In life, everyone has something that they would do anything to protect. It’s no different in anime, as the protagonist forms a team to embark on a journey to rescue a loved one. Anime rescue missions are more than the typical damsels in distress stories; some are dangerous and end in disaster. Some anime rescue missions have resulted in the death or maiming of characters. However, the danger behind them is why anime rescue missions are some of the most exciting parts of any anime. In this list, we will look at the most intense rescue missions in anime.
The Zoldyck Family Arc, Hunter X Hunter
HXH is still regarded as one of the best anime, and the Zoldyck arc is one reason why. After Kilua is kidnapped and tortured for trying to live an everyday life, Gon and his friends break into the Zoldyck family estate to rescue their friend. Although the mission succeeds, the emotion and mystery surrounding Kilua’s family make this one of the best arcs.
Kudo and Miyo, My Happy Marriage
My Happy Marriage is one of the best animes released in 2023. Its plot, stunning visuals, and additional themes make it extremely popular today. Despite being a romance anime, My Happy Marriage produced one of the best rescue missions ever. As Miyo starts to get used to living with Kudo in his house, she is abducted by her family and tortured. They force her to renounce her marriage to Kudo, beating and scaring her emotionally. After Kudo learns of their actions, he comes to their house with literal thunder, destroying their home and rescuing Miyo.
The Hideout Raid arc, My Hero Academia
After various attacks from the League of Villains, the villains successfully kidnap Bakugo. This prompts a massive rescue operation from the Pro-Heroes and students. The mission also sets up one of the biggest battles in the entire series. Deku, Momo, Kirishima, and Todoroki were able to track the Nomu to an abandoned warehouse. As a fight between the heroes and villains ensued, the moment went from bad to worse with the appearance of All for One. Meanwhile, Deku and his friends save Bakugo and Ragdoll. All Might engages in a decisive battle with All For One.
Sasuke Retrieval Mission, Naruto
After a run-in with his brother, Sasuke faces the harsh reality of how weak he is, compared to Itachi. Sasuke sees his only way forward by allying with Orochimaru, who had just recently killed the third Hokage. Naruto enlists the help of Shikamaru, Neji, Choji, and Kiba to bring Sasuke back to the village. Together, they confront Sasuke and the Sound Five, although the latter are ultimately defeated. Sasuke successfully joins Orochimaru and becomes one of the series’ antagonists.
Enies Lobby, One Piece
Since its release in 1999, One Piece has had many stellar arcs. However, not all the arcs capture the emotion and action of the Enies Lobby arc. After a run-in with the Cipher Pol on Water 7, Robin turns herself in to save her friends. Luffy and his crew, alongside the Franky family, break into Enies’s lobby to save her friends. Due to the trauma caused by the buster call when she was younger, she was ready to die rather than be a burden to her friends. The arc had a lot of highlights, but the most memorable was Robin declaring she wanted to live. This singular action was why the straw hat pirates declared war on the world government.
