The recent release of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero has many fans excited to see some of the impressive action and visually stunning fights the anime is known for. Whether it's the lightning-quick punches that leave wind swirling in every direction or the use of color to show the gravitas of power being used, visual effects are a key part of any anime fight.
Since anime as an art form allows the creator almost an endless amount of creative avenues to use stunning visuals to make fights stand out, there are many fights across anime that feature breathtaking visual effects but there are definitely some that stand out above the rest, and Ranker allows fans to vote on which those are.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Shinra Vs. Sho (Fire Force)
It is something of a trope that fights between brothers typically make for some of the best clashes in all of anime, and this couldn't be more true for the fight between Shinra and Sho in Fire Force.
This fight uses its environment in many creative ways such as implementing the absence of light so that the fire can really pop out and using rays of light that highlight the characters. This fight lived up to the name Fire Force as Shinra put his stunning use of fire on full display which elevated this to be one of the best visual fights anime has to offer.
Deku Vs. Overhaul (My Hero Academia)
My Hero Academia features a multitude of fight scenes that feature amazing action along with stunning visuals and Deku's fight against Overhaul features too many impressive visual moments to even count.
From Deku's stunning use of 100% of his power to the amazing aerial fight choreography, this fight proved to be one of the best fights in the show. With Deku's sparkling green lightning emitting from his body, this fight is highlighted by incredible displays of visual animation.
Kiritsugu Vs. Kirei (Fate/Zero)
Instead of being the typical supernatural spectacle seen in most of the fights in Fate/Zero, the fight between Kiritsugu and Kirei puts the magic in the backseat to make for one of the most unique and unforgettable fights in the show.
The great use of slow-motion and emphasizing the blows the two exchange with one another make this fight live up to its emotional stakes. The wide range of melee attacks used in the fight allowed for a visual display like no other seen in the show as this fight more than earned its spot as one of the most visually impressive anime fights of all time.
The Church Shootout Scene (Cowboy Bebop)
Perhaps the most realistic fight on this list, the church shootout between Spike and Vicious in Cowboy Bebop uses quick-paced action along with the smoke and glow coming from different gunshots to make for a very impressive visual display.
Brought to light by the beautiful stained glass of the church, the fight reaches a visual climax when Spike is thrown out of the window and falls in slow-motion while the pieces of the glass fall all around the protagonist as he seemingly falls to his death. A touching visual moment that caused many to fall in love with the anime, this sequence is visually impressive and hits all of the right emotional beats.
Saitama Vs. Boros (One Punch Man)
As it's always interesting when a character proves to make Saitama break a sweat, Saitama's fight with the cyclops-like alien Boros was one of the most engaging fights in One Punch Man. In a fight with almost every bright color imaginable on display, Saitama and Boros' power complemented each other in a way that really heightened the visuals.
As both characters have a high power level that's difficult to even imagine, the impact and speed of their blows along with Boros' beautiful yet terrifying energy allow the audience to feel and see what it would be like to witness a battle of extraordinarily powerful beings.
Naruto & Sasuke Vs. Momoshiki (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations)
Although Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is mainly focused on the next generation of ninja, there have still been several moments where characters from the original Naruto steal the spotlight and this couldn't apply more to when Naruto and Sasuke teamed up to fight Momoshiki.
The fight takes the amazing fight choreography the Naruto franchise is known for and cranks it up to 11 as Naruto's golden chakra mode highlights his movements and Sauke's visual powers allow for creative sequences. Ending with the stunning combination of Naruto and Sasuke's chakra avatars, the fight showed that the show could feature stunning visuals even better than its predecessor.
Itadori & Todo Vs. Hanami (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Jujutsu Kaisen features many unique fights that make the anime stand out among others of its type. Itadori and Todo's fight against Hanami is a prime example as they performed combination moves using their Cursed Energy which makes for a very impressive visual display.
As most of the fight sees the two sorcerers evade Hanimi's astonishing nature-based attacks, the visuals truly immerse fans in the moment, and the flashes of white engulf the screen when blows land make this fight a very impressive visual spectacle.
Kakashi Vs. Obito (Naruto: Shippuden)
The Naruto franchise is known for featuring fights that are visually impressive and pack an emotional punch and Kakashi's fight with Obito combined these in perfect fashion. Making brilliant use of the emphasis of color for their different attacks while also flashing back to their earlier spars as young ninja, this fight is considered to be one of the greatest fights in Naruto: Shippuden.
While the different elemental jutsu they use is visually impressive enough, the quick and sharp taijutsu is a perfect display of what a ninja fight should be and it's truly poetic to watch take place.
Tanjiro & Nezeko Vs. Rui (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
Fans of Demon Slayer already know that the show features some of anime's best and most visually impressive fights, and this is highlighted in the fight between Tanjira and Nezeko against the spider demon Rui. This fight features the stunning use of water attacks normally used by Tanjiro but reaches a whole new level when he uses sun breathing for the first time, causing his water strokes to glow into a beautiful flame.
If that wasn't enough, Nezeko uses her Blood Demon Art to launch a spiraling pinkish-red flame at the demon which is highlighted beautifully in the darkness of the night, making this one of the most iconic Demon Slayer fight scenes that show off the impressive visuals that have made the show so popular today.
Levi Vs. Kenny's Squad (Attack on Titan)
Attack on Titan is no doubt one of the most popular anime today, and while the show features many visually impressive fights, Levi's escape scene from Kenny's squad was not only a testament to Levi's extraordinary skills but the stunning visuals of the show.
An exhilarating ride that shows Levi zipping through rooftops while dodging attacks from Kenny's goons, the breathtaking use of the landscape made fans wish this fight never ended. The fight uses its' visuals to give fans the chance to actually feel what it would be like to use ODM gear with such skill as Levi and this allows this fight to reach a whole new level of creativity and visual impressiveness.