Best movies like Black Lion
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
The year is 1580. Using an army of soldiers equipped with sophisticated weaponry, Nobunaga Oda is on the verge of ruling Japan with an iron fist. One of his enforcers is Ginnai Doma - a fallen samurai reborn into an indestructible killing machine. As Ginnai continues his killing spree on ninjas and those who oppose Nobunaga's rule, Shishimaru of the Iga Ninja - going against the Koga Ninja's plans - pursues a one-man vendetta to avenge the deaths of his comrades and kill the immortal warrior.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 163
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: anime, shounen
Best tv shows and movies like Black Lion (1992):
Similar in 82%
Band of Ninja (1967)
Plot Summary:
A young boy joins a band of ninja during a peasant uprising, all depicted through an experimental form of filming pages from the original manga set to sound.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 237
Genere: Animation, Action, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: anime, jidai geki, manga, independent film
Similar in 86%
Saga of Tanya the Evil: The Movie (2019)
Plot Summary:
With its armies sweeping across the continent, the Empire seems unstoppable. After securing victory over the remnants of the Republic's army, the Empire's ultimate victory is finally within reach. However, dark clouds are gathering in the East. The communist-led Russy Federation is mustering troops on its western border, preparing to enter the war. Supported by a detachment of Allied volunteer magicians—among whom is Mary Sioux, the daughter of a soldier killed by Tanya—the Federation is determined to spread the communist creed and bring the Empire to its knees. Meanwhile, Tanya and her battalion return to the imperial capital from the southern front. Upon their arrival, they are tasked with investigating troop movements on the border with the Federation. Any escalation of violence at this point may lead to new conflicts, plunging the world into a global war. Will the Empire eventually emerge victorious from its struggle, or will it crumble in the face radically different ideologies?.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: anime, suspenseful, psychological, atmospheric, futuristic, stylized
Similar in 79%
CARDFIGHT!! VANGUARD (2021)
Plot Summary:
Third-year middle school student Yu-yu Kondo lives in Kanazawa city of the country of Kaga. Being unable to reject requests, Yu-yu often gets caught up in his sister's hobbies. When Yu-yu could no longer bear it and ran away from home, he was saved by Megumi Okura. Megumi invites Yu-yu to the Night Amusement Park "Wonder Hill" where her friends gather. The amusement park is where many youths of the Vanguard-centric group "Team Blackout" gather. And this is how Yu-yu encounters Vanguard and was drawn in by the appeal of Vanguard and the world and friends he had never seen before.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 28
Genere: Animation, Action
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, shounen
Similar in 77%
Sengoku Basara: The Last Party (2011)
Plot Summary:
The story of the film is set after the conflict instigated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi ended, but not before the Battle of Sekigahara determines who shall be the Shogun of Japan.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 189
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, History
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, tense, bleak, serious, captivating
Similar in 86%
The Dagger of Kamui (1985)
Plot Summary:
Young Jiro finds his mother and sister murdered at home; falsely accused, he flees to a new life and trains to be an assassin.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 770
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure
Country: Japan
Duration: 132 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, serious, suspenseful
Similar in 90%
Gundam Reconguista in G Movie I: Go! Core Fighter (2019)
Plot Summary:
The new era begins! The turbulent era known as the Universal Century has ended. Now, mankind looks towards prosperity and peace in the new era known as the Regild Century (R.C.). One of the most important resources in this era is the Capital Tower - a space elevator which towers over the land connecting Earth to space. Its purpose, to transport the Photon Batteries the Earth relies on for power. It is worshiped as a holy place. Tasked with protecting the tower, one day on a practice mission, young Capital Guard cadet Bellri Zenam is attacked by a high-performance G-Self Mobile Suit. Despite having never before encountered the G-Self, he feels a strange connection to it and its pilot, a space pirate called Aida Surugan. Little does Bellri know that he is about to uncover truths which will shake the entire Regild Century. Go! Core Fighter is the first of five films compiling the 2014 Gundam Reconguista in G TV series, featuring new cuts and alterations.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 42
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: anime, mecha
Similar in 75%
Baoh the Caller (1989)
Plot Summary:
Doress, a Japanese "black projects" organization, has been gathering psionics and making biological weapons to "make Japan superior". When one of the biological experiments, BAOH, escapes with a young girl, Doress will do anything to get the boy and girl back. For BAOH is a parasite living in its host's brain, altering the host into a living death machine in order to keep it alive. When Doress sends assassins after the boy and girl, BAOH "awakens" to its "Armed Defense Phenomenons", giving the boy acid-tipped claws, bio-regeneration, and super-strength. But Doress takes the girl, and BAOH must fight an army of commandos and a psionic to get her back.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 783
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: anime
Similar in 90%
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny TV Movie I: The Broken World (2006)
Plot Summary:
The year is Cosmic Era 73. The Bloody Valentine War, fought between the PLANTS space colonies and the nations of the Atlantic Federation, has ended and an uneasy truce has settled upon the Earth sphere. With the signing of the Junius Seven Treaty, the world's soldiers have left the battlefield and the grizzly sights of war behind. Many who fought now seek peace and refuge in the shelter of civilian life. But one boy, Shin Asuka, is finding that incredibly hard. A coordinator who lost his entire family during the Battle of Orb, he now fights with ZAFT in one of their newest machines, the Impulse Gundam. Of course, ZAFT is only developing these machines for defensive applications - or so they claim - but when a group of Federation operatives steal some of these prototype machines, the world is once again plunged towards war.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 20
Genere: Animation, Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: anime, mecha
Similar in 79%
Fate/Grand Order the Movie: Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot Wandering; Agateram (2020)
Plot Summary:
The wandering knight, Bedivere, reaches the end of his journey. It is A.D. 1273 in Jerusalem. The Holy Land has been transformed into a massive desert and its people have been forced out of their homes as three major powers wage war with each other in this wasteland. The Knights of the Round Table come together to protect the Holy City and their Lion King. With the whole of his kingdom summoned into a strange land, Ozymandias, the Sun King, quietly plots against the tyranny of this bizarre realm. The mountain people, protectors of those who were stripped of their land, await their chance at rebellion. In order to fulfill his mission, Bedivere heads for the Holy City where the Lion King rules. There he meets humanity’s final Master, Ritsuka Fujimaru, who has come to Jerusalem, accompanied by his Demi-Servant, Mash Kyrielight, in their quest to restore human history.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 358
Genere: Animation, Action, Drama, Fantasy, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: anime
Similar in 85%
Samurai Warriors (2014)
Plot Summary:
In late 16th century, the era of civil war that tore Japan over two centuries is nearing its end and the regional warlords who survived the bloodsheds are ready for a final showdown. In the battlefield where your best ally turns out to be your worst enemy, only the shrewdest can come out alive.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 86
Genere: Animation, Action, History
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, captivating, entertaining
Similar in 90%
Majestic Prince: Genetic Awakening (2016)
Plot Summary:
The alien Wulgaru's last assault against humanity was foiled by the heroic actions of the genetically enhanced humans known as the Evolved Children in their advanced AHSMB battle armor, but now a new attack has been launched against Earth under an even deadlier champion, Diorna, created from the fusion of DNA from two Wulgaru Royals. Unfortunately, Izuru Hitachi, the leader of Team Rabbits who defeated the Wulgaru Royal Jiart, is still out of action and recovering, so the task of marshalling the Majestic Princes and stopping Diorna falls upon the unready shoulders of Toshikazu Asagi. Together with the remaining members of Team Rabbits and the recently created Team Fawn, it's up to Asagi to hold the line against the most ruthless adversary yet!.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 26
Genere: Animation, Action, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 79 min
Plot tags: anime, mecha
Similar in 88%
Sakura Wars (2001)
Plot Summary:
Following in the aftermath of a terrible Demon-Human war, turn of the century Japan is preparing a new fighting force in case the demons decide to return. A squadron of giant robots are built to be controlled by the spirit of the pilot, but it is discovered that the only people with sufficient spirit are young women. After recruiting a team of youths from around the world, the Japanese government decides to keep them a secret by disguising them as a theater troupe, thus requiring them to spend as much time memorizing Shakespeare as they do on military training.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 318
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: anime, mecha, jidai geki
Similar in 75%
Nintama Rantarou Movie: Ninjutsu Gakuen Zenin Shutsudou! no Dan (2011)
Plot Summary:
A young boy named Rentaro and other ninja apprentices attend Ninjutsu Gakuen - a top ninja academy. Rentaro is determined to become an elite ninja!.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 33
Genere: Animation
Country: Japan
Duration: 78 min
Plot tags: anime
Similar in 75%
Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (1996)
Plot Summary:
A retelling of Dragon Ball's origin with a different take on the meeting of Goku, Bulma, and Kame-Sen'nin. It also retells the Red Ribbon Army story; but this time they find Goku rather than Goku finding them.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: anime, funny, shounen, crying
Similar in 82%
The Legend of the Dog Warriors: The Hakkenden (1990)
Plot Summary:
The Hakkenden is an OVA series by AIC in two sequences, the second subtitled Shinshō. A TV series sequel, Shin Hakkenden, aired in 1999. The anime is based on the epic novel Nansō Satomi Hakkenden written by Kyokutei Bakin during the latter half of the Edo Period. At 106 volumes, the novel bears the distinction of being the longest novel in classic Japanese literature. The Hakkenden is most known for its unique approach to animation, switching between several distinct visual styles throughout the duration of the series. In addition, the series is also noted for its heavy use of symbolic imagery and themes, allowing the series to straddle the line between animation and art. It is also known for introducing a modern perspective to a literary classic, since outdated, morally ambiguous concepts such as feudal loyalty and devotion are closely scrutinized and re-examined during many of the conflicts in the story. The "THE" at the front of the title is not, in fact, a formality of translation, but an actual part of the title written in English, perhaps chosen by the series' writers to deliberately convey that sense of modernity.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 247
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 420 min
Plot tags: anime
Similar in 77%
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (1993)
Plot Summary:
Based on the long-running manga by Hirohiko Araki, the first OVA series follows Josef Joestar and his 17-year-old grandson Jotaro as they attempt to finish the family blood feud against the immortal vampire Dio. Josef and Jotaro have gathered several mystical warriors each with powers representing one card from The Stand (a variation of Tarot cards), with Jotaro having powers over the strongest Stand - the Star Platinum. Dio himself has gathered Stand warriors and together they face off for the sake of Jotaro's mother Holly and domination of the world.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, cult classic, shounen, campy
Similar in 83%
Gatchaman '94 (1994)
Plot Summary:
Gatchaman is a three-part original video animation (OVA) based on the popular 1970s anime Gatchaman. It was released in Japan and the United States during the mid-1990s. This version of Gatchaman is set in the year 2066 where the evil leader of the nation of Hontwall is threatening to take over the planet. Scientists from the International Science Organization are disappearing and only five teenage heroes, the Science Ninja team, can stop the disaster. The OVAs were licensed by Urban Vision through Harmony Gold USA and were released on VHS and DVD. At Anime Boston 2013, Sentai Filmworks had announced that they have rescued the OVA series along with the original 1970's series for a DVD re-release in October. The series was made available for streaming through Crunchyroll. The series was originally dubbed by Harmony Gold and Urban Vision, however, Sentai Filmworks confirmed that the OVAs will be redubbed for their upcoming DVD and Blu-ray re-release to match the uncut TV series dub.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 151
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: anime
Similar in 89%
Saint Seiya: The Heated Battle of the Gods (1988)
Plot Summary:
In Siberia, Hyōga saves a man that is being attacked. Injured, the man manages only to say something about Asgard. Some days later, Saori, Seiya, Shiryū and Shun are wondering about Hyōga and decide to go to Asgard to investigate. At Valhalla, the Lord of Asgard, Dolbar, says he has not heard of any Hyōga and neither has his right hand, Loki. However, at all times Seiya and the others can feel an evil cosmo emanating from Loki and the other Odin Saints called God Warriors. Shiryū, in particular, notices a familiar cosmo coming from Midgard, a mysterious, masked God Warrior. Dolbar makes it clear that he is trying to take control of both Asgard and the Sanctuary, imprisoning Athena in a strange dimension within the giant statue of Odin. Midgard reveals himself as Hyōga and tries to kill Shiryū to prove himself to Dolbar. Thus, it is the task of the Bronze Saints to defeat Dolbar, Loki and the rest of the God Warriors, to save Athena and Hyōga.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: anime, shounen, manga
Similar in 88%
Saint Seiya: Warriors of the Final Holy Battle (1989)
Plot Summary:
The plot involves the coming of Lucifer to the Sanctuary, where his underlings systematically dispose of the surviving Gold Saints. Athena goes to Lucifer to ask for peace, placing herself in peril. The Bronze Saints must then come to her rescue, destroying Lucifer's Fallen Angels (Seima Tenshi in Japanese) in the process.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: anime, shounen, manga
Similar in 86%
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Swordsmith Village (2023)
Plot Summary:
After his family is viciously murdered, a kind-hearted boy named Tanjiro Kamado resolves to become a Demon Slayer in hopes of turning his younger sister Nezuko back into a human. Together with his comrades, Zenitsu and Inosuke, along with one of the top-ranking members of the Demon Slayer Corps, Tengen Uzui, Tanjiro embarks on a mission within the Entertainment District, where they encounter the formidable, high-ranking demons, Daki and Gyutaro.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: anime, shounen
Similar in 76%
Saint Seiya: Evil Goddess Eris (1987)
Plot Summary:
When Seiya, Hyōga and Shun visit Saori (Athena) at the orphanage, they meet an employee called Eri. An orphan herself, Eri takes a liking to Hyōga and one night they sit outside watching the stars. They see a shooting star and Hyōga asks Eri to make a wish. After Hyōga leaves, however, Eri becomes powerfully attracted to the shooting star and wanders alone into the woods, where she finds a golden apple. She is then possessed by Eris, the Goddess of Discord, and kidnaps Athena, planning to use the golden apple to suck her energy out, fully reincarnate and take over the world. Eris leaves a message for the Bronze Saints, who set out for the goddess's temple which appears on the mountains. There, the heroes fight the five Ghost Saints: Maya of Sagitta, Orpheus of Lyra, Christ of the Southern Cross, Jan of Scutum (called by the Japanese name Tateza) and Jäger of Orion.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 46 min
Plot tags: anime, shounen, manga
Similar in 86%
Wrath of the Ninja: The Yotoden Movie (1989)
Plot Summary:
The year is 1580, and the unholy armies of Lord Nobunaga Oda spread across Japan, murdering all who oppose them. Narrowly escaping the slaughter of her clan, a young ninja steals into the shadows. She is the last of her kind, and the dagger she wields is one of three mystical blades that can end Lord Oda's rule. On her quest to overthrow the tyrant, she is joined by two other renegade ninja, possessors of the sacred sword and spear. Together, these shadow warriors must unite their weapons and skills to fulfill the Prophesy of the Enchanted Swords... or die trying.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 470
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: anime, manga
Similar in 90%
Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (1988)
Plot Summary:
Master Roshi has succeeded at the one mission he valued most: to train Goku and Krillin to become ultimate fighters. So, he arranges for them to test their mettle at a competition hosted by Emperor Chiaotzu. Not everyone's playing by the rules, however, as a member of the ruler's household schemes to use the Dragonballs to extort money and power from the royal. The wrinkle? The show's heroes are willing to put themselves on the line to stop him.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 48 min
Plot tags: anime
Similar in 78%
Bleach: Memories of Nobody (2006)
Plot Summary:
In Karakura Town, unidentifiable spirits begin appearing en mases. While attempting to deal with these strange souls, Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki meet Senna, a mysterious shinigami who wipes out most of them. Senna refuses to answer any questions, so Ichigo is forced to follow her while Rukia tries to find out what's going on.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, atmospheric, suspenseful, scary, serious, manga, shounen, stylized
Similar in 87%
Devilman Volume 3: Devilman Apocalyps (2000)
Plot Summary:
Fear runs rampant throughout Tokyo with the revelation that demons in fact exist amongst us. Paranoia and the darker side of humanity boils onto the streets as people turn on one another, suspecting that anyone could in fact be a demon hiding in human clothing. Amidst the growing tensions, tragedy strikes Akira causing his mind to snap, retreating into his subconscious, allowing his Devilish alter-ego Amon to break free from Akira's cage of flesh and wreak havoc on both human and demons alike.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 775
Genere: Animation, Action, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Country: Japan
Duration: 46 min
Plot tags: anime, adult anime, ecchi
Similar in 76%
Mushibugyou (2013)
Plot Summary:
The action story is set in Edo-era Tokyo in the early 1700s. The eighth shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune ordered boxes to be installed so commoners can submit their thoughts. After hearing their voices, the shogun creates a new magistrate unit — Mushibugyou — to protect the people in the heart of the city. Each member is a specialist with unique fighting skills.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 142
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, captivating, satirical, disturbing, manga, shounen
Similar in 84%
Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for the Ishin Patriots (1997)
Plot Summary:
The war against the Tokugawa Shogunate ended years ago. But there are some who are not happy with the outcome. Shigure Takimi watched his friends and family get slashed down in the name of freedom and prosperity. Now he and a band of desparate rebels have sworn to settle one final score. Only one man stands in their way: Rurouni Kenshin. Will the former assassin take up his sword to fight again? When Shigure discovers Kenshin's true identity and his fight becomes a personal vendetta, the young hero will have no choice.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Action, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, serious, stylized, crying
Similar in 79%
M.D. Geist (1986)
Plot Summary:
Geist (the main character) is MD-02, a Most Dangerous Soldier, genetically engineered to function as a killing machine, but every one of the MDS units went homicidally insane. As a result Geist was placed in suspended animation in a stasis pod orbiting the planet Jerra until it crashed several years later, awakening him and bringing him into another war on the planet.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 838
Genere: Animation, Action, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 47 min
Plot tags: anime, mecha, adult anime
Similar in 90%
Kingdom (2012)
Plot Summary:
Kingdom (2012) In the Warring States Period of ancient China (475-221 BCE), Shin and Hyou are war-orphans in the kingdom of Qin. They dream of one day proving themselves on the battlefield. One day, however, Hyou is taken to the palace by a minister. Winding up on the losing side of a power-struggle, Hyou manages to return to the village, barely alive. Shin then meets a boy who closely resembles Hyou, Ei Sei. For now he is the king of Qin; later he will become the emperor Shi Huangdi.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Action, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: anime
Similar in 80%
Special 7: Special Crime Investigation Unit (2019)
Plot Summary:
Set in a different Tokyo on a different world than ours, the story follows Tokunana, a unit of assembled misfits in the Metropolitan Police Department. Tokunana battles against "Nine" — an organization commiting crimes in their zealous worship of the dragons that once roamed the world.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 113
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Crime, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime