Best Action Anime

This article is part of a directory: Best Anime of All Time || Game Rant’s Official Best Anime Ranking

Action shonen anime are extremely popular, with series like Naruto and My Hero Academia having huge fanbases. Even non-anime fans probably know about those two shows. As action-packed as they are, the episodes also come with plenty of character development and slow periods, which may not gel well with every anime fan out there. These moments may be important to add more depth to the personalities on the show or explain certain powerups and how they come into existence, but it comes at the cost of the viewer possibly losing attention and moving on to another show.

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As a result, some viewers may want to skip ahead to the action and don’t care as much about intricate plot lines. If that is the case, many shows offer more distilled experiences. It’s hard to get completely away from downtime, but the best action anime come pretty close, with their fight scenes being full to the brim with high stakes, fun powerups, amazing twists, and everything else along the same lines.

Updated March 9, 2025 by Mark Sammut: As Winter 2025 is approaching its end by this point, two of its best action anime have been added to the full list. They are both sequels too: Ishura and Solo Leveling.

Shows like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and One Piece have been left out since they can have long stretches of non-action between battles. That said, they all have many great action sequences, particularly the former two.

21 Ishura

The Endless Battles Of OP Characters

Most isekai anime incorporate action to an extent, but Ishura takes things to the next level by pretty much revolving entirely around fights. The anime's early episodes can be confusing and frustrating, as they are split into segments designed to introduce the central characters who will battle it out in an upcoming war. As such, the show kind of starts with five first episodes that do not build up much momentum, but this creative decision pays off when these warriors engage in life-or-death battles during the second half of the series. The lack of conventional protagonists means that anybody could realistically die, resulting in pretty intense encounters.

Action is a big part of the set-up episodes, so viewers do not have to wait long to see awesome fights.

While not devoid of clever world-building or political intrigue, Ishura's selling point is its vast incorporation of OP fantasy and isekai archetypes, all of whom have something to prove. The fight sequences are consistently fantastic, delivering fast-paced and tactical action that makes good use of CG animation. What other anime shows a self-operated mecha fighting a Grim Reaper swordsman while a talkative tornado threatens to destroy everyone?

20 Baki Hanma

A Relentless Onslaught Of Muscles And Blood

A martial arts anime with some brutal fights, Netflix's Baki and Baki Hanma are both brilliant action shows that focus on the battles of the titular character in an underground fighting arena full of savage combat that tests the fighter's limits, and then some.

This ends up being perfect for Baki, who decides to hone his skills in this ruthless place to get revenge on his father. The show has some great animation, with the battles being a treat in every way. It helps that there are more than enough fights to carry the anime with ease!

19 Kengan Ashura

A High-Stakes Tournament Pitting Different Types Of Martial Artists Against Each Other

Kengan Ashura is a series that may seem a lot like Baki, and there definitely are some similarities to be pointed out here. However, Kengan Ashura still has some differences that make it worth checking out for fans of mature anime with more reasonable fighting techniques.

Tokita Ohma is the protagonist of the series, fighting on behalf of a businessman in an underground gladiator arena. The premise may sound rather cliched, but Kengan Ashura's bombastic action and brilliant pacing help it stand out as a quality shonen series. While most action anime have the occasional downtime, Kengan Ashura is largely an exception that focuses exclusively on fights, albeit presented in a way that makes them feel important.

18 Tokyo Ghoul

Mediocre Sequels Aside, The First Season Is Pretty Fantastic

Tokyo Ghoul is one of the biggest what-ifs in anime history, which is a shame given the immense quality of its first season. Barring an original ending, the show was pretty faithful to the manga and did a great job of adapting the gory action that fans of the series are intimately familiar with.

However, later seasons were a royal disappointment that rushed throughout the manga's chapters, focusing mostly on the action and even switching up the narrative, which is a cardinal sin for any anime. That being said, there's no denying that the animation was still brilliant during these battles, with Kaneki's evolved powers looking mesmerizing at times.

17 Btooom!

Battle (Royale) For Survival

Btooom! is like a Battle Royale clone in that the main characters are all sent to a mysterious island. They wake up with bombs and are urged to kill each other in order to survive and get supplies. It’s a dark anime that, unfortunately, was only one season long.

Sadly, Btooom! ended with a lot of questions still up in the air. Although its lack of a continuation is a little disappointing, the anime's action is still great. Plus, the manga is much longer for those who do actually want to get some answers.

16 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

Not Every Part Is Action-Focused, But They All Have Great Action

Best believe that an anime based on a fighting game has countless action sequences and is far from the standard issue combat; this is JoJo's Bizarre Universe, after all! With five seasons to choose from, each unique arc focuses on a different aspect of the Joestar Clan as they master their Stand abilities and artfully eliminate the enemy while attempting to lift the family's curse.

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The most recent addition to this franchise is Stone Ocean, which follows Jotaro's daughter, Jolyne Cujoh, as she navigates through the prison system while a mysterious mastermind tries his hand at playing God. The fact that the girls take the lead this time around does little to dampen the bloodshed and instead offers back-to-back battles as Joylne and her crew fight for their lives.

15 Chainsaw Man

A Few Quiet Moments Aside, Most Of Season 1 Is Gory Action

Denji took the world by storm after he merged his dying form with an adorably demonic dog and received bonus chainsaw accessories and a new purpose in life as a result. There are no holds barred depicting how much damage Denji's hardware can inflict, and amazingly, he's not even the strongest guy around!

The ladies are a force of nature in their own right and dominate on the battlefield with their hardcore assaults (and refusing to allow the ecchi factor to deprive of the fight scenes' quality). Funny, ferocious, and surprisingly sentimental, Chainsaw Man ticks all the boxes for most anime fans out there.

14 Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War

The Ultimate Redemption Shonen Story

While the older seasons of Bleach often get bogged down with torturous filler episodes, the Thousand Year Blood War has caught up with the times and subsequently jammed exciting action scenes into each episode (so far.) Chaos reigns upon Ichigo and his friends from the very beginning, and they barely get a moment to catch their breath as humans, Soul Reapers, and Hollows team up against an all-new foe (or rather, a really old one!)

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Set not long after the Arrancar Arc (approximately 1.5 years), both Sereitei and Hueco Mundo are in desperate need of the Substitute Soul Reaper's assistance, and the team is spread thin as the believed-to-be-dead Quincy attack on all fronts. The Shinigami find themselves helpless for the first time, and the Espada are desperately missing their Queen; meanwhile, the fate of the Universe lies in the balance.

13 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Stylish In Every Way

If Cyberpunk: Edgerunner's artwork doesn't captivate viewers, then the jaw-dropping battle mechanics will; this RPG-inspired show blows the term 'cyborg' right out of the water! While genetic enhancements are the norm in the dystopian Night City, some extremists take things to the next level, turning themselves into deadly machines (while putting their own lives on the line in the process.)

Battling the internal demons of Cyberpsychosis while struggling to survive against the nefarious forces of Arasaka and Millitech is guaranteed to keep anyone on their toes. The veterans may have some experience in the matter, but does a novice like young David have what it takes to live another day?

12 My Hero Academia

Some Weak Arcs Aside, MHA's Action Is Aggressive And Intense

Training to become a Hero without possessing natural-born superpowers is a tall task indeed, but Izuku Midoriya's determination can overcome any obstacle. The Villains, however, are discontent with the distribution of power in society and wish to dethrone the false Heroes, while the UA students somehow end up entangled in their schemes at every turn.

There are a few brief moments of inactivity sprinkled through My Hero Academia's timeline where things are toned down; however, the show is predominantly a classic battle shonen, and action is always around the corner. The first cour of Season 6, in particular, dishes out a consistent supply of combat and intrigue. Awesome worldbuilding combined with captivating Quirks and a debatable moral code (for Heroes and Villains) provides enough suspense to keep viewers glued to the edge of their seats.

11 Kaiju No. 8

Kaiju Goodness With Lovable Characters

While great from the start, Kaiju No. 8 does not initially seem like a non-stop action fest. The first few episodes have bursts of mayhem, but they are short and explosive rather than extensive; however, once the protagonist joins the Defense Force, the anime's pacing picks up considerable steam. Since then, nearly every episode has revolved around the heroes taking on invading kaiju threats, and they usually have to deal with armies rather than one colossal target.

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Production I.G has generally handled the action sequences well, highlighting the kaiju's scale while also emphasizing the human forces' unique skills, teamwork, and tactical intelligence. While perhaps not as visually exciting as Demon Slayer or My Hero Academia at their peak, Kaiju No. 8 has arguably been better than either of those shows' current seasons (which have been good, just to be clear).

10 Attack On Titan

Epic, Vicious, And Unsettling Action

Attack on Titan should need no introduction. It’s about the last remnants of humanity holding out in various walled cities, safe from the terror of giant human-like monsters known as Titans. That is until the peace is disturbed when the Colossal and Armored Titan make a resounding appearance that completely changes Eren's life for good.

There is some political intrigue and quieter moments, especially in seasons 2 and 4, in between the heart-pounding action, but more often than not, every episode is a thrill ride. No one is safe — even characters that seem like a big deal. It's the intense nature of the action coupled with the hopeless nature of the world that makes Attack on Titan such a brilliant show.

9 Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress

Simple Premise, Executed Fairly Well

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress was actually directed by the same man behind a majority of Attack on Titan, Tetsuro Araki. It has a similar concept in that humanity is on the brink of extinction. The big differences are that zombies (called Kabane) are killing people, and the setting is in a steampunk version of samurai-era Japan.

The anime is very short, but there is a sequel movie as well that is worth checking out. The anime delivers near-constant action that is well-animated. As soon as viewers are able to get past the AoT similarities and take a moment to appreciate the gruesome, twisted content before them, jam-packed with intricately detailed and beautifully choreographed confrontations, they will understand what makes Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress so epic!

8 Kill La Kill

Way More Than Just Fanservice, And Represents Trigger At Its Best

Kill la Kill was the premiere anime for Studio Trigger, and they hit it out of the park. The plot follows Ryuko, a girl who is looking for her father’s killer. The city she travels to operates on a class system which she is also trying to bring down with her iconic scissor blade.

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Ryuko also has a talking outfit that boosts her strength; unfortunately, the enemy students also have their own useful clothes in the form of the Goku Uniforms. The animation is without rivals, which makes the action an absolute treat to watch.

7 Hellsing & Hellsing Ultimate

Over-The-Top Nonsense. It Is Great

Hellsing has two anime adaptations from the manga. The first veered off course heavily but is still worth a watch just for the music alone. The reboot, Hellsing Ultimate, follows the manga closer and is considered the better of the two iterations. Both anime have a ton of action in them and are relatively short.

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On the downside, the character development leaves a lot to be desired in this bloody vampire festival of gore and sarcasm. Hellsing Ultimate is perfect for the hungry action fans out there who want over-the-top characters, vicious action, and great animation.

6 One-Punch Man

Season 1 Is Particularly Fantastic In Terms Of Action

One Punch Man

Release Date: October 5, 2015
Studio: Madhouse, J.C.Staff
Based On: Manga
Creator: One
Streaming Service(s): Hulu, Netflix

One-Punch Man is like a parody of superhero shows. The main character, Saitama, trained "super hard," and now he can defeat any enemy with a single punch. His appearance looks silly, so people don’t take him seriously, a mistake many villains come to regret.

The comedy comes into play best when villains monologue about how strong they are, only to be defeated with barely a tap from Saitama. It’s a great takedown of the genre but also has some exciting fights with other characters.

5 Demon Slayer

Top-Notch Animation Brings To Life Spectacular Fight Sequences

Demon Slayer is a series that admittedly starts off rather slow, with Tanjiro barely knowing how to swing a blade when his family is completely and utterly killed off by Muzan, with Nezuko turning into a demon in the process. It takes him a while to learn the basics, but Tanjiro quickly gets thrown into the action after learning the basics of Water Breathing and becoming a powerful swordsman in combat.

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What follows is a series of battles against powerful demons, with minor moments of respite in between. There are many reasons why Demon Slayer has become such a popular show, and the amazing animation during its many awe-inspiring battle scenes is one of the main reasons why.

4 Jujutsu Kaisen

A New Standard For Action Anime

Another anime that has become all the rage in modern times is Jujutsu Kaisen, with the story of Yuji Itadori and his twisted relationship with Ryomen Sukuna being quite fascinating to watch. The use of cursed energy in this series to fuel attacks and develop unique powers makes for a great time, with the show becoming a massive hit around the globe for its unique use of these powerups.

Jujutsu Kaisen's unique blend of humor, action, and horror makes its scenes pop out quite a bit, and the series doesn't shy away from relentlessly showing several action set pieces that are a blast to witness in every way. It helps that the characters are all pretty unique and engaging in their own way, making it easy to see why fans are finding the wait for the next season to be positively agonizing.

3 The God Of High School

Messy Storytelling, Constantly Entertaining Fights

The God of High School is a tournament show that has everyone signing up to win big. There’s more to the anime than just nonsensical brawling, but most episodes have a lot of combat in them. It looks great too.

This show is based on a South Korean manhwa by Yongje Park, which released its third volume early this year. While not Japanese in origin, The God of High School still looks the part and is epic all the same for those really craving some well-choreographed fist-to-fist action.

2 Fate/Zero

The Ultimate War

Most Fate shows are worth recommending for their action, even the ones not created by ufotable. However, Fate/Zero is the most complete package, all the while being a decent entry point into this universe. The concept is convoluted but also weirdly simple: heroes from history duke it out in a battle royale to determine which of their masters will get a wish granted. All the characters have their motives well explained, and the story does not lack depth or nuance; that said, the fights are the selling point.

While ufotable exceeded its past self's animation with the Fate/stay night series, Fate/Zero has arguably less downtime than its successor, all the while boasting an even darker tone that is reflected in the visually spectacular and bloody battles. The fights are awesome on a basic level, and they are heightened by the characters' ideologies.

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"Shows like Dragon Ball Z , Naruto , and One Piece have been left out since they can have long stretches of non-action between battles."
That's a nonsensical reasoning. All 3 are battle shonen, going your logic Bleach shouldn't be included either. Not to mention the fact that One Piece nowadays has some of the best produced action in all of shonen.

2024-11-06 23:09:01