Best Action Anime of 1998

In the year 2071, humanity has colonized the galaxy, yet Earth-like problems such as murder, drug abuse, and theft persist. Consequently, a rising number of tough bounty hunters chase intergalactic outlaws. Spike Spiegel and Jet Black travel through space, hunting criminals to earn a modest living. Under Spike’s goofy and detached exterior lies the burden of a violent history. Jet copes with his own painful memories while caring for Spike and their ship, the Bebop. They are later joined by the attractive con artist Faye Valentine, the eccentric child Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV, and Ein, a bioengineered Welsh corgi. As the Bebop crew forms bonds and captures a diverse array of criminals, their lives are shaken by a threat from Spike’s past. With a rival’s insane scheme unfolding, Spike faces a choice between his life with his new family or vengeance for his old grievances.

Vash the Stampede carries a 60 billion double-dollar bounty on his head. The reason: he is supposedly a heartless outlaw who destroys anyone who stands in his way and levels entire cities for amusement, earning him the nickname "The Humanoid Typhoon." Wherever he goes, death and ruin follow, and rumor says that even making eye contact with him means certain doom—or so the stories claim. In truth, Vash is an enormous softie who insists he has never killed anyone and does everything he can to avoid violence. With his absurd doughnut obsession and clownish demeanor in tow, Vash travels across the desert planet Gunsmoke, constantly tailed by two insurance agents, Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson, who try to keep his collateral damage under control. Before long, their chaotic adventures turn into life-or-death struggles when a group of legendary assassins is called in to bring suffering upon the trio. Vash's painful past comes to light, and his beliefs and moral code are pushed to their absolute limits.

Unlike his peers, Takumi Fujiwara has no real enthusiasm for automobiles and knows almost nothing about the underground world of car enthusiasts and street racers. As the son of a tofu shop owner, he is obligated to make daily tofu deliveries without fail, driving along Mount Akina’s winding roads. For Takumi, any talk about cars or driving only brings to mind the monotonous chore forced upon him each morning. One night, the Akagi Red Suns—a notorious street racing team—arrive in Akina to challenge its local mountain pass. Led by their star drivers, Ryousuke and Keisuke Takahashi, the Red Suns aim to conquer every racing circuit in Kanto and prove themselves the fastest team in the region. However, they are stunned when one of their aces is overtaken by an old Toyota AE86 during a return drive from Akina. After that incident, the Takahashi brothers become wary of a mysterious driver who possesses remarkable skill and intimate knowledge of the local roads—the AE86 of Mount Akina.

Bullies frequently pick on those who are frail and weak—someone exactly like Yuugi Mutou. His childhood friend, the beautiful Anzu Mazaki, often defends him, but he cannot rely on her forever. Katsuya Jonouchi, usually accompanied by his verbal sparring partner Hiroto Honda, does not seem like a bad person either, even though he always brings Yuugi trouble. Above all, Yuugi longs for a true friend who understands him and would never betray him. Yuugi treasures his Millennium Puzzle, an ancient Egyptian artifact that ended up in his grandfather's game shop. Believing that solving the puzzle will grant his wish, he completes it, unleashing a new personality within him—the soul of the "King of Games." Dark, twisted, strong, and dependable, this new personality, named Yami Yuugi, is the complete opposite of Yuugi. Whenever an injustice is done to him, Yami Yuugi takes over Yuugi's body and forces the opponent into a "Shadow Game." The stakes are high, as the loser must taste the darkness that resides within their own heart.

Gene Starwind has always dreamed of flying his own starship into the vast reaches of space. However, that dream remains out of reach as he spends his days taking odd jobs alongside his partner James Hawking on the small planet Sentinel III. Everything changes when the pair accepts a job from Rachel Sweet, a treasure-hunting outlaw in disguise. Tasked with protecting a mysterious girl named Melfina, this encounter irreversibly alters their lives and sends them hurtling into the unknown aboard the highly advanced vessel Outlaw Star. Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star follows Gene and his motley crew as they brave the final frontier, traveling among the stars to uncover the secrets surrounding Melfina. Along the way, they clash with dangerous bounty hunters, space pirates, Taoist mages, and even catgirls—ensuring a thrilling adventure lies around every corner.

Six years prior, a catastrophic incident occurred at the Tower of Fang magic school concerning the magical sword Baltanders and the sorcerer Azalie. Because Azalie could not master the blade’s power, they were transformed into a massive dragon known as Bloody August. Krilancelo, a young magician at the Tower who held deep affection for Azalie, was disgusted by the elders’ refusal to save Azalie and their desire to erase the accident from history. Enraged by their indifference, Krilancelo vowed to restore Azalie to their original form. He abandoned the name Krilancelo, adopting the name Orphen instead, and left the Tower and his magical studies behind to roam the world.

Five years have passed since the Emperor of Marmo perished during the War of Heroes, leaving Parn as the Free Knight of Lodoss alongside his renowned former allies. Yet, Ashram, the late emperor’s right-hand man, pursues the scepter of domination to reunify Lodoss under his former leader’s banner. Concurrently, a darker power stirs behind these conquest attempts, preparing the way for the resurrection of the goddess of death and destruction.

Fudo Jun is a famous supermodel adored by many, but she harbors a hidden truth she herself is initially unaware of: flowing through her veins are the genes representing humanity's next evolutionary stage—the same blood as the beastly superhumans terrorizing the city. Unlike the others, however, Jun has managed to cling to her humanity. She is recruited by the enigmatic Asuka Ran, a member of a covert government organization dedicated to controlling—if not eradicating—these berserk destroyers of mankind. As Devilman Lady, Jun must now hunt down and eliminate her own kind, yet the question remains: how much longer can she hold onto her sanity in a situation she never chose?

Shido Tatsuhiko works as a private detective, but he is also a vampire who cannot recall much of his history. He is accompanied by Yayoi Matsunaga, a female government agent; Riho Yamazaki, an orphaned teenage girl who serves as his assistant; and Guni, a tiny green imp. Together, they confront monstrous demonic entities called Nightbreed. At the same time, Cain, the vampire who turned Shido into what he is, is searching for him.

Four young men—Aya, Youji, Ken, and Omi—compose Weiss Kreuz (WK), an assassin group tasked with eliminating certain threats to society. Each member employs a unique fighting style: Aya is skilled with a katana, Youji has perfected strangulation using strings, Ken wields deadly metal claws, and Omi specializes in a variety of projectiles. Under the direction of a mysterious man called only "Persia," the WK is sent to handle drug rings, terrorist groups, and similar dangers. As their missions proceed, they come to realize that most—if not all—of the criminals they have faced are tied to the Takatori family, a wealthy, powerful, and influential clan. To cut the problem off at its source, the WK must bring an end to one of Japan's most prominent families.

In the year 2023, extraterrestrial entities called Lucifer Hawks launch an invasion of Earth from a parallel dimension. The sole barrier against their subjugation of humanity is the Attacked Mystification Police Department, an elite Tokyo Police unit composed of female officers possessing extraordinary supernatural powers.

In the realm of Kuruda, warriors who possess magical abilities and exceptional combat skills compete for the greatest honor: the rank of Sevaar, the most powerful fighter in the land. Elle Ragu, who goes by the alias Shadow Skill, has recently become the latest Sevaar, but that does not make her existence any simpler. Instructing her "little brother," Gau, in the art of warfare, defending against killers dispatched from other nations, and repelling foreign attacks is already challenging, yet her most difficult struggle is covering the cost of her alcohol debts.

Team Warrior operates as a specialized anti-terror unit within the Neo-Tokyo Police force. Its members include Rio, who is perpetually broke; Maya, who has an obsession with guns; computer expert Lillica; technology specialist Nanvel; Yuji, a pilot with voyeuristic tendencies; and their enigmatic leader, Maki. The team handles various assignments such as bodyguard details, dismantling robbery and arms trafficking operations, and guarding a highly formidable tank. Rio and the others consistently foil the schemes of Ruby, an agent working for a mysterious coalition of influential figures. In the lead-up to the final confrontation, the story uncovers how Team Warrior was originally assembled, how the clever Rio came to be part of it, and the painful history that Maki carries.

Okometsubu Fujiyama has just transferred to Wakame High School, where his goal is to make 100 friends—until he crosses paths with the bizarre Masaru Hananakajima. Masaru is a martial artist specializing in the "Sexy Commando" fighting style. He establishes a club around this art, bringing in Fujiyama, whom he dubs Fuumin. The club soon fills with odd, offbeat characters. Along the way, the group encounters aliens, mustaches, and cute fuzzy animals as the club gains popularity.

Ryo, Gawl, and Koji are three youths who journey to the past with a single goal: to alter the course of history. In their own era, they discover that their nation, Kubere, employs genetically enhanced individuals known as generators as military weapons. These generators trigger the Third War, which wipes out most of humanity. So Koji, Ryo, and Gawl have arrived to prevent those events from happening.

Miura Kyoji, a devoted kendo practitioner, learns that his master Tate Masanari is the reincarnation of the Incan warrior Yawaru, who intends to destroy the world as a means of purification. Kyoji himself is the reincarnation of Bilka, the warrior who thwarted Yawaru's plans in their past lives. Yawaru gathers other awakened souls to unleash the forces of nature. Kyoji is forced to grapple with his own identity, questioning whether he is merely a vessel for the reincarnated soul or truly Miura Kyoji—and which of these selves holds the best chance to save the world and the future he knows.

After a great and terrible war, Haruka is the last surviving human on Earth. Even though humanity is gone, she is not alone—advanced robots survived the apocalypse, and five of them live with and care for her: Spike, a boyish android deeply attached to her; Trigger, hot-tempered and fond of firearms; Cleric, the intelligent problem solver; Reeves, whose thoughtfulness masks his intimidating appearance; and Angela, a sword-wielding recluse who avoids humans. They reside in a high-rise building at the city center, where Haruka leads a fairly peaceful life with her mechanical family. But her life is far from stable. Resources are scarce, and violent remnant robots from the war roam free, ready to destroy anyone they meet. Kurogane Communication follows Haruka as she tries to survive in an apocalyptic world, facing many dangers that challenge her daily life.

Bolt Crank, the World's Greatest Mercenary, continues his exploits. His unique ability lets him consume any object, particularly metal and weapons, and later materialize those items from his right hand when needed.

Milk-chan is a girl living in a house that is stuck on the side of a building, accompanied by her two sidekicks: Tetsu-ko, a paranoid robot shaped like a bottle, and Hanage, a green blob with a mustache. Milk is too poor to pay the rent, especially after her failed attempt to extort a local ant family. However, she is saved when the president himself offers her a job—some kind of secret mission. Milk-chan answers the phone to receive these missions from the president by saying something like, "Hello, Bank of Hokkaido. Just kidding!" After receiving her mission, Milk-chan and her sidekicks take off in the "Milk-6" helicopter to carry it out. Did I mention this is a spoof of 1970s spy thrillers or some sort of Bond movie?

The narrative revolves around brothers Retsuya and Gouki, who pursue the same ambition as Go and Retsu—racing and striving to win championships. The two new brothers confront a series of traps laid by a nefarious organization. Together with other friends, they endeavor to fully enjoy their races, flaunting their competitive spirit and combating any evil that might endanger the sport they hold dear.

Shu comes from Datania, a nation where young children are forced into labor. While trying to flee with his friends, they encounter the Returners, a group of rebels opposing Datania. Shu joins the Returners in their fight against Zero, Nines, and his followers, who are pursuing DT—a unique substance found within humans.

Cyress is a tranquil world where life proceeds as usual: lovers embrace, a family celebrates a child's birthday, and a group gathers for festivities at a local restaurant. But without warning, smoke and fire erupt around them. A terrorist faction has breached the planetary defenses and launched an attack. The citizens of Cyress are defenseless. While the military races to understand the situation, the terrorists take control of seven PDP missiles—weapons capable of annihilating an entire planet. Calling themselves "Solomon," these terrorists now hold whole worlds hostage. They must be stopped.

Matsuzawa-sensei’s debut work features an elite soldier nicknamed the God of Death who gets reassigned to the PaPaRa Army, a unit notorious for its brilliant yet absurdly eccentric members. The story lacks a serious narrative, relying entirely on comedy, slapstick violence, and sheer absurdity.

The planet Terra, formerly known as a morning star within the galactic system, was once breathtakingly beautiful. However, the world now faces an existential crisis, threatened by annihilation through a massive explosion caused by rampant pollution and warfare. Dr. Chaco possesses the sole knowledge required to save Terra, revealing that the only path to salvation is activating the Rainbow System using seven mysterious crystals. To locate these artifacts, Dr. Chaco organizes a race, secretly intending to use the crystals' power to establish his own universal dynasty. Hamos joins Rick in the competition, initially unaware of Dr. Chaco's true motives. As the race progresses, Rick discovers the secrets behind the crystals and resolves to restore Terra to its former glory. This revelation sparks a conflict between Dr. Chaco and Rick, both striving to claim the seven crystals and control the Rainbow System.