Anime fights are more than just flashy moves! We're diving into the most brilliantly choreographed battles that showcase incredible martial arts, strategic combat, and jaw-dropping animation techniques that elevate these confrontations from simple action scenes to true works of art.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the anime battles with
00:11the most intricate, realistic, and all well-executed combat moves.
00:1910. Sakura vs. Togami – Wind Breaker Fights are rife in this delinquent anime. While
00:32all of them play out beautifully, this one takes the cake so far. In a tournament between
00:37their school's gangs, Haruka Sakura and Joe Togami face off on stage. The moves they
00:49use aren't particularly flashy by anime standards, but their punches, grapples, and
00:54kicks all flow together incredibly. The pace of the fight also changes over time. Once
01:00they understand each other better, they throw themselves into things in the second half.
01:12By the end of it, Sakura and Togami are having a blast, and we're right there with them.
01:17The anime should take note, as this fight is both fun and fierce, and also brilliantly
01:22performed.
01:279. Kogami vs. Makishima – Psycho Pass It's always a big moment when the detective
01:37encounters the criminal mastermind he's been chasing, and this confrontation is no
01:43Inspector Kogami faces off with Makishima in a room at the top of a high-rise tower.
01:53The duo exchange blows in a quick, yet brutal fight. Despite Kogami's evident skill, Makishima
01:59picks him apart by fighting faster and smarter. The intentionality in each of their moves
02:04is conveyed brilliantly, with each attack clearly telegraphed to the audience. Kogami
02:13may lose the fight, but Makishima is still knocked out and arrested. It wasn't the
02:17outcome Kogami was anticipating, but this is as good a fight as we could wish for.
02:238. Goku vs. Krillin – Dragon Ball Before all the power levels and world-ending
02:29beam attacks, the OG Dragon Ball was the king of choreography in its day. Among the many
02:34excellent bouts, our pick is Goku's match against Krillin in the semi-finals of the
02:4022nd World Martial Arts Tournament. Despite a couple of goofy moves from Krillin and a
02:51few kamehamehas, the fight is largely rooted in martial arts. Both Turtle School students
02:56are well-matched, and their furious exchange of attacks has a superb balance of the more
03:02flashy moves the franchise is known for and more grounded choreography. Krillin ultimately
03:12loses to a ring out, but much like the pint-sized fighter himself, this match is too often overlooked.
03:247. Kaolan vs. Ajito – Kengan Ashura Even in an anime centered on a massive tournament,
03:47this fight still stands out. Kaolan, the Thai god of war, is matched against Ajito Kano,
03:53the Fang of Metsudo. Ajito initially apes Kaolan's flicker-style boxing, hoping to
03:59surpass him. However, Kaolan's mastery and speed proves overwhelming to even the beastly
04:05Ajito. Instead, Ajito tailors his moves to counter Kaolan specifically, but then the
04:11Thai boxer adds kicks to his repertoire, throwing off his foe's rhythm. Ultimately,
04:25it's Ajito's ability to do the unexpected that clinches the victory for him. Given the
04:30fight's emphasis on switching tactics and styles, the choreography truly shines, which
04:36makes it an absolute knockout in our books.
04:486. Everyone vs. Shimazaki – Mob Psycho 100 While we appreciate realistic choreography,
04:58fantastical fighting can be amazing when done right. A group of psychics, including some
05:04former members of the villainous Claw Organization, face off against one of its top members, Ryo
05:10Shimazaki. The arrogant esper specializes in teleportation, leaving him difficult to hit.
05:20The wide variety of powers at play work in concert incredibly, with Shimazaki's teleporting
05:25especially leading to some amazing sequences. Teru ultimately discovers that Shimazaki reappearing
05:32behind his foes also makes him predictable, and many of Teru's allies land hits on him.
05:42However, Shimazaki narrows his focus to just his opponents to knock them all out. The fight
05:49is brilliantly put together, and possibly the best depiction of teleportation ever put
05:54on screen.
05:575. Nanashi vs. Lou Lang – Sword of the Stranger This duel sees European mercenary, Lou Lang,
06:05betray even his own allies just to fight Nanashi. The pair cross swords in a snowy, ruined fortress.
06:21The strikes are extremely quick and incorporate not only hand-to-hand attacks, but also their
06:27surroundings to great effect. Their battle breaks huge parts of the crumbling ruins around
06:32them, as well as their own weapons. They even switch swords at one point, after Lou Lang's
06:43blade gets stuck in Nanashi's arm. Like the classic samurai cinema that inspired this
06:48film, their final blows decide everything, and Nanashi's strikes truer. It's only
06:58a few minutes, but this sword fight is executed nearly flawlessly, from its big strikes to
07:03its little details.
07:054. Yuji vs. Chozo – Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed human hybrid Chozo is out for vengeance
07:12after Yuji killed his brothers. He finally clashes with the JJK protagonist at the Shibuya
07:18subway station. Yuji has difficulty at first, as Chozo's long-range blood laser keeps
07:28him at a distance. To take away this advantage, he lures Chozo into a nearby bathroom and
07:34sets up the sprinklers, preventing the blood from holding together. Their watery brawl
07:39in close quarters utilizes the space incredibly well, with the speed and creativity of the
07:45moves all being top-notch. The fact that it lasts an entire episode and pays tribute
07:54to The Raid 2, a fantastic martial arts movie, is just a bonus. Although Chozo does end up
08:00defeating Yuji, their fight is an absolute triumph.
08:083. Gon vs. Hisoka – Hunter x Hunter To settle a debt, Gon is determined to get
08:17a decent punch in on his fellow hunter, the ever-creepy Hisoka, and he gets his chance
08:22in their match at Heaven's Arena. Gon begins with a flurry of blows that his clownish opponent
08:28effortlessly parries. Gon then switches to feinting and uses rubble from a floor tile
08:38to make Hisoka lose sight of him. Gon gets his punch as he lands a satisfying hit. However,
08:54from then on, Hisoka proves his greater skill. While Gon gets a decent rush in, the boy forgets
09:01that bungee gum has the properties of both rubber and gum. From its breathless, well-animated
09:07exchanges to Hisoka's use of Nen to tether Gon, this fight is brilliantly realized from
09:13start to finish.
09:182. Kakashi vs. Obito – Naruto Shippuden They may both be unbelievably powerful ninjas,
09:35but when these two former friends engage in their final fight, it's surprisingly grounded.
09:40Their extra-dimensional duel sees the duo fight primarily hand-to-hand, with several
09:45of their exchanges being uninterrupted sequences. In addition to Kakashi and Obito's moves
09:51flowing beautifully from one to the next, the fight also transitions seamlessly between
09:56their current fights and a mock battle the pair had in the past. There are even POV shots!
10:04The choreography and overall presentation are phenomenal. Much like the emotional atmosphere,
10:10the whole thing hits us straight in the heart.
10:321. Spike vs. Vincent – Cowboy Bebop The Movie
10:36This fight just knocks a little harder. Spike's beagle is after the bounty on terrorist Vincent
10:42and clashes with his target. Although the backdrop of fireworks on Mars at Halloween
10:47is larger than life, the choreography of their fight is down-to-earth – or Mars – and
10:53practically perfect. Brutal hits are mixed in with Spike's Jeet Kune Do – you know
11:04Bruce Lee's martial arts – to craft a fight scene that's intense, stylish, and
11:09a downright work of art. Spike and Vincent are so evenly matched that it takes an outside
11:25party to decide the victor, but their fight and its glorious choreography are a win for
11:31everyone.
11:37Is there an anime fight whose choreography blew your mind? Fight for your favourites
11:41in those comments below.