One night, sixteen-year-old Shinichi Izumi was peacefully sleeping when a race of parasitic aliens descended on Earth. One parasite infects Shinichi, trying to get to his brain to take over his body, but ends up getting stuck in his right hand. Unable to relocate to the brain, the alien, named Migi, now has no choice but to learn to coexist with Shinichi in his body in order to stay alive. Unfortunately, the other parasitic aliens are not so friendly with humans or to parasites that failed to complete their mission.
It is always nice to see a good manga get a good anime adaptation without going on for a billion seasons. If you enjoyed the violence and thought-provoking moral quandaries enough to want more anime recommendations like Parasyte, then head on down below.
Anime Like Parasyte
For Fans of Monster Hybrids
Tokyo Ghoul
The citizens of Tokyo now live in fear of vicious creatures called ghouls that blend in alongside humans and feast on their flesh. One day, Ken Kaneki, a shy college student, meets a girl called Rize who is also an avid reader like him. Unfortunately, as he finds out on his first date, Rize turns out to be a ghoul. Just when she is about to eat him, Kaneki is saved, barely clinging to life. In the process of surviving this attack, Kaneki finds out that he has now become a ghoul.
Both Tokyo Ghoul and Parasyte feature some kind of monster living inside a human, creating a unique hybrid to the world. Both series follow kind of wimpy protagonists that adjust to the immense power that their hybrid status affords them. Of course they walk different, but similarly violent paths.
Attack on Titan
Facing imminent extinction, humanity retreated behind a series of tall, thick walls to escape their most dangerous threat – massive human-like Titans with a taste for human flesh. With an enemy that eats humanity for fun rather than food, they are constantly threatened. As such, it is the duty of every human to defend the species. Enter Eren Yegaer who, after his village was destroyed by Titans breaching the outer wall, he and his adopted sister Mikasa join the Survey Corps. They are one of three factions of the military that scouts and combats Titans outside the walls. After joining in the brutal war, Eren discovers a secret about himself that could unravel what the world thinks they know about Titans.
In both series, the main characters undergoes growth from some kind of traumatic event as well as plays host to the very thing they are fighting. While in Parasyte Migi is sentient and highly dictated by logic, the titan inside Eren is mute and somewhat unpredictable. Of course, the longer Attack on Titan goes on, the less similar it becomes.
Claymore
In Claymore, the world is overrun with demons called Yoma that constantly plague humanity. After Raki’s parents were killed by Yoma, he teams up with Claire, a Claymore, an order of powerful half-human, half-Yoma women that are shunned by society but fight to rid the world of Yoma. Together, each learns more about the each other and work towards their own goals.
To the untrained eye, both characters in the series look like regular humans, but are really hybrids. While Parasyte has much more pure gore, Claymore is actually darker in terms of themes. Regardless, both are pretty violent and action-heavy while dipping their toes into the psychological.
Devilman Crybaby
Akira has always been a little weak and blends into the background, so when his childhood friend asks for help uncovering devils, he agrees. The pair head to Sabbath where many gather for debauchery and to be possessed by devils. When the devils begin to wreck havoc in their new living hosts, Akira agrees to merge bodies with a devil in order to save his friend. Though he now has a voracious devil inside him, he still has the heart of a crybaby.
Parasyte and Devilman Crybaby both feature rather wimpy main characters that have their bodies taken over, made powerful, and this leads them on a heroic adventure for the world that is also rife with suffering. The suffering is a little more extreme in Devilman Crybaby though.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
During the industrial revolution of their world, a monster appeared that cannot be killed unless pierced through its iron-protected heart. Those who are bitten by the creature become zombies know as Kabane. On the island of Hinomoto, humanity has built stations to seek refuge from these creatures. Ikoma lives at a station that brings supplies to the island and has created a weapon he believes can fight these creatures. While waiting for a chance to test it, he meets a mysterious girl named Mumei. After following her, he might just get the chance he desires.
While Kabaneri is a fun meld of feudal Japan and steampunk technology, like Parasyte it features a fight against invading violent monsters. Leading both fights are bespectacled normal guys who suddenly find themselves infected or partially taken over by what is invading the world, but can still function as humans.
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.
Whereas Parasyte is sci-fi, Jujutsu Kaisen is supernatural. Both feature normal guys who just happen to gain some serious power by… Having something put inside them, I guess. Most notably, both series also look really good when it comes to action.
For Fans of Monsters Among Us
Kemonozume
In this world, a race of cannibal monsters called Shokujinki prey on humanity, and it is the job of elite monster hunters called Kifuuken to stop them. However, Toshihiko Momota, a Kifuuken warrior and son of the organization’s leader, ends up falling in love with Yuka, a beautiful woman who also happens to be a Shokujinki.
Although it features an art style that is not for everyone, Kemonozume, like Parasyte, primarily focuses two species and seeing if they can coexist together, especially when one eats the other.
Ajin
Immortal humans known as Ajin first appeared in Africa 17 years ago. While they were labeled a threat to mankind, to many they were just an infrequent news item. However, for Kei Nagai, a high schooler studying hard to be a doctor, he discovers he is an Ajin after being fatally hit by a car. Now on the run from the government that wants to imprison him, Kei must find a way to survive.
Both shows essentially follow a weak main character that wakes up to becoming a monster one day. This paints a government target on them, and forces their life to become one of survival.
Monster
Dr. Kenzou Tenma had everything – a prestigious job, a beautiful fiance, and the respect of his peers. However, one night he was faced with a moral dilemma. Does he save the mortally wounded mayor or a mortally wounded child? Against the advice of his colleagues, he chooses the child. Things seem to be fine until a series of murders begin to happen in his vicinity with all evidence pointing to the boy he saved that fateful night.
While significantly less violent and action-packed, Monster does present a highly intelligent murder mystery the dives into complex themes that Parasyte just begins to touch on. Both are well animated and compelling watches.
Shiki
Fourteen-year-old Megumi Shimizu dreamed of nothing more than moving from her rural town to the big city, at least until she died. Her death was only the beginning of a savage epidemic that rocks the small village of Sotoba. In order for young doctor Toshio Ozaki to discover the truth behind the disease, he must first abandon his humanity.
Like in Parasyte, Shiki is about a foreign species gradually infiltrating human society. As the heroes of both series begin to investigate it, the lines between man and monster, good and evil, begin to shift. Parasyte is more obvious about this while Shiki takes a more subtle road.
From the New World
After a small portion of humanity began to develop psychokinetic abilities, many of the power wielders turned to violent. In order to prevent war with the rest of humanity, they separated themselves into their own society. Enter Saki Watanabe, a young girl whose powers just awoken. She is thrilled as she can now enter the Sage Academy with her friends. However, as the group begins to look into why some children have been abducted, they uncover the dark truth of their society.
Like in Parasyte, you have two factions fighting each other. However, throughout From the New World, you discover that both are simply just trying to survive by doing what they think is right. The difference is that From the New World makes you wonder who the real monster is while in Parasyte, it is pretty clear.
For Fans of Fights for Survival
Deadman Wonderland
Life was completely normal for Ganta Igarashi and his classmates when they took a trip to the famous prison theme park. They would get to watch convicts perform dangerous acts for their amusement and have a jolly good time. However, when his whole class gets murdered by a mysterious man in red, and Ganta is framed to be the culprit, he is sent to the very theme park he was visiting that day.
After the murder of his classmates, Ganta, like Shinichi, ends up with a supernatural power that he didn’t really want. Both also end up about fighting others with similar powers in a fight for their own survival. While featuring a good bit of gore, both series also primarily rely on character growth for their plot.
Birdy the Mighty Decode
Federation investigator Birdy is chasing a space criminal called Geega through the universe until their game of cat and mouse lands them on Earth. Geega has disguised himself as a human in the entertainment industry, making Birdy’s search more difficult. Unluckily for college student Senkawa, he gets used as a shield by Geega during one of their fights. Birdy saves his life, but the two now find their lives linked to each other.
Through their own circumstances, both anime series end up with the main characters having to share their bodies in order to survive. Of course, then they both have to fight off alien lifeforms in a fight for survival. However, if Parasyte was a bit too much of a Debbie Downer for you, Birdy focuses more on comedy to pair with its action.
Inuyashiki
At only 58 years old, years of overwork and stress has Inuyashiki Ichirou looking like he is well into his 80’s. Ignored and disrespected by his family as well as diagnosed with cancer, all seems hopeless. However, a light descends from the sky and strikes Ichirou where he stands. When he awakens, he finds he is a new man, one augmented with alien technology. He sees this as just the power he needs to become a hero and earn the respect of his family.
Both series feature an alien event that infects a person that doesn’t seem like the “main character” type of person. They then rise to the occasion and end up in a thankless fight for the world.
If you are a fan of alien invasions, violent or otherwise, check out these Top 20 Anime Series About Aliens
Gleipnir
One morning, Shuichi Kagaya woke up as a monster. Complete with brute strength, a strong sense of smell, and big fluffy paws, he struggles to hold onto his humanity. Soon he meets a sadistic girl named Claire Aoki by saving her life. She holds his secret over her head and forces him to help her look for her sister that has also turned into a monster.
While there is no denying that Gleipnir is a little less mature, it does feature a similar story about a rather wimpy kid who finds himself tangled up in a violent struggle for survival. It should also be noted that Gleipnir is more lewd.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Parasyte? Let fans know in the comments section below.
