Summary
The term “anime” is often used for all animated and serialized TV shows, but the term actually refers to a series or movie produced by Japanese studios and creators. Although the library includes children’s features, it used to be the only option for animated entertainment for adults. Today, the genre has evolved, and producersoutside of Japanhave adapted the art form.
Blue Eye Samurai,an animated series and sleeper hit produced by Netflix, is an example of a series that takes place in medieval Japan and is inspired by the anime genre. However, it was made through a partnership between American and French creators, which means it’s not considered to be anime by definition. Any fan of anime would still like it, and anyone who enjoyed the adventures of Mizu would also like certain other titles that are officially classified as anime.
Updated on July 5th, 2024, Kristy Ambrose:Animated movies and television shows that feature samurai warriors and traditions are already a large and varied genre, with streaming services like Crunchyroll and Netflix making an effort to appeal to fans. Blue Eye Samurai is an example of a new genre, which is contemporary anime that features historical figures and post-colonial themes along with a classic samurai esthetic. Its popularity has been prompted not only by the announcement promising a second season, and while fans wait for the continuation of Mizu’s story, this list has been updated with a few more similar titles for their viewing pleasure.
A classic series that has seen its fanbase grow over the years, evenafter it ended on a cliffhangerand was never continued.Claymoreis a product of Madhouse Studios and takes place in an alternative version of medieval Europe that would look familiar to fans of the animatedCastlevaniaadaptation.
The story is about an elite group of female fighters called Claymores, and the mysterious powers they use to fight, which come from their demonic bloodlines. This is a horror fantasy, with plenty of gore and violence, so it’s not a show for the whole family, similar toBlue Eye Samurai.
LikeBlue Eye Samurai,the story ofSamurai Champlootakes place in the Edo Period of Japanese history. Althoughthe adventures of Fuu and her traveling companionstake place in a less realistic representation, it’s not quite an alternative history. Real historical events are referenced frequently in an anachronistic way, and they aren’t always depicted exactly how they took place.
The main character is a young woman named Fuu, who recruits two wayward ronin to help her search for her estranged father, the “samurai who smells like sunflowers.” All she has to guide her is this cryptic memory of a flower that doesn’t have a scent and a mysterious talisman in the shape of a skull.
10Onimusha
MyAnimeList Score: 6.5
It would be more accurate to refer to this as a miniseries based on a video game as opposed to calling it a conventional anime, but it’s still got a classic anime storyline that anyone can enjoy, and there’s a chance it’ll get a second season. It might not be a direct sequel, but something similar based on the lore of the same video game franchise.
Onimushaisn’t named for a place or character, but a magical gauntlet that gives the wielder the power to fight demons. The catch is that it eventually turns the wearer into a demon themself. As such, the gauntlet should only be worn for a short time and has to be kept in a safe place, preferably by a person who knows how to chant Buddhist sutras to keep its evil powers at bay.
This anime also appears in movie form with some parts cut, and the sequel,Afro Samurai: Resurrection, was only released as a movie. A dark fantasy that features a unique soundtrack and the voice of Samuel L. Jackson in several parts,Afro Samurailooks like an American production, but it was made by Gonzo Studios in Japan.
The genre isdark fantasy and science fiction, and there’s plenty of sex, violence, and nudity as the titular character slices his way to the Number One headband. Afro’s resolute and stoic character is similar to Mizu’s, although he lives in a world filled with ghosts, demons, and sinister machines.
8Ōoku: The Inner Chambers
MyAnimeList Score: 7.5
A daring take on alternative history,Ōoku: The Inner Chambersis considered science fiction as opposed to historical fiction or a period piece. This is yet another exploration of Edo Period Japan, but the social structure has been drastically altered by a disease that wiped out all but a small fraction of the male population.
As a result, women have taken the place of men in education, politics, and trade, while men are now bought, sold, and traded like commodities. However, genealogy is still important, and generations of families give boys' names to girls in an attempt to hide the lack of any male heirs. The rules of medieval society regarding gender roles are also one of the main themes ofBlue Eye Samurai.
This series initially fools the viewer into thinking they’re watching a medieval period-type show with an opening scene that’s set in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. The protagonist, Toyohisa Shimazu, is ported into a world that includes monsters, demons, and twisted versions of familiar faces that he had assumed were dead. Some actual historical figures show up, such as the warlord Nobunaga Oda, who becomes an ally of Toyohisa.
The title refers to a group of warriors, calledDrifters, pulled from various points in history to fight the Ends, a rival organization that founded the malevolent Orte Empire. The forces of Orte grow more powerful and are focused on destroying the elves and other fantastic creatures that live in this alternate universe.
6House Of Five Leaves
MyAnimeList Score: 7.8
Masanosuke Akitsu, the protagonist ofHouse of Five Leaves,is a samurai with no master. It’s not that he’s been demoted or exiled, it’s just that he has a mild and almost bored demeanor and isn’tsuited for fightingso he can’t find work. The problem is that he’s trained to do nothing else, so to avoid a life of poverty, he accepts a job from the local crime lord.
At first, it’s just being a simple bodyguard, but as the criminal activities of the gang increase, Masa gets more deeply entwined in the gang’s illicit activities. His curiosity gets the better of his fear, and he continues to work for the criminals and learn more about their past.
5Yasuke
MyAnimeList Score: 5.8
Yasukebelongs in the genre of science fantasy and alternative history, so although it takes place in the 16th century it’s not the same as medieval Japan. The protagonist isbased on a real personwho existed in this era, but this version of his story is a fantastic one in an unusual place.
The story retells the legend of how Yasuke arrived in Japan with Jesuit missionaries and was a samurai in service to Lord Oda Nobunaga, a real historic figure. When his lord fell in battle, he became a ronin and sought to avenge his former master by pursuing and killing the mysterious Dark Shogun.
4Shigurui
MyAnimeList Score: 7.3
The complete title of this series isShigurui: Death Frenzy, which is a more frank description of the story and characters. The anime adaptation follows the original manga fairly closely, telling the ironic story of a bloody fighting tournament that took place at the end of a time of peace.
It was the end of the Edo Period, and Lord Tokugawa Tadanaga decided to hold a tournament, but not with wooden swords, as is tradition. The participants would be using real swords, and although the rules don’t implicitly state that every fight has to be to the death, some injuries are inevitable with actual weapons involved. The first fight, which takes place between one man who is blind and the other who is missing an arm, sets the stage for the unfolding story.
3Hakuouki
The whole premise ofHakuoukiis about a woman who dresses as a man to travel and work more freely, which means it followsthe same premise asBlue Eye Samuraito a certain extent. The main character isn’t on a bloody path of revenge, but she is looking for her missing father, which is another similarity.
Chizuru Yukimura’s father is a doctor, and after he travels to Kyoto, they lose touch, and she disguises herself as a samurai to look for him. She soon finds out that her father was involved in something dangerous, maybe even supernatural.
The truth is there’s more than one season ofHakuouki, but they have different names likeHakuouki: HekketsurokuandHakuouki: Sekkaroku, plus there are a few movies. This is the first and earliest season for those who are new to the franchise.
