Honorable swordsmen are well-known in Japan, and they are known as Samurai. We’d like to learn more about Japanese culture, but we’re more fond of Samurai anime shows.
These Samurai anime series have always been fantastic at telling stories and depicting insane action scenes. So, if you’re looking for the best Samurai anime series of all time, we’ve got just the list for you.
Best Samurai Anime List!
25. Samurai Girls
In an alternate reality, the Tokugawa Shogunate still rules Japan in the twenty-first century. The student council rules the school, and Yagyuu Muneakira began rebelling against them with the help of a few famous samurai girls.
While it appears to be completely cliche and uninteresting, I believe it was a good anime. This samurai girl anime is for you if you want to watch a samurai anime with some strong female leads and a unique approach to the genre.
24. Blade of the Immortal
Manji, an immortal swordsman, has vowed to slay a thousand villains in order to atone for his past sins. He travels with Rin, a young girl who seeks vengeance on Itto-Ryu, an evil and elite group of swordsmen who murdered her parents.
Regardless of how it falls short of our expectations, I believe this list would be incomplete without it. If nothing else, this anime is worth watching for the animation, last few episodes, and soundtracks.
23. Brave 10
During the Sengoku Period, while the lords fought for power, Saizou, a legendary ninja, had had enough and went to live a normal life away from all of this. But when he meets a girl with mysterious abilities, he is drawn into these conflicts.
Sanada Yukimura, on the other hand, is gathering ten warriors under the banner of Brave 10 in order to change history. How will the story progress from here?
This anime reminded me a little of Yona of the Dawn, but the context is completely different. It did an excellent job of introducing the characters and blending the fantasy theme with ninjas and samurai. If you enjoy samurai anime, you should check it out.
22. Shigurui: Death Frenzy
Lord Tokugawa holds a fighting tournament for his amusement in a peaceful era when swordsmen are respected, despite laws prohibiting the use of real swords. An epic story unfolds through flashbacks as the two highly skilled swordsmen clash.
Unless you’re a die-hard samurai anime fan, you might not enjoy this anime to the fullest. Blood and guts are the most important aspects of this anime, so if you’re looking for breathtaking samurai action, don’t hesitate.
21. Peace Maker Kurogane
This 19th-century tale follows Ichimura Tetsunosuke as he seeks vengeance on Chosu, an anti-government faction that murdered his parents. He joins Shinsengumi in order to make it happen, but will he be able to survive the bloodshed?
Peace Maker Kurogane is a visually stunning and educational samurai anime. The story is quite dark, but the action scenes are spectacular, and it was an excellent watch for me as one of my first Samurai anime shows.
20. Hidamari no Ki
The story of two men who lead very different lives in the mid-nineteenth century. Ibuya Manjiro is a samurai who never backs down from a fight, and Ryoan Tezuka is a western medicine doctor who the rest of Japan avoids. What if these two happen to cross paths and form an unexpected bond?
Hidamari no Ki, in my opinion, is a hidden gem and an underrated anime. This historical samurai anime has a rich story and profound life values. Watch this if you want to see a truly underrated samurai anime.
19. Mushibugyou
When deadly giant bugs cause havoc in Edo Japan, the Mushibugyou Protect Office attempts to put a stop to it. They request assistance from a famous samurai, but because he is injured, he sends his son Jinbei instead. Despite his incompetence, he is determined and skilled. Will they band together to put an end to the threat once and for all?
Despite the fact that the anime feels like an overused concept, prepare to be blown away by it. I like the main character because he is selfless and will go to any length to protect others. It’s remotely right up my alley, and if you give it a shot, you’ll love it as well.
18. Onihei
Heizo Hasegawa, also known as “Heizo the Oni,” was a samurai who lived in the latter half of the Edo period. He never tolerates the city’s injustices and is on a mission to make the city peaceful. How exciting will his adventures be?
Onihei is a pure Samurai Detective story with a lot to look forward to. You only need one episode to get started, and you’ll be treated to some incredible samurai action, mind-blowing soundtracks, a mature storyline, and fantastic animation.
17. Fuse: Memories of a Huntress
Hamaji is a brave huntress who lives in the mountains. She visits Edo after receiving a letter from her brother who lives there.
She had to track down the fuse, half-human, half-dog beings who devour human souls. However, she comes across a fuse that assists her, and she is now in a quandary about determining what is good and what is bad.
This is something we all enjoy, don’t you think? A fantasy and romance story set in feudal Japan. The film was exceptionally well made, and it was a beautiful story to watch as well as a great action fantasy samurai anime.
16. Basilisk
Oboro is a naive girl who has fallen in love with Gennosuke, but they are both the heirs of opposing ninja clans. They are forced to fight each other due to unforeseen circumstances. Will they stay true to their feelings?
Basilisk is a stunningly beautiful anime with incredible production values. Because of the breathtaking action scenes and brutalities in this fantastic samurai romance anime, you’ll probably want to take a few breaks by the end.
15. Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings
It is the Sengoku Period of feudal Japan, and many warlords vie for power and control of the country. Date Masamune and Sanda Yukimura formed an unlikely alliance to take down the evil warlords who seek to destroy the nation.
Consider an anime that allows you to witness some incredible battles between some of history’s most memorable characters, and you have one of the best samurai anime. The animation, action, soundtracks, and everything else was flawless.
14. Hybrid Child
Hybrid Children are neither fully human nor fully machine; they simply reflect their owner’s affections and emotions. The plot revolves around Kotaru Izumi, the 16th head of the noble Izumi family, who realises his doll, Hazuki, is nearing the end of his life.
If you’ve been watching samurai action anime nonstop, you might need a change of pace with some shounen-ai samurai romance, and this one is a great choice because it keeps you in tears.
13. Laughing Under the Clouds
The Samurai became extinct in the eleventh year of the Meiji era due to a sword ban. Those who opposed the ban, on the other hand, became violent, wreaking havoc everywhere.
To combat this, three young men were assigned tasks to keep them confined. But it appears that there is something more going on than we could possibly imagine.
The story is strange from the start, but once you start watching the anime, I’m sure you’ll be obsessed with it. Death, betrayal, action, fantasy elements, and, most importantly, a Samurai theme are all present.
12. Hakuouki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom
Chizuru disguises herself as a man and travels to Kyoto in search of her missing father. She is mistakenly apprehended, but after hearing the story, they appear to be looking for the same person as well. With all of the enemies and politics, how will this story end?
As the saying goes, “Japan’s history is written mostly in blood rather than ink,” and this anime proves it. It is a fantastic action drama that tells a historical story and is unquestionably a fantastic samurai anime.
11. Afro Samurai
Samurai live by two rules in a futuristic and Western-inspired Japan. To be ranked first or second in order to challenge the number one and become the best swordsman.
Afro is a samurai who chose the path of vengeance after an evil gunman murdered his father in order to become Number 1. He finally honed his skills and rose to Number 2, but how will he exact his revenge with all the competition and sword fights?
To put it mathematically, Afro Samurai is 30% action, 30% badass moments, 30% savagery and style, and 10% everything else. The main character is fantastic, and you’ll enjoy the anime at every turn.
10. House of Five Leaves
Masanosuke went to Edo city to prove himself as a warrior, but due to his lack of confidence, he was unable to find work and was effectively homeless.
But when a mysterious man offered him the job of bodyguard, he gladly accepted. He had no idea that he made money from the proceeds of crime, and he never expected to become involved with this gang.
Despite its simplistic plot, House of Five Leaves is a character-driven anime. The distinct art style, setting, and action sequences will undoubtedly make you appreciate it. So, don’t forget to watch this fantastic samurai anime.
9. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
When Tanjiro discovers his family slaughtered by a demon and his little sister Nezuko turned into a demon, he decides to become a demon slayer in order to find a cure for her. But the journey is riddled with impossibilities, and how will he overcome them?
Why is Demon Slayer an anime about samurais? It’s not supposed to be, but after watching the anime, I realised it has a lot of elements like samurai stances, katana, and swordsman pride. I believe it would be an excellent anime recommendation for anyone who enjoys samurai anime shows.
8. Samurai 7
A war ended in an age when Samurai enhanced their bodies mechanically, and they soon became bandits robbing villages for food and women.
Due to a lack of funds, Kanna Village residents were unable to hire any samurai. So they set out on a quest to find Samurai who can assist them. But are there any more Samurai in the world?
I believe the title should be Badasses 7 or The Seven Badasses. I’m a huge fan of samurai action, and this anime was perfect for me. It gets a 10/10 in every category, and you’re unlikely to find a better action samurai anime than this one.
7. Shura no Toki: Age of Chaos
According to legend, there is a legendary sword style known as Mutsu Enmei-Ryuu style that can defeat any opponent with incredible speed and strength. Follow the stories of the Shura’s forefathers as they shape history.
This anime is difficult to enjoy unless you are a fan of samurai shows. It’s just a collection of short stories with good soundtracks and animation. It has just enough pace and action to keep you interested.
6. Drifters
Toyohisa Shimazu, a fierce samurai, and a few other warriors are transported into an alternate world during a war where the world’s greatest warriors are still alive. He appears to be the only ray of hope for this world, which the Black King threatens.
Drifters is a fantastic samurai anime from start to finish. The anime’s pros include a fresh story, flawless animation, and amazing battles in each episode. You should definitely watch this excellent samurai anime.
5. Rurouni Kenshin
This legendary story follows Himura Kenshin, a lone wanderer who was formerly a well-known assassin who slaughtered hundreds of lives. He is now on a mission to help the weak in order to atone for his past sins.
Rurouni Kenshin is an action classic from the 1990s. It is the pinnacle of samurai culture because it depicts the reality of the samurai period in Japan. If you enjoy samurai anime with incredible action scenes, this is a must-see.
4. Samurai Champloo
Fuu saves two Samurai named Mugen and Jin from public execution and hires them on a quest while fleeing the magistrate’s clutches. Fuu wants to find a samurai who smells like sunflowers, and how epic will this journey be?
Samurai Champloo has one of the best production values I’ve seen in an anime show, and it’s one of the most unique I’ve ever seen. I simply cannot express it in words, and you will only understand it if you watch it all the way through.
3. Dororo
Lord Daigo Kagemitsu made a pact with 12 demons to prosper his lands by sacrificing his own son. The child, however, survived despite losing his limbs and vision. Years later, a young boy named “Hyakkimary” began killing monsters.
Dororo was one of the few anime shows that I was completely smitten with. The story was heartbreaking, and the characters made me cry. It has some breathtaking action scenes as well as fantastic animation. Don’t miss out on this fantastic Samurai anime.
2. Sword of the Stranger
Kotaru is on the run from unknown pursuers, who happen to be Chinese Samurai. On his way, he encounters a mysterious samurai who seals his blade because of his. This duo discovers a dark truth concerning Kotaru.
Sword of the Stranger is the best samurai anime film I’ve seen, and the action scenes are out of this world. The animation in the action scenes was fantastic, and if you haven’t seen this samurai anime yet, you’re missing out.
1. Gintama
When Amanto, space aliens, invade Earth, the Samurai of Japan become extinct. Gintoki Sakata is one of the few people who has a Samurai heart but lives an ordinary life doing odd jobs.
Gintama is an anime that I could watch for the rest of my life without getting tired of. Its wit is limitless, the action is incredible, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out on the best anime of all time, not just a good Samurai anime.
Conclusive Thoughts!
I enjoy samurai anime not only for the cool action (though that is one of the reasons), but also because they depict history in the most realistic way.
So, these are the Top 25 Samurai Animes that I believe are excellent and worth at least one viewing. If you know of any other Samurai-themed anime that deserves to be included on this list, please let us know in the comments section below.
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