Everyone loves a good action movie. The feeling of adrenaline you get from seeing hand to hand combat, an intense chase sequence, over the top explosions, successful rescues, and the hero overcoming insurmountable odds is like none other.

Action anime is no different.

A great action anime series will create moments of suspense and showcase outstanding fights. Because it is done through animation, it can, arguably, do it much better than any live action film could. This genre is the perfect gateway to new fans looking to get into anime. So, let’s go through the best three action anime for beginners.

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Synopsis - From Anime News Network

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Opening 1

• Episodes: 64
• April 5, 2009 - July 4, 2010

Why Should You Watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood?

FMA:B (as it’s affectionately known) has been received as one of the greatest shonen-type anime ever. It is superior to its first anime incarnation and is closer to the source material (manga).

This series has constantly received top positions in rankings. It’s a great action anime that hits different genres and does them all extremely wall. The tone and themes are developed thoroughly and the show does a great job of evoking strong emotional ties to the cast of characters.

You really feel a strong connection to Edward and Al after discovering their tragic past.

You root for them throughout their journey. The Philosopher’s Stone, the tragedy of Ishval, the homonculi, the countless mysteries that come up, and everything else that makes FMA:B great are really just modifiers that spotlight the relationship between the two brothers and their ultimate goal for redemption.

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2. Katanagatari

Synopsis - From Anime News Network

Katanagatari music PV

• Episodes: 12
• January 23, 2010 - December 11, 2010

Why Should You Watch Katanagatari?

The premise itself is very unique. Your main character is a master of a swordless style of sword fighting. He has essentially turned his body into a weapon that can fend off, subdue, and even break other swords. He is then sent out to collect the twelve rarest, and strongest, swords ever created.

Each and every fight is unique. The twelve swords have special attributes that Shichika has to deal with differently and entertainingly.

The interaction between Shichika and Togame is comical and endearing. He was raised on a small island with his sister, away from any other people. So, he doesn’t recognize or abide by subtle social norms. This leads him into some funny situations and fights with his female traveling companion. But, ultimately it brings them closer as well.

Each episode is around forty minutes. So, it takes the time to develop the legend surrounding each blade. It also focuses on the motivations for each swordsmen. They aren’t just blood-thirsty killers (not all anyway).

These people have real reasons (sometimes tragic ones) for finding and protecting their legendary swords. They aren’t willing to hand them over so Shichika really has to overcome them physically as well as mentally.

3. Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis

Synopsis - From Anime News Network

Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis OP

• Episodes: 12
• October 6, 2014 - December 29, 2014

Why Should You Watch Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis?

Most people would agree with the following statement: Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis is a show that should have failed from the very beginning.

The source material is a japanese card battle game. There really was no strong backstory or any in-depth characters for this series to draw from.

Instead, it took the basic premise and just ran with it. It used its outlandish characters, exaggerated action, beautiful cinematography, and fluid animation to create a surprisingly strong show.

This show has a completely different feel and tone from most other action series. All of the action is over-the-top and extremely entertaining. The dialog is hilarious. Plus your main character has a big orange-ish afro!

Strong parallels have been drawn to other great action media such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Samurai Champloo. The show drew inspiration from these to draw out the relationship between the three main characters and create a western feel.

Each episode is an adventure that you’re willing to embark on. It never gets tiresome or repetitive because there are supporting characters that have their own charisma and the setting for the story draws on dark magic, religious references, and medieval context. There’s plenty to be intrigued by.

Now, we have three distinct, unique, and exhilarating representatives of the action genre. These are a must-watch if you are getting into anime. They will show you how action is taken from the film industry and cranked up a few notches.

You don’t have to watch them in any specific order. Take a look at each synopsis and decide which one looks most appealing to you.

I’m sure that once you’ve finished these you’ll want to move on to other series. So take a look at our tips for choosing anime.

Also, be sure to check out our guide to streaming anime so that you can watch these and other great shows.

This is the first article in a series of anime for beginners. So stay tuned for the next recommendations!