Whether it be whacky comedy titles, tear-jerking dramas, or cheesy romance flicks — the medium itself just never fails to amuse. This is true especially in some series with intense high-stakes action. And if you’re looking for the most exciting of the bunch, then here’s our picks for anime titles that have no shortage of exhilarating scenes. If you’re ready to be perched at the edge of your seat then there’s bound to be something here you’ll enjoy.
10. Bleach
Here we have one of the most popular Shounen titles of all time. Coincidentally, it’s also one of the titular “Big Three ”, which are shows that pretty much dominated the charts during the Golden Age of Shonen Jump. And if there’s one thing that Shonen Jump knows how to do, it’s producing great action-heavy titles that would make anyone’s blood boil. Bleach is exactly this type of show. It mostly consists of cool sword fights, Hollow-slaying, and just lovely bloody chaos everywhere. Simply put, this series is a perfect example of your typical Shounen anime that has a little bit of everything – but mostly action.
9. Naruto
Yep, it’s yet another all-time great – and a title that’s also included in the “Big Three” club. Naruto, at its core, is a show that is focused on the conflict between the various great forces in the ninja world & how the main characters adapt to it. It emphasizes the growth that Naruto (the character) and his peers go through every episode. This is what gives fans that satisfying feeling of progression along the way. The battles, the mind games, the scheming — they’re all thrilling enough to grab ahold of your attention and never let go. Not to mention that this series also has one of the most interesting power systems in anime. And fortunately, that power system (along with the action-riddled story) also made its way to the sequel.
8. Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer might be the newest entry on this list. But it is certainly far from being the least entertaining of the lot. Not only is it chock-full of memorable fight scenes, but it’s also bolstered by a compelling story and remarkable characters. Not to mention that it also has one of the smoothest animated fight scenes in any Shounen anime out there. It’s also worth noting that despite its relatively young age, Demon Slayer has already released enough episodes that you can enjoy it for quite a while. Or at least until the next season comes out…
7. Attack on Titan
Ah, Attack on Titan — a show that leans heavily into horror and tragedy moreso than any other genre. And let me tell you, Attack on Titan can basically be listed under a lot of genres at this point. Unlike most titles on this list, this show relies much more on the psychological thrills than the visual ones. The series sets up its characters up in a world where the stakes are always high. Seriously, this is one of the very few shows where you’d actually feel a bit relieved to see a filler episode between all the craziness.
6. Dragon Ball
We all recognize this name, right? It holds a special place in my heart, and I’m sure that’s true for most anime fans as well. With how popular it became over the years, this show is basically a household name in the fighting/action genre. The series follows a very simple, yet very effective style of storytelling, that consistently introduces a variety of conflicts into the plot with few breaks in-between. And you can forget the occasional slice-of-life filler episodes — DB/DBZ has either fighting or training scenes present one way or another. And that’s in basically every single episode there is! Considering just how much Goku loves to fight, I guess this isn’t really all that surprising…
5. Hunter X Hunter
HxH is a masterpiece that, in my opinion, does intense high-stakes action scenes better than any Shounen anime. From start to finish, Hunter X Hunter never loses its funny or exciting edge. And yes, this includes the Greed Island Arc, which is arguably the weakest arc this anime has entertainment-wise. But then again, calling the Greed Island Arc “weak” would be a bit of an exaggeration, and a huge disservice to the anime. After all, that arc is still leagues better than most anime arcs could ever hope to be.
4. One Punch Man
Speaking of high-octane action-filled anime, how can we skip over the best comedy/action anime to date? There are very few anime out there that mix these two genres as well as One Punch Man. This achievement is even more amazing if we stop to consider just how many titles incorporate the same action and comedy elements in their story. Sure, One Punch Man isn’t the first to do it. But the way it presents itself, it just has a different kind of charm compared to other titles with OP MCs and similar themes. All in all, OPM never has a dull moment. It either gets your blood pumping with awesome action scenes, or gets you rolling on the floor laughing with its wacky sense of humor.
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most critically acclaimed fan-favorite shows of all time. And it’s well-deserved. This is an age-old classic that I think every anime fan should watch at least once – just to get an idea of what an “objectively good” anime series really is. And it isn’t just thrilling, or just packed full of intense action scenes like your typical Shounen either. FMA is pretty much the complete show, really. Because it also has a little bit of comedy, slice-of-life, and romance sprinkled here and there. But only so much that it doesn’t really dampen the overall high-stakes tone of the story. If you’ve never seen Brotherhood (or even the original FMA) then this series is a must-watch.
2. Baki the Grappler
Revenge-themed storylines are most the most exciting to watch. The Baki Series, however, takes this trope to a whole other level by making almost every character jacked to the freakin’ bone – and expert martial artists! And if you thought that this anime mostly focuses on awesome fight scenes between muscle-bound dudes, then you might be surprised here… Because this anime solely focuses on awesome fight scenes between muscle-bound dudes! Everything else is secondary (even the revenge plot), which I guess can either be a pro or a con depending on what you’re after.
1. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
And coming in at #1 we have the reigning “Most Memed Anime of All Time”. Not to mention it’s also a great action/thriller anime in and of itself. The thing is, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is more than just its memes. Sure it has a lot more memeable moments than probably any anime in existence, but it’s actually a pretty awesome anime with a lot of intense moments too. Seriously, this show is near perfect when it comes to how well it incorporates both action and comedy into its story — so much so that it’s almost seamless. You don’t even notice till you start thinking about it after an episode… and that usually leads to queuing up another episode. In my opinion, that’s what makes JJBA one of the most hilarious yet still thrilling anime that’s almost guaranteed to reel you in and never let go.
