The Best Historical Anime of All Time | TheReviewGeek Recommends

The anime universe is expansive and offers many different tales with compelling characters, engaging plots, and epic moments. While some anime come and go, many deliver outstanding and memorable experiences. Those types of anime typically contain well-written storylines, characters, and events that will excite people more.

For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, we’d like to highlight the best historical anime of all time. From epic action-centric series to meaningful and emotional journeys, these anime offer viewers incredible viewing experiences that they’ll never forget.

Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll add them when we can!

Grave of the Fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies is an incredible story from the mastermind who brought you Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. Although Hayao Miyazaki works on many heartwarming projects, Grave of the Fireflies is one of his darker projects. It revolves around two siblings named Satsuki and Seita, who struggle to survive in Japan during WWII.

Although they’ve lost so much because of the war, our siblings still have hope that they’ll make it out okay. This is a gut-wrenching tale that will make you feel terrible for the terrible predicament our protagonists endure. Satsuki and Seita meet many people who treat them with fairness and others who’ll treat them poorly. Against the odds, they’ll always find a way to remain positive.

If you’re looking for an anime with a grounded portrayal of war and its horrid effects on people, Grave of the Fireflies is worth watching.

Kingdom

Kingdom is a decent anime adaptation of one of the most popular historical mangas of all time. It’s set in ancient China and revolves around the warrior named Shin. Shin vows to become the greatest general but must overcome numerous hurdles to achieve this goal. Kingdom’s story contains a good mix of political intrigue and tactical warfare to keep viewers engaged.

The fights are well-animated for the most part. There are some that don’t capture the same raw emotions as the source material, but they provide enough beauty to keep you glued to your screens. The fights serve to give you time to ponder over the details shared about the anime’s specific arcs and world.

If you’re looking for a great historical anime set in ancient China, Kingdom is worth watching.

Vinland Saga

Vinland Saga is a Viking-themed anime with great storytelling, characters, and emotional scenarios. The story takes place amidst a war between two rival groups. Vikings are thrilled about the war unlike our protagonist Thorfinn. However, Thorfinn has something else on his mind, and that’s his quest to murder Askeladd for killing his father.

Vinland Saga is a different anime compared to most airing nowadays due to its setting. Viewers can easily tell that the series’s creator Makoto Yukimura put a lot of thought and time into Vinland Saga’s world-building and historical accuracies. Thorfinn is a great and flawed protagonist who receives significant development as the series progresses.

Vinland Saga is in an interesting predicament regarding its production. While the first season was animated by Wit Studio, the second season was worked on by Studio Mappa. Viewers will notice slight changes in the visual styles between both companies handling of the tale, but it shouldn’t harm your enjoyment of the overall product.

If you like stories with complex plots, well-written characters, and engaging fights, watch Vinland Saga.

Sword of the Stranger

Sword of the Stranger is an entertaining samurai anime with a remarkable cast and beautiful art style. It’s set during Japan’s Sengoku period and follows the adventures of Koutarou, Nanashi, and Kotarou’s canine companion, Tobimaru. This anime employs a great mix of traditionally hand-drawn animation and modern digital techniques to deliver a smooth and satisfying experience for viewers.

The sword fights look impeccable from the ways our characters attack their foes to how they traverse their environments. Koutarou’s connection with Nanashi isn’t as strong as his relationship with Tobimaru at first. Over time, the two establish a meaningful bond that helps them triumph over the treacherous odds life throws at them.

In addition to having characters utilize weapons that reflect the fighting styles, you’d find in the time period, Sword of the Stranger is a must-watch samurai anime.

The Beast Player Erin

The Beast Player Erin is a fantastic historical anime that offers a rich and immersive viewing experience. It’s set in a universe reminiscent of ancient Japan and features two different ruling factions that might engage in a fierce war. At the center of it, all is a girl named Erin, who witnesses her village get punished severely after an incident befalls Grand Duke Taikou’s best war lizard (Touda).

After finding herself in a tight predicament, Erin must adapt to her new life while hunting for the truth about beasts and humanity. This anime delivers solid world-building that’s complex with its intricate political schemes and detailed mythology surrounding the Touda. You’ll be able to tell that the animators paid close attention to capturing the historical accuracy of each culture’s society and traditions.

Although it can be a hassle to complete, The Beast Player Erin’s worth watching for those who love historical shows.

Baccano

Baccano is a must-watch anime for anyone who likes unique story structures and captivating mysteries. This anime is set in 1930s Chicago and contains multiple interconnected storylines that will keep folks hooked. Despite being a complex show, Baccano knows how to leave enough breadcrumbs in the narrative for audiences to gather so they won’t get lost.

This anime boasts a well-developed ensemble cast. Each character has a distinct personality and agenda. The fact that this story is told through each character’s perspective makes each of them feel memorable and complex. Story aside, Baccano contains some thrilling action and comedic segments. These scenes give viewers time to rest from their plot-heavy scenes.

Give this anime a shot if you’re looking for a historical work that’s refreshing and unforgettable.

The Rose of Versailles

The Rose of Versailles is a well-written anime with a female-dominant cast, glorious art style, and fantastic drama. This anime explores gender roles, social norms, and the price of power in ways that are relevant today. It follows Princess Marie, who visits France to marry Prince Louis XVI. Their marriage will result in their clashing factions uniting.

This anime features historical facts that led up to the French Revolution. History buffs will find this aspect of the anime appealing. Furthermore, The Rose of Versailles’s animation is top-notch as every frame delivers a solid representation of France. The characters’ outfits, hair, and make-up are some examples that showcase the anime staff’s excellent understanding of the period the show’s set in.

On top of incorporating meaningful, motivational messages in its storyline, The Rose of Versailles is an excellent historical series.

Samurai Champloo

Samurai Champloo is a highly acclaimed anime known for its strong character development, fights, and riveting music. Our story follows three unlikely allies named Mugen, Jin, and Fuu as they embark on a mission to find a samurai who smells of sunflowers. What helps Samurai Champloo stand out from most samurai works is its soundtrack.

This anime features hip-hop-inspired scores that flow well with its action segments. It makes each battle feel exciting to watch, especially for each samurai’s distinct fighting style. Mugen, Jin, and Fuu experience exceptional growth throughout the series and have pleasing motivations and backstories. Their journey is never dull since they’ll be encountering numerous foes and allies.

This is a must-watch anime for those who love samurai-themed narratives with a unique spin.

Romeo and the Black Brothers

Romeo and the Black Brothers is a heartwarming and inspiring anime series set in the 19th-century Italian City of Milan. Our tale revolves around Romeo, who wants to free his father because he was wrongly imprisoned. After meeting some chimney sweepers named The Black Brothers, Romeo travels with them to accomplish his goal. This anime is based on a classic novel called “The Black Brothers” by Lisa Tezner.

Nippon Animation, the studio behind its production, stayed true to the source material and brought its own spin on her lovely story. While the overarching plot is centered around Romeo’s quest to free his father, other chapters focus on themes like loss, discrimination, and the importance of family.

The animation here is beautiful, vibrant, and immersive. Folks looking for a colorful tale about perseverance, courage, and friendship should give this mid-90s gem a shot.

Mononoke

Mononoke is a strange horror series with a unique story structure. This tale contains five distinct stories that delve into Japanese folklore. Our protagonist, the Medicine Seller, must uncover the shape, truth, and reason, behind each spirit he meets throughout each story. Every tale inserted in this anime’s refreshing and engaging with its inclusion of satisfying twists.

These stories include important messages and commentary about human nature. This is because humanity’s actions led to the spirit’s horrid behaviors in this anime. Mononoke’s art style helps it stand out from other mystery shows. While fans will find its art style jarring and weird at first, it helps the anime maintain its surrealist tone and enhances its otherworldly aspects.

Mononoke’s worth your time if you love stories with horror, mystery, and Japanese folklore.

So, there we have it, our picks for the best historical anime through the years!

What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!