Samurai may have mostly faded from Japan at the turn of the 20th century, but the ꦰmark 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 with 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:political storytelling and 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 ar𒉰e are outright samurai-centric. Here are some of the best ones to get you started.

8 Hakuoki

Studio Deen

Based on an 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:otome video game series 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 o𒀰f the Edo period in Japan.

The anime focuses♚ on Chizuru's time with theꦚ 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.

7 Samurai 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 a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:futuristic 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 ꦯrice. 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.

6 🌳 Blade 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 j♎🎃ust 24 episodes actually works in its favour. The series doesn't let up with its pacing, keeping you constantly engaged.

5 Brave 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 for♍ming the titular Brave 10.

Brave 10 has gorge♔ous character designs courtesy of Kairi Shimotsuki. Its art🦩work 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.

4 Dororo

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 ma๊kes 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 of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:MAPPA's best works, sh🗹owcasing the studio's talents in a tour de🌳 force.

3 Gintama

Sunrise

The 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:long-running series based 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 ea𒉰rlier than it became one in real life, the samurai are considered redundant and are forced to p𒈔ut 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.

2 ꧒ Rurou𒁏ni Kenshin

Liden Films

Liden Films seems to have a certain fondness for remaking samurai anime, as Blade of the Immꦚortal isn't its only remake project. In 2023, the studio made a new adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin, a 90s anime about a pacifist♍ic swordsman.

Set in the Meiji era, Rurouni Ke𝕴nshin has stellar animation and gorgeous art. Its com🍷bat 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.

1 🌼 Samurai ♈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 pa꧙thos.

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.