Historically, Oda Nobunaga perished at Honnouji. However, what you didn’t know is that he was reincarnated into the modern day as a Shiba dog named Cinnamon. He is eventually joined by other famous samurai who met the same fate in reincarnation.
Stupid comedy premise? To be certain. Delightful as hell? Absolutely. It is a nice unwind type of show about historical people as dogs. I think we can all use a little more of that in our life.
Anime Like Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga
For Fans of Feel-Good Animal Series
My Roommate is a Cat
Subaru is a novelist, and not very good with people. He’s been alone since his parent’s death, but one day while praying at their grave, a cat comes and eats his offering. Deciding to take it home, he now is shouldered with a cat, and this stray is shouldered with caring for a human who can barely care for himself.
Both series follow the lives of pets. My Roommate is a Cat is more traditional while Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga is about historical figures reincarnated as animals. However, both series allow you to see from the animal perspective of how they view their lives.
Kumamiko
Young shrine maiden Machi Amayadori has spent her whole life in a small town with her talking bear guardian. However, as she turns fourteen, she decides to take a chance and attend high school in the city. This is the story of her preparing for city life in a small town.
In this series, it has that same sort of relaxing vibe, but it focuses on human characters and just one animal character. Both series, however, focus on animal characters that are unfamiliar with the ways of our world, which leads to the comedy in the series.
Polar Bear Café
Located near the local zoo, the charismatic polar bear Shirokuma decided to open his eponymous cafe. As a popular spot for humans and animals alike, it is a good place to relax after a hard day.
Both series are about animal characters with human thoughts and characteristics. However, the animals on Polar Bear Café are more human-like compared to the dogs in Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga who are largely treated as dogs.
For Fans of Sengoku Warriors
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.
This series is more traditional to the Sengoku Era. All the warlords are human, but they all have that shounen anime flash to their fights. It is a great watch if you want to get more familiar with the historical characters some of the dogs are based on.
The Ambition of Oda Nobuna
High schooler Sagara Yoshiharu has the misfortune one day to time travel back to the Sengoku time period. However, all the powerful feudal lords are actually cute girls. On chance, he happens across Oda Nobuna, and begins to serve her in the place of recently deceased Kinoshita Tokichiro.
There seems to be a beloved trend in anime where the plot is “it’s Nobunaga, but”. In this series, it is Nobunaga, but she’s actually a woman. It is different from Nobunaga the dog, but thankfully not as ecchi as you think it might be.
Nobunaga Concerto
Saburou is a carefree student who is jarringly thrown back in time to the Sengoku era. He lands directly in front of Oda Nobunaga who is unexpectedly frail and fleeing his retainers. As the two look similar, Nobunaga proposes that they switch places in order for him to go relax.
Both series follow Oda Nobunaga, but not the historical figure we think we know. In this series, “Nobunaga” is really some kid from modern times that clumsily tries to navigate things.
For Fans of Historical Characters in Alternative Settings
Drifters
While forming the rear guard for his uncle’s escape, Toyohisa Shimazu manages to mortally wound Ii Naomasa, but is critically wounded himself in the process. While trying to limp back home, he finds himself transported from the field to a hallway lined with doors. There a mysterious man sends him spiraling into another world. Dragged into the forest by two young elves, Toyohisa is patched up by two others from the Land of the Rising Sun that turn out to be Yoichi Suketaka Nasu and Oda Nobunaga. From there, Toyohisa and his fellow historical figures, named “drifters” must save (or conquer) their new world.
Infinitely darker and more violent, Drifters brings together not just historical characters from Japan, but from everywhere into the same alternate reality. It is not warm and fuzzy warlords as dogs, but it is is just as interesting to see these characters interact and fight each other.
Bungou Stray Dogs
The orphanage that Atsushi Nakajima has been living at has been recently plagued by a tiger that only he can see. Blaming him for the incident, they kick him out. Now homeless, he wanders the streets until he meets the eccentric Osamu Dazai and saves him from drowning. As it turns out, Dazai is a supernatural detective and agrees to help him solve the mystery.
While it is not exactly samurai reincarnated as dogs, some of Japan’s finest literary minds in this show are portrayed as hard boiled detectives. It has a little more interest if you have read some of their works, but it is still a show that anyone can get into.
Do you have any more anime recommendations like Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga? Let fans know in the comments section below.
