Every anime plot is woven through developing events, most commonly called arcs. These arcs have a goal to achieve for the plot to evolve. They are a phase of the character’s life that is eventful and interesting. While most arcs are unique in their own way, there are a few that especially stand out. So, we compiled ten best story arcs in anime that had use clutching onto the seats tighter. For a story arc to be amazing, it does not have to roll through the basics of an action-packed phase. It could be fun and hold some impactful moments that would easily win over the fans. For longer anime series story arcs hold out a role in making things interesting while we wait for the big climax.
The best story arcs compiled here are not ranked. The reason being that these arcs have different elements of surprise. Of course, this list to be different from person to person. However, these are some of the most popular arcs in anime that moved people towards aesthetic happiness or towards tearful watch hours. Handpicked from a first-hand experience, I’m pretty sure there would be at least one arc here that people would connect to. In case if you haven’t watched this anime, I highly recommend you do so soon! Some of these might make you cry or some might give you something to believe in.
Here’s the list of the ten best story arcs in anime.
Birth Of A Demon Lord: Tensei Shittara Slime Datta Ken
The Birth of a Demon Lord arc.
Recently introduced in the anime, Birth of a Demon Lord arc from Tensei Shittara Slime Datta Ken was a power arc. For anyone who has been following the arc, they would know the hype in this arc. Fans waited for episode after episode to finally see Rimuru rise up to the highest power and he does. The arc takes place in the fifth volume of the novel series. For a light-hearted series like this, this was indeed one of the best arcs in anime.
The Birth of a Demon Lord arc holds a lot of significance to the plot as a whole. Of course, we get to see Rimuru power up and finally become a Demon Lord. But, the arc holds many specific details that inflict changes to the future story. Major characters like Diablo are finally involved in the story next to Rimuru. Additionally, the usually bright and happy environment is taken over by a grim atmosphere that is heavy yet new for the series. Rimuru shows his darker side where we see his determination to go to any extent to protect his people.
Training Camp Arc: Haikyu!!
The Training Camp Arc.
This is the most famous and interesting arc in Haikyu. The training camp arc holds a bunch of moments that show an interaction of their favorite characters outside the court. While the arc has high-quality moments of absolute fun, it also holds details of significance. The majority of growth and development of the Karasuno occurs in this camp. The first development is the relationship between Kageyama Tobio and his spiker, Hinata Shouyo. They get into a fight and work out their differences. Nishiyama Yuu decides to become more useful by learning to toss by breaking his libero form and tossing. This is the very arc where Asahi polishes his service ace and Sugawara gets more accustomed to spike. Karasuno as a whole work on their synchronized attack and levels up.
However, Tsukishima’s character development here is my personal favorite. The Training Arc is one of the most popular arcs in anime history. New characters get a lot of screen time and Karasuno slowly shapes itself into the powerhouse school that it used to be. One of the best arcs in anime? Easily.
Chimera Ant Arc: Hunter x Hunter
The Chimera Ant Arc.
The fifth arc of the anime is one of the greatest arcs of all time. There is just enough drama and intense fights in this arc to get anyone hooked on to it. Characters that get introduced leave a good mark even if they die. The fight featured here between Netero and Mereum was epic. Every moment in the Chimera Ant Arc is constantly trying to flaunt its characters through these fights.
The Chimera Arc however does not leave behind memories because of these exciting fights. It raises important questions about the story ahead. The events are almost heartbreaking and there are deaths that break the heart. This arc brings out a heavy emotion that settles in the heart for a long time.
Shogun Assassination Arc: Gintama
The Shogun Assassination Arc
Gintama has always been a brilliant anime. It is hilarious, sad at times, and action-packed at others. Gintama, although great, did not have much of a sense of direction in the beginning. It was neat but it did not follow a plot. This was until Gintama reached its 61st arc, that is, the Shogun Assassination Arc. Gintama picks up a pace after this and walks in the direction of a darker shade. Things get serious for a while as the usually bummed Gintoki faces a change in his personality.
The Shogun Assassination Arc is one of the best anime story arcs. A quick switch from the light-hearted comedy takes a turn to give a first-class experience of a thriller. There is so much going on in the anime at this point that the viewers can’t help but be on their toes. The absolute mystery and the unimaginable unpredictability reach out to the furthest corner of the mind, making it one of the most memorable arcs in anime history.
Death Painting Arc: Jujutsu Kaisen
The Death Painting Arc.
After months of training, the arc brings back Itadori Yuji, Megumi Fushiguro, and Nobara Kugisaki in a team to solve more missions. It is just like back in the beginning before Yuji was reported dead. Seeing the trio after months could be one reason why this arc holds a special place in the list. At the same time, there’s way more than that which makes the Death Painting Arc one of the best arcs in anime. The primary reason for the said conclusion is that this arc shows off the characters’ powers and how they have grown over time. While we had been seeing a lot of Yuji, the Death Painting Arc let Kugisaki and Fushiguro evolve into the Jujutsushi that they were meant to be.
Yuji’s powers were portrayed ahead in the Kyoto Goodwill Event arc. Nobara’s endurance and willpower gush through the storyline so perfectly in this arc. At the same time, Fushiguro lets out his darker side giving us the first glance of what Sukuna saw in him.
Natagumo Mountain Arc: Kimetsu No Yaiba
The Natagume Mountain Arc.
Kimetsu no Yaiba has succeeded massively in the past year. It’s no surprise given that the content of this anime is nowhere close to a disappointment. While every arc has been an absolute pleasure, the Natagumo Mountain Arc from the first season was truly epic. Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Inosuke Hashibara set towards the Natagumo Mountain for their first mission. Why I find this arc epic and of significance has more reasons than one. The first significance of the Natagumo arc is that we get to see a proper member of the Twelve Kizuki for the first time in the anime. Rui and his Spider Demon were a nuisance and strong. Here is where the second reason comes in. Two Hashira get involved which makes it all the more interesting. Lastly, Tanjiro kindly kills the mother Spider that displays more about Tanjiro as a character.
Demon Slayer – The Nine Hashira Ranked Based On Strength
Goldy Pond Arc: The Promised Neverland
The Goldy Pond Arc.
This is an arc that never made it to the anime, though it should have, thanks to the writers. For reasons unknown, the writers decided to skip Goldy Pond Arc. People might not think it is one of the best arcs in anime. However, the significance it holds over the plot cannot be left unseen. To skip this meant to skip a big lump of events that shaped the future.
Goldy Pond Arc switches the genre to action. The good part about this was that it portrayed realism in its rawest form. Eleven-year-old kids surviving amidst demons is a dark idea and already sounds unrealistic. However, the Goldy Pond Arc takes this very unrealism and gives us reason and events to believe in it.
The characters face the harshest reality, fail, get betrayed but they stand up in the end. This is the point where we see how and when they changed and their personalities got developed. Moreover, after all the hardships they go through, their reunion with Norman feels more satisfactory.
Soul Society: Bleach
The Soul Society Arc.
Bleach became a part of the Big Three as well as the Forbidden 4. The anime was great with many well-written arcs. However, one arc that universally stands out is the Soul Society arc of Bleach. There is an emotional background to it, given Rukia’s upcoming execution. At the same time, exciting battles are keeping one at their toes. There are many reasons why I feel that the Soul Society arc is one of the best arcs in anime, if not the best.
The intensity of this arc was so well balanced. Adding up to this intensity were the life-threatening battles where they were ready to put everything at stake. The scenes did not overlap and everything could be seen crystal clear. Some epic antagonists took over this arc and gave the best they could. Byakuya And Aizen adorned the arc with the beauty of a fearsome battle.
The L Arc: Death Note
The L Arc.
Death note was one of the most refreshing psychological anime to date. A teenager with a God complex becomes the best anti-hero one could come up with. While Light and L are brilliant characters individually, what makes Death Note an anime worth binging multiple times is their interaction. The mental chess between them might get you anxious but at the same time will excite you.
What makes this arc even more interesting is that L was the only one who could threaten Light on a personal level. Light was constantly on guard during L’s presence. The key point to highlight here is that these characters already know the threat they are to each other. They both have hidden personalities that they want to reveal. There is a constant mental battle where they want to strip each other of their secrets. This game of cat and mouse between two geniuses strikes as one of the best arcs in anime.
Return to Shiganshina Arc: Attack on Titan
The Return to Shiganshina Arc.
Now that Attack on Titan is close to its ending, there are a lot of arcs to choose from. Given that every arc has been of significance and shaped the story into a masterpiece as we know it, choosing one feels unfair. However, for the nostalgia and the constant reminder of Eren’s past, I hold onto the Return Of Shiganshina arc. The arc in itself is highly eventful. There is a warzone, heart-wrenching death, unfolding truths, and finally the most gruesome sacrifice of the Survey Corps.
This arc reveals so many things that had been kept away from us since season 1. So, the Return to Shiganshina arc immediately feels refreshing. The missing pieces finally join up and we can attach deeper to the characters on an emotional level.
It takes hours to search for that one anime when you are given several anime series to choose from, especially when you’ve heard the names of the anime given to you for the first time!
People watch shows depending on the mood. These shows, be it anime or not, are more than just a means of entertainment. They open a window to a distant world, which, although imaginary, gives us something to believe in.
For some, it could be an escape from reality; for others, it’s a chance to witness a life different from their own. Perhaps this is why so many genres exist.
From comedy to intense drama, we have made sure you can narrow down your options to the most minimal range to help make choosing easier for you.
Grand Blue Dreaming
Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy.
Anyone who reads the manga of Grand Blue will indeed return for the anime adaptation. This hilarious comedy series will not shy away from screaming double entendres that will leave you rolling with laughter.
Grand Blue Dreaming follows Iori’s journey in the diving club. It is one of those anime series that does not even need to contain a proper story because it is just as fun as it is already.
Grand Blue Dreaming
For those who are unaware of this rib-tickling series, Grand Blue revolves around Iori Kitahara who gets dragged into the alcoholic ways of his seniors. He encounters comedic mishaps caused by hangovers.
After his first hangover, he ends up attending his first lecture naked. Here Iori makes friends with a delusional otaku, Kouhei, who he drags along with him to his miseries. Being constantly misjudged due to multiple misconceptions, Iori continues to try and escape his seniors.
Ratings
IMDb rating: 7.9
MAL Rating: 8.4
After The Rain
Genre: Romance, Drama.
The story revolves around 17-year-old Akira Tachibana. She has a passion for running on the tracks but has to stop after she meets with an accident.
She is beautiful and desired by many boys in her school but she finds herself hopelessly in love with Masami Kondou, her boss at the cafe she works at. It could be a generic romance anime, but Masami is 45 years old.
After The Rain.
This anime captures the rawest emotions of the human heart that does not see reason. Love was never meant to be simple. The taboo of loving someone with an age distance is addressed cleanly.
Above all, this anime executes the love we experience for different things– the passion and the past. The characters grow to find the things they love doing and eventually find parts of themselves that they are missing.
Marinated with heavy unspoken emotions, After The Rain will tear your heart up and make you cry.
Rating :
IMDb rating: 7.4
MAL Rating: 7.53
The Great Passage
Genre: Romance, Drama.
Kouhei Araki is looking for his replacement as he is retiring from Genbu Publishing. He worked as an editor for the dictionary editorial division.
In his search for a replacement, he stumbles upon the introverted and reserved Mitsuya Majime, an employee of the sales department in the same publishing company.
Mitsuya Majime is a passionate reader and thus has a brilliant vocabulary. He accepts Kouhei’s offer and joins the dictionary editorial division. The anime revolves around a typical working environment and the journey of Majime as he adapts to his new position.
The Great Passage.
The Great Passage is an anime that uses dictionaries as a medium to deploy stories that many people can relate to.
People might wonder how an anime about a dictionary can interest them but once they give it a chance, they would understand the gem that this anime is. It has a beautiful character development of Majime and sweet moments of romance.
Rating:
IMDb rating: 7.6
MAL Rating: 7.64
Iroduku: The World in Colors
Genre: Magical, School.
The very basic point of this anime is growth. This simple concept is depicted in the most impressive way in this anime. It makes use of fantasy and magic and just a little dash of romance to create this beautiful anime.
Iroduku: The World in Colors.
Iroduku: The World in Colors revolves majorly around 17-year-old Hitomi Tsukishiro. It is set in a world where magic is common knowledge. Hitomi belongs to a family of witches.
She is young but devoid of emotions and devoid of the sense of colors. This results in a bland development of her personality.
Her grandmother, Kohaku, sends Hitomi to the past, to the time when Kohaku was 17 years old. Here she meets Yuito Aoi, an artist. Her life is finally filled with the colors she desires. But, why did Kohaku send her to the past? What is Hitomi to do?
The anime tracks the growth of Hitomi as she meets different people and learns the ways of life.
Ratings:
IMDb rating: 7.3
MAL Rating: 7.5
Banana Fish
Genre: Action, Adventure.
I probably wouldn’t recommend this series to weak-hearted anime watchers for its graphic scenes and plots that need to be considered. That being said, Banana Fish is an exceptionally great anime that definitely proves to be one the best anime series ever to be released.
Ash Lynx is investigating Banana Fish, something that his brother mentioned after his return from Iran. Being taken in into a criminal family, Ash knows his way in and out of the criminal alley.
However, when his friend Skip and Skip’s assistant Eiji get kidnapped by Ash’s godfather, Ash heads to rescue them.
Banana Fish.
Ash and Eiji’s chemistry is definitely lovely, but the aim of the story goes beyond normalizing same-sex relations.
Be prepared for rape, drugs, pedophilia, and violent content if you are planning to watch the series. It is intense and indulging enough for viewers to come back for another watch.
Ratings:
IMDb rating: 8.2
MAL Rating: 8.5
Vinland Saga
Genre: Action, Historical.
If historic anime shows are your cup of tea, Vinland Saga is the one you are looking for. The story revolves around a Viking, Thorfinn. He sets out on a journey by the sea with his father’s killer, Askeladd, planning to take revenge.
Vinland Saga is set amidst war and hatred. It received remarkable feedback from people and became one of the most popular anime of 2019.
The plot armor of the anime is pretty strong, with characters that let you dive deep into it. There are so many aspects that Vinland Saga holds down.
Be it for the sake of telling a complete story or to bring out a meaning between the lines; this show does everything with perfection.
Vinland Saga.
Vinland Saga is a magnificent series that I indefinitely recommend watching. It gets the viewers engrossed in it at first glance (if they are really into the genre of historical and action anime).
Ratings:
IMDb rating: 8.8
MAL Rating: 8.7
Dororo
Genre: Shounen, Dark Fantasy.
When Hayakkimaru was born, he was born without eyes, nose, limbs, and skin. Seeing the horrendous structure of the child, Kagemitsu abandoned him and let him flow along the river.
He was found and brought up by a medicine man. Hyakkimaru must defeat the demons that he was sacrificed to, as killing a demon brings parts of him back.
Dororo.
After growing up, Hyakkimaru meets Dororo, the leader of a group of thieves. Dororo and his party of thieves would steal from the rich only to give it away to the poor.
After a chain of events, Dororo joins Hyakkimaru. The pair embark on their journey to retrieve 48 parts of Hyakkimaru by killing demons.
The synopsis in itself is pretty interesting. As the story progresses, it brings forth many different issues within the society. It is filled with mythological creatures and exciting plot twists that keep the viewers on their toes.
Ratings:
IMDb rating: 8.4
MAL Rating: 8.2
Psycho-Pass: Season 3
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Sci-fi.
Psycho-Pass Season 3 brings Arata Shindou and Kei Mikhail Ignatov to the front lines. They investigate a ship carrying immigrants that has crashed.
However, they conclude as per deductions and instinct, that the ship’s crashing was a plotted accident.
Psycho-Pass Season 3
New to the department, they seem to have grabbed the attention of many. One of them being the Bifrost. The chemistry between the two new main characters is quite interesting.
Additionally, the stomach-churning mystery gives out much more thrill than most sci-fi series. If you enjoyed the previous seasons of the show, I would definitely recommend viewers to resume the third season as well.
Ratings
IMDb rating: 7.5
MAL Rating: 7.5
Inuyashiki Last Hero
Genre: Psychological, Sci-fi.
Inuyashiki displays how well elements of violence can be used to depict the two sides of human nature. Good and evil are personified in the two main characters of the show.
Inuyashiki is a lonely old man, who is tired of the ignorance thrown towards him by his family. His only companion is his dog, Hanako. But he discovers that Inuyashiki is about to die in three months.
His family’s indifference towards the news breaks him completely. However, when a bright light embraces him, Inuyashiki opens his eyes to find that he has turned into a high-tech war machine. Inuyashiki holds the fate of the world and seeks to save it with his newfound power.
Inuyashiki is depicted as kind. On his other side is Shishigami Hiro, a sociopath who takes pleasure in killing. He is a typical Kamidere character, meaning he carries a God complex.
Ratings
IMDb rating: 7.7
MAL Rating: 7.7
Happy Sugar Life
Genre: Horror, Psychological.
Happy Sugar Life can be extremely intriguing and truly scary. Once again, I would exclude my weak-hearted readers when recommending this anime.
This anime is not the best show you will ever watch, but it will shock you and send a blazing chill down your spine. Happy Sugar Life features one of the most dangerous yandere characters in anime history.
Happy Sugar Life
The protagonist of the show, Satou Matsuzaka, has slept with many boys from her school. Yet, she can never feel any emotion for them. But, one day she meets Shio Koube and feels every inch of love that she was always devoid of feeling. To protect Shio, Satou can do anything and exceed all limits.
Rating
IMDb rating: 6.87
MAL Rating: 6.5
Welcome to the Ballroom
Genre: Shounen, Sports, Comedy.
Welcome to the Ballroom is an uplifting anime. It revolves around Tatara, who announces that he wants to become a professional dancer. The inspiration comes from Kaname, who later invites him to his dance studio.
Welcome to the Ballroom
This is an anime about dance. While it may sound a bit uninteresting when stated like that, Welcome To The Ballroom has many developmental factors that make it a very satisfying anime to watch.
Initially, before meeting Kaname, Tatara has no aim in life. He would have disappeared in the background without any passion or interest if Kaname had not saved him from the bullies.
Rating
IMDb rating: 7.9
MAL Rating: 8.2
Saekano: How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend.flat
Genre: Harem, Echi.
This is the second season of Saekano: How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend. Tomoya Aki has now completed his visual novel.
He is enthusiastic about creating the best game. All the members of Blessings Software move towards more character development this season.
Saekano: How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend
More or less, the season carries on in the same direction as the first. As someone who did enjoy the first season quite a lot, the second season was worth binging too. People committed to watching the good harem series, Saekano: How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend will be an interesting watch.
Rating
IMDb rating: 6.9
MAL Rating: 7.8
Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress
Genre: Horror, Fantasy
Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress is a 2016 anime that I wish more people who talk about. The story is set during the Industrial Revolution but in an alternate world.
Here, the world has been threatened by Kabane, undead monsters infected by a virus. To escape doom, humanity has built fortresses and heavily armored trains to travel between them.
The only way to kill a Kabane is by stabbing it in the heart. Ikoma, the protagonist of the show has created a deadly weapon that he believes will gain humanity their victory against humans.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress.
Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress is a well-written series that definitely should be watched. The series has a diverse set of characters and decent animation.
Rating
IMDb rating: 7.2
MAL Rating: 7.25
Karakuri Circus
Genre: Mystery, Supernatural.
Karakuri Circus revolves around three distinct characters with different backgrounds.
The first, Saiga Masaru– a young boy. He is being chased by his relatives after his father dies. Being the heir of the Saiga Enterprise has made him their target to assassinate and earn his fortune.
Karakuri Circus
The second character is Narumi Kotou. He is a man suffering from ZONOPHA syndrome. Victims of the syndrome suffer from occasional seizures at random moments unless they see someone laugh.
When Saiga was trying to escape some humanoids sent to assassinate him, Narumi Kotou takes it in his hands to protect him.
The third character is Shirogane Saiga, a humanoid claiming to be Masaru’s guardian.
The three characters interlock their fates by crossing each other’s paths.
Rating
IMDb rating: 7.1
MAL Rating: 7.1
Altair: A Record of Battles
Genre: Historical, Military.
All Tughril Mahmut desires is to keep the peace intact in his country when war approaches. But, Tughril drowns in the depths of politics slowly but surely.
Altair: A Record of Battles.
This anime brings war genre shows to a whole new level. Instead of focussing on big fights with epic CGI, Altair takes a step back and discusses the strategies of war, the behind-the-scenes talk of war.
The genius of this anime is that it lets brains take over the upper hand in a warzone. Instead of just choreographing a battle, we see what war does to a country and what concerns come alongside a war.
Altair: A Record of Battles also depicts the effects of war. Economic development and economic downfall of a country post-war have been portrayed without seclusion. Even without big mecha fight scenes, viewers will constantly feel a rush of adrenaline for the exciting storytelling of this anime.
Ratings
IMDb rating: 8.1
MAL Rating: 7.6
