Best Action Anime of 1992

After sacrificing himself to save a child from a speeding car, 14-year-old delinquent Yusuke Urameshi, who was on a path toward a bleak future, is granted an unexpected second chance at life. Struck by his selfless act, the spirit world halts his journey to the afterlife. Koenma, the prince of the spirit realm, proposes a series of missions that will allow Yusuke to return to the world of the living. Guided by the spirit guide Botan, Yusuke takes on the role of Spirit Detective to battle dark forces threatening Earth. He is joined in this quest by his former rival Kazuma Kuwabara, as well as two demonic allies, Hiei and Kurama, each carrying their own complicated histories. Together, the team undergoes grueling training and engages in intense battles against enemies who endanger the very existence of humanity.

After a curse transformed former World War I pilot Marco Pagot into a pig, he took on the alias Porco Rosso, a well-known bounty hunter who chases sky pirates over the Adriatic Sea. Living on a secluded island, Porco ventures out mainly to collect bounties or visit Gina, a captivating singer who runs the Hotel Adriano. On a trip to fix his faulty engine, Porco is ambushed by the ambitious young American pilot, Donald Curtis. Eager for recognition, Donald boasts that he will end the flying pig's career. To avoid disappointing Gina, Porco flees to the prestigious Piccolo S.P.A., an aircraft manufacturer, where he secures a substantial loan to refurbish and upgrade his fighter plane. Surprisingly, he finds that the company's lead engineer is Fio Piccolo, a 17-year-old aspiring aviation genius. With Fio's modifications, Porco is ready to confront Donald and restore his reputation.

A mysterious entity called the "Big Gete Star" attaches itself to the planet New Namek, draining its energy and placing the Namekians in serious danger. Dende, now Earth's guardian, senses the crisis and urgently calls on Goku Son and his allies for help. Arriving on New Namek, they find the Namekians have been captured by advanced robots, with Cooler revealed as their captor. Cooler explains that he was revived by the Big Gete Star's advanced technology. Commanding his robotic army, he launches an attack on Goku and his companions, determined to eliminate them once and for all.

In "Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!," Dr. Gero's androids—#13, #14, and #15—are activated by the laboratory's systems and head to a shopping mall where Goku is shopping. Goku and his companions are tasked with stopping these new threats.

In "Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki," seventeen-year-old Tenchi Masaki hears tales about his ancestor who sealed a demon inside a cave with a sword centuries ago. Driven by curiosity, he visits the cave and retrieves the legendary blade, unknowingly releasing the demon, who turns out to be a space pirate named Ryouko Hakubi. Furious at her long imprisonment, Ryouko attacks Tenchi, but he repels her assault with the sword, unlocking hidden powers within himself. Impressed by his unexpected strength, Ryouko decides to stay with him. This event triggers a series of other alien women joining Tenchi's household: Aeka Jurai Masaki, a proper princess from Jurai; her gentle younger sister, Sasami; Mihoshi Kuramitsu, a forgetful Galactic Police officer; and Washuu Hakubi, a caustic yet brilliant scientist. As Tenchi interacts with these five women, he starts to unravel the mysteries surrounding his family history, his newfound abilities, and the impending cosmic danger threatening their world.

In the world of BASTARD!!, humanity has abandoned technology in favor of magic and the occult arts. The story centers on five magicians who strive to rebuild civilization after a rampaging God destroys the world and throws it into chaos. Under the leadership of Dark Schneider, Gara, Arshes Nei, Abigail, and Kall Su set out to conquer kingdoms, hoping to turn them into utopias—though each mage pursues a personal agenda. However, Dark Schneider's impulsive behavior and short temper lead him to cause havoc wherever he goes. A group of clerics eventually seals him inside a baby boy, leaving the other four without a leader. Fifteen years later, the four continue their quest, but their motives have shifted to despotic world domination. When the clerics who once imprisoned Dark Schneider free him to defend them against his former comrades, it becomes his duty to show them the "error of their ways." He must now track down each of his companions and put them back on the right path. Yet the once reckless and amoral Dark Schneider seems to have changed during his fifteen-year imprisonment inside the boy, Lucien Renlen.

Ushio dismisses his father's story about an ancient ancestor pinning a demon to a temple altar stone with the legendary Beast Spear as crazy, but when he discovers the monster in his own basement, he's forced to reconsider the family legend. Fortunately, Ushio knows it's wiser to let sleeping dogs lie and leave captured demons undisturbed. Unfortunately, the monster's released evil energies start attracting other demons to Ushio's hometown. To protect his friends and family from the invading spirits, Ushio has no choice but to free Tora from his imprisonment. But will the remedy prove worse than the disease? Will Ushio end up as Tora's snack? Or can the Beast Spear keep Tora in check long enough to save the city?

On a tranquil summer day, the Son family and their friends are out shopping in West City when two unidentified assailants suddenly appear and cause destruction, damaging much of the area. While the family is dining, their building comes under attack, revealing that the attackers are after Son Goku specifically. Angered by the harm inflicted on innocent people because of him, Goku retaliates. Trunks assists Goku, and together they lead the androids away from the city. After the fight moves elsewhere, Goku and Gohan return to West City, now dressed in white tuxedos. They then present clips and highlights from previous Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z films. Goku feels awkward in the formal wear and eventually powers up to revert to his standard dōgi. Gohan tries to do the same but cannot shed his tuxedo. Goku assures Gohan that he will be able to one day, and Gohan encourages everyone to see "Extreme Battle!! The Three Great Super Saiyans" in theaters.

In "Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf," Jeff Bogard, a master of Hakkyokuseiken and guardian of its secret techniques, is killed by Geese Howard, the powerful ruler of South Town, who sought to acquire these skills. Witnessing their father's death, Jeff's adopted sons, Terry and Andy Bogard, vow to avenge him under the tutelage of their mentor, Tung Fe Rue. Ten years later, Geese organizes a martial arts tournament known as the King of Fighters. Terry, Andy, and their friend, Muay Thai champion Joe Higashi, participate in the tournament with the intention of facing Geese and seeking revenge.

Lakshi, Boice, and Tieh travel across the harsh desert, hoping to find a place where they can refill their water supply. When they spot a city, they believe their hardship is over—only to discover they have wandered into Azec Sistra, the city of the dead. The location is packed with lavish tombs and corpses so well preserved they appear still alive, attracting grave robbers who risk the danger for treasure. Even though Tieh warns against the spiritual peril of disturbing the site, the three soon realize that working together is their sole means of survival.

Melos, a virtuous youth from Messina, travels to the magnificent city of Syracuse, renowned for its temples, to purchase a ritual sword for his sister's wedding. There, he befriends a highly skilled sculptor. Later, while strolling through the castle gardens, the King's guards arrest Melos. The King of Syracuse, consumed by paranoia regarding assassins plotting his death, sentences him to execution. Though desperate, Melos's primary wish is to attend his sister's marriage. He petitions the King for three days to return to Messina for the ceremony and promises to come back to Syracuse to accept his death penalty. Distrusting Melos, the King demands he find a volunteer to serve as a substitute should he fail to return, intending to prove that no one can be trusted. The sculptor agrees to become Melos's substitute in this dire contingency.

The world's greatest thief, Lupin the Third, sets his sights on a new prize: the lost gold of the Romanov dynasty. Aided by a mysterious blonde woman named Judy Scott, Lupin locates the treasure hidden in Texas, inside the Bank of Liberty. His partners Jigen and Fujiko assist in the heist, but complications arise along the way. The gold is claimed by the New York Mafia, and Rasputon—the telepathic descendant of the mad monk Rasputin—also seeks it for himself. As Rasputon manipulates global leaders and even a certain samurai, the stage is set for the battle over the Romanovs' golden legacy.

In 1580, Nobunaga Oda is on the verge of conquering the whole of Japan, commanding a powerful army armed with cutting-edge weapons and ruling through sheer brutality. Among his loyal commanders is Ginnai Doma, a one-time samurai who has been transformed into a nearly unstoppable killing machine. While Ginnai continues to wipe out ninjas and other foes standing against Nobunaga's rule, Shishimaru of the Iga Ninja clan sets off on a personal quest for vengeance, going against the strategies of the Koga Ninja. His aim is to avenge his fallen comrades and take down the immortal Ginnai.

In the Asuka household, upholding family customs takes top priority. For their sweet young daughter Jun, that means she must tie the knot on her eighteenth birthday. Despite being an innocent virgin, Jun is no stranger to throwing a punch, and the mere idea of marrying a man she doesn't love is unbearable. Her mother dispatches a crew of ruthless thugs to haul her to the wedding altar, but Jun would rather pummel a hundred suitors into a gory mess than go along with her mother's plan—and she's ready to prove it.

Rem appears as a typical woman in her waking hours, yet within the dream realm she becomes a dream warrior, protecting people from wicked beings. When these harmful dream creatures cross into reality, she combats them with her transformation-capable allies, which can turn into a tiger and a wolf.

In the third Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken movie, which takes place between episodes 35 and 36 of the TV series, Dai and their comrades defeat some of Hadlar's warriors, rescue the princess, and then help rebuild a village on an island. Unbeknownst to them, however, Hadlar has been overthrown by a new demon lord named Galbus, who intends to completely destroy Dai by sending his own team of six commanders. When Galbus launches a surprise attack, Dai's companion Maam loses her soul. To rescue Maam, Dai and the group must face Galbus in a battle fought on his terms. Can Dai overcome this danger?

In Itsuki Natsumi's manga, which takes inspiration from L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz," a nuclear war has ravaged most of humanity, splitting the United States into six warring factions. By 2021, rumors circulate about a legendary city called OZ, where life carries on as normal. Scientist Felicia sets out on a journey alongside mercenary Muto and android 1019 to find this city. Their quest eventually leads them to a military base controlled by a madman. At the same time, a young girl hires a mercenary to take her to the mythical OZ, which she believes is a utopia where her missing brother lives. A cyborg sent by her brother joins their group. However, OZ is far from a paradise, and her brother proves to be both brilliant and unhinged.

Joker: Marginal City is an OVA adaptation based on the manga created by Katsumi Michihara and Yuu Maki. Joker, a genetically engineered being able to change both their appearance and gender, works as a member of a Special Police Task Force that deals with various criminal activities. The plot also features romantic elements.

Aida Nonoka is saved from a drunken attacker by a judo practitioner. Determined to become as skilled as her rescuer, she hopes to one day identify him by the scar on his back. After transferring to a new high school, she meets two older boys, either of whom could be the person she owes her life to—and her heart.

In a different version of feudal Japan, the tengu named Kabuto sets out on a quest to save a princess imprisoned within a stronghold defended by hybrid creatures that are part monster, part mecha.

Within the reckless realm of the Yakuza, Jouji is ordered by his boss to take up a teaching position at a school infamous for its delinquent pupils. While adapting to this unfamiliar setting, Jouji gets caught up in a long-standing feud and surprisingly grows fond of a fellow teacher.

Seikima II, a genuine Japanese death-metal act celebrated for its kabuki-style aesthetics and lyrical focus on sexual assault, murder, and Satanic destruction, is portrayed in this OVA as demons hailing from the Makai alternate realm. The story centers around five ruthless demons, including the band members, led by Demon Kogure, who plot to exterminate humanity. Their primary opponent is Rosa, a guardian figure who is actually the rehabilitated war deity Freyja in disguise. As the demons aim to activate their catastrophic device, the Tower of Babel, Rosa works feverishly to complete her counter-device, the Tower of Cain. At the moment the demons are poised for triumph and global devastation, their leader suddenly changes tactics. Rather than destroying the world, he opts to form a music group to lure humans into demon worship through rock-and-roll.

Based on the manga by CARIBU Marley, art by KAWAGUCHI Kaiji, this is a hard-boiled detective story. Private detective Toki Shouzou takes on a case that proves far from straightforward, leading him into a loose and gritty investigation where the line between right and wrong blurs.

Taido Kaimon heads the Kinshu Group, a yakuza syndactive in the Kansai region. His crew is made up of a bunch of disrespectful and rowdy members who often get caught up in legal troubles, bicker nonstop, and face off against the equally tough local women.

The story centers on Officer Black Cat patrolling the forest town, catching lawbreakers, dispensing justice, and cracking mysteries.

The Kinshu Group returns to their usual mischief in this yakuza comedy. Two new recruits join the gang and attempt to prove their worth. Things take a turn for the worse when the boss takes a bullet and ends up hospitalized. With the boss seemingly out of commission, traitors begin to creep in, threatening to tear the company apart as if the boss is already dead. What will become of the gang?

In a world of anthropomorphic dinosaurs, five brothers—Bernie (blue), Bruno (pink), Bubba (green), Buck (yellow), and Bugsy (purple)—each wield unique powers tied to different body parts: Bernie's legs, Bruno's arms, Bubba's tail, Buck's mouth and teeth, and Bugsy's telekinetic eyes. Together, they ride in their vehicle, the Rexmobile, to fight crime and oppose the sinister organization known as The Corporation, led by the criminal mastermind "Big Boss" Graves in Rep City. Their younger sister, Ginger, joins them in a singing group, unaware of her brothers' secret life as crime fighters.

Jiang arrives at his family's traditional cherry blossom viewing spot. However, the area is littered with trash. Reluctantly, he sits down to have his lunch when a mysterious creature plummets from the sky! The creature's name is Kororin. He hails from the Star Oasis and has come to use his ESP to educate people about the significance of environmental awareness. Jiang, his sister, and Kororin must fight against Syndrome, a malevolent alien scheming to destroy Earth. This destruction is typically carried out through some environmental crisis like punching a hole in the ozone layer, altering the weather, or excessive electricity consumption, among other methods.