A boy nicknamed Dorotabo lives with his aunt in a rural Japanese inn after being abandoned by his parents. One day, a detective that specializes in the occult named Kohachi Inugami arrives from Tokyo. He is there to investigate mysterious livestock deaths and takes an interest in Dorotabo. The boy ends up helping Inugami and discovers that he is only half human. Possessing skill at dispatching beast-like entities known as Kemono, Inugami takes him back to work at his agency in Tokyo.
While its not exactly the hit anime of the season, there is something charming and even refreshing about Kemono Jihen that is absolutely appealing to those that like supernatural mystery and battle series. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like Kemono Jihen, then head on down below.
Anime Like Kemono Jihen
For Fans of Supernatural Detective Agencies
Bungou Stray Dogs
The orphanage that Atsushi Nakajima has been living at has been recently plagued by a tiger that only he can see. Blaming him for the incident, they kick him out. Now homeless, he wanders the streets until he meets the eccentric Osamu Dazai and saves him from drowning. As it turns out, Dazai is a supernatural detective and agrees to help him solve the mystery.
Bungo Stray Dogs does feature older characters, and all of them vaguely based on Japanese authors, but it is also a detective agency like in Kemono Jihen where everyone has special powers. If you enjoy some mysteries and the occasional flashy battle, then this is a natural next choice.
Midnight Occult Civil Servants
Miyako Arata is newly assigned to the Nighttime Regional Relations Department. Each ward of Tokyo has one of these offices that are dedicated to investigating the paranormal and occult-related activities in the area. On his first night on the job, he is learning the ropes from his colleagues who are trying to ward off Tengu and Angels before a battle breaks out between them. However, he also learns that, unlike his colleagues, he can understand what they are saying to each other. This allows Arata the ability to now mediate problems rather than turn immediately to violence.
Midnight Occult Civil Servants has a similar premise to Kemono Jihen. It is about a small group of people who handle abnormal cases. However, it is more your standard Japanese bureaucracy rather than a small independent detective agency and it does feature adult characters rather than a bunch of children.
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.
Both series are occult mystery series that features younger characters. However, while Kemono Jihen is solving occult mysteries and removing the demons, Muhyo is more about exorcising these spirits.
For Fans of Demons Living Among Humans
Demon Slayer
After the death of his father, Tanjirou has taken up the role of the man of the home, supporting his mother and five siblings. However, after selling charcoal in town, he returns to tragedy. All his family was brutally slaughtered, save for one of his sisters. Unfortunately, she has been attacked by a demon and mingled their blood, turning her into a demon as well. However, she still shows signs of humanity, thrusting Tanjirou onto a quest to find a way to change his sister back and preserve what is left of his family.
Both series have similar starts. After an incident, a young boy leaves his family and trains to fight demons that are interwoven unseen among humanity. However, they are fairly different in tone as Demon Slayer is always chasing its greater plot while Kemono Jihen is more arc based with its mysteries.
Jujutsu Kaisen
In order to gain more power, demons search for fragments of the legendary demon Sukuna to consume them. One day, Yuuji Itadori, who just lost his grandfather, learns of this as he saves his school friends from being consumed by demons after they break the seal on one of the body parts of Sukuna that was at their school. In order to stand a chance, he eats it, revealing himself as a rare vessel that can utilize and control the curse of Sukuna, meaning when he dies, Sukuna’s curse dies with him.
Kemono Jihen often feels like a Jujutsu Kaisen-lite. Both series look really good, they have their intense, epic, and dark battle moments, and they have some fun moments, too. However, when it comes to fighting and depth of plot, Jujutsu Kaisen goes a step further.
Mob Psycho 100
Kageyama Shigeo, otherwise known as Mob, is a young psychic with a wide range of blossoming abilities. Despite having this incredible power, he just wants to become friends with Tsubomi, a girl in his class. Due to negative reactions to his psychic abilities in the past, he now tries to keep them in check. In an effort to learn to better control his abilities, Mob becomes the apprentice to Reigen Arataka, who claims to be a psychic, but is actually a con artist that exploits Mob’s very real powers for money.
While fighting kemono in Kemono Jihen and the psychic power battles in Mob Psycho 100 are two entirely different things, both series feature strong young boys that are quiet and lightly outcasted because no one understands them. They then sort of find their tribe, so to speak, and it leads them into both character growth and their overall plot.
For Fans of Japanese Folklore
Toilet Bound Hanako-kun
Hanako is said to be a ghost that occupies the third stall of the third floor girls’ bathroom in the old building. When summoned, she is said to grant any wish. Nene, an occult lover with dreams of romance, summons Hanako, only to find out that this traditionally girl ghost is a boy!
Both series explore Japanese folklore with a twist. They also feature a similar art style and you watch a bunch of likable characters grow close to each other. They both also switch frequently between comedy and darker tones.
The Eccentric Family
In modern Kyoto, tanuki and tengu have lived secretly among humans for years. Yasburou Shimogamo, the third son of a prominent tanuki family, spends his days dipping his toes into human culture through shape shifting and caring for an old Tengu. However, something plagues this family, the mysterious and grisly death of their father. One day, the threads start to unravel.
Both series focus on beings that secretly live alongside humanity and occasionally cause trouble. However, The Eccentric Family is more about solving an internal family problem rather than solving the problems that beings cause for humanity by getting too involved with them.
Gegege no Kintaro
In the 21st century, people no longer believe in yokai. However, unexplained issues plague people still. To get answers, Mana writes the Yokai Post when a boy named Kintaro appears before her.
While both series are occult mystery series surrounding younger characters and show off Japanese folklore, Kemono Jihen is the more action-oriented of the two. However, don’t be put off by Kintaro’s less mature art style, it can be pretty dark as well.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Kemono Jihen? Let fans know in the comments section below.
