Best Historical Anime

Stories in anime can take place anywhere from fantasy worlds to the far reaches of space and this includes different time periods as well. Historical anime take viewers into the past, immersing them in what life would have been like centuries ago.

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Many historical anime are inspired by classic literature, but some tell entirely new stories or create fresh timelines that use an era as a backdrop or as a launch pad. There are even plenty of fantasy anime that take heavy inspiration from history, be it isekai (Saga of Tanya the Evil) or comedies (Gintama). What are the best historical anime out there?

Updated October 28, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The Fall 2024 season is underway, and it contains a few historical anime that are worth checking out.

Best Historical Anime Of Fall 2024

• 	The Blue Wolves of Mibu	Orb: On the Movements of the Earth	Rurouni Kenshin
  Japanese Title	Ao no Miburo		Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan
  Genres	Samurai, Action, History		Action, Adventure, Anime
  Studio	Maho Film		Liden Films
  Creator	Tsuyoshi Yasuda		Nobuhiro Watsuki
  Streaming Service(s)	Crunchyroll		Crunchyroll

Fall 2024 is well underway by this point, and it is shaping up to be an impressive season so far. Most of the lineup's biggest names are either pure fantasy (Re:Zero, Bleach, Arifureta, DanMachi, Dragon Ball Daima) or contemporary (Dandadan, Bleach, Blue Box, Ranma ½), and historical outings are not particularly common. However, the season has a couple of anime that fit the theme.

• Blue Miburo (Aka The Blue Wolves of Mibu) – A late starter, Blue Miburo might fly under the radar, especially since the source material is not extremely well-known outside of Japan. Nevertheless, this anime provides an interesting look at the Shinsegumi, albeit framed from the perspective of a fictional character. So far, Blue Miburo has been mostly just fine and entertaining, without necessarily presenting anything too new.
• Orb: On the Movements of the Earth – Fall 2024's best historical anime, Orb is fascinating. Set in Poland during a century when going against the church's teachings was suicide, the anime follows a teenager who wishes to understand how the universe really functions. Dark, gripping, and well-animated, this is the season's one historical anime that everyone should try.
• Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Disturbance – Kenshin is back for another high-quality adaptation, and the sequel has mostly kept up the same standard as its predecessor.

17 Nobody's Boy: Remi

MyAnimeList: 7.86

While Ie Naki Ko is now over forty years old, this anime from the 70s is still worth watching today. The show is based on Hector Malot's novel Sans Famille which has become a literary classic since its release all the way back in 1878 and follows Remi after he learns he is adopted and is sold to a traveling musician named Vitalis. While the show isn't always faithful to the novel, nor is it a perfect representation of historic times, its timeless tale is sure to please fans.

16 Emma: A Victorian Romance

MyAnimeList: 7.62

There's nothing that quite pulls on the heartstrings like a 19th-century era romance where someone from polite society falls in love with someone far below his station. Emma: A Victorian Romance follows the trials and tribulations of the titular Emma as she slowly falls in love with William. It's hard to believe this kind of show was made by the same studio that made Bleach but it's true!

Emma also won an Excellence Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2005 showing just how much of a must-watch show it is.

15 Les Misérables: Shoujo Cosette

MyAnimeList: 7.89

Victor Hugo's most famous novel Les Misérables was published all the way back in 1862 and has been the subject of countless incredible interpretations since. Nippon Animation decided to tackle the story as a part of its World Masterpiece Theater collection and thus Les Misérables: Shoujo Cosette was born.

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Instead of primarily focusing on prisoner 24601 Jean Valjean, Shoujo Cosette tells the story from the titular character Cosette's eyes. This offers a fresh new look at a classic tale even those who have never watched anime are likely to know.

14 Hyouge Mono

MyAnimeList: 7.99

The Era of the Warring States commonly known as Sengoku Jidai has been the focus of countless stories throughout the years. Hyouge Mono stands out from the crowd as it focuses far less on the battles and political intrigue of the period and instead follows a tea ceremony-obsessed vassal of Oda Nobunaga named Furuta Sasuke.

The show's interesting focus on aesthetics, philosophy, and creative moments of silence make it stand out from any other anime out there.

13 The Elusive Samurai

MyAnimeList: 7.85

Based on Hojo Tokiyuki's life, The Elusive Samurai chronicles the boy's journey to regain his family's standing in the imperial court after they are betrayed and nearly annihilated. Over-the-top humor and occasional creative flourishes aside, The Elusive Samurai appears to adhere quite a bit to historical accuracy, providing a respectful look at an important Japanese historical figure who might not be that well-known outside his country of origin.

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By  Mark Sammut

Focusing solely on its quality (so far), the anime has pretty fantastic visuals, action, and comedy. CloverWorks is recognized for its stellar animation, and The Elusive Samurai compares favorably to any of the studio's other projects in this area. Tokiyuki is instantly likable as a young heir to a clan whose life of relative comfort is torn away from them, leaving them on the brink of annihilation while also lighting a fire within them. Unlike so many shonen leads, Tokiyuki's skillset revolves entirely around his capacity to dodge and run away, which the anime has used to great effect in its action sequences. The secondary characters are also generally great, particularly the hilarious but also insightful Yorishige Suwa, a priest who steps in to guide Tokiyuki.

12 The Rose Of Versailles

MyAnimeList: 8.33

Any fan of classic anime will remember The Rose of Versailles. This historical retelling of the French Revolution features all the romance, drama, and political intrigue of 1775.

Seeing how the show diverges from actual historical events to create a fantastic story is truly rewarding for any history buff and those who know little about this important period of turmoil in France will learn a lot about the era along the way.

11 Romeo And The Black Brothers

MyAnimeList: 8.33

Romeo and the Black Brothers was one of the last World Masterpiece Theater shows created by Nippon Animation before they took their famous ten-year hiatus on the project. The story is based on the classic children's novel Die schwarzen Brüder, known by English speakers as The Black Brothers.

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Still, Romeo and Alfredo's adventures as chimney sweeps are sure to captivate just as many adults as they would kids who are anime fans.

10 Rurouni Kenshin

MyAnimeList: 8.28

One of the most famous and well-regarded shonen anime of all time, Rurouni Kenshin is a must-watch for anyone interested in Japan's Meiji Restoration. Now, the story takes plenty of liberties and revolves around fictional characters (who are occasionally based on real-life figures), so the historical aspect is primarily about the era, politics, and social tension that defined this turbulent and important period.

As an action anime, Rurouni Kenshin offers exhilarating fights, charming characters with strong personalities and great rapport, and top-notch animation for its era. As a historical anime, Rurouni Kenshin dives into Japan's post-war climate, one defined by forces acting against or in favor of the Shogunate.

9 Kingdom

MyAnimeList: 7.92 (Season 1)

Kingdom's CG animation tends to put people off, which is a shame as this is one of the best war-themed anime of the last few years. While not quite as good as the manga series, the anime still offers a fascinating alternate look at China's Warring States period, predominantly framed around the experiences of Xin, an orphan.

Kingdom builds up beautifully following its somewhat mediocre opening episode. The anime explores the trials and sacrifices of war while fleshing out a huge roster of characters, and each season has been better than the last.

8 Golden Kamuy

MyAnimeList: 7.88 (Season 1)

Golden Kamuy's central storyline, which involves people searching for a huge stash of gold, is pure fiction; however, the anime's setting adheres faithfully to history. The series is set following the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War, with a special focus being shown to the Ainu people who live on Hokkaido Island.

Golden Kamuy respectfully presents the different conventions, cultures, and traditions of the Ainu. The anime also explores the effects of war, both physical and mental, all the while delivering a quick-paced adventure with a lot of humor.