The strength of battle scenes in anime has been a constant throughout its history. Popular battle shounen series like Dragon Ball and Naruto have played a significant role in globalizing anime to its current level of success.
Despite the current popularity of titles such as My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Demon Slayer, there are several other action-packed anime that continue to uphold this legacy. These anime contain some of the most memorable and impactful battles in the history of the medium, leaving a lasting impression on their audience.
During this discussion, I will be exploring some of the most epic battle sequences and sharing some behind-the-scenes facts about the animation. Without any delay, let’s jump into the top 10 list of the most epic anime battles.
Madara’s battle against the Shinobi Alliance
Anime: One Piece
This battle is truly epic in every aspect. Having been revived, Madara is even more powerful than he was in his prime, fearlessly taking on hundreds of Shinobi Alliance forces. His composure in the face of their anxiety and hesitation not only demonstrates his superior strength, but also his vast experience.
The animation focuses solely on these elements, with minimal dialogue during the intense battle scenes. Within a matter of minutes, Madara awakened his Rinnegan and swiftly brought an end to the fight.
Luffy vs. Katakuri
Animated Series: One Piece
One Piece is known for its iconic battle sequences, however only a handful truly stand out. One of the most memorable is Luffy’s fight against Katakuri. This intense battle not only showcases a clash of strength, but also highlights the pride of a pirate, the honor of a captain, and the determination of both fighters to win fairly.
During the intense battle, Luffy honed his observation Haki and unveiled his new form, Gear 4: Snakeman, to keep up with Katakuri’s lightning-fast movements. It was a thrilling fight that lasted from start to finish, with both pirates gaining a newfound respect for each other.
Mob vs. Koyama
One of my favorite anime shows is Mob Psycho 100.
Each and every battle in Mob Psycho 100 is incredibly thrilling, particularly when Mob is a part of it.
After being confronted by Mob and experiencing the vast power difference between them, Koyama ultimately faces the consequences. The encounter serves as a harsh reality check for Koyama and could have left him traumatized for life if not for the fortunate interference of the cursed perfume that put Mob to sleep.
7. The Epic Battle : Naruto & Sasuke vs. Momoshiki Otsutsuki
Anime: Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
The battle between Naruto and Sasuke against Momoshiki can be accurately described as Clean, Crisp, and Catastrophically Beautiful. As always, Momoshiki underestimates the duo and ultimately pays the price when they fight together in perfect harmony.
The pair battle as if they possess a mutual understanding, anticipating each other’s moves and executing flawless combinations of attacks to overpower Momoshiki in ways he never could have imagined.
6. Battle Between Levi and The Beast Titan
Series: Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 2
Arifumi Imai is a well-known name among anime fans, recognized for his impressive animation skills. In addition to his work on the intense Saitama vs Genos action sequence, he also contributed to one of the most epic battles in the entire Attack on Titan series: Levi vs The Beast Titan. This intricate and dynamic sequence took him a total of 4 months to complete, with 1 month spent on storyboarding and 3 months on drawing.
During the Beast Titan’s merciless massacre of Erwin and his troops, Levi cunningly exploited his blind spot and successfully dismembered him. Eventually, he removed him from his titan form. Omitting this battle from a list of epic anime battles would be a grave injustice.
5. One-Punch Man: Saitama vs. Genos
Anime: One Punch Man is the title of the series.
The first season of One Punch Man is a masterpiece in the action genre. For fans of action, every fight scene is a source of pure joy. While there were many impressive battle sequences throughout the season, two in particular stood out: Saitama’s fights against Genos and Boros. Of the two, the former was especially memorable due to the incredible slow-motion scenes, particularly the sequence animated by Arifumi Imai, who also worked on the iconic Levi vs. Beast Titan fight.
To uncover the mystery of Saitama’s extraordinary abilities, Genos persuades him to participate in a practice match and requests that he give it his all. However, Saitama effortlessly evades all of Genos’ attacks, until in a moment of annoyance, he unleashes his trademark Death Punch. However, Saitama quickly halts the attack, not wanting to cause any harm. This served as a much-needed wake-up call for Genos.
Broly vs. Goku & Vegeta
Anime: The movie Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
Dragon Ball has established itself as the epitome of a top-notch battle shounen anime. The numerous intense battles depicted in the series have left a lasting impact on viewers. And among these, one that stands out and deserves a spot on this list is the epic clash between Saiyans in the 2018 film Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
Goku and Vegeta alternate fighting against Broly, but even in their Super Saiyan Blue state, Broly proves to be a formidable opponent due to his impressive adaptability. He rapidly masters how to tap into his dormant abilities, becoming incredibly powerful. Eventually, our heroes are forced to teleport a great distance and merge into Gojeta, finally defeating the fearsome Saiyan. The choreography, camera angles, sound design, and animation all came together seamlessly to create an unforgettable and epic anime battle scene.
3. Ippo vs. Sendo
Japanese Animation: Hajime no Ippo
Despite its incredible quality, Hajime no Ippo is often overlooked by many. This boxing anime is a must-watch and must-read for everyone, as its excellence cannot be denied. The boxing matches featured are equally impressive and the match between Ippo and Sendo is a true gift for fans of the sport.
It would be an understatement to simply describe this entire match as epic. Sendo’s unwavering determination and Ippo’s relentless pursuit of his dreams and love for boxing, culminating in the perfectly executed Dempsey Roll, solidify this as a must-see battle in the pantheon of legendary anime fights.
Takamura vs. Bryan Hawk
“The anime I’m currently watching is called Hajime no Ippo.”
Another addition to Hajime no Ippo, and without a doubt, well-deserved. In contrast to Ippo and Sendo’s bout, the boxing match between Takamura and Hawk is even more brutal, a clash between savage beasts driven by their primal instincts. It is a spectacle that will be etched in your memory forever.
Additionally, it is important to sit at a safe distance from your screen because the intense excitement may cause you to accidentally hit it; that’s how gripping it is. Hawk has been provoking and mocking his fellow boxers, particularly Takamura. However, when he takes it too far and strikes his coach Kamogawa, the outcome of the match is determined. In the end, Takamura emerged victorious and dealt Hawk a lasting emotional blow.
1. Battle between Rock Lee and Gaara
Anime: Naruto remains the same.
Apart from Dragon Ball, there is no doubt that Naruto is another series that has established the benchmark for epic fight scenes. The iconic moment when Lee discards his weights and shatters Gaara’s impenetrable defense, even causing physical harm, is unforgettable.
Despite the unfortunate ending for Lee, he demonstrated his ability to defeat any ninja of his level even without the use of Ninjutsu and Genjutsu. The animation in the episode was ahead of its time, but in today’s world of advanced technology, the overall quality of animation has remained stagnant with a few exceptions.
Final Thoughts
There are an endless number of Epic Anime Battles, but only a select few will remain epic for eternity. Due to the vastness of this category, it is impossible to include them all in this list. Therefore, please share some of your favorite anime battle scenes that you consider truly epic.
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