5 Best Samurai Anime
Samurai anime is a beloved genre that draws viewers into a world of honor, swordsmanship, and epic battles. From feudal Japan to alternate realities, these anime explore the lives of skilled warriors, often highlighting their struggles between duty, loyalty, and personal desires.
With iconic duels, legendary blades, and complex characters, samurai stories never fail to captivate fans. Whether you're in it for the action or the drama, these tales deliver unforgettable journeys through historical settings and intense showdowns. Here are five of the best samurai anime, ranked from five to one.
5. Blade of the Immortal
Manji is a skilled samurai cursed with immortality, making him unable to die until he has slain 1,000 evil men. Haunted by his bloody past, he wanders Edo-period Japan, seeking redemption. When he meets Rin Asano, a young girl seeking revenge for her parents' murder by the Itto-ryu school of swordsmen, he becomes her reluctant bodyguard.
The anime follows their brutal and bloody quest, where Manji’s immortality is both a gift and a curse as he battles relentless foes in a violent and unforgiving world.
4. Samurai 7
Each samurai brings a different skill to the table, from Kyuzo’s deadly precision to Kambei’s wise leadership. As the story progresses, the group faces moral dilemmas and intense battles, blending high-tech weaponry with traditional sword fighting in a mix of old and new worlds.
3. Rurouni Kenshin
Set during the Meiji era, Rurouni Kenshin tells the story of Kenshin Himura, a former assassin known as "Hitokiri BattÅsai." Now a wanderer, Kenshin has sworn never to kill again, instead using his reverse-edged sword to protect the innocent.
His journey brings him to the Kamiya dojo, where he meets Kaoru Kamiya, and together, they face threats from Kenshin’s violent past. Filled with emotional moments and intense sword battles, the anime captures Kenshin’s internal struggle between his former self and his quest for redemption.
2. Samurai Champloo
Set in Edo-period Japan, Samurai Champloo follows the unlikely trio of Mugen, a wild and unconventional fighter, Jin, a reserved and skilled samurai, and Fuu, a young woman searching for a samurai who smells of sunflowers.
The story blends historical accuracy with modern elements, including hip-hop music and breakdancing-inspired fight scenes. As they journey through the countryside, the group faces bizarre enemies, political intrigue, and their own troubled pasts. Mugen and Jin's contrasting sword styles lead to some of the most thrilling duels in samurai anime history.
1. Afro Samurai
Afro Samurai takes place in a futuristic world with heavy Japanese influences, where the protagonist, Afro, seeks revenge against the man who killed his father. Armed with his katana, Afro pursues the Number One headband, which grants its wearer ultimate power, but also attracts constant challenges from others seeking the title.
Alongside his comical companion Ninja Ninja, Afro’s journey is filled with hyper-stylized violence, intense duels, and philosophical reflections on vengeance and honor. The anime is visually stunning, with sharp animation and a soundtrack by RZA, making it a unique entry in the samurai genre.