Most Popular Anime Genres & The Titles That Defined Them

Anime isn't a genre in and of itself. Rather, it comprises series and films of all kinds with the distinct style of Japanese animation. The top anime genres vary with what shows are popular at the moment, but they typically feature the same elements of comedy, romance, or science fiction. There are many genres of anime for shows to be classified under, from more obscure ones like iyashikei to well-known staples like shōnen.

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In each genre lies at least one of the most popular anime of all time, from Sailor Moon to Naruto. These iconic, top-watched shows are excellent ways to explore each anime category. To get a good feel of what each genre of anime has to offer, check out the top animated series that define their specific subgroup.

Updated October 19, 2024 by David Heath: Anime isn't exactly going to make someone the hottest figure on the market in either the East or West. But it's become more commonplace than it was in the past. More people grew up with Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon on TV and enjoyed One Piece and Escaflowne despite their bowdlerization. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure went from being an obscure manga that inspired an insane Capcom fighting game, to inspiring exhibitions at the Louvre.

That said, not all anime are created equal. Some series get more attention than others, as they either set the template its successors all followed, or became the most popular and accessible series in its genre. So, this list has received more top dogs of anime's most popular genres, from some of its mainstays to some surprisingly widespread examples.

1 Kodomomuke - Doraemon

Japan's Favorite Piece Of Kids' Stuff

Anime got popular in the West when it showed that animation wasn't just for kids. That's why a lot of early 1990s releases were heavy on blood, sex, and swearing. But the people behind them often got into animation through the more child-friendly stuff, or "kodomomuke." Naruto's ninja-based drama, One Piece's political piracy, and Great Teacher Onizuka's education through delinquency all began with their creators checking out Doraemon as kids.

Starting life as a manga in 1969, the adventures of the titular time-traveling robot cat and his friend Nobita have been animated multiple times over the decades. The most famous of which is the 1979 series, which lasted until 2005, when Shin-Ei Animation started all over again with a fresh series. Its kiddy fun was enough to endear people across Asia, from Japan to India, leading the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make Doraemon its Anime Cultural Ambassador in 2008.

2 Shōnen - Dragon Ball

How One Ki-Blasting Monkey Boy Defined a Genre

Given the global outpouring of love fans showed when Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama passed away in March 2024, it's safe to say his show about the life and times of an aggressive monkey boy touched the hearts of millions, if not whole nations. Dragon Ball Super's finale with Goku fighting Jiren led to the Mexican government sponsoring public watch parties across the country, causing a minor international incident when the Japanese government asked them to stop, which they didn't.

Beyond that, Dragon Ball has practically defined shōnen anime as we know it today. The beef fests in Fist of the North Star faded by the end of the 1980s, but Dragon Ball lasted throughout the decades, inspiring more series about plucky boys growing stronger through their encounters (e.g. One Piece, Naruto, My Hero Academia). Its classic fights, character designs, humorous quirks, and even its flaws, are recognizable all around the world, and even people who don't watch anime know what a 'Kamehameha' is.

3 Shojo - Sailor Moon

Power in Femininity

Of course, this entry was going to be Sailor Moon. It may not be every shojo fan's cup of tea, but for many more, it's the end-all, be-all, greatest shojo/magical girl anime to ever exist. The show certainly became popular enough to make Usagi, the titular moon-based punisher of evil, essentially anime's mascot. Alongside the other Sailor Guardians, she must protect the world from Queen Beryl and her energy-stealing minions.

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By  Rhenn Taguiam

Aside from inspiring multiple sequels, reboots, remakes, games, toys, and more, the series inspired more shows with female leads in its wake, like Revolutionary Girl Utena, Tokyo Mew Mew, and Star Vs The Forces of Evil. It even inspired other magical shows like Steven Universe, and not just for its sparkly aesthetic. The series was ahead of its time in featuring dark turns a la Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and progressive social themes like Sailor Uranus and Neptune's romance, and the trans-themed Sailor Starlights.

4 Josei - Nana

Putting Women's Struggles in Animation

Similar to shojo series, josei targets a female audience but caters to adults rather than kids and teens. While there is often a romantic subplot roaming around, chasing after handsome men is not the entire focus of this genre. It can focus on grown-up interests (Chihayafuru's focus on karuta), or tackle real-life issues in a way that makes life-or-death situations in other genres seem small by comparison, like in Nana.

It follows two girls who share the same name, but have little else in common, living together in Tokyo as they subsequently become inseparable besties, supporting each other's dreams. Nana Osaki seeks fame and fortune through her rock band, while Nana Komatsu is more interested in cultivating her love life. Unfortunately, the closer they come to their aspirations, the more their friendship is jeopardized, leading them to make some difficult decisions.

5 Seinen - Berserk

The Epitome of Brutality

Seinen is to shōnen what josei is to shojo. It typically caters to an audience of men 18 and older, but can still be relatable to many other viewers, as well, because it also deals with complex themes and grown-up interests. However, the content can be more extreme, with more blood and adult content, which can make it a no-go area for the squeamish. For example, Fist of the North Star, a series featuring a constant array of exploding heads and body parts, is still a shōnen series. Berserk is seinen because it manages to go into worse places than that.

However, it's more famous as a manga as each of its animated adaptations is compromised to one degree or another. Even the beloved 1997 series is a truncated, censored version of the "Golden Age" arc done on the cheap. However, it still reigns as one of the most iconic and popular seinen anime for its grittiness, action, and impressive characters. Guts' time spent with Griffith and Casca, and their horrific end, goes into the nature of revenge, ambition, and love. It's also heavy on blood, murder, and assault, so viewers should tread carefully.

6 Fantasy - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Updating Swords and Sorcery to Steampunk Science

Berserk could also count as the genre's most iconic fantasy anime, but that would be greedy. As influential as it is, there is no shortage of fantasy anime to rival it, particularly for viewers who fancy something dramatic but not as heavy as Guts' tortured life. Something like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, which combined mystical spells with steampunk technology, as Edward Elric seeks to restore his brother Alphonse's human body by finding the Philosopher's Stone.

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It's become one of MAL's highest-rated anime shows, as the Elric Brothers' quest was a unique blend of fantasy and sci-fi elements, which it used to produce heartbreaking moments ("Ed...ward..."), shocking twists, and grand battles. The only show like it was...Fullmetal Alchemist, the 2003 series that was made while the manga was still being produced. It arguably did the first half of FMA's story better than Brotherhood, but took the plot in its own, stranger direction for the second half.

7 Isekai - Sword Art Online

Logging into Another World

Isekai likely needs little introduction at this point. It's been booming since the early 2010s, inspiring its own crazes like villainess stories and dating game tales. But it's technically just a new iteration of portal fantasy stories, where the main characters enter a new world through some mysterious means. It could be a fantasy land, a video game world, or both like the series responsible for the boom: Sword Art Online.

It follows Kirito as he goes from being a beta tester for the aforementioned VR MMORPG to becoming one of its best warriors, defending its fantasy world of Aincrad from all threats with the help of his friends. The show has faced a fair amount of backlash and criticism for unoriginal characters and repetitive plots, but its core ideas inspired many more series. Since its release, dozens of other shows involving virtual worlds or video-game-like settings have sprung into popularity, including the beloved That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.

8 Sci-Fi - Cowboy Bebop

Exploring Humanity and the Solar System

Sci-fi practically made anime what it is today, as its earliest stories, like Astro Boy, Giant Robo, etc, were all about robots, aliens, and humanity's place in relation to them. Still, they are shows from the 1960s based on manga from the 1950s. Iconic as they are, they've aged. But some sci-fi anime can last a good while, as Cowboy Bebop, a show from 1998, is arguably as strong today as it was when it was broadcast 26 years ago.

On the surface, it follows the charming Spike Spiegel and his ragtag crew of bounty hunters traveling through space to make some cash. Underneath the hood, it sees how humanity in all its shapes and forms has spread across the solar system, and how this new interstellar world has affected them back. The show is equal parts serious and intense, and fun and easy-going, appealing to millions of fans worldwide.

9 Mecha - Mobile Suit Gundam

Truly Super Robots

Mecha may have gotten its start with Giant Robo and Mazinger Z, but it took Mobile Suit Gundam to make it an iconic part of anime. Alongside Astro Boy, Sailor Moon, and Goku, MSG's RX-78-2 Gundam mech practically represents the medium as a whole, with Yokohama previously having a lifesize model of it standing in its city. It's since been taken down, but fans can see a similar model based on Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn in Odaiba, Tokyo.

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The original series, following Amuro Ray using the RX-78-2 to defend against the Principality of Zeon, debuted in the late 1970s and would inspire more mecha series to come. Beyond the multiple different Gundam series (Gundam Wing is a popular one), its focus on the casualties of war, and use of teen protagonists would inspire the darker Neon Genesis Evangelion. While its lighter elements would inspire Macross and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

10 Sports - Haikyuu!!

Taking Volleyball to the Top

Wait, Haikyuu!!? Sure, it's one of the most popular sports anime around, and its third season became the highest-rated sports series on MAL. It's certainly the best volleyball series around, as Shoyo Hinata aims to follow the 'Little Giant's lead and become an ace volleyball player despite his height. It's got funny characters, neat budding friendships, and nail-biting competitions that crank up the tension.

But some may flinch at it being described as 'genre-defining'. It's a young pup compared to famous boxing shows like Hajime no Ippo and Tomorrow's Joe, or Slam Dunk, which caused a whole generation of Japanese viewers to take up basketball. However, those series were also arguably better in their original manga form, with their anime being harder to find or not as well-paced. As a complete package that represents the best of sports anime while being easier to find online, Haikyuu!! Is a great place to start.