Golden Kamuy

Veteran soldier Saichi Sugimoto, scarred by the Russo-Japanese War, teams up with Asirpa, a sharp Ainu girl, to track down a buried stash of Hokkaido gold that was taken from her people. Their hunt crosses ruthless hunters, former comrades, and desperate criminals, turning the wilderness into a battleground of alliances and betrayals. As they follow cryptic tattoos and scattered clues, survival skills, local knowledge, and trust matter as much as firepower. The series mixes violent encounters and dark humor while keeping the treasure hunt at its center, letting the characters reveal their motives as the stakes grow without spoiling how it all ends.

Premiered in 2018, the anime adapts Satoru Noda's manga and features voices like Chikahiro Kobayashi as Sugimoto and Haruka Shiraishi as Asirpa. The show blends historical settings with animated action and comedic beats across its seasons.

Though enthusiastically received by fans and critics, the series hasn't been a dominant presence at major mainstream awards ceremonies. It has, however, earned praise within anime communities and genre lists for its unique tone and storytelling.

Golden Kamuy has stood out for bringing attention to Ainu culture and the harsh northern landscape, using food, hunting techniques, and traditional knowledge as recurring elements. Several scenes and visual motifs, including the tattoo puzzle and rugged survival sequences, have become frequent reference points among viewers and online discussions.

Critics have rated the show positively, reflected in an average score around 7.6 out of 10 from viewers. Themes include loyalty, the aftershocks of war, greed for wealth, and cultural survival, all threaded with unexpected humor. The pacing shifts between stealthy tracking, brutal fights, and lighter, character-driven moments, so it appeals to viewers who like action with historical flavor and a cast that grows more complex over time.