Wars tend to carry within their folds the name of peace. However, that might not always be the case, as quite often, wars are conducted in the name of revenge, even love. Then again, they are wars nonetheless, and they leave the world in such chaos and destruction. The techniques of wars, or rather usage of weapons, changed throughout history, as it no longer merely deals with swords, ninjas, and all that jazz. In fact, weapons evolve, up to the point a human portrays a weapon of mass destruction. Anime provide that beautifully, artistically. Today, we gathered a list for you, a top 10 best military anime!
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Joker Game
The second World War nears its date, however, this time, not just weapons are able to save them. In fact, intelligence has taken quite a valuable spot in other countries’ social and economic situations. As a proof of how valuable it is, Japan established a spy organization and called it D Agency. It aims to obtain this weapon, as in intelligence.
Lieutenant Colonel Yuuki commands eight other agents in order to infiltrate the most power countries. In addition to that, they must observe and report any sort of developments linked to the war. These men trained their bodies to survive the worst things that face them, be it in terms of other men or any other difficulty. The agents also studied rather hard multiple fields, including communications and languages. Yet, their best assets are their abilities to manipulate people, making them do their bidding, extracting any information necessary.
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Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku
With an unbeatable attitude, Shu portrays a rather quirky character, yet again, somewhat plain, as he plays a typical Japanese boy. His life changes abruptly once his gaze falls on a strange girl. This girl, now named Lala-Ru, possesses quite a mysterious aura about her; teleports Shu into a desert world.
Sooner than later, Shu discovers the horrors of this world he was transported to. This place is peppered with war, genocide, brutal torture, hunger, thirst, and child exploitation. His mission consists of saving the mysterious girl named Lala-Ru, and his new-found friends from the insane dictator, Hamdo. Will he be able to achieve all his goals, or will he lose his sense of purpose?
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Pumpkin Scissors
Even though the war ended long ago, the empire is still plagued by its worst fears. Ceasefire put an end to a rather long war between the Royal Empire and the Republic of Frost. Yet, everything ceased to be from then, as starvation, pestilence, and soldiers turning into bandits became a thing.
In a cry of help, the Empire dared to create the Intelligence Army State Section III, also known as the Pumpkin Scissors. However, Pumpkin Scissors are considered as a waste of resources and a waste of time to some. To others, it portrays merely propaganda. Pumpkin Scissors, though, carry a heavy weight on their shoulders, making it their sole purpose to rebuild the country. Then, everything changes once again when a mysterious corporal joins the team.
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Jin-Rou
Jin-Rou took second place for the Best Asian Film award, precisely at the Fant-Asaia Film Festival in Canada. Not only this award, however, as it won more awards, one for Animation and so on. That alone speaks for on its behalf.
Haunted by the image of the terrorist girl who blew herself into pieces in an attempt of suicide, Constable Kazuki Fuse undergoes quite a phase. That forced him to let his position in the Capital Police’s Special Unit go to another person. Unbeknownst to him, that was not the end of all things for him; in fact, it was just the start. He becomes a key factor in a dispute, one between Capital and Local Police forces. Kazuki finds himself in a tough spot, mingled with the sister of the girl he saw die before his eyes.
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Kumo no Mukou, Yukusoku no Basho
In an alternate-reality, another dimension of Japan in 1974, the whole country is divided into two. One part, the southern islands, belongs to America, whereas, the other part belongs to the Soviet Union. In the series, Hokkaido is referred to as Ezo. It decides to build a tower into the sky; designed by Ekusun Tsukinoe.
In 1996, Hokkaido finished building the tower while three students of Aomori harbor huge dreams when it comes to the tower. In such a world, Hiroki Fujisawa and Takuya Shirakawa, child prodigies, developed feelings for Sayuri Sawatari. However, none of these prodigies admit it. A drone crashes down, the two boys fly up to the tip of the Hokkaido tower to fix it. Approaching closely to their achieving their dreams with the help of their boss, Mr.Okabe, their love interest vanishes. Unknowingly, her disappearance relates to the tower.
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Jormungand
In a world where child soldiers are a thing, Jonathan, aka Jonah, Mar dislikes weapons and those who deal them quite feverishly. Life gives him no choice, however, as Koko Hekmatyar, an international arms dealer, takes him under her wing. She uses him as one of her bodyguards, thus, he must carry a weapon with him at all times. Jonah, now plagued with the two things he hates most, protects Koko alongside her former special-ops soldiers. He must protect her and her idealistic goal of world peace from the dangers that come ahead.
Jormungand stresses on Koko, Jonah, and the rest of her crew. The storyline focuses on them traveling around the world selling weapons under the international shipping company HCLI. Koko’s line of work proves itself as illegal according to international laws, thus, rendering her in constant danger. As an example of that, the CIA chases her like there is no tomorrow. Now, it is Jonah’s job and the rest of the crew to guard Koko and her idealistic dream of world peace. That, or die trying.
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Mobile Suit Gundam 00
Sooner or later, everything will go to waste due to an energy crisis. Humanity, however, did its best to avoid this said crisis and dependence on fossil fuels. And that they did, as they found an alternative source of energy, solar power. Various nations united together and formed three major factions. Those factions are the Union of Solar Energy and Free nations, the Advanced European Union, and the Human Reform League. Each and every one of them have access to this solar power generator, rendering them with limitless energy.
However, this decision brought another form of chaos on other countries. Those who depended on the sale of fossil fuels are now thrown into the hands of poverty. This, also, led to years and years of warfare and internal strife due to solar energy and who controls it. A rather strange organization with the name of Celestial being decided to make an appearance, to end this warfare. Celestial Being emerged; wanted to end all of this using mysterious and technologically advanced Mobile Suits name Gundams.
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Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
An addition to the prequel with the same name, this anime follows the story of the Laughing Man case. Its closure brought controversy, thus Section 9’s reestablishment by Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister. Youko Kayabuki, the Prime Minister, chose to use Section 9 for combant, to end the threat of cyber-terrorism.
After that, a group of individuals began committing crimes, acts of terror all over Japan, calling themselves The Individual Eleven. Section 9 tries to investigate in order to end this new found terror all over Japan. Yet, another menacing threat emerges, as the Japanese government faces a crisis concerning refugees of the Third World War. Once again, trouble finds its way to them, as the member of special-ops keep bumping into Gouda Kazundo, a member of the Cabinet Intelligence Service. This brings controversy, making them think he is, somewhat, involved.
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Youjo Senki
The anime that made all the hype when it was about to come out early this year proves itself worthy, as it combines the genres Military and Magic. The story portrays the young soldier Tanya Degurechaff, who plays the role of an infamous cruel, ruthless, and uncanny, soldier. It earns her a rather terrifying nickname, “Devil of the Rhine.”
Underneath that innocent looking façade, lies the soul of the man who challenge Being X, the self-proclaimed god. That challenge brought a battle of wits, resulting in him reincarnated as a little girl in a world of magic and warfare. Tanya is thrown in the ranks of military, climbing them up as if they were nothing, yet Being X proves himself as an obstacle to achieving a peaceful life. Then again, her skills in perception and combat render her with a side effect. It makes the empire one of the strongest, most powerful nations in history.
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Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu
The draw that lasted 150 years between two interstellar superpowers finally comes to an end. The Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance are no longer in a draw, as new leaders arise. Those leaders portray the idealistic military genius Reinhard von Lohengramm, and the FPA’s collected historian Yang Wenli.
With the help of his childhood friend Siegfried Kircheis, Reinhard finds it easy to climb up the ranks of the empire. He must fight in war and in the remnants of the crumbling Goldenbaum Dynasty to free his sister from the Kaiser. In addition to that, he must unify humanity under one ruler. On the other side, Yang supports strongly the democratic ideals and must not discard his beliefs. He also has to prove to his pupil, Julian Mints, that autocracy is never the solution.
That wraps up the list of today. These picks are the most intense ones out there, which ranks them as a must-watch for any fan of military anime. However, if we’ve forgotten one or two, make sure to voice out that opinion.
