Summary
Anime and manga have had countlessstories that are based on historical settings. From reimagining historical figures, to creating fresh takes on historical events, it’s clear that anime and manga, which draw from various inspirations like any other entertainment medium, are very interested in the past.
How important has the fictionalized exploration of history – historical fiction – been to the overall development of anime as a medium?
What Exactly Is “Historical Fiction?”
There Are Levels to the Concept
Historical fiction is a genre in literature and other forms of entertainment media in which a fictional plot takes placein the setting of actual historical events. For the sake of this conversation, “historical fiction” also refers to the concepts of alternative history; which is when a narrative resolves actual historical events differently, leading to speculation about how thingscouldhave gone within the new parameters commonly denoted by the phrase “what if…” and counterfactual history, which tries to understand what did not happen or may have happened in order to understand better what actually did take place.
While some historical fiction can adhere closely to the conditions of the depicted time period, others deliberately put anachronisms or speculative elements into the narrative. In literature, historical fiction is a very old concept which rose to prominence in different places at different times. For example,Wu Cheng’en’s 16th-century novel, Journey to the West, is concerned with the pilgrimage of 7th century Buddhist scholar, Xuanzang; while Murasaki Shikibu’s 11th century novel, The Tale of Genji, considered to be history’s first novel and the first novel written by a woman to gain global recognition, is a fictional account of life in the Japanese court. The concept is extremely versatile, and stories can either closely adhere to the historical context or just loosely borrow from it.
Some of the Most Influential Titles
On the huge list of titles that were historical fiction, there are many that have gone down in the annals of history as some of the best stories the medium has to offer.
The Rose of Versailles (1972)
Riyoko Ikeda’sThe Rose of Versailles, which first ran in the Margaret manga magazine from 1972 to 1973 before its revival ran from 2013 to 2018, and got adapted into an anime in 1979, is one of themost important titles in the history of anime and manga. It was a historical drama which made use of a combination of historical figures and original characters, closely following the lives of Queen of France Marie Antoinette, and Oscar François de Jarjayes, the commander of the Royal Guard. It is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution.The Rose of Versaillesbecame instrumental in the development of shōjo manga and its growth from being primarily aimed at children to being suitable for more mature readership as more complex stories driven by realism and themes like politics and sexuality became more common, causing a major shift for the shōjo demographic.
As a result of these factors, Ikeda is considered part of the Year 24 Group, an unofficial collective title given to female mangaka who emerged in the 1970s, and the success ofThe Rose of Versaillesheavily influenced the trajectory of shōjo and manga in general, as its commercial success is what led publishers to start publishing serialized manga in tankōbon (standalone book) format, not to mention it being proof of the commercial viability of the previously-overlooked shōjo demographic as a whole. The anime is gettinga reboot by MAPPAin celebration of the 50th anniversary of the manga’s serialization.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (1987)
Hirohiko Araki’sJoJo’s Bizarre Adventureis a title that doesn’t need introduction. As a major inspiration of various other media, from video games to film and even music, JoJo’s is a franchise that is a huge example of historical fiction, with each generation of JoJo living in a different time period to the last, starting with Jonathan Joestar in the late 19th century. TheJoJo’s Bizare Adventureuniverse is essentially like our own, with supernatural phenomena and sci-fi concepts woven into the story. The concept of Stands; the psycho-spiritual manifestations of the characters' abilities, and the names of characters, had much of their nomenclature taken from music of various periods in the 20th century, which further increased the feeling of each generation JoJo’s story being largely influenced by the time in which it is set.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Considered one of the greatest war films in history, Studio Ghibli’s animated adaptation of Akiyuki Nosaka’s semi-autobiographical short story,Grave of the Fireflies, tells the story of two orphaned siblings' desperate attempts to survive in the last few months of World War II. Written and directed by Isao Takahata, who drew upon his own experiences of witnessing the terror of war,Grave of the Firefliesis a gut-wrenching depiction of the catastrophic impact of war set against the backdrop of the devastation that became of Japan’s participation in WWII and other conflicts. It isone of the most important pieces of workin the history of Japanese animation.
Fushigi Yūgi (1991)
Created by Yū Watase,Fushigi Yugiis one of the best-selling manga of all time with over 20 million copies in circulation as of 2015. It follows two girls named Miaka and Yui, who are whisked away into the pages of a novel set in a version of ancient China. Miaka becomes the Priestess of Suzaku, while Yui is immediately excised from the book’s pages. With a narrative that balances comedy, romance, fantasy and fighting, Fushigi Yūgi is one of the first manga to invoke the “reverse harem” trope, which has become a mainstay in shōjo manga.
Samurai Champloo (2004)
Studio Manglobe’s magnum opus,Samurai Champloo, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe,is exemplary when it comes to conversation about historical fiction in anime. Withits heavy hip-hop inspiration, which was anachronistic to its Edo Period setting, a time largely characterized by over 250 years of foreign isolation. It follows fictional characters, Fuu, Jin and Mugen as they go on a journey to find a samurai Fū suspects to be her father, encountering various interesting individuals in a manner that reflects the time period, but there was a conscious decision to include various forms of minorities, subcultures and niches that wouldn’t usually be protagonized in an anime. It dealt with a variety of themes, with its episodic format lending itself to many side stories and characters which culminated in a dramatic three-part ending. Its ambient boom bap-inspired soundtrack, largely composed and curated by the likes of Nujabes, Tsuchie, Fat Jon and Force of Nature, is hailed as one of the best soundtracks in anime to this day.
Black Butler
Yana Toboso’sBlack Butlerfollows a 12-year-old orphan named Ciel, the heir to the Phantomhive Estate and part of a long line of secret investigators who take orders directly from Queen Victoria herself. After the death of his parents, Ciel was kidnapped by a child-murdering cult but at the last moment,formed a contract with a demon named Sebastian, who became his butler. While aimed at a shonen demographic,Black Butlerhas an immense female fanbase. At over 35 million copies in circulation, it is one of the best-selling manga of all time.
Golden Kamuy (2018)
Satoru Noda’sGolden Kamuyis one of few anime and manga titles that acknowledge the existence ofJapan’s indigenous population, the Ainu people. Set after the Russo-Japanese War (1904/05), the series follows former military man Sugimoto as he learns of a rumour concerning a hidden treasure and a map to said treasure that can only be found by collecting the skins of former prisoners who each had part of the treasure map tattooed on them. The series is set in an interesting historical period in Japan, which saw the country and its people become more Westernized. It is a hilarious, action-packed adventure that is fully set in its early 1900s setting with great characters, and is definitely one of the best anime/manga titles of the 2010s. By March 2023,Golden Kamuyhad over 24 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga of all time.
Vinland Saga (2019)
“I have no enemies.”
Makoto Yukimura’sVinland Sagais a dramatization ofreal-life explorer Thorfinn Karlsefni’s expeditionto find the place known as Vinland. It is largely set in England in 1013, which was under Danish rule, drawing from various historical accounts and follows the development of Thorfinn; a Viking, who goes from being a revenge-fuelled, violent killer in his youth to a pacifist after fully experiencing the devastating effects of war set against the backdrop of medieval Europe.Vinland Sagais hailed for its expressive and realistic depictions of brutal violence, as well as the incredible progression of Thorfinn’s character over the course of the story.
Verdict: Historical Fiction Is a Major Contributor to the Development of Anime and Manga
There Are Countless Historical Fiction Anime That Deserve Celebration
At best, historical fiction in anime and manga has given the medium some of its most important stories, some of which have changed the trajectory of manga aimed at specific demographics; others used the historical setting to explore modern themes and engage with complex themes. From something over-the-top and hilarious likeGintamaor dark and violent Kouta Hirano’sDrifters; which putfigures from various points in historyinto a gritty fantasy world; theFatefranchise which pits historical figures against each other in war over the fabled Holy Grail; orOda Nobuna’s Ambition; which recounted Nobunaga’s journey towards the unification of Japan as an anime girl, historical fiction in anime has produced countless vibrant, beautiful stories and the ones mentioned here are a few truly influential, medium-defining stories that have led anime to its current heights as a story-telling medium.
