The first season of Spy X Family premiered on April 9th of 2022, taking the anime world by storm in the process. Since its release, the show has anime fans clamoring for more period pieces in the genre.

Spy X Family's setting of parodies of East and West Germany highlights one of the most historically rich and tragic times in humanity's history. Plenty of other anime take place in the 20th century and the decades that comprise the 1900s are each so rich and distinct that it's not hard to see why.

Fullmetal Alchemist - Early 20th Century

Original characters from Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and the first Fullmetal Alchemist

Fullmetal Alchemist features Edward Elric and his brother Alphonse in a world where the magic of alchemy is commonly practiced.

FMA is best known for its amazing cast of characters like Winry and Ed, one of anime's best couples, and the incredibly powerful Roy Mustang. Fans of historical anime will certainly see the inspiration of the 1900s in the aesthetics of the piece and in the technology. The alchemy and nonspecific time may not resonate with fans looking for a purely historical piece, however.

Baccano! - 1930s

Baccano! collage of main characters

Baccano! is a story that follows several groups of individuals aboard a mysterious train called the Flying Pussyfoot. The only thing that ties them together is an immortality elixir discovered two centuries ago.

Related: 10 Best Anime About The Mafia

Both in clothing and technology, Baccano! nails the 1930s setting while also keeping in mind that some characters are far older than they initially appear. For fans to get the full experience, the dub is actually recommended so that they can fully grasp the subtleties in the way each character speaks. For fans of very old historical pieces, Baccano! also has flashbacks to the 1700s.

91 Days - 1930s

The main cast of 91 Days dressed in tuxedos in anime key art.

91 Days is a mafia anime surrounding the ties between the infamous Vanetti family and the protagonist Avilio's deceased parents.

Nero Vanetti and Avilio's final ride together is one of the best moments between a protagonist and antagonist in anime. Audiences get to see the relationship between the two grow while Avilio pretends to be Nero's friend throughout the series, as both young men grow to understand one another. 91 Days doesn't just perfectly capture prohibition-era America, it perfectly captures the human experience and friendship.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Part II - 1930s

Close-up of Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3 Stardust Crusaders.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure's second installment takes place in the 1930s, where Johnathan Joestar's grandson Joseph encounters the deadly superhuman Pillarmen.

Related: Top 10 Most Iconic Anime Catchphrases

Jojo's is another franchise that centers more around magic than anything actually historical, but it is a piece that takes place in the 1930s.  For fans of the decade, there are parts of Jojo's that certainly bring the decade to life. Although, ultimately the point of the franchise is to see super muscular guys punch each other over and over.

Higurashi: When They Cry - 1980s

Higurashi When They Cry Oni

Higurashi: When They Cry takes place in a small village where the main character, Keiichi, quickly befriends a group of girls his age.

Higurashi's unique selling point is that it's a murder mystery anime disguised as a teen slice-of-life romance anime, as Keiichi does his best to solve the horrifying mysteries of the town. As far as being a period drama, the main thing the setting does to aid Higurashi is that it doesn't give the protagonist access to modern technology, which would make the secrets much easier for him to uncover.

Monster - 1980s and 90s

A two-photo split. On the left, Johan taps his forehead, goading someone offscreen to shoot him. On the right, a furious Nina brandishes a gun.

Monster follows three primary characters: Johan and Anna Liebert, two twins born of a terrifying eugenics experiment, and the protagonist Dr. Tenma who saved Johan's life.

Johan and Anna Liebert are a unique family in anime, and both siblings are incredible characters in their own right. While Tenma and Anna make great protagonists, it's the titular monster Johan that sells the show. Johan Liebert is arguably the greatest villain in the history of the genre itself, created in the aftermath of post-World War II Germany.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventures Part III - 1980s

Dio Brando laughing and pointing in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventures is one of the longest-running franchises in anime, and Part III is every bit the fun historical drama that Part II was.

Related: 10 Anime Characters Who Became Memes

Jojo's Part III isn't best known for its "Jojo," however. Despite how well-loved Jotaro was, it was the antagonist Dio who most stuck in the minds of fans. Dio is the most celebrated antagonist in the franchise, and one of the most recognizable anime villains. A blonde flamboyant time-controlling vampire is the perfect villain for a story set in a mystical version of the 1980s, and Dio delivers.

Kaiji - 1990s

A character smiling and looking excited in the anime Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji

Kaiji features a man down on his luck that finds himself participating in an illegal gambling match to finally find financial stability in his life.

The setting of the 1990s is pivotal for the piece since it takes place during one of Japan's biggest economic recessions of the century. Kaiji, the titular protagonist, is perhaps the most human of all the life/death game or gambling anime out there. He's no genius like Tomodachi Game's Yuuichi and he's not as skilled a gambler as Kakegurui's Yumeko. He's just a fairly skilled gambler doing his best to stay alive.

Next: 10 Times Anime Villains Beat The Hero