Key Takeaways
- Anime has been using ancient mythology for decades, and shows like Saint Seiya feature gods and legends.
- The Ragnarok account explores the conflict between humanity and the gods and is infused with humor and profane depictions.
- Death Note's unique take on the Japanese god of death involves humans gaining god-like powers through supernatural notes.
While it is a current trend in modern media to use the Old Gods and their associated mythology to inspire characters and storylines, animation has been using the Old Gods aesthetic for decades. Even if the gods themselves do not exist, their names and powers do exist in some form, and even science fiction animations of the past few years have included legendary references.

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The anime uses the mythology of ancient Rome, Egypt, and Greece to tell their stories, and there is plenty to choose from in the world of “kami,” or countless Shinto gods. A variety of vintage and contemporary shows and films feature gods, patrons and mythical houses.
6 saint seiya
Athena's Warriors
saint seiya
- creator
- Masami Kurumada
- number of episodes
- 114
- release date
- October 11, 1986
- season
- 6
- studio
- toei animation
Also known as knights of the Zodiac, Saint Seiya depicts a world where the goddess Athena is reincarnated and protected by a small army of special warriors known as “Saints.” The main character, Seiya, begins the story as an orphan who completes a quest to retrieve the bronze cloth of the constellation Pegasus from a place called Sanctuary in Greece. Like most anime protagonists, this mission involves the loss of a close relative and the awakening of mysterious cosmic powers.
The anime is an adaptation of the equally popular manga series, in addition to the original four seasons that aired in the 1980s. saint seiya omega was released in 2014, and the ONA miniseries was released in 2024.
5 Records of Ragnarok
This is how the world really ends
Records of Ragnarok
- distributor
- Netflix, Biz Media
- number of episodes
- 27
- season
- 2
- release date
- June 17, 2021
- studio
- Graphinica, Yumeta Company (Season 2)
Every thousand years, the gods of the entire universe gather to decide the fate of humanity. Seven million years later, they decide that humanity cannot be saved and must be destroyed, but Valkyrie Brunhild intervenes and makes the gods an offer they cannot refuse. Humans are given one more chance to fight the gods and win, and choose the most powerful and respected humans in history to fight for their survival.

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Although it seems serious, it is also full of humor. Records of Ragnarok There are blasphemous and often shocking depictions of various gods, as well as human heroes who may not be so revered in real life. Under her deal, Brunhilde sends a Valkyrie to each human hero to aid them in battle.
4 death note
Shinigami are unique beings found only in Japan.
Death Note (2006)
- creator
- Ohba Tsugumi
- number of episodes
- 37
- release date
- October 4, 2006
- season
- 1
- studio
- Mad House
According to legend, each of the Japanese gods of death has a special place where they write the names and series of the dead. death note We imagine these records as a physical notebook that humans can also use. Ryuk, a Shinigami with a quirky sense of humor, gets bored one day and deliberately throws his Death Note into the human world to see what happens.
The resulting chaos is more fun than he could have imagined. Light Yagami picks up a laptop on his way home from school, and the series chronicles his evolution over the years into a mass murderer with god-like powers.
3 Odin: Photon Sailor Starlight
Exploring space to find God
- studio: Toei Animation, West Cape Production
- Story Posted by: Yoshinobu Nishizaki
- Runtime: 139 minutes
- Release date: August 10, 1985
The good ship Starlight is about to achieve the historic milestone of the first interstellar flight, but the festivities are cut short when the remains of a wrecked ship and a lone survivor are discovered. Sara Cyanbaker doesn't remember what happened, but she begins having strange dreams involving the ancient Norse god Odin.

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The captain orders them to return to Earth immediately, but the crew discovers that Odin may not be a god, but rather another planet. They lead a rebellion that sends her into deep space to overturn starlight and discover the mysteries of Odin. The truth behind uncovering the name of an alien being connected to Norse gods is surprisingly complex for an animated film from the early 1980s.
2 princess mononoke
Realm of the Old Gods
- supervision
- Hayao Miyazaki
- release date
- July 12, 1997
- run-time
- 133 minutes
- studio
- studio ghibli
- Rotten Tomatoes Score
- 93%
One of Studio Ghibli's notable works. princess mononoke It was famous for its beautiful animation and captivating soundtrack. Both gods and demons are part of the cast, with Gillian Anderson taking on the role of the wolf god Moro in the English version. The English dub also includes famous names like Billy Bob Thorton as the Double Monk and Clare Danes in the title role.
The story begins with a thrilling and horrifying scene where an angry and evil creature overruns a small town. Local prince Ashitaka fights the creature, but becomes infected with a curse that he believes must banish him. Following the instructions of the village's wise woman, he travels west and encounters the forest of Moro and its lord. He also discovers Iron Town and its modern-day ruler, Lady Eboshi, a logger and mining magnate.
1 Ah, suddenly it’s an Egyptian god.
Ancient Myth Meets Hello! kitten
- studio: typhoon graphics
- season: 2
- Episode: 10
- Release date: April 15, 2020
These charming little hieroglyphic animals are a far cry from the original menacing statues and movements that lined the ancient Nile. Common gods of ancient Egypt, such as Anubis, Bastet, Horus, and Set, appear regularly in a setting simply described as 'the world of the Egyptian gods' without much explanation.
They have powers, but they use them for god-like activities like making rain and guarding the dead, along with things like killing bugs, making pottery, and ordering pizza. They live in an environment with all the hallmarks of ancient Egypt, including stone houses and open plains next to the Nile, but they also have plenty of modern conveniences to make them relatable and entertaining.

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The best games set in ancient Egypt
Despite its fascinating history, Ancient Egypt is an uncommon video game setting, which makes these games set in Ancient Egypt all the more special.