5 Anime With Best Animation That Rival Demon Slayer, Ranked

Demon Slayer set a bar for TV animation that few anime series can reach. Ufotable made every sword swing something you’d pause to admire. But it isn’t the only series that makes you stop mid-episode to stare at the screen.

Studios like MAPPA, Wit Studio, Bones, and Kyoto Animation have pulled off visual feats of their own over the years. These five anime hold up beside Demon Slayer, and each one earns its place for a different reason. Some are loud and explosive; others are quiet and beautiful. Here’s how they stack up, starting from the bottom.

5 Jujutsu Kaisen Turns a Crowded Shibuya Station Into a Warzone

Jujutsu Kaisen | Credits: MAPPA

MAPPA’s Jujutsu Kaisen gave fans some of the wildest fights of recent years. Season 2 jumped from the Hidden Inventory arc straight into the Shibuya Incident, and watching Satoru Gojo cut loose with Limitless in a packed station is something you don’t forget. Director Shota Goshozono kept the energy high, and the Cursed Techniques look sharp, heavy, and a little scary.

The crowd scenes and curse designs only add to the chaos. MAPPA’s animation prowess is on full display in Season 3 in the fast-paced action and immersive narrative. However, Season 2 is where we feel like the animation was at its peak. It lands fifth because a few Season 2 moments looked rougher than the rest, and fans definitely noticed.

4 Attack on Titan Made Every Swing Through the Walls Feel Deadly

Attack on Titan | Credits: Wit Studio

Wit Studio’s Attack on Titan arrived in April 2013 and made every swing of the 3D maneuver gear feel dizzying. The Survey Corps’ trap for the Female Titan in the Forest of Giant Trees and Eren’s brawl with her in Stohess still look incredible. Wit and Production I.G made the first three seasons, then MAPPA took over for The Final Season in December 2020 under director Yuichiro Hayashi. It ranks fourth because the look shifted once the studio changed, so the whole run doesn’t feel quite as even.

3 Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works Is Ufotable at Full Tilt

Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works | Credits: Ufotable

Yes, this one comes from the very studio behind Demon Slayer. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works premiered in October 2014 with Takahiro Miura directing, and the Servant battles around Fuyuki City are loud, fast, and gorgeous to watch. Shirou’s clash with Archer carries real weight too, so the fights never feel empty or like filler. The effects, lighting, and camera work stay sharp throughout. It takes third because it’s Ufotable doing what Ufotable does best, yet the two above feel a little more one-of-a-kind.

2 Mob Psycho 100 Lets Its Scribbly Style Go Wild at Full 100%

Mob Psycho 100 | Credits: Bones Inc.

Bones gave the shonen anime masterpiece Mob Psycho 100 a wobbly, colorful, scribbled look that nothing else matches. Yuzuru Tachikawa directed the first two seasons, and every time Mob’s emotions climb toward 100%, the screen goes wild right along with him. Season 3 came in 2022 under Takahiro Hasui, and the studio’s president said it would be entirely hand-drawn with no CGI at all. Even the calm scenes keep that scrappy, handmade charm you can feel. It sits second because few anime have this much personality packed into every single frame.

1 Violet Evergarden Makes Even a Quiet Letter Look Unforgettable

Violet Evergarden | Credits: Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation’s Violet Evergarden ran for 13 episodes in 2018, with Taichi Ishidate directing and Akiko Takase handling the character designs. Violet’s silver hands, the glow of sunlight on a page, the tears that well up in a single close-up: everything looks lovingly crafted. Netflix streamed it worldwide, and plenty of viewers found it that way and never looked away. The backgrounds alone could fill a gallery wall. It takes first place because it’s the most beautiful from start to finish, even when nobody is swinging a sword.

What are your thoughts on our list of anime that rival Demon Slayer‘s animation effortlessly? We’d love to know your picks and opinions in the comments below.