Recently, anime has seen a significant increase in interest among Western fans, a trend that will likely continue in upcoming years. From the classicalDragon Ballfranchise, beloved by almost all fans, to the recently finishedMy Hero Academia, this genre has become a vital part of modern pop culture.
The rise in popularity of anime can be seen in Fandom’s 2024 popularity report. This website is a place where followers of a franchise can go to learn or share their knowledge about a topic. According to the report,many of the series’ users looked up the most were anime-related, likeOne PieceandNaruto.
Some of the Most Beloved Anime Took Over in 2024
Fans Wanted To Learn More About Their Favorite Shows
According to Fandom’s 2024 report, which recounts the most popular subsections of the website, interest in anime saw a massive uptake during the year. Among the 20 most popular franchises worldwide, three spots were taken bybeloved series likeOne PieceorYu-Gi-Oh!Considering that the report compared the interest shown by fanbases of all types of media, like movies or video games, seeing anime hold three positions is an amazing feat. At number 8 is Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, a series that has been among the most popular for many years.
Masashi Kishimoto’sNarutoalso appeared in a respectable 13th place. Lastly, in a surprising turn of events, theYu-Gi-Oh!franchise managed to snatch the 19th position. The franchise created by the late Kazuki Takahashi became one of the most popular around the world throughout 2024, something that not many expected. TheNoragamifranchisedid not appear among the 20 most popular fanbases, but it did earn a spot in the most rapidly growing communities on the website.
What Do These Trends Say About the Anime Community?
Fans Still Love the Classics
Despite how amazing it is to see the anime industry take 3 of the 20 important posts in Fandom’s report, it is also interesting to analyze the franchises that achieved this feat. The most popular shows of 2024 coincide with some of the most beloved series of all time.One Piecehas been considered one of the best franchises in existence, and its position is likely attributed to its still ongoing anime and manga. The fact that it entered what was officially confirmed as its last saga also explains its spot, as fans surely do not want to miss the ending.
NarutoandYu-Gi-Oh!, on the other hand, while not as active as Oda’s creation, still possess loyal fanbases that have stayed loyal to their iconic shows. The interest in Naruto might also be aided by theBoruto: Two Blue Vortexmanga, an amazing addition to the franchise that has helped bring back fans who abandoned it when the sequel was released.Yu-Gi-Oh!could also be greatly helped by its world-famous card game, which saw a drastic increase in players during 2024.
Anime is slowly but surely becoming more and more accepted among mainstream audiences, a certainty that should be celebrated. This means that this beloved form of animation will continue to be supported in the West. In the future, many more anime franchises could take important spots among the most popular each year.
One Piece
Cast
The One Piece anime began in 1999 and follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a boy with rubber-like abilities, as he embarks on a journey to find the legendary treasure “One Piece.” Inspired by the pirate Shanks, Luffy aims to become the King of the Pirates, accompanied by a diverse crew.
