When talking about the bestanimestory arcs of all time, classics come to mind, such as the Kyoto Arc ofRurouni Kenshinor the Marineford Arc fromOne Piece, as they have clearly influenced and shaped the following generations of series. However, among the new series,some modern anime story arcs deserve recognition for what they have brought to the medium,becoming worthy of being considered as standalone masterpieces that any fan should watch at least once.
Modern anime are more fast-paced and don’t have arcs that extend for dozens of episodes as in the classic series, but they excel in condensing intense developments, infusing them with a narrative rhythm that keeps viewers at the edge of their seats, and leaving a lasting impact on their stories. This way,some modern anime arcs are worthy of praise and could even compete with the nostalgia of the classic series.
This list takes into consideration anime story arcs from the last decade.
Release year:
2019
The beginning ofMob Psycho 100 IIshows the everyday life of Mob as he continues to improve himself, which is the charm of the series, elevated by the short and visually striking Mogami Arc. However, these don’t compare tothe emotional impact that Mob experiences in the World Domination Arc. Things take a dark turn with the reappearance of a member of Claw, with Mob living one of the worst moments in his life when his family is in danger, but this becomes the perfect setting for one of the best battles of ideals in shonen.
Touching themes like the meaning of power, family, redemption, and finding one’s path,the World Domination Arc not only has some of the most incredible battles inMob’s story, like the fight against Shimazaki, Mob vs. Serizawa, and Mob vs. Toichiro, but also gives relevance to characters like Dimple and the members of the Body Improvement Club while giving a closer look at characters introduced in the first season. Furthermore, the stakes were exploited to the maximum with unmatched stunning animation, all withoutMob Psycho 100losing its identity as a gag series.
One of the longest story arcs ofRe: ZeroThe Everlasting Contract Arc recontextualizes many moments and characters from the first season, giving more meaning to the story. Dense, brutal, and even slow and difficult to digest on occasions,the events leading up to the final contract remind viewers whyRe: Zerois such a unique isekai, that, contrary to making the protagonist escape to a better reality, Subaru is forced to survive in a violent world and suffer anxiety, desperation, fear, and many horrors while helping others.
The Everlasting Contract Arc has surprising twists and introduces many great characters, like Garfiel, but the best part of the story is how it gives Emilia the spotlight and character development she needs to confront her past. Likewise, Subaru also has the biggest emotional growth in the series while giving Beatrice hope to overcome her loneliness. The Everlasting Contract Arc proved howRe: Zerodelves into fears, representing with every character arc themes like self-reflection, overcoming personal trauma, and healing.
With a shocking premiere episode and one of the best twists in recent years,The Promised Neverlandbecame one of the biggest surprises in the shōnen genre.Full of tension, brilliant strategies, and intriguing characters,The Promised Neverlandowes its popularity to its initial story arc, the Jailbreak arc, which only gets better as it progresses, constantly revealing what lies behind the walls of Grace Field and keeping expectations high throughout as viewers wonder if the kids can succeed in their elaborate plan.
The Jailbreak arc proved that shōnen can be exciting without action-based fights, showcasing a battle of wits and intellect between children and adults, all with survival in hand, and culminating in one of the most satisfying climaxes that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
2022
Demon Slayerhas cemented itself as one of the most popular modern anime, and although the trilogy film of the Infinity Castle Arc is ready to animate the highest point in the story,the events of the Red Light District remain the best moments in the franchise so far. In the Entertainment District Arc, Tanjiro, Nezuko, Inosuke, and Zenitsu join the eccentric pillar Tengen Uzui on a mission to find his missing wives, who were undercover to collect information about a demon.
From the introduction to the operation of the geisha houses with Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu posing as women to the revelation of the sixth upper moon, the arc takes the characters to the limit with a combat that escalates in intensity, becomingone of the most epic displays of animation of all time. Likewise, the arc is deeply emotional with the backstory and sibling relationship of Daki and Gyutaro, showcasing social criticism of the cult of beauty and appearances, discrimination, and poverty. This way, the Entertainment District Arc contributed to makingDemon Slayerresonate with audiences worldwide.
2023
After the emotional journey of Gojo’s past in the Hidden Inventory Arc,Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2takes both Yuji Itadori and the viewers to a place of despair with the Shibuya Incident Arc. Starting with the sealing of the strongest sorcerer, the Shibuya Incident Arc builds up the tension and suspense with every fight where the curses appear to take the upper hand. This set up incredibly animated fights like Sukuna Vs. Jogo, Sukuna Vs. Mahoraga, in addition to the return of Toji and the dynamic duo of Yuji and Todo.
However,the most striking part of the Shibuya Incident Arc is how it magnificently transmits a sense of loss and sufferingwith terrible deaths happening before Yuji’s eyes, being unable to protect his loved ones as well as the realization of the true horrors that come along with being a vessel of the king of curses, Sukuna. This created a dramatic charge anime arc that is both irresistible and unforgettable.
Released more than a decade after its previous seasons,Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood Warfinally adapts the final arc of Tite Kubo’s manga, giving closure to one of the Big Three shōnen that fans have been waiting for. Although, in the earlier episodes of Bleach, it was revealed that the Quincies were annihilated by the Shinigami centuries before the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc brought a faction back as the main threat, progressively breaking down the mystery of how they managed to survive and their purpose.
Not only is the Wandenreich proven to be a dangerous antagonist organization capable of destroying the established order and generating anticipation in viewers, but also characters such as Shigekuni Yamamoto and Kenpachi Zaraki have great interventions in the arc, whose fights are elevated thanks to the excellent animation by Studio Pierrot, with another level of care and dedicated production compared to the other seasons ofBleach. This way, even though it’s still yet to conclude, theThousand-Year Blood War Archas renewed the interest inBleach’s franchise, delivering a proper continuation to the story better than its manga counterpart.
The first season ofVinland Sagawas full of action and revenge, with impressive battles and one of the best conclusions in modern anime. However, viewers weren’t prepared for the radical turn ofVinland Sagain its following season. Featuring a grown-up Thorfinn working as a slave on a farm without any purpose in life after losing the anger that burned his pursuit for revenge,The Slave Arc threw many viewers off with the contrasting shift of tone from the War Arc.
However, upon further reflection, while Thorfinn’s evolution as a Viking warrior was captivating, his character development in the Slave Arc undoubtedly became one of the most meaningful self-discovery journeys in the anime medium.Vinland Sagachallenged its own genre with a new narrative proposal, succeeding in creating an inspiring story based on the meaning of peace and the consequences of violence, different from any other anime that will leave a mark on viewers and even change their perspective on life.
2017
Dragon Ball Zhas some of the most influential arcs of all time, like the Frieza Saga or the Cell Saga, but the Tournament of Power set a before and after in the franchise and in the anime medium as a whole. The Tournament of Power is one of thebest competitions inDragon Ball, raising the stakes in an all-out battle royale against top powerful warriors fighting for their universes' survival, but it is also an ode to the legacy of the franchise.
With a high-quality animation never seen before, it brings back characters who have been relegated and retired from the battlefield, like Gohan, Android 18 and 17, Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and Master Roshi, and also presents Jiren, who stands as one of the strongest opponents in Dragon Ball. However, what enhanced the Universe Survival Arc to legendary status was therevelation of the Perfected Ultra Instinct, which broke the internet, surprising fans worldwide like no other anime has accomplished, and became one of the besttransformations inDragon Ballto this day.
2015
Due to being a parody anime, Gintama’s serious arcs are often overlooked. However, among them,the Shogun Assassination Arc stands out as one of the most emotional and rounded story arcs in the latest decade. In a political conflict where the Shogun’s life is threatened, the arc is crude and violent, with exciting fights like Gintoki vs. Takasugi, which was elevated by the use of flashbacks.
Additionally, the Shogun Assassination Arc has masterful direction, giving more depth to secondary characters such as Zenzo, with the perfect use of drama with heartbreaking moments that deeply impact the universe of the series. This way, the Shogun Assassination Arc’s aftermath separates Gintama from other anime, setting up the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc, which also contributed to building up the series' reputation as one of the best shonen of all time.
Attack on Titan’s ending may have a mixed reception, butReturn to Shiganshina is one of the best story arcs in animethanks to the way it perfectly succeeds in connecting all the foreshadowing in the story. Return to Shiganshina features some of the best moments in Attack on Titan, like Erwin Smith’s speech, the fight of Levi Ackerman against the Beast Titan, Eren vs. Reiner, and the moral quandary about the meaning of duty, sacrifice, and seeking knowledge for the good of humanity.
The arc is enhanced by its use of tension that keeps adding up to a cathartic finale where one of the biggest mysteries of the series is finally revealed. What makes the arc so special is thatthe aftermath of the battle of Shiganshina introduces one of the most shocking plot twists in anime, redefining the real enemies of the story. As a result, the Return to Shiganshina Arc helped settleAttack on Titan’s status as one of the best modern anime.
