Demon Slayer Meets Dragon Ball in Netflix's Most Underrated Anime Gem, Yaiba

4 days ago 14

Published May 29, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

Zach joined the ScreenRant Anime team as a contributor in June 2024, before taking on a Senior Writer role in November. Since then, he has covered breaking news and produced features and lists about the most popular anime titles.

2025 was an eventful year in anime. New and returning shows made major waves throughout the global anime community, establishing new top titles in the industry while two theatrical movies went on historic box office runs, with Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle becoming the highest grossing international film in U.S. box office history. Fans had plenty to sink their teeth into last year, and the countless streaming services now offering anime made finding new shows a breeze.

Wit Studio's Yaiba came and went last year without making much noise, and it deserves far better than the underwhelming reception it got from Western audiences.

Netflix's Yaiba: Samurai Legend Is the Cross Between Dragon Ball and Demon Slayer that Most Fans Missed

Though Yaiba: Samurai Legend aired just last year, the manga on which the series is based debuted nearly four decades ago, and was adapted into a 52-episode anime in 1993. However, it wasn't much of a hit with Western audiences the first time, either, being overshadowed entirely by creator Gosho Aoyama's next work Detective Conan, or Case Closed in certain regions of the world. In Japan, on the other hand, Yaiba was a hit, the series having competed with the likes of Dragon Ball and Slam Dunk in its heyday.

In Yaiba, the tried and true shōnen tropes of the time, especially those spread by Dragon Ball's overwhelming success, can be found. The series follows Yaiba Kurogane, a boy who grew up in the forest and learned little else than how to be a samurai and wield a sword, something that might perk the ears of Demon Slayer fans. One day, the boy is brought to a city and finds out he's a legendary warrior, proceeding to go on an adventure during which he meets countless friends and foes, each inspiring him to become a better samurai. The premise alone should instantly remind Dragon Ball fans of Goku's upbringing and early years.

30 Must-Watch Anime Series For Adult Fans

Sometimes, adult anime fans can exhausted with high school romances and teenage leads. Thankfully, there are plenty of shows for older fans.

Yaiba: Samurai Legend is everything fans should want from classic shōnen anime, putting a strong focus on a central, naturally good protagonist who is lifted by those he comes in contact with, and uses his shared power in an effort to combat an evil foe. There's also a healthy dose of comedy for those who prefer their shows a little lighthearted. Unfortunately, the 2025 anime went somewhat ignored, but there is no better time than now for anime fans, especially those partial to titles like Dragon Ball and Demon Slayer, to dive into the series.

Yaiba: Samurai Legend Was Masterfully Revived 30 Years After Its Original Anime Premiere

Wit Studio Gave Yaiba a Modern Face Lift in Its 2025 Adaptation

Yaiba: Samurai Legend is another in a growing line of anime revivals, with other classics like Ranma 1/2 and Fruits Basket receiving similar treatment in recent years. And for fans of anime from past decades, such a trend is likely a dream come true. Wit Studio, the production company responsible for countless popular shows, breathed new life into Yaiba when Western crowds had all but forgotten it. The show boasts a clean, yet retro aesthetic, and smooth action sequences that can compete with any of today's top titles.

2025 was one of anime's most exciting years in recent memory, and fans will want to go back and explore any shows they might have missed, like Yaiba: Samurai Legend, now available to stream on Netflix.