Time To Punch Your Way Through Other Shows
One Punch Man is an incredible anime series that graced audiences with its well-written humor and astounding characters. While the idea of a hero being able to defeat people with one swing of his fist sounds bland, this show crafts a well-developed narrative suitable for a hero like Saitama. Our tale follows Saitama, the bald superhero who can defeat any foe in one punch. Unfortunately, with great power comes great boredom in Saitama’s case. That all changes when he meets a cyborg warrior named Genos who informs him about a Hero Association, where Saitama can make a name for himself and reignite his fighting passion. Fear not if you’re having trouble finding anime similar to One Punch Man! We’ve discovered 10 alternate shows that’ll give you a similar experience as One Punch Man. Additionally, for each anime we’ve reviewed, we’ve included a link that allows you to view our full thoughts about the series to see if it’s worth your time. So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet your appetite when you’ve finished streaming One Punch Man!
Mob Psycho 100
Similarities – Same Author
One Punch Man isn’t the only gem created by One. Mob Psycho 100 promises to deliver the same art style, goofy humor, and epic action sequences fans loved about One’s favorable work. Instead of a hero that can defeat any foe with one punch, Mob Psycho 100 focuses on a young boy named Mob who has vast psychic potential. Unlike Saitama, Mob understands the dangers behind his powers and chooses not to utilize them willingly. He only uses his powers as a means to impress his longtime crush Tsubomi, but his psychic prowess does not woo her. To establish more control over his abilities, Mob enlists the help of Arataka Reigen, who exploits Mob’s powers for pocket change. This anime follows Mob’s daily life exorcising evil spirits. Unbeknownst to the viewer, the more psychic energy he exerts the more dangerous Mob becomes. Despite having a different-mannered protagonist, Mob Psycho 100 delivers the same ounce of enjoyable comedy and thrills as One Punch Man. If you’re looking to see what One Punch Man’s author is truly capable of, I’d check out Mob Psycho 100.
My Hero Academia
Similarities – Superheroes
One Punch Man and My Hero Academia feel like companion series. Both anime tackle the superhero genre in intriguing ways. While One Punch Man acts as a parody of the superhero genre, My Hero Academia feels like the Shōnen Jump interpretation of it. With its cast of colorful characters, beautiful fights, and a heart-pumping soundtrack, there’s a lot to love about My Hero Academia. This anime follows a boy named Izuku Midoriya who dreamed of becoming a noble hero like his role model All Might. Unfortunately, Izuku wasn’t born with powers and is often picked on for being a powerless nerdy individual. His life takes a turn for the better after meeting his hero, All Might. Although All Might disowns Izuku at first, Izuku’s brave attempt at saving his bully’s life from an evil villain convinces All Might to take Izuku under his wing. Now with All Might’s powers and a ticket to the well-acclaimed U.A. High School, Izuku plans to become his world’s number-one hero. Like One Punch Man, My Hero Academia’s full of nonstop thrills and delight. Fans will find themselves enamored by Izuku and his friend’s powers and cheer them on during their fights with villains. If you’re looking for another superhero-themed anime that will get your blood pumping, check out My Hero Academia.
Overlord
Similarities – Overpowered Protagonist & Stylized Animation
While overpowered protagonists can make or break a series, One Punch Man and Overlord managed to create a satisfying narrative that kept people invested and entertained. Although Overlord feels more like an RPG than One Punch Man, it contains fluid animation, beautiful visuals, and a boatload of well-written humor. Our tale takes place in a city where a gamer named Momonga is enjoying his final hours in the VR world of Yggdrasil. Although the game’s creators shut off the servers, Momonga remains conscious inside the game for some reason. He tries talking to nearby players, but discovers are no longer being played by humans and have adopted in-game personalities. The anime follows Momonga’s life inside Yggdrasil as he attempts to return home. Although Momonga is an overpowered and experienced player, he’ll meet enemies that are worthwhile challengers. Like Saitama, Momonga meets many characters who have a variety of distinct abilities and personalities. On the flip side, Overlord feels more story driven and solemn compared to One Punch Man. Nevertheless, Overlord isn’t afraid to put Momonga in uncomfortable situations to get a rise out of fans. If you’re looking for another anime with an experienced protagonist but with more serious storytelling, check out Overlord.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
Similarities – Lighthearted Comedy
This is another anime that begs the question if having unstoppable powers is worth it. This anime doesn’t have the most complex storyline or plot. It’s a lighthearted comedy that aims to entertain its audience with its variety of jokes, gags, and character-centric moments. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K follows Kusou Saiki, who was gifted with incredible supernatural abilities ranging from telepathy to x-ray vision. While everyone believes he’s a lucky individual for having such power, Saiki doesn’t share the same sentiment. Instead, he argues it’s a curse as his powers bring him nothing but trouble. Although Saiki aims for a more peaceful life, he attracts the attention of many oddballs like the empty-headed Riki Nendou and the delusional Shun Kaidou. As Kusuo deals with the craziness of the people around him, he learns that living an ordinary life is harder than he imagined. Like Saitama, Saiki isn’t a fan of his abilities and feels slightly apathetic toward individuals. The hilarity that revolves around Saiki also stems from his powers. The difference between this show and One Punch Man would be that the latter leans more toward action while Saiki cranks up the humor by a large margin.
Tiger & Bunny
Similarities – Stylized Animation & Superheroes
Tiger & Bunny feels like an anime gem regarding superhero-themed anime. While the show has its audience, it’s small, unlike My Hero Academia and One Punch Man’s large following. Tiger & Bunny offers a similar degree of humor, action, and hyper-stylized animation that will please any superhero fan. The characters in this anime have likable and genuine personalities and opinions about the world they inhabit. In Tiger & Bunny, the world has a similar ranking system that mirrors One Punch Man’s Hero Association. The show also tackles the idea of “idol culture,” as many heroes have their share of fans. As all heroes in the Tiger & Bunny universe have sponsors, advertisers, and things of that nature, people treat them a bit more commercially. Nevertheless, this show’s protagonist’s relationship offers slight similarities to what you’d find between Saitama and Genos. If you’re looking for a bizarre, comical, and action-packed superhero anime with wonderful action and world-building, Tiger & Bunny’s worth watching.
Hajime No Ippo
Similarities – Action, Comedy, Characters
While one centers on boxing and the other superheroes, Hajime No Ippo and One Punch Man are quite alike. Despite containing exhilarating action scenes, these shows aren’t afraid to tickle your funny bone. These shows feature well-timed facial humor and witty jokes. You can expect this show’s multiple boxers to participate in numerous activities from attending karaoke nights to spying on attractive women. Ippo’s wholesome personality makes these situations more hilarious since fans will be able to tell that he’s uncomfortable in these situations. Hilarity aside, Hajime No Ippo doesn’t hold back on its action. Like One Punch Man, you can expect characters to endure pain and obtain several severe injuries as they fight others in the ring. The characters also endure real-world problems as Saitama does from having trouble getting dates to fulfilling promises.
The Devil Is A Part-Timer
Similarities – Overpowered Protagonist & Comedy
Working in the fast-food industry has its faults, but the stories you’ll obtain from the task may make it worthwhile. Most of those stories won’t hold a candle to the hilarious mishaps Satou must endure in The Devil Is A Part-Timer. The Devil Is A Part-Timer and One Punch Man focus on overpowered protagonists who wind up living mundane lives. It isn’t until they meet several side characters, that they find themselves enjoying life for the better. Fans can find Saitama and Satou relatable in certain instances, despite their supernatural abilities. For instance, some fans can empathize with Saitama finding boredom in his fights because he can take out people in one punch. At the same time, some may sympathize with Satou’s infuriation with completing the trivial tasks his boss forces upon him. They will keep viewers interested through their reactions to these realizations and trivial matters. If you’re looking for an incredible 13-episode series that follow a Demon Lord struggling to make ends meet at a McDonalds-themed establishment, check out The Devil Is A Part-Timer.
Kill La Kill
Similarities – Action, Comedy, Beautiful Animation
Kill La Kill is a bizarre series with beautiful animation and great humor. Like One Punch Man, this show delivers fun characters, an interesting plot, and nonstop facial humor and gags. While Kill La Kill can feel slightly over-the-top at times, it’s these moments that helped it attain the wide following it has now. Kill La Kill revolves around Ryuko Matoi, who is looking to find her father’s murderer. With half of his treasured scissor blade to go by, Ryuko stumbles upon Honnouji Academy. She meets its student council president Satsuki and fights her. Ryuko loses the fight and flees. Arriving at her razed home, Ryuko meets a strange sentiment vest named Senketsu which attaches itself to her body. This gives Ryuko new powers and strength. With the help of Senketsu and her friend Mako, Ryuko plans to fight Satsuki again to gain intel about her target. Little does she know, she’ll have to defeat Satsuki’s various henchmen to get another shot at her. Ryuko and Saitama maintain their confidence in every fight. At the same time, these characters often get into arguments about petty matters. Fans will find these two charming and hilarious in both instances. If you’re looking for an action anime with stylized animation and fun fights, give Kill La Kill a watch.
Dragon Ball Z
Similarities – Action-Packed Thrill Rides
Dragon Ball Z set the stage for most shōnen anime. With its menacing villains, likable heroes, and fun-filled fights, Dragon Ball Z went to become an instant smash-hit in the eyes of many anime fans. Like One Punch Man, Dragon Ball Z places its protagonist Goku in many adrenaline-pumping and deadly scenarios that aim to test his skills. These villains will cause Goku severe harm, forcing him to train and obtain new forms that will give him the strength he needs to defeat them. The villains in Dragon Ball Z are on par with those found in One Punch Man. Many hold enough power to destroy cities and planets. At the same time, Dragon Ball Z doesn’t shy away from its slice-of-life roots set up by the original series. Fans can expect our characters to indulge in cheerful activities from indulging in family meals to exploring new locations. You can read our thoughts on Dragon Ball Z in our full-season review here!
Inferno Cop
Similarities – Action, Comedy, Themes
So there we have it, our 10 anime/TV show alternatives to watch when you’ve caught up with One Punch Man! Although Inferno Cop will have his grievances with the people he saves, he never lets them affect his mindset while fighting. The fights in this show are fun and will leave viewers mesmerized. This show’s art style is comparable to an American comic, allowing it to feel memorable and engaging. Considering each episode only lasts about 3 minutes long, fans should have no issue completing Inferno Cop in one sitting. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!