An ample number of anime deal with comedy, superheroes, fictional worlds, magical characters, and much more, war anime is one such category. But people should also have a brief knowledge about how their lands came into being or how many people died to save their motherlands. Anyone, whether children or adults, should watch war Anime. World Wars have impacted every nation situated in any corner of the world and devastated world peace.
Anime provides brief yet vivid descriptions of the conditions that impacted the human race during World War I and II. Of course, it is hard to depict a war theme in an anime set in the contemporary era. However, the makers do furnish the audience with an exact portrayal of the effects of the brutal war.
Here is a list of the all-time popular 50 War Anime:
50. Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken
- Director: Yasuhito Kikuchi
- Writer: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
- Cast: N/A
- IMDb: 8.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- Streaming platform: Crunchyroll
An exciting anime is Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken. A man who died in the actual world and was reincarnated as a slime in a new realm is the subject of the television series.
Following this, The Slime, Rimuru Tempest, swiftly picks up the leadership skills necessary to find his own nation, start trading with other countries, and cultivate lasting alliances. However, certain countries are not happy with him being here and may eventually start a war with him!
The world-building, writing, and animation are all of the highest calibre. Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken (The Reincarnated Slime), unquestionably one of the best, can be said to be.
49. Mo Dao Zu Shi
- Director: N/A
- Writer: N/A
- Cast: N/A
- IMDb: 8.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- Streaming platform: N/A
Alright. Although I am aware that this isn’t strictly an anime, since there is a battle, why not give it a try?
You have undoubtedly heard of Mo Dao Zu Shi if you are an anime fan. The Ke Xiong-directed and B.CMAY PICTURES-animated 15-episode ONA series first aired in 2018.
The series, which takes place in the Middle Ages, demonstrates the possibilities of Chinese animation. You definitely wouldn’t want to miss this one because it is fantastic!
48. Arslan Senki
- Director: Mamoru Hamatsu
- Writer: Tomoya Miyashita, Kaori Takada, Megumi Sugihara
- Cast: Kappei Yamaguchi, Ben Fairman, Kazuhiko Inoue, Kaneto Shiozawa
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
- Watch it on: N/A
The fate of Arslan in Arslan Senki serves as an illustration of how fate has no regard for the trivial desires of men. Arslan, who is destined to rule despite facing what seem to be insurmountable challenges, must lead his devastated kingdom back to freedom and glory in opposition to their oppressors.
47. Kingdom
- Director: Jun Kamiya, Akira Iwanaga, Kenichi Imaizumi, Kazuya Monma
- Writer: Naruhisa Arakawa, Noboru Takagi
- Cast: Masakazu Morita, Jun Fukuyama, Jun Fukuyama, Rie Kugimiya
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Watch it on: Funimation
Kingdom approaches battle via the lens of historical fiction. The story follows two battle orphans and their aspirations to unite China during the period of the Warring States in China. Although Xin experiences loss, difficulty, and the passing of his counterpart, these setbacks only strengthen his resolve.
46. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
- Director: Masashi Ikeda,Shinji Takamatsu
- Writer: Katsuyuki Sumizawa
- Cast: Hikaru Midorikawa, Toshihiko Seki, Ryûzô Ishino, Akio Ôtsuka, Scott McNeil
- IMDb Rating: 8/10
- Watch it on: Hulu.
The dream of humanity has, at last, come true. With the establishment of independent governments for each colony, space colonization has become a reality. Not all dreams, though, are joyful. It should not be surprising that there is significant conflict among the various groups because they are geographically separated and inhabit very dissimilar habitats. Who controls space? Who is the colony’s owner?
Colonies shouldn’t own themselves, of course. Consequently, there is conflict, political assassination, intrigue, the use of child soldiers in suicide missions, and even a little bit of lovely drama. In Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, every aspect of a real-world conflict is covered.
45. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
- Director: Gorō Taniguchi
- Writer: Ichirō Ōkouchi, Gorō Taniguchi
- Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Jun Fukuyama, Yuri Lowenthal, Takahiro Sakurai
- IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
- Watch it on: Netflix.
We are reminded to be careful who we mock by Code Geass. The conflict at the center of the narrative was sparked by the despair of people living under oppression after losing their identity and nation. The Britannian Empire, which holds the belief that only the strong should remain and the weak should be cast away, uses terrorism and knowledge that has been filtered to control the populace.
The arrival of Zero, a feared terrorist and self-declared hero of justice who inspired the people of Japan to rebel against the British Empire, changed the course of this conflict.
44. Argento Soma
- Director: Kazuyoshi Katayama
- Writer: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Kitajima, Toru Nozaki, Shin Yoshida
- Cast: Houko Kuwashima as Harriet “Hattie” Bartholomew/Maki Agata Souichiro Hoshi as Takuto Kaneshiro/Ryu Soma Jouji Nakata as Michael Heartland Kikuko Inoue as Guinevere Green
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
- Watch it on: Apple TV
Invaders from outer space and mechanical beings that appear to be migrating to a certain location in North America are fought by humanity. Slowly but surely, humanity is losing ground since their technological advancements can’t keep up with the rate at which their “invaders” are advancing. Argento Soma is an anime that moves a little slowly. In essence, the conflict has devolved into one of attrition, with the invaders gradually taking the initiative.
43. Zoids
- Director: Takao Kato
- Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
- Cast: Daisuke Kishio, Makiko Ohmoto, Takuma Suzuki, Keiji Fujiwara
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Watch it on: Netflix.
Government leaders aiming for global dominance are power-hungry. The elements of a classic uprising. Van and his companions control robotic animals to battle the Empire’s aggressive attempt to enlarge its borders. As the Emperor disappears, the Empire finds itself dealing with internal power struggles in addition to external threats. As the conflict grinds on, friend and foe become ambiguous terms in the anime Zoids, which has villains tugging strings from the shadows and constantly shifting allegiances.
42. Full Metal Panic!
- Director: Koichi Chigira
- Writer: Shoji Gatoh
- Cast: Luci Christian, Satsuki Yukino, Hilary Haag, Tomokazu Seki
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- Watch it on: Hulu.
A specialized team is sent on a delicate assignment by Mithril, a clandestine military organization that uses cutting-edge technology to thwart terrorist operations. Kaname Chidori is a teenage girl who unconsciously possesses ground-breaking scientific knowledge and is referred to as a “Whispered.” Under the command of superior officer Melissa Mao, sergeants Sousuke Sagara and Kurz Weber are tasked with protecting Kaname from intelligence agencies and other organizations who are interested in her abilities.
Sousuke enrolls at Kaname’s high school as one of her classmates to closely watch her while Kurz and Melissa are to assist him remotely. His military upbringing and lack of social skills, however, make it difficult for him to adjust to daily life in the civilian world. He not only draws unneeded attention, but Kaname frequently becomes suspicious of him due to his behavior.
41. Break Blade (TV)
- Director: Tetsurō Amino, Nobuyoshi Habara
- Writer: Masashi Sogo
- Cast: Naoya Uchida as Askeladd, Kenichiro Matsuda, Yuto Uemura, Atsushi Ono, Shizuka Ishigani as Thorfinn, Akio Otsuka, and more
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Watch it on: Amazon Prime Video.
A young man named Rygart controls an antiquated mecha to change the course of a conflict between the rival kingdoms of Krisna and Athens and save his companions. In this world, which is ruled by sorcerers, there is prejudice towards “non-sorcerers,” or individuals who are unable to use magic.
40. Nobunaga the Fool
- Director: Hidekazu Satō
- Writer: Shōji Kawamori
- Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Yōko Hikasa, Takahiro Sakurai, Tomokazu Sugita
- IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
- Watch it on: Apple TV
With the aid of cutting-edge weapons known as “holy jewels,” two planets that are connected by a phenomenon called the “Dragon Pulse” are engaged in a never-ending conflict. Of course, a prophesied “Savior-King” must carry the burden of this war’s outcome or its complete end. A heretic seer and a fool set out to locate this legendary Monarch in search of a savior.
39. Aldnoah.Zero
- Directed by: Ei Aoki
- Writer: Katsuhiko Takayama, Gen Urobuchi, Shinsuke Onishi, Ayumi Sekine
- Cast: Matthew Mercer As Koichiro Marito, Erica Lindbeck as Yuki Kaizuka, Bryce Papenbrook as Calm Craftman, Max Mittelman as Inaho Kaizuka, Zach Aguilar as Slaine Troyard.
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- Watch it on: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Aldnoah.Zero depicts the war between the people of Earth and Mars. In 1972 zero showed that the Apollo 17 missions could discover a unique door that could help them reach Mars within a short time. On discovering this, many humans shifted to Mars and started living there. When Princess Asseylum lands on Earth to sign an agreement between the two planets, there stars a war. This war anime is unique as the audience can witness many actions and intriguing events.
38. Kantai Collection- KanColle
- Directed by: Keizo Kusakawa
- Writer: Jukki Hanada Hiroyuki, Yoshino Takashi, Aoshima.
- Cast: Monca Rial as Akatsuki, Elizabeth Maxwell as Nagato, Amber Lee Connors as Ooi, Tia Lynn Ballard as Akagi, Felecia Angelle as Fubuki, Morgan Berry as Kitakami, Leah Clark as Yuudachi.
- IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
- Watch it on: Funimation, Crunchyroll, Netflix
This series made girl power all more famous and watch worthy. The series depicted that in a crucial time when humanity was under serious threat by the Abyssal fleet, there were no other persons other than a group of girls to save them. The girls had special outfits and had kanmusu and were the only ones to counter the enemies’ attacks. This series is a must-watch and had a plot that was new of a kind.
37. Record of Grancrest war
- Directed by: Shinichi Omata
- Writer: Ryo Mizuno, Shunsaku Yano
- Cast: Jeannie Tirado as Siluca, Brandon Winckler as Theo Cornaro, Erika Harlacher as Marrine Kreische, Imari Williams as Lassic David, Ben Lepley as Aubest Meletes.
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- Watch it on: Netflix, Crunchyroll
The Anime shows how the world was once governed by Chaos which caused several disasters and brought several demons. Then Lord came and restored peace and saved people from all sorts of troubles. But with time, people were split into two groups, Fantasia Union and Factory Alliance. As a result, conflict aroused among the two groups. Then comes a student named Siluca, who is expected to bring back peace again in the world, and adventures start following this storyline.
36. Turn A Gundam
- Directed by: Yoshiyuki Tomino
- Writer: Koichi Tokita
- Cast: Romi Park as Loran, Kenichi Sakaguchi as Condrapht, Takako Fuji as Little Girl, Jun Fukuyama as Keith Laijie, Kumiko Watanabe as Fran Doll, Rieko Takahashi, Akino Murata as Sochie and more.
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Watch it on: Funimation, Crunchyroll
This series also takes you way ahead in the future and shows two civilizations, one living on Moon and the other on Earth, but people on Earth are significantly less in number. Loran Cehack is sent to Earth to see whether people from Moon and come and settle there or not. Loran, as a result, comes on Earth and spends a year there and even celebrates an event with the White Doll Statue.
The Moon’s dwellers attack Earth to occupy it forcibly when the statue breaks, and a mobile suit named Turn a Gundam gets revealed. Loran must find a way to stop another havoc war.
35. Darling in the Franxx
- Directed by: Atsushi Nishigori
- Writer: Atsushi Nishigori and Naotaka Hayashi
- cast:Yûto Uemura,Kana Ichinose,Nanami Yamashita
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Watch it on: Netflix, Crunchyroll
The series sets its background in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future where no human remnants are left on the surface. There is no procreation and no such bond prevalent. Children are now produced artificially and called parasites and trained in pairs to protect humanity. You need to concentrate and know the underlying meanings in this Anime, and this series is indeed a masterpiece ever fabricated.
34. 07-Ghost
- Directed by: Norihiro Takamoto
- Writer: Yuki Amemiya
- Cast: Mitsuki Saiga as Teito Klein, Susumu Chiba as Castor, Daisuke Kirii as Bastien, Koki Miyata as Labrador, Sei Ohama as Ayanami, Kenji Hamada as Hyuuga, Junichi Suwabe as Frau.
- IMDb Rating: 7/10
- Watch it on: Crunchyroll, Viewster Amazon Channel, Pluto Tv, VRV
The series highlights the life of Teito Klein, who was once a formerly enslaved person and now goes to the Barsburg Empire’s military academy. He bears the capability to use zaiphon, a supernatural force. Teito also knows many facts about himself, The Church, and the Empire. He then goes on the mission to take revenge against the Empire, goes through several dangerous events, and even confronts several enemies.
33. Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online
- Directed by: Masayuki Sakoi
- Writer: Yosuke Kuroda
- Cast: Tomori Kusunoki as Llenn, Yoko Hikasa as Pitohui, Kazuyuki Okitsu as m/Goshi, Chinatsu Akasaki as Fukaziroh
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
- Watch it on: Crunchyroll.
This series has a plot that is out of the box and fresh. The story is about a young girl named Karen Kohiruimaki, who is very tall and a person of ridicule and criticism. As a result, she finds it very hard to find companions who can be with her and support her.
Her life takes a new turn when she learns about VR and Gun Gale Online. In GGO, she can choose an avatar and play, which gives her a lot of peace.
32. Gunslinger Girl
- Directed by: Morio Asaka
- Writer: Junki Takegami
- Cast: Eric Vale, Laura Bailey, Caitlin Glass, Alesa Watson, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Ami Koshimizu, Jim Foronda, John Burgmeier, Troy Baker
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Watch it on: Netflix, Funimation
Gunslinger Girl is a brilliant anime ever produced. The story shows how the Social Welfare Agency saves teenage girls from hospitals and uses them for their benefit. They provide the girls with a second chance to live and provoke and influence the minds of these youths to such an extent that these girls are eventually turned into assassins and work for the Italian Government.
31. Sengoku Basara
- Director: Itsuro Kawasaki and Shin Itagaki.
- Writer: Yasuyuki Muto
- Cast: Sam Riegel, Liam O’ Brien as Ieyasu, Michael Sinterniklaas, Patrick Seitz, Travis Willingham, Vic Mignogna, Kazuya Nakai as Date Masamune.
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
- Watch it on: Funimation
This series revolves around the famous Demon King of Owari, Oda Nobunaga, who seems to be all-powerful and the biggest threat. To bring him down, two former enemies, Masamune and Sana Yukimura, comes together and take another general in their alliance to kill this Demond King and successfully do that in the first season.
The story further sees other leaders emerging with whom Masamune and Sana Yukimura must fight again to restore peace in their lands.
30. Senjou no Valkyria (Valkyria Chronicles)
- Director: Yasutaka Yamamoto
- Writer: Michiko Yokote
- Cast: Dave Wittenberg as Welkin Gunther, Colleen O’ Shaughnessey as Alicia Melchiott, Fred Tatasciore as Largo Potter, Hedy Burress as Rosie.
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Watch it on: Gogoanime, Crackle.
This series is a classic example of how thrilling a war anime can be. It depicts The East European Empire’s invasion of the enemy territory, the country of Gallia, because it was sure that the latter was not capable of restricting them. So, they waged war to get control over the mineral resource known as ragnite.
This series draws its inspiration highly from the Sega video game Valkyria Chronicles.
29. Heavy Object
- Directed by: Takashi Watanabe
- Writer: Hiroyuki Yoshino
- Cast: Morgan Garrett as Frolaytia, Micah Solusod as Havia Winchell, Justin Briner as Qwenthur, Alexis Tipton as Milina Brantini, Monica Rial as Ohoho, Wendy Powell as Ayami.
- IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
- Watch it on: Hulu, Funimation
Heavy Objects will take you to the future world. In the age of modern warfare and advanced technology, weapons are brilliantly built that are way more efficient than guns, tanks, or jets, and these weapons are called Objects.
It is full of action and thrillers and is considered one of the best anime of all time. There are many leaders and characters evident, and each of them has a unique role to play and enhance the plot.
28. Angolmois: Genko Kassen-Ki
- Director: Takayuki Kuriyama
- Writer: Nanahiko Takagi
- Cast: Yuki Ono as Kuchii Jinzaburo, Lynn as Teruhi, Kenji Nomura as Kazuhisa Shiraishi.
- IMDb Rating:7.1/10
- Watch it on: Crunchyroll.
The plot of this series highlights the lives of the prisoners who are let to live in Tsushima Island and ordered to help the defense against Mongol invasion against Japan in the year 1274.
They join several groups like the So clan and Toi Barai clan and fight against several races, namely Mongolians, Goryeos, and Jurchens.
27. Berserk
- Director: Shin Itagaki
- Writer: Kentaro Miura
- Cast: Sean Schemmel, Kevin T. Collins, Nobutoshi as Guts, Ikuya Sawaki, Michelle Newman, Toshiyuki Morikawa as Griffith, Yuko Miyamura.
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 87%
- Watch it on: Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Netflix.
At the beginning of the story, the audience witnesses a man named Guts, an excellent swordsman. He is seen joining The Band of the Hawk. However, he has constantly been searched and chased by several demons who are automatically drawn to him. This incident happened to him due to the brand on his neck. He wishes to get rid of these events and make his beloved Casca free too.
He also is on a quest to seek revenge on his once-good friend Griffith who betrayed him to acquire demonic powers. The gut has a giant named Dragon Slayer and a sword, the Elf Puck, who helps him accomplish his mission. This heroic legend makes Berserk a popular war anime.
26. Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta (The Pilot’s Love Song)
- Director: Toshimasa Suzuki
- Writer: Shinichi Inotsume
- Cast: Natsuki Hanae as Kal-el-Albus, Kaito Ishikawa as Ignacio Axis, Ayana Taketatsu as Ariel Albus, Aoi Yuki as Nina Viento.
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: NA
- Watch it on: Gogoanime, Crunchyroll
The Pilot’s Love Song plot is all about the protagonist, a Prince who lost everything during a revolution. He then takes the name of Karueru and embarks on a new journey to know the other perspectives and dimensions of life. He also comes across a girl he believes in symbolizing revolution and consists of drama, action, and romance throughout the series.
25. Gintama
- Directed by: Shinji Takamatsu and Yoichi Fujita
- Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya
- Cast: Tomokazu Sugita as Gintoki, Rie Kugimiya, Daisuke Sakaguchi, Akira Ishida, Kazuya Nakai,Susumu Chiba, Kenichi Suzumura,Satsuki Yukino, Akira Ishida,Tetsuharu Ota, Fumihiki Tachiki, Kujira.
- IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 72%
- Watch it on: Hulu, Netflix
Gintama is all about a handyman, Gintoki. He pays no heed to the rules that the invaders have created. He cares less and is ready to do any job to survive. However, it is to be remembered that he might not follow the rules, but he does follow the morale of a swordsman. He has several other companions as well, but the problem is, wherever they go, they create Chaos and trouble.
24. Land of The Lustrous
- Directed by: Takahiko Kyogoku
- Writer: Toshiya Ono
- Cast: In English, Sarah Wiedenheft as Phosphophyllite, Avery Smithhart as Cinnabar, Savanna Menzel as Diamond, Genevieve Simmons as Bort, Olivia Swasey as Morganite, Juliet Simmons as Goshenite.
- IMDb Rating: 8/10
- Watch it on: Prime Video
In this series, you can witness a glimpse of the future. New immortals seem to have emerged with no gender and are known as Gems. They are seen to have been thriving on Earth but are disturbed by the frequent invasion of the Lunarians, who come and attack them to use them as mere decorations.
Phos emerges as the protagonist of this series who is charged to gather a natural history as they cannot fight by themselves because of being so easily breakable.
23. Girls und Panzer
- Director: Tsutomu Mizushima
- Writer: Reiko Yoshida
- Cast: Caitlynn French as Hana Isuzu, Jessica Calvello as Saori Takabe, Meg McDonald as Miho Yoshizumi, Molly Searcy as Mako Reizei, Rebekah Stevens as Yukari Akiyama.
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Watch it on: Crunchyroll, Netflix
The series depicts Miho Nishizumi, the protagonist, being devasted by a past event, getting admitted to Oarai Girls High School, and avoiding Sensha-do. In her new school, she made new friends and led a good life until she heard that the school would set sensha to do at Oarai, and Miho, being experienced, must join it.
She did not pay much heed to it until she knew that if her school lost Sensha-do. It is a famous war anime and thus is a must-watch as well.
22. Jormungand
- Directed by: Keitaro Takahashi
- Writer: Yosuke Kuroda
- Cast: Anastasia Munoz as Koko, Carli Mosier, Christopher Bevins, Shizuka Ito, Hitoshi Yanai, Unsho Ishizuka as Lehm, Mutsumi Tamura as Jonah, Sayaka Ohara.
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Watch it on: Hulu, Amazon Prime
The story of this Anime focuses on Koko Hekmatyar, who is the chief of HCLI’s Europe/African weapon transport division. She hires Jonathan Mar, a mere child soldier and one of her bodyguards. However, Koko trusts Jonathan as an International arms dealer.
This series is considered one of the best war anime with an excellent story ever fabricated. However, the snuggling of weapons is indeed true, and this Anime reflects it.
21. Naruto: Shippuden
- Director: Hayato Date
- Writer: Masashi Kishimoto
- Cast: Maile Flanagan, Troy Baker as Yamato, Yuri Lowenthal as Sasuke Uchiha, Kate Higgins as Sakuro Haruno, Dave Wittenberg as Kakashi Hatake, and Junko Takeuchi as Naruto Uzumaki.
- IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 80%
- Watch it on: Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Amazon Prime.
Naruto: Shippuden revolves around the protagonist Naruto Uzumaki, who aims to become the greatest Hokage ever known. He wants constant attention and recognition from others and is a capable leader and the strongest Ninja of his village.
The protagonist does witness several challenges and eventually leaves his village to become more vital than ever and get well-trained.
20. Fate/Zero
- Directed by: Ei Aoki
- Writer: Akira Hiyama, Akihiro Yoshida
- Cast: Crispin Freeman as Kirei Kotomine, Kari Wahlgren as Saber, Rikiya Koyama as Kiritsugu Emiya, Ayako Kawasumi as Saber, sayaka Ohara as Irisviel, Joji Nakata as Kirei Kotomine, Bridget Hoffman.
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- Watch it on: Hulu, Netflix
Fate/Zero revolves around competition, where the winner can get the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail is a magical chalice capable of granting any wish. Several mages, notably seven mages, summons several souls from different ages to come and compete with one another and let their masters win. The magical tournament is said to be held in Fuyuki City in Japan.
Kiritsugu Emiya is the protagonist here who will compete, but how can he be a part of this competition? Will he win? Watch the series to know what happened further.
19. Legend of The Galactic Heroes
- Director: Keizou Shimizu
- Writer: Yoshiki Tanaka
- Cast: Ryo Horikawa as Reinhard von Lohengramm, Katsuji Mori as Wolfgang Mittermeyer, Nozomu Sasaki as Julian Mintz, Kei Tomiyama as Yang Wen-li, Yoshiko Sakakibara as Frederica Greenhill.
- IMDb Rating: 9/10
- Watch it on: Netflix, Funimation
Legend of the Galactic Heroes is an anime adaptation. It depicts a massive struggle between the Galactic Empire and Free Planets Alliance. There are several episodes, and there are an ample number of characters as well, and if you start watching the series, you will know that the war will not end soon.
It is an intergalactic war and is thrilling to watch. However, the situation gets better when two captions are assigned on each side. So, who wins and loses? Watch it and avoid further spoilers.
18. Great Pretender
- Directed by: Hiro Kaburagi and Ryoji Masuyama
- Writer: Ryota Kosawa
- Cast: Chiaki Kobayashi as Makoto, Junichi Suwabe as Laurent Thierry, Natsumi Fujiwara as Abigail Jones, Mie Sonozaki as Paula Dickins, Kausar Mohammed as Abigail Jones.
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 94%
- Watch it on: Netflix.
The story of Great Pretender is about a Japanese conman who works with his partner Kudo. They aim at tricking a Frenchman but fail to do and instead fall prey to them and get tricked. The series is full of comic scenes and is best to watch when you are thinking of having some quality time of your own. He then joins up with Laurent, whom he tries to deceive.
17. Modao Zushi
- Director: Xiong Ke and Ma Chendi
- Writer: Liang Sha, Liu Xing, Zhu Ke
- Cast: Kei Gambit as Lan Wangji, Jiang Bian as Lan Wangji, Ketsu Wei Wuxian, Hamdullah Saat as Hamdi.
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Watch it on: 4anime.
The series is all about the creation of the state of immortality. The humans of a fictional world are all resolved to fabricate a state of immortality and are doing their best, but the opposite quite happens.
Wei Wuxian is the main character of this series, and he deviates from the path of creating immortality and instead creates the Demonic Path. The series is highly intriguing, and the plot is also well-executed.
16. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
- Director: Mari Okada
- Writer: Mari Okada
- Cast: Cherami Leigh as Leila, Camden Carter, Ryan Shanahan as Ariel, Xanthe Huynh as Maquia, Barnaby Lafayette as Ariel, Spencer Rosen as Young Lang, Allegra Clark as Mido, Eddy Lee as Ariel, Kevin T. Collins as Krim.
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
- Watch it on: Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, and iTunes.
This is a unique film that mainly focuses on two worlds. A world where people ages very late and hence live for hundreds of years and another one, that is the usual one where time passes quite quickly. Maquia is upset though she knows she can live long. Her world, the land of lolph is invaded by the Mesarte army, and she somehow saves her and finds herself all alone in a dark forest.
She comes across an infant whose mother is dead and named Ariel. So she decides to raise him, and the story from then onwards narrates their journey about how Ariel grows up and gets aged, but Maquia does not.
15. Drifters
- Director: Kenichi Suzuki and Hitomi Ezoe
- Writer: Hideyuki Kurata
- Cast: Josh Grelle as Shimazu Toyohisa, Justin Briner as Nasu no Yoichi, Robert McCollum as Oda Nobunaga.
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Watch it on: Funimation, Crunchyroll
If you have missed watching Drifters, then you indeed missed watching one of the greatest war anime ever produced. The series brings several warriors and historical figures from different periods, the samurai Shimazu Toyohisa, Nasu the Ninja, a pilot from World War II, and an Imperial Japanese naval officer. Several of them have come together to wage a new war and destroy the Ends.
The story is full of action and fantasy, and not for a single second lets the audience get bored. The war is massive, so try to watch this Anime as soon as possible.
14. Violet Evergarden
- Director: Taichi Ishidate and Haruka Fujita
- Writer: Reiko Yoshida
- Cast: Yui Ishikawa as Violet Evergarden, Koki Uchiyama as Benedict Blue, Takehito Koyasu as Claudia Hodgins, Minori Chihara as Erica Brown, Daisuke Namikawa as Gilbert, Haruka Tomatsu as Iris Canary, Azusa Tadokoro as Luculia.
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 100%
- Watch it on Netflix, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video
After the great war ended, Violet Evergarden realized that she need not decimate anyone further and went to find a new purpose in her life. She joins CH Postal Services and knows about the Auto Memory Doll that transforms feelings into words.
She then starts working as an Auto Memory Doll and begins new adventures in her life and finds solace in them.
13. Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann
- Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Writer: Kazuki Nakashima
- Cast: Yuri Lowenthal as Simon, Sam Riegel as Viral, Johnny Yong Bosch as Rossiu, Karen Strassman as Kiyoh, Barbara Goodson Kunba, Steve Blum as Leeron Littner, Stephanie Sheh as Kinon, Marina Inoue as Yoko Littner, Kyle Hebert as Kamina, Jamieson Price as Spiral King, Michelle Ruff as Yoko Littner, Katsuyuki Konishi as Kamina, Christopher Corey Smith as Kittan and many more.
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 100%
- Watch it on: Netflix.
The story of this series highlights how Spiral King Lordgenome forcefully rules Earth and make humans thrive in subterranean villages or underground village. Of course, it is a fictional world, but the depiction will make you think it is accurate.
To get rid of such torture, Simon and Kamina, two young lads, wish to go beyond their land, especially to the surface. They use a mecha named Lagann and wage war and is considered one of the best mecha anime.
12. Dr. Stone: Stone Wars
- Director: Shinya lino
- Writer: Yuichiro Kido
- Cast: Akira Ishida as Hyoga, Tetsuo Kanao as Kokuyo, Yusuke Kobayashi as Senku Ishigama, Kaori Maeda as Sapphire, Tomoaki Maeno as Kinro, Ricco Fajardo as Taiju.
- IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings:
- Watch it on: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Prime Video
This anime series is one of a kind. The series shows how every human flesh got transformed into stone statues, and the whole human civilization got petrified after a sudden flash of light.
The protagonist of this series is Taiju, who awakes and finds himself amid several statues but luckily finds his friend Senku who is determined to revive human civilization.
11. Gate
- Director: Takahiko Kyogoku and Ryo Ando.
- Writer: Takumi Yanai
- Cast: Junichi Suwabe, Nao Toyama, Hisako Kanemoto, Risa Taneda, Haruka Tomatsu, Maaya Uchida, Kaito Ishikawa, Hiroki Yasumoto, Yoko Hikasa, Satomi Akesaka, Yumi Uchiyama.
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 67%
- Watch it on: Netflix, 4anime, Funimation
The gate is an exceptionally well-fabricated series that takes the audience to a fantasy world and has a lot of action to constantly arouse the viewers’ interest. In addition, the series shows the efficiency of the Japanese soldiers.
A gate unknown how opened to let the influx of monsters and soldiers who have come to the nation occupy it and started creating havoc. They kill everyone, whoever is coming their way, and control the situation. Yoji, the protagonist, along with the soldiers, is charged. Very few Anime are as good as this military Anime, and thus is a must-watch.
10. Grave of the Fireflies
- Director: Isao Takahata
- Writer: Akiyuki Nosaka
- Cast: Ayano Shiraishi as Setsuko, Tsutomu Tatsumi as Seita, Crispin Freman, Takeshi Sayama, J. Robert Spencer Seita, Veronica Taylor as Matka.
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating:95%
- Watch it on: Vudu, iTunes, Netflix.
The Cemetery of the Fireflies is a frightening look at some of the civilian casualties of the conflict between Japanese and American forces during World War Two, getting a little too near to reality.
In particular, it focuses on the modest lives of two kids who toil to get by on the rundown streets of a war-torn Japan. The thinned faces of the primary two children in the anime convey the exact reality of the fact that World War II was a conflict that was fatally violent.
9. Howl’s Moving Castle
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Writer: Diana Wynne Jones
- Cast: Christian Bale as Howl, Takuya Kimura as Wizard Howl, Chieko Baisho as Sophie Hatter, Emily Mortimer Sophie Hatter, Billy Crystal Calcifer, Ryunosuke as Marki, and more.
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
- Watch it on: Netflix.
Howl’s Moving Castle is one of a kind of Anime. In this film, a young girl named Sophie Hatter is cursed and changed into an older woman and asked to live like this her entire life. Ashamed of her appearance, she goes to Howl’s residence and there befriends Calcifer, who did assure to help her regain her original form and, in return, asks to free him from Howl.
On the other hand, Howl has a bad reputation but loves Sophie the way she is, irrespective of her ugly look. Sophie later is seen to be bringing life to Howl’s castle and also helps Howl to confront his former tutor named Madame Suliman.
8. Owari no Seraph (Seraph of the End)
- Director: Daisuke Tokudo
- Writer: Hiroshi Seko
- Cast: Saori Hayami as Shinoa Hiragi, Eric Vale as Ferid Bathory, Yuichi Nakamura as Guren Ichinose, Miyu Irino as Yuichiro Hyakuya, Jerry Jewell as Shinya Hiragi.
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Watch it on: Hulu, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
The story of Seraph of the End depicts a young lad named Yuichiro Hyakuya who is all set to wage war against the Vampires that have spread havoc in the lives of humans. The plot shows how a virus has killed many humans and let vampires rule the world.
Yuichiro joins the Japanese Imperial Demon Army to bring everything back to normal. The dramatic setting of this Anime has been highly praised and has successfully been included in the list of best war anime.
7. Princess Mononoke
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
- Cast: John DiMaggio as Gonza, John De Mita as Kohroku, Billy Crudup as Ashitaka, Keith David as Okkoto-Nushi, Gillian Anderson as Moro, Claire Danes as San, Billy Bob Thornton as Jiko-bo, and more.
- IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 93%
- Watch it on: Netflix.
The background of Princess Mononoke is the 1336 to 1573 period in Japan. The forest that has been featured in this Anime is also an actual place lying in the southern part of the country. Yakushima island inspired this Anime, which is the source of the fabrication of such a war anime.
The story revolves around Ashitaka, an Emishi prince who gets to be a part of the Chaos arising between the Gods on the one hand and the humans on the other. He tries to appease both sides but never seems to be eradicating it once and for all since it is impossible to do so.
6. One Piece
- Director: Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Munehisa Sakai, Hiroaki Miyamoto, Toshinori Fukazawa, Tatsuya Nagamine, Kohei Kureta, Aya Komaki, and Satoshi Ito.
- Writer: Eiichiro Oda
- Voice Cast: Collen Clinkenbeard and Mayumi Tanka as Monkey D.Luffy, Kazuya Nakai as Roronoa, Akemi Okamura as Nami, Hiroaki Hirata as Vinsmoke Sanji, Yuriko Yamaguchi as Nico Robin, Mari Yaguchi as Yoko, and many more.
- IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 87%
- Watch it on: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Funimation, and Crunchyroll.
The story of One Piece revolves around Monkey D. Luffy, who is made of rubber and is inspired hugely by a pirate popular as Red-Haired Shank. He respects and idolizes Shank to a great extent and quests to find the One Piece. He leaves the East Blue Sea and makes the audience a part of this virtual world.
There are a lot of adventures and mesmerizing events that make you watch a considerable number of episodes one at a go.
5. Youjo Senki (The Saga of Tanya the evil)
- Director: Yutaka Uemura
- Writer: Carlo Zen
- Cast: Shin-ichiro Miki, Tessho Genda, Daiki Hamano, Houchu Ohtsuka, Haruka Tomatsu, Tobita, Nobuo, Kenyu Horiuchi, Monica Rial and more.
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 75%
- Watch it on: Netflix, Funimation, Crunchyroll
The story of Youjo Senki is very much enjoyable. The story shows a salaryman who turns into a young girl named Tanya Degurechaff for being unfaithful. Now during this new life, if the young woman Tanya does not have a natural death or fails to have faith in him, The God, she will suffer in Hell for eternity. Her new life is in the World War I era, in Imperial Germany.
Tanya soon becomes good at her career and makes the mighty Empire all-powerful among the other nations.
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Director: Yasuhiro Irie
- Writer: Hiroshi Onogi
- Cast: Vic Mignogna as Edward Elric, Maxey Whitehead as Alphonse Elric, Travis Willingham as Roy Mustang, John Swasey as Hohenheim, Collen Clinkenbeard as Riza Hawkeye, J. Michael Tatum as Scar, and many more.
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 100%
- Watch it on: Netflix and Hulu.
Fullmetal alchemist brotherhood depicts the aim and determination of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, to bring back their mother to life after her death. They took every measure possible to fulfill this wish but failed miserably. As a result, they both suffer a lot and promise not to further indulge in any such trouble.
This Anime can be said to be one of the best Anime of all time, and to date, the audience does remember it. The story is unique and intriguing and is a must-watch.
3. Code Geass
- Director: Goro Taniguchi
- Writer: Ichiro Okouchi
- Cast: Jun Fukuyama as Lelouch, Johnny Yong Bosch, Takahiro Sakurai as Suzaku Kururugi, Yukana as C.C, Ami Koshimizu as Kallen Stadfeld, Peter Emshwiller and more.
- IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Watch it on: Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll
Code Geass is a popular anime series depicting how Japan lost its name and domination, though once being the most superior. The Holy Empire of Britain took every measure to curb Japan to such an extent that Japan became an insignificant nation from then onwards.
The story of Code Geass does not end here. An exiled prince named Lelouch vi Britannia comes forward and possesses a supernatural power with which he goes against Holy Britannian Empire. He gets involved in mecha battles, and thus Code Geass is an excellent mecha anime.
2. Attack on Titan
- Director: Tetsuro Araki, Masaki Koizuka, Yuchiro Hayashi, and Jun Shishido.
- Writer: Hajime Isayama
- Voice Cast: Yuki Kaji as Eren Yeager, Yui Ishikawa as Mikasa, Marina Inoue as Armin Arlert, Hiroshi Kamiya as Levi, Kisho Taiyama as Jean Kirstein, and many more.
- IMDb Rating: 9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 96%
- Watch it on: Netflix, Hulu, Funimation Now, and Crunchyroll.
In Attack on Titan, the story focuses on Eren Jaeger, who is determined to kill every titan that has created havoc in the entire human race. The Titans are giant invading creatures who are hard to kill. Eren witnessed the mass killing of people and even the death of his mother and thus sought to bring peace and seek revenge.
But there is more than what is seen in Attack on Titan. This Anime is fabricated to show the civil war within the Eldian Empire. This war anime remains one of the best Anime of all time and is a must-watch.
1. Vinland Saga
- Director: Shuhei Yabuta
- Writer: Hiroshi Sugita, Kenta Ihara
- Cast: Naoya Uchida as Askeladd, Kenichiro Matsuda, Yuto Uemura, Atsushi Ono, Shizuka Ishigani as Thorfinn, Akio Otsuka, and more
- IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
- Watch it on: Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Vinland Saga is a classic example of war anime, and true war anime fans consider this the best that vividly portrayed the 1013 AD era. The story revolves around England, devastated by Danish King Sweyn Forkbeard.
The anime adaptation of that situation is accurate in Vinland Saga. It depicted the Chaos between King Sweyn’s two sons, Prince Harald and Prince Canute, over who will be the next ruler. Several historical accounts have been shown here and show Thorfinn as the protagonist who wants to seek revenge for his father’s death. It is one of the best war anime.
Conclusion
Anime has become a popular and one of the most loved forms of entertainment in the contemporary era. Children love to watch Anime especially, so creating war anime has dramatically able to provide them and adults with an idea about war and its reasons and impacts. There is many other Anime that vividly shows how knowing about one’s nation and its emergence is essential. The actions, horrors, and adventures are all a part of the incident years back.
War Anime is mainly inspired by actual events that might have gotten lost if not revived and shown to the audience. One can get to know accurate details of Japanese culture through these forms of Anime. It is a brilliant way to learn new things, and thus, the demand has also increased rapidly.
