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| 14 Anime Like Beastars That Take Animal Worlds and Moral Conflicts to the Next Level. (Credits: Netflix) |
Netflix’s Beastars, created by Paru Itagaki, carved out a rare space in modern anime by blending anthropomorphic storytelling with a surprisingly mature look at identity, instinct and social pressure. Set inside Cherryton Academy, the story follows the gentle yet conflicted grey wolf Legoshi, whose quiet life is shaken by a murder on campus, his uneasy feelings toward a rabbit named Haru, and the influence of the charismatic deer Louis. Beneath its animal exterior, the series tackles fear, prejudice, attraction and morality in ways that feel strikingly human.
For viewers who finished the show and are still chasing that same mix of social commentary, unusual world-building and emotional character arcs, the anime landscape offers plenty of alternatives. Some focus on animal societies navigating prejudice, others dive into darker existential questions or unlikely friendships across species.
Here are 14 anime like Beastars that carry similar themes of identity, coexistence and instinct.
1. BNA: Brand New Animal (2020)
Created by Kazuki Nakashima, BNA: Brand New Animal imagines a world where anthropomorphic creatures known as Beastmen suddenly emerge in modern society. The story follows Michiru Kagemori, a human who mysteriously transforms into a tanuki Beastman and flees to Anima City, a supposed safe haven for her kind.
There she meets the stoic wolf Beastman Shirou Ogami, and together they uncover deeper truths about the origins of Beastmen and the tensions surrounding their existence. Much like Beastars, the show explores discrimination, identity and the uneasy coexistence between different species.
2. Odd Taxi (2021)
Directed by Baku Kinoshita, Odd Taxi turns anthropomorphic storytelling into a sharp urban mystery. The series follows Odokawa, a solitary walrus taxi driver navigating Tokyo’s nightlife while chatting with eccentric passengers.
Those casual rides slowly reveal connections to a missing high school girl, drawing Odokawa into a tangled web involving police, criminals and social media fame. Beneath the animal designs lies a grounded character drama similar to the subtle emotional layers seen in Beastars.
3. Wolf’s Rain (2003–2004)
Created by Keiko Nobumoto, this cult classic tells the story of wolves thought to be extinct who secretly live among humans. The wolves — including Kiba, Tsume, Hige, and Toboe — embark on a dangerous journey to find a mythical place called Paradise.
Its themes of survival, belonging and hidden identity echo Legoshi’s struggle with his own instincts in Beastars.
4. With You, Our Love Will Make It Through (2025– )
Based on the manga by Chihiro Yuzuki, this newer series focuses on the relationship between human student Mari and the gentle beastfolk transfer student Tsunagu.
Their growing friendship — and possibly something deeper — unfolds against a backdrop of prejudice between species, making the emotional core closely aligned with the tensions explored in Beastars.
5. Aggretsuko (2020–2023)
Netflix’s workplace satire follows red panda office worker Retsuko, created by Yeti. By day she handles corporate frustrations; by night she vents through death metal karaoke.
Though far more comedic, Aggretsuko mirrors Beastars in its portrayal of anthropomorphic characters wrestling with social expectations and personal identity.
6. Dorohedoro (2020– )
Adapted from the manga by Q Hayashida, this surreal dark fantasy centres on Caiman, an amnesiac man with a reptile head hunting the sorcerer who transformed him.
With help from his friend Nikaido, he navigates a chaotic world where humans and magic users clash. Its strange creature designs and existential tone place it firmly in the same philosophical territory as Beastars.
7. A Centaur’s Life (2017)
Directed by Naoyuki Konno, this slice-of-life anime explores a school where mythical species coexist. The story follows centaur student Kimihara Himeno and her friends from different species.
Their daily struggles with identity, social norms and belonging parallel the emotional atmosphere that defines Beastars.
8. One Stormy Night: Secret Friends (2012)
Based on the books by Yuichi Kimura, the story begins when a goat named Mei and a wolf named Gabu unknowingly meet in a storm-darkened hut.
When they later realise they belong to predator and prey species, their fragile friendship becomes a quiet meditation on trust and instinct — themes that sit at the heart of Beastars.
9. Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts (2023)
This fantasy drama from creator Yu Tomofuji follows human girl Sariphi, who is offered as a sacrifice to the mysterious beast king.
Instead of tragedy, the two form a surprising bond that challenges centuries of distrust between humans and beasts, reflecting the same interspecies tension found in Legoshi and Haru’s dynamic.
10. Murenase! Seton Gakuen (2020)
Directed by Hiroshi Ikehata, this school comedy imagines a world where animals dominate education systems while humans are rare.
The story centres on Mazama Jin, a human student who reluctantly joins a wolf girl named Lanka Ookami and her pack. While lighter in tone, it still tackles coexistence between species in a school setting reminiscent of Cherryton Academy.
11. Gleipnir (2020)
Based on the manga by Sun Takeda, this darker supernatural series follows Shuuichi Kagaya, a teenager who can transform into a monstrous mascot-like creature.
When the ruthless Claire Aoki discovers his secret, the pair begin hunting others with similar powers. Its themes of identity, secrecy and transformation align closely with Legoshi’s internal conflict.
12. Land of the Lustrous (2017)
Created by Haruko Ichikawa, this visually striking anime introduces immortal gemstone beings called the Lustrous.
The fragile Phosphophyllite longs to prove their worth while forming a quiet bond with the isolated warrior Cinnabar. The show blends philosophical questions about purpose and identity with moments of friendship, making it spiritually close to Beastars.
13. Beast Complex (2024)
Also written by Paru Itagaki, this anthology-style anime expands the world of Beastars with standalone stories about different predator–prey relationships.
Each episode explores the social tensions between species, offering deeper insight into the moral dilemmas that shaped the original series.
14. Zootopia+ (2022)
While lighter in tone, the animated spin-off inspired by Disney’s Zootopia still explores a society where predators and prey coexist under fragile social harmony.
Several episodes focus on the lives of side characters navigating prejudice and stereotypes, echoing the broader themes that made Beastars resonate with audiences.
Anime communities frequently point out that Beastars changed how viewers see anthropomorphic storytelling. Online discussions often highlight how the series blends high school drama with psychological themes.
Many fans recommend BNA and Odd Taxi as the closest spiritual successors, while others argue Land of the Lustrous delivers the same philosophical weight despite its gem-like characters rather than animals. Meanwhile, older titles such as Wolf’s Rain continue to attract new viewers discovering similar themes of survival and belonging.
Across forums and fan spaces, the conversation tends to circle back to the same point: what made Beastars memorable was never just the animal designs, but the moral tension between instinct and empathy.
If you’ve already finished Legoshi’s journey at Cherryton Academy and want more anime that explore identity, friendship and the strange rules of societies built on instinct, these fourteen series are a strong place to start. Have you watched any of them already, or do you have another recommendation that deserves a spot on the list?