15 Most Epic Anime Moments of the Century (So Far)

As a huge anime fan, I’ve seen some truly unforgettable moments – scenes that still pop into my head and that I love to revisit and dissect. We’re talking about everything from incredible comebacks to huge plot twists, whether it’s in action-packed fights, emotional dramas, or even sports anime. What’s really cool is how different studios brought these scenes to life with their unique styles. There are battles that completely shifted the balance of power, master plans that totally changed the story, and even quiet, subtle scenes that packed a surprising emotional punch. This collection highlights exactly where these moments happen and which studio animated them, so you can go back and really appreciate the artistry involved.

Tanjiro and Nezuko vs Rui

This battle happens in ‘Demon Slayer’ during the Mount Natagumo arc. Tanjiro combines his Water Breathing technique with the Hinokami Kagura, allowing him to cut through Rui’s spider threads. Nezuko steps in with her Blood Demon Art, helping to change the course of the fight. The animation studio, Ufotable, beautifully captures the action with fluid sword movements and detailed thread effects, staying true to the show’s unique visual style. The scene ends with Tanjiro and Nezuko fighting together as a strong team, solidifying their bond as siblings.

Levi vs the Beast Titan

During season three of ‘Attack on Titan,’ Levi launches a sudden attack through a smokescreen to get to Zeke at Shiganshina. He quickly and accurately damages the Beast Titan and eliminates other nearby Titans. The animation studio, Wit Studio, brilliantly portrays this fight with realistic movement and dynamic camera angles that are easy to follow even during fast action. This successful attack changes the course of the battle and allows the Scouts to move forward.

Gon’s Transformation

In the Chimera Ant arc of ‘Hunter x Hunter,’ Gon makes a desperate choice that pushes his Nen abilities beyond their normal limits. He willingly gives up his future potential to gain the power needed to fight Neferpitou right away. The animation studio, Madhouse, visually emphasizes the weight of this sacrifice using dramatic lighting and strong shadows. This pivotal moment reshapes the relationships between characters for the rest of the arc and fundamentally changes how Nen works, with consequences that continue to be felt throughout the story.

Luffy’s Gear Fifth Unleashed

In ‘One Piece’ during the battle at Onigashima, Luffy unlocks Gear Fifth after fully awakening his Devil Fruit power. This transformation changes his body, allowing him to create cartoonish effects on both himself and his enemies. Toei Animation visually represents this ability with over-the-top movements and stretchy impacts, mirroring how the power works. This new form adds exciting possibilities to the final battles of the Wano arc and reveals more about the nature of Luffy’s fruit.

Goku’s Ultra Instinct First Awakening

During the Tournament of Power in ‘Dragon Ball Super’, Goku first unlocks Ultra Instinct after narrowly avoiding a devastating attack. This form allows him to react and move more quickly by separating his automatic defenses from his deliberate attacks. The animation studio, Toei Animation, visually distinguishes Ultra Instinct from Goku’s Super Saiyan forms with a unique aura and subtle facial expressions. This new ability significantly changes the balance of power as the tournament nears its end.

Saitama vs Boros Final Exchange

The season one finale of ‘One Punch Man’ features an epic showdown where Saitama stops Boros’s incredibly powerful attack, the Meteoric Burst. Boros unleashes a blast capable of destroying planets, but Saitama counters with his signature Serious Punch, ending the fight instantly. The animation studio, Madhouse, cleverly uses shifting viewpoints and scattered debris to emphasize the sheer scale and impact of the blows. This climactic battle highlights the enormous difference in strength between Saitama and Boros, and also brings the alien invasion storyline to a close.

Itachi vs Sasuke

The long-awaited battle between the Uchiha brothers takes center stage in ‘Naruto Shippuden’ at their family hideout. The fight is a dynamic mix of illusionary techniques, ninja skills, and hand-to-hand combat, gradually revealing the underlying motives of each brother. The animation studio, Pierrot, carefully paces the battle to expose Itachi’s secret condition and his intentions for Sasuke. Ultimately, the fight results in a transfer of powers and crucial information, setting the stage for the next part of the series.

All Might vs All For One

During a climactic battle in ‘My Hero Academia’, the weakened hero All Might confronts his nemesis, All For One, in Kamino Ward. He delivers one last powerful blow with his remaining strength, marking the end of his time as the Symbol of Peace. The story doesn’t just focus on the fight itself, but also shows the larger impact through evacuations, media attention, and the strategic placement of students. Following the battle, heroes and students throughout the city must take on new roles and responsibilities.

Gojo’s 0.2 Second Domain

In ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’, Gojo briefly activates his powerful technique, Unlimited Void, for just 0.2 seconds during the Shibuya Incident. He uses it to incapacitate cursed spirits while carefully avoiding harm to bystanders. The animation skillfully breaks down this moment, highlighting how quickly it activates, its impact, and how Gojo manages the surrounding crowd. This scene showcases a clever and strategic use of his technique in a busy city during a large battle.

Tengen Uzui vs Gyutaro and Daki

The Entertainment District arc in ‘Demon Slayer’ centers around Tengen teaming up with Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke to fight a pair of powerful Upper Rank demons. The battle relies on perfectly timed attacks, aiming to behead the demons at the same moment, and uses bombs to keep the fight moving. The animation studio, Ufotable, creates a visually stunning atmosphere with detailed nighttime scenes and fireworks that highlight the speed and impact of the fighting. Ultimately, the heroes succeed, but the arc also shows how damaging and costly fighting these high-level demons can be.

Karasuno’s Match Point vs Shiratorizawa

The final match of ‘Haikyuu!!’ between Karasuno and Shiratorizawa comes down to which team has more energy and can anticipate blocks better. A fast attack, combining Hinata’s speed and Tobio’s precise sets, ultimately wins the game. The animation studio, Production I.G, carefully illustrates player positions and strategies to keep the action at the net clear and understandable. This victory sends Karasuno to the national tournament, concluding the Miyagi qualifier storyline.

Zero Requiem

The second season of ‘Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion’ concludes with Lelouch and Suzaku carrying out the Zero Requiem plan during a large public event. Lelouch intentionally directs all global animosity towards himself, allowing the symbol of Zero to represent the end of conflict. The animation skillfully uses the movement of giant robots and the management of the crowd to emphasize the shift in power. This event fundamentally changes the world’s political landscape and fulfills the story’s central theme of identity and deception.

Simon’s Final Drill Through the Anti-Spiral

‘Gurren Lagann’ features Team Dai-Gurren taking their battles to an enormous, universe-spanning scale to fight the Anti-Spiral. Simon and his friends accomplish this by combining their robots into increasingly larger and more complex forms. The show visually represents this growth with impressive displays of stacking mecha and dramatic changes in perspective to emphasize the sheer size of everything. Ultimately, the story resolves the threat of the Spiral Nemesis and provides a satisfying conclusion to the series’ themes of evolution and growth.

The Letter Flood

In ‘Violet Evergarden,’ a large collection of letters is delivered during a commemorative event. The series highlights how Violet’s letter-writing impacts families and communities. Kyoto Animation beautifully portrays this with realistic settings, detailed objects, and natural lighting. The scene effectively showcases the widespread impact of the letter-delivery service and Violet’s transformation from a soldier to a skilled writer.

Taki and Mitsuha Connect Across Time

In the film ‘Your Name,’ Taki and Mitsuha have a brief encounter at dusk overlooking the Itomori crater, even though they live in different times. They quickly share names, hoping to remember each other before the connection disappears. The filmmakers carefully crafted this scene using the setting, colors, and music to emphasize the story’s key moments. This encounter is a last-ditch effort to save their town and finally connect their separate timelines.

Share the anime moments you would add to the list in the comments.

2025-11-06 06:20