Some of the best military anime are based on true stories, while others are completely made up. No matter the genre, though, military animes have one thing in common: the main characters constantly overcome impossible odds and fight for what’s right. From the battle cries of the anime’s main characters to the intense action and war, military anime are a genre where soldier defines the will to save their country no matter what. Here are 10 of the best military anime with OP MC that you should watch.
Here are the 10 best military anime to watch
Military anime is about heroes overcoming impossible odds and fighting for what’s right. From futuristic to historical and from high school to mecha, there’s something for everyone when it comes to military anime. Here are the best military anime you should watch.
10. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
The Elric brothers Edward and Alphonse live in a world where individuals can exercise the artwork of alchemy. The brother’s talent with alchemy at an early age led them to try and revive their recently deceased mom back to life through the use of human transmutation. Their experiment costs Ed his right arm and left leg and leaves El as a soul affixed to an empty hunk of armor.
Years later, the brothers discover the existence of the philosopher’s stone. A mythical artifact stated to permit any shape of transmutation and ignore equivalent exchange law. Together they seek out this legendary artifact, but along the way, they discover a conspiracy that runs to the highest ranks of the amnesty and military.
This is a classic shounen anime and you’d be making a huge mistake for not watching it right now if you haven’t.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(64 Ep.)
09. Aldnoah.Zero
The Apollo 17 moon mission uncovered an extraterrestrial hypergate in 1972, allowing for immediate travel to Mars. Following that, a great attempt to colonise Mars was conducted, and the first explorers and settlers uncovered lost technology called Aldnoah, which enabled them to become self-sufficient.
In 1999, a battle started between the holy empire’s two colonies and the united earth. After overwhelming high sacrifices on both sides, the empire was victorious. It is currently the year 2014. Space technology has improved to the point where travel between Earth and Mars is feasible but even after 15 years, the tensions between Earth and the holy empire remain immense. Aldnoah Zero is essentially a mecha anime but with role switched.
Instead of the heroes in mobile suits, it’s the villains who are using their impractically large mecha suits against the more tactile and military realism of the heroes. It’s a great unorthodox real robot anime and a great entry point for non-mecha fans.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 2(24 Ep.)
08. Azur Lane
When earth’s oceans are under attack by a mysterious alien force called the Sirens. Four major nations, Eagle union, Royal navy, Sakura empire, and iron blood from the Azur Lane military alliance to fight the Sirens with girls who also happen to be famous battleships. Technically, navy warships to be exact.
If you’ve been playing many mobile games, you’ve definitely heard of Azur Lane, especially if you’re into gacha games. All the girls are one-woman armies by themselves and can easily handle aliens that could threaten the world. Eventually, the mermaids are defeated but a rift forms between the factions. With the Eagle union and Royal navy opposing the Sakura and Iron Blood empires.
Where the previous factions sought to use humanity’s own strength to defeat the mermaids in contrast to the latter faction’s willingness to use the Siren’s own technologies to defeat them.
For people who are both hardcore navy military history fans as well as giant weebs and love gacha games, Azure Lane is a great anime.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
07. Girls & Panzer
Nishizumi Miho is a young woman who comes from a legendary saint shadow family. Reluctant to face tank pilots due to past trauma, she transfers to Ooarai Girls Academy, where her family made a name for itself.
It was a little-known school and the ship docked in a small town of the same name that has not used a senshadou for the past 20 years. Miho is urged to lead the Ooarai’s first saint shadow class in two decades whether she likes it or not. Luckily, she has new friends who are happy to help.
Miho must learn to love her sport again and lead Ooarai to victory because as she will eventually learn, there is more at stake than just the prestige of the school or the reputation. Girls & Panzer is a pretty slight sports anime, except the sport is literally tanks.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – Movie
06. Kantai Collection
The oceans are in danger as fantastical beings from the depth tentatively code named the Abyssal Fleet are attacking shipping lanes and ravaging the economies of import-dependent countries. The ones who can seem to stop these things are fleet girls who appear to be the imperial Japanese navy ships reincarnated in the present as girls and young women. Fubuki is one of them on the front side.
What experiences will she have during this time of conflict and who will she meet to carry the burden of this difficult time with her? Much like Azur Lane, this is an anime that fuses anime girls with iconic boats.
Although this Kantai Collection is a lot more focused on Japanese warships as opposed to the international battleships present in Azure Lane. If you liked Azure Lane, you’ll likely love this series as well.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
05. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin
Ordinary high school student Amuro Ray is caught in the middle of a standoff in the battle between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon in this series. Despite possessing numerically superior resources, the Zeon military used their new mobile suit technology to wipe out much of the federation’s citizens. Ending the war by dropping a colony on earth.
Soon a program is devised to develop their own mobile suits resulting in the Gundam Super Prototype. They are assaulted by a tiny Zeon force while completing final tests on the Gundam in a remote space colony. Amuro eventually falls into the cabin to save the colony and from there, he becomes embroiled in the war between the earth federation and the Zeon.
If you’ve been an anime fan for a fair amount of time, there is simply no way you haven’t heard of Mobile Suit Gundam. Now is a perfect time if you haven’t watched the granddaddy of all mecha anime.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(13 Ep.)
04. Kingdom
In China’s warring states, a long time ago, Xin and Piao were war orphans in the kingdom of Qin. They desire to prove their medal on the battlefield one day. However, Piao is summoned to the palace by a powerful minister and finds himself on the losing end of a power battle.
Still, he managed to make it back to the village in a state of near-death. Xin then meets a boy who closely resembles Piao that boy for now is the king of Qin and later will become the emperor of Qin Shi Huang. The kingdom is a story where overpowered isn’t dictated by things like raw strength or speed.
Kingdom showcases the complete and total dominance that is a tactical and strategic mind would have on the battlefield when given the right resources as well as the right positions. For fans of ancient Chinese history or war strategies in general, this anime is a must-watch as it brings a fascinating period of Chinese military history to life.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 3(103 Ep.)
03. The Saga of Tanya The Evil
A teenage girl finds herself on a battlefield with blonde hair and blue eyes with a small structure. Her presence seems like a mockery but it’s anything but that. Her name is Tanya and she is an imperial heir sorceress and one of the best. Despite her innocent looks, don’t expect any mercy from her at all. Cold and calculating she’s a force to be reckoned with.
However, in another life, she was actually once a ruthless male HR manager. Rational and utilitarian he would restructure his company to fire employees without regret if necessary and unfortunately meets the end of his life in front of an oncoming train. He then meets with Being X, who hated his lack of faith so much that he chose to make him his champion reborn under the name of Tanya.
Despite Tanya’s attempts to get a cushy job behind a desk, her skills and powers only motivate her superiors to keep putting her in even more dangerous situations. Much to her dismay and Being X’s amusement.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
02. Alderamin on the Sky
Ikta Solork is a carefree young man with only two desires in life: a woman in his arms and a place to relax. Unfortunately for him, when war breaks out between the empire and the neighboring republic, his pleasant life is shattered. Ikta and a childhood friend joined the army as military officers, and on their approach to the military exam location, they met Matthew, Torway, and Haroma on a boat.
A storm ruins their quiet journey once more, sinking their ship and the five of them wind up near a military installation in enemy territory. They discover that the heir to the throne has also surrounded them, so they must get out without spilling any royal blood.
This anime is heavily military based with a decent amount of fantasy aspects to it. The character development is done really well and we gotta take a peek at what goes on in Ikta’s mind when he concocts a plan. If you’re looking for a classic military anime with fantasy elements, then this is one you should watch.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(13 Ep.)
01. Code Geass
Britannia invaded Japan seven years before the main storyline of the series began in order to grab the country’s rare mineral riches, which will enable a new source of energy. Britannia’s army of mighty massive mechas quickly put a stop to the fight. Following the triumph, Britannia robbed Japan of its autonomy, national identity, and even its name, referring to the region as “area 11.”
Suzaku Kururugi and Lelouch, two boyhood buddies, meet by surprise after years apart in the present. Suzaku is a Japanese-born career soldier who despises bloodshed and intends to earn enough power inside the British military to change the system from within and reclaim a number of privileges he lost in Area 11. Lelouch is a British prince in exile and in hiding.
He wishes to destroy Britannia from the outside in order to avenge his murdered mother and create a secure future for his disabled sister but is Delusioned by the inability of Britannia’s police and armed forces to act without retaliation.
Code Geass is an anime that you really should need no introduction to, but if the premise hooked you just from us talking about it, you’d be even more invested in Lelouch’s journey once you start your long ketchup of the iconic mecha series.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 2(50 Ep.)
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