Best Anime About Gods

Key Takeaways

• Anime has used ancient mythology for decades, with shows like Saint Seiya incorporating gods and legendary references.
• Record of Ragnarok explores the clash between humanity and gods, injecting humor and sacrilegious depictions.
• Death Note’s unique take on Japanese death gods involves a human gaining godlike powers through a supernatural notebook.

It’s a current trend for modern media to use ancient gods and their related mythology to inspire their characters and storylines, but anime has been using the aesthetic of ancient deities for decades. Even if the gods themselves aren’t present, their names and powers are in some form, and even the science-fiction anime of past years includes some legendary references.

Anime uses the mythology of ancient Rome, Egypt, and Greece to tell their stories, and there’s plenty to choose from in the universe of the “kami,” or numerous Shinto gods. Plenty of vintage and modern shows and movies include the gods, their patrons, and the mythical homes.

6 Saint Seiya

The Warriors of Athena

Also known as Knights of the Zodiac, Saint Seiya depicts a world in which the goddess Athena has been reincarnated and is protected by a small army of special warriors known as “Saints.” Seiya, the main character, begins the story as an orphan who completes a quest to retrieve the Bronze Cloth of the Pegasus constellation from a place called Sanctuary in Greece. Like most anime protagonists, the task includes the loss of a close relative and the awakening of a mysterious cosmic power.

The anime was adapted from an equally popular manga series, and in addition to the original four seasons that were aired in the 1980s, a spinoff called Saint Seiya Omega was released in 2014 and an ONA miniseries in 2024.

5 Record of Ragnarok

This Is The Way The World Really Ends

Every thousand years, the gods from all over the universe assemble to decide the fate of humanity. After 7 million years, they decide that humanity can’t be redeemed and should be destroyed, but the Valkyrie Brunhild steps in and makes an offer the gods can’t refuse. The humans are given one more chance to fight the gods and win, choosing the strongest and most respected humans in all of history to fight for their survival.

It sounds serious, but there’s a lot of humor in Record of Ragnarok not only with the sacrilegious and often shocking depiction of several deities but also the human heroes, who may not be so admirable in reality. In keeping with her side of the deal, Brunhilde sends a Valkyrie to each human hero to aid them in battle.

4 Death Note

The Shinigami Are Unique To Japan

According to legend, the death gods of Japan each carry a special place to write the names of the deceased and the series Death Note imagines these records as actual notebooks that humans can also use. Ryuk, a shinigami with a quirky sense of humor, gets bored one day and deliberately tosses his own Death Note into the human world just to see what happens.

The chaos that ensues is more entertaining than he ever could have imagined. Overachiever Light Yagami picks up the notebook on the way home from school, and the series records his evolution into a mass murderer with godlike powers over a few years.

3 Odin: Photon Sailor Starlight

Searching Through Space For The Gods

• Studio: Toei Animation, West Cape Productions
• Story By: Yoshinobu Nishizaki
• Run Time: 139 minutes
• Release Date: August 10, 1985

The good ship Starlight is about to embark on a historic milestone, the first interstellar flight of its kind, but the festivities are interrupted when they come across the remains of a wrecked ship and a lone survivor. Sara Cyanbaker doesn’t remember what happened, but she starts to have strange dreams that reference the ancient Norse god, Odin.

The captain commands them to return to Earth immediately, but the crew has discovered that Odin might be another planet and not a god at all. They lead a mutiny that turns the Starlight around and sends her into deep space to discover the mystery of Odin. The truth, which uncovers the names of alien beings that became connected with Norse gods, is surprisingly complex for an early 1980s anime movie.

2 Princess Mononoke

The Realm Of Ancient Gods

One of Studio Ghibli’s more high-profile productions, Princess Mononoke was noted for its beautiful animation and captivating soundtrack. Both gods and demons are part of the cast, with Gillian Anderson filling in the role of the wolf god Moro in the English version. The English dub also includes famous names like Billy Bob Thorton as the duplicitous monk and Clare Danes in the title role.

The story begins with a thrilling and horrifying scene that includes an angry and malevolent creature bearing down on a small village. The local prince, Ashitaka, fights the creature off but is infected with a curse that deems he must be exiled. He travels west, as the wise woman of the village instructed, and finds the forest of Moro and the Lord of the Forest. He also discovers Iron Town and its modern ruler, a logger and mining magnate, Lady Eboshi.

1 Oh, Suddenly Egyptian God

Ancient Myth Meets Hello! Kitty

• Studio: Typhoon Graphics
• Seasons: 2
• Episodes: 10
• Release Date: April 15th, 2020

These charming little hieroglyphic critters are a far cry from their original intimidating statues and movements that lined the ancient Nile. Anubis, Bastet, Horus, Set, and all of the usual ancient Egyptian deities make regular appearances in a setting that is simply described as “the world of the Egyptian gods” with no other explanation.

They do have powers, but they use them for things like killing bugs, making pottery, and ordering pizza along with godlike activities like making rain and guarding the dead. They live in an environment with all the features of ancient Egypt, including stone houses and open plains by the Nile, but there are enough modern conveniences to make them relatable and funny.