Anime is more popular than ever, and with every streaming service trying to grab the next big title, it honestly feels like we’re living through a golden age for Japanese animation. But with hundreds of series dropping every year, which ones moved the needle? Here’s my countdown of the 15 anime shows that didn’t just entertain—they shifted the landscape, sparked trends, and left a lasting mark on fans and the industry alike.
15. Blue Lock
Sports anime is nothing new, but Blue Lock swung for the fences with a crazy, near-survival-styled take on soccer. It turns up the heat to eleven, making each game a mental duel. The result? A smash hit that shook things up in how we consider team sports series.
14. Delicious in Dungeon
This one snuck up on me. It combines fantasy dungeon delving with unexpectedly clean food scenes—and somehow, it completely succeeds. With an offbeat but endearing cast and a combination of humor and pathos, Delicious in Dungeon made niche go mainstream.
13. Kaiju No. 8
Giant monsters? Been there. But Kaiju No. 8 introduced something new: a middle-aged lead with actual life struggles, witty humor, and incisive storytelling. It didn’t take long for fans to support it, and now it’s one of the most-discussed new titles in years.
12. Blue Eye Samurai
Not your standard anime fare. Blue Eye Samurai is raw, cinematic, and emotionally charged. With its lush animation and more mature themes, it’s helping blur the lines of what anime can cover—once again showing that the genre isn’t strictly for kids or teens.
11. Samurai Champloo
Few programs have executed a genre mashup as hip as Samurai Champloo. Combining samurai action with hip-hop rhythms and urban style, it defied all the conventions in the most fantastic way. Its impact still resounds in anime, music, and fashion today.
10. Cowboy Bebop
This one needs no introduction. Cowboy Bebop blended sci-fi, noir, and jazz into something unforgettable. The themes, the music, the visuals—it all came together in a way that felt ahead of its time. It’s still one of the most recommended “starter” anime for a reason.
9. My Hero Academia
In an oversaturated superhero world, My Hero Academia made us care by taking familiar tropes and imbuing them with a new spark via its emotional characters and high emotional payoffs. Love it or hate it, it paved the way for an entirely new generation of modern shonen.
8. Jujutsu Kaisen
Curses, battle, and cursed energy—Jujutsu Kaisen is not playing around. With absolutely bonkers fight choreography and a dark and frenetic tone, it’s become one of the most popular new-gen shows. It’s raised the standards for animation and pacing overall.
7. One Piece
Still thriving after over 20 years, One Piece stands alone. That it continues to attract new viewers in 2024 is testament to its strength. Its constantly changing plot and emotional rewards have established it as the template for successful long-running anime.
6. Naruto: Shippuden
The greatest underdog tale of all time. Naruto: Shippuden swept the globe off its feet with its messages of perseverance, redemption, and unbreakable friendships. You watched it growing up, or you found it later; it’s an undeniable part of our cultural heritage.
5. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
This is storytelling excellence. Brotherhood combines action, philosophy, loss, and hope into a tight and fulfilling curve. Pacing, character development, and the emotional moments are all first-class, and their influence continues to be felt in anime that strive for more depth.
4. Death Note
It’s difficult to name a series that inspired as many discussions as Death Note. What would you do if you had the ability to kill at a distance? The show explores issues of morality, control, and obsession—and manages to tie it all up in a thriller of epic proportions that is still being discussed today.
3. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Stunning to behold and emotionally crushing in just the right ways, Demon Slayer exploded into popularity nearly overnight. Its animation raised the bar, and the tale’s blend of hope and heartbreak struck a chord with a massive international audience. Even those who didn’t watch it regularly were drawn in by that theme song.
2. Attack on Titan
No anime has sparked more theories, debates, or emotional breakdowns in the past decade than Attack on Titan. It started with survival horror and ended up tackling themes like freedom, war, and morality in ways that left viewers stunned. It’s a modern epic that changed the game entirely.
1. Dragon Ball Z
Let’s be real—without Dragon Ball Z, anime most likely wouldn’t have blown up all over the world like it did. Its epic battles, intense power-ups, and memorable moments gave birth to a generation of anime fans. And yet, somehow, even in 2024, it continues to change with fresh animation and storylines that keep people excited.
Whether you’re long-time immersed in anime or just a beginner, these 15 shows contributed to shaping the genre we recognize today. From groundbreaking combinations of form and content to enduring classics, they’ve all made their marks on anime history.