Best Fighting Anime: Top 20 Must-Watch Series
Whether set in real-life scenarios or imaginative realms, the top fighting anime consistently captivate audiences with their thrilling narratives. These series invite fans into exhilarating battles where characters demonstrate their unique skills and clever tactics, striving to outmaneuver their opponents and achieve victory. The excitement of these confrontations often leads to unforgettable moments that resonate with viewers, showcasing not just physical prowess but the emotional stakes involved in each clash.
In the realm of fighting-focused narratives, creators enjoy substantial creative freedom regarding the worlds they build and the characters they introduce. Some series lean towards realism, depicting authentic combat scenarios often found in boxing rings or martial arts dojos. Others stretch the boundaries of imagination, incorporating elements of magic and supernatural abilities, resulting in incredibly dynamic and visually captivating battles that elevate choreography to new heights.
20
Record of Ragnarok
Produced by Graphinica & Yumeta Company and Based on the Manga by Shinya Umemura & Takumi Fukui
Record of Ragnarok is often not much more than a simple tournament fighting anime, based on the absolutely gorgeous Monthly Comic Zenon series featuring an ultra-high-stakes tournament pitting gods against mortals. Faced with humanity’s imminent doom, Brunhilde challenges the mightiest of the gods at Valhalla to a best-of-thirteen tournament, where her Valkyries can empower mankind’s mightiest selected warriors across the ages. In epic depictions of mortal combat, this results in battles between the biblical Adam and Zeus, or Apollo against Leonidas.
Record of Ragnarok begins refining its fighting anime chops by the third round, with season 2 boasting more improvements as the battles become more heated. This series is a treasure trove for mythology enthusiasts and death battle lovers alike, offering wild interpretations of mythological and historical figures like Nikola Tesla with a distinct anime flair. While Record of Ragnarok may not boast the most intricate plot, it captures the essence of what makes fighting anime enjoyable and, at times, delightfully absurd.
19
The God of High School
Produced by MAPPA and Based on the Manhwa by Yong-Je Park
The God of High School tournament is a free-for-all competition that any Korean high school student can join, regardless of preferred fighting style or weapon mastery. Seeking to prove himself as the strongest fighter, Renewal Taekwondo expert Mo-Ri Jin enters the tournament, encountering and befriending different like-minded people in the process. Yet, beyond the exciting duels that he so eagerly anticipates, Mo-Ri has no idea that the secrets he is about to learn are going to change his entire perspective on life.
The God of High School is a simple yet entertaining fighting anime that features a variety of excellently animated martial arts styles. It is certainly far from perfect overall, with the story and characters in particular not always living up to fans’ expectations, but it delivers an incredible experience for anyone who appreciates engaging fighting scenes, as the animation and choreography are impressive enough to compensate for any potential shortcomings. Overall, this series certainly represents one of the best examples of anime adaptations of manhwa.