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So, for those who are truly enjoying RoK, but are having a hard time waiting for each new episode, here are some other similar shows to watch in the meantime.
Updated February 23 2021, by Jacob Buchalter: Now that Ranking of Kings has had more time for episodes to air, the initial opinion that the anime community had is pretty much set in stone. RoK really is an anime for the ages, and there aren’t many other series like it.
But the tale of a mistreated youth learning about life isn’t exactly the most underutilized concept. There are quite a few anime out there with at least a faint similarity to Boiji’s tale. So, let’s take one more look and see what other shows fans of Ranking of Kings might like.
12 Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga, at least compared to Ranking of Kings, is assuredly much more violent. Thorfinn is the very definition of a “troubled youth,” though for the age of Vikings his violent nature is pretty status quo.
That said, manga readers of Vinland Saga already know the places this story eventually goes, and thus know it does have some tonal and atmospheric similarities to RoK. Both stories are heartbreakers, and it’s fair to say that RoK has a bit more of a storybook feel to it while Vinland Saga is more Odyssey-like. Yet, it still is absolutely an anime like Ranking of Kings that everyone should experience, especially since season two is already in production.
11 Kaiba
Kaiba is likely the best recommendation anyone could give for an anime to watch before/after Ranking of Kings. Yet, because of its niche following, not enough people know about Kaiba. This is a series created by Madhouse, known for their absurd range in terms of style and high bar for quality.
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As far as style goes, Kaiba is one of the most unique-looking anime in history. At first glance, it might be hard to get used to this style, but the simplistic nature and overblown proportions actually serve to enhance its overall theme. Kaiba is best enjoyed going in blind, so to keep it that way, it’s best to simply describe it as an episodic anime that explores the concept of “memories” in some nihilistic, inventive, and heart-wrenchingly cruel ways.
10 March Comes In Like A Lion
When it comes to shows similar to Ranking of Kings, most key aspects include heavy emotional impact, a story focused on a single character learning to love the world around them, or a tale about an emotionally scarred MC who finally finds people that appreciate them. March Comes in Like A Lion has all three.
It’s a lot less fantastical and a lot more realistic, but the show’s visual metaphors bridge the gap into the fantasy realm a bit. Rei Kiriyama has trouble relating to the world around him, just like Boiji, and it never gets old watching both Rei and Boiji find all the little moments of happiness they so truly deserve. As far as anime similar to Rankings of Kings go, MCiLaL is top-notch in terms of quality.
9 Katanagatari
This might seem like a recommendation out of left field, but Katanagatari really does scratch a similar itch as the Ranking of Kings anime. As a whole, RoK is likely the better product, but both shows are much more focused on mold-breaking characters and their conflicting ideologies. It’s another show where once could argue the MC has fallen for the villain, of sorts, but doesn’t seem to care. Plus, both MCs of these two anime are absurdly powerful human weapons that are vastly underestimated.
That isn’t to say that either show lacks in the animation department. When it comes to combat, they both go all out. But, it’s clear as day that the creators of both these shows relish the moment-to-moment interactions between characters more than anything, as the dialogue is polished to a mirror sheen in either series.
8 Mob Psycho 100
Next up is Mob Psycho 100. It feels like this show is on every recommendation list for every genre, and for good reason, it really is an anime that encapsulates a bit of everything and nails everything it sets out to do.
Like Ranking of Kings,Mob Psycho 100 is over-the-top fantastical, features a main character who is immediately loveable yet just a bit “different” from everyone else, and has plenty of action. It’s an anime about identity, what it means to be human, and what true growth actually is, which are all aspects RoK shares as well. And, it’s a perfect show to watch for those who love alternative anime art styles, as both RoK and MP100 are anime that have a completely individual look (though it does understandably share some visual flair with One Punch Man).
7 To Your Eternity
Adapted by studio Brain’s Base from the hit manga series of the same name made by Yoshitoki Oima, To Your Eternity is a real heart wrenching watch. Well, that’s to be expected, considering it comes from the same mind that created A Silent Voice.
In any case, To Your Eternity doesn’t exactly have a lot in common with Ranking of Kings in regards to its narrative like it does with some other anime, but the overall atmosphere and emotional impacts of both shows are very similar. Plus, both main characters have a lot of trouble with understanding and communication, and they slowly but surely open up to the world around them. Also, considering what’s currently going on in the Ranking of Kings anime, a story focused on a character with the power of immortality like Fushi has seems pretty apt.
6 Somali & The Forest Spirit
The same way Ranking of Kings has this otherworldly wonder where viewers are enamored with the setting, so does a little show called Somali and the Forest Spirit. In SatFS, humans are all but extinct and the world is dominated by all manner of mystical creatures, from spirits to demons, and even immortal guardian golems.
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In fact, one such forest golem stumbles across a human child (named Somali) and decides to travel with her in order to find her parents. Their slow but steadily growing familial bond, the constant tension of Somali being attacked at any time, and underdog child MC all apply to both RoK and SatFS, making them both fantastic shows to watch.
5 Made In Abyss
Anyone who has only seen one or two episodes of the Ranking of Kings anime would probably say that Made in Abyss is a bit too dark and violent to compare the two. But, as RoK airs more and more episodes, it’s obvious that both sides have a very dark tone to them hidden just beneath their childlike art style.
Both Made in Abyss and Ranking of Kinds feature two primary “main” characters who are adventuring through a world that seems entirely against them, all while trying to do what’s best for the people around them. And, there’s never a moment in either show where viewers are sat down and are given an explanation as to how the world and creatures work, which gives both anime this constant feeling of “anything could happen”. And, Made in Abyss is critically acclaimed! So much so that it appears even a film adaptation is on the way.
4 Arslan Senki
Now moving onto the shows that have a bit more to do with the whole “unexpectedly talented Prince” and/or “Royalty on a journey to reclaim their kingdom” side of Ranking of Kings, there’s Arslan Senki, AKA The Heroic Legend of Arslan.
To sort of summarize the overall plot of Arslan Senki in as few words as possible, it’s like what happens when the author of Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Yoshiki Tanaka) is told to write his own Fire Emblem-style odyssey-type story. There’s betrayal, espionage, discovery, a whole lot of scouting out exceptionally talented people, and plenty of political drama, which makes it a perfect comparison to RoK.
3 Kingdom
While Arslan Senki has some pretty violent moments, almost nothing out there compares to Kingdom when it comes to raw moment-to-moment violence. Set in a fictional rendition of the Warring States period of Chinese history, where the country was constantly at war with itself before the king of Qin managed to unite all of China, Kingdom is a brutal series that has characters constantly teetering on the edge of death and survival.
The story mostly focuses on a boy named Xin who grew up with nothing as he works (and lucks) his way into becoming one of the “Great Generals Under the Heavens”. It’s an absurdly long story on par with something like Vinland Saga or Berserk that also manages to capture that feeling of “realism” with larger-than-life characters. That said, the manga is by far the best way to experience this story rather than the other way round (the CGI over-dependence isn’t great in the anime). But, for those who aren’t fans of the manga medium, there is a Netflix anime adaptation as well made by acclaimed animators Studio Pierrot.
2 The Ancient Magus Bride
Moving onto yet another story about a main character who is massively underestimated by the people around them and yet really comes into their own as a person, it’s the Ancient Magus Bride.
Out of all the anime to release in the last few years, AMB is one of a handful that can give RoK a run for its money in terms of pure worldbuilding of a fantasy setting. From the first episode, viewers feel like they’ve been thrown into a world where magic has always existed, and it’s a force to be reckoned with, again, like RoK. Yes, AMB is a bit slower in its pace and more romantically focused than RoK, but it’s still almost guaranteed that those who enjoy Bojji’s adventure will love Chise’s as well. Plus, Elias is this fantastically powerful animal, spirit, and human hybrid that seems like something right out of a storybook, which is, once again, something RoK excels at too.
1 Dororo
Last up is Dororo, surprisingly, another story about a boy with a tragic upbringing who can’t talk or hear. Well, to be fair, Hyakkimaru wasn’t really born with anything, including limbs, internal organs, or even a face. He became like this thanks to his father making a pact with 48 sealed demons so that he may rule the land before Hyakkimaru was even born. Yet, somehow, Hyakkimaru survives, and even lucks into getting a mostly prosthetic body from a skilled craftsman. From there, the story mostly focuses on Hyakkimaru fighting (and killing) all of these sealed demons with the help of a little delinquent rascal named Dororo, with each big kill returning one of his senses or missing parts back to him.
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