12 Underrated Anime Arcs That Are Better Than You Remember

Oración Seis operates as a Dark Guild, meaning it doesn't abide by the rules typically laid out for guilds and is generally regarded as a criminal organization. When they try to get their hands on an outlandishly powerful and destructive magical item called Nirvana, it's up to the Fairy Tail guild to stop them. To accomplish this, they team up with several others guilds, including Lamia Scale, Blue Pegasus and Cait Shelter.

Watching the main characters work to accomplish something on a larger scale rather than with their guild alone offers an interesting change of pace, and it's part of what makes this underrated arc so appealing to watch.

What most people remember about Inuyasha is the rivalry between the titular character and his brother, Sesshoumaru, and said character's complicated romance with Kagome. Many of the other plot arcs are, unfortunately, overlooked.

The Band of Seven arc involves a group of dangerous mercenaries who are put to death for being far too interested in the whole murder thing. Naraku, the anime's main villain, brings them back to life to distract anyone who might try to attack him while he regenerates his own damaged body. 

What's interesting about the Band of Seven arc is that each member boasts a different personality and motivation for being part of the group. Bankotsu, the leader, sees the group as a family who would never betray him, while Mukotsu blindly hates women because they find him unappealing. Not only do these members all present unique personalities, they also present a serious challenge for Inuyasha and his friends as well as a needed break from the main action.

Despite My Hero Academia's high ratings, not every part of it gets the attention it deserves. The Unforeseen Simulation Joint arc actually depicts the first major encounter with the villains of the series, but because it happens less dramatically than future encounters, it's often overlooked.

During this arc, viewers not only get to see many of the kids' powers in action, but also each side's mental state in sharp relief. The main villain introduces himself as a directionless agent of chaos with a desire to hurt people for the fun of it, while hinting that actually, there's more to him than that. Viewers also receive greater insight into the trainee heroes. Who will actually stand and fight? Who will run away? Who will come up with strategies, and who will rush in screaming? The chaotic, gritty nature of this arc makes it feel real, and ups the excitement of the second season.

The 13th Hunter Chairman Election arc falls to the wayside compared to other Hunter X Hunter storylines, perhaps because it occurs later on in a long series. Viewership inevitably drops off as longer shows wear on, regardless of quality. 

The arc, involving an official election to decide on a chairman, introduces some of the anime's most fascinating figures, including the protagonist's father, Ging, who up until this point had been estranged from his son. It also gives viewers more information about the Zoldyck family, including the heretofore unknown Alluka, whose powers can grant wishes for terrible prices. This truly fascinating arc is well worth any Hunter X Hunter fan's time.

Rarely recognized as one of the greatest One Piece arcs, Thriller Bark still offers much more than your typical arc. The Straw Hats get their shadows stolen while visiting the titular island, and the arc follows their frantic attempts to get those shadows back before it's too late. Haunted creatures ranging from ghosts to zombies appear in this arc, as does a soon-to-be-permanent member of the Straw Hat crew, a nine-foot skeleton named Brook. 

The Mother's Rosario arc of Sword Art Online II unfolds unlike anything else in the series. It focuses less on Kirito, and it features only a few good fight scenes. However, what it does have is some seriously fascinating ideas about the possibilities of virtual reality and its uses.

In this arc, an experimental technology called the Medicuboid appears. The Medicuboid eases the dying process by placing people with terminal illnesses in a virtual world. Yuuki Konno, who befriends Asuna in the virtual world, is actually dying of HIV/AIDS. Not only is the friendship between the two girls heartfelt and sad, it provides a fascinating example of virtual reality being used for a purpose other than entertainment.