Western fans of superheroes have absolutely devoured stories from Marvel and DC making comics king, but in Japan, manga reigns supreme. Japanese mangaka have created their own phenomenal takes on the genre, the best of which have been adapted into anime.
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These stories are influenced by many things from western superhero stories to classic vintage shows. One thing is for sure — the epic over-the-top battles and fights to save the day are absolutely on point in the world of anime.
10 One-Punch Man
Saitama, the main character of One Punch Man, is the most powerful superhero ever. That's actually the premise of this show, which relies on satire to tell the story of a kindly but bored superhero in a whole world already choked with superheroes.
Even though it pokes fun at the genre, it still has a lot of inspirational messages and borrows some typical plotlines that tend to get recycled in stories about superheroes. All Saitama asks for is a foe that's worthy of him, which is a lot to ask when you can take out literally anyone with only one punch.
9 Sailor Moon
These beautiful soldiers are known for their fabulous footwear, and their leader, Sailor Moon, was deliberately drawn with distinct red boots as a shout-out to Superman. Sailor Moon not only defined the beautiful girl genre for a generation, but it also gave us a whole team of all-female superheroes and a serialized animated drama, a concept that was still rare in North American cartoons.
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Sailor Moon is so popular that it commands a massive merchandising and media empire that's still making money decades after the original show first aired. New fans can enjoy the Sailor Moon Crystal remakes that follow the manga along with the original series, which had a unique storyline.
8 Powerpuff Girls Z
Powerpuff Girls Z is more of a remake than a reboot, as many of the major plot points in the original show are absent. Powerpuff Girls Z loses the detail of the main characters being sisters and gives them different personalities and powers than their Cartoon Network counterparts.
What stays the same is the theme of superheroes, and whereas the older show was a satire this one takes fighting crime and saving the world more seriously. It's told using the magical girl aesthetic, with each hero having a special power and corresponding weapon, which is what it would have been if the show had come from Japan in the first place.
7 Astro Boy
A vintage classic that many fans report was the first anime they ever saw on local television, AstroBoy not only revived the superhero genre but also defined the aesthetic that would come to be known as "anime." It was one of the first cartoons to air on Japanese television in the 1960s, and the version most North American viewers are familiar with was the second series, which is a full-color remake of the original.
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AstroBoy touches on a number of different genres that have a healthy international fan base, like science fiction and young adult, which is one of the reasons it's so universally popular. The face of the main character is as iconic as other figures like Mickey Mouse or the golden arches of MacDonald's.
6 Heroman
As if any further confirmation were needed that the superhero genre has entered the satirical age, here is Heroman to join the ranks of anime that make fun of the genre while relying on its most notorious tropes. The producers and creators at Bones Studio, the Japanese company that created Heroman, bring it full circle by including Stan Lee as a writer, and he created the basic premise of the series.
It's simple, classic superhero material, focusing on a normal kid who ends up with a toy that has extraordinary powers, mainly that it turns into a big giant robot. The two of them have to face a group of malicious aliens that a local science teacher has accidentally summoned to earth.
5 Tentai Senshi Sunred
Can a superhero ever retire? Is that possible, or do they just grow bored and useless, living off their girlfriend and using nicotine as a food group while their enemies harass them via cooking shows?
Tentai Senshi Sunred is a story about the latter. It's part of a genre referred to as light parody and it takes place in a modern setting that could be any Japanese city. Our hero, Sunred, has long since sold his "super bike" and now has to deal with his sworn enemies, the Evil Florsheim Army, in mundane everyday situations.
4 My Hero Academia
Here's a twist on the superhero genre. The story doesn't just play with the whole idea of origin stories, it also has some creative ideas regarding the nature of superpowers. In the universe of My Hero Academia, superpowers are called "Quirks" and everyone has a different one.
My Hero Academia isn't the story of a superhero trying to exist in a world of normal people. Izuku Midoriya, the hero of our story, is born into a world of superheroes but he himself has no powers. Izuku still dreams of becoming a superhero, and he is eventually recruited by the superhero All Might and sent to a prestigious high school for superheroes in training.
3 Cyborg 009: Call of Justice
This isn't a series but a film compilation that consists of three movies, which compile, update, and continue a story that's been in circulation for more than half a century. The first Cyborg 009 comics were released in 1964 and their popularity fueled a series that lasted until 1981.
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Cyborg 009: Call of Justice recalls the history and lore of this universe while telling yet another unique story, which means fans of both drama and superheroes will like it. How do superheroes live with the aftermath of their actions, and do their missions ever really end?
2 Zetman
There's a lot of superhero comedy out there, perhaps too much, so those that are seeking some serious drama would appreciate Zetaman. The original manga was known for its mature themes and visceral narrative style, and the anime continues with this dark tone.
The story revolves around the conflict between two rival superheroes, named Alphas and ZET, and goes into their backstories as the plot unfolds. Their higher purpose is to protect the world from the malicious Players, a group of monsters who were the result of sordid and controversial scientific experiments.
1 Tiger & Bunny
It's mecha, superhero, and science fiction, but it's also a unique take on the buddy-cop genre. The setting is a futuristic version of New York City in which superheroes are a common phenomenon and are sponsored by corporate entities to carry their ads and do heroic things.
The plot revolves around the veteran Tiger and the novice Bunny, who would be unlikely partners except for one thing, that they share the same superhero power. Bunny, whose real name is Barnabay, is a more serious character than he originally lets on and the show takes a more serious turn when it comes to solving the mystery of his murdered parents.
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