Summary
The samurai became obsolete as Japan modernized in the 18th and 19th centuries, but their legend continues in various forms of media. Anime has plenty to choose from when it comes to the samurai genre, and although there are some historically accurate examples, other types of samurai anime have futuristic or fantastic twists in the plot and storyline.
“Samurai anime” can refer to the general aesthetic of medieval Japan or the general philosophy ofbushido, and it’s a recurring theme in anime. It’s a natural part of the setting when a movie or TV series takes place in Japan’s past.
Updated on March 17th, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose:The classic films of Kurosawa brought the medieval legend of the samurai to life. The stories of Seven Samurai and Rashomon not only brought new fans to the genre but also inspired whole libraries of animated adventures featuring the distinct swordmasters. There’s the historic, period drama grit that harkens back to the classic movies along with plenty of comedy, fantasy, and even science fiction.
Netflix produced thisJapanese-American samurai anime, which has its roots in real historical facts. Yasuke was a real-life African warrior who lived and worked as a samurai in 16th-century feudal Japan and inspired the main character in other shows likeAfro-Samurai, but this version of his story has a fantasy-science fiction twist.
The main character arrives in Japan with Jesuit missionaries and becomes a samurai in the service of Lord Oda Nobunaga, but when the lord is defeated by the Dark General, he becomes a ronin, or a lost samurai with no master. That’s mostly fact, as much as modern research can discern, but this is where the tone changes.
After 20 years, Yasuke has retired his sword and works as a boatman, taking people along the river. When he agrees to take a singer and her sick child north to see a certain doctor, he gets more than he bargained for when it’s revealed that the child has magical powers.
Although it was produced and distributed by Netflix, the Japanese studio Sublimation is responsible for the writing, acting, and animation inOnimusha. The animated series is based on a series of video games of the same name, and like the games, the show also uses real historical figures and events of the Edo Period as part of its own story.
The main character of the series is a swordsman named Miyamoto Musashi. He carries a weapon known as the Oni Gauntlet, which gives the show its name, and which was gifted to him by a group of Monks for a specific purpose; to give Mushashi the strength to kill a demon.
The title of this series means “black mound” and is a reference to a chilling legend of the Onibaba, a malevolent type of spirit from Japanese folklore. This samurai anime has similar themes, plus it’s known for its visceral yet beautiful depictions of violence and depravity, typical of the Madhouse studio that produced it.
The story follows the manga closely, beginning in 12th-century Japan with the wandering samurai Kuro, and his chance meeting with a woman named Kuromitsu. She happens to be a vampire, and some believe her blood is the secret to eternal life. Through a series of weird circumstances, Kuro is betrayed by his servant and wakes up in a dystopian future in which he must find Kuromitsu.
Brave 10takes place during the Warring States Period of Japanese history, which covers most of the 15th and 16th centuries. The show has the aesthetic of a medieval period show, but the clothing has a more contemporary aesthetic.
Isanami, a young priestess of Izumo, is the main character and the lone survivor of a ninja attack on her temple. She flees to hide in the forest as her temple burns and meets the ronin Saizou Kirigakure, who agrees to accompany her to Ueda Castle and seek help from the local lord. The story follows their journey across the politically fragile society of the Warring States.
24Samurai Deeper Kyou
The Samurai That Became A Demon
Four years after the impact of a meteorite, a bounty hunter named Yuya Shiina comes looking for a wandering medicine man with some large debts. This vagrant was formerly a fearsome samurai, Kyoushirou Mibu of the Mibu Clan. His last duel, which took place against a demon called Kyou, was interrupted by that same falling star.
It’s eventually revealed, through a chance encounter with a monster, that the demon and Kyoushirou have become one. The single season ofSamurai Deeper Kyoutells the story of these two sword masters, one a human and the other a demon, coming to terms with their mutual secrets and shared memories.
23Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion
The Early Middle Ages In Japan
The title of this anime is exactly what this is really about, specifically, a group of prisoners that were intended to be the first line of defense when the Mongols invaded Japan in 1274. Most of the action takes place on the front line, located on Tsushima Island, but there are also plenty of flashbacks to describe each of the main characters and their backstory, mainly how they ended up as convicted criminals.
Themain character is a samurainamed Kuchii Jinzaburō, famous for his sword style and stubborn, radical views, and it was politics that put him behind bars. Other members of this motley crew include pirates and petty thieves. For those who appreciate realistic depictions of historic Japan,Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasionis one of the best examples and an essential part of the watch list.
22Hidamari no Ki
Historically Accurate Without Quirky Details
Also known by its English name,A Tree In The Sun,the manga is a classic that dates from the 1980s and was adapted into asamurai animetelevision series in the year 2000. For those who are looking for a historically accurate period piece without futuristic or magical thrills, this is an ideal choice.
It details Japanese history right down to the clothing, architecture, and daily life in this turbulent part of the Meiji Restoration. Ryoan Tezuka is a doctor of Western medicine, and Manjiro Ibuya is a samurai who clings to old traditions.
The creator, Osamu Tezuka, was partly inspired by his great-grandfather’s life story, who was a staunch advocate of Western medicine at this time and faced a similar backlash from the public as depicted with Ryan. The story follows how their lives intertwine in the period before the Meiji Restoration of the late 19th century, in particular how they fight over the beautiful daughter of the local temple priest.
This classic is one of many rediscovered anime from 1993, an era when many worthy titles were released but didn’t get the attention they deserved because of localization problems. The full title of the anime series wasBrave Sword Legend Yaiba, and it was inspired by a manga series that ran between 1989 and 1994.
The main character, Yaiba, is a young samurai who lives with his dad in the wilderness, but an unlucky encounter with some local wildlife leads them into the city. Once there, Yaiba’s sword skill elevates him to the status of a local hero. It’s considered a shonen anime and one of the best historic samurai anime kids can enjoy.
Mecha and Sumarai anime, together at last with the futuristicKuromukuro. One of the main characters, Kennosuke Tokisada Ouma, is a samurai from the Sengoku era who appears in this 21st-century timeline through the discovery of an ancient artifact. Instead of a lord or leader, Kennosuke is determined to protect the high school student who solves the puzzle that releases him, Yukina Shirahane.
What Yukina needs protection from, along with the rest of the human race, is an alien invasion. The aliens are after similar artifacts to the one that Kennosuke escaped from, and as the plot unfolds, some interesting connections are revealed between the Snegoku era and a previous visit from the aliens.
19Mushibugyō
An Alternate History Of The Edo Period
Althoughthe manga series is extensive, consisting of several volumes that have been in circulation more or less since 2009, the anime consists of a single season made up of 26 episodes. It follows the adventures of a samurai called Jinbei as he fights the Mushi, a race of insects that have been terrorizing local people for a century.
Mushibugyōmixes the historical aesthetic of the Edo Period in Japan with an anachronistic animation style. Anime fans who like experimental anime likeRedline or The House Of Five Leaveswill also like thissamurai anime.
