20+ Anime Like Ashita no Joe 2

If you loved Ashita no Joe 2, chances are you'll really enjoy Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!, MEGALOBOX 2: NOMAD and the others too. They share that same energy—whether it's the intense Action, Drama, Slice of Life, Sports, or just the vibe that keeps you hooked. While you wait for the next episode to drop, it’s the perfect time to explore something new that still feels familiar. These picks aren't just similar—they're fan favorites for a reason, and they might just become your next obsession.

1. Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!

Synonyms: The First Step, Fighting Spirit, Espíritu de lucha

Makunouchi Ippo has been bullied his entire life. Constantly running errands and being beaten up by his classmates, Ippo has always dreamed of changing himself, but never has the passion to act upon it. One day, in the midst of yet another bullying, Ippo is saved by Takamura Mamoru, who happens to be a boxer. Ippo faints from his injuries and is brought to the Kamogawa boxing gym to recover. As he regains consciousness, he is awed and amazed at his new surroundings in the gym, though lacks confidence to attempt anything. Takamura places a photo of Ippo's classmate on a punching bag and forces him to punch it. It is only then that Ippo feels something stir inside him and eventually asks Takamura to train him in boxing. Thinking that Ippo does not have what it takes, Takamura gives him a task deemed impossible and gives him a one week time limit. With a sudden desire to get stronger, for himself and his hard working mother, Ippo trains relentlessly to accomplish the task within the time limit. Thus Ippo's journey to the top of the boxing world begins.

2. MEGALOBOX 2: NOMAD

Synonyms: เมกาโล่บ็อกซ์ เจ้าสังเวียนพันธุ์แกร่ง ภาค 2

The second season of Megalo Box. In the end, “Gearless” Joe was the one that reigned as the champion of Megalonia, a first ever megalobox tournament. Fans everywhere were mesmerized by the meteoric rise of Joe who sprung out from the deepest underground ring to the top in mere three months and without the use of gear. Seven years later, “Gearless” Joe was once again fighting in underground matches. Adorned with scars and once again donning his gear, but now known only as Nomad. (Source: TMS Entertainment)

3. Megalobox

Synonyms: None

"To be quiet and do as you're told, that's the cowardly choice." These are the words of Junk Dog, an underground fighter of Megalo Box, an evolution of boxing that utilizes mechanical limbs known as Gear to enhance the speed and power of its users. Despite the young man's brimming potential as a boxer, the illegal nature of his participation forces him to make a living off of throwing matches as dictated by his boss Gansaku Nanbu. However, this all changes when the Megalo Box champion Yuuri enters his shabby ring under the guise of just another challenger. Taken out in a single round, Junk Dog is left with a challenge: "If you're serious about fighting me again, then fight your way up to me and my ring." Filled with overwhelming excitement and backed by the criminal syndicate responsible for his thrown matches, Junk Dog enters Megalonia: a world-spanning tournament that will decide the strongest Megalo Boxer of them all. Having no name of his own, he takes on the moniker of "Joe" as he begins his climb from the very bottom of the ranked list of fighters. With only three months left to qualify, Joe must face off against opponents the likes of which he has never fought in order to meet the challenge of his rival. (Source: MAL Rewrite)

4. Umamusume: Pretty Derby Season 2

Synonyms: สาวม้าโมเอะ ภาค 2

The second season of Uma Musume: Pretty Derby. All eyes are on Toukai Teiou as she takes on the Japanese Derby, ready to gallop in Symboli Rudolf's footsteps and become an undefeated Triple Crown Horse Girl. The stands are full. The track is set. It's time to see which horse girl fortune favors! (Source: Crunchyroll, edited)

5. Lady Oscar: The Rose of Versailles

Synonyms: Berusaiyu no Bara, The Rose of Versailles, Lady Oscar, Lady Oscar: Róża Wersalu

Raised from birth as a man, the Lady Oscar commands the palace guards at Versailles in the years before the French Revolution. Her beauty and noble spirit make her a shining figure in the eyes of both men and women but she is torn between her chosen life of service and duty to class and country and her own heart and desires. She lives as a noble amidst the opulence of Versailles but her keen senses and compassion are not blinded to the poverty of the French people. (Source: Anime News Network)

6. Ganbare Genki

Synonyms: Forza Sugar, Genki The Boy Champ, Go For It! Genki

Horiguchi Genki was 5 years old boy. His mother died when he was born, and he was raised only by his father. His father, Shark Horiguchi, was a professional boxer, but he was ruined and become an itinerant boxer. However, Genki believed his father was strong and he would become a champion, and he had a dream to become a strong boxer as his father. After his father’s death, he was adopted by his grandparents. Although they opposed Genki boxing, Genki made up his mind to become a boxer, and he continued training secretly. Meeting with various people, for example, Teacher Ashikiwa who resembles his mother, Mishima who is a high school boxing champion, he made his way to be a boxer. (Source: AnimeNfo)

7. Vinland Saga Season 2

Synonyms: Сага о Винланде 2

The second season of Vinland Saga. After his father's death and the destruction of his village at the hands of English raiders, Einar wishes for a peaceful life with his family on their newly rebuilt farms. However, fate has other plans: his village is invaded once again. Einar watches helplessly as the marauding Danes burn his lands and slaughter his family. The invaders capture Einar and take him back to Denmark as a slave. Einar clings to his mother's final words to survive. He is purchased by Ketil, a kind slave owner and landlord who promises that Einar can regain his freedom in return for working in the fields. Soon, Einar encounters his new partner in farm cultivation—Thorfinn, a dejected and melancholic slave. As Einar and Thorfinn work together toward their freedom, they are haunted by both sins of the past and the ploys of the present. Yet they carry on, grasping for a glimmer of hope, redemption, and peace in a world that is nothing but unjust and unforgiving. (Source: MAL Rewrite)

8. Aoashi

Synonyms: AOASHI แข็งเด็กหัวใจนักสู้, أواشي, Ao Ashi - Playmaker

Ashito Aoi is a young, aspiring soccer player from a backwater town in Japan. His hopes of getting into a high school with a good soccer club are dashed when he causes an incident during a critical match for his team, which results in their loss and elimination from the tournament. Nevertheless, he catches the eye of someone important who happened to be visiting from Tokyo. How will things turn out for Ashito?(Source: Shogakukan Asia)

9. Tomorrow's Joe: The Movie

Synonyms: None

A summary movie of the first season for people to get reminded on what happened before the airing of the second season.

10. Cowboy Bebop

Synonyms: 카우보이 비밥, קאובוי ביבופ, คาวบอย บีบ๊อป, Ковбой Бибоп

Enter a world in the distant future, where Bounty Hunters roam the solar system. Spike and Jet, bounty hunting partners, set out on journeys in an ever struggling effort to win bounty rewards to survive. While traveling, they meet up with other very interesting people. Could Faye, the beautiful and ridiculously poor gambler, Edward, the computer genius, and Ein, the engineered dog be a good addition to the group?

11. Baki Hanma Season 2

Synonyms: Baki Hanma: Son of Ogre 2, Son of Ogre Baki Hanma Season 2

The second season of Hanma Baki. In Hanma Baki’s first season, the fighter Baki — the strongest high schooler in the land — trained in a prison against fellow inmates, defeating a giant praying mantis and formidable opponents like Biscuit “Mr. Unchained” Oliva and Jun “Mr. Second” Guevaru. Now, Baki is back and gearing up to battle Pickle, a perfectly preserved prehistoric man so powerful, he once preyed on dinosaurs. If Baki can take down Pickle, his final matchup will be with his all-powerful father, Yujiro Hanma. (Source: Netflix)

12. Samurai Champloo

Synonyms: ساموراي تشامبلو

Let's break it down. Mugen's a reckless sword-slinger with a style that's more b-boy than Shaolin. He's got a nasty streak that makes people want to stick a knife in his throat. Then there's Jin, a deadbeat ronin who speaks softly but carries a big blade. He runs game old-school style, but he can make your blood spray with the quickness. When these roughnecks bring the ruckus, it ain't good for anybody, especially them. Enter Fuu, the ditzy waitress who springs her new friends from a deadly jam. All she wants in return is help solving a riddle from her past. She and the boys are tracking the scent, but there's 99 ways to die between them and the sunflower samurai. (Source: Funimation)

13. Gurren Lagann

Synonyms: Heavenly Breakthrough Gurren Lagann, TTGL, Sfondamento dei cieli Gurren Lagann, Heaven-Piercing Gurren Lagann

In a far away future, mankind lives underground in huge caves, unknowing of a world above with a sky and stars. In the small village of Jiha, Simon, a shy boy who works as a digger discovers a strange glowing object during excavation. The enterprising Kamina, a young man with a pair of rakish sunglasses and the passion of a firey sun, befriends Simon and forms a small band of brothers, the Gurren Brigade, to escape the village and break through the ceiling of the cave to reach the surface, which few believe exist. The village elder won't hear of such foolishness and punishes the Brigade. However, when disaster strikes from the world above and the entire village is in jeopardy, it's up to Simon, Kamina, a girl with a big gun named Yoko, and the small yet sturdy robot, Lagann, to save the day. The new friends journey to the world above and find that the surface is a harsh battlefield, and it's up to them to fight back against the rampaging Beastmen to turn the tide in the humans' favor! Pierce the heavens, Gurren Lagann!

14. Dragon Ball

Synonyms: Dragonball, Bola de Drac, דרגון בול , ดราก้อนบอล

Goku Son is a young boy who lives in the woods all alone—that is until a girl named Bulma runs into him in her search for a set of magical objects called the "Dragon Balls." Since the artifacts are said to grant one wish to whoever collects all seven, Bulma hopes to gather them and wish for a perfect boyfriend. Goku happens to be in possession of a dragon ball, but unfortunately for Bulma, he refuses to part ways with it, so she makes him a deal: he can tag along on her journey if he lets her borrow the dragon ball's power. With that, the two set off on the journey of a lifetime. They don't go on the journey alone. On the way, they meet the old Muten-Roshi and wannabe disciple Kuririn, with whom Goku trains to become a stronger martial artist for the upcoming World Martial Arts Tournament. However, it's not all fun and games; the ability to make any wish come true is a powerful one, and there are others who would do much worse than just wishing for a boyfriend. To stop those who would try to abuse the legendary power, they train to become stronger fighters, using their newfound strength to help the people around them along the way. (Source: MAL Rewrite)

15. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie - Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Synonyms: Cowboy Bebop Movie, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, Cowboy Bebop: O Filme, Kowboj Bebop

As the Cowboy Bebop crew travels the stars, they learn of the largest bounty yet, a huge 300 million Woolongs. Apparently, someone is wielding a hugely powerful chemical weapon, and of course the authorities are at a loss to stop it. The war to take down the most dangerous criminal yet forces the crew to face a true madman, with bare hope to succeed. (Source: Anime News Network)

16. Heidi, Girl of the Alps

Synonyms: Heidi: Girl of the Alps, World Masterpiece Theater, WMT, هايدي

After becoming an orphan, Heidi is forced to live with her grandfather Öhi, who lives in the Alps. She learns he's a very bitter man who only accepted by force to take her in. But Heidi's kindness may be able to open his heart. Together with the shepherd Peter and invalid Klara, she has lots of adventures. (Source: Anime News Network, edited)

17. Millennium Old Journal: Tale of Genji

Synonyms: Genji Monogatari Sennenki Genji, The Tale of Genji

Born from a much loved, but lowly ranked concubine, Genji Hikaru is called the Shining Prince and is the beloved second son of the Emperor. Although he cannot be an heir to the throne of his father, Genji spends his life surrounded by every pleasure and love. And yet, his one longing in love is something that even the power of an Emperor can never give him. (Source: Anime News Network)

18. Glass Mask

Synonyms: Glass Mask 1984, Laura ou la Passion du Théâtre

Kitajima Maya, a 13-year old girl with a talent for acting, was discovered by the reclusive actress Tsukikage. The story follows Maya's growing up, intense training, overcoming challenges, and evolving into the foremost actress of her generation (she is about 20 so far). Maya's greatest rival is Himekawa Ayumi, the beautiful daughter of a famous movie couple. They ultimately vied for the most sought-after role - the "Crimson Goddess". An equally important subplot Maya's relationship with the handsome and ruthless entertainment mogul Hayami Masumi, who secretly became her number one fan, but misunderstandings and bad-timing obstructed their romance... (Source: Anime News Network)

19. Uma Musume: Pretty Derby - Shin Jidai no Tobira

Synonyms: Uma Musume: Pretty Derby Movie, 劇場版 ウマ娘 プリティーダービー, ウマ娘 プリティーダービー BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA, Uma Musume: Pretty Derby - BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA

Jungle Pocket, an Umamusume who has been racing tirelessly in pursuit of becoming the greatest, is ready to take on the once-in-a-lifetime Classic Triple Crown series. However, standing in her way are rivals from the same generation, whose talent may even surpass her own. (Source: Umamusume: Pretty Derby English Twitter)

20. Golgo 13: The Professional

Synonyms: Professional: Golgo 13, Golgo 13 - The Professional, Golgo 13: O Profissional

After assassinating the son of business tycoon Leonard Dawson, Golgo 13 finds himself prey to the CIA and the U.S. Army, whom Dawson has personally hired to kill the assassin. As days pass by, Dawson slowly loses his sanity as he continues to plot every attempt to kill Golgo 13 even without caring about who hired the assassin to kill his son. (Source: Anime News Network)

21. Fist of the North Star 2

Synonyms: None

In the second series after Raoh has been defeated by Kenshiro a new rival appears. The Gentou Kouken warriors. Falco the successor of the Gentou Kouken takes orders from an evil ruler by the name of Jacko. He claims to be the man chosen by the Tentei and issues orders to his subordinates to capture anyone living in order to build up his Imperial Capital. Kenshiro once again rises out of the shadows and puts an end to his tyrannical ways. Amidst the mayhem Lynn gets captured and gets taken to the land of the Shura where only ruthless fighters exist. Now Kenshiro must pursue the captor and defeat the 3 Rasho of the land in order to escape with his life and with Lynn.

If you're anything like me, once you finish something amazing like Ashita no Joe 2, you're left wondering—what now? Luckily, there’s a whole world of stories out there that give off the same energy, whether it’s the intense fights, emotional backstories, or just that feeling of being completely hooked. The titles like Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!, MEGALOBOX 2: NOMAD... I’ve shared aren’t just similar—they feel right. They hit that same nerve that made Ashita no Joe 2 special in the first place. Of course, everyone’s taste is different, but I really think you’ll find something here that pulls you in. And hey—if you’ve got a favorite that didn’t make the list, I’d love to hear about it. I’m always looking for my next obsession.