High-octane action is not the only thing that makes anime entertaining. Sometimes we just want to wrap our brains around the complex yet fascinating webs of political systems. This, of course, is also reflected in anime: don’t miss out on some of them!
ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept.
ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. (ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka) is perhaps the first anime that comes to mind when political-themed detective series are mentioned.
It follows the duo of protagonists dealing with rumors of a coup d'état. Great at showcasing cultural differences, ACCA is certainly one of the most unique mystery anime out there.
While politics always played a big role in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch), they get to a completely different level in its second season.
The anime masterfully contrasts Lelouch’s genius nature with the super-complicated political system of the world, while keeping the rest of the anime interesting as well. With its finale being one of the most iconic in all of anime, Code Geass is definitely a must-watch for otaku.
The Heike Story
While Naoko Yamada is mostly famous for directing anime at Kyoto Animation, she has some works outside of the studio as well. The Heike Story (Heike Monogatari) is rather different from what you’d expect from an anime focusing on politics. However, it’s still great.
The Heike Story adapts a Japanese epic literature work, so it might feel overwhelming at first. Given the nature of the source material, the lives of people of the past are shown incredibly well — as well as the conflicts in the ideologies at the time.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu) is undoubtedly the most epic space opera anime has ever produced. Spanning 110 episodes in the main series alone, it’s a story of a war between the Empire and the Alliance.
The whole setup is incredibly complicated yet realistic, which is one of the reasons why it often shows up in the “Top Anime of All Time” lists. Drawing heavily from different branches of political study and philosophy, it’s an epic series worth your time. And if you don’t want to watch the older series, the remake is just as good.
Le Chevalier D'Eon
Le Chevalier D'Eon focuses on the heavily fictionalized account of life of one of the most mysterious figures in French history. Despite being largely disconnected from historical truth, it’s incredibly entertaining — and the realism with which it approaches political conflicts is a part of it.
The anime is an ambitious project by studio Gonzo, which was known for producing many weird series back in the 00s. Mixing many genres, it still manages to retain the vibe of its era, utilizing characters based on real historical figures.
Spoiler: Code Geass is on the list.
High-octane action is not the only thing that makes anime entertaining. Sometimes we just want to wrap our brains around the complex yet fascinating webs of political systems. This, of course, is also reflected in anime: don’t miss out on some of them!
ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept.
ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. (ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka) is perhaps the first anime that comes to mind when political-themed detective series are mentioned.
It follows the duo of protagonists dealing with rumors of a coup d'état. Great at showcasing cultural differences, ACCA is certainly one of the most unique mystery anime out there.
While politics always played a big role in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch), they get to a completely different level in its second season.
The anime masterfully contrasts Lelouch’s genius nature with the super-complicated political system of the world, while keeping the rest of the anime interesting as well. With its finale being one of the most iconic in all of anime, Code Geass is definitely a must-watch for otaku.
The Heike Story
While Naoko Yamada is mostly famous for directing anime at Kyoto Animation, she has some works outside of the studio as well. The Heike Story (Heike Monogatari) is rather different from what you’d expect from an anime focusing on politics. However, it’s still great.
The Heike Story adapts a Japanese epic literature work, so it might feel overwhelming at first. Given the nature of the source material, the lives of people of the past are shown incredibly well — as well as the conflicts in the ideologies at the time.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu) is undoubtedly the most epic space opera anime has ever produced. Spanning 110 episodes in the main series alone, it’s a story of a war between the Empire and the Alliance.
The whole setup is incredibly complicated yet realistic, which is one of the reasons why it often shows up in the “Top Anime of All Time” lists. Drawing heavily from different branches of political study and philosophy, it’s an epic series worth your time. And if you don’t want to watch the older series, the remake is just as good.
Le Chevalier D'Eon
Le Chevalier D'Eon focuses on the heavily fictionalized account of life of one of the most mysterious figures in French history. Despite being largely disconnected from historical truth, it’s incredibly entertaining — and the realism with which it approaches political conflicts is a part of it.
The anime is an ambitious project by studio Gonzo, which was known for producing many weird series back in the 00s. Mixing many genres, it still manages to retain the vibe of its era, utilizing characters based on real historical figures.
