What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBlade of the Immortal
Series · 2019
If you loved Blade of the Immortal, start with Blade of the Immortal (2017) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Blade of the Immortal across media.
What hooked you in Blade of the Immortal was the brutal intersection of moral ambiguity and the search for redemption through bloodshed.
Start with the source
The source
Blade of the Immortal
Film · 2017
Books on the same thread
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 1
Koyoharu Gotouge · Book
Shares a thread with Blade of the Immortal: revenge.
If Blade of the Immortal hit, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 1 shares the thread.
Berserk Deluxe, Vol. 1
Kentaro Miura · Book
Explores: existential dread, vengeance, moral corruption.
Like Blade of the Immortal, this series explores the heavy toll of vengeance and moral corruption, pairing visceral, high-stakes sword combat with a grim, unrelenting atmosphere of existential dread.
Demon Slayer
Koyoharu Gotoge · Book · 2018
Explores: Sibling Bond, Grief, Moral Duty.
If Blade of the Immortal hit, Demon Slayer shares the thread.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Koyoharu Gotouge · Book · 2018
Explores: Sibling bond, Revenge quest, Demon hunting.
If you appreciated the gritty, character-driven quest for atonement in Blade of the Immortal, you will find a similar emotional weight in this tale of vengeance and sibling bonds.
Films on the same thread
Ninja Scroll
Yoshiaki Kawajiri · Film · 1993
Shares a thread with Blade of the Immortal: Jidaigeki Anime.
This film captures the same wandering ronin spirit found in Blade of the Immortal, focusing on a masterless warrior whose violent past complicates his search for redemption.
Sword of the Stranger
Masahiro Ando · Film · 2007
Shares 3 threads with Blade of the Immortal: Moral Ambiguity, Swordsmanship, Jidaigeki Anime.
Much like Blade of the Immortal, this story centers on a cynical, skilled swordsman forced to protect the innocent, navigating a world defined by moral ambiguity and lethal steel.
Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins
Keishi Otomo · Film · 2012
Explores: Redemption, Pacifism, Finding Peace.
Fans of Blade of the Immortal will recognize the familiar struggle of a legendary killer attempting to shed his violent past while navigating the complex moral landscape of Japan.
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning
Keishi Otomo · Film · 2021
Explores: Redemption, Moral Conflict, The Cost of Violence.
This narrative mirrors the internal conflict of Blade of the Immortal, examining how a life built on murder and moral compromise can be transformed by unexpected, intimate human connections.
Podcasts on the same thread
Sword and Scale
Sword and Scale · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human depravity, systemic failure, macabre.
If Blade of the Immortal hit, Sword and Scale shares the thread.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Blade of the Immortal: moral ambiguity.
If Blade of the Immortal hit, Dan Carlin's Hardcore History shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Blade of the Immortal (2019) a direct sequel to the 2017 movie?
No, the 2019 television series and the 2017 movie are separate adaptations of the same source material. Each version depicts the journey of Manji, the immortal samurai cursed to slay 1,000 evil men to regain his mortality, without requiring you to watch the other version to understand the plot.
Does Manji ever lose his immortality in Blade of the Immortal?
Manji remains cursed with immortality throughout the narrative of Blade of the Immortal. His primary motivation is to lift this curse by fulfilling the nun Yobikuni's requirement to slay 1,000 evil men, as he has grown weary of his ageless life and seeks the peace of death.
What is the primary goal of the protagonist in Blade of the Immortal?
The protagonist of Blade of the Immortal is a samurai named Manji who seeks to end his own life. To lift the immortality curse placed upon him by the nun Yobikuni, he must successfully track down and slay 1,000 men who have committed evil deeds throughout Japan.
How did Manji become cursed in Blade of the Immortal?
In Blade of the Immortal, Manji is cursed with immortality by a nun named Yobikuni. This supernatural punishment was inflicted upon him as a direct consequence of his past ruthless deeds, forcing him to wander the land and kill wicked men to eventually earn the right to die.