Top 10 best historical anime that mix fantasy elements that make it difficult for audiences to take their eyes off

Director: Takahiro Omori
Country: Japan
Airtime: July 27, 2007 – November 2, 2007
Genre: history, fantasy, action, comedy, mystery, supernatural
Status: complete
Author Ryhogi Narita watched The Untouchables and then decided to write a story set in the same era, which is a historical anime with alchemical fantasy elements called Baccano.

Baccano is famous for being told out of chronological order, but fans who stick with the series will find the plot complete in the most satisfying way. In a way, it is the structure of this historical anime that is reminiscent of the 20s with its many loud, vibrant, confusing and violent. Alchemists, murderers, thugs and thieves clash in a story that really has to be seen to appreciate it.

Director: Toshiya Shinohara (season 1), Hirofumi Ogura (season 2), Noriyuki Abe (season 3)
Country: Japan
Broadcast time:
Season 1: October 3, 2008 – March 27, 2009
Season 2: July 2, 2010 – September 17, 2010
Season 3: 10/7/2014 – 12/9/2014
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Action, Comedy, Supernatural
Status: completed
Set in 1885 in England, few historical anime series with fantasy elements spend more time exploiting romanticization than Black Butler. People living in the Victorian era witnessed the worst of the Industrial Revolution and the onset of tuberculosis. But while Black Butler brings a lot of dark and demonic themes, Ciel lives in a mansion, wearing luxurious shorts while sipping tea. The queen he works with is of course Victoria, and depending on whether fans watch anime or read manga, she's sometimes the villain.

This dichotomy is fitting for an era where aesthetic indulgences while children starve in the streets. If anything, Black Butler could benefit from that grit, but its trip to old England was appreciated by viewers.

Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Country: Japan
Airtime: 7/1/2019 – 24/6/2019
Genre: history, fantasy, action, adventure, supernatural
Status: complete
The Sengoku period in Japan lasted from 1467-1615, during which time Japan experienced several civil wars and almost constant social upheavals. This turbulent period was the ideal setting for Tezuka's story of samurai Dororo.

In the historical anime with elements of fantasy Dororo, before his birth, Hyakkimaru's father, a warlord from Kaga Prefecture, made a deal with the devil. He happily exchanges Hyakkimaru's limbs and organs for a chance to achieve greater prosperity. Although he didn't know it was what he had promised, it certainly didn't seem as haunting to him as common sense should have. Just as Japan is fighting for its identity on the battlefield, so too must Hyakkimaru find his own identity.

Directors: Kenichi Suzuki (TV series, OVA 1–2), Hitomi Ezoe (OVA 3)
Country: Japan
Airtime: 7/10/2016 – 23/12/2016 (TV series)
Genre: history, action, adventure, comedy, fantasy, isekai
Status: complete
There is hardly a historical era in which historical anime with fantasy elements Drifters does not borrow a real character. From Sengoku period characters like Oda Nobunaga, Shimazu Toyohisa, and Akechi Mitsuhide to World War II fighter pilots and even more unexpected characters like Butch Cassidy and Joan of Arc, this historical anime uses time travel to push these characters together.

The title of Drifters refers to how these characters drift, they are sent to continue fighting in another world. That world is completely unlike ours, full of giants, magic, wizards, and elves, and the Drifters must work together to regain any place in that battle.

Directed by: Haruo Sotozaki
Country: Japan
Airtime: April 6, 2019 – September 28, 2019 (season 1)
Genre: History, Action, Fantasy
Status: completed (season 1 + 2)
It's hard to talk about the incredible success that historical anime with fantasy elements Kimetsu no Yaiba has received. The sequel, Mugen Train, broke box office records even during an international pandemic. While Kimetsu no Yaiba is undeniably a fantasy series, it pays homage to an era of Japanese history not often explored in anime.

The Taisho period lasted from 1912-1926. It is still notable for marking the brief period when Japan established a more global identity. In part, because Emperor Taisho was ill, the dynamics of power shifted away from imperialism and towards democracy. This change in government also changed Japanese culture. This period of great change is the ideal setting for Kimetsu no Yaiba's story of characters grappling with a changing world around them, as well as the transformations taking place within themselves.