9 Action Animes Like Bleach
9 Popular Action Animes
Are you a fan of Bleach? Looking for something similar? There are plenty of options available, so check out our list of action anime or share your own favourite.
Bleach is an action packed supernatural focused anime that follows the journey of Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenage boy who has the ability to see spirits. Because of this ability he meets a death god (Rukia Kuchiki). After she is injured in a fight with an evil spirit (a Hollow), she transfers her powers to Ichigo and he takes on the role of temporary shinigami.
Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo and Rukia as they fight many spiritual enemies alongside their friends while increasing in strength and coming closer as friends. Bleach is one of my all time favourites and I spent a long time collecting my favourite series with similar themes.
Only a few of the anime listed on this page feature a significant supernatural element. Instead, they focus on long journeys that involve a main character (or characters) increasing in power throughout the story.
Share your favourite anime from this list (or one of your own) at the bottom of this page.
blood+
1 - Blood+
Blood+ is inspired by the film Blood: The Last Vampire released in 2000. It has a strong horror and supernatural theme and feels a lot like Bleach overall.
The story follows the journey of a teenage girl named Saya Otonashi who has amnesia. One day she is attacked by a monster known as a Chiropteran (similar to that of a vampire) and survives the encounter.
She soon realizes that she is the only one with the power to stop these monsters and sets out on a journey with her Katana, her sister and adopted brothers to cleanse the world and uncover her true past.
The flow feels very much like Bleach, as Saya goes on a journey very similar to that of Ichigo. Blood+ is a great action packed anime that is definitely worth a look.
Blood+ Trailer
buso-renkin-anime
2 - Buso Renkin
Buso Renkin features action packed fights, comedy, and a male and female lead. Overall it has received strong reviews making it a great option for fans of Bleach.
Buso Renkin follows the story of high school student, Kazuki Muto. One night he is killed after saving a mysterious girl from a monster, only to wake up at school as if nothing had happened. He soon finds out that he did indeed die and that he was revived thanks to the alchemist he had saved, who implanted a special medallion to replace Muto's heart.
This medallion allows him to form his own Buso Renkin (a powerful weapon capable of destroying the horrible monsters). He teams up with the alchemist and joins the fight against the monsters and their master.
Buso Renkin Trailer
dragon-ball-z
3 - Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z is one that people either love or hate. While it doesn't have many supernatural elements, it does have the endless fight scenes, constant power development of the main characters, and seemingly endless bad guys, making it a good option for fans of Bleach.
Dragon Ball Z follows the adventures of Goku (now an adult) and other companions that he gains throughout the story as they defend Earth against a variety of villains including space fighters, powerful androids, space conquerors and other strange creatures. The later seasons also follow the journey of his son Gohan parallel to Goku's adventures.
The series will provides plenty of entertainment, with 9 seasons and nearly 300 episodes.
Dragon Ball Z Intro
Bakemonogatari-anime
4 - Bakemonogatari
Bakemonogatari follows the story of Koyomi Araragi, a 3rd-year high school student and survivor of a vampire attack. He quickly finds himself mixed up in the strange world of spirits, gods and ghosts.
The story is broken down into various story arcs, each revolving around a particular monster or enemy who Koyomi Araragi feels morally obligated to defeat (similar to that of Bleach). The battles are less focused on all out power and brawn, instead focusing on understanding the monsters themselves and the people behind them.
Bakemonogatari presents the story and battles in a more intelligent and strategic fashion than similar movies like Bleach. Because of this it may not appeal to everyone but it is definitely worth trying out.
Bakemonogatari Trailer
one-piece-anime
5 - One Piece
One Piece is a highly praised series that features the same power progression found in Bleach. While the theme is different (focusing on pirates rather than the supernatural), it is still a great anime.
The story follows pirate Monkey D. Luffy, a boy who has eaten the Devil's Fruit and gained rubber-type powers. He and his crew decide to set out to find the treasure of One Piece which starts an epic journey to find friends and battle enemies.
One Piece features over 500 episodes and has received positive reviews from critics and viewers alike. The anime has been particularly praised for its animation style and energetic fight scenes.
One Piece Opening (English)
naruto-anime
6 - Naruto
Like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto is another series that seems to attract either a strong love or hate relationship. The flow and style of Naruto is very similar to that of Bleach even though the overall setting is different, making it a solid choice.
Naruto follows the life of a boy (named Naruto) who is feared by his fellow villagers because of what is trapped inside of him. Long before his birth, a demon fox (Kyuubi) waged a war that took many lives, eventually the Fourth Hokage was able to defeat him and trap him inside a human body (at which point Naruto was born).
Naruto decides to start a journey to become the strongest ninja and hopefully gain the respect and love that he deserves. The journey is a long and hard-fought road, but Naruto is determined.
Naruto has won many awards and constantly ranks in top anime lists. People often praise its extended fight scenes and its strong soundtrack.
Naruto Trailer
black-lagoon
7 - Black Lagoon
Black Lagoon is a more mature anime. It follows Okajima Rokuro, a normal Japanese businessman until he is sent by his company to the tropical seas to receive an important disc.
On his way to collect the disc, his boat gets hijacked by a band of mercenaries and he gets taken hostage. Eventually he joins the mercenaries after discovering the information contained on the disc. The anime then focuses on the mercenaries' adventures as they do jobs and try to survive.
Black Lagoon is a much more mature anime, with a darker style of humour and as such may not appeal to everyone.
Black Lagoon Trailer
samurai-champloo-anime
8 - Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo takes place in a fictionalized version of the Edo period of Japan.
The story follows the journey of two powerful swordsmen (Mugen and Jin), who are rescued from execution by a young and ditzy barmaid. They then join her on her quest to find the 'samurai who smells of sunflowers'.
Mugen and Jin are complete opposites. One is a brash wanderer with a wild and unconventional fighting style, while the other is a reserved warrior trained in a traditional kenjutsu style.
Samurai Champloo is very unique in that it blends a historical Japanese Edo period backdrop (while relying on several factual events) with modern styles and references such as hip-hop, rapping and 'gangsters.'
Samurai Champloo Opening
my-hime-anime
9 - My-HiME
My-HiME follows the story of a group of girls that poss the power of the HiME, which gives them the ability to summon metallic guardians called "Childs." The anime series combines action, drama and romance to create a great adventure story.
The story focuses on Mai Tokiha, an ordinary high school student who transfers to the Fuuka Academy with her younger brother. The Fuuka Academy contains a number of mysteries and soon after arriving at the academy Mai gets bound to a Child, a spiritual and mechanical type creature that can be summoned and controlled.
Mai soon discovers that she is not alone in her ability to control a Child and that she must use her powers to protect the population from Orphans, a monstrous race of creatures with similar abilities to Children. As the Orphans become more aggressive she allies herself with other students capable of summoning Children within the school.
Mai HiME (My-HiME) - Original Trailer
What IS The Best Anime Like Bleach? - Share Your Favourite Animes Below
anirudh on April 06, 2016:
HEY!WHERE IS FAIRY TAIL! THAT"S MORE BETTER THAN BLEACH!
it wasn't me on March 04, 2016:
bleach is my favorite anime...i love to watch anime and hot anime people because they are all like perfect
Shark bin on December 22, 2015:
Awesome animes though I watch almost all
Jinx on June 30, 2015:
anything with explosions?
kimberly on June 24, 2015:
Bleach is so good
jaysha on February 13, 2015:
Air gear and inuyasha should be up there and also afro samurai
Jake Michael Peralta from Indio, California on February 04, 2015:
Eh, Bleah's fight scenes seem too formulaic in retrospect.
BleachLover on December 28, 2014:
Bleach is the best anime here, then Naruto then One Piece
luizr187 on July 16, 2014:
@anonymous: I like DB butnot dbz as much. It loses alotof story.
luizr187 on July 16, 2014:
One Piece Definitely.
dhyresh on June 20, 2014:
Your list is very well rounded. Check out a manga called Psyren if you like as well. ^__^
martingallagher on February 27, 2014:
Not a great fan of Anime but this looks nice.
ReshimiTheKitty on December 03, 2013:
Hmph. One Piece I totally agree with.
ReshimiTheKitty on December 02, 2013:
Hmph. One Piece I totally agree with.
darian-gossman on October 20, 2013:
I think Yu Yu Hakusho should be an this list. I watched Yu Yu Hakusho before I watched Beach and there were a lot of similarities .
diana-oros-165 on October 09, 2013:
One Piece of course. i mean the characters are amazing, you just love them all.
diana-oros-165 on October 09, 2013:
@anonymous: yep
anonymous on June 23, 2013:
@anonymous: what about dbz
anonymous on May 27, 2013:
ONE PIECE all the way<3!!
It has action and a lot of comedy. Oh, and yes, Very funny indeed!!!!
anonymous on April 16, 2013:
naruto is the best anime
one piece & bleach is good...
BrandonCase on April 07, 2013:
One Piece, Samurai Champloo, Naruto, Black Lagoon, Dragon Ball Z... all awesome!
I'll have to check out the others :)
anonymous on February 03, 2013:
Fushigi Yugi, Ninja Scroll, Inuyasha
anonymous on November 29, 2012:
Naruto / One Piece
kopox on October 18, 2012:
Dragon ball is an epic anime...
