Naruto's The Chunin Exams arc is one of the most iconic early anime arcs that is still revered to this day as one of the very best. Often, anime series tend to have slower starts, causing fans to lose interest. This is precisely why it is crucial for a series to have an impactful arc with compelling characters near the beginning.
Unfortunately, not all anime series manage to do that, but Naruto really stands tall with his Chunin Exam bow. Along with it, there are a handful of other anime series that have early arcs just as good as Chunin Exams, if not better.
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8
Arlong Park Arc
One Piece is known for having a slower start compared to the average anime, but that doesn't mean its early arcs aren't good. Some of the most incredible early arcs in the One Piece includes Baratie and Arlong Park, but it is the latter that is particularly noted for being one of the very best the series has delivered.
Arlong Park is basically everything that fans love about One Piece, condensed into a smaller arc. It sees Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates fighting to free Nami and the people of Cocoyashi Village from the clutches of the Arlong Pirates. This arc delivers some of the most memorable fights, but more than that, incredible characterization for the likes of Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and most importantly, the arc's deuteragonist, Nami.
7
Shibuya Incident Arc
Jujutsu Kaisen endured a somewhat slower start, with tension building with each passing episode, but it wasn't until the series hit the Shibuya Incident arc that it really pleased fans. By and large, the Shibuya Incident arc is still considered an early arc, and it goes without saying that it lived up to all the expectations fans had and more.
The Shibuya Incident was a grand plan by Kenjaku orchestrated to seal away Gojo Satoru, and then the Disaster Curses wreaked havoc on the wizards of Shibuya. This arc was gruesome right up to the end and marked some of the biggest deaths in the series. It also gave fans one of the biggest fights in all of Jujutsu Kaisen, namely the clash between Mahito and Yuji, making it one of the most memorable arcs in modern anime history.
6
Female Titan Arc
Attack on Titan has quite a few exciting arcs, but among the first arcs, the one that really gripped fans was the Female Titan arc. This arc finally saw the big mystery of the traitor within the ranks of the Survey Corps come to the surface, and the fact that it was one of their comrades made this arc even more exciting.
This arc eventually culminated in a clash between Eren and the Female Titan, and while it certainly solved some mysteries, it created even bigger mysteries that developed in the following arcs, especially surrounding the characters of Reiner and Bertholdt.
5
UA Sports Festival Arc
My Hero Academia has one of the strongest starts of any modern anime series, but it really kicks up a gear when the UA Sports Festival arc begins. Traditionally, anime arcs in tournaments, similar to the Chunin Exams, are what fans are easily impressed with, and My Hero Academia certainly didn't skip a beat when they made their own version of the Chunin Exams.
The UA Sports Festival arc saw some of the most exciting hero prospects come face to face and showcase what they were truly capable of in battle. This included characters such as Bakugo Katsuki, Shoto Todoroki, Izuku Midoriya, Ochako Uraraka, Tenya Iida and many others who tried their luck against various powerful individuals. In the end, the winner of the UA Sports Festival was none other than Bakugo, with Shoto Todoroki finishing second after defeating Izuku Midoriya. This was a phenomenal arc, filled with great battles and quirks that were explored.
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4
Hunter Exam Arc
Hunter X Hunter has one of the most exciting early anime arcs that gets fans hooked right away, and Togashi achieved that with his Hunter Exam Arc. The Hunter Exam arc was incredibly exciting right from the start, given that it gave fans a good look at the abilities of the main cast as well as Gon's group, which consists of Leorio, Kurapika, Killua, and himself. It also introduced some of the other more important characters, like Illumi Zoldyck and Hisoka, and gave fans a look at some of the strongest characters out there, like Isaac Netero.
Even though Nen was barely used, if at all, during the Hunter Exam arc, it was still incredibly exciting. The vast majority of fighters showcased what they were capable of physically and mentally in the midst of great danger, making it one of the most intense early arcs in the entire anime.
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3
Land of Waves Arc
While the Chunin Exams arc is really an iconic early arc from Naruto series, that's not the only great one it has. Naruto's early parts are incredibly strong, and the Land of Waves arc, which is the very first main arc in the franchise, is arguably as good as the Chunin Exams. This arc sees Naruto Uzumaki and his team head to the Land of Waves on a mission to escort Tazuna as he builds a bridge.
Powerful individuals employed by Goto, such as Zabuza and Haku, get involved, and Team 7 gets their first taste of combat in a world full of cruelty and misery. The visceral emotions displayed in this arc make it one of the most incredible story arcs in anime.
2
War bow
Vinland Saga started off on an incredibly strong note from the start, and while its Prologue arc was certainly incredible, the War arc that followed was on a whole other level and is still considered one of the best redemption stories in anime. It saw Thorfinn grow from a young boy to an adult, and more than that, it set him on a quest for revenge.
As the story unfolded, Thorfinn's quest for revenge was shattered right before his eyes, and some of the biggest plot points of the series were finally established, such as Knut finally leaving his best way to fulfill his own goals. At the same time, Thorfinn undergoes tremendous character development, and that alone makes it one of the most incredible early anime arcs.
1
Jailbreak Arc
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Anime: The Promised Neverland
The never promised land is one of the most underrated anime series, which has been marred by a terrible anime adaptation. That said, the first season of the anime was still somewhat decent, with the adaptation of the Jailbreak Arc. The story takes place in Grace Field House, which is an orphanage where children are raised as livestock for demons to eat.
When the children, led by Emma, Ray and Norman, find out the dark truth behind this orphanage, they try to escape from Grace Field House, and one of the most exciting and chaotic arcs unfolds. Without a doubt, it is an arc that is still considered one of the very best in anime and manga.
