Attack on Titan is one of the most iconic and famous anime and manga series of all time. The Attack on Titan manga is one of the best-selling series of all time, while its anime adaptation is loved worldwide. Despite the series ending in 2023, it is still a global sensation with a huge fan base going strong. Attack on Titan is praised for its story but also its action and characters. What sets it apart from other major anime is how dark the plot is. As a series that doesn't shy away from presenting gruesome deaths and dark plot points, such as Rumbling, Hajime Isayama's series stands out. That said, some other darker anime and manga series can still compete with it.
6 Shonen Anime with the Darkest Stories
Shonen anime are aimed at younger audiences, but that doesn't stop some of these series from exploring darker stories.
Berserk
When it comes to darker anime and manga series, not many can compete Berserknot even the likes of Attack on Titan. Berserk is a masterpiece series created by the late Kentaro Miura. The series has continued to achieve global acclaim despite the lack of good anime adaptations compared to the likes of Attack on Titan. Berserk features dark power struggles and a world filled with various demons and evil entities such as the Hand of God.
If Berserk were to get the proper anime adaptation it deserves, it would be pushed to even greater heights of popularity. Berserk's story, although still unfinished, is still considered one of the greatest of all time. Additionally, the likes of Guts and Griffith are considered some of the best written anime characters of all time, rivaling even the likes of Eren.
Jujutsu Kaisen
A few years ago, Attack on Titan had cemented its place as one of the most popular dark anime. Of the series currently airing, however, the most popular is the dark Shonen series Jujutsu Kaisenwith terrible evil spirits called Curses, and villains like Curse Users. The show isn't afraid to kill off characters and give them gruesome endings. The plot often takes dark turns, such as the presence of the Death Paintings.
Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen is continuously growing in popularity. In many ways, Jujutsu Kaisen rivals Attack on Titan not only in popularity but also in dark themes. In addition, Jujutsu Kaisen also has much better action. Attack on Titan still has the edge in storytelling, but both are definitely incredible series that deserve a viewing.
Hunter x Hunter
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Creator: Yoshihiro Togashi
Hunter x Hunter isn't the darkest shonen series out there; however, some arcs are definitely darker than others, most notably the Chimera Ant arc, which is cited as one of, if not the greatest, shonen anime arc of all time.
The Chimera Ant arc features man-eating creatures from a mysterious place called the Dark Continent. The tone of the arc is extremely dark and the stakes are at an all-time high Hunter x Hunter. It also features gruesome deaths of main characters, such as Kite and Isaac Netero. In many ways it not only rivals Attack on Titan, but surpasses it.
The conflicts, the battles and even the character arcs are undoubtedly superior in Hunter x Hunter. Not only that, but the Chimera Ant arc specifically features one of the greatest Shonen antagonists of all time in Meruem. When Hunter x Hunter makes its anime comeback, it will reinvigorate the entire fandom.
Monster
Monster is not an action-heavy series, unlike anime series like Attack on Titan. But it's still a dark seinen that, despite ending over two decades ago, is still widely acclaimed and a fan favorite. Monster follows Kenzo Tenma, a surgeon who chose to save the life of a child over the life of a rich politician. Despite his kind act, this all backfired as the child he saved turned out to be a serial killer.
Kenzo Tenma then embarks on a mission to deal with the monster he created. Even with little action, Monster's story had fans hooked. Its writing is among the best in anime and even with an outdated adaptation, it's a show that rivals and maybe even surpasses some of the greats like Attack on Titan.
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Tokyo Ghoul
A decade ago, Tokyo Ghoul was one of the biggest anime series out there. It follows the story of Ken Kaneki and, like Attack on Titan, also features man-eating creatures, in this case — Ghouls. However, the Ghouls are very different from the Titans and most of them have their own stories to tell, giving a unique level of depth to the plot of the series.
Tokyo Ghoul is still an iconic series even now, but it definitely suffers due to a terrible anime adaptation that completely deviated from the source material. When it comes to manga though, it's easily one that rivals Attack on Titan. If it were ever to get a proper anime adaptation, it could even surpass the latter.
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The never promised land
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Creators: Demizu Posuka and Kaiu Shirai
When The never promised land first aired in 2019, it was an instant hit. Fans all over the world were hooked on this dark series about children raised on a farm to become cattle for demons. In the very first season of the series, The Promised Neverland was an escape thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats with every episode. Unfortunately, the series took a nosedive when the rest of the manga was condensed into the second season, causing all fans to lose interest in the story.
When it comes to manga, The Promised Neverland is still a franchise that rivals Attack on Titan in terms of darkness and suspense. Hopefully, one day, The Promised Neverland can get a proper anime adaptation that will showcase its story to the extent it deserves.
Madoka Magica
Magical girl anime are usually whimsical stories that are lighthearted and aimed at younger children. However, Madoka Magica breaks the mold and presents a dark twist on the magical girl genre. The story of Madoka Magica begins on a light note, but viewers quickly realize that something is very wrong. The cute creature Kyubey who gave Madoka her powers is actually an evil being who wants to use her and the others as an energy harvester to prevent the collapse of the universe.
In many ways, Madoka Magica is a great rival to Attack on Titan in terms of dark and exciting storytelling. The story of Madoka Magica has already ended in the anime, but it has a movie planned for late 2026.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
In the world of Mecha anime, not many series can compete with the iconic one Neon Genesis Evangelion. This anime series has captivated millions of fans worldwide for decades. The story of Neon Genesis Evangelion may be confusing at first, but the deeper fans delve, the more the darkness and complexity become apparent. Attack on Titan and Neon Genesis Evangelion are worlds apart, but both have an incredible story, with some eye-popping action sequences.
