My Hero Academia
Anime Like One Punch Man
One Puch Man and My Hero Academia are very similar animes with one major difference, their main characters. Whereas Saitama gets incredible power right from the get-go, My Hero Academia’s Izuku starts out powerless. After a chance encounter with the world’s most famous superhero, however, he’s chosen as the inheritor to the power of All For One, and has to begin adapting to the incredible power he’s given.
MHA takes place in a world where eight percent of the population is born with some kind of superpower known as a “Quirk.” These can be simple things like being able to levitate small items, all the way up to incredible super strength and speed and everything in between. Where MHA really becomes like One Punch Man is in its supporting cast, a ragtag group of different heroes in training. Both shows are Shonen anime that involve groups of heroes fighting to defend a city from villains, and both are filled with comedy as well as over-the-top action.
The contrast between the two show’s heroes can be fun to compare, and if you’re looking for another superhero-centric show after One Punch Man, you should look no further than MHA.
Dragon Ball Super
Anime Like One Punch Man
Dragon Ball’s influence on anime and manga, in general, cannot be overstated, and One Punch Man in particular draws a direct comparison. Saitama and Goku as characters have a ton of similarities. They both seem to have boundless reserves of power, they’re both very nonchalant about everything, and they both seek out stronger opponents for fun.
While Dragon Ball Z would be the go-to show to watch out of the series, it’s likely that a large percentage of anime fans have already seen it. For that purpose, Dragon Ball Super is a good choice instead. Super pushes Goku and Vegeta to new limits, unlocking the Super Saiyan God form, giving Goku Ultra Instinct, and more. If you want over the top action mixed with constant comedy, just like One Punch Man, then Dragon Ball Super fits the bill. There are over 100 episodes of the new series to watch, so you’ll have plenty to occupy your time.
Gintama
Anime Like One Punch Man
Gintama and One Punch Man have very different settings, but the two series are quite similar in tone and style. Although there’s plenty of action in Gintama, it’s heavy on the comedy aspect like One Punch Man, even taking time to parody anime in general or certain series.
Gintoki, the main character of Gintama, fights for his own selfish reasons and doesn’t care at all what others think of him, just like Saitama. Both characters are incredibly lazy, and come off a bit rude to everyone else. Despite their differences, One Punch Man and Gintama are both deconstructions of Shonen anime cliches and tropes, giving them a unique place within their genre. If you enjoy one, there’s a large chance you’ll enjoy the other.
Hunter x Hunter
Anime Like One Punch Man
Hunter x Hunter comes from the same studio responsible for One Punch Man, Madhouse, although the former aired earlier than the latter. Because of this, the animation style of the two shows are somewhat similar and the action of each revolves around crazy moves, huge battles, and unique characters.
They also have similar themes, with each hero being part of an elite organization. In the case of One Punch Man it’s the Hero Association, while Hunter x Hunter is the Hunter Association. These two organizations have a similar ranking system based on abilities, and send their members out to take down dangerous threats to humanity. Simply based on being done by the same studio alone, Hunter x Hunter should appeal directly to One Punch Man fans.
Overlord
Anime Like One Punch Man
If the best aspect of One Punch Man for you is its ridiculously powerful, unstoppable hero, then Overlord is going to be right up your alley. Just like Saitama, Ainz in Overlord is basically invincible and has no problem wiping the floor with virtually every enemy he goes up against.
Overlord is another anime in the vein of Sword Art Online, as it involves players getting trapped within a virtual MMO. AinZ is the best character in the game, before and after getting trapped, and he kind of takes it upon himself to play god in some ways. The biggest difference is that Overlord oftentimes plays things much more seriously than One Punch Man. There are plenty of comedic elements, but Overlord is a much darker story with a protagonist that isn’t quite as jokey as Saitama. These two shows completely do away with the hero going through growth and a rise to power, instead opting to let you watch from the perspective of someone who’s completely overpowered.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
Anime Like One Punch Man
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is yet another anime that goes for the same vibe as One Punch Man, revolving around a ridiculously overpowered character. Kusuo Saiki is a high school student attending PK Academy, who was born with all manner of incredible psychic powers. Much like Saitama, Saiki finds his powers to be a nuisance in his everyday life and tries his hardest to hide them, in an effort to live as a normal high school student.
Of course, all that power makes Saiki K. incredibly bored with his life as nothing poses any challenge, just like Saitama’s superhero career. Both Saiki K. and One Punch Man are satirical animes with a hugely comedic tone. The biggest difference, however, is that Saki K. leans very heavily into being a comedy, while One Punch Man also puts a focus on being an action anime.
The Devil is a Part-Timer!
Anime Like One Punch Man
Sadao-Mao isn’t your average fast food employee, he actually has a dark secret. As it turns out, Mao is the demon lord Satan, who’s escaped to the human world with his adviser Alciel, but in the process has been stripped of most of his magical power. Mao, just like Saitama, has a normal human form that looks completely unassuming. Of course, his real power as Satan lies beneath, and he can unleash it at certain times to become a nigh unstoppable force.
The Devil is a Part-Timer draws a big difference from One Punch Man, as much of the show is about Mao learning about humanity, and becoming more human in the process. Both shows have a big focus on comedy, and the writing in each one is superb, with an emphasis on parodying and deconstructing certain anime tropes. The Devil is a Part-Timer does feature less action that One Punch Man, but it has a phenomenal cast of supporting characters and a larger focus on storytelling and character development. This is one sarcastic comedy series that nay fan of One Punch Man shouldn’t miss.
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