Kingdom is an epic tale, loosely adapting Chinese historical accounts of the Warring States period. It’s a tale of Xin, who is an original character, but his life mirrors that of a real general of the time.
The manga is insanely long, and the anime has 5 seasons by now. If you’re somehow caught up with it and want to watch something similar, here are your recommendations.
Vinland Saga is definitely as close as you can get to Kingdom. While it focuses less on the actual strategy of war (that said, there’s still plenty of it in the first season), its attention to historical detail and setting can’t be understated.
While set in a completely different place, Vinland Saga is also primarily a story of one person’s life and their deeds. It follows the protagonist, Thorfinn, from his childhood and to the supposed discovery of the land on the far West — Vinland. The anime isn’t there yet, though.
The Heroic Legend of Arslan
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
For the lovers of warfare, politics and strategy, The Heroic Legend of Arslan (Arslan Senki) is a good recommendation. The anime doesn’t exactly follow real-life history, although it is inspired by ancient Persia and other countries of that region.
That said, there’s plenty of realism in it, and its story also primarily follows one protagonist whose deeds will reshape the history.
If you want something more shounen-y — but still with politics, ancient kingdoms and epic plot — the Magi franchise might be for you.
Starting with Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, it tells a tale of characters loosely based on figures from real history and fiction such as 1001 Nights. The manga is even more epic, so check that out, too.
The Twelve Kingdoms
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Don’t worry, this is not your usual isekai. After all, it was written long before the current trend has even become a thing.
The Twelve Kingdoms (Juuni Kokuki) is a tale of a girl who, along with her friends, is transported into another world. She quickly finds herself in the middle of a net of political intrigues, and the anime makes the fantasy genre fresh and exciting.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Where to watch: Crunchyroll (the remake)
There’s a reason many critics say Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu) is the best anime ever. It’s like an even more epic Star Wars: it doesn’t have much 1v1 action, but there are plenty of space battles.
The series takes philosophical and political ideas and showcases them from different points of view, and there’s plenty of strategy and tactics discussed. Both the original anime and the remake (Die Neue These) are well-acclaimed, but only the latter is available legally at the moment.
Want something just as epic? Try these!
Kingdom is an epic tale, loosely adapting Chinese historical accounts of the Warring States period. It’s a tale of Xin, who is an original character, but his life mirrors that of a real general of the time.
The manga is insanely long, and the anime has 5 seasons by now. If you’re somehow caught up with it and want to watch something similar, here are your recommendations.
Vinland Saga is definitely as close as you can get to Kingdom. While it focuses less on the actual strategy of war (that said, there’s still plenty of it in the first season), its attention to historical detail and setting can’t be understated.
While set in a completely different place, Vinland Saga is also primarily a story of one person’s life and their deeds. It follows the protagonist, Thorfinn, from his childhood and to the supposed discovery of the land on the far West — Vinland. The anime isn’t there yet, though.
The Heroic Legend of Arslan
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
For the lovers of warfare, politics and strategy, The Heroic Legend of Arslan (Arslan Senki) is a good recommendation. The anime doesn’t exactly follow real-life history, although it is inspired by ancient Persia and other countries of that region.
That said, there’s plenty of realism in it, and its story also primarily follows one protagonist whose deeds will reshape the history.
If you want something more shounen-y — but still with politics, ancient kingdoms and epic plot — the Magi franchise might be for you.
Starting with Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, it tells a tale of characters loosely based on figures from real history and fiction such as 1001 Nights. The manga is even more epic, so check that out, too.
The Twelve Kingdoms
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Don’t worry, this is not your usual isekai. After all, it was written long before the current trend has even become a thing.
The Twelve Kingdoms (Juuni Kokuki) is a tale of a girl who, along with her friends, is transported into another world. She quickly finds herself in the middle of a net of political intrigues, and the anime makes the fantasy genre fresh and exciting.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Where to watch: Crunchyroll (the remake)
There’s a reason many critics say Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu) is the best anime ever. It’s like an even more epic Star Wars: it doesn’t have much 1v1 action, but there are plenty of space battles.
The series takes philosophical and political ideas and showcases them from different points of view, and there’s plenty of strategy and tactics discussed. Both the original anime and the remake (Die Neue These) are well-acclaimed, but only the latter is available legally at the moment.
