After drifting in the sea between Japan and America, socially awkward genius Appare and cowardly yet wise samurai Kosame hit land. Without any money, they decide to enter the Trans-American Wild Race so they can go back to Japan. With their steam-powered car, they must overcome bandits, challenges, and just plain weirdoes in order to get from Los Angeles to New York.
Every so often you get an anime that is just art in every respect. Appare Ranman with its beautiful animation and character designs is art. If you are looking for anime recommendations that are equally visually exciting, then head on down below.
Anime Like Appare Ranman
For Fans of Brains and Brawn
Dr. Stone
After years of unspoken feelings, Taiju Ooki is about to confess to his crush. However, at that moment, a bright green light engulfs humanity, and suddenly everyone is turned to stone. Thousands of years later, exactly the right series of events lines up in nature and leads to teenage genius and best friend of Taiju, Senku Ishigami, to be cured. After using the cure on Taiju, the pair set out to jump-start civilization and save humanity by speeding through all the most useful inventions of human history.
Both series follow a super genius that has a dumber companion along for the ride. In its own way, Dr. Stone is also about a race. It is a race towards the creation of technology, however.
Kabukichou Sherlock
Faced with an odd case, John Watson heads to the Pipe Cat, a bar that is home to someone that might help. Finding Sherlock Holmes inside, the pair deduce that his case is related to Jack the Ripper. After witnessing Sherlock’s brilliant mind firsthand, he decides to stick alongside this eccentric character.
It is classically recreated Sherlock Holmes in a in a small section of Tokyo. Much like Appare Ranman, it is creative and follows a super genius and his less smart friend that often helps in ways they won’t acknowledge.
Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation
In a world where spirits posses people against their will, Muhyo and Roji are dedicated to getting you justice and getting those spirits out of your body.
While Muhyo and Roji has a distinct supernatural plot, both series follow the same dynamic. One is smart, but socially flawed, and the other is dumb but tempering to their smart friend. Both series craft uniquely interesting stories, but Appare Ranman is definitely the bigger feast for the eyes.
For Fans of Crazy Races
Redline
In a universe full of aliens, only one person can be the best racer. To decide this, they all compete in a racing competition called Redline. This year’s Redline is particularly dangerous on its trigger-happy host planet, Roboworld. However, while most racers will be packing heat, the human representative JP will be going out without weapons.
While Redline is only a movie, it shares a similar plot about a whacked out, high-octane race. In both series, the animation is slick and the characters are insane. They are addicting in their own right.
Jojo’ Bizarre Adventure
In 1868, Dario Brando saves the life of English nobleman George Joestar. When Dario dies, George hopes to repay the favor by taking in his son Dio. Unfortunately, Dio wants the Joestar household for his own and tries to take it with the help of an Aztec stone mask with supernatural powers. This triggers a chain of events that will affect the Joestar house for generations to come.
Unfortunately, the Steel Ball Run arc of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has not be animated yet. It is essentially a race across the country, which immediately made me think of this series. However, until that dream comes true, you will note that the flamboyant and creative characters in Appare Ranman have their similarities to Jojo characters as well, just less muscled.
Oban Star-Racers
Despising her boarding school and not hearing back from her father, Eva and her rocket bike take off. Adopting the alias “Molly,” she sneaks into the Earth Team headed for the Great Race knowing that the winner of the race gets one wish granted.
Both series surround big races done with unique machines. Unfortunately, while they have that in common, Oban suffers a bit in the animation department.
For Fans of Steampunk
Last Exile
Claus Valca, son of a famous vanship pilot, and his best friend and navigator Lavie work as couriers, flying the Grand Stream that separates the sky between two hostile nations. Each day is a struggle in this problematic area, but things are about to get much worse as they get a high-rated delivery to take an orphan girl named Alvis to a battleship, a task that puts them right in the path of conflict.
Both series are distinctly steampunk. You watch interesting character operate even more interesting machines. However, Last Exile maintains a distinctly muted color palate that matches its more muted tone.
Baccano
In the early 1930s, the transcontinental train, Flying Pussyfoot, starts a legendary journey across the country that will leave behind a trail of blood. During this same period, the ambitious scientist Szilarf and his unwilling assistant Ennis investigate missing bottles of immortality elixir in New York. This can be traced back to 1711 where the alchemists creating this elixir learn the real price of being immortal. Among these mysterious events, a Mafia war heats up. Follow this intricate tale of alchemy, immortality, and survival as it weaves together many seemingly unrelated events.
While Baccano has a more supernatural element to it, you will notice a lot of similarities between this and Appare Ranman due to its interesting characters. You want to learn more about them and due so in a time or space-spanning story.
Kino’s Journey
Accompanied by her talking motorcycle, Hermes, Kino travels through her mysterious world, spending only three days and two nights in each town. The idea is that three days is enough to learn almost everything about a place. This is the story of her journey.
Both anime series follow a journey. While Appare Ranman’s most interesting characters are the main characters, in Kino, it is all about the unique stories that happen as she travels around.
Do you have any more anime recommendations similar to Appare Ranman? Let fans know in the comments section below.
