What is this genre all about? Chinese names to the likes of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Cao Cao, Sun Jian, as well as their allies, enemies and subordinates are used or referenced amongst primary and secondary characters.
The use of these names commonly portray the characters as they were historically as warlords and soldiers from the ancient Chinese novel or as foreshadowing to which characters are destined to be allies or enemies.
Certain characters are often glorified above others in relevance or conflict with the original novel (as to follow historically or just provide entertainment with the use of historical figures and events using fictional scenarios).
The supposed historical novel itself was written in the 14th century by Luo Guanzhong of China and is based upon events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of China, starting in 169 and ending in 280.
We present you the list of Three Kingdoms anime you should watch right now.
Try our anime quiz: Anime Characters Guessing Quiz/Game
Top 14 Three Kingdoms anime you should watch right now. [2024 List]
- 14. Koihime†Musou
- 13. Saikyou Bushouden: Sangoku Engi
- 12. Shin Koihime†Musou
- 11. Souten Kouro
- 10. Sangokushi (1985)
- 9. Shin Koihime†Musou: Otome Tairan
- 8. Sangokushi II: Amakakeru Otoko-tachi
- 7. Chou Deneiban SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors
- 6. SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors
- 5. Koutetsu Sangokushi
- 4. Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi
- 3. Sangokushi Daiichibu Eiyuu-tachi no Yoake
- 2. Sangokushi Daisanbu Harukanaru Taichi
- 1. Sangokushi Dainibu Choukou Moyu
14. Koihime†Musou
This anime is based on an eroge game by Baseson, which was loosely based on the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Having lost her family to bandits during night raid, Kanu swears, she will not let others share the same pain. She quickly becomes a well-known and feared by villains bandit hunter. During her journey she comes across others, who wish to join her cause. One of them is a girl RinRin, who had similar experience with bandits in the past.
Koihime†Musou has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 恋姫†無双, Koihime†Musou
13. Saikyou Bushouden: Sangoku Engi
Chinese-Japanese anime adaptation of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" classic novel.
Lui Bei embarks on a journey to quell the chaos that plagues his homeland, bringing with him his sworn brothers, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. With only a small army and no land Lui Bei is forced to take a subservient role to other Generals, in order to keep him safe from those who continually come after his life.
Saikyou Bushouden: Sangoku Engi has finished airing and it has 52 Episodes. It is also Known as: 最強武将伝・三国演義, Romance of the Three Kingdoms
12. Shin Koihime†Musou
Kanuu and Chouhi's group rescue a mysterious girl, who is actually the real Ryuubi, her name and heirloom sword stolen after the events of the last season. The group sets off to recover Ryuubi's sword. At the same time, a group of street performers, the three Chou Sisters, are given a mysterious magic book that may be more trouble than they think....The franchise re-imagines the classic Chinese historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sangokushi) as a "moe (fiery), moe (preciously cute) action love comedy" with an almost all-female cast.
Shin Koihime†Musou has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 真恋姫†無双 ～乙女繚乱☆三国志演義～, Shin Koihime Musou: Otome Ryouran Sangokushi Engi
11. Souten Kouro
Souten Kouro's story is based loosely on the events taking place in Three Kingdoms period of China during the life of the last Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Cao (155 – March 15, 220), who also serves as the main character.
The Three Kingdoms period has been a popular theme in Japanese manga for decades, but Souten Kouro differs greatly from most of the others on several points. One significant difference is its highly positive portrayal of its main character, Cao Cao, who is traditionally the antagonist in not only Japanese manga, but also most novel versions of the Three Kingdoms period, including the original 14th century version, Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. Another significant difference from others is that the storyline primarily uses the original historical account of the era, Records of Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, as a reference rather than the aforementioned Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel. By this, the traditional hero of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei, takes on relatively less importance within the story and is portrayed in a less positive light. Yet, several aspects of the story are in fact based on the novel version, including the employment of its original characters such as Diao Chan, as well as anachronistic weapons such as Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Zhang Fei's Viper Blade.
A consistent theme throughout the story is Cao Cao's perpetual desire to break China and its people away from its old systems and ways of thinking and initiate a focus on pragmatism over empty ideals. This often puts him at odds with the prevalent customs and notions of Confucianism and those that support them.
Beyond the Heavens has finished airing and it has 26 Episodes. It is also Known as: 蒼天航路, Soten Koro
10. Sangokushi (1985)
An anime special based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel. Aired on NTV.
Sangokushi (1985) has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: 三国志, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sangokushi I, Sangokushi (special)
9. Shin Koihime†Musou: Otome Tairan
The third season of Koihime Musou.
Han's high court general Kashin (何進) was forced to swallow a cursed pill from Chou Jou. The effect is slowly turning her into a cat, which she dislikes. Chou Jou also made use of the emperor's name to dispose her from the Han court as a traitor.
She met Kada during her escape while Kada brought her to the Touka village, whom he believes they would help her.
Shin Koihime†Musou: Otome Tairan has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 真恋姫†無双 ~乙女大乱~, Shin Koihime Musou 2nd Season
8. Sangokushi II: Amakakeru Otoko-tachi
The sequel to Sangokushi (1985).
Sangokushi II: Amakakeru Otoko-tachi has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: 三国志II 天翔ける英雄たち, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 2, Sangokushi II: Tenkakeru Hideotachi
7. Chou Deneiban SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors
A Romance of the Three Kingdoms retelling using SD Gundams.
Chou Deneiban SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: 超電影版SDガンダム三国伝 Brave Battle Warriors, Cho Denei-ban SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors, SD Gundam Sangoku Den Brave Battle Warriors, BB Senshi
6. SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors
A Romance of the Three Kingdoms retelling using SD Gundams.
SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors has finished airing and it has 51 Episodes. It is also Known as: SDガンダム三国伝 Brave Battle Warriors, BB Senshi
5. Koutetsu Sangokushi
The Imperial Seal has been passed down through the generations since ancient times. It confers great power unto the warriors that it chooses. This is the story of those warriors.
It is a time of chaos and of civil war. It is a time when great armies clash in titanic battles and great heroes carve their names in history. It is also a time of death and destruction, when the people of the land live in constant fear of the sword. Onto this stage steps the reluctant Rikuson (Lu Xun), whose family had been the guardians of the Imperial Seal up until it was stolen by Sonsaku. At the behest of his mentor Rikuson offers his services to Sonsaku with the intention of confirming the will of the Imperial Seal. However, assassins strike down Sonsaku and the Imperial Seal is lost. So begins, Rikuson’s journey to recover the Imperial Seal and discover his destiny.
Koutetsu Sangokushi has finished airing and it has 25 Episodes. It is also Known as: 鋼鉄三国志, Koutetsu Sangokushi
4. Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi
Around 1800 years ago in China, the ruling power of the Han dynasty became weakened and the flames of war spread throughout the land.
Liu Bei was a young, poor straw-mat seller from the countryside of Hebai Hsing. After pledging eternal brotherhood with the two heroes, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu began building his idea of a righteous kingdom that would aid citizens who suffered from persecution.
Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi has finished airing and it has 47 Episodes. It is also Known as: 横山光輝 三国志, Romance of the Three Kingdoms
3. Sangokushi Daiichibu Eiyuu-tachi no Yoake
An anime based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel.
Sangokushi Daiichibu Eiyuu-tachi no Yoake has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: 三国志 第一部 英雄たちの夜明け, Sangokushi [1] Eiyuutachi no Yoake
2. Sangokushi Daisanbu Harukanaru Taichi
An anime based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel.
Sangokushi Daisanbu Harukanaru Taichi has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: 三国志 第三部 遥かなる大地, Sangokushi [3] Harukanaru Taichi
1. Sangokushi Dainibu Choukou Moyu
An anime based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel.
Great Conquest: Romance of Three Kingdoms has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: 三国志 第二部 長江燃ゆ, Sangokushi [2] Choukou Moyu!
