Netflix’s Baby Reindeer continues to be the talk of the town, following the explosive interview of the “real-life Martha” in Piers Morgan Uncensored. As interest in the hit series increases, these intense anime with themes similar to Baby Reindeer will keep you on the edge of your seats.
From Happy Sugar Life to Future Diary, the following anime are similar to Baby Reindeer in that they include a stalker in their central plot.
Of course, Netflix's hit series isn't only about stalking; it also explores issues such as psychological trauma, the consequences of one's actions, and modern society's expectations, all of which can be found in the anime listed below.
Perfect Blue
Perfect Blue is a riveting descent into psychological terror that chronicles the story of a pop idol who transitioned from singing to acting to reinvent her career, resulting in a sequence of disturbing occurrences that blur the borders between reality and illusion.
Like Baby Reindeer, the main character struggles with the pressures of her career while being haunted by a stalker who pushes her to the edge of sanity, leading to her spiral into bewilderment and paranoia.
It is a film directed by the widely-acclaimed Japanese director, Satoshi Kon, who masterfully explored mature and sensitive themes in a chilling narrative that interweaves the main character’s real-life experiences with her hallucinations.
Happy Sugar Life
Similar to Baby Reindeer, Happy Sugar Life has a hauntingly deceptive title that conceals its dark and twisted narrative.
Happy Sugar Life is a dark exploration of love and obsession that takes the viewers on an increasingly disturbing journey of Satou Matsuzaka and her infatuation with a young girl named Shio Koube.
Satou Matsuzaka thinks that she’s leading a “happy sugar life” with Shio in her apartment, but all she does is manipulate and abuse the poor girl to the extremes to show her fearsome affections.
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Romantic Killer
While Romantic Killer falls under the romance comedy anime genre, one of its episodes dives into the reality of stalking, which is sometimes downplayed and neglected in modern society.
It only takes a modest act of kindness for Tsukasa Kazuki to become the unlucky victim of Yukana Kishi, an adult woman who exhibited stalker behavior, just like Martha in Netflix's Baby Reindeer.
From pretending to be in a relationship with Tsukasa to greeting him on his way to school, this will undoubtedly remind you of the series.
Oshi no Ko
Oshi no Ko is no stranger to stalkers, as the pop idol, Ai Hoshino, experienced so many difficulties in her personal life because of a delusional stalker who couldn’t accept her new lifestyle.
While Oshi no Ko delves into the glitz and glamour of the idol and entertainment industries, it also blends psychological trauma, mental instability, and abuse, creating an unsettling atmosphere throughout the series.
Beauty Water
Baby Reindeer also delves into the character of Teri, Donny’s girlfriend, whom we know wishes to be accepted by society for whoever she is.
In the South Korean animated psychological thriller film Beauty Water, the main character Yaeji discovers a miraculous beauty product called Beauty Water that allows users to mold their physical appearance to perfection.
The film shows how far an individual will go to achieve their ideal appearance, driven by societal standards and personal insecurities, resulting in horrifying consequences.
When They Cry: Higurashi
When They Cry: Higurashi excellently embodies the meaning of the phrase "when you think you know someone but don't," as the anime follows a young boy named Keiichi Maebara who moves to the countryside and befriends a lovely and innocent bunch of girls.
Under the idyllic exterior of these girls lies a dark and sinister past that Keiichi failed to recognize.
As he delves deeper into their secrets, he becomes ensnared in a cycle of paranoia and violence, creating a sense of unease in the series.
Future Diary
This list would be incomplete without the classic Future Diary, also known as Mirai Nikki, a captivating anime that explores the complicated relationship between the main protagonist, Yukiteru Amano, and the infamous yandere, Yuno Gasai.
It may be a survival anime, but there are undertones of stalking, particularly in the relationship between Yukiteru and Yuno, in which the latter's passion for the former can be interpreted as obsession and stalking.
The series' representation of stalking heightens the story's tension and psychological intensity, adding levels of complexity to the characters and their interactions.
Hell Girl
What sets Hell Girl apart from the other anime on this list is its episodic format, which focuses on different individuals seeking revenge with the help of Ai Enma, the harbinger of vengeance in the series.
While Baby Reindeer is not exactly a revenge-fueled drama series, viewers may also enjoy Hell Girl due to the standalone stories that explore themes of justice and the consequences of one’s actions.
From victims of bullying and stalking to victims of betrayal, each episode shows moral dilemmas that also happen in real life.
Do you have any anime recommendations similar to Netflix’s Baby Reindeer? Let us know in the comments below and follow us on Facebook for all the latest news, lists, and explainer articles!