The roaring twenties was an era of transition and transformation. The world was recovering from World War I, Prohibition was in full swing in America, and the Taisho era in Japan ushered in new technological advancements and social change.
From war stories to mafia disputes to touching romances, the 1920s is a historical stage set for all kinds of genres. It’s even a popular time frame for anime set in alternate realities and anime with more fantastical elements. Altogether, the variety of anime set in the 1920s shows the instrumentality of the time period and the possibilities it represented.
10 Gosick
In 1924, Kazuya Kujo left the military academy in Japan to study abroad in Sauville, a fictional country that borders France, Switzerland, and Italy. There he meets the intuitive and book-smart Victorique de Blois, and together, the two begin to solve mysteries that even the best detectives couldn’t crack.
Although most of Gosick’s story focuses on the mysteries at hand, it takes place during a turning point in the country’s history. Sauville survived World War I, and the country’s peace allowed Kazuya to study abroad. However, as Victorique and Kazuya uncover hard truths about themselves and the world, the peaceful fantasy world seems to be threatened by outside forces again.
9 Haikara-san Ga Tooru
Haikara-san ga Tooru is a relatively unknown 1978 anime series that follows the modern and tomboyish Benio Hanamura after her father announces her arranged marriage to an army lieutenant. Unfortunately for them, Benio has little interest in becoming a traditional housewife or being married at all. She would prefer to pursue a career and take her life into her own hands.
Since the series takes place during the early 1920s in Japan, Benio’s feelings toward marriage, alongside her tendencies to drink and play sports, make her stand out from the other women around her. Historical events from the time also shape Benio’s relationship with her fiancé, both separating and reuniting them to allow them to express their feelings.
8 Mars Red
In 1923, the Japanese government created an army unit known as Code Zero to combat the growing number of vampires in the country and stop the artificial blood trade that the vampires rely on to survive. However, due to a vampire’s supernatural powers, humans can only do so much to stop them, and the unit has to recruit the enemy into its ranks to complete its mission.
Throughout the series, Mars Red notes how Japan’s interactions with the west shaped its technology and culture. For example, the main characters take trolleys to travel, and western plays get performed at the local theater. The underrated vampire anime also doesn’t downplay the possible damages from natural disasters and misinformation. Instead, it uses its premise to take a closer look at some of the struggles of its time period.
7 The Wind Rises
The Wind Rises is one of Studio Ghibli’s most well-received movies. It not only stands out from Studio Ghibli’s other filmography for being based on a true story but also for being spread across multiple decades.
It tells the tale of Jiro Horikoshi, starting from the day that he decided he wanted to design airplanes through the end of World War II. About half of the film takes place during the 1920s as the young Horikoshi works to achieve his dreams. All of the history that the film explores through Horikoshi makes it an immersive watch for fans of historical anime.
6 Taisho Otome Fairy Tale
After a car accident in 1920 left Tamahiko Shima disabled, his family sent him away to live in the mountains. The thought that he was a disappointment and burden left him depressed until a cheery new caretaker called Yuzu came to the mountains and began to make him see the value in his life and kindness.
Taisho Otome Fairy Tale follows their relationship and growing love for each other while showing some ways Japanese society remained traditional throughout the 1920s. Tamahiko and Yuzu bring a unique viewpoint to the time because of their different backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.
5 Chrono Crusade
Chrono Crusade takes place in 1920s New York, a beacon of jazz music, speakeasies, and violent crime. However, the violent delights of the city attract the attention of demons, leaving the demon-fighting organization known as the Order of Magdalene to eliminate the threats they pose.
Although Chrono Crusade is generally lighthearted, it takes a different look at the time period by fighting against its corruption rather than praising or sensationalizing it. Chrono Crusade has a strong ending because it acknowledges that the violence lingering from World War I would continue for many decades despite the heroes' successes and efforts.
4 Taisho Baseball Girls
After being told by a baseball player that women should become housewives instead of pursuing their education, careers, or hobbies, two 14-year-old students decide to start an all-girl baseball team to play against the boys and prove that women are just as capable as men. Although the girls struggle to find team members and learn the sport, they stick to their goals.
Taisho Baseball Girls takes place in 1925 and reinforces how Japan opened up to the world while maintaining its traditional values. Others expected women in the Taisho era to be proper at all times, but the girls on the baseball team decided to fight against that idea to find their sense of worth.
3 Porco Rosso
Porco Rosso is another iconic Studio Ghibli film that is equally known for its flight scenes, main character, and discussions around fascism. The film takes place in Italy, where sea pirates have run rampant to earn extra money amid rising costs.
Although Porco Rosso is generally considered to take place during the 1930s due to the Great Depression, the original 15-page manga states that it takes place during the summer of 1929. The 1930s may have been just around the corner, but Porco Rosso is a 1920s story that adds another layer to the period’s significance.
2 The Saga Of Tanya The Evil
In an alternate timeline, World War I continues into the 1920s since it is fought with artillery and magic. A young, terrifying girl named Tanya Degurechaff leads a unit of mages for the German Army. Through her ruthless tactics and endless violence, Tanya hopes to be promoted and taken off the front lines to avoid a terrible death.
The timeline in The Saga of Tanya the Evil is complicated by cycles of reincarnation. However, the cruelty of its main character and the magical war highlight the importance, impact, and dilemmas of World War I that influenced the many years to come.
1 91 Days
Under an alias, Angelo Lagusa infiltrates the Vanetti family to eliminate the don and anyone else who had a role in murdering his family when he was young. He earns their trust through deception, providing high-quality moonshine to their speakeasies and vowing to defend the mob’s territory even as he destroys them from the inside.
Since it takes a man with nothing left to lose on a journey of betrayal and revenge, 91 Days feels like the epitome of a mafia anime set in the 1920s. Its story might be a classic one, but its skillful execution makes it perfect for fans of other mafia stories.