Samurai may have mostly faded from Japan at the turn of the 20th century, but the mark they left on Japanese society is indelible. The image of honour-bound swordsmen has inspired countless novels, manga, films and anime. In real life, samurai had an organized power structure, but anime would have you believe otherwise: like pirates, samurai are more compelling as individual characters than in groups.
Most anime inspired by samurai do away withpolitical storytellingand instead lean in a fantastical direction. While you can find characters inspired by samurai in basically any genre, it’s a bit harder to find shows are are outright samurai-centric. Here are some of the best ones to get you started.
8Hakuoki
Studio Deen
Based on anotome video gameseries by Idea Factory, Hakuoki has steadily amassed seven seasons over the years. This historical fantasy series focuses on Chizuru Yukimura, a woman searching for her missing father at the end of the Edo period in Japan.
The anime focuses on Chizuru’s time with the Shinsengumi, a real-life faction of elite samurai that existed during Japan’s Bakumatsu period. Due to its linear nature, the anime only adapts one route for each game, but it does so with flair and beautiful art.
7Samurai 7
Gonzo
A sci-fi retelling of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 epic Seven Samurai, Samurai 7 features the same characters but with different personalities and is instead based in afuturistic setting. Samurai 7 tells the tale of a village suffering under a group of bandits following the end of a devastating war.
Unable to put up a resistance, the villagers attempt to find samurai who will protect them in exchange for a meager payment of rice. Just like the acclaimed film it’s based on, Samurai 7 explores what it means to be honour-bound in a time when mere survival is a struggle.
6Blade Of The Immortal
Liden Films
Blade of the Immortal is the title of two anime series: one produced in 2008 by Bee Train, and the other in 2019 by Liden Films, with the latter being the one we recommend. Where the 2008 anime fell victim to filler arcs and the lack of a proper ending due to the manga being out of material, the 2019 is a fast-praced retelling of the entire story.
This show has excellent art and voice acting, and its rush to adapt over 200 chapters into just 24 episodes actually works in its favour. The series doesn’t let up with its pacing, keeping you constantly engaged.
5Brave 10
TMS Entertainment
Set in the Sengoku period, Brave 10 tells the story of a group of masterless samurai that repurposes itself as an elite ninja unit. It begins with a ronin rescuing a shrine maiden, and accompanying her on her journey. Along the way, he recruits more warriors, eventually forming the titular Brave 10.
Brave 10 has gorgeous character designs courtesy of Kairi Shimotsuki. Its artwork and story make it appealing to both shoujo and seinen audiences, and its use of magical powers and anachronisms makes it an extremely fun series to watch.
4Dororo
MAPPA
MAPPA is a relatively young studio, having formed in 2011. Series like Dororo, however, consistently prove that the company’s rise to the top of the anime world is well-deserved. This modern adaptation of a 60s manga has gorgeous artwork and a new focus on characterization that makes it feel fresh.
Set in the Sengoku era, Dororo chronicles the adventures of a ronin and an orphan in a style reminiscent of buddy films. It is one ofMAPPA’s best works, showcasing the studio’s talents in a tour de force.
3Gintama
Sunrise
Thelong-running seriesbased on Hideaki Sorachi’s manga, Gintama is a staple among gateway animes due to its comedy and lovable cast. The show focuses on Gintoki Sakata, a former samurai who works as a freelancer after the fall of his caste.
After aliens invade Japan and transform it into a futuristic metropolis some 150 years earlier than it became one in real life, the samurai are considered redundant and are forced to put down their swords. After some resistance, Gintoki does the same, instead taking on odd jobs and forming a loyal group of friends in the process.
2Rurouni Kenshin
Liden Films seems to have a certain fondness for remaking samurai anime, as Blade of the Immortal isn’t its only remake project. In 2023, the studio made a new adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin, a 90s anime about a pacifistic swordsman.
Set in the Meiji era, Rurouni Kenshin has stellar animation and gorgeous art. Its combat scenes are a highlight, particularly as the protagonist wields a reverse-bladed sword. It’s worth noting that the original story inspired the likes of Naruto, Demon Slayer and Gintama.
1Samurai Champloo
Manglobe
Cowboy Bebop will always be considered Shinichiro Watanabe’s magnum opus, and for good reason. In some ways, however, Samurai Champloo is even better. Much like its sister series, Samurai Champloo focuses on the misadventures of a disillusioned protagonist and his trustworthy friends, blending comedy with pathos.
The hip-hop soundtrack is packed with earworms, and the staggered storytelling means that Samurai Champloo is rewarding regardless of whether you watch it in one day or just one episode a week.
