The "monster of the week" is a common trope in action stories. In these episodic tales, the heroes encounter a creature or villain who presents an immediate threat. They then eliminate that threat by the narrative's end. Such one-off conflicts are a convenient way to some quick action. For that reason, some audiences pass it off as cheap and clichéd, but certain works break the mold.
Many anime shows, for instance, use "monsters of the week" to their advantage. Not only do they mold it to fit their premise, but they incorporate it naturally into the story, often as a stepping stone for something greater. On the other hand, the creators could just excel at episodic adventures. Either way, audiences finish each episode excited for more.
7 One Punch Man
In this case, the trope joke. One Punch Man centers on Saitama, a guy who's trained his body to such an extent that he's practically unbeatable. He uses his strength to fight crime as a superhero, but those exploits rarely amount to a real battle.
As the title suggests, Saitama defeats every enemy in one punch. It doesn't matter how big or small that enemy is. Many episodes see an enormous monster or demonic menace pop up. In other anime, these foes would take several episodes to bring down. In One Punch Man, however, Saitama brushes them aside in a few seconds and goes right back to his everyday business. This subversive formula is funny every time. How ironic that his boredom leads to viewers' laughter.
6 Hellsing
The eponymous Hellsing Organization exists to protect the world from vampires and other supernatural threats. As such, each episode of Hellsing introduces criminals who use vampirism for selfish needs. Audiences can then see the agency and its greatest asset, Alucard, show them what true terror is. Equally important, it's a chance for new recruit Seras Victoria to earn her stripes as a blood-sucking heroine. Both are satisfying in their own ways, but the follow-up is even better in this regard.
The Hellsing Ultimate OVA may be more serialized, but freaks of the week still inform its setup. The vampiric villains are more memorable here--all boasting unique powers, unhinged personalities, and a carefully-chosen place in the plan. With twisted visuals bringing these qualities to life, they strengthen the gothic and Lovecraftian horror permeating the show. This makes it all the more satisfying when the heroes wipe them out.
5 Mobile Suit Gundam
Mecha battles are among the most iconic facets of Japanese entertainment. Audiences can't get enough of watching giant robots duke it out. The Gundam franchise may not have originated these bouts, but it did help popularize the genre, cementing its staying power through numerous shows.
While some iterations lean into the "monster of the week" approach more than others, they all maintain the appeal of robotic combatants smashing each other to bits. Plots usually involve members of an evil faction deploying their own Mobile Suits against the heroes. The mainline Suits constantly trash these malicious mechs, so the villains have to keep replacing them. Not only is this formula ripe for weekly rivalries, but it encourages escalation. The bad guys would naturally build more advanced suits to counter their enemies. When this happens in Gundam, it's always fun to see their new toys.
4 Dragon Ball
The Dragon Ball franchise has become known for its larger-than-life threats capable of destroying the entire cosmos, but it didn't start that way. The original Dragon Ball is initially a comedic adventure with martial arts elements. As Goku and Bulma travel the globe, they contend with ridiculous villains like Oolong the shape-shifting pig, and Monster Carrot the mobster rabbit. These guys are the perfect opportunity for the monkey-tailed hero to wow everyone with his fighting prowess, and the resulting misadventures are consistently entertaining. Granted, some of the opponents join the protagonists on their quests, and this helps the tale evolve into more long-form storytelling. That said, it still has bouts of weekly enemies.
These come in the World Tournament Arcs. As characters move up the brackets, they fight successive matches against martial artists from across the globe. Most of these matches take one or two episodes. These short battles inject consistent variety into the action and let multiple characters test their skills while keeping up the pace. Because of these perks, the tournaments are always a treat in any Dragon Ball show.
3 Cowboy Bebop
Part of the fun in Star Wars and other space westerns is visiting exotic planets and interacting with their colorful inhabitants. Cowboy Bebop provides the perfect excuse with its bounty-hunting heroes. Each episode sees Spike Spiegel and his crew track down a new target. By watching them earn a living, viewers see how vast this galaxy is.
It helps that their quarries are often the most dangerous crooks around. Some even have vast criminal empires backing them. More intriguing, though, are the individuals with freakish mutations or advanced weapons. These scenarios are where fans see Cowboy Bebop's creativity in implementing technological advancements and blending them with the biological. It then feels more rewarding to see the crew use their ingenuity to overcome these enhanced threats.
2 Inuyasha
One wouldn't think feudal Japan would lend itself to this approach, but Inuyasha adds a mystical undercurrent to the historical setting. Not only is the title character a half-demon warrior, but a plethora of similarly monstrous foes plague the land. They all strive to claim the sacred Shikon jewel. This paves the way for several action-packed adventures.
The jewel shards scatter across Japan, luring hellish demons up from the depths. Many of their designs use the region's folklore to horrific effect. A few even blend those otherworldly elements with humanoid shapes for some uncanny combinations. All of these abominations boast bizarre abilities, presenting worthy challenges for the reluctant hero. When these demons clash, they make for supernatural struggles with a hint of samurai flair. It's an odd combo that works well. In that way, it mirrors the overall show.
1 Sailor Moon
This anime is notorious for perpetuating the "monster of the week" cliché. Most episodes see the heroines contend with cartoonish villains. These baddies aren't the least bit threatening, often sporting a shallow gimmick or power. These abilities sustain a single episode and nothing more. Audiences see this same song and dance in several other superhero shows, but one factor may make Sailor Moon worth a second look.
That factor is sheer insanity. Both the mainline and filler baddies consist of utterly random combinations. One may be fused with a violin to create a sonic foe; another may be part-woman and part-shoe. On one hand, these designs are weird enough to make viewers stare in confusion. On the other, they wonderfully lampoon the typical comic book rogues gallery. To be honest, they're not far removed fromSpider-Man or Flash villains. The difference is that these Sailor Moon adversaries are intentionally ridiculous.