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Greek mythology has been showing up in anime for over 40 years. From the 1981 space-opera reimagining of the Odyssey to the 2020s Netflix-era explorations, the medium keeps returning to these stories because they work. The themes are universal. The characters are archetypal. The drama is built-in.
Below are 20 anime (and a few honorable Western animation entries) that engage with Greek mythology. I’ve organized them honestly by how directly they engage with the source material, because some of these are genuinely Greek mythology anime and others are shows that name-drop Greek elements while doing something else entirely. I’ll note the distinction throughout.
A quick fact-check note before the list. Hercules: The Animated Series, Class of the Titans, and Blood of Zeus are Western animations, not anime. They show up on Greek mythology anime lists because they share aesthetic and storytelling DNA, but it’s worth being upfront about which is which.
The Real Greek Mythology Anime
These shows are genuinely focused on Greek mythology as central subject matter.
Saint Seiya (1986-1989)
- Source: Masami Kurumada‘s manga (1986-1990), adapted by Toei Animation.
- Greek connection: Direct. The protagonists are the reincarnated warriors of Athena, fighting against rival gods including Poseidon, Hades, and Apollo to protect their goddess. Each warrior wears armor (Cloth) representing a zodiac constellation.
- Why watch: One of the most popular anime ever produced, with massive followings in Latin America and Europe. The Sanctuary, Poseidon, and Hades arcs each engage seriously with Greek mythology.
- Where it stands: The Knights of the Zodiac Netflix reboot in 2019 introduced Saint Seiya to a new generation. The original is still the canonical experience.
Kamigami no Asobi (2014)
- Source: Otome game by Broccoli, adapted by Brain’s Base in 2014.
- Greek connection: Major. Apollo, Hades, and Dionysus all appear as primary characters, alongside Loki, Thor, Balder (Norse), Tsukito, and Takeru (Japanese), and Anubis and Thoth (Egyptian).
- Premise: Yui Kusanagi is summoned by Zeus to attend a school where wayward gods must learn human emotions to avoid disaster.
- Tone: Reverse-harem otome game adaptation. Don’t expect mythological depth, expect handsome gods with personality conflicts.
Ulysses 31 (1981-1982)
- Source: Japanese-French co-production by DIC Audiovisuel and Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS).
- Greek connection: Direct retelling of Homer’s Odyssey, set in the 31st century.
- Premise: Space captain Ulysses kills the Cyclops to save his son, angering the gods of Olympus, who curse him to wander the galaxy with his crew’s bodies frozen in stasis until he finds the Kingdom of Hades.
- Where it stands: A foundational 80s anime that introduced Greek mythology to French and Japanese audiences simultaneously. The opening theme is legendary in Europe.
Arion (1986)
- Source: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko‘s 1979 manga (Yasuhiko was the character designer for Mobile Suit Gundam), adapted as a Sunrise film in 1986.
- Greek connection: Heavy. Reimagines Greek mythology as a dark fantasy with Zeus as antagonist and Poseidon as protagonist’s ally.
- Premise: The young Arion is raised by his uncle Hades, then sent on a quest to save his mother from Zeus’s clutches.
- Tone: Darker, grittier take on the source material than most adaptations.
Blood of Zeus (2020-present)
- Source: Netflix original, animated by Powerhouse Animation.
- Important note: This is Western animation made to look like anime. Not technically anime, but worth including for completeness.
- Greek connection: Heavy. Heron is the illegitimate son of Zeus, fighting against demons and corrupt gods.
- Where it stands: Three seasons across 2020-2024. Visually impressive with mature themes.
Anime That Use Greek Gods as Major Characters
DanMachi / Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (2015-present)
- Source: Fujino Ōmori‘s light novels, adapted by J.C.Staff. Four seasons through 2024.
- Greek connection: Major. Greek deities (Hestia, Hephaestus, Hermes, Apollo, Demeter) live as patrons of “Familias” of adventurers who explore a labyrinthine dungeon.
- Premise: Bell Cranel joins Hestia’s tiny one-member Familia and becomes a rising-star adventurer.
- Where it stands: The main series plus spinoff Sword Oratoria (2017) and film Arrow of the Orion (2019). Long-running franchise with consistent quality.
Record of Ragnarok (2021-present)
- Source: Shinya Umemura‘s manga, adapted by Graphinica (Season 1, 2021) and Yumeta Company (Season 2, 2023).
- Greek connection: Major. Greek gods (Zeus, Poseidon, Hercules) battle humanity’s greatest historical figures in a survival tournament.
- Premise: The gods of various mythologies vote to exterminate humanity. Brunhilde the Valkyrie convinces them to give humans one last chance through 13 one-on-one duels.
- Tone: Pure shonen action with mythology as costume. Don’t expect serious theological exploration.
Rage of Bahamut: Genesis (2014)
- Source: Cygames’ mobile card game, adapted by MAPPA in 2014.
- Greek connection: Significant. Greek gods (Zeus, Hermes, Poseidon) and Norse gods (Bahamut, Odin) appear throughout.
- Premise: 2000 years after gods, humans, and demons united to seal the dragon Bahamut, a mysterious woman appears with half the key to releasing him.
- Where it stands: One of the best card-game-adapted anime ever made. The MAPPA animation is striking.
Campione! (2012)
- Source: Jou Taketsuki‘s light novels, adapted by Diomedéa in 2012.
- Greek connection: Direct. Multiple Greek gods (Athena, Verethragna, Salvatore) appear as antagonists.
- Premise: Kusanagi Godou becomes a “Campione” (god-slayer) by killing a god, gaining their power. He then has to fight other gods who appear.
- Tone: Action harem with mythology as set dressing. Single season of 13 episodes.
Heroic Age (2007)
- Source: Tow Ubukata‘s original anime, produced by Xebec in 2007.
- Greek connection: Loose but real. Inspired by Hesiod’s Five Ages of Man framework. Five tribes (Golden, Silver, Bronze, Heroic, Iron) shape galactic history.
- Premise: A space opera where humanity, the Iron Tribe, struggles to survive among the cosmic remnants of older races.
- Tone: Mecha space opera with mythological framework. 26 episodes.
Fate/Zero (2011-2012)
- Source: Gen Urobuchi‘s light novels (prequel to Fate/stay night), adapted by ufotable across 2011-2012.
- Greek connection: Partial. Iskandar (Alexander the Great) and Heracles (Berserker class) are summoned as servants in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
- Premise: Seven mages summon legendary heroes from various cultures as Servants to compete for the wish-granting Holy Grail.
- Where it stands: One of the best-written anime of the 2010s. Even if Greek mythology isn’t the focus, the show treats its mythological figures seriously.
Persona 3 the Movie series (2013-2016)
- Source: Adaptation of Atlus’s 2006 Persona 3 game, produced by A-1 Pictures as four films from 2013-2016.
- Greek connection: Heavy. Personas drawn from Greek mythology include Orpheus, Thanatos, Hermes, and the Greek-mythology-named Tartarus tower.
- Premise: High school students summon “Personas” (manifestations of their inner self) to fight Shadows during the hidden Dark Hour.
- Where it stands: One of the best Atlus game adaptations. Watch the four films in sequence.
Anime With Significant Greek Elements
These have meaningful Greek mythology connections but it’s not the central focus.
A Certain Magical Index (2008-2019)
- Source: Kazuma Kamachi‘s light novel franchise, adapted by J.C.Staff.
- Greek connection: Minor to moderate. The franchise draws from many magical traditions including Greek mythology, though Christian and various Western magic systems dominate.
- Premise: Touma Kamijo, a high schooler whose right hand can negate magic, gets pulled into the world of science vs. magic conflict.
- Note: If you want pure Greek mythology, this isn’t really it. But it’s a massive franchise with significant Greek references throughout.
Apollon on the Slope / Sakamichi no Apollon (2012)
- Source: Yuki Kodama‘s manga, adapted by MAPPA and Tezuka Productions with Shinichirō Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo) as director.
- Greek connection: Minimal but thematic. The protagonist Kaoru Nishimi is nicknamed “Apollon” by his classmates, and his character arc parallels the Greek god’s themes of music and love.
- Premise: 1960s Japan. Quiet, classically-trained Kaoru transfers to a school in rural Kyushu and discovers jazz through his classmate Sentaro Kawabuchi.
- Note: This isn’t really a Greek mythology anime. It’s one of the best slice-of-life anime ever made with a Greek-mythology nickname for its protagonist. Watch it anyway.
Pandora Hearts (2009)
- Source: Jun Mochizuki‘s manga (the same creator as Vanitas no Carte), adapted by Xebec in 2009.
- Greek connection: Mostly nominal. Uses the Pandora’s Box concept and includes a dark realm called the Abyss.
- Premise: Oz Vessalius is exiled to the Abyss on his coming-of-age day and rescued by Alice, the B-Rabbit, who is hunting her own memories.
- Note: More gothic fantasy than Greek mythology. Worth watching for the visuals and the source material.
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen (1998-1999, 2020-2021)
- Source: Yoshinobu Akita‘s light novels with two anime adaptations (1998-1999 and the 2020-2021 reboot).
- Greek connection: Loose. Some Greek-mythology-inspired character names and concepts but not central.
- Premise: Sorcerer Orphen searches for his friend, who’s been transformed into a dragon.
- Note: Classic 90s fantasy anime worth checking out for nostalgia even if the Greek angle is thin.
Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
- Source: Hajime Isayama‘s manga (2009-2021), adapted by Wit Studio (Seasons 1-3) and MAPPA (Season 4).
- Greek connection: Very loose. The “Titans” name evokes the Greek mythological Titans, but the show’s actual mythology is its own original creation.
- Why it’s on this list: Despite the minimal direct connection, AoT’s themes of titanic god-figures, cyclical destruction, and humanity caught between rival superhuman powers resonate with Greek mythological themes.
- Where it stands: One of the most acclaimed anime of the 2010s-2020s. Greek mythology is at most a thematic echo, not a direct influence.
Appleseed XIII (2011)
- Source: Masamune Shirow‘s manga (the Ghost in the Shell creator), with various anime adaptations including the 2011 ONA series.
- Greek connection: Significant in framing. The post-apocalyptic utopian city is called “Olympus” and various Greek mythology references appear throughout.
- Premise: Cyborg ESWAT agents Deunan Knute and Briareos Hecatonchires (himself named after a Greek mythological figure) navigate the politics and crises of post-WWIII Olympus.
- Note: Cyberpunk action with mythological framework. Watch the 2004 Appleseed film for the better-known adaptation.
Western Animation Frequently Included
These get listed on Greek mythology anime lists but they’re Western animation. Including for honesty about the question.
Hercules: The Animated Series (1998-1999)
- What it is: Disney television animation, not anime. Spinoff of the 1997 Hercules film.
- Greek connection: Direct. Hercules attends Prometheus Academy as a teenager.
- Note: Kid-friendly take on Greek mythology with comedic tone.
Class of the Titans (2005-2007)
- What it is: Canadian animated series by Studio B Productions and Nelvana. Not anime.
- Greek connection: Direct. Modern-day teenage descendants of Greek heroes battle revived Greek monsters and gods.
- Note: Aimed at younger audiences but engages substantially with Greek mythology.
Where to Actually Start
If you want my honest recommendations based on what you’re looking for:
- ✅ For the canonical Greek mythology anime: Saint Seiya. It’s foundational viewing.
- 💡 For modern accessible gateway: DanMachi. Greek gods running adventurer guilds is more fun than it sounds.
- 🔥 For pure mythology fight content: Record of Ragnarok. Gods vs humans tournament action.
- ✅ For artistic prestige: Apollon on the Slope, even though the Greek connection is minimal. It’s one of the best anime ever made.
- 💡 For historical-context Greek anime: Ulysses 31 or Arion. Both 80s entries that introduced Greek mythology to anime audiences.
- 🔥 For dark mature Greek storytelling: Blood of Zeus, despite being Western animation rather than anime.
Greek mythology will keep showing up in anime as long as anime keeps getting made. The source material is too rich, the archetypes too useful, the stories too foundational. The 20 entries above represent decades of creative engagement with these stories. Pick one that matches your taste and dive in.
