Dragon Ball Z continues to be one of the most popular and critically acclaimed anime series ever, blending high-octane action and deeply memorable characters to drive its accessible story forward. The series continues to be massively beloved and acclaimed well after its conclusion, especially considering Dragon Ball‘s continuation with various sequel series, including Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball Daima. While the series is still the face of action anime for many audiences, it is far from the only exceptional action anime series worth watching.
Considering the series’ widespread influence across the entire anime genre, there are a multitude of other great series that continue the blend of action and characterization that made Dragon Ball so iconic. From flashy and deadly villains to massive super moves, it’s easy to see the legacy that Dragon Ball Z has imbued within various series, both directly and indirectly. It helps that Dragon Ball Z is such an effective entry point to anime, with many of these series similarly having that energy and ease for anime beginners.
10
‘Hunter x Hunter’ (2011–2014)
Created by Yoshihiro Togashi
While originally widely beloved for its manga, Hunter x Hunter would eventually create a wildly effective anime adaptation of its own, feeling fully complete and concise in its storytelling through a relatively short 62 episodes. The series follows young hero Gon Freecss, who, after discovering that his long-lost father is a world-renowned hunter, departs on a journey to become a world-class hunter of his own and eventually find his father. Gon finds himself meeting various friends and facing off against vicious villains while on his journeys.
Through its prospect of also being an upbeat shōnen anime, Hunter x Hunter shares a lot of dynamics and inherent strengths that were popularized and cemented through the success of Dragon Ball. Its utilization of distinct arcs, direct character growth, and increasing power scales throughout the series, and highly iconic villains that define each part of the series are prominent aspects of Hunter X Hunter‘s structure.
9
‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ (2020–)
Directed by Sunghoo Park and Shota Goshozono
One of the biggest hits when it comes to modern anime series, Jujutsu Kaisen has been taking the world by storm and engrossing audiences with the same fervor and energy as when Dragon Ball was ongoing. The series follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he joins a secret organization of sorcerers who are tasked with eliminating a deadly curse who has been named Ryomen Sukuna. Soon, Yuji becomes the latest host of this deadly curse, placing himself and his friends in danger.
More than just another entertaining action anime that plays into the same conventions and trends of other shōnen, Jujutsu Kaisen feels like a mature evolution of these classic trends for audiences who grew up with shōnen stories. It doesn’t feel the need to talk down to its audience, exploring deeply mature themes while sticking true to the effective action and electrifying presence of a series like Dragon Ball. Even with only 2 seasons complete, the series has been a defining experience of modern anime and will only grow larger in popularity as the decade continues.
Jujutsu Kaisen
- Release Date
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October 3, 2020
- Directors
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Sunghoo Park, Shōta Goshozono
8
‘Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’ (2012–)
Created by Hirohiko Araki
Blending the classic high energy of an action anime with some of the most creatively absurd concepts imaginable in terms of execution, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is in a league of its own in terms of anime storytelling. The anime is known for its over-the-top nature, as it shifts and evolves throughout the series to grow increasingly manic and absurd with both its concepts and visual execution. It has achieved one of the most dedicated fan bases in all of modern anime, rivaling that of Dragon Ball Z in terms of larger impact and legacy in the modern era of anime.
The series shifts focus and concept around a lot through each of its distinct parts, although each part follows a member of the Joestar family across generations and their various adventures. These adventures range from fighting off ancient superhumans to traveling the world to defeat a villain seeking revenge to an enclosed murder mystery within a small Japanese town. The series specifically kicks it into high gear in terms of creativity and energy when it introduces stands, unique powers that act as physical manifestations of a person’s energy.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
- Release Date
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October 6, 2012
- Showrunner
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Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu
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Kazuyuki Okitsu
Jonathan Joestar
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Tomokazu Sugita
Joseph Joestar
7
‘Bleach’ (2004–2023)
Created by Tite Kubo
Considered a part of the largely acclaimed “big three” of some of the most influential anime series of all time, Bleach has been a cornerstone of stylish action and mature storytelling for anime in the 21st century. The series follows the teenage Ichigo Kurosaki as he obtains the powers of a deadly Soul Reaper, a personification of death similar to the Grim Reaper. With his new powers, he finds himself defending humanity from evil spirits and guiding good souls to the afterlife.
Bleach‘s massively sprawling and nearly 20-year-long story quickly became one of the most recognizable anime ever, thanks to its exceptionally well-crafted characters and engaging narrative. Similarly to Dragon Ball, the series evolved and changed a multitude of times over the years, better fitting the pain and growth that Ichigo and other characters in the series were experiencing in the story. While often considered as the most forgotten of the legendary “big three,” Bleach is still a widely acclaimed institution of shōnen anime.
Bleach
- Release Date
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2004 – 2023-00-00
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC, BS TV Tokyo
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Masakazu Morita
Ichigo Kurosaki (voice)
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Fumiko Orikasa
Rukia Kuchiki
6
‘Demon Slayer’ (2019–)
Directed by Haruo Sotozaki
Many of the most popular and recognizable shōnen anime are the ones that have been around as staples of the genre for decades. However, Demon Slayer has quickly made a name for itself as one of the most stylish and effective modern shōnen, directly taking inspiration from staples of the genre like Dragon Ball Z and Hunter x Hunter. The series’s beautiful and captivating art style helps separate it from other action anime, as well as amplify the depth and emotion during each heartfelt moment and gripping action sequence.
The series follows teenage Tanjiro Kamado, who, after a gruesome attack, has his family slaughtered and his younger sister, Nezuko, turned into a demon, sets out to become a Demon Slayer to avenge his fallen family. He is joined by a wide array of other characters while on his demon-fighting ventures, including his younger sister, who is learning to control and make use of her demonic side to fight on the side of humanity.
5
‘One Punch Man’ (2015–)
Created by Yusuke Murata
One of the inherent values that is present within nearly all action anime, not just Dragon Ball Z, is the massive difference in power and strength that the hero is at the end of the series compared to the beginning. One Punch Man utilizes an ingenious comedy premise that sees exactly what would happen if an anime hero with their maximum power level were at this level at the very beginning of their journey. The result is a brilliant satirical take on action anime in general, seeing its hero completely decimate massive world-ending villains with only a single punch.
One Punch Man feels tailor-made for audiences that grew up loving anime series like Dragon Ball Z and are looking for a more absurd, comedic take on the classic shōnen formula. The initial season proved to be one of the most original and effective anime stories in years, and while the series found a considerable downturn due to lesser animation quality in subsequent seasons, the story and comedy are still top-notch.
4
‘My Hero Academia’ (2016–)
Created by Kohei Horikoshi
Considering the massive popularity of superhero stories that have dominated the 2000s and 2010s, it was only a matter of time before a modern shōnen anime would tap into the inherent fervor and excitement of superheroes. My Hero Academia serves as the answer to this anticipated concept, following a traditional shōnen structure of a young wannabe superhero attending a special academy made especially for young heroes with incredible powers.
The series gets a lot of mileage out of the inherent creativity and possibilities that come from the various powers of both heroes and villains, utilizing its deeply memorable supporting cast for many great stories of good and evil. The series is also surprisingly family-friendly for an action anime, allowing for a massive ease of access that places it on the level of Dragon Ball in terms of being a great entry point for shōnen and anime in general. The series has continued to be wildly popular since its release, easily being one of the most recognizable anime series of the 2010s.
3
‘One Piece’ (1999–)
Created by Eiichiro Oda
Few long-lasting anime series have become as synonymous with quality while telling a singular, long-lasting story as One Piece. While the series was already massively popular and considered one of the “big three” during its early years, its massively increased stakes and gargantuan length have given it a reputation as one of the greatest anime series of all time. The series follows a band of pirates known as the Straw Hat Pirates as they explore the world in search of a mythical treasure known as the “One Piece”.
One Piece features all the inherent attributes that make shōnen anime like Dragon Ball Z so massively beloved and acclaimed, from a highly memorable supporting cast to distinct villains for each arc and story of the series. While many other shōnen anime around them have either ended or branched off into sequel series, One Piece is still continuing its exceptional original story from the very beginning, with each chapter building onto the legacy and weight of the story being told.
One Piece
- Release Date
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October 20, 1999
- Network
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Fuji TV
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Mayumi Tanaka
Monkey D. Luffy (voice)
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Kazuya Nakai
Roronoa Zoro (voice)
2
‘Yu Yu Hakusho’ (1992–1995)
Created by Yoshihiro Togashi
A staple and icon of 1990s anime, Yu Yu Hakusho often shares the spotlight with Dragon Ball Z as one of the defining and deeply influential anime series that helped further the medium in the eyes of worldwide audiences. The series follows teenage boy Yusuke Urameshi, who, after dying in an accident, is resurrected as a spirit detective, protecting the living world from various apparitions and spirits from beyond the grave.
The series combines the classic action of a shōnen anime with the overarching mysteries and allure of a detective story, gradually growing more high-stakes and action-packed as it goes on. The combination of classic anime archetypes and elusive supernatural iconography and elements makes the series a deeply distinct and engaging experience whose influence is still felt in anime stories to this day. Throughout only 4 seasons of television, the series quickly grew a dedicated audience with its deeply engaging and emotional stories.
Yu Yu Hakusho
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Nozomu Sasaki
Yusuke Urameshi
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Shigeru Chiba
Kazuma Kuwabara
1
‘Naruto’ (2002–2007)
Created by Masahi Kishimoto
For many years, one of the only action anime that ever came close to the inherent popularity and worldwide recognition of Dragon Ball was Naruto, with its fast-paced ninja action instantly making it a staple of the medium. Even as many other anime have grown to massive popularity in the years following the heights of both Dragon Ball and Naruto, these two series still hold a deep connection and soft spot for one another for fans of shonen anime. The two series share a lot of similarities not only with their characters, but also their approach to action and storytelling as a whole.
Naruto follows the story of the titular Naruto Uzumaki, a young orphan ninja who seeks recognition from his peers and dreams of becoming the fabled Hokage, the leader of his village sworn to protect them from danger. While on his journey to become the best ninja that he can, he finds himself competing with various other young ninjas and facing various deadly foes. The series initially starts off lighthearted and fun with its action, but slowly grows into a deeply serious and massively compelling narrative, much like Dragon Ball before it.
Naruto
- Release Date
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2002 – 2007-00-00
- Showrunner
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Masashi Kishimoto