When we think of Japanese culture, one of the first things that come to mind is the samurai. The samurai have a reputation as fierce warriors, loyal defenders, and upholders of honor and tradition. They are the subject of countless tales of honor and glory, and the stars of some of the best samurai anime.
The samurai are fascinating warriors and have been the subject of some of the greatest anime series ever. If you are looking for the best samurai anime, then we bring you the 10 best samurai anime of all time.
Here are the 15 best samurai anime of all time
The samurai have long been a symbol of honor, valor, and strength. They were the elite warriors of feudal Japan, protecting the land from invaders and keeping the peace. The best samurai anime offers a glimpse into the lives of noble warriors, depicting their exploits and giving us a window into their fascinating culture. Here are the 10 best samurai anime you should watch.
15. Brave 10
Need an anime with a ton of characters? Brave 10 takes place during the warring states period and tells the story of a samurai named Saizo Kirigakure. While traveling to another kingdom, he meets a shrine maiden named Isanami, who is being attacked by assassins.
After rescuing the girl, Saizo soon learns that the girl is heading to Sanada Yukimura. A man who is currently gathering soldiers with extra valor.
Finally finding a purpose in his life, Saizo joins the maiden on a journey to the war-filled state. As I mentioned, Brave 10 might have a huge cast, and sometimes it might lose its purpose along the way, but it can still give you an enjoyable samurai thrill ride you shouldn’t miss.
Dubbed – No
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
14. Ninja Scroll
Need one of those dark samurai anime, then ninja scroll is a show for you. It tells the story of a skilled samurai named Jubei Kibagami, who is forced to work on a mission to kill devils.
Along the way, he saves a woman named Kagero from one of these devils, and she joins with Jubei on his mission. Ninja scroll has one of those overpowered samurai, but the story is much darker than you can imagine.
Yeah, it’s one of those old popcorn shows, so that’s no surprise. Ninja scroll is also famous for increasing the appeal of adult-oriented anime series, and critics hail it as a masterpiece. Keeping it side by side with other shows like Akira and Ghost in the Shell.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(13 Ep.)
13. Rurouni Kenshin
Okay, let’s admit samurais are really good at killing people. We’ve seen countless overpowered samurai kill people, but what if one of those overpowered samurai gets tired of killing. During the Bakumatsu Era lived a legendary assassin known as Hitokiri Battousai. His name was enough to strike fear among his opponents but tired of the war and violence, Hitokiri retired from the war.
Now, he travels as a cheerful swordsman. He’s vowed not to kill anyone and has left his old life behind, but that’s where he meets Kaoru Kamiya at her kendo dojo. Kaoru thinks Hitokiri is fake, but after saving her, Kaoru lets him live with her.
Now our overpowered samurais should go through some cheerful adventures while living with another samurai girl. Samurai X was pretty popular back then, so if you’re an anime fan of the new generation, make sure you give this one a watch.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 3(101 Ep.)
12. Samurai Harem
Most samurai shows are about blood and violence, but how about we focus on something more light-hearted. Just as the name implies, this one is about a samurai getting a harem of girls and living happily ever after.
Here we have Yoichi Karasuma, a samurai who trained under the mountains. After knowing he has excelled in everything, his father sent him off to the city to train with the current assistant head of Ukiha Divine Wind Style Swordplay school. As it turns out, this doesn’t have one girl but three others.
By the time you finish the first episode, you’re going to know where this is heading. The story will be refreshing to watch after all those blood and gore mixed samurai shows.
Dubbed – No
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
11. Blade of the Immortal
When speaking of samurai, there’s one subject we should touch on, Sword Fights. What would samurai be without their swords? And when it comes to sword fights, the ones which are best animated are the ones that deserve the praise.
When it comes to animation, Blade of the Immortal excels at it. It is one of the best animations you’re going to see in this medium, and the show’s fight choreography is stunning.
The movie also has a great story to accompany the action. It’s your typical Kill Bill revenge story, but the show’s concept is very well executed. The characters often have doubts about their mortality and are deeply flawed as well.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 2(37 Ep.)
10. Samurai Kings
When Japan had enough of adapting samurai manga, they decided to adapt a video game series into an anime. This happens in the Sengoku period of feudal Japan. There was a threat named the Demon King of Owari.
Date Masamune and Sanada Yukimura, two young warlords from different regions who are rivals, are now forced to become friends to face the demon king’s new threat. The sequels and movies continuing this story add to the characters, and new antagonists join the series. Samurai King loves to expand on his cast without focusing on a single character’s journey.
So, even if you don’t like a certain character, there’s still plenty to pick from, and they’re super overpowered, so there’s that too.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 2(24 Ep.)
09. Mushibugyou
Mushibugyou is a well-made action-fantasy series that reaches new levels of cool with its samurai fights under the surface. This awesome series has seen several manga runs and a video game adaptation, but the anime itself is really the highlight of this franchise.
Mushibugyou is set in the old-school idol period of Japan and strives for some historical accuracy but adds a number of awesome fantasy twists. We learned that these giant insect monsters, Mushi, started showing up and killing people. As you can imagine, everyone is horrified and fearful of these scary beasts.
The shogunate has no choice but to find a solution to these giant insect problems and starts up this department known as the City Patrol. A collection of powerful warriors willing to take on and defeat the Mushi insects in battle.
We learn of a young and happy samurai named Jinbee Tsukishima, the newest member of this elite squad of samurai. He faces off against these violent beasts and protects innocent civilians from these dangerous monsters.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
08. Samurai 7
Samurai 7 is a phenomenal blend of adventure and sci-fi. Samurai 7 was based on one of the greatest Japanese films of all time, Seven Samurai. Each samurai reflects the original’s traits and leads to one of the greatest anime series we have ever seen.
We learn of a village by the name of Kanna, set in an ultra-futuristic world that has just passed a huge war and rocked the entire planet. Villagers live in constant fear of powerful bandits. These aren’t just normal criminals but powerful samurai that blended themselves with machines to become dangerous weapons.
The sort of insane power these samurai bandits have made them into absolute terrors across the world. The elders of the Kanna village have decided they need to hire some samurai to help defend them from these bandits.
We follow these seven samurai as they train the villagers, help the citizens arm themselves, and prepare to defend their little village and defeat the deadly bandits.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
07. Basilisk
Basilisk is a unique historical type anime with a strong influence of awesome martial arts fighting and some cool fantasy elements. Basilisk is based on a classic novel written way back in the 50s.
The story takes place in 1614 and tries to be as historically authentic as possible. We learn of vicious ninja clans that face off and battle against each other to determine the shogun and ruler of the lands. We see a crazy competition between ten elite ninjas from each clan unfold through a hatred and blood view that has lasted centuries destroying each other and all those around them.
From some intense intertwining bloodlines to awesome backstabbing and a lot of twists and turns. There’s even a Romeo and Juliet type love story thrown into the mix. Basilisk is an anime series that definitely has a little something in it for everybody.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
06. Shigurui
An unbelievably slick and gritting anime series with a strong focus on epic swordplay and intense action. The story of Shigurui kicks off back in 1629 with a semi-historical focus. We learn of a deadly fighting tournament in which contestants can use actual steel Japanese swords instead of the traditional wooden replacements.
The core of the story surrounds one of the early matches between a one-armed swordsman by the name of Fujiki Gennosuke and a blind samurai Irako Seigen.
As we begin to learn more about these unbelievably interesting characters and the curious set of circumstances that led them to this deadly tournament in a desperate attempt to win the grand prize.
Shigurui is an interesting anime series that is well-paced and unfurls his story in a very skilled way. From episode to episode, we were literally on the edge of our seats with no idea what would happen next. If you are a fan of samurai anime, then you need to check this out.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
05. Hakuouki
An awesome historical fantasy anime series that is based on a series of highly successful story-based video games. Hakuouki has an extremely interesting and strong world behind it that anime fans and gamers around the world absolutely love.
Set back in 1864, Japan was a very different place. We meet a beautiful young woman by the name of Chizuru Yukimura as she searches far and wide for her missing father. She hasn’t heard from him in months and disguises herself as a man and heads off to the city of Kyoto to search for him.
Some ronin notice her and follow her but she hides and sees the ronin murdered by men with white hair. She’s captured and held as a prisoner but only the mention of her father can keep her safe.
We soon start to unravel a crazy story of crime and political tension in the city of Kyoto. Like any other anime out there, Hakuouki is a phenomenal samurai anime series that’ll have you hooked from the first episode.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
04. Sword of the Stranger
We like to recommend series over here but Sword of the Stranger is so fantastic that we had to make an exception. The anime follows Kotarou, a boy that is hunted by a Ming swordsman.
We slowly start to get a glimpse into the interesting and deep world and sword of the stranger. Kotarou is hunted for a sinister purpose and we slowly start to learn the true nature of the men hunting our hero. Kotarou and his dog find a nameless ronin with a violent past that is vowed never to draw a sword again.
We start seeing an intimate and unique relationship between them as the unlikely trio overcomes impossible odds as they desperately push forward to survive. The story and plot around them really start to develop and twist into some interesting places, but when the swords come out, you know things are about to get serious.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(12 Ep.)
03. Afro Samurai
Well, who knew Samuel L Jackson would find his own anime? Perhaps he got too tired of being the director of Shield because this man went and decided to make the edgiest and bloodiest samurai anime of all time. Here we have a samurai hierarchy based on headbands.
A man named Justice cast aside his number two headband and took the number one by killing young Afro’s father. Years later, Afro owns the number two headband and wants to challenge his father’s killer for a fight, but the entire world now stands against him as everyone wants to own the number two headband.
It’s a story of revenge and violence and a lesson on the meaning of hatred and power. Even if you don’t like the story, watch it for Samuel L Jackson.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(5 Ep.)
02. Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is one of the more popular shows out there, so even if you’re a samurai anime fan, you surely must have heard of this one at least once. It starts with a mysterious rogue named Mugen and a young ronin named Jin, and they save a waitress named Fuu at a restaurant.
After that, the two begin fighting each other. The magistrate’s son dies at their hands, and when they’re about to be executed, Fuu saves them. After that, the trio goes on a journey, hoping to find the samurai who smells of sunflowers Fuu is speaking about.
The show’s got a blend of historical Edo period backdrops with modern styles and references as well as historical context and western influences. It’s like the perfect samurai anime you never find.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 1(26 Ep.)
01. Gintama
It’s a great parody, and it’s got great action, memorable characters, and a few of the best Shonen anime arcs of all time. It happens when Amanto aliens from outer space have invaded earth and taken over feudal Japan.
Now samurai in the world are kicked out and treated with disrespect, but among these is Gintoki, an errand boy with the heart of a samurai. His daily events lead to serious situations, but it doesn’t take long for them to turn comical.
This series is, without a doubt, one of the best comedy anime of all time. It incorporates both eastern and western concepts and also parodies tons of popular anime out there. If you haven’t watched this one, then don’t wait because you’re missing out on one of the best anime ever made.
Dubbed – Yes
Season – 10(367 Ep.)
What is samurai anime?
Samurai anime is a genre of Japanese animation that focuses on the Samurai. In anime, a samurai is a form of a warrior who has been trained in the use of arms and martial arts or has a warrior’s spirit. The word “samurai” derives from the Old Japanese word “samura”, which can be translated as “one who serves”, as these warriors served as retainers to aristocrats. They are typically about a samurai with a strict code of honor, usually getting into some type of trouble and then doing what they can to save the day.
Which is the new best samurai anime of 2021?
In 2021 only two anime were released in the samurai genre. The first one is Gintama: The Final, and the second one is Yasuke, and both are excellent anime to watch.
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