Claymore

A bit odd one at first glance - what could a dark fantasy story and a magical girl anime have in common? Well, in this case, plenty.
By now Madoka Magica is widely famous for being an unconventional, dark deconstruction of the magical girl genre, and it shares many similarities with Claymore.
The two stories are very dark and mature both in their presentation and themes, and share many tropes like the "Despair Event Horizon", being set in a gloomy, crapsack world and having an all-female cast of characters.
Both shows have great artwork ( although Madoka is clearly on a whole different level ) and feature virtually no fan service whatsoever. Both are heavily character-driven and tragic, and both stand out in their respective genres for subverting, averting or inverting many of the established tropes. 
While Claymore and Madoka are birds of a feather in sharing dark and mature themes, their main difference is in their respective narrative forms; Madoka being a brilliant example of a modern tragedy, and Claymore being a drama. The basic difference between these two narrative forms is that a drama puts the heroes in control, and they are defined by their saving graces, while a tragedy toys cruelly with its characters, who fall because of their one glaring flaw. 
Both Claymore and Madoka are tragic, but only one of them is a *tragedy*.

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report Recommended by name93

Despite the very different setting, something about Claymore kept reminding me of Madoka: the fact that all warriors are women, and their "fate" seems to be to become the very beings they're fighting against. 
Other than that, both series have a dark atmosphere, althought Madoka doesn't seem like that at first. And both are very good, of course. 

report Recommended by raifuresu

Although both shows may look completely different on the superficial level (mainly in the style of animation), they are in many ways similar. Madoka Magica basically retells premise and parts of Claymore's narrative in its own cute-looking nightmarish world*, while adding much more plot twists, character development and using much broader set of plot devices. And it doesn't focus on battles so heavily. This is sort of one-way recommendation - if you like Claymore and you are not scared off by moe art style, the chances are you will love Madoka Magica. In the other direction it's more difficult to say -  Madoka being so much more than Claymore - so the chances are lower, nonetheless they are still there. read more 

report Recommended by awerture

Action-packed anime with strong lead female character. Magica's cute animation is different from the seinen style in Claymore, but I think both are very similar in the character development and story. The kind of fast-paced anime that picks your curiosity. These two shows are perfect to binge watch ! 

report Recommended by fredcourch

Akame ga Kill! addpermalink

Violent and bloody shows, where the main characters have to fights against many monsters and powerful villains. There is an ascending progression of the plot, with many epic moments, great battles and incredible twists. 

report Recommended by Disillusion

Hellsing Ultimate addpermalink

both bloody but yet VERY good anime!! 

report Recommended by ken127

Seirei no Moribito addpermalink

Both have badass female leads, young male companions, forsaken heroes, awesome action sequences, and historical/fantasy setting. Good character development too, so the fights have more tension because you really care about the characters doing the fighting. 

report Recommended by bettynoire

Both have female leads with great fighting style. The story plot is similar in some way: A woman named balsa of great fighting style protecting a young boy.The main character is a wandering thirty year old spear-wielding woman who bodyguards people for a living. She basically ends up as a guardian of a prince who's possessed by a water spirit. Seirei no Moribito has a very well written story, great direction and fantastic fight scenes, while bravely eschewing most anime narrative clichés as best as it can for 26 episodes.

 

report Recommended by indigokhoos

After the first few episodes certainly a little difficult, the story starts, it starts really hooked on these two characters and their adventure, we want to know what happened and where you do not get tired.
The action scenes are very well staged, one feels the heart of the action.

Friendship - fights for life - women who protect a young boy - mythical 

report Recommended by AlucardReal

Strong female character protects weaker male boy
Fight with swords in Claymore, spears in SnM
Claymore has Yoma, SnM has weird crab creatures
SnM is a way better series and actually has a satisfying ending 

report Recommended by Emperormin3

Found some central characters and their relationships similar. Story has some similarities as well. One is calmer while the other is darker. Both have amazing art and setting. 

report Recommended by Uqab

Blood-C addpermalink

The main character is a swordswoman, who has the task of defend humans by killing monsters. The main character has important links with those monsters. The shows provide an high level of violence and gore, with a plot full of twists. 

report Recommended by Disillusion

Freezing addpermalink

Girls that has been somehow modified to fight monsters. Quite similiar if you ask me. 

report Recommended by Keita00

Strong graphic violence and strong female warrior... both have limbs flying all over the screen 

report Recommended by togeyanagi

Why there aren't more people recommending claymore is beyond me. Both stories have have, be warned there are potential/insignificant spoilers that follow:

-A large number of girls who belong to an organization/school whose purpose is to defeat monsters/aliens.

-In order for these girls to match fighting ability they have to have the monsters/aliens DNA bonded to them

- If they use to much of the monster/alien power they will become a monster/aliens

-There are ranks of who is better and who is worse in the organization/school

-You have male lead who has is younger and has a strong emotional connection to the female lead 

-You have a female lead who can tap into the alien/monster ability to a level the other girls cant/haven't yet.

-Both stories have technical fighting terminology

-Each high ranking girl has an ability they're significantly in tuned with

-Both have lots of bloody fighting

-A serious undertone

-A past/historical female who was the greatest of them all

Need I say more? Go watch Claymore! read more

report Recommended by Siurz

Similar theme that involves powerful girls with supernatural abilities to fight an powerful foe. The main girls for both series seems to have an enormous amount of power.

Throughout the series, there is also emotional drama being portrayed and shows the side of the main girl as being a bit more vulnerable. Both girls also harbors a dark past.

As for the series, there is fan-service involving violence, blood, and gore. There is also a bit of a darker mystery behind the scenes in both anime that the main characters are not aware of. Death, suffering, and power are themes that may drive some viewers into watching these two action packed series.

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report Recommended by Stark700

Fate/Zero addpermalink

Awesome battles with a very nice and mature history like Fate/zero 

report Recommended by ChrnoTodd

Black Bullet addpermalink

In both of them, there are a threat for humanity that only girl/women half part human can eradicate. Girls are not considered like human  and have visible characteristics (eye e.g.) 

report Recommended by Ookamiko

The things Black Bullet have in common are that there are monsters who kill humans. These monsters get killed by girls/women who are part monster part human. These girls/women have recognizable appearances. In Claymore it's golden hair and silver eyes and in Black Bullet it's little girls with red eyes. 
The rest of the story isn't that similar in my opinion.  

report Recommended by Amethyst_Soul

In both worlds humans coexist with dangerous predators, in Claymore its Yomas and in Black Bullet it is Gastrea. The only ones that can defeat them are humans who are part monster themselves.

Similarities 
Both Heroines are part monster. 
There's discrimination towards the hybrid humans.
Hybrids can only be female.
The heros both have lost loved ones to the monsters.
There's a dark ambience and atmosphere. 

report Recommended by kinoiri

Factual similarities: Both anime have humanity fighting monsters by using monster-human hybrids (all of whom happen to be female) who are at a constant risk of becoming monsters themselves. Discrimination against them is a common theme. The main focus is on a pair consisting of a human male and one of the aforementioned hybrids. 

My opinion: I didn't like either show, but I think Claymore is the less worse of the two. The only major issue with Claymore is really just one character. Black Bullet, on the other hand, has a whole host of problems. BB is one of the more generic shows I've watched; I can't put my finger on what exactly made me dislike it because there were so many reasons.  read more 

report Recommended by Gerhakiki

Tokkou addpermalink

Both are about some demons and demon parasites that change the human body and give super powers. In Claymore you see almost the same type of awekening, when the demon takes control. 

report Recommended by JudgeRuthless

Witchblade addpermalink

Although both series takes places at different settings, Claymore and Witchblade definitely has some similarities.

For instance, both series has strong female characters who are literally weapons and has powers beyond those of a normal human. Both series explores the identities, themes, and histories of some of these characters throughout the series.

Both series features plenty of action, drama, and also has violence involving gore.

Both series has a darker side to its plot as the episodes progresses that shows more emotions.

Both series' main female protagonist also has a strong will and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals and ambitions.

report Recommended by Stark700

Afro Samurai addpermalink

Claymore follows a group of emotionally nulled women; violence, blood, gore, honor, and superhuman abilities cause an exceptional amount of reactions from viewers. Both stories have similarities not only among weapons, but revenge, hatred, and a strange moral agreement between the authors. Hidden symbolism plague both stories, teasing that not only increases heart rates but emotions of shock and disturbance. Don't close your eyes for these series, missing a moment of gore, means more than just a passing moment of disgust. 

report Recommended by CiaoBella

Gantz addpermalink

In Gantz you also see a group of people fighting ferocious aliens (well this time without any known reason, the aliens are actualy peacefull until someone attack them).

Most important of all you get to see how the main character fights until he reaches his limits and tries to become even stronger, faster ... 

report Recommended by JudgeRuthless

Garo: Honoo no Kokuin addpermalink

Swordsmans fight against demons, who mask behind casual people. Violence, dark fantasy atmosphere and other similar nuances.  And overall feeling Garo remind me Claymore. 

report Recommended by ZoRDoK

Death Note addpermalink

They both contain large amounts of blood and killing. 

report Recommended by Ihateanimealot

Freezing Vibration addpermalink

Female warriors kicking butt. Secret organisations and mysterious non-human enemies. Claymore is set in a medieval word, Freezing in the (near) future and has lots of fanservice. 

report Recommended by Crochax

Houseki no Kuni addpermalink

Both shows feature a cast mostly composed by women fighting "monsters"; on Claymore, women are ranked by power, on Land of the Lustrous by hardness and role; the main character seems to be the weakest one; the male figure is the leader. As the story progress, the main character starts to question the leader, and the purpose and reason behind fighting the monsters. Notice that the animation is different, Land of the Lustrous is CGI, and Claymore is way more violent. But I definitely recommend both. 

report Recommended by lilieen

Anime: Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryuu no Rondo

Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryuu no Rondo addpermalink

Long time after they both anime are seen plain names of warrior girls - Miria, Deneve, Galatea, Chris, Jill, Vivian - will resonate in your heart. 

report Recommended by GomenidAC

Gokukoku no Brynhildr addpermalink

Both shows have "organizations" that focus on female experiments to do "work" for them. Both shows are extremely bloody and divide their female characters by "ranks",  Claymore numerically, and Brynhildr alphabetically. However, Claymore is more of a hack and slash anime in a medieval setting, while Byrnhildr is in a modern setting.  

report Recommended by reluctantbeeswax

Canaan addpermalink

Both main charcthers are women who have suddenly acquired a supernatural ability that helps them with their job,which is killing, and the male leads in both series are pretty much useless.Both have action in them that usually is with the main charcther having to fight against a large group,and both can be dark but where Canaan is only dark a minority of the time,Claymore is dark pretty much the whole series with nothing to lighten up the mood. 

report Recommended by Ozzey

Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu addpermalink

Well,these both anime has a creatures seems as a normal human but actually they're a monster that disguise as a human (Yoma in Claymore and Parasyte in Kiseijuu). (sorry, bad english)
And then, the MC in these both series are a half-human and half-monster which in Claymore some people are like that too.
Both series are have a Violence, Gore, and Horror inside which Claymore is most likely very very darker and more gore than Kiseijuu ..
Yeah, if you like the one,you will like the others ... 

report Recommended by TKZmine

Devil May Cry addpermalink

Both main characters are half-demon and half-human. Clare saves and starts living with a boy while Dante saves a little girl who starts living with him. They are contracted to fight against yomas/demons. 

report Recommended by Liinah

Hunter x Hunter (2011) addpermalink

They both contain great fight scenes.  They have young boys out on an adventure.  They are both set in a fantasy like world. 

report Recommended by crazyisgood

Anime: Mnemosyne: Mnemosyne no Musume-tachi

Mnemosyne: Mnemosyne no Musume-tachi addpermalink

Both are gory and bloody. Mnemosyne probably is more bloody and has as well some elements that Claymore doesn't, like the often use of tortures and very strong sexual themes and lastly the continous nudity. Now the main simlarity lays in the female-main characters aspect. In Claymore only females can manage to supress their inside Yoki (spiritual energy)  in order to stop their transformation into a Yoma (demon) while the males, wich have a more strong sexual instict, can't do it correctly and, at some point, end up becoming "awakened beings".  In Mnemosyne only females can become immortal by consumimng the fruit from the Yggdrasil (life tree) while men transform in "angels" (some sort of monsters) and are forced to reproduce with the immortal females and then kill them, also they have a short life spam. So you can find that woman-perfection and male-imperfect instintctive animal judgement in both of this animes. read more 

report Recommended by vault2049

Strait Jacket addpermalink

Blood, violence, monsters and potential monster- monster hunters. While i was watching strait jacket, i felt like watching Claymore all over again. Straith Jackets remind me of Claymores. They share the same atmosphere. 

report Recommended by AzureVorteX

Shikabane Hime: Aka addpermalink

Both anime have strong willed supernatural characters that has to rid the world of their own kind (in Claymore, its demons rather then undeads).  Both feature the main characters "employed" by a larger organization and both has respective handlers for each fighter.  

report Recommended by ricedout

Hunter x Hunter addpermalink

Both series feature an upward scramble for power, and an exponential increase in challenges for the main characters. Though Claymore lacks the puzzle-solving element of Hunter x Hunter, the process of developing "special techniques" is similarly fun to watch in both series. If you enjoy the over-the-top action and intense situations of one, you'll definitely enjoy the other. 

report Recommended by naikou

Witch Hunter Robin addpermalink

Each series centers around an orphaned female protagonist, who is learning to develop her supernatural power, while fighting "monsters." Similarly, they both work for a mysterious organization which may or may not have their best intentions in mind. There is more action in Claymore, but overall the pacing of the plot development is similar. 

report Recommended by Stickyfingerz

Anime: Bastard!! Ankoku no Hakaishin (ONA)

Bastard!! Ankoku no Hakaishin (ONA) addpermalink

Within the anime community, Bastard‼ and Claymore are considered dark fantasy series, in which dark refers to violence and/or atmosphere. Within the literary fantasy community, both series would be better described as part of the sword and sorcery subgenre. Claymore is definitely a better anime than Bastard‼, which wastes no opportunity to include ecchi content. That being said, some Claymore fans might enjoy Bastard‼ for its trashy qualities.   

report Recommended by lancelot200