Anime like Heike Monogatari

Kaguya-hime no Monogatari

Also known as The Tale of The Princess Kaguya.

Studio: Studio Ghibli
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Okina is a bamboo cutter in ancient rural Japan. One day in the forest, he finds a tiny baby in the folds of a bamboo shoot. He brings the creature home to his wife Ounaa and they decide to keep her and raise her as a princess. She is clearly not of this world. Kaguya grows at an unnatural rate, soon maturing into an uncommonly beautiful young woman. Since Okina has now also found a cache of gold and treasure in the forest, every suitor wants Kaguya. But this is not a fairy tale of courtship and marriage.



Tags: Philosophy , Classic Literature , Tragedy , Fairy Tale , Historical , Female Protagonist , Rural , Family Life , Gods , Religion , Primarily Adult Cast , Amnesia , Travel , Agriculture , Adoption , Heterosexual , Unrequited Love , Environmental , Calligraphy

Inu-ou

Also known as Inu-Oh.

Studio: Science SARU , Asmik Ace , Aniplex
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Music , Supernatural

Musical fantasy film based on Hideo Furukawa's Heike Monogatari: Inu-Ou no Maki (Tales of the Heike: Inu-Ou) novel.

Inu-Oh is born with unique physical characteristics. His parents cover every inch of his body with garments, including a mask on his face. One day, Inu-Oh meets a blind boy named Tomona, a biwa player. As Tomona starts to sing and play, Inu-Oh is amazed to discover he has an incredible ability to dance. The two become inseparable. Tomona and Inu-Oh start sharing their talent with audiences. Their performances quickly gain acclaim and draw crowds. But why is Tomona blind? Why was Inu-Oh born looking like he does? A story about a legendary artist from 14th-century Japan, who defied fate to forge his own destiny. An anime in the form of a rock operetta with spectacular music and dance sequences.



Note: The film received an early premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 9, 2021.

Tags: Anachronism , Band , Musical Theater , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Dancing , Tragedy , Historical , Disability , Rock Music , Acting , Time Skip , Samurai , Demons , Gender Bending

Mononoke

Also known as Mononoke.

Studio: Toei Animation , Asmik Ace , Sony Music Entertainment , Dentsu , SKY Perfect Well Think , Fuji TV , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Mononoke is a spin-off of the Bakeneko story arc of Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror. It follows the Medicine Seller as he deals with various spirits or "Mononoke" in feudal Japan. Just like in the Bakeneko story, he combats with a series of tools and his vast knowledge of the supernatural on his side, but can only slay the Mononoke when he uncovers its form (Katachi), the truth behind its appearance (Makoto) and the reason for its unusual behavior (Kotowari).



Tags: Youkai , Demons , Ghost , Historical , Detective , Exorcism , Ensemble Cast , Anthology , Philosophy , Body Horror , Male Protagonist , Episodic , Gore , Primarily Adult Cast , Cult , Mixed Media , Ships , Pregnancy , Orphan , Inn , Crime , Cosmic Horror , Trains , Time Skip , Travel , Oiran , Samurai , Incest , LGBTQ+ Themes

Katanagatari

Also known as Katanagatari.

Studio: Aniplex , Lantis , Kodansha , Movic , Fuji TV , WHITE FOX , NIS America Inc.
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Romance

Yasuri Shichika, seventh successor of the Kyotouryuu (bladeless) sword art, lives on an isolated island with his older sister, Nanami.

One day Shichika is visited by a woman named Togame, who requests his aid in her quest to find and collect the final twelve swords forged by the legendary master swordsmith, Shikizaki Kiki. Shichika and Togame begin their odyssey by leaving the island he called home for over 20 years. They will face twelve individuals who possess and protect Shikizaki's legendary swords.

Join Shichika and Togame on an exciting, epic adventure that defies reality as they discover the true potential of the Kyoutoryuu sword style!



Tags: Swordplay , Martial Arts , Tragedy , Historical , Samurai , Travel , Revenge , Gore , Heterosexual , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Ninja , Female Protagonist , Meta , Anachronism , Episodic , Politics , Tsundere , Coming of Age , Primarily Adult Cast , Time Manipulation , Body Horror , Rural , Slapstick , Guns , Shapeshifting , Nudity , Body Swapping , Urban , Shrine Maiden , Desert , Ghost , Robots

Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (2023)

Also known as Rurouni Kenshin (2023).

Studio: LIDENFILMS , Aniplex , Shueisha , Fuji TV , Dentsu , Animax Broadcast Japan
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Romance

Re-adaptation of the main manga series.

One hundred and forty years ago in Kyoto, with the coming of the American "Black Ships," there arose a warrior who, felling men with his bloodstained blade, gained the name Hitokiri, manslayer! His killer blade helped close the turbulent Bakumatsu era and slashed open the progressive age known as Meiji. Then he vanished, and with the flow of years, became legend.



Tags: Swordplay , Historical , Samurai , Male Protagonist , Martial Arts , Shounen , Found Family , Assassins , Age Gap , Heterosexual , Rural , Travel , Drugs

Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi

Also known as The Elusive Samurai.

Studio: CloverWorks , Aniplex , Shueisha , TOKYO MX , BS11 , CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Supernatural

In the year 1333, the Kamakura shogunate government comes crumbling down. A trusted vassal, Ashikaga Takauji, betrays the shogunate and organizes a rebellion. Houjou Tokiyuki, the rightful heir, escapes the massacre with a Shinto priest named Suwa Yorishige to Kamakura. On the run and fighting to stay alive, Tokiyuki sets in motion his plan to reclaim his birthright.



Tags: Historical , War , Samurai , Swordplay , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Fugitive , Demons , Primarily Child Cast , Revenge , Urban Fantasy , Gore , Shounen , Surreal Comedy , Anachronism , Philosophy , Suicide , Ninja , Gods , Archery , CGI , Religion , Spearplay , Shrine Maiden , Magic

Hyouge Mono

Studio: Bee Train , NHK , Sogo Vision
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama

The story is set during Japan's Sengoku Jidai (Era of the Warring States) and centers on Furuta Sasuke, a vassal of the great warlord Oda Nobunaga and a man obsessed with tea ceremony and material desires in his pursuit of a fortuitous life. Having learned from Oda and the legendary tea master Sen no Soueki, Furuta walks the way of the Hyouge Mono.





Tags: Historical , Philosophy , Seinen , Biographical , Primarily Adult Cast , Politics , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , War , Samurai , Religion , Swordplay , Elderly Protagonist

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

Also known as The Apothecary Diaries.

Studio: Toho , OLM , TOHO animation STUDIO , Nippon Television Network , Imagica Infos , Dentsu , Shogakukan , Square Enix
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery

Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she’s sold as a lowly servant to the emperor’s palace. But she wasn’t meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she’s making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!



Tags: Female Protagonist , Medicine , Ancient China , Drugs , Historical , Detective , Conspiracy , Politics , Foreign , Work , Royal Affairs , Primarily Adult Cast , Adoption , Heterosexual , Seinen , Alchemy , Maids , Aromantic , Episodic , Pregnancy , Unrequited Love , Asexual , Go , Food , Slavery , Makeup , Chibi

Saraiya Goyou

Also known as House of Five Leaves.

Studio: Manglobe , NIS America Inc. , Doga Kobo , Xebec
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery

Masterless samurai Akitsu Masanosuke is a skilled and loyal swordsman, but his naïve, diffident nature has more than once caused him to be let go by the lords who employ him. Hungry and desperate, he agrees to become a bodyguard for Yaichi, the charismatic leader of a group calling itself “Five Leaves.” Although disturbed by the gang’s sinister activities, Masa begins to suspect that Yaichi’s motivations are not what they seem. And despite his misgivings, the deeper he’s drawn into the world of the Five Leaves, the more he finds himself fascinated by these devious, mysterious outlaws.



Tags: Seinen , Male Protagonist , Samurai , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Crime , Primarily Male Cast , Oiran , Swordplay , LGBTQ+ Themes

Hikari no Ou

Also known as The Fire Hunter.

Studio: WOWOW , Signal.MD
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Mystery

Outside the magical barriers lies a world overrun by fiery beasts known as Flame Demons, and the only ones who can protect humanity are the Fire Hunters. In the dark woods where the beasts roam is where Touko, a young villager, is rescued from attack by one of these skilled trackers, Koushi. But their meeting was no accident, and a new destiny begins.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Post-Apocalyptic , Steampunk , Animals , Wilderness , Male Protagonist , Environmental , Philosophy , Rural , Conspiracy , Tragedy , Gods , Swordplay , Monster Boy , Monster Girl , Urban , Denpa