Samurai are among the most important people in Japanese culture and history. Considering that, they are among the biggest sources of inspiration for Japanese artists. Animators have brought samurai history to life through anime, creating some amazing fight sequences and even better discussions on honor and friendship. While samurai are part of the military caste, they are also much more than that.

Samurai have a unique code of honor unlike anything else seen in the country, or anywhere in the world, for that matter. For those interested in seeing samurai in action, there are some really amazing samurai anime out there. These warriors have always been a key part of anime, and while samurai anime tend to be rooted in historical realism rather than fantasy, the battles in these series are absolutely fantastic. Everyone will find something to love in these awesome samurai anime.

Updated by Sage Ashford on December 26th 2023: Samurai will forever be one of the most popular archetypes in fiction, and there are plenty of great samurai anime series available. This list has been revised to include more information on these samurai series.

20 Orient's Protagonists Form A Band Of Oni Hunting Samurai

Musashi is a teenager with a dream of becoming a Bushi, like all the men he looked up to growing up. Unfortunately, Musashi lives in a town completely controlled by Oni, demons who treat humans as slaves to mine ore and as a food supply. When Musashi’s town is freed by a clan of Bushi, he remembers his dream once again, and teams up with his childhood friend Kojirou to create the greatest Bushi Clan of all time.

Orient is another shonen series from Shinobu Ohtaka, best known for their work on Magi: Kingdom of Magic. Though it has a slow start, once the series heats up it becomes an awesome adventure series with the kind of grand scale that will appeal to fans of series like Eden’s Zero. Fans will also find the leads refreshing, since this shonen series manages to avoid creating yet another Goku clone.

19 Ronin Warriors Pits Magic Samurai Against An Evil Shogun

Centuries ago, a group of brave warriors battled against the evil warlord Talpa. Though they defeated him, they weren’t able to finish him off, instead splitting his power up into nine suits of powered armor. Now in the modern day he’s awakened, eager to reclaim his power — and the only thing standing in his way are five warriors who’ve turned his armor into a force for good.

Ronin Warriors is the rare example of a modern samurai series. Though it’s clearly inspired by the popularity of Saint Seiya, it still does more than enough to separate itself from the series it’s copying, swapping the Greek mythology references for a background in Japanese history. Fans of classic '80s anime series should have already seen this, but it’s never a bad time for a rewatch.

18 Samurai 7 Mixes Seven Samurai With Giant Robots

Samurai 7 is based on the film Seven Samurai. It is very similar to the film. It's set in a futuristic world that has just been through a war that has put it on the brink of extinction. Villages and cities are being torn apart by bandits who were once samurai soldiers.

However, these samurai have now merged with machines and have become weapons. While it may be a good show, Samurai 7 just has the same taste as something that has already existed, making it not that original. Still, it features plenty of exciting elements that action fans will enjoy.

17 Peace Maker Kurogane Presents A Different Side Of The Shinsengumi

Ichimura Tetsunosuke joins the Shinsengumi for one reason: to become strong enough to get revenge on the people responsible for killing his parents. However, joining the Shinsengumi only helps Tetsunosuke understand just how weak he is. Still, the young teen refuses to give up, following the Shinsengumi down their path, however dangerous it might become.

Peace Maker Kurogane might focus on the Shinsengumi, but they take enough liberties to present a cast that’s different from expected interpretations. Kurogane might seem like a series that only cares about its revenge plot, but it also mixes in enough comedy to keep things from being too bleak. The series is a massive epic, so when viewers are finished with the anime, they should check out Peace Maker Kurogane's still running manga.

16 Samurai Deeper Kyo Uses A Twisted Antihero To Fight Even Greater Enemies

At the end of the Sengoku period, there were two legendary swordsmen whose skills were unmatched. Kyoushirou Mibu of the Mibu clan, and the monstrous killer Demon Eyes Kyo. The two clashed, and in the end somehow Demon Eyes Kyo’s personality got trapped within the body of Kyoshirou Mibu. Kyo seeks to regain his own form, which pulls him into several conflicts across the world.

With its slightly ecchi protagonist, heavy focus on samurai, and perfect mix of comedy and action, Samurai Deeper Kyo exemplifies early 2000s anime. However, it never gets old seeing Demon Eyes Kyo awaken and use the pacifist Mibu’s body to deal with troublesome enemies. Meanwhile, the back-and-forth battle between a pacifist and a bloodthirsty warrior provides the perfect internal conflict when everything seems too easy for Kyo.

15 Drifters Uses Isekai To Tell A Dark Story With Historical Figures

Warrior Toyohisa Shimazu is suddenly sent from the Battle of Sekigahara to an entirely new world where he meets warriors of legend. In this new world, Toyohisa is part of a group known as "Drifters," beings from Earth summoned to protect society against an army of enemies known as the Ends.

Drifters comes directly from the creator of Hellsing, so experienced fans should know what they’re getting into. It’s a bloody, violent series with protagonists who find joy in being plunged into battles where their survival isn’t certain. Effectively, this is an isekai for historical figures. So long as people can adapt to the show’s dark humor, they’ll find an awesome action series. After all, how many other series let Oda Nobunaga and Toyohisa Shimazu fight against Jeanne d’Arc?

14 Blade of the Immortal Puts An Immortal Samurai On An Impossible Quest

While there are two anime adaptations of the original Mugen no Junin manga, fans prefer the newer 2019 version. In Blade of the Immortal, the series protagonist, Manji, is an incredible swordsman who has been cursed with immortality.

Manji vows to kill one thousand evil men to atone for the good ones he has slain so that he might finally find peace and die. The art is minimalist in a way that feels reminiscent of many classic '90s anime, using muted color palates and still frames to create a grim, atmospheric style that reinforces the story's dark themes.

13 Sword of the Stranger Combines Brilliant Action With An Exploration Of Japan's Relation With Foreign Nations

Sword of the Stranger takes place during the Sengoku Era and is one of the great chanbara masterpieces of modern cinema. The fight scenes are absolutely gorgeous. As blood flies and bodies break in the thrill of combat, death is always a blade's length away from the characters.

The main plot concerns a force of Chinese warriors in Japan. This allows Sutorenjira: Mukon Hadan to explore important narratives about Japan's relations with foreigners, using this theme to subvert expectations while adding depth to the story's feudal politics.

12 Hyouge Mono Exists For Fans Who Love Deep Dives Into The Sengoku Era

Hyouge Mono is an underrated series that is a brilliant examination of the small details of life usually overlooked in the Sengoku Era. The major historical battles of the period are mere background details that seem far less important than the character dramas, many of which revolve around traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. The series is a bit slow-paced compared to more action-oriented anime.

However, Hyouge Mono brings a perfect mix of humor, drama, cultural details, and nuanced ideas that ensure it always remains engaging. Unfortunately, this studio often gets looked over due to it appearing in the era just before anime streaming on sites like Crunchyroll became a big deal. Hunting it down might prove a challenge, but it's worth it for historical era fans.

11 Kurozuka Gets Original With Samurai Vampires

There are a lot of great samurai anime out there, but few of them have katana-wielding vampires whose relationships span centuries from the distant past into the present and beyond. Kurozuka is an original twist on the iconic samurai story that infuses the genre with sci-fi and horror elements, even as it maintains elements of a romance story.

Supernatural elements are commonplace in anime of any setting. However, the way Kurozuka spans multiple time periods and makes dramatic tonal shifts sets it apart from other series.

10 Brave 10 Gives A More Fantastical Look At Samurai

Brave 10 is about two warriors who also have superpowers and the interesting rivals and friends they meet throughout their adventures. It's a perfect mixture of fun-filled fantasy and action-packed anime.

There is a huge theme of balance in the show, on what it means to be good and bad, and how no one is just one or the other. With some incredible character designs and some beautifully animated fight scenes, Brave 10 is a great series to show to new fans. On top of that, the series isn't long, so anyone looking for their samurai fix can spend a weekend with Brave 10.

9 House of Five Leaves' Unique Animation Style Makes It Unforgettable

One thing that people watching House of Five Leaves will notice immediately is how amazing the artwork is. The story might sound familiar to people who are experienced with watching anime. It follows Akitsu, who is naïve but a brave and skilled swordsman.

Throughout his journey, Akitsu learns there is far more to being a samurai than just holding a sword and looking cool. However, the artwork in Saraiya Goyou is so wonderfully unique and beautiful that it is worth the watch. Even if the story might sound repetitive, this samurai anime is excellent nonetheless, and fans should give it a go.

8 Shigurui: Death Frenzy Focuses On A Duel Between Two Of Japan's Greatest Swordsmen

Shigurui: Death Frenzy is a story about darkness, death, and lots and lots of blood. It's incredibly violent, and a lot of the characters experience long moments of hopelessness. The story begins near the beginning of the Edo era, which is meant to be peaceful, until Tokugawa Tadanaga gets the bright idea to do a sword tournament... using real weapons.

The first match focuses on two gifted swordsmen: Fujiki Gennosuke and Irako Seigen. Each man is a disciple of one of the greatest swordsmen in Japan, and each is determined to prove themselves as the best. Shigurui: Death Frenzy delves into their match, what led them to their current path, and what happens when the match is over.

7 Rurouni Kenshin Focuses On The Dawn Of The Tokugawa Era

Rurouni Kenshin is arguably the most successful and famous samurai anime in the world. The story follows Kenshin Himura, an ex-assassin who is trying to find his way in life and protect the people in Japan instead of going back to his former life. He has seen that the world is bloodthirsty and thrives on violence, and he knows that it's wrong.

Rurouni Kenshin was like nothing else on the market when it first released. Unlike most shonen heroes, the protagonist's goal wasn't to become strong. He was already the strongest. Instead, the series is about him learning how to be at peace with himself, and forgive himself for his own bloodthirsty actions during the war. With iconic character designs and a very real, raw look at what it meant to be a swordsman in that era, this series is just as worth watching today as it was in the past.

6 Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls Is A Romeo And Juliet-Inspired Ninja Love Story

The Kouga Ninja Scrolls is perfect for fans of Romeo and Juliet. It's a beautiful love story told from the point of view of a prince and a princess from rival families who are falling in love. The rival families in Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou are from ninja clans, and the constant blood feud is pushing them over the edge.

Anyone looking for impressive ninja fights featuring enemies with supernaturally powered characters won't be disappointed, either. While they ask for a truce throughout the anime, this samurai anime is filled with secret battles that happen between the two families.

5 Samurai Kings Brings Dynasty Warriors-Inspired Samurai Action

Samurai Kings manages to combine superpowers and samurai swordsmanship all into one neat package. It's a nice mix of the modern and the old-fashioned, which is what makes it such a good anime. The series released in 2009 and has two seasons.

Samurai Kings follows the heroes and their constant battles and struggles to best their rivals. The protagonists try to take down someone called the "Demon King" and take back the land that they feel belongs to them. Inspired by the Capcom video games, Samurai Kings manages to retain the feelings of the Musou-style action that made the game franchise so popular.

4 Mushibugyou's Samurai Protect Japan From Giant Bugs

Mushibugyou is set in an alternate version of Edo-era Japan. In the series, Mushi, which are giant insects, begin to attack people and essentially bring down the whole country. Because of that, there are warriors that are rounded up and sent to fight them.

Created by the Shogunate, the City Patrol is a collection of warriors specifically trained to be strong enough to protect the country. The story follows one of the samurai, Jinbei Tsukishima. Jinbei is a young soldier, who takes over for his father after he's no longer able to fight anymore.

3 Afro Samurai Follows A Blood-Soaked Quest For Revenge

Afro Samurai takes place in a future version of Japan. There, legend says that whoever holds the Number 1 headband will have god-like powers. Whoever has Number 2 can challenge Number 1, but anyone can challenge Number 2. Enter Afro Samurai.

Wielder of the Number 2 headband, Afro is constantly fighting battles and improving his skills. Fortunately for him, he's earned the Number 1, and can stand up to the never-ending threats after his headband. His goal is tracking down the Number 1 and defeating him, all for the sake of revenge. People looking for complex statements on society can look elsewhere; Afro Samurai isn't about that. It's about Gonzo showing off how great they are at creating captivating sword combat scenes, and viewers being dazzled by over-the-top violence and just how awesome Afro can be.

2 Samurai Champloo Is Legandary For A Reason

Samurai Champloo is a highly stylized martial arts masterpiece that is the brainchild of director Watanabe Shinichiro, who rose to prominence after the success of his previous sci-fi series, Cowboy Bebop. As Watanabe turned his attention from the future to Japan's feudal past, he revitalized the chanbara genre with this story about three unlikely companions.

A young woman named Fuu searches for a samurai who smells like sunflowers, accompanied by her two bodyguards, the stiff samurai Jin and the cutthroat outlaw Mugen. In Samurai Champloo, the high drama and political tensions of the Edo Era are contrasted with modern hip-hop influences, creating a truly unique aesthetic. The anime balances multiple tones, being at once dark but funny, stylized yet gritty, and both exhilarating and tragic. There really is nothing else like Samurai Champloo.

1 Gintama Effortlessly Blends A Variety Of Genres Into A Unique Samurai Epic

Gintama is a huge anime that takes place in the Feudal era of Japan. In this world, Japan has been taken over by aliens, and the samurai have lost their powers. The self-centered main character, Gintoki, is forced to go from job to job because of it.

There are some amazing themes in Gintama that has to do with the government, rising up in rebellions, and of course, like every anime, power, friendship, and love — in whatever form it comes in. Gintama is a truly excellent samurai anime.