Stranger Things is one of those shows on Netflix that has been taking the world by storm. This series is one of the most successful Netflix Originals for a multitude of reasons. One big reason is the fact that it's heavily inspired by 80's media and pulls a lot from motley crew type films.
There are many anime fans that use Netflix and have probably gotten caught in the Stranger Things vortex. For those that fit this description fear not, there are tons of anime that will give off the same feelings that Stranger Things does.
10 GANTZ
For those that are along for the thrilling ride that Stranger Things takes viewers on, Gantz might just be the answer to all of your viewing needs. Gantz is a series about characters that die and are mysteriously "faxed" to a secret room in Japan that is dubbed the "Gantz Room" by those that die and end up there due to the giant black ball there calling itself Gantz.
This ball sends those that get stuck there on a goose chase type game. The goal? To defeat whatever crazy alien comes their way and get 100 points and get out. However, not all with Gantz is as it seems.
9 NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
Neon Genesis Evangelion may be a bit of a philosophical series when compared to Stranger Things but that shouldn't drive off fans of the Netflix hit series. What one may find when taking a dive into this deep series is that it rings a lot of the same bells that Stranger Things does.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is the story of a group of kids that are thrown into a dangerous world that they aren't familiar with full of mechs, mystery, and of course a race of extraterrestrials that they have to defeat to save themselves and their planet. If they're truly ready or not is a different story.
8 SOUL EATER
Soul Eater is a series that Stranger Things fans can immediately find themselves enjoying. Much like Stranger Things, the main cast of characters is a bunch of kids that simply find themselves being the stars of the save the planet team. There's even a character that can be compared to Eleven in the very odd but loveable Chrona who practically comes from a different world with a much different ability than the rest of the cast.
While the show has a much different premise than Stranger Things there are enough similarities that any fan will be interested in. It's also on Netflix as well!
7 AKIRA
Akira isn't a full-length anime series (yet) but it's definitely one of the most highly-recommend anime viewing experiences for any Stranger Things fan looking for more media to sink their teeth into.
Akira, much like Stranger Things, is the story of a group of kids that get in over their heads and end up stuck in the middle of solving a mystery that leads to even bigger effects on those and the world around them. There are also children that have psychokinetic powers. Another thing that'll hook fans of Stranger Things is the heavy 80s themes and visuals present as well. It's also one of the things that inspired ST.
6 MOB PSYCHO 100
Mob Psycho 100 is an anime about a kid that just wants to fit in at school. Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama is on a mission to become one of the cool kids and even maybe find a cute girlfriend along the way. Too bad his mentor and boss is a fraud psychic medium. Oh and he's a psychokinetic as well.
These two roadblocks end up getting Mob stuck in a mess of trouble and put obstacles such as other psychokinetic, esperers, ghosts, and cults in his way. A true must-watch anime for just about everyone.
5 THE DISASTROUS LIFE OF SAIKI-K
The Disastrous Life of Saiki-K is basically if you took Stranger Things and made it into a super overexaggerated anime comedy. This anime is about as funny as they come and brings a great cast of characters with it on the way.
It stars Kusou Saiki, a psychically enhanced school student with psychokinetic, telepathic, teleportation, and more powers. However, he just wants to live a normal and boring life. Too bad all the "normal" people around him are anything but normal and get in the way of that.
4 MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM - ZZ
Each Mobile Suit Gundam series from the original to Zeta to Double Zeta are highly recommended viewing material for Stranger Things fans. This is one of those series that will not only tickle anyone's fancy for 80's designs but will hook anyone looking for a good story and good characters in their television shows.
Each of these series differs but they all take place during a great space war and put the viewer behind a gifted child heading into that war. Each of who viewers are bound to fall in love with.
3 DIGIMON
For those thinking Digimon is a show for children only, big wrong. The original Japanese airing is largely different from that that fans received in the West and actually is packed with a great story and some well-written characters.
This is another show that is about a group of kids trapped in another world and stuck solving a mystery or two while dealing with various otherworldly enemies.
2 ELFEN LIED
Elfen Lied is one of the anime that actually had a hand in inspiring Stranger Things along with Akira. Elfen Lied is a series about a badass girl with psychic powers. She was raised in a lab and much like Eleven escapes and doesn't speak for a good while.
The series has a lot of beats seen in Stranger Things. If you have the stomach to handle the bloodshed the check out Elfen Lied.
1 ERASED
Erased is one of the best mystery anime out there and much like Stranger Things, puts mere children in the seat with the goal to solve said mysteries.
The main character has a power that sends him minutes before a tragedy happens in life. While he's been using this power to his advantage for a while it backfires when he's wrongfully accused of a murder and sent back to 1988 as a child. Here he must solve the mystery of the murder while protecting a mysterious childhood classmate of his.