These are the most popular anime of all time, so you can’t miss them! If you are a true fan of anime, you probably know them all. I chose these titles based on their iconic status and how much they resonated with anime fans.
These entries are just my personal opinion, but I’m sure most fans will agree with my choice. If you are new to these addictive Japanese cartoons, then this is the perfect list for you. Millions of fans around the world love these anime series. They are frequently revisited and recommended to others.
What Are the Most Popular Anime of All Time?
After receiving a considerable amount of love (and hate) for my 15 Most Powerful Anime Characters list, I figured I’d also list the top 10 best anime series of all time.
1. Death Note
The series revolves around a highly intelligent high school student, Light Yagami, after discovering a notebook capable of killing people when their names are written. Death Note is based on a manga of the same name, which ran between 2003 and 2006.
The show is largely popular due to its mystery and horror genre themes. It is loved by both Japanese and international audiences. The story is relatively short, spanning less than 40 episodes, which makes it brief and to the point without too many distractions, which can often happen with extended series.
2. Ghost in the Shell
In the not-too-distant future, Major Motoko Kusanagi, or simply Major, and his group of officers fight high crime around Japan as part of Public Security Section 9.
Ghost in the Shell is set in 2030, where science and technology have advanced, allowing humans to become cyborgs with different abilities to help humanity progress. However, Japanese syndicates have started using these to their advantage.
Ghost in the Shell has inspired a generation of other anime, TV series, and movies thanks to its concepts and art style directed by Mamoru Oishi. While its live-action film may not have received the same acclaim, it remains one of the best anime series of all time.
If you’re a manga purist who thinks that anime adaptations should always be faithful to the source material, then you undoubtedly consider Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood to be a better version of Hiromu Arakawa’s masterpiece better known as Fullmetal Alchemist.
Following two talented alchemists on a journey to get their bodies back, this series is a must-see for anyone who calls themselves fans of anime. If you don’t fall in love with Edward or his brother Alphonse, you’ll be hopelessly attached to the show’s spectacular set of supporting characters like Scar, Roy Mustang, or Homunculus Greed.
4. Naruto
Like most anime, Naruto began as a manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. It tells the story of a young ninja, Naruto Uzumaki, whose dream is to gain recognition from his peers and become the Hokage. It is told in two parts.
The first part follows his pre-teen years when he first became a ninja and the second part, Naruto: Shippuden, follows him through his teenage years. Naruto’s first series was 220 episodes and aired between 2002 and 2007. Naruto: Shippuden aired from 2007 to 2015 and had an impressive 500 episodes.
There are total 720 episodes of Naruto To Binge. There were also a few different spin-offs and movies that went along with this popular series and currently Boruto is the next installment of the series, which follows Naruto’s son.
5. Bleach
Bleach is a manga series that was written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. Bleach follows teenager Ichigo Kurosaki, who inherits his parents’ destiny from another Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki after gaining the power of a Soul Reaper – a version of the Grim Reaper. His new powers compel him to perform the duties of protecting humans from evil spirits and guiding desperate spirits to the afterlife.
The anime series is relatively short compared to the other two, coming in at a total of 366 episodes and ending in 2012. In March 2020, it was announced that the ‘Thousand-Year Blood War’, the final arc of the manga, would receive an anime adaptation.
also read: top anime characters female 2022
