The word has gone crazy, an invisible virus has stranglehold over all us, resorting to social distancing and locking our selves away in our homes, this is one hardest things many of us have ever gone through. What we need right now is entertainment as a way to forget about the stresses of the world at least for a few hours so I have decided over the next couple of weeks to compile a watch list of my top 10 Anime, from my favourite genres from Action to adventure, Sci Fi, Comedy, thrillers and horrors. This weeks list comes from the world of Action and Adventure often refereed to as Shonen Action to, fans of Anime, epic Heroes and epic fight scenes aplenty, so lets get to it.
No. 10
Demon Slayer
I have to be honest with you guys here, I have not seen the anime, I have only read the Manga which is why I have listed this at No.10. But the manga has been awesome so far. I have heard great things regarding the Anime and as long as it sticks to the Manga it will be a sure fire hit. A young boy returns home to find his family has been killed by a demon, he finds one of his sisters clinging to life. Unfortunately, although she seemed to have survived she had become infected and was to turn into a Demon. The boy can not bring himself to kill his sister as she still shows signs of humanity. After meeting a demon slayer and lots of training, the boy and his sister set off to find a cure and destroy all the demons.
No. 9
Seven Deadly Sins
This is the only Netflix Anime to make the list and Netflix caught onto a winner with one of their first Anime projects. Seven Deadly Sins was already a successful Manga and was perfect for an action adventure anime that could rival some of the best. This is by far Netflix’s best Anime. The production put into their adaptation was fantastic and I feel they did an excellent job of bringing the Manga to life. Our hero is as cliché as you can get when it comes to Anime, powerful, fun loving, determined hero with a thing for the princess in peril, a panties obsession as well as a dark secret. Our hero is a member of the infamous Seven Deadly Sins who betrayed the Kingdom or did they? With the help of the princess our Hero will reform the Seven Deadly Sins... they may just be the only ones who can save the day.
No. 8
Dragonball (Series)
If you have not at least heard of the Dragonball series and it’s lead protagonist Goku I will just assume you have been on lockdown for the entirety of your life. Dragonball Z became a pop culture icon during the 90’s thanks to outlandish story lines and absolutely epic fight scenes. Dragonball Z still holds the record for the longest fight scene ever animated. I loved Dragonball Z when I was growing up, admittedly I still look back at it fondly, but now I am little older I can see a lot of the filler around the fight scenes can really drag. The most recent series Dragonball Super taking place after the events of Dragonball Z, is a better quality of animation and the fight scenes although shorter are much more impactful. I controversially feel the best Dragonball series is the original Dragonball which is actually loosely based on the story Journey to the West, even the protagonist Goku is the Japanese name of the monkey God Sun Wukong.
No.7
Bleach
Bleach is considered part of the big 3 Animes of the early 2000’s with Nartuto and One Piece. It is the story of Soul Reapers who protect humanity from wayward souls which have become beings known as hollows who feed on good souls whether they’re living or Dead. The story follows Ichico a human with the ability to see ghosts. Due to an incident involving his family and a Hollow, he is forced to take on powers of a soul reaper. Unfortunately it is against the rules for Humans to take on this power, but when evil plots come to light he might just be the hero they needed.
No. 6
One Punch Man
One Punch man takes place in world of super heroes, however it takes a much more satirical view of the Super Hero world. The main protagonist, One Punch Man is bored, super bored. As you can probably guess by the name of Anime, he is far too strong, defeating everyone he faces in one punch and there for nothing challenges him, and this has led to him become withdrawn from life. You may be asking yourself how can an Anime about a guy who can defeat anyone with one punch be interesting? Where is the action? where is the drama? I can assure you that there is plenty with an incredible supporting cast help to elevate the drama and the Action but on top of that there is just so much comedy watching somebody who is just a super hero for fun and how bored he is as no one can challenge him and his delight when he finally comes across a foe who can take more than one of his punches.
No.5
Attack on Titan
Imagine a Zombie apocalypse now imagine those Zombies are giants, imagine having to create walls a 50 meters high to keep those giant zombies out, that’s the life you live in on Attack on Titan. The story start with our 3 protagonists as children. Behind several walls, the last of humanity lives in fear of beings known only as Titans on the outside. After a Giant Titan appears a destroying the first wall in the defence against the Titans the protagonists town is quickly overrun and everyone annihilated, their families are lost. As they manage to retreat behind the second wall, our main Protagonist Eren swears that he will Kill all the Titans. He, as well as his childhood friends Armin and Mikasa join the scout regiment army. Along the way they will discover the truth of not only the Titans but that of the Royal Family and that of the walls erected around them. This series is one of the more gruesome series on this list so make sure you have strong stomach for blood guts and gore, this series is certainly not one to shy away from a death or two when needed.
No. 4
Black Clover
What would you do if you were born with out any magic powers when everyone around you does? you would probably give up on your dream of becoming the wizard king wouldn’t you? Not our hero in Black Clover, Asta despite having no magical ability, he still dreams of becoming the wizard king. Asta, along with his brother Yuno leave the orphanage where they were raised to try join the magic knights, Yuno who is blessed with an abundance to Magical Powers joins the strongest group of magic knights the Golden Dawn whilst the powerless Asta is given a chance to join the Black Bulls, a magic knight squad comprised of the outcasts. Asta is certainly a handful at times, he’s excitable but determined and this determination begins to rub off on the rest of Black Bulls as they climb the magic knight rankings. A sinister threat starts to emerge, it will be up to Asta and the rest of the magic knights to save the kingdom... but there maybe traitors everywhere.
No. 3
Fairy Tail
A tale of friendship and family, in world where magic exist. Wizards can make money by joining guilds, and completing quests. Fairy Tail is a story about one such guild. Fairy Tail happens to be one of the more destructive guilds in constant trouble with the Magic council, thanks in most in part to our lead protagonist Natsu. We join Natsu in story told to us through his closest companion Lucy, as he and the rest of his guildmates as they face off against a variety of threats, including monsters, demons and Dark guilds. Fairy Tail is one of the longest running Anime and Manga on this list with 277 episodes, 20 arcs over ten seasons. Originally aimed at a younger audience the series matures with the viewers with the situations becoming increasingly more dangerous. Natsu is for the epitome of an action Hero, unlike most other protagonists he never broods, he is never defeated in his head no matter the situation no matter how bad things may be going he never losses faith in himself or his friends as with his friends behind him he can accomplish anything.
No. 2
Fullmetal Alchemist
The story of two brothers, one missing his arm and leg whilst the other is missing everything, except his soul. This series is so much more than two brothers, it is a story of Family, Friendship, Tragedy, loss and even more. Fullmetal alchemist has long been considered quintessential viewing by almost all Anime fans from around world. The Elric bothers, Edward and Alphonse are on on a quest to undo what they did when they committed the ultimate Taboo, to do so Edward must become a state alchemist and find a Philosophers Stone, unfortunately along the way he will discover the disturbing truth behind the Philosophers Stone’s ingredients and the sinister plot that they along with their friends and family will have to stop.
No. 1
My Hero Academia
A boy born with out super powers in world full of super powered people, he has only one wish to become a hero like his favourite Super hero, after a fateful encounter with his idol, our young wannabe hero embarks on his Journey. Join young Midorya and his classmates at UA academy where they will learn what it takes become a hero. This is one of the newest Animes currently still running, the 4th season has just kicked off, with two spin off Mangas from the original series I do not see this story coming to an end soon. If you are a fan of Marvel and DC comics this is a must watch and read. As a kid I grew up loving the X Men as such this just became an instant hit with me it boasts a great cast of characters both Hero and Villain and an absolute fantastic story every arc so far has just improved on what came before it and not forgetting the original film Two Heroes that was in Theatres last summer.
This brings an end to my Top Ten Action and Adventure Anime list so where can you watch these shows, all of these shows are available on Cruchyroll (Hey sponsor me Crunchyroll) in original dub with English subtitles, if you prefer to watch shows with English Dub most of these shows are available on Funimation (Hey Sponsor me Fumimation) and some of these shows are also on Netflix. There has never been a better time to check out new Anime with all the different streaming options available and whilst you’re stuck in with little to do there has been no better time to just Binge some good old entertainment with so many great shows available. This list is just based on my opinion and there are still plenty of great anime from the world of Action and Adventure and I would always urge people to check out as many Animes as possible, like everything there will always be something you like and something you don’t like. Keep an eye out for my up coming top ten Anime lists for genres such as Sci Fi, Horror and Thrillers, Slice of Life Anime and more coming soon,
The Great British Otaku
Andrew More
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