So far, so good. The 2020s are shaping up to be great for anime. Not only are Japanese shows more accessible than ever, but they are also (essentially) never-ending. As each season produces about 40 anime, roughly 800 series have released content over the last few years, a figure that will expand to about 2000 once the decade comes to an end. With such a ridiculous number of options, keeping up with everything is pretty much impossible, especially when it comes to arguably the most popular genre in anime: action.
Be it battle shonen, seinen, or manhwa, thebest action anime of the 2020ssit comfortably among the genre’s greatest representatives of all time. They deliver (usually) some of the most beautiful animation in the industry, all the while telling stories ripe with (typically) likable heroes, detestable villains, and fairly ambitious world-building. As “action” is quite a vague term, these shows tend to slip into other genres as well, making them fairly versatile. Let’s highlight the decade’s best actionfests, for now.
Here are some criteria and things to keep in mind:
Honorable Mentions
The 2020s have produced plenty of great action anime, not all of which can be highlighted individually. Anyone looking for glorious fight sequences cannot go wrong with the following.
A rare anime original,Lycoris Recoilrevolves around an organization of girl spies and killers (for the greater good), all of whom wear school uniforms to blend in with normal folks. As she struggles to play nicely with others, Takina is relocated to a cute cafeteria so she can work alongside the bubbly and daring Chisato. Early issues aside, the duo form a pretty formidable team, both as assassins/spies and as friends.
Lycoris Recoildoes a splendid job of blending action with quieter character-driven slice of life moments. Despite offering seemingly opposing experiences, the latter helps flesh out the girls, ensuring they come across as fully developed characters rather than just conduits for flashy gun fights. When action takes center stage,Lycoris Recoildelivers thrilling encounters that highlight different combat styles and teamwork. As supernatural abilities are not part of the equation (even if some things seem that way), the set pieces emphasize Chisato and Takina’s mindsets and strategies.
Fujino Ōmori’sDanmachihas enjoyed a splendid 2020s so far, with seasons 4 and 5 being comfortably the show’s strongest. However, in terms of pure action, another adaptation based on the author’s work takes the cake.Wistoria: Wand and Swordserves as a prime example that, sometimes, top-notch presentation is enough to carry a series to greatness.
Set in a world ruled by magic, a warrior like Will is looked down upon by pretty much everyone, especially at his school, the Rigarden Magical Academy. Despite his lack of magical abilities, Will still wants to become a Magia Vander, a role limited to the strongest and most creative magicians.
While the story and setting are nothing to write home about,Wistoria’s action sequences are among the best of the 2020s so far. Along with fantastic animation, they are nail-biting spectacles, particularly when Will is supported by or goes up against magicians.
Hyped to the high heavens before making its adaptation debut,Chainsaw Manlargely succeeded in living up to its reputation, even if the story still has plenty of room to improve and has yet to fully hit its stride (in the anime). Humans live alongside and, mostly, in fear of devils, to the point that a special organization exists that is in charge of taking down these threats. Riddled with debt and eventually killed, Denji returns from the dead by fusing with a cute devil named Pochita, creating the eponymous Chainsaw Man. Long story short, he is recruited by the Public Safety Devil Hunters.
Chainsaw Manhas a lot of things going for it beyond just blood-filled battles, but the latter are certainly a major selling point. Compared to most other shonen anime,Chainsaw Man’s action is considerably more vicious and consequential, which helps sell the idea that most characters can die at any given moment.
Dandadanis a jack-of-all-trades and, somehow, a master of nearly all of them. Want romance? Momo and Okarun’s slow-building love story is endearing and fuels both of their development. Want a good laugh?This anime excels in both slapstick and character-driven banter. Want ghosts? They are here. Want aliens? They are also here. Want action? Yeah,Dandadanhas it.
The amazing thing aboutDandadan’s set-pieces is how well it combines all of the above genres and ideas. Fight sequences are not just visually stunning but also frequently hilarious (while remaining dramatic). Like the series on the whole,Dandadan’s action is the full package.
As fun as fantastical powers can be, anaction animedoes not need them to achieve excellence.Wind Breakerrelies solely on martial arts to craft heart-pounding fights, along with occasionally throwing out an epic melee that is the right type of chaotic.
Haruka joins the most infamous delinquent school in the most infamous town, only to learn that the former primarily serve as protectors for the latter.Joining Bofurin, he finds himself going up against other schools and gangs that have opposing ideologies, and fisticuffs are the only route to compromise.
When focusing on 1v1 encounters,Wind Breaker’s fight choreography compares favorably to every other2020s action anime. The fights are surprisingly varied, too, particularly for this type of premise.
Mostgame animedecide to trap their protagonists within their worlds, but a series occasionally comes around that simply wants to follow a normal gamer during their risk-free adventures. Due to inherently lacking tension as the protagonist is in no real danger, these shows have to compensate in other areas, and most of them rely on fantastic action to keep viewers hooked.
Shangri-La Frontierfollows Rakuro as he dives into the titular VRMMO, which is generally regarded as a god game within the universe. Relying on skills honed from years of playing poorly balanced trash games, Rakuro brings a singular perspective to fights, as he is always seeking less-than-obvious strategies to try and overcome enemies that seem to be beyond his current level.
The action scenes are high-quality in terms of production value, but what helps set them apart is that they do not rely exclusively on gorgeous animation. Rakuro’s techniques, in-game knowledge, and weapons are constantly evolving so that he can adapt to an impressive assortment of bosses.
Following a somewhat slow start, Ufotable’sDemon Slayerbecame an international phenomenon when episode 19 dropped, showcasing animation typically reserved for feature productions. While the first season aired in 2019, the series went from strength to strength during the early 2020s, establishing itself as the decade’s defining shonen series
Although not its only positive,Demon Slayeris ultimately worth watching for just its polished and visceral action. While occasionally crossing the line into pure indulgence during the Swordsmith Village Arc,Demon Slayer’s Mugen Train and Entertainment District Arcs are nearly perfect battle shonen stories, ones packed to the brim with great, great action set-pieces.
An adaptation of themost well-known manhwa of all time,Solo Levelingneeded to nail its action since the source material is specifically known for its impressive fights. Fortunately, A-1 Pictures understood the assignment and seemed to spare no expense in ensuring that Sung Jin-Woo’s transition into animation went off without a hitch.
While season 1 has a slightly slow start as Sung gradually builds up his power and confidence,Solo Levelingfully hits its stride in season 2, with each new episode including an action sequence that surpasses the high bar set by its predecessor. A-1’s fight animation is not only incredibly slick and smooth, but also very consistent. In isolation,Solo Leveling’s sequel is arguably the2020s' best action animeseason.
Battle shonen animewill never go out of fashion. Whenever a heavyweight comes to an end, a successor seems to always pop up to carry the mantle, and the 2020s are shaping up to be a golden era for the demographic.Jujutsu Kaisenbuilds upon shonen’s past to create an experience that feels both nostalgic and modern, particularly concerning its action.
MAPPA’s animation is, obviously, nearly flawless, butJujutsu Kaisen’s brilliance lies in the speed and frequency of its fights. Rather than dragging encounters to their breaking point, the anime favors bursts of relentless action that constantly shift to new match-ups, creating fights that seem to be constantly peaking.
Despite a very strong start,Bleach’s original anime fizzled out after a few years, losing so much momentum that it was canceled before covering the final arc. After more than a decade of inactivity, Pierrot finally brought the series back in the form of a four-part adaptation of the Thousand-Year Blood War, a decision that paid off pretty much instantly.
For all its flaws,Bleachalways had spectacular action, even during its weaker filler arcs. Therefore, a saga consisting of almost nothing but life-or-death fights showcases the anime at its absolute best, andThousand-Year Blood Warhas almost no distractions that take away from its main selling point. Pierrot’s animation is movie-quality as well, ensuring each moment is the definition of epic.
