What is the most popular anime in the world

Megan Peters

06/06/2022 12:35 am EDT

Back in the day, anime might have been seen as a fringe interest, but that is hardly the case these days. You can find anime all over the world thanks to streaming deals and theatrical licenses. In fact, the anime industry is pulling in more money than ever thanks to this growth, and competition between shows is stiffer than fans have ever seen. So of course, plenty of netizens might be curious which anime series are the most popular in the United States.

In fact, the team at Broadband Choices did some research into the topic, and their results may surprise you. The crew used search data to pinpoint the most popular anime series in the U.S. using monthly search data. The full list of picks can be found below, so read through them carefully:

1. Naruto – 1,970,000
   
2. Demon Slayer – 1,510,000
   
3. Pokemon – 1,400,000
   
4. Jujutsu Kaisen – 1,040,000
   
5. My Hero Academia – 1,020,000
   
6. Attack on Titan – 817,000 
   
7. One Piece - 572,000 
   
8. Sailor Moon – 419,000 
   
9. Hunter x Hunter – 349,000 
   
10. Dragon Ball Z – 328,000
    

As you can see, Naruto leads the pack stateside when it comes to search volume, and that is hardly surprising. Not only is the series still dropping new content with help from its sequel, but Naruto is one of anime's big three shows. Fans new and old continue to binge the show decades after its premiere, and Naruto is not the only classic on this list. Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, Sailor Moon, and even Pokemon made the cut stateside!

READ MORE: Bleach Creator Drops Major Update on the Anime's Return | New Naruto Ad Reimagines the Anime as a Fantasy Isekai | New Demon Slayer Art Celebrates Entertainment District Arc

Of course, there are also newer hits fairing well in the United States. Demon Slayer came in second place despite only having a couple of seasons to its name. Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and Attack on Titan also made the cut despite their relative recency. And as the year goes on, this list might shift around to make room for hits like Spy x Family and Bleach...!

What do you make of this anime data drop? Did the results line up with your expectations or...? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB.

Disclosure: ComicBook is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of Paramount. Sign up for Paramount+ by clicking here.

All of us who enjoy watching anime know that there are some series that turn out to be the most popular and well-known in society. Some people are not necessarily familiar with the anime and manga industry but will still be able to identify what a Pikachu is or perhaps recognize the iconic clothing of the Dragon Ball characters.

But have you ever wondered what the most popular anime in the world is? The answer to this question has been given to us by broadbandchoices, who, using Google search data, looked at the most searched shows in 146 countries and territories to find the most popular anime in the world.

THESE ARE THE MOST POPULAR ANIMES IN THE WORLD

Perhaps one would think that a title as iconic as Dragon Ball or a classic like Sailor Moon could top the list. However, topping the list in 93 countries, Naruto is the most popular anime in the world, even though the original series ended 15 years ago in 2007.

Followed by Naruto is Pokémon, this popular series that first aired in 1997. This is not surprising as a result; we know that its franchise is always kept alive with merch and prevalent video games worldwide.

Third place goes to Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan), as it was the most searched for anime in 11 different countries. His manga was initially launched in 2009, and the anime adaptation began airing in 2013 to critical and public acclaim. Without a doubt, this anime must be among the most popular for its incredible story that has managed to captivate everyone.

THE MOST SEARCHED ANIME

They also found in results, which are the animes with the most searches on Google globally; the results change slightly; however, Naruto continues to position himself in the first place.

Here is the image:

THESE ARE THE MOST POPULAR ANIME IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

In case you were wondering, the most popular anime in the USA are the following:

1. Naruto

It is curious how in almost all countries, the titles of the most popular animes are the same, but for the most part, in each country, only the order between them is changed.

What did you think of this note? Do you think any anime title was missing? Tell us in the comments.

Stay informed on LEVEL UP.

Published by Gintoki on June 30, 2022

Anime is one of the most consumed media formats around the world. With over 12,000 anime television series and multiple streaming services like Netflix and Crunchyroll, it has become easier for both old and new shows to break into the mainstream. But with thousands of shows now available at fingertips, which one is the most popular anime by global search volume?

Shōnen, seinen, rom-com, and isekai are some of the widely recognized anime genres however, it’s very hard to find which one is the most popular as each anime has a separate fanbase applauding their series. And, to get the answers, Broadband Choices recently gathered data from the Google search engine and looked out for the most popular anime series worldwide.

Over 146 countries and territories were taken into consideration for this research to determine the world’s most popular anime. So, without any further ado let’s dive into the results and find out the top 10 most popular anime by global search volume.

10. Hunter × Hunter (1.9% searches)

Hunter × Hunter is a popular manga series written by Yoshihiro Togashi which received an anime adaptation in 1999 however, the most talked about was the 2011 sequel produced by Madhouse. Instead of continuing the series, Madhouse adapted the story from the beginning of the manga in an attempt to adapt it more accurately and they succeeded in it very well.

The 2011 sequel is still one of the best shōnen series in the history of anime as it set standards for other anime as well. It made such a huge impact on fans that they can never forget this series, even if they try to. The incredible direction and storytelling by Madhouse made this series what it deserved to be. And, as Hunter x Hunter manga is returning maybe we’ll see a rise in its popularity once again.

9. Dragon Ball (2.6% searches)

Dragon Ball franchise is out there since we all were kids and is no doubt one of the best shōnen series which gave rise to some great shows in the future. New-gen manga authors are deeply influenced by the work of Akira Toriyama and for many, he is an inspiration. Moreover, Dragon Ball promoted the culture of anime, not just in Japan, but in the West as well.

For anime enthusiasts, Dragon Ball is easily one of the most iconic shonen anime of all time and you can easily get into it with no extra effort. There is no need to justify that the Dragon Ball franchise is packed with dynamic anime heroes including the star character, Son Goku. Admit it or not, Dragon Ball will always be the legendary show that started the rise of anime all over the world.

8. Death Note (2.8% searches)

One of the most popular crime thriller anime Death Note is a top-tier show. There will not be a single fan who would have disliked this series. And, once you start this anime then leaving it in the middle is almost impossible! What makes this series so special? Well, the appealing storytelling by the pair of Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata and, also the perfect execution by Madhouse.

Death Note follows the fascinating story of a high school student Light Yagami who gets his hand on a notebook that grants him the power to eliminate anyone. Aware of the terrifying godlike power that has fallen into his hands, Light – under the alias “Kira” – follows his wicked sense of justice with the ultimate goal of making a criminal-free world. But as Light’s brilliance rivals detective L’s, the grand chase for Kira turns into an intense battle of wits that can only end when one of them is dead.

7. My Hero Academia (4.9% searches)

There are dozens of great anime shows having fabulous storylines and appealing character designs still, My Hero Academia somehow made it to the top 10 list of popular anime by global search volume. Although the series is home to one of the most toxic anime fandoms, it is pretty impressive that it ranked above two great anime like Dragon Ball and Hunter x Hunter.

Comprised of 5 anime seasons and 3 movies, the world of My Hero Academia is filled with heroes where 80% of the population acquires supernatural power called ‘Quirk’. Izuku Midoriya, a normal kid is born without such powers however, he still dreams of becoming a superhero himself. Later on, he is scouted by All Might, Japan’s greatest hero, who trains him afterward to make Midoriya the next heir to “One For All”.

6. Attack On Titan (5.2% searches)

Attack on Titan is one of the most in-demand television shows in history, so if you haven’t seen it already, it’s worth checking out for that reason alone. Coming from the brilliant mind of Hajime Isayama, Attack On Titan is arguably the most well-known dark fantasy animanga ever made – a brutal show that’s not afraid to kill off the main cast if that’s what the story requires.

The series is set in a post-apocalyptic time when humanity has been forced to live behind a series of protective walls to protect themselves from the mindless humanoid predators called Titans. The series is full of mysteries to uncover, and it tackles political and psychological themes exceptionally. Attack On Titan is like an addiction for newcomers, and you’re missing out on a lot if you haven’t watched it yet.

5. One Piece (7.2% searches)

One Piece is entertaining its fans for the last 23 years and its journey is remarkable till now. With more than 1050 manga chapters and 1000+ anime episodes, it has set milestones that no one ever can break. Moreover, it is the 2nd best-selling comic book in the world with an estimated sales of over 495 million manga copies and is still counting.

Written by Eiichiro Oda, the series follows the story of Monkey D. Luffy who dreams of becoming the King of The Pirates. In order to accomplish his dream, he sets out on a journey to recruit new members for his crew so that they can sail throughout the Grand Line and find the mysterious treasure ‘One Piece’ left by the former pirate king, Gol D. Roger.

4. Jujutsu Kaisen (7.3% searches)

Jujutsu Kaisen has really come a long way since its anime debut in 2020. The series is arguably the most followed ongoing new-gen animanga and half of its credit goes to Studio MAPPA. 55 million manga copies, $189 million at the box-office, and 4th most popular anime by global search volume; all these achievements for the series have come in just two years which is really admirable.

Jujutsu Kaisen is based on the sorcery world and follows the story of Yuji Itadori who accidentally eats the finger of the most powerful cursed spirit, Ryomen Sukuna. After this incident, Yuji is transferred to Jujutsu Tech where he learns the techniques of cursed energy alongside Megumi Fushigoro and Nobara Kugisaki under the guidance of Special Grade sorcerer, Gojo Satoru.

3. Demon Slayer (7.8% searches)

There are two types of anime – one that takes decades to get popular and the other that receives the same amount of popularity in just a couple of years. Demon Slayer is the latter one as the way this franchise has stepped up the ladders of popularity is astonishingly remarkable. In 2019, the franchise made its anime debut and since then the series has just kept rising to be one of the best-selling manga with an estimated sales crossing 150 million copies worldwide.

Written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge, Demon Slayer follows the story of Tanjiro Kamado and his sister Nezuko, who turns into a demon after a horrible incident takes place at their home. Determined to turn his only sister back into a human again, Tanjiro sets on a journey to find a cure and hunt down the strongest demon present, who slaughtered his entire family, Muzan Kibutsuji.

2. Pokémon (8.8% searches)

Pokémon is a widely recognized anime in the world and almost every person has come across this franchise once in his/her lifetime. Video games, trading cards, television series, movies; the franchise holds a lot of media departments to spread its market all over the world which is why it’s the most cherished Japanese franchise around the globe.

The franchise was created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996, and is centered on fictional creatures called “Pokémon”. In addition to its popularity, the franchise stands at the top of the table with an all-time gross of over US$110 billion. Licensed merchandise ($82 billion) and video games ($27 billion) have added up a huge margin to the revenue making it the highest-grossing anime franchise in the world.

1. Naruto (16.2% searches)

The first episode of Naruto was aired way back in 2002 and this year it marked the 20th anniversary of the franchise. In the past two decades, many great shows came and gone but no one ever reached the heights of Naruto. Still, after so many years, Naruto easily outshines any other popular series which are present at the moment and the global search volume index is proof of that.

Admired for its narration, antagonists, and top-notch hand-to-hand combats, the series follows the adventures of Naruto as he dreams of becoming a Hokage of his hometown, The Hidden Village of The Leaf. To accomplish this goal, he trains himself with various ninja techniques and completes several missions along with his friends, Sakura and Sasuke to enhance as a skilled shinobi ninja.

Which one of the following popular anime by global search volume is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other anime like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.

We post daily anime & manga news articles, so make sure to follow us on Instagram. You can also check out our anime ranking page for more articles like this.