For anime fans who love Dr. Stone, check out these series with similar themes and adventures.
Season 3 of Dr. Stone began on April 6, 2023, and continued its adaptation of the manga’s “Source of the Petrification Saga.” It follows on from the Dr. Stone: Ryusui special, where Senku and company had to revive and then placate top sailor Ryusui Nanami before they could set sail for their next venture.
The series has come a long way since the scientific genius Senku started using his wits to rebuild humanity after it was left petrified for 3,700 years. It caught on because its hero fought with his brain, and aided humanity with a scientific approach rather than with his fists. But there are similar anime that focus on science and survival, and these are the best anime like Dr. Stone.
Updated August 7, 2023 by David Heath: The first cour of Dr. Stone: New World, the third season of the science shōnen series, ended back on June 15, 2023. But the next cour is due to start in October, continuing where Senku and co left off. Even so, as of this writing, that’s two months away.
That’s quite a while for viewers to wait for, especially if they’re sticking to the anime instead of spoiling themselves with the completed manga. So, until October comes, fans might find solace in these Dr. Stone-like shows. 13 No Game, No Life
On the face of it, No Game, No Life isn’t exactly like Dr. Stone. It’s about two shut-in step-siblings Shiro and Sora, who get isekai’d from Earth to the world of Disboard by its god Tet. It’s up to them to save the last remaining human kingdom of Imanity from the fifteen other magical races, and the only way to do that is through playing games.
Though it isn’t as scientific as Dr. Stone, it’s still about the lead (or leads in this case) saving the day through smarts than brawn. Everything in Disboard is decided by games, and both Shiro and Sora are the best players around. Just as humanity has hope in Senku in Dr. Stone, Shiro & Sora provide the same for Imanity, even when they meet their matches. 12 Appare-Ranman!
P. A Works’ anime Appare-Ranman brings back the science and has a genius as its lead. But humanity isn’t on the brink this time. Just the dreams of Appare Sorrano, a gifted engineer in late 19th century Japan. He wants to go across the sea, through the sky, and to the moon, with only his chaperone Kosame Ishikki bringing him back down to Earth. His ambitions get them stuck in the middle of the ocean, then shipped over to Los Angeles.
With nothing left to lose, the two enter the Trans-America Wild Race, where they could potentially win a cash prize big enough to get them home. Provided Appare’s newly built automobile can hold up against the other racers. It plays out like a mixture of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, with the 19th-century setting and transcontinental race across the States, with Dr. Stone’s science and adventure, with a whimsy of its own. 11 Food Wars: Shokugeki no Sōma
While it’s not strictly mentioned in Food Wars, there is a science to cooking. Making the perfect dish is akin to chemistry, requiring careful measurements, experimentation, and knowing how elements connect, clash, blend, or repel each other. But the similarities between Food Wars and Dr. Stone lie in their leads’ passion for (and the shonen-ification of) their unlikely fields.
To succeed his father as head of the family restaurant, Sōma must test his cooking skills at the Tōtsuki Culinary Academy via their shokugeki cook-offs. The winner gains acclaim and all sorts of prizes, while the loser risks expulsion. Sōma is as keen a cook as Senku is on science, with both shows having an educational streak as Food Wars uses real recipes and depicts the food as closely as possible. 10 Science Fell In Love, So I Tried To Prove It
If science can be used to win races, make alcohol, or save humanity, can it also be used for romance? For anyone who wants more science than shonen, they might like to give Alifred Yamamoto’s romcom a try.
