5 Best Manga and Anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion

5 Popular Manga and Anime Series Similar to Evangelion

Manga of Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most well-known anime to not only anime freaks but also those who are familiar with anime. The popular mecha anime was a great hit being watched by almost all anime fans especially in the 1990s.

The original TV anime series was completed and there are several anime movie titles. If you like Neon Genesis Evangelion and miss it, check these recommendations for you. This is the list of 5 best manga and anime series similar to Neon Genesis Evangelion.

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About Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン), which is also known as just Evangelion, is one of the most famous anime series worldwide of all time. It was first released as a manga with 14 volumed published between 1994 and 2013. The anime series started in 1995 directed by a top animator Hideaki Anno. The anime adaption consists of 26 episodes.

The legendary mecha anime franchise has attracted a great deal of attention from recent fans since there are new anime movie titles including 4 parts: Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版:序) in 2007, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版:破) in 2009, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版:Q) in 2012 and Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 (シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版:||) in 2021.

The famous mecha anime mainly depicts the story of the 4 teenagers: Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu and Kaworu Nagisa. They fight with the enemies called Angels by piloting the giant humanoid robot Evangelions.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is set in a fictional city named Tokyo-3, which is inspired by a Japanese real-life town Hakone. Tokyo-3 is attacked by giant monstrous aliens called Angels. The apocalyptic anime centers on 14 years old boys and girls including Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami. They battle against the Angels piloting Evangelion, gigantic humanoid robots.

5 Popular Manga and Anime Series Similar to Neon Genesis Evangelion

1. Eureka Seven

Eureka Seven
Eureka Seven

Eureka Seven (交響詩篇エウレカセブン), also known as Psalms of Planets Eureka seveN, is one of the most recommended similar anime for fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Eureka Seven, categorized as science fiction, mecha and romance, consists of 50 episodes aired between 2005 and 2006. 6 volumes of its manga adaption were made in 2005-2007. And then, they were followed by anime movie adaptions: Pocketful of Rainbows (2009) and 3 parts of Hi-Evolution (2017, 2018 and 2021).

Eureka Seven centers on a 14-year-old boy Renton Thurston and a blue-haired girl Eureka. Renton meets and falls in love with Eureka, who belongs to an anti-establishment group called Gekkostate. He comes to fight as a member of Gekkostate piloting a large robot Nirvash as well as Eureka.

2. Darling In The FranXX

Darling In The FranXX
Darling In The FranXX (Japanese)

If you look for a recent anime that is similar to Neon Genesis Evangelion, Darling In The FranXX (ダーリン・イン・ザ・フランキス) is perfect for you. Darling In The FranXX, a.k.a. DarliFra, is a sci-fi mecha anime co-produced by A-1 Pictures and Trigger. There are 24 episodes in the anime series broadcasted in 2018, adapted into 8 volumes of manga series from 2018 to 2020.

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world that is under threat from giant dinosaur-shaped creatures called klaxosaurs. Darling In The FranXX focuses on a boy-girl, two-seat mecha named Franxx and its young pilots including Hiro and a heroine Zero Two. The modern mecha anime depicts powerful battles, human dramas and their loves.

3. SSSS.Gridman

SSSS.Gridman is a popular modern mecha anime aired in 2018. The mecha and action anime is based on a giant hero series Denkou Choujin Gridman produced by Tsuburaya Productions in 1993-1994, and it was adapted into 12 episodes of the anime series in 2018. The 2021 new anime SSSS.DYNAZENON is also based on Denkou Choujin Gridman.

The story begins when a high schooler Yuta Hibiki loses his memory and undertakes a mission from Hyper Agent Gridman appearing on an old computer screen. He stands against Kaiju (giant monsters) merging with Gridman and supported by his friends like Rikka and Sho.

4. Code Geass

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

Code Geass (コードギアス), which is also famous for its first season’s title Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ), is a popular mecha and dark-fantasy anime franchise. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion started in 2006-2007, being followed by several sequels and manga adaptions.

The setting of Code Geass is a near-future fictional Japan renamed Area 11. The protagonist is Lelouch vi Britannia, who stands out in opposition to the gigantic the the Holy Britannian Empire after granted the supernatural power named Geass.

5. Akira

Akira
Akira

As a lengend of Japanese manga and anime series, Akira (アキラ) is highly recommended to those who like Neon Genesis Evangelion. A famous manga artist Katsuhiro Otomo created 120 episodes of the manga series of Akira between 1982 and 1990. A part of them was adapted into an anime movie directed by him in 1988.

The sci-fi and near-future manga is set in the fictional, catastrophic city Neo-Tokyo in 2019. The world is deserted by an enormous explosion 37 years ago. The two main characters Shotaro Kaneda and Tetsuo Shima are mixed up in the chaotic conspiracy of the government with Akira who looks like a small child but has the devastating psychic power.


For more info about other famous anime and recommendations like them, check these articles below, too!

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