Film

The Decade’s Best Samurai Anime So Far Is About to Get Better This Summer

16 March 2026

Anime’s foundations are built upon its creators’ appreciation for the joy of motion. On the surface, this is a bit of a no-brainer, as an animated medium is primarily judged by the quality of its animation. But too often, this has devolved into hyping animated fight scenes, which, to the credit of Solo Leveling and Demon Slayer, are massive draws.

But in 2024’s The Elusive Samurai, while there’s fluid, breathtaking action throughout its first season, its protagonist, Tokiyuki Hojo, brings the series to frenetic life often without even exchanging blows. Season 1 introduced the Hojo clan’s last surviving scion, deftly dodging harm while gathering his loyal retainers, but in season 2, Tokiyuki’s true quest to retake his home begins.

Crunchyroll’s Most Gorgeous Samurai Anime in Years Will Return in July

The news of The Elusive Samurai’s season 2 renewal was certainly welcome, to say the least. Even with other competing samurai anime producing stunning visuals like Yaiba’s remake, none quite embody the multifaceted spirit of The Elusive Samurai. A major part of that is its participating staff, many of whom previously working on Bocchi the Rock!, made motion the true star.

Tokiyuki Hojo’s identity is built on his godly ability to run and hide from danger, with uncanny feats seemingly resembling parkour, gymnastics, and calisthenics, bolstering his survival. As he is taken in by the supposed “God of Suwa”, the iconic Yorishige (voiced by Jujutsu Kaisen’s Gojo actor, Yuichi Nakamura) Tokiyuki narrowly escapes a bloody coup that massacres his family.

The Elusive Samurai is equal parts action and comedy, mixing genuine history with de facto mythology, while creating a demonic persona for its villain. Takauji Ashikaga is portrayed as the traitor who massacred the Hojo clan and propped up Go-Daigo to oversee the wreckage of the Kamakura Shogunate, his overwhelming might and tactics a keen nemesis to Tokiyuki.

The first season is littered with incredible scenes which, while sporting the occasional sequence muddled by CGI, are predominantly traditional in style, with wildly imaginative renditions of Yusei Matsui’s magical realism. Now, as Tokiyuki fends off forces intruding on his sanctuary in season 2, he’ll soon take the fight to the enemy in July 2026.

The Elusive Samurai’s Story Is About to Get Even Better in Season 2

While full production staff lists are to be confirmed, The Elusive Samurai will retain its primary staff from season 1, which is always welcome news. Yuta Yamazaki, Yoriko Tomita, and Yasushi Nishiya will return as director, series composition, and character designer/chief animation director, respectively.

This is important to note because CloverWorks anime fans know well enough to be cautious going into any second season, with The Promised Neverland being a cautionary tale. But for now, this Shonen Jump hit from the Assassination Classroom creator seems to fittingly dodge this possibility so far, especially given The Elusive Samurai is longer and more difficult to rush.

The main character of Elusive Samurai looking out over a large village.

We Hate to Say It, But the Most Underrated Shonen Jump Anime of 2024 Got Slept On

2024 might have been one of the best years for shōnen anime in the last decade, and this show got swept by the series it had to compete with.

But given the pacing of the first season, provided it holds firm in season 2, The Elusive Samurai is setting up a major battle to retake Tokiyuki’s home, Kamakura. Provided it similarly follows Matsui’s absurdly detailed manga, season 2 will excel even in adapting mundane moments like Sadamune’s interrogation of Tokiyuki soon to come.

This is all to say, there has been little in the way of truly entertaining, well-produced, riveting samurai anime in the 2020s decade so far. While other contemporary samurai hits are certainly landing, shows like Blue Eye Samurai, while excellent, don’t quite fit the bill of anime, especially one with such traditional, high-quality flair as The Elusive Samurai.