Another Top 10 Most Popular Anime on the Planet

These anime took the world by storm, too. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for another "Top 10 Most Popular Anime on the Planet."

For this list, we’ll be looking at more of the anime that have become beloved the world over. If you think we missed out on something, be sure to check out our previous list.

Set in a world with flesh eating, humanoid monsters called ghouls, Tokyo Ghoul follows Ken Kaneki, a student who becomes half-ghoul after surviving an attack from one and receiving its organs in a transplant. Ken’s struggles to fit in to both societies, as well as his battles against particularly strong ghouls, provide the duel for the show. The series’ dark subject matter, gore, action, and excellent animation have made it very popular of late… I mean, pretty much any Hot Topic store is 70% Ghoul merch by this point.

A tale about the titular guild of mages, particularly Natsu Dragneel and his team, Fairy Tail follows the group’s adventures battling villainous mages, demons, dragons, and other foes all while becoming stronger and acting like a dysfunctional surrogate family to one another. While in its earlier stages some fans were critical, the series’ has truly come into its own with its consistent comedic tone and its flashy action. Fairy Tail has truly gained many fans who have come to appreciate its own original brand of magic.

One of the newer anime sensations sweeping the globe, My Hero Academia takes place in a world where most people have superpowers. The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a once powerless boy now granted one by his hero, and the adventures of he and his classmates on the road to becoming professional heroes. While its superhero roots certainly make it easy to get into, My Hero Academia expertly balances a large cast of diverse and unique characters, exciting, emotionally satisfying action, and an intriguing ongoing storyline about the nature of heroism; making for a fantastically addicting anime. And you can’t beat that soundtrack!

Exiled from his home of Britannia in Japan, which his nation has conquered, Lelouch seeks to instigate a rebellion and take revenge on his father and his homeland. To accomplish this, he utilizes the show’s title ability, Geass, to make anyone he sees do exactly what he tells them, as well as leading a rebellion as a masked vigilante in a giant mech. Code Geass casts a wide net and has a little something for everyone, from mecha fans to fans of psychological battles to those who enjoy school anime; reeling them all in for one exceptional series. And with its revival movie on the way, it appears Geass hype is at an all-time high.

Who says superheroes have to be serious? Saitama may look goofy and unimpressive, and he becomes a superhero for fun, but it just so happens he’s the strongest one alive. His ability to defeat nearly any opponent with just one punch earns him disbelief and occasionally admiration, as his attempts to turn pro lead to many intense and often funny battles. The series’ wonderful contrast between serious action and comedic moments is emphasized through superb animation and expertly crafted fight scenes—and being featured on both Netflix and Toonami in the states, it's no surprise it became so widespread.

A massively successful multimedia franchise, which began as a visual novel series, the Fate franchise usually follows a succession of powerful magi who engage in battles with one another using summoned spirits in order to attain the Holy Grail, which will grant them one wish. The series has had a huge number of sequels, spin-offs, and tie-ins across various media, and the anime have proved especially popular. The top notch animation and wide variety of entry points has made it a very accessible, and therefore well-liked, franchise… and it doesn’t hurt that Fate Grand Order is pretty much the most popular app in Japan.

One of the influential and critically acclaimed mecha anime of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion depicts the tribulations of Shinji Ikari as he is forced to battle massive angels by his diabolical father. Evangelion combines psychological examinations of its fundamentally flawed characters with some excellent mecha action and plenty of symbolic imagery. Love it or hate it though, the series introduced a whole generation to the genre while also turning it on its head; earning it an enduring popularity and several remakes and sequels… and with Netflix now holding its license, get ready for a whole new wave of fans.

A supernatural Shonen battle series, Bleach follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a human turned Soul Reaper, whose conflicts with otherworldly foes take him and his friends into various dimensions of the afterlife. The show’s emphasis on youthful rebellion really strikes a chord with younger viewers, and its great fight scenes and enormous cast of characters ensure that older demographics find something too. While Bleach may have fallen off sharply in popularity towards its conclusion, its highs are still fondly remembered by old fans and joyously discovered by new ones—all of which are praying for that continuation series.

Spanning 20 years and counting, Yu-Gi-Oh! and its various sequels focus on characters playing the Duel Monsters card game in increasingly dramatic circumstances. Although their casts vary, common themes and content include their young casts battling with a card game with real stakes, themes of friendship, as well as various ridiculous hairstyles. The tie-in card game and various video games and other merchandise have helped make Yu-Gi-Oh! not just one of the most popular anime, but also one of the highest grossing media franchises ever.

Although our last entry may sell big, Gundam has a much more storied history. A seminal mecha franchise, the Gundam series pioneered the genre by emphasizing more real world science behind the fantastical concept of giant mech suits, and has been tremendously influential in anime, as well as other forms of Japanese media, and its legacy is still going strong and making history today. The word Gundam has become something of a byword for giant, piloted robots, and when the title of your franchise becomes synonymous with your genre, you know it’s popular.