Golden Kamuy
Golden Kamuy is a rare find in anime, a show that manages to effortlessly weave together elements of disparate genres. Part historical period piece, part slice of life, and part action anime, Golden Kamuy takes place during the turbulent late Meiji Era in Japan. The show tells the story of Sugimoto, a renowned soldier known as “Immortal Sugimoto” as he steps into Hokkaido’s Gold Rush with the hopes of making his fortune. There he meets an Ainu girl named Ashiripa, and together they have to uncover a mystery leading to a hidden treasure.
Golden Kamuy sets its tone from the get-go, with both animation and sound supporting the harshness of winter that the show tries to portray. While it, of course, isn’t absolutely historically accurate, the show does provide a fascinating window into the culture of the Ainu, indigenous people of Japan and Russia. It can be fairly violent at times, considering much of its subject matter revolves around convicts and war-related themes, but there’s plenty of action that stems from that. Golden Kamuy is off to a great start based on its first few episodes, and you can catch it SimulCast on Mondays on either Crunchyroll or Funimation.
