Dragon Ball Topples Shogun as One of 2024's Top TV Shows, New Data Reveals
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 was Dragon Ball.
The iconic masterwork of artist Akira Toriyama has survived and thrived 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 since Dragon Ball Super's conclusion, its 2024 return with Dragon Ball Daima has 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, lists Dragon Ball Z as the fifth most popular series of 2024, though it's likely the entry encompasses all of Dragon 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 rival Dragon Ball's age is The Simpsons, which came in at number three.
The other shows rounding out the top five are the massively popular Yellowstone, The Boys, and House of the Dragon in the number one spot. Impressively, Dragon Ball finished above titles like Shogun and Stranger 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 Ball has 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
While Dragon Ball is 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 a trilogy 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 was Bleach, which enjoyed success with Thousand-Year Blood War: Season 3, and was able to rank just ahead of Game of Thrones at #24. Behind those two at #26 was Attack on Titan, another series commonly attributed with bringing countless new eyes to anime. The franchise's final film is set to air in North America in February 2025, and fans will certainly flock to the theaters in order to send the beloved series off.
The only other anime to have finished within the top 200 is Neon Genesis Evangelion at #51. Arguably the most popular series of the '90s, Evangelion continues 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 Daima began 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 Vegeta set social media ablaze with discussion surrounding the series, so any major plot developments to come in its final episodes are guaranteed to boost the franchise's popularity even further.
Dragon Ball has 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
- Created by
- Akira Toriyama
- First TV Show
- Dragon Ball
- First Episode Air Date
- April 26, 1989
- Current Series
- Dragon Ball Super
- First Film
- Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
- Latest Film
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
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.
