Best Samurai Anime

As Japan modernized in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Samurai became obsolete, but they are far from forgotten. They live on in various forms of media, which include live-action movies, novels, manga, and anime.

“Samurai anime” can refer to the general aesthetic of medieval Japan or the general philosophy of bushido, and it’s a recurring theme in anime. It’s a natural part of the setting if a movie or TV series takes place in Japan’s past, but the legend of the samurai can appear in almost any time and place with some creative storytelling and unique plotlines.

Updated December `5, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: The interest in samurai-themed television, movies, and miniseries has grown from an already healthy fanbase that goes back to the earliest Japanese samurai movies and shows. Crossovers with other genres are common, and samurai can appear in their true historical past, the present, or a distant future. Their adventures can take place in other timelines and even on distant planets as easily as medieval Japan.

27 Yasuke

A Historical Drama Based On A Real Person

• Studio: MAPPA
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 6

Netflix produced this Japanese-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 like Afro-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.

26 Onimusha

The Power To Kill A Demon

• Studio: Sublimation
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 8

Although it was produced and distributed by Netflix, the Japanese studio Sublimation is responsible for the writing, acting, and animation in Onimusha. 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.

25 Kurozuka

A Malevolent Spirit From Japanese Folklore

• Studio: Madhouse
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 12

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.

24 Brave 10

A Story Of The Warring States Period

• Studio: TMS Entertainment
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 12

Brave 10 takes 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.

23 Samurai Deeper Kyou

The Samurai That Became A Demon

• Studio: Studio Deen
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 26

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 of Samurai Deeper Kyou tells 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.

22 Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion

The Early Middle Ages In Japan

• Studio: NAZ
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 12

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.

The main character is a samurai named 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 Invasion is one of the best examples and an essential part of the watch list.

21 Hidamari no Ki

Historically Accurate Without Quirky Details

• Studio: Madhouse
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 25

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 a samurai anime television 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.

20 Kenyuu Densetsu Yaiba

A Light Samurai Show For Kids And New Viewers

• Studio: Pastel
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 52

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 was Brave 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.

19 Kuromukuro

Mecha And Samurai Saving The World

• Studio: P.A. Works
• Number of Seasons: 2
• Number of Episodes: 26

Mecha and Sumarai anime, together at last with the futuristic Kuromukuro. 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.

18 Mushibugyō

An Alternate History Of The Edo Period

• Studio: Seven Arcs Pictures
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 26

Although the 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.

Mushibugyō mixes the historical aesthetic of the Edo Period in Japan with an anachronistic animation style. Anime fans who like experimental anime like Redline or The House Of Five Leaves will also like this samurai anime.

17 Hakuouki

The Last Days Of The Samurai

• Studio: Studio Deen
• Number of Seasons: 7
• Number of Episodes: 12

The first season of this seven-part series is called Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: The Tale of the Shinsengumi. Each season has a similar unique title, and the show is arranged like a miniseries as opposed to a traditional anime show. Seasons 5 and 6 are movies, and the seventh season is a three-episode OVA.

Hakuouki is set in 1864 Japan, and follows the journey of protagonist Chizuru Yukimura. She disguises herself as a man to travel to Kyoto and look for her missing father, but discovers that she’s not the only one looking for him. Chizuru gets into some trouble on the road, and is taken prisoner by a group of samurai who pledge to help and protect her after learning her true identity.

16 Afro Samurai

Speculative Science Fiction

As if any more evidence were needed that Samuel L. Jackson is in everything, here’s the gritty and beautiful Afro-Samurai. It takes place in a medieval but sci-fi version of Japan that includes motorcycles and androids along with samurai. Aside from the main character, Jackson also voices several other roles and was also involved in the production. This miniseries consisted of five episodes and was released between 2004 and 2005. Samurai Resurrection, which was released in 2009, is a direct sequel in full-length movie form.

The story revolves around a hero known only as Afro and his life-long quest for revenge. He seeks to challenge the one with the Number 1 headband, who killed his father to acquire it. However, to do that, Afro Samurai has to follow a bloody path to revenge that includes getting the Number 2 headband first.

15 Shigurui: Death Frenzy

A Historical Literary Adaptation

• Studio: Madhouse
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 12

A must-see for any manga nerds interested in a deep cut from Japanese literary history, Shigurui: Death Frenzy is based on a manga that in turn is based on the first chapter of a novel called Suruga-jō Gozen Jiai, written by Norio Nanjō. The narrative is based on a series of true events and real people from the historic era of the samurai. To make this anime’s pedigree even more impressive, it was produced by Madhouse, which has a reputation for making anime that is equally beautiful and complex.

The story is a character study of a few notable samurai who are participating in a tournament with some high stakes, including the use of real swords, and deep grudges that go back decades. This is based on a real event that took place in 1629 during the rule of Tokugawa Tadanaga.

14 Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings

Fantasy, Occult, And Historic Drama

• Studio: Production I.G
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 12

Samurai Kings is the best choice for those interested in samurai anime from the Sengoku Period of feudal Japan, which was mostly defined by civil war and social upheaval. The era is historic, the addition of demons and their supernatural powers a lot less so.

Instead of being adapted from a manga like the vast majority of other anime, Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings is based on a Capcom video game known as Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes. The story follows two rivals, Date Masamune and Sanada Yukimura, who decide to put aside their differences and fight against the Demon King, Owari.

The series lasted for one season and consisted of twelve episodes and was followed by a second season, Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings II, another sequel in movie form called Sengoku Basara: The Last Party, and most recently another television series, Sengoku Basara: End of Judgement.

13 Ōoku: The Inner Chambers

A Unique Interpretation Of Samurai History

• Studio: Studio Deen
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 10

The Tokugawa Shogunate lasted for hundreds of years, spanning the 16th and 19th centuries, and they were a family of the samurai class that ruled along with other warrior clans. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers explores how the ruling class of samurai might have looked like if they had been women instead of men. Less fighting, but more political and historical drama instead.

Men still train as samurai in this alternate version of history, but women are the heirs of the family line in a world in which a plague has killed off most of the male population. The women still take the names of men and occasionally dress in ceremonial clothing normally intended for men, often reminiscent of samurai-style or military clothing. The show includes mystery, romance, and intrigue, but it’s usually found in the science fiction category of the anime library.

12 Samurai 7

A Vision Of A Dystopian Future

• Studio: Gonzo
• Number of Seasons: 2
• Number of Episodes: 26

The name isn’t just a coincidence or a reference to the movies of classic Japanese cinema. Although this samurai anime is set in a post-apocalyptic time as opposed to a medieval one, this series is based on the Kurosawa film Seven Samurai.

The futuristic setting presents this group of samurai with some unique challenges, such as defending the village of Kanna from the cybernetic Nobuseri bandits, but other than that the anime follows the same basic plot as the movie. Samurai 7 aired in 2004 and the series consists of 26 episodes.

11 Blade Of The Immortal

A Samurai Cursed With Immortality

If fans think the title of the anime is dramatic, get a load of the original manga’s crazy title, The Inhabitant of Infinity. The story is about a samurai named Manji, cursed with immortality, who has to kill 1000 evil men to regain the ability to die naturally. Other than the fantastic curse, other details of this anime are historically accurate.

The anime television series consisted of thirty volumes, as opposed to episodes, and lasted from 1993 to 2012 which is a pretty epic run. There was also a live-action adaptation in 2017 and another anime adaptation in 2019 that consisted of 24 traditional episodes of 22 minutes each.

10 Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou

A Story That Includes Ninjas And Samurai

• Studio: Gonzo
• Number of Seasons: 2
• Number of Episodes: 24

The subject of Basilisk is the saga of two warring ninja clans, but the story takes place during the Tokugawa Shogunate. The order kept by the samurai, and those who support them from the shadows, forms the main plot. Simply known as Basilisk in English, this is more of a miniseries than a serialized TV show that tells the story of two warring ninja clans and their competing loyalties.

The two main characters are Gennosuke Kouga and Oboro Iga, and their clans have been at war for centuries. Their plan to heal the rift through marriage is shattered when another war starts, and the battle escalates to involve the Shogun directly. In the end, it’s up to Gennosuke and Oboro to put their feelings aside and decide the ultimate fate of both families.

A Chilling Tale Of Politics And Horror

Another movie as opposed to a series, but the original samurai anime was popular enough to create a whole franchise and maybe that should count. Ninja Scroll was released in 1993 and was part of the anime invasion of the same era that included classics like Ghost in the Shell and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Its use of an authentic if not highly mythologized depiction of medieval Japan, not only in design but also in sound and musical choices, made it a unique offering at a time when anime was seen as a cyberpunk medium.

The story follows the path of a ronin named Kibagami Jubei. It’s the story of how his innocent cross-country trip became a deadly adventure fighting the Eight Devils of Kimon and their leader, his sworn enemy Genma, who is now the sinister Shogun of the Dark.

8 House Of Five Leaves

The Trials Of Samurai Life

• Studio: Manglobe
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 12

One of the best samurai anime that is highly recommended for its unique artwork alone, there’s also a compelling drama behind the subtle plot in House of Five Leaves. The main character, Masanosuke Akitsu, is a freelance samurai who has too mild a demeanor to be a fighter, which is why he’s a “ronin” or a samurai with no master.

When the leader of a group of bandits offers Akitsu a job as a bodyguard, he’s in no position to refuse. It seems strange that the strong and charismatic Yaichi would employ such a person as their bodyguard in a heartless criminal underworld, and as the story unfolds it turns out he did it out of his boredom and need for company, rather than any real need for protection.