10 best pirate anime that you should watch

Pirate anime offers exciting adventures on the high seas, with intriguing stories about pirates, treasures, and more. The pirate genre has captivated audiences for decades, ever since stories of real-life buccaneers like Blackbeard and Calico Jack spread across the seas.

The adventurous spirit and rebellious nature of pirates translate well to pirate anime, with colorful characters and imaginative worlds that embrace high-seas hijinks. Whether they focus on pirate captains vying for treasure or onboard melodrama between crews, pirate anime use pirate ships and exotic ports as conduits for compelling storylines.

With powerful pirate protagonists and crews to root for, setting sail into their exciting realms is easy. For anime fans who enjoy swashbuckling action and maritime tales, pirate anime provides a thrilling escape. From classics to recent hits, here are 10 of the best pirate anime worth watching.

Mouretsu Pirates, Outlaw Star, and other essential pirate anime for adventure lovers

1. One Piece

As one of the “big three” hit anime franchises, One Piece is arguably the most popular ongoing pirate anime series. It follows Monkey D. Luffy and his ragtag Straw Hat Pirates as they explore the vast Grand Line Sea, searching for the ultimate treasure known as “One Piece” to become the next Pirate King.

With over 1000 episodes and counting, One Piece delivers endless adventures filled with quirky characters, menacing villains, secrets of the ominous seas, and the series’ signature bizarre powers gained from eating “Devil Fruits.”

Its masterful world-building and storytelling make immersing in Luffy’s boundless high seas escapades easy.

2. Black Lagoon

Black Lagoon offers a gritty perspective and a darker, more mature take on modern-day piracy. Set in the criminal haven of Roanapur in Thailand, this pirate anime follows mercenary pirates aboard their torpedo boat, Black Lagoon.

Led by their calculating leader, Dutch, hot-headed gunfighter Revy, and former salaryman Rock, this merciless pirate crew smuggles illegal goods while getting embroiled with crime syndicates and corrupt law enforcement.

With intense action and violence, Black Lagoon showcases the brutal criminal side of pirate anime.

3. Fena: Pirate Princess

Fena: Pirate Princess (Image via Production I.G)

A 2021 pirate anime generating buzz is this original series produced by Production I.G. Set in a fantastical world with some inspiration from 18th-century European history, it follows the adventures of Fena Houtman. She's the so-called Pirate Princess with no memories of her childhood as a pirate aristocrat.

When Fena embarks on a quest to return to her homeland, she joins a motley but loyal pirate crew while confronting dangerous European navies. With an engaging heroine, nuanced characters, emotional reveals, and beautifully choreographed fight scenes, Fena: Pirate Princess offers a fresh take on pirate anime.

4. Granblue Fantasy The Animation

Granblue Fantasy The Animation (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Based on the popular mobile and browser RPG game, this fantasy pirate anime boasts vibrant characters on a quest for treasure in a richly imagined magical world with floating islands.

It chronicles an earnest young man named Gran, who joins the airship crew of the Grandcypher led by the mysterious Captain Rackam on a journey to find the mythical island of Estalucia. They encounter allies and enemies while uncovering secrets about an ancient beast linked to their world's destiny.

With soaring skyfaring action and bonded camaraderie between the Grandcypher crew, Granblue Fantasy The Animation depicts a fantastical fellowship, making it a standout pirate anime.

5. Those Who Hunt Elves

Those Who Hunt Elves (Image via Group TAC)

Gun enthusiast Ritsuko, former gangster Junpei, and famous actress Airi decide to strip elves they come across to find spell fragments tattooed on their skin. Their chaotic antics resemble a clumsy treasure hunt as they raid elf villages, stripping elves and wielding modern weapons.

They leave plenty of destructive chaos in their wake, which amplifies the madcap humor. Unafraid to go completely preposterous with slapstick comedy and relentless wacky energy, Those Who Hunt Elves delivers non-stop hilarity if you enjoy anime to be as silly and absurdist as possible.

6. Space Pirate Captain Harlock

Space Pirate Captain Harlock (Image via Toei Animation)

Space offers a futuristic twist to pirate tales, exemplified in this sci-fi pirate anime franchise centering on the brooding rogue Captain Harlock.

Set in the distant future as humanity has colonized other planets, Captain Harlock leads an eccentric pirate crew aboard his advanced spacecraft Arcadia. They oppose Earth's authoritarian rulers through swashbuckling space battles and missions.

As the archetypal noble thief, Harlock hides his good intentions under a pirate guise while surviving against powerful space overlords and hostile aliens. With gorgeous space vistas and spacecraft designs, Space Pirate Captain Harlock brings romanticized cosmic piracy to vivid, animated life.

7. Mouretsu Pirates (Bodacious Space Pirates)

Mouretsu Pirates (Bodacious Space Pirates) (Image via Satelight)

Also known as Bodacious Space Pirates, this sci-fi pirate anime presents a fun take on space piracy mixed with school life.

When everyday high schooler Marika Kato learns that her recently deceased father was a space pirate captain, she gets drafted into commanding the pirate ship he left behind, the Bentenmaru, alongside an experienced crew.

Marika must balance her normal school life with learning to command a space pirate ship, tackling heists and conflicts with authorities. Mouretsu Pirates infuses space pirate adventures with youthful charm and humor.

8. Queen's Blade: Beautiful Warriors

Queen's Blade: Beautiful Warriors (Image via Arms)

Set in a medieval fantasy world, this fan-service-heavy anime focuses on a royal tournament where skilled female warriors compete to determine a queen. Entrants include the swashbuckling pirate captain Liliana, who arrives with her rowdy all-female pirate crew seeking glory and riches as tournament prize rewards.

Despite her thirst for wine and treasure, Liliana bonds with other fighters against threats like demons, conspiracies, and a sinister pirate guild hunting beautiful warrior women. With camaraderie among competing swordswomen, this series crafts a tale of fantastical warrior pirates.

9. Outlaw Star

In terms of strong spaceship-centered sci-fi pirate anime, the 1998 series Outlaw Star deserves a mention for its thrilling interstellar plot. Protagonist Gene Starwind is an outlaw bounty hunter who acquires an extraordinarily advanced pirate ship after a series of adventures.

Teaming up with the bio-android Melfina, who can navigate and directly connect with the ship, Gene assembles a ragtag crew of misfits. Calling themselves the Outlaw Star pirates, they take on various unlawful missions of theft, sabotage, and spying for profit across the galaxy.

But soon they get caught in escalating battles against space pirates from the mysterious “Pirate Guild” syndicate and the underworld organized crime society. Outlaw Star blends space pirate adventures and humor as the crew faces authorities and rival pirates.

10. Pirates of Dark Water

Pirates of Dark Water (Image via Hanna-Barbera Productions)

This early '90s production was praised for its rich world-building and high fantasy elements. In an island-based alien planet plagued by an all-consuming Dark Water supernatural force, young Ren leads a motley band to find the lost Thirteen Treasures of Rule with legendary powers.

Only collecting all these treasures scattered across the perilous seas and defending them from evil pirate rivals can save this doomed world from complete devastation by the Dark Water darkness. As Ren collects treasures, he uncovers his royal heritage amid rising stakes.

Benefiting from the creative talents of Hanna-Barbera Studios, Pirates of Dark Water was unfortunately cut short before finishing its epic narrative due to poor ratings and insufficient toy sales. But the 21 completed episodes showcase the series' admirable ambition, securing its place as a notable pirate anime.

Conclusion

Whether on the high seas or outer space, pirate anime continues to be popular for delivering exciting adventures following memorable roguish crews. From longtime classics like One Piece to newer hits like Fena: Pirate Princess, there’s no shortage of quality shows depicting the unique storytelling possibilities with animated pirate fiction.

For anime fans seeking thrilling escapism alongside heroic thieves, ambitious treasure hunters, or cunning pirate captains matching wits and blades with ruthless villains, indulging in some maritime anime piracy proves satisfyingly fun.

So set sail into these titles and discover your favorite pirate anime filled with captivating characters on unforgettable voyages.

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Edited by Shreya Das