A media topic that is both devastating and unforgettable, war has been the harsh reality of humanity throughout history, which is why art often focuses on it.
While anime may not be the first medium that comes to mind when discussing deep narratives of military conflict, the war anime genre is surprisingly prolific and filled with insightful explorations of the subject.
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From troubling portrayals of historical conflicts to disturbing realism, and from romanticized and fantastical wars exploring deeply rooted allegorical themes, war-themed anime rise to the challenge of handling this complex subject with the necessary nuance. Some of the most captivating and thought-provoking works in the genre focus on depicting the effects of war and its horrors on populations, creating poignant and sincere narratives that delve into the topic beyond its appeal for action.
10. Kingdom Revives the Forgotten History of a Violent Conflict
Learning about past military conflicts can feel detached – a lack of relevance that many historical war series struggle to bridge. Covering the period of the Warring States in ancient China, Kingdom dives into a particularly distant past. Yet, the story of Xin, from orphaned war slave to esteemed general, can move even those with a superficial interest in history.
Although much of the information about the Warring States period comes through dry and scant details, Kingdom manages to infuse a touch of credible fiction while maintaining historical accuracy. From large-scale military conflicts to captivating political intrigue and emotionally charged character development, Kingdom excels in every area that makes for an exceptional historical epic.
9. Now and Then, Here and There Subverts Isekai Anime Expectations
Often associated with escapist fantasies, isekai anime is not typically the first genre to look at for deep war stories. Now and Then, Here and There is a rare anime that utilizes the mechanics and themes of the genre to explore the terrifying realities of life in a militarized dystopia. Instead of an exciting fantasy world, Shuu, an ordinary boy, is transported into a desolate, post-apocalyptic war-torn world.
In this unforgiving land, Shuu is immediately apprehended by soldiers and must endure the horrors of war, witnessing how the sense of entitlement and cruelty of the military elites ravage the lives of ordinary people. One of the most brutally honest anime on the theme of war, Now and Then, Here and There is far from easy to watch, but the anxiety and injustice it depicts could be a valuable lesson for viewers.
8. Sound of the Sky Approaches War Through the Unusual Lens of a Slow-Burning Slice of Life
When thinking of a military-themed anime, a “slice of life” anime rarely comes to mind first. Yet, a poignant war narrative does not require excessive conflicts or intense tension to explore a profound subject, as proven by Sound of the Sky.
A meditative iyashikei series, Sound of the Sky follows Kanata, a young girl who joins the military to become a musician, and her life in a post-apocalyptic war-torn world. It explores all the surprising ways a broken world can rebuild, piece by piece, through the power of community and music. Rhythmic and surprisingly comforting for a series about the enduring horrors of war, Sound of the Sky offers a unique perspective on what it means to live in a conflict-ridden world and how humanity perseveres despite such atrocities.
7. The Moral Ambiguity of The Saga of Tanya the Evil Makes the War Anime Particularly Compelling
Most great war stories openly acknowledge the universal immorality of war and those who wage it. However, The Saga of Tanya the Evil – a strangely captivating blend of isekai, military action, and fantasy – takes a different path by making its protagonist an intentionally abhorrent character, one that the audience both enjoys and despises.
A ruthless salaryman, struggling against a nearly divine entity that reincarnates him in an alternate version of World War I, Tanya is a cruel go-getter who, although not inherently opposed to peace, does everything in her power to succeed, even if it means slaughtering countless people on the battlefield. Neither Tanya nor the Being X she strives to defy is portrayed as virtuous or redeemable, and this dichotomy makes Saga of Tanya the Evil a captivating take on the military theme.
6. 86: Eighty-Six Tackles Real-Life Issues in a Fantastic Mecha Anime Setting
Since gaining popularity in the 1970s, the mecha anime genre has excelled at bridging the gap between action-packed speculative fiction and timeless war narratives. 86: Eighty-Six is a relatively modern mecha anime that embodies the strengths of the genre with its deep and thematically dense war story.
The protagonists of 86: Eighty-Six are marginalized soldiers from the forgotten sector of the Republic of San Magnolia, forced to sacrifice their lives in a conflict that the public perceives as bloodless and fully automated. Against the backdrop of high-energy mecha action, the series builds a thought-provoking narrative about social oppression, the impact of military politics on the innocent, the weight of the burden of war, and the lasting scars left by trauma on survivors – timeless subjects that 86: Eighty-Six addresses with unique insight.
5. Violet Evergarden is a Deep Exploration of What Follows War
For an anime series where militaristic themes are omnipresent, only a small portion of Violet Evergarden portrays or even openly discusses war. A child soldier raised solely to be a weapon of war, Violet finds herself lost once her life dedicated to the cause ends.
Having found her place at CH Postal Services as an Auto Memory Doll, she slowly begins to build her new identity by expressing the most intimate emotions of her clients. Despite Violet Evergarden's plot-driven nature, the effects of war on the protagonist and the countless secondary characters around her remain a central theme of the anime, guiding its narrative development.
4. Attack on Titan Shifts from a Fantasy Survival Anime to a Horrifying War Epic
Initially, Attack on Titan gained mainstream success with its captivating dark fantasy concept, plunging viewers into a ruthless post-apocalyptic world where humans struggle hopelessly for freedom against the monstrous Titans. However, the anime's fourth season turns the script on its head, both for the heroes and the audience, by shifting genres and adopting a military drama, sending Paradis Island to war, not against the Titans, but against their overseas counterparts.
A dark and tragic examination of the dichotomy between the inevitability and futility of war, Attack on Titan opened up incredible thematic possibilities through its bold genre shift. And, for many fans, it is the final stretch of the series that makes Attack on Titan one of the great modern classics.
3. Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket is the Franchise's Most Honest Take on the Theme of War
For over 50 years, the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has created some of the most epic war-themed mecha anime, approaching the subject in a variety of ways, from action-packed space operas to deep and realistic military dramas. Belonging to the latter category, Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket is a rare Gundam anime that requires no prior knowledge of the series, as its brilliant story stands out on its own.
Rather than focusing on kinetic action with giant robots, Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket centers on the characters caught in the chaos of war, their disillusionment with its grandeur, and the loss of innocence that comes from witnessing its horrors. Addressing the universal pacifist messages present in most Gundam works, War in the Pocket condenses the series' more subtle thematic appeal into a poignant, standalone narrative.
2. Vinland Saga Highlights the Destructive Nature of War Through Unconventional Means
Initially a Viking epic, known for its grim tone and graphic violence, Vinland Saga captivates the viewer with its tale of relentless revenge and its atypical setting. However, while the early arcs of Thorfinn's exploits, a mercenary seeking to avenge his father, are compelling, the anime's strengths as a war story begin to shine when the protagonist steps away from the battlefield.
The second season of Vinland Saga explores Thorfinn's internal reconciliation with his bloody past, reflecting on how war and violence wound an individual and what it takes to forgive oneself. The two episodes of the series, telling very different war stories, together form a fervent narrative of redemption, carrying a powerful pacifist message.
1. The Legend of the Galactic Heroes is the Greatest Interstellar War Epic in Anime
A cult classic of unprecedented scale, as relevant and celebrated today as when it first released in 1988, The Legend of the Galactic Heroes is rightly regarded as the greatest space opera in anime. A meticulously crafted narrative of the centuries-long conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance—intergalactic superpowers with opposing views on power—LotGH approaches futuristic war with all the nuance and attention to detail of a true historical document.
Although the age, length, and narrative density of the series make it difficult to sell to modern viewers, it is nearly impossible not to be swept away by this epic of political intrigue and space warfare. A captivating masterpiece of futuristic military fiction, The Legend of the Galactic Heroes remains a must-watch for all space opera and war story enthusiasts.
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