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WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 10 FAVOURITE ARCS IN ANIME OF ALL TIME?

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Note: List down your favourite arcs in anime not manga, just a reminder. Even though, most of the arcs I include in my list are action based, you may include sports arc like "Spring High Preliminary Arc", "Battle of Hawk Arc", romance like "Mai's Arc", "The First Kiss Never Ends Arc", visual novel adaptation like "Steins; Gate Second Half", "Heaven's Feel Route" or even the anime original like "Laughing Man Incident Man", "Cowboy Bebop Final Session" and so on.

The only rule is: that arc should have been adapted into anime and do not compare it to their other version or original version.

My Personal Favourite TOP 10 Favourite Arcs in Anime of All Time:

A. L Saga (Death Note EP 1 - 26)

B. Return to Shiganshina Arc (Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 2 EP 1 - 10)

C. Chimera Ant Arc (Hunter x Hunter EP 76 - 136)

D. Slave Arc (Vinland Saga Season 2 EP 1 - 24)

E. Ruhenheim Arc (Monster EP 68 - 74)

F. Sabaody Archipelago Arc (One Piece EP 385 - 405)

G. Chapter Black Saga (Yu Yu Hakusho EP 67 - 94)

H. Shibuya Incident Arc (Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 6 - 23)

I. Chunin Exams Arc (Naruto EP 20 - 25, 27 - 67)

J. Soul Society Saga (Bleach EP 21 - 32, 34 - 49, 51 - 63)

Honourable Mentions:

The Promised Day Arc (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood EP 46 - 64)

Shogun Assassination Arc (Gintamaยฐ EP 35 - 42)

Part 4 (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann EP 23 - 27)

Demon Emperor Arc / Zero Requiem Arc (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 EP 22 - 25)

Shogo Makishima Saga (Psycho Pass EP 1 - 22)

So, what are your top 10 (maybe top 3, top 5 also can) favourite arcs in anime of all time?

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u/pikachu_sashimi avatar
โ€ข โ€ข Edited

Iโ€™m not going to go through the mental effort of sorting and ranking my favorite arcs, but here are some I really liked:

Pyrite arc from Spice & Wolf

That one arc from 3-gatsu no Lion season 2 that everyone likes

Steins;Gate

Edit: I somehow forgot to include the final arc of Clannad After Story

That one arc from 3-gatsu no Lion season 2 that everyone likes

I think that's the bullying arc, great arc if there is a season 3 we could see the father arc which said to be the peak of March comes in like a Lion

Great choices ๐Ÿ‘

u/qSlays avatar
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Pyrite arc was very stressful for me watching the first time. Top-tier writing.

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u/octopathfinder avatar

G. Chapter Black Saga (Yu Yu Hakusho EP 67 - 94)

Didn't make my top 10 but Chapter Black is my fav YYH arc too

In no particular order:

  • Coalition arc (Kingdom)

  • Marineford (One Piece)

  • SA arc (Gintama)

  • Farmland Saga

  • Bullying arc (3-Gatsu no Lion)

  • Hitagi End (Monogatari Series)

  • Remembrance arc (Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal)

  • Chimera Ant arc (HxH)

  • Promised Day arc (FMAB)

  • Sisters arc (A Certain Scientific Railgun)

Coalition arc (Kingdom)

Honestly I want to include this arc but again something was missing from the manga version which SSS+ tier...

Remembrance arc (Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal)

That arc was inspired from a small part from the "Jinchu Arc" of Rurouni Kenshin which they extend it in anime, great adaptation ๐Ÿ‘ great choices

u/octopathfinder avatar

Honestly I want to include this arc but again something was missing from the manga version which SSS+ tier...

For sure, but I feel like the voice acting and music at least put the anime version in S tier. Ei Sei's speech at Sai hit so much harder with sound.

That arc was inspired from a small part from the "Jinchu Arc" of Rurouni Kenshin which they extend it in anime

Yep, I've read the manga and I prefer the serious atmosphere the anime had. Really was a great adaptation.

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Promised Day is so good

u/Sohaiba19 avatar
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Good to see someone else appreciating the coalition arc from kingdom. The battle at Sai gave goosebumps.

u/sayjunecar avatar
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Hitagi End and Sisters arc?

My new best friend

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u/BiggieCheeseLapDog avatar

10 Monogatari arcs

Okay which one? Your most favourite one

u/BiggieCheeseLapDog avatar

Hitagi End

Mayoi Jiangshi

Nadeko Medusa

Sodachi arc

Tsubasa Tiger

Ougi Dark

Karen Bee

Koyomi Vamp

Yotsugi Doll

Hitagi Rendezvous

Nice ๐Ÿค๐Ÿ‘

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u/its_Preshh avatar
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  1. War for Paradis - Attack on Titan

  2. Chimera Ant Arc - Hunter x Hunter

  3. Marley/Liberio Raid Arc - Attack on Titan

  4. Return to Shingashina - Attack on Titan

  5. Pain Arc - Naruto

  6. Shibuya Incident Arc - Jujutsu Kaisen

  7. Farmland Arc - Vinland Saga

  8. Fake Kurakura Town Arc - Bleach

  9. Dark Tournament Arc - Yu Yu Hakusho

Great list ๐Ÿ‘

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โ€ข โ€ข Edited
  1. War for Paradis (Attack on Titan)

  2. Thousand year blood war (Bleach)

  3. Shibuya Incident Arc (Jujutsu Kaisen)

  4. Arc 4 (Re: Zero)

  5. Shohoku vs Sannou (The first slam dunk)

  6. Marley Arc (AOT)

  7. Madoka Magica season 1

  8. Arc 3 (Re: Zero)

  9. Fullbringer arc (Bleach)

  10. Arrancar Arc (Bleach)

You must be a huge fan of "Bleach" out of 5 arcs you put 3 of them in your list

Yes! I love Bleach. Kubo loves making side characters have long fights. Some of them are good and some of them are really bad. If he had reduced some of them, Bleach would easily be my number one because the main story and fights are amazing. It's still my 4th favourite anime. I also think Bleach has the greatest OST of all time

When it comes to Drip and Music, Bleach indeed number one ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘

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Thereโ€™s 3 arcs in Hunter x hunter that are arguably the best 3 arcs in any anime ever lol.

Well I could guess "Chimera Ant" and "Yorknew City" in those, but what would be the third arc?

u/SomeManSeven avatar

The Hunter Exam arc possibly. Hooked me in for sure.

One of the best beginning / prologue arc ever, ๐Ÿ‘

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I think it just is open to interpretation. Greed island is my favorite arc (on rewatch). First time I watched it was my least favorite. But now I think itโ€™s the best one. Also heavens arena is a ton of fun (though I canโ€™t put it above any of the other 3). And hunters exam was fantastic. Even the politics arc at the end was great. Youโ€™re right objectively itโ€™s chimera and then York new. Just I think greed island is on that level for people that have seen it twice or more.

Hunter x Hunter anime clearly fulfill almost all category:

Hunter Exam Arc = Exam / Training arc Zoldyck Family Arc = saving friend / nakama retrieval arc Heaven's Arena Arc = Tournament arc Yorknew City Arc = Action Thriller arc Greed Island Arc = Mini fantasy game isekai arc Chimera Ant Arc = Psychological warfare arc 13th Hunter Chairman Election Arc = political arc

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Ya. Togashi is a genius. Sad we wonโ€™t ever get to the end ๐Ÿ˜ญ

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  1. Return to Shingashina - Attack on Titan

  2. Marineford Arc - One Piece

  3. Pain Arc - Naruto

  4. Chunin Exams Arc Naruto

  5. Chimera Ant Arc - Hunter X Hunter

  6. Dark Tournament Arc - Yu Yu Hakusho

  7. Shibuya Incident Arc - Jujutsu Kaisen

  8. Thousand year blood war Bleach

  9. Farmland Arc - Vinland Saga

  10. Promised Day Arc FMAB

Great list ๐Ÿ‘

Thanks ๐Ÿ‘

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This one is hard if you include all demographics and genres, because it's hard to tell what constitutes an "arc", so I'll just limit it to battle shonen, in no order

  • Post Marineford arc (One Piece)

  • Search for Tsunade arc (Naruto)

  • Future arc (Katekyo Hitman Reborn)

  • Kogarasumaru vs Sleeping Forest OVA (Air Gear)

  • Kyoto arc (Rurouni Kenshin)

  • Sindria arc (Magi)

  • Shikoku arc (Nurarihyon no Mago)

  • Great Saiyaman arc (Dragon Ball Z)

  • Return to the Infinity Fortress (GetBackers)

  • Journey to the Magic World (Mahou Sensei Negima)

Honestly I'm surprised at your choices, except for "Future Arc" from Reborn & "Kyoto Arc" from Rurouni Kenshin, ๐Ÿ‘

โ€ข โ€ข Edited

I tend to like the more chill arcs and training arcs over the big climatic battles. It didn't make the list, but take my favorite arc from Gintama, Yagyuu arc for example, it had so many funny moments, some emotional moments and overall had great actions. I love the comedy from the Shinsengumi members in that arc, and there's also that legendary toilet scene.

When I think of the Future arc from Katekyo Hitman Reborn, my favorite moments were those training moments where Tsuna and the Vongola gain their new powers, or future Fran trolling Belphegor and the Varia.

Same with the Great Saiyaman arc from DBZ, I enjoyed the slice of life, comedic moments where Gohan goes to high school and had to hide from Videl. I like that he's just chilling on his nimbus cloud as he travels to and back from high school.

Post Marineford arc is also the most emotional I've gotten watching an anime besides Clannad After Story. I loved the bonding moments of Ace, Sabo and Luffy.

I love the Chuunin Exam too, but I enjoyed the journey Naruto went on with Jiraiya to find Tsunade more. Naruto gets to learn a new technique, grow more mature, and we get more screen time of my favorite character in the series, Jiraiya. I don't remember which arc it was in, but I also enjoyed all the moments between Naruto and Konohamaru.

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u/Shrimpey_ avatar
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Kyoto Arc vom Rourouni Kenshin

Goated Arc with goated villain๐Ÿ‘

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u/Good_Mongoose_2777 avatar

Reading this just make me sad realizing how Berserk golden arc can never be adapted to its full glory

At least we still have the 97 version

Berserk one of my top favourite manga of all time, sadly the 97 version is closest to decent adaptation that Berserk would ever get, but I'm excited for the fan project of Berserk, trailer alone surpass the real life eclipse a.k.a Berserk 2016 ๐Ÿ‘

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u/Chrono-Helix avatar

Benizakura arc in Gintama. It was the first major arc in the show, and seeing all these clowns getting hurt and bleeding for real in such a serious situation was so exciting. Shura as the ending theme in the episodes leading up to it was great for building up hype too, as it gave us a preview the villains.

As a huge Gintama fan I absolutely agree with this ๐Ÿ‘

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u/nighm avatar
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The following come to mind (not in order):

  • One Piece: Arlong Park

  • One Piece: Water Seven-Enies Lobby

  • One Piece: Sabaody Archipelago

  • Frieren: Demon Arc (ep. 7-9)

  • Neon Genesis Evangelion: Descent Arc (ep. 14-24)

  • Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End (ep. 25-26, EoE)

  • Chihayafuru: Backstory Arc (ep. 1-4)

  • JoJo, Part 4: Yoshikage Kira Arc (ep. 17-39)

Surprised by how challenging it is to even isolate the arcs in certain shows, or to really pick one that stands out. I loved all of Chihayafuru, but its the initial backstory that completely hooked me, whereas no other individual arc stands out the way that one did. I also loved Nichijou, but even if you force an arc division (before and after Nano becomes a student?), I can't think of any reason to prefer one half of the show over the other. JoJo also doesn't divide neatly after the Parts, though there is roughly a "First Half" and "Second Half" for each of these.

Nice arcs, great list ๐Ÿ‘

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u/Only-Study6798 avatar

Return to shiganshina, pain arc and chimera ant arc are up there

Great arcs, great choices ๐Ÿ‘

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u/GRAITOM10 avatar
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Chimera ant arc is one of the best arcs in anime history imo.

Absolutely yes ๐Ÿ‘

u/GRAITOM10 avatar
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I hope HxH manga gets finished and fully animated before I die ๐Ÿฅฒ

For me I just want him to finish this current arc, after that if he can then let him cook, the "Succession Contest Arc" is "Yorknew City Arc" but on "Chimera Ant Arc" level of build up...

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u/AdHcarl avatar
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  1. arc 6 (re: zero)

  2. Surpassing the leader (Usogui)

  3. Protoporos (usogui)

  4. Silver soul and ss aftermath (gintama)

  5. Farewell shinsengumi and Shogun assassination (gintama)

  6. Chimera arc ( hunter x hunter)

  7. Marienford (one piece)

  8. Egghead (one piece)

  9. Golden age (berserk)

  10. Zhao invasion (kingdom) I'm not completely sure, but I think it's right

Those are some great arcs, however most of them are not animated yet (1, 2, 3, 10 not animated yet) and Egghead is still ongoing (so does the manga as well)

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