Animationis a fantastic medium for all sorts of storytelling. From bringing a beloved fairy tale to life to adapting apopular comic book, animation allows us to create spectacular moments in film and television that may not be possible in live action. For a long time, at least in the west, animation was only used to make stories for children; however, in recent years this medium has expanded into more mature territory and now includes quality content for all ages.
Action is a genre that is particularly popular for animation, and one of the most critical parts of any action film or series is the fight scene. These sequences give the heroes something to directly face, and pose a true threat to them should they lose the bout. Thanks to the freedom of working outside a physical space, and therefore the laws of physics and budget, animated fight scenes are free to be as spectacular as the animator can imagine. We’ve gone over some of the best of these scenes found in animated film and television, and picked 20 of the greatest across the medium.
WRITER’S NOTE: While anime certainly counts as “animated movies and TV shows,” it can also be considered its own standalone medium, featuring works in every genre and even featuring some unique genres of its own. These series, especially shounen series likeBleachorDemon Slayerfeature dozens of extraordinary fight sequences that are technically brilliant and visually stunning. That being said, for the sake of keeping this list from being a strictly anime feature, we will be focusing specifically on western animation here, and treating anime as a separate medium.
20The Boat Fight — Incredibles 2
This climactic fight between the brainwashed rookie superheroes and the Parr family inIncredibles 2is a great example where winning the fight is not the ultimate goal. During the scene, the main antagonist of the film has set the yacht that the fight takes place on to crash into a city, causing widespread devastation and vilifying costumed superheroes once and for all. The point of the fight is to free up the heroes to address that problem.
The goal turns out to be anything but easy, however, as the Parr family fight against the diverse powers of the brainwashed rookies in close quarters. The animation is brilliant, and the way that each character’s unique skills and abilities come into play is handled exceptionally well, with the animation being clean and crisp enough to portray the battle without being hard to follow or overwhelming.
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19Raya vs. Namaari — Raya and the Last Dragon
Pixar’s animation has always been top-notch, pushing the envelope of what can be done with computer generated animation and pioneering new and inventive techniques that influence the rest of the industry.Raya and the Last Dragon, released in 2021, was no exception. This entry in the Pixar catalog boasts some of the best animated action sequences the studio has ever produced.
The final fight between Raya and Namaari showcases Pixar’s splendid animation. Taking place in a crumbling building, there is a real sense of tension between the characters that is difficult to pull of in an animated medium. The drama of the scene makes this one of the best fight sequences in all of western animation.
18Mulan vs. Shan Yu — Mulan
Disney’s 1998 animated film,Mulan, featured a strong and determined woman protagonist that was something of a departure from much of their previous work. Motivated by love for her father, Mulan joined the army in his place, growing into a resourceful and skilled soldier, even leading her companions to rescue the emperor from the Hun warlord Shan Yu in the climax.
The confrontation between the dark and hulking Shan Yu and Mulan puts all the traits of the two characters to use. Shan Yu’s savage and aggressive attacks are ineffective against Mulan’s cunning, and he is ultimately defeated through ingenuity rather than pure force. This display of confidence and courage in the face of a terrifying adversary is a great payoff for Mulan’s character development through the film and is very satisfying to watch.
17Mr. Incredible vs. The Omnidroid — The Incredibles
Pixar’sThe Incrediblesis considered one oftheir finest entries, and for good reason. In this fight, the protagonist, a retired and out of practice superhero, is pitted against a robotic enemy specifically designed to destroy superheroes. Rather than a big action sequence, this fight serves to provide plot details and demonstrate Mr. Incredible’s cunning and experience, even while he is shaking off the cobwebs of his forced retirement.
Blending action, drama, and comedy while using the fight to further the story makes for an entertaining and compelling sequence. This is the first we get to see of Mr. Incredible getting back in action after he was forced to retire, and it sets up the action of the climax in which Mr. Incredible and his family face an upgraded model of the Omnidroid in a satisfying payoff for all the elements set up in this initial confrontation.
16Simba vs. Scar — The Lion King
This Disney classic features one of the most charismatic and cunning villains in animation, as well as some excellent character development for its protagonist. The final confrontation inThe Lion Kingbetween Simba and his treacherous uncle brings out the strongest elements of both characters as they battle for the throne. While the leonine combatants do not have intricate ways of fighting, the drama of the scene more than makes up for it.
Scar’s attempts to manipulate Simba and shake his resolve at the opening of the fight show the audience that Simba has grown to be able to face and overcome his guilt and doubt in order to do the right thing. Parallels between this fight and Scar’s murder of Mufasa also add depth and emotion to the scene, including Simba’s dramatic echo of Scar’s own words in an attempt to exile rather than kill his uncle.
15Po vs. Tai Lung — Kung Fu Panda
The climactic fight at the end of DreamWorks’Kung Fu Pandamarks its protagonist’s character development as he battles a dangerous opponent in his own unique way. Having already fought and vanquished Po’s companions, Tai Lung goes into the fight confident that he will be victorious, only to be faced with an opponent he cannot truly do meaningful damage against. The resulting conflict is entertaining, family friendly fun at its finest.
This collision of serious against silly is a joy to watch, and in terms of pure entertainment value, it is one of the highlights of the first film. Rather than a straight martial arts sequence, DreamWorks paid homage to many elements of atraditional wuxia filmwhile bringing out the typical “it was in you all along” message that is central to many films and shows targeted at a younger demographic, delivering a little something for everyone that may be watching.
14Korra vs. Zaheer — The Legend of Korra
The follow-up toAvatar: the Last Airbendercontains some of the very best fight scenes in western animation; however, it is this climactic battle between Korra and Zaheer inThe Legend of Korra’s third season that stands out among them. In an attempt to end the Avatar line permanently, the leader of the Red Lotus poisons Korra, an underhanded tactic that ultimately comes to nothing as her determination allows her to fight harder and bring him down despite the disadvantage.
What is especially notable about this fight is the impact it has on the character. Unlike many other fights in media, there are consequences of this battle that are dealt with later on. Korra goes on to grow and evolve into a much more technical operator later on, which can be attributed directly to this fight.
13Superman vs. Doomsday — The Death of Superman
Adapted from one of the most influential comic book storylines of the 90s, DC’s animated featureThe Death of Supermanbrought the devastating fight between the man of steel and his monstrous nemesis to life in all its brutal detail. It’s an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object as Superman desperately tries to put a stop to Doomsday’s mindless rampage.
Having already made short work of the rest of the Justice League, Doomsday engages Superman in a vicious war of attrition, ultimately resulting in both of them falling at the end of the fight.Den of Geekrefers to this film as a perfect adaptation of the story, specifically noting the wider themes of the story beyond the fight itself. This is a battle with resounding consequences, and Superman’s heroic determination shows that he’s more than just a flying, invincible brick.
12Batman II vs. The Joker — Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Batman Beyondis a fantastic story regarding the passing of the role of Batman from Bruce Wayne to Terry McGinnis many years into the future.Return of the Jokerdeals with the return of Bruce’s infamous arch nemesis, and through the story the audience is treated to many moments that let Terry stand out as a true, independent character that can and does exist outside of Bruce’s intimidating shadow.
Terry’s proclivity for wisecracks is ultimately the thing that allows him to get the better of The Joker. This version of Batman is something that the clown prince of crime is not used to dealing with, and as Terry baits and berates him he loses his composure, allowing the new Batman to finally put an end to the Joker’s machinations once and for all.
11Batman vs. Red Hood — Batman: Under the Red Hood
Dealing with the aftermath of Jason Todd’s death at the hands of the Joker,Batman: Under the Red Hoodfollows the conflict between Batman and a violent new anti-hero called the Red Hood. The conflict turns deeply personal when it is revealed that Red Hood is, in fact, a resurrected Todd enraged at Bruce’s refusal to kill the Joker in revenge for his death.
The final battle between Batman and Red Hood sees the two using all of their expertise against one another, bringing them to an abandoned apartment. Jason reveals that he has captured the Joker and presents Bruce with an ultimatum: kill him, or he will kill the Joker. Being Batman, Bruce takes a third option, leaving everyone alive. This battle of ideals outlines Batman’s “one rule” and demonstrates the kind of character he might be if he didn’t have it, while also exploring the depth and corrupted motivation the drives Jason Todd’s actions in the film.
