Anime can cover a wide variety of different genres, settings, and themes. While many anime choose to focus on fantasy or science fiction worlds that don’t exist in real life, others are based on historical periods. Historical anime isn’t just limited to different eras of Japanese history – it can explore the past of almost any nation or culture, giving viewers a glimpse of time periods they might not know much about.
Some historical anime try to be strictly historically accurate, while others only borrow certain aspects of history. The following anime are not only great period pieces, but also feature strong female leads.
10 Inuyasha’s Kagome leads the series with a heart of gold
inuyasha is the story of Kagome, a high school girl who is transported back in time to the Sengoku period of Japan. There she meets the half-demon Inuyasha, and the two embark on a quest to retrieve the shards of a sacred and powerful jewel.
inuyasha portrays a Sengoku period Japan that is plagued by demons, curses, and priestesses shooting magical arrows. While these fantasy elements make the series not historically accurate, inuyasha it’s still a charming historical romantic adventure. As the main heroine, Kagome has a pure heart and never hesitates to speak her mind, making her a strong leader and a great friend.
9 Tales Of Little Women Has Multiple Strong Female Leads
tales of little women is an anime series loosely based on Louisa May Alcott’s beloved coming-of-age novel, Little woman. Like its source material, the anime focuses on the March family, particularly the four sisters: Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy.
tales of little women, which aired in 1987, takes place during the American Civil War and begins with the March family living near Gettysburg. The series is a powerful take on a classic story, and all four sisters are strong characters in their own unique way.
8 Les Misérables: Shoujo Cosette shows a girl’s struggles to get out of poverty
Les Miserables: Shoujo Cosette is another anime adaptation of a beloved classic novel, this time from 1862 by Victor Hugo The Miserables. The anime takes place in 19th century France and focuses on the story of Cosette, a young woman whose mother leaves her in the care of others to find work.
Cosette faces many hardships, and as she grows up, she promises to help others and heal the nation, a France plagued by poverty and tragedy after the French Revolution. A surprisingly good adaptation of his source material, cosette shoujo he is carried away by the strength and kindness of his protagonist.
7 Miss Hokusai tells the story of the woman behind Japan’s most famous work of art
miss hokusai takes place during the Edo period of Japan. In the great city of Edo, now known as Tokyo, Katsushika Oei is the 23-year-old daughter of famous real-life painter Katsushika Hokusai, whose most famous works include “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Unknown to most of her, Oei helped her father and added her own touch to many of the painter’s famous works.
Oei is a strong and outspoken female character whose artistic talents produce powerful works of art, though her exploits would go uncredited. miss hokusai is a moving story of one of Japan’s forgotten art masters.
6 Emma: A Victorian Romance Portrays a Mostly Historically Accurate London
Emma: A Victorian Romance is a historical romance series that takes place in London, England, in the 19th century. In a world where social class is everything, Emma is a beautiful and hardworking servant who falls in love with William Jones, the son of a high society family. The couple faces many difficulties and opposition due to their class difference.
Emma is a delight for Anglophiles and fans of historical anime alike, reproducing Victorian London with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy. His titular main character is loved by many for his kindness and diligence in everything he does.
5 The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a beautiful movie set in the Heian period
The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a historical fantasy film by Studio Ghibli that takes place in Japan during the Heian period. The film tells the story of Kaguya, a mysterious girl who finds herself inside a bamboo shoot. She is raised by the bamboo cutter who found her and her wife, who believe that she is a divine being.
The movie is based on The Tale of the Bamboo Cuttera Japanese tale from the 10th century. However, the film provides more insight into Kaguya’s character development and inner conflicts as she discovers her place and purpose in life.
4 Gintama’s Kagura is a force to be reckoned with
gintama takes place in an alternate Edo period of Japan that has been taken over by aliens known as the Amanto. While the series is of course not the most historically accurate, gintama It remains one of the most popular anime and is loved for its fast-paced, biting humor.
The main cast is made up of Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura, who together work odd jobs to pay the bills. Kagura, a young girl from a distant planet, has superhuman strength and a huge appetite. She is a hilarious and complete addition to the historical comedy series.
3 The Rose of Versailles stars a female lead who defies gender roles
The Rose of Versailles, which first aired in 1979, takes place during the French Revolution. The series does not follow actual historical events exactly, and some characters never existed in real life. One of those characters is the protagonist of the series, Lady Oscar, the commander of the Royal Guard. Raised by her father as a child, she protects Marie Antoinette during a period of tumultuous political and civil upheaval.
Strong in both resolve and fighting skills, Lady Oscar defies gender roles and has been seen as a feminist icon by viewers for decades.
two Samurai Champloo is a well-written samurai series with a beloved main trio
samurai champloo takes place in Japan during the Edo period. Fuu’s life changes forever when she meets Mugen and Jin, two warriors who cause trouble at the teahouse where she works as a waitress. After Ella Fuu saves Mugen and Jin’s lives, she reluctantly accompanies her on a mission to find the “samurai who smells like sunflowers”.
Fuu is the solid backbone of the main trio in the series and has a sibling relationship with Mugen and Jin that can be heartwarming to watch.
1 The Saiunkoku Story tells the story of a woman’s rise to power in politics
Based on a series of light novels, Saiunkoku’s Tale takes place in a period reminiscent of ancient China. The story follows Shurei, a young woman from a noble family who accepts a position as the Emperor’s consort, knowing that the Emperor prefers men over women. Shurei’s dream of being a court official is rekindled, and she works hard to enact changes to the government.
Shurei faces many difficulties as a woman in politics, but she bravely perseveres. SaiunkokuAlthough not very historically accurate, it is a romantic drama series that stands out from the rest.
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