Top 5 Popular Action Anime

If you're looking to dive into action manga or anime series, you'll always have plenty to choose from. Action anime is one of the most popular shounen* genres. In this vast selection of titles, you'll find names that have been repeated for years, backed by legions of enthusiastic fans.

We've selected 5 of the most famous titles that you definitely shouldn't miss. But are they really that good? Are they worth it, or have fans just been swept up by the hype? And do you even have enough free time to watch them all the way to the end?

*A genre aimed primarily at boys and young men.

Naruto

Naruto's story begins as a classic hero's journey, starting from scratch, though we all suspect from the beginning that a great destiny and many challenges await him. We meet the young boy just as he fails his ninja academy exam for the third time, appearing to have no talent at all. Very soon, it becomes clear that this isn't quite true, and the little outcast gradually becomes an increasingly capable warrior who initially wins through sheer stubbornness and a good heart.

Although the first episodes of Naruto target younger viewers, they contain anime themes that resonate with everyone. Beyond dangerous enemies, the heroes struggle to find their place in the world—trying to transform from outsiders and outcasts into valuable warriors for their ninja village. They learn new skills, build new friendships, and discover new rivals. The anime is colorful, action-packed, and won't let you catch your breath during or between the fights.

The original Naruto anime has a total of 220 episodes, ending with a time skip. It is followed directly by the Naruto: Shippuden series, which boasts 500 episodes. If you're not tired of Naruto's world after watching all that, you can seamlessly continue with the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations series, which currently has 293 episodes with more to come.

Bleach

The Bleach anime begins by looking into the life of an ordinary high schooler, Ichigo, who, as is typical in anime, has the ability to see ghosts and spirits. Besides his orange hair, he is known for his stubbornness and kindness, which easily earns him loyal friends. However, his life changes when the shinigami* Rukia enters the scene, and through a quick sequence of events, she transfers some of her powers to Ichigo. Even here, the young hero cannot avoid the epic events and dangerous traps waiting for him at every turn.

The plot of Bleach is again aimed primarily at younger viewers, but more complex themes appear at times. The presence of Shinigami plays a huge role, as they fight evil spirits while helping lost souls find peace. Beyond family and friendship, you will encounter motifs of loss and betrayal. The anime serves all this up on a colorful palette full of fun characters, action-packed duels, and terrifying monsters. Plus, it has a gripping story that will keep you coming back.

The original Bleach anime ran from 2004 to 2012, aired a total of 366 episodes, and ended before all the manga chapters were adapted. However, after ten years, fans finally got a continuation in the form of Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen (Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War). The second season premiered in August 2023. In total, Thousand-Year Blood War is expected to have four seasons, and after a long wait, Bleach will finally see its epic finale on television screens.

*God of death.

Attack on Titan

The Attack on Titan anime is known by its original title – Shingeki no Kyojin. It tells the story of an isolated community of people separated from the rest of the world by stone walls. Behind these walls live—and occasionally raid—terrifying titans driven by a hunger for human flesh. Although the main protagonist is Eren Yeager, a whole range of interesting characters takes the spotlight—like his childhood friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert, or the fearless Captain Levi Ackerman.

Attack on Titan is a ruthless action ride that pulls you into the story and won't let go until you finish it. The animation is beautiful, but besides great fights, it features many brutal and bloody scenes. It's definitely not for everyone. But if you don't mind a grittier plot, or if you actually enjoy it, you'll get a great story full of unexpected twists and brilliantly drawn characters.

The anime received four seasons with a total of 87 episodes, which covered the entire plot of the manga. It's definitely not one of the longest, but all four seasons are packed to the brim with action. So, if you're not afraid of violent content, you definitely shouldn't miss Attack on Titan.

One Piece

You definitely shouldn't miss One Piece if you love pirates, fun, and epic anime that won't let you catch your breath, despite its long runtime. You should definitely set aside plenty of time and prepare for the fact that new episodes are still being released. The anime follows the fate of a fearless boy named Monkey D. Luffy, who is trying to find the famous "One Piece" treasure, which is also tied to the title of King of the Pirates.

Although it might seem at first glance that the pirate theme would quickly run dry and the plot would become monotonous, One Piece manages to prove the opposite, even with its monumental length. This is thanks to a fantastic world that brings interesting regions and new challenges, as well as the unique ship crew that Monkey D. Luffy gathers around him, which brings plenty of humor and fun.

The pirate-themed One Piece is one of the longest-running anime ever. It first appeared on screens in 1999, and since then, fans have been able to enjoy more than a thousand episodes.

Dragon Ball

It's hard to start a debate about action anime without a fan popping up to shout the name Dragon Ball. The anime was originally inspired by the classic Chinese work Journey to the West and follows the fate of a very unusual young boy named Son Goku, whom fate gifted with a good heart, a monkey tail, and extraordinary strength. His journey initially aims to collect all seven magical Dragon Balls, which are said to have the power to grant wishes. Soon, however, it becomes clear that he has a much longer journey ahead of him.

Dragon Ball might start like a fairy tale, and the first episodes are very lighthearted, but over time it transitions into a genuine action powerhouse, with tournaments and duels between extremely powerful characters as its main pillars. It is simply shounen in its purest form, and it's clear that Akira Toriyama wrote it for young boys. Nevertheless, it has earned the status of a cult classic that its fans swear by. Perhaps it's the indomitable spirit and kindness of the main hero, or maybe the awesome fights.

The original fairy-tale-like Dragon Ball is one of the grandfathers of the current genre—it first aired in 1986 and had a total of 153 episodes. It is followed by the significantly more action-packed Dragon Ball Z (DBZ), which grew to a respectable 291 episodes and brought fans a much more epic scale of combat. Although there is a project called Dragon Ball GT, fans didn't get a true successor to DBZ until 2015, when Dragon Ball Super appeared on screens, adding another 131 action-packed episodes.

Conclusion

Maybe we didn't manage to pick the exact five anime you would have chosen as the most famous. However, the truth is that there are plenty of great choices in the action genre, and ours are simply among the most popular ones you definitely shouldn't overlook. Especially if you're just starting with anime. We couldn't fit in many other interesting titles, but don't worry, we will definitely return to anime.

author: Michal Dlouhý