Top 10 Must-Watch Historical Anime Of All Time & Where To Watch Them!

The word “Historical” primarily means something representing an event from history, but it may also imply someone’s life history.

In anime, there are many historical series, some of which are based on history, including real events, and some are based on a character’s history .i.e. Fictional.

We have included both types of series in the list, so let’s begin with the Top 10 Historical anime.

10. Hyouge Mono

Hyouge Mono portrays the aristocratic lifestyle of a Samurai.

In Japan’s Sengoku Jidai lives Furuta Sasuke, a vassal of the great warlord Oda Nobunaga. He had an obsession with tea ceremony and material desires in pursuit of a fortuitous life.

Having learned from Oda and the legendary tea master Sen no Soukei, Furuta walks the way of the Hyouge Mono.

9. Golden Kamuy

Golden Kamuy beautifully illustrates a somber story driven by vibrant characters.

In Hokkaido, after surviving the Russo-Japanese war of the Meiji era, Sugimoto was nicknamed “Sugimoto the Immortal.”

To save his deceased comrades’ widowed wife, he was in search of gold. During his hunt of gold, he finds hints of hidden fortune by corrupt criminals.

Accompanied by Asirpa, an Ainu girl, they venture into an adventure to find the hidden wealth where survival is the key.

8. Kingdom

Kingdom splendidly portrays one’s journey to the pinnacle of a dream.

In the kingdom of Qin, Li Xin and Piao are best friends and fellow slaves who share the dream of becoming a Great General of the Heavens.

But soon, they were forced to part ways, as Piao was recruited to work by a retainer of the King.

After a fierce coup d’etat unfolds, Piao returns to Xin with a mission leading him to China’s young King, Ying Zheng, who bears a striking resemblance to Piao. And thus begins Xin’s journey of becoming a Great General of the seven warring states.

7. Katanagatari

Katanagatari is a fascinating tale of a man on his mission to collect the twelve deviant blades.

In Edo-era Japan, Shichika Yasuri practiced Kyotouryuu, the most unique sword-fighting style where the user’s own body is wielded as a blade. Shichika lived in exile with his sister Nanami until Strategist Togame barges into their lives.

Togame asks him to collect the twelve unique swords known as “Deviant Blades,” which he accepts as being more interested in her rather than the swords.

The duo has to defeat each of the fierce wielders of these legendary swords to complete their mission.

6. Rainbow

Rainbow depicts eternal brotherhood through a story of an unbearable struggle.

In Japan, 1955, Mario Minakami and the other five teenagers arrived at Shounan Special Reform School after getting arrested on severe criminal charges.

They were assigned to the same cell where they met Rokurato Sakuragi, whom they made a close bond with and promised each other to meet outside after serving their sentences.

But the sentence is not going to be comfortable as they are often tortured by the sadistic guard and the doctor of the cell regularly out of grudge.

5. Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

It’s never too late to start anything you love, that’s what Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju reminds us.

After getting inspired by Yakumo Yuurakutei’s performance, Yotarou, a former yakuza member just out of prison, wants to be on the stage of Rakugo, a traditional Japanese form of comedic storytelling.

Yakumo, upon listening to the appeal for mentorship, takes in Yakumo as his apprentice.

Upon witnessing Yotarou’s hunger for learning Rakugo, Yakumo reminisces about his past, where he made a promise with his greatest rival.

4. Dororo

Dororo is surprisingly emotional amidst all the bloodsheds.

To gain power, greedy samurai Lord Daigo Kagemitsu makes a pact with 12 demons, for which he pays the price with his first newborn son’s organs and limbs.

The child still alive was disposed of in a river where he was saved by a medicine man who provides him with prosthetics and weapons to survive in this cruel era.

To get his body back to normal, Hyakkimaru must kill the demons with possession of those organs.

DORORO 2019 Official Trailer New HD

After wandering for several years, one day, he meets with an orphan, Dororo, and befriends him. They set off on a journey in a demon-infested world.

3. Samurai Champloo

Samurai Champloo is the coolest samurai show you’ll ever watch.

While saving Fuu Kasumi from a group of Samurai, Mugen and Jin destroys an entire shop and ends up killing the local magistrate’s son accidentally. Just when they were going to be executed for their crimes, Fuu saves them by hiring them as her bodyguard.

Fuu wishing to find a specific samurai with the smell of sunflowers enlists both of them to do so.

Samurai Champloo - Trailer

They agreed to help, but it will be Fuu’s liability to stop Mugen and Jin from killing each other on this mission.

2. Baccano!

Baccano! is a gem of a mystery dwelling with alchemy, survival, and immortality.

During the early 1930s, The transcontinental train, Flying Pussyfoot, is starting its legendary journey in Chicago, which will leave a trail of blood all over the country.

At the same time in New York, scientist Szilard along with his aide, Ennis are looking for missing bottles of the immortality elixir. On the other hand, the war between mafia groups is getting worse.

The several events seeming to be unrelated are the part of a much bigger story that will be merged by the kindhearted thieves, Issac and Miria.

1. Vinland Saga

Vengeance will make you hollow, Vinland Saga displays that through a heart-wrenching story.

Thorfinn, being born in Iceland, has grown up listening to the legend of Vinland, where it is warm and fertile, unlike his motherland.

War is in his home now as the battle between England and the Danes have grown worse with each passing year. Vikings are loving the bloodbath and are allying with the side they seem profitable with.

Amidst the chaos, Thorfinn must take his revenge and kill Askeladd, the man who murdered his father, Thors.

Honorable Mentions

Many other stories are historical, some of the prominent ones are: Mononoke, Aoi Bungaku Series, House of five leaves, Drifters, Rose of Versailles.