Top Anachronism Anime Recommendations

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 the 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 , Travel , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Super Power , Found Family , Male Protagonist , Ships , Conspiracy , Tragedy , Slapstick , Prophecy , Politics , Time Skip , Royal Affairs , War , Slavery , Dystopian , Fugitive , Crime , Gods , Lost Civilization , Swordplay , Henshin , Philosophy , Cyborg , Monster Boy , Primarily Adult Cast , Shapeshifting , Anti-Hero , Food , Animals , Robots , Anthropomorphism , Skeleton , Anachronism , Guns , Desert , Medicine , Samurai , Prison , Post-Apocalyptic , Espionage , Indigenous Cultures , Drugs , Marriage , Artificial Intelligence , Kuudere , Monster Girl , Fairy , Revenge , Aromantic , Dragons , Assassins , Battle Royale , Demons , Adoption , Mermaid , Ninja , Time Manipulation , Angels , Kabuki , Dinosaurs , Kaiju , Clone , Zombie , Arranged Marriage , Gender Bending , Blackmail , Trains , Unrequited Love , Human Experimentation , Interspecies , Fake Relationship , Brainwashing

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 , Fugitive , Super Power , Foreign , Gods , Steampunk , Disability , Cyborg , Revenge , Necromancy , Travel , Lost Civilization , Anachronism , Chimera , Dissociative Identities , Primarily Male Cast , Religion , Gore , Slapstick , Orphan , Body Horror , Urban Fantasy , Kuudere , Shapeshifting , Guns , Demons , Chibi , Trains , Human Experimentation , Swordplay , Adoption , Cannibalism , Heterosexual , Desert , Tanned Skin , Tsundere , Crossdressing , Snowscape , Cultivation , Zombie

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 , Criminal Organization , Orphan , Super Power , Revenge , Martial Arts , Found Family , Primarily Child Cast , Ensemble Cast , Philosophy , Shapeshifting , Kaiju , Heterosexual , Slapstick , Bullying , Anachronism , Unrequited Love , Necromancy , Travel , Battle Royale , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Assassins , Estranged Family , LGBTQ+ Themes , Death Game , Gender Bending , Love Triangle , Achronological Order , Anthropomorphism , Gambling

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 , Criminal Organization , Male Protagonist , Super Power , Revenge , Tragedy , Orphan , Coming of Age , Martial Arts , War , Conspiracy , Cultivation , Fugitive , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Time Skip , Politics , Necromancy , Gods , Terrorism , Military , Achronological Order , Swordplay , Anti-Hero , Anachronism , Kaiju , Travel , Unrequited Love , Aliens , Shapeshifting , Slapstick , Gender Bending , Estranged Family , LGBTQ+ Themes

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 , Found Family , Meta , Slapstick , Male Protagonist , Surreal Comedy , Anachronism , Satire , Aliens , Episodic , Swordplay , Shounen , Police , Terrorism , Historical , Tragedy , Primarily Adult Cast , Anthropomorphism , Space , Ninja , Mopeds , Crime , Sadism , Masochism , Homeless , Robots , Oiran , Gore , Mafia , Ghost , Crossdressing , Philosophy , Nekomimi , Fishing , Boxing , Yakuza , Pirates , CGI , Educational , Dissociative Identities , Kuudere , Body Swapping , Unrequited Love , Death Game , Mixed Gender Harem , 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 , Assassins , Historical , Martial Arts , Orphan , Female Protagonist , Gore , Anachronism , Episodic , Hip-hop Music , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Anti-Hero , Prostitution , Kuudere , Heterosexual , Calligraphy , Tanned Skin , Religion , Pirates , Ninja , Yakuza , Drugs , Politics , Nudity , Shogi , Language Barrier , Zombie , Baseball , LGBTQ+ Themes , Indigenous Cultures , Guns , Disability

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

serial experiments lain

Also known as Serial Experiments Lain.

Studio: Triangle Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

We're all connected... There is the world around us, a world of people, tactile sensation, and culture. There is the wired world, inside the computer, of images, personalities, virtual experiences, and a culture all of its own. The day after a classmate commits suicide, Lain, a 14-year-old girl, discovers how closely the two worlds are linked when she receives an e-mail from the dead girl: I just abandoned my body. I still live here...

Has the line between the real world and the wired world begun to blur?



Tags: Denpa , Virtual World , Philosophy , Dissociative Identities , Augmented Reality , Female Protagonist , Memory Manipulation , Artificial Intelligence , Cyberpunk , Software Development , Conspiracy , Gods , Cosmic Horror , Cult , Suicide , Religion , Meta , Urban , Tragedy , Video Games , Primarily Female Cast , Orphan , Amnesia , Adoption , Afterlife , POV , Yuri , Drugs , Trains , School , Aliens , Death Game , Zombie , Age Gap , Bullying , Anachronism

Dragon Ball

Also known as Dragon Ball.

Studio: Toei Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Sci-Fi , 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 , Battle Royale , Cultivation , Dragons , Aliens , Anachronism , Wuxia , Military , Urban Fantasy , Time Skip , Dinosaurs , Primarily Male Cast , Rural , Anthropomorphism , Demons , Revenge , Shapeshifting , Adoption , Robots , Tanned Skin , Kaiju , Desert , Dissociative Identities , Ninja

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 , Medieval , Exiled , Cosmic Horror , Female Harem , Conspiracy , Primarily Female Cast , Vampire , Monster Girl , Guns , Demons , Revenge , Kemonomimi , Chuunibyou , Anachronism , Tragedy , Software Development , Dragons , Drugs , Kuudere , Battle Royale , Cannibalism , Death Game , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Pirates , Swordplay , Gore , Cohabitation

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 , Battle Royale , Gods , Martial Arts , Adoption , Anachronism , Time Manipulation , Episodic , Dinosaurs , School , Dissociative Identities , Cyborg , Death Game , Table Tennis

Vanitas no Carte

Also known as The Case Study of Vanitas.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , 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 , Heterosexual , Primarily Adult Cast , Anti-Hero , Tsundere , Anachronism , Historical , Gore , Tanned Skin , Chibi , Religion , Shounen , Assassins , Surreal Comedy , Primarily Male Cast , Boys' Love , LGBTQ+ Themes , Henshin , Coming of Age , Drugs , Adoption , Super Power , Human Experimentation

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 , Reverse Isekai , Primarily Female Cast , Magic , Anachronism , Dragons , Tanks , Elf , Medieval , Language Barrier , Otaku Culture , Kemonomimi , Slavery , Aviation , Kuudere , Female Harem

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 , Swordplay , Shounen , Travel , Animals , Slapstick , Curses , Unrequited Love , Anachronism , Kemonomimi , Primarily Animal Cast , Assassins , Heterosexual , Gender Bending , Shapeshifting , POV , Dullahan , Goblin , Fugitive , CGI , Samurai

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 , Male Protagonist , Female Harem , Magic , Medieval , Anachronism , Heterosexual , Marriage , Twins , Polyamorous , Age Gap , Creature Taming , Afterlife , Kemonomimi , Primarily Female Cast , Kuudere

Zero no Tsukaima

Also known as The Familiar of Zero.

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Ecchi , Fantasy , Romance

Louise is a magician at the Tristein Academy, dubbed with the nickname "Zero Louise" due to her inability to effectively use her magic properly, resulting in zero successes. An upcoming test at her academy requires her to summon a familiar, a servant and partner to support her as a magician. Despite desiring a familiar that would be superior to her constantly mocking classmates, Louise ends up summoning Hiraga Saito, your average Japanese boy. Even with Louise and Saito both unwilling to accept each other, they have no choice. Louise cannot attempt another summoning and Saito cannot return to Japan, and so their life together begins. Based on the novel by Noboru Yamaguchi.

Tags: Isekai , Magic , Tsundere , Heterosexual , Swordplay , Female Harem , Male Protagonist , Slapstick , School , Slavery , Female Protagonist , Ojou-sama , Bullying , War , Maids , Dragons , Aviation , Language Barrier , Kuudere , Tanned Skin , Anachronism

THE LAST: NARUTO THE MOVIE

Also known as The Last: Naruto the Movie.

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

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 , Male Protagonist , Martial Arts , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Orphan , Aliens , Anachronism , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Space , Lost Civilization , Kaiju

Yomi no Tsugai

Also known as Daemons of the Shadow Realm.

Studio: bones film
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Supernatural

In a remote mountain village under the watchful eyes of two stone guardians, the young Yuru contentedly lives off the land while staying close to the only family he has left—Asa, his precious twin sister. Asa, meanwhile, carries out a mysterious “duty” on behalf of the village while locked in a cage. Why is Asa a prisoner? And what other secrets does Yuru’s otherwise idyllic home hide?



Tags: Shounen , Youkai , Male Protagonist , Proxy Battle , Twins , Urban Fantasy , Creature Taming , Guns , Anachronism , Archery , Rural , Conspiracy , Demons , Gore , Swordplay

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

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 , Anachronism , Swordplay , Seinen , Anti-Hero , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Elf , Language Barrier , Guns , Magic , Archery , Aviation , CGI , Dragons , Death Game