Many anime series feature incredibly detailed and spectacular battle scenes. However, series centered around fights have long been a classic and glamorous genre that delivers the ultimate catharsis by taking battle mechanics to a whole other level. Whether in a sports setting or a fantasy world, stunning fight choreography and intense hand-to-hand combat where characters' convictions clash and every blow makes the heart race with pure excitement are among the experiences viewers enjoy when watching the best fighting anime series.
While battle-themed anime usually benefits from high-quality animation, the diverse forces closely intertwined with the genre's themes are the strategy behind the fights, the training, and the duels, whether in a ring or with life at stake. At the heart of battle anime lies an evolution in which characters grow stronger, both mentally and physically, through grueling confrontations. Moreover, the outcomes of these battles hold immense significance for the story and the protagonists' lives, resulting in unforgettable clashes that have a powerful impact in nearly every episode.
Record of Ragnarok
Produced by Graphinica and Yumeta Company and Based on the Manga by Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui
The Netflix original anime, Record of Ragnarok, feels like a blend of Baki the Grappler and the Fate series, capturing the thrilling essence of what a combat anime should be and taking it to ridiculous heights by pitting mighty gods against legendary mortals across various eras. The anime's premise is quite simple, presenting one-on-one deadly battles in a best-of-thirteen tournament between chosen gods and the greatest warriors in human history, with humanity's fate hanging in the balance.
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01
Squid Game shattered records on launch in 2021, becoming Netflix’s biggest-ever series debut. Hwang Dong-hyuk’s South Korean thriller centres on a desperate gambler named Seong Gi-hun. What is his player number?
A067 B218 C001 D456
✓ Correct! Gi-hun is Player 456 — the last number drawn. Kang Sae-byeok (the North Korean defector) is 067, Cho Sang-woo (the Stanford-educated finance crook) is 218, and the mysterious elderly Oh Il-nam is 001. Squid Game became Netflix’s first show to hit #1 in every country it launched in, amassing over 1.6 billion hours watched in its first month alone.
✗ Eliminated! The answer is 456. Gi-hun’s number is the very last of the 456 players. 067 is Sae-byeok the defector, 218 is Sang-woo the Stanford grad, and 001 is the mysterious old man Oh Il-nam whose identity becomes the series’ biggest reveal. Squid Game became Netflix’s most-watched launch ever, hitting #1 in 94 countries.
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02
The Tim Burton-directed Addams Family spin-off set at Nevermore Academy became Netflix’s second-biggest English-language debut in 2022 and launched a TikTok dance craze. Which young actress plays the deadpan title character?
AJenna Ortega BMillie Bobby Brown CSadie Sink DMaya Hawke
✓ Correct! Jenna Ortega — a Disney Channel graduate and indie-horror favourite (X, Scream VI) — took the role Christina Ricci made iconic in the 1990s films and made it entirely her own. Her now-famous cello-accompanied dance scene became an overnight TikTok phenomenon, and her performance earned Wednesday two Emmy nominations despite airing mid-season.
✗ Eliminated! The answer is Jenna Ortega. Millie Bobby Brown is Eleven on Stranger Things, Sadie Sink plays Max Mayfield (also Stranger Things), and Maya Hawke plays Robin. Ortega’s deadpan Wednesday Addams — and her viral cello-dance scene — turned the show into a global phenomenon in late 2022.
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03
In 2013, Netflix released a dark political thriller starring Kevin Spacey as a ruthless congressman breaking the fourth wall. It became the first major streaming original to land a Primetime Emmy nomination and effectively invented prestige streaming TV. Which show was it?
AOrange Is the New Black BHouse of Cards CArrested Development (revival) DHemlock Grove
✓ Correct! House of Cards — adapted by Beau Willimon from the 1990 BBC series — became Netflix’s first prestige original and proved a streaming service could go toe-to-toe with HBO. Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood and his asides to camera defined early streaming TV. Orange Is the New Black followed months later in July 2013 and became Netflix’s longest-running original at the time.
✗ Eliminated! The answer is House of Cards (February 2013). Orange Is the New Black launched five months later (July 2013), Arrested Development’s Netflix revival came in May 2013, and Hemlock Grove was a horror effort the same spring. House of Cards was the flagship — the first streaming original to earn a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series.
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04
Peter Morgan’s The Crown famously recast its entire ensemble every two seasons to age the royal family. After Claire Foy played Queen Elizabeth II in seasons 1-2, which Oscar-winning actress took the crown for seasons 3-4?
AImelda Staunton BOlivia Colman CHelena Bonham Carter DGillian Anderson
✓ Correct! Olivia Colman — fresh off her Best Actress Oscar for The Favourite — played the Queen across seasons 3 and 4, covering the late 1960s through the early Thatcher years. Imelda Staunton took over for seasons 5-6, Helena Bonham Carter played Princess Margaret in seasons 3-4, and Gillian Anderson stole the show as Margaret Thatcher in season 4.
✗ Eliminated! The answer is Olivia Colman. Imelda Staunton took over for the final two seasons (5-6). Helena Bonham Carter played the chain-smoking Princess Margaret during seasons 3-4 alongside Colman. Gillian Anderson delivered an Emmy-winning Margaret Thatcher in season 4. Colman anchored the show’s middle era fresh off her 2019 Oscar win.
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05
The Duffer Brothers’ 1980s nostalgia juggernaut sees Eleven and the gang battle inter-dimensional horrors from a portal beneath the town’s Hawkins National Laboratory. In which fictional US town and state is the series set?
ADerry, Maine BHawkins, Indiana CHill Valley, California DTwin Peaks, Washington
✓ Correct! Hawkins, Indiana — a fictional Midwestern small town that became one of TV’s most iconic settings. The Duffer Brothers chose Indiana for its unassuming, ordinary-America vibe, making the supernatural chaos feel more jarring. Derry is Stephen King’s It setting, Hill Valley is from Back to the Future, and Twin Peaks is David Lynch’s famous town.
✗ Eliminated! The answer is Hawkins, Indiana. Derry, Maine is the fictional town from Stephen King’s It. Hill Valley is Marty McFly’s home in Back to the Future. Twin Peaks, Washington is David Lynch’s famous fictional town. Hawkins is The Duffer Brothers’ deliberately ordinary Midwestern setting — the flat, unassuming backdrop that makes Vecna’s horrors hit harder.
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06
Netflix’s Regency romance juggernaut — based on Julia Quinn’s novels and famous for its colour-blind casting, string-quartet pop covers, and narrated gossip column — is produced by which prolific showrunner’s production banner?
AShonda Rhimes (Shondaland) BRyan Murphy CJulian Fellowes DJenji Kohan
✓ Correct! Shonda Rhimes — the creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal — produces Bridgerton through her Shondaland banner as the first major fruit of her massive 2017 Netflix deal. Chris Van Dusen created the show, but Shondaland’s signature ensemble-romance DNA is all over it. Julian Fellowes did Downton Abbey, Ryan Murphy did Monster/Dahmer, and Jenji Kohan did Orange Is the New Black.
✗ Eliminated! The answer is Shonda Rhimes (Shondaland). Ryan Murphy produces true-crime anthologies like Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Julian Fellowes is the Downton Abbey/Gilded Age creator — a different period drama entirely. Jenji Kohan is behind Orange Is the New Black and Weeds. Bridgerton was the first big payoff of Rhimes’ nine-figure Netflix deal.
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07
La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) became a global phenomenon on Netflix after a modest Spanish TV debut — partly thanks to its gang’s instantly recognisable red jumpsuits paired with a mask of which famous figure?
AGuy Fawkes BSalvador Dalí CChe Guevara DPablo Picasso
✓ Correct! The Salvador Dalí mask — with its upturned moustache — became the show’s defining visual alongside the red jumpsuits, a nod to Spanish artistic rebellion and surrealist individuality. It inspired protest iconography worldwide, from Lebanon to France. The original Antena 3 version underperformed; Netflix acquired it in 2017, re-edited it, and turned it into a global sensation.
✗ Eliminated! The answer is Salvador Dalí. Guy Fawkes is the V for Vendetta mask that Anonymous adopted. Che Guevara is a common revolutionary image but not the heist crew’s mask. Picasso is a frequent wrong answer given he’s the more globally-known Spanish artist — but the Dalí mask, with its iconic moustache, is the one fused forever with Money Heist’s red jumpsuits.
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08
Netflix’s 2020 limited series about a Cold War-era chess prodigy named Beth Harmon caused a global surge in chess-set sales and was one of the streamer’s most-watched shows that year. Who played Beth?
AFlorence Pugh BAnya Taylor-Joy CSaoirse Ronan DDaisy Edgar-Jones
✓ Correct! Anya Taylor-Joy — already a cult favourite from The Witch and Emma — broke out globally as Beth Harmon, winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress. The Queen’s Gambit pulled 62 million households in its first 28 days and caused such a chess-boom that Chess.com and retailers ran out of sets. It also made Walter Tevis’s 1983 novel a surprise bestseller almost 40 years later.
✗ Eliminated! The answer is Anya Taylor-Joy. Florence Pugh (Midsommar, Oppenheimer), Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird), and Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People, Where the Crawdads Sing) are all frequent competitors in similar roles. Taylor-Joy’s Beth Harmon earned her a Golden Globe, a SAG Award, and turned Walter Tevis’s 1983 novel into a sudden bestseller.
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However, it's the sheer scale of the spectacle with the unique powers bestowed upon historical figures, extraordinary and unexpected clashes like Adam versus Zeus, and outlandish mythological interpretations that allow Record of Ragnarok to successfully draw viewers into the heat of battle. Although the Record of Ragnarok anime lacks the intensity of the manga, starting with somewhat poor animation quality, it improves considerably in the second and third seasons.
Kengan Ashura
Produced by Larx Entertainment and Based on the Manga by Yabako Sandrovich and Daromeon
When it comes to fighting anime, Kengan Ashura is an essential watch, reveling in the raw brutality of tough guys trading brutal, no-holds-barred blows. Unlike other anime where a single battle spans much of a season, here each episode delivers a new bout, a fresh display of physical prowess starring absolute beasts who seem almost superhuman. The anime follows a melancholic, middle-aged office worker named Kazuo Yamashita who becomes involved in an underground tournament where various corporations compete against one another, becoming the caretaker of the fighter Ohma Tokita.
Kengan Ashura has a crossover with the Baki franchise titled Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura.
As a violent series, fans can expect very exciting and bloody matches, but the best part of Kengan Ashura is how it depicts different martial arts and fighting styles grounded in reality, yet with the kind of fanciful additions and over-the-top flair expected from anime. Although some viewers might find it hard to get used to the 3D animation, it fits the series perfectly, making Kengan Ashura's fights feel fluid, impactful, and realistic.
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple
Produced by TMS Entertainment and Based on the Manga by Syun Matsuena
Although somewhat forgotten over the years, Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple is perfect for those who enjoy clashes between different fighting styles, and it is especially good for fans of classic underdog anime series. The series follows the spinless Kenichi, who, after being challenged to a duel, begins training at a dojo under the mentorship of several martial arts masters, who push him relentlessly to the point of near death.
Starting with a protagonist who has absolutely no talent, the anime is all about self-improvement through training. It features all kinds of battles as stronger opponents appear one after another, with the protagonist being targeted by bullies, gangs, and even martial arts groups with questionable morals. While the animation might seem dated compared to recent titles, Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple has many strong points, such as its romance and the amusing nature of Kenichi's instructors, that make it a highly enjoyable anime.
Samurai Champloo
Original Series Produced by Manglobe
Samurai Champloo is not your typical samurai anime, becoming a masterpiece by Shinichiro Watanabe that blends a feudal Japan with a contemporary aesthetic where hip-hop music and swordplay collide. At its heart, the series is like a road movie, following three young people with vastly different goals and clashing personalities as they search for a "samurai who smells of sunflowers."
Samurai Champloo is all about the fleeting encounters along the journey but is also packed with stunning battles, unlike anything fans had seen before, particularly given Mugen’s fighting style, which is a fusion of breakdancing and capoeira. With the characters facing off against bandits, bounty hunters, and skilled swordsmen, and given that the protagonists never miss a chance to get into a good fight, even with each other, Samurai Champloo offers plenty of impressive action across its 26 episodes.
Naruto
Produced by Studio Pierrot and Based on the Manga by Masashi Kishimoto
Naruto is widely recognized as one of the biggest shonen anime in the world. Although it expands into political warfare and conflicts of an existential and philosophical nature, the series is, at its core, an action-packed work featuring some of the greatest battles in anime history. Naruto showcases spectacular hand-to-hand fights and one of the best tournament arcs in anime, with different abilities, fighting styles, and weapon mastery, charged with tension from start to finish.
Furthermore, the quality of Naruto's fights improves progressively, featuring magnificent choreography and offering memorable showdowns that still stand the test of time. Although the anime contains filler and a controversial final arc, the action is so good that it makes the series well worth watching, even for those interested in Naruto primarily for the battles.
Shigurui: Death Frenzy
Produced by Madhouse and Based on the Manga by Takayuki Yamaguchi
Real steel swords replace wooden ones in this dramatic, stylish blend of samurai and fighting anime projected by Shigurui: Death Frenzy. The series depicts Shizuoka in the later years of Tokugawa Tadanaga's leadership, 1629, where Fujiki Gennosuke and Irako Seigen vie for the role of successor to the Kogan dojo master. Shigurui: Death Frenzy features visceral and gory depictions of violence compared to typical anime, focusing more on drama and building tension.
This anime, considered among the best samurai anime, shows Madhouse's signature reputation for quality in its meticulous character designs and unflinching display of even the most unsettling moments. In a mere twelve episodes, viewers may crave more, be lured by the premise of a tournament, and stay for the period drama that follows.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Produced by MAPPA and Based on the Manga by Gege Akutami
As ordinary high school student Yuuji Itadori finds himself way out of his depth, facing the imminent danger of a Curse born out of strong negative feelings, he has no choice but to swallow the finger of Sukuna Ryoumen, the King of Curses. With no way to return to his normal life, Yuuji ends up enrolling in the Tokyo Metropolitan Technical High School of Sorcery, where veteran fighters like Gojou Satoru teach aspiring Jujutsu sorcerers about the difficult yet necessary mission of exorcising Curses and protecting humanity.
Even beyond its refreshingly innovative and entertaining fights, which distinguish themselves thanks to the emphasis placed on teamwork and coordination, there is far more to this title than memorable fights and high production value, with humor and heart aplenty.
Dragon Ball
Produced by Toei Animation and Based on the Manga by Akira Toriyama
Dragon Ball is a quintessential fighting and/or shonen battle anime, featuring creator Akira Toriyama's distinctive quirks and gag manga humor as an adventure loosely inspired by Journey to the West. While this title technically applies first to the 1986 anime adaptation, fans will roll all of Dragon Ball's other works in, canonical debates aside.
But anybody who has spent a modest amount of time with the series knows how special it is. It's occasionally even one of the most bizarrely quotable stories out there, from humorous Goku quips to its most badass Vegeta one-liners. But with iconic transformations and power systems, Dragon Ball also eventually set the gold standard for anime fans worldwide.
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
Produced by ufotable and Based on the Visual Novel by Type-Moon
The legendary Holy Grail War, whose winner is said to be granted any wish, takes place every 50 years, with the participants being Master-Servant pairs of powerful magi and the ancient fighters they summon to carry out the battles. Despite knowing that they're about to join a dangerous battle royale where death is almost a certainty, each participating fighter has their own reasons and motivations, except for Shirou Emiya, who unwillingly becomes a Master after summoning the legendary Saber, thus being forced into a mysterious and perilous world.
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works is known for its incredibly high production value, which lends itself to gorgeous animations and legendary fighting scenes. Each battle is intense and there is genuine weight and intention behind every single strike. Moreover, featuring a fairly compelling story and well-designed characters, this title stands out as one of the best anime that premiered in 2014.
Sword of the Stranger
Produced by Bones and Written by Fumihiko Takayama
While many know Studio Bones for its animations on My Hero Academia and Mob Psycho 100, this movie is their most fluid and possibly best animated work. The sword fights were out of this world, and the final fight between Nanashi and Luo-Lang is undoubtedly a zenith of the anime world.
A drifting samurai called Nanashi, tormented by his brutal history, reluctantly takes on the role of guardian for Kotaro, a young boy being chased by merciless Ming assassins. The boy is targeted for a dark ritual aimed at achieving immortality. While Nanashi grapples with his personal struggles, he encounters Luo-Lang, a foreign warrior in search of the ultimate fight.
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