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George Lucas and J.R.R. Tolkien created incredible fantasy universes that defined generations of storytelling. But while Western fans debate whether the Silmarils outshine kyber crystals, anime has quietly put forth fantastic franchises so steeped in lore they could dwarf Middle-earth.

The best anime franchises, no matter how many entries they have, stand out for constructing living mythologies that aren't afraid to bend and break the audience's—or its characters'—preconceived notions about the world. From cosmic hierarchies to multiversal rewrites, these ten anime franchises pack enough metaphysical weight to challenge and perhaps surpass the Western world's most beloved IP giants, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

Mobile Suit Gundam Has More Timelines & Political Machinations Than Star Wars & Lotr Franchise Installments: Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, Gundam Wing, Gundam Seed, Gundam 00, Iron-Blooded Orphans, Gundam Unicorn, The Witch from Mercury Image via Bandai Namco

Mobile Suit Gundamis one of the few...

Shonen anime is one of the most popular genres of anime, and it earned that popularity largely from the legendary anime that paved the way back in the 1990s. Many anime at the forefront of discussions today are from the '90s, whether it be Dragon Ball or JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, which was revived with a remake in 2012. What makes many shonen anime stand out is the fights.

Fights are the core of any good shonen anime, which can either make or break one’s viewing experience if the action is lacking in any way. When scoping through the golden age of shonen anime from the '90s, some shonen anime, in particular, had iconic arcs with amazing fights that had fans pleading for more.

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Plenty of anime characters make use of elemental attacks, with fire being a popular element, along with electricity. Meanwhile, water isn't nearly as popular among anime warriors, but it still has its fair share of users who show how flexible water can truly be. With aquatic powers on their side, certain anime characters can flood the battlefield, sweep everyone aside with waves, drown their enemies, and much more.

Water is often seen as a nurturing element that nourishes crops, satisfies thirst, and cleans the body, but water can also be a deadly weapon, especially if the battle is taking place near the ocean or a river. A variety of cool anime characters and battles in anime show just how effective these watery powers can be, with some being much stronger than others.

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JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has some of the most creative duels out of any shonen, especially the earlier seasons. Almost every duel is brilliantly choreographed or features surprising "Stand" skills. Nevertheless, certain early battles are equally compelling with their creative use of "Hamon". Yet, other epic duels from the anime only rely on a flurry of fists. Furthermore, as the series progresses, the fights rely more heavily on the "Stand" strategy than the previous battle tactics.

However, certain duels use this "Stand" focus to great effect. These battles are typically well-received among fans and have become exceedingly popular. Nonetheless, some fans still miss the early franchise's concentration on hand-to-hand combat. That being said, other audience members believe the change was for the betterment of the anime. Either way, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has some of the most creatively choreographed battles of any modern shonen.

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David Productions' popular JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime adaptation comes to life in a new Stardust Crusaders bag collection available for international preorder this month.

Via PR Times, fashion company Samantha Thavasa's SamanthaVega brand revealed its new collaboration with JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, set to be released online on Jan. 30. Reservations for the bags open from Jan. 22; items include bags, wallets and charms inspired by eight characters, including Jotaro Kujo, Star Platinum, Noriaki Kakyoin, Jean Pierre Polnareff, Joseph Joestar, Mohammed Avdol, Iggy and Dio. The 21-item collection will first be available in pop-up stores in Japan. Readers can check out images of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders bag collection below.

Related International One Piece Fans Can "Re-Enact Roronoa Zoro's Three Sword Style" in New Bandai Release

One Piece fans will soon be able to master the blade thanks to the upcoming anime collectible set based on Roronoa Zoro’s famous three swords.