Given the popularity of battle shonen anime, it isn’t a surprise that so many series take place during a war. Certainly, while most shonen anime tend to be focused on conflicts rather than all-out war, that isn’t always the case. Even if it were, there’s also the mecha genre.
Mecha anime almost necessitate the existence of war to justify the use of giant machines built for the purpose of destruction. Between shonen and mecha anime, some of the medium’s most well-known and best-written series have taken place during some form of international conflict. Often, this gives the creators a grander stage to comment on both war and society.
10 Arslan Senki Sees A Young Prince Fighting To Regain His Country
Arslan Senki takes place in the midst of a war between two neighboring countries. The kingdom of Pars seemingly has the upper edge on Lusitania, until one day their king is betrayed by one of his trusted advisors. With the King captured, his son, Arslan, is forced to go on the run.
Arslan’s goal is to attain enough military might alongside his bodyguard and friends to take back his own kingdom. Though Arslan is an inexperienced fighter, the kindness he shows to others is enough for people to recognize his potential as a ruler.
9 Mobile Suit Gundam Finishes Off The One Year War
The original Gundam series takes place during the Universal Century’s One Year War. It occurs between the Earth Federation Forces and the Zeon Empire, a group of nobles from the colonies who believe the spacenoids should be able to govern themselves. In the early months of the One Year War, the Zeon are able to dominate thanks to their usage of giant mobile suits.
But the tides begin to change in Mobile Suit Gundam when the Earth Federation develops its first mobile suit, the Gundam. Though the Zeon attempt to destroy the Gundam prototypes, one of them falls into the hands of teenager Amuro Ray, who turns out to be a capable pilot thanks to his NewType abilities.
8 Legend of the Galactic Heroes Focuses On A War Between Two Galactic Powers
Legend of the Galactic Heroes takes place over one hundred years into a war between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. The Alliance is a group of humans who left the Empire centuries ago and founded their own society. But when the Galactic Empire discovered them, they refused to accept their independence and began waging war to reclaim those who left them.
The war starts at a stalemate until two tactical geniuses on opposite sides of the war cause decisive victories that push the war closer to its finale. In Legend of the Galactic Heroes, conflict occurs not just between the two sides, but within the empires as they decide the best way to lead. Considered by many to be one of the best-written anime series ever, the reboot and the original series have their strong and weak points, but they are both worth watching.
7 Code Geass Sees The World Battle Against The Britannian Empire
Code Geass begins with the Britannian Empire at war with the rest of the world. Thanks to their overwhelming military force, the Britannian Empire has been able to conquer multiple nations. Much of the story takes place within the conquered nation of Japan, now known as Area 11.
Still, there are pockets of freedom fighters within Japan rebelling against Britannia. Though these troops don’t stand a chance, a tactician known as Zero grants them multiple victories against the Britannian forces. Before long, Zero and his resistance army are recognized by other nations battling Britannia, resulting in them joining the fight on the world stage.
6 86 Is About More Than Just The War Between Two Nations
In the world of 86, the Republic of San Magnolia is at war with the Giadian Empire. The Republic claims that the war has never cost a life because they fight using unmanned drones, but this is simply a lie told to the civilians.
In reality, the 85 districts of San Magnolia aren’t asked to join the battle against the empire. Instead, an unknown 86th district is forced to fight against the Empire and their unmanned robots. This truth is known only by a select few within the other 85 districts, generally those assigned as the 86’s “handlers,” who struggle with the reality of their war.
5 Kingdom Focuses On China’s Warring States Period
Kingdom features the kingdom of Qin, where a young war orphan named Xin has trained alongside his best friend, Piao, with the goal of becoming a great warrior one day. But the two are separated when Piao is chosen to work under the King himself.
Sometime later, Xin meets Piao again, and their meeting leads to Xin’s path crossing with the King, Ying Zheng. Under Ying Zheng, Xin goes from being just one man to becoming the leader of an army that is hundreds of members strong, all in the name of one day creating true peace within China.
4 Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works Has The Latest Holy Grail War
The Fate/stay night series has become a massive franchise, thanks in no small part to the multiple anime adaptions of the light novel. In the Fate world, every few decades a collection of mages hold a battle known as the Holy Grail War. Within the Holy Grail War, seven mages are chosen to become Masters of Heroic Spirits. These Heroic Spirits are used in the Holy Grail War, with the winner attaining the Holy Grail, which can grant any wish.
In Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, the fifth Holy Grail War begins. A young student named Emiya Shirou is pulled into the war when he gains a Servant named Saber. Shirou is sent into battle against six other mages, including his classmate Rin Tohsaka, who agrees to work with him to survive the Holy Grail War.
3 Uchuu Senki Yamato 2199 Sees Humanity Battling Against An Alien Empire
In Uchuu Senki Yamato 2199, humanity is at war with the Gamisala Empire, and it isn’t going well. They’ve been beaten so badly that they have had to retreat underground just to avoid the consistent bombardment and radiation of the top side. There’s but one chance remaining for Earth, as the planet Iscandar offers them new technology.
The Cosmo Reverse System offers the ability to completely restore Earth, so long as humanity can reach them. So the Earth Defense Force rebuilds a battleship with the technology to travel into space, hoping to reach Iscandar to save their home.
2 Naruto Shippuden Features The Fourth Great Ninja War
Naruto Shippuden spends much of the series in a time of peace, with a heightened concern for the actions of a few ninja. But thanks to the actions of the Akatsuki led by Tobi and Itachi Uchiha, eventually the entire ninja world finds itself at war.
The Fourth Great Ninja War features the resurrected ninja of eras gone by, leaving the current world to face the mistakes of their past. This also leads to one of the greatest battles in Naruto history, as Itachi is able to defeat all the Kage and many of their soldiers single-handedly.
1 Super Dimension Fortress Macross Is Set Around A Series Of Wars
Super Dimension Fortress Macross is set in the year 2009, and humanity is ready to set sail into space after reverse-engineering a spaceship that crashed into Earth. But on the day they’re ready to set out, activating the ship leads to an alien race known as the Zentraedi attacking Earth. With no other choice, the crew of the SDF-1 Macross is forced to try and escape from their attackers with the power of their space fold system.
However, the fold sends them — and the entire island underneath them — out to the other end of the solar system. After just narrowly saving the people in the city, the Macross has to deal with the long voyage back to Earth, all while trying to survive against the Zentraedi.