Top Anachronism Anime Recommendations

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST

Also known as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

"In order for something to be obtained, something of equal value must be lost."

Alchemy is bound by this Law of Equivalent Exchange—something the young brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric only realize after attempting human transmutation: the one forbidden act of alchemy. They pay a terrible price for their transgression—Edward loses his left leg, Alphonse his physical body. It is only by the desperate sacrifice of Edward's right arm that he is able to affix Alphonse's soul to a suit of armor. Devastated and alone, it is the hope that they would both eventually return to their original bodies that gives Edward the inspiration to obtain metal limbs called "automail" and become a state alchemist, the Fullmetal Alchemist.

Three years of searching later, the brothers seek the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical relic that allows an alchemist to overcome the Law of Equivalent Exchange. Even with military allies Colonel Roy Mustang, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes on their side, the brothers find themselves caught up in a nationwide conspiracy that leads them not only to the true nature of the elusive Philosopher's Stone, but their country's murky history as well. In between finding a serial killer and racing against time, Edward and Alphonse must ask themselves if what they are doing will make them human again... or take away their humanity.



Tags: Alchemy , Conspiracy , Military , War , Tragedy , Shounen , Politics , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Super Power , Fugitive , Foreign , Gods , Cyborg , Steampunk , Disability , Necromancy , Lost Civilization , Dissociative Identities , Anachronism , Revenge , Travel , Chimera , Primarily Male Cast , Religion , Gore , Body Horror , Slapstick , Kuudere , Demons , Trains , Chibi , Adoption , Guns , Tomboy , Cannibalism , Swordplay , Desert , Heterosexual , Tanned Skin , Crossdressing , Shapeshifting , Vore , Tsundere , Snowscape

NARUTO

Also known as Naruto.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Supernatural

Naruto Uzumaki, a hyperactive and knuckle-headed ninja, lives in Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf village. Moments prior to his birth, a huge demon known as the Kyuubi, the Nine-tailed Fox, attacked Konohagakure and wreaked havoc. In order to put an end to the Kyuubi's rampage, the leader of the village, the 4th Hokage, sacrificed his life and sealed the monstrous beast inside the newborn Naruto.

Shunned because of the presence of the Kyuubi inside him, Naruto struggles to find his place in the village. He strives to become the Hokage of Konohagakure, and he meets many friends and foes along the way.



Tags: Ninja , Shounen , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Found Family , Super Power , Cultivation , Revenge , Martial Arts , Orphan , Anachronism , Primarily Child Cast , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Shapeshifting , Bullying , Kaiju , Slapstick , Estranged Family , Demons , Travel , School , Gender Bending , Unrequited Love , Assassins , Love Triangle

ONE PIECE

Also known as ONE PIECE.

Studio: Toei Animation
Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy

Gold Roger was known as the Pirate King, the strongest and most infamous being to have sailed the Grand Line. The capture and death of Roger by the World Government brought a change throughout the world. His last words before his death revealed the location of the greatest treasure in the world, One Piece. It was this revelation that brought about the Grand Age of Pirates, men who dreamed of finding One Piece (which promises an unlimited amount of riches and fame), and quite possibly the most coveted of titles for the person who found it, the title of the Pirate King.

Enter Monkey D. Luffy, a 17-year-old boy that defies your standard definition of a pirate. Rather than the popular persona of a wicked, hardened, toothless pirate who ransacks villages for fun, Luffy’s reason for being a pirate is one of pure wonder; the thought of an exciting adventure and meeting new and intriguing people, along with finding One Piece, are his reasons of becoming a pirate. Following in the footsteps of his childhood hero, Luffy and his crew travel across the Grand Line, experiencing crazy adventures, unveiling dark mysteries and battling strong enemies, all in order to reach One Piece.

*This includes following special episodes:
- Chopperman to the Rescue! Protect the TV Station by the Shore! (Episode 336)
- The Strongest Tag-Team! Luffy and Toriko's Hard Struggle! (Episode 492)
- Team Formation! Save Chopper (Episode 542)
- History's Strongest Collaboration vs. Glutton of the Sea (Episode 590)
- 20th Anniversary! Special Romance Dawn (Episode 907)

Tags: Pirates , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Travel , Super Power , Found Family , Male Protagonist , Ships , Conspiracy , Slapstick , Time Skip , Tragedy , Anthropomorphism , Slavery , Politics , War , Fugitive , Crime , Dystopian , Gods , Prison , Lost Civilization , Swordplay , Food , Samurai , Monster Boy , Henshin , Medicine , Shapeshifting , Cyborg , Robots , Artificial Intelligence , Primarily Adult Cast , Desert , Animals , Guns , Skeleton , Anti-Hero , Dragons , Anachronism , Marriage , Post-Apocalyptic , Espionage , Asexual , Monster Girl , Fairy , Philosophy , Drugs , Kuudere , Assassins , Clone , Battle Royale , Aromantic , Trains , Ninja , Adoption , Revenge , Female Protagonist , Mermaid , Gender Bending , Time Manipulation , Musical Theater , CGI , Angels , Unrequited Love , Zombie , Body Swapping , Acting

NARUTO: Shippuuden

Also known as Naruto: Shippuden.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Supernatural

Naruto: Shippuuden is the continuation of the original animated TV series Naruto. The story revolves around an older and slightly more matured Uzumaki Naruto and his quest to save his friend Uchiha Sasuke from the grips of the snake-like Shinobi, Orochimaru. After 2 and a half years Naruto finally returns to his village of Konoha, and sets about putting his ambitions to work, though it will not be easy, as he has amassed a few (more dangerous) enemies, in the likes of the shinobi organization; Akatsuki.



Tags: Ninja , Shounen , Super Power , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , War , Revenge , Martial Arts , Coming of Age , Orphan , Conspiracy , Cultivation , Ensemble Cast , Necromancy , Anti-Hero , Politics , Time Skip , Gods , Swordplay , Fugitive , Terrorism , Military , Anachronism , Travel , Unrequited Love , Aliens , Kaiju , Shapeshifting , Nudity , Gender Bending , Slapstick , Estranged Family

BLEACH

Also known as Bleach.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Supernatural

Ichigo Kurosaki is a rather normal high school student apart from the fact he has the ability to see ghosts. This ability never impacted his life in a major way until the day he encounters the Shinigami Kuchiki Rukia, who saves him and his family's lives from a Hollow, a corrupt spirit that devours human souls.

Wounded during the fight against the Hollow, Rukia chooses the only option available to defeat the monster and passes her Shinigami powers to Ichigo. Now forced to act as a substitute until Rukia recovers, Ichigo hunts down the Hollows that plague his town.

Tags: Shounen , Swordplay , Super Power , Afterlife , Ghost , Male Protagonist , Demons , Urban Fantasy , Ensemble Cast , Anachronism , Time Skip , Philosophy , Memory Manipulation , Cultivation , Nudity , Language Barrier , Ninja , Tomboy , Tanned Skin , Centaur , Time Manipulation , Kuudere , Spearplay

Gintama

Also known as Gintama.

Studio: Sunrise
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Sci-Fi

Life isn't easy in feudal Japan... especially since the aliens landed and conquered everything! Oh sure, the new health care is great, but the public ban on the use of swords has left a lot of defeated samurai with a difficult decision to make concerning their future career paths! This is especially true if, as in the case of Gintoki Sakata, they're not particularly inclined towards holding a day job, which is why Gintoki's opted for the freelance route, taking any job that's offered to him as long as the financial remuneration sounds right. Unfortunately, in a brave new world filled with stray bug-eyed monsters, upwardly mobile Yakuza and overly ambitious E.T. entrepreneurs, those jobs usually don't pay as well as they should for the pain, suffering and indignities endured!



Tags: Parody , Samurai , Ensemble Cast , Meta , Slapstick , Male Protagonist , Surreal Comedy , Anachronism , Found Family , Aliens , Episodic , Swordplay , Shounen , Police , Terrorism , Philosophy , Satire , Historical , Tragedy , Primarily Adult Cast , Space , Mopeds , Ninja , Sadism , Crime , Masochism , Oiran , Robots , LGBTQ+ Themes , Homeless , Crossdressing , Mafia , Ghost , Nekomimi , Boxing , Pirates , Educational , Fishing , Yakuza , CGI , Dissociative Identities , Kuudere , Body Swapping , Anthropomorphism , Female Harem

Samurai Champloo

Also known as Samurai Champloo.

Studio: Manglobe
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy

Let's break it down. Mugen's a reckless sword-slinger with a style that's more b-boy than Shaolin. He's got a nasty streak that makes people want to stick a knife in his throat. Then there's Jin, a deadbeat ronin who speaks softly but carries a big blade. He runs game old-school style, but he can make your blood spray with the quickness. When these roughnecks bring the ruckus, it ain't good for anybody, especially them. Enter Fuu, the ditzy waitress who springs her new friends from a deadly jam. All she wants in return is help solving a riddle from her past. She and the boys are tracking the scent, but there's 99 ways to die between them and the sunflower samurai.



Tags: Travel , Swordplay , Samurai , Rural , Historical , Orphan , Martial Arts , Anachronism , Episodic , Assassins , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Anti-Hero , Prostitution , Kuudere , Tanned Skin , Politics , Drugs , Yakuza , Ninja , Religion , Heterosexual , Crossdressing , Nudity , Language Barrier , Zombie , Noir , Baseball , LGBTQ+ Themes

Dragon Ball Z

Also known as Dragon Ball Z.

Studio: Toei Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Supernatural

Goku is back with his new son, Gohan, but just when things are getting settled down, the adventures continue. Whether he is facing enemies such as Freeza, Cell, or Boo, Goku is proven to be an elite of his own and discovers his race, Saiyan. He meets many new people, gaining allies as well as enemies, as he still finds time to raise a family and be the happy-go-lucky Saiyan he is.



Tags: Shounen , Super Power , Henshin , Martial Arts , Male Protagonist , Cultivation , Aliens , Space , Time Skip , Coming of Age , Mythology , Afterlife , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Tragedy , Dragons , Time Manipulation , Robots , Gods , Reincarnation , Cyborg , Anachronism , Gore , Revenge , Gender Bending , Body Swapping , Dinosaurs , Battle Royale , Dissociative Identities , Rural , Memory Manipulation

BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS

Also known as Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Naruto was a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He achieved his dream to become the greatest ninja in the village and his face sits atop the Hokage monument. But this is not his story... A new generation of ninja are ready to take the stage, led by Naruto's own son, Boruto!



Tags: Shounen , Ninja , Super Power , Male Protagonist , Primarily Child Cast , Swordplay , Gods , Martial Arts , Aliens , Anachronism , Adoption , Time Manipulation , Episodic , Dinosaurs , School , Dissociative Identities , Cyborg , Death Game

Dragon Ball

Also known as Dragon Ball.

Studio: Toei Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Supernatural

Goku Son is a young boy who lives in the woods all alone—that is until a girl named Bulma runs into him in her search for a set of magical objects called the "Dragon Balls." Since the artifacts are said to grant one wish to whoever collects all seven, Bulma hopes to gather them and wish for a perfect boyfriend. Goku happens to be in possession of a dragon ball, but unfortunately for Bulma, he refuses to part ways with it, so she makes him a deal: he can tag along on her journey if he lets her borrow the dragon ball's power. With that, the two set off on the journey of a lifetime.

They don't go on the journey alone. On the way, they meet the old Muten-Roshi and wannabe disciple Kuririn, with whom Goku trains to become a stronger martial artist for the upcoming World Martial Arts Tournament. However, it's not all fun and games; the ability to make any wish come true is a powerful one, and there are others who would do much worse than just wishing for a boyfriend. To stop those who would try to abuse the legendary power, they train to become stronger fighters, using their newfound strength to help the people around them along the way.



Tags: Shounen , Martial Arts , Super Power , Travel , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Orphan , Dragons , Aliens , Wuxia , Anachronism , Nudity , Military , Time Skip , Dinosaurs , Primarily Male Cast , Urban Fantasy , Revenge , Demons , Shapeshifting , Adoption , Robots , Tanned Skin , Kaiju , Ninja , Dissociative Identities

Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou

Also known as Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest.

Studio: White Fox , Asread
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Psychological

When a classroom of students is transported to another world to act as its saviors, Hajime Nagumo finds himself the weakest link. As his friends and classmates are granted strong classes and impressive abilities due to their existing skills, he is given the weak title of Synergist. When a dungeon quest leaves him separated from his group, Hajime must discover his own talents or be left to rot in this world forever.



Tags: Isekai , Male Protagonist , Magic , Alternate Universe , Dungeon , Anti-Hero , CGI , Nudity , Cosmic Horror , Female Harem , Conspiracy , Primarily Female Cast , Vampire , Monster Girl , Guns , Software Development , Revenge , Demons , Kemonomimi , Chuunibyou , Anachronism , Tragedy , Dragons , Drugs , Kuudere , Battle Royale , Cannibalism , Death Game , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Pirates , Swordplay , Gore

Vanitas no Carte

Also known as The Case Study of Vanitas.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

It’s 19th-century Paris, and young vampire Noé hunts for the Book of Vanitas. Attacked by a vampire driven insane, a human intercedes, rescues Noé, and heals the sick creature. Commanding the book and calling himself Vanitas, this doctor tempts Noé with a mad crusade to “cure” the entire vampire race. Allying with one who wields arcane power so easily may be dangerous, but does he have a choice?



Tags: Vampire , Male Protagonist , Conspiracy , Foreign , Steampunk , Tragedy , Anti-Hero , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Anachronism , Tsundere , Historical , Gore , Chibi , Tanned Skin , Religion , Shounen , Assassins , Surreal Comedy , Primarily Male Cast , Henshin , Coming of Age , Drugs , Adoption , LGBTQ+ Themes

GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri

Also known as Gate.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

The military fantasy series begins when a gate appears in Tokyo's Ginza district sometime in the 21st century. From the gate pours out monsters, knights from middle-age Europe, and other fantasy-like beings, and they kill many of the citizens of Tokyo. This event is known as the Ginza Incident.

The government sends a small group of soldiers from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (a replacement for Japan's military) to the alternate world beyond the gate. Led by otaku soldier Youji, they find that the villages in the world are being attacked by a dragon. An elf girl who is a survivor from the dragon's rampage joins the group in their travels across the dangerous new world.



Tags: Military , Isekai , War , Alternate Universe , Politics , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Magic , Primarily Female Cast , Dragons , Elf , Anachronism , Tanks , Otaku Culture , Language Barrier , Slavery , Kemonomimi , Kuudere

Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni.

Also known as In Another World With My Smartphone.

Studio: Ashi Productions
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

After a freak accident involving some lightning winds up zapping him dead, 15-year-old Mochizuki Touya wakes up to find himself face-to-face with God. “I am afraid to say that I have made a bit of a blunder...” laments the old coot. But all is not lost! God says that he can reincarnate Touya into a world of fantasy, and as a bonus, he gets to bring his smartphone along with! So begins Touya's adventure in a new, anachronistic pseudo-medieval world. Friends! Laughs! Tears! Inexplicable Deus ex Machina! He sets off on a journey full of wonder as he absentmindedly travels from place to place, following whatever goal catches his fancy. The curtains lift on an epic tale of swords, sorcery, and smartphone apps!



Tags: Isekai , Female Harem , Male Protagonist , Magic , Anachronism , Twins , Age Gap , Heterosexual , Afterlife , Primarily Female Cast , Kemonomimi , Kuudere , Polyamorous

Katanagatari

Also known as Katanagatari.

Studio: White Fox
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 , Revenge , Travel , Philosophy , Gore , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Ninja , Anachronism , Female Protagonist , Meta , Episodic , Coming of Age , Primarily Adult Cast , Rural , Politics , Time Manipulation , Body Horror , Slapstick , Nudity , Body Swapping , Shapeshifting , Guns , Shrine Maiden , Desert , Ghost , Urban , Robots

THE LAST: NARUTO THE MOVIE

Also known as The Last: Naruto the Movie.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Romance

The moon is beginning to fall, and at the rate it's going, it is doomed to fall on the Earth. The countdown for the survival of the planet begins. Among the havoc, Hinata's younger sister Hanabi is captured by the mysterious enemy, Toneri Ootsutsuki. Naruto must overcome great danger on a mission to save Hanabi and the world along with Hinata, Sai, Shikamaru, and Sakura is their final story. "The final story is a first love."



Tags: Ninja , Shounen , Super Power , Martial Arts , Male Protagonist , Orphan , Aliens , Anachronism , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Lost Civilization , Kaiju , Heterosexual

DRIFTERS

Also known as DRIFTERS.

Studio: Hoods Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy

The story centers around Shimazu Toyohisa, the real-life samurai who fought in the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara. In his dying moments, Shimazu is transported to a world of magic with other famous warriors throughout history. These warriors are forced to fight each other in an endless battle.



Tags: Isekai , Historical , War , Male Protagonist , Samurai , Gore , Swordplay , Anachronism , Seinen , Anti-Hero , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Elf , Language Barrier , Guns , Magic , Archery , Aviation , CGI , Dragons

Gintama°

Also known as Gintama Season 4.

Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Sci-Fi

Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura return as the fun-loving but broke members of the Yorozuya team! Living in an alternate-reality Edo, where swords are prohibited and alien overlords have conquered Japan, they try to thrive on doing whatever work they can get their hands on. However, Shinpachi and Kagura still haven't been paid... Does Gin-chan really spend all that cash playing pachinko? Meanwhile, when Gintoki drunkenly staggers home one night, an alien spaceship crashes nearby. A fatally injured crew member emerges from the ship and gives Gintoki a strange, clock-shaped device, warning him that it is incredibly powerful and must be safeguarded. Mistaking it for his alarm clock, Gintoki proceeds to smash the device the next morning and suddenly discovers that the world outside his apartment has come to a standstill. With Kagura and Shinpachi at his side, he sets off to get the device fixed; though, as usual, nothing is ever that simple for the Yorozuya team. Filled with tongue-in-cheek humor and moments of heartfelt emotion, Gintama's fourth season finds Gintoki and his friends facing both their most hilarious misadventures and most dangerous crises yet.


Tags: Samurai , Tragedy , Meta , Swordplay , Parody , Philosophy , Male Protagonist , Found Family , Shounen , Politics , Conspiracy , Primarily Adult Cast , Aliens , Anachronism , Gore , Historical , Space , Ninja , Kuudere , Body Swapping , Gender Bending , Time Manipulation

Shangri-La Frontier

Also known as Shangri-La Frontier.

Studio: C2C
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

"When was the last time I played a game that wasn't crap?" This is a world in the near future where games that use display screens are classified as retro. Anything that can't keep up with state-of-the-art VR technology is called a "crap game," and you see a large number of crap games coming out. Those who devote their lives to clearing these games are called "crap-game hunters," and Rakuro Hizutome is one of them. The game he's chosen to tackle next is Shangri-La Frontier, a "god-tier game" that has a total of thirty million players. Online friends... An expansive world... Encounters with rivals... These are changing Rakuro and all the other players' fates! The best game adventure tale by the strongest "crap game" player begins now!



Tags: Video Games , Virtual World , Male Protagonist , Otaku Culture , Anthropomorphism , Travel , Swordplay , Shounen , Animals , Slapstick , Anachronism , Kemonomimi , Gender Bending , Assassins , POV , Heterosexual , Shapeshifting , Unrequited Love , Dullahan , Goblin

D.Gray-man

Also known as D.Gray-man.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

Towards the end of the 19th century, Allen Walker officially joins the organization of Exorcists that destroy the beings known as Akuma; mechanic weapons made by the Millennium Earl with the suffering souls of the dead. Allen has both a cursed eye and an anti-Akuma weapon as an arm, bearing the power of "Innocence", a gift given to him as an apostle of God. Allen, along with his fellow Exorcists must put a stop to the Millennium Earl's ultimate plot that could lead to the destruction of the world and all who live on it.

Tags: Shounen , Demons , Male Protagonist , Super Power , Foreign , LGBTQ+ Themes , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Male Cast , Anachronism , Rehabilitation , Steampunk , Ensemble Cast , Kuudere , Primarily Teen Cast , Philosophy , Exorcism