Top 20 Most Popular Anime of All Time, Ranked

20. Pokemon

For many, Pokemon was the gateway into anime. As a 90s child, nothing beat waking up and listening to “Gotta Catch Em’ All” to start out the day. 

Like the video games, and thanks largely to them, the Pokemon anime caught on like wildfire when it debuted again in 1997, following the adventures of Ash Ketchum as he journeyed to turn out to be a Pokemon grasp. 

To today, the sequence holds the file for the best lifetime-grossing anime film of all time, incomes a lifetime gross of $85,744,662 on the time of penning this. Pokémon the Movie 2000 isn’t too far behind that mark both, sitting in third place with a $43,758,684 lifetime gross. 

And whereas it may not be almost as fashionable because it was again then, the sequence continues to be going sturdy right now, that includes over 1000 episodes that proceed to be one of the most-watched reveals on Netflix. 

19. Doraemon

For anybody within the West, seeing Doraemon on this record may be a headscratcher, as most of its notoriety is because of its success abroad. However, the anime is so fashionable in India, China, and Japan, that it makes up for not having a lot of a presence within the West. 

Doraemon revolves round an earless robotic cat that travels again in time from the twenty second century to help a fifth-grade pupil named Nobita Nobi. The present is all about conquering life’s powerful obstacles whereas additionally understanding it’s alright to make errors. 

Alongside being one of the longest-running anime sequence, airing 1787 episodes from 1973 to 2005, Doraemon’s motion pictures have dominated the field workplace. As of 2020, the Doraemon franchise has grossed $1.7 billion worldwide throughout 41 motion pictures.  

18. Hunter x Hunter (2011)

If you’ve ever paid a handful of visits to Twitter, there’s a good probability you’ve seen the HxH or HunterxHunter tag trending. That’s as a result of, regardless of final airing in 2014, Hunter x Hunter (2011) nonetheless stays one of the preferred reveals within the style. 

Hunter x Hunter (2011) follows Gon Freecs, a younger boy who desires to turn out to be a professional hunter identical to his father, who he can barely keep in mind. What follows is an impressive journey, full of friendship, surprise, and hardship, because the proficient baby learns what it takes to really be a professional hunter on this harmful world. 

You’d be hard-pressed to search out an anime that’s extra beloved by those that have seen it within the style. Its tales and characters are sometimes cited when individuals speak about their favorites amongst the medium. 

The Chimera Ant arc is also known as a masterpiece, and Gon, Killua, and Hisoka are consistently topping recognition polls.

17. Neon Genesis Evangelion (Series)

If you’ve ever watched a mecha anime and thought it was a banger, there’s a good probability that it’s as a result of of simply how fashionable Neon Genesis Evangelion was… and nonetheless is. The present depicts the tough life of Shinji Ikari – a young person compelled to wield a large mech to cease an alien invasion. 

While that will sound like a reasonably simple premise, the plot is wealthy with deep themes, exploring psychology, environmentalism, and gender roles, to call a number of. Thanks to this, many discover Neon Genesis Evangelion extra relatable and thus extra accessible. 

You’ll consistently discover this present and its subsequent motion pictures on the Netflix trending record, as even informal anime followers can’t get sufficient of the psychological themes and mech fights it brings to the desk. 

16. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

“Is that a JoJo’s reference?” has turn out to be synonymous with anime, as, like The Simpsons, it looks like the present has managed to make it in order that its content material is at all times in a position to be tied again to popular culture. Thanks to this, it’s managed to seize a foothold on each side of the globe, turning into a giant half of the leisure scene. 

Since debuting in 2012, the sequence has turn out to be one of the most popular sequence in anime round, because it tells the weird tales of the JoStar household and the various presents they bear. Across six completely different elements, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure follows a special member of the household as they take down supernatural foes utilizing distinctive powers referred to as Stands. 

The present has turn out to be so fashionable within the US that demand for it has really surpassed that of Japan. According to Parrot Analytics, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s demand is 20.2 occasions that of the typical TV sequence within the United States within the final 30 days. 

15. One Punch Man

One Punch Man is definitely probably the most fascinating present on this record in phrases of recognition. Originally beginning out as a webcomic again in 2012, the sequence was controversial the most popular anime of the previous couple of years when it was tailored again in 2015. 

The present adopted Saitama, a superhero who has grown bored on account of how highly effective he’s turn out to be — with every of his fights ending in only one punch. This premise leads to so much of comedy whereas additionally satirizing the shonen style and its over-the-top combat scenes. 

Fans merely couldn’t get sufficient of this distinctive satire on shonen anime, praising its animation, humor, characters, and surprisingly detailed combat scenes. The present received so fashionable that followers really began evaluating it to different massive names in phrases of animation and characters. You’ll nonetheless be hard-pressed to discover a website that talks about energy scaling that doesn’t have an argument about Goku and Saitama. 

The purpose it isn’t a bit increased on the record regardless of these comparisons is that season two was disappointing. After an extended wait, 4 years to be precise, followers have been met with crude animation and a lackluster storyline, with fights taking too many shortcuts that severely affected the affect of the tales that have been being advised. 

Even with this, followers are nonetheless eagerly awaiting the third season, hoping that it’ll deliver the present again to prominence as soon as once more. 

14. Death Note

Death Note is the present that everybody factors to as the very best anime the place the protagonist was really the villain. Alongside this, it’s also known as one of the very best reveals to assist introduce individuals to anime, as its story and characters are very easy to get invested in. 

That story follows Light Yagami, a teenage genius who discovers a mysterious pocket book referred to as the Death Note. It isn’t lengthy until he realizes — because of the assistance of the Shinigami Ryuk — that this merchandise grants its person the ability to kill anybody whose identify is written in it. 

While his intentions appear noble at first, wielding this energy corrupts Light, making a god-complex that leads to mayhem, homicide, and an entire bunch of protecting his path. It’s a fast however fascinating story that anybody who loves thriller can get into. 

Death Note is definitely so fashionable that it’s had 4 Japanese motion pictures and two American (with one presently within the works) movies. The Japanese live-action variations for Death Note earned over $41 million, whereas the American Netflix adaptation was thought of to be a sizeable success by the platform, prompting a sequel that’s presently in improvement. 

13. Akira

When you concentrate on a very powerful anime of all time, Akira is usually talked about within the primary spot. While extra refined than some on this record, the movie’s affect continues to be felt all through the business right now, as its affect on popular culture paved the best way for the expansion of anime and leisure within the West. 

Unheard-of reveals like Fist of the North Star, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Dirty Pair all received extra recognition within the US because of Akira, because the premise prompted followers to increase their anime horizons. Its distinctive sci-fi setting, visuals, and animation influenced future media like The Matrix, Stranger Things, and a lot extra — most of which even pay homage to it in a technique or one other. 

Since its launch in 1988, the movie has grossed $80 million worldwide in dwelling video gross sales and has turn out to be a cult basic. 

12. Cowboy Bebop

When you’re on the lookout for an anime that stands the take a look at of time, Cowboy Bebop is normally one of the primary that involves thoughts. Despite popping out in 1997 and solely airing for 26 episodes and a film, this present continues to be one of the preferred and beloved anime round, because of its genre-defining tales, character, themes, and music. 

Taking place within the yr 2071, Cowboy Bebop follows the lives of a crew of delinquent bounty hunters, showcasing the various completely different adventures they go on. While some are linear, every story incorporates different genres into its distinctive model, combining sci-fi, western, and noir tropes into its outer area setting whereas additionally exploring themes of loneliness, existentialism, and grief. 

Due to those distinctive ideas and tales, Cowboy Bebop has acquired a number of awards for Best Anime and Best Voice appearing, together with ones from the Seiun Awards and the Anime Grand Prix (a number of). 

11. My Hero Academia

Since 2016, My Hero Academia has been one of the most important mainstream anime successes on this planet. Whether it’s the mainline TV present or the three spinoff motion pictures, nearly every thing the sequence touches does loopy numbers. 

Rather a lot of that recognition has to do with the story of My Hero Academia, which takes place in a world the place round 80% of the world inhabitants has a singular superpower, referred to as a Quirk. The sequence focuses on one of the few individuals who doesn’t have powers, Izuku Midoriya. 

Eventually, he finally ends up inheriting the strongest Quirk that’s ever existed, One For All. With this newfound energy, he should work out learn how to turn out to be the best hero of all time. The premise is easy however fascinating, because it takes the standard concept of only some individuals having powers and flips it on its head. 

Combine this with superior character designs, quirks, and many of underlying themes, and it’s not exhausting to see why this has turn out to be one of the most important anime on this planet.  

If you want additional proof of this success, simply check out how effectively every of the My Hero Academia motion pictures has finished. In whole, the movie franchise has garnered a worldwide field workplace of $98,380,147, all since 2018. 

10. Howl’s Moving Castle 

Studio Ghibli is an absolute titan in terms of fashionable anime, as nearly each one of its motion pictures is fashionable sufficient to be on this record. When it comes all the way down to it, although, few are as beloved as Howl’s Moving Castle. 

Originally launched in 2004, this Hayao Miyazaki basic is ready in a kingdom the place magic and early Twentieth-century know-how are frequent. Set towards the backdrop of a conflict with one other kingdom, it tells the story of Sophie, a younger milliner who’s changed into an previous girl by a witch. 

In order to elevate the curse, she should belief a Wizard named Howl, exploring the world through his magnificent transferring fort, which is fueled by magic. What follows is a story of life, love, loyalty, and sorrow, because the movie actually dives into the harmful results of dwelling amidst a conflict. 

To today, Howl’s Moving Castle stays one of probably the most profitable anime movies of all time, rating fourth with a complete of $236,269,142 earned worldwide. 

Alongside field workplace acclaim, Howl’s Moving Castle additionally acquired loads of awards, together with 4 Tokyo Anime Awards, a Nebula Award for Best Script, and a nomination for Best Animated Feature on the Academy Awards.

9. Fullmetal Alchemist (Series)

Whenever somebody that doesn’t watch anime asks, “What should my first series be?” 9/10 occasions, Fullmetal Alchemist is the reply. That’s as a result of the present is simply so accessible to informal and hardcore viewers alike. 

Split into two completely different sequence, Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, FMA follows the story of two brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric. After dropping their our bodies in a failed try and deliver their mom again utilizing Alchemy, the 2 should discover the legendary Philosopher’s Stone to set issues proper. 

It’s a basic journey that options loads of nice motion and storytelling, and might be the very best depiction of the Seven Deadly Sins (sorry Nakaba Suzuki) within the style. Thanks to this, each sequence are nonetheless among the many most-watched reveals on Netflix right now. 

Proof of the present’s dominance and recognition might be discovered again in 2006 when the Japanese tv community TV Asahi carried out two completely different Top 100 on-line polls to see what the preferred anime sequence was. The unique Fullmetal Alchemist ranked first each occasions. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood can be one of the few anime on Rotten Tomatoes that has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes throughout 14 completely different critics. 

8. Bleach

Despite the truth that it’s typically the red-headed step-child of The Big Three, it goes with out saying that Bleach is one of the preferred anime of all time. The story follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a young person who acquires the ability of Soul Reaping that’s now tasked with defending people from evil spirits and guiding departed souls to the afterlife. 

The story that follows is one which locations a big emphasis on insurrection and friendship, as a slew of new characters and storylines are launched that basically resonate with viewers. Bleach additionally turned fashionable for its wonderful fights, as scenes like Ichigo versus Byakuya Kuchiki are nonetheless mentioned right now.

It positively must be famous that Bleach fell off close to the top of its unique run, because the storylines and writing turned virtually as unhealthy because the present’s comedy, which is why it’s a bit decrease on this record. But that doesn’t imply it isn’t nonetheless broadly fashionable. 

One of probably the most spectacular issues about this anime is that regardless of a decade hiatus, the latest Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has not solely delivered an incredible story however has additionally been one of the preferred animes presently air. That’s no small feat contemplating it’s going towards present juggernauts like Spy x Family, My Hero Academia, and Chainsaw Man.

7. Spirited Away

Another Studio Ghibli masterpiece, Spirited Away nonetheless holds up as one of the very best anime movies of all time, although it was launched again in 2001. The movie tells the story of a sullen 10-year-old lady who, amidst her household’s transfer to the suburbs, stumbles right into a world dominated by gods, witches, and spirits the place people are become beasts. 

While magical at first, issues quickly flip dire, because the lady is trapped by a witch and compelled to work. She should now discover a approach to get again to her mundane however snug life in the true world by any means crucial. 

Spirited Away encapsulated its viewers when it was launched greater than twenty years in the past, smashing field workplace data by incomes $355,725,195 worldwide. 

For 19 years, Spirited Away held the title of the highest-grossing Japanese movie of all time. In that point, it gained the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and was voted the fourth-best movie of the twenty first century by BBC, proving that its acclaim and recognition unfold even past devoted anime filmgoers. 

6. Your Name

Your Name is one other one of these motion pictures that needs to be within the dialog in terms of placing anime on the map, regardless of popping out extra not too long ago. The movie depicts the story of a highschool boy and lady that inexplicably start to swap our bodies. 

As they begin to perceive what’s going on, every makes guidelines and provides recommendation on learn how to reside each other’s lives with the intention to ensure that nothing chaotic occurs. What follows is a heartwarming story of thriller and tragedy, fueled by emotional and detailed writing, music, and animation.

While it could be one of the newer entries on this record, launched in 2016, the numbers merely don’t lie. In whole, Your Name earned $357,986,087 worldwide on the field workplace.

The movie additionally gained Best Animated Feature on the 2016 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, forty ninth Sitges Film Festival, and the 71st Mainichi Film Awards, and was nominated for Best Animation of the Year on the fortieth Japan Academy Prize. Paramount can be making a live-action American remake of the movie as we communicate. 

5. Naruto (Series)

We’ve lastly cracked the portion of the record the place you can stroll down the road and ask somebody in the event that they’ve heard of this sequence they usually’d at the least in all probability remember of it. As such, it solely appears becoming that the sequence about everybody’s favourite knucklehead ninja, Naruto, is main the cost. 

Naruto tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a younger ninja who seeks recognition from his village and desires of turning into its chief, referred to as the Hokage. Considering he’s the village outcast, and that he has a lethal monster inside of him, that’s no small activity. 

Since its debut in 2002, Naruto has etched its identify on the Mount Rushmore of anime in terms of popular culture, as individuals actually have a meme surrounding operating like they do within the present, calling it the Naruto run. The sequence was so fashionable that it managed to be named one of The Big Three: the three hottest operating sequence throughout their golden age in Shonen Jump’s mid-2000s interval. 

Despite not getting the identical worldwide advertising and marketing and releases as one thing like Demon Slayer, the 9 Naruto motion pictures additionally put in a good quantity, incomes a mixed gross of $35,094,962. 

As a complete franchise, Naruto is price round $4.35 billion, thanks largely to the merchandise and video video games that have been spun off from the anime. 

4. Demon Slayer

Another one of the newer anime to make this record, Demon Slayer, is so excessive up merely on account of how massive of an affect the sequence has managed to make. Despite solely being round since 2019, the sequence is one of probably the most talked-about anime of all time, thanks largely to the insanely detailed combat scenes and animation Ufotable has produced. 

Demon Slayer follows Tanjiro Kamado, a young person trying to avenge the loss of life of his household and switch his sister again right into a human by turning into a Demon Slayer. Along his journey, he meets many like-minded associates, some treacherous demons, and even a number of misunderstood enemies. 

Fans have latched on to this new sequence, because the present has insanely excessive satisfaction ratios (virtually 50%) and has managed to interrupt field workplace data. To be precise, the Demon Slayer – Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train movie remodeled $503 million from greater than 41 million tickets offered, making it the highest-grossing movie of 2020 in addition to the highest-grossing anime and Japanese movie of all time. 

Alongside breaking field workplace data, the Demon Slayer franchise has an estimated annual gross sales income of $8.75 billion. This determine consists of all of its merchandise and makes it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

3. One Piece

As the undisputed king of The Big Three, it goes with out saying that One Piece is one of the preferred anime of all time via sheer drive of will. With over 1,000 episodes and counting, this anime tells the story of Monkey D. Luffy, a boy with a physique that has the property of rubber, which he gained after unintentionally consuming a Devil Fruit.

Alongside a merry crew of pirate misfits, this rubber boy makes use of his newfound powers to search out the world’s final treasure, the One Piece, with the intention to turn out to be King of the Pirates. Viewers and critics alike have praised the sequence for its storytelling, artwork, characterization, and humor. 

One Piece has had such an affect on tradition that there has even been a fruit fly gene named after it, known as Baramicin. The sequence is fashionable in each the east and the west, dominated polls in terms of “what is your favorite anime” and “who is your favorite anime character.”

As a complete franchise, One Piece is price round $14.5 billion thanks largely to the merchandise and video video games that have been spun off from the anime. 

2. Attack on Titan

When it involves probably the most talked about and fashionable anime presently airing, it’s fairly exhausting to beat the fever that’s Attack on Titan. Every week, every episode is a water cooler occasion, with followers speaking in regards to the newest twist or flip that the sequence has taken. 

Since debuting again in 2013, the anime has shortly gained traction for its storytelling, because it’s set in a world the place humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction after the emergence of giants known as Titans. The story follows Eren Yeager, a sufferer of one of these Titan assaults, as he and his associates attempt to uncover the secrets and techniques surrounding the mysterious creatures. 

With over 60% votes of an general 10/10 amidst 300,000 voters, Attack on Titan is the highest-rated anime of all time on IMDB. With 9 episodes getting at the least 9.9 rankings (and one getting an ideal 10), it isn’t exhausting to see why the sequence is rated in first place. 

Alongside acclaim from followers, Attack on Titan can be fashionable amongst mainstream media, showing in every thing from The Simpsons to Snickers commercials. Before the beginning of the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers recreation in 2019, the Colossal Titan mascot even carried out the ceremonial first pitch earlier than taking a photo-op with Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda who sported the Colossal Titan baseball glove. 

Only time will inform if Attack on Titan will find yourself as the preferred anime of all time when it lastly ends, as no anime has come shut in terms of matching the hype surrounding this franchise every week.

1. Dragon Ball (Series)

Oh, Dragon Ball. Where would anime be with out you? Regardless of your opinions on its plot, buildings, or characters in comparison with the anime of right now, there may be merely no denying that Akira Toriyama struck gold when he debuted the sequence in 1986. 

Inspired by the basic novel Journey to the West, Dragon Ball follows Son Goku’s life, as he grows from a younger alien boy, referred to as a Saiyan, who crash lands on earth to at least one of probably the most highly effective fighters within the galaxy. Fans get to see these powers develop throughout a number of sequence, that includes a handful of distinctive villains, associates, and magical powers that different anime use as the idea for their very own construction to today. 

While its more moderen iterations may not be as fashionable as Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z, the fanfare and recognition round these two sequence alone are greater than sufficient to make up for it. 

If you requested somebody who doesn’t know something in regards to the style in any respect to call an anime, Dragon Ball — greater than doubtless, Dragon Ball Z, to be precise — could be the reply. The identical might be mentioned for Goku as an anime character, as he’s simply probably the most recognizable face and identify within the business. 

As a complete franchise, Dragon Ball is price round $30 billion. And whereas so much of that has to do with different gross sales, similar to manga and different merchandise, that also doesn’t low cost that the Dragon Ball sequence is the highest-grossing media in all of anime.