Samurai-themed anime are popular among fans of historical fiction. They can take one’s soul back to the most classical era of Japan so they can witness dynamic blood-soaked swords fighting and the beautiful environment of Japanese ancient times. Who wouldn’t want to explore the wonderful Japanese past? However, Japan is not (shockingly) the center of the world.

Sometimes, we need to broaden our storytelling horizons, and to do that, we need to leave the dazzling and manly beauty of Kenshin Himura to experience parts of European and American history. It’s quite a refreshing thing to go beyond the labels you used to familiarize with.

They say that traveling back to the past is theoretically impossible, but with so many great historical anime shows out there, taking a quick glance at fictional history is a great way to feel the beautiful ambiance of times long gone. Here are 10 non-Japanese historical anime shows that will make you travel back in time.

Note: Titles are listed in no particular order.

Emma: A Victorian Romance

Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma

Spring 2005 (12 Episodes)

Adaptation of Manga

Set in Victorian London at the end of nineteenth century, the anime highlights the epic romance between a maid and a middle-class man of a wealthy family. The detailed setting offers a strong and beautiful portrayal of old England. The series emphasizes on social hierarchy as the two main leads overcome the obstacles in their subtle affair regardless of their social status. A story about a commoner who falls in love with a nobleman isn’t a novel idea, but what makes it presentable is the setting: it will make you savor the taste of Victorian era.

Kingdom

Season 1: Summer 2012 (38 Episodes)

Season 2: Summer 2013 (39 Episodes)

Adaptation of Manga

Not to be confused with The Twelve Kingdoms, the anime series Kingdom is a fictional adaptation of Chinese history, based on the ancient event known as the Warring Sates Period. The characters are named after real historical figures, such as the main protagonist, Li Xin (or Shin), who is based on the general of Qin state. The historical facts are exaggerated, but that ensures a simple narrative that is easily understood by the audience. Despite the horrible animation, the anime features great storytelling. It’s an epic anime about China that will draw you back to the depths of Chinese history.

Shoukoku no Altair

Summer 2017 (24 Episodes)

Adaptation of Manga

This visually stunning show is a great portrayal of past Turkish life during the Ottoman empire. It shares a deep resemblance of the imperial place, its real life culture, citizenry, and glamourous fashion. The series perfectly depicts the military stratocracy of the Ottoman empire, the use of authority and military power, and their large national economic and social interests. The adventurous journey of the main lead, Tughril Mahmut, will let you explore the nations surrounding the Ottoman empire.

Baccano!

Summer 2007 (13 Episodes)

Adaptation of Light Novel

Bacanno has a unique and well-crafted setting that is based on the Prohibition era of the United States, a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages that remained in place from 1920 to 1933. Aside from the great storytelling and in-depth narratives, the brilliant interaction among the characters keeps the anime dynamic and entertaining. It involves multi subgenres like suspense, fantasy, sci-fi, martial arts, and a fair amount of alchemy which tackles the ideology on immortality and the use of the famous Philosopher’s stone, a concept also found in the popular series Fullmetal Alchemist.

Spice and Wolf

Ookami to Koushinryou

Season 1: Winter 2008 (13 Episodes)

Season 2: Summer 2019 (12 Episodes)

Adaptation of Light Novel

Despite the fantastical human-fox relationship, this subtle romance features the concept of economics during the medieval era. It involves the principles of trade, commerce, currency standards, and other basic economic terms surrounding the micro and macroeconomic scale. Spice and Wolf doesn’t apply modern economic terminology and instead focuses on how these economic principles play in its European setting. It squeezes your mind, whether you are economically inclined or just a mere viewer who wants a glimpse of a medieval times.

The Heroic Legend of Arslan

Arslan Senki

April 2015 (25 Episodes)

Adaptation of Manga

With a well-crafted story about a young boy who aspires to reclaim his fallen nation known as Pars, The Heroic Legend of Arslan takes us back to Persian history and pre-Islamic Iranian imperial dynasties during the sixth century B.C.E.. Aside from the historical references, politics is a central theme in the story as it shares real events about the absolute monarch government of Persia where hierarchy matters the most. Despite labeled as fantasy, the battlefields, the sword fights, and the bloody mist of battle are part of the series’s compelling imagery that portrays the art of war and its peculiar strategies among lands and kingdoms of Western Asia.

Hetalia: Axis Powers

Winter 2008 (51 Episodes)

Adaptation of Digital Manga

Hetalia is a peculiar anime that features many characters and references World War I and II. The characters are personifications of various countries based upon stereotypes. It offers a comedic angle on the political diversity between the Axis and the Allies and features significant events about the European and American government. Though blended with strong historical vibes, it is portrayed with humor and a dynamic mood that is easily approachable. The series is fun to watch even if you don’t feel like attending your history class.

Le Chevalier D’Eon

Summer 2006 (24 Episodes)

Original Anime

The anime is loosely based on eighteenth-century France and has a strong European ambiance. Le Chevalier D’Eon portrays pre-revolutionary events in France under the reign of Louis XV, the king of the nation at that point in history. The series involves deep mystery and horror as the protagonist, D’Eon de Beaumont (loosely based on the French historical figure, Chevalier d’Éon), investigates the mystery behind his sister’s death.

Romeo X Juliet



Spring 2007 (24 Episodes)

Adaptation of Book

As one of the most influential icon in world literature, Shakespeare’s classical romance Romeo and Julietis one of the most notable pieces that has played a great impact throughout the legacy of antiques. Despite some drastic changes in the anime adaptation titled Romeo X Juliet, it maintains a classical romantic theme as to the original play that allows the audience to appreciate the beauty of Shakespeare’s masterpiece. Though with a minor difference as to the original, the magical approach in particular, what’s even more fascinating is the European-inspired setting which is based on the Renaissance era. A legendary tale of starcrossed lovers, the epic romance will make you travel back to Shakespeare’s era.

Gosick

Based on the European setting in 1924, a pre- World War II era, Gosick is a detective series that explores the mysteries involving the country Sauville, a fictional country in Europe that resembles the environment of France, Switzerland and Italy. What makes the series a perfect attraction is the strong European-inspired setting that is well-created and visually fascinating though blended with a heavy fictional feel. It’s fun to watch the adventurous pursuits of the two main leads, Kujo and Victorique, which feels like exploring beautiful ancient spots in Europe.

Learn your History

What are your thoughts on these historical fantasies? Have you watched any of them? Do you have something on your mind you would want to include on the list? Let me know your thoughts.