The expansive anime universe 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 anime that are set in the United Kingdom. From brutal horror series to enchanting fantasies, you’ll be surprised by the number of incredible shows in this area.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll add them when we can!
Emma, A Victorian Romance
Emma, a Victorian Romance is a charming anime set in the United Kingdom during the Victorian Era. It follows Emma and William. The former is a maid while the latter is a young aristocrat who falls for her. This anime has a keen eye for detail and accurately depicts the period’s social conventions and class relationships, vital to its storytelling.
Emma and William have a complicated relationship that viewers will find intriguing. From their different social statuses to their need to adhere to their society’s expectations, Emma and William must leap over numerous hurdles if they hope to maintain a solid relationship.
Emma and William’s relationship is handled well. It’s never rushed as the story spends time highlighting key aspects like trust and understanding. This calm pace allows the relationship to feel deeper and will get viewers excited for future events involving this pair. For those who like slow-burn romance anime with great historical charm, give Emma, A Victorian Romance a shot.
Hellsing Ultimate
If you love vampires, zombies, and crazed priests, Hellsing Ultimate will satisfy you. It follows the Hellsing Organization’s Alucard who must help Integra Hellsing protect the world from supernatural threats. He recruits a protege named Seras Victoria to assist him. This series is known for having incredible visuals, great sound design, and engaging characters.
Hellsing Ultimate’s world-building is equally impressive. This anime shrouds its audience in an eerie, gothic world brimming with strange creatures from ghouls to man-eating zombies. It offers a great blend of horror and action to excite fans. The anime’s fights are jaw-dropping and brutal. You can expect Alucard to show no mercy to his multiple opponents.
The other characters receive great personalities, backgrounds, and time to shine. From the cunning Integra to the goofy Seras, there’s bound to be a person in here for viewers to resonate with. Give this anime a shot if you love dark stories with excessive violence.
Black Butler
Steamboy
Steamboy is a magnificent spectacle for the eye. It takes place in the Victorian era and follows Ray. He’s an inventor who receives a Steam Ball from his grandfather. Ray’s grandfather warns him that people will be after this device, so it’s up to Ray to prevent these evil people from getting their hands on it.
This anime depicts the period wonderfully while pleasuring fans with its action and sci-fi aspects. From the incredible Big Ben clock towers to the cobblestone streets, everything about this world’s environments look breathtaking. With some futuristic additions, this movie manages to set itself apart from other works while giving United Kingdom locals something to appreciate. Additionally, this anime contains some thrilling action scenes.
From massive explosions to exhilarating chase scenes, Steamboy manages to give the audience enough sequences to keep them invested. Steamboy’s soundtrack offers great variety and sets each scene’s tone. This allows viewers to connect with Ray and the other characters he meets throughout the anime. This is a must-watch for anyone who loves Victorian-era sci-fi stories.
Princess Principal
Viewers interested in an anime that wreaks of clever mind games and deception should check out Princess Principal. This anime features an alluring female group of spies who work for the Commonwealth of Albion. Since their country is at war with another nation, they must use their individualized skills to help the Commonwealth win.
This anime’s storyline features a great mix of action, drama, and thriller segments to keep the audience hooked. Each episode has our girls completing different tasks and sheds light on their backgrounds. The girls themselves are refreshing with their distinct personalities and skills. Despite their differences, you’ll be excited to see them work together to complete assignments.
Princess Principal also has incredible animation and a great soundtrack. They work hand-in-hand to give viewers a memorable and delightful show full of vibrant colors and lighting-fast action scenes. For audiences who love spy thrillers and anime set in the United Kingdom, Princess Principal should entertain you.
Kiniro Mosaic
For those who love the “cute girls doing cute things” trope in anime, Kiniro Mosaic should entertain you. It’s a heartwarming anime that delves into the daily lives of high school girls in England. This anime manages to explore the beauty of the English countryside while shedding light on the protagonists’ various activities. You’ll enjoy this anime’s accurate depiction of the country’s culture and customs.
Furthermore, this anime focuses on the importance of relationships and friendships. The friendship between our protagonist Oomiya and her friends serves as the anime’s backbone and will inspire viewers to tighten their bonds with their own mates. The girls support one another through thick and thin, making the anime feel relatable to anyone.
This anime offers bright colors and lovely background music that complements the show’s cheerful tone. It’s evident that a lot of care went into producing Kiniro Mosaic’s anime adaptation.
Moriarity the Patriot
Moriarity the Patriot is a well-written detective series that will impress you. It follows William, a man known for composing heists and schemes that’ll disrupt the corrupt society of Victorian England. Willaim’s willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his missions, making him an engaging protagonist to watch.
Furthermore, Moriarity the Patriot is cherished for its historical accuracy. It captures the atmosphere and culture of Victorian England well through its lavish ballrooms, horse-drawn carriages, and brick architecture. The characters are appropriately dressed for the time period and display mannerisms you’d notice from people at that time.
The animation and action sequences are outstanding in this series. They strike a perfect balance of elegance and tension, making Moriarity the Patriot a must-watch anime for fans of the crime genre.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride
The Ancient Magus’ Bride’s second season may not be getting as much traction as newer shows this season, but in 2017 fans couldn’t get enough of it. It revolves around the relationship between a slave and her magical master. Their relationship blossoms into something beautiful by the season’s end and continues to grow throughout the rest of its story.
The journey to reaching holy matrimony feels genuine and well-paced. Fans will adore our characters Chise and Elias’s interactions with each other. Whether he’s learning something new or appreciating Chise’s company, viewers can tell Elias cares deeply about Chise from a romantic and caregiving standpoint. Relationship aside, The Ancient Magus’ Bride offers incredible world-building.
By adding a layer of fantasy to its England-themed environments, the anime feels majestic and grand compared to other series. On that note, the backgrounds are lush and detailed, and the characters’ designs strike a great balance of traditional anime art and Western-style illustration. For those looking for an enchanting romance anime brimming with magical creatures and charming characters, check out The Ancient Magus’ Bride.
Ashita no Nadja
Ashita no Nadja is a classic anime set in England. It follows Nadja, a cheerful girl who embarks on a journey to find her mother. This series offers a great blend of drama, romance, and historical fiction. Like others on this list, Ashita no Nadja captures the culture and social norms of its setting with its beautiful architecture, clothing, and beautiful atmosphere.
Nadja is a relatable protagonist who undergoes many ups and downs during her quest. Nevertheless, Nadja is a brave and thoughtful protagonist who’ll inspire and amaze audiences. The supporting characters have interesting personalities and have compelling interactions with Nadja. The animation is exceptional and many folks will adore the gorgeous scenery and environments Nadja and her companions explore throughout this story.
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lord Fauntleroy is a late 80s historical slice-of-life series set in the United Kingdom. It revolves around a young boy named Cedric, who moves to England as an heir to an English earldom. This anime offers a great mix of drama, family life, and humor that should appeal to many folks.
This anime offers great historical depictions of classic England from its characters’ clothing to its rich structures and lush landscapes. Its handling of the period’s class system and etiquette is spot-on, helping viewers stay immersed in its tale. The tale itself is charming and brimming with likable characters. Cedric’s innocence and kindness will warm viewers’ hearts while his mother’s snobbish persona adds a layer of humor and relatability to the tale.
For its time, the animation is great. The character designs and backgrounds capture the essence of Victorian England. Little Lord Fauntleroy may be an old series, but it’s a must-watch for anyone who’s a fan of historical or slice-of-life anime.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best anime set in the United Kingdom!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!