6 Anime Like Mirai Nikki (The Future Diary) [Updated Recommendations]

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Mirai Nikki is a battle royale style anime which highly tuned towards action and a fast paced story. A bit of psychological element is injected through the revelation of the motives of each Diary Holder as well. Amidst the chaos and bloodshed, a blossoming romantic relationship still exists between Yuki and Yuno, giving rise to the popular trope of yandere. Mirai Nikki naturally controls the pace of the story and provides the best of the genres it encompass. Join us today as we bring you an updated list of Mirai Nikki if you still have your fill for similar kinds of anime to it! Look below if you want to see the old list.


Similar Anime to Mirai Nikki

1. Deadman Wonderland

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Apr 2011 to Jul 2011

A simple school trip to a prison goes horribly wrong when a mysterious man in red massacred Ganta Igarashi's class. Now, Ganta is sentenced to the same prison that he was supposed to visit. Young Ganta must live amongst the sadistic and criminally insane. He lives his life bind to a collar that is lethal. As he tries to uncover the identity of the red man, Ganta must also discern his friends from his foes in this harsh, new environment. 

Both Mirai Nikki and Deadman Wonderland share the same atmosphere of despair. Where death and killings looms in the air every single day, it provides for a very depressing anime. Essentially, it boils down to the simple rule of survival in both animes. Both animes feature the protagonist fighting in order to survive. As a viewer, you will also be placed in a situation where you will not know what will happen next. As an objective person, you can share and sympathize with the protagonist's despair and helplessness similar to Mirai Nikki in which you can never be too sure on who will die next.


2. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry)

  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: Apr 2006 to Sep 2006

Maebara Keiichi moves into the quaint town of Hinamizawa. There he met some new classmates whom all became quick friends. However, a series of strange murders and incidents puts the lives of these friends in danger. As the town is shrouded in a mystery of darkness, Keiichi resolves to get to the bottom of the true nature of Hinamizawa together with his friends. However, can his friends really be trusted at all? 

As panic ensues, an individual will often be driven to take drastic measures. Both Mirai Nikki and Higurashi explore what it takes to drive an individual to undertake severe measures to the point of being psychotic. Both share the same level of bloodshed. However, Higurashi focuses more on its mystery theme than of an action theme like Mirai Nikki. However, you can be assured that both animes feature at least one psychotic character. If you think the cover art for Higurashi is all about cute characters going about their daily school lives, you can’t be more wrong. Higurashi features psychotic and crazy characters that are simply unfathomable. Some of the characters even share traits with the characters of Mirai Nikki such as being delusional, crazy, jealous and even merciless.


3. Another

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jan 2012 to Mar 2012

Ever since the mysterious death of a Yomiyama student, the town of Yomiyama was enveloped with an aura of fear. What's even more mysterious for transfer student Kouichi Sakakibara is the existence of Mei Misaki. Everyone is distancing themselves away from her as though as she doesn't exist at all. Disregarding the advice of others to stay away from her, he starts being close to her. What he does not know is that he is now ever closer to the grisly truth behind Yomiyama. 

Another also features plenty of deaths in a gruesome manner. Both anime discusses on the topic of death and its effects it has on others. Generally, both anime has dark themes around them. Identically, both also features twisted ends to characters; you'll never know who is going to die next. The manner in which the characters die off are equally as gruesome as Mirai Nikki so for people who enjoy blood and gore or sick, twisted ends for whatever reasons, Another provides the same level of gory deaths as Mirai Nikki. It should come as no surprise that both ends in a way that is simply unimaginable, providing closure that you did not ask for from the beginning. 



Any Anime Like Mirai Nikki?

4. School Days

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jul 2007 to Sep 2007

Makoto Itou was travelling to school one day when he happened to gaze upon the beautiful Kotonoha Katsura. Since then, he has been riding the same train as her every day. He snaps a screenshot of her in the hope that his wallpaper charm will allow interaction between the both of them. His friend Sekai Saionji chances upon this wallpaper. Being the good friend that she is, she sets him up with Kotonoha. The trouble soon starts when Sekai starts having feelings for Makoto as well.

If you think this is going to be a high school romance anime, you can think again. There’s a reason why School Days has an infamous reputation. For starters, both animes feature yandere characters that will go to the ends of the world to secure their love – including murder. School Days is a representation of what will happen to the relationship between Yuno and Yukiteru. Most prominent of all, it displays what a true yandere is capable of just to protect their relationship. So for you Mirai Nikki fans out there who is focused on the romance portion of Mirai Nikki, give School Days a try!


5. Shiki

  • Episodes: 22
  • Aired: Jul 9, 2010 to Dec 31, 2010

Megumi Shizumu was born in a simple village. However, her extravagant ideals give her the urge and desire to move out into the city. Unfortunately, her untimely demise puts a stop to her plans leaving family members not only devastated but baffled as well. All of a sudden, numerous villagers started dying off one by one as well. A young doctor, Toshio Ozaki and a city teenager Natsuno Yuki teamed up in order to unravel the dark truth of the mysterious truths. At the end of their search, can they take in the reality of the true reason for the dying villagers?

Similar to Mirai Nikki, Shiki has the same undertones of darkness and survival. At the climax of the story of Shiki, an all-out war was staged with many deaths as well. With death and despair being the common themes between this two anime, both animes have the same persistent emotions of melancholy and desolation as every character in both animes more or less has their own background and circumstances. Similarly, in both animes, the survivors will have to seek out the truth of their situation while surviving amidst depraved conditions. Likewise, both stories develops in a manner such that it is easy to understand but ends off unexpectedly. Sometimes, the truth really does hurt...


6. Highschool of the Dead

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jul 5, 2010 to Sep 20, 2010

A zombie outbreak has happened in Japan. High schooler Takashi Kimuro was forced to kill his best friend and swore to protect his girlfriend Rei Miyamoto. As they tried to leave the school, they realise that the whole of Japan was plunged into chaos. Along the way, they met with more students and together, they journeyed to find their family members and find the cause of the outbreak. Will the fate of the world lie in these high-school students?

Survival is the main theme for the HOTD. Both animes share the same premise of fighting to survive. Whereas Mirai Nikki structures it in the form of a battle royale game, HOTD is situational. However, the main goal for both animes is to fight it out and survive for as long as possible. In survival animes, the well-being of every character is tested to its limits. Some characters will be able to withstand the pressure and some will finally snap, driving them to insanity. Further, both animes also features fast paced action sequences and plenty of bloodshed. HOTD is basically Mirai Nikki in the form of an apocalypse.


Conclusion

Mirai Nikki's success is attributed to its ability to constantly grip the viewers in its story. The dynamic pacing and amount of twists in the anime makes it unpredictable and every moment. What complements the anime really well is also its characters that ranges from insane to pitiful. Character development for this anime is really well done and you are able to sympathize with their unique circumstances or cringe at their level of mental instability. What are your most favourite moments in the anime? Who are your favourite characters? Let us know in the comments below and we will see you next time! 

Mirai-Nikki-dvd-20160718200742-300x376 6 Anime Like Mirai Nikki (The Future Diary) [Updated Recommendations]

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Author: Araragi

Writing from a little island known as Singapore. It is through my articles that I want to show that the world of anime reaches out beyond the boundaries of Japan. From different age groups to individuals coming from different walks of life, everyone and anyone can be a lover of anime. To quote from Kingdom Hearts, 'There are many worlds out there, but they share the same sky.'

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Original Article Below

Mirai Nikki is an anime that really just sticks in your mind. Long after you've watched it, you can be certain that you won't be able to help yourself from reminiscing its iconic scenes and memorable moments - the yandere eyes sweet, pink-haired Yuno Gasai flashed at the end of the first episode while swearing to protect her love, underachieving main character Yukiteru Amano's brief moment of courage as he tried to save Yuno, and of course, the series' ultimate finale, when all twists were revealed in what is arguably one of the most surprising revelations in recent anime history.

Mirai Nikki's fame precedes it, and it has done so for very good reason. Whil the series utilized several tried and tested anime tropes during its run, it nonetheless was able to do it in such a way that it was still quite novel and still very entertaining. It is, after all, what makes Mirai Nikki, Mirai Nikki.

Thus, if you are looking for other series that are similar to this unforgettable anime, then look no further, since following are 6 anime like Mirai Nikki!

Similar Anime to Mirai Nikki / The Future Diary

1. Deadman Wonderland

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: April 2011 - July 2011

Deadman Wonderland centers around the story of Ganta Igarashi, the sole survivor of a brutal massacre who was framed for the heinous crime. Sent to die in the most twisted correctional facility on the planet, Deadman Wonderland, he is forced to participate on deathmatches against other inmates. After meeting a mysterious girl, Shiro however, he discovers a unique ability - the ability to wield his spilled blood as a weapon.

Both Deadman Wonderland and Mirai Nikki feature young protagonists who are pushed beyond their wishes to participate in a game that determines whether people live or die. Both main characters of these series also experience growth as the plot moves forward, ultimately coming to terms with their fate and discovering a unique power that will enable him to survive. Lastly, both series also feature great, stylish battle sequences.


2. Btooom!

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: October 2012 - December 2012

This anime, despite its rather unusual title, is definitely something that is more than what meets the eye. The story centers on Ryouta Sakamoto, a young man skilled in the hit video game called Btooom!, an exciting game of survival. It is not long before he finds himself on a real-life version of the game however, where his skills will be put to the ultimate test, and where a single mistake can cost him his life.

Btooom! and Mirai Nikki both involve games of death, with the former making use of varying types of bombs and the latter using the unique diaries that can predict the future. Character-wise, the main characters of both series are faced with ethical and moral dilemmas, as they are forced to make choices that determine the ultimate fate of a person's life.


3. Another

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: January 2012 - March 2012

Another is one of the most notable entries in the Horror genre in recent years, featuring a chilling story surrounded by a mystery that begs to be solved at every turn. The story revolves around Kouichi Sakakibara, a transfer student who gets close to Mei Misaki, a mysterious girl whom only he can seem to see. As he investigates the mysteries surrounding the girl's presence, he ends up being drawn towards a brutal past that still continues to threaten the present.

Another and Mirai Nikki were actually released at relatively the same time, and both became very notable entries in their respective genres. Both series carry similarities with each other though, as Another and Mirai Nikki both involve supernatural elements and a certain game whose nature is so twisted, it claims lives at an alarming frequency. Oh, there's also a pretty fair amount of blood from both series too, by the way.


Any Animes Like The Future Diary / Any Animes Like Mirai Nikki ?

4. Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (When They Cry)

  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: April 2006 - September 2006

One of the most unique anime that has been created recently, Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni revolves around Maebara Keiichi, a boy who has recently moved to the quiet town of HInamizawa, where he quickly befriends a number of sweet, seemingly innocent girls. After a grisly murder takes place in the quiet town however, Keiichi realizes that all may not be what they seem, and inside his friends' minds may lie secrets that are dark and beyond what he can imagine.

Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni and Mirai Nikki are both very psychological anime, exploring the twisted nature of man in general. The twists and reveals during the course of both series are quite notable, utilizing plot devices that are both clever and very strategic. Characters in both anime are also very well fleshed-out, with facades that hide the depths of the darkness beneath their psyches.


5. Higashi no Eden (Eden of the East)

  • Episodes: 11
  • Aired: April 2009 - June 2009

Higashi no Eden is one of those anime that are considered by many to be an underrated masterpiece. The story involves Saki Morimi, a young Japanese woman who is in the United States of America for a graduation trip. A series of fateful events in front of the White House introduces her to Akira Takizawa, a young Japanese man who has lost his memory, with the only links to his past being a loaded gun and a mobile phone charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash.

Both Higashi no Eden and Mirai Niki make use of several clever plot devices, such as tools like cellphones that imbibe characters with resources that will enable them to overcome odds presented before them. Apart from this, the reward for supremacy is also presented as a goal for characters in both series. Lastly, both anime feature a pretty strong cast with memorable leads, who are able to drive the plot significantly forward towards a satisfying conclusion.


6. Elfen Lied

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: July 2004 - October 2004

Elfen Lied is arguably one of the most notorious anime that has ever been produced. Featuring a fist episode with enough gore and nudity in the first few minutes of the first episode to fill an entire series, it has garnered a reputation that invokes both reverence and fear at the same time. The series focuses on Kouta and Yuka, close cousins who discover a mysterious, wounded girl on the beach. Taking the girl home, they soon find themselves in a deadly game of life and death that explores a number of ethical questions about the survival of the fittest and the ways of the human world.

Both Elfen Lied and Mirai Nikki are quite heavy on the gore and violence. In fact, you can even say that the shock factor for both series is quite equal. What is quite unique and similar about these two anime though, is the fact that they are able to build up a certain character that, though morally ambiguous and borderline psychotic, remains sympathetic just the same. Oh, both feature great action sequences and a pretty good soundtrack too.


So there you go! 6 anime quite similar to Mirai Nikki. However, these six are just the tip of the iceberg, as there are numerous more that carry similar elements as out central anime this time. Of course, if you have any other ideas or suggestions, feel free to state them below! We'd love to hear all about your ideas!

Till then, We'll see you guys in the discussions!

Mirai-Nikki-dvd-20160718200742-300x376 6 Anime Like Mirai Nikki (The Future Diary) [Updated Recommendations]

Writer

Author: Peter "Virage" de Jesus

In the game of life, the Universe deals us a hand of cards. Some revel in the fortunes they are provided. Others resort to clawing their way up with the bad hand that they are dealt. A number would fold as the years go by. Our existence is a game of chances, and in this game, we all play. I play life in Hard Mode.

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