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Eight anime based on Western stories transform familiar tales with stunning visuals and fresh perspectives via Japanese animation.
Anime has long drawn inspiration from all over the world. As such, they created unique visual experiences that amalgamate Eastern animation style with Western narratives. If you’ve been searching for anime based on Western stories that deliver tales with Japanese flair, you’re in for a treat!
These essential anime based on Western stories showcase the cultural fusion, rank from good to absolutely mind-blowing. Have a look at them.
8) Gangsta (2015)
This Gangsta anime takes place in the gritty fictional city of Ergastulum. It heavily draws inspiration from Western noir and crime dramas. This story revolves around “Handyman” Worick and Nicolas, who take odd jobs from police and mob bosses. This anime, based on Western stories, captures the essence of American gangster films while adding its own unique twist with the concept of “Twilights” – enhanced” humans with special abilities.
With stylish violence reminiscent of Tarantino films and a jazzy soundtrack that evokes American crime classics, Gangsta translates Western genre conventions through a distinctly anime lens. Even though it is an unfinished story, this gritty tale is still worth watching.
7) 91 Days (2016)
A revenge tale straight from the Prohibition era, 91 Days is one of the most faithful anime based on Western stories, specifically American gangster films like The Godfather. This fictional version depicts America during the 1920s. And it heavily follows Angelo Lagusa, who returns to his hometown under a false identity to exact revenge on the mafia family that murdered his parents.
The detailed depiction of bootlegging operations and the authentic period costumes and weaponry make this anime an essence of American organized crime stories. The series eschews typical anime tropes in favor of a grounded narrative style that could easily work as a live-action HBO drama. For fans of classic gangster tales looking for an anime twist, 91 Days delivers a tightly plotted revenge story.
6) Baccano! (2007)
Baccano! – Italian for “ruckus” – lives up to its name with a chaotic, non-linear narrative set primarily on a transcontinental train in 1930s America. This anime based on Western stories blends gangster film tropes, supernatural elements, and Western historical settings into a wildly entertaining package. The jazz-infused soundtrack and a cast of mobsters, alchemists, and immortals, Baccano! seems like what might occur if Quentin Tarantino directed an anime.
The series pulls inspiration from American crime films and literature, mainly in its portrayal of Prohibition-era gangsters and their operations. Moreover, due to its complex structure, the series remains accessible through sharp writing and distinctive character designs.
5) Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)
Based on the Western video game Cyberpunk 2077, this anime adaptation brings the neon-soaked dystopia of Night City life. Edgerunners perfectly holds the Western cyberpunk aesthetic, meanwhile infusing it with Studio Trigger’s signature hyperkinetic animation tone. This anime is based on western stories, which follow David Martinez, a street kid who becomes a “cyberpunk” mercenary after a personal tragedy.
The result is a perfect marriage of Western cyberpunk philosophy and Japanese animation techniques. With its unflinching violence, emotional core, and spectacular visuals, Edgerunners proves that anime can not only adapt Western stories but sometimes even surpass their source material in emotional impact.
4) Vinland Saga (2019)
This historical epic brings Viking sagas to anime with stunning results. Vinland Saga draws directly from Nordic folklore and historical accounts. Most particularly, it draws from the tales of Thorfinn Karlsefni and the exploration of North America. As an anime based on western stories, it stands out for its meticulous historical research and philosophical depth. It also examines the cycle of violence and the true meaning of strength.
The director seizes the harsh beauty of the Viking Age with breathtaking elements, from original shipbuilding techniques to period-accurate weapons and armor. The series also comprises Western storytelling parts that create a rich narrative tapestry. For thoughtful exploration of Western histories with superior animation quality, Vinland Saga is unmatched.
3) Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012-Present)
A multi-generational epic might seem purely Japanese at first glance, but Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is deeply rooted in Western cultural influences. It’s musical references (characters named after Western bands and songs) and its artistic inspiration drawn from Italian Renaissance sculptures and fashion. This anime is based on Western stories with a love letter to global pop culture with a heavy Western intensity.
The series traverses centuries and continents, with settings running from Victorian England to 1980s America to modern Italy. Each part merges different Western genres such as Gothic horror, pulp adventure, gangster drama, and small-town mystery. It does that while preserving its unique visual style and supernatural battle system. With its flamboyant poses, quotable dialogue, and ever-evolving storyline, it fused culture in its most creative and entertaining way.
2) Cowboy Bebop (1998)
Often the gateway anime for Western viewers, Cowboy Bebop expertly blends space opera with Western frontier motifs and noir detective stories. It takes place in a future where humanity has colonized the solar system. This anime is based on western stories, which follow bounty hunters Spike, Jet, Faye, and Ed aboard the spaceship Bebop. A masterpiece that feels simultaneously Japanese and American, with each episode (“session”) named after a music genre.
The Western influences are everywhere in the series. Spike’s fighting style combines Bruce Lee with Western gunslinging, while the frontier planets evoke dusty Western towns complete with saloons and outlaws. With its perfect blend of everything that makes Cowboy Bebop the gold standard for anime based on western storytelling traditions.
1) Trigun (1998)
Taking the top spot, Trigun represents the perfect marriage of Western genre conventions and anime storytelling. Set on a desert planet that might as well be the American frontier. This anime is based on western stories that tell the story of Vash the Stampede. He is the legendary gunslinger with a $60 billion bounty on his head. It began as an easygoing Western comedy before turning into an investigation of pacifism, values, and redemption.
Trigun transcends its Western trappings through its philosophical core, particularly Vash’s commitment to preserving all life despite overwhelming violence. The series questions whether pacifist ideals can survive in a brutal world. It has iconic character design and very unforgettable antagonists. Regarding this, Trigun stands as the ultimate example of how anime can transform Western stories into something uniquely powerful.
Conclusion
Above all, these anime based on Western stories depict the beautiful fusion that happens when Japanese animation embraces Western narratives. All these series offer a unique lens through which familiar settings add more depth and perspective. The creators extract the essence, discard the cliches, and rebuild these familiar stories with fresh eyes.
So next time someone tells you anime is “too Japanese” to understand, point them toward these masterpieces.
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