Ever have that itch to go on a journey to different places where you can meet different people and experience different moments that you will cherish forever? We definitely do, too, which is why we love watching adventure anime to fulfill that powerful desire.
Between magical realms and supernatural locations, we are always in awe of the places anime takes us, too. Even so, some anime stand above the rest and make it feel as though you were transported to a new destination.
Adventure anime that will take you on a fantastic journey
While most anime have some element of adventure or exploration, only so few do it in a way that we are left speechless by the places we see. Without further ado, here are ten of our favorite adventure anime!
10. Samurai Champloo
Where to stream: Hulu
Samurai Champloo follows the life of a young girl trying to find the samurai who smells like sunflowers. The person holds the key to many things she would wish to know more about, so she must track him down and receive answers. However, being on this journey as a young woman is not an easy feat, which is why she seeks the help of two young men who make her journey a whole lot more fun.
The anime is directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, the same mastermind who worked on other adventure anime like Cowboy Bebop and Michiko and Hatchin. This means that you will be in for a great emotional rollercoaster from start to finish with Samurai Champloo, including a few moments that are sure to make you shed a tear. But above all, what sets this anime apart from the rest is that it teaches you a bit about the samurai period while also making sure you're entertained from start to finish.
In many ways but one, you'll feel like a samurai yourself watch Samurai Champloo.
9. To Your Eternity
Where to stream: Crunchyroll
To Your Eternity forces you to come to terms with the fact that there are highs and lows in life that are put in place by a higher power to build you. Even so, when watching this anime, you'll find that there are times you wish that our protagonist could take a break and just explore the world without nearly dying at every turn.
Our protagonist was purposefully created by a mysterious entity to explore the world and see what he can learn from it. The catch is that he will encounter these menacing creatures called Nokkers. Nokkers are the only thing that can kill him and render his journey useless. What's more, with Nokkers adapting and getting stronger as he gets stronger, it's clear that he's going to have to do a lot more than just fight back to live to see another day.
From sea to shining sea, with To Your Eternity, you will be taken on a journey around the world and meet all sorts of people who are sure to leave you changed.
8. Hell's Paradise
Where to stream: Crunchyroll
He was sentenced to die after living a life that was far from perfect, but when he just wouldn't kick the bucket, the higher-ups saw him as more useful for a different calling.
Hell's Paradise is set in a world where everything and anything, should not be taken at face value. It follows the life of a man who is given the option to escape his death sentence only if he can secure an elixir of life hidden somewhere in a place that seems like paradise. However, after arriving on the island, he quickly finds that the island is filled with mysterious yet powerful monsters, each with the potential to harm and potentially kill anyone who isn't careful.
Coupled with the fact that many others like him were promised the same exchange, he must find a way to arise as the sole victor if he wants to preserve his life for not only himself but especially for his beloved wife waiting for him back home.
7. Cowboy Bebop
Where to stream: Crunchyroll
When anime fans think of Cowboy Bebop, they often think of the characters that carried the story of the show. However, every so often, fans remember that, next to the character work, the world-building of this anime was unlike anything they've ever seen before.
From planets dedicated solely to gambling to planets where intelligent animals can take over in a matter of seconds, the space exploration in this anime is enough to fill your head with childlike wonder about just what lies in the outer universes and if we will ever be fortunate enough to explore the endless galaxy, too.
The character work in Cowboy Bebop is surely a masterpiece, but now and then, we call attention to how we wouldn't have nearly as much fun if we weren't going on a journey through different astral planes together.
6. Dororo
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
If you found that your life could be completely different if you went out and reclaimed what was disrespectfully stolen from you, we're sure you would go to the moon and back to take back what is rightfully yours. This is the story of Dororo.
Raised as a doll, our protagonist is burdened with barely being seen as a human after his father asks the supernatural spirits to take his son's body in exchange for securing more power. The entities didn't hesitate to pounce on this opportunity because any father who would offer his son's life for a chance to rule his kingdom a little longer is a person who can certainly be manipulated once again when the time is right.
And so, our protagonist's entire body was traded for selfish, ulterior moments. But he wasn't going down without a fight. Rather, he travels the world to find all the parts of his body. One by one, he reclaims his limbs until he is completely himself again.
5. Made in Abyss
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
On a journey to retrace the life her mother lived, a young girl sets out to discover the secrets of the abyss, an unknown world which only so few have ventured and even fewer have returned to speak of what was seen there.
As she and her friend descend deeper into the abyss, she is riddled with more and more physiological effects that beg her to turn around and return to safety. Even still, the abyss is a one-way road and since she's gone further than most people have, she knows that only death awaits her on the ascent. What's more, she's made up her mind to follow in her mother's footsteps, so quitting is the last thing this stubborn girl wants to do.
Discovering what lies in each layer of the abyss is a fun yet eerie feeling that you'll feel when watching Made in Abyss. So much so that you pray that our protagonist makes it so that you, too, can see what lies at the last layer of this unknown world.
4. Vinland Saga
Where to stream: Netflix
With a vengeance so strong that not even the face of death can shake him out of it, this young boy inadvertently sets out on a journey that leads him to all corners of the world. All to wait for the perfect chance to take the life of the person who took his father's life. But as he is now, he is weak and will easily be overtaken. He must be patient if he wants to accomplish his goal.
Throughout his journey, our protagonist comes to learn many things about himself, including what anger he has lain within him that would make him go on a path full of so much unnecessary bloodshed and an overwhelming number of lives lost due to the senseless violence. Above all, he comes to see just how one-sided revenge can be, as he never really put into mind what would happen after he got his wish.
Vinland Saga is a powerful look at how far revenge can take us (metaphorically and literally) if not checked.
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Where to stream: Crunchyroll
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood isn't one of the greatest anime of all time for no reason. In fact, we attribute a large part of the anime's popularity to the fact that it isn't a simple story about two young brothers trying to rectify their mistake that led to one having no body and one having no arm. Rather, we get to go on an epic adventure where we get to meet all sorts of people.
Easily, one of the things that we often take for granted in adventure-focused anime is the new people we get to meet every step of the way. With this anime, we have a plethora of people whom we remember solely for where we met them. For example, when we think of the infamous dog and its owners, we are transported to a laboratory. Or when we think of who the brothers go to when they need a break, we think of Winry's house.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the textbook definition of a good adventure where you never forget the events and the places that came before.
2. Hunter x Hunter
Where to stream: Netflix
There really aren't a lot of anime where fans remember the arcs based on where the arcs took place. With Hunter x Hunter, it's almost impossible to mistake the arcs simply because of how well of a job this anime takes you to a place and makes sure you're familiar with it before it proceeds to the next interesting setting.
One of the most iconic arcs in this anime is the Greed Island Arc, an arc where you fondly remember things like the hilarious dodgeball tournament or meeting the formidable Biscuit. Another arc to remember is none other than the Hunter Exam Arc. This arc was where it all started and one of the things we remember from this was just how long they were running for. Little did we know that the running here was just a sliver of just how much they would be running from adventure to adventure.
Hunter x Hunter is a remarkable title in of itself, so us being able to go on a fun adventure with our protagonist is just the cherry on top.
1. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Where to stream: Crunchyroll
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End takes us on a captivating quest through the eyes of a young mage who wishes to acquire all sorts of spells to be able to possess a vast knowledge of magic. However, what sets this anime apart from others is that it truly takes its time to deliver a true adventure.
Some may not like how slow the pacing of this anime seems, especially during moments when it seems that there is not much going on in the present story. But once the protagonist and her traveling party finally reach a location, fans are met with a marvelous setup that pays off in the end since the lands we go to are often full of life and so much backstory.
No matter where the journey takes us, we know that this anime will help us see the beauty in the mundane since it's often the slow-paced moments that help us stop and take it all in.
Every single one of the anime titles will take you on a fun trip through each world. Be sure to head to any of these streaming titles to catch every second!