Best Action Anime of 1997

When a demon-possessed boar attacks his Emishi village, young prince Ashitaka risks his life to defend his people. As the beast dies, it places a curse upon his arm, granting him supernatural strength while slowly draining his life force. Following the advice of the village elders, he journeys westward in search of a cure and arrives at Tatara, the Iron Town. There, he becomes caught in a bitter struggle: Lady Eboshi of Tatara, who relentlessly clears the forests, stands opposed to Princess San and the sacred spirits of the woods, enraged by humanity's destruction. As the forces of nature and civilization clash in a desperate fight for survival, Ashitaka seeks a way to bring peace between them, all while wrestling with the growing demon inside himself. Princess Mononoke tells the story of the bond between technology and nature, revealing the harmony attainable through mutual understanding.

Guts, who will later be known as the Black Swordsman, is a young mercenary traveling from place to place, recognizable by the enormous greatsword he carries. He takes on jobs that pay the most, but never stays with any group for long—until he comes across the Band of the Falcon. After completing a job, Guts is ambushed and defeats many members of the band in combat. Griffith, the founder and leader of the Band of the Falcon, becomes interested in Guts and challenges him to a duel. Though the other members are no match for Guts, Griffith defeats him with a single blow. Incapacitated and brought to the Band of the Falcon's camp to recover, Guts awakens two days later. He confronts Griffith, and they duel again, this time under a condition: if Guts loses, he must join the Band of the Falcon. Because of his still-healing injuries, Guts loses the fight and is inducted by Griffith. Over the next three years, Guts rises to become one of the Band of the Falcon's commanders. On the battlefield, his combat skill is second only to Griffith's, as he takes on large groups of enemies by himself. With Guts' immense strength and Griffith's leadership, the Band of the Falcon dominate every battle they fight. But something sinister lurks in the shadows, threatening to change Guts' life forever.

Pokémon are peculiar creatures with a wide range of abilities and appearances; many people, known as Pokémon trainers, capture and train them, often for the purpose of battling others. Young Satoshi has not only dreamed of becoming a Pokémon trainer but also a "Pokémon Master," and on his 10th birthday, he finally gets a chance to make that dream come true. Unfortunately for him, all three Pokémon available for new trainers have already been taken, leaving only Pikachu, a rebellious Electric-type Pokémon. However, this chance meeting would mark the beginning of a lifelong friendship and an epic adventure! Setting off on a journey to become the very best, Satoshi and Pikachu travel across beautiful, expansive regions with their friends Kasumi, a Water-type trainer, and Takeshi, a Rock-type trainer. But danger lurks around every corner. The infamous Team Rocket is always nearby, trying to steal powerful Pokémon through devious schemes. It will be up to Satoshi and his friends to stop their efforts as he also strives to earn the eight Pokémon Gym Badges needed to challenge the Pokémon League and eventually claim the title of Pokémon Master.

Many assume ninjas are extinct, yet Rekka Hanabishi disagrees. Despite his family’s trade in fireworks, he identifies as a self-proclaimed modern ninja. While this may seem amusing, it often leads to trouble. Rekka frequently engages in battles because he publicly declared that he would serve anyone who could defeat him. His life changes when he encounters Yanagi Sakoshita, a kind girl capable of healing any injury. This meeting triggers a series of events that reveal a startling truth: Rekka is the sole survivor of a legendary ninja clan destroyed centuries ago. Beyond being a true ninja, he possesses the ability to manipulate fire. What does this destiny hold for him? Who are the mysterious figures pursuing him and Yanagi? Discover the answers in Rekka no Honoo!

For almost a thousand years, a magical barrier erected by demons has trapped its inhabitants from accessing the outside world. Now that the barrier has been shattered, various kingdoms are eager to explore the territories that were previously out of reach. To facilitate this, they form a peace delegation to establish contact with the people living in this newly accessible realm. In the meantime, the young sorceress Lina Inverse receives a communication from a mysterious figure named Filia ul Copt. Upon meeting, Filia reveals her intention to hire Lina and her companions for a mission leading to the outside world, citing their renowned past exploits. However, she first demands a demonstration of their power, forcing them to battle a dragon in the heart of the city. Once they have proven their worth, Lina and her fellow adventurers journey into the uncharted lands, where they encounter numerous adventures and face a troubling prophecy.

Malevolent Shinma, which are shape-shifting monsters and vampires, wander the planet with the goal of spreading their darkness to humanity. Miyu, the Royal Princess from the shadows, is the Chosen One tasked with banishing these evil Shinma from the Earth. Although she possesses the power to grant humans eternal happiness, she remains trapped between two worlds, fated for endless solitude and inner turmoil. Her sole companion is Larva, a former evil Shinma who now serves as her loyal guardian. Together, they navigate a dark path through human frailty and the tragic loss of innocence. Separated from humanity by the burden of her true nature, Miyu embarks on an unending quest as both hunter and hunted, living perpetually on the brink of darkness.

Set in 19th-century China during the declining Qing Dynasty, the narrative unfolds amidst political instability and a fictional period known as "The Era of the Cooking Wars." This was a time when elite masters of diverse culinary traditions strove to perfect their arts and claim the title of the nation's finest chef. In this society, culinary expertise commands immense authority; insulting a renowned chef or tampering with cooking can result in imprisonment, while impersonating a top-tier cook is treated as treasonous usurpation. Chefs vie for respect and influence, risking total loss in their pursuit of dominance. China is divided into four primary regions: Beijing, Szechuan, Shanghai, and Guangdong. The tale begins in Szechuan, the hometown of Mao. Following the death of his mother, Pai, revered as the 'Fairy of Cuisine', Mao strives to become a Super Chef to inherit her restaurant's Master Chef title. Yet, before assuming this role, he journeys across China to master various cooking techniques, aiming to achieve legendary status like his mother. Along the way, he encounters loyal friends and formidable rivals eager to test his culinary prowess.

The CLAMP School is a fully integrated educational institution spanning kindergarten through postgraduate studies, founded by Japan's largest business conglomerate, the House of Imonoyama. Entirely funded by the family's vast wealth, the school was envisioned as a sanctuary for the young men and women who will shape the future. Admission is based solely on talent, regardless of family background or financial means, and the campus is home to numerous exceptionally gifted students. It is also notorious for harboring an unusually high proportion of party animals. Even the brightest minds at CLAMP School cannot prevent crimes and mysteries from occurring. Or can they? Join Nokoru, Suoh, and Akira—the kid detectives who crack cases and even rescue the occasional damsel in distress!

Meet Bolt Crank, a mercenary with an unusual ability—he can eat metal. As he travels, he stops to earn some money and occasionally rescue women in distress. His appetite for metal gives him a distinct advantage, as he can generate various weapons from his hand. This strange power proves quite handy in combat. Bolt has an edge over his enemies, but will that be enough?

In a world where humans and monsters live side by side, Sasahara Natsuki is a bounty hunter struggling with poverty. Most of her jobs involve monsters infringing on the rights of humans, who are legally shielded from their generally stronger neighbors. As a half-human, half-cat-beast hybrid, Natsuki exists between both societies and works to understand and respect each while upholding the law. She is aided by a werewolf named Batanen, who is too afraid to confess his love for her; another werewolf, Tommy; and a Kyubi fox demon named Sakura, who harbors her own intentions—including eating Natsuki to finish her nine tails and thus unlock her full magical power.

On her sixteenth birthday, Honey Kisaragi sets out to see her father. He arrives injured and fleeing from pursuers. Suddenly, a band of thugs and a monster appear. Detective Seiji Hayama steps in to save Honey and her father, but the monster captures her father. Devastated, Honey returns home to find it destroyed. A mysterious handsome man offers her hope and a device to fight the monsters who took her father. With this device, Honey can assume multiple forms and defeat Panther Zora, the sinister force behind the attacks.

Inaho, a student at a Catholic school, realizes that a vampire named Mosquiton is draining her classmates. After she drives a stake through his heart, he miraculously revives when her blood touches his remains. Now bound to her as a slave, Mosquiton also takes on the role of a history teacher. Alongside Yuuki and Honou, the pair embarks on various adventures. One of Inaho's primary objectives is to locate the legendary O-Part for financial gain.

Hareluya Hibino's sole aim is to dominate the entire world. Even though he appears rough, he has a good heart, and when necessary, he goes out of his way to assist others. Alongside Kiyoshiro, a budding artist, Hareluya faces whatever challenges life presents.

Chou Tokkyuu Hikarian centers on a group of bullet trains that transform into robots. Working alongside two humans, Tetsuyuki Shinbashi and Minayo Kanda, these robotic trains must prevent an alien invasion.