Action Anime Sub-Genres and Themes

Action anime is perhaps the most popular of the anime genres, covering a broad spectrum of plots and themes and appealing to an equally broad audience base.

After all, any action in a given anime series can qualify a show for the genre, making action anime a sort of "all-inclusive" way to categorize anime shows.

But the truth is, there's more to action anime than just a few action clips. So, let's take a look at all the sub-genres and themes that make action anime so great.

Put Up Your Dukes
The most common use of the action anime classification goes to anime shows that feature fighting. And we're not just talking one or two brawls here, we're talking serious "kick-your-butt" kind of action.

Examples of this type of action anime would include the Dragonball trilogy, Bleach and of course, Naruto. Also affectionately referred to as "battle anime", these shows have plots that are effectively built around throwing down, whether it be to save the planet as in the Dragonball Z sagas or in a tournament setting to see who's the best of the best, as in Yu Yu Hakusho and Naruto.

The above are also good examples of martial arts and ninja anime, two themes that often resonate throughout battle anime shows.

Likewise, the samurai theme is also typically classified under the action genre... some good examples include Samurai Champloo, Samurai 7 and Rurouni Kenshin.

Of course, throwing down doesn't always have to mean fisticuffs, as seen in anime classics such as Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon. These two anime series represent a different theme or sub-genre, known as gaming. In the gaming theme, anime characters do battle with each other through a proxy, such as Ash's Pokemon and Yugi/Yami Yugi's come-to-life dueling card game.

Going On An Adventure
Adventure anime is actually a separate genre and while there are certainly several titles that fall under Adventure but not Action, the truth is most adventure plots produce some action, thus the two genres typically go hand-in-hand.

Popular action/adventure titles include Gurren Lagann, Inuyasha, Galaxy Angel, Fullmetal Alchemist and Cowboy Bebop.

These last two introduce a new theme component into our action anime mix, one that takes place in space.

Space-themed anime shows are just what they sound like - anime series that have plots occurring in outer space. In addition to Galaxy Angel and Cowboy Bebop, other notable space/action anime shows include Outlaw Star, Space Pirate Captain Harlock and of course Transformers: The Movie (live-action).

Robots Galore
And speaking of Transformers, with the space theme also comes another sub-category in the action genre: robots, also more commonly known in the anime world as mecha.

Mecha anime features robots in the main plot, both those that are completely machine as well as biological hybrids. Popular titles in the mecha/action genre include Gurren Lagann, Eureka Seven, Macross and everyone's favorite, Mobile Suit Gundam.

Other titles you may recognize in this category include The Big O, Voltron, Megaman, Robotech and of course, the show that started it all, Astro Boy.

Things That Go Bump
Another popular crossover between genres is action anime with a supernatural twist.

With the recent rekindling of interest in vampires, new anime shows have incorporated a supernatural and often grisly component to their storylines, adding monsters, ghosts and all sorts of creepy things to the mix.

In addition to vampire favorites such as Hellsing, Blood+ and Vampire Hunter D, other titles such as Claymore, Gungrave, D.Gray-man and Death Note grace this genre cross-over.

Sci-Fi and Futuristic
Of course, no action anime list would be complete without mentioning the sci-fi and futuristic themes.

These subcategories include a wide variety of anime favorites, such as Trigun, Black Lagoon and yes Cowboy Bebop.

Other great sci-fi and futuristic titles include Ghost in the Shell, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Desert Punk, Witchblade, Burst Angel, Code Geass, Full Metal Panic, Trinity Blood, Final Fantasy and Animatrix.