Crunchyroll President Reveals the 3 Shows That Made Anime Globally Popular

Ahead of the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini participated in an exclusive interview with RadioTimes, where he revealed the top three anime he believes helped the medium become a global sensation in the modern era. He credited Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, and Demon Slayer for anime’s massive boost in popularity in recent years.

Purini thinks that Attack on Titan‘s entire legacy, with the anime’s conclusion last year, was a huge event from start to finish. My Hero Academia has also been great, he claims. On both streaming platforms and at the box office, Demon Slayer’s record-breaking performance further catapulted anime’s popularity. But how accurate is Purini’s assessment if we take a closer look at these titles?

The New Big 3 of Anime: How Impactful Have They Been

Intentionally or not, the three anime that Rahul Purini credits for the medium’s recent spike in popularity have an interesting release pattern. Attack on Titan premiered in 2013, followed by My Hero Academia in 2016, and finally Demon Slayer in 2019. As you can see, all three were released in the 2010s, with a three-year gap between each. But how does that prove anything, you may wonder?

Without a doubt, each of these three shows has been massively popular. After the original Big 3 of anime (Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach), these are arguably the first titles that come to mind when thinking of major anime released evenly throughout the 2010s.

Also, in 2025, both Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia wrapped up their stories with grand finales. Even Demon Slayer is hurtling toward its conclusion with the Infinity Castle trilogy film series. So, rightfully, these three can be called the new Big 3 of anime.

Attack on Titan was even honored with the Global Impact Award at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025, My Hero Academia’s final season won Anime of the Year this year, and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle swiftly secured Film of the Year in 2026. Therefore, it’s evident that these three anime have significantly increased anime’s global popularity in modern times. But what’s next for the industry?

Crunchyroll President Reveals His Pick for the Next Solo Leveling

Coco in a still from Witch Hat Atelier | Credits: Bug Films

During the same interview, Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini further opened up about his thoughts on what the future of the anime holds. Especially since Solo Leveling has been a massive success on the platform so far this decade, Purini was asked what he thinks could be the next Solo Leveling. In response, he brought up two shows that he is most excited about: Daemons of the Shadow Realm and Witch Hat Atelier, both of which are airing during the ongoing Spring 2026 anime season.

Along with these two, Purini also praised Jujutsu Kaisen, which took the community by storm in the 2020s. Furthermore, the upcoming anime adaptation of Black Torch is also something he is looking forward to. It could reasonably compete with Solo Leveling, since the two share similar genres.

What are your thoughts on the Crunchyroll President’s recent comments? Do you think the shows he mentioned deserve to be the new Big 3 of anime? Let us know in the comments below.

Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, and Demon Slayer anime are currently streaming on Crunchyroll.