Stuck indoors but have a sense of adventure? Then this list is for you! Explore the outside world from the comfort of your own home with our top adventure anime picks.
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
One of the best stories ever to be written and animated, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a story about two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, and their quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone. However, they will struggle with deadly forces along the way, while questioning if finding the Stone is truly worth it.
The story of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is deeply engaging, including an exceptional supporting cast that receives really great character development. The art style and animation is superb as well, with a distinctive contrast between the characters and the detailed backgrounds. You won’t want to miss this highly-rated anime!
2. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
One of the last TV animes from Gainax, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann features siblings Simon and Kamina, who are born and raised in an underground village. One day, Simon discovers a mysterious mecha buried underground, which he and Kamina use to escape when their village is attacked from above. They travel across the post-apocalyptic land, accompanied by a female sniper named Yoko, as they face off against dangerous creatures called “Beastmen”.
As one of the last great super robot shows, it does a lot of things right for a mecha show, with a colourful cast, great story and wonderful soundtrack. Although this show is best known for its well-designed mecha and exceptional fights, the biggest takeaway from this show is the journey of how Simon grows from a small boy to a man who brings hope to everyone, a journey we can all aspire to go on in life.
3. Made in Abyss
This highly adventurous story follows Riko, a girl who dreams of exploring the furthest reaches of the Abyss, a gaping chasm stretching down into the depths of the earth. As she enters the Abyss, she meets a mysterious robot who she names Reg. Reg does not have any memories of his past, and the two guess that he must be made from technology from deep within the Abyss. Hence, they travel down together and find answers that will change their life forever.
Made in Abyss starts out as an exciting journey between a girl and her robot, but things escalate very quickly for the both of them. Their deep dive to find lost technology is beautifully illustrated with the show’s spectacular art and animation, as well as a masterclass soundtrack from composer Kevin Penkin.
4. Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho
Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho is about a girl named Mari Tamaki who has always dreamt of what lies beyond the universe. Even though she has big aspirations, she is anxious about new experiences. However, everything changes when she meets Shirase Kobuchizawa, a girl who has been working hard to fund her trip to Antarctica. Mari decides to join her, and along the way they meet up with two other girls named Hinata Myake and Yuzuki Shirashi.
Amongst all the otherworldly adventure shows on this list, Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho is much more grounded, but viewers at home will definitely enjoy watching this group of friends as they make their way to Antartica. Plus, it has adorable penguins!
5. Jojo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 5: Ougon no Kaze
In the city of Naples, corruption is high and the city is ruled by the mafia with an iron fist. Enter Giorno Giovanna, a 15-year-old boy with a strange connection to the legendary Joestar family. He has a dream of rising up through the ranks of the local gangsters, literally wanting to be a “Gang-Star”. He then meets up with Bruno Buccellati, a member of the Passione gang. Giorno joins Bruno’s team to work under Passione, while also secretly plotting to overthrow their mysterious boss.
Despite being a part of the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise, newcomers to the series can watch Part 5 on its own without catching up on previous instalments, since it takes place in a seperate timeline. Despite the outlandish character designs and action sequences, this show is really about the friendships Giorno forms as he travels across Italy in search of Passione.
One Piece
Based on the legendary manga by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece tells the story of a young pirate named Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy aims to find a legendary item known as the “One Piece”, a treasure left behind by the Pirate King Gol D. Roger. Along the way, he comes across a group of friends who join him on his journey to uncover the One Piece.
Despite the series being nearly 22 years old, One Piece has remained as a bedrock of the anime industry, with incredible worldbuilding and character development that could only have been achieved by two decades’ worth of brilliant writing and planning. If you haven’t already gotten on the One Piece hype train, there’s no better time to start than now!
These classic shows are sure to take you on a ride with their exciting adventures! If you have a recommendation of your own, why not share it with us in the comments?
