The 7 best written anime arcs of the last 10 years, ranked

The past ten years have treated anime fans to some of the best storytelling they've ever seen. Anime series in all genres have blown away fans, from the romantic Fruit basket remake to the heartfelt action of Demon Slayer to the silly slice-of-life antics of Horimiya or Bocchi the Rock!. It's easy to single out an entire series as one of the industry's best, but it also helps narrow things down to just one great story arc.

Some anime are long enough that they are stronger in some phases than others, hence the ranking of story arcs. A small anime such as Bocchi the Rock! is a good series as a whole package, at the same time as something that My Hero Academia and Oshi no Ko should be divided into story arcs. Once that's done, anime fans can see which story arcs really dominated the medium over the past decade. Many arcs impressed anime fans, such as Demon Slayers Mugen Train frame, but even that is only an honorable mention compared to the industry's top frames in recent years.

My Hero Academia's Shie Hassaikai Arc was classic superhero action

This arc felt like something straight out of Marvel or DC Comics

The Shie Hassaikai Arc isn't exactly the best story arc of the last 10 years, ranking last among the most notable arcs in that time frame. That's simply why My Hero Academia's Shie Hassaikai Arc is fairly straightforward and lacks any seriously profound messages or philosophies found in other, even better story arcs. It's mainly a typical comic book hero arc in anime form, but at least the awesome Shie Hassaikai Arc made the most of the basic concept.

The pacing, emotional stakes, personal growth, quirks, and tension of the Shie Hassaikai Arc are all on point and combine effectively to surpass even the UA Sports Festival or the Kamino Ward showdown. When Deku and Mirio Togata take it upon themselves to rescue the terrified Eri from Overhaul, the results are spectacular as the reality of the heroism really sinks in. At that time, Deku was too used to practicing bows and tournaments, but the Shie Hassaikai bow pushed him to realize that all human life depends on his actions by him who needed her life, such as her life.

Jujutsu Kaisen's Shibuya Incident Arc turned Yuji's world upside down in a bloodbath

Few Anime have the guts to kill off so many characters

First season of Jujutsu Kaisens outstanding anime was a balance of dark drama, violent action and silly comedy to create a compelling package. Some fans may have been concerned or even outraged by the excessive bloodshed and gore found in the subsequent Shibuya Incident Arc, but then again, Jujutsu Kaisen could not afford to coast. This title already had the makings of a dark and gruesome series in all the right ways, and Yuji Itadori's saga needed to up the ante sooner or later.

Jujutsu Kaisen realized its own gruesome potential in the Shibuya Incident Arc, which saw a number of heroes and villains meet their end or come frighteningly close to it. Yuji's relationship with Ryomen Sukuna, already strained, became nightmarish to push the stakes through the roof. All the fun and games ended just in time within this arc, and Yuji felt more alone and vulnerable than ever when Kento, Satoru, and Nobara left him in one way or another. Jujutsu Kaisen had the guts to butcher its own characters and wrap things up with an impactful plot twist to turn the whole story on its head, and it worked perfectly.

One Piece's Egghead Island Arc pitted the Straw Hats against the Five Elders

Dr. Vegapunk dominated this arc as a scientist with a serious caveat

One Piece already has many great arcs and tales to its name, which helped define the islands of the Grand Line. Fans loved the Alabasta Saga and Marineford Arc, and while it was slow, the Wano Arc delivered some of the best moments of the series so far. At this point, fans can name the Egghead Island arc as One Pieceis the best of the past decade, in part because its pacing outshines Wano Arc's own. This arc may not feel as epic as Wano, but it doesn't need to.

The Egghead Island Arc did a bit of everything, from showcasing Dr. Vegapunk's goofy scientific genius to throw straw hats in battle against the Five Elders, CP0 and even Admiral Kizaru/Borsalino. Fans got to see Luffy use the Gear 5 even better, all while Bartholomew Kuma's heartwarming flashback brought everyone to tears. Rounding it off was the startling revelation that the ancient weapons will soon be used to drown the world again, setting up huge stakes ahead.

Attack on Titans War For Paradis Arc was the long awaited explosive endgame

Eren Yeager became the best hero-turned-villain of all time

It is true Attack on Titan anime has a number of controversies, including fans' mixed feelings about the conclusion, but there's no denying that it also treated audiences to some of the boldest storytelling of all. In 2013, the first season blew everyone away, and in recent years, recent arcs have helped stick the landing with breathtaking action and suspense. Even the detractors can admit that the War For Paradis Arc at least tried to be a fittingly epic ending to Attack on Titanand fans will say that the last arc succeeded 100%.

The War For Paradis Arc included startling revelations about the origins of the Titans, the full extent of the world's conflict, and much more. In that arc, half-brothers Eren and Zeke feuded and fought over the future of the Titans, the Fire People, and indeed the entire world. It became clear Attack on Titan had come a long way since the days of fighting Titans at the Walls, and Eren's transformation into a world-wide threat hit that feeling incredibly hard.

Oshi no Ko's Prologue: Childhood Arc Twisted the Genre Into Something Incredible

Two hard-hitting plot twists changed Aqua and Ruby's lives forever

It's often slam-bang action that makes for an instant classic anime arc, though Oshi no Ko impressed viewers in other ways. This anime was launched as a darkly subversive commentary on the many unsavory practices of the entertainment industry, and more than a few lives will be lost in the process. The plot itself does a lot of the heavy lifting here, with this debut arc rocking the fandom with two major twists. Dr. Amamiya and Sarina's death and rebirth was a good way to start Oshi no Kobut then the anime really made industry history with Ai Hoshino's murder.

What began as a cruel but strangely fun adventure with the little Hoshino family became a bloody tale of revenge and figuring out one's own destiny. It's wonderfully tense to see Aqua Hoshino risk madness to get revenge, but it's also worth watching to see if Ruby will grow up to surpass her late mother on stage, or meet the same fate at some point. The story's sharp turn from Aqua's strange childhood to his revenge story is what makes Prologue: Childhood Arc such a must-see story.

Vinland Saga's slave arc forced Thorfinn and Knud to carry heavy burdens

Thorfinn struggled with his past while Cnud struggled with the crown

In manga form, seinen fans generally agree Berserk is a little better than Vinland Sagabut on the small screen it is Vinland Saga which dominates. The anime's first major arc was a mind-bending and heart-wrenching tale of revenge and searching for the meaning of life. Then, not unlike Oshi no Ko, Vinland Saga suddenly moved the story in a completely different direction after a shocking murder.

Asekladd's death challenged Thorfinn to abandon revenge and instead meditate on what violence and vendettas really mean to him. It is the emotional core of the Slave Arc, with Thorfinn humbled as a slave as he faces his many inner demons. It is a great weight to bear, and Prince Knut would know. He wrestles with the weight of the crown, haunted by visions of his late father's severed head. Knut may be king now, but his fight is far from over.

Bleach's Thousand-Year Blood War Arc proves why this is a “Big Three” Anime

Bleach's Final Arc is leaner and meaner than Naruto's own final arc

The original Whiten anime secured its place in the shonen “big three” with its Soul Society Arc, correspondingly Naruto's Chunin Exam Arc and One Pieces Alabasta Saga. Since then, the anime began to leak in popularity until it was canceled altogether in 2012. A decade later, the anime returned in a sleeker, meaner, and shinier form with Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. The Thousand-Year Blood War Arc is classic Whiten action with some key updates and twists to make it much more than just a return to form.

This bow is done Whiten a legend again with its creative struggles, themes of rivalry and complacency, and the characters' own growth. Actors like Ichigo, Rukia, Byakiya and even Kenpachi proved that anyone can become even better if they push themselves and think about who they are or why they fight. This growth is vital to Soul Society's survival in the face of the Wandenreich's vengeful war against all Soul Reapers, a bloodbath that will finally shed light on Ichigo's mother and the nature of the first Zangetsu. All of this, combined with fantastic pacing and production values, make this the best anime arc of the last decade.