IF YOU LIKE... 'STRANGER THINGS'
One Season:
12 episodes
Status:
Season 2 now playing
The Promised Neverland is a sci-fi, mystery, thriller that, like Stranger Things, centers around a group of young children. Their lives are changed forever after realizing the orphanage they live in may not be all it seems.
Synopsis
Eleven-year-olds Emma, Norman and Ray live a seemingly perfect life with their siblings in the Grace Field House Orphanage. They spend their days hoping to be adopted into good families like the kids that left before them. Although it is strange that none of their previous siblings ever reach out to them after leaving, the children imagine it must be because of how great they are doing on the outside.
When their younger sibling, Conny, is adopted, the children discover that leaving Grace Field is a far more complicated, sinister farewell.
Similarities
(Mild Spoilers)Much like Stranger Things, Promised Neverland is rooted closely in strong friendships and familial bonds. While the idea of a story centered around children might not grab everyone’s attention, there are plenty of shady adults to go around as well.
As the central character, Emma gives off serious girl-power vibes much like Eleven. She is willing to do anything for her peers. An array of terrifying, man eating demons really adds to the Stranger Things aesthetic, as the children come to terms with the impending doom that is closing in on them.
Why You Should Give It A Chance
Promised Neverland is probably the closest anime on this list to Stranger Things. If you enjoy a good coming of age story, this is a solid choice. It’s hard enough making life altering decisions as an adult, but as a child, it’s even crazier—especially when the lives of your loved ones are on the line.
This show gives you a much needed re-up on the mystery and sci-fi elements that makes Stranger Things great. There were times when I didn’t know who I could trust, if anyone, and it delivers several solid plot twists along the way. As someone who has not read the manga, I was on the edge of my seat each week.
Much like the kids of Hawkins Elementary, Emma, Ray and Norman are all extremely smart, and it’s interesting to see their various plots and plans both succeed and fail. You’ll be rooting for the children the entire way, but not without a little bit of heartbreak and nail biting as well.
The Promised Neverland
Available dubbed on Toonami & subbed on Crunchyroll, VRV and HiDive
Made in the Abyss
Available dubbed and subbed on VRV and HiDive
One season:
13 episodes. Two recap movies
Status
receiving a sequel movie in 2020
Made in the Abyss is a very unique fantasy, sci fi, adventure anime about the obstacles people are willing to face for the ones they love.
Synopsis
Twelve-year-old orphan, Riko, aspires to be a famous cave raider one day, just like her mother, “Liza the Annihilator”. She wants to search for artifacts and discover the secrets of The Abyss, a huge gaping hole in the middle of Earth filled with amazing treasure and terrifying monsters. Neither The Curse of the Abyss, or the fact that her mother journeyed down on a mission and never returned, are enough to deter her from achieving her goal.
She soon meets a young robot boy in the Abyss named Reg. A real jackpot - he’s about as mysterious and exciting as Abyss treasure gets. He has no memories, but the two form a deep connection regardless.
One day, a note reaches the surface, supposedly from Liza, with a secret message that she is waiting for her daughter at the bottoms of the Abyss. Despite the danger of potential death, Riko knows she must make the trip find her mother. So, she and Reg set off on a journey that will forever change their lives.
Similarities
Like Promised Neverland and Stranger Things, this anime is also centered around children. However, it definitely isn’t an anime for younger audiences. It offers array of beasts and monsters to be overcome, as well as a number of adult allies and foes to be dealt with along the way.
While Riko is a normal human girl, Reg is definitely more an Eleven type character. He comes with a mysterious past, and a limited knowledge of how the real world works. Regardless, he is incredibly loyal, has bad ass powers and is just all around adorable.
Why You Should Give It A Chance
Made in the Abyss has some very original world building going on. Unlike Stranger Things, it takes place in more of a fantasy type era but is still a good watch even if you aren’t much into fantasy.
The animation style feels a little unconventional at first—more cartoonish/chibi-ish than your average anime, but it’s not a hard style to get used to. It works well for the story the anime is telling. It’s not hard to fall in love with the characters and their designs after an episode or two.
Although at first the anime might seem childish, it is anything but. There are deep themes of family, loss, loyalty, death and sacrifice that give this anime a much darker storyline than children going on an adventure. There’s also plenty of action, gore, and even scientific experiments on humans that are basically fucking torture. Overall, it’s going to be far from what you’re expecting but in all of the best ways possible.
While it might feel like it’s start off slow, once viewers make it into the Abyss, it begins to pick up and around episode nine I started crying like a baby and basically didn’t stop until the end—so be prepared. This anime is definitely worth the pain.
One Season:
24 episodes
Status
Complete
Parasyte is a sci-fi, horror thriller that deals with the tougher sides of being a reluctant hero.
Synopsis:
Shinichi Izumi is a normal, seventeen-year-old, high school boy until one night he is infected by an alien parasite. Although meant to take over his entire body through his head and use it as his host, the parasite fails and burrows into his hand instead, leaving them as two separately thinking entities.
Despite originally coming to kill him, Shinichi and his parasite, Migi, form a strange symbiotic bond. Shinichi’s strong sense of morals often collides with Migi’s strong sense of self preservation. Over time, they are forced to see the other’s point of view while constantly fighting for their lives against other, more hostile, parasites.
Similarities:
(Mild Spoilers)The main similarity here is definitely the sci-fi horror concept of fighting otherworldly monsters. Like Eleven, Shinichi is thrust into a world he does not really fit into, protecting those around him with his unique abilities. There is a lot of mystery here, and the concept of parasites isn’t as much of a secret as you might think. Watching Shinichi figure out just where he fits into the narrative and what he’s fighting for, is much like watching Eleven find herself in season two of Stranger Things.
Why You Should Give It A Chance
First of all, if the reason you like Stranger Things has anything to do with epic, man eating monsters, that’s enough right there. In design, the parasites can be pretty similar looking to demigorgons.
Parasyte also has a lot of moralistic food for thought. A sci-fi show where your main character has powers is always bound to come with some deep inner turmoil. While Eleven was already struggling when we met her, we follow Shinichi from day one of his story. If you’re into tragic hero origin stories, this is definitely a good choice. One of the most interesting parts is watching how Shinichi and Migi influence each other’s ideals and change throughout the course of the show, until it feels like they’ve almost reversed roles. (Also, it’s just fun to watch Shinichi up the hell out of his swag as the anime progresses)
If you're into the scarier more intense sides of Stranger Things, this is a good one to test
Parasyte: The Maxim
Available subbed on Crunchyroll, HiDIVE, Hulu, VRV and dubbed on HiDIVE, Hulu and VRV
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Available dubbed (new 2019 version) and subbed on Netflix.
Original 90’s dub cast can be found on DVD (I purchased a set on Ebay at the beginning of 2019)
One Season:
26 episodes. One recap movie. One sequel movie. Three “Rebuild movies” (a semi-retelling of the original story but with new elements, story arcs and plot points. It is also remastered. Think of it like a modern remake, I.e., Halloween)
Status
The anime is complete. There is one rebuild movie left to be released in 2021.
Neon Genesis is the story of a futuristic society, where the burden of humanity’s future is placed upon the shoulders of young, naïve students.
Synopsis:
Neon Genesis follows several children, mainly Shinji Ikari, as they pilot mechs (giant mechanical robots) and fight off monsters called Angels. It is basically a post-apocalyptic anime, where humanity must fight to survive the reemergence of the very monsters that damned them in the first place.
While Shinji struggles to win battles, he must also overcome his intense feelings of anxiety, abandonment and inadequacy in over to save the world from another major disaster. What he doesn’t know, is that the leaders of the organization he works for, are keeping more secrets than he thinks.
Similarities
(Mild Spoilers) Much like Stranger Things, Neon Genesis is definitely a coming-of-age story. No one has powers here, but we do see a group of kids thrust into the thick of action, having to overcome various obstacles in an attempt to save their city. There is a lot of growing up going on in Neon Genesis, much like with kids of Hawkins, and at times it can be hard to juggle that while trying to engage in life threatening battles. Much like the secret organization that held Eleven, Neon Genesis also has a secret organization called Nerv, that Shinji’s father is a part of. (His father is legit dead-beat dad of the year and more infuriating than Eleven’s Papa).
Neon Genesis is full of action, but also full of trauma. The kids are messed up. The adults are messed up and all of them will have you wondering why people continue to mess with things they do not fully understand.
Why You Should Give It A Chance:
If you’re already into anime, especially Mechs, then Neon Genesis is worth a watch. If not, it might a little harder to get into.
The show starts off strong, with plenty of action and an ensemble of interesting characters of various ages. There is a slow patch in the middle of the anime for a few eps, but when it picks back up again, the remainder of the anime is nonstop.
I will say, Neon Genesis can be a bit of a hard watch and at times it can be emotionally exhausting. Many of the characters are dealing with serious inner turmoil and deep struggles (tragic backstories left and right—no one is safe). There is a lot of unresolved trauma, especially within the main character, who struggles to understand his purpose in life.