25 [Similar Anime] Like Dororo

Similar tone and similar theme (Dark tone, and demon slaying). Both have great animation and great soundtrack. They aren't the same, in fact they are quite different on other aspects (for example, the characters, the world setting and the art style). However there is a good chance you will enjoy them if you liked one of them since they have a similar vibe.

Ancient Japan. Demon Slayer and Dororo are both set in history where MCs find themselves having to slay demons, whether it be for a personal reason, or for the sake of others.

The main characters spend a great deal of time travelling from place to place, dealing with the supernatural. In Dororo, "dealing with" means slaughtering, in Mushishi it means coming to an understanding, usually through experience and knowledge of the world. They both feature very distinct color design when it comes to the worlds themselves. While the actions and motivations of the main characters might be polar opposites, their intentional and focused attitude is very similar. Mushishi is much more focused on understanding the supernatural, Dororo is more focused on battling it (for spoiler reasons), but I can't help but compare the journeys in both.

They both are set in the same time period. They portray a very dark and violent view of this era and boost fantastic fights. The main characters of both series seem to have a similar dynamic with a more talkative 10 year old boy and a quieter badass.

Both are set in the history of Japan, wherein Samurai Champloo is set in modern-Edo Japan and Dororo is set just before that timeline, where samurai were more prominent.

They are both historical anime set in about the same time period with Japanese mythology as an underlying theme. Inuyasha and the gang are looking for shards of Shikon no Tama, while Hyakkimaru is looking for his missing bodyparts. This leads to an epic journey for both teams.

Both are sword fighting historical anime with supernatural twists.
The main characters both begin as more of weapons than actual people and slowly become more human along their journey. In katanagatari Shichika slowly becomes more human emotionally, while in dororo Hyakkimaru slowly becomes more human in a more physical sense.
Both are formated in an almost episodic way formated arround a larger purpose, katanagatari each episode is a new sword master to defeat to get 12 legendary swords, dororo each episode presents a new demon to defeat of 12 demons.

These both feature a medieval Asian setting where the main character is paired with a younger male character. They both feature a lot of demons and spirits, and medieval combat. Moribito focuses on a strong female main character who is a Spearwoman, and Dororo focuses on a strong male character who uses swords. But they are very similar in that they are "Strong characters of few words" who are extremely competent in battle. You will very likely like one if you like the other.

Similar premise of a swordsman who has to kill people/things to fix a checkered past. They are both accompanied by a younger person on their journey. Both series take place in Feudal Japan, with some aspect inspired by Japanese mythology with Immortal being more grounded. The two series are also fairly violent with many fight scenes. The main difference is in tone, where Dororo is overall more light-hearted while Immortal is a 100% seinen show.

Looking for more angst-ridden protagonists that are out for revenge? Excellent, because these are two of the best. Both are about characters that have had something taken from them, and are out to get them back (Dororo) or get revenge (Both). Great action scenes, beautiful worlds, and enjoyable characters to follow. In both of these series, you often end up rooting for the side characters just as much if not more than the main characters. This is nothing against the main characters, but rather an applause of actual development of the supporting cast.

Noragami has similarities to Dororo in that they both feature main characters who are samurai-like who are killing demons (or spirits in the case of Noragami). They both have a main protagonist who is accompanied with a younger side-kick like character. The main difference between the two is the time periods (Noragami takes place in the modern era) and that the main protagonists have different personalities. Still, there are enough similarities that you would likely like the other if you like one.

Series where the MC travels in search of his body parts that were lost in a forbidden ritual. Both have well-animated action fights featuring "supernatural" powers and have drama surrounding the idea of a family. Plus, both are new takes on stories that already had an anime adaptation before.

Both MCs are soul-searching and trying to regain something they've lost. For Violet, it's her purpose of living, while for Hyakkimaru, it was his body.
Throughout their journeys, they encounter many people and challenges along the way and gradually develop as characters. Both shows overall are quite emotionally driven and focus on the individual burdens and emotions of humans. Both Violet and Hyakkimaru also have a very somber, saddening past that the story makes an effort to reconnect to. Both shows also have great animation quality and soundtracks to befit their respective premises.

Badass main characters slaying monsters with side characters that keep growing as characters and become stronger.Guts and Hyakkimaru are both indifferent towards people but kind. They are also both inflicted by a curse. If you are a gamer, Dororo anime is basicaly like the Witcher.

Asura and Dororo both have a feudal Japan setting and thus share similar themes that characterize that time period. Both are explicit and dark in content, but Asura is without a doubt even less forgiving than Dororo is. Beginning with the cinematography of Asura, you can immediately tell it will be a difficult story to watch whereas Dororo has a more familiar shounen feel in its animation and design. If you think Dororo was already too dark, then I wouldn't recommend Asura as the story content is violent and grim. However, if you liked Dororo and want to take your watching experience to another level, read more

Dorohedoro and Dororo share a lot of similarities (including the half similar names! XD)

Both anime involve a main character who fights with a sword and meets people along the way. Rurouni Kenshin has great fight scenes and includes comedy from time to time. The mc gives you a series but calm and kind vibe. The anime is about the mc being a swordsman who is trying to get away from his past and start a new life as a wonderer. Along the way he has encounters with people who want to fight him and he meets new friends.

1. Similar heroes, even in appearance. This is a child and a guy in bandages.
2. Similar relationships between heroes. One is trying to understand who he is. The second learns that he needs the first.
3. Gloomy atmosphere. In Dororo, this is due to demons.

-Younger girl travels with older man on an adventure for revenge meeting interesting characters along the way

Mind you, I'm on the fourth episode of Dororo while writing this.

Both anime deal with moral dilemmas. This lets us, the audience, think about the actions and decisions of the main characters and if what they are doing is right or wrong.

Both anime have an older character lacking human emotions growing closer to a child and acquiring emotions.
Cute children present
Conflict of demon/bestial vs human nature
Humans portrayed in a grey tone - both bad and good present
Will make you cry at least twice

- Both deal with youkai/demons/monster/spirits
- Both shows focus heavily on a familial bond between of an unlikely pair, growing friendship that start off apart, but slowly grow closer and stronger over the course of the show
- Both shows are based heavily in Japanese folklore
- Both shows hold similar themes of overcoming/accepting ones painful past in order to move forward in life.
- Both have seemingly unconnected singular episodes, but each episode plays a part in building the overall story and play into each character learning and growing.

Main character has a smaller kid following him around.

Both have similar genres (action, adventure, demons, supernatural, historical and samurai) and the same dark atmosphere with a pinch of comedy.

Afro Samurai has same focus as Dororo.
Obviously it's samurais. >w< While Afro is more dark sided, not like Dororo isn't, in sense that Afro has no demons and evil spirits it's more focused on reality that Dororo.