A new survey by Japanese research firm Alpha Generation Lab has revealed the top five anime and manga that the world's youngest generation prefers. According to the survey, Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and 2024, prefers Demon Slayer, which received a staggering 40% of the votes, to One Piece, which only made it into the top five but received half the votes.
According to PR Times, the survey collected data from 600 children ranging from first grade of elementary school (approximately 5-6 years old) to third grade of junior high school (approximately 13-14 years old) and their parents. Children (and parents on their behalf) were asked about their favorite anime and manga. Respondents could select multiple answers.
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Japan's Generation Alpha ranks top 5 anime and manga of 2024
Demon Slayer (40.0%) Detective Conan (27.8%) SPY×FAMILY (23.3%) One Piece (20.8%) Oshi no Ko (19.3%)
All of the above franchises are classified as Shonen demographic (usually aimed at boys and young men aged 12-18) except for Oshi no Ko (Seinen demographic, usually aimed at men aged 18+). The study noted that the Detective Conan hit film Million Dollar Pentagram, which was released in mid-April 2024 and currently reigns as Japan's highest-grossing film of 2024, likely influenced its ranking. Of the series listed, Demon Slayer and One Piece are currently releasing new anime episodes. All of the series listed are currently releasing new manga chapters except for Demon Slayer, whose original manga concluded in 2020.
Japan's Alpha Shogun likes anime and manga with young protagonists and strong family themes
Although the survey sample is limited, it offers some interesting insight into the anime and manga that Japan's Generation Alpha currently favors, and the values ​​they look for in stories. All of the series mentioned have strong ties to family and relationships, and feature young (mostly early to mid-teens) protagonists. However, while “One Piece”, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”, and “SPY×FAMILY” lean more towards action/adventure, “Oshi no Ko” and “Detective Conan” lean more towards mystery/thriller, suggesting that Generation Alpha prefers media that involves excitement and anticipation, but not necessarily in the form of physical fighting.
The animation/art styles also vary greatly. In the case of Demon Slayer and Oshi no Ko, high quality animation and unique art styles played a key role in gaining mass popularity and acclaim. Detective Conan, One Piece, and SPY×FAMILY have a slightly more traditional art style, although it is important to note that One Piece and Detective Conan are significantly older than the other series listed.
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Survey limitations, such as the number of samples in each age group, make it difficult to analyze whether the works' maturity ratings significantly affect the results. Oshi no Ko and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba deal with more mature themes than SPY×FAMILY and Detective Conan, but without the exact distribution of data, it is unclear whether this preference applies to the majority of Alpha Generation. Alpha Generation Lab revealed that it plans to conduct the same survey at the end of 2024, which could provide further important insights into the anime and manga preferences of Japan's youngest audience.
one piece
Created by Eiichiro Oda, the One Piece series follows the adventures of the pirate Luffy D. Monkey and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates. Since the manga first appeared in 1997, One Piece has been adapted into an anime and multiple films, and was recently made into a live-action series by Netflix.
Written by Eiichiro Oda
First TV show: One Piece (1999)
Latest TV Shows One Piece on Netflix
Originally aired on October 20, 1999
Cast: Mayumi Tanaka, Kazuya Nakai, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Christopher Sabat, Kelli Williams, Kappei Yamaguchi, Sonny Strait, Hiroaki Hirata, Eric Valette, Ikue Otani
Source: PR Times
