TheVinland Sagaanime serieshas captivated anime fanswith its grandiose depiction of the Vikings and their world at war. Thorfinn, a little boy, witnesses the murder of his father at the hands of a band of mercenaries, and his life is changed forever. War and political strife are explored in the anime series.
Few anime series can match the passion, depth, and characterization of characters asVinland Sagadoes, thanks to its epic battles and multifaceted characters. Yet, for fans who desire more epic tales of swords, combat, and the complexities of politics, the few anime series that reflectVinland Saga’s distinct historical location and disposition are a must-watch.
7Golden Kamuy
The popularVinland Sagaseries has a lot of historical and action-packed themes, andso does the anime seriesGolden Kamuy. Golden Kamuy, like theVinland Saga, examines the complexity of human nature in the midst of war and strife.
Saichi Sugimoto, a veteran of the Russo-Japanese War, is the main character of theGolden Kamuyanime series. When the conflict finally ends and Saichi realizes he needs money, he teams up with an Ainu girl named Asirpa to search for a legendary treasure. The pair must find the tattoos on the bodies of Abashiri prisoners, which serve as a map to the riches, in order to locate them.
6Berserk
BothBerserkandVinland Sagaare set in medieval Europe, but whileVinland Sagafeatures a more historically accurate depiction of the Vikings,Berserkdelves into fantastical battles against demons and monsters. Despite this dissimilarity, the heroes of both anime series share a common desire for vengeance and an upbringing on the front lines of conflict.
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The story of Guts, a swordsman, is told in theBerserkanime series.After suffering abuseat the hands of his foster father, a young Guts eventually ran away and joined a mercenary group known as the Band of the Hawk. Griffith, the mercenary group’s leader, is a ruthless autocrat who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Guts decides to put an end to his former boss after he has grown callous toward mankind and let his desire for power overwhelm him.
5Kingdom
Both theVinland SagaandKingdomanime seriesfeature depictions of warfare, political intrigue, and a struggle for the crown. Fans of theVinland Sagaanime series will be left anticipating what the Kingdom anime series has to offer, with its many action-packed moments, epic betrayals, and background of historical strife.
Set in the warring states period of ancient China,Kingdomportrays two war orphans, Piao and Xin, who dream of becoming ‘Great Generals of the Heavens.’ Despite their living conditions, the boys train daily until a mysterious man appears and takes Piao away. Later on, Piao re-appears on the verge of death and tells Xin to go to another village. Fulfilling his dear friend’s wish, Xin travels and discovers Piao was used as a body double for the current King of Qin.
4Arslan Senki
Certain historical-setting anime series, likeArslan SenkiandVinland Saga, convey great conflicts and the complexity of war and power through the perspectives of young protagonists. Arslan, the protagonist ofArslan Senki, is a young princewhose father was killed at a young agedue to the complexities of politics in war — much like Thorfinn inVinland Saga.
Ancient Persia is the setting forArslan Senki’s tale. Everything is going swimmingly until Arslan comes of age and is able to demonstrate his courage on the battlefield, at which point his father, the King of Persia, is assassinated, and his kingdom is conquered by the neighboring kingdom of Lusitania. Arslan, though young and inexperienced, must weave his way through battle and politics to claim his place on the throne.
3Yona Of The Dawn
With instances of upheaval and political strife in a war-filled land,Yona of The DawnandVinland Sagahave many striking similarities. With the tale of a young princess trying to reclaim her lost kingdom,Yona of The Dawnappeals to fans of theVinland Sagaanime series.
The young princess of Kouka, Yona, has lived a sheltered existence since she was a toddler. But then tragedy strikes when Soo-won, a man Yona thought was suitable for her to marry someday, murders her father, the King of Kouka. After Yona witnesses the murder of her father, she becomes a fugitive, fleeing the kingdom with just a small group ofclose friends and subordinatesfor company.
2Rurouni Kenshin
TheVinland Sagaanime is unusual in that it tells epic stories involving swords, honor, and redemption.Rurouni Kenshindoes a wonderful job of capturing these qualities. With the release ofVinland Sagaseason two, viewers are introduced toa Thorfinn who seeks atonementfor the lives he has taken and the families he has ruined. Kenshin Himura, the protagonist of the manga and anime seriesRurouni Kenshin, is a lot like Thorfinn.
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Kenshin is currently known as Hitokiri Battausai, yet he was previously known as a caring samurai who defends the helpless. He was an unrivaled assassin who disappearedfrom Japanese history, but remains a legend. Kenshin uses a reverse-blade katana and a new alias as he travels Japan in search of forgiveness for his past misdeeds.
1Drifters
Drifters, an acclaimed dark fantasy anime series, has been likened toVinland Sagafor its depiction of a world at war. InDrifters, historical individuals from Japan are resurrected into a fantastical world populated by elves and dragons.Driftersis a must-watch forVinland Sagalovers because it explores the themes of conflict, devotion, and the consequences of unrestrained ambition.
Shimazu Toyohisa, the main character of theDriftersanime series, was severely wounded in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Toyohisa, in a critical condition, is dragged through a doorway and into a corridor. When he finally comes to, he finds himself in a fanciful realm inhabited by magical beings, where he is a deceased hero from the past who has joined forces with other drifters to battle the Ends, who seek the death of all drifters.
