Essential Insights
- Numerous ship-themed anime showcase distinctive characters, including pirates and personified vessels, blending genres from comedy to intense drama.
- Contemporary nautical anime, including ‘Azur Lane’ and ‘Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko,’ have surged in popularity.
- The settings of ships in anime can vary from outer space to the depths of the oceans, providing diverse storytelling opportunities.
A vessel amidst the vast sea and rhythmic waves presents a compelling backdrop for anime series or films. Depending on the nature of the ship and the era it represents, these journeys might traverse galaxies or navigate ethereal realms rather than merely sailing across oceans.
Anime featuring vessels often introduces a variety of characters, such as disciplined military officials, adventurous explorers, and rebellious pirates, unlocking a bounty of exciting storytelling potentials. These adaptable shows encompass humor, serious themes, and everything between, united by a mutual fascination with oceanic voyages, ships, and a unique maritime vibe.
Last updated on October 14, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: The live-action adaptation of One Piece on Netflix continues to dominate viewership, with a second season underway. Following suit, 7Seeds has also received a second season, alongside other popular nautical anime like Azur Lane and Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko. Various genres within anime, including magical girl, isekai, and shoujo, elegantly integrate ships into their narratives or settings. Furthermore, vessels can be portrayed in space or underwater, broadening the narrative horizons tremendously.
18 Odin: Photon Sailer Starlight
MyAnimeList Rating: 5.9
- Production Studio: Toei Animation and West Cape Productions
- Directors: Takeshi Shirato and Toshio Masuda
- Duration: 139 minutes
- Launch Date: August 10, 1985
Odin: Photon Sailer Starlight delivers an intense narrative, reflective of its compelling title and alternative name, Odin: Starlight Mutiny. Despite its release in 1985, it maintains a dedicated following. Rather than focusing on anime warships, it’s more akin to a cruise adventure.
On its inaugural journey, the starship Starlight undertakes an interstellar test flight, carrying an inexperienced crew towards an undisclosed destination. Their course leads them to a distressed vessel harboring a solitary survivor. While the crew wishes to dig deeper into her tale, the commanding officers insist on sticking to the protocol and reconvening with Earth. This contention ignites a mutiny as they venture deeper into the cosmos in pursuit of Odin’s secrets.
17 Azur Lane
MyAnimeList Rating: 6.3
- Animation Studio: Bibury Animation Studios
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Episode Count: 12
- Year of Release: Oct 3, 2019
Diving into the narrative based on a highly acclaimed mobile video game, Azur Lane unfolds a straightforward storyline featuring girls warring against each other—while embodying anthropomorphic ships. The series boasts consistently impressive animation quality and musical scores, with the soundtrack being particularly noteworthy.
Each character is thoughtfully designed with distinct weapons and personalities, setting them apart in significant ways. Though some character designs may appear surreal, they remain skillfully conceptualized. The series successfully harmonizes action with emotional moments while maintaining a relatively low level of bodily injury among the lead characters.
16 KanColle: Kantai Collection
MyAnimeList Rating: 6.3
- Animation Studios: Diomedea (Season 1), ENGI (Season 2)
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Total Episodes: 20
- Initial Release: 2015
This anime adapts a distinctive video game premise where the title translates to either “Fleet Collection”or “Girls Collection of the Fleet.”It revolves around girls who possess the ability to transform into naval warships, training to combat a mysterious force labeled the Abyssal Fleet that threatens humanity’s existence.
The storyline delves deeper, exploring how these girls channel the essence of naval spirits known as kanmusu through their attire. For instance, Fubuki, the protagonist, is a destroyer ship from World War I.
15 7Seeds
MyAnimeList Rating: 6.6
- Animation Studio: Gonzo (episodes 1 to 12), Studio Kai (episodes 13 to 24)
- Seasons: 2
- Episode Count: 24
- Year Released: 2019
For fans of isekai, survival tales, or series reminiscent of Lost, 7Seeds weaves an engaging narrative similar to those genres. The opening episode presents an initially serene depiction of contemporary life, which abruptly transforms when the protagonist awakens adrift on a lifeboat after a mysterious cataclysm.
Chief protagonist Natsu Iwashimizu’s last memory is of lying in her room, but now she is adrift at sea with other survivors. Together, they form a group of seven and eventually discover an uncharted, untamed island. They quickly construct an offshore refuge due to threats hidden in the wilderness of this new environment.
14 Hikawa Maru’s Stories
MyAnimeList Rating: N/A
- Production House: Mushi Production
- Director: Shunji Oga
- Length: 90 minutes
- Release Date: Aug 22, 2015
Childhood on a vessel named the Hikawa Maru forms the basis of Jiro’s life as he matures. This anime film juxtaposes the growth of the child with the function of the ship itself, illustrating the Japanese perspective during the winds of World War I and II while focusing on the rich history of the Hikawa Maru, reflecting on its 85-year legacy. The animation, while occasionally inconsistent, remains visually impressive.
The anime takes a thoughtful approach to intricate themes, especially given its backdrop of war, interwoven deeply into the characters’ lives. After suffering the loss of his mother, Jiro becomes captivated by the Hikawa Maru, a luxury cruise liner, eventually landing a role aboard the ship, embarking on its journeys. The film shifts through perspectives and eras when fitting, which adds a distinctive rhythm to Hikawa Maru Monogatari.
13 Blue Submarine No. 6
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.0
- Animation Studio: Gonzo
- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 4
- Year of Release: 1998
A dystopian future, known as Ao no 6-gou in Japan, depicts an Earth submerged in water, though rather than a typical disaster, it results from the schemes of an evil scientist named Zorndyke aiming for world domination.
The remaining survivors, avoiding natural calamities and animal-hybrid adversaries, engage in submarine warfare against Zorndyke’s plans in this naval-themed anime. The storyline follows a particular submarine and its crew as they endeavor to thwart Zorndyke’s ambitions and reclaim their planet. While the premise veers towards the fantastical, that’s inherent to the realm of anime.
12 Mars Daybreak
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.1
- Studio: Bones
- Seasons: 2
- Episode Count: 26
- Year of Release: 2004
The futuristic, water-laden vision of Mars appears to be a recurring theme in ship-oriented anime, and Mars Daybreak reiterates this concept. Mankind dominates massive ships that float more like cityscapes than boats, contrasting a bleak reality with widespread poverty and crime. Piracy among the impoverished is rampant, where Gram, the main character, and his allies find themselves.
Pirate activities have spurred the Earth government to dispatch mecha called Round Bucklers to combat the issue, along with their skilled pilots. By chance, Gram finds himself traversing the treacherous life of a pirate, discovering a new zest for adventure on the storied sea.
11 High School Fleet
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.2
- Animation Studio: Production IMS
- Seasons: 2
- Episode Count: 12
- Year of Release: 2016
High School Fleet tracks Akeno Misaki, a newcomer at Yokosuka Girls’ Marine High School, determined to become a Blue Mermaid. Akeno and her classmates embark aboard the Harekaze destroyer, only to find themselves embroiled in a mutiny-related controversy.
Akeno strives to maintain her honor by guiding her crew, navigating the truth behind the incident, and evading capture. With elements reminiscent of “Girls und Panzer,”combining female characters handling military tasks against a backdrop of thrilling naval confrontations, this series has plenty to offer.
10 Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.2
- Production Studio: Studio 4°C
- Directed By: Ayumu Watanabe
- Runtime: 120 minutes
- Launch Date: June 11, 2021
Adapted from Kanako Nishi’s 2014 novel, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko portrays the life of Nikuko and her daughter Kikuko aboard their fishing vessel. Nikuko endeavors to raise Kikuko amid various challenges, with the film’s key appeal lying in its heartwarming essence.
For those seeking a comforting diversion from darker anime, this series offers a delightful escape. The watercolor animation style aptly complements its themes, featuring intricately depicted cuisine throughout. However, the perspective on Nikuko’s weight and consumption habits lacks sensitivity, rendering her physique a recurring joke.
9 Nadia: The Secret Of Blue Water
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.4
- Animation Studio: Gainax
- Seasons: 2
- Episode Count: 39
- Year Released: 1990
This anime draws inspiration from Jules Verne’s literature, particularly the adventures surrounding Captain Nemo as captured in 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, set in a history where technology has embraced a Steampunk aesthetic.
The protagonist, Jean, an inventor from France, crosses paths with Nadia, becoming entangled with jewel thieves intent on stealing her enigmatic gem, the Blue Water. Rescued by Nemo and the crew of the Nautilus, they engage in battles against the forces of Neo-Atlantis while unraveling the mysteries concerning the Blue Water.
8 Arpeggio Of Blue Steel
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.4
- Studio: SANZIGEN
- Seasons: 1
- Episode Count: 12
- Year of Release: 2013
Arpeggio of Blue Steel, often referred to as Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova, envisions a future where melting ice caps have submerged significant portions of Earth in water. In the year 2039, a formidable naval power, the Fleet of Fog, restricts humanity’s movement across the seas.
After surviving for 17 years under the Fleet’s rule, protagonist Gunzou Chihaya discovers a remnant of the former fleet that surprisingly aligns with humanity’s interests. He assembles like-minded individuals determined to liberate their world from the Fleet of Fog, forming a collective known as Blue Steel.
7 Gargantia On The Verdurous Planet
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.5
This selection features mecha elements appealing to lovers of giant robots and incorporates a time-travel narrative. The story follows Ledo, a soldier for the Galactic Alliance of Humankind, battling against the squid-like Hideauze race.
However, following a failed mission, Ledo inadvertently arrives on Gargantia, a fleet of vessels on a watery Earth. Here, he must navigate a new existence, shifting his focus from fighting the Hideauze to assimilating into life aboard Heaven’s fleet.
6 Zipang
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.5
- Studio: Studio Deen
- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 26
- Year of Release: 2004
The JDS Mirai, Japan’s most advanced destroyer, embarks on a training mission alongside the U.S. Navy yet encounters a meteorological anomaly causing them to lose contact with the fleet. Shortly after, they see a legendary battleship—the Yamato, which sank in 1945—appear before them.
Realizing they have somehow traveled back to the Battle of Midway during World War II, the crew grapples with the ethical dilemma of intervening, risking a major alteration in historical events. Combining historical elements with dramatic storytelling, Zipang captivates audiences through its naval-focused plot.
5 Aria The Animation
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.7
- Studio: HAL Film Maker
- Seasons: 1
- Episode Count: 13
- Year of Release: 2005
The creators of Aria the Animation traveled to Venice to study gondoliers to enhance the authenticity of their nautical portrayals. The narrative unfolds not just on a single vessel but across many boats utilized on Aqua, a planet formerly known as Mars, now almost entirely submerged in water.
On Aqua, gondoliers, called Undines, serve as the primary transportation means. The protagonist, Akari, aspires to become one of them, embarking on a journey to master the art of guiding gondolas.
4 Jormungand
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.8
- Production Studio: White Fox
- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 12
- Year of Release: 2012
Central to Jormungand is Jonah Mar, a child soldier who harbors hatred for weapons and those who trade them. Nonetheless, his life takes a dramatic turn when arms dealer Koko Hekmatyar enlists him as her bodyguard, thrusting him into a world he loathes. The series follows Jonah’s adventures as he and Koko’s team traverse the globe, dealing with arms dealings while evading international authorities.
The show combines solid animation, a gripping soundtrack, and fast-paced storytelling, securing its place among the best anime featuring naval themes.
3 Black Lagoon
MyAnimeList Rating: 8.0
Among the most celebrated ship-themed anime, Black Lagoon captures the escapades of a mercenary pirate quartet known as the Lagoon Company engaging in smuggling across Southeast Asia. Through theft, fierce confrontations with rivals, and various antics, characters Benny, Rock, Revy, and Dutch embrace the chaotic life of outlaws.
This anime merits every accolade for its adrenaline-fueled action sequences. While some audiences may be deterred by its relentless violence and explosions, it offers far more than just action-packed moments—its engaging narrative and character development resonate with fans.
2 Kaiji: The Ultimate Survivor
MyAnimeList Rating: 8.3
- Animation Studio: Madhouse
- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 26
- Year Released: 2007
Known as Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor in its native language, this series operates like a mini-series with a sole season that aired from October 2007 to April 2008. While it doesn’t initially take place on a ship, a series of misfortunes leads the protagonist to become a passerby on one for a night.
The Espoir resembles a floating casino, where protagonist Kaiji anticipates solving his financial burdens. It’s rumored that one successful night at the Espoir can change fates, yet the stakes are dire; losers face a lifetime of servitude, with some games wagering their very lives.
1 One Piece
MyAnimeList Rating: 8.7
Hailed as the quintessential pirate anime, One Piece stands as one of the most enduring and iconic shonen anime series ever. Most anime viewers are acquainted with this sweeping saga portraying the battles among pirates, innocent bystanders, and the World Government forces. From the dynamic voyages to the colorful characters, One Piece exemplifies the essence of what an anime set aboard ships should embody.
Monkey D. Luffy, the Straw Hat Pirates’ leader and captain, is an unforgettable figure, defined by his eccentric personality, signature hat, and the abilities granted by the Gum-Gum Fruit. His good fortune lies in being surrounded by an equally vibrant cast, enhancing the unique charm of One Piece.
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