Are you in search of the best military anime? You are at the right place, my otaku friends. Watching military anime intrigues the majority of otaku because it highlights the harsh realities of the world, and one learns about war politics and its impacts.
Read Also: 25+ Best Mecha Anime Of All Time
Most military anime also involves history, suspense, and action, so it’s always fun giving them a watch. There are countless anime based on mercenaries and soldiers, but I am going to list a few best of all time. The list’s rankings are purely subjective, so I hope you won’t come to kill me if you find any of your favorite anime misplaced (XD)!
31. Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199
This anime introduces us to a distant future where the Earth is no longer a place full of life. Planet bombing is the root cause of all the havoc and radiation. To protect themselves, humanity is living underground.
Things get interesting when another planet, Iscandar, offers the Earth a chance to bring life back to it. It offers the Cosmo Reverse System, which is powerful enough to restore everything to normal. On the orders of the higher-ups, a team of people is sent on a mission to Iscander to bring the system to save their motherland.
However, traveling to another planet isn’t easy; the distance is more than 100k light years. The anime holds a good reputation in the otaku community and enjoys love from all around the globe. This is basically the remake of a 1970s anime which makes it even more interesting. It’s a perfect anime with a military theme!
30. Zakuro
In this one, we follow Kei Agemaki, the Second Lieutenant, who is famous for his fears of supernatural creatures. The more he feared the creatures, the more he got involved with them; he was tasked with a mission to solve paranormal mysteries by working with other maidens.
This anime is great for shoujo lovers searching for the best military anime. Watching the team of heroes solving different problems that occur because of the Youkai is a visual treat. There is romance, a love story, mystery, and a lot more waiting for you! Overall, the anime’s storyline is intriguing, and its good pacing keeps the audience glued to it effortlessly.
29. Xam’d Lost Memories
The anime focuses on the life of a young boy Aiyuki Takehara who was living a peaceful life with his mother on Sentan Island. Where the world is entangled in constant wars, the Island he lives in is pretty peaceful, thankfully.
One day, unfortunately, everything in his peaceful life gets disturbed when he goes to deliver homemade food to his father. When he is in school, a sudden explosion changes his life completely. In the twists and turns of events, he realizes that he gets a mysterious power after a mysterious light enters his body.
We follow the boy on his journey to explore his newly obtained powers. Watching him go from a completely ordinary individual to a powerful being is what makes the story interesting. The plot has many cliche elements, but the music, animation, and characters make the show unique and enjoyable.
28. Irina The Vampire Consumat
This military anime introduces us to a world where people are trying to experiment with safe travels to outer space. They start with sending a dog, but as the builtin of animals and humans are different, they begin to plan something else.
They soon come up with the idea to send vampires to outer space instead of humans… And there you go; soon enters our main character, Irina Luminesk, a gorgeous vampire who is given the mission to travel in outer space with a companion Lev Leps.
The test subject develops a close relationship with her companion, and viewers can do nothing but enjoy their chemistry along with the constant ups and downs of the plot.
27. Heavy Object
The anime highlights the distant future where technology has advanced, and the nature of wars is different. Nations are now so advanced that they are using advanced technology and machines called objects.
The anime revolves around the lives of two soldiers, Qwnethur and Havia Winchell. The first one is studying Object Design, while the latter is radar analysis. We follow the soldiers on their journey to save their world from damage by figuring out how the Objects work.
The story is not simple and cliche; in fact, it is interesting to see the politics between different nations and how some evil minds are involved in heinous acts. This one is famous not only as the best military anime but as the best mecha anime. So those of you with love for machinery, robots, and mecha should watch Heavy Object.
26. Sound Of The Sky
We are introduced to the Country Of Helvetia and its tense military relations with the neighboring nations. The story begins when a new recruit in the Helvetian army, Kanata Sorami. She is an ambitious girl with a burning fire inside her to fulfill her dream of playing the trumpet.
We see her becoming a competitive soldier while watching her learning the trumpet is a visual treat. She is a member of the 1121st Platoon, and the anime, with time, puts light on the back stories of each member, and we get to learn about their sad memories.
The anime is famous for its slice-of-life, mystery elements, and military themes. The plot is unique and different, and, above all, the characters are written intriguingly.
25. Strike Witches
Ever imagine what will happen if the aliens invade Earth and start destruction? Strike Witches presents one of the possible scenarios; trust me, it is interesting. It’s the year 1939, and the alien race Neuroi is wreaking havoc everywhere.
To protect their planet, humanity unites to fight against the Neuroi. The United powers gave birth to a technology called Striker Unit in response to the alien’s technology. Some girls are operating the unit, and we call them Strike Witches.
The anime revolves around the life of Yoshika Miyafuji, a girl who joins the Strike Witches. It’s about the ups and downs of her life and how she trains to be the best despite lacking the proper training. This is one of the best military anime with girls in focus.
24. Izetta: The Last Witch
The anime highlights 1939 when Germany is shown as a powerful nation. It has given a challenging time to Europe, and now it is willing to take over a small country, Elystadt. They begin their plan by capturing the princess of Elystadt.
Things take an unpredictable turn when a witch, Izetta, recognizes the princess and helps her escape from the capturers. Thanks to the witch, she decides to protect the princess’s country from destruction. The plot is solid, with good pacing and good characters. The fantasy elements, action, history, and military aspects make this anime enjoyable.
23. Gunslinger Girl
This one is Madhouse’s production, so you can expect it to be good to watch. As it is an old anime, having high expectations of quality will do you no good. The Social Warfare Agency is deeper and more mysterious than it looks.
Apparently, it’s a good agency that gives bedridden young girls a chance to live again. In reality, they are simply using them for their own interests. Using their cybernetic advancements, they give them a chance to start life again. They also brainwash the girls and turn them into assassins.
The anime’s main focus is these girls and their lives. Even after being brainwashed, they bear innocence and kind hearts and are just waiting for people to shower them with love. The blend of action, drama, and sci-fi makes the story compelling. So enjoy the watch!
22. Joker Game
Do you like spy stories? If yes, this is a must-watch and the best military anime for you. The story begins, and we learn that the world is preparing for World War II. To learn about the ongoing scenarios in the world, Japan sends its “Agency D,” a group of trained agents/spies on this mission.
Of course, invading powerful nations is not an easy task, and it involves countless dangers. Therefore, the agents are trained so that they can easily survive the dangerous situation. The plot is interesting enough to keep you glued to it throughout the end. Each episode brings something worth admiring for the audience. The background details, art, characters, plot, and suspense are simply amazing!
21. Full Metal Panic!
The anime focuses on the lives of Sergeant Sosuke and Kurz, who are given the mission to ensure the safety of Kaname Chidori. This is because the girl is believed to harbor some scientific information, and therefore, different nations are in her search. The plot becomes interesting with the joining of Sosuke in the school to keep an eye on the girl.
His entry into the school gives the anime a comedic touch. Watching the military boy adjusting to this new life is nothing less than a visual treat. His actions are weird enough to grab the attention of people on-screen and off-screen. With each passing episode, things get mysterious and challenging for the boy, and it’s super fun watching the story progress.
20. Our Last Crusade Or The Rise Of A New World
The heavenly empire and the Nebulis Sovereignty have been at war for a century. The tensions between the two kingdoms are far from being resolved. Therefore, the master swordsman from the empire and the Ice Calamity Witch from the Nebulis decides to battle each other.
Both of them, deep down, want peace and are finding ways to end the war. However, their hatred is turned into something else when the duo starts to develop feelings for each other. The anime has a good plot, and it offers a good love story and extremely beautiful characters.
19. Aldnoah. Zero
The anime introduces the world where humans can now easily travel to Mars. The people on Mars found a technology named Aldnoah that created havoc, and war broke out between the people of Earth and Mars.
The war resulted in extreme destruction and damage, and finally, the two parties reached a ceasefire. After 15 years, the princess of the Vers Empire of Mars came to Earth to form peace between the two sides. Unfortunately, the princess was assassinated, and the main character Inaho Kaizuka came to learn that it was a pre-planned murder.
The incident led to the war once again, and now our boy Inaho is on a mission to put an end to the war. This is an above-average yet intriguing anime, so you can watch it if you want to kill time. Not gonna lie, it might not be competitive with many good entries on this list, but it’s a good watch.
18. Legend Of The Galactic Heroes
The anime highlights the two nations Interstellar Superpowers and the Free Planets Alliance, who were entangled in a conflict for years. Finally, the entry of new generation leaders put an end to this ongoing situation.
These leaders were Reinhard and Yang Wenli; the first was a military genius, while the latter was a historian. Reinhard is from the Interstellar Superpowers, whereas Yang is from the Free Planets alliance. The anime follows Reinhard in his mission to find his sister while performing his duties fighting on the battlefield.
The anime is all about the legend of these galactic heroes and their efforts to achieve their goals. The duo is helped by their best buddies during the missions, and the story’s ups and downs force them to rethink their goals and their ongoing battle.
The anime is not easy to explain as it is filled with politics, complex scenarios between the two nations and a lot more. So, watch it to understand it better! It’s worth the watch, my friend!
17. Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex
The anime introduces us to a world of advanced technology where turning humans into machines is not a big deal. Some people use it to benefit others, while some criminals use it for their own interests. Therefore to stop such crimes, the government has ordered Section 9, an independent police force to work to maintain the peace.
The team works together to solve mysteries and to find criminals. However, the entry of a hacker makes things challenging for the team and interesting for the audience. The setting of the anime, characters, and story will force you to rewatch it multiple times. It’s a must-watch, especially for mecha lovers.
16. Blood+
Saya Otonashi is the main focus of the story, whose ordinary life flips entirely when she starts to get a flashback of her past. She was anemic and suffering from memory loss initially, but things changed for her later.
An attack from a mysterious creature gives the story a new aspect, and we see a man named Haji entering the scene and saving the girl by slaying the monster. The next thing Haji does is ask the girl to drink his blood. After drinking the blood, Saya becomes strong enough to slay the monsters easily.
She later became part of Red Shield, an organization created to slay these deadly monsters. Saya’s past adds suspense to the story, which intrigues viewers to watch more of the anime.
15. Berserk
Don’t tell me that we need an introduction for the best warrior and mercenary, Guts? This character is believed to be iconic and a legend in both the manga and anime communities. His swordsmanship is worth admiring.
In Berserk, we follow this young warrior on his journey from place to place. His encounter with Griffith gives his life a new turn, and life makes him a renowned member of Griffith’s group. Guts face a lot of challenges in his life, from deadly battles to fighting his inner demons.
The anime puts light on the harsh realities of society and the situations that force Guts to be ruthless. The MC’s character development is insane, and one can’t do anything but acknowledge it. The anime is a dark fantasy with themes of revenge, gore, and a lot more.
14. 86
The anime introduces us to a distant future where the nation’s Republic of San Magnolia is at war with its neighboring Giadian Empire. Throughout the war, the public of Magnolia enjoys a peaceful life because the government is using the members of 86 on the front lines.
Unfortunately, the 86 members are discriminated against and treated poorly. We learn about the racism and brutality the soldiers of 86 faced during wars. The main character Vladilena raises their voice against this constant oppression and inhumane treatment of the soldiers.
The anime’s major focus is on the character; at least, that’s what you can expect from the first cour of the anime. Overall, 86 is popular for engaging the fans with the detailed plot, character development and theme of racism.
13. Hellsing Ultimate
The anime introduces us to a world where an organization named Hellsing is fighting off the evils to ensure the safety of humanity. The organization is led by Integra Hellsing, a lady known for her strength and power. Alucard, the most powerful vampire, has devoted his loyalty to her and the organization.
He vows to protect the lady by fighting off anyone who wishes to harm her. Alucard is not alone; with time, numerous others join him on his mission, and the viewers are entertained with great action and fights. The anime is famous for its supernatural action, in case you don’t know. It’s one of the best military anime that entertains the viewers with a lot more than just “military’.
12. FullMetal Alchemist
The anime revolves around the two brothers, popular as the Elric Brothers in the otaku community. The duo lives in a world where the art of alchemy is pretty common. The brothers decide to perform a forbidden transmutation, all to bring their beloved mother back to life.
Unfortunately, the actions result in chaos, and the brothers find themselves in trouble. They end up losing their body parts, and now they start their quest to search for the Philosopher’s Stone which is believed to help them to regain what they have lost.
Otaku enjoy watching FMA for multiple reasons. You can also try watching FMA: Brotherhood, which is also believed to be entertaining.
11. Seraph of The End
Initially, the world was in danger due to a virus capable of killing anyone above the age of 13. The vampires entered the scene to protect humanity from the threat and danger of the virus. Unfortunately, they were not sincere and soon displayed their true colors after gaining control.
And now humanity lives fearing the deadly vampires who feed on human blood. The anime focuses on Yuuichirou and Mikaela’s journey, where they plan to escape from the authoritative rule of the vampires. Yuuicherou’s life takes a new turn when he joins the Imperial Demon Army, which is on a mission to fight against the vampires.
10. Mobile Suit Gundam
The anime introduces an advanced era where humanity lives in space in different colonies. One of these colonies, “Principality of Zeon,” starts a war on the Earth Federation. They were using robots against the federation.
After fighting with them for nine months, the earth federation created a mobile suit named Gundam. The story follows the main character, Amuro Ray, a teenager who finds himself engaged in an ongoing conflict.
Despite being a novice, he is tasked to pilot the Gundam. We follow the boy’s journey, where his character develops to be mature and strong. Apart from that, the anime intrigues the viewers by complicating the plot with the themes of war, politics, friendship, loss and a lot more.
9. Golden Kamuy
This anime’s action, adventure, and military themes have won the audience. Golden Kamuy entered the anime world in 2018, and since then, many have been fans of this show. The anime introduces us to the time when the Russo-Japanese war has recently ended.
Sugimoto is an ex-soldier and our main character, searching for gold. After learning from a man that the murderer of the group of Ainu has hidden the gold somewhere, he starts his quest… but where is the gold hidden?
The answer to this question lies in the bodies of the murderer’s cellmates, where the map is tattooed. It’s not like he is greedy. Instead, the boy keeps his promise to his late soldier friend that he will look after his family.
Unfortunately, the friend’s widow has an eye disease, and for her treatment, he needs money. During his journey, he meets Asirpa, the daughter of one of the murdered Ainu, who is also in search of her family’s treasure. The duo decides to help each other in their shared mission of finding the gold. Not gonna lie; you will be entertained watching the anime if you even slightly feel intrigued reading the plot.
8. Kingdom
Kingdom is considered the most popular manga, and its anime was well-received among the fans. The anime follows the two war orphans, Piao and Xin. The anime begins by highlighting their friendship and the shared dream of becoming great generals.
Unfortunately, life wanted something else, and Xin got shocked to see his friend Piao on the verge of death. Piao went to work for the royals and returned lifelessly. Xin gets to learn the depth of the matter and realizes that his friend worked as a body double for the king of Qin.
At first, he doesn’t think good of him, but later life brings them together, and they help each other with their goals. The plot is complex yet intricate, so don’t miss the chance to watch this masterpiece. The anime engages the audience by following the MC’s journey to be the general and by putting light on war politics, revenge, and much more.
7. 07 Ghost
This is one of the Best Josei Anime and one of the best military anime. Barsburg Military Academy is famous for training students to master their abilities in order to make them victorious. We follow the life of Teito Klein, a talented soldier and student of the academy.
He doesn’t remember his past and is usually humiliated for being a German slave. His life throws different challenges at him, but he is helped by his friend Mikage. Watching him unveil the mystery of his past adds suspense and intrigue to the story. Overall, the anime has a good plot, art, and animation, so have an enjoyable watch!
6. Alderamin On The Sky
Ikta Solorok’s life becomes messy when a war breaks out between his nation and the neighboring nation. Though he was a simple person who wanted a simple and relaxed life, the war made his life messy. After joining the military, he befriends multiple soldiers, and soon they are tasked with different missions.
One thing leads to the other, and after the successful mission, they receive the title of “Knights”. The plot is typical, but it’s impressive in its own way that puts light on the war politics and its impacts and mainly highlights the skills of Ikta.
You can easily observe the efforts of the author and Madhouse in creating this anime. Each character in the anime is special, and the more one learns about them, the more one finds the anime interesting.
5. Arslan Senki
It’s the best pick for those searching for the best military anime in the light of history. The name begins, and we see that the kingdom of Pars and Lusitania are at war against each other. The prince of Pars, Arslan, also enters the battlegrounds.
Unfortunately, things don’t turn in his favor when his father is betrayed. The neighboring empire is out in search of his head, and our boy has no choice except to run for his life. On his journey, he decides to find some trustworthy people and make alliances with them so that he can regain what he has lost.
Meanwhile, the entry of the antagonist, a masked man, makes things even more troublesome for Arslan. It’s one of the best military anime for anyone who likes history, adventure, suspense and action!
4. Gate
The world’s peaceful life is disturbed after the appearance of two mysterious gates. The gates link a different dimension filled with mysterious creatures. Youji Itami is a military officer tasked with a mission to enter the gate and learn about the world inside it.
The only way to live a peaceful life is to make peace with the other world, and the higher-ups decide to do the same. Watching humanity fighting against fantastical creatures is what makes the anime interesting.
The MC exploring the world inside the gate is also a visual treat. The anime offers action, spine-chilling adventure, and a lot more, so have fun watching!
3. Saga Of Tanya The Evil
Want to watch a different story with a not-so-cliche protagonist? Proceed with Saga Of Tanya The Evil. Tanya is an apparently talented kid who has achieved good ranks in the military. In reality, she is not a kid. Inside this young lady lives the soul of an average salary man who was reincarnated as Tanya.
Tanya once challenged god and claimed herself to be a god, and hence this new life was given to test her potential. Unlike a typical protagonist, she is not a goodie at heart. Knowing her deeply makes one realize that her attitude is justified. The anime’s focus is mainly on the life of Tanya, which is filled with ups and downs and constant challenges. The way she overcomes the odds is worth admiring.
2. Code Geass
Lelouch needs no introduction because he is one of the most popular characters in the otaku community. The anime introduces us to the world where Britannia has taken over Japan, and Japan is trying failed attempts to regain independence.
Lelouch finds himself trapped in a mess involving the conflict between the two countries. The entry of a mysterious girl gives a new turn to the anime by giving Lelouch a special power. The newly obtained power enables the MC to make anyone follow his orders.
No matter what, no one can say no to his orders. The anime focuses on military conflict, politics, and a lot more. We follow the main character in his journey of revenge against Britannia. The plot is too complex to simply describe in a few words, so to know better, you’ll have to give it a watch. Without any doubt, this is the best military anime of all time.
1. Attack On Titan
If I hadn’t put this one on number one, then I would clearly be doing injustice to this masterpiece. AOT earned its name in less time, giving competition to other big names in the anime world. Following Eren Yeager’s journey in a world where humanity and beastly Titans are in a constant war is absolutely bone-chilling.
The anime begins by introducing the AOT world, where the giants start feeding on humans. In the process, our MC loses his beloved mother. The moment proved to be life-changing for the young soul. Not long after, Eren joins the military and trains to his full potential to be powerful enough to avenge his mother’s death.
Watching him go straight from being weak to OP and from hero to anti-hero is Oscar-winning. The plot continues with Eren being the titan, followed by numerous others. With each passing episode and season, new twists unfold, and the plot becomes even more thrilling. If your interest is piqued by the military, mark my words somewhere that this is the best military anime of all time. The anime offers action with style, a spine-chilling plot, overpowered characters, and way much more than expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are multiple anime where the MC commands an army. Yet, Overlord, Attack On Titan, and Code Geass are a few of the popular names.
The answer to this question really depends on perspectives. Yet, popularly, Naruto’s Fourth Ninja War and Bleach’s Thousand Year Blood War are among the greatest wars in anime history.
Conclusion
My beautiful otaku, today’s blog was all about the 30+ best military anime of all time, so I got your desired anime from the list, right? I would be glad if you shared your experiences watching the anime in the comment below.
