The Best Historical Anime You Should Watch If You Love The Apothecary Diaries

This action-mystery anime primarily takes place in 1930s Chicago, during the Prohibition Era in the United States.

The story follows mafia members who get pulled into a conspiracy involving an immortality elixir, along with a long-distance train journey filled with wrongdoers.

Baccano is based on the light novels by Ryohgo Narita, who also came up with the popular supernatural series Durarara!!

Similar to that hit anime series, Baccano is a show full of eccentric characters and plots that continue to grow bigger and bigger, with a splash of fantasy added to the historical setting for good measure.

The setting for this anime isn’t purely historic - it moves between modern and classical Japan. However, given its subject matter, the show captures a strong historical feel.

This anime centers around the art of rakugo, a classic form of Japanese theater performance dating back to the 17th century.

The story follows Yotarou, an ex-yakuza who was inspired by a rakugo performance by Yakumo while in prison and now seeks to learn under his tutelage.

While working together, Yotarou learns about Yakumo's time as a young apprentice.

This josei anime has a wonderful feel and flow, depicting passion for an age-old craft and the relationships it creates between the main characters.

Vinland Saga is possibly one of the most accurate historical anime available, with the series playing out alongside real events and characters.

This story takes place in 11th-century England when Danish King Sweyn had almost entirely conquered the region.

Vinland Saga follows Thorfinn, a mercenary fighting in the conflict under Askeladd, the man who killed his father, in the hope that one day, he can get revenge.

This action-adventure eventually spirals into a competition for the throne of England involving King Sweyn’s two sons, with Askeladd fighting to support Prince Canute.

Vinland Saga was considered one of the best anime in 2019 when Season 1 was released. Vinland Saga Season 2 aired this year.

LEARN MORE: How Historically Accurate Is Vinland Saga?

Studio Ghibli films are renowned for their bright and fun fantasy worlds, but one of their greatest masterpieces revolves around the harsh realities of war.

Grave of the Fireflies takes place at the end of World War II in 1945 when American bombers were routinely dropping incendiary bombs onto Japanese towns and cities.

The story follows two children whose parents and home are burned to ruins in the bombing.

This heartbreaking anime is a painful but accurate tale of the cost for ordinary people during any conflict.

The movie is based on a semi-autobiographical novel of the time and does a great job of capturing the national mood, as Japan slowly succumbs to defeat.

The Heike Story is an adaptation of a Japanese war epic that dates back to the 13th century. Told from the perspective of a biwa performer named after her instrument, the story gains an incredible sensitivity.

The story takes place during the Genpei War, a civil war that rocked Japan during the 12th century.

Biwa's father is killed by the Taira clan, but when she prophecizes their destruction with her future-seeing eye, she is taken in by the clan's heir who possesses a similar ability to see the ghosts of the dead.

A dramatic period story of family, love, and loss in the face of war, The Heike Story is one of the greatest anime based on Japanese history.

Romeo's Blue Skies is a 1995 anime also known as Romeo and the Black Brothers.

It is a moving historical anime that addresses the horrors of child labor, while also celebrating the indomitable spirit of children who persevere no matter what.

The story follows Romeo, a young boy growing up in a small village in Switzerland.

When Romeo's father is injured and the family loses their income, Romeo sells himself into servitude as a chimney sweeper.

This was a horrifying and dangerous job many children had to endure during the 19th century.

The anime realistically portrays the employers' abusive behavior and the health and safety hazards, while managing to remain heartwarming, as Romeo and his fellow servants form a brotherhood and try to survive.

Another Studio Ghibli film, The Wind Rises plays out against the backdrop of World War II but is a much more serene watch than the aforementioned Grave of the Fireflies.

The film is a biographical retelling of the life of Jiro Horikoshi. With dashed dreams of being a pilot, he turns his attention to designing planes.

His life plays out against the background of the national war effort and other historical events, such as the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

The Wind Rises was nominated for an Academy Award when it was released in 2013.

The film has been widely praised for how it depicts the nuances of Japan at the time, celebrating human achievement while also questioning the price of war.

If you love the court drama and the female-driven story that is The Apothecary Diaries, do give Raven of the Inner Palace a try.

The show follows Ryuu Jusetsu, the enigmatic Raven Consort whose isolated existence breeds a wealth of rumors. Is she a witch, an immortal sage, or something else?

When the young emperor asks for her help to solve a mystery, the Raven Consort is torn, as assisting him would require her to leave the inner palace for the first time.

Will she follow her predecessor's advice to remain secluded and content in her solitude? Or will she step out into the world and dare wish for something more?

If you're looking for an old-school, shoujo-style alternative history anime, don't miss out on The Rose of Versailles just because it's an older show.

Those who enjoyed the historical fiction of Requiem of the Rose King will also find something to like here.

The Rose of Versailles follows Oscar Fançois de Jarjayes, the Commander of the Royal Guard.

Unbeknownst to most, Oscar is a woman raised as a man with the expectation to receive her father's title.

Oscar reluctantly serves Marie Antoinette, France's spoiled queen, increasingly realizing that the young royal's frivolity is leading them toward a point of no return.

Ooku: The Inner Chambers is another female-driven anime that takes place in an imperial court, like The Apothecary Diaries.

While the latter is inspired by Imperial China, Ooku: The Inner Chambers unfolds during Japan's Edo period.

A mysterious disease known as Redface Pox has eradicated much of the country's male population, leading women, who are immune, to take on all roles typically assigned to men.

Due to this gender reversal, Ooku might not showcase the subtle ways in which women would resist when no other way of life was available to them, but it's nonetheless interesting.