So, prior to this I’m not usually interested in military theme series, but then I give Tanya a watch, and I’m hooked ! I’ve also watched the movie.
After that, I remember 86 and also finish those. The last one I’ve finished was Nippon Sangoku, and now I want more like these. I think it’s related, but I also throw Sentenced to be a Hero having same vibe, though it’s more focus on individual and has much more fantasy flavor setting-wise.
I don’t really care about the interpersonal between the character, I think I just enjoy the campaign/battle theater and the logistic side of the war.
Please throw me some of yours recs ! Thanks
Edit: Still reading the recs you guys give, thanks a lot. But for some more context I’ve watched most of Gundam entries and the usual suspects for space opera so it’s already on my radar. But then again maybe other find it helpful, so I don’t mind.
I think Legend of the Galactic Heroes is probably the king of this genre. It’s also just one of my favorite anime overall.
The only problem with watching LotGH is you end up getting unreasonably excited listening to classical music ever after.
Gundam: Iron-blooded orphans.
Valkyria Chronicles (yup, a videogame, but also a great anime based on it).
Right, I didn’t list all the series I’ve watched cuz that just insane lol but I’ve watched the two IBO season. I really want to watch the Urdr-Hunt and the other short movie but idk if it’s available anywhere beside just getting the BD.
Valkyria Chronicles
Oh, didn’t know this has adaptation, I think I played one of their entry. Thank you !
Last Exile is gorgeous and has quite a few outdated military tactics mixed with fantastic flying machines. Gives off the vibe of how in WWI generals still couldn’t figure out how to adapt to the insane technological advances of the time.
Golden Kamuy takes place right after the Japanese Russo War but has quite a few traumatic flashbacks to the frontline fighting. I really enjoyed the anime and wished it made a bigger splash.
I will personally endorse both of these series, both as a viewer and former military.
Watch Last Exile with zero prep, zero research - try to figure it out as you go.
Watch Golden Kamuy after watching Gintama, for, uh, historical background.
My favorites that hit on the more futuristic/fantasy military themes are:
- Code Geass
- Muv-Luv: Alternative
- Knights of Sidonia
Most of the other ones I saw recommended hit more closely to what you’re looking for, but I wanted to provide a few military adjacent series since they do still include battle tactics and planning.
Code Geass
After all this years I just realize that code-geass is a mech anime lol. Just through osmosis I even know the protag name is Lelouch but Idk what gives this impression I thought the series is old-school Eminence of shadow (also didn’t watch this one because I just can’t with the cringe).
Muv-Luv: Alternative I just skimmed through the 1st eps, looks decent. Is there a prominent fan-service, what with the whatever the woman pilot suit is wearing? I think I’m getting too old for that kind of trope.
Knights of Sidonia
This looks amazing ! But I think I’ll read the manga instead, idk I like the CG animation based on the trailers.
Thanks for the recs !
Code Geass is just a gem imo, it’s so over the top and kinda bullshit at times, but the cast of characters are so fleshed out and fun. It’s a mecha but it’s not purely about mechas so your perception was on point imo. It’s one of the few series I’ve rewatched multiple times throughout my life and I’ve walked away with new interpretations and appreciations with each run through. The overarching military parts that happen behind the scenes didn’t even really make much sense for me originally until I had already seen it a few times.
For Muv-luv: Alternative specifically:
Tap for spoiler
I believe it takes two or three episodes to get rolling, there is a big twist that takes the show in another direction that happens after the first episode. I got to see it drop live in person with the director there and everything at AX as one two/three part episode. I want to avoid actually spoilering it for you. It’s not what you’re thinking though.
Knights of Sidonia probably is better as a manga, the art style wasn’t my favorite either but the story itself was solid.
Happy to help!
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Corporate armies)
Violet Evergarden
Jin-Roh
Evangelion
Girls und Panzer
Akira
Fullmetal Alchemist
Code Geass
Vinland Saga
Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199
Jih-Roh
Is this the one you mean?
I’ve watched the rest beside Star Blazers and Code-Geass but not in the moods for full-blown mechs/space opera right now.
There are a lot of suggestions already so if you have any other recs (don’t need to be military) of your faves (maybe the under the radar one) throw me some more. I’ll watch anything unless it’s too gory/body-horror types.
Thanks for the recs !
Violet Evergarden has a lot of military stuff going on, but its sort of not the main focus in a way.
Girls Und Panzer is genuinely awesome, and I’m not even an anime fan.
I watched it on a whim because the premise sounded ridiculous, and it is. But it’s also awesome.
Putting together wholesome girl friendships and vicious tank battles shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.
Looks wacky af. Thank you !
Seconding the other user’s recommendation of Zipang.
Crest/Banner of the Stars does some great space opera/battles. Gasaraki is a mix of mech, mystical, and military. Area 88 (original OVA) is an extremely bleak look into a foreign-legion style barracks. (There’s also a newer short series which hit a lot of the same notes but I don’t really remember it very well.) Grave of the Fireflies is a heartbreaking look at the other side of war. Not what you asked for, but thematically relevant. And obligatory Gundam rec for those that haven’t watched all of them: 08th MS Team for that on the ground in the thick of things feel, and Igloo for small side stories about OYW events that don’t grab the spotlight.
You also might want to look into the Fire Emblem game series. Not anime, but anime chess in a (usually) medieval war setting.
Gasaraki is a mix of mech, mystical, and military
That looks promising just by the still-shot. Ground-based kinetic warfare is what I’m currently craving kinda bored with the usual space opera. Also found Break Blade the other day, idk how that one’s rated but the action looks great.
Grave of the Fireflies
I know this one is coming, but I don’t think I’m ready, maybe one day. I think I’ll take a look at Area 88 though, I never watch air-unit-based stories (yes, never seen topgun).
Fire Emblem game series
You bet I do ! That also reminds me there’s a new Brigandine series coming.
Thanks for the recs !
Seconding 08th MS Team and IGLOO for Gundam. Both look at the One Year War from the level of grunts, to the setting’s benefit (I think).
Both of my suggestions have warfare mixed with fantasy, but you could try them to see if they scratch your itch.
Drifters: famous warriors get isekai’d to a fantasy war and start waging a war on behalf of the subjugated elf population.
Gate: a portal opens up in Tokyo and fantasy creatures try to invade Japan, only to find themselves against a modern day army.
Bonus suggestion: Full Metal Panic. Mecha battles against terrorist organisations. The first season is a mix of serious and funny, following ones are more serious in tone. FMP Fumoffu is a spinoff with just the funny stuff. One of my all time favorites.
I’ve watched FMP but not the other two and just to make sure, is this the one you mean :
I’ll go check both out, iirc there a new Gate coming out, but it’s a new timeline of something not related to this one, is that right or am I thinking of a different series?
Thank you for the suggestion !
new Gate coming out,
The upcoming GATE season will follow a completely different set of characters, and the ones from season 1 only show up in cameo/guest roles. Its set a couple of years later (so, not a new timeline). Also, navy instead of army.
Ah, okay. Is the first season ends in cliffhanger ? Not that I mind, but read quite a few comments wanting them to just continue with the first ensemble.
No cliffhanger, but the story goes on in the source. So many people would rather see that continue than having a spin-off.
Yes, it’s those two.
As for the new Gate, I don’t know anything about it.
Man that first one was crazy. I loved the whole thing then was like: wait, did I just watch pro colonial propaganda?
Great show
did I just watch pro colonial propaganda?
Lol, which one did you referring to? Drifter or Gate?
I honestly didn’t expect this many recs, the subs usually have very few comments.
Gate. It’s honestly super good though. Id watch it again, but it was one of those things that sort of arrested me. It could have come out of 19th century England. Makes you remember some stuff lol
You asked a bunch of nerds about anime lol. Do you know how long I e wanted to talk about this?
You weren’t kidding with the colonial propaganda. I genuinely upset of myself cuz I was cheering the JDSF when they rescued Italica lol.
Do you know how long I e wanted to talk about this?
By all means, talk about it even if it’s unrelated to my request. I will still read all the replies, but the current recs I’m getting are pretty good, and there’s still a lot to get through.
Nippon Sangoku just finished airing, and I’m on the fence whether to continue reading or not. I mainly read and usually didn’t watch series I follow cuz it rarely enhances the experience. The show production is top notch, and I’m in a dilemma because on one hand I want more but on the other hand I kinda want to watch season 2 fresh if that ever happen.
Oh, that’s interesting. How do you go about reading the series?
Might not be quite what you want, but I’ll throw in a rec for Zipang: A modern (well, modern twenty years ago) Japanese SDF patrol boat is thrown back in time to the Battle of Midway in World War II. They’re eventually forced to take sides whether they want to or not, with the additional issue that their weapons are advanced enough to take out anything on the ocean during that time period, even as they’re trying very hard not to change history. (This series has two problems: first, it has a case of Unfinished Manga Syndrome and so ends in the middle of the story, and second, it wasn’t negative enough on Japan’s behaviour during the war for some non-Japanese audiences.)
There are also some less-regarded mecha shows like Argento Soma that might fit.
Might not be quite what you want
What do you mean my guy this is exactly what I want lol. My example is just what I recently found, I’m not opposed to much more realistic/historical adaptation or old one at that.
it wasn’t negative enough on Japan’s behaviour during the war for some non-Japanese audiences
What do you mean by this? Not enough light on Japanese’s atrocities ?
Argento Soma
Also, never heard of this one, I’ll check both out. Thank you !
What do you mean by this? Not enough light on Japanese’s atrocities ?
Might have been that (as far as I can recall, the characters were never in the correct place at the correct time to see most of the evilest stuff), might have been just that the original mangaka was trying for a more nuanced view of the war and so didn’t depict the higher-level Japanese officers as monsters. To be honest, I don’t remember exactly—most of that discussion took place around the time the series first came out.
Oh, might be an interesting watch. My country is actually one of the Japanese colonies, and yeah I have heard one or two genuine hates from older folks about the imperial atrocities, but I think my generation is already far removed from the feeling, so I don’t know how I would react (probably not much lol).
Still weird knowing the US dropping the nuke is what directly “allowed” our independence.
Here are some that others have yet to mention:
- Vinland Saga
- Attack on Titan
- Release that Witch
- Sword Art Online: Alicization + War of Underworld (you probably have to watch the prequels for context though)
Among those mentioned so far, I can second:
- Gundam
- Violet Evergarden
Sword Art Online: Alicization + War of Underworld
Which prequel did you mean? So I’ve watched the main season of SAO back when it’s aired, but I don’t think it’s for me (too much romance going on story-wise) so I dropped it. Is this the prequel you mean?
I liked the 2nd season but it’s Gun-Gale. So I’ve watched those and it’s SAO Gun-Gale spin-off. I already watched the rest of your suggestions’.
watched the main season of SAO
liked the 2nd season but it’s Gun-Gale
That’s good enough IMO. As long as you can recognise some of the returning characters, and not be too lost, you’re good to go!
Also, I should have elaborated in the original comment:
super minor SAO: Alice meta spoiler
The first part (Alicization) of this big arc is the precursor / setup towards the big war. The war only truly starts in the second part (War of Underworld).
already watched the rest of your suggestions
Glad you have watched the rest!
Ah, gotcha. Alright then it goes to the watchlist. Thanks.
“Legend of the Galactic Heroes” for some space flavor. “Sound of the Sky” for some Slice of Life. Or get your Isekai fix with “GATE” or “Alderamin on the Sky”. There are also some Gundam shows that are more militaristic than others, but I’m not the right one to say which of them fall in which category, since I only watched them sporadically.
Then there are franchises like Azure Lane and Girls and Panzer to take it into the absurdist direction. Girls and Panzer is actually not bad once you come to terms with the general premise. Give it a chance.
Sound of the Sky | Alderamin on the Sky
Both looks promising, I think I’ll watch this two first.
Others already mention Girls und Panzer so it’s in the backlog, and looking at Azure Lane it looks like some gacha game or something, is this all female world or something like that? I’ll give this one a ‘maybe’, but thank you for the other suggestions !
Azure Lane is indeed a gacha game about waifu-ed Warships. I would place it behind all the other suggestions you got here. I just mentioned it because it came to mind with the military theme.
Yeah, I don’t think it’s my jam.
Alderamin, though proper good fun, I’m surprised I missed that one kinda hand-wavy with the power and world building but I like it. We won’t get season 2 won’t we? Too bad I just can’t get into LN.
Also just finished GATE, stoked for the new series even with cast changes.
Sound of the Sky instantly reminds me of The Bugle Call: Song of War. IDK if it will get higher stakes or keep the chill vibe ( just got to ep2). I think I’ll finished this one last with next season more chill series.
Ghost in the shell
Oh, is the series has some full-scale war element to it? I was waiting for the new series and then look at the rest of the catalog based on how I like it.
My impression of it is it’s a Blade Runner (the Gosling one) but femme fatale.
Ah no sorry, I don’t remember there being any large-scale war element to it, so it might not exactly fit what you’re looking for. There’s a distinct “spec ops” feel to it and thought it’d be worth checking out given the overall theme.
Is there any particular entry you like that you recommend? the '95 film?
I think the two Stand Alone Complex seasons are great and they’ve aged really well. I don’t remember much about the 95 movie, but I don’t think you can go wrong with it. I never got too much into the newer seasons (SAC 2045), as the CGI look and middling reviews put me off from watching them, but I might give them a go as prep for the new season starting this year.
