10 Best Anime like Yasuke

Loosely based on the historical figure of the same name, a warrior of African descent who served under Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga during the Sengoku period of samurai conflict in 16th century Japan. Yasuke is one of Netflix’s newest additions to the samurai genre.

If you loved the six-part anime series created by LeSean Thomas, animated by Japanese animation studio MAPPA, and starring LaKeith Stanfield as the titular character. Here are our 10 favorites with honorable mentions of anime series with similar themes that we think you’ll love.

Anime Like Yasuke

10.
Gibiate

Gibiate-poster-with-cast-A-Samurai-and-a-Ninja-Transported-into-the-Future
  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jul 15, 2020 to Sep 30, 2020
  • Theme(s): Action, Fantasy, Horror, Martial Arts, Samurai

A disease called “Gibia” has infected the world, turning people into monsters, outlaws, and other fierce foes. A ninja and samurai from Japan’s Edo Period have traveled through time to aid a professor working on a cure for the virus.

Similarity

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Both series have samurai characters in an unusual setting, and similar plots with both fictional worlds slowly dying and our protagonists needing to save them. Both shows incorporate some CGI and odd antagonists. Both series have protagonists sucked into a strange and dangerous world at the beginning of the show, full of military, fantasy, and scientific themes.

9.
Samurai 7

Samurai_7-poster-with-main-cast-members
  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: Jun 12, 2004 to Dec 25, 2004
  • Theme(s): Historical, Mecha, Samurai, Sci-Fi

Set in a futuristic world following the conclusion of a massive war. Bandits, former samurai who integrated their living cells with machines during the war, now terrorize various villages. Tired, a group of villagers, including young priestess Kirara, hire seven samurai to protect their village from the bandits.

Similarity

Both series have robots and a ragtag team of quirky warriors, who have to come together to defend others. Both series protagonists and even supporting characters as well encounter a variety of obstacles along the way, that help in developing the story in greater depth, as well as give them a chance to grow and help heal from pasts.

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8.
Ninja Scroll: The Series

Ninja-Scroll-The-Series-with-Jubei_Kibagami
  • Title: Juubee Ninpuuchou: Ryuuhougyoku-hen
  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: Apr 15, 2003 to Jul 15, 2003
  • Theme(s): Adventure, Horror, Martial Arts, Samurai, Supernatural

In feudal Japan, a mercenary ninja, along with a government spy and a mountain thief, must protect a fabled relic known as the Dragon Stone and its barer, the Priestess of Light from the Hiruko Clan, and the Kimon Shu.

Similarity

They set both of the series in feudal japan and have a protagonist that is an homage to the famed Japanese samurai folk hero. Both series’ plots have the protagonist protecting a girl and antagonists with unnatural powers. Both also have similar action styles and not-so-long runtime.

7.
Dororo

Dororo-anime-scene-with-Hyakkimaru-with-dororo
  • Episodes: 24
  • Aired: Jan 7, 2019 to Jun 24, 2019
  • Theme(s): Action, Adventure, Historical, Mythology, Samurai, Supernatural

Dororo is a young orphaned thief, who wandered around all by herself seeking opportunities to steal and cause trouble. But after a chance encounter with Hyakkimaru, the two begin an adventure together as they defeat demons to regain Hyakkimaru’s body, whose father, Kagemitsu Daigo, sacrificed to demons to gain power.

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Similarity

They made both series from the same studio and follow a protagonist who has lost everything and a younger character that accompanies them on their journey to find peace. Both series are character-driven with characters encountering people and challenges that develop characters or allow us to learn more about their past and what drives them.

6.
Blade of the Immortal

Mugen-no-Juunin-Immortal-Blade_of_the_Immortal-cover-with-manji-and-rin
  • Title: Mugen no Juunin: Immortal
  • Episodes: 24
  • Aired: Oct 10, 2019 to Mar 26, 2020
  • Theme(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, Historical, Martial Arts, Samurai, Supernatural

Blade of the Immortal centers on the young Rin Asano’s journey to avenge the death of her parents at the hands of a sword school whose influence has grown within Japan: the Itto-Ryu. Unable to deny her powerlessness in the face of her powerful foe, she seeks the skills of a swordsman who has been cursed with immortality, Manji. With his partnership set in stone, the two embark on a perilous journey of bloodshed, vengeance, and redemption, each to fulfill their own life’s cause.

Similarity

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Throughout both series, we see the relationship between the characters change and develop interestingly keeping you glued for more. Both series also follow two traveling companions in a samurai setting, who have both lost something they are trying to get to or find some means of closure for. Both series have their female protagonists witness the murder of her family, and swear revenge.

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5.
Dimension W

Dimension-W-cover-with-mira-and-kyouma
  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jan 10, 2016 to Mar 27, 2016
  • Theme(s): Action, Sci-Fi

In the future, humans have discovered a fourth dimension, Dimension W, and a supposedly infinite source of energy within and the world’s energy problems appear to be solved by coils that link to and use the power of Dimension W. However because of illegal distribution of unofficial coils that can be harmful, it is up to collectors like Kyouma to deal with and recover these rogue coils. Forming an unlikely partnership with a mysterious android, Mira, with a connection to the father of coils. The two find dark secrets involving coils as they complete jobs together.

Similarity

Both series involve a similar pairing of characters as protagonists, with one character having unexplainable powers and the other being a former soldier who has lost everything. Both series focus on the growth of the main and supporting characters in some form either through interactions, obstacles, or reminiscing about experiences, which allows us to know and understand them more.

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4.
Samurai Champloo

diversity-samurai-champloo-fuu-jin-mugen-travelling-together
  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: May 20, 2004 to Mar 19, 2005
  • Theme(s): Action, Adventure, Comedy, Historical, Samurai

Samurai Champloo follows three unlikely trios Fuu, Jin, and Mugen. Brought together by chance but stuck together by choice, blackmail, or out of a debt to Fuu, who saves them from being executed. They follow her on a wild adventure to different places in their search for the samurai that smells of sunflowers.

Similarity

Both series characters have secrets from their past that we slowly learn more about or remain a mystery and a lot of traveling or moving around takes place in both, with a lot of unique and interesting characters met along the way. Samurai Champloo is Yasuke if the writers could just be as ridiculous, with an added measure of comedic and serious all at once.

3.
Rage of Bahamut: Genesis

Shingeki-no-Bahamut-Rage-Of-Bahamuts-favaro-amira-rita-kaisar-other-cast-members-cover
  • Title: Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis
  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Oct 6, 2014 to Dec 29, 2014
  • Theme(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Demons, Supernatural

When a massive dragon-like creature called Bahamut threatens to destroy the world, humans, gods, and demons put aside their differences and fought against the beast. Sealing it away with a key. They would split this key in two, with one half given to the gods and the other to the demons. Now years later, a half-demon, half-angel named Amira steals the gods’ half of the key and, in doing so, puts the world in danger of falling into ruin once again.

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Similarity

Both series are loosely based on historical events with real characters from history, but with magic and demons mixed in. Both series try to tell an original story that is dynamic and fantasy-filled, and full of a wide range of characters. Both series also have the main character lose someone dear to them, and turn antagonists into protagonists.

2.
Sword of the Stranger

sword-of-the-stranger-band-nanashi-tobimaru-and-kotarou
  • Title: Stranger: Mukou Hadan
  • Episodes: 1
  • Aired: Sep 29, 2007
  • Theme(s): Action, Adventure, Historical, Samurai

A wandering swordsman reluctantly embarks on a journey with an orphan boy named Kotarou and his dog Tobimaru. Facing many dangerous conflicts and a terrifying swordsman, has he escorts the boy and his dog to a remote Buddhist temple.

Similarity

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Both series have a similar setting and protagonist pairing, of a former warrior protecting a child. Both series protagonists have to face strong enemies that try to capture and harm the child in their protection. Both protagonists also experience a lot of growth as they face the obstacles standing in their way.

1.
Moribito – Guardian of the Spirit

Seirei-no-Moribito-Guardian of the Spirit-episode-18-balsa-chagum-tanda-and-torogai
  • Title: Seirei no Moribito
  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: Apr 7, 2007 to Sep 29, 2007
  • Theme(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Historical

Rumored to be the carrier of a water demon, the young prince Chagum is targeted by assassins who are after his life. Chagum’s desperate mother turns to the legendary warrior, now bodyguard, Balsa, a woman on a mission to save eight lives no matter the cost.

Similarity

Both series have similar settings and plots, following a warrior as they protect a child with supernatural powers whose life is in constant danger. Both series focus on the growth and development of the protagonists through their interactions, obstacles they face, or nostalgia about past experiences, which allows us to understand and sympathize more with them. The art style and combat scenes of both are great and similar.

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Bonus Mentions

Karasu Tengu Kabuto: Ougon no Me no Kemono

Karasu_Tengu_Kabuto__Ougon_no_Me_no_Kemono-main-cast
  • Episodes: 1
  • Aired: Jul 24, 1992
  • Theme(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, Historical

Hyouge Mono

Hyouge_Mono_02_sosuke-furuta-with-Oda-Nobunaga
  • Episodes: 39
  • Aired: Apr 7, 2011 to Jan 26, 2012
  • Theme(s): Historical, Samurai

Shigurui: Death Frenzy

shigurui-death-frenzy-historical-cover-with-seigen-and-gennosuke
  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jul 19, 2007 to Oct 11, 2007
  • Theme(s): Action, Drama, Historical, Martial Arts, Psychological, Samurai

Afro Samurai

afro-afro-samurai-anime--about-to-fight-hd-wallpaper
  • Episodes: 5
  • Aired: May 3, 2007 to May 4, 2007
  • Theme(s): Action, Adventure, Samurai

The God of High School (TV)

The-God-of-Highschool-GOH-Jin-and-friends-look
  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: Jul 6, 2020 to Sep 28, 2020
  • Theme(s): Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Sci-Fi, Supernatural

Final Thoughts

And that’s our list. What are your favorites? What do you think of our list? Or what do you think should have made the list? Tell us what you think in the comment section below and don’t forget to subscribe. We release new content every Saturday. The best way to see it first is to subscribe.

Till next time… stay true to your bushido!

Thanks for reading!

YumDeku
YumDeku

Blogger / Jujutsu Sorcerer / Unpredictable knuckle head Ninja that spends his free time writing, reading, watching and playing all things Anime, Manga and Gaming.

Articles: 323
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