10 best anime to watch if you like Banana Fish

With its unforgettable characters, gritty organized crime storyline, and impactful exploration of trauma and loyalty, Banana Fish has gained recognition as a modern anime classic since its 2018 release. Set in New York City, the anime follows street gang leader Ash Lynx as he investigates the mysterious drug 'Banana Fish,' while confronting sinister forces in the criminal underworld.

Fans of the series have come to love its complex yet flawed protagonist, the meaningful bonds he forms with those loyal to him, and the dangerous missions he leads to uncover corrupt conspiracies.

If you enjoyed those elements and looking for similar complex, thrilling anime dramas to dive into next, this list presents a selection of series that capture the essence of Banana Fish.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinion and isn't ranked in any particular order.

Psycho-Pass, Durarara!!, and 8 more anime similar to Banana Fish

1) Psycho-Pass

Set in a dystopian future in Japan, Psycho-Pass explores a totalitarian system that actively scans citizens' mental states to determine their criminality. Referred to as "cymatic scans" or "Psycho-Passes", people's biometrics and brain activities are constantly monitored by an omnipresent network called the Sibyl System.

Those with unstable readings prompt investigation or rehabilitation by detectives and Enforcers of the Public Safety Bureau. The series follows police inspector Akane Tsunemori as she serves justice within the structured system, using cymatic scans to hunt dangerous criminals while uncovering dark truths behind the technocracy.

For fans who enjoyed Banana Fish's dystopian fiction parallels with real-world exploitation, deception, and the fight for justice, Psycho-Pass offers an immersive cyberpunk thriller exploring similar resonant themes.

2) Durarara!!

Set in the lively, dangerous city of Ikebukuro, Durarara!! explores the worlds of teenage gangs as well as mysterious urban legends come to life. Main characters Mikado, Anri, and Masaomi get drawn into the city's escalating tensions and chaos as rival gangs battle for dominance.

With a sprawling cast of intriguing figures found throughout the city's criminal underworld, Durarara!! matches Banana Fish's gritty urban atmosphere and has characters with depth that rivals Ash and Eiji's complex bond.

3) 91 Days

For a riveting prohibition-era revenge story as brutal as anything in Banana Fish, look no further than 91 Days.

After his family is murdered during a raid, young Angelo only narrowly escapes. Seven years later, he returns home under the alias Avilio Bruno on a secret mission: to methodically kill everyone involved over the course of 91 days.

This harrowing tale of vengeance immerses you into the cutthroat world of the mafia during the prohibition era, featuring stylish visuals and impactful storytelling reminiscent of Banana Fish at its best.

4) Gangsta.

In the crime-noir-filled city of Ergastulum, Gangsta. follows two skilled mercenaries named Worick and Nicolas. They take on dangerous jobs from the mafia and corrupt police officials to make their living while dealing with the presence of 'Twilights,' individuals with special abilities.

Banana Fish fans will love the gritty tale of these two hardened criminals mixed up with the city's worst elements as they try to survive. With its seedy locations, visceral action, and prominent organized crime narrative, Gangsta. delivers a gripping, mature crime story on par with the journey of Ash Lynx.

5) Rainbow

For an anime with real emotional weight centered around violence, brotherly bonds, and perseverance like Banana Fish, Rainbow is a must-watch.

Set in 1955, it tells the story of six imprisoned teenage delinquents who have to learn to work together and reform their lives with the help of their mentor, Sakuragi Rokurouta.

The genuine, meaningful growth and relationships between this ragtag group over time echo the development of Ash and his allies. With the looming pressures and dangers of high-security prison life, their wills are tested to the extreme.

6) Moriarty The Patriot

Moriarty The Patriot (Image via Production I.G)

Set in Victorian London, Moriarty The Patriot explores the origin story of Sherlock Holmes's greatest rival, William James Moriarty. After witnessing cruelty and corruption first-hand during his childhood, William and his adoptive brothers seek to destroy the class system and aristocracy that exploits the poor.

William is a cunning and determined protagonist focused on taking down powerful corrupt leaders and organizations by outsmarting them. There's plenty of suspenseful drama and strategic plans to bring down formidable villains and systems in both series.

With a smart, empathetic protagonist facing off against immoral authority figures, Moriarty the Patriot has strong overlaps with Banana Fish in themes and tone.

7) Joker Game

For those who enjoyed Banana Fish's geopolitical intrigue, the covert spy thriller Joker Game is a clever, satisfying watch. Set during WWII, it follows the activities of the "D Agency," an elite espionage group conducting secret operations across Asia.

Protagonist and Japanese spy Sakuma has to work alongside the enigmatic D Agency spies while questioning his own notions of patriotism and morality. Fans of Banana Fish will appreciate the mature tone and insights into wartime tensions from a global perspective.

8) Black Lagoon

For a gritty anime packed with violent shootouts and high-octane action sequences reminiscent of Banana Fish at its most intense, look no further than the cinematic action series Black Lagoon.

Following a mercenary group of smugglers and modern-day pirates known as 'Lagoon Company' and their newest member Rokuro "Rock" Okajima, this adrenaline-filled thrill ride features slick gun-fu fights while exploring thought-provoking themes about corruption, cynicism, and morality.

Banana Fish fans are bound to fall in love with Black Lagoon's motley cast of dynamic characters and high-concept escapades across volatile Southeast Asian waters.

9) Great Pretender

Still from Great Pretender (Image via Wit Studio)

Edamura Makoto fancies himself Japan's greatest swindler, until the real pros, Laurent and his crew, manage to pull him into the lucrative world of international confidence schemes. Great Pretender has all the cunning plans, snappy banter, and gorgeous settings as Banana Fish, rendered in gorgeously stylized animation.

Rather than life-or-death battles on the streets of New York, the stakes here are outrageous paydays and close shaves with crime lords around the world. But Laurent and crew's relationships anchor the show just as deeply as Ash and Shorter's brotherhood.

Slick cars, exotic locales, and clever scams give Great Pretender a fancy facade, but underneath beats a heart as truthful as any of the anime greats.

10) Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom

Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom (Image via Bee Train)

Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom centers on a young man whose memory gets erased after witnessing an assassination. He gets trained to be an elite hitman alongside a cold assassin named Ein.

With its organized crime intrigue focused on assassins, Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom has strong overlaps with Banana Fish.

It features a darker protagonist navigating the criminal underworld with impressive lethal abilities, set on uncovering the truth about his past. The layered relationships between assassins also echo the bonds between Ash's gang members.

Conclusion

For fans who connected with the traumatic backstory and complex characterization of Ash Lynx alongside the memorable bonds he forms in Banana Fish, the anime series highlighted in this list delivers more of the gritty, emotionally impactful adventures to appreciate next.

Centered on seeking retribution against sinister forces through daring missions, these shows are set in immersive, dangerous worlds filled with intrigue. Whether in historic feudal Japan, cyberpunk futures, or modern urban spaces.

If you liked Banana Fish, do give these incredible anime series a try for dark, gripping stories about bonds forged in adversity and the lengths people go to protect those they consider family.