10 best anime arcs of all time 

Anime is a great medium for authors to portray their talent for rich storytelling and combine it with some of the best anime arcs. Among hundreds of anime, a few arcs stand out as true masterpieces that have left a lasting impact on the audience. Not only defined by the story, but great arcs also elevate the presence of their anime as an art form.

Here’s a look at the 10 best anime arcs of all time, ranked not by popularity alone, but by their overall storytelling, thematic depth, and influence.

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10 best anime arcs of all time

1. Mugen Train Arc (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)

Manga Chapters: 54–66

Anime Episodes: Season 2, Episodes 1–7 / Movie

Studio: Ufotable

The events of this arc take place exactly after the first season of the anime. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko are assigned a new mission to assist Rengoku, the flame Hashira, to uncover the mystery of the Infinity train. In this arc, they undergo intense fights to save civilians from being controlled by Enmu. They need to brawl and defeat him to save everyone.

As the arc comes to its finale, Rengoku is faced with Akaza, the Upper Rank demon. What makes this arc one of the best anime arcs of all time is how Ufotable is able to incorporate their stunning visuals with great background music that supports the intense story.

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2. Pain Assault Arc (Naruto Shippuden)

Manga Chapters: 413–453

Anime Episodes: 152–175

Studio: Pierrot

The Pain Assault arc is considered to be one of the best anime arcs by the Naruto fandom worldwide. It is emotionally charged and questions the existing ideologies and philosophies within Naruto. Nagato (Pain) launches an attack on Konoha with only one goal in his mind: To instill peace on the land, even if it means using violence to achieve it.

The fight against Nagato (Pain) is not a simple battle of strength; rather, Naruto needs to tap into his empathetic side to turn the tide in their favor to stop further destruction and make Nagato understand the magnitude of his decision. This arc is a perfect blend of emotions, ideology, and action.

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3. Shibuya Incident Arc (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Manga Chapters: 79–136

Anime Episodes: Season 2, Episodes 9–23

Studio: MAPPA

This arc can be described as pure chaos. It took place on Halloween night in Shibuya by Kenjaku with one goal - to seal Gojo Satoru in the Prison Realm. This is considered to be one of the best anime arcs because of its unpredictability. There are a lot of plot twists and many characters lose their life.

The world of Jujutsu Kaisen is in a downward spiral after successfully entrapping Gojo. Meanwhile, Sukuna is resurrected and is on a rampage. The result of this arc was catastrophic, as many innocent civilians lost their lives. It is rare to show this level of destruction in a shonen anime.

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4. Marineford Arc (One Piece)

Manga Chapters: 550–580

Anime Episodes: 457–489

Studio: Toei Animation

The Marineford war in One Piece is considered one of the finest pieces of storytelling; therefore, it is one of the best anime arcs. Ace is sentenced to be executed, and the protagonist Monkey D. Luffy is on his way to save his sworn brother. Meanwhile, the Marines are ready for a full-scale war against anyone who dares to stand up against their judgment.

But what makes this memorable is the tragedy that occurs - Ace’s death while he tries to save Luffy, and Whitebeard's death and his last statement, “The One Piece is real”. This arc is also a turning point in Luffy’s life as he realises he needs to be stronger to protect everyone he loves.

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5. Chimera Ant Arc (Hunter x Hunter)

Manga Chapters: 186–318

Anime Episodes: 76–136

Studio: Madhouse

Chimera Ant Arc, yet again, a fan favorite, is considered one of the best anime arcs of all time. Although beginning as a simple monster-hunting mission, it slowly evolves into a dark psychological war. Meruem, the ant king, is the main antagonist of the arc, and he is overpowered. In addition, he is also humanised a little as he forms a bond with a blind girl, Komugi, as they play the board game Gungi.

In contrast, Gon had his darkest transformation for avenging his friend Kite. His descent into darkness is fueled by rage and vengeance, and it is a terrifying moment to witness. Despite its pacing, it is seen as a war story as humans are fighting against chimeras who want to take over humanity.

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6. Return to Shiganshina Arc (Attack on Titan)

Manga Chapters: 71–90

Anime Episodes: Season 3 Part 2 (Episodes 49–59)

Studio: Wit Studio

This is the point in Attack on Titan where everything changes. The scouts have returned to Eren’s homeland, and it finally reveals the secret of the basement. It is one of the best anime arcs, as what unfolds next is a brutal, strategic battle against the Beast Titan, Armored Titan, and Colossal Titan.

The finale of the arc leaves the audience with a bitter note as they see Erwin and Armin nearing death while trying to defeat the Titans. Levi is left to make a tough decision on whom to save by giving them the Titan serum. This moral dilemma kept the audience on the edge as out of the two characters on the verge of death, only one could be saved. After his arc, the genre of this series shifts from survival horror to a geopolitical thriller.

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7. Diamond is Unbreakable Arc (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 4)

Manga Chapters: 1-174

Anime Episodes: All 39 episodes of Part 4

Studio: David Production

Diamond is Unbreakable is one of the best anime arcs as it is the quirkiest arc in all of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. It is different if compared to other arcs and is leaning towards the slice of life genre. This part is set in Morioh, and the protagonist is Josuke Higashikata, who is the illegitimate son of Joseph Joestar.

This arc, in particular, has no high stakes that would affect the world. What truly sets it apart is the antagonist Yoshikage Kira, who is hiding in plain sight for most of the story. As a villain, he just wants a mundane life where no one bothers him. But also as a villain, he is quite terrifying, especially when his stand Killer Queen has a new ability called Bites the Dust. The final battle is truly a work of art and has a mind-blowing climax.

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8. Yotsuba Arc (Death Note)

Manga Chapters: 36–58

Anime Episodes: 17–25

Studio: Madhouse

It is often considered an underrated arc, but it is one of the best anime arcs of all time. It is more focused on L. Meanwhile, Light and Misa are cleared from being under suspicion, and their memories are erased. Without Light orchestrating his plans and recklessly using his Death Note, the doubts now fall on the Yotsuba Group—a shady corporate alliance misusing the Death Note.

It is a shift in the story as the usual chase of L and Kira has stopped for a while. The storytelling is richer as L is focused on finding the New Kira and putting an end to his reign. The second half of his time, when Light regains his memory, sets the stage for the next plot.

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9. Farmland/Slave Arc (Vinland Saga)

Manga Chapters: 55–99

Anime Episodes: Season 2 (1–24)

Studio: MAPPA (Season 2)

The first season of Vinland Saga was full of gore and bloodshed. The storyline is intense, where the protagonist, Thorfinn, just wants to seek revenge for his father's death. There are a huge number of human casualties, and brutality is also at its peak. After Askeladd’s death, Thorfinn is sold as a slave, and the second part of the story starts.

It is said to be one of the best anime arcs because it boldly shifted its genre. Now, Thorfinn wants to find redemption and peace. Once a warrior filled with rage has calmed down. He also bonds with his fellow slave Einar, and they dream of building a place where there won't be any violence or war. This arc has become a critically acclaimed arc in the history of anime.

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10. The Hideout Raid Arc (My Hero Academia)

Manga Chapters: 84–97

Anime Episodes: Episode 46 - 50

Studio: Bones

This arc is a turning point in My Hero Academia, as stakes are higher than ever for the first time, and heroes are pushed to their limits like never before. Bakugo needs to be rescued after being kidnapped by the League of Villains. The most emotional part of this arc is the fight between All for One versus All Might, where their battle is jaw-dropping.

All Might uses the last embers of his powers, and his true form is revealed to the world. Suddenly, the world loses its Symbol of hope, but All Might sends his iconic message to Midoriya—"You're next". The story shifts as All Might officially retires and transfers his responsibility to the next generation to come.

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In conclusion, these are considered to be the best anime arcs of all time. They are not just story segments rather they are emotional milestones that define a series. What makes these memorable for the audience is neither their stylized animation nor their intense scenes but how they have approached emotional depth and evolved storytelling in meaningful ways. These ten anime arcs are benchmarks for future anime to come. For now, they represent the peak of what the medium can achieve through the combination of storytelling and animation.