by 2014 was filled with various topics, such as the Sochi Winter Olympics and “Dameyo Dame Dame” winning the grand prize at the “2014 U-Can New Word and Popular Phrase Awards”.
Looking back on 2014, NetLab surveyed December 2nd to December 9th, 2024, asking, “What is your favorite anime that was broadcast 10 years ago (2014)?” Many popular and topical anime were broadcast in 2014, but which works were the most popular? Let’s take a look at the rankings!
Sword Art Online II
Coming in second was “Sword Art Online II.” The anime series is based on the light novel by Kawahara Reki. The first season was broadcast in 2012, and the sequel, “Sword Art Online II,” aired from July to December 2014.
The story is set in a world one year after the SAO incident. The protagonist, Kirito, is asked to investigate a mysterious phenomenon that suddenly occurs in the new VRMMO “Gun Gale Online (GGO).” “Sword Art Online II” depicts multiple stories, including the “Phantom Bullet Arc,” gun action, encounters with new characters, and Kirito’s growth, significant highlights throughout the series.
The Irregular at Magic High School
The first place was taken by “The Irregular at Magic High School”. The anime is based on the light novel of the same name by Tsutomu Sato, and the first season was broadcast from April to September 2014. Since then, the first three seasons have been animated by 2024, and the movie version of “The Irregular at Magic High School: The Yotsuba Succession” has been decided. The series’ popularity continues to this day.
The story is set shortly after magic has been established as a technology. The protagonist, Tatsuya Shiba, enrolls in the National Magic University Affiliated First High School but is treated as a “second-class student (inferior student)” because his magical abilities are considered inferior. However, Tatsuya has a hidden ability that goes beyond common sense, and the story unfolds around that power. The first season depicted three episodes: “Entrance Arc,” “Nine School Competition Arc,” and “Yokohama Riot Arc.”
