Loved 'Demon Slayer'? 5 Other Action Anime with Breathtaking Animation

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has become a global phenomenon. While its story of a young man seeking to avenge his family and save his sister is a pillar of the Shonen genre, the main reason for its success is its visual production quality.

Studio Ufotable uses a technique that combines fluid 2D character animation with dynamic 3D environments and digital effects to create battle sequences (known as sakuga) that are visually spectacular.

If what you enjoyed most about Demon Slayer were those fluid, high-impact action scenes, this list is for you. Here are 5 action anime that prioritize top-tier animation.

1. Jujutsu Kaisen

• Studio: MAPPA

• Genre: Action, Supernatural, Dark Fantasy.

• Why Watch It If You Liked Demon Slayer: This is the most frequent comparison. Jujutsu Kaisen is the other major modern action series. Studio MAPPA is known for its hand-to-hand combat choreography and its dynamic camera use. The fights are fast, heavy, and the "cursed energy" effects are visually defined and clear.

• Summary (No Spoilers): Yuji Itadori, a high school student, swallows the finger of a powerful curse to save his friends, becoming the host for Sukuna, a malevolent being. He joins a school of Jujutsu sorcerers to learn to control this power and hunt other curses.

2. Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works

• Studio: Ufotable

• Genre: Action, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural.

• Why Watch It If You Liked Demon Slayer: This series was made by the same studio (Ufotable). Unlimited Blade Works is the work that defined the style Ufotable is famous for. If you want to see where Demon Slayer's techniques (high-speed combat, glowing particle effects, 2D/3D integration) came from, you must watch this series.

• Summary (No Spoilers): The story follows Shirou Emiya as he participates in the "Holy Grail War" in Fuyuki City. Seven mages summon seven "Servants" (heroic spirits from history) to fight in a battle royale. The winner receives the Holy Grail, a wish-granting artifact.

3. Mob Psycho 100

• Studio: BONES

• Genre: Action, Comedy, Supernatural.

• Why Watch It If You Liked Demon Slayer: Mob Psycho 100 offers spectacular animation in a different way. Studio BONES uses an intentionally simple art style for the characters, which allows them to deform and animate them with extreme fluidity and creativity during psychic battles. It is less "clean" than Demon Slayer, but is considered by many animators to be one of the pinnacles of creative action animation.

• Summary (No Spoilers): Shigeo Kageyama, nicknamed "Mob," is a middle schooler with immensely powerful psychic abilities. To avoid doing harm, he suppresses his emotions. However, when his "emotional percentage" reaches 100, his powers explode in a visual spectacle.

4. Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)

• Studio: WIT Studio (S1-3) / MAPPA (Final Season)

• Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Post-apocalyptic.

• Why Watch It If You Liked Demon Slayer: Attack on Titan is famous for its sense of scale and dynamic movement. Both studios (WIT and MAPPA) excelled at animating the "3D Maneuver Gear," which allows characters to move through the air at high speeds. The fights are not just flashy; they are also strategic and carry great cinematic weight.

• Summary (No Spoilers): Humanity lives behind walls to protect itself from Titans, giant humanoids that devour people. The story follows Eren Yeager, who vows to exterminate all Titans after one destroys his home.

5. One-Punch Man (Season 1)

• Studio: Madhouse

• Genre: Action, Comedy, Superhero Parody.

• Why Watch It If You Liked Demon Slayer: The first season of One-Punch Man (produced by studio Madhouse) is legendary in the animation community. It was a project that attracted the industry's best animators. Every major fight is animated with a level of detail, impact, and choreography that set a new standard for TV action animation.

• Summary (No Spoilers): Saitama is a hero who can defeat any enemy with a single punch. This has led him to a deep crisis of boredom. The series follows his daily life as he searches for an opponent who can give him a real fight.

Conclusion

Demon Slayer proved that high-quality animation is a major draw for audiences. While Ufotable has a distinct style, studios like MAPPA, BONES, and Madhouse have also produced action series that prioritize visual spectacle and fluid animation, making each of these 5 anime a perfect choice for your next marathon.