The Matrix is a landmark cinematic franchise starring actor Keanu Reeves as Neo, the destined One who will save all of humanity from the tyranny of the Machines and the digital prison world known as the Matrix. This cyberpunk adventure has plenty of action scenes, but it also features wise philosophy about the nature of reality, freedom, and far more.
The Matrix movies have inspired many other works of fiction; these movies were partially inspired by the world of Japanese anime, including the famous Ghost in the Shell franchise. In a similar vein, fans of the Matrix movies will enjoy other anime series that share The Matrix's aesthetic, storytelling, and themes.
10 Ghost In The Shell Inspired The Matrix
Many Western franchises were partially inspired by anime, such as the Netflix hit Stranger Things taking many cues from the dark seinen series Elfen Lied. Meanwhile, the Wachowskis borrowed a few key ideas from the Ghost in the Shell franchise and made the most of it while still having plenty of fresh ideas of their own.
The Ghost in the Shell anime series and movies have plenty of futuristic cyberpunk action and philosophy to satisfy any Matrix fan, from the landmark 1995 movie to the Ghost In The Shell: Standalone Complex series, which ran for two seasons.
9 Tokyo 24th Ward Explores Themes Of Freedom From Machine Tyranny
Tokyo 24th Ward is an ongoing action sci-fi anime series taking place on a fictional island in Tokyo Bay that will soon be incorporated into the city as its 24th ward. The island is steeped in cyberpunk-style controversy — mostly where the Hazard Cast state surveillance system is concerned.
To minimize crime, the ward's government uses all-encompassing, high-tech surveillance systems — meaning peace comes at the cost of privacy and freedom. Many citizens of the ward are fighting back; Tokyo 24th Ward's hero, Shuta Aoi, must decide for himself what is right before he can save the day.
8 Sword Art Online Stars A Digital Hero
The video game isekai series Sword Art Online might lack The Matrix's deep philosophy and intriguing dialogue, but in its first story arc, humanity is also trapped in digital prison.
The hero of Sword Art Online is Kirito, a swordsman with two blades who is determined to free himself and every other player in the Aincrad world from certain death. In this game, character death means death for real, creating some serious stakes. Hardcore gaming is taken to another level in Sword Art Online.
7 The Promised Neverland Is A Dystopian Escape Story
The Promised Neverland stars children as its protagonists, such as Emma and Norman, but that doesn't make it a light-hearted or innocent story by any means. In the 2040s, humanity is at the whim of unseen demonic overlords, and those overlords demand human sacrifices.
The Grace Field House may look like an orphanage, but it's actually a farm where the orphans are meals waiting to be served. The young heroine Emma resolves to fight back and free humanity from the tyranny of demons, and the similarities to The Matrix are clear.
6 Tokyo Ghoul Has Dark Themes Of Oppressive Society
Many cyberpunk anime series appeal to Matrix fans, but fans can also enjoy fantasy series that have similar themes or storylines. One example is the dark seinen series Tokyo Ghoul.
The hero of Tokyo Ghoul is Ken Kaneki, a half-ghoul determined to free both humanity and ghoul-kind from the endless cycle of violence and hate. The CCG investigators who hunt benevolent ghouls may remind Matrix fans of the Agents hunting down Neo and his friends.
5 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Is About Freeing Humanity From Tyranny
Some fantasy anime series have similar themes and storytelling methods as the Matrix movies — including 2009's Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The nation of Amestris is like a computer-free Matrix, a seemingly ordinary world that is actually a giant trap for humanity.
Amestris is like a massive farm since Father plans to sacrifice all people living there to fuel his ascension to godhood. That reflects the Machines creating the Matrix to keep humanity compliant while harvesting their bodies for energy as living batteries.
4 Attack On Titan Is All About Revolution & Destiny
Attack On Titan is a smash-hit shonen series whose protagonist, Eren Yeager, was once a hero like Neo himself. When the story started, humanity was trapped in a giant walled city; they were safe but denied the freedom to explore the world. Eren's hometown was like a walled Matrix.
Eren was determined to fight back against the Titans that oppressed humanity, with Titans being stand-ins for the Agents and the Machines. With Eren leading the way, humanity fought back to claim freedom, but they weren't ready for the world they found beyond their walled Matrix.
3 No Game No Life Features A Colorful Matrix World
No Game No Life is a sci-fi isekai anime series where the brother/sister duo Sora and Shiro spend all day beating everyone in online games. They eventually end up in an immersive digital game world where games have replaced war as a means of conflict resolution.
Sora and Shiro have entered the Matrix and they're in their element. They can play chess, battle royale games, and far more to triumph over their many foes and get one step closer to their goal. Together, they are the One, and they're having so much fun with it.
2 The Saga Of Tanya The Evil Is A Gritty Isekai Adventure
The Saga Of Tanya The Evil is a dark isekai anime series that takes place in an alternate Europe where World War I has dragged on well into the 1920s and beyond, blending that war with dieselpunk elements of World War II.
Tanya is an antihero who is at the whim of the unknown Being X, who put her there. In a sense, Tanya has entered the violent Matrix as a savage hero who will fight hard to break free of an oppressive fate and create her own future.
1 Jujutsu Kaisen Features An Anime Agent Smith
Jujutsu Kaisen is a dark fantasy series where negative human emotions create powerful curses that are monsters determined to take over the world.
The mighty curse Mahito scorns humanity as weak and flawed and wants to wipe out the human race to allow curses to flourish instead. That's similar to how Agent Smith views humanity — an all-consuming virus that must be wiped out.