The 7 Most Popular Anime In the UK

People in the United Kingdom love spending time in show bars, casinos, cinemas, museums, and galleries. Moreover, its international cuisine scene is thriving! But as anime lovers, we sometimes wonder, is there any popular anime in the UK?

Knowing the difference between the Japanese and British cultures, exploring how anime reached the UK and which anime shows are popular is interesting. Is anime popular in Britain? What is the most-watched anime in England? Find out with CCC International!

Key Takeaways:

• Some popular anime in the UK include the classics Death Note and Naruto.
• The reasons behind the success of the most-watched anime in England include quality stories, unique art styles, and localization. Many anime are also set in the UK, making them relatable to the audience.
• The answer to “Is anime popular in Britain?” can differ, but there is no doubt that anime has a presence in the UK. The anime industry has many challenges regarding its popularity in the country, but it’s continuously gaining traction.

Table of Content:

• Anime In the United Kingdom
• 7 Most-Watched Anime in the UK
• The Reason Behind Popular Anime In the UK
• CCCI – Professional Localization Company for Anime Translation and Subtitling

The United Kingdom is a country that comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Some people casually call the UK “Great Britain,” “Britain,” or even “England,” but “Great Britain” refers to the island that includes England, Scotland, and Wales.

Note: Northern Ireland isn’t geographically part of Great Britain but is part of the United Kingdom.

The country is over five thousand miles away from Japan, with an entirely different culture and language. Still, like other countries in the world, anime found its way to the UK.

Simply put, people in the UK know about anime. However, it’s less prevalent than in Japan, its neighboring countries, and the United States. It’s relatively popular, but it’s also criticized. Some challenges that anime producers and fans face include the following:

• Licensing
• Lack of dedicated anime sites and blogs
• Cultural difference
• Less accessible anime sources

There’s also prominent censorship within British children’s media, especially in imported series. And to top it all off, there’s a big hurdle regarding localization.

Still, there are anime fans in the UK who know Japanese titles and recognize anime characters. Anime in the UK is not zero, and we know what the country needs to take things further.

Speaking of successful anime, CCCI found a list of popular anime in the UK. Here are seven titles that UK fans can’t seem to get enough of:

Attack on Titan was first released in 2013. It follows the story of Eren Yeager, a young boy who joins the Survey Corps with his friends Armin and Mikasa. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity lives under siege by giant humanoid creatures called Titans.

Together, Eren Yeager and his friends fight the Titans, learning that not everything is what it seems. Beyond the walls of their world, they discover that the Titans have a mysterious origin. Attack on Titan is a thrilling show that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats!

Note: Attack on Titan is still ongoing! Fans worldwide are waiting for the story’s next chapter, and a growing number of new fans are catching up to the series.

All thanks to Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note is one of the most popular anime worldwide. It follows Light Yagami, a genius high school student who discovers a notebook with the power to kill.

Light Yagami uses the Death Note thinking he can create a perfect world, but things don’t turn out as intended. Soon, he finds himself in a game of cat and mouse with the police force by the brilliant Detective L.

The dark fantasy series was first released in 2006, but it’s still as popular as ever, including in the UK. It’s one of those classic anime fans can watch again and again!

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba is one of the latest sensations in the anime world. It’s about Tanjiro Kamado, a young man who discovers a demon killed his family. Tanjiro sets off on a journey to become a powerful demon slayer and find the culprit behind his tragedy.

The series is based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s famous manga and was released in 2019. It quickly gained a massive following, becoming one of the most popular anime series in the UK. It’s praised for its art style, compelling story, and likable characters.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s popular manga. It features brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who embark on a journey to find the Philosopher’s Stone to restore their bodies after a failed alchemy experiment.

The series follows the Elric brothers as they unravel a deep mystery behind the Philosopher’s Stone and its secret powers. It was first released in 2009 but remains one of the most-watched anime in the UK, with fans loving its complex plot and rich characters.

Another classic anime series is Naruto. A young ninja named Naruto Uzumaki embarks on an epic adventure to become the leader of his village. He meets many friends and adversaries on his journey, learning more about his inner powers and mastering the art of ninjutsu.

Naruto was first released in 2007. It’s impossible not to recognize the popularity of this series as it created a rich universe with its characters and powerful storylines! In fact, there are spin-offs like Sasuke Retsuden, which is an arc inside Boruto: Naruto Next Generation.

Pro Tip: When watching anime, it’s best to rely on subtitles to get the most out of the story. Many official websites provide subtitles for the UK market, allowing the audience to fully appreciate the characters and plot without getting lost in translation.

One Piece is one of the longest-running anime series in history, first released in 1999. It’s the story of Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate who dreams of finding the legendary treasure known as One Piece.

He embarks on an adventure with his crew, meeting new and exciting characters and facing incredible battles. One Piece is well-loved because of its zany humor, action-packed story arcs, and colorful characters. It has aired over one thousand episodes and has been exported to many parts of the world.

Seven Deadly Sins is another popular anime series based on the manga by Kyohei Horikoshi. It follows a group of mighty warriors exiled for supposedly attempting to overthrow the kingdom.

The Seven Deadly Sins are led by their captain and leader, Meliodas, a powerful yet reckless fighter. Each sin represents a personality type that clashes with the others. The series is filled with exciting battles and intense moments as the group fights to restore their honor.

The anime has the same basic plotline as One Piece and was released in 2014. It was also made available on Netflix, which made it even more accessible and popular in the UK.

Many other anime are available in the country, but these seven anime in the UK stand out. And since we mentioned the challenges of getting anime in the UK, we can also identify why they have become so popular. How did this anime and many others become the most-watched anime in England?

One key factor is that these series offer quality stories and unique art styles that set them apart from other anime. Also, anime, in general, is a breath of fresh air for those who want something a bit different from typical British TV shows. It reflects the Japanese culture, blended with an ocean of stories and emotions.

Another reason is that many anime are also set in the UK, making them easier for the British audience to relate to. Seven Deadly Sins is one, along with Hellsing, The Ancient Magus’ Bride, and Unbreakable Machine-Doll.

Lastly, the localization of anime is essential for the UK market. Many official streaming services offer anime subtitles in English, making them accessible to the entire British audience. Localization enables people to explore a new world and enjoy unique stories, regardless of their native language.

Yes, CCCI believes localization for anime translation and subtitling is the answer to furthering its popularity in the UK! CCCI is a professional anime subtitling UK services company offering a full range of anime localization services, helping anime series reach their target audience.

Our experienced translators, editors, proofreaders, and QA specialists work together to provide the best anime experience worldwide. CCCI is also a master of webtoon and manga animation, offering manga and comics services, which are closely related to anime.

The UK’s anime industry may still be relatively small, but the fans are passionate and dedicated. And with CCCI’s help, they can get the most out of their favorite anime. Contact us today!