Top 10 Anime Moments That Left Us Speechless
Script written by Alex Crilly-Mckean
#10: The World is Remade
Top 10 Anime Moments That Left Us Shook
“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean” (2021-22)
JoJo villains are well known for going big and going hard on their master plans, but they all pale in comparison to what Pucci accomplished. After his Stand evolves twice, it becomes the entity known as Made in Heaven. While initially appearing to just increase Pucchi’s speed exponentially, its true purpose is revealed to be accelerating time itself – to the extent where it causes the heat-death of the universe, and re-writes all of reality! While his grand design is still ultimately stumped, there’s no undoing a cosmic reset, and in doing so completely rewrites the lives of the beloved cast.
#9: Nezuko’s Evolution
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” (2019-)
Despite her willingness to go against her newfound demonic nature, Nezuko was nonetheless still susceptible to the weakness that came from being one of Muzan’s thralls – including an aversion to sunlight. Unable to hide from the dawn’s rays, Nezuko makes Tanjiro’s impossible decision for him, letting herself burn so he can save innocent lives before they’re snuffed out by the Upper Fourth Demon Moon. You’d think that would be the end of it…but then it’s revealed that not only has Nezuko survived but is now immune to the sun – and can talk! The emotional whiplash hit us hard here!
#8: The Return of Avan
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“Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” (2020-22)
You could technically consider this coming out of left field, you might even make the argument it diminishes his initial sacrifice, but we’ll be damned if seeing the original Hero make a grand return didn’t have a colossal impact. Just as Popp and company are set to be incinerated by Killvearn’s ultimate trap card, they’re saved at the last second by a new challenger brandishing golden feathers, ones belonging to non-other than their thought dead teacher Avan. Apparently not even a magical nuke is enough to keep this guy down for long!
#7: The Rumbling
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“Attack on Titan” (2013-)
Just when we thought we had put a cap on Eren’s desire for revenge, his willingness to cross all lines for those he cared about, he pulls off a 5D chess maneuver like this. Pulling the rug out from enemies and allies alike, Eren seizes the moment to activate the Rumbling – and unleashes millions of Colossal Titans upon the world, while also shifting himself into a beast crazy in scope and scale. His masterplan? Flatten the world outside the walls to ensure peace for all inside Paradis Island. Yep, Eren went all in on the genocide route.
#6: Gojo Unleashed
“Jujutsu Kaisen” (2020-)
Never put this man in a corner, otherwise you’ll see why he’s the strongest of sorcerers. Placed into an impossible situation, with hundreds of imprisoned humans on one side, and a horde of monsters on the other, all in a confined space, it appears for a moment that Geto and Mahito’s masterplan to break Gojo is about to go off without a hitch. That is, until Gojo pulls the ultimate of uno reverse cards. Activating his domain expansion for a split second, everyone in the immediate facility is stunned into a stupor – giving Gojo a small window to run wild and start taking heads. And take heads he does – slaughtering a thousand demons with his bare hands in five minutes!
#5: I Have No Enemies
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“Vinland Saga” (2019-)
The character growth that Thorfinn went through over the course of the Farm Arc is nothing short of godly. Replacing his daggers for words, the viking’s new pacifistic look on life was well and truly tested when he tried to get an audience with King Canute – where he was challenged to endure a hundred punches. While this would kill lesser men, Thorfinn endures, doubling down on his newfound values that no man has any enemies. This realization is incredible on so many levels, but none more so that knowing Thorfinn has, at long last, truly become his father’s son.
#4: Ai’s Murder
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“Oshi no Ko” (2023)
Can’t have a murder mystery without a murder, and unfortunately for us the victim here was the beloved idol who has only just started to discover what it meant to love a person. Attacked by a deranged stalker, Ai is fatally stabbed in her own home. All she can do is express her regret and gratitude to her children, before succumbing to blood loss with one of the most haunting expressions to date. It’s the tragedy that spurns Aqua and Ruby along their paths for both vengeance and success, while all we can do is be left yearning for one more encore.
#3: Kenpachi’s Shikai
“Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War” (2022-)
With raw strength alone, Kenpachi and his sword swings were able to secure himself the position of Gotei 13 Captain enough to devastate basically anyone who stood in his way. But for something as dangerous as the invading Quincy Army, he required an upgrade. Following his deathly training with Unohana, Kenpachi was finally able to tap into his zanpakuto and unleash its Shikai – which in turn proved to be so strong that it could even cleave a meteor in two.
#2: Gear 5
“One Piece” (1999-)
The hype for Luffy’s latest transformation could not be more monumental, and to say it exceeded all expectations would be doing a disservice. Pushed beyond all limits by Kaido, Luffy’s true power – that of the Human Human Fruit Model Sun God – finally made itself known. What does it do? In short – turned Luffy into a living Looney Tunes character, one who could break the laws of physics, and fight fire with whatever his imagination could come up with. It’s a very different kind of epic, but epic all the same.
#1: Galaxy-Sized Mecha Battle
“Gurren Lagann” (2007)
Giant robots will never not be cool, but it’s fair to say they may have reached their peak here…at least in size! After saving Nina from the clutches of the Anti-Spiral, all of Team Dai-Gurren join forces (and robot parts) to create the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann – a machine so gigantic that it can casually walk across whole galaxies. We barely have time to take in how much of a juggernaut this thing is, all before the Anti-Spiral transforms into a beast of similar size – leading to the ultimate cosmic throwdown!
Which anime moment made your jaw hit the floor? Let us know in the comments!
