Anime has captivated viewers across the world with its unique animation style and epic storytelling. Especially when it comes to the adventure genre, anime has produced some of the most popular and groundbreaking shows that have accumulated huge fandoms.
Adventure anime typically involve following a main protagonist or a group on an epic journey full of action, mystery, fantasy, and intrigue. The adventure could be in a real-world setting or in a completely fictional magical universe. But it always includes high stakes, captivating worlds to explore, battles to overcome, interesting powers and abilities, and character growth.
Some of the most classic, influential and critically acclaimed anime of all time fall into the adventure genre. Shows like Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Attack on Titan have topped popularity charts, broken records, and set the bar for what an epic anime adventure can be.
10 Best Anime About Adventure in 2024
In this post, we will countdown the 10 best adventure anime series of 2024 that you simply need to watch. From battle shonen classics to dark fantasy epics, this list has something for all adventure fans. So let’s dive in!
1. Attack on Titan
Kicking off the list is Attack on Titan, the worldwide anime phenomenon that took the world by storm when it first premiered in 2013. The dark fantasy series is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the remnants of humanity live inside gargantuan walls to protect themselves from man-eating Titans.
We follow hotheaded protagonist Eren Yaeger who watches his mother get eaten by a Titan. This drives Eren to join the military’s Scout Regiment on their dangerous missions to reclaim land from the Titans and learn the true origin of the threat.
Attack on Titan delivers non-stop intense action, high stakes, complex conspiracies, political conflicts and Choreo graphed fight scenes as Eren uncovers devastating truths and evolves into a key player that will determine humanity’s fate against their Titan enemies.
With its cinematic animation, memorable characters like Mikasa and Levi, unpredictable plot twists and one of the best anime soundtracks, Attack on Titan will leave you constantly on the edge of your seat with its epic serialized adventure.
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2. One Piece
When we think of adventure anime, One Piece is one of the first that comes to mind. As one of the “big three” hugely influential battle shonen anime, One Piece has enthralled viewers across generations since first airing in 1999.
Based on the best selling manga series, One Piece chronicles the adventures of Monkey D Luffy and his ragtag Straw Hat pirate crew as they explore the vast oceans of the One Piece world seeking the eponymous treasure which will make whoever claims it the Pirate King.
One Piece truly makes you feel like you are sailing the seas along with the crew. It’s filled with swashbuckling pirate action, quirky characters, imaginative islands that hold mysterious lore, and grand naval battles against rival pirates and the Navy.
With over 1000 episodes and counting, One Piece offers perhaps the grandest and immersive fantasy world in anime history to get lost in with Luffy and his crewmates. It rightfully deserves its place as one of the greatest adventure stories ever told.
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3. Jujutsu Kaisen
Next up on our list of top adventure anime is the newcomer series, Jujutsu Kaisen. This supernatural battle anime has quickly become one of the most popular anime in recent years thanks to its exciting team ups, well-developed power systems, striking art style and fluid combat animation.
Jujutsu Kaisen is set in a world where deadly Curses roam the Earth causing harm to humans. To combat them there are elite Jujutsu Sorcers wielding powerful counter-Curse techniques.
Protagonist Yuji Itadori is a high school student with immense physical strength who accidentally becomes the host of the King of Curses Sukuna. This drives Yuji to join fellow students at Tokyo Jujutsu High, an academy dedicated to training the next generations of elite Curse users.
Yuji and his friends battle dangerous Curses while learning to harness their unique Jujutsu powers and uncovering deep conspiracies in the jujutsu world. The series continues to upscale into higher stakes as more fearsome enemies and challenges emerge for the team to overcome.
Jujutsu Kaisen elevates the battle shonen formula with stunningly animated fights, charismatic characters and clever Curse techniques that combine to deliver a modern adventure classic.
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4. Naruto Shippuden
No list of top action adventure anime is complete without the influential ninja epic, Naruto Shippuden. Serving as Part II and a more mature continuation of the original Naruto series, Shippuden ramps up the emotion, choreography and scale in epic proportions.
We rejoin Naruto Uzamaki and friends a few years older as they battle threats to their ninja world by honing their jutsu abilities as well as the mystical beasts within them called tailed beasts.
Naruto Shippuden chronicles some of the most monumental showdowns in battle shonen history across ninjas, giant monsters, rogue assassins and godlike beings. Combined with the rich ninja lore and excellent character writing that made fans fall in love with the franchise, Shippuden delivers a grander adventure on all fronts.
Few anime can match the innovation, heart and legacy of the Naruto adventure which has clearly influenced many newer series we love today.
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5. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Demon Slayer (Kimetsu No Yaiba) swapped out ninjas for samurai and crafted one of the most beautifully animated and emotionally charged adventure anime in recent memory.
We follow kindhearted Tanjiro Kamado whose family gets slaughtered by Demons and his sister Nezuko turned into one. This drives Tanjiro’s quest to become a Demon Slayer to find a cure for Nezuko and defeat the Demon responsible.
Tanjiro and Nezuko encounter memorable allies and fearsome Demons as they travel to the Demon Slayer Corps HQ for training while uncovering secrets about a pending Demon invasion.
Demon Slayer captured fans hearts through its loveable characters, poetic storytelling contrasting beauty and tragedy, jaw-dropping fight sequences and truly moving drama during emotionally charged climactic moments.
Combined with its historical fantasy setting and mythical appeal blazing its way across mainstream culture, Demon Slayer has become a modern anime adventure icon thanks to this incredible adaptation from studio Ufotable.
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6. Hunter x Hunter
Tracking down his father leads young Hunter applicant Gon Freecss into a fantastical journey to become a professional Hunter in this critically acclaimed adventure shonen series.
Hunters are skilled treasure seekers, wildlife experts and combatants taking on dangerous missions and uncovering mysteries of the Huner world. Gon befriends fellow rookie candidates Kurapika, Leorio and Killua as they embark on harrowing trials that test the limits of their powers and teamwork in unique challenges.
Hunter x Hunter subverts battle shonen tropes by focusing on creative team battles and problem solving over pure fighting power. The anime also features perhaps the widest ensemble of imaginative superhuman Hatsu abilities among Hunters.
Combined with compelling lore spanning mythical beasts, criminal conspiracies and unique Huner politics, Hunter x Hunter offers rich worldbuilding to fuel an immersive adventure spanning over 150 episodes.
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7. My Hero Academia
In an Earth where 80% of humanity has developed superpowers called “Quirks”, My Hero Academia crafts a vibrant superhero universe hosting some of the most creative ability designs and thrilling animated clashes.
Protagonist Izuku “Deku” Midoriya dreams of becoming a hero like his idol All Might despite having no Quirks. When a fateful encounter passes All Might’s Quirk “One For All” to Deku, it sparks Deku’s coming-of-age journey juggling hero courses at UA High while battling escalating villiain threats.
My Hero Academia captures all the color and excitement of western superhero comics through quirky students, uniquely stylized superpowers and the guiding mentorship dynamic between All Might and Deku.
It also delivers captivating emotional drama surrounding societal issues that manifest in people’s views on heroes, villains and Quirk politics. These themes leave much to unpack on top of flashy superpower battles that My Hero Academia animates to near perfection.
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8. Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga is a historical fantasy seinen charting the Viking and Saxon conquest of England under the ruthless King Sweyn. However it evolves into a philosophical character study between idealized ways of life for one man named Thorfinn.
We follow the violent life of Thorfinn, a young viking warrior thirsting for vengeance against his father’s killer in bloody battlefield exploits across Northern Europe. A cruel twist of fate turns Thorfinn into a slave, eventually to be freed under servitude by a landowner with a pioneering vision.
Through character foils and confronting trauma from Thorfinn’s past,Vinland Saga examines morality of violence contrasted with pacifism, revenge vs forgiveness and the human struggle to abandon hatred in the hope for redemption.
Vinland Saga sets itself apart with grounded warfare action, fluid animation and nuanced framing of Thorfinn’s development with newfound mentor and life in early 11th century English and Norse societies headed for inevitable clash.
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9. Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z requires no introduction as perhaps the most influential, beloved and trendsetting action adventure anime of all time. This epic quest spaning 7 years chronicles Goku and his Z warriors defending Earth across galaxy conquering tyrants, android doomsdays and martial arts tournaments.
Shonen legend Akira Toriyama expanded the journey of his iconic characters to cosmic scales and transformations pushing power levels to universe-shaking degrees. DBZ also delivered some of the most hard-hitting, innovative fight choreography that set the framework for anime battles today.
Between the global mainstream penetration of DBZ’s concepts and memes to inspiring countless artists, DBZ pioneered the anime adventure formula to create this timeless classic filled with spirit blasts, weight training montages and planet-busting showdowns.
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10. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Topping off our list is an anime film classic from the great Hayao Miyazaki. Set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by poisonous fungal forests and giant insects, Princess Nausicaä tries preserving peace between kingdoms fighting over the Earth's remaining resources.
Miyazaki crafts his iconic creative vision with imaginative world designs, environmentalist themes and memorable aerial sequences with Nausicaä gliding over breathtaking vistas.
It also features inventive concepts later fleshed out in subsequent Ghibli films like airships, chimeric creatures and Nausicaä's special bond with insects and animals.
Nausciaä and the Valley of The Wind combines fairy tale wonder, striking visual allegory and creative action in a quintessential Ghibli adventure cementing Miyazaki's legacy.
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Final Thoughts on Anime About Adventure
And there you have it - our picks for the top 10 adventure anime you need to watch in 2024 and beyond. Great adventure anime have captivating worlds to get lost in, high stakes plots full of action, interesting abilities/powers, and characters that grow over an epic journey.
The shows that made this list have proven influential in moving the industry forward in storytelling and animation quality. Many have already cemented their legacy with critics and fans as all-time classics of anime storytelling. Their adventure narratives have also broken through to wider mainstream culture with concepts and moments recognized across generations.
Beyond just entertainment impact, the creative visions poured into these anime often inspire viewers to reflect on greater ideals or see their own life journeys in a different way. That might be the most magical quality great adventure anime can offer to fans who feel so passionately about the stories and characters.
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