Mohsin Lag
Today, let’s talk about the best action anime TV shows from 2020.
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Bakabuzz. Whether you’re new to anime this year or have been a fan for ages, you’ve likely come across at least one action-packed series that delivers stunning fights, clever strategies, martial arts, superpowers, and thrilling duels. If you’re craving more adrenaline-pumping action anime to add to your watchlist, you’re in luck! In today’s discussion, we’ll explore the top 20 action anime of 2020 that are an absolute must-watch.
So, let’s dive right in!
20. No Guns Life
Let’s kick off our list of the best action anime from 2020 with No Guns Life. This is a fantastic anime show is packed with action, drama, and a thrilling mystery, all set in the future. In this world, the Berühren Corporation has introduced technology to turn people into powerful cyborg soldiers called the Extended. Juuzou Inui, one of these Extended soldiers, was made for war and has no memory of his past.
Now, in the post-war era, he runs a business handling incidents involving Extended individuals in the city. When rumors surface about a rogue Extended kidnapping a child, Juuzou gets involved. A massive robotic man carrying a boy crashes into his office, seeking help. While Juuzou could simply turn them in, something feels off about the situation. It turns out that many factions are after this kid, and Juuzou must unravel the mystery, exposing the connection to the Berühren Corporation and uncovering the depths of treachery in the city.
19. Assault Lily: Bouquet
Assault Lily: Bouquet is a fantasy action school anime, especially for fans of series with female leads. Aired in October 2020 and animated by Studio Shaft, the story is set in a world where mysterious creatures called the “Huge” emerged fifty years ago, posing a threat to humanity.
To combat these creatures, teenage girls known as “Lilies” utilize the energy called “Magie” within them to power weapons called “Counter Huge ARMS” or “CHARMS.” Riri Hitotsuyanagi, who was saved by a Lily during a Huge attack, is determined to become a Lily herself. She joins the prestigious Yurigaoka academy, a training ground for Lilies, and discovers that her classmate Yuyu Shirai is the same Lily who rescued her.
Despite Yuyu’s initially antisocial demeanor, Riri is determined to befriend her and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal. With Yuyu and other Lilies by her side, Riri embarks on a journey to become one of them, and the story promises lot of action scenes, exciting adventures, and good character development.
18. Gibiate
Moving on, we have another good 2020 action sword fighting anime series called Gibiate. When a ninja and a samurai are involved, you already know it’s going to be an action-filled show. Gibiate is a great anime with an awesome main character, a fantastic cast, and a top-notch final villain. The story takes place in Japan in 2030, where a viral disease called “Gibia” has taken over, turning infected people into different monsters based on their age, sex, and race.
In this post-apocalyptic world, a samurai and a ninja from the early Edo period time-travel to a devastated Japan. Their mission is to assist a professor working on a cure for the virus. As they navigate this chaotic landscape, they face numerous challenges, battling Gibia monsters, outlaws, and other formidable foes in their quest to save humanity. It’s an exciting journey filled with action and adventure.
17. Deca-Dence
Deca Dence is an another cool action anime from 2020 that you will really enjoy watching. In a world where humanity is struggling to survive, unlike Attack on Titan, this anime explores the clash between unknown life forms and high-tech mobile fortresses. In the distant future, a threat emerges in the form of Gadoll lifeforms, pushing the surviving humans to take refuge in the Tank, a lower district within the massive mobile fortress Deca-Dence.
While the upper floors house the Gears, warriors who actively combat Gadoll, most Tankers prefer support roles, handling Gadoll meat and reinforcing defenses. Natsume, despite her prosthetic arm, dreams of joining the frontline fighters. Her attempts to enlist in the Power, the combat force, face obstacles, but she remains determined.
Starting a job with the armor repair team led by the seemingly tough Kaburagi, Natsume discovers there’s more to him than meets the eye. Though initially distant, Kaburagi recognizes Natsume’s potential to disrupt the world’s status quo. As her mentor, he prepares her for a unique role that could change the game as a bug in the system.
16. Certain Scientific Railgun T
The return of Railgun with a new anime is like a dream come true. After waiting patiently for seven years, fans are treated to another installment of the Majutsu No Index franchise. As a spinoff from the original Index series, Railgun stands out on its own. In 2020, Railgun T, based on the manga, captivates as a standout action anime.
The Daihasei Festival kicks off, bringing competition to Tokiwadai Middle School, an elite all-girls’ institution. Even with Mikoto Misaka, the formidable “Ace of Tokiwadai,” participating, other students are determined to give their best, facing the challenge of competing against her unmatched abilities. However, the festival isn’t just about fun and games.
With Academy City opening up to the outside world, different factions are scheming to infiltrate the city. Misaka becomes a target, and as the festival unfolds, hidden figures start to reveal themselves from the shadows. Toaru Kagaku no Railgun T takes us back to Tokiwadai as Misaka and her friends delve into the darker side of Academy City. From terrorist threats to secretive underground projects, the city holds unpredictable challenges.
15. Darwin’s Game
Airing in January 2020, Darwin’s Game is an anime that has a lot of epic action scenes, featuring battles involving guns, raw strength, magic, and all sorts of unimaginable elements. The story revolves around Kaname Sudou, a high school student who receives an invitation from a classmate to play a mobile game called Darwin’s Game.
Upon opening the application, Kaname’s experience takes a bizarre turn when a green snake suddenly emerges from his phone screen, biting his neck and rendering him unconscious. Although waking up in the infirmary without any visible signs of a snake bite, he’s advised by the school to take the rest of the day off. Treating the incident as a hallucination, Kaname dismisses it and heads home.
Unable to resist his curiosity, Kaname decides to use the application again. Initially relieved, thinking it’s just a typical battle game, his joy is short-lived. His in-game opponent unexpectedly materializes in front of him, armed with a knife and intent on hunting him down. Racing for his life, Kaname realizes that Darwin’s Game is no ordinary game; it’s a brutal fight for survival.
14. Gleipnir
Here’s another great new action anime from 2020 that you’re sure to enjoy. Gleipnir, released in the spring of 2020 with a total of 13 episodes, follows the story of Shuuichi Kagaya, an average high school student who, at times, transforms into a monster. He doesn’t understand how or why he has these abilities and prefers to keep them a secret.
One night, while saving a girl named Claire Aoki from a burning building, he accidentally drops his phone. The next day, Claire discovers Shuuichi’s monster identity and confronts him about it. In an attempt to prove her theory, she pushes him off the school roof, forcing Shuuichi to transform and save himself.
Seizing the opportunity, Claire takes a picture and uses it to blackmail him into sharing information about monsters, despite Shuuichi’s limited knowledge. Unveiling a twist, Claire reveals her own secret—she’s searching for her sister, who also transformed into a monster. She enlists Shuuichi’s help in the quest, but they soon discover they’re not the only ones seeking answers.
13. Plunderer
Plunderer may not suit everyone’s taste, especially in its first half, which features a lot of fan service. If you’re not a fan of ecchi, it might be a challenging watch. However, for those who don’t mind that, Plunderer is one of the most underrated action anime with an intriguing story.
In the world of Alcia, people are governed by “Counts”—numbers on their bodies representing various aspects of their lives. These Counts determine their social status and power. When a person’s Count reaches zero, they are sent to the dreaded Abyss, considered worse than death. Hina, whose Count is based on the distance she travels, witnesses her mother being dragged into the Abyss. To fulfill her mother’s last wishes, Hina embarks on a journey to find the legendary Aces—heroes from a war three hundred years ago, recognizable by a white star next to their Count. During her travels, Hina encounters Licht Bach, a mysterious man with a negative Count, and Nana, a tavern owner.
In the midst of their adventures, Hina is tricked into a battle, but Licht, despite his negative Count, saves her, revealing he has another Count with a white star—the mark of a legendary Ace. Plunderer unfolds the journey of Hina and others in Alcia as they uncover the truth about their world, the Abyss, and the legendary Aces. The anime, released from January to June 2020, delivers plenty of action and has garnered appreciation from many viewers.
12. Dorohedoro
Moving on to Dorohedoro, a horror action anime that aired from January to March 2020. The setting is the Hole, a dark and chaotic district where the strong prey on the weak, and death is a common occurrence. This place lives up to its name, separated from law and ethics, and serves as a testing ground for magic users who consider themselves superior to the powerless inhabitants of the Hole.
Magic users, holding the highest positions in society, view Hole dwellers as insignificant. They’re subjected to violence and experiments without any regard for their lives. Kaiman, a man with a reptilian appearance, stands out as someone who challenges the seemingly invincible magic users. With bayonets and immunity to magic, he hunts them down in search of answers to the curse that transformed him. His companion Nikaidou, who runs the restaurant Hungry Bug, supports him in this quest.
Dorohedoro is set in a gritty and hellish world, balancing humor with death and carnage. The story takes unexpected twists and turns, exploring the lives of Hole’s residents in a unique and unsettling world. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re ready for a distinctive anime that blend of comedy and action, Dorohedoro awaits.
11. Tower of God
Tower of God is a great Korean action anime from 2020. It revolves around a tower that calls chosen individuals known as “Regulars,” promising to fulfill their deepest desires, whether it’s wealth, fame, authority, or something beyond imagination, all waiting at the top.
Our main character is Twenty-Fifth Bam, a boy who lived in a dark cave with only a dirty cloth and an unreachable light. His world changes when a girl named Rachel appears through the light. Bam, now close friends with Rachel, discovers more about the outside world. However, when Rachel decides to climb the Tower, Bam is devastated.
Determined to follow her, he sets his sights on the Tower, opening its gates by himself—a miracle that marks him as an “Irregular,” someone who challenges the Tower’s foundation each time they enter. And so, Bam’s journey begins.
10. I’m standing on 1,000,000 lives
I’m Standing on Million Lives is a must-watch isekai action anime of 2020 for those who like another world themes. The series follow the story of Yotsuya Yuusuke along with his classmates who get transported to an unknown world inhabited by mystical creatures.
As soon as they arrive, they find themselves having a time-limited quest. This is how a hectic life of adventuring began for three students who now have no choice, but to complete random quests if they want to stay alive and protect the real world from the demons and monsters they face.
9. Noblesse
Adapted from the manhwa of the same name, Noblesse is another good Korean anime that you should not miss. Cadis Etrama Di Raizel (aka Rai), is an old vampire who was in a long sleep, upon his awakening he now seeks to familiarize himself with the current era. So, He locates a loyal servant of his, Frankenstein, who is currently the principal of a South Korean High School.
Rai decides that this school is the perfect place to help him learn about the modern world, enrolls, and begins associating with a group of good-natured students in order to ‘blend in.’ But this new world is no safer than the old; and the dignified, bewildered, technologically inept Rai finds himself embroiled in adventures both ridiculous and dangerous.
8. Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World
Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World is a recommended 2020 action romance anime. It’s set in a world where Astral power exists, controlled by astral mages. The “Empire” fears this power and persecutes those who have it. The oppressed mages form the Nebulis Sovereignty, leading to a century-long war between the two nations.
The skilled knight Iska is imprisoned for freeing a witch but is later released with a condition: he must hunt down the “Ice Calamity Witch” to end the war. Iska agrees, and coincidentally, the witch, Aliceliese “Alice” Lou Nebulis XI, also seeks peace and is determined to bring down the Empire. As Iska and Alice desire a crusade for a world without struggle, their fates intertwine, creating a bond beyond mere coincidence.
7. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? III
Danmachi is a great adventure anime with lots of action, it has three seasons, and the latest one just finished airing in fall 2020. Follow the unique adventure of main characters Bell and Hestia. This anime is worth your time and will keep you entertained.
In this season, Bell encounters a supposedly dangerous monster called Vouivre, but to his surprise, it’s a terrified little girl. Bell decides to protect her, and this act of kindness sets off significant consequences in the city of Orario.
6. The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc
The super powerful main character of all time Tatsuya Shiba is back on the screens in 2020 with the sequel anime The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc. After the events of “Scorched Halloween,” a super powerful magician appears, and the USNA sends their elite magician unit “Stars,” led by Commander Angie Sirius, to Japan to find out who this magician is.
At First High School, Tatsuya and his friends are throwing a goodbye party for Shizuku Kitayama, who’s heading to the USNA for an exchange program. They welcome Angelina “Lina” Kudou Shields in her place. Meanwhile, Tatsuya learns about the USNA’s plan to uncover his true identity. In Tokyo, there are reports of bodies drained of blood, resembling the work of a vampire. Tatsuya starts connecting the dots, realizing that these events are not mere coincidences.
5. The God Of High School
The year 2020 brought us several Korean anime, and “The God of High School” truly stands out! Originating as a South Korean Webtoon in 2011, translated to English in 2014, and later turned into a mobile game in 2018, it has now been adapted into an anime, airing from July 6th to December 28th, 2020.
Set in Korea, the series revolves around a tournament to determine the God of High School based on each student’s martial arts abilities. In this competition, where various fighting styles and weapons are allowed, it rightfully earns its spot on the list of top action anime in 2020.
4. The Misfit of Demon King Academy
Among the best 2020 action anime releases we have The Misfit of Demon King Academy, a good series that bends the typical rules of what’s considered isekai. Long ago, a war between humans and demons caused widespread chaos. Demon King Anos Voldigoad chose to sacrifice himself to bring an end to the conflict, anticipating rebirth in a more peaceful time. After two millennia, Anos returns, only to find that magic levels have drastically diminished.
To reclaim his title, he enrolls in the Demon King Academy, but to his surprise, demonkind remembers him differently. His true personality and deeds are obscured by an impostor’s name, making him an unprecedented misfit in the academy’s history. Undeterred, Anos embarks on a journey to unveil those distorting his illustrious past and to ensure that his descendants acknowledge the return of their true ruler.
3. Fire Force Season Two
In 2020, the second season of Fire Force continues the story in a world where regular people transform into fiery, violent creatures called “Infernals.” Some people, known as “Fire Soldiers,” can control and use fire. Shinra Kusakabe, determined to become a hero and save lives from these fiery threats, faces challenges after confronting his brother Shou. Shinra’s goals include turning Infernals back into people, solving the mysteries of the Evangelist and Adolla Burst, and rescuing his mother and Shou. However, the path to achieving these goals is tough, especially with the impending danger posed by the Evangelist.
The Evangelist plans to gather the eight pillars—individuals with Adolla Burst—and sacrifice them to recreate the catastrophic event from 250 years ago. As the First Pillar reveals the birth of a new pillar, Shinra is committed to protecting his fellow pillars from the Evangelist. This sparks a fiery battle between the Special Fire Force and the Evangelist. Alongside the Special Fire Force, Shinra continues his fight, uncovering the truth about the Great Cataclysm, the nature of Adolla Bursts, and the mysteries behind human combustion.
2. Jujutsu Kaisen
Coming at number 2 on our list of the top action animes of 2020 that you must watch, we have Jujutsu Kaisen, a really good anime that you will absolutely fall in love with.
High schooler Yuuji Itadori spends his days casually hanging out with the Occult Club or visiting his sick grandfather in the hospital. However, his routine takes a strange turn when he encounters a cursed item, setting off a series of supernatural events.
Unknowingly, he swallows a cursed finger that once belonged to Sukuna Ryoumen, the King of Curses, and suddenly finds himself in a world filled with Curses—sinister beings born from human negativity. Yuuji, now possessing unique powers, realizes the threat Curses pose to society. He is introduced to Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School, where he embarks on an irreversible journey as a Jujutsu sorcerer.
1. Attack on Titan the Final Season
One of the greatest anime shows ever is Attack on Titan, and in 2020, something incredible happened—the release of the final season. Produced by MAPPA, the story continues where it left off, introducing characters like Gabi Braun and Falco Grice, who are trained to inherit Titans in Marley to wipe out the Eldians on Paradis.
Their plans face a twist when Eren Yeager and the Survey Corps show up, revealing the dark truth about Titans in the Yeager family basement. Now, armed with this knowledge, the Survey Corps ventures beyond the walls to confront the world outside. In Attack on Titan’s final season, two worlds collide as each group pursues its own goals in Paradis’ quest for freedom.
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