Mizu with a bloodied and angry face on a snowy street and buildings behind her in Netflix's Blue Eye Samurai.
Invincible burst onto screens in a wave of bright colors and epic action brilliance that quite frankly stunned its entire audience. The series centers around the young Mark Grayson , who finally gains his superpowers after his 17th birthday and desires to follow in his superhero father's footsteps — only to discover that his father isn’t as heroic as he once believed.
While its story and adult animated action are both unapologetically brutal and brilliant, there are quite a few epic animated sagas that have the superhero icon beat. Brilliant shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender — often hailed as not only one of the world’s finest action animations but one of the greatest animated series, period — and the new fantasy epic, The Mighty Nein, which wields emotionally driven storytelling and expansive lore, are just two action shows that embody the genre just right. On this list are eight shows that prove that while Invincible may be a quality animated standout in the action genre, there exist many that are even better. 8 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba' This global anime phenomenon delivers impeccable action sequences and brilliant storytelling. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is set in Taisho-era Japan, centering on the tender-hearted teen Tanjiro Kamado , whose life is ultimately changed when he returns home after a day away to find his entire family slaughtered except for his little sister Nezuko , whose survival is due to her unexpected transformation into a demon. With an impressive determination to rid the world of demons permanently and return his sister to her former self, Tanjiro joins the secretive Demon Slayer Corps. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is well known for its incredible animation and is considered all the more brilliant for its fantastic battles. The anime has not only perfectly captivating fight sequences but also meaningful storytelling that is capable of drawing out sympathy from its audience towards its absolutely horrid villains. Compared to a hit series like Invincible, which features great animation for a Western TV show, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba wields story, animation, and crazy action that the Prime Video series can't quite live up to. 7 'Primal' Primal is once again great proof that dialogue isn’t always necessary when delivering insane amounts of brutal action. The series follows the caveman Spear and his unlikely bond with a Tyrannosaurid dinosaur named Fang as the duo traverses across a brutal primordial world in a bid for survival and adventure. Set in prehistory, Primal is rife with dangers that lead to some of the most captivating action scenes seen on television. The pure violence featured in the show is sometimes unyielding and nail-bitingly unflinching. The show holds a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics' score for both seasons, as audiences have consistently hailed it for its bold experiment in storytelling. Both Primal’s animation and action sequences are beautifully brutal, as they portray a life of everyday survival in a world of monsters and mayhem. Invincible may have the series beat in dialogue and heavy plot, but Primal brings to screens a pure visual narrative that masterfully resonates with audiences, keeping them thoroughly hooked. 6 'The Mighty Nein' This character-driven animated adaptation brings to the screen an insane amount of great fantasy action. Set in the same universe as the underrated The Legend of Vox Machina, The Mighty Nein adapts Critical Role’s second D&D campaign. Its story centers on a group of unrelated outcasts who find themselves forced together by circumstance and a growing, unyielding bond of reluctant friendship as they find themselves with mutual enemies. Filled with entertaining adventure, The Mighty Nein gifts audiences a series rife with heists, outrageous brawls, and battles against fanatical mages. The series may be new, having debuted in 2025, but fantasy action lovers have already raved about the show’s notable high quality. While the series shares a space with Invincible on the platform Prime Video, The Mighty Nein wields a deeper lore with more expansive worldbuilding that Invincible can’t compare to. For fans of the superhero series, The Mighty Nein is just as adult-oriented, but with a richer, more immersive setting that’s worth investing in. 5 'Teen Titans' Teen Titans is a beloved DC series that remains a defining animated action staple of its era. This Cartoon Network hit follows the Teen Titans, a group of superhero apprentices who set out on their own, tackling evil to keep their home, Jump City, safe. Teen Titans may be getting up there in age, but for the three years it was on air, it captivated a diverse array of viewers, with not only its incredible action but also its extremely catchy theme song. From the show’s genuine humor, animation style, and expressive visual gags to intense mood switches and stylized action scenes, Teen Titans brought to screens a truly unforgettable work of fiction. The show’s character development is quite impressive, while its more serious themes were able to cultivate a wide-ranging fanbase. Shows like Invincible would simply not be a thing without quality childhood gems like Teen Titans. With an edge that outshines newer animated series and a cultural impact that dubs it a classic, Teen Titans stands as an enduring animation that is truly unforgettable. 4 'Batman: The Animated Series' This legendary DC series is a high-quality classic that set the gold standard for animated action TV hits. Batman: The Animated Series centers around superhero icon Bruce Wayne/Batman as he prowls the crime-ridden streets of Gotham City, tackling various terrible villains. Despite its age, Batman: The Animated Series is a quality landmark series widely regarded as one of the greatest cartoons of all time. The show is definitely one of the best benchmarks for superhero storytelling and won multiple awards, as it's consistently praised for its sophisticated narrative and atmospheric art style that appeals to both kids and adults. Compared to a modern icon such as Invincible, the DC series still ranks above it, with great storytelling, impeccable action, character development, and the late Kevin Conroy’s brilliant performance as the leading man. 3 'My Hero Academia' My Hero Academia is a global phenomenon anime hit that ranks high in the superhero genre. The series is set in a world where almost everyone wields a superpower known as a “quirk.” In this colorful world of amazing powers exists the young Izuku “Deku” Midoriya , a boy who is in the very low percentage of people who are quirkless. With a striking determination to be a hero, Deku's life abruptly changes when the hero he idolizes gifts him a quirk of his very own after he displays a brief bout of brilliant heroics. My Hero Academia is an emotional wild ride of pure epic brilliance. The series has received widespread praise for its reinvigoration of the superhero anime genre, with its countless wholesome scenes and masterful action sequences. With an iconic soundtrack to boot, MHA has been lauded as an emotional journey that wields quite a few epic battles that place all that’s important on the line. Featuring themes of resilience, bravery, and heartfelt friendship, My Hero Academia is truly in a realm of its own. 2 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' This Nickelodeon hit animated series is one of the best TV shows of all time. Avatar: The Last Airbender is a fantasy action series set in a world of elemental magic, centering on 12-year-old Aang — the world’s current Avatar — and his friends Katara and Sokka on a quest to ensure Aang masters all four existing elements needed to save the world from the terror brought on by the Fire Nation. Subscribe to our newsletter for top animated-action shows Unlock deeper dives on animated-action epics - subscribe to our newsletter for curated watchlists, expert comparisons, scene-by-scene breakdowns, and recommendation guides that expand on these series and other standout action animations. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Balancing heartfelt character development, rich worldbuilding, and themes of destiny, war, and redemption, Avatar: The Last Airbender delivers an animated series that completely captivates. The show has consistently been called one of the best animated series brought to screens, receiving praise for its thematic depth, nuanced storytelling, and complex characters. The show may be a cartoon, but its cinematic action sequences and meaningful depth appeal to an incredibly wide-ranging audience. While Invincible is one of the best in the superhero genre, Avatar is notable for its transcendence in the youth fantasy genre entirely. 1 'Blue Eye Samurai' Standing as one of Netflix’s finest animated gems, Blue Eye Samurai is a relatively new series that offers a feudal Japan action saga with an epic twist. Set in the Edo period, the series follows a mixed-race female samurai, Mizu , born to a Japanese mother and a foreign European father, whose prominent blue eyes have been a cause for torture and discrimination by the people around her. Hiding her identity as not only a mixed-race individual but also a woman, Mizu wanders Japan as a sword master, seeking revenge against the white men who she suspects fathered her and ruined her mother's life. Blue Eye Samurai is a Netflix series that is, honestly, horribly underrated. The show not only features incredible storytelling but also almost unparalleled action sequences that leave viewers on the edge of their seats. The series doesn’t shy away from gore, as duels are often bloody and incredibly swift. While exploring themes of prejudice, identity, and the cost of hatred, Blue Eye Samurai delivers a truly enthralling series rife with striking animation, complex storytelling, and maturity. Like Follow Followed Blue Eye Samurai TV-MA Animation Action Adventure 9 10 Release Date November 3, 2023 Showrunner Michael Green, Amber Noizumi Directors Jane Wu Writers Michael Green, Amber Noizumi Cast See All
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