5 Best Military Action Anime, Ranked

Military action anime blends battlefield tension with strategy, character drama, and political moves that matter. Whether it’s soldiers with guns, squads piloting mechs, or nations fighting supernatural wars, these shows throw you into the middle of organized chaos. 

The focus isn’t just about winning, it’s about command, sacrifice, and survival. From realistic tactics to out-of-this-world combat, these anime offer something for every fan of wartime stories. Ranked by popularity, here are five military action anime that deliver intense moments, strong world-building, and unforgettable missions you won’t want to skip. 

5. 86 (Eighty-Six)

In the Republic of San Magnolia, the government claims it fights a war with unmanned drones. The truth? They're sending humans from the oppressed 86th district to pilot the machines and die on the frontlines. 

Major Vladilena “Lena” Milizé, an officer from the upper class, connects remotely with Shinei “Undertaker” Nouzen, a quiet squad leader carrying the voices of the dead. Their story unfolds through brutal fights against the Legion and emotional fallout from years of injustice. The show balances fast-paced combat with real questions about what makes someone worth saving.

4. Gate: Thus the JSDF Fought There!

A mysterious portal opens in Tokyo, letting medieval warriors and dragons invade. After Japan repels the attack, the Japan Self-Defense Forces enter the “Special Region” to explore and protect their world. Officer Youji Itami, an otaku and JSDF soldier, leads the mission and befriends fantasy locals like elf mage Lelei and demi-goddess Rory Mercury. 

The anime mixes modern military weapons with swords, magic, and political tension. Watching helicopters take on wyverns while foreign kingdoms scramble to understand firearms is where Gate gets most of its appeal.

3. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

After the Holy Britannian Empire conquers Japan and renames it Area 11, exiled prince Lelouch vi Britannia gains the power of Geass, an ability to command anyone to obey once per person. Under the mask of “Zero,” he builds the Black Knights, a resistance group challenging his own father’s empire. 

Lelouch plays the long game, outsmarting generals and field commanders while piloting the mech-like Knightmare Frames. The mix of military rebellion, political chess, and personal revenge makes Code Geass one of the smartest and most intense war-based anime around.

2. Youjo Senki (Saga of Tanya the Evil)

A salaryman is reborn as Tanya Degurechaff, a child soldier in a magic-fueled version of World War I. Gifted with incredible combat magic and cold tactical thinking, Tanya rises through the ranks of the Empire's military. 

She leads air raids and trench assaults with calculated brutality, all while clashing with Being X, the entity that forced her into this world. Her brutal efficiency and the show’s mix of military realism and supernatural combat give Youjo Senki a distinct style. Tanya’s cold logic in the face of war is both fascinating and chilling.

1. Attack on Titan

After humanity is nearly wiped out by giant creatures called Titans, survivors live behind three massive walls. Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert join the Survey Corps to fight back. As Eren unlocks his own Titan powers, the war shifts from survival to revolution. 

The show’s military focus comes through in the gear-based combat, high body counts, and tactical missions. With figures like Captain Levi and Commander Erwin at the frontlines, Attack on Titanbuilds an entire war drama around shifting allegiances and bold, often fatal, choices.