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a collage of six samurai anime

11 Best Anime Featuring Samurai

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In the mood for some blade, honor, and chaos? Hunting down some of the best anime featuring samurai just got easier. The samurai archetype is absolutely fascinating, but the number of anime you can find in this niche is abysmally low compared to your generic shounen. 

Worry not! There are plenty of anime creators who absolutely love the whole concept of wandering warriors torn between honor and survival, redemption and revenge, tradition and rebellion. Under their creative, you’ve got plenty of fan-beloved samurai series that promise stylized action, slow-burn storytelling, as well as historical grit.

Here’s a look at some of the most acclaimed shows that define this timeless genre.

11 Best Anime Featuring Samurai That You Must Watch

1. Samurai Champloo (2004–2005)

A smirking Mugen in the process of taking out his sword

Edo-era Japan meets hip-hop? Now that’s a combo no one was prepared for. But Samurai Champloo does it so well that it completely redefined the genre.

The story follows Mugen, a wild fighter, and Jin, a calm ronin, as they travel with a girl named Fuu. Together, they chase a mystery and always leave chaos everywhere they go.

What is unique about this anime? Well, it has rhythm. Every sword fight moves to the beat of lo-fi tracks by Nujabes, making every scene feel alive, modern, and emotional.

2. Rurouni Kenshin (1996–1998/Remake 2023)

Himura Kenshin fighting his rival Shinomori Aoshi

Our protagonist, Kenshin Himura, is a former assassin with a vow to uphold. He swore never to kill again. To honor his intentions, he carries a reverse-blade sword, protecting others without taking lives.

However, peace does not come easily to someone whose past has a bounty on it. Just reach the Kyoto Arc, and you’ll understand why this anime is a fan-favorite.

3. Blade of the Immortal (2019)

Someone being stabbed in the back in the dark under the moonlight

Curses are never easy to deal with, and no one knows that better than Manji. This disgraced ronin has been cursed with immortality until he can kill 1,000 evil men. Gritty, isn’t it?

Well, if you love anime that is brutal, messy, but still deeply human, then this one is for you. The fights are absolutely brutal, fast, bloody, but stunningly beautiful to watch.

4. Gintama (2006–2021)

Gintoki Sakata (right) clashing with his former comrade and primary antagonist, Shinsuke Takasugi (left)

Think of the first three things that come to your mind when you think of samurai anime. Do any of these three things contain aliens and fourth-wall jokes? Probably not.

But Gintama has these, and in all rights, the concepts shouldn’t work together. But they do. Really well, to say the least. In fact, they work so well that this anime is considered one of the best samurai anime ever made.

5. Dororo (2019)

Hyakkimaru all bloody and in the middle of a fight

What is Dororo about? Well, it’s about a child born without body parts, a father who sold them to demons for power, and a boy’s long journey to take them back. If you thought that was intense, wait till you start the anime.

Out of all the samurai anime on this list, this is perhaps the most tragic, eerie, and stunningly beautiful. The journey that you go through as you watch the protagonist Hyakkimaru regain his humanity piece by piece, both physically and emotionally, is worth it.

6. Afro Samurai (2007)

Afro Samurai, the stoic, katana-wielding protagonist of the anime series, in a dynamic pose.

Afro Samurai is just pure energy in anime form. The story follows Afro, a silent swordsman chasing the man who killed his father, in a world where power comes from a single headband.

The entire anime is a stylish explosion of revenge and rhythm. Slick animation style combined with legendary music by RZA of Wu-Tang Clan is bound to draw you in. If that wasn’t enough, Afro is voiced by none other than Samuel L. Jackson!

Once you get over the pomp, you’ll notice the pain that lies underneath it all because Afro’s journey is filled with loneliness and bloody revenge. This anime will keep you completely enraptured.

7. House of Five Leaves (2010)

A close-up of the anime character Yaichi from the series House of Five Leaves, who has a white and brown cat with blue eyes sitting on his left shoulder.

If quiet, moody, and character-driven samurai stories draw you in, then this one will be perfect for you. Follow the timid ronin, Masanosuke, who gets pulled into a mysterious kidnapping group. 

The anime is slow, subtle, and strangely comforting. While it is more about people than sword fights, the tension still remains at all times.

8. Sword of the Stranger (2007)

A wandering swordsman, identified as Nanashi from the anime movie Sword of the Stranger, stands by a body of water in a rural village setting. He has dark, spiky hair, a straw hat, and wears traditional Japanese clothing. A sheathed katana is visible at his waist. The background features simple wooden structures and mountains.

Sometimes, a standalone film is all you need. Sword of the Stranger follows a nameless ronin who has to escort a boy while also dodging assassins. 

Every sword fight in this is pure animation gold. In fact, the final battle is hands down one of the best choreographed duels in anime history.

9. Shigurui: Death Frenzy (2007)

An anime image from the series Shigurui: Death Frenzy showing a swordsman, likely Irako Seigen, holding another figure in a dramatic pose outside a traditional Japanese building. The scene depicts the intense, dark martial arts drama of the Edo era story.

If dark and disturbing anime strikes your interest, dive into a brutal world of ambition, obsession, and violent swordsmanship. Shigurui is not for the faint-hearted. It is raw, gruesome, fearlessly pushing realism and tension to the max.

10. Yasuke (2021)

A muscular, dark-skinned man with a beard and topknot, wearing blue and white traditional Japanese clothing, looks intensely to the left in a forest. A glowing, bloodied sword blade is visible in the foreground.

When stories take inspiration from real history and give them the anime spin, you know you’re in for a treat. Watch the story of the African samurai Yasuke as he navigates a world of mechs, magic, and demons.

While some people love the wild mix, others find it overstimulating. However, every viewer agrees on one thing – that this visually striking masterpiece is different from your usual samurai anime.

11. Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion (2018)

A still from the anime Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion showing a group of Japanese warriors, most armed with bows, surrounding a central female character in a yellow and pink kimono.

The last anime on this list is one that is grounded. The historical grit will make any history buff a happy person. 

Follow the story of exiled warriors defending Tsushima against the Mongols. This anime is the perfect blend of war drama and personal survival. The rough and textured art makes the setting perfect.

Why We Love Some of the Best Anime Featuring Samurai

Let’s set aside the fact that the concept of samurai is just cool and really dive into the reason why these stories feel so captivating. The reason is relatability. Samurai stories mimic the human struggles that we all go through in our lives.

These stories remind us that honor doesn’t come from victory. It comes from how you choose to stand when everything else falls apart.

So grab your headphones, pick your warrior, and dive in. These anime featuring samurai are not only about action but also about lessons in life, loyalty, and what it means to fight for something that matters.

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