The discovery of different stories in anime is always passionate. Sometimes the stories are completely insane, yet other times they are set in a period straight out of history books. While any historical facts found in anime should be treated with a grain of salt, it does offer a unique visual representation of a past era. If you wish for a time when samurai, aristocracy, simpler lifestyles, or apparently continuous warfare reigned supreme, then the historical genre, and our top 10 Historical Animes selections within it, maybe the perfect fit for your next anime binge.
Here is the list of Top 10 Historical Animes Below:
Number 10:
Name: Night Raid 1931 (1 Season 13 Episodes)
This was a lot of fun to watch; the backdrop of China in the early 1930s is fresh and unusual, and even though the characters have superpowers, they still manage to remain grounded and down to earth. This was a difficult historical period, with some countries undergoing significant transformations, some recovering from World War 1, and a select few sparking the events that would lead to World War 2.
Despite the fantasy elements included to spice up the plot, it was honestly shocking and pleasant to see an anime that was actually relatively realistic in portraying Japan in those days, illustrating the dangers of their ideology and giving a very true picture of the Manchurian Incident.
Genre: Historical, Military, Super Power
Studios: A-1 Pictures
Author: Shinsuke Onishi
[adinserter block=”1″]Number 9:
Name: Arslan Senki (2 Seasons 33 Episodes)
It is the year 320. The Kingdom of Pars is at war with the neighbouring empire of Lusitania, led by the belligerent King Andragoras III. Arslan, the young prince, sets out to prove his valour on the battlefield for the first time, despite being extremely different from his father in many ways. The Parsian army is destroyed and the capital city of Ecbatana is surrounded when the king is betrayed by one of his most loyal officials. Arslan is forced to leave with his army in shambles and the Lusitanians after his head. Arslan sets out on a voyage in quest of allies to help him reclaim his country, accompanied by a distinguished commander named Daryun.
The plot is quite intriguing. It depicts the conflict in all of its aspects, including brutality and the motives of both sides: Pars and Lusitania. Slavery is used by the Pars, and those who do not believe in their god are killed by the Lusitanians. It will be up to the young prince Arslan to rebuild the realm, but it will not be easy. The various fights are epic, often violent, but I thought they were well-done. Furthermore, the anime isn’t just about combat; it also includes some magic (though it isn’t well-developed), mystery, and some humorous moments. Furthermore, the characters’ interaction is enjoyable.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Studios : SANZIGEN, LIDENFILMS
Author: Yoshiki Tanaka
Number 8:
Name: Sengoku Basara (3 Seasons 36 Episodes)
Sengoku Basara is a shonen anime based on Capcom’s Playstation 2 video game Devil Kings, set during the Sengoku Jidai, or ‘Warring States period of Japanese history (known as Sengoku Basara in Japan). It’s important to realize that Sengoku Basara is a long way from the period it’s based on — it’s far from historically accurate. However, some period traits, such as the rivalry between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin and the employment of guns by the Oda clan, are present. The characters are mostly based on real people from the time period, though the way they are presented is obviously highly fictionalized.
Sengoku Basara is a very standard good vs evil story. It may not appear simple at first, as we are confronted with numerous factions battling for control of Japan. However, they eventually band together to confront Oda Nobunaga, a common foe. He is shown as a demon, similar to Capcom’s Onimusha franchise. Overall, the plot isn’t really memorable. The series, which spans 12 episodes, does a good job of finishing things up within its time frame, but it can feel rushed at times.
Sengoku Basara is a decent anime. Some of the characters are unpleasant, the character development is lacking, and the climactic confrontation is arguably lacking. However, I’m sure many people will enjoy it. In general, if you believe the thought of a guy holding six swords at once (with just two hands!) is just plain wonderful, you should give this one a shot.
Genre: Historical, Martial Arts, Samurai, Super Power
Studios: Production I.G
Author: Yasuyuki Mutō
Number 7:
Name: Golden Kamuy (3 Seasons 36 Episodes)
Golden Kamuy takes shape from the creator’s head to deliver a war survivor adventure to the anime medium, based on the same adaption. While the show is set in the aftermath of a war, there are still unsolved conflicts in their present world. The first episode delves into Sugimoto’s origins as Sugimoto the Immortal. His brief encounter with Asirpa, an Ainu girl who saves his life, seems almost destined. Despite their differences, viewers should notice their eye-catching character connection quite quickly. Our main characters are on this adventure, and their skills complement one another. Sugimoto’s military experience as a former soldier is crucial in combating the challenges they face.
This is a masterfully crafted story. Not only is the premise intriguing and even mysterious (the identity of Noppera-bou is a mystery, and a large portion of the plot is driven by that fact), but the adventure Sugimoto and Asirpa embark on together are one filled with exciting action, engaging side characters/antagonists, audacious humour, compelling backstories, and a nice amount of Ainu culture exposure as well as Japanese and Russian history. These factors should be enough to convince anyone who is on the fence about viewing this anime that they have stumbled onto one that is well worth their time.
Genre: Historical, Action, Adventure
Studios: Geno Studio
Author: Satoru Noda
[adinserter block=”3″]Number 6:
Name: Joker Game
With World War II approaching, information about other countries’ social and economic conditions has become a precious resource. As a response, Japan has created the “D Agency,” a new spy outfit tasked with obtaining this weapon.
To begin with, the series is based on the same novel. It had already been adapted into a live-action film prior to the anime adaption. The idea is similar, and the action takes place during World War II’s final stages. What exactly does that imply? It essentially demonstrates that Joker Game is no stranger to political ploys and propaganda. The series is realistic in that it portrays characters that have their own values, aspirations, and purpose in the program. In addition, we gain a clear picture of what’s at risk during this time period. In retrospect, Joker Game does a good job of showing and educating the viewer on how to understand the show.
Genre: Mystery, a political thriller, spy
Studios: Production I.G
Author: Koji Yanagi
Number 5:
Name: Nurarihyon no Mago (2 seasons 48 Episodes)
Rikuo Nura is the main protagonist of the series. Nurarihyon, the Nura clan’s supreme commander, is his grandfather. Nura is one-quarter yokai due to his human mother. Once Rikuo’s yokai abilities are realized, his grandfather wants him to become the Nura clan’s leader. Rikuo grew up around yokai and believed they were cool, not realizing that humans didn’t believe they existed. At a clan assembly, Nurarihyon declares his plan to name Rikuo the next heir of their clan. After a few years, Rikuo wants to embrace his human nature and is no longer interested in becoming the clan’s future leader. Meanwhile, Rikuo is recruited into a new club at school dedicated to tracking down yokai, because the group’s leader is looking for the yokai that saved his life during the bus disaster earlier in the story.
Nura Rise of the Yokai Clan has a pretty intriguing concept, in my opinion. In the end, it’s a narrative of a young child who is divided between where he belongs and what he actually wants to do with his life. While yokai and demons play an important role in the tale, the series’ main message is immensely accessible to readers, particularly teenagers.
Genre: Action fiction, Dark fantasy, Supernatural fiction
Studios: Studio Deen
Author : Hiroshi Shiibashi
Number 4:
Name: Drifters (1 Seasons 12 Episodes)
Toyohisa Shimazu is the rearguard for his retreating troops at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, and he is badly wounded when he finds himself in a modern, sparkling white hallway. Toyohisa is drawn inside the nearest door, into a world very different from his own, by a stoic man named Murasaki and hundreds of doors on both sides. The weird continent is home to a variety of fascinating creatures, as well as soldiers from Toyohisa’s world who were thought to be dead from various ages.
It’s a great narrative, though I’m not sure if it’s one of a kind. The fact that the characters in this experience are historical figures from various ages, spanning back to the 1500s and earlier, makes it much more incredible. Every character is created with tremendous care, and if you are unfamiliar with these characters, you will be compelled to google them and learn more about their backstories since they are so fascinating to watch.
From the beginning, I was captivated by this animation. I was left wanting more after the first episode. I needed to know where it was heading. The personalities of the characters are stunningly distinct. The entire concept of the series feels new in comparison to other anime. Absolutely fantastic; looking forward to the next season. Though it may not be a ten for many of you, it is for me because I thought it to be nearly perfect.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Studios: Hoods Drifters Studio
Author: Kouta Hirano
Number 3:
Name: Claymore (1 Season 26 Episodes)
The plot is fantastic, even if it follows the standard Shonen structure of a larger opponent to beat as the eventual goal. The storyline, on the other hand, is sufficiently unique and full of unusual details, such as the appearance of exclusive women as primary characters (with the exception of Raki and Isley), the control of great power, the awakenings, and the Organization that is present at all times.
Overall, this is a fun animation that adds something unique to the overcrowded shounen anime market. It manages to keep loyal to the manga storyline throughout, although the tale moves at a breakneck pace. This has the advantage of making every episode count, as there are no unnecessary flashbacks, training episodes, or prolonged deaths. It’s a shame that the anime departed slightly from the manga near the conclusion, which is terrible news for manga fans and indicates there’s a slim chance it’ll be renewed.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Supernatural
Studios: Madhouse
Author: Norihiro Yagi
Number 2:
Name: Moriarty the Patriot (2 Seasons 24 Episodes)
Moriarty grew up homeless and starving, caring for a sick younger brother. He is angry and resentful of the British nobility, particularly those who believe they are above the law because of their social rank. Moriarty seeks to assist the poor and oppressed in exacting vengeance on lords who have harmed them gravely but cannot be punished because they control the courts. Moriarty’s ultimate goal is to bring about extreme, revolutionary change that will demolish Victorian England’s strict caste system.
Moriarty the Patriot is a fairly faithful Sherlock Holmes adaptation that also puts a fresh perspective on well-known characters. Aside from seeming oddly bishounen, Sherlock Holmes and Watson act precisely like they do in the books. A lot of the conversation is taken straight from the original material. Ms Hudson, Lestrade, and the Baker Stree Irregulars are all well-portrayed minor supporting characters. Professor James Moriarty, as you might have guessed from the title, is the character who has been modified the most. He’s still a cold, calculated master criminal in this series. He’s still a math professor by day and a criminal consultant by night, orchestrating crimes from the shadows. His motivations, on the other hand, are quite different.
Genre: Crime fiction, Mystery
Studios: Production I.G
Author: Hikaru Miyoshi
Number 1:
Name: Kingdom (4 Seasons 129 Episodes)
Kingdom is an anime set during China’s Warring States period. It stars Hyou and Shin, two orphaned slave boys who lost their families during the many wars between the seven kingdoms families.
The two brothers dream of becoming the greatest general under the heavens. When it is revealed that Hyou looks exactly like King Ei Sei of Qin, the storyline is set right away (who later grows up to be the infamous Qin Shi Huangdi). Hyou is hired as a stooge for the monarch, who is dealing with a revolt from his own brother within his own court. Soon after, a military coup takes place, and Hyou, who is thought to be King Ei Sei, is murdered in the battle. When he was on the verge of death, he goes to shin and tells him about the actual king’s location. Later Shin goes to the location of the king and saves him from death. He later helps him reclaim the Kingdom of Qin. After that Ei Sei and Shin made a promise that Ei Sei will take over all seven states of China and make a single unified Kingdom.
I was first sceptical about an anime set in medieval China. I assumed there would be no protagonist and that the entire anime would be about medieval battle strategy. However, I was blown away by the story’s layout and organization, as well as how it piqued my interest right away. The protagonist of Kingdom, Shin, is a young yet powerful child whose ambition is to become “the greatest commander under the heavens.” The anime effectively depicts his evolution as he engages in combat to earn awards, and seeing him get closer to his objective adds to the enjoyment of the program.
It may seem weird that an anime about the war in ancient China would focus around a youngster, because one guy may appear inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, yet Shin maintains his protagonist status by making significant contributions wherever he goes. The anime is still ongoing.
Genre: Action, Military, Historical, Adventure
Studios : Studio Pierrot
Author: Yasuhisa Hara
Where to Watch?
You can Watch the Animes in Different Platform Like Crunchyroll, Netflix, Funimation, Hulu, Hidive, and Bilibili.
So what do you think about our Top 10 Historical Anime List? Let us know in the Comments Below. We post daily anime & manga news articles, so make sure to follow us on Twitter. Read More Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter Manga comes back from Hiatus
Article Written By Arumi & Zoro.
