10 Best Anime Story Arcs of All Time, Ranked
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While the quality of shorter anime can be easily judged as a whole, the reception towards arcs of longer-running anime can vary wildly. Fans of series like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and Sailor Moon can often spend hours debating which arcs are better than others. Even more difficult than deciding the best arc in a single series is choosing which arcs are the best of all time.
The best arcs in anime span a multitude of genres and tones, such as battle Shōnen, mecha, magical girl, and sports. These arcs feature the strongest storytelling, character work, thematic cohesion, and overall impact in the entire medium. Note that some of the best anime of all time, such as Cowboy Bebop, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Puella Magi Madoka Magica, are either too short to contain multiple arcs, or don’t follow an arc-based structure, disqualifying them from being included.
Dragon Ball is a phenomenal series filled with charming characters, endless jokes, and intricate martial arts action, but it was Dragon Ball Z‘s Saiyan Saga that turned the franchise into a global phenomenon. Following five years of peace, the Saiyan Saga upends everything fans thought they knew about Goku. In the first five episodes, he’s revealed to have a son, Gohan, a brother, Radtiz, and to be a member of a nearly-extinct alien race, the Saiyans. This is all before allying with his greatest enemy, Piccolo, and dying in battle. It’s one of the most dynamic openings to any anime arc, and that energy carries through the rest of the story.
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