8 Anime Set in New York City To Admire Its Beauty

New York City is one of the biggest and loudest cities in the world and one of the most important in the East Coast.

Many movies, series, and video games take place in the famous American city. This is because it’s made up of a huge melting pot of different people, cultures, and traditions that everyone can relate to.

Besides New York City, just with its name, can give off epic vibes and that ever-present sense of American myth that only this city can provide.

This listicle is composed of eight titles set in New York City and we think can immerse you in the epic excitement this setting can provide.

8. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid

Kobayashi is about to go to work after a drunken night out when she sees the head of a dragon staring at her from across the balcony.

Turns out the scary dragon is a cute little girl in a maid outfit called Tooru. She explains to Kobayashi that they met last night on a mountain and she had offered her to stay in her home since the beast had nowhere else to go.

Tooru intended to repay the stranger’s kindness by working as her maidservant. Kobayashi instantly regrets everything but she is convinced to follow through on her promise by Tooru’s stubbornness and abilities.

Tooru is exceptionally efficient but uses many unorthodox methods that end up bringing lots of trouble.

During episode 10 of Season 2, Kanna, one of the main characters, will take a little trip to New York City where she saves a girl called Chloe from some bad guys and spends time with her in the iconic American city.

This episode doesn’t quite focus on its setting, but we can see many iconic buildings such as the Statue of Liberty.

7. Love Live! The School Idol Movie

This movie from 2015 serves as a closing act to the anime tv show called Love Live!

It is one of the most famous series about idols and music. It’s extremely popular and loved by fans all around the globe, especially for the attention to clothing design and the choreographies.

The plot is about a group of girls traveling to the United States to spread the appeal of school idols overseas before an important competition.

Once there they will perform their songs in iconic places like Times Square and Central Park so if you liked the tv show, this movie will be right up your alley.

6. Red Garden

Red Garden is an anime from 2006 that features horror themes and atmospheres.

The main characters are Kate, Rachel, Rose, and Claire, four girls attending the same private school on Roosevelt Island, on the East River of New York City.

The four of them seem to have nothing in common except that one day they woke up with no memory of the day before. They find out that a classmate committed suicide so school is out for the day.

The girls are drawn to a dark alley by strange butterflies and there they are approached by a woman called Lula and her partner JC. They explain to the girls that they all died and have to work for a shady organization called the Animus.

The girls will be summoned to fight monsters that look like regular people and when their job is done Lula claims that she could give them their life back.

The plot will take many dark turns and it will all take place in an alternate version of New York City, a fascinating setting that will be flashed out during the show.

5. Blood Blockade Battlefront

It’s a fairly well-known sci-fi-supernatural anime that stands out for its excellent visual compartment.

The story is set in the city of Hellsalem’s Lot, which stands on the ruins of New York City, destroyed by the collision of our world and the monster-populated world of Beyond.

It’s up to the secret society Libra, composed of superhumans, to keep things in order and avoid monsters and chaos spreading throughout the world.

This time we will see a New York wasteland filled with still fairly recognizable ruins that make it obvious what kind of city it once was. The viewer can clearly recognize landmarks like Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, and other parts of the Upper East Side.

4. Chrono Crusade

Chrono Crusade is an anime produced by Gonzo studios in 2003 and it is set in the 1920s in New York, with America just emerging from the First World War and right at the start of the prohibition era.

Despite being apparently on the way to prosperity, evil lurked in the shadows in the form of hellish demons.

In opposition to this threat, the Order of the Magdalene was founded. It was a military organization suited to training priests and exorcist nuns charged with fighting such demons.

This anime is very much a product of its time. It gives off a lot of early 2000’s vibes ranging from the technical aspects to the action-packed scenes.

Also, the New York City setting is very present during the show making it an interesting product and one we would advise giving a chance to.

3. Banana Fish

The plot of Banana Fish revolves around Ash Lynx, a seventeen-year-old boy who grew up under the influence of Dino Golzine, a powerful New York godfather.

Ash grows up to be a criminal himself and happens to meet Eiji Okamura, a photographer from Japan who is documenting the hidden merciless world of New york’s outlaw gangs.

Ash’s brother is also an Iraq War veteran that has been scarred for life and kept muttering the words Banana Fish. The two of them will begin to look for him but their research will cause them to face Dino Golzine and his criminal gang.

The anime also depicts the customs of the city in a very convincing way, even with its many negative traits.

2. JoJo’s Bizzare Adventures – Battle Tendency

This is the second arc of the popular anime that concludes the story of the Stone Mask.

It stars Joseph Joestar as its protagonist. Jonathan’s grandson will directly face the Pillar Men, creators of the Stone Mask and he will be tasked to defeat these superhuman beings with the help of his allies.

Even though it mostly takes place in other countries such as Italy and Mexico, the plot starts in New York City where Joseph Joestar lives.

The location does a great job at setting the tone for the rest of the show, it successfully depicts a crime-riddled New York in the late 1930s where our protagonist starts his quest.

You don’t need anybody else to tell you that you should watch JoJo, as it’s one of the most influential series ever. Battle Tendency is loved by fans thanks to Joseph, one of the best main characters you could ask for.

1. Baccano!

This is an anime tv show based on a series of light novels written by Ryohgo Narita.

The plot is set in the US in the 1930s.

It involves a war that breaks out between various mafia gangs in Manhattan during the Prohibition Era and this aspect is well rendered, with customs and traditions, like cloth that are typical of that historical period.

This contributes to realistically depicting that period of American history.

There will also be a touch of the supernatural, as the war between these gangs is due to the search for an elixir of immortality that everyone wants to get their hands on.

This insane search for immortality will instead bring death to most of them.