Best Anime About Gods

Key Takeaways

Anime has used ancient mythology for decades, with shows like Saint Seiya incorporating gods and legendary references.
Record of Ragnarok explores the clash between humanity and gods, injecting humor and sacrilegious depictions.
Death Note’s unique take on Japanese death gods involves a human gaining godlike powers through a supernatural notebook.

As a lifelong anime enthusiast, I must say that this list of unique and captivating anime series showcasing ancient gods is truly astounding! From the epic tale of Princess Mononoke to the whimsical world of Oh, Suddenly Egyptian God, these stories transport us to realms beyond our own.

In contemporary media, it’s common to see modern creators drawing inspiration from ancient gods and mythologies for their characters and narratives, but this practice isn’t new to anime. For quite some time, anime has been incorporating the visual style of ancient deities into its productions. While these divine figures themselves may not always appear, their names, attributes, or even remnants of their legends can be found in various forms. Even science-fiction anime from previous years often contains such mythological references.

Anime often draws upon the mythologies of ancient civilizations like Rome, Egypt, and Greece to weave its tales, while also delving into the rich pantheon of Shinto gods, referred to as “kami.” Abundant in choice, both classic and contemporary anime productions regularly incorporate these deities, their followers, and legendary abodes.

6 Saint Seiya

The Warriors of Athena

In another term, “Saint Seiya” is famously recognized as “Knights of the Zodiac.” This captivating series unfolds a universe where the goddess Athena has been reborn and guarded by a select band of warriors referred to as “Saints.” The story revolves around the character, Seiya, initially an orphan who embarks on a mission to seize the Bronze Cloth of the Pegasus constellation from Sanctuary in Greece. Similar to many anime heroes, his journey involves the tragic demise of a cherished kin and the activation of an enigmatic celestial energy.

The anime originated from a widely recognized manga series, and it initially ran for four seasons during the 80s. Later on, a spin-off titled “Saint Seiya Omega” debuted in 2014, while an ONA miniseries was introduced in 2024.

5 Record of Ragnarok

This Is The Way The World Really Ends

Every millennium, deities from across the cosmos gather to determine humanity’s destiny. After 7 million years, they reach a verdict that humanity cannot be saved and must perish. However, Valkyrie Brunhild intervenes with an irresistible proposition. The humans are granted one final opportunity to battle the gods and survive. They select the mightiest and most revered individuals in human history to fight for their existence.

In a somewhat grave tone, it’s worth mentioning that the anime “Record of Ragnarok” is filled with humor, a humor that can be found not just in its irreverent and sometimes startling portrayal of divine beings, but also in the characters of the human heroes, who might not live up to heroic standards off-screen. True to her word, Brunhilde dispatches a Valkyrie to assist each human warrior in combat.

4 Death Note

The Shinigami Are Unique To Japan

As legend goes, in Japanese mythology, each death god maintains a unique place where they record the names of the departed. The anime series “Death Note” depicts these records as physical notebooks that people can manipulate too. One day, Ryuk – a mischievous shinigami – decides to spice things up and intentionally throws his own Death Note into the human realm, curious about the outcome.

The unexpected turmoil turned out to be far more captivating than he had envisioned. High achiever Light Yagami stumbled upon the notebook while heading home from school, and as the story unfolds, it documents his transformation into a murderer with divine abilities over several years.

3 Odin: Photon Sailor Starlight

Searching Through Space For The Gods

Studio: Toei Animation, West Cape Productions
Story By: Yoshinobu Nishizaki
Run Time: 139 minutes
Release Date: August 10, 1985

The good ship Starlight is about to embark on a historic milestone, the first interstellar flight of its kind, but the festivities are interrupted when they come across the remains of a wrecked ship and a lone survivor. Sara Cyanbaker doesn’t remember what happened, but she starts to have strange dreams that reference the ancient Norse god, Odin.

In the story, the captain orders them back to Earth promptly, but the team finds evidence suggesting that Odin could be a different planet rather than a deity. Sparked by this revelation, they stage a rebellion and steer the Starlight in the opposite direction, venturing further into space to unravel the enigma of Odin. The revelations that follow, exposing the identities of extraterrestrial beings associated with Norse gods, prove more intricate than one might expect from an early 1980s sci-fi animation.

2 Princess Mononoke

The Realm Of Ancient Gods

Among Studio Ghibli’s notable works, “Princess Mononoke” stands out for its stunning animation and enchanting soundtrack. Characters from both divine and demonic realms are featured in this production, with Gillian Anderson portraying the wolf deity Moro in the English adaptation. Notable voices such as Billy Bob Thornton (playing a cunning monk) and Claire Danes (in the title role) can also be heard in the English dub.

The story begins with a thrilling and horrifying scene that includes an angry and malevolent creature bearing down on a small village. The local prince, Ashitaka, fights the creature off but is infected with a curse that deems he must be exiled. He travels west, as the wise woman of the village instructed, and finds the forest of Moro and the Lord of the Forest. He also discovers Iron Town and its modern ruler, a logger and mining magnate, Lady Eboshi.

1 Oh, Suddenly Egyptian God

Ancient Myth Meets Hello! Kitty

Studio: Typhoon Graphics
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 10
Release Date: April 15th, 2020

Instead of the original, intimidating hieroglyphic figures lining the ancient Nile, these delightful miniature ones are quite different. Commonly seen deities like Anubis, Bastet, Horus, Set, and others frequently appear in a realm simply referred to as “the Egyptian divine world”, with no further clarification provided.

These beings possess extraordinary abilities, yet they utilize them not only for divine tasks such as controlling weather or protecting spirits, but also for everyday activities like squashing insects, creating pottery, and even ordering pizza. They inhabit a setting reminiscent of ancient Egypt, complete with stone structures and expansive plains along the Nile, while still enjoying contemporary amenities that add a touch of humor to their existence.

2024-11-17 18:34