After their descent 150 years ago, the demons demanded reverence from humanity as gods. Standing up against these new overlords were the Bushi, who still battle to this day, but the demons preach that they are enemies. Hinamoto, freed from Bushi rule many years ago, lives peacefully and reveres demons. The residents mine rocks for the demons to consume, but for Musashi, a miner in training, he craves freedom. Together with his childhood friend Koujiro, a boy outcasted for being a descendants of a Bushi, they start a fight against the demons for freedom, only to be saved by an actual Bushi band. Seeing them fight and destroy the demons, the pair decide they will form a Bushi band of their own!
I know a lot of people are ignoring Orient for whatever reason, but I think it creates a basic, but really enjoyable shounen story without over-complicating everything. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like Orient, then head on down below.
Anime Like Orient
For Fans of Creative Fantasy Samurai
Bucchigire! Bakumatsu Bad Boys
After the rise of a group called the Masked Demons delivering powerful evil swords that corrupted weak individuals, the Shinsengumi stood up to fight them. However, all but one were slain in the battle. To keep the peace in Kyoto and continue the fight against this organization, seven powerful criminals slated for execution were chosen as replacements for the slain Shinsengumi members. For Ichibanboshi, one of the seven chosen, he is hesitant to agree due to his hatred of samurai after they killed his family. However, his parents’ death and the Masked Demons may be more connected than he thought.
Both series are what you might call “samurai-inspired” action series in which they take the samurai aesthetic, then make it into colorful exciting shounen action anime. The characters are motivated by simple reasons, and the big shining moments of both shows come from the battles. Furthermore, both series lean on theme colors for their characters.
Sengoku Basara
In the Sengoku Period of Japan, constant struggle between local lords has fostered a chaotic Japan. Quelling these lords one after another under his might and military prowess was the Demon King of Owari, Oda Nobunaga who was slowly uniting Japan. However, only two dared rebel against his rule, the One-eyed Dragon of Oshu, Masamune Date and the hot blooded warrior of the Takeda clan, Yukimura Sanada. Though Masamune and Yukimura share a similar goal of defying Oda rule, the two are locked in fierce rivalry that thwarts any hope of a united front. However, under pressure from Oda’s looming force, they must learn to make peace and work together if they hope to survive.
While you might expect Sengoku Basara to be serious and historical, it really isn’t. Like Orient, the focus in Sengoku Basara is big action. As such, both series feature hot-blooded warriors who engage frequently in over-the-top battles. While not focusing on the grimness of the Sengoku Period, Sengoku Basara does use historical figures, though.
Brave 10
After her temple is burned and the people within slaughtered, Isanami, a priestess of Izumo, is forced to flee. She manages to find a masterless Iga ninja who helps her reach Ueda Castle where she asks the lord, Yukimura Sanada, for help. However, when she reaches him, a mysterious power manifests. This power is strong and coveted by many, so in order to protect it, Yukimura summons ten warriors to defend her.
While not nearly as colorful as Orient, Brave 10 features an endless slew of hot-blooded warriors who are always ready for a fight. While Brave 10 has a more shoujo element of drama to it, the big focus is the constant variety of battles like Orient.
Laughing Under the Clouds
After the upsetting decision to ban swords, the Meiji Era government commissioned a large prison for dissidents to be built in the middle of Lake Biwa. Tenka Kumou is unofficially assigned to arrest criminals and also serves as ferrymaster to the Biwa prison with his two younger siblings, Soramaru and Chuutarou. While they live joyfully, the Orochi curse spreads a shadow over the city of Oumi, signaling Orochi’s reincarnation in a human vessel. While many scramble to find the vessel, there are those that seek to seal it and those that have a darker design for the chosen person.
While Orient is more shounen adventure and battle, Laughing Under the Clouds keeps things more contained to a single mystery story. Both series feature characters with something special within them that will either lead to glory or ruin. Laughing Under the Clouds, while having moments of action, is strongly focused on its mystery, however.
For Fans of Crippled By an Unusual Power
Black Clover
After being abandoned at the same church, Asta and Yuno grew up together. Together they also grew up aiming for the same title – The Wizard King, the strongest wizard in the kingdom. However, it soon became apparent that while Yuno has skill with magic, Asta couldn’t use it at all. This all changed when they were attacked and Asta was given a strange grimoire that granted him the ability to nullify magic.
Both series have energetic, hot-blooded protagonists with the goal of “being the very best.” Yet, despite that goal, they are crippled by their own lack of power, or rather, the fact that they don’t yet understand how to utilize their own power. As such, both shows become about them struggling to over come that and eventually growing as they do.
Radiant
The world is ravaged by monsters called Nemeses. These demons fall from the sky and cause complete destruction to everything around them. In their path are Sorcerers that can defeat them. Seth is one such Sorcerer that seeks to destroy every Nemesis. He travels with his friends to destroy the near-mythical source of these monsters – Radiant.
Both Orient and Radiant are two of the more overlooked shounen series because they don’t have an abundance of good hooks to them, but remain very fun to watch anime. Furthermore, they also both follow main characters who aim towards a lofty goal, but struggle to reach it due to their own misunderstood powers.
Blue Exorcist
Humans and demons have always been separated by two different worlds, humans in Assiah and demons in Gehenna. The only way to travel between the worlds is by possession, which is how Satan, the ruler of Gehenna, wages his war. Blue Exorcist follows Rin Okumura, a somewhat troubled teen and son of Satan. However, while his father wants him to help conquer the human world, Rin decides to become an exorcist to fight him instead.
Both series are on the less popular spectrum of shounen anime series. While they have vastly different themes to them, the big similarity is that the main character, while strong, often struggles with their own innate power that is embedded deep within them.
Bleach
Ichigo Kurosaki is an average high school student except for his ability to see ghosts. One night, his family is attacked by a Hollow, a corrupted spirit that devours souls. He and a Soul Reaper who appears named Rukia manage to fight it off. However, in the process, Rukia is injured, forcing her to share her powers with Ichigo in order to survive the battle. From there, Ichigo must face down with Hollows and other Soul Reapers alike, not yet knowing what powerful enemies lurk out in the universe and what devastating powers lie within himself.
Both Orient and Bleach put a large emphasis on swords and swords choosing the wielder. As such, for a portion of each series, you have to deal with the characters essentially trying to tame the power in their blades. However, Bleach eventually gives its swords a more human manifestation while Orient somewhat lacks that.
For Fans of Traveling Adventures
Magi
After spending his life in isolation, Aladdin and his djinn Ugo set off on a journey to see the world. Soon after, he becomes friends with Alibaba, a young merchant that has ambitions of wealth, after he destroys his supply cart. In order to pay of the damages, Alibaba suggests the supremely powerful Aladdin helps him conquer a dungeon full of danger and wealth.
Magi and Orient share the same author, which often means a crossover of themes and character archetypes. Both series take inspiration for different historical times. Orient is distinctly Feudal Japanese while Magi is distinctly Middle Eastern. However, this inspiration allows for building a very unique world which is then explored by a trio of friends with varied powers and problems.
Edens Zero
At Granbell Kingdom, an abandoned amusement park inhabited by machines, Shiki, the sole human, has lived among them since he was a young child. One day, another human named Rebecca comes to Granbell Kingdom with her feline companion Happy. Rebecca set out to make a good video for her B-Cube channel, but ends up becoming friends with Shiki and ferrying him off planet instead. Together, they set out on a journey through space and time to make interesting videos, make friends, and find the elusive goddess Mother that dwells somewhere in the universe.
While Orient is confined to a continent while Edens Zero has vast unrestrained setting of time and space, both series are essentially shounen battlers where the characters travel, get tied up in something, solve it with their immense powers, and keep on going. They also both have a younger vibe than most other shounen series which tends to keep things more cheerful much of the time.
Fairy Tail
While looking to enhance her magic, celestial mage Lucy meets an energetic fire mage name Natsu. After finding out he is a member of the famous wizard guild Fairy Tail that she has long admired, the pair travel home so Lucy can join. Together with her new guildmates, Lucy and Natsu embark on adventures to help people, make money, and explore their vast magical world.
As Fairy Tail shares an author with Edens Zero, and that author has only been telling essentially the same story in every series he does, it also bears some similarities to Orient. However, this time the series has a larger focus on flashy battles. Like Orient, you watch colorful characters be absolutely devastating with their unique abilities as they travel from problem to problem.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Orient? Let fans know in the comments section below.
