Copyright Screen Rant
Anime's global mainstream growth over the past decade or so has been stunning to witness. Gone are the days of anime fans quietly enjoying their favorite shows in private, scouring online spaces for communities with which they could find common ground, and maybe be pointed in the direction of a series to watch next. These days, shows like One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, and one of the latest to gain massive worldwide popularity, Solo Leveling, are openly discussed and widely supported by anime fans around the world, as though they were just like any other popular form of entertainment. The modern landscape of anime fandom would have been unthinkable to fans just 15 years ago. The 2020s is where that growth has been most dramatic, and the decade has given way to a number of instant classic titles that have broken records and passed around awards. Solo Leveling has stolen much of the spotlight in recent years, even taking home the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime of the Year Award, though if you think it's the best the 2020s has to offer, you're mistaken. There's Never Been a Better Time to Be an Anime Fan The 2020s Have Given Fans Great Shows, But the Current Hottest Isn't the Best For any anime fan who regularly interacts with other anime fans online, it would have been impossible to avoid hearing about Solo Leveling over the past couple of years. Since the series debuted in 2024, it's broken just about every streaming record possible on its way to winning the most recent Anime of the Year crown. Solo Leveling then quickly stole the record for most viewed singular episode on Crunchyroll with its season two premiere, while surpassing legends like One Piece in ratings on the very same service. The modern streaming era has allowed anime fans to watch just about any show they wish to see at any time, a convenience that did not exist only a few short years ago. Such accessibility has given rise to titles like Solo Leveling, which use all the hype and fanfare to further spread themselves to both anime fans and viewers who might never have watched anime but want in on the movement. In terms of accessibility, there's never been a better time to be an anime fan, and a show gaining the sort of popularity Solo Leveling has proves as much. The series has seemingly stolen the industry spotlight, at least in 2025, and its success is deserved for the most part. Solo Leveling is pure power fantasy fun that doesn't require much deep thought from the viewer if they're simply looking for a good time. However, the series' overwhelming success does not make it the best anime around. In fact, one other show that made some noise a few years ago has recently returned with a strong case for why it's the best of the decade so far. The Best Anime of the 2020s Has Just Returned in Style Chainsaw Man Is Reminding Fans of Why It Was the Decade's Most Anticipated Anime Before the Solo Leveling hype took the world by storm, the impending arrival of one show had nearly the entire anime community waiting eagerly for its premiere in 2022. Chainsaw Man was arguably the most anticipated anime series ever in the months leading up to its airing, and though the twisted Shōnen Jump series was a success, it didn't quite leave the mark everyone was expecting. It seemed the anime community moved on somewhat in the years since the series' debut, but this past month, Chainsaw Man made its loud reentrance with its first full-length theatrical movie, instantly reminding everyone of why there was so much excitement behind it. It's weird, over-the-top, heavy-handed, crude, and often downright idiotic, but the key to Chainsaw Man is that it's also one of the most heartfelt, endearing, and compassionate stories being told in anime. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc has just passed $120 million and counting at the global box office, outperforming all expectations and doing so in style. While the anime's first season was an enjoyable introduction to the series' dark, disturbing world and endearing cast of characters, fans found it was far too short to become fully immersed in its story. Fortunately, the Reze Arc doesn't just let viewers in on what makes Chainsaw Man so special, it forcefully boards them on a roller coaster of emotions with some of the most visually striking action sequences ever animated. At its heart, the series is about a neglected boy discovering the world little by little, with no experience to steer him in right or wrong directions. It's weird, over-the-top, heavy-handed, crude, and often downright idiotic, but the key to Chainsaw Man is that it's also one of the most heartfelt, endearing, and compassionate stories being told in anime.
