Here’s a funny idea: There are other anime besides Dragon Ball. As crazy as it may seem, there is an entire world of other Japanese, animated media that explore a variety of interests and topics outside of buff, blonde guys screaming at each other. And as influential and nostalgic as the beloved series is, it’s not necessarily the cream of the crop for different anime fans. Dragon Ball is not a series without fault, and it can only entertain so many interests between its array of fans. So, in the event that you are an anime fan that has yet to tread waters beyond Dragon Ball, here’s a special list of anime, each with its own distinct style and strength, that may be able to scratch a certain itch that Dragon Ball quite couldn’t.
Note: This list absolves the infamous Big Three (One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach). As widely successful as these series were (or still are) in the wake of Dragon Ball’s departure from the late 90’s to Dragon Ball Super’s inception, each of their anime adaptations come with too many faults (perhaps taking too much after Dragon Ball), such as copious amounts of time padding and filler. These are great series within their own right and definitely deserve consolation spots on this list, especially if you’re looking for solid Shounen series. However, they don’t exactly have well produced “animes” and thus don’t make the list.
10 Gintama
Here’s a series for the anime fan that’s well versed in other animes and Shounen-battle series. Gintama is a Shounen battle/comedy series that parodies the entire genre, creating surreal jokes and skits that both deconstruct and celebrate the genre. It’s something that can give a fan plenty of laughs as well as plenty of tears and excitement, as the show can and will switch from funny to endearing at a heartbeat. As hilarious as 90% of this series is, don’t let that distract from how awesome the samurai fights are. The characters themselves embody the same style of loveable of misfits and rivals that one may come to expect from Dragon Ball but given more adult tones of humor and stoicism. If you’re someone who’s seen the Shounen genre a little too much, Gintama may be the series to shake things up for you.
9 Kill la Kill
If one had to choose two things that Dragon Ball is famous for, it would be crazy fights and lots of shouting. And if you liked that in Dragon Ball, get ready to receive that in spades with Studio Trigger’s infamous Kill la Kill. With characters outfitted in Goku uniforms, this a series filled with some of the most decadent style, animation, and, of course, fight scenes that one may ever see, even if (especially if) they’ve seen Dragon Ball fights. Characters will get stronger for no reason, and power levels and power scaling mean nothing compared to the clothes on (or off) the main character’s back. WARNING: There are copious amounts of fan service in the guise of Trigger metaphors. Depending on who you are, let that be a + or -.
8 Attack on Titan
Given its sharp rise within the modern generation, Attack on Titan is one of the more obvious picks on this list and for good reason. It has similar narratives to Dragon Ball (underdog fighting the odds, fighting for humanity, sudden powerups, main character surprisingly has the same powers as the invading enemy) but carries a greater level of intrigue given the planning given its intricate plot, subplots, and twists. More than just a martial arts exhibition between two people, Attack on Titan carries a menagerie of conflicts between fighting the titans, fighting corrupt politicians, and fighting the demons within oneself. Attack on Titan also delivers on the main trope that Dragon Ball fans may be often disappointed with: character deaths. Attack on Titan is often seen as the Game of Thrones for anime fans given its strong level of consequential, on-screen character deaths. This is a world that sadly goes without senzu beans.
7 Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
Anime fans have a tendency to get sick of long internal dialogues, drawn out tension, and single confrontations that last multiple episodes, tropes that define Dragon Ball and afflict its fans. However, the same can’t be said for Kaiji fans. Stuff like this not only comprises most of the Kaiji series but also defines it as one the most tense and suspenseful anime of all time. While stringing tension to last episodes may act as padding for Dragon Ball, Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor actually uses it to its advantage, using time and thought to emphasize and complement the intensity of the gambling and risking one’s own life. And the ways that Kaiji animates and personifies tension on the faces and mindsets of its characters contributes a great deal to making even Rock, Paper, Scissors feel like an entire beat down in Dragon Ball. Like Goku, the titular Kaiji is often characterized as the underdog. But what sets him apart is that he stays that way. He doesn’t get ripped or have sudden powerups to save the world. He struggles just to save himself, often failing to his own weaknesses and desires. Kaiji doesn’t win. He survives.
6 Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Hunter x Hunter is the only Shounen, battle alum on this list and like other Shounen series of its generation, it takes after a lot from Dragon Ball. It stars a happy-go-lucky boy going on a journey to explore a fantastical world and has extravagant fights and power systems. However, the way that it uses its systems and translates thought is distinctively different and arguably leagues ahead of Dragon Ball. One of the main things that a Hunter x Hunter fan may tell you is that the series has one of the most creative, consistent, and well-defined power systems in any series. The Nen system is described with such detail and carries such tangibility that the writing of Hunter x Hunter is arguably more akin to a video game than a typical anime series, which does wonders for involving the audience with each and every fight. And, in the same vain as Kaiji, internal dialogue is used well and intelligently to create such a genuine sense of tension that it’s hardly noticed mid-action.
5 Death Note
On the topic of using dialogue and internal thought to create genuine tension, here is an acclaimed Shounen series that can achieve the same adrenaline rush from any Shounen battle with the simple twist of the tongue. Another given on this list, Death Note is a series famous for handling the fate of the world with its characters mind, not their muscles. With such well-developed characters and an incredibly realized level of stakes, Death Note makes Dragon Ball look like the checkers to its chess. Beyond just its sharp writing, the series is also known for its dark, grunge style, amoral main character, and dramatic depictions of even the slightest movement. Be prepared to fall in love with the main character just eating potato chips.
4 Gurren Lagann
While Dragon Ball Z gave the series its sense of scale, it lost the original Dragon Ball’s sense of exploration and adventure. Thankfully, however, Gurren Lagann was able to provide both at equal measure and in fewer episodes. Trekking the entire universe and reaching godlike potential in under 30 episodes, Gurren Lagann provides fans all the sense of high-scale action and adventure that would take Dragon Ball over 100 episodes to achieve and does so with a fully realized, cohesive story, giving its fans sagas worth of friendship, excitement, and tears. Don’t believe the hype. Believe in the fans who believe in the hype.
3 Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
This series takes the least from Dragon Ball on this list, but it clearly doesn’t need to. Code Geass is a series famous for drawing in fans for having an incredibly well thought out and cohesive plot, full of betrayal, surprises, and political intrigue. While Dragon Ball has a fun story in its own right, Code Geass will have you realizing how plot starved you are, as the flow and pacing of the series will act more as a tidal wave, as it just sweeps you in with tales of revenge, morality, and redemption. If that’s not enough for you, just watch the intro and see if you’ll listen to anything else this week.
2 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
While this list is based on “liking,” this is a series that any anime fan is near guaranteed to love. It has the action, adventure, and loveable cast that will pull in any Dragon Ball fan, and the tragedy, world building, and deep seeded plot to keep them, as well as an incredibly satisfying ending to refresh anyone sick of never-ending Shounens. Its power system is based on historical pseudo-physics that may impress any science teacher, and its world is based strongly (almost blatantly) on historical parallels that will impress any history one. It’s a battle anime about fighting Nazis. What’s left to say?
1 Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
If you’re a Dragon Ball fan that’s never heard of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, then be glad that this list exists. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is a grandfather series to Dragon Ball that has developed a community of its own within the modern age. While Dragon Ball has decent power systems and cool fights, it’s hard to argue that the style of it has a personality of its own. Jojo’ is a series where style literally has a personality of its own, as vampires, supernatural soul-ghosts, and enough pop culture references to fill a record store make this a hard series to forget. Just looking at a paused frame of the series is enough to make one’s eyes pop out as the distinct color palette and every character’s genetic inability to not pose are a fantastic visual treat. It has epic adventures, eccentric villains, and enough hyped, muscly battles to make Goku proud.