Fights are a massive part of anime – they essentially become one of the best sequences for the animation studios to show off their skills and prowess for planning, character design, and, most importantly, pivoting between narratives. While not all fight scenes become memorable, some stand the test of time and become iconic.
This isn’t about what the mangaka wrote or what the adaptation was – this particular list is to the animation studios behind the scenes, who worked their magic and gave us some of the most visually stunning anime fights. Without any more delay, let’s explore and rank these fights.
10. Eustass Kid, Trafalgar Law, and Monkey D. Luffy vs. Kaido – One Piece
Law, Luffy, and Kid from One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation
Episode 1017 is where it was at when the three strongest from the Worst Generation of One Piece decided to launch their barrage of attacks against the Yonko, Kaido. Luffy went into Gear 4: Bounceman, Kid with his Punk Rotten, and Law with his Room and Tact combination – all charging towards Kaido while “The Supernova Captains Vs Kaido” soundtrack plays in the background.
No matter how many times we watch it, it never gets old. The only reason it’s down on this list is Toei Animation’s production schedule at the time, which kept it from the polish the other top entries enjoyed. Still a stunning moment – just slightly inconsistent frame-to-frame.
9. Genryusai Yamamoto vs. Yhwach – Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
Genryusai Yamamoto from Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War | Credits: Studio Pierrot
The former Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, finally released his Bankai against Yhwach in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Episode 6 – sounds simple, right? But what if we told you it was game-changing? Something we’ve never seen before? A battlefield that should be engulfed in flames goes silent in a split-second, just a radiating heat wave that scorched the entire Seireitei.
Although Yamamoto gets defeated and killed, the fight itself benefits enormously from Studio Pierrot finally having a proper budget. The sheer grandeur of Zanka no Tachi is visually realized in a way the manga could only suggest. In our opinion, it still stands as one of Bleach‘s legendary battle moments.
8. Asta and Yami Sukehiro vs. Dante – Black Clover
Asta and Yami from Black Clover | Credits: Studio Pierrot
Black Clover Episode 167 – Asta and Yami Sukehiro fight against Dante, one of the strongest and most broken villains from the series – a fight that can best be described as Studio Pierrot’s best in the series. It was a rough patch for the anime as the animation struggled really hard, but the fight showed what Pierrot could really do if they tried harder.
In our opinion, this is one of the most criminally underrated battle scenes in anime – majorly affected by the overall reputation of the series. It looked like the animators were saving all their energy for this one fight, and that’s some powerful energy if that’s the case.
7. Izuku Midoriya vs. Overhaul – My Hero Academia
The My Hero Academia series is already a highly praised series for its masterful and polished animation throughout the series at the hands of the famous Studio Bones Inc., but then the studio had to overtake themselves and create the Izuku Midoriya vs. Overhaul fight in the series, starting from Season 4 Episode 13.
Midoriya vs. Overhaul is Bones at its peak – Eri’s awakening moment, backed by absolutely committed animation work, gives it an emotional lift that propels it above the series’ usual standard. To top that, Midoriya gave us a side in the fight that we never expected from him; a usually goofy anime character who went into rage mode.
6. Levi Ackerman vs. Kenny Squad – Attack on Titan
Levi Ackerman from Attack on Titan | Credits: Wit Studio
If you don’t know already, Levi Ackerman is one of the most goated characters in shonen anime, not just Attack on Titan, and the battle against Kenny Squad from Season 3 Episode 2 might just be more evidence towards his status. Flying on the ODM Gear and slashing opponents mid-air – this is all we could’ve ever wanted from him.
The battle is a masterclass in spatial choreography. The 3D maneuver gear sequences feel genuinely three-dimensional – something only a studio like Wit Studio can pull off so much more effortlessly. The only disappointment we all have to this day is the Season 4 handoff.
5. Saitama vs. Boros – One Punch Man
Saitama from One Punch Man | Credits: Madhouse
You can leave it to Saitama to make intense battles look ridiculously one-sided, and then Studio Madhouse joined the madness with their brilliant animation legacy for the Boros vs. Saitama fight in One Punch Man Season 1 Episode 12. While it takes animation studios an entire series to cement their name, Madhouse just did it like a boss in basically one episode.
Saitama vs. Boros still holds up as one of anime’s finest single-episode productions – Madhouse’s commitment to showing scale and impact rather than just speed is what separates it from lesser shonen climaxes.
4. Son Goku vs. Jiren – Dragon Ball Super
Ultra Instinct Goku from Dragon Ball Super | Credits: Toei Animation
All those years of training and sacrifices by Goku led to the moment when he fought Jiren in the Tournament of Power from Dragon Ball Super – and Toei Animation paid respect to the scene by creating one of the best anime fights of the late legendary Akira Toriyama’s series.
While the multiple episodes of battle were already at their peak, we need to give credit where it’s due, and that’s Episode 130, the climax of the battle animated by Naotoshi Shida. Remembering the entire climax still sends shivers down our spine.
3. Yuji Itadori vs. Choso – Jujutsu Kaisen
Choso from Jujutsu Kaisen | Credits: MAPPA
Before we start this entry, we have to address the elephant in the room first: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 13 was absolute cinema. As their eyes met, Choso and Yuji Itadori went straight at it – a fight that will definitely age like fine wine, even years from now. From the vibrant pink and cyan hues of the signs reflecting on the characters to the stark and bright red highlights, nothing screamed peak animation more than this.
Yuji vs. Choso was basically MAPPA firing on all cylinders – the looseness of the linework, the speed smears, and the unpredictable rhythm make it feel unlike anything else airing at the time.
2. Kakashi Hatake vs. Obito Uchiha – Naruto: Shippuden
Obito vs. Kakashi from Naruto: Shippuden | Credits: Studio Pierrot
No matter how much modern-day animations peak, a classic will always remain a classic. Back in the day, when a massive war was raging on during the Fourth Shinobi World War in Naruto: Shippuden, Episode 375 gave us a battle we will never forget. Kakashi vs. Obito wasn’t just a battle; it was raw emotion pouring out with every frame and transition.
The fight was Studio Pierrot’s visual storytelling at its peak, with the flashbacks playing simultaneously when the two were friends and trained together. Cutting between the present and the childhood flashback in the rain elevates it above a pure technical showcase into something genuinely moving.
1. Tengen Uzui vs. Gyutaro – Demon Slayer
Tengen Uzui from Demon Slayer | Credits: Ufotable
Ufotable – an animation studio that has gained a behemoth reputation in the world of visual creativity and mastery – created one of the most epic fights, even before the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie blew up. During the Entertainment District Arc, the battle between the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, and the Upper Rank Six demon Gyutaro from Season 2 Episode 10 might be one of the best animated sequences.
From layered particle effects and seamless camera movement to the simultaneous multi-character coordination – everything about that Demon Slayer fight is a monumental frame, no matter how many times we keep rewinding it.
RANKINGTHE FIGHTANIME SERIESPRODUCTION STUDIOIMDb RATINGS (as of June 6, 2026)1Tengen Uzui vs. GyutaroDemon SlayerUfotable8.6/102Kakashi Hatake vs. Obito UchihaNaruto: ShippudenStudio Pierrot8.7/103Yuji Itadori vs. ChosoJujutsu KaisenMAPPA8.5/104Son Goku vs. JirenDragon Ball SuperToei Animation8.3/105Saitama vs. BorosOne Punch ManMadhouse8.6/106Levi Ackerman vs. Kenny SquadAttack on TitanWit Studio9.1/107Izuku Midoriya vs. OverhaulMy Hero AcademiaBones Inc.8.2/108Asta and Yami Sukehiro vs. DanteBlack CloverStudio Pierrot8.2/109Genryusai Yamamoto vs. YhwachBleach: Thousand-Year Blood WarStudio Pierrot9/1010Eustass Kid, Trafalgar Law, and Monkey D. Luffy vs. KaidoOne PieceToei Animation9/10
What are your thoughts on our rankings of the most visually stunning fights in anime? We’d love to hear your top picks and opinions in the comments below.
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