The 20 Best Anime Set In Europe

The Setting: England

What It's About: A young boy named Thorfinn witnesses his peace-loving father being ambushed and slain. Desperately wanting revenge but lacking the strength to achieve it, he follows his father's assassins. As he learns how to survive alongside them, he discovers more about the world and himself. Is revenge really the answer anymore?

Why It’s Worth Watching: Vinland Saga is a fantastic series that has met with critical acclaim. The first season won Best Drama in the 4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards and several categories in the 6th Anime Trending Awards, while the second season took home Best Anime Series at the 2023 IGN Awards. Why is it so well-received? A lot of that has to do with the efforts that the creators took to keep the setting relatively accurate. From the characters' clothing to the political history of the region, everything is clearly well-researched and meticulously chosen.

The Setting: England

What It's About: After losing both of her parents in a traumatizing way, Chise Hatori felt that the only way she could survive was to put herself up for auction. She is purchased by Elias Ainsworth, a mage with a cow skull for a head. Elias doesn't want to own her, though. He wants to teach her how to use her latent magic as a sleigh beggy, and maybe marry her if she's amenable to the idea. It takes some time for Chise to get accustomed, but she eventually starts to lead a happy life. However, not everyone is quite so happy - there are a lot of magical threats to contend with.

Why It’s Worth Watching: The Ancient Magus' Bride is a beautiful and heartfelt story about overcoming trauma and finding a place to belong. It makes great use of its setting by incorporating all kinds of mythical beings from British, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh mythologies. From fairies and dragons to church grims and kelpies, this series has it all. Besides that, the setting is always beautifully depicted, whether it's Elias' country home or Chise's boarding school in London.

The Setting: Naples, Italy

What It's About: Giorno Giovanna spends his days working part-time jobs and stealing cash from unsuspecting villains. But what he really wants is to become a top-tier gangster or, in his words, a "gang star." This might be possible for two reasons: his exceptional life-creating Stand, Gold Experience, and his run-in with Bruno Bucciarati from a gang called Passione.

Why It’s Worth Watching: One of the cool things about JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is that each season takes place somewhere new, making it truly an adventure. Though it's slightly stereotypical to put the mob-themed season in Italy, the fact that the characters have some of the weirdest powers ever invented gives the series a unique spin. The first season also takes place in England, granting the franchise at least two European settings.

The Setting: Düsseldorf, Germany and Prague, Czech Republic

What It's About: Dr. Kenzo Tenma is one of the most renowned brain surgeons in Germany, but his career takes a huge hit when he decides to keep operating on a young child instead of the town's mayor. The mayor passes away, and the hospital loses some serious revenue. But that isn't the worst thing to come from his choice. The worst thing is that the boy he saved, Johan Liebert, seems to be behind a string of murders. Feeling responsible, Dr. Tenma seeks out Johan to try and stop him.

Why It’s Worth Watching: Monster couldn't have happened without the painful legacy of World War II. Some of the people who are interested in Johan want him to become the new Hitler, and the experiments he endured as a child are reminiscent of those done by Nazi scientists. Also, Dr. Tenma has to deal with a number of complications because he's a foreigner from Japan, something that wouldn't happen if it were set in Japan like most anime.

The Setting: Paris, France

What It's About: According to a legend, the Book of Vanitas was created by a vampire of the same name who was persecuted for being born under a blue moon. The book was meant to unleash vengeance on all of those who were born under the crimson moon. Currently, the book is in the possession of a human calling himself Vanitas. He claims to want to help vampires avoid a terrifying condition by restoring their names, but what is he actually up to? Noé Archiviste doesn't trust him one bit, but he's going to stick around to find out.

Why It’s Worth Watching: 19th-century Paris offers a visually stunning backdrop for this darkly beautiful tale. It's a great setting for the mysterious creepiness that the series features. The series makes full use of the setting by including places like the Catacombes of Paris, a real and significant location. Additionally, the series references The Island of Doctor Moreau with the name of its creepy scientist. Though the book was written by the British author H.G. Wells, the titular doctor is French.

The Setting: Japan, Los Angeles - USA, London - England, Singapore

What It's About: Makoto Edamura is proud of his pickpocketing skills, but he accidentally tangles with the wrong man. That man is Laurent Thierry, another skilled con man. Through a series of events, Makoto ends up following Laurent to Los Angeles, where they will compete to see who can defraud the biggest mafia boss on the West Coast first. The journey takes them all over the world, including Los Angeles, Singapore, London, and Japan.

Why It’s Worth Watching: While its plot, pacing, and characters are all well-done, the thing that really puts Great Pretender on the map is its art. The settings are depicted with intricate detail and unexpected color palettes. London looks gorgeous, just like every other location. Additionally, the arc that takes place in London deals with art forgery. For various reasons, London is a hub for the art world. Where art goes, forgery follows.