Some of anime’s biggest series are those that build to epic showdowns between the forces of good and evil. Compelling conflict defines quality storytelling and so it’s not surprising that anime has pushed this genre as far as possible. It can often feel like anything goes in anime, yet this makes it an even greater challenge to deliver exceptional action storytelling that sticks the landing and isn’t just style over substance.
There are endless battle shonen anime that prioritize over-the-top combat, like Bleach, One Piece and Hunter x Hunter, but there’s also space for action in dark fantasy series like Berserk, sports anime like Hajime no Ippo: Fighting Spirit, and even playful programs like Pokémon. Action fans have plenty of options when it comes to anime, yet there is also a small selection of series that go above and beyond and stand tall as true action classics.
Vinland Saga Embraces Realistic Brutality As Its Hero Resists Revenge
There’s plenty of value in heightened action anime that combine realistic combat with fantastical powers, super-strength or other extreme complications. However, there’s just as much of an appetite for and appreciation towards grounded action series that draw inspiration from real life and history, rather than supernatural developments. Vinland Saga, for instance, is a two-season action epic that unflinchingly unpacks the harsh conditions and cutthroat combat that existed during the time of Vikings.
Vinland Saga starts from an angry place of trauma. Thorfinn is determined to kill Askeladd and the vicious Vikings who murdered his father. His journey is defined by a palpable desire for revenge, yet a radical shift happens that pushes Vinland Saga into more contemplative territory. Thorfinn’s journey is so powerful because he sees the error of his ways and becomes disgusted at the idea of perpetuating the same violence that led him to this point.
Thorfinn’s mission shifts from a desire for vengeance into a quest for redemption as he makes peace with his intense trauma and grief. Vinland Saga‘s violence and action spectacles make such a big impact because of their realistic brutality and their reflection of the human will. These action sequences are rich in emotion, but Vinland Saga‘s impact comes from Thorfinn’s refusal of these impulses in an effort to break generations of cyclical violence.
Kingdom Confronts Combat’s Endless Losses & The Strategic Mastery That’s Necessary To Win A War
Kingdom is an underrated action anime staple that’s still going strong after six seasons, over 150 episodes, and several live-action cinematic adaptations. Six seasons is a longer runway than many action anime are given and Kingdom doesn’t squander its generous length. The historical military epic chronicles a vast war across its many seasons that’s contextualized through its protagonist, Shin’s, progress from frightened war orphan into a competent commander.
There’s endless war on display in Kingdom, and it’s an action anime that specializes in highlighting the collective power of an army, rather than the individual strength of some prolific hero. This means that Kingdom puts just as much weight into its strategic and tactical elements as it does in the battles that follow. Kingdom feels like one bloody chess match where power is slowly traded between sides of this war. While the majority of Kingdom‘s chaos takes place on the battlefield, it’s careful not to diminish the significance of political turmoil and the shifting alliances that shape the land.
In an anime like Kingdom, it’s essential that there are actual stakes and a palpable sense of danger. Kingdom makes sure that the audience realizes that anybody can go at any moment. These characters’ losses go on to define many of the soldiers who continue to fight for their cause. Kingdom deserves immense praise for how it connects its many ideas and highlights the visceral motivations and actions that drive war forward while still showcasing incredible action choreography.
Attack On Titan Builds To Epic Altercations Against Hordes Of Monsters
Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan is one of the biggest anime of this generation, action or otherwise, and it’s made a significant impact in how these explosive stories are told. Attack on Titan is full of fierce fights, endless casualties, and violent showdowns against hordes of man-eating monsters. However, it’s also an incredibly patient and methodical anime that truly understands the value in long-form storytelling, foreshadowing, and subverting expectations.
It takes a while for Attack on Titan to reveal the full scope of its story and who the true villains are in this ongoing saga. It’s an anime that’s just as psychologically rich and narratively ambitious as it is dramatically propulsive with its action. The distinct variety in the anime’s powerful Titans leads to exciting and unpredictable showdowns. However, the height discrepancy that exists also leads to visually stunning airborne battles that make use of a complex system of omnidirectional mobility gear. Each Attack on Titan season is rich in surprising revelations, irrevocable world-building, and aggressive action spectacles.
This all reaches a fever pitch during the anime’s legendary final season, which isn’t afraid to go for broke and feature unprecedented peril as the action anime enters its chilling endgame. Attack on Titan also doesn’t worry about egregious plot armor. It’s fully prepared to take out beloved characters, which helps each action sequence become even more intense. It genuinely feels like death is possible at every turn.
Mob Psycho 100 Explores The Power Of Empathy From An Apocalyptic Esper
ONE’s Mob Psycho 100 might have initially felt like a psychically-charged retread of One-Punch Man, but it’s evolved into the superior series and a remarkable commentary on why inner strength and empathy are even more important than physical power. Mob Psycho 100 follows Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama, a shy esper with world-ending powers who spends the anime’s three seasons trying to avoid tapping into his abilities, rather than fiercely flaunting his strength. Mob Psycho 100‘s central gimmick rises above any clichéd storytelling tropes and instead becomes a fascinating experiment in restraint.
Mob’s unfathomable psychic powers are activated whenever he allows himself to let down his mental blocks and tap into his emotions. This results in destructive psychic displays of strength, yet Mob just wants to live a normal, anonymous life with his friends. There are people around him who want to exploit his power and use it to change the world. Mob would rather just play with his friends and experience life’s ordinary joys. It’s such a beautiful goal for Mob, especially when he’s progressively pushed to use his powers and unleash this uncontrollable side of himself.
This leads to a fulfilling internal struggle for Mob in which he learns that he shouldn’t be afraid of his raw feelings and emotions. Empathy, in the end, becomes Mob’s greatest power. He’s pushed to take on phenomenal forces that lead to epic fallout, yet Mob repeatedly tries to reason with his adversaries and emphasize the importance of understanding. Mob is reluctant to use his psychic powers, but this doesn’t mean that they’re still not prominently on display in Mob Psycho 100.
Bungo Stray Dogs Is A Supernatural Detective Saga That’s Rich In Action-Packed Showdowns
Bungo Stray Dogs throws a lot at the audience and a less competent anime would collapse under the weight of its eclectic ambition. Fortunately, Bungo Stray Dogs achieves the right balance for its bold plot and has managed to sustain this satisfying story for five seasons. Bungo Stray Dogs is mystery-forward with its storytelling, which focuses on a group of supernaturally-powered individuals who work at the fantastical Armed Detective Agency.
Each of the agency’s employees are named after famous authors and have powers that connect to their respective literary works. Bungo Stray Dogs is rich in supernatural detective stories and moving character studies. However, this all culminates in unforgettable action sequences.
Some supernatural action anime lose a proper sense of reality, but Bungo Stray Dogs uses its fantastical elements as extensions of its individuals and gambits that are useless without the right strategy and psychological understanding. Bungo Stray Dogs builds to thrilling turf wars between the Armed Detective Agency, the Port Mafia, and other threatening groups. It’s so easy to get lost in Bungo Stray Dog‘s serialized storytelling and the exaggerated action sequences that are in a league of their own.