The Best Action Anime You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Summary

• Action anime are the lifeblood of the medium, offering great fights and engaging stories.
• Unnoticed series like Shadow Skill and Guyver deserve attention for their exciting plots.
• Unique action-packed shows like X and Gate Keepers 21 offer supernatural and dark themes.

Action is the lifeblood of anime, attracting thousands upon thousands of fans who come for the flashy visuals but stay for the amazing stories and interesting characters. Action anime stands as the backbone of the medium, creating warring factions or sole protagonists who seek revenge. Stories like Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer depict amazing fights and battles, engaging viewers with mystery and intrigue.

There are new action anime constantly released, so many that lots of worthy series go unnoticed and get overshadowed. Dozens of action-packed anime releases only get a small amount of attention, or none at all, but deserve a chance. Here are some of the best action anime you’ve probably never heard of.

8

Shadow Skill (1996)

A Twisting Story Of Martial Arts Rivalry

Shadow Skill is a small-name martial arts anime based on the manga written by Megumu Okada and produced by Studio Deen. The series is set in a desolate world locked in constant war. Powerful and sinister entities seek to keep the world in chaos while a small few rebel against evil as best they can, utilizing a mystic martial art called Shadow Skill.

The story follows Elle, an elite warrior who has risen through the ranks and become one of the top fighters in the world, fighting against evil with no hesitation alongside her new protege, Gau, a young man lacking talent and self-confidence. Elle must turn Gau into a top-notch fighter before they both get themselves killed and a wave of darkness closes in on the world. Shadow Skill has extremely fluid animation and a unique character dynamics that make it a must-watch.

7

Samurai Deeper Kyo

Two Legendary Swordsmen Share A Body

Samurai Deeper Kyo takes place in a war-torn Japan, where violence and treachery are common practice. Two of the best swordsmen in the land vanish off the face of the earth during an epic battle after being struck by a falling star. Years later, the swordsmen reemerge in a bizarre predicament, having joined as one.

Kyoushiro, with no memory of the event, travels freely and winds up in a mountain of debt, making himself a target. Upon the threat of death, Demon Eyes Kyo awakens, takes over, and cuts down his attackers. This begins their journey as a bounty hunter seeks to claim the price on their head, along with half the country. Samurai Deeper Kyo is an interesting concept with incredible direction, and is more than worth a shot for action anime fans.

6

X (The Series)

A Spectacular War Among Forces Of Nature

X (The Series) is a supernatural epic carefully crafted by the brilliant animators at CLAMP Studio. The story takes place in Tokyo during a cataclysmic war between god-like factions known as the Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth.

Shirou is a young boy who becomes entangled in this conflict, as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. He must decide whether to protect the world with the Dragons of Earth or destroy an alien with the Dragons of Heaven. The action and art are classic and have stood the test of time beautifully. X is a stunning spectacle by the CLAMP studio creators that still stands up to today’s standard for action and storytelling.

5

Gate Keepers 21

A Unique Power System And Strong Animation

Gate Keepers 21 is a sequel series to the original anime Gate Keepers, set three decades after invaders sought to wipe out humanity but were stopped by a secret organization called A.E.G.I.S. Powerful agents of A.E.G.I.S., now scattered to the wind, continue their efforts to wipe out the remnants of the invaders.

As things slowly ramp up and the conflict is revitalized, Ayane, a current gatekeeper, must find the will to protect a world she has grown to hate or watch it all burn down. Gate Keepers 21 was originally a Tactical RPG by Entertainment Software, but the anime is much darker and more violent than the video game does. The darker tone and unique power system make this series a great watch.

4

Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor

A Science Fiction Masterpiece

Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor is a perfect mesh of cybernetic and kaiju action that never fails to satisfy. The original Guyver: The Bio-Boosted Armor debuted in the early eighties, and this series was a mid-2000s remake that acted as a more direct adaptation of the original manga. It follows a young high school boy named Shou. Shou is dragged kicking and screaming into an underworld of genetics companies that have found a way to turn people into powerful monstrosities and use them as bio-weapons.

Shou comes in contact with an experimental device and is granted the ability to activate the Guyver Armor. Unfortunately, this makes Shou and his loved ones a target, and he must face the Zoanoid horde that now seeks to kill him and reclaim the Guyver armor for themselves. Guyver remains one of the most underrated science fiction anime series of all time, consistently delivering top-tier action and brutality.

3

R.O.D The TV

An Engaging Thrill Ride From Start To Finish

R.O.D the TV is an incredibly unique concept meshed with thrilling action. The leading three sisters’ investigation service is made up of Anita, Maggie, and Michelle. Together, they tackle detrimental crimes involving books, such as theft, endangered authors, and forgery, often fueled by black market dealings.

The girls use their unique ability of paper mastery to take on thieves, mercenaries, and other powered individuals. Using paper mastery, Maggie, Anita, and Michelle can manipulate common paper and turn it into weapons, vehicles, and armor, leading to some spectacular and unique action sequences. The strong narrative and epic action scenes of R.O.D. the TV make it a true hidden gem that anime fans should give a chance.

2

Blue Seed

Girl Fights Monsters And Saves The World

In Blue Seed, Japan is plagued by monstrous kaiju called Arigami, who wreak havoc all over the country. Momigi is an average high school girl until she discovers that she is the descendant of a unique bloodline that can combat the Arigami by utilizing her special blood.

Well, in over her head, Momigi tries her best and begins working with a secret government organization and a half-Aragami warrior named Kusanagi, taking on the endless waves of monsters to try to uncover the source of their origin and who is creating them. Blue Seed is the total package of action, romance, and epic monsters, making it a genuine diamond in the rough that anime fans may never have heard of.

1

Bio Hunter

A Bloody And Horrific Action-Packed Series

Tokyo is under threat by a mysterious demon virus that infects at random and transforms people into disfigured monsters that prey on anyone around them. Komada and Koshigawa are two teachers who have taken it upon themselves to find the source of the virus and either cure it or put an end to it.

In Bio Hunter, the two heroes begin to investigate horrific crimes and strange occurrences that lead them into dangerous situations. Fortunately, Komada is a survivor of the virus and uses his transformation to take on the monsters that erupt from infected victims. The horror and gore aspects of Bio Hunter capture the raw quality of 80s anime, making it a great binge-watch and one of the better series of its era.