Who doesn’t enjoy a good fight scene in an anime? Here’s our list of the best ones out there!
For a long time, action series have served as an entry point into anime, capturing the attention of new fans with thrilling confrontations and large-scale battles. Long-running fan favourites like One Piece, Naruto, and Hunter x Hunter, as well as newer anime like Attack on Titan, Black Clover, Demon Slayer, and the highly anticipated Chainsaw Man anime adaptation, are undeniable proof of the genre’s popularity. So, here are some of the best action anime with epic battles that I think you’ll enjoy watching.
15. Mob Psycho 100
Kageyama Shigeo (better known as Mob), a psychically gifted high school student, struggles to balance school and his exorcist job. His emotions become increasingly volatile as opposing groups of spirits, psychics, and con-artists attempt to deceive him.
However, his psychic energy is only the tip of the iceberg; if his vast potential and unrestrained emotions go berserk, a cataclysmic event will occur, rendering him completely unrecognisable. Attempting to halt the progression of the Mob’s explosion is futile.
The fight scenes in this film are well-executed; there are some great fights as well as some that will make you laugh. Overall, it’s an excellent action anime. Some of you may dislike the art style, but believe me when I say it will grow on you, so watch it anyway.
14. Dororo
A mysterious warrior with prosthetic limbs and a young orphan thief fight demons that threaten humanity across Japan.
The animation is smooth, and there are some great sword-fighting scenes as well as some philosophical discussions about whether to live a violent or peaceful life. The world is immersive and deep, and despite the fact that the main character is mute, you can empathise with him and everything he’s going through. The demons themselves are very creative and make for great fights, and there’s a constant sense of mystery in the air that keeps each episode fresh, as well as the pacing.
I highly recommend this if you’re looking for some good old samurai anime with awesome fights and demons and such.
13. Kill la Kill
Satsuki Kiryuin, president of the student council, and her four deputies, dubbed the Elite Four, rule Honnouji Academy. Because of their special Goku Uniforms, which grant them superhuman abilities, they have complete control of the school. When transfer student Ryuko Matoi arrives in Hannouji in search of her father’s assassin, she challenges the Elite Four to a battle that quickly consumes the school. When Satsuki recognises Ryuko’s scissor-shaped sword, she wonders if their meeting was by chance or fate.
Kill la Kill is Studio Trigger’s first television production series, following the success of FLCL, Gurren Lagann, and Panty and Stocking. All of anime’s tired tropes and clichés are amplified to eleven before being delightfully inverted to create something exciting and new. While Ryuuko’s revenge story is somewhat predictable, how the plot points are executed sets it apart from its contemporaries. The fight scenes, of course, are fantastic.
12. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures
JoJo has a rocky beginning before blossoming into something truly one-of-a-kind, constantly balancing absurdity and seriousness.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a fan favourite, a classic among classics, a series that has been running since the 1980s and continues to reinvent itself with remarkable creativity. It’s nearly impossible to sum up the events surrounding the Joestars, which now span decades, families, and even timelines. In this animated adaptation, they’ve already been on many… strange adventures, from vampire slaying to protecting a small town. Each season has its own appeal, but no matter how the settings, abilities, and tones change, two things remain constant: Hirohiko Araki’s iconic poses and the fact that fights in JoJo quickly become a strategy game in which everyone tries to be 10 steps ahead of whoever they’re up against.
This is a popular anime; the art style takes some getting used to, and you may become a little gayer after watching it, but it’s a great action anime with good fights and plot.
11. Gurren Lagann
Gurren Lagann is set in a world where humans are forced to live in underground colonies; society is unaware that the surface is the domain of the terrifying Spiral King and his crew of monsters piloted by robots. It’s a flawlessly executed blend of comedy and high-intensity action that hooks you from the first episode.
If you enjoy action-packed mecha anime, Gurren Lagann is a fan favourite that you should watch.
10. The Fate Series
If you want to watch a Holy Grail War—a fight to the death between mages and their summoned legendary heroes—with some actual adults in the room, Fate/Zero is the place to be. With no shortage of bloodshed or depictions of dark people manipulating others for personal gain, Fate/Zero falls squarely into the “not for children” category. It’s tense and unforgiving, with strange bug magic that makes your skin crawl.
9. Hunter x Hunter
The plot revolves around Gon Freecs, a young boy who aspires to be an incredible hunter and to find his father, who abandoned him when he was a child.
Hunters live dangerous lives, exploring uncharted territory and tracking down rare items and monsters. To become a Hunter, one must first pass the Hunter Examination, a high-risk selection process in which the vast majority of applicants are disabled or, in the worst-case scenario, die.
Hunter x Hunter’s true potential takes time to emerge, but once it does, it has the potential to become one of your favorites.
8. My Hero Academia
The emergence of “quirks,” or newly discovered superpowers, has steadily increased over the years, with 80 percent of humanity exhibiting abilities ranging from element manipulation to shapeshifting. This renders the rest of the world, including Izuku Midoriya, powerless.
Since he was a child, the aspiring middle schooler has wished to be a hero. Izuku admires heroes and takes notes on them whenever he can because of his unfortunate fate. But his persistence appears to have paid off: Izuku meets All Might, the number one hero and his personal idol. Might’s eccentricity is an inherited talent, and he has chosen Izuku as his heir!
Izuku enrolls in UA High, a prestigious high school known for its excellent hero training program, after months of arduous training, and this year’s freshmen look especially promising. Thanks to his strange but talented classmates and the looming threat of a villainous organization, Izuku will quickly discover what it truly means to be a hero.
7. Attack on Titan
When man-eating Titans first appeared 100 years ago, humans sought refuge behind massive walls that halted the giants. Their long-held safety, however, is jeopardised when a colossal Titan smashes through the barriers, causing a flood of the giants into what was previously the humans’ safe zone. During the chaos, soldier Eren Jaeger witnesses one of the Titans devour his mother, prompting him to vow to kill every Titan. He enlists the assistance of a few survivors, and this group represents humanity’s last hope of escaping the monsters.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last decade, you’ve heard of Attack on Titan. You’ve probably seen it, as have your friends, and your grandmother has most likely seen it as well.
6. One Piece
The most popular manga in Shonen Jump is One Piece, and its anime adaptation is well-known around the world. One Piece follows the Straw Hat Pirates on their quest to find the One Piece treasure in Laughtale.
One Piece revolves around the battles that the characters must fight in order to be worthy of finding the treasure that has eluded all but one man for the past 800 years. One Piece fights are frequently filled with crazy moments, and they are frequently extremely popular around the world. Luffy’s fight with Katakuri is one example.
If you haven’t already seen it, I wouldn’t recommend starting now unless you don’t mind not watching anything else for the next few months because one series has over 1000 episodes!
5. One Punch Man
The title refers to the main character, who is so powerful that a single punch can defeat anyone. His story revolves around gaining recognition for his work as a superhero, as his actions are frequently ignored.
While the protagonist in this series may appear to have little competition, this is not the case. Many opponents rise to the occasion, and their distinct personalities pave the way for thrilling clashes between distinct characters.
Because there would be no story if Saitama was included in every crisis, One Punch Man focuses on the side characters rather than the main character. Overall, it’s a fun anime to watch, with smooth animation and exciting fight scenes.
4. Jujutsu Kaisen
Yuuji Itadori, a high school student who spends his days indulging in baseless paranormal activities with the Occult Club, spends his days either in the clubroom or in the hospital, where he visits his bedridden grandfather. However, when he comes into contact with a cursed item unknowingly, his leisurely lifestyle takes an unusual turn. Yuuji finds himself thrust into the world of Curses after swallowing the aforementioned item, which turns out to be a finger belonging to the demon Sukuna Ryoumen, the “King of Curses.”
Yuuji witnesses firsthand the threat that these Curses pose to society as he discovers his own newfound abilities. When he is introduced to the Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School, he starts down a path he will never be able to return to—the path of a Jujutsu sorcerer.
Jujutsu Kaisen is a popular new-gen anime that I highly recommend watching if you’re new to anime.
3. Black Clover
A boy named Asta lives without magic in a world where magic is everything. Despite his inability to use magic, he aspires to be the kingdom’s greatest mage. Asta is blessed with the extremely rare five-leaf clover grimoire, which grants him anti-magic power. He intends to become the Wizard King despite his inability to use magic.
Black Clover is widely regarded as one of the most popular shonen anime or manga of all time, but it is also fraught with controversy. However, it is still one of my favourite animes, and I strongly recommend that you watch it. It has endearing characters, a good pace, and amazing fight scenes!
2. Demon Slayer
Tanjiro sets out on a journey to heal his sister Nezuku and avenge those he has lost after his family is murdered by a demon and the only survivor, his sister Nezuku, is transformed into one.
Demon Slayer is a popular action anime series that has aired in recent years. It has exciting fights, and each character has their own fighting style. These battles are beautifully animated, and the added sound effects and music take them to a whole new level.
1. Naruto
Naruto Uzumaki’s life goal is to become the greatest Hokage. He struggles to find his place in the village, while his burning ambition to become Hokage of Konohagakure leads him not only to some wonderful new friends but also to some lethal enemies.
Naruto is one of Shonen Jump’s Big 3 and one of the most popular anime series of all time. It is so popular that fans of the series compare any new action anime to it.
Thank you for reading, and please leave a comment with some of your favorite action anime.