Anime Tier List Showdown: Ranking Popular Series at Anime Expo

The Great Anime Ranking Challenge

Anime fans are known for their passionate opinions about their favorite series. At this year's Anime Expo, those opinions were put to the test with a live anime tier list ranking challenge. Armed with a physical tier list board ranging from S-tier (the best) down to F-tier, convention attendees were invited to place popular anime series where they felt they belonged. The results sparked plenty of debate and revealed some surprising rankings.

Setting Up the Challenge

The tier list challenge was set up near the entrance to the main exhibit hall at Anime Expo. A large board displayed the familiar S-A-B-C-D-F ranking tiers, with blank spaces ready to be filled in with anime titles. The organizer brought along a stack of cards featuring names and logos of well-known anime series for participants to place.

To kick things off, the first participant was asked to choose an anime at random and place it on the board. From there, each new person who stopped by could either:

1. Select a new anime title to add to the board
2. Move an existing anime to a different tier

This format allowed the tier list to continuously evolve based on the opinions of different fans throughout the day. It also inevitably led to some controversial placements and heated discussions.

The Initial Rankings

As anime fans began stopping by to participate, the tier list started to take shape. Some of the early placements included:

• Death Note: A/B tier
• Code Geass: S tier
• Chainsaw Man: A tier
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood: S tier
• Cowboy Bebop: B tier

Many of these initial rankings seemed relatively uncontroversial. Code Geass and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood are widely beloved series that often rank highly on fan lists. Chainsaw Man, as a newer but very popular show, also seemed at home in the A tier.

The B tier placement for Cowboy Bebop raised some eyebrows, however. As an influential classic series, many fans consider it S tier material. The organizer even noted they would personally rank it higher in the A tier.

Controversial Placements Spark Debate

As more people participated, some more divisive rankings emerged that got fans talking:

Black Clover to F Tier

One participant boldly moved Black Clover all the way down to the bottom F tier, calling it "overrated garbage." This immediately drew protests from Black Clover fans in the crowd. The series has a dedicated fanbase, but also plenty of detractors who find the main character annoying. This low ranking was sure to be contested.

Seven Deadly Sins Demoted

Another fan moved Seven Deadly Sins down from A tier to D tier. They explained that while the manga was decent, the anime adaptation had a bad reputation, particularly in later seasons. The quality drop in animation was cited as a major factor in this low placement.

Hunter x Hunter to B Tier

The placement of critical darling Hunter x Hunter in the B tier was met with shock from some attendees. Known for its complex storylines and character development, Hunter x Hunter often ranks among the top shonen series for many fans. The B tier ranking felt low to its passionate fanbase.

Naruto Moves Down

In a move that was bound to be controversial, Naruto was shifted from A tier down to B tier. As one of the most popular and influential shonen series of all time, many fans consider Naruto untouchable. However, others feel it's overrated compared to newer series. This demotion was sure to spark debate.

Fan Favorite Series Make Their Mark

As the day went on, more beloved anime found their place on the tier list:

Attack on Titan Claims S Tier

To little surprise, global phenomenon Attack on Titan easily secured a spot in the S tier. With its gripping story and intense action, Attack on Titan has become one of the most popular anime of the past decade.

Demon Slayer Climbs the Ranks

Demon Slayer started in the middle tiers but was gradually moved up by fans, eventually landing in A tier. The show's stunning animation and likable characters have made it a major hit.

One Piece Sparks Debate

The placement of long-running series One Piece proved contentious. Some tried to rank it lower due to its intimidating episode count, while die-hard fans insisted it belonged at the top. It bounced between tiers as opinions clashed.

Jujutsu Kaisen Makes a Strong Showing

Newer hit Jujutsu Kaisen impressed voters, landing solidly in the A tier. Its fresh take on shonen tropes and stylish action sequences have quickly won over many anime fans.

Surprising Placements

Some of the rankings defied expectations and common consensus among anime fans:

Neon Genesis Evangelion Ranked Low

Influential mecha series Neon Genesis Evangelion found itself placed surprisingly low on the list. Despite its massive impact on the anime industry, not all modern fans connect with its cerebral and often confusing narrative.

Sailor Moon in S Tier

Classic magical girl series Sailor Moon earned a spot in the S tier, which some younger fans questioned. However, its defenders pointed out Sailor Moon's massive influence on the magical girl genre and anime as a whole.

Dragon Ball Z Left in Lower Tiers

Iconic fighting series Dragon Ball Z ended up in the lower half of the rankings. While undeniably influential, some felt it hasn't aged as well as other classic series. Its repetitive nature was cited as a weakness by critics.

The Final Tier List

After a full day of passionate debate and many changes, here's how the final anime tier list shaped up:

S Tier

• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
• Code Geass
• Mob Psycho 100
• One Piece
• Naruto Shippuden

A Tier

• Attack on Titan
• Death Note
• Jujutsu Kaisen
• Hunter x Hunter
• One Punch Man
• Samurai Champloo

B Tier

• Dr. Stone
• Fire Force
• Chainsaw Man
• Vinland Saga
• Cowboy Bebop
• Black Clover

C Tier

• Demon Slayer
• Spy x Family
• Sailor Moon
• Yu-Gi-Oh!
• The Seven Deadly Sins
• Yu Yu Hakusho

D Tier

• Gintama
• Fairy Tail
• Kakegurui
• Dragon Ball Z
• Bleach
• Inuyasha

F Tier

• Sword Art Online
• The Promised Neverland
• My Hero Academia

Breaking Down the Final Rankings

The S Tier Anime

The cream of the crop according to Anime Expo attendees included some expected entries as well as a few surprises:

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - The multi-generational epic with its unique art style and over-the-top action secured a top spot. Its passionate fanbase and meme-worthy moments have kept it relevant for years.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - Widely considered one of the best anime adaptations ever made, FMA: Brotherhood's tight plotting and emotional storytelling earned it S-tier status.

Code Geass - The mecha series with genius-level mind games and shocking plot twists remains a favorite among anime fans.

Mob Psycho 100 - A newer entry to reach S-tier, Mob Psycho 100's stunning animation and heartfelt character growth impressed voters.

One Piece - The long-running pirate adventure claimed a top spot despite some earlier debate. Its massive world-building and lovable characters won out.

Naruto Shippuden - The ninja saga kept its place among the elite. Its cultural impact and iconic moments cemented its S-tier position.

Notable A Tier Series

The A tier featured a mix of modern hits and respected classics:

Attack on Titan - The dark fantasy epic barely missed S tier but was universally praised.

Death Note - The psychological thriller remains popular for its cat-and-mouse game between genius opponents.

Hunter x Hunter - After some debate, the beloved shonen series climbed back up to A tier.

One Punch Man - The superhero parody's humor and amazing fight scenes earned it high marks.

B Tier and Below

The B tier and lower rankings featured some contentious placements:

Cowboy Bebop - The influential space western ended up lower than many expected.

Black Clover - After its brief stint in F tier, Black Clover settled in B tier.

Demon Slayer - The hugely popular series landed in C tier, lower than its usual rankings.

Dragon Ball Z - The iconic fighting series ended up in D tier, shocking some old-school fans.

Sword Art Online - The isekai series took the bottom spot in F tier.

Factors Influencing the Rankings

Several factors seemed to play into how attendees ranked different anime:

Nostalgia vs Recency

There was a clear divide between fans prioritizing classic, influential series and those favoring newer hits. This led to some older series ranking lower than expected.

Mainstream Appeal vs Niche Appeal

Some highly-regarded but less mainstream series like Gintama ended up in lower tiers, while massively popular shows like Demon Slayer ranked highly.

Consistency Across Seasons

Series that maintained quality across multiple seasons tended to rank higher. Shows that declined in later seasons were often demoted.

Animation Quality

Series with consistently impressive animation like Mob Psycho 100 were rewarded with high rankings.

Cultural Impact

Shows that had a major influence on anime and pop culture, like Sailor Moon, earned respect even from younger fans who hadn't watched them.

Reactions to the Final List

The completed tier list sparked plenty of discussion among attendees:

"JoJo's in S tier where it belongs! The art style alone puts it up there."

"How is Cowboy Bebop only B tier? It's a masterpiece!"

"Naruto Shippuden is way too high. It doesn't hold up compared to modern shonen."

"Dragon Ball Z in D tier is criminal. Show some respect to the classics."

"I'm glad Hunter x Hunter made it back to A tier. The Chimera Ant arc is peak anime."

Clearly, there was no consensus on the "correct" rankings. The beauty of the exercise was seeing the diversity of opinions among anime fans.

What the Tier List Reveals About Anime Fandom

The passionate debates sparked by this tier list challenge reveal a lot about the current state of anime fandom:

Generational Divides

There's a clear split between older fans who grew up with series like Dragon Ball Z and Cowboy Bebop, and younger fans more excited by recent hits like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen.

Evolving Tastes

The high rankings for series with complex plots and themes show how audiences are craving more mature storytelling from anime.

Valuing Innovation

Series that brought fresh ideas to familiar genres, like One Punch Man's take on superheroes, were rewarded with high placements.

The Power of Fandoms

Shows with passionate fanbases like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure managed to secure top spots through enthusiastic support.

Animation Matters

The strong showings from visually stunning series like Mob Psycho 100 demonstrate how important animation quality is to modern anime fans.

The Ongoing Tier List Debate

While this Anime Expo tier list was just a bit of fun, it speaks to anime fans' love of debating and ranking their favorite series. Online forums and social media are full of similar discussions every day.

These tier list debates serve several purposes for the anime community:

1. They help fans discover new series they might enjoy based on their taste in highly-ranked shows.

2. They allow people to advocate for underappreciated series they feel deserve more recognition.

3. They create a shared language for discussing the relative merits of different anime.

4. They spark fun, passionate debates that bring the community together (even if they're arguing).

5. They help clarify fans' own tastes as they consider why they rank certain series highly.

Of course, it's important to remember that these rankings are ultimately subjective. A series being ranked low doesn't make it bad, and even the most popular shows aren't for everyone. The real value is in the discussions these tier lists generate.

Conclusion: What Makes an S-Tier Anime?

Looking at the series that made it to S tier in this Anime Expo challenge, we can identify some common elements that fans seem to value most highly:

• Narrative depth: Series with complex, emotionally resonant stories like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

• Unique vision: Shows with a distinctive style or concept like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

• Technical excellence: Anime with consistently high production values like Mob Psycho 100.

• Character development: Series featuring compelling character arcs like One Piece.

• Cultural impact: Shows that have significantly influenced the anime industry and fandom like Naruto.

• Rewatchability: Anime that hold up to multiple viewings, revealing new layers each time.

Ultimately, the "best" anime comes down to personal taste. But exercises like this tier list challenge at Anime Expo help us understand what qualities resonate most with fans.

As the anime industry continues to evolve and new series debut each season, fans will keep debating their rankings. Today's A tier show could be tomorrow's S tier classic. The only certainty is that anime fans will never stop passionately arguing about their favorite series - and that's half the fun of being in the fandom.

What do you think of the final tier list from Anime Expo? Which series would you move up or down? The debate continues!

Article created from: https://youtu.be/L5420wqbnkc?feature=shared