Whenever an anime fan starts his anime journey, he either looks up MyAnimeList or the good old IMDB. But which list is better?
Today, we will be looking at the top 100 action-anime of all time according to IMDB and MyAnimeList. I will keep my recommendations to myself and what you’re going to read below according to IMDB and MyAnimeList. But those who have visiting the anime world for the first time, you might want to know more about anime and how it’s different from other forms of entertainment.
What is anime?
Anime is simply animation that’s coming out of Japan. Like what we see in Disney and Pixar animation, we call it a cartoon and the cartoons produced through Japanese studies or in the Japanese sense is called anime. Yes, you’ve heard that right. Anime is a cartoon/animated series that’s being made in Japan.
There are various methods or observation metrics you can use to differentiate between anime and western cartoons. The first is obviously language. Most anime series are dubbed in Japanese. If the show gets the hype and generates enough traction, the studios then dub the anime episodes into English. The second is the animation method. Most classic anime series are hand drawn and the Japanese studies prefer hand-drawn animation over CGI to maintain the flow of the animation and make it more Japan-centric.
Also Read: The perfect guide to start your anime figurine collection
Now you know what anime is and how you can differentiate between cartoons and anime, let’s move to our list. First, we will start with IMGD and then MyAnimelist.
Top 100 Action Anime of all time according to IMDB (2023)
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009–2012)
- Vinland Saga
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc (2019– )
- Hunter x Hunter (2011–2014) 9
- Silver Fang (1986– )
- Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999)
- One Punch Man (2015– )
- Attack on Titan (2013–2022)
- Fighting Spirit (2000–2002)
- Gintama (2005–2018)
- Hunter x Hunter (1999–2001)
- One Piece (1999– )
- Dragon Ball Z (1996–2003)
- InuYasha: The Final Act (2009–2010)
- Code Geass (2006–2012)
- Fullmetal Alchemist (2003–2004)
- Berserk (1997–1998)
- Rurouni Kenshin (1996–1999)
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982–1983)
- Mob Psycho 100 (2016–2019)
- My Hero Academia (2016– )
- Naruto: Shippûden (2007–2017)
- Knights of the Zodiac (1986–1989)
- Samurai Champloo (2004–2005)
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002–2005)
- Dragon Ball (1995–2003)
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996)
- Dororo (2019)
- Dragon Ball Super (2015–2018)
- Parasyte: The Maxim (2014–2015)
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012– )
- Initial D (1998)
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files (1992–1995)
- Dr. Stone (2019– )
- Fate/Zero (2011–2012)
- Baccano! (2007–2008)
- Gyakkyô burai Kaiji (2007–2011)
- Guardian of the Sacred Spirit (2007– )
- Gurren Lagann (2007–2008)
- Hellsing Ultimate (2006–2012)
- Trigun (1998)
- Grandizer (1975–1977)
- Fist of the North Star (1984–1988)
- The Seven Deadly Sins (2014–2021)
- Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (2012–2013)
- Psycho-Pass (2012– )
- Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple (2006–2014)
- FLCL (2000–2018)
- Ranma ½: Nettô-hen (1989–1992)
- The Rising of the Shield Hero (2019– )
- Yona of the Dawn (2014– )
- Mobile Suit Gundam (1979–1980)
- Full Metal Panic! (2002– )
- Bleach (2004–2012)
- Shaman King (2001–2005)
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (2018– )
- Black Clover (2017–2021)
- Assassination Classroom (2013–2016)
- Fairy Tail (2009–2019)
- Bakemonogatari (2009–2010)
- Claymore (2007)
- Black Lagoon (2006)
- Ergo Proxy (2006)
- Elfen Lied (2004)
- Wolf’s Rain (2003–2004)
- Now and Then, Here and There (1999–2000)
- Cardcaptor Sakura (1998–2000)
- Lupin the 3rd (1977–1980)
- Megalo Box (2018– )
- Akame ga Kill! (2014)
- Durarara!! (2010)
- Tokyo Ghoul (2014)
- Sailor Moon Crystal (2014– )
- Kill la Kill (2013–2014)
- Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic (2012–2014)
- Katanagatari (2010)
- Reborn! (2006– )
- Soul Eater (2008–2009)
- Last Exile (2003)
- Hellsing (2001–2002)
- Outlaw Star (1998– )
- Digimon Adventure (1999–2000)
- Space Pirate Captain Harlock (1978–1979)
- City Hunter (1987–1991)
- Gungrave (2003–2004)
- Inuyashiki (2017)
- Drifters (2016– )
- Overlord (2015– )
- Knights of Sidonia (2014–2015)
- Sekirei (2008–2010)
- Angel Beats! (2010)
- Black Butler (2008–2010)
- Shigurui: Death Frenzy (2007– )
- Darker Than Black (2007–2010)
- Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor (2005–2006)
- Escaflowne (1996)
- Ajin (2016– )
- The Devil Is a Part-Timer! (2013– )
- High School DxD (2012–2018)
- Future Diary (2011–2013)
Now that we’ve covered the IMDB list, let’s see how good the MyAnimeList is. Also, at the end, we will compare the top 10 action anime list from IMDB and MyAnimeList.
Top 100 action anime of all time according to MyAnimeList
- Shingeki no Kyojin
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Sword Art Online
- One Punch Man
- Boku no Hero Academia
- Tokyo Ghoul
- Naruto
- Hunter x Hunter (2011)
- Shingeki no Kyojin Season 2
- Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Boku no Hero Academia 2nd Season
- Naruto: Shippuuden
- Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch
- Angel Beats!
- Noragami
- Mirai Nikki (TV)
- Boku no Hero Academia 3rd Season
- Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3
- Nanatsu no Taizai
- Akame ga Kill!
- One Piece
- Sword Art Online II
- Ao no Exorcist
- Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
- Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 Part 2
- Mob Psycho 100
- Fairy Tail
- Bleach
- Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu
- Jujutsu Kaisen (TV)
- Tokyo Ghoul √A
- Cowboy Bebop
- Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2
- Kill la Kill
- Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Soul Eater
- Psycho-Pass
- Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
- Elfen Lied
- Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season
- Fullmetal Alchemist
- Boku no Hero Academia 4th Season
- Darling in the FranXX
- Highschool of the Dead
- Fate/Zero
- One Punch Man 2nd Season
- Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka
- Durarara!!
- JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken (TV)
- Overlord
- Noragami Aragoto
- Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari
- Black Clover
- Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2nd Season
- Mob Psycho 100 II
- Owari no Seraph
- Deadman Wonderland
- Guilty Crown
- Samurai Champloo
- Dragon Ball Z
- Mononoke Hime
- Bungou Stray Dogs
- Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
- Kuroshitsuji
- Log Horizon
- Enen no Shouboutai
- Fate/Zero 2nd Season
- Vinland Saga
- Nanatsu no Taizai: Imashime no Fukkatsu
- Tokyo Ghoul:re
- Dororo
- JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 3: Stardust Crusaders
- Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
- Gintama
- Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
- Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
- Goblin Slayer
- Devilman: Crybaby
- Kimetsu no Yaiba Movie: Mugen Ressha-hen
- Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha
- Fate/stay night
- Fairy Tail (2014)
- Black Lagoon
- JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 3: Stardust Crusaders 2nd Season
- JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 4: Diamond wa Kudakenai
- Sword Art Online: Alicization
- Black Bullet
- Baccano!
- High School DxD New
- Overlord II
- Hellsing Ultimate
- Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry
- Btooom!
- Boku no Hero Academia 5th Season
- Magi: The Kingdom of Magic
- Kekkai Sensen
- JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 5: Ougon no Kaze
- Zero no Tsukaima
- Youjo Senki
- Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season
Top 10 action anime according to IMDB
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009–2012)
- Vinland Saga
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc (2019– )
- Hunter x Hunter (2011–2014) 9
- Silver Fang (1986– )
- Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999)
- One Punch Man (2015– )
- Attack on Titan (2013–2022)
- Fighting Spirit (2000–2002)
- Gintama (2005–2018)
Top 10 action anime according to MyAnimeList
- Shingeki no Kyojin
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Sword Art Online
- One Punch Man
- Boku no Hero Academia
- Tokyo Ghoul
- Naruto
- Hunter x Hunter (2011)
- Shingeki no Kyojin Season 2
- Kimetsu no Yaiba
Top 10 action anime according to IMDB and MyAnimeList
| Top 10 action anime according to IMDB | Top 10 action anime according to MyAnimeList |
| Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Shingeki no Kyojin |
| Vinland Saga | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood |
| Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc | Sword Art Online |
| Hunter x Hunter | One Punch Man |
| Silver Fang | Boku no Hero Academia |
| Cowboy Bebop | Tokyo Ghoul |
| One Punch Man | Naruto |
| Attack on Titan | Hunter x Hunter (2011) |
| Fighting Spirit | Shingeki no Kyojin Season 2 |
| Gintama | Kimetsu no Yaiba |
