As is the case with any other form of media, watching Japanese anime can be a deeply personal experience, with many series leaving a long-lasting mark on viewers. It's common for fans to take to the internet in support of their favorite series, with sites such as MyAnimeList making it easier than ever for like-minded fans to come together and do so. This allows sites like MyAnimeList to rank the most popular anime of all time according to the fans.
MyAnimeList ranks its titles in several different ways, with the Most Popular tab sorting shows by how many fans have joined the anime's community. Each of the top ten most famous anime have upwards of a staggering two-and-a-half million fans, and the top three manage to go over three million. Through the shared community setting, the most watched anime only continue to grow in popularity as more fans gather. With anime constantly growing and changing, the lists shift as new anime rise through the ranks to reach the coveted top 10 most popular anime.
Update on September 11th, by Louis Kemner: Anime fans around the world regularly use MyAnimeList to vote for their favorite anime/manga franchises. The most popular anime on that site often include series similar to "Shonen Big Three" or thought-provoking, innovative seinen, and some of the most watched anime simply defy categorization and have to be watched to be believed. Let's review five more of the most popular anime of all time and see how many fans support them online.
20 Re:Zero: Starting Life In Another World
MyAnimeList Members: 2,121,848
Re:Zero is one of the most popular isekai anime titles out there, even if its premise sounds highly conventional at first. Sure enough, protagonist Subaru Natsuki is a tracksuit-wearing NEET self-insert who ended up in a fantasy world of elves and monsters, but this series found creative and brutal ways to push this familiar formula into new territory.
From the start, Re:Zero tantalized viewers with ongoing mysteries such as who Satella is, how/why Subaru even got here, and why he keeps coming back to life at pre-set checkpoints every time he dies. Everything about Re:Zero makes it an outstanding isekai that's more than the sum of its parts, including a highly debated love triangle between Subaru, the half-elf Emilia, and the ogre girl Rem.
19 Your Lie In April
MyAnimeList Members: 2,140,870
Your Lie in April is a well-respected tearjerker of an anime. Even if Your Lie in April can easily make anime fans cry with an aching heart, it also has strong themes of rekindled hope, the power of music, and most of all, the power of friendship and love. That makes it a powerfully bittersweet anime made secured its position as one of the most popular anime of all time.
In Your Lie in April, the teenaged Kosei Arima feels lost and empty, since his abusive mother took all the joy out of playing the piano. Then Kosei will meet the lively Kaori Miyazono, whose burning passion for music will inspire her new friend Kosei to reignite his own love of music -- and finally hear the piano's keys once again.
18 Toradora!
MyAnimeList Members: 2,145,870
While many of the most popular anime of all time are shonen or seinen action series, Toradora! stands out for being a finely crafted romantic comedy instead, with enough drama to give the story some much-needed emotional weight. Toradora! shows what happens when two very different people unexpectedly fall in love, but aren't fully ready to go the distance until they grow up a little more.
The gentle protagonist Ryuji Takasu had a crush on the genki girl Minori Kushieda, while his tsundere classmate Taiga Aisaka had eyes for Ryuji's pal Yusaku Kitamura. What follows is a bizarre, hilarious, and heartfelt story of four teenagers trying to untangle their confusing romantic feelings and determine what it is they truly want from each other -- and themselves.
17 Code Geass
MyAnimeList Members: 2,179,825
The sci-fi anime series Code Geass ranks highly among the most popular anime of all time, and its antihero, Lelouch Lamperouge, stands as the most popular anime character on MAL. Clearly, this high-IQ action anime is doing a lot of things right with its characters and story, hence its stellar reputation.
Code Geass takes place in the future, after the vast Britannia Empire conquered Japan and renamed it Area 11. Lelouch will play both sides of the ongoing struggle to achieve his own lofty goals, making friends and enemies all over the place as he goes. This series has it all: futuristic combat scenes, giant robots, lively characters, heartfelt drama, and the unique power of the Geass in Lelouch's eyes.
16 One Piece
MyAnimeList Members: 2,228,213
Even if One Piece isn't the single most popular anime of all time on MyAnimeList, it certainly ranks among the most famous anime titles to ever exist. One Piece is the longest of the original "big three," and its original manga has sold more volumes than its competitors, Naruto and Bleach, combined.
One Piece is the legendary tale of the rubbery shonen hero Monkey D. Luffy, who aims to explore the high seas and savor his freedom as he seeks the mythical One Piece treasure to become the pirate king. Anyone who's still hesitating to watch or read this adventure might also check out the live-action version on Netflix as a short but sweet sample.
15 A Silent Voice
MyAnimeList Members: 2,232,706
A Silent Voice is a highly popular anime movie based on the seven-volume manga series of the same name. It's a romance drama anime that's about not just the consequences of bullying in school, but two people desperately trying to hear and understand one another despite their differences.
In A Silent Voice, Shoya Ishida tormented his classmate Shoko Nishimia in 6th grade, and it cost him dearly when his disgusted classmates alienated him. Years later, in 12th grade, a remorseful Shoya will strive to make amends with Shoko, if she and her family are ready to hear him out and possibly forgive what he has done.
14 No Game No Life
MyAnimeList Members: 2,332,205
No Game No Life is one of the most popular isekai anime titles on MyAnimeList, and one of the most popular anime of all time of any genre. This series is still stuck at just one season, but passionate fans don't mind, because the material they do get is quality over quantity.
No Game No Life stars the foster brother/sister duo Sora and Shiro, who share the identity [BLANK] while playing online games. Now they've been isekai'd to a colorful world where games resolve all conflicts, so Sora and Shiro will eagerly dive right in and conquer this game with their devious tactics.
13 Jujutsu Kaisen
MyAnimeList Members: 2,334,170
Jujutsu Kaisen ranks among the best anime to watch in the 21st century, being a spiritual successor to Bleach and a member of the popular "dark trio" alongside Hell's Paradise and Chainsaw Man. The Jujutsu Kaisen anime stars protagonist Yuji Itadori, who just gained curse power and must fight monstrous curses to save humanity.
Jujutsu Kaisen has many things working in its favor, from its intriguing fantasy combat system to its well-designed characters and strong horror/action elements, plus ample humor. The anime also recently got a second season in the Summer 2023 season, and fans can also try out the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie for more fantasy fun.
12 Steins;Gate
MyAnimeList Members: 2,477,524
The ultra-popular anime series Steins;Gate is based on a 2009 visual novel game of the same name, a time-bending science fiction adventure that anime fans still love to this very day. Rintaro Okabe is a self-proclaimed "mad scientist" working in Akihabara, Tokyo, where he soon stumbles upon a mystery surrounding Kurisu Makise.
Kurisu seemed dead at first, but she is very much alive, and Rintaro's messages sometimes arrive before he can even send them. Then he learns that his cell phone-operated microwave oven can send D-mails through time, leading to a whirlwind adventure of science, time travel shenanigans, and high-stakes mysteries.
11 Your Name.
MyAnimeList Members: 2,639,875
Your Name. released in 2016 and quickly established itself as one of the most critically acclaimed and popular anime movies of all time, competing well even against the best Studio Ghibli titles. Even now, Your Name. is director Makoto Shinkai's crowning achievement, though Mr. Shinkai's other movies shouldn't be overlooked.
Your Name. started as a fun body-swap story between a Tokyo student and a girl living in rural Japan, but it seen became far more. The girl, Mitsuha, mysteriously stopped swapping bodies, and the boy, Taki, went on an emotional journey to find and possibly save her at any cost, even though he couldn't remember her name.
10 Hunter x Hunter
MyAnimeList Members: 2,706,144
Hunter X Hunter is one of the most famous anime of the 2010s, a shonen series that follows Gon Freecss, who spends the majority of his young life believing that both of his parents are dead. After it's revealed that his father is not only alive, but a renowned Hunter, Gon sets off on a journey to become a Hunter himself, believing it will help him find his father.
Gon has to pass the Hunter Exam before he can set out, and it's here that he meets Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua. They're all incredibly different characters, but they still band together for the sake of their goals, setting off on an unforgettable journey for both the main characters and the viewers. With all Hunter X Hunter has to offer, there's no surprise it's become one of the most popular anime of all time.
9 Tokyo Ghoul
MyAnimeList Members: 2,734,104
The premise of Tokyo Ghoul is equally dark and compelling. In a world where ghouls live alongside humans in secrecy, Kaneki Ken is almost killed by his date Rize when she reveals herself as a ghoul, and attempts to feed on his flesh. He becomes a half-ghoul during surgery, as some of Rize's organs have been transplanted into him.
Tokyo Ghoul centers around Kaneki attempting to get a handle on his new life as a half-ghoul. While fans of the original manga feel that the popular anime adaptation suffers for how much it attempts to adapt in so few episodes, viewers starting out with Tokyo Ghoul adore it for its action scenes and soundtrack.
8 Naruto
MyAnimeList Members: 2,758,111
Naruto is both a gateway anime for many new viewers, and one that sticks with them throughout their lives as one of the most popular anime of all time. The young outcast Naruto Uzumaki dreams of one day becoming the Hokage, a position that demands admiration and respect from everyone in the Hidden Leaf village.
Alongside his teammates, Sasuke and Sakura, Naruto grows exponentially as both a person and a shinobi. Naruto teaches viewers unforgettable life lessons while endearing viewers to its large and colorful cast at the same time, and viewers feel as if they grow up alongside the Konoha 11.
7 Demon Slayer
MyAnimeList Favorites: 2,877,136
One of the most popular titles in recent years, Demon Slayer follows Tanjiro Kamado, who comes back home to virtually his entire family having been killed by demons, after being gone for only a single night. The only survivor is his sister, Nezuko, but he horrifyingly realizes that she herself has been turned into a demon.
Demon Slayer puts a heavy focus on the theme of familial bonds, as Tanjiro swears to avenge his family while helping Nezuko hang onto what's left of her humanity. By now, Demon Slayer is one of the most watched anime series of its generation thanks to its winning combination of fantastic animation, fun characters, great action sequences, and a strong emotional core.
6 My Hero Academia
MyAnimeList Favorites: 2,923,281
My Hero Academia has become one of the most-watched shonen anime since its release. Izuku Midoriya is a Quirkless kid in a world full of Quirk-powered superheroes, but he never gives up on his dream of wanting to be just like his hero All Might.
After being blessed with an incredibly powerful Quirk from All Might, the number-one Pro Hero himself, Izuku's struggles become about controlling his newfound power without hurting himself in the process. Along the way, he meets not only colorful classmates who support him while chasing their own dreams, but dastardly villains set on destroying the world as well.
5 Sword Art Online
MyAnimeList Favorites: 2,986,367
Though it's far from perfect, Sword Art Online is a gateway anime for many fans, hooking viewers in with its unique and compelling premise. Kirito, along with many other unsuspecting players, are celebrating the full launch of the SAO VRMMO, when it's revealed they've actually been trapped inside a death game.
Kirito initially tries to make it as a solo player, but forms bonds with others over time, with the most notable being Asuna Yuki. The two form an inseparable bond throughout their time stuck in Aincrad, becoming one of the most popular and well-known couples in anime. SAO will keep viewers hooked from the beginning to its intense and heartbreaking finale.
4 One Punch Man
MyAnimeList Favorites: 3,104,100
One Punch Man's Saitama trains tirelessly to become a top hero, but discovers that he has an entirely new problem after achieving his dream. Now able to destroy anyone or anything with only a single punch, Saitama finds that the thrill he once experienced during battling is completely gone, and it now bores him instead.
Saitama ends up getting the attention of Genos, a young Cyborg who's impressed by Saitama's power, and wants to be taken in as his disciple. While the joke of being a one-hit hero grows old for some fans, One Punch Man does switch things up by adding other colorful characters that help drive the plot forward. Keeping viewers on the edge of their seats, One-Punch man has cemented its place among the most famous anime.
3 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
MyAnimeList Favorites: 3,223,476
The more faithful of the series' two anime adaptations, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the most popular anime of all time, and follows Edward and Alphonse Elric on a quest to restore their bodies. After a failed attempt to bring their mother back to life, Edward is left without an arm and a leg, whereas his younger brother Alphonse loses his entire physical body.
Both brothers grow and change exponentially throughout the series, alongside a colorful cast of supporting characters. Most notable is Edward's childhood friend and love interest, Winry Rockbell, who manages to be one of the strongest and most well-written female characters in shonen anime.
2 Death Note
MyAnimeList Favorites: 3,767,955
Death Note raises the question of what someone might do when given a notebook that allows them to kill whoever they'd like, remotely, provided they have a name and face to work with. Light Yagami is one of Japan's best and brightest, but finds that he's bored with the world, and dissatisfied with how many criminals roam about.
Light takes matters into his own hands after stumbling upon the titular Death Note, using its powers to rid the world of criminals and re-shape society into one of his own making. One of Death Note's biggest hooks is the cat-and-mouse game between Light and the detective, L, who both consistently feel like they're several steps ahead of viewers. Such an incredible mental battle and some fascinating commentary on ethics and justice made Death Note the runner-up among the most popular anime on MyAnimeList.
1 Attack On Titan
MyAnimeList Favorites: 3,800,080
For the last hundred years, the citizens of Attack on Titan's universe have lived inside the Walls without any break-ins or Titan attacks. This all changes on one fateful day, when a group of Abnormal Titans break through the wall protecting Shiganshina, and young Eren Yeager's life is forever changed.
After witnessing the death of his mother at the hand of a smiling Titan, Eren makes it his life's mission to eradicate all Titans and get his revenge. It's quickly revealed that Eren actually holds the power to transform into a Titan himself, and things only get more complicated as the series goes on. With all the heart, action, and sudden twists one could want, Attack on Titan has claimed its rightful place as the most popular anime of all time.