Fans of the samurai or shinobi related antics that one can get up to in Ghost of Tsushima are likely well aware that tales of this kind originate in the Land of the Rising Sun: Japan. Such sword-swinging and smoke bomb-throwing escapades can also be found in another kind of content from the far east. A form of animation that has become globally popular, known as “anime,” has many series dedicated to action-packed combat much like what gamers would find in Ghost of Tsushima.
So much so, in fact, that there is an entire genre dedicated to this subject manner aptly called “Samurai” anime. Over the decades of animation history to be found among a great number of studios, there has been a few samurai anime that have received huge amounts of praise from critics and fans alike for their incredible animation, intricate and dynamic fight scenes, as well as ideal representation of the bushido way.
10 Sound & Fury
More of a visual album than a proper series with a defined story, Sound & Fury is a showcase for incredible animation set to a badass soundtrack of rock music. The loose narrative follows an armor-clad warrior with two katanas who slash and stab their way through a post-apocalyptic world.
This mysterious and brutal samurai is on a quest for revenge that takes them through both 2D and 3D sequences as well as chaotic battles. As essentially a series of long music videos, it is recommended to enjoy this violent adventure with headphones while in the mood for lots of action and little else.
9 Blade Of The Immortal
This manga has been adapted into two anime, the first came out in 2008 and the second in 2019. Blade of the Immortal follows an immortal swordsman named Manji on a quest to end his own life. He lived most of his days as a killer, slaying many, including a few good people. For his sins, he was cursed by a witch, who will only lift his immortal bonds if he slays 100 evil men for each of the 10 good men he has murdered.
On this path of redemption soaked in blood, Manji meets a young woman named Rin who is also on a quest, though one of vengeance instead of repentance. The majority of the episodes are action-oriented, with Manji and Rin almost constantly fending off ambushes and doing battle with almost everybody. Blade of the Immortal is definitely an anime for those seeking over the top 2D violence.
8 Samurai Deeper Kyo
In the 1600s, during a fictional representation of the battle of Sekigahara, two swordsmen of legendary skill clash upon the reddened battlefield: Kyoushiro Mibu, a noble warrior, and “Demon Eyes” Kyou, the red-eyed and haired slayer of hundreds.
As their swords crossed, a meteor fell from the sky and brought with it mysterious magic that fused them into a single being. Despite merging, the honorable Kyoushiro is the one whose form is maintained, while the one with the eyes of a demon lurks within, mostly dormant. However, throughout the course of Samurai Deeper Kyo, viewers will see the two battle with themselves as well as the monsters who set upon them.
7 Samurai 7
The futuristic setting of this show is one that incorporates both advanced technology and more classic ways of samurai warfare. Swords meet guns and lasers in this science fiction story inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s legendary film Seven Samurai.
The story of Samurai 7 follows seven vastly different warriors, each wielding a different weapon and fighting style, who band together against the threats of this brutal land and time. Like a small army, these heroes fight many more bandits and the greedy merchants funding them.
6 Afro Samurai
In a world where swordsmen seek the Number One headband, and the godly status it brings, young Afro witnesses his father, while wearing the Number Two headband, be killed by Number One in a duel. After this, the man with the Number One headband, named Justice, takes off to live his life as he sees fit, for only someone with the Number Two headband may challenge him.
Seeking vengeance, Afro grows and trains until he reaches the same point his father did: Number Two. Afro Samurai follows the resolute avenger on his quest to hunt down the swordsman who killed his father and claim the Number One headband while fighting off challengers who seek to take his own.
5 Basilisk
This brutal battle royal anime features high quantities of both ninjutsu and swordplay as two rival clans, the Iga and Kouga, battle at the behest of the shogunate. Each side represents a different heir to the title of supreme warlord and the victor of the five-on-five conflict will decide the fate of both their clans and the entire region.
Basilisk is very much a tragedy where many developed characters get killed off in brutal and bizarre ways. Critics and fans alike say there is a parallel between this show and the Shakespearean play Romeo & Juliet, mainly for the focus on the romantic aspect between the main characters on opposing sides coupled with all of the death.
4 Drifters
If aficionados of Japanese history have ever wanted to see famous figures and legendary warriors from across time do battle, then this is the anime to watch. Drifters follows a group of renowned Japanese figures as they try to uncover how they all appeared in this strange parallel universe full of magic and monsters.
The three main characters are Toyohisa Shimazu, the reckless samurai, Yoichi Nasu, the eagle-eyed archer, and Oda Nobunaga, the famed figure portrayed in countless video games and anime whose conquests are known to many. Together, these historic characters fight alongside a few other heroes against similar figures who have been summoned through time to serve a mysterious, robed wizard determined to conquer this odd world.
3 Rurouni Kenshin
Kenshin Himura, a cheerful wandering swordsman, is actually a deadly assassin known as Hitokiri Battousai, the slayer of countless men. He gave up his killing ways and now seeks to live a life free from murder, however, his past catches up with him despite abandoning his moniker of Battousai.
It should be mentioned that Rurouni Kenshin is not an anime all about battle and bloodshed, as there is a great deal of light-hearted comedy and even some romantic elements as well. A relationship forms between Kenshin and Kaoru Kamiya, the owner of a dojo who befriends the wandering swordsman, which adds some more dimension to this classic ’90s anime.
2 Samurai Champloo
After saving a young waitress from some thugs, two ronin named Mugen and Jin are sentenced to be executed for accidentally killing the son of a local magistrate during the brawl. However, out of gratitude, the waitress named Fuu hires the two swordsmen as her bodyguards before the three set off on an adventure.
Throughout the series, it is revealed that Fuu intends to find a “samurai who smells like sunflowers” and drag her two hired guards along her wild quest. Samurai Champloo has a balance of comedy, action, and drama all set to a stellar hip-hop soundtrack.
1 Gintama
Set in a strange alternate feudal era Japan where the planet has been taken over by aliens, viewers will experience the bizarre, yet charming and hilarious antics of a golden-hearted pale-haired samurai named Gintoki Sakata. His days usually involve working alongside his friends to solve problems in the community, albeit in unorthodox ways.
Fans praise Gintama‘s writing for delivering unique and interesting characters who make the setups and punchlines for all the jokes feel genuine and never forced. However, there is still quite a bit of swordplay and action to be found, which balances out the laughs for a well-rounded show that can be enjoyed by many.
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