10 Anime Episodes That Changed the Industry Forever

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The anime world is full of iconic and groundbreaking moments, visuals, character creations, and new types of stories, as anime constantly changes and develops. Some entire series are truly revolutionary, or at least a significant leap forward, like Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon. These anime have unforgettable scenes that have become legendary within the anime community. Current anime may also create memorable moments, though perhaps on a smaller scale.

It’s impossible to list all the incredible moments in anime. However, fans can definitely point to a number of episodes that were truly groundbreaking. These episodes were pivotal for the industry, helping to create new common themes, develop entire genres, and inspire fresh creativity. This includes more recent episodes that started hugely popular franchises, as well as moments that dared to challenge anime conventions and pave the way for innovation.

“Pokémon – I Choose You!” Launched the World’s Most Successful Media Empire of All Time

The Pokémon franchise became a huge cultural sensation in the 1990s, starting with the games for the Game Boy and then expanding into an anime series. The games initially introduced the world to Pokémon, but it was the anime that really made it incredibly popular. After fans watched Ash Ketchum and Pikachu’s first meeting in “Pokémon – I Choose You!”, the franchise’s success was guaranteed.

After many years, over a few thousand Pokémon episodes have aired, and for a lot of fans, it feels like the stories from Kanto and other regions have always been a part of their lives. However, everything had a beginning, and Episode 1 marks the iconic start of Ash’s journey to become a Pokémon Master. It’s also amusing to watch this first episode again, seeing how Pikachu initially disliked Ash and how Ash attempted to catch a wild Pokémon by just throwing a rock at it.

“Transformed at Last!! The Legendary Super Saiyan, Son Goku” Made Shonen Transformations the Norm

These days, fans of shonen anime expect to see characters dramatically change forms to become more powerful, but that wasn’t always the case. While the concept existed before, it didn’t become a standard feature until Dragon Ball Z. Now, it’s common to see heroes like Naruto using his biju cloak or Luffy utilizing his different Gears, but it was Son Goku who really popularized this transformation trope as we recognize it today.

Within the world of shonen anime, the shift into Super Saiyan is widely considered the most significant and impactful transformation. This pivotal moment occurred in the crucial episode, “Transformed at Last!! The Legendary Super Saiyan, Son Goku,” marking a turning point in Goku’s battle against Frieza, the Dragon Ball Z anime as a whole, and even the broader anime industry.

“Hinokami” Set a New Standard For Shonen Action Animation

While newer anime such as Demon Slayer might not be as groundbreaking as the iconic shows from the 1990s, they can still usher in a fresh period for anime, albeit in more subtle ways. One area where this is clear is production quality, where the generally typical Demon Slayer anime truly excels. For the most part, this anime doesn’t take many risks, but it really invested in its visuals, and that effort was clearly worth it, especially in Episode 19, “Hinokami.”

The plot wasn’t particularly groundbreaking, but it was a significant turning point for Tanjiro Kamado, as Nezuko’s flames triggered his awakening of the Hinokami Kagura. This gave Tanjiro his first genuine opportunity to battle his most powerful enemy to date, and, crucially, it redefined the expectations for action sequences in Demon Slayer. Demon Slayer already looked impressive, but the “Hinokami” sequence elevated it to a completely new level, which is why it became such a viral sensation.

“From You, 2000 Years Ago” Was When Eren Became a True Antihero Monster

The whole Attack on Titan anime series really changed the game, raising the bar for action and creature design in shonen anime. It also established a new, very dark and intense tone that’s now common in anime for all ages. The first episode was a strong introduction, with the terrifying appearance of the Colossal Titan. Later in the series, many episodes after that initial shock, Eren Yeager was prepared to retaliate on an enormous scale.

The moment in “From You, 2,000 Years Ago” marked Eren’s transformation from a flawed but sympathetic character into a full-blown villain with world-ending ambitions. Driven by the accumulated pain of the Eldian people throughout history, Eren decided to bring about a horrifying, albeit forced, peace. No other antihero in anime-not even characters like Guts or Thorfinn-has ever attempted something so extreme.

“The Crybaby: Usagi’s Beautiful Transformation” Made Magical Girls an Unstoppable Force in Anime

While shonen anime saw many groundbreaking moments, shojo anime also had its own defining moment for fans to cherish. The magical girl genre has roots going back to the work of Osamu Tezuka, but it wasn’t very common or well-defined – it was just a fun addition to stories now and then. Then Sailor Moon came along, and the blonde, somewhat clumsy Usagi Tsukino opened up exciting new avenues for female characters in anime.

The complete Sailor Moon anime series is a landmark achievement in anime, with Usagi and her fellow Sailor Guardians becoming renowned as the universe’s powerful and graceful protectors. Because of this, Episode 1 holds special significance, as it began this revolutionary story and showed Usagi evolving into something extraordinary.

“Luffy’s Peak – Attained!” Unleashed New Possibilities For Shonen Transformations

By the time modern anime became popular, the concept of characters transforming in shonen anime was very common, and even the most imaginative transformations started to feel repetitive. Even One Piece, known for its creativity, felt similar with Luffy’s Gear transformations. However, the Wano saga completely changed things. That’s when the Gears stopped simply being about increasing power and started to focus more on meaning and defying expectations.

Author Eiichiro Oda took a risk that really succeeded when he introduced what would become Luffy’s strangest transformation yet. It felt like One Piece was returning to its roots, prioritizing lighthearted, cartoonish action above all else, but in a completely fresh manner. Luffy became the personification of Nika, happily throwing Kaido around with Tom and Jerry-style physics, effectively disrupting One Piece‘s established fighting style – something only a flexible pirate captain could achieve.

“The Shooting Star She Saw” Helped Western Fans Get Into Mecha Anime

The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise is rightfully considered a landmark achievement in anime history. It played a crucial role in developing the giant robot genre, elevating it beyond simple, playful entertainment designed to promote toys. While Gundam is certainly an exciting story about robots and features successful merchandise, it’s also a compelling series for those who enjoy space operas. For viewers in the West, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing was the series that really put Gundam on the map.

This anime first became popular in Japan in 1995, and then made its way to Western audiences on Toonami in 2000. Therefore, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing became well-known alongside shows like Dragon Ball, Cowboy Bebop, and Naruto as one of the first anime many Millennials experienced. Consequently, Episode 1 of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing is significant historically, as it played a role in introducing Americans and other Western viewers to the exciting world of Gundams.

“Aizen Stands! Horrible Ambitions” Created a Legendary Shonen Villain Out of Nowhere

The most memorable moment in the Bleach anime wasn’t a complete turning point like the best episodes of Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon , but it definitely made a huge splash in the shonen anime world and caused a sensation online back then. Fans of Bleach thought they understood the story and its enemies, but then the seemingly benevolent Captain Sosuke Aizen unexpectedly returned from the dead and confidently revealed himself as the true antagonist.

Fans of anime are familiar with villains who are clearly the bad guys from the beginning, such as Sir Crocodile, Frieza, and Orochimaru. However, Aizen from Bleach took everyone-both characters and viewers-by surprise with his shocking turn. This reveal opened up new avenues for anime villains, prioritizing deceit, betrayal, and unexpected twists over simply being dramatic, setting him apart from villains in Naruto and One Piece. Since he revealed his true colors as a villain in the episode “Aizen Stands! Horrible Ambitions,” he’s become a popular internet symbol of cunning and surprising villainy.

“The World of Swords” Was the Dawn of the Isekai Boom

Sword Art Online wasn’t the first or the greatest isekai anime ever made, but it’s widely considered the show that started the huge wave of isekai anime in the 2010s. The first episode, “The World of Swords,” immediately grabbed viewers-especially gamers-as Kirito and others dove into a new fantasy MMORPG when it launched. Then came a shocking twist: Kirito and everyone else discovered they were trapped inside the game, unable to escape.

The situation quickly became a complete betrayal for everyone, dramatically increasing the tension as the players were forced to fight for their survival and liberty, or face death. It’s understandable why the gamers reacted with anger, fear, or complete shock as they witnessed the unfolding nightmare. Since then, the Sword Art Online anime has received varying reviews, but the impact of that initial episode remains unforgettable, both for the character Kirito and for the rise in popularity of the isekai genre.

“Mother and Children” Shattered All Expectations For Idol and Drama Anime

Oshi no Ko is a bold and surprisingly dark anime that completely changed what people thought about shows focused on idols. It’s common for anime to show the downsides of certain jobs or interests, but Oshi no Ko went much further, offering a harsh critique of the idol industry itself. This was enough to grab viewers’ attention, but the first episode, “Mother and Children,” had even more to offer.

Watching “Mother and Children,” I was really struck by the two scenes that genuinely shocked the fanbase. It really cemented the idea that the only constant in Oshi no Ko is unpredictability. It was already pretty wild to see Dr. Amamiya and Sarina reincarnated as Ai’s children, but then Ai’s death – at the hands of a fan, no less – completely shifted the focus to Aqua and Ruby. Just when we thought we’d be watching Ai navigate life as a young, single mom, it became clear that Oshi no Ko is actually a story about revenge and the struggles of growing up while searching for some kind of peace. Honestly, this anime has raised the bar for subversion in anime, and it’s going to take a lot more than a simple twist to impress viewers these days.

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2025-10-01 20:30