Mobile Suit Gundam Wing is one of the best-known entries in the widely popular Mobile Suit Gundam series. It takes place in the distant future, where mankind has established space colonies that live under the yoke of the centralized government on Earth, the United Earth Sphere Alliance. In order to gain independence, the space colonies implement a secret program and send five young pilots of specially crafted mobile suits, the titular Gundam, to Earth.

Gundam Wing has several things in common with Knights of Sidonia. It takes place in a sci-fi future where humans inhabit space and pilot giant mecha. Where the story in Gundam Wing is a bit more politically charged, most of the drama occurs in very real moments between its central characters, before unfolding in epic mech battles on Earth and in space. Much like Knights, there is a large cast of memorable, complicated characters, each with their own motivations and foibles.
Once you’ve finished the series, there’s the equally enjoyable follow up film, Endless Waltz, to help tie up any loose ends. Definitely worth watching for any fan of sci-fi or mecha anime.

Trading in the cold sci-fi space setting for one of medieval dark fantasy, Claymore takes place in a world where humans are also plagued by shape-shifting monsters called Yoma, who feed on and terrorize the populace. They are protected by Claymores, half-human half-Yoma hybrids possessing super-human strength and abilities (as well as giant swords, claymores), but who eventually succumb to their demonic instincts. The show follows a Claymore named Clare, who saves a young man name Raki from a Yoma who has slain his family.

Although the setting is different, there are plenty of similarities between Claymore and Knights of Sidonia to keep fans interested. Much like the Gauna, the Yoma are mysterious enemies who feed on humans and have the ability to shapeshift, ensuring that the stakes are always rising when it comes time to battle. Much like Knights, Claymore relies on stylized action and sometimes intense violence to amplify the drama at the core of the series, and has several revealing flashback plot arcs to flesh out the overall story.

Gantz is a dark, sci-fi thriller set in a contemporary version of Japan where not all is as it seems. Two friends, Kurono and Katou, are killed in a train collision while saving a homeless man who fell onto the tracks. But the afterlife isn’t quite what they bargained for, as they wake up in a room filled with a black sphere, the Gantz, and are thrown into a game with other recently deceased to hunt down and exterminate aliens for points, utilizing futuristic weapons and specialized suits.

Like Knights of Sidonia, Gantz is a hyper-stylized anime known for its intense violence and adult themes. Over the course of the series, characters are introduced and dispatched in brutal fashion, and the sexual content of the show resulted in censorship when it was first released. Whether it’s in the game or in the real world, the main characters are forced to confront the brutal nature of their daily lives and socie ty around them. The bizarre aliens they encounter make for intense, action-packed fights up the alley of any fan of Knights of Sidonia.

Psycho-Pass takes place in a sci-fi near-future where an individual’s likelihood to engage in criminal activity is monitored by a special system, the Sibyl System. When a person’s brain is scanned, the results of the “psycho-pass” determine whether or not they are accessed as a threat; if they are, they are relentlessly pursued by the members of the Criminal Investigation Division until they are apprehended or put down. The show follows detective Akane and the members of Unit One, as they attempt to enforce the rules of Sibyl System and track down criminal masterminds capable of manipulating and avoiding the system.

If the plot sounds familiar, think again. This show is as hard hitting and brutal as any episode of Knights of Sidonia, and has just as much action-oriented appeal. There are also visual similarities. The animation is slick, and blends hand drawn and computer-generated images. The story is full of suspense and twists, and is as character-driven it comes. Much like Knights, Psycho-Pass spends plenty of time establishing the systems in place, and just as much time questioning the value of those systems, and the repercussions it has on its lead characters.

Unless you’ve been living on a desert island, you probably know what Attack on Titan is all about. But for those of you who don’t, it takes place in a dark-fantasy world where humans have managed to survive a near-extinction event due to the sudden appearance of titans, monstrous, mindless giants that rampage and feast on humanity. Behind three massive walls, they’ve lived a relatively peaceful life, until a colossal titan breaches the outermost wall, allowing smaller titans to enter and wreak havoc. The story follows an ensemble cast surrounding three main characters, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, as they struggle to gain ground against the advancing titans and understand the nature of the monsters themselves.

Fans of Knights of Sidonia will find a lot to love in this series. It’s a fast-paced, action-packed anime with an incredibly visceral, brutal artistic direction. The titular titans are reminiscent of the Guana in their destructive capabilities and their resilience, often costing dozens of lives to bring down. Later episodes of both series lead to revelations about the nature of the enemy that shake up preconceptions and turn the shows on their heads. You’ve probably already seen it, but for Knights fans, it’s definitely not to be missed.

An anime that needs no introduction, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi show that has made waves in the anime community that are still felt even now. After a cataclysmic event known as the “second impact,” the story of Evangelion focuses on teenager Shinji, who is recruited by his father into a special military force called NERV, who battle giant monsters called Angels in bio-mechanical mechs called Evangelion, which are specially synched to their respective pilots for maximum combat efficiency. Shinji is surrounded by an ensemble cast of sincere and dubious allies, and character moments carry the story past the flashy, intense fight sequences.

Knights of Sidonia fans probably already know about Evangelion, because there’s plenty of similarities between the two shows. From the post-apocalyptic sci-fi setting, the larger than life enemies, the giant mechs piloted by a teenage cast, and the brutal battles between the two, the similarities are readily apparent. But it is the character moments, as well as the emotional themes and religious imagery throughout the show that have helped cement Evangelion’s legendary status. Any fan of Knights of Sidonia would be doing themselves a favor by watching this show.