12 Shows You Should Watch If You Love Fire Force

Everyone knows the classic saying, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," but what happens when you want to feel more of the burn? That's what fans of "Fire Force" are asking themselves, as they look for another anime that can deliver heat as strong as their favorite series. "Fire Force," of course, is a supernatural action series by Atsushi Ohkubo, the manga artist behind "Soul Eater" and "Soul Eater Not!" It takes place in a world that has suffered a great cataclysmic event.

For reasons unknown, a subset of humans began to spontaneously combust into violent, flaming creatures known as "Infernals." Infernals make up the first generation of the mysterious plague, while the second and third generations are known as pyrokinetics, who are users that can control and manipulate flames, while still holding on to their humanity. Third-generation pyrokinetic, Shinra Kusakabe, has enlisted in the Special Fire Force Company 8, an organization dedicated to resolving the outbreak of Infernals that have plagued humanity for years. He was given the nickname, "Devil's Footprints," for his ability to ignite his feet at will. Shinra joins the Fire Force in the hopes of becoming a hero that can save everyone, as well as to make amends for the fire accident he caused as a child that took the life of his mother and younger brother. However, the life of a Fire Force officer is far more chaotic than anything Shinra could ever imagine.

"Fire Force" was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from September 2015 to February 2022. While the manga has come to an end, a third season of the anime was announced in May of 2022 (via Twitter). Those eager to see their favorite moments from the manga get animated will have to be patient, as a release date for "Fire Force" Season 3 has yet to be announced. In the meantime, here are 12 anime series that share the same fiery passion of "Fire Force" that fans will love.

The heroic attitude of Shinra Kusakabe from "Fire Force" is similar to the courageous spirit of Izuku "Deku" Midoriya from "My Hero Academia." "My Hero Academia" is set in a world populated by superheroes and supervillains, born with powers called "Quirks." Deku, a meek teenage boy, has always dreamed of being a superhero like his childhood idol, All Might. However, Deku was one of the unlucky few who were born without a Quirk. Despite this sad twist of fate, Deku ends up proving himself a hero on the inside when faced with danger, leading All Might to pick him as his successor. Infused with the unfathomable powers of his mentor, Deku must learn to control his newfound Quirk while getting along with his fellow would-be superheroes of U.A. High School. There are five seasons of "My Hero Academia" with Season 6 on the way, as well as three animated movies.

Much like how the trauma of losing his mother and younger brother haunts and drives Shinra Kusakabe in "Fire Force," the tragic backstory of Tanjirou Kamado in "Demon Slayer" motivates him as well. Tanjirou, who became head of the family after the passing of his father, had his life turned upside down after his family was slaughtered by a demon, and his younger sister, Nezuko Kamado, mysteriously transformed into one. Driven by anger and grief, Tanjirou joins the Demon Slayer Corps in the hopes of finding the demon responsible for the loss of his family so that he can avenge their deaths. He also hopes to find a cure for Nezuko's condition before she loses the remaining shreds of humanity and becomes a full-fledged demon. Similarly to "Fire Force," "Demon Slayer" revolves around an organization created to deal with the supernatural threat against their world. "Demon Slayer" taking place in the Taishō-era of Japan, however, sets the show apart from "Fire Force."

"Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" sends its two young heroes to the military as State Alchemists, similarly to Shinra Kusakabe and friends signing up for the Fire Force organization to combat the threat of Infernals. And just like how "Fire Force" shows the crookedness of the higher-up companies, "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" depicts the corruption that has infested the military. For Edward and Alphonse Elric, being dogs of the military is a small price to pay if it means getting a lead on the whereabouts of the Philosopher's Stone. Ever since they were kids, the Elric brothers have had to live with the mistake they made one horrifying night of trying to resurrect their dead mother through forbidden alchemy. For Ed, he lost an arm and a leg. For Al, he lost his entire body and now resides spiritually in a suit of armor. The only hope of getting their original bodies back is the fabled Philosopher's Stone, which is said to hold tremendous powers that go beyond the limits of alchemy. "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" is a 2009 anime series that closely follows the manga by Hiromu Arakawa. The "Fullmetal Alchemist" (2003) anime that came before is also worth watching, even as it deviates from the source material.

In the distant future of 2012 (don't laugh), humanity is on the brink of extinction due to a man-made virus that has ravaged the global population (sans children under the age of 13). Taking advantage of the devastating situation, vampires have emerged from the shadows to offer protection for those that survived the pandemic, as long as they surrender their blood. Two young boys, Yuichiro Hyakuya and Mikaela Hyakuya, stage a revolt against their vampiric captors, but are ultimately thwarted. Thanks to Mikaela's sacrifice, Yuichiro is the only one to come out alive from the failed escape plan and is later rescued by the Moon Demon Company, a military unit dedicated to eliminating the vampire menace in Japan. Four years later, an older Yuichiro devotes himself to destroying the vampires that took his "family" away, unaware that Mikaela is alive and searching for him. "Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign" is currently available on Hulu.

Unlike Shinra Kusakabe, who joined the Fire Force company to save those in danger of Infernals, Gon Freecss from "Hunter x Hunter" wants to be a licensed hunter for more personal reasons: He wants to meet his father, Ging Freecss, a legendary hunter who apparently abandoned his son for his profession. Gon hopes that, by becoming a hunter, he will have a better understanding of why his father left him, and potentially be able to find his father as well. Becoming a hunter is no easy task, as passing the Hunter Examination means putting your life on the line. Even with Gon's extraordinary abilities at the young age of 12, the world is still filled with cold and dangerous people who will push Gon's abilities and morale to their limits. Thankfully, Gon is not alone in taking the Hunter Examination, as he befriends Killua Zoldyck, a cool and collected 12-year-old who possesses the skills of an assassin. There are two anime series — one released in 1999, and another in 2011. The manga story is still ongoing and has unfortunately been the victim of constant delays, due to the troubling health updates of series creator Yoshihiro Togashi (via Anime News Network).

Taking place in an alternative 19th-century world, "D.Gray-man" follows Allen Walker, a newly recruited member of the Black Order, an organization of exorcists that fight against the evil Millennium Earl. Millennium Earl is an ancient sorcerer who tricks those with vulnerable hearts to surrender the souls of dead friends and relatives to power up his mechanical weapons known as "Akuma." To fight the Akuma, the Black Order uses weapons of their own called "Innocence," which can take the form of everyday items like a grandfather clock or a sword. Allen's Innocence is his arm and he possesses a cursed eye that can see the souls that suffer inside Millennium Earl's cruel devices of war. There are 109 Innocence hidden and scattered throughout the world, with one "master" Innocence possessing such absolute power that whichever side claims it as their own first, will ultimately win the war. Given Millennium Earl's plan for the destruction of the world, let's hope the Black Order gets to the master Innocence first.