10 Anime Almost As Iconic as One Piece

One Piece is a truly iconic anime series. The manga started in 1997, and the anime adaptation from Toei Animation followed in 1999. It’s been running ever since, providing comfort and enjoyment to a huge fanbase and achieving incredible popularity. Currently, One Piece is the best-selling manga in the world. While it’s incredibly popular, other anime like Dragon Ball and newer hits like Demon Slayer also enjoy widespread success.

Naruto

Main Character; Naruto Uzumaki

I’m a huge anime fan, and honestly, Naruto is right up there with the all-time greats, like One Piece. It came out a little after One Piece did, and they quickly became rivals. Interestingly, for a while, Naruto actually became more popular over here in the West! It really cemented itself as one of the best shonen anime ever made, and it’s a series that so many fans – myself included – have a special connection with.

Dragon Ball

Main Character: Son Goku

Dragon Ball is widely considered the most influential series in the shonen genre, fundamentally changing it forever. In fact, it paved the way for popular series like One Piece. Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, deeply admired Akira Toriyama, considering him a major inspiration. Dragon Ball’s impact and popularity around the world are immense.

Sailor Moon

Main Character: Usagi Tsukino

I remember when Sailor Moon first came out – it quickly became a huge phenomenon, and remains one of the most well-known manga and anime series of all time. It’s especially significant as a shoujo series, and even people who aren’t typically anime fans often recognize the name. It really changed the game for the industry, influencing a lot of the shoujo series that came after it, and it’s still incredibly popular today.

Demon Slayer

Main Character: Tanjiro Kamado

Demon Slayer is a hugely popular action anime, quickly becoming as well-known as classics like One Piece and Dragon Ball. It was popular from the start, but its popularity has exploded recently, especially with its successful movies. This series is poised to have a major impact on the anime world, and its recent success is unmatched by any other anime.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Main Character: Itadori Yuji

Jujutsu Kaisen is a popular and thrilling new manga series. Known for its intense action and mature themes, it has quickly become a fan favorite in both the manga and anime communities. It’s even surpassed One Piece in sales figures at times! As the anime adapts more of the story’s major plotlines, Jujutsu Kaisen’s popularity is only expected to increase, solidifying its place as a major force in the battle shonen genre.

Yu Yu Hakusho

Main Character: Urameshi Yusuke

Before creating Hunter x Hunter, Yoshihiro Togashi achieved great success with Yu Yu Hakusho. Even now, decades after it finished, Yu Yu Hakusho remains incredibly popular and has influenced many of the action-packed series that fans enjoy today. Togashi’s work was highly impactful on the battle shonen genre and continues to be celebrated.

Inuyasha

Main Character: Inuyasha

Inuyasha is a classic anime series by Rumiko Takahashi, and remains a fan favorite known for its nostalgic appeal. It’s considered by many to be a groundbreaking isekai story – one of the best ever – with a memorable cast of characters and a well-crafted plot. The series successfully blends romance, action, and adventure, offering something for everyone.

Hunter X Hunter

Main Character: Gon Freecss

Hunter X Hunter is Yoshihiro Togashi’s most extensive work to date, even more so than his famous series, Yu Yu Hakusho. It began in 1997 and continues today, remaining incredibly popular with fans despite several lengthy breaks in publication over the past few years.

This anime is incredibly popular and has greatly influenced the industry, with two significant adaptations already made. If the original manga continues to release new chapters, a new season of the Hunter x Hunter anime is likely to happen.

Bleach

Main Character: Kurosaki Ichigo

Bleach, created by Tite Kubo, was poised for success and became one of the most popular manga series of its time, alongside Naruto and One Piece in Weekly Shonen Jump. While hugely popular, it didn’t quite reach the same level of success as those other two. Despite this, Bleach remains a beloved and influential series, inspiring many modern manga like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen.

Attack on Titan

Main Character: Eren Yeager

Over the years, Attack on Titan has become incredibly popular, both in Japan and around the world, and is easily one of the most well-known anime series of all time. Even though the story finished a few years ago, fans still talk about it constantly. The series is known for its dark and intense story, but it’s the complex and thoughtful writing that truly makes it special. It’s sure to influence many future action anime that want to explore more mature themes.

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2025-10-31 13:35