A surprising announcement just came from Japan’s trusted ranking site Minna no Ranking. In a large-scale survey to find the most captivating anime of all time, the top spot went to a familiar masterpiece, but the biggest shock was the absence of the legendary One Piece from the Top 10.
Attack on Titan Claims the Crown at Home
The Minna no Ranking survey was no small affair, attracting 55,647 participants who cast a total of 301,397 votes. The final results saw Attack on Titan rise above many rivals to secure the number one spot.
Crafted by Wit Studio and completed by MAPPA, Attack on Titan has consistently been praised for its faithful adaptation of the manga and steady production quality across seasons. Close behind in second place was My Hero Academia, followed by MAPPA’s favorite, Jujutsu Kaisen, in third.
Here is the Top 10 best anime as voted by Japanese fans:
1. Attack on Titan
2. My Hero Academia
3. Jujutsu Kaisen
4. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
5. Death Note
6. Violet Evergarden
7. Neon Genesis Evangelion
8. Hunter x Hunter (Mad House version)
9. Steins,Gate
10. Fullmetal Alchemist
Why Did One Piece Miss the List?
Looking at the Top 3, a clear pattern emerges: all three are produced as seasonal anime. This allows studios to allocate bigger budgets per episode, ensuring high-quality visuals and tight, engaging pacing.
In contrast, One Piece continues its weekly broadcast model that has lasted for decades. To prevent the anime from catching up to the manga, Toei Animation stretches the content, sometimes adapting just one manga chapter per episode. This slow pacing has become a major drawback, causing many Japanese fans to turn away when comparing it to others.
It’s important to note that fans are judging the anime’s quality, not the overall franchise value. The One Piece manga remains an untouchable classic, but the anime adaptation often faces criticism for its dragging pace.
While competitors like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen speed up the story by adapting multiple chapters per episode to keep viewers hooked, One Piece’s slow progress discourages many younger fans. Additionally, most of the Top 10 anime have either finished airing or have completed manga, offering a seamless emotional experience, something One Piece still lacks despite entering its Final Saga.