The summer season has come to an end, and with it, many anime have also concluded. This summer was once again a special moment for the anime industry, marked by the debut of many new titles alongside the return of familiar favorites. Naturally, all eyes were on the second seasons of Dandadan and Kaiju No. 8, with fans expecting either of them to reign as the top anime of the season. However, from the very beginning, sleeper hits started to emerge, and viewers witnessed the debut of one of the darkest anime Crunchyroll has featured in years with Takopi’s Original Sin.
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Though Takopi’s Original Sin went on to achieve a record no anime had ever reached before, the announcement on September 30th, at the close of the summer season, revealed that it was actually the new shonen anime Gachiakuta that claimed the crown as the top-performing anime on the platform. The official Gachiakuta anime account on X (formerly Twitter) revealed that the series had secured the top spot in the July seasonโs viewing rankings. From its very first episode this summer, Gachiakuta consistently achieved the highest viewing numbers across 200 countries, ultimately becoming the platformโs most reliable performer. This achievement is indeed significant and even hints at the direction in which the anime industry is headed.
Crunchyroll’s Top Summer Anime Is a New Dark Shonen Anime
Kei Urana’s Gachiakuta tells a dark, epic tale of a shonen protagonist on a path of revenge, something the industry did not expect from a shonen anime. While the revenge theme has been explored many times in different stories, a shonen protagonist like Rudo has never come to light. This signals that the era of the same old protagonist with grand, worldly ambitions is coming to an end, as viewers now find a character like Rudo, driven by a goal deeply rooted in realistic human emotions, far more compelling than the formulaic shonen hero.
However, the animeโs appeal doesnโt stop there. The entire narrative is built around the stark divide between the poor and the rich, an element drawn directly from real-life society, evident from the very beginning rather than added as an afterthought. This layer has surely resonated with viewers even more. Additionally, Rudo stands out as a very different shonen protagonist in terms of ability. His power varies depending on the items he uses, making almost every battle refreshing as fans get to see Rudo tapping into new transformations with new items.
With such strong elements, itโs no surprise that Gachiakuta reigned at the top, surpassing major hits like Kaiju No. 8, Dandadan, and even One Piece in consistent viewing sessions. Meanwhile, another anime, Takopi’s Original Sin, which also set records of its own, suggests that series built on realistic, darker, and emotionally heavy themes are resonating most with audiences. These two of Crunchyrollโs darkest anime this year highlight how breaking away from old formulas and embracing bold, unique narratives is helping new titles thrive among the rest.
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