Anime has been on a steep climb in popularity over the last few years,showing no signs of stopping or slowing its growth. As anime becomes more accessible outside of Japan, several of the newest big name franchises in the industry penetrate pop culture and find themselves discussed among the most popular television shows in the world. However,according to Television Stats, only one anime series finished within the top five most popular TV shows of 2024, and it wasn’t one of the new smash hits. Instead, that series wasDragon Ball.
The iconic masterwork of artist Akira Toriyama has survived andthrived for the better part of four decades, entertaining and inspiring several generations of anime fans around the world. Though the franchise hasn’t been extremely active in the years sinceDragon Ball Super’s conclusion, its 2024 return withDragon Ball Daimahas once again drawn in viewers of all ages to the awe-inspiring adventures of Goku and his friends. The series' ability to remain among the most popular in the art form is impressive, and that is reflected in last year’s rankings.
Dragon Ball Was One of 2024’s Top TV Shows
The Iconic Franchise Outperformed Some of Television’s Biggest Shows
Television Stats' ranking, which is based on overall online audience engagement, listsDragon Ball Zas the fifth most popular series of 2024, though it’s likely the entry encompasses all ofDragon Ball. It would be reasonable that a series spanning 40 years of material would rank so highly,given just how much of the series is out there for consumption. However, the only other show in the top 20 to rivalDragon Ball’s age isThe Simpsons, which came in at number three.
Dragon Ball Daima: How (and Where) to Watch the Anime’s English Dub
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The other shows rounding out the top five are the massively popularYellowstone,The Boys, andHouse of the Dragonin the number one spot. Impressively,Dragon Ballfinished above titles likeShogunandStranger Things, both of which also landed in the top 10 but were not able to match the star power that comes with having Goku in the leading role.Dragon Ballhas been iconic for decades, yet having the ability to stay relevant to such a degree over that time is an incredibly impressive feat.
Anime Continues Its Steep Rise in Popularity
Other Prominent Anime Finished High in Popularity Rankings
WhileDragon Ballis representing anime as the art form’s highest ranking series on the list,it isn’t the only one occupying a top spot.Demon Slayer, a series responsible for ushering in a whole new generation of anime fans, finished only two spots behind at number seven. The anime’s finale is set to release as atrilogy of films beginning later in 2025, and it would be a shock to very few if it becomes one of the highest grossing anime films ever.
The next most popular anime of 2024 wasBleach, which enjoyed success withThousand-Year Blood War: Season 3, and was able to rankjust ahead ofGame of Thronesat #24. Behind those two at #26 wasAttack on Titan, another series commonly attributed with bringing countless new eyes to anime.The franchise’s final filmis set to air in North America in February 2025, and fans will certainly flock to the theaters to send the beloved series off.
The only other anime to have finished within the top 200 isNeon Genesis Evangelionat #51.Arguably the most popular series of the ’90s,Evangelioncontinues to act as an introduction to more psychological works for countless anime fans, and will likely remain as such for the foreseeable future.
Dragon Ball Daima Will Likely Further Boost the Franchise’s Popularity
Dragon Ball Daimabegan airing in the latter half of 2024, and appears to be reaching its climactic section following the most recent episode #14, “Taboo”.The semi-recent reveal of Super Saiyan 3 Vegetaset social media ablaze with discussion surrounding the series, so any major plot developments to come in its final episodesare guaranteed to boost the franchise’s popularity even further.
Dragon Ball Daima Shares Never-Before-Seen Art From the Late Akira Toriyama, Setting Up the Anime’s Majin Mission
Dragon Ball Daima is gearing up for its next anime arc with an all-new trailer that puts Goku in the spotlight.
Dragon Ballhas long been one of the most popular anime series ever, and now it seems the franchise is overtaking internationally popular TV shows in overall engagement as well. Despite its age,the series attracts countless new fans with each passing year, showing no signs of slowing its ever-steady rise in popularity.
Source:Television Stats
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
