The anime that have broken the Internet in Japan

Japan is known as the birthplace of anime, a cultural industry that not only defines national trends, but also conquers global audiences. However, what "breaks the internet" in Japan doesn't always match what's popular in the rest of the world. The phrase "breaking the internet" refers to the massive impact that a topic, meme, or event generates on social networks and online forums, causing a frenzy of interaction, discussions, and viralization. In this case, every year from 2006 to 2024, certain anime have achieved this feat in Japan, leaving iconic phrases that encapsulate their cultural influence.

Below, we review some of the highlights of each year, which became viral phenomena and marked the collective memory of Japanese fans according to the popular user "@/toarutoa":

Although some of these anime also achieved global popularity, many viral phenomena in Japan have a local focus. For example, phrases such as "Garupan is great" (Girls und Panzer) and references to secondary characters became a shared language among Japanese otakus, but went unnoticed in other countries.

This phenomenon reflects cultural differences and how each region interprets and consumes anime. In Japan, interaction on networks such as Twitter, 2chan and Pixiv amplifies the reach of phrases and memes that, although localized, define national trends.

Looking back, these images not only evoke the highlights of each anime, but also serve as time capsules that capture the zeitgeist. Breaking the Internet in Japan is an indicator of cultural success, and while some phenomena remain local, others manage to cross borders, cementing anime as a global phenomenon.

Source: Twitter