Summary
Nothing does action better thananime. Japanese animation is famous for itsuniquely powerful heroes, world-ending stakes, and exhilarating fight scenes, some of which span multiple episodes. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, a visit to Crunchyroll or Hulu will easily do the trick.
However, the best action anime involve more than just fight scenes. Three-dimensional characters, well-written story arcs, and eye-catching animation are crucial for an action-packed series. Bonus points for superb voice acting in both the sub and dub. If you’re itching for enthralling stories with popcorn-worthy fights, the following anime are the very best in the action genre.
10Psycho-Pass
A Futuristic Crime Thriller
Set in a dystopian future, Psycho-Pass asks: should people be arrested for thinking about committing a crime? Rookie inspector Akane Tsunemori supervises a team of Enforcers, convicted criminals turned bounty hunters who can analyze people’s minds to predict the likelihood that they’ll break the law.
Psycho-Pass seamlessly mixes crime thriller action scenes with sci-fi elements while exploring Akane’s struggles with the morality of the justice system. As one of the darkest shonen series, it’san excellent anime for adults.
9Demon Slayer
A Dark Fantasy With Martial Arts Elements
Tanjiro Kamado never believed in demons until he found his family slaughtered and his sister, Nezuko, turned into a bloodthirsty monster. After joining theDemon Slayers, Tanjiro must hunt down the beasts that killed his loved ones, find a cure for his sister, and prevent her from attacking others.
Thanks to the show’s mix of martial arts and supernatural powers, the fight scenes remain fresh and exciting throughout its many seasons. Tanjiro’s heart-wrenching relationship with Nezuko ties everything together, adding plenty of emotion to an action-packed series.
8Jujutsu Kaisen
A Thrilling Supernatural Drama
For a supernatural anime, it doesn’t get better than Jujutsu Kaisen. To save his friends from an evil spirit, Yuji Itadori allows himself to be possessed by the ghost of a wicked sorcerer, creating a sort of Jekyll and Hyde scenario.
Yuji joins asecret group called the Jujutsu Sorcerersto battle spirits and eventually find a way to break free of the curse. With plenty of fast-paced supernatural duels, memorable characters, and a twist-heavy plot, Jujutsu Kaisen is a blast to binge-watch.
7Assassination Classroom
A High School Comedy About Fighting An Evil Teacher
Among the funniest Shonen Jump series, Assassination Classroom follows the students of Class 3E, whose teacher, Koro Sensei, is an all-powerful octopus who plans to destroy the world at the end of the year. Commissioned by the Japanese government, Nagisa and his classmates scramble to find a way to kill their nearly indestructible professor.
Despite being a supervillain, Koro Sensei is the only teacher who genuinely cares about the students, leading to a suspenseful yet heartwarming dynamic. With a blend of high school shenanigans and spy-based action scenes, Assassination Classroom is hilarious and exhilarating in both the sub and dub.
6Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
A Remake Of A Legendary Fantasy Anime
In Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, genius siblings Edward and Alphonse Elric lose most of their body parts in a failed attempt to revive their mother through alchemy. Forced to do the government’s bidding, they use their scientific powers to hunt down enemies while secretly searching for the Philosopher’s Stone - the only thing that can regenerate their bodies.
As a reboot of the originalFullmetal Alchemistseries, Brotherhood is faster-paced and more faithful to the manga. The dynamic between the Elric brothers is funny, wholesome, and epic, making forone of the best anime duos.
The original Fullmetal Alchemist series has merits, such as stellar writing and phenomenal voice acting. However, we recommend you watch Brotherhood first due to its better pacing and lack of filler episodes.
5Bungo Stray Dogs
A Mystery Thriller With Dark Humor
Bungo Stray Dogs follows the Armed Detective Agency, which uses supernatural powers to solve cases too difficult for the police. After getting expelled from an orphanage, Nakajima Atsushi joins the team, using his power to transform into a tiger to take down enemies, including the mafia and corrupt government officials.
The detectives' colorful, clashing personalities provide no shortage of comedic moments, sometimes with a hint of macabre humor. That, combined with the gripping mysteries and unique powers, creates a nice balance of silliness and suspenseful battles.
4Mob Psycho 100
A Silly Supernatural Comedy
From the same mangaka who created One-Punch Man, Mob Psycho 100 follows a psychic middle schooler named Shigeo Kageyama. Studying under a fake spirit medium, Arataka Reigen, he travels across Japan to exorcise ghosts while trying to manage his near-uncontrollable powers.
Everything from the animation to the fight scenes is delightfully hilarious. Even better - the humor is supported by engaging characters and action-packed story arcs. Since there are only 37 episodes, Mob Psycho 100 is a great show to binge-watch in under a week.
3My Hero Academia
An Iconic Superhero High School Series
My Hero Academiais set in a world where almost everyone is born with a superpower - except high schooler Izuku “Deku” Midoriya. After meeting his hero, All Might, he obtainsa power called One For Alland attends U.A. High School to become the greatest superhero of all time.
As arguably the most popular Shonen Jump series, My Hero Academia is chock-full of epic superhero battles. Thankfully, the show uses the fights to advance the plot and character arcs, leading to many emotional action scenes that tug at the heartstrings.
2Code Geass
An Action-Packed Mecha Anime
If you like mecha anime, Code Geass is right up your alley. When the oppressive Britannian Empire takes over Japan, an exiled prince named Lelouch Lamperouge must use his mind control powers to raise an army of mechs and overthrow the authoritarian government.
The thrilling battle of wits is enhanced by riveting mech battles and the philosophical exploration of Lelouch’s morally dubious strategies. As a more old-school anime with a fast-paced storyline, Code Geass is exhilarating no matter how many times you rewatch it.
1Attack On Titan
A Post-Apocalyptic Dark Fantasy
Often consideredone of the best anime ever,Attack On Titanis set in a post-apocalyptic world ruled by human-eating giants. After watching their hometown get demolished, Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman join the Survey Corps to annihilate the Titans and unravel their mysterious origins.
Known for its Kaiju-style fight scenes, emotional character arcs, and enthralling mystery, Attack On Titan is widely praised as a marvel in Japanese animation. With 94 episodes spread across four seasons, it’s an easy recommendation for a completed anime series to sink hundreds of hours into.
While the English dub has much to love, we recommend watching the sub for the best experience.
