The 6 Anime Set During The Industrial Revolution(s)

The various industrial revolutions have undeniably changed our world for the better, providing that initial push for progress that allows us to live as we do today.

Despite being the first, it’s a mistake to link this concept solely to the English Industrial Revolution, which took place from 1760 to 1840.

Revolutions are scattered all over the world, happening at different times from one another. France, Italy, and Japan are also touched by this phenomenon, as we will see in this list.

Rankings are based on our experience and personal taste.

6. Paris no Isabelle

Set after the Franco-Prussian war, Paris no Isabelle is one of those late 70s series that you can watch if you feel nostalgic.

The protagonist Isabelle is a 15-year-old girl who escapes to London after the besieging of Paris and starts working against the French Prime Minister as a secret agent.

Isabelle is quite similar to Lady Oscar in terms of attitude and love, as they both love their childhood friends. The underlying drama is quite different, as Paris no Isabelle cannot boast the same depth as The Rose of Versailles.

Paris no Isabelle is set amid the French Industrial Revolution, of rebirth and progress after the war, and is one of the few anime set in France.

5. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

Kabaneri lays out a fictitious scenario where a monster infects people and turns them into kabane (zombies), living dead that cannot be killed unless their hearts are pierced.

Ikoma, one of the survivors, designs a new weapon to pierce the iron layer that protects the kabane’s heart.

As the kabane rage, the protagonist not only kills one with his weapon but also manages to find a way to stop the infection on himself, thus giving new hope to humankind.

Kabaneri is openly an anime set in Meiji Era, also known in the jargon as Japan’s Industrial Revolution.

4. Moriarty the Patriot

If you are a fan of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes or anime with a genius main character, then you have found your bread and butter.

Indeed, Moriarty the Patriot tells the story of the most famous detective ever from the point of view of James Moriarty, his legendary archrival.

The story starts from his origins to the moment when he established himself as Sherlock’s nemesis.

As all fans of Sherlock Holmes will already know regarding the settings, this anime is also no exception.

Its setting is an evocative 19th-century London, where inequality is commonplace. As is also true of Sherlock Holmes in fact, we are no exception here, and you breathe in the Industrial Revolution in the streets of London.

Moriarty the Patriot is also a good way to see one of the best anime set in England.

3. Romeo and the Black Brothers

A raw anime that does not shy away from showing unvarnished the terrible reality of the buying and selling of minors that was carried out in the 1800s. It’s based on the novel The Black Brothers by Kurt Held and Lisa Tetzner.

Romeo, a young boy living in the Alps of Italian-speaking Switzerland, signs a contract with a shady individual to pay for his sick father’s doctor.

This will lead him across the mountains to Italy, to Milan, where he will be sold as a chimney sweep’s helper.

But as we know, the Industrial Revolution is not limited to England, and gradually took hold throughout Europe, including Italy. And Romeo and the Black Brothers is set amid Italy’s Industrial Revolution.

2. Violet Evergarden

Violet Evergarden is a short anime series about drama, war, and romance released in 2018.

After four years of uninterrupted conflict between the northern and southern regions of the Telesis continent, peace is finally born.

Violet, a girl who since birth has lived always and only in the army and with the purpose of war, under the orders of Major Gilbert, must now reinvent her life from scratch.

Thus will begin Violet’s journey to discover emotions and feelings, trying to leave behind her warlike past.

Violet Evergarden doesn’t clarify its setting, either by setting, which is fictitious or by historical period. But one would have to be blind not to notice the huge Victorian Period/Industrial Revolution vibes.

This series is really a little animation gem that you really shouldn’t ignore. It has some of the best animation in recent years, and is one of the best historical romance.

1. Steamboy

From the genius of Katsuhiro Otomo came Steamboy in 2004, one of the best steampunk anime productions ever.

The anime is set in an alternate Victorian England of 1866, starring young Ray Steam, the son of a famous inventor.

One day, Ray receives a metal orb from his grandfather of unspecified use, and for that, he is pursued by the Ohara Foundation, which kidnaps him and takes him to London.

A movie that has a lot to offer, both visually and in terms of mystery and plot twists.

And not only because of the year in which it is set, but Steamboy has overt English Industrial Revolution vibes, literally relying on inventions and progress.