Best Fighting Anime (Updated 2021)

If you were part of the generation that grew up not watching Bleach because your parents forbid that, we’re sure you’re old enough to watch it now. Bleach is based on Tite Kubo’s manga of the same name, airing on Japanese and North American TV 15 years ago, spanning 366 episodes.
The story follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a Soul Reaper - a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper - from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki. It’s best to mention that Ichigo can see ghosts, which is really the engine that drives the entire series forward. His newfound powers force him to take on the duties of defending humans from evil spirits and guiding departed souls to the afterlife.
If you have a strict rule regarding anime storylines matching their respective manga, it’s best to know that the anime adaption of Bleach includes original storylines not found in the manga with repeated appearances and stories containing these original characters. We understand that it’s best to know about this, but if you don’t mind that, then you’ll love Bleach for all of its glorifying violent fighting scenes and action-infused moments.
Bleach is well known, being on par with one of the most influential anime like Naruto or the entire Dragon Ball series. And just like those series, it is yet to be completed. Just recently, in March 2020, it was announced that the manga’s final story arc, “Thousand-Year Blood War”, would receive an anime adaptation. So, if you’re willing to give it a shot, start now and be ready for its finale. Until then, follow Ichigo Kurosaki on his dark adventures with his Soul Reaper.

Hunter x Hunter, a title that has captured the hearts of many two decades ago, keeps bringing in new fans day by day to this classic anime. However, there are two disconnected anime adaptions of the manga; one being made in 1999, and the other being released in 2011, having no connection to each other at all. This anime from 2011 is a reboot to the original starting from the beginning of the manga, with no connections to the first anime.
Hunter x Hunter focuses on a young boy named Gon Freecss who discovers that his father, who left him at a young age, is actually a world-renowned Hunter, a licensed professional who specializes in fantastical pursuits such as locating rare or unidentified animal species, treasure hunting, surveying unexplored enclaves, or hunting down lawless individuals. Despite being abandoned by his father, Gon departs on a journey to become a Hunter and eventually find his father. Along the way, you get to live vicariously through Gon as he encounters various other Hunters and encounters the paranormal.

Hunter x Hunter is a fun-filled epic adventure that brings together many elements of what the anime is all about together. From wholesome connections to action-packed scenes, it’s an enjoyable watch from beginning to end. If you’re one of those who want a more colorful fighting anime to watch with less violence and a more vibrant story, then this is an excellent anime to give a shot at.

Produced as a manga at first by Kōhei Horikoshi in 2014, the story of My Hero Academia follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers in a world where supernaturalism has become very common, but still dreams of becoming a hero himself. He is scouted by All Might, Japan’s greatest hero, who shares his Quirk with Midoriya after recognizing his potential, and later helps to enroll him in a prestigious high school for heroes in training.

Still producing episodes to this day, the series currently spans about 90 episodes. It also contains two films that were released in 2018 and 2019, which will be followed in the future by a live-action film adaptation. The entire My Hero Academia universe received critical acclaim and a huge following since its start in 2016 and continues to bring new viewers to start this superhero-filled anime.

My Hero Academia is a favorite to many and considered one of the best anime of all-time. It has everything: emotion, humor, splendid action, great characters, uplifting music, and so on. Very well animated, it can actually be a rollercoaster of emotions when watching it, and of course, the fight scenes are excellent. Give this show a watch, and you won’t be disappointed.

Cha-La, Head-Cha-La! The return of the spectacular and monumental anime series Dragon Ball is back with Dragon Ball Super, the sequel to Dragon Ball Z, written by creator Akira Toriyama and directed by Toyotarou.

The series chronicles the adventures of Goku during the ten-year time skip after the defeat of Majin Buu. Following a retelling of the events of the films Battle of Gods (2013) and Resurrection ‘F’ (2015), where Goku attains the powers of a god, he must learn to use this newly discovered power under the gods of his universe while travelling to other universes to face powerful opponents and nearly unstoppable foes.

The entire run of Super is not as lengthy as Z, but it does pack a punch with interesting arcs, most notably the Future Trunks and Universe Survival arcs. If you were raised watching Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z (and maybe Dragon Ball GT) and haven't yet started the Super series, you won’t be disappointed by it, since it does keep its original content and storyline in place and doesn’t ruin the Dragon Ball universe at all.

The series did wind up back in 2018, with fans hoping for a revival of the universe in some other way. If you do finish the series, then you would not back down from watching Dragon Ball Super: Broly, its signature anime film that retells the story of Broly. But since that’s saved for later, then you best get started on learning the ways of the Saiyans and get on the first episode of Dragon Ball Super!

Another addition that is a sequel to the original anime series, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the second anime based on Fullmetal Alchemist from 2003. Unlike the previous adaption, as you may have watched, Brotherhood is an almost 1:1 adaption directly following the original events of the manga. Spanning 64 episodes, the anime ran from 2009 to 2010.

The story follows Edward Elric and his younger brother’s spirit trapped in an ancient suit of armor as they try to resurrect their dead mother. After failing to execute the mission, they unleash an alchemic reaction that rips their bodies apart. After doing what they can to become Fullmetal Alchemists, the brothers begin their quest to regain their full bodies back through the fabled Philosopher’s Stone. Along the way, they discover a deep government conspiracy to hide the true name of the stone that involves their own father’s past.

Brotherhood is an incredible anime that details every little piece of the original manga very well. Not only does it have blood-curdling action, but it truly feels like an adventure when watching it. Throughout its run, it grasps the audience by fleshing out the connection between Edward and his brother, Alphonse, as they do what they can do to redeem themselves and bring back their entire family together. A heartfelt anime with tons of thrilling sequences, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood does it well to mix the right elements into its anime. Start watching the anime now, as it only has 64 episodes, so you’ll probably be done in no time.

Here’s a more apocalyptic anime for you to watch. Based on the manga Shingeki no Kyojin, written and drawn by Hajime Isayama, Attack on Titan is a dark fantasy anime that is truly mind-blowing. It’s set in a world where humanity lives inside cities surrounded by enormous walls due to the Titans - gigantic humanoid beings who devour humans seemingly without reason.

The story follows the adventures of Eren Yeager and his friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert, whose lives are changed forever after a Colossal Titan breaches the wall of their hometown. Vowing revenge and to reclaim the world from the Titans, Eren and his friends join the Scout Regiment, an elite group of soldiers who fight these Titans.
The entire anime is jam-packed with fast-paced episodes, head-spinning plot twists that will shock even Game of Thrones enthusiasts, and intricately designed characters. Though episodes speed along, there are times when it does slow down, just to give you enough time to catch your breath. It’s a very detailed anime, with tons of twists and turns that inevitably make this a highly binge-worthy show.

Spanning three seasons of 59 episodes and three different films, Attack on Titan became a staple of excellent fighting anime in a long while. Drama and action infused, the anime does not settle for anything short of a bloodbath. If you’re asking for a whole other level of action and apocalyptic fight scenes, then Attack on Titan is the anime for you.

Peer into the dark once more, and the Black Swordsman roars again! Branded for death and hunted by demons, swordsman Guts embarks on a journey filled with beasts and gruesome vengeance. No matter what, he’ll seek the answers that lie shrouded in the night.

Berserk is a 2016 anime based on Kentaro Miura’s Berserk manga and a sequel to the Golden Age Arc film trilogy. This is an anime adaption of the manga after the 1997 anime of the same name, covering the Conviction arc from the manga. The story follows Guts as the Black Swordsman, who was once a wandering mercenary taken in by the mercenary group known as the Band of the Hawk. Years pass, and Guts is joined in his hunt by an elf named Puck as events the God Hand have long waited for are beginning to unfold.

A total mix of dark fantasy, horror, and fast-paced action, Berserk is a series that has to be seen. There is an entire preceding arc to watch, but they’re quick films to give a shot at. This series is where the real meat is, spanning 24 episodes and running from July 2016 to June 2017.
The entire series’ directing style keeps the action at a constant pace. Once you manage to unclench your teeth at all the gore that goes on during every battle, the story and captivating world of Berserk still shine as one-of-a-kind flights of dark imagination with poignant characterization, even as the struggle of Guts shows itself in the light at times. Berserk is an excellent horror-esque anime that you will not regret watching.

One of the longest-running animes and the highest-selling manga of all time, One Piece is one of the most well-known animes out there. Being part of the Big Three (the other being Naruto and Dragon Ball), One Piece has been imported to various countries around the world and has aired over 900 episodes since October 1999.

Created by Eiichiro Oda, the story follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a boy whose body gained the properties of rubber after unintentionally eating a Devil Fruit. With his crew of pirates named the Straw Hat Pirates, Luffy explores the Grand Line in search of the world’s ultimate treasure known as “One Piece” in order to become the next Pirate King.

In Japan, One Piece has consistently been among the top five animated shows in viewership. On international online video platforms, the anime got 1.9 million demand expressions per month in 2016, making it the year’s most popular anime and 14th most popular TV show in the world.

With a show producing that many episodes, there are also 14 One Piece films, acting as non-canon stories in the storyline. So, if you want more than just the 900 episodes available, there are also these wonderful films!

What’s great about One Piece is that the anime is far from finishing itself. There is so much to be done, and it’ll be producing episodes for the next few years. If you want to start watching it all, we salute you, because it’ll end up being a full-time job for you as a binge-watcher of One Piece.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is unarguably one of the best fighting anime in the past year, and one of the best anime of the past decade. Swordsmen that move with the grace of dancers, savage demons imbued with horrific powers and flashes of steel that strike at the perfect moment are hallmarks of this remarkable series.

The series, based on the Weekly Shonen Jump manga of the same name, debuted simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. in April 2019 and immediately gained a legion of international fans.

Demon Slayer takes place in Japan around the time of World War I, known as the Taisho era. One fateful day, young Tanjiro Kamado returned home from a village trip to find his entire family viciously and mercilessly murdered by a demon, with only Tanjiro’s sister Nezuko left alive.

But the attack changed her, and the demon’s blood mixed with her own transformed Nezuko into a monstrous demon herself. A demon slayer came across the two and threatened to kill Nezuko, but spared her after hearing out Tanjiro’s pleas to give him a chance to try and find a way to restore Nezuko’s humanity. And that’s just the start of the story.

Altogether, it’s easy to see why Demon Slayer has captured the hearts of anime fans worldwide. With stunning swordfights and supernatural powers, high stakes, a lot of heart, and even a fair amount of humor, the 26-episode first season has everything you need for your next anime binge watch.

These days, it’s almost impossible to navigate through life without hearing about superheroes. They’re everywhere: in our TV shows, in our long-standing movie franchises, in our games and cereal boxes. People and the media love them, especially the stories by ONE, the writer behind One-Punch Man. This anime in particular returns with a ONE show, but it’s not One-Punch Man; rather, it’s the equally mesmerizing Mob Psycho 100.

Mob Psycho 100 is a little different than One-Punch Man. Whereas Saitama is almost cartoonishly apathetic, the protagonist of Mob Psycho, a middle schooler named Shigeo Kageyama, is incredibly calm. For all intents and purposes, Kageyama is your typical anime protagonist: he has a crush, several friends and even has difficulty choosing what club he wants to join. He has a normal family and a loving brother. He’s not great with his studies, but he’s not flunking either. He even, like most titular fantasy shonen protagonists, wields an incredibly powerful ability, psychokinesis. Sounds unremarkable, right?

But ONE keeps us on our toes. If One-Punch Man is a scathing look at how society can mold people into selfish and apathetic cogs in a machine, Mob Psycho 100 is an empowering and critical look at self-improvement. Kageyama has many faults, and the show isn’t afraid to point them out: he has huge amounts of social anxiety, trouble saying no to people who would want to use him for their own gain, and is saintly forgiving to a fault.

It’s moments like these, combined with the quirky charm and whimsical nature of Kageyama’s mentor, Reigen, that makes Mob Psycho 100 so emotionally powerful and fun to watch. Backed by some of BONES’ finest talent and ambition for exploring the medium, Mob Psycho 100 packs just as strong of a punch as One-Punch Man, albeit in a different way.

One-Punch Man's synopsis of someone being a hero for fun doesn't sound all that appealing, but it turns out the case is quite the opposite. One-Punch Man gets a spot on this list not only due to its beautiful animations throughout its first season but its perfect mixture of action and comedy.

The anime tells the story of Saitama, a nobody wanting to be a hero for fun living in City Z, only to realize that after three years of special training toward becoming a hero, he finds that he can beat even the mightiest opponents with a single punch (hence the anime's title). Although he faces new enemies every day, it turns out being devastatingly powerful is actually kind of a bore.

One-Punch Man has become an instant cult hit, bringing millions of people across the globe to watch this hilarious yet action-packed anime. Throughout the two seasons that are out now, you get to experience Saitama’s life and what he goes through to stop new villains that pop into his world in every episode. J.C.Staff, the studio that brought One-Punch Man onto the big screen, has stated that a third season is being released. Now, the second season did receive mixed reviews, following a stellar first season. However, it’s still an action-packed ride to go on with Saitama and his humorous entries with allies and foes.
Trust us when we say that you’ll be binging this series in no time. It’s colorful, comedic, and filled with over-the-top fight scenes every few minutes. You won’t get tired of Saitama!

Naruto Uzumaki is back! After two and a half years of training on the road with one of the Legendary Sannin, Naruto returns to the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and he’s ready to show off his new skills. He and Sakura team up to take on their old Sensei, Kakashi, who’s pretty impressed with their progress.

If you have never watched Naruto, it’s best to start with its preceding series. But if you have watched it or at least understand the premise, great! Naruto: Shippūden is an anime series adapted from Part II of Masashi Kishimoto’s manga series, with exactly 500 episodes. It’s set two and a half years after Part I in the Naruto universe, following Naruto and his allies on various adventures.
With a handful of episodes to watch, it’s best to have time free to binge Naruto: Shippūden since it does have 500 episodes. Don’t get overwhelmed by that number, since many anime do have that many episodes sometimes. Shippūden and the rest of the Naruto universe have been well-known and around for quite some time, so it’s obvious that it would have this much to treat their millions of fans with.

Like any other fighting anime, it’s a brutal watch, and we’re not talking about it being boring as hell, no. It’s a violent anime at times, so be prepared for a ton of action - that’s what we want in a fighting anime, right? Regardless, it’s an extremely fun anime to watch, so if you want to continue Naruto Uzumaki’s journey, you best get started now.