5 Classic Toonami Anime That Deserved to Be Much Bigger in the U.S.

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For almost 30 years, Toonami has been a key part of Cartoon Network, introducing countless viewers to popular anime. While many shows have become huge successes, a few didn’t receive the same level of attention or achieve widespread popularity. Some anime simply didn’t catch on with audiences in the same way.

Over the years, Toonami has aired many shows, but some haven’t stuck with audiences. These five series, for various reasons, didn’t gain much popularity in the United States. Perhaps they were lost in the shadow of huge franchises like Dragon Ball Z and Naruto, or maybe they just didn’t connect with viewers. Here’s a look at some Toonami shows that deserved more recognition.

5). Hikaru no Go

Despite being a promising Shonen Jump anime with almost 80 episodes, Hikaru no Go never received a proper broadcast on Toonami. It was only available in the US through Toonami Jetstream, a streaming service that didn’t last long. In fact, the final three episodes of the series weren’t even fully released before the service was shut down.

The show never aired on television, so most Toonami viewers probably didn’t even know it existed. The fact that it was about Go, a complex board game, didn’t help. However, it might be more popular today with fans who enjoy strategic anime that blend thoughtful gameplay with exciting action.

4). Duel Masters

Like some other shows, the last episodes of Duel Masters weren’t shown on Toonami. However, it’s also known for its English dub, which feels different from most anime aimed at kids from that era. The English version intentionally set itself apart by adding a lot of new content. It removed many of the serious moments from the original Japanese show and included plenty of jokes and references that acknowledged the audience, making the English Duel Masters quite different from the original.

The show likely didn’t connect with viewers initially, and its card game wasn’t as well-developed as those in other series. While shows like Yu-Gi-Oh! became more popular with complex stories and clear rules, Duel Masters took a different path. However, both approaches had the potential to succeed.

3). Eyeshield 21

I remember when Eyeshield 21 first came out – it felt like a missed opportunity. Riichiro Inagaki and Yusuke Murata later became really popular with shows like Dr. Stone and One-Punch Man, but Eyeshield 21 didn’t really get the attention it deserved when it was released in the US. It was stuck on the Toonami Jetstream platform, which was a shame, because a football-based anime seemed like exactly the kind of thing Toonami viewers would have loved.

The anime only had five episodes released before it was taken off the platform. This is disappointing, not just because of the show’s potential, but also for fans outside of Japan who had to wait a long time to see it on other streaming services.

2). MÄR

Nobuyuki Anzai’s MÄR, also known as Märchen Awakens Romance, performed relatively well for Toonami Jetstream. While it first appeared on the streaming service, it eventually aired on the official Toonami channel. The series is a fantasy adventure set in a world based on fairy tales, centering around a young boy who fights against evil using a magical kendama. Though it was a lengthy series with over 100 episodes and even continued as a manga, it’s likely not widely remembered by fans.

This show got lost in the shuffle with other popular series that were airing at the same time. It didn’t have particularly high stakes or memorable characters, making it difficult to stand out. Soon after MÄR finished, shows like Fairy Tail came along and explored similar themes to greater success, ultimately overshadowing MÄR over time.

1). Zatch Bell

Toonami really should have given Zatch Bell a longer run. The anime, based on Makoto Raiku’s manga, premiered in 2005 and lasted a decent amount of time, even though it only showed half of the total episodes. Only 77 out of the 150 episodes aired, leaving many Zatch Bell fans unaware of how the story concludes. This is especially frustrating now that a sequel manga has been released.

Despite getting a decent run compared to other shows on Toonami, it’s hard to say Zatch Bell didn’t deserve a better chance. It was a really promising series, and if you weren’t watching at the time, it’s tough to explain the buzz. It combined exciting action with the fun of collecting and partnering with monsters, similar to shows like Digimon. It’s disappointing that it didn’t quite become a hit, even though it had a lot going for it.

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2026-03-23 01:20