Animeis filled with different genres and stories, but it is arguably best known for stories about action and fighting. There are some anime that really get the viewers' blood pumping. These are the series where the viewer can’t miss a single frame of the action, guessing until the very end if the main character is going to end up on top. If an anime is intense enough, viewers can get so invested they can almost imagine they were the ones fighting themselves. Naturally, a few of these series paved the way for other similar action stories.
Some anime are known for having tournament arcs, which set aside time to put most, if not all, of the focus on the fighting. In fact, some anime series practically revolve around a tournament. Action stories have become so ubiquitous with anime that it’s also common for series to poke fun at over-the-top action scenes. That said, even action anime with a sense of humor can still take all the fights seriously.
16Hajime no Ippo (2000)
Fighting Spirit
Hajime no Ippo, also known asFighting Spirit, revolves around Ippo Makunouchi, a shy boy with no friends who is regularly targeted by bullies. One day, he is rescued by a pro-boxer, Mamoru Takamura. This inspires Ippo to join the Kamogawa Boxing Gym and win to become Japan’s featherweight title, with the boisterous Takamura taking him under his wing. Luckily for Ippo, years of working for this mother’s fishing business might have already given him a head start at developing his physical strength.
A Long-Running Boxing Series
The originalHajime no Ippomanga is noted for being a long-runner, having started in 1989, giving it over 1,000 chapters. A 76-episode anime adaptation of the series came out in 2002, with follow-up series coming out in 2009 and 2013. The series is also known for leaving its mark on pop culture.
Notably, Michael B. Jordan hasbeen noted for taking inspirationfrom the series, which can particularly be seen in theCreedfilms.Stream on Crunchyroll.
15Kengan Ashura (2019)
Kengan Ashura
Kazuo Has the Best Seat for All the Action
Naturally, different fighting styles have appeared in the series. In particular, the series is credited with bringing attention to Bartitsu, a form of martial arts developed in England, that had been featured in the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In Kengan Ashura, the character of Mokichi Robinson is a practitioner of the fighting style. Many fans were surprised to learn this was indeed a real form of martial arts.
Kazuo Yamashita might be put-upon throughout the story, but he can surprisingly serve as an escapist character for fans of fighting series. After all, in his new role, Kazuo has a front-row seat for all the action.Stream on Netflix.
14Yu Yu Hakusho (1992)
Yu Yu Hakusho
YuYu Hakushostarts off, to the narrator’s surprise, with the main character, Yusuke Urameshi, dying in a traffic accident. In the afterlife, however, he learns that he wasn’t meant to die so soon and is given a second chance to return to life. Back on his feet, he appears to retain great spiritual power and is tasked with becoming a “Spirit Detective” and fighting the forces of the paranormal.
Yusuke Keeps Coming Back Stronger
Yusuke soon forms his own paranormal team of allies: a former rival, Kuwabara, who has psychic power, a spirit fox turned human, Kurama, and the once-villainous fire yokai, Hiei. Together, they will find themselves in various supernatural quests. The fighting even intensifies in the series' famous tournament arc. As the series goes on, Yusuke will even learn, thanks to atavism and a supernatural ancestor, there may be more to him than meets the eye.Stream on Netflix.
13Bleach (2006)
Bleachrevolves around Ichigo Kurosaki who has the power to see ghosts. One day, he meets Rukia Kuchiki, a “Soul Reaper” who is tasked with fighting evil spirits called “Hollows” and helping good spirits enter the afterlife, also known as the “Soul Society.” When Rukia is hurt fighting a Hollow, she gives Ichigo a part of her power to fight in her place. However, he ends up taking all of her power, causing him to take her place as a Soul Reaper.
Battle Is Not a Stage…
The supernatural elements soon set the stage for a fighting series. The Soul Reapers have powerful, supernatural weapons known as “Zanpakutō” as their disposal.
The series is filled with intense scenes, from Ichigo having to save Rukia from execution to Ichigo’s fight with Aizen, a Soul Society Captain who proves to be more villainous as the series goes on. Notably, the series also shared a director withYuYu Hakusho, Noriyuki Abe, and also had similar supernatural themes.Stream on Hulu.
12One-Punch Man (2015)
One-Punch Man
In the world ofOne-Punch Man, Saitama went from an unemployed salaryman to becoming a superhero so powerful he can take down an opponent with just a punch. In fact, Saitama’s so powerful he’s actually grown bored with the fact that he can’t easily find something to challenge him. Despite his strength, however, he doesn’t get much recognition, between a Hero Association exam labeling him a lowly “C-Class” hero and other heroes getting credit for his deeds.
All it Takes Is Just One Punch
The monsters in this series often prove to be such a powerful threat that it can be satisfying seeing Saitama take them down with a single punch. Despite his lackluster reputation to the world at large, when it comes to the other heroes, most know Saitama is a force to be reckoned with. If they don’t pick up on this immediately, they’ll learn it soon enough.Stream on Hulu.
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11My Hero Academia (2016)
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academiatakes place in a world where people are born with powerful abilities called “Quirks,” effectively creating a world of superheroes and supervillains. Izuku Midoriya is a young boy who dreams of becoming a hero despite being born without a Quirk.
However, All Might himself chooses Midoriya to be the successor of his Quirk, known as “One For All.” Now, Midoriya must train at U.A. High School, a school dedicated to heroics, to become the hero he’s always dream of being.
Dreams Can Become Reality
In a world where powers are the rule and not the exception, there is going to be action. While the series is famous for its art, this has proven especially true for its action scenes. Some of the famous fight scenes include All Might going against the Quirk-stealing antagonist All For One and Midoriya fighting Todoroki, whose Quirk grants himpower over fire and ice.Stream on Hulu.
10Fate (2006)
Fate/Stay Night
Fateis an anime franchise, starting withFate/stay nightand its anime adaptation. This series revolves around Shirou Emiya who ends up entering the Fifth Holy Grail War, which can be used to grant someone’s greatest wish. Meanwhile, Shirou, who trains himself in the hopes of being a source of help for others, even at the expense of himself, finds himself summoning the powerful warrior Saber. Both share a sense of justice when it comes to fighting, but Shirou’s desire to help will clash with his role in the tournament, where he must fight for his life.
A Hero in a Kill-or-be-Killed World
The series would eventually inspire a larger franchise, with titles that often exist in their own continuity. These includeFate/hollow ataraxia, which is set a few months after the original series, andFate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, a spin-off magical girl series which has received multiple anime series.Stream on Crunchyroll.
9Demon Slayer (2021)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
InDemon Slayer, Tanjiro Kamado’s life changes when he learns his family has been slaughtered by demons. Only his sister Nezuko appears to be spared, but she has been transformed into a demon herself, though fortunately retaining most of her humanity. With this, Tanjiro must start a new life as a Demon Slayer, all the while trying to find a cure for his sister.
Eventually, they will team up withtwo other Demon Slayers, the cowardly Zenitsu Agatsuma and the brash Inosuke Hashibira.
It’s All in the Breathing Technique
In the series, the demon slayers usebreathing style techniques, a form of swordsmanship, in battle. Most of these techniques often evoke some aspect of nature, such as fire or wind. From the audience’s perspective, at least, these techniques almost appear to conjure these elements out of thin air, making it almost seem like magic.Stream on Netflix.
8Jujutsu Kaisen (2020)
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Yuji Itadori promised his late grandfather that he would fill his life with good deeds. One day, after trying to save a friend from a curse, Yuji find himself host to the curse of the finger of Ryoumen Sukuna, the King of Curses.
Yuji is now tasked with becoming a sorcerer on a mission to consume the other fingers and exorcise curses. He also finds a mentor in Satoru Gojo, who is known as the strongest jujutsu sorcerer alive.
Satoru’s Power Is Literally Limitless
Cursed energy can be used to perform “Cursed Techniques.” For example, Satoru can use the Cursed Technique of “Limitless,” an inherited Technique that allows the user to manipulate the concept of “Infinity” in reality. This can include things like attracting and repelling matter or creating powerful annihilating blasts.
In addition to this, Satoru was also born with the “Six Eyes” gift, granting powerful, supernatural vision and perception.Stream on Hulu.
7Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagannstarts off in an underground village, where an orphan named Simon an his devoted friend Kamina live. Kamina dreams of escaping to the “Surface,” like his father did, despite others doubting such a place even exists.
One day, however, their lives change when Simon comes across a drill-shaped key and its corresponding mecha, which gives Simon and Kamina their chance to escape to the Surface world.
Drill to Heaven
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagannprides itself on over-the-top action and doesn’t take itself too seriously. That said, the series is particularly famous for a certain twist:
While Simon is the viewpoint character, Kamina is set up as a protagonist early on, getting much of the focus, only to be killed off relatively early on. Despite this, Kamina still proved to be an iconic character thanks to his bravado.Stream on Hulu.
