By Soila Kenya and Sam Kombo
When people think of anime I’m pretty sure they always just think of Naruto and fighting and all that shonen stuff, which is fine but there’s anime and manga set all over the world. From the Alps of Europe to ancient Egypt, everything and anything you can think of has been re-imagined by mangaka and anime directors for the longest time! There’s even manga adaptations of Dante’s Inferno, Emma by Jane Austen and the Benjamin Cabbagepatch (LOL thanks for that one, Sam) version of Sherlock Holmes!
Anyway! Enough rambling, here are eight anime and manga that will take you to different locations around the world.
Otoyomegatari
by Kaoru Mori
I first heard of Otoyomegatari from Soila’s Twitter account when she posted an image of the first volume’s cover. From the dynamic pose to the beautiful detail on the character’s clothing, I knew that it would be a treat.
Otoyomegatari, or A Bride’s Tale, is the story of a young woman on the Eurasian steppes who is married off at the start of the story. A slice-of-life tale in the beginning, Otoyomegatari gracefully details the daily life of the story’s people and their customs, from hunting and animal husbandry, to hospitality, artistry and gifting.
Soila: Sam, you have to write this in a way people are actually going to want to read this!!! Animal husbandry?! LMAOOOOO OK it’s true but I had to come here to laugh.
Sam: What, so you want me to tell them the fact that the main character is 20 and her husband is 12?
Soila: Yes, EXACTLY! Anyway, I just wanted to say to the readers, if you read only one manga we recommend on this list, read this one. But it’s not finished and updates like once a year. Yes it’s one of those. So prepare to wait *sobs*
Lupin III
By Monkey Punch
An adaptation of Maurice Leblanc’s Arsene Lupin novels, Lupin III follows the thieving hi-jinks of the titular Arsene Lupin the third, the grandson of the original Arsene Lupin. There are many points of entry into Lupin III, from the manga by Monkey Punch, to the 1972 anime adaptations or the various feature films.
The high energy of the series, its various host of heists, paired with a charismatic rogues gallery of thieves and the cops trying to stop them makes Lupin III a worthy globe-trotting adventure, perfect for any heist-movie fanatics.
Wolfsmund
by Mitsushita Kuji
A tale of resistance and violence in the middle of the Swabian War, Wolfsmund is a dark, gritty and engrossing depiction of the true nature and cost of conflict. Taking place in the Swiss provinces while they were still under the authority of the Holy Roman Empire, the strategic limitations and opportunities of the Alps are an ever-present factor. The unique geography of the Mountains almost being an antagonist in its own right.
Wolfsmund is a treat for mature audiences, as long as they can stomach the very uncensored depiction of violence within it.
Gunsmith Cats
by Kenichi Sonoda
Based in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Gunsmith Cats is the story of Rally Vincent and Minnie May, two partners who bust suspects trying to evade bail. Rally is a firearms expert, and Minnie May is a firecracker… Literally; as she absolutely loves to cook up a good explosion. Together they make a rather formidable pair, taking down criminals and uncovering conspiracies that threaten the city with every chapter.
Gunsmith Cats has a brand of balls-to-the-wall action that would appeal to anyone looking for a riot of a buddy-cop story.
Innocent
by Shinichi Sakamoto
This is going to sound insane but Innocent is about the fictionalised life of a historical figure; Charles-Henri Sanson. Who the heck is this, you might ask? Get this. He was the royal executioner of France during the reign of King Louis XVI, who also ended up under his executioner’s blade!
History offers the dry facts of this man’s life, but this anime turns the imagined life of this man into something spectacular! It’s quite gory as you might imagine, but more than that, it has some of the most beautiful art I have come across. It’s simultaneously family-saga and adventure-drama. It has a sequel called Innocent Rouge.
This manga is perfect if you’re looking for a brutal, yet shockingly beautiful historical drama.
Red River
by Chie Shinohara
Time travellers, all aboard! 15-year-old Yuri Suzuki is living in 1990s Japan when she is suddenly sucked into the past. She travels to the ancient Hittite empire (current day Turkey) where the Hittite queen, Nakia, is trying to use her as a human sacrifice. Yuri is saved by Prince Kail but their trouble has just begun and their adventure spans the next 28 volumes.
This shojo masterpiece has a sweeping romance, adequate amounts of a will-they-won’t-they love triangle and glimpses into the imagined lives of ancient Turkey and Egypt. We get to meet Pharaohs Tutankhamun and Ramses I and a good chunk of other characters are also based on real historical figures. This manga is highly recommended for lovers of a good historical romance.
Vinland Saga
by Makoto Yukimura
What did it REALLY mean to be a Viking warrior? That is the question that our protagonist, Thorfinn, desperately wants an answer to. Telling a fictionalised version of the Danish invasions of the British Isles, Vinland Saga earns its title with its larger-than-life characters and its expertly weaved tales of political intrigue. It’s bold, brash and brutal, plus it doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh realities of Viking life and warfare.
Vinland Saga is a must-watch for any historical anime buffs, and fans of action anime with bucketloads of heart.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Written by Hirohiko Araki
Few manga truly travel the world as fully as the aptly titled Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. With stories hopping from Rural England, both the West and East coasts of the United States, Italy, suburban Japan, and a whole part explicitly inspired by Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days”, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure shamelessly wraps itself in its locales with a campy sincerity.
Every single page of the manga drips with style and sincerity, and the real locales depicted in the anime are true to their real-life inspirations! The attention to detail, paired with the crazy characters that inhabit the world of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure make any part perfect for a reader or viewer willing to lose themselves in exciting lore, with tons of action and memorable characters.
If you’ve read or watched any of these, comment below! We would love to know what you think.
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