From Miss Marple to The Ripper: Anime with Western themes

Have you come across anime series that are heavily inspired by Western concepts or historical events? If you are a fan of anime series and avidly explore various genres, I am sure you have come across plenty of such examples. Well, for those who would like to know a bit more about series with these particular themes, check out the list below. This list especially caters to readers who love either indulge in the shojo genre or who love a bit of parry-and-stab sword maneuvers in their stories.

Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple

In a nutshell, this is an adaptation of Agatha Christie's stories to anime form. Remember that little old lady who solved mysteries that left others baffled? How about the suave detective with the pointy-mustached, Mr. Poirot himself? It turns out, some folks have made an anime which involves Agatha Christie's well-loved characters. This anime is especially notable because Christie made a point of never bringing up a cross-over storyline for her characters; I guess this means a fan or group of fans wondered what would happen if these two ever met. To be fair, the actual protagonist is a wannabe detective called Mabel West (indeed, she is said to be lady sleuth's niece).

rose of versaillesThe Rose of Versailles

First things first. Yes, this anime rests comfortably in the shojo genre and yes, there is a bit of romance and dovey-eyed flirting going on. And guess what? It is set with a European backdrop and refers to folks who had lived in that time frame (e.g. Marie Antoinette). If you were looking for mushy material, this series will probably make it to your top ten list. Note the number of elements that mark it as a winner; intrigue (main character is not a guy but a girl dressed as one ... read: complicated love triangles), bit of glitz and glamor (or am I the only one who swoons at historical clothing and way of life) and crazy upheavals (it is set close to French Revolution so expect lots of fights, angry gruntings and perhaps one or more beheading). As with other Western concepts adapted by Japanese companies, I am constantly impressed with the way they capture a turbulent issue (think Marie Antoinette on a spending spree) and build a romanticized story around it.

Le Chevalier D'Eon

This is another series that uses events in 18^th Century France as its backdrop. In fact, the main character – Le Chevalier D'Eon – was a real character who existed in that time. The anime itself is full of action, drama and weird mystical deaths. I am sure that's where the story writers deviated from historical facts but that does not make the anime any less interesting. I must confess, the sword fights and underhanded plots added to the appeal of the show. By the way, if you think the protagonist is a bit flamboyant and out there, you should really look up his/her namesake. That's right; the actual D'Eon apparently lead an exciting life (spy, soldier, diplomat ... need I quote more from Wiki?). Apparently there was even a bet going on about whether the fancy little spy was a Mr. Or Miss. Imagine that.

kuroshitsujiKuroshitsuji (Black Butler)

This is, by far, one of my favorite anime with a supernatural theme. It features a young (and I mean very young) lord, Ciel Phantomhive, and his mysterious butler. Incidentally, his loyal butler is a demon and there is this weird contract between both of them. Enough said. Here is the reason why it features in this list. The story itself is set in England and Ciel is helping the Queen solve a few puzzling mysteries. You can see how a lot of Western concepts can be incorporated into this story. Perhaps one of the most interesting adaptation was the inclusion of Jack the Ripper. Of course, like everyone else who has jumped on the Ripper angle, this anime also has their own take on the murders.