The samurai are one of the dominant aspects of Japanese history and are, to this day, culturally important. Historical festivals and museums throughout Japan celebrate and reflect on the lives of the samurai.
Pop culture gets in on the act, too, and nowhere is this truer than in Japanese anime. Anime movies about samurai are very popular and it can be hard to know where to start. If action anime is not your favorite anime genre, then you may check out these great Japanese anime romance movies.
Well, here are the ten best samurai anime movies so you can start getting into this genre on the right foot:
1. Samurai X: The Motion Picture (1997)
Rurouni Kenshin is a very famous manga and anime set just after the days of the samurai, starring the titular former samurai assassin Kenshin, who now tries to make amends and help defend the peaceful world he helped fight for.
This movie is a side story, set in the middle of both the anime and manga, and is tied to Kenshin’s samurai history as well as the samurai ancestry of one of the regular cast, Yahiko.
The fight scenes and drama are very good, though it is recommended that viewers watch the darker Japanese original release with subtitles.
2. Sword of the Stranger (2007)
This story of a young boy being hunted to be used as a sacrifice for an immortality potion and the nameless samurai who rescues him is a treat for anyone who enjoys good animation.
The movie is gory and wonderfully animated, with excellent action scenes and compelling characters. It has received international praise since its release.
It is a must-see for people looking for good samurai anime movies.
3. Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal Director’s Cut (1999)
Another movie based on the popular and famous Ruroni Kenshin manga and anime, this movie gives the details of Kenshin’s tragic backstory, from his childhood as an orphan and later apprentice to a great swordsman to his time as a wartime assassin for a revolutionary group to finding love and new life only to lose it in the tragic consequences of his work as an assassin.
It is a tragic and beautiful drama, one that lays out clearly why Kenshin is haunted by guilt in the main series. The action scenes are intense and violent. All of this makes this movie an excellent choice for samurai anime movie fans.
4. Sengoku Basara: The Last Party (2011)
This movie is a sequel to the anime series Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings and the games it was based on. It tells the story of the end of the Sengoku period. One warlord’s second-in-command continues to go to war, while two other warlords look to bring the country into a new era of peace.
A tale of drama, revenge, and dark magic, the highlight is the clashes between samurai warriors. It is a unique take on these complex events in Japanese history (which were nearly as dramatic!) and is a very fun to watch.
5. Ninja Scroll (1993)
A mercenary swordsman must battle eight superpower ninjas dedicated to overthrowing the Tokugawa shogunate. This is one of the most influential anime films ever made.
The high quality and beauty of its action scenes have been held up as an example to follow ever since its release. It was even an influence on the Matrix movies franchise. This is a movie for anyone interested in action movie history.
6. Gintama – The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya (2013)
This movie based on the Gintama anime and manga is both a continuation and follow-up to the popular series. This movie covers a strange twist of time travel to a far darker past (for the main character) and future (for his friends) than he was expecting.
The samurai action and humorare top-notch and fit perfectly with the Gintama series, making it a must for fans.
7. Gintama: The Very Final (2021)
The conclusion of the Gintama manga and anime series, this movie is all about a band of freelance samurai heroes who must fight off alien invaders in the Edo period of Japan. It was written to be a conclusion and is a touching and well-animated one.
For those unfamiliar with the series, it may be hard to follow, though it is a fun and well-made adventure that blends excellent action with a unique sense of humor.
8. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
A film based on the very popular manga and anime Demon Slayer, this film adapts the Mugen Train arc. The excellently animated fantasy action is a must for anyone who enjoys samurai anime.
The film did very well and won several awards. The story is easier to understand if you have watched the first season of the anime.
9. Bleach: Memories of Nobody (2006)
A small interlude in the long-running Bleach anime and manga series, this movie features some of the incredible design style and amazing action scenes that made the series so beloved. The animation is artistic and very high quality.
While fans of Bleach may find the plot to be like that of an extended filler episode, it is worth watching to see some of your favorites animated so well in action. They are amazing to watch for anyone who loves seeing great anime samurai action.
10. Afro Samurai: Resurrection (2009)
Based on the Afro Samurai miniseries, this gorgeously animated samurai movie is sure to leave viewers in awe. The simple story serves the set up some amazing fights. The voicecast includes many stars, especially Samuel L. Jackson as the lead, Afro Samurai himself.
This movie has won praise all around and the art director won a Primetime Emmy award for “Outstanding Individual Achievement In Animation”. When you watch it, you’ll see that it is well-earned.
