00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the anime that
00:12excel the most at historical accuracy.
00:24The Rose of Versailles Originally a 70s manga, it was then animated in 1979, instantly becoming
00:31a classic of historical anime.
00:33It's set around the French Revolution, telling the story of Marie Antoinette.
00:43It also adds fictional characters like Oscar Francois, who was born a woman, but raised
00:47a man.
00:48It addresses the era's struggles like the widespread poverty and chaos of the government.
01:05Author Ryoko Ikeda was semi-inspired by the revolution's ideals, which come through strongest here.
01:11She researched Antoinette for two years before writing.
01:14It was thankfully green-lit, but her editors barely cared.
01:18Despite this, it stood the test of time, still loved over half a century after the manga's
01:22first release.
01:23The warring states period was an era of immense turmoil in the Chinese region.
01:36For just over two centuries, it was ruled by the seven warring states.
01:51This is the period wonderfully recreated by Kingdom, an almost 20-year-old manga, which
01:56has also been adapted into a long-running anime.
01:59It stays relatively true to the period focusing on the era's most important states.
02:09Unfortunately, it was so long that historical records are scarce.
02:13As such, creative liberties have to be taken.
02:16But it still feels faithful to the period, recreating ancient China to a captivating degree.
02:42Anne Frank is one of the most well-known victims of the Holocaust.
02:45Her family spent two years in hiding during the war, which she wrote about extensively in
02:50her diary.
02:51Tragically, she was eventually captured and then perished in a concentration camp only weeks
03:03before the war ended.
03:05Two years later, her diary was published by her father.
03:08This tragic tale was adapted into a Japanese animated movie in 1995, providing a fascinating
03:14lens into the war's greatest horrors.
03:17Just make sure you bring tissues, since it's one of history's most sorrowful tales.
03:267.
03:27Golden Kamui The Meiji period saw Japan industrialize with
03:31astounding speed, going from a feudal power in 1868 to beating the Russians in 1905, the first
03:39Asian empire to defeat a Western colonialist nation.
03:46Golden Kamui is set just after this war on the snowy island of Hokkaido.
03:50It does a remarkable job at depicting the Ainu, Hokkaido's indigenous ethnic group.
04:02Alongside this, it also impressively recreates life in the late Meiji period.
04:06From the technology to the street performers, it's an immersive lens into the era, making
04:11it a must-watch for any fan of historical anime.
04:276.
04:28Barefoot Gen This might be one of the most traumatizing animated
04:31movies ever made.
04:33Based on a manga with the same name, written by Keiji Nakazawa, a survivor of the atomic bomb
04:39dropped on Hiroshima.
04:51Based on his account of the destruction, the film tells the tale of a young boy surviving
04:55one of history's least humane actions.
04:58This makes it one of the most accurate lenses into the horrors of war.
05:08It's an especially important story since Japan and the US used to heavily censor information
05:14about the bomb's effects.
05:15As such, artwork like Barefoot Gen is historically crucial and will remain that way for centuries
05:21to come.
05:285.
05:29Vinland Saga Starting in 2005, the manga for Vinland Saga features
05:34some of the most poignant commentary on the cycle of violence.
05:44It rivals equally introspective tales like Vagabond and Berserk in its message.
05:49In 2019, the anime's first season was released, instantly becoming one of the best Viking
05:53shows ever.
05:55While the action is classically over the top, the setting is magnificently recreated.
06:09It's a story about slavery, violence, and maintaining hope despite it all.
06:13Currently, about half the manga is animated, making now a great time to catch up.
06:19Just don't expect something light-hearted, crying is guaranteed.
06:22You are a real soldier.
06:294.
06:30Grave of the Fireflies Next up, we have a Ghibli classic released
06:34in 1988 based on a 1967 short story.
06:39It's set in 1945 during World War II's final months, focusing on two war orphans, Seta and
06:45Setsuko.
06:52The movie was directed by Isao Takahata, as opposed to Miyazaki, Ghibli's most famous director.
06:58It was instantly critically acclaimed, gaining a reputation as one of the best war films ever.
07:04From the get-go, you can tell it's not going to end happily.
07:13It's even more tragic when you learn the story it's based on is semi-autobiographical, making
07:18it one of the most heartbreaking war movies.
07:353.
07:36Emma Our next entry is set in Victorian London, telling
07:39the tale of the titular housemaid who falls for a nobleman.
07:43It's unique for being set in Victorian Britain without a single supernatural element.
07:52Alongside this, they also hired historical consultant Riko Murakami to maximize accuracy.
07:58It's so accurate that they published the Emma Victorian Guide to provide extra historical
08:03context for readers.
08:05The show recreates locations from the period remarkably, featuring places like King's
08:18Cross and Covent Garden.
08:20This attention to detail makes it a must-watch for fans of both anime and Victorian England.
08:262.
08:27Hyogemono Oda Nobunaga is one of the most famous figures
08:34in Japanese history.
08:35He was responsible for unifying a huge portion of Japan in the late Sengoku period.
08:41If you are into this era, then Hyogemono will be a gold mine for you.
08:45It explores the era through the eyes of Futura Sasuke, a vassal of Oda Nobunaga.
08:58It's so accurate, they even speak an authentic archaic form of Japanese.
09:02It's unusual in the sense that there's no clear main character, instead it focuses
09:07on a plethora of characters and events.
09:10It makes you feel like a fly on the wall during one of Japan's most historically crucial periods.
09:261.
09:41In This Corner Of The World
09:43Taking the top spot is another World War II movie, this time produced by MAPA.
09:51The producers did extensive research on everyday life in 1940s Japan.
09:56So while the main characters are fictional, the surrounding locations and events are remarkably
10:01well researched.
10:03It's also set around Hiroshima, focusing on how everyday people coped with both the war
10:08and the bombing.
10:14It features realistic depictions of wartime struggles, from food shortages to air raids.
10:19While it doesn't focus on the atomic bombs directly, it captures their effects to a horrifying
10:25degree.
10:26As such, it is one of the most authentic portrayals of Japan at war.
10:40Which anime do you think most beautifully recreates a historical period?
10:44Let us know in the comments below!
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