Many great animated action shows are anime, but there are also many others that aren’t anime and are as good or even better. Animated shows aren’t exclusive to a genre and a target audience. While they are usually associated with a younger audience, there are many great animated shows for adults.
Many of the best animated TV shows of all time are comedy-oriented and family-friendly, but there are some action shows on the list for a wider audience, too. Surely, most of these are anime, but there are many other animated action TV shows out there that aren’t anime and are worth watching at least once.
Samurai Jack
One of the most underrated Cartoon Network animated shows is Samurai Jack. Created by Genndy Tartakovsky, Samurai Jack follows the unnamed son of the emperor of Japan. When the demon Aku is released and takes over the land, the prince is sent away to train and comes back with the magic sword to defeat Aku.
When he returns, now as a samurai, he battles Aku, but before defeating him, Aku sends the young samurai to the distant future, a retrofuturistic dystopia where Aku has taken over. Samurai Jack, then, follows the title character’s efforts to return to his time and defeat Aku, who often gets in the way of his plans.
The Powerpuff Girls
One of the best Cartoon Network TV shows of all time is The Powerpuff Girls, created by Craig McCracken. The Powerpuff Girls takes the audience to the city of Townsville, which is often threatened by different villains and monsters. One day, scientist Professor Utonium accidentally creates three kindergarten-aged girls with superpowers: Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup.
The girls use their unique superpowers to save and protect Townsville from a variety of villains – from their archenemy Mojo Jojo, to Godzilla-like monsters, creatures like Him, and human criminal masterminds. The Powerpuff Girls mixes comedy and action, with the girls not holding back when battling all those villains, regardless of their species and origin.
Invincible
Invincible is a superhero TV show for an adult audience. Created by Robert Kirkman, Invincible is based on the comic book series of the same name created by Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley. Invincible follows Mark Grayson, son of Nolan Grayson a.k.a. Omni-Man, the world’s most powerful superhero.
Robert Kirkman is the co-creator of The Walking Dead.
Not long after his 17th birthday, Mark begins to develop his own powers, with his father helping him understand and manage his new skills. However, Mark also learns the truth about his father, who isn’t as heroic as he seems, especially after he kills the members of the Guardians of the Globe, the world’s greatest superhero team. Invincible is action-packed, but it has explicit violence.
Kim Possible
One of Disney’s most popular and beloved animated shows is Kim Possible, created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle. Kim Possible follows the title character, an accomplished high school student who has a double life, as she fights crime and saves the world on a regular basis. Accompanying Kim are her best friend and sidekick, Ron, and his pet naked mole rat, Rufus.
Assisting them remotely is computer genius Wade, and together, they form Team Possible. Kim fights various villains all over the world, but her archenemies are mad scientist Dr. Drakken and his superpowered sidekick, Shego. On top of that, Kim has to deal with everything that high school throws her way, so there’s a sense of relatability amid the action.
Primal
Another adult animated action TV show that isn’t anime and is worth watching is Primal. Also created by Genndy Tartakovsky, Primal adds horror to the mix, and it takes the audience many years back, to an anachronistic version of prehistory. Primal follows Spear, a Neanderthal, and Fang, an intelligent female Tyrannosaurus rex.
Both Spear and Fang have lost their families, and they team up to survive in this harsh environment, fighting carnivorous dinosaurs, prehistoric mammals, and more advanced groups of Homo Sapiens. Primal is unlike any other animated action show, and like others on this list, its violent scenes are quite explicit.
Arcane
Arcane is a steampunk action-adventure animated series created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, based on the world of League of Legends. Arcane follows sisters Vi and Powder, who are on opposite sides of the growing conflict between the utopian, wealthy, and progressive city of Piltover and the oppressed, polluted, industrial undercity of Zaun.
Arcane’s action scenes stand out for the show’s animation style and steampunk vibe, but there’s also a heavy layer of emotion. Arcane brings together action, drama, beautiful animation, and complex themes like family, poverty, trauma, and it’s heavy on social commentary. Arcane is one of the best animated shows you will find on Netflix.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
The world of Star Wars is in constant expansion, and part of the franchise’s brand is its unique style of action – so, of course, the franchise’s best animated show is a must-watch non-anime action show. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, and follows Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Accompanying them is Ahsoka Tano, Anakin’s Padawan, and together, they lead the Republic’s clone army against the Separatist Alliance, led by Count Dooku, during the title Clone Wars. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is seven seasons long, all of them action-packed and expanding the lore of the franchise.
Justice League Unlimited
Of course, the DC Universe has some great animated action TV shows, and while there are many to choose from, for this list, the winner is Justice League Unlimited. Developed by Bruce Timm, Justice League Unlimited is a sequel to the 2002 Justice League animated TV series. Set two years after the first show, Justice League Unlimited expands the title team.
Justice League Unlimited covers major (and popular) comic book events and expands the team’s history with more characters, both allies and villains, but it’s so well-written that, despite having so many characters, the show has character development, emotional depth, and lots of action.
X-Men ’97
Another great animated superhero action TV show, though this one from the Marvel Universe, is X-Men ’97. A revival of 1992’s X-Men: The Animated Series, X-Men ’97 continues the story of the original show and has greatly succeeded at it so far. X-Men ’97, then, follows the title team after the death of their leader, Professor Charles Xavier.
Now led by Cyclops, the team must carry on the legacy of Professor X, continuing their fight for a world where mutants and humans can peacefully coexist. Along with their mission as a team, X-Men ’97 follows the individual struggles of the team’s members, covering themes like acceptance, prejudice, and leadership with lots of action.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
One of the best TV shows of all time and a must-watch at least once is Avatar: The Last Airbender, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. Avatar: The Last Airbender is set in a world where some people can telekinetically manipulate one of the four elements through practices known as “bending.”
However, there’s one person who can bend all four elements, and is known as the “Avatar.” The Avatar is responsible for bringing harmony among the world’s nations, more so now that the Fire Nation declared war. A century later, the war isn’t over, but 12-year-old Aang discovers he’s the current Avatar, and with his friends, he sets out to end the war.