Mythologies have always been a rich source of inspiration for current stories, with retellings and themes blending into novels, movies and even the anime of today. This reliance on the myths and tales from generations past have led to some of the most epic and fantastical anime series of all time. The rich tapestry of the world, with each culture creating their own unique fables and myths, has inspired quite a number of larger-than-life characters within the anime sphere.

While quite a few anime series incorporate myths in some form or fashion, only a few cement themselves as an epic. In literature, epics tend to be long-form content, usually a narrative poem, that tells the story of a hero’s journey, with a vast setting, plenty of action and noble deeds. From Kagome’s journey to recover the Sacred Jewel Shards in Inuyasha to Luffy’s quest to become the King of the Pirates in One Piece, these anime series blend together mythology and epic narratives to create truly sensational stories.

10

Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians Draw Their Names from the Planets Named After Greek Gods

Streaming on Pluto TV

At first glance, Sailor Moon might seem like a typical shojo anime, one that misses the prerequisite of narrative epics by lacking a hero’s journey, but Usagi’s path to eventual ruler of Crystal Tokyo easily cements her place among the lauded heroes of mythological epics. Sailor Moon delivers a heartfelt story built on love, destiny and cosmic battles, with Sailor Moon’s actions often impacting the Earth and the galaxy as a whole. The vast cosmos sets the stage for Sailor Moon and her friends, with their final battle even taking place at the fabled Galaxy Cauldron, a legendary space said to be the origin of all stars.

Sailor Moon draws heavy influence from mythology, particularly Greek and Roman mythology, as seen in Usagi’s powerful moonlight-based attacks and how her tragic backstory draws parallels to Selene, the goddess and personification of the moon in Greco-Roman mythology. Even the Sailor Guardians draw inspiration from the Greek pantheon, with their planets and powers bearing the names of Greek gods and goddesses. The franchise reimagines ancient myths into a modern setting, making it one of the most enduring mythological epics — not to mention incredibly popular — in anime history.

Sailor Moon

Release Date

March 7, 1992

Directors

Junichi Sato, Kunihiko Ikuhara

9

Knights of the Zodiac Incorporates a Magic System Based on Heavenly Bodies

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Knights of the Zodiac, also sometimes known as Saint Seiya, is a classic anime series that combines Greek mythology and the constellations to produce the inspiration for this high-octane shonen anime series. Seiya and the Bronze Saints fight to protect the reincarnation of Athena from all sorts of divine enemies who seek to dominate Earth. Each Saint can don a special Cloth, which marks them as one of Athena’s eighty-eight warriors known as Saints and is based on the eighty-eight constellations, with the Saints tapping into their Cosmo to fuel them as they fight. Seiya bears the Bronze Pegasus Cloth and uses its power to find his missing sister.

The hallmark of the Knights of the Zodiac lies in its mythology, which is strongly influenced by Greek tales, but also includes some other cultural myths as well. The epic quest Seiya undergoes, both to find his missing sister and in protecting Athena from other gods seeking to do her harm, makes it a truly epic tale. Added with the grand setting on a cosmic scale, Saint Seiya stands as a fan-favorite mythological epic since its debut in the 1980s.

Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac

Release Date

1986 – 1988

Directors

Kozo Morishita, Kazuhito Kikuchi

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8

Fushigi Yuugi Features the Four Symbols from Chinese Mythology in its Worldbuilding and Story

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Fushigi Yuugi draws inspiration from Chinese mythology and folklore, weaving together a story full of adventure, romance and destiny. After Miaka Yuki and her friend Yui are transported into an ancient Chinese-inspired world through a magical book, Miaka awakens as the Priestess of Suzaku and must gather her celestial warriors to summon the god Suzaku and receive three wishes. Conversely, Yui becomes the Priestess of Seriyuu, who finds herself pitted against Miaka after her jealousy and resentment drive her toward seeking revenge. To achieve her three wishes, Miaka must assemble all of the seven celestial warriors, setting her off on an epic guest across a vast new world.

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The story uses the four mythological creatures from China: the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise of the North. As the Priestess of Suzaku, Miaka is associated with the Vermillion Bird of the South, while Yui is connected with the Azure Dragon of the East. Each mythological creature symbolizes an element and a cardinal direction, and in the world of Fushigi Yuugi, there are four empires aligned with these cardinal directions. The four Beast Gods safeguarded their region, showcasing how the mythology of the four creates has influenced Fushigi Yuugi to its core.

Fushigi Yûgi

Release Date

April 6, 1995

7

Vinland Saga Taps Into Norse and Viking Mythology

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Although Vinland Saga tends to rely more on historical events than anything else, the series still incorporates Norse legends and Viking traditions into Thorfinn’s story. After his father was murdered, the young warrior Thorfinn set out to seek vengeance on his murderer, with his journey taking him far from his home. Along the way, he traversed into war-ravaged territories, encountered iconic and memorable figures, and was forced to adapt and grow his own thoughts and ideals based on his travels, making Vinland Saga one of the best war anime series to date.

Vinland Saga beautifully and exceptionally captures and embodies the essence of Viking saga, making it a truly epic tale. It also presents key Nordic gods and locations, such as the All-Father, Odin, and the halls of Valhalla, where the warriors who fell in combat were collected by the valkyrie to drink and revel until war called for them again. Vinland Saga captures the warrior ethos and blended it with the historical context to provide a truly captivating and in-depth story, full of stunning battles, intricate character development and a vivid realness that seldom few anime can achieve.

6

Fate/Stay Night Brings Together Mythological Figures in a Battle Royale

Streaming on Prime Video via HIDIVE

Fate/Stay Night is one of the most ambitious anime franchises to date, blending mythology, history, and fantasy into a singular narrative. Shirō Emiya accidentally summons Saber (later revaled to be Artoria Pendragon) in the Fifth Holy Grail War, where legendary heroes from different mythologies and time periods are summoned as Servants to fight on the behalf of their magi. With icons such as Gilgamesh, Hercules and Cú Chulainn, the series showcases mythological figures the world over in a unique and action-packed setting.

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Yet the series also weaves in elements from epic narratives as well, such as Shirō’s desire to become a hero of justice. His journey takes him into the Holy Grail War, where he must navigate through clashes with other magi to secure victory. The series incorporates these contests of strength, but also clashes of ideals and beliefs. Filled to the brim with stunning animation, intense battles and character arcs, Fate/Stay Night remains one of the most entertaining and compelling epic anime series sure to appeal to mythology fans.

5

Inuyasha Explores Japanese Folklore in the Setting of Medieval Japan

Streaming on Hulu

In Inuyasha, modern-girl Kagome is accidentally transported into the past through a well at her family’s shrine. There, she meets the half-demon Inuyasha and discovers that the legendary Shikon Jewel (sometimes also called the Sacred Jewel) was hidden away in her body. Once she’s attacked by a demon, it’s released and then shattered, leading Kagome, Inuyasha and their friends on an epic quest through the demon-infested medieval Japan to collect the shards and reforge the powerful gemstone.

The series thrives with its rich, mythological setting, showcasing all sorts of creatures, monsters and demons from Japanese mythology and folklore. As Kagome and her friends travel the countryside, their adventures cement the series as an epic fantasy journey, one that continues to captivate audiences years later. Its unique approach to mythology and its strong character dynamics make it one of the most beloved anime series of the genre.

4

Blood of Zeus Offers a New and Fresh Greek Myth Based on the Old Tales

Streaming on Netflix

Blood of Zeus is an original story built on the tales from Greek mythology, offering an action-packed and visually stunning series that features gods, heroes and monsters prominent in ancient stories. The series follows Heron, an original-to-this-series demigod and the son of Zeus, as he embarks on a dangerous journey to rescue Earth and Olympos, the home of the gods. With its darker tone and high-stakes battles, Blood of Zeus doubles down on the elements of classic mythology while offering a fresh leading character and story, leading to a bevy of praise from critics and reviewers.

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Blood of Zeus introduces anime fans to the powerful Greek Pantheon, each God stronger than the last, from Aphrodite to Poseidon.

The mature-audience-only story of Blood of Zeus stands out for its blend of brutal combat and emotional storytelling, where even the gods are portrayed as flawed, powerful beings who feel no qualms about manipulating humans for their own personal agendas. As Heron navigates this treacherous arena, he comes into contact with many other giants, demons, titans and mythological creatures from the original Greek tales, making it inspired by and becoming one of the narrative epics it seeks to emulate.

3

One Piece Blends Together Pirate Myths with an Oceanic Setting

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Even pirates have their own myths and tales, as seen from such iconic figures as Davy Jones, the Kraken and the dread pirate Blackbeard. One Piece leans into these nautical stories, but also draws inspiration from various global myths as well, with legendary creatures, god-like beings and divine artifacts shaping its world. The Devil Fruits, for example, bestow mythical abilities that make their bearers resemble the legends of old, while the powerful and almost godly figures like the Celestial Dragons rule over the world with their divine authority.

In addition, One Piece nails the mythological epic’s grand scale, with the vast sea and its many islands and land masses serving as the massive setting for the Straw Hats’ adventures. Even the premise of the show sets up the grandness of the setting, with Gol D. Roger inciting the Great Pirate Era by stating that anyone who found his treasure could claim it. The ever-expanding world and its rich lore — to say nothing of the inspirational One Piece quotes — easily makes the series one of anime’s greatest mythological adventures.

One Piece

Created by

Eiichiro Oda

First TV Show

One Piece

Latest TV Show

Netflix’s One Piece

First Episode Air Date

October 20, 1999

2

Castlevania & Castlevania Nocturne Draw Inspiration from a Multitude of Mythologies

Streaming on Netflix

The Castlevania anime takes inspiration from the Castlevania video game series, which in turn took its inspiration from the Gothic and horror stories of European mythology, to deliver a dark and thrilling tale of vampires, magic and legendary warriors. In Castlevania, Trevor Belmont and his friends battle Dracula as he unleashes a horde of night creatures upon humanity. Both European folklore and Christianity are given prominent influence in the worldbuilding and characterizations, creating a truly dark setting for which Trevor must navigate as he completes his hero’s journey.

In Castlevania Nocturne, the mythology expands upon its eastern European roots by including the Hungarian noblewoman, Countess Elizabeth Bathory, and then travels to France and Egypt, as she seeks to consume the powers of the goddess Sehkmet and conquer the sun. Even Afro-Caribbean mythology is granted a stage, as main character Annette channels vodou magic derived from her African heritage, enabling her to call upon Yoruba spirits such as Ogun and Orunmila.

Castlevania

Release Date

2017 – 2020

Showrunner

Warren Ellis

Writers

Warren Ellis

Franchise(s)

Castlevania

1

Dragon Ball is a Loose Adaptation of Sun Wukong’s Tale in Chinese Mythology

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Dragon Ball is arguably one of the most iconic anime series considered a mythological epic in anime history, as it draws heavy inspiration from a Journey to the West from Chinese mythology. Goku’s journey mirrors that of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, as he encounters a slew of gods, celestial warriors and legendary artifacts. Goku’s monkey tail is a strong example of this connection, with Goku’s prominence in martial arts — to the point where it seems entirely supernatural — mirroring Sun Wukong’s own supernatural powers through his Taoist practices.

The entertaining blend of martial arts, mythology and cosmic-scale battles across various different planets and realms makes Dragon Ball one — if not the — definitive mythological anime. From legendary weapons to supernatural transformations, the series constantly draws in its mythological inspiration while creating its own in-world mythos. With such a massive influence on anime and pop culture, Dragon Ball rightfully earns its top spot as one of the greatest mythological epic anime series of all time.

Dragon Ball

Release Date

1986 – 1989

Directors

Minoru Okazaki, Daisuke Nishio