The medium of animation allows for all kinds of creative liberties when adapting a story from the past. Regardless of how literal an adaptation may be, though, there are some historical anime that will stand the test of time, either through the story that's chosen or how they're told. One such anime is Heike Monogatari; a Funimation exclusive, the 11-episode series adapts Hideo Furukawa's modern translation of the 12th-century story, The Tale of the Heike. Narrated by the fictional character Biwa, the anime chronicles the downfall of the Taira clan during the late Heian period, with every episode tinged with foreboding as viewers await the inevitable end.
As beautiful as Heike Monogatari was in its execution, the short length might leave fans hungry for more historical anime. Here are a few series to watch that offer a glimpse into different parts of Japan's history.
Mononoke
Another show with a visual style different from most mainstream anime, even so far as to be considered avant-garde, is Mononoke. The 12-episode series is set between the end of the Edo period and the start of the Meiji era. The anime follows an unnamed medicine seller as he wanders around Japan exorcising the various Mononoke, or vengeful spirits, he encounters.
Mononoke is a visually stunning example of Japanese folklore and horror that also pays homage to the kabuki and ukiyo-e methods of visual storytelling. While the anime may be a short one, each episode features uniquely colored and textured backgrounds, effectively jarring cuts, and traditional Japanese musical instruments that firmly ground the audience in the surreal horrors that surround the medicine seller.
All 12 episodes of Mononoke are available to stream on Retro Crush.
Samurai Champloo
Arguably one of the most popular historical anime to date is Samurai Champloo. The brainchild of acclaimed Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe, Samurai Champloo is set in a fictionalized version of Japan's Edo period. Samurai Champloo follows the unlikely trio of Fuu, Mugen, and Jin on Fuu's quest to find "the samurai who smells of sunflowers".
The series remixes the anachronistic setting with modern hip-hop, serving as a perfect complement to the series' fluid animation, especially in battle scenes. While the Edo period was a decidedly isolationist time for Japan, the series counters the ideology of exclusion through its conscious inclusion of marginalized communities.
All 26 episodes of Samurai Champloo are available to stream on Funimation and Hulu.
Yasuke
Fans looking for a new take on a samurai tale can check out Yasuke. The 6-episode Netflix original takes place during an alternate, sci-fi version of Japan's Sengoku period. The series takes inspiration from the historical figure of the same name, who served under Oda Nobunaga until the latter's death in 1582.
Though a fictionalized take, Yasuke stands out as a series through its centering of a Black character and story, when more often than not Black characters do not exist in most anime and, if they do, are depicted with harmful, stereotypical features. Yasuke offers an atypical, but compelling, samurai tale for anime and history fans alike.
All 6 episodes of Yasuke are available to stream on Netflix.
Dororo (2019)
Dororo is a 1969 anime series based on the manga of the same name by Osamu Tezuka. The anime received a remake in 2019, helmed by both MAPPA and Tezuka Productions. The remake deviates a bit from the original anime, but still follows the exploits of the ronin Hyakkimaru on his journey to recover his stolen limbs, with the young thief, Dororo, at his side.
Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Sengoku period, Hyakkimaru's story begins when his daimyo father makes a pact with demons to secure power and wealth. Hyakkimaru's father offered up anything in return, only to be horrified when his son was born malformed and without limbs. Abandoned by his family, Hyakkimaru is taken in by a healer who later gives him his name, and fits him with magical prostheses. Hyakkimaru's story is born out of the upheaval of the era, and the ongoing power struggles continue to shape both his and Dororo's journey towards peace.
The 2019 remake of Dororo is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Golden Kamuy
Rounding out the list of historical anime is Golden Kamuy. The series explores a more modern time period, set briefly after the events of the Russo-Japanese War in the early 1900s. The story follows Saichi Sugimoto, a veteran of the war who now pans for gold in hopes of fulfilling a promise to a dead comrade. Sugimoto soon finds himself embroiled in a hunt for gold, aided by Asirpa, an Ainu girl seeking revenge on those who betrayed her father.
Golden Kamuy certainly isn't the first anime to explore wartime in Japan, but the fighting in the 14th to early 19th centuries, and the World Wars, tend to be more commonly depicted. In a similar vein as Samurai Champloo, Golden Kamuy takes great care in their depiction of the indigenous Ainu people. Ainu culture and history factor heavily into the story, helping to set this historical adventure apart from others in the historical genre.
Golden Kamuy is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
