Stands are a phenomenon in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure universe where their wielder's spirit is given a physical form with unique powers. Oftentimes, they serve as the main vehicles to drive the series and are utilized by heroes and villains alike.
Many other anime characters share abilities that strongly resemble a Stand without explicitly being one. These abilities' qualities (such as overlapping humanoid shapes, the ability to manifest from nothingness, and in some instances, invisibility to the untrained eye) can help shed light on other anime individuals who would be at home in the JoJo universe.
10 Sajin's Zanpakuto Allows Him To Enter A Stand-Like Suit Of Armor (Bleach)
Sajin's Zanpakuto allowed him to enter a massive suit of armor that shares many properties of a Stand. It's invisible to the naked eye on account of the nature of spiritual pressure.
Additionally, what damage the armor sustains is reflected back at its wearer, exemplifying the resemblances to a Stand even further. Sajin's ability can best be likened to Secco's "Oasis," which is used to envelop his entire body and enhance his strength.
9 Ryuk Is Invisible To The Naked Eye (Death Note)
Ryuk was the shinigami of the Death Note that Light Yagami picked up. In addition to having sentience (a quality that some Stands share, such as Shigechi's Harvest and Mista's Six Bullets), he is also completely invisible to the naked eye.
The only way for others to see him is if they touch Kira's notebook themselves. Despite Ryuk's many similarities to a conventional Stand, there is one critical factor to distinguish him; he does not directly abide by Light's orders or wishes. This was proven at the end of the villain's life, where the monster turned against his former muse and killed him while he was being hunted by the Japanese task force.
8 Lara Tybur's War Hammer Was Concealed Until Necessary & Wasn't Used Like A Conventional Titan (Attack On Titan)
A critical difference between the War Hammer Titan and its brethren was that its user did not control it from the nape of its neck. Instead, their connection was through a tether at the ball of the foot.
In this regard, Tybur is able to use her ability much more like a conventional Stand since she does not need to twist and contort her Titan body in order for it to obey her will. Additionally, she can manifest it from nothingness just like most characters of the JoJo universe.
7 Perona's Hollows Have Their Own Unique Personalities & Are Intangible (One Piece)
The similarities between Perona's negative hollows and Stands are already evident from their ghost-like appearances and intangible forms. However, their shared qualities are even more clear through their playful personalities and mannerisms.
Perona's devil fruit ability shares the greatest resemblance to Mista's "Six Bullets," both for the number of her minions and how starkly their dispositions contrast her own. In addition to demoralizing her opponents, the hollows are also useful for remote detonations much like Yoshikage Kira's.
6 Netero's Guanyin Bodhisattva Is An Extension Of Himself (Hunter X Hunter)
One often underappreciated facet of Stands is that they are a reflection of their owner's soul. For example, Tonio (a chef from Diamond Is Unbreakable) had an ability that enriched the quality of his food, and Rohan Kishibe (a manga artist) could rewrite the world around him by using Heaven's Door.
Netero's Guanyin Bodhisattva has a similar nature, depicting the Chairman of the Hunter Association's austerity and the years he spent meditating. Controlled as a physical extension of his body, it balances grace with power —exactly like Isaac himself.
5 The Susanoo Was A Concentration Of Mysterious Energy That Protected Its User (Naruto)
The Susanoo was an ability used by the Uchiha clan —specifically, those who were able to evolve the Sharingan, such as Itachi, Sasuke, and Madara. It bore many similar traits to a Stand, including its ethereal nature and how it was tailored based on its user.
No two designs are alike in durability or aesthetics, with their variation depending on how well the armor's user has mastered its potential. It's akin to its JoJo counterpart because Stands are also developed with practice and time (as proven through Polnareff during his battle with Alessi).
4 Tokoyami's Dark Shadow Can Come Out Of His Body At A Moment's Notice (My Hero Academia)
The greatest similarity between Tokoyami's Dark Shadow and a conventional Stand is how much it directly reflects the user's likeness. It is the spitting image of its host, especially evident through its beak-like nose and macabre aesthetics.
Additionally, the Class 1-A prodigy can project or retract his quirk into himself at will, further illustrating the already numerous shared characteristics he has with a Stand. Dark Shadow's only noticeable difference is that it cannot be controlled without sunlight or heat —ironically a polar opposite of Polpo's "Black Sabbath."
3 King's Second Configuration Chastiefol Can Be Commanded Telepathically (Seven Deadly Sins)
King's Second Configuration Chastiefol allowed him to turn his weapon into a large, bear-like creature that could telepathically interpret and obey his will. It was primarily used to defend him against melee-intensive opponents, such as Ban the Fox Sin or the metal avatar Drole used during a tournament.
Given that he doesn't need to actively maneuver his body in order to control his minion and the fact that it embodies his slothfulness (because the Chastiefol doubles as a pillow), it bears a shocking resemblance to a JoJo Stand.
2 Najenda's Susanoo Shared Her Life Force (Akame Ga Kill!)
Najenda's Susanoo (not to be confused with its Naruto alternative) was an Imperial Arms with tremendous power. Though it was technically a weapon, it assumed the likeness of and behaved as a human —much like a Stand could be prone to, such as Melone's Baby-Face.
Additionally, she could infuse him with her life force to augment the caliber of his attacks. The direct connection between the Night Raid boss and her weapon further likens her ability to one from the JoJo universe.
1 Maki's Sputter Flames Can Be Produced At Will & Have Their Own Personalities (Fire Force)
Maki was a second-generation fire soldier and the master of "Sputter." Through carefully weaving flames, she could animate tiny balls of fire that acted as sentient allies and were accommodating to her wishes.
Oftentimes, these sparks would be employed directly in battle whether through harrying enemies or empowering weaponry. She was capable of manifesting or dismissing them on a whim, and Sputter itself shares a strong likeness to the "Sun" Stand.