Action shonen animeare extremely popular, with series likeNarutoandMy Hero Academiahaving huge fanbases. Even non-anime fans probably know about those two shows. As action-packed as they are, the episodes also come with plenty of character development and slow periods, which may not gel well with every anime fan out there. These moments may be important to add more depth to the personalities on the show or explain certain powerups and how they come into existence, but it comes at the cost of the viewer possibly losing attention and moving on to another show.
As a result, some viewers may want to skip ahead to the action and don’t care as much about intricate plot lines. If that is the case, many shows offer more distilled experiences. It’s hard to get completely away from downtime, but thebest actionanimecome pretty close, with their fight scenes being full to the brim with high stakes, fun powerups, amazing twists, and everything else along the same lines.
Updated Jun 08, 2025 by Mark Sammut:AsSpring 2025is underway, let’s highlight a few of the lineup’s most exciting action anime.
Shows likeDragon Ball Z,Naruto, andOne Piecehave been left out since they can have long stretches of non-action between battles. That said, they all have many great action sequences, particularly the former two.
Exciting Spring 2025 Action Anime
A new season has arrived, which means a plethora of anime are either debuting or returning for new seasons. While seemingly not including anything in the same ballpark asSolo Leveling, at least in terms of fight sequences, the lineup should have more than enough shows capable of keeping action fans entertained for a couple of months. The biggest show of the season is arguably a battle shonen, and it is hardly the only major name that falls under that banner.
While a few Spring 2025 anime have debuted already, most are still rolling out, so it is way too early to identify the season’s best action series. That said, the following shows should be top contenders.
Most isekai anime incorporate action to an extent, butIshuratakes things to the next level by pretty much revolving entirely around fights. The anime’s early episodes can be confusing and frustrating, as they are split into segments designed to introduce the central characters who will battle it out in an upcoming war. As such, the show kind of starts with five first episodes that do not build up much momentum, but this creative decision pays off when these warriors engage in life-or-death battles during the second half of the series. The lack of conventional protagonists means that anybody could realistically die, resulting in pretty intense encounters.
Action is a big part of the set-up episodes, so viewers do not have to wait long to see awesome fights.
While not devoid of clever world-building or political intrigue,Ishura’s selling point is its vast incorporation of OP fantasy and isekai archetypes, all of whom have something to prove. The fight sequences are consistently fantastic, delivering fast-paced and tactical action that makes good use of CG animation. What other anime shows a self-operated mecha fighting a Grim Reaper swordsman while a talkative tornado threatens to destroy everyone?
A martial arts anime with some brutal fights, Netflix’sBakiandBaki Hanmaare both brilliant action shows that focus on the battles of the titular character in an underground fighting arena full of savage combat that tests the fighter’s limits, and then some.
This ends up being perfect for Baki, who decides to hone his skills in this ruthless place to get revenge on his father. The show has some great animation, with the battles being a treat in every way. It helps that there are more than enough fights to carry the anime with ease!
Kengan Ashurais a series that may seem a lot likeBaki, and there definitely are some similarities to be pointed out here. However,Kengan Ashurastill has some differences that make it worth checking out for fans of mature anime with more reasonable fighting techniques.
Tokita Ohma is the protagonist of the series, fighting on behalf of a businessman inan underground gladiator arena. The premise may sound rather cliched, butKengan Ashura’s bombastic action and brilliant pacing help it stand out as a quality shonen series. While most action anime have the occasional downtime,Kengan Ashurais largely an exception that focuses exclusively on fights, albeit presented in a way that makes them feel important.
Tokyo Ghoulis one of the biggest what-ifs in anime history, which is a shame given the immense quality of its first season. Barring an original ending, the show was pretty faithful to the manga and did a great job of adapting the gory action that fans of the series are intimately familiar with.
However, later seasons were a royal disappointment that rushed throughout the manga’s chapters, focusing mostly on the action and even switching up the narrative, which is a cardinal sin for any anime. That being said, there’s no denying that the animation was still brilliant during these battles, withKaneki’s evolved powers looking mesmerizing at times.
Btooom!is like aBattle Royaleclone in that the main characters are all sent to a mysterious island. They wake up with bombs and are urged to kill each other in order to survive and get supplies. It’s a dark anime that, unfortunately, was only one season long.
Sadly,Btooom!ended with a lot of questions still up in the air. Although its lack of a continuation is a little disappointing, theanime’s actionis still great. Plus, the manga is much longer for those who do actually want to get some answers.
Best believe that an anime based on a fighting game has countless action sequences and is far from the standard issue combat; this isJoJo’s Bizarre Universe,after all! With five seasons to choose from, each unique arc focuses on a different aspect of the Joestar Clan as they master their Stand abilities and artfully eliminate the enemy while attempting to lift the family’s curse.
The most recent addition to this franchiseisStone Ocean,which follows Jotaro’s daughter, Jolyne Cujoh, as she navigates through the prison system while a mysterious mastermind tries his hand at playing God. The fact that the girls take the lead this time around does little to dampen the bloodshed and instead offers back-to-back battles as Joylne and her crew fight for their lives.
Denji took the world by storm after he merged his dying form with an adorably demonic dog and received bonus chainsaw accessories and a new purpose in life as a result. There are no holds barred depicting how much damage Denji’s hardware can inflict, and amazingly, he’s not even the strongest guy around!
The ladies are a force of nature in their own right and dominate on the battlefield with their hardcore assaults (and refusing to allow the ecchi factor to deprive of the fight scenes' quality). Funny, ferocious, and surprisingly sentimental,Chainsaw Manticks all the boxesfor most anime fans out there.
While the older seasons ofBleachoften get bogged down with torturous filler episodes, theThousand Year Blood Warhas caught up with the times and subsequently jammed exciting action scenes into each episode (so far.) Chaos reigns upon Ichigo and his friends from the very beginning, and they barely get a moment to catch their breath as humans, Soul Reapers, and Hollows team up against an all-new foe (or rather, areallyold one!)
Set not long after the Arrancar Arc (approximately 1.5 years), both Sereitei and Hueco Mundo are in desperate need of the Substitute Soul Reaper’s assistance, and the team is spread thin as the believed-to-be-dead Quincy attack on all fronts. The Shinigami find themselves helpless for the first time, and the Espada are desperately missing their Queen; meanwhile, the fate of the Universe lies in the balance.
IfCyberpunk: Edgerunner’sartwork doesn’t captivateviewers, then the jaw-dropping battle mechanics will; this RPG-inspired show blows the term ‘cyborg’ right out of the water! While genetic enhancements are the norm in the dystopian Night City, some extremists take things to the next level, turning themselves into deadly machines (while putting their own lives on the line in the process.)
Battling the internal demons of Cyberpsychosis while struggling to survive against the nefarious forces of Arasaka and Millitech is guaranteed to keep anyone on their toes. The veterans may have some experience in the matter, but does a novice like young David have what it takes to live another day?
Training to become a Hero without possessing natural-born superpowers is a tall task indeed, but Izuku Midoriya’s determination can overcome any obstacle.The Villains, however, are discontentwith the distribution of power in society and wish to dethrone the false Heroes, while the UA students somehow end up entangled in their schemes at every turn.
There are a few brief moments of inactivity sprinkled throughMy Hero Academia’stimeline where things are toned down; however, the show is predominantly a classic battle shonen, and action is always around the corner. The first cour of Season 6, in particular, dishes out a consistent supply of combat and intrigue. Awesome worldbuilding combined with captivating Quirks and a debatable moral code (for Heroes and Villains) provides enough suspense to keep viewers glued to the edge of their seats.
