Craving more high-octane action, hilarious delinquents, and inspiring journeys of self-discovery?
Look no further. If you devoured Satoru Nii’s work and are hungry for your next anime fix, this list of anime like Wind Breaker is for you.
We’ve scoured the anime landscape to find titles that capture the essence of what makes Wind Breaker so fantastic – thrilling fights, laugh-out-loud moments, and characters who leave a lasting impression.
Buckle up and get ready to dive into a world of anime recommendations that will light your fire… or make you cry.
What is Wind Breaker?
Wind Breaker, a manga by Satoru Nii, is about a high school delinquent named Haruka Sakura who aspires to be the world’s strongest fighter.
To meet his needs, he transfers to Furin High, a school notorious for its delinquents. There, he encounters a host of characters who little by little, change his life in their own unique ways.
Read Now: Wind Breaker Vol. 1 |
Sakura navigates the world of high school delinquents while fighting to achieve his dream. The series is known for its action, focus on martial arts, and deep character development.
As of writing, the manga, which started in 2021, is still ongoing. It was adapted into an anime in 2024, and its first episode debuted on April 5, 2024.
Anime like Wind Breaker that will instantly boost your morale and self-confidence
Tokyo Revengers
| Time travel and high school deliquency? Read all about Takemichi’s story in Tokyo Revengers Vol 1-2 Paperback! |
Let’s get this out of the way — we can’t talk about Wind Breaker without talking about the delinquent anime that took the world by storm.
Tokyo Revengers, written and illustrated by Ken Wakui from 2017-2022, follows the story of Takemichi Hanagaki, who learns that his middle school girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, along with her brother, were killed by a group of delinquents known as the Tokyo Manji Gang.
After an unexpected turn of events, Takemichi discovers that he has the ability to travel back in time to his middle school days. Determined to change the future and prevent tragic events from occurring, he embarks on a mission to alter the course of history and save his loved ones.
An anime like Wind Breaker, Tokyo Revengers is likewise packed full of fistfights, but it is way less organized and much more brutal. After all, it takes place during a time period when biker gangs — called bosozoku in Japanese — were prevalent and not yet outlawed.
You can expect an exploration of darker themes that ultimately lead to death, where morality is thoroughly questioned.
Characters tend to come from broken family homes or experience past trauma that plays out in the present. While Wind Breaker showcases complex characters, its depiction isn’t as savage or vicious.
Tokyo Revengers is so popular that it was made into a series of live-action movies, led by popular Japanese actors Takumi Kitamura, Yuki Yamada, and Ryo Yoshizawa, released in 2021, and squeals in 2023.
Banana Fish
A delinquent story that came out way before Tokyo Revengers and Wind Breaker, Banana Fish dives into the dangerous New York City underworld full of rival gangs, corrupt officials, and powerful adversaries.
Akimi Yoshida wrote and illustrated the manga, which ran from 1985 to 1994. MAPPA adapted it into an anime series in 2018.
The story is set primarily in the streets of New York City during the 1980s and follows the life of Ash Lynx, a young gang leader known for his exceptional intelligence and combat skills.
The plot revolves around a mysterious substance known as “Banana Fish,” which is linked to traumatic events from Ash’s past. As he delves deeper into the mystery of Banana Fish, he becomes entangled in a complex web of crime, corruption, and conspiracy.
An anime like Wind Breaker, you’ll be thrilled to know that the protagonists of both anime are brought to life by the same talented voice actor — Yuma Uchida.
Of course, the similarities do not stop there. While Wind Breaker doesn’t have a “for mature audiences only” tag, both of these anime do a great job examining identity and friendship against the backdrop of violence.
Even though Banana Fish has been out for years, it continues to garner critical acclaim and maintain a dedicated fanbase that loves its gripping narrative and emotional depth.
The Way of the Househusband
Is it possible to enjoy a delinquent story without a sticky mix of unyielding darkness and pungent testosterone?
Yes, it is! Introducing The Way of the Househusband, a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kousuke Oono in 2018 that was adapted into an anime by Netflix in 2021.
It follows the story of Tatsu, a former yakuza boss known as the “Immortal Dragon,” who retires from his life of crime to become a full-time househusband after marrying his wife, Miku.
| Come home to a warm home-cooked meal by Tatsu in The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 1! |
Despite his intimidating appearance and background, Tatsu fully commits himself to his new role as a homemaker, taking care of household chores and running errands while Miku works as a professional career woman.
Wind Breaker has its funny moments, and The Way of the Househusband amplifies this aspect. The series humorously depicts Tatsu’s everyday life as he navigates through the challenges of domesticity.
The Way of the Househusband relies on situational comedy and absurd scenarios, while Wind Breaker often features comedic moments between characters amidst intense street scenes. Both incorporate elements of slice-of-life storytelling.
Great Teacher Onizuka
For more wholesome, change-of-heart delinquent content filled with positivity, kindness, and genuine goodness, Great Teacher Onizuka is another top-tier anime like Wind Breaker.
Commonly abbreviated as GTO, it is originally a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tooru Fujisawa, published in 25 volumes from 1997 to 2022. In 1999, it was adapted into an anime and live-action film, with various television drama spin-offs.
It follows the story of Eikichi Onizuka, a former gang member and delinquent who decides to become a teacher in order to pursue his dream of dating young, attractive high school girls. However, his motivations soon change as he develops a genuine passion for teaching and a desire to make a positive impact on his students’ lives.
Onizuka employs unconventional teaching methods and a unique blend of tough love and empathy to connect with his students and help them overcome their personal issues and challenges.
Like Wind Breaker, it has just the right amount of humor, emotional depth, and portrayal of complex characters. It’s also worth noting that both Onizuka and Sakura undergo significant character growth—what they thought they originally wanted changes significantly throughout the series.
They learn from their experiences, overcome personal challenges, and mature as individuals. Enjoy themes of redemption, friendship, and the transformative power of (informal) education.
My Hero Academia
While it doesn’t feature delinquents, My Hero Academia is an anime like Wind Breaker because it deeply shares themes of friendship, perseverance, self-improvement, and self-discovery.
Created by Kohei Horikoshi in 2014, it was made into an anime in 2016. The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy who dreams of becoming a hero despite being born without a quirk (superpower) in a world where they are the norm.
With the help of his mentor All Might, Deku trains to become a hero and enrolls in U.A. High School. Similar to Sakura in Wind Breaker, they both enter a school for the sole purpose of getting stronger with dreams of becoming the best in their field.
Throughout the series, Deku encounters various villains and faces numerous trials that test his resolve and determination to become a true hero. While Sakura would scoff at the word “hero,” he very much acts like one after joining Furin High School, and is likewise challenged to overcome obstacles on his path.
Like all the anime on this list, expect intense action sequences, emotional moments, and compelling character development.
Just a heads up, some of the links on ONE Esports are affiliate links. This means if you click on them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. It’s a way for us to keep the site running and provide you with valuable content. Thanks for your support!
READ MORE: These are the 13 best anime villains that you will love to hate
