshin | Kind, haunted swordsman |
| The sibling bond | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Two brothers, one goal |
| Something wilder | Chainsaw Man | Dark, loud, big heart |
Common questions
What is the closest anime to Demon Slayer?
Jujutsu Kaisen and Dororo are the two most often paired with it: the first for its secret fighters and stylish action, the second for its demon-slaying swordsman in historic Japan. Neither is a perfect copy, which is why we gave you ten.
Is there anything with the same sibling bond?
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the strongest match for a pair of siblings who never give up on each other. Chainsaw Man has a different kind of bond, between Denji and Pochita.
Which of these are finished?
Dororo, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Inuyasha are complete, and Fire Force has finished its final season. Bleach and Jujutsu Kaisen are still going as of October 2026.
Is Demon Slayer finished?
The anime has reached the Infinity Castle film trilogy. The first film opened in Japan in July 2025, and we do not have dates for the rest, so we will update this guide when there are some.
What to do next
If you remember one thing, make it this: pick the show by what you loved most about Tanjiro, not by the genre label. If it was the fights, start with Jujutsu Kaisen. If it was the swordsman and the demons, start with Dororo. If you want to relive the original while you decide, read our ranking of the Demon Slayer Hashira and pick your favourite, then gear up with something from the Demon Slayer collection. New to anime in general? Our best anime for beginners list is a good second stop. Show details above come from each show's Wikipedia page, including the Demon Slayer page on Wikipedia.
Featured image: © Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable, via kimetsu.com.