The 6 Anime Set In Cold War To Test Your Nerves

War-themed anime, despite the theme itself being horrible, have their charm for better or worse.

The strategic theme behind the conflicts, the politics, and the conflicts themselves in animated versions are all elements that end up being interesting.

Staying on this topic today we are going to look at what are the best anime set during the Cold War.

Let us clarify: we don’t just mean stories set in the historical period from 1947 to 1991, but also in alternate futures where the conflict never ended, or fictional conflicts with the U.S. and the URRS.

Rankings are based on our experience and personal tastes.

6. Zero Zero Nine One

Zero Nine One is a science fiction anime, that reinterprets modern history. It has ecchi-type elements and is structured in the classic 12 episodes released in 2006.

The anime tells the story of Mylene Hoffmann, a girl who lives in an alternate reality in which the Cold War never ended. In a world still divided, Mylene, who grew up an orphan, will be forced to be a spy and part of a horrible war.

An anime that in the end turns out to be enjoyable, with excellent character design but lacks the plot, which is quite classic and repetitive.

5. Future War 198x

Anime movie from 1982, we are talking about 2 hours of pure war and history.

An American scientist constructs a laser satellite to prevent any nuclear conflicts. However, after a fatal error from both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. governments, war breaks out and humanity faces new bloodshed.

This movie, an important disclaimer, is not set directly in the Cold War understood as a historical period. It is in fact about an alternate, fictional war, but as you may have guessed from the plot, fought between the U.S. and URRS.

You will therefore understand that it’s blatantly inspired by the real Cold War, taking inspiration from it in spades and without hiding it, so inclusion was a must.

4. Schwarzesmarken

Schwarzesmarken is an anime that may seem overly pretentious due to the unnecessarily complicated plot, but it manages to maintain consistency with itself.

This is on the premise that you must like the mecha genre with strong political and war themes.

1983, the Cold War is still ongoing, but humanity has other businesses to attend to. An alien race named BETA has conquered much of the earth’s land, destroying a lot.

The last bastion remains in Germany on the east side of the Berlin Wall, where the Schwarzesmarken squadron is ready to fight on mecha units.

3. Silent Service

A 3-episode OAV with a total war theme focusing on the Cold War. It was released in 1995, so it is very vintage and has a very distinctive animation style for the times.

During the Cold War, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces jointly developed a nuclear submarine with the U.S. Navy. But during its maiden voyage, something goes wrong.

A very interesting free interpretation of real history while being based on real events such as the Cold War for that matter.

2. Full Metal Panic!

Take action, comedy, and science fiction combined with mecha elements and add in loving moments. Thus we get Full Metal Panic!, an anime from 2002.

In an alternate present in which The Soviet Union still exists, Cold War is still ongoing, fought by powerful Mecha. In this setting, the protagonist is Sosuke Sagara, tasked with protecting the mysterious girl Kaname Chidori.

A vision characterized by exquisite animation techniques that will immediately make you think of anime from the early 2000s.

1. Spy X Family

Spy X Family is the best cold war anime for us. There are numerous references to World War 2 and to the Cold War, and it’s a modern reinterpretation of the spy genre.

Twilight, one of the world’s top spies, has spent her life taking on undercover missions to make the world a better place.

One day he receives a particularly difficult assignment, and to succeed in his new mission he will have to form a temporary family and start a new life.

Joining him will be the beautiful and mysterious Yor, and Anya, a little girl with mysterious powers they will have to care for.

The anime features the fictional states of Ostania and Westalis, which loosely represent East and West Germany respectively.

Propaganda, secret services, and tension are what make this anime the ideal choice if you are looking for Cold War shows.