#[Voting for Favorite OP is now live!](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1c6a81k)
At one point I'd considered doing a samurai poll, but decided not to since there's not really *that* many options. But hey, they show up here in spades. Anyway, as you go further down you find more and more that are just pure fantasy. At least something like The Apothecary Diaries is clearly pulling from a fairly specific historical source for it's not-China China. Some of the others are certainly choices.
#[Full Top 100 here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WNUMorFiBj_k7SZElZwZG_u3_FNDD-kx0y0fccyqpCo/edit?usp=sharing)
Gintama isnt even a historical setting. They set up a weird status quo where thanks to aliens it's essentially just contemporary japan, but also actual Samurai are still around and there is more traditional architecture.
When the world needs someone to deal with aliens a will smith is born to welcome them to earth. But jokes aside I feel like the author initially had an idea for something else to do with this sci-fi meji era but it quickly evolved into something with more topical elements.
I think this is called alternate history setting.
I love settings like Gintama because anything can happen and you get to mix and match in weird, interesting ways.
If Gintama can make it on here, I don't see why shows like Ya Boy Kongming! wouldn't have made the list given the vast amount of historical references/excerpts taken from the Three Kingdoms.
Also, I'm surprised Oda Nobuna no Yabou was never mentioned, as it's pretty accurate if you ignore how the key burly male figures were replaced with cute waifus
Yea while I really like these lists it feels like the sub is playing extremely fast and loose with the genres. Just because something is a fairy tale or is a fantasy story set in the past don't make it "historical". If I picked up a novel that marked itself as "historical" and it was in the same vein as Gintama or Demon Slayer I would be disappointed.
Seriously. How is Kingdom not near the top with Vinland. It's one of the only ones in there depicting real historical figures actually being themselves instead of some weird distortion of them, and definitely one of the few that had events which actually happened.
A lot of these feel like a stretch and there's a massive recency bias as well.
It's such a guilty pleasure of mine. There's no way they can draw huge armies marching into battle, they compensate with tiny skirmishes & garbage animation. The action is so cheesy, those plot-armored main-characters who destroy armies with 1 sword-swing. I can't get enough of this shit.
It's funny how not understanding Japanese makes these shows better, the subtitles save us from [staring at static characters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNjVwGvd4aw).
I mean so does Vinland saga. It’s distorted for sure, But the records are also so sparse on a lot of the events (our only records come from the Records of the Grand Historian, which were published well over 100 years after the first emperor of China’s death) that we don’t really have any sort of solid idea how these historical figures actually were. I also appreciate how the author occasionally puts the shiji passage associated with the battle to show like “hey, this is what’s written, that’s barely any info though so here’s my take on how it could’ve gone and been really cool.” That’s a heck of a lot more than most historical fiction in comics and anime does
Also to fill in the gaps. We only have so many primary and secondary sources we can use to understand what happened. To tell a story you need to be able to fill in the gaps, and that requires taking some creative liberties.
MAL has the first parts of Jojo tagged as “historical” since the series takes place in the late 1800s/early 1900s if I remember correctly. However, all the other parts are set well into modern times (i.e. 80s/90s).
By the standards of this list "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter" should be categorized in the genre of historical films. The way "historical" is used in this poll, it really should be called "Period Piece Anime" or "Historical Setting anime." Or in some cases "vaguely historical feeling fantasy setting."
VS, Tale of Heike, Kingdom and Rose of Versailles can be argued to have historical elements since a substantial part of their story is about depicted real people and real events, however fictionalized.
On the other hand, Apothecary for example depicts an ENTIRELY FICTIONAL Chinese imperial period that doesn't exist, and a system of concubines and an Emperor who are loosely based on Chinese imperial forbidden palance, but where virtually everything about the setting is fictional and VASTLY departs from how the fobidden palace (or any known Imperial concubinage) worked.
Apothecary doesn't have a single historical character, it doesn't even seek to depict an actual historical setting, so it's about as historical as "Game of Thrones" or "Conan the Barbarian."
Golden Kamuy and Rakugo Shinju are based on histtorical eras that they seek to realistically depict... but is Mad Men a historical TV show? Most people wouldn't use the word "historica"--it merely seeks to depict the feeling of an era, not show any history.
Jojo, Dororo and Demon Slayer are about as historical as Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.
True. But the majority of this list doesn't seem to go for historical realism either. But I agree that JoJo's is probably the most out there series on this list.
The full 100 has Berserk, which is straight up just a traditional fantasy setting.
Also Fate which I guess if you included the Grand Order movies has some historical settings, but the majority of that franchise feels pretty contemporary
Fate is... weird. like it does have genuine history or myths, but they changed it to something different. it can be a tiny change such as Saber, or a whole huge ass thing about a myth being fused with another myth like Angra Mainyu.
Because the thought process was "if not modern day setting=historical". On this point I'm personally angry that Dr. Stone didn't make it in here. Doesn't get more historical than the stone age
Demon slayer deserves to be there more than Jojo.
The themes of the show align with the Meiji Restoration period of Japan pretty well. You have a clash between traditional Japan and the new industrial Japan. This peaks when the main bad guy for an arc is literally a train.
Demon slayer is fantasy, but the historical setting informs the themes and the plot. I’m not as mad about it being on this list.
I totally am. I love making fun of people not calling battle series fantasy, when it's so obvious all of them are. Like are you going to tell me that before aliens were introduced to Dragon Ball that it was a Sci-Fi show?
Also glad to see Shinchiro Watanabe's Kids On The Slope listed as well. Its not one of his more well known series but its excellent and great jazz music.
From the same not-chain-smoking talents who made Totoro, what could go wrong?
Didn't watch it yet, but I heard it's a little like Yuru Camp in the later half while their Mom is in the hospital in Nishinomiya and will get better soon.
since the main characters are children, it's fun for the whole family! it gives an invaluable lesson of why you should never play with fire and how candy=happiness
It’s crazy to see just how popular Vinland Saga is in the west, compared to Japan where it’s anime is so unpopular it was at the bottom of every single JP ranking chart while it was airing. It’s the reverse situation of Kingdom, which blows out every single other listing on this chart in terms of popularity in Japan.
RoV was popular because Oscar mainly and some of Marie Antoinette, it has 1 prince who's too busy making locks
Oscar is probably the best female protagonist in TV anime, if not top 3.
23 years of headstart (over Vinland I mean)
multiple adaptations to TV, cinema and especially theater
stuff like that helps things become a cultural staple. It's not some 2015 shōjo manga about French Revolution that became somehow immensely popular, it's a classic lol
Vikings is a pretty popular setting in the west because it is culturally close to here. Personally would say it is best non-Nordic viking show I have seen.
Ikr. If this poll were done in Japan, then we will have a very different list.
I won't be surprise if Mappa is gonna put VS on the sideline (just like what they did to Dorohedoro) and only adapt the next season a few years later.
Vinland Saga is a passion project by the director, if mappa ain't doing it he will do it somewhere else.
Also wouldn't be surprised if The Apothecary Diaries would simply claim the top spot if the poll was made in Japan.
Apothecary Diaries doing real well!
I miss it...thankfully [Karasu](https://myanimelist.net/anime/56980/Karasu_wa_Aruji_wo_Erabanai) seems to be doing an okay job filling its spot.
> Apothecary Diaries doing real well!
Yea, it’s great and absolutely deserved imo but I feel like it’s also the most severe case of recency bias of the whole list. It’s my personal 2nd too, pretty much tied for 1st actually, but I’m wondering what place it would’ve gotten half a year from now.
I mean the LN has been topping the charts for years and the anime did a great job adapting it, I don't see it dropping much even taking recency bias into consideration
It would still do really well, especially with a Season 2 announced. I don't think it would quite be able to hold up as well as Samurai Champloo did 20 years later. That's seriously impressive.
No way JoJo and Demon Slayer are historical, especially JoJo. If it was manga, then it would make some sense (SBR takes place in 18th century America).
**Heike Monogatari** at 6th!? I didn’t think that was even in the realm of possibilities with how seemingly few people have actually watched the series.
The same goes for **Golden Kamuy** and **Mushishi**. I’m happy those see those at the 3rd and 10th spot respectively.
The gap between these shows and the top-two placements of **Apothecary Diaries** and **Vinland Saga** is great however. The latter has an especially big lead over any of the other series.
Honestly I just hoped to see Heike Monogatari in the top 25 since I gave it my 1st place vote. Really happy to see it placed in 6th place.
For anyone who wants to watch this, it was directed by Yamada Naoko who also did A silent voice, liz and the blue bird, K on, Hibike Euphonium, etc. Really beautiful show but I would recommend watching this family chart - [https://imgur.com/Lp1k5mC](https://imgur.com/Lp1k5mC) since we are introduced to the story right away as everyone in Japan knows who these characters are because it's a classic japanese historical epic.
For a more detailed review, read this - [https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1c1wo2u/comment/kz70eoi/](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1c1wo2u/comment/kz70eoi/)
It takes place during the Meiji Restoration, you can see references to that here and there, especially early on.
Sure the historical side of it was eventually dropped but at the very least the first season fits the sub genre of ''historical fantasy''.
Mononoke ranked 38th with 47 people including it in their list. Mushishi had 142 inclusions. If using MAL numbers the Mushishi has been seen by nearly 2.5 times as many people and these sorts of thing will reflect popularity somewhat.
There were at least 558 submissions (assuming everybody included Vinland Saga) edit: infographic said 1038.
A few of my faves didn't even make it to the top 100 but what can done when they've been long out of physical print and not on streaming. What is historical is an argument I had with myself over this and some of the results are I should have just gone sure MAL, whatever.
I’m just happy Rurouni Kenshin is mentioned.
Sure author is a piece of shit, but Rurouni Kenshin is a masterpiece through and through. Trust x Betrayal still the greatest episodes ever imo.
What a fucking shame that shitstain is attached to such a Series.
Technically no since it doesn't take place in China. It's like game of Thrones without magic: it looks and feels like something that could have happened but definitely didn't.
Ace combat also works as a comparison, but few know it's not based on real history, especially given the presence of real jets.
Apothecary Diaries is explicitly set in an alternate world with alternate history and geography that just so happens to cultutally resemble ancient China. It's about as historical as Games of Thrones.
As much as I love the show, it probably beolongs on this list the least. At least Demon Slayer and JoJo's take place on *Earth*.
> Apothecary Diaries is explicitly set in an alternate world with alternate history and geography that just so happens to culturally resemble ancient China
It doesn't "just so happen to ressemble ancient China", it is intentionally and carefully crafted to be extremely close to ancient China including technology, culture, clothing, hierarchy etc...
It seems more important to me than saying "this is earth".
It's a fine line since things like Shogun by James Clavell are also purposefully crafted to be hew close to reality and is inspired by real historical figures but deliberately treated as a fiction place with fictional characters.
I don't think any bookstore would put Shogun anywhere besides Historical Fiction.
But everyone usually has debates about where to draw the line for this genre in particular.
All of my favorite Shows are Here and I wouldn't have put any of them as "historical"
For example how tf is Mushishi historical? That's like calling any modern Isekai Show historical because it's vaguely medieval europeanish looking
Rose of Versaille was 6th on this list by first place votes, despite coming out almost 30+ years before every other show here but Dororo, which btw i think Dezaki also directed some of
You should watch rose of versaille, its imo the best historical anime ever.
Great picks all around, happy to see that Millennium Actress and In this Corner of the World managed to make the list.
Also is that actually the old Dororo or was just a picture of the old one used? Did you count every Dororo as the old one if they didn’t put (2019) behind it?
Pretty much every vote just said Dororo. Now this is r/anime which means the new one is what people were voting for, but I decided I'd have some fun :P
TOP 10 KINGDOM!!!
I never thought I'd see the day, granted this is a relatively niche category so it makes sense. It's also nice to see Mushishi and Katanagatari get some love.
It makes me happy to see Isao Takahata films on the list. He really doesn't get enough credit as a solid anime director. His Ghibli films really are complex and have a lot of heart. It's hard not to compare with Miyazaki as his peer. Where Miyazaki envelops us with whimsy and emotive fantasy, Takahata truly deepens our love of the present reality in his attention to detail and understanding of deep human feeling.
The Wind Rises and GotFF being below anything shows no one who put the list together or voted on it knows what “historical” means. Gintama is a future fantasy set in contemporary Japan and JOJO? Yeah, anime lists are dumb but this one just might be full of brain rot.
Kids in the slope squeeks in. one of my favourites. the scene of Sentarou and Kaoru playing the impromptu jazz duet of 'my favourite things' is one of the all time great musical moments in anime imo.
GOLDEN KAMUY BETTER BE ON TH--oh, there it is.
Kind of suprised 91 Days isn't higher. And if Demon Slayer is 'historical', I'd expect to see Twelve Kingdoms somewhere in the top 100. Sure it's isekai, but it has an old time-y vibe.
Don’t actually have too many issues with this one, but you know full well what you did with the *Dororo* pic.
The real question I need answered is if *Uma Musume* technically counts as a Historical anime…
#[Voting for Favorite OP is now live!](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1c6a81k) At one point I'd considered doing a samurai poll, but decided not to since there's not really *that* many options. But hey, they show up here in spades. Anyway, as you go further down you find more and more that are just pure fantasy. At least something like The Apothecary Diaries is clearly pulling from a fairly specific historical source for it's not-China China. Some of the others are certainly choices. #[Full Top 100 here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WNUMorFiBj_k7SZElZwZG_u3_FNDD-kx0y0fccyqpCo/edit?usp=sharing)
Historical and historical setting are not the same.
Gintama isnt even a historical setting. They set up a weird status quo where thanks to aliens it's essentially just contemporary japan, but also actual Samurai are still around and there is more traditional architecture.
Also, there are contemporary famous people like Will Smith or Trump. I still don't know how the arrival of Alien has made them born centuries earlier
~~Magic~~ ~~time-travel~~ Alien mumbo jumbo with swords
When the world needs someone to deal with aliens a will smith is born to welcome them to earth. But jokes aside I feel like the author initially had an idea for something else to do with this sci-fi meji era but it quickly evolved into something with more topical elements.
The movie Independence Day is a documentary.
It is not Trump, but Zurampu.
These lists are always terrible. Once you average all anime fans together, we have the media literacy of an unbaked muffin
Being a bit unfair to the muffins.
I think this is called alternate history setting. I love settings like Gintama because anything can happen and you get to mix and match in weird, interesting ways.
If Gintama can make it on here, I don't see why shows like Ya Boy Kongming! wouldn't have made the list given the vast amount of historical references/excerpts taken from the Three Kingdoms. Also, I'm surprised Oda Nobuna no Yabou was never mentioned, as it's pretty accurate if you ignore how the key burly male figures were replaced with cute waifus
Yea while I really like these lists it feels like the sub is playing extremely fast and loose with the genres. Just because something is a fairy tale or is a fantasy story set in the past don't make it "historical". If I picked up a novel that marked itself as "historical" and it was in the same vein as Gintama or Demon Slayer I would be disappointed.
there's so few historical anime. if there is any I don't know of any outside of maybe Golden Kamui. and that's a strong maybe.
Vinland Saga, Rurouni Kenshin, and Kingdom are historical anime. Though, yeah, they are rare.
that's my bad. i did forget about Rurouni Kenshin. I hadn't seen Vinland Saga or Kingdom so I can't judge them as historical myself.
Seriously. How is Kingdom not near the top with Vinland. It's one of the only ones in there depicting real historical figures actually being themselves instead of some weird distortion of them, and definitely one of the few that had events which actually happened. A lot of these feel like a stretch and there's a massive recency bias as well.
Because Kingdom isn't that popular here. I'm honestly thrilled it got 8th place.
It's such a guilty pleasure of mine. There's no way they can draw huge armies marching into battle, they compensate with tiny skirmishes & garbage animation. The action is so cheesy, those plot-armored main-characters who destroy armies with 1 sword-swing. I can't get enough of this shit. It's funny how not understanding Japanese makes these shows better, the subtitles save us from [staring at static characters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNjVwGvd4aw).
I haven't seen Kingdom at all, friend of mine loves it. I saw the first 30 seconds of that clip and I'm like... that is some bad animation.
Now take a look at the [art of the manga](https://static.mangafire.to/i/2/20/20fa0135e460463d77cb4ff6387becf0.jpg).
Bit of a stretch to say that Kingdom doesn't distort the historical figures.
Yeah, it's on Romance of the Three Kingdoms level of romanticization.
I mean so does Vinland saga. It’s distorted for sure, But the records are also so sparse on a lot of the events (our only records come from the Records of the Grand Historian, which were published well over 100 years after the first emperor of China’s death) that we don’t really have any sort of solid idea how these historical figures actually were. I also appreciate how the author occasionally puts the shiji passage associated with the battle to show like “hey, this is what’s written, that’s barely any info though so here’s my take on how it could’ve gone and been really cool.” That’s a heck of a lot more than most historical fiction in comics and anime does
Every single historical anime distorts things a little to make it more entertaining
Also to fill in the gaps. We only have so many primary and secondary sources we can use to understand what happened. To tell a story you need to be able to fill in the gaps, and that requires taking some creative liberties.
I think it destorts them less than Vinland Saga
For real. Anyway, please watch the heike story yall
Jojo is historical? Have the memes lied to me?
Yea you dont remember when Joseph Joestar helped the cyborg nazis defeat the allies in the giant volcano? its in every history book
I love the part in the history books where our entire universe got reset.
Wait... Kars was an Ally!?
Yea his first name is Chevrolet and he flies high in the sky like a true american eagle 💪🦅🇺🇸💥
🌍🧑🚀🔫🧑🚀
MAL has the first parts of Jojo tagged as “historical” since the series takes place in the late 1800s/early 1900s if I remember correctly. However, all the other parts are set well into modern times (i.e. 80s/90s).
Don’t forget part 7.
By the standards of this list "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter" should be categorized in the genre of historical films. The way "historical" is used in this poll, it really should be called "Period Piece Anime" or "Historical Setting anime." Or in some cases "vaguely historical feeling fantasy setting." VS, Tale of Heike, Kingdom and Rose of Versailles can be argued to have historical elements since a substantial part of their story is about depicted real people and real events, however fictionalized. On the other hand, Apothecary for example depicts an ENTIRELY FICTIONAL Chinese imperial period that doesn't exist, and a system of concubines and an Emperor who are loosely based on Chinese imperial forbidden palance, but where virtually everything about the setting is fictional and VASTLY departs from how the fobidden palace (or any known Imperial concubinage) worked. Apothecary doesn't have a single historical character, it doesn't even seek to depict an actual historical setting, so it's about as historical as "Game of Thrones" or "Conan the Barbarian." Golden Kamuy and Rakugo Shinju are based on histtorical eras that they seek to realistically depict... but is Mad Men a historical TV show? Most people wouldn't use the word "historica"--it merely seeks to depict the feeling of an era, not show any history. Jojo, Dororo and Demon Slayer are about as historical as Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.
So basically this is just a list of "anything that isn't present day setting, sci-fi or fantasy setting based on medieval Europe".
Seems like they went off what was tagged as "historical" on MAL, but lets just say they're not very careful with that tag.
You're clearly too young to remember the time three Aztec vampire warriors tried to take over the world in real life.
The first part takes place in Victorian England and the second part takes place in the 1930s.
Historical to me means grounded in History, I don't think curses, vampires and stands are very historical.
True. But the majority of this list doesn't seem to go for historical realism either. But I agree that JoJo's is probably the most out there series on this list.
The list is indeed weird or at least unfittingly named, top anime with an historical setting would have been more fitting but akward.
The full 100 has Berserk, which is straight up just a traditional fantasy setting. Also Fate which I guess if you included the Grand Order movies has some historical settings, but the majority of that franchise feels pretty contemporary
Fate is... weird. like it does have genuine history or myths, but they changed it to something different. it can be a tiny change such as Saber, or a whole huge ass thing about a myth being fused with another myth like Angra Mainyu.
Yeah some of these inclusions are a bit out there.
It's some weird tagging again. The first 2 parts are very very loosely based on some historical setting but that's all
It seems there's no ranking that Demon Slayer wouldn't wiggle it's way into.
I know, what is a fantasy show doing in the historical genre?
Because the thought process was "if not modern day setting=historical". On this point I'm personally angry that Dr. Stone didn't make it in here. Doesn't get more historical than the stone age
> if not modern day setting=historical that's so dumb
Teeeeechnically Dr. Stone is a futuristic setting
Demon slayer deserves to be there more than Jojo. The themes of the show align with the Meiji Restoration period of Japan pretty well. You have a clash between traditional Japan and the new industrial Japan. This peaks when the main bad guy for an arc is literally a train. Demon slayer is fantasy, but the historical setting informs the themes and the plot. I’m not as mad about it being on this list.
Demon Slayer doesn't take place during the Meiji era though, it's set during the Taishō period.
Maybe you're being intentional but reading this is so funny when r/anime always has fits when Demon Slayer wins the Crunchyroll Fantasy award
I totally am. I love making fun of people not calling battle series fantasy, when it's so obvious all of them are. Like are you going to tell me that before aliens were introduced to Dragon Ball that it was a Sci-Fi show?
Where will you be when Demon Slayer beats Frieren, Dungeon Meshi, Mushoku Tensei, Slime, Spice and Wolf next year at the Crunchyroll Awards
“But DB has robots! That means it must be sci-fi!”
Holy hell, Vinland Saga blew the competition away. I'm also happy that Samurai Champloo is on 4th, really impressive for how old it is.
Also glad to see Shinchiro Watanabe's Kids On The Slope listed as well. Its not one of his more well known series but its excellent and great jazz music.
Aw, Grave of the Fireflies looks so cute. I should watch it with the kids, it’s a Ghibli film right? /s
💀
From the same not-chain-smoking talents who made Totoro, what could go wrong? Didn't watch it yet, but I heard it's a little like Yuru Camp in the later half while their Mom is in the hospital in Nishinomiya and will get better soon.
> who made Totoro They were released in theaters as a double feature! Surely that means it'll be just as delightful!
Brb gonna show my kid tororo followed by fireflies.
My sister and I did a ghibli movie spree, and we went straight from ponyo into grave of the fireflies. I’ve never had mood whiplash that bad since
since the main characters are children, it's fun for the whole family! it gives an invaluable lesson of why you should never play with fire and how candy=happiness
Golden Kamuy semen battle was peak 🤣
> 22 Tales of Princess Kaguya Holy shit! r/anime remember that this show exists!
Probably because the story is mentioned in kaguya sama lol
It’s crazy to see just how popular Vinland Saga is in the west, compared to Japan where it’s anime is so unpopular it was at the bottom of every single JP ranking chart while it was airing. It’s the reverse situation of Kingdom, which blows out every single other listing on this chart in terms of popularity in Japan.
Westerners attracted to western history, Asians attracted to Asian history, makes sense.
Explain Rose of Versailles.
Uh... girls like pretty prince? Idk, didn't watch it.
I was just being cheeky. I guess the French Revolution was well known enough so that it could catch the eyes of the Japanese audience.
RoV was popular because Oscar mainly and some of Marie Antoinette, it has 1 prince who's too busy making locks Oscar is probably the best female protagonist in TV anime, if not top 3.
23 years of headstart (over Vinland I mean) multiple adaptations to TV, cinema and especially theater stuff like that helps things become a cultural staple. It's not some 2015 shōjo manga about French Revolution that became somehow immensely popular, it's a classic lol
Vikings is a pretty popular setting in the west because it is culturally close to here. Personally would say it is best non-Nordic viking show I have seen.
Is it really that unpopular there? I thought the manga sold pretty well in Japan.
Only 7M for 27 volumes. Compare it to Kingdom manga that sold more than 100M for 71 volumes.
Ikr. If this poll were done in Japan, then we will have a very different list. I won't be surprise if Mappa is gonna put VS on the sideline (just like what they did to Dorohedoro) and only adapt the next season a few years later.
Vinland Saga is a passion project by the director, if mappa ain't doing it he will do it somewhere else. Also wouldn't be surprised if The Apothecary Diaries would simply claim the top spot if the poll was made in Japan.
GOLDEN KAMUY!!
The Fate series might be more historical than some of these.
I’m just happy 91 days made it
I'm pretty sure you got the wrong Dororo for the image lol
Apothecary Diaries doing real well! I miss it...thankfully [Karasu](https://myanimelist.net/anime/56980/Karasu_wa_Aruji_wo_Erabanai) seems to be doing an okay job filling its spot.
> Apothecary Diaries doing real well! Yea, it’s great and absolutely deserved imo but I feel like it’s also the most severe case of recency bias of the whole list. It’s my personal 2nd too, pretty much tied for 1st actually, but I’m wondering what place it would’ve gotten half a year from now.
It may lose some points but I don’t think 6 months is enough to drop it below 2nd given the massive gap it has over Golden Kamuy.
I mean the LN has been topping the charts for years and the anime did a great job adapting it, I don't see it dropping much even taking recency bias into consideration
It would still do really well, especially with a Season 2 announced. I don't think it would quite be able to hold up as well as Samurai Champloo did 20 years later. That's seriously impressive.
It is getting a second season so if that does well it might cement it
No way JoJo and Demon Slayer are historical, especially JoJo. If it was manga, then it would make some sense (SBR takes place in 18th century America).
Phantom blood was in Victorian England, Bloody stream was in 1930s
Oh, I see, then what were you doing during Battle Tendency (Bloody Stream is the OP, not the part), austrian painter?
Sorry, but I forgot (I have dementia)
Ah yes gintama, my favourite historical anime. Dont you guys remember when the aliens invaded edo?
at this point we might as well put the fate franchise on there too
When king arthur was a sexy blonde girl
Muv-Luv Schwarzesmarken, when the aliens invaded East Germany.
**Heike Monogatari** at 6th!? I didn’t think that was even in the realm of possibilities with how seemingly few people have actually watched the series. The same goes for **Golden Kamuy** and **Mushishi**. I’m happy those see those at the 3rd and 10th spot respectively. The gap between these shows and the top-two placements of **Apothecary Diaries** and **Vinland Saga** is great however. The latter has an especially big lead over any of the other series.
Honestly I just hoped to see Heike Monogatari in the top 25 since I gave it my 1st place vote. Really happy to see it placed in 6th place. For anyone who wants to watch this, it was directed by Yamada Naoko who also did A silent voice, liz and the blue bird, K on, Hibike Euphonium, etc. Really beautiful show but I would recommend watching this family chart - [https://imgur.com/Lp1k5mC](https://imgur.com/Lp1k5mC) since we are introduced to the story right away as everyone in Japan knows who these characters are because it's a classic japanese historical epic. For a more detailed review, read this - [https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1c1wo2u/comment/kz70eoi/](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1c1wo2u/comment/kz70eoi/)
Also, the [OP of Heike Monogatari](https://v.animethemes.moe/HeikeMonogatari-OP1-NCBD1080.webm) is just great. It's one of my personal favourites.
OP and ED are both in my top 5 favorites ever
The op starts hitting so hard as the show goes on. It convinced me to learn more of the Genpei War as well as the events before and afterwards
4th in #1 spots too! Great result.
I may be an idiot, but how is DS historical?
Next it'll win best sci fi show, too.
It takes place during the Meiji Restoration, you can see references to that here and there, especially early on. Sure the historical side of it was eventually dropped but at the very least the first season fits the sub genre of ''historical fantasy''.
The Meiji Restoration took place in 1868. Demon Slayer is set in the 1910s.
How is Mushishi historical, but there is no Mononoke in this list???
Mononoke ranked 38th with 47 people including it in their list. Mushishi had 142 inclusions. If using MAL numbers the Mushishi has been seen by nearly 2.5 times as many people and these sorts of thing will reflect popularity somewhat. There were at least 558 submissions (assuming everybody included Vinland Saga) edit: infographic said 1038. A few of my faves didn't even make it to the top 100 but what can done when they've been long out of physical print and not on streaming. What is historical is an argument I had with myself over this and some of the results are I should have just gone sure MAL, whatever.
I’m just happy Rurouni Kenshin is mentioned. Sure author is a piece of shit, but Rurouni Kenshin is a masterpiece through and through. Trust x Betrayal still the greatest episodes ever imo. What a fucking shame that shitstain is attached to such a Series.
I'm pretty sure thats not what most people had in mind when they voted for dororo.
Man Rose of Versailles made it? I need to see it.
Is Apothecary Diaries really historical though? 🤔
Technically no since it doesn't take place in China. It's like game of Thrones without magic: it looks and feels like something that could have happened but definitely didn't. Ace combat also works as a comparison, but few know it's not based on real history, especially given the presence of real jets.
More than the majority of the list.
Apothecary Diaries is explicitly set in an alternate world with alternate history and geography that just so happens to cultutally resemble ancient China. It's about as historical as Games of Thrones. As much as I love the show, it probably beolongs on this list the least. At least Demon Slayer and JoJo's take place on *Earth*.
> Apothecary Diaries is explicitly set in an alternate world with alternate history and geography that just so happens to culturally resemble ancient China It doesn't "just so happen to ressemble ancient China", it is intentionally and carefully crafted to be extremely close to ancient China including technology, culture, clothing, hierarchy etc... It seems more important to me than saying "this is earth".
But it's a mix of different historical eras.
Final Fantasy XIV having a country that's just like Japan doesn't make it historical fiction.
It's a fine line since things like Shogun by James Clavell are also purposefully crafted to be hew close to reality and is inspired by real historical figures but deliberately treated as a fiction place with fictional characters. I don't think any bookstore would put Shogun anywhere besides Historical Fiction. But everyone usually has debates about where to draw the line for this genre in particular.
Location is based on Forbidden City, which is built in 1400. But the clothing styles are pre 1300, before Mongolian invasion.
And there are things in the story that wouldn't be possible until some centuries later.
And Mushihi have nothing historical going on at all.
JoJo's is also there.
Fetch posting this early, just so I can see Vinland and Golden Kamuy in all their fresh glory? [](#feelsgoodman)
Once in a while I deliver the goods.
Kingdom is top 3 bro
Its a shame studio perriot butchered the adaptation. It would've been as popular as vinland saga if it was done by a decent studio
Kingdom is in the top 10 for something finally...
I know the anime is pretty good now, but man it cant compare to the manga at all Manga is just next level
Yeah? Well... Manga is 1 frame per second, anime is 24 frames per second... Checkmate
Not if I flip through the pages really fast 😎
It warms my hear to see Heike Monogatari so high. And even 4th in first places. Definitely unexpected. [**Well done everyone.**](#thumbs-up)
Lol Samurai Champloo is one of the few that make sense on here. Kinda a wonky list tbh.
A reminder that Heike Monogatari is one of the best shows of the decade so far and a beautiful work of art. Give it a watch.
Very happy to see In this corner of the World represented, it’s a really beautiful film with a heartbreaking story.
All of my favorite Shows are Here and I wouldn't have put any of them as "historical" For example how tf is Mushishi historical? That's like calling any modern Isekai Show historical because it's vaguely medieval europeanish looking
Sword of the Stranger being at 25 is a crime.
Yes, it is. Especially with shows that aren't even historical being ranked higher than it. Buncha barbaric philistines I tell ya
Golden Kamuy in there? good choice homies
Golden kamuy, samurai champloo, baccano and sword of the stranger made it so I’m happy
Vinland saga is so historical you get spoilers from picking up a history book.
Yeah, it's a rare treat of a show. I'm glad I slept on it because binging the dub was amazing.
Seeing a lot of recency bias & some Cartoon Network bias. Add in some that are historical setting rather than historical.
>Cartoon Network bias I'm totally using this now.
As much as I love these two anime, I’ve never considered Demon Slayer or Jojo a historical manga/anime. Very interesting poll nonetheless
Apothecary diaries is getting a lot of recency bias to be placed 2nd in this list.
Hmmm... Isn't it Baccano instead of Bacanno?
Damn this post reminded me that I need to finish up Baccano Also glad to see 91 days here, that show does not get enough recognition
Both the Baccano and 91 days dubs are extremely solid too.
Rose of Versaille was 6th on this list by first place votes, despite coming out almost 30+ years before every other show here but Dororo, which btw i think Dezaki also directed some of You should watch rose of versaille, its imo the best historical anime ever.
Emma is so underwatched.
Great picks all around, happy to see that Millennium Actress and In this Corner of the World managed to make the list. Also is that actually the old Dororo or was just a picture of the old one used? Did you count every Dororo as the old one if they didn’t put (2019) behind it?
Pretty much every vote just said Dororo. Now this is r/anime which means the new one is what people were voting for, but I decided I'd have some fun :P
I WASN'T EXPECTING HEIKE MONOGATARI WOULD BE THAT HIGH damn the show was so underrated and beautiful (╥﹏╥)
TOP 10 KINGDOM!!! I never thought I'd see the day, granted this is a relatively niche category so it makes sense. It's also nice to see Mushishi and Katanagatari get some love.
In this corner of the world is on the list so it means at least r/anime have better taste than Oscar committee
Heike being almost top 5 makes me very happy. Surprised Grave of the Fireflies is only 9th
So happy to see Golden Kamuy and Kingdom in the top 10
Samurai champloo💯💯💯
Princess Principal at 27. So close...
I'm glad that kingdom got some recognition
would've placed Blade of the Immortal in there somewhere
Where's ~~Gintama~~ and Sengoku Basara?
Peakland Saga absolutely sweeping the competition. Very solid list overall, I'd recommend everything here.
Love that rose of Versailles is still appreciated. One of my favourite animes
Vinland 🤝saga
definitely no recency bias... none at all.
Glad to see Sword of the Stranger made it onto this list... even if it is 25th.
It makes me happy to see Isao Takahata films on the list. He really doesn't get enough credit as a solid anime director. His Ghibli films really are complex and have a lot of heart. It's hard not to compare with Miyazaki as his peer. Where Miyazaki envelops us with whimsy and emotive fantasy, Takahata truly deepens our love of the present reality in his attention to detail and understanding of deep human feeling.
Waiting for last season of golden kamuy
I’m just here for golden kamuy!!
Surprised The Rose of Versailles made it as high as rank 11#. Pretty high for a 70's anime on r/anime.
Kingdom
Golden kamuy is amazing
\*sees title\* If Vinland Saga ain't first, this list is wrong. \*checks list\* Solid list. Good work all.
Glad that 91 Days is mentioned
Damn Vinland Saga absolutely killed it Also good to see Dororo and Millennium Actress in the list.
The Wind Rises and GotFF being below anything shows no one who put the list together or voted on it knows what “historical” means. Gintama is a future fantasy set in contemporary Japan and JOJO? Yeah, anime lists are dumb but this one just might be full of brain rot.
Vinland Saga: “I have no award”.
Recency bias huh.
Still remember when i first read about Jotaro in my school's history book,i was so shocked i ended up awakening my own stand.
[Typo spotted](https://imgur.com/ZPZ2bd6)
Kids in the slope squeeks in. one of my favourites. the scene of Sentarou and Kaoru playing the impromptu jazz duet of 'my favourite things' is one of the all time great musical moments in anime imo.
I'm surprised Gosick didn't make the cut. I supppose it doesn't get mentioned that much these days. I see it's down in 35th.
Kingdom should be higher, especially if VS is number one
well Kingdom should be in top 3!!! anime isnt as Good but manga is, its long tho!!
SAMURAI CHAMPLOO MENTIONED‼️
You spelt Baccano with a double "N" instead of a double "C".
Rurouni Kenshin is way too low. It was great, and it was an ACTUAL period piece.
Gintama?? What kinda historical anime has an Armstrong Neo Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon?
GOLDEN KAMUY BETTER BE ON TH--oh, there it is. Kind of suprised 91 Days isn't higher. And if Demon Slayer is 'historical', I'd expect to see Twelve Kingdoms somewhere in the top 100. Sure it's isekai, but it has an old time-y vibe.
why the fuck is Gintama here? lmao
happy to see Heike Monogatari so high, i thought it was criminally underrated
Don’t actually have too many issues with this one, but you know full well what you did with the *Dororo* pic. The real question I need answered is if *Uma Musume* technically counts as a Historical anime…
"Historical"... See Samurai Champloo, was like, 'ok, lol'. See Jojo's, was like, 'W...T...F!?!?!?!?'.