What is the most popular anime?
There is no single answer, but One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer are among the most popular anime ever, by viewers, sales and fan rankings.
One Piece, based on Eiichiro Oda's manga, began airing in 1999 and has more than 1,100 episodes. It follows Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew in search of a legendary treasure. Its huge global fan base and record-breaking manga sales make it one of the most popular anime by almost any measure.
Dragon Ball and its sequel Dragon Ball Z, starring Goku, introduced anime to millions of viewers around the world in the 1980s and 1990s. Naruto, about a young ninja, became a global hit in the 2000s. Attack on Titan, which ended in 2023, became one of the most-watched series on streaming platforms.
Box office hits
Demon Slayer has broken box office records in Japan. Its film Mugen Train became Japan's highest-grossing film in 2020, and Infinity Castle, released in 2025, earned hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide. Pokémon remains the most successful anime franchise overall, thanks to games, cards and merchandise.
Did You Know?
Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki held the title of Japan's highest-grossing film for almost 20 years, from 2001 until Demon Slayer: Mugen Train passed it.