In the same way sports fan curate fantasy teams, anime fans orchestrate their perfect what-if battles. The medium is an expansive one with all sorts of genres, but shonen is the name of the game for many. Over the years, dozens of franchise have risen into popularity, and many of those shows did so thanks to their stellar action sequences. So, it’s only natural for audiences to wonder what it would be like for so-and-so to go a few rounds.
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No, this idea is a traditional one that has been explocred in everything from fan-fiction to fan-comics. Even animators have tried their hand at bringing these impressive fantasy matches to life, but there are so many match-ups out there that picking is hard to choose.
Here at ComicBook, we are breaking down a few of the best fantasy fights the anime fandom has to offer, and they’ll be hard-pressed to beat. Obvious picks like One Punch Man versus Goku may make an appearance, but there’s something to be said for deep cut battles you don’t hear about on the regular. So, fair warning – if you have forgotten about Trigun, you may want to brush up before reading on!
Do you want to see any of these above match-ups go down? Which fantasy fights would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB to talk all things comics and anime!
Vash v Spike
What do you get when you pit a famed criminal with a massive bounty against one of anime’sย most famous bounty hunters? Well, if you letย Spike Spiegelย of Cowboy Bebop hunt down Vash the Stampede, you would get the best cat-and-mouse crossover in recent history.ย
Kenshin Himura v Roronora Zoro
Sure, Kenshin Himuraย may have a thing against killing people, but there is nothing stopping the famed swordsman from showing Roronoa Zoro what he’s capable of. That is, so long as the One Piece pirate doesn’t hack the gentle fighter to pieces with his three-sword style.ย
Gundam Suit v Evangelion
Mechaย remains one of anime’s top genres, and the medium has Mobile Suit Gundam to thank for that success. The prodigal series helped fans realize what sci-fi could do with mecha, but anime has evolved since then. If audiences got the chance, you know they’d jump to see RX-78-2 go up against an Eva suit.ย
Gintoki v Dandy
At face value, Gintoki and Dandy have little in common. The former is a samurai of a bygone era in an alternate universe were aliens invaded during Japan’s Eto period. As for Dandy, space bounty hunter likes to hunt down aliens with his robot companions. However, if you let the two guys fight, you can be sure the showdown would be as eccentric as its famous combatants.ย
Saitama v Goku
For decades, fans have pitted Son Goku in their fantasy match-ups with varying degrees of success. For a long time, audiences wondered whether the Saiyan could take down Superman, but there is another superhero challenging the Dragon Ball star these days. So, if One Punch Man thinks he can take out Gokuย with a single blow, fans are more than ready to see the hero give it a go.ย
Afro v Mugen
When it comes down to character, Afro and Mugen don’t have much in common. The star of Afro Samurai is best-known for seeking justice while Mugenย kicks off Samurai Champloo as a hot-headed bodyguard. Still, their anime’s stylized swordplay is famous with animation fanatics, so a fight between the two protagonists would be a must-see.ย
All Might v General Armstrong
All it takes is a smile from All Might to know the day is saved, but he isn’t the only anime hero out there with rippling muscles. My Hero Academia may capitalize on the Symbol of Peace’s physique, but Fullmetalย Alchemistย did the same with General Alex Louis Armstrong. So, doesn’t it seem like the two should fight…?
Itachi v Byakuya
One is a ninja, the other a Soul Reaper. At face value, Itachi Uchiha and Byakuyaย Kuchiki have little outward in common, but their shared experiences as older brothers make them a solid match. Their heavy histories spurred them to act controversially with their younger siblings, but neither Bleach nor Naruto could deny these brothers’ love for their family.ย
Saber v Erza
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When it comes to shonen, your first fantasy fight drafts may not include heroine, but that would be a mistake. Erzaย is one of the scariest characters to come from Fairy Tail, and her love of armor is matched only by Saber from the Fate/stay night franchise. If you let these two girls duel, you can bet blood will be shed.ย
Naruto v Luffy
If you are into anime, it is almost impossible to not know Naruto Uzumakiย and Monkey D. Luffy. The pair are two of the most popular characters to ever come from the medium with Narutoย and One Piece having millions – if not billions – of fans each. So far, the pair have remained separate in the world of shonen, but fans are curious to see how Luffyย would dodge a Rasengan. Oh, and you can bet Narutoย would have a field day over Luffy’sย fearsome Gear Fourth form.ย
