The Most Popular Anime of Each Year (2000 - 2024)

The Most Popular Anime of Each Year 2000-24

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the series that won the hearts of anime fans from the turn of the century onwards.

2000: “Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters”

All together now. While its success likely comes as a byproduct of its symbiotic relationship with the card game that launched alongside it, Yugi’s days battling his way through Duelist Kingdom were as campy as they were entertaining. Forced to compete in a tournament in order to save the soul of his grandfather, Yugi and his ancient Egyptian ghost-bro entranced young viewers everywhere with the game of Duel Monsters, its epic creature designs, nebulous rulebook, and of course, its iconic dub. While it was very much a show of its time, you won’t find an anime fan out there who hasn’t wanted to own a Blue Eyes Dragon at least once in their life.

2001: “Fruits Basket”

While its modern remake arguably did everything better and is overall a much more faithful adaptation, credit still deserves to be given to this initial attempt, which introduced many to what many considered one of the pinnacles of the shojo genre. A sweet and simple girl struck by tragedy, Tohru’s meeting and eventual integration with the Soma Family proved itself to be a melting pot of slice of life goodness, shockingly dark storytelling, as well as all the romantic tension you could want. Ask your parents if they remember the great husbando war between Kyo and Yuki!

2002: “Naruto”

The ninja that assisted in guiding the shonen genre into the mainstream, Naruto’s popularity and placement in the anime landscape can still be felt today. But even in its early stages, it captured the attention of the masses with its abundance of flashy fight scenes, endearingly expansive cast, and a lead whose dogged determination set the trend for many a protagonist to come. Between its awesome initial arcs as well as the birth of the now infamous Naruto run, you’d have to be under a genjutsu to not recognise how much of an impact this shinobi had upon release.

2003: “Fullmetal Alchemist”

Despite branching out into its own narrative away from its beloved source material, the Elric Brothers and their journey to recover their bodies had such incredible bones to it that audiences couldn't help but become enraptured by their struggle. Between the worldbuilding, use of alchemy, and beautiful bonds formed between its cast, everything about this initial adaptation was a masterclass as far as newcomers were concerned, and even with hindsight, the shine certainly hasn’t dulled, to the extent that many still swear by this being the superior version!

2004: “Bleach”

Another of the Big Three, one that showed immense promise even with its humble beginnings. Echoing many of the tropes that shone fans had come to adore in the form of its sword-swinging, spirit-sealing punk of a main character Ichigo, Bleach’s first arc may have seen a tad slow compared, but after laying down its roots with its central cast, it exploded to frantic heights thanks to the beast that was the Soul Society Arc. Its sophomore season was so phenomenal in terms of developing the world and the stakes that it was enough to lock in long-term fans for its sequel series twenty years later!

2005: “Eureka Seven”

In a market as crowded as the mecha genre, you really have to do something to stand out amongst all the noise and robot parts. Eureka Seven did just that, and in doing so brought with it a level of charm, intrigue and resulting adoration that you rarely see these days. Giant robots on surfboards is one of the most radical ideas ever, but what really stole the hearts of fans was the way in which the budding love of its central duo was pitted against the war and intolerance of the world around them. The series found so much success and goodwill that fans have since become very protective of it, hence the rabid hatred and refusal to acknowledge inferior and detrimental spin-offs such as Astral Ocean!

2006: “Death Note”

Swapping fists for mind games, Death Note was a juggernaut of a series that dared to ask questions of morality, justice, and when does a noble cause descend into rabid narcissism? In an effort to save the world from itself, genius student Light Yagami harnesses the power of the death note – eliminating anyone with but a stroke of the pen. And that’s when the enigmatic detective L steps in, leading to one of anime’s greatest cat and mouse games. Beyond the thrilling twists and tightly paced narrative, what kept Death Note’s name in everyone’s mouths was the way in which fans found themselves debating the manner in which Light was committing his crusade, and whether he was justified or not. Any series that can inspire that level of conversation is certainly doing something right!

2007: “Gurren Lagann”

Yes, it was space-fairing rebellion combined with giant robots, again, the only difference being just how bombastic it turned out to be. Gurren Lagann is the epitome of go big or go home in just about every regard. From its heroes, its villains, its waifus, all the way to its finale. It not only set the standards of both excellence and madness, but a trailblazer for anime in terms of just how wild one can go with their premise. No wonder it's remembered so fondly.

2008: “Soul Eater”

Yes, its ending will live on in infamy forevermore, but everything before that slip up was a great ride that still earned it quite the following. Focusing on a group of weapon-wielding students who hunt down witches and monsters by order of Death itself, Soul Eater is equal parts quirky and savage in the best way possible, the animation lending itself to some wild throwdowns. We daresay that should they ever decide to re-adapt it and stick to the original works, there’s enough fervor left behind from this first attempt to bring the faithful clamoring back!

2009: “Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood”

Not only is it considered one of the best anime remakes of all time, but to many, it’s the greatest anime of all time, plain and simple. Of course it was popular! Bringing back the Elric brothers for a faithful adaptation of the beloved manga, Brotherhood didn’t skip a single beat when it comes to the narrative, animation, and performances, resulting in a journey with a pitch perfect ending that wrapped everything together seamlessly. Something that’s proving to become a rarity these days. Pair that with the ravenous fanbase that had accrued courtesy of the 2003 adaptation, and this thing was practically destined to succeed.

2010: “Angel Beats”

High school, limbo, aspirations, regrets, weapons, young love – one wouldn’t expect all these would go together, but in the hands of Angel Beats, it became one of those series that was able to balance seemingly everything. It made us laugh, it made us weep, it offered that comfy slice of life goodness so many fans crave, even the occasional bit of bullet hell. The result was, for many, a viewing experience that left many a fan emotionally drained, destroyed, and yet all too happy for the experience. Oh god, here comes the waterworks again.

2011: “Hunter x Hunter”

By the time that this now legendary anime aired, the shonen formula was becoming pretty stale. Everyone knew what to expect. And then along came a kid named Gon, and an unbreakable desire to become a Hunter, and enough strength to made it a reality. While it still adhered to all those conventions that had come before, Hunter x Hunter was operating on another level. The intricacies of its world, characters and combat blew collective minds, the richness of its storytelling kept audiences captivated across over a hundred episodes, and has since left them salivating for a continuation they’re unlikely to ever see.

2012: “Sword Art Online”

Some love it, some hate it, everyone was talking about it back in the day. While later seasons and a higher budget would certainly boost its reputation, the original SAO outing was one everyone loved to dunk on, mostly for the same reasons everyone else enjoyed it. The romance between Kirito and Asuna, the logic of the gaming world, the harem subplots, it’s like it was born to divide the fanbase. And yet audiences kept coming back for more. No matter your stance on all things SAO, it certainly carved a niche for itself in the anime sphere.

2013: “Attack on Titan”

Before the mystery in the basement, before the secrets of Ymir, before every other plot point that would go on to define this series as an absolute masterpiece in its latter seasons – Attack on Titan was STILL a cultural explosion, one that drew the attention and adoration from all who gazed upon its blood-soaked world. The first season alone was a rollercoaster with a portrayal of a dismal future where humanity’s last bastion comes under siege from giant humanoids, all the while a vengeful pup named Eren begins his ruinous road to revenge. There was no escaping this series back in the day, even before it transcended into the stuff of animated legends.

2014: “Haikyu”

There’s sports anime, and then there’s Haikyu. With volleyball serving as the framework, the journey of Karasuno’s underdogs as they endeavor to reclaim their past glories soared above others in its field. The enthusiasm of its players, the high-octane back and forth of its matches, from its crushing defeats to its euphoric wins, this series hit all the boxes, and only seemed to reach higher heights with every match taken. It can’t be understated how big of a deal Hinata and Kageyama’s time on the court turned out to be!

2015: “One Punch Man”

Fans of all things capes were treated very well during the 2010s, and kicking off the trend was a certain hero able to wipe out just about any threat with a singular blow. Something of a deconstruction of the superhero tropes many had come to know, Saitama’s career as the strongest hero that no-one acknowledges was primed for popularity due to a combination of wild comedy and jaw-dropping battles that pushed the visual quality into the stratosphere. Even if it lost some of its luster going forward, all anyone could talk about upon his debut was Saitama and his insta-killing fist-bump.

2016: “My Hero Academia”

As we said, superhero fever was running amok, with this series in particular capturing the hearts of fans everywhere through its loving homage to the comics of old, all the while putting a modern spin on it courtesy of its high-school setting, creativity of its Quirks, and the arcs of its adolescent avengers, especially superfan turned chosen one Deku. The earnestness and affection in which My Hero Academia presented itself as a match made in heaven for those who liked their anime with a bit of Marvel flair to it, and has continued to endure even from its early days in the classroom.

2017: “Black Clover”

Much like its lead character, this series had everything going against it. Another fantasy-laced anime with a down and out protagonist who liked to scream a lot? What’s so special about that? Well, we soon learned. Asta and company certainly didn’t reinvent the wheel when it came to high-fantasy anime, complete with spells, swords and the power of friendship, but there was something about it that struck a chord with fans. Maybe it was the relentless action, how light on filler it was, or perhaps we all fell victim to Asta’s simple charm as he strove to become the Wizard King. He certainly made a believer out of us!

2018: “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime”

Amongst the dregs of the isekai apocalypse, a lone champion emerged. A squishy, highly absorbent champion. That’s right, out of all the series featuring average joes being sent to fantastical kingdoms, Rimuru’s story stood tall as the most that garnered the most intrigue. It certainly did wonders blending together the joy of watching an all-powerful blob build a nation of peace for all monster-kind, before switching it up to some rather brutal fight scenes. Hey, just because he’s a slime doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to throw down. And it’s that dichotomy that’s guaranteed Rimuru some serious staying power!

2019: “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”

Like a bat out of hell, this series blazed onto the anime scene and eviscerated all in its wake – and fans couldn’t get enough of it. Thanks to Ufotable’s god-tier animation, we were given some of the most beautiful battles the medium has ushered in, all helmed by the adorably optimistic Tanjiro as he pursues the life of a Demon Slayer in order to save his sister from her cursed fate. The taisho period setting combined with some truly marvelous character work, and again, the absurd budget, ensured Demon Slayer as a modern classic in the making.

2020: “Jujutsu Kaisen”

Arguably MAPPA’s masterpiece, this blood-soaked portrait of action, horror, shonen conventions and bleak storytelling rocked the anime world upon release, and in many ways has left it reeling. On one side you’ve got the battle between jujutsu sorcerers and curses, complete with blinding battles that don’t skip out on the ferocity and grisly aftermath. And on the other you’ve got the untamed thirst for the likes of Satoru Gojo, who quickly established himself as a tour de force of a character and anime’s most sought after husbando. To say it’s lost not an ounce of steam or interest would be an understatement.

2021: “Tokyo Revengers”

Gangsters, time travel, and a wimpy lead character unable to turn off the waterworks – put all that together and you’ve apparently got a winning formula! After discovering an old flame of his has died, Takemitchy finds himself suddenly able to travel back into the days of his youth, now dead set on using this new gift to change the future. But in order to do so, he’s got to join the most feared delinquent gang of them all. The central mystery is certainly compelling, and with the endless branching paths caused by Takemitchy meddling with timelines, along with titanic supporting character such as Mikey and Drakken, there was plenty of riveting content here for fans of anime hoodlums!

2022: “Chainsaw Man”

Few anime in recent years have had the kind of hype generated akin to Chainsaw Man, and with good reason. The manga was groundbreaking in its insane premise, and the adaptation’s execution certainly lived up to the madness that is Denji’s life. Going from a vagabond to a hybrid demon capable of turning his body into a slew of chainsaws, Denji finds himself under the leash of the mysterious Makima, as he goes around slicing up demons for the good of all…and to indulge in whatever decadent wants he can come up with. As bizarre as it might sound, Chainsaw Man was a breath of fresh air for all looking for a series with a tad more spice to its storytelling.

2023: “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End”

Enchanting, meditative, insightful, hilarious, heartbreaking, the tale of the ageless mage following the end of her party’s quest to defeat of the demon lord captured all our hearts, and subsequently split them open, as it delved into the nuances of an immortal being destined to outlive all her companions. Peppered in with some top-tier magical battles and excellent development between Freiren and her allies, in both the past and present, and you have yourself a very special series that demands to be experienced.

2024: “Solo Leveling”

There are popular manhwa, and then there’s Solo Leveling, arguably one of the most decorated and beloved power fantasies out there. Many were in doubt that an adaptation could be pulled off unless it was being done by the top echelons of the anime industry. Mercifully, what A1 Pictures managed to pull off was about as close to a perfect representation of the source material as we’re ever likely to get! Going from the weakest hunter of all to an absolute unit able to ascend to greater levels of strength with every victory, Jinwoo’s gradual rise to become the most powerful entity in existence already has us locked in and salivating for more! Seriously, if they do justice to the Jeju Island Arc, the anime community might explode.

Which anime consumed your time and attention over the last twenty years? Let us know in the comments!