Whether in an anime, a TV series, or a movie, time travel themes continue to attract audiences. Erased, based on the eponymous manga of Kei Sanbe, has achieved the title of a cult hit over the years. We’ve created a list of the 10 best anime like Erased because fans of this anime undoubtedly want to watch similar programs.
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Top 10 Best Anime Like Erased
1. Steins Gate
The blurred line between the past and the present in each episode of Steins Gate creates a wow effect on audiences. This anime, based on the namesake game, focuses on Rintarou Okabe, who claims to be a scientist himself. He is in a quest to achieve a scientific breakthrough and colts onto the intriguing notion of time travel by mistake.
As the plot progresses, his actions unintentionally cause diversions by altering events in multiple timelines, which results in an unrecognizable reality in his timeline. With his loved ones’ lives at stake, Okabe must unravel the riddle of time traveling to correct his mistakes.
Steins Gate is likely the most similar to Erased because of its themes and visuals. Their fundamental plot revolves around time traveling and the idea of saving beloved ones by utilizing these abilities.
Both also have serious undertones with a dash of humor thrown in and investigate the impact of an altered past on the future.
2. Zetsu no Tempest
Fuwa Mahiro and Takigawa Yoshino are closest friends who go on a quest to solve the mysteries surrounding the death of Aika, Yoshino’s secret romantic partner as well as Mahiro’s adopted younger sibling. The anime can be described as a Shakespearean twist with supernatural themes and a hint of romance.
Fans of Erased and tragedy anime in general should not miss this series. You can notice the similarities in the fundamental plot of both anime, which focus on murder mysteries.
3. Death Note
In this dark anime like Erased, Yagami Light resolves to utilize the Death Note, a property that belongs to death gods, to wipe out criminals to create a utopia in which he would reign supreme. He progressively learns to employ the notebook’s multiple abilities and rules.
For instance, to kill someone, the user of the death note needs to recognize the target’s face and writes that person’s first and last name. He or she can also indicate the reason and specific conditions, with heart attacks as the default reason if nothing is written down.
Interpol and the enigmatic L, a very brilliant detective with an unknown identity, are drawn to numerous inexplicable deaths of offenders throughout the world. Then, L chooses to look into the serial murderer known as “Kira”.
Death Note has supernatural elements with a sinister undertone, revolving around investigating a regular person as a serial murderer, similar to Erased. The former is unique in that it tells the narrative from the point of view of the criminal.
4. Another
In Yomiyama in 1972, a 3rd-grade pupil was murdered during a fire. All peers respected this studious and athletic individual. They agreed to pretend as though she was still alive after her inexplicable death. This continues until the conclusion of high school.
Koichi Sakakibara is a transferee to the same class that Mei Misaki died in 1998. At the new school, he experiences a weird atmosphere and terrified students.
Among them all, an unusual and incredibly gorgeous adolescent lady with a patch over her eye piques his interest. As months go by, other students studying in their class die one by one.
Supernatural aspects and murder mysteries are shared by both Another and Erased anime shows, which should entice fans of the latter to binge-watch the former.
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5. Relife
Another anime to watch if you like Erased is ReLIFE. Kaizaki Arata, 27 years old, has yet to find a suitable position after leaving his former employer. When meeting Ryou Yoake, who works for ReLIFE Institute, he is offered medicine that would change him into a 17-year-old.
Soon after, he discovers that he is a study subject and he must avoid making the same mistakes from his past while experiencing difficulties in high school due to new laws implemented in the last 10 years.
Similar to Saturo in Erased, Kaizaki is also given a second opportunity to do things right.
6. Anohana
Jinta Yadomi is a reclusive socialite who loves to spend most of her time alone and stay away from other people as much as possible. He has had little desire to meet new acquaintances or learn more about people since one of his friends from childhood died.
On one summer day, a ghost appears in front of Jinta. It is Menma, his former childhood friend who passed away after a tragic accident. He finds that she hasn’t been able to leave the living realm completely owing to a wish that has not been realized. He needs his other childhood pals to help Menma achieve eternal serenity.
Anohana is a lighter version of Erased without the gloom and the suspense but has similar emotional tones to the latter, focusing on love and loss of loved ones.
7. Orange
Similar to Erased’s main character, Naho Takimiya of Orange is also given a second chance to correct her mistakes after receiving letters written by herself from the future.
If she does not accept responsibility for her acts and make a major alteration in her life, she’ll continue to regret numerous life decisions, according to the warning in the letters.
Initially, Naho doesn’t believe these letters. However, she must begin to heed their advice to prevent Kakeru from killing himself. Assisted by her pals, she attempts to avert Kakeru’s worst outcome since they are all receiving identical letters from one sender.
Even though Naho does not directly travel to the past to prevent her friend’s death, she does use the knowledge that time traveling is real to create a program having the same sci-fi premise but a somewhat different vibe. The drama unfolding after this strange event is fascinating for Erased fans to see.
Both Orange and Erased touch on the theme of time traveling but the former approaches it from a different angle.
8. Tokyo Revengers
The protagonist of the Tokyo Revengers, Takemichi Hanagaki, is an ordinary man without any outstanding achievements. He can’t understand the news through which he discovers it’s the Tokyo Manji Gang that is responsible for the senseless murders of his high school lover and brother.
Immediately afterward, his life is cut short after he is run over by a train. However, Takemichi goes back in time and is once again alive.
After realizing his ability to change the lives of two individuals he once adored, he promises to try his best. However, will the protagonist be able to fulfill his impossible objective of altering history?
The main characters of both Erased and Tokyo Revengers have a compelling cause to travel to the past. Nonetheless, they are doing all possible to prevent such occurrences from happening. They are likewise attempting to fix and change themselves for the better.
9. When They Cry: Kai
Rika Furude, the protagonist of this thriller anime, has witnessed senseless murder and ruin occur right before her eyes. Resolved to take some action, she has set out to investigate the riddle of the horrible tragedies in Hinamizawa’s little community. However, with so little aid, will she be able to achieve her lofty goal?
While When They Cry: Kai doesn’t involve time traveling, it does center on the death of loved ones as well as the death cycle, which fans have seen in Erased.
10. The Promised Neverland
The protagonists of The Promised Neverland anime don’t travel to the past like those in Erased, however, they also confront a high-stake game between life and death they must win.
After discovering the brutal truth of being nurtured in an orphanage to be meals for monsters, Ray, Emma, and Norman understand their limited time budget. They must join a mind game with Isabella or Mama while bearing other children’s lives as their responsibility.
Can only 3 young orphans beat a woman with great intelligence and preparedness that goes beyond their wildest dreams and save themselves and their peers from a horrible end?
In both The Promised Neverland and Erased, we saw how children exhibited bravery in their attempts to flee from the authority who claimed to be protecting them but they wanted to hurt them.
Final Words
Our list has 10 anime recommendations like Erased for the time-traveling enthusiasts out there. If you like anime with well-written time-traveling plots, you will not feel disappointed with our suggestions. These titles are more than enough to keep you occupied for quite a while.