Since the 1930s, superheroes have been a form of entertainment enjoyed by all from different walks in life. Characters such as Superman, Batman, and Captain America have influenced all forms of media from television to manga. Anime is no exception to the influence of these heroic stories. Below is a list of the best and most inspirational superhero anime of all time.
Cyborg 009
Shotaro Ishinomori is the creator of popular superhero franchises that many know of including Kamen Rider and Kikader. Super Sentai, known in North America as Power Rangers, is also one of these well recognized series. Although Super Sentai and Kamen Rider are what he is known for, Ishinomori also gave birth to the beloved Cyborg 009 franchise.
Created by the author of Kamen Rider, Cyborg 009 is a series that follows nine humans from different parts of the world. Kidnapped by the sinister Black Ghost organization, these nine humans are subjected to experimentations by the organization leader, Skull. These experimentations successfully turn the nine into cyborgs with extraordinary powers. After escaping the clutches of Skull, the nine cyborgs continue to fight crime.
Astro Boy
Following the death of son, genius scientist, Dr. Umataro Tenma, creates an android in his son’s image. Astro Boy, the android, presents human emotions and lives with Dr. Tenma as an adoptive son. Dr. Tenma, never forgetting the death of his son, begins to show disdain for the android that resembles his son. The scientist eventually sells Astro Boy to Hamegg, a circus owner. Astro Boy follows the story of this robot fighting evildoers using his powers.
Astro Boy is often credited for the birth of modern anime due to the stylization of the characters drawn such as large eyes. This franchise also has a plethora of adaptations in the form of movies, manga, and anime remakes.
Tiger & Bunny
The story of Tiger & Bunny is an interesting twist on the traditional superhero template. Kotetsu Kaburagi is an aging hero known as Wild Tiger. His super power allows him to increase his strength 100 times his current ability for five minutes. However, a younger hero, Barnaby Brooks Jr. has the same ability. In order to save their careers as heroes, they must put aside their differences and work together.
In Tiger & Bunny, heroes, called NEXT, are sponsored by corporations to bring attention to their companies. Being a hero in Tiger & Bunny is considered a career. The NEXT appear on a television network by the name of Hero TV to earn Hero Points for a hero ranking. This show represents how greed can get in the way of being a righteous person.
Zetman
The story of Zetman depicts a darker version of heroes compared to other titles on this list. The plot follows a young Jin Kanzaki and Kouga Amagi as they both strive to be the ideal hero. However, their definitions of what a hero represents diverge as they grow older. These different approaches to being a hero leads to them clashing on more than one occasion. That doesn’t stop the two young men from allying to stop monsters known as the Players.
My Hero Academia
In a world filled with super powers known as “quirks”, Izuku Midoriya is one without any powers. Midoriya yearns to become a hero like his idol, All Might. One day, Midoriya, seizes the chance to become a hero as strong as All Might. By ingesting a strand of hair from All Might, Midoriya inherits All Might’s All For One quirk. This quirk grants him superhuman strength at the cost of his body. Midoriya must train to control these powers and become a hero worthy of replacing All Might.
Midoriya’s will to not give up is the perfect example of a superhero. Even when facing impending peril and fear, Midoriya faces the opposition head first. Each character in the show has their own unique quirks and personalities that make My Hero Academia worth the watch.
One Punch Man
The story of One Punch Man follows the Class-C hero, Saitama, as he protects Earth from powerful enemies. As formidable as these villains may be for Saitama’s peers in the Hero Association, this follically challenged hero always defeats them in one punch.
One Punch Man is a superhero anime with themes of friendship and heroism. Characters in this world see villains as genuine threats to humanity while Saitama wants to fight someone without killing them in one punch. This contrast lends itself to the comedic nature of One Punch Man.
Sailor Moon
Watch Usagi Tsukino as she fights evil by moonlight in Sailor Moon. Usagi gains the power to protect the Solar System from the forces of evil as the leader of the Sailor Guardians. The themes of Sailor Moon depict allyship and heroism. Similar to the popular franchise, Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon is widely recognized around the world for the astonishing transformations of the characters. This property is referenced in other anime and media while being the inspiration for others.
Superhero anime continues to thrive whether they are a parody of the superhero genre or a darker take on an often light-hearted genre. Recent titles such as GO! GO! Loser Ranger! garner praise for depicting different views than those of the hero. While the shows above are amazing, they represent only a fraction of the superhero genre.