Many anime fans probably remember watching episode after episode of Naruto while growing up. They likely didn't realize it back then, but Naruto isn't an American-made cartoon and is in fact Japanese animation in the shonen genre. Regardless of its birthplace, however, Naruto has shown phenomenal success among Japanese and Western fans alike.
Naruto has been so popular that it has spawned a slew of anime from different studios, all eager to capitalize on Naruto's success. Of course, none of them have come as close as the parent series itself, but if fans are curious to see what Naruto-copycat series look like, they are bound to find some eerily similar anime out there.
10 Mushibugyo
The show is set in feudal Japan and tells the story of Jinbee Tsukishima, who has only one goal in mind: to become the best swordsman that Japan has ever seen. Jinbee is basically the feudal version of Naruto since both have unending reserves of hope and determination.
There are also many action-packed fight sequences to keep fans happy. The biggest difference between the two is that while Naruto focuses more on ninja, Mushibugyo focuses on traditional Japanese disciplines like onmyoji and samurai.
9 Blue Exorcist
Like Naruto, Rin has something very powerful inside of him that can easily turn the tables and make him into a villain. However, Rin is someone who thinks straight from his heart, likes to help people, and makes friends easily — even when others don't consider him as a friend.
Rin's inherent goodness saves him and might make some viewers think of Naruto's hopeful energy. The Naruto-Gaara relationship dynamic can also be seen between Rin and Ryuji, where both Naruto and Rin wanted their mistakes to help Gaara and Ryuji grow.
8 Nabari No Ou
Fourteen-year-old Miharu Rokujo is in possession of a powerful ninja secret that ninja from all over the world want to snatch away from him. Just like Naruto, Rokujo is initially unwilling to carry the responsibility that he has been burdened with.
However, as Nabari no Ou progresses, Rokujo undergoes grilling training, learns more about his power, and ultimately accepts it as being a part of his existence. He carries this responsibility forward as he refines his skills.
7 Seraph Of The End
Both Nauro and Seraph of the End tell the tale of two male protagonists who end up on opposite sides of the spectrum. Both are physically weak in the beginning, but through pure grit and perseverance, both end up becoming the best soldiers on their respective sides.
Of course, Seraph of the End is a post-apocalyptic take on Naruto with vampires and magic, so its world is slightly different from what fans would expect from a Naruto copycat. Nevertheless, the rivalry between each series' protagonists is similar enough.
6 Katanagatari
Shichika Yasuri and his sister Nanami live in exile. One day, the mysterious Togame appears to give him a special mission to collect twelve different legendary swords forged by Kiki Shikizaki, on behalf of the Owari Shogunate.
Shichika acts as Togame's protector and sword, aiding her in locating Shikizaki's blades and fighting ninja along the way. The show’s art, animation, fight scenes, and even music are very reminiscent of Naruto, as is Shichika's determination to complete the mission he's been given.
5 Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou
Like Naruto, Basilisk revolves around ninja who are excessively powerful and are involved in clan wars. The show focuses mostly on fights, which is a treat for fans. Much like Naruto, Basilisk focuses on the theme of eyes, and many mysteries are uncovered because of them.
However, unlike Naruto, this series is targeted at a mature audience, which means there are a lot of bloody and violent scenes strewn throughout the anime. Naruto definitely has its violent moments, but Basilisk dials that energy up to 11.
4 Radiant
Demonic entities are slowly taking over the Earth, and it is only Sorcerers infected by the Nemesis who can fight these creatures. Radiant features a protagonist with a big dream and a lot of determination to achieve it.
Seth (who is essentially Naruto) heads out to destroy these monstrous creatures with his friends Melie and Doc in tow. He has a special power he has yet to master, and pursues the dream of destroying the Radiant and becoming the best Sorcerer known to humankind.
3 Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Hunter x Hunter is famously regarded as one of the best anime in the shonen genre. Fans who have yet to watch it will be delighted to know that it has over 100 episodes to indulge in. Like Naruto, this anime too has young boys who are strong and determined to achieve their goals no matter what.
Gon and Killua are weak in the beginning, but they eventually become strong enough to aim for becoming the best in their field, which in this case is being a Hunter. Hunter x Hunter is known for subverting typical shonen expectations, so it's an interesting watch for those looking for something a little different.
2 Soul Eater
The protagonists of this show, Maka Albarn and Soul Evans, are told to collect 100 souls in a particular order so that they can graduate from Death Weapon Meister Academy. Maka is flanked by other characters like Death the Kid and Black Star, who have their own goals to achieve.
Like Naruto, this anime has a knucklehead who's always rushing into things, quirky characters often used for comic relief, and animation that is made from thick outlines and bright colors. It's definitely something fans would love to binge-watch.
1 Black Clover
Without a doubt, Black Clover is one of the biggest and most shameless copies of Naruto, so much so that both shows come from the same studio. A young orphan boy named Asta wears a headband and starts off weak but wants to become the best — the Wizard King, in this case.
Asta has a loud and hyperactive personality, often shouts, always forgives people even when they don't deserve it, has a tight-knit group of loyal friends. As a final comparison, Asta also fights many battles that he always wins in the end no matter the odds.