15 Best Samurai Anime of All Time

As the home of the samurai profession, Japan has an understandable love for the genre and so many Summer anime And manga series exist. The series transports viewers to feudal Japan or imaginative worlds inspired by its rich culture, where skilled swordsmen uphold justice, navigate intricate political landscapes and embark on journeys of personal growth.

While many have faithfully depicted the life of a samurai, there are just as many who take their own route and blend genres while staying true to the spirit of the swordsmen. This makes the samurai genre an extremely diverse and exciting one, and there are bound to be one or two that strike a chord with anime fans.

15

Yasuke

Produced by Mappa Studios

Netflix Yasuke was a highly anticipated anime that unfortunately did not live up to its full potential. The 6 episodes it got were not enough to fully flesh out the intriguing historical character of Yasuke, Japan’s first African samurai who served Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century. Although a lot is missing, it is nevertheless an enjoyable series that has amazing visuals and action scenes courtesy of Mappa Studio.

Retired from his life as a warrior, Yasuke seeks solace as a boatman until he is drawn into conflict protecting a mysterious child with powerful abilities. Together, they confront dark forces and Yasuke must rediscover his warrior spirit amidst betrayal, magic and the struggle for justice in a fantastic reimagining of history.

14

Samurai Deeper Kyo

Produced by Studio Deen

Based in the Edo period but with mild historical liberties, a trend in popular anime, Samurai Deeper Kyo is a one-time, 26-episode adaptation of the 1999 Kodansha original. The series follows Kyoshiro Mibu, a compassionate medicine man who hides a terrible secret, with the inhabiting spirit of Demon Eyes Kyo, a ruthless samurai and slayer of samurai of the era, including a fictionalized version of​​​​

The series follows Kyoshiro’s ties to the Mibu clan and that of Kyo as bounty hunter Sheina Yuya hunts him down in the Dramatic, anachronistic samurai action anime with light touches of romance.

13

Peacemaker Kurogane

Produced by Gonzo

For history buffs, Peacemaker Kurogane Explores the years leading up to the Meiji Restoration, a tumultuous period that would soon see samurai lose their former prominence as a ruling class in Japanese society. The series follows Tetsuonosuke “Tetsu” Ichimura as he joins the Shinsengumi, a warrior group that resists the tides of the Meiji Restoration, with Tetsu joining them to avenge his parents.

Peacemaker Kurogane is a well-received anime alternative to other depictions of the Meiji era like Rurouni Kenshin, Fondly regarded for its action and depictions of the Shinsengumi, whose ubiquitous presence in samurai references include Record of Ragnarok And Yakuza.

12

Shiguri: Death Frenzy

Produced by Madhouse

With Madhouse’s animation, it’s surprising that Shiguroy is a more obscure summery anime. However, this comes down to the final product falling short of true greatness due to an incomplete adaptation of Takayuki Yamaguchi’s popular manga. However, with exceptional cinematic color palettes and beautiful character designs, It is hard to overlook the flair and beauty of the seriesEven if it was only twelve episodes in total.

The series depicts the Edo-era tournament hosted by Tokugawa Tadanaga, with the anime focusing on the deadly clash between Gennosuke Fujiki and Seigen Irako and their particularly bitter connection.

11

Samurai 7

Produced by Gonzo

Samurai 7 is a brilliant reinterpretation that pays homage to the movie Seven Samurai From the legendary director Akira Kurosawa, and keeps the core themes such as honor and sacrifice. This retelling adds a sci-fi twist to the samurai genre and significantly expands on world building. The anime is visually and aesthetically pleasing and was ahead of its time when it came to art direction, making it a timeless masterpiece.

In a post-apocalyptic world where robotic bandits oppress villages, a brave young woman named Kirara sets out to find samurai who can protect her village. She recruits seven diverse and skilled warriors, each with their own motivations and skills. The samurai, led by the enigmatic Kambei Shimada, face not only mechanical enemies but also their internal conflicts and past traumas.

10

Blade of the Immortal

Produced by LIDENFILMS

Blade of the Immortal is a staple in the samurai genre, and the plot is one of the more intriguing ones. The series embraces the bloody nature of the profession, and although the action can be extremely gruesome at times, it is a necessary aspect that makes viewers understand the brutal life of the lead. What sets Blade of the Immortal Separate is his deep exploration of morality, revenge and justice, and provides an introspective look into the minds of the characters.

At its heart is Manji, a complex protagonist burdened with immortality after a lifetime of violence. His journey to redemption intertwines with Rin, a young girl seeking revenge for the murder of her family. Their partnership forms the emotional core of the series, evolving from a reluctant bond to a deep bond built on shared loss and determination.

9

Brave 10

Produced by TMS Entertainment

Brave 10 is not only limited to samurai but also focuses on historical events, fantasy elements and other martial arts such as ninjas and swordsmen. The supernatural aspect makes it even more excitingGiving powers to his characters and enhancing the balance of the fights. The political commentary of the series is interesting, examining the brutal life in the Sengoku period that involved alliances, betrayal, wars and war between warlords.

Saizou Kirigakure, a talented ninja, is recruited by Yukimura Sanada, a charismatic warlord, to gather a team of ten powerful warriors called Braves. The anime is set during the Sengoku period of Japan and follows Saizo as he enlists the diverse fighters, each with their own special skills and backgrounds. Together, they navigate the dangerous world of warring warlords and supernatural threats, forming deep bonds and facing personal challenges along the way.

8

House of five leaves

Produced by Manglobe

A common misconception of samurai anime is that they must embody the visual, violent spectacle common between its signature and Shōn manifestations. House of five leaves Focuses instead on An unusual protagonist, Masanosuke Akitsu, whose skills as a samurai are undermined by his timid personalityAffecting his job prospects, after falling out with the leader of the Five Pages, a local bandit group.

Looking for the art style, much like with some of the other great and overlooked short anime like Ping Pong: The AnimationOne can easily find a subdued atmosphere and wonderful soundtrack in this samurai anime.

7

Rurouni Kenshin

Produced by Studio Dean and Gallup

Rurouni Kenshin was one of the most popular anime of the late 1990s, and it’s back for a much-deserved remake. It is one of the most grounded and realistic samurai anime, depicting the life of a ronin (a masterless, wandering warrior) well and making themes of honor a cornerstone of the series. That’s why Rurouni Kenshin is one of the most influential in its genreAnd other series outside it like bleach, Fairy taleAnd Hunter x Hunter Cites this masterpiece as an inspiration.

Rurouni Kenshin Starring Kenshin Himura, a former assassin, Battousai, who has vowed never to kill again. Wandering the countryside of Japan during the Meiji era, Kenshin protects the weak and fights against injustice while seeking redemption for his past. Along the way, he befriends Kaoru Kamiya, Sanosuke Sagara, and others, forming deep bonds as he battles enemies from his dark past.

6

Afro Samurai is a short yet violent ride

Produced by Gonzo

Afro Samurai is an ambitious anime In every sense of the word. The plot is both futuristic and historical, the art style is very distinctive, and the choreography and sword fights are fantastic. Produced by Samuel L. Jackson, this anime has an awesome soundtrack composed by the legendary rapper RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, perfectly complementing the series that blends hip-hop with traditional Japanese influences.

Afro Samurai Follows the story of Afro, a talented swordsman who seeks revenge against Justice, his father’s killer and rival for the title of “Number One.” The anime is set in a futuristic but feudal Japan-inspired world, blending action, philosophy and supernatural elements as Afro faces off against opponents and grapples with inner conflict.

5

The elusive samurai

Produced by Cloverworks

Not much has been said about the excellence of The elusive samuraiIts brilliant visuals, and its weird and brilliant comedy courtesy of Yusei Matsui’s genius vision. The series executes itself as a historical summary anime focusing on real people, but with extreme magical realism to create An energetic, comic spectacle that jumps from classic gag manga humor to unrepentant, shocking violence.

It’s a perfectly subversive samurai anime, and with only one season so far, there’s still a lot of ground to cover as Tokiyuki Hojo fights back against Takauji Ashikaga’s bloody coup against the Kamakura Shogunate.

4

Samurai Champloo

Produced by Manglobe

From the creator of Cowboy Bebop Here comes an epic and original samurai adventure that seamlessly blends the world of rap and Japanese history. At the heart of the series is a trio as iconic as Team 7, with the chaotic Mugen, calm Jin and sweetheart Fuu traveling together. Each episode is as fresh and exciting as the last, and the action and humor in the series are just top notch.

After rescuing Mugen and Jin, Fu lands two men to accompany her on the journey to find “the samurai who smells of flowers”. Although there is a lot of incredible action typical of a samurai story, Samurai Champloo is an entertaining anime that will not only Leave viewers bursting with laughter But also make them engage with the development of the main character.

3

Dororo

Produced by Mappa

Dororo is one of the anime that put Mappa on the map and made it the giant it is today. It is a remake of Osamu Tezuka’s manga of the same name and contains supernatural elements such as demons while staying true to the samurai aspect. Although the main plot is very gory and violent, it is a heartwarming journey of friendship and companionship. The action scenes are nothing to scoff at, like The choreography accompanied by the pools of blood makes it an intense watch.

Dororo Follows Hyakkimaru, a young samurai whose body parts were stolen by demons at birth due to his father’s pact. Armed with prosthetics and accompanied by a young orphan named Dororo, Hyakkimaru hunts down the demons to recover his body parts and kill the monsters that made his life a living hell.

2

Sword of the Stranger is a theatrical masterpiece

Formed by Bones

Although Studio Bones has made masterpieces like Crowd Psycho 100 And My hero academia, Sword of the Stranger is easily one of their best works. The movie was a pure masterclass, with incredible choreography and compositions. For a movie as short as this, it packs a heavy emotional punch and contains many themes like redemption, facing your past, searching for purpose, and more.

The movie follows a nameless ronin who befriends a young orphan boy, Kotaro. The boy is pursued by Ming forces seeking his blood for immortality. Reluctantly drawn into their plight, the Ronin must confront their troubled past and face formidable enemies in a series of intense sword battles. As their journey unfolds, bonds of trust and honor are tested against the backdrop of feudal Japan’s turbulent Warring States period.

1

Gintama is a unique take on the samurai setting

Produced by Bandai Namco Pictures

Gintama is by far one of the funniest anime of all time, heavily contrasting the usual bloody nature of samurai anime by adding humor. It regularly parodies pop culture and other series like One piece And NarutoAnd there is no limit to how absurd an episode can become. Comedy isn’t the only thing it does though, as certain arcs like Farewell Shinsengumi and Courtesan of a Nation are some of the most intense arcs in anime, and they depict the action-packed life of samurai perfectly. Gintama’s strength lies in its unpredictabilityWhich constantly keeps fans guessing and entertained.

Set in an alternate Edo period where aliens have invaded Japan, Gintama Revolves around Gintoki, a former samurai with a lazy streak who runs an unspecialized temp labor business. Gintoki, along with his friends Shinpachi and Kagura, take on a variety of humorous and often absurd missions that combine action and drama with comedy.