The Most Popular Anime of This Year, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the anime you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 28, 2024 06:29
In a world brimming with animation, keeping track of the best anime releases each year can be a daunting task for any fan. Fortunately, a system that ranks these shows according to viewer votes helps sift through the noise and highlight the top contenders. This not only helps new viewers find highly recommended shows, but also gives seasoned fans an organized recap of the year's highlights.
By participating in this voting system, every fan's voice contributes to creating a live and dynamic leaderboard of popular anime. This continuously updated list ensures that even the newest releases have the chance to shine if they resonate with viewers. So, cast your vote today and see how your favorite anime stacks up against the rest!
What Is the Most Popular Anime of This Year?
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155votes
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Koyoharu GotougeThis anime has been the talk of the town since its release in 2019. It has won numerous awards and has been critically acclaimed for its animation, story, and characters. The anime follows the story of a young boy named Tanjiro, who sets out to become a demon slayer to avenge his family's death. The anime is based on a manga of the same name and has been adapted into a successful movie as well.Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a popular anime series that aired in 2019. It is based on a manga of the same name written by Koyoharu Gotouge. The story follows a young boy named Tanjiro Kamado who becomes a demon slayer after his family is attacked and his sister Nezuko is turned into a demon. He joins the Demon Slayer Corps to find a cure for his sister and avenge his family.- Genre: Action, Supernatural
- Episodes: 26
- Original Run: April 6, 2019 - September 28, 2019
- Studio: ufotable
- Licensed by: Aniplex of America
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba in other rankings- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular new anime
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233votes
Jujutsu Kaisen
Gege AkutamiJujutsu Kaisen is another popular anime of 2021. The anime is based on a manga of the same name and has been praised for its animation, characters, and story. The anime follows the story of a high school student named Yuji Itadori, who becomes a Jujutsu sorcerer to save the world from curses. The anime has been well-received by fans and critics alike.Jujutsu Kaisen is a popular anime series that premiered in October 2020. It is based on the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. The story follows Yuji Itadori, a high school student who becomes involved in the world of curses and sorcery after ingesting a powerful cursed object to save his friends. He joins the Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School, where he trains to become a jujutsu sorcerer and fights against curses to protect people from their harm.- Genre: Action, Supernatural, Horror
- Episodes: 24
- Original run: October 2020 - March 2021
- Studio: MAPPA
- Director: Sunghoo Park
Jujutsu Kaisen in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular new anime
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310votes
Attack on Titan: The Final Season
Hajime IsayamaAttack on Titan is a popular anime that has been running since 2013. The anime's final season premiered in 2020 and has been highly anticipated by fans. The anime follows the story of Eren Yeager and his quest to destroy the Titans that threaten humanity. The final season has been praised for its animation and story.Attack on Titan: The Final Season is the fourth and final season of the popular anime series Attack on Titan. It continues the story of the war between humanity and the giant human-eating creatures known as Titans. The season follows Eren Jaeger and his comrades as they face new foes, uncover dark secrets, and strive to reach the truth behind the origins of the Titans.- Release Year: 2020
- Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy
- Animation Studio: MAPPA
- Episodes: 16
- Running Time: 24 minutes per episode
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423votes
The Promised Neverland Season 2
Kaiu Shirai and Posuka DemizuThe Promised Neverland is a popular anime that premiered in 2019. The anime's second season premiered in 2021 and has been well-received by fans. The anime follows the story of a group of orphans who discover a dark secret about their orphanage. The second season has been praised for its story and characters.The Promised Neverland Season 2 is a Japanese anime series based on the manga of the same name written by Kaiu Shirai and illustrated by Posuka Demizu. It serves as the sequel to the highly acclaimed first season.- Genre: Science fiction, Dark fantasy, Thriller
- Episodes: 11
- Original Run: January 7, 2021 – March 26, 2021
- Animation Studio: CloverWorks
- Directed by: Mamoru Kanbe
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56votes
Haikyuu!! To the Top Part 2
Haruichi FurudateHaikyuu!! is a popular sports anime that has been running since 2014. To the Top Part 2 premiered in 2020 and has been well-received by fans. The anime follows the story of a high school volleyball team and their quest to become champions. The anime has been praised for its animation and characters.Haikyuu!! To the Top Part 2 is the fourth season of the popular sports anime Haikyuu!!. It follows the continuing journey of the Karasuno High School volleyball team as they strive to compete in national tournaments and become the best in Japan. As the second part of the fourth season, it picks up where Part 1 left off, focusing on the intense matches and character development.- Original Run: October 3, 2020 - December 19, 2020
- Genre: Sports, Comedy, Drama
- Episodes: 12
- Animation Studio: Production I.G
- Director: Masako Satou
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610votes
My Hero Academia Season 5
Kohei HorikoshiMy Hero Academia is a popular superhero anime that has been running since 2016. Season 5 premiered in 2021 and has been highly anticipated by fans. The anime follows the story of a group of students training to become heroes. The anime has been praised for its animation and characters.My Hero Academia Season 5 is the fifth installment of the highly anticipated anime series based on the popular manga written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi. The story continues to follow the journey of Izuku Midoriya, a young boy born without a superpower in a world where having superpowers, known as Quirks, is the norm. Despite this, Izuku aspires to become a hero and attends U.A. High School, a prestigious academy for aspiring heroes. Season 5 introduces new challenges and adventures as the students of Class 1-A face off against powerful villains while improving their own abilities.- Genre: Action, Superpower, School
- Episodes: 25
- Release Date: March 27, 2021 - September 25, 2021
- Studio: Bones
- Director: Kenji Nagasaki
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73votes
Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World Season 2 Part 2
Tappei NagatsukiRe:Zero is a popular isekai anime that premiered in 2016. Season 2 Part 2 premiered in 2021 and has been well-received by fans. The anime follows the story of a young man named Subaru who is transported to another world. The anime has been praised for its story and characters.Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World Season 2 Part 2 is the second half of the second season of the popular anime series. It continues the story of Subaru Natsuki, who is transported to a fantasy world where he discovers he has the ability to return from death by rewinding time upon his own demise. In Part 2, Subaru faces new challenges and encounters new allies and enemies as he strives to protect his loved ones and unravel the mysteries of the world he now calls home.- Genre: Isekai, Fantasy, Drama
- Original Run: January 6, 2021 - March 24, 2021
- Episodes: 12
- Studio: White Fox
- Director: Masaharu Watanabe
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85votesFruits Basket is a popular shoujo anime that has been running since 2019. The Final Season premiered in 2021 and has been highly anticipated by fans. The anime follows the story of a young girl named Tohru who becomes involved with a family cursed to turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac. The anime has been praised for its story and characters.Fruits Basket: The Final Season is the third and final season of the anime series Fruits Basket, which is based on the manga written by Natsuki Takaya. The story follows an orphan named Tohru Honda, who discovers that her classmates, the Sohma family, are cursed by the Chinese zodiac animals. As Tohru becomes close to the family, she uncovers the hardships they face and learns the importance of acceptance, love, and healing.
- Original Run: April 5, 2021 - present
- Studio: TMS Entertainment
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Supernatural
- Episodes: Currently airing
- Duration: Approximately 23 minutes per episode
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99votes
Dr. Stone: Stone Wars
Riichiro InagakiDr. Stone is a popular science-fiction anime that premiered in 2019. Stone Wars is the second season of the anime and premiered in 2021. The anime follows the story of a high school student named Senku who awakens from a petrified state to a world where all of humanity has turned to stone. The anime has been praised for its unique premise and characters.Dr. Stone: Stone Wars is the second season of the anime series Dr. Stone, based on the manga by Riichiro Inagaki. It follows the story of Senku Ishigami, a genius scientist who awakens thousands of years into the future in a world where humanity has been petrified. In order to revive civilization, Senku strives to rebuild society using his scientific knowledge and the power of science.- Original Series: Dr. Stone
- Season: 2
- Genre: Sci-fi, Adventure
- Number of Episodes: 11
- Original Run: January 14, 2021 – March 25, 2021
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104votesHorimiya is a popular romantic comedy anime that premiered in 2021. The anime follows the story of two high school students named Hori and Miyamura who discover each other's secret lives outside of school. The anime has been praised for its characters and story.Horimiya is a popular anime series based on a manga of the same name. It revolves around the life of Kyouko Hori, a beautiful and popular high school girl, and Izumi Miyamura, a seemingly gloomy and nerdy boy. They lead double lives, and when their paths intertwine, they discover new sides of each other. The story explores their growing friendship and budding romance while navigating through the challenges of high school life.
- Genre: Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life
- Episodes: 13
- Air Date: January 2021 - April 2021
- Animation Studio: CloverWorks
- Source: Manga
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Ranking factors for popular anime
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Viewership and streaming numbersThe popularity of an anime can be estimated through the number of people watching the show on streaming platforms or television.
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Ratings and reviewsChecking the ratings and reviews on platforms like MyAnimeList, IMDb, and Crunchyroll can give a good indication of the overall popularity and quality of the anime.
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Social media buzz and online discussionThe amount of discussion an anime generates on social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit, can point to its popularity among fans.
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Sales of DVD/Blu-ray and merchandiseHigh sales of related products such as DVDs, Blu-rays, and merchandise (e.g. posters, action figures, clothing) indicate the popularity of a series among dedicated fans.
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Awards and critical acclaimIf an anime has been nominated for or has won awards, it can demonstrate both popularity and critical recognition.
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Gaining new or dedicated fansAn anime that consistently attracts new viewers and retains the interest of existing fans can be considered popular.
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Longevity and franchise expansionsSeries that have multiple seasons, spin-offs, or movie adaptations are usually well-received and popular among fans.
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Regional and global popularitySome anime may be popular in specific regions but not globally, and vice versa. Taking both regional and global popularity into account is important for a comprehensive analysis.
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Genre appeal and audience demographicDifferent genres may appeal to different audiences, so considering the popularity of an anime within its genre and target demographic can be significant.
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Impact on popular culturePopular anime often inspire communities, fan art, cosplay, and conventions, making a long-lasting impact on popular culture. Taking this influence into account can help determine an anime's popularity.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular anime of this year. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Anime is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1576 views
- 160 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Anime once every 24 hours. The rank of each Anime is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular anime of this year
Anime has always been a popular form of entertainment, and it continues to grow in popularity each year. With new series and movies being released regularly, it can be hard to keep up with what's hot and what's not. That's why we've compiled a list of the most popular anime of this year, as voted by the fans. From action-packed adventures to heart-warming romances, there's something for everyone on this list. So, whether you're a long-time anime fan or just getting into the genre, be sure to check out our rankings and see if your favorite made the cut.
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