If you’re an adrenaline junkie who craves action scenes and epic battles, you’ve probably already feasted your eyes on popular action anime like Attack on Titan or Demon Slayer. Nonetheless, many underrated, critically acclaimed action anime gems deserve your attention and will surely satisfy your appetite for thrills.
Eden of the East
Brace yourself for a mind-bending, fast-paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. First of all, this mystery thriller starts with a man named Akira Takizawa waking up with no memory and no clothes outside the White House. He has a phone that gives him access to billions of dollars and the ability to make his requests come true.
Additionally, missile attacks and the disappearance of thousands of people in Japan catch him up as the story progresses. The conspiracy action gets more and more exciting with great animation. The intriguing premise and mind games make it a unique experience worth watching.
The Heroic Legend of Arslan (Arslan Senki)
Immerse yourself in a sweeping historical epic next, this series adapts a famous Persian folklore story. It follows Prince Arslan, who is forced out of his kingdom by invaders from Lusitania. The breathtaking sword and cavalry battle animation will undoubtedly appeal to fans of historical action. Moreover, the layered story shows Arslan’s growth from a naive prince to a skilled military leader.
Canaan
Fasten your seatbelts for a relentless, action-packed thrill ride. Furthermore, this 2009 series has slick action and an intriguing mystery plot. The main character, Canaan, a mercenary, gets caught up in a deadly virus conspiracy in Shanghai. Simultaneously, the fast-paced gunfights and martial arts scenes are impressive, especially with the unique modern Chinese setting that anime rarely explores. Fans of tough action heroines like Revy from Black Lagoon will absolutely love it.
Zetsuen no Tempest (Blast of Tempest)
Prepare to be spellbound by a supernatural revenge tale. In addition, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this series has a revenge plot filled with tragedy and sorcery. After his family is murdered, teenager Mahiro Fuwa teams up with a powerful mage named Hakaze to find out the truth and prevent the apocalyptic Tree of Zetsuen from reviving. Likewise, the cool magical battles and fantastic world-building make it an underappreciated gem.
Sengoku Basara
Get ready to witness the ultimate fusion of history and fiction. Moreover, Sengoku Basara provides an over-the-top historical action story by fictionalizing legendary samurai warriors like Oda Nobunaga, Date Masamune, and Sanada Yukimura. Furthermore, these awesome warriors with outrageous supernatural powers and weapons clash in visually stunning feudal battles. Despite the larger-than-life characters, it also captures the intensity and drama of the real feudal conflicts for pure adrenaline-fueled fun.
D.Gray-man
Last but not least, rediscover a Shonen classic that deserves a renaissance. Although more well-known, this series still deserves more recognition as a classic action-packed supernatural shonen. Besides, exorcists like Allen Walker wield powerful anti-Akuma weapons against the Millennium Earl’s demonic forces. The creepy monster designs, slick choreographed fights, and darker existential themes help it stand out engrossingly from other series like Naruto and Bleach at that time.
So in summary, if you constantly find yourself craving fresh action anime with top-quality animation and fight choreography, do yourself a favor and check out these 6 underrated action anime gems spanning supernatural to historical settings. They guarantee to get your adrenaline pumping and offer something for all tastes!
