The term "anime" refers to animated movies and TV shows produced by Japanese studios and creators, and although the library does include children's features, it used to be the only option for animated entertainment for adults. Today, the genre has evolved, and producers outside of Japan have adapted the art form.

Related

The Best Samurai Anime, Ranked

There have been some great Samurai Anime over the years. Here's a look at some of the best.

Blue Eye Samurai is an example of an animated series that takes place in Japan and is inspired by the anime genre, but it was produced through a partnership between American and French creators. That means it's not considered to be anime by definition, but any fan of anime would still like it, and anyone who enjoyed the adventures of Mizu would also like certain other titles that are officially classified as anime.

Updated on March 28th, 2024, Kristy Ambrose: Animated movies and television shows that feature samurai warriors and traditions are already a large and varied genre. Blue Eye Samurai is an example of newer anime that uses historical figures and post-colonial themes along with a classic samurai aesthetic. Its popularity has prompted not only a second season but the rediscovery or creation of other anime that are similar. While fans wait for season 2 of Blue Eye Samurai, this list has been updated with a few more similar series to tide them over.

10 Claymore

MyAnimeList Score: 7.6

A classic series that has seen its fanbase grow over the years, even after it ended on a cliffhanger and was never continued. Claymore is a product of Madhouse Studios and takes place in an alternative version of medieval Europe that would look familiar to fans of the animated Castlevania adaptation.

The story is about an elite group of female fighters called Claymores, and the mysterious powers they use to fight, which come from their demonic bloodlines. This is a horror fantasy, with plenty of gore and violence, so it's not a show for the whole family, similar to Blue Eye Samurai.

9 Samurai Champloo

MyAnimeList Score: 8.4

Like Blue Eye Samurai, the story of Samurai Champloo takes place in the Edo Period of Japanese history. Although the adventures of Fuu and her traveling companions take place in a less realistic representation, it's not quite an alternative history. Real historical events are referenced frequently in an anachronistic way, and they aren't always depicted exactly how they took place.

The main character is a young woman named Fuu, who recruits two wayward ronin to help her search for her estranged father, the "samurai who smells like sunflowers." All she has to guide her is this cryptic memory of a flower that doesn't have a scent and a mysterious talisman in the shape of a skull.

8 Onimusha

MyAnimeList Score: 6.5

• Studio: Sublimation
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 8
• Streaming Services: Netflix

It would be more accurate to refer to this as a miniseries based on a video game as opposed to calling it a conventional anime, but it's still got a classic anime storyline that anyone can enjoy, and there's a chance it'll get a second season. It might not be a direct sequel, but something similar based on the lore of the same video game franchise.

Onimusha isn't named for a place or character, but a magical gauntlet that gives the wielder the power to fight demons. The catch is that it eventually turns the wearer into a demon themself. As such, the gauntlet should only be worn for a short time, and has to be kept in a safe place, preferably by a person that knows how to chant Buddhist sutras to keep its evil powers at bay.

7 Afro Samurai

MyAnimeList Score: 7.4

This anime also appears in movie form with some parts cut, and the sequel, Afro Samurai: Resurrection, was only released as a movie. A dark fantasy that features a unique soundtrack and the voice of Samuel L. Jackson in several parts, Afro Samurai looks like an American production, but it was made by Gonzo Studios in Japan.

The genre is dark fantasy and science fiction, and there's plenty of sex, violence, and nudity as the titular character slices his way to the Number One headband. Afro's resolute and stoic character is similar to Mizu's, although he lives in a world filled with ghosts, demons, and sinister machines.

6 Ōoku: The Inner Chambers

MyAnimeList Score: 7.5

• Studio: Studio Deen
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 10
• Streaming Services: Netflix

A daring take on alternative history, Ōoku: The Inner Chambers is considered science fiction as opposed to historical fiction or a period piece. This is yet another exploration of Edo Period Japan, but the social structure has been drastically altered by a disease that wiped out all but a small fraction of the male population.

Related

Ōoku: The Inner Chambers – 7 Authentic Historic References

Despite being a tale of alternate history, Ōoku: The Inner Chambers still makes several strikingly authentic references to real history.

As a result, women have taken the place of men in education, politics, and trade, while men are now bought, sold, and traded like commodities. However, genealogy is still important, and generations of families give boys' names to girls in an attempt to hide the lack of any male heirs. The rules of medieval society regarding gender roles are also one of the main themes of Blue Eye Samurai.

5 Drifters

MyAnimeList Score: 7.8

This series initially fools the viewer into thinking they're watching a medieval period-type show with an opening scene that's set in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. The protagonist, Toyohisa Shimazu, is ported into a world that includes monsters, demons, and twisted versions of familiar faces that he had assumed were dead. Some actual historical figures show up, such as the warlord Nobunaga Oda, who becomes an ally of Toyohisa.

The title refers to a group of warriors, called Drifters, pulled from various points in history to fight the Ends, a rival organization that founded the malevolent Orte Empire. The forces of Orte grow more powerful and are focused on destroying the elves and other fantastic creatures that live in this alternate universe.

4 House Of Five Leaves

MyAnimeList Score: 7.8

• Studio: Manglobe
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 12
• Streaming Services: Crunchyroll, AppleTV

Masanosuke Akitsu, the protagonist of House of Five Leaves, is a samurai with no master. It's not that he's been demoted or exiled, it's just that he has a mild and almost bored demeanor and isn't suited for fighting so he can't find work. The problem is that he's trained to do nothing else, so to avoid a life of poverty, he accepts a job from the local crime lord.

At first, it's just being a simple bodyguard, but as the criminal activities of the gang increase, Masa gets more deeply entwined in the gang's illicit activities. His curiosity gets the better of his fear, and he continues to work for the criminals and learn more about their past.

3 Yasuke

MyAnimeList Score: 5.8

• Studio: MAPPA
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 6
• Streaming Services: Netflix

Yasuke belongs in the genre of science fantasy and alternative history, so although it takes place in the 16th century it's not the same as medieval Japan. The protagonist is based on a real person who existed in this era, but this version of his story is a fantastic one in an unusual place.

Related

6 Most Iconic Anime Samurai

These samurai are some of the anime genre's most recognizable heroes.

The story retells the legend of how Yasuke arrived in Japan with Jesuit missionaries and was a samurai in service to Lord Oda Nobunaga, a real historic figure. When his lord fell in battle, he became a ronin and sought to avenge his former master by pursuing and killing the mysterious Dark Shogun.

2 Hakuouki

MyAnimeList Score: 7.3

• Studio: Studio Deen
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Number of Episodes: 12
• Streaming Services: Crunchyroll

The whole premise of Hakuouki is about a woman who dresses as a man in order to travel and work more freely, which means it follows the same premise as Blue Eye Samurai to a certain extent. The main character isn't on a bloody path of revenge, but she is looking for her missing father, which is another similarity.

Chizuru Yukimura's father is a doctor, and after he travels to Kyoto, they lose touch, and she disguises herself as a samurai to look for him. She soon finds out that her father was involved in something dangerous, maybe even supernatural.

The truth is there's more than one season of Hakuouki, but they have different names like Hakuouki: Hekketsuroku and Hakuouki: Sekkaroku, plus there are a few movies. This is the first and earliest season for those who are new to the franchise.

1 Hyouge Mono

MyAnimeList Score: 8.0

For those who like the historical accuracy of Blue Eye Samurai, and would prefer something without the modern music or science fiction details, Hyouge Mono is an ideal choice. It's set in the Sengoku Period of Japanese history, from the 14th to 15th centuries, preceding the Edo Period.

During this time, Japan was in a state of civil war, and the main character, Furuta Sasuke, is a samurai in service to the real-life Lord Oda Nobunaga, who appears again in this anime. Sasuke also happens to be obsessed with the tea ceremony. Yasuke is set in the same period, but Hyouge Mono relies strictly on real historical references.

Blue Eye Samurai

Action

Creator

Amber Noizumi, Michael Green

Release Date

November 3, 2023

Studio

Blue Spirit, Netflix Animation, J.A. Green Construction Corp., 3 Arts Entertainment

Number of Episodes

8

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix