Manga books have been a part of Japan for a long time. Every year, hundreds of new manga volumes get published, each ranging greatly in terms of content and art. Even among the best, we have come across some brilliant stories that have made a big influence on us. For Shueisha, the big 3 anime maintain a high and formidable place in its history of publication. The Big 3 anime have exceeded unexpectedly in terms of popularity and fan-favoritism. They set an example of how large the anime following is and how much people can become involved with it.
This in itself is a great statement. Good stories are welcomed. Manga novels are sources of fluffy feelings and fascinating visuals. Several people, within and beyond Japan, are interested about getting their manga published by prominent publishing houses like Shueisha, Kodansha, or Shogakukan. Popular publishing houses lay down a excellent platform for manga to reach more readers. The Big 3 anime are exceptional situations that led to the rise in popularity of the publishers instead.There are several misconceptions surrounding the relevance of the Big 3 anime.
What are they? Why are they called so? Here’s all about them and why they occupy such a respectable spot in the manga business.
What is The Big 3 Anime?
The Big 3 anime are based on three powerful manga series serialized by Shueisha’s Shonen Jump in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Back in the time, the Big 3 were regarded to be the breadwinners of Shonen Jump as individuals brought the magazine just to read them.
This led to huge sales of the magazine every week. Even now, the Big 3 have enormous levels of sales that make them a superior category. The nickname ‘Big Three’ was given by Shonen Jump. Big three anime comprise these three separate anime series: One Piece, Naruto and Bleach. You can read them on Viz Media or Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
One Piece
One Piece has been one of the top Japanese Manga series for a long time now. It is written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The story is about the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a youngster who has the ability to change his body into rubber-like after eating a Devil Fruit. He lived life with his group of pirates dubbed the Straw Hat Pirates.
He aspires to traverse the Grand Line to seek for the world’s ultimate treasure, which is called One Piece, which would enable him to become the next pirate king. Launched on July 22, 1997, this manga has been able to accumulate 100 volumes and millions of fans over time. The manga itself has sold over 490 million copies.
It has been the best-selling manga for eleven straight years from 2008 to 2018 since the firm established its manga chart, and that is truly an incredible record.
Naruto
Naruto is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The story is around Naruto Uzumaki, who is a young ninja seeking respect for his skills from his peers. His aim is to become the Hokage, which is the leader of the village. The manga has been translated into an anime series that is produced by Aniplex and Peirrot.
It contains roughly 220 episodes in Japan, running from 2002 to 2007. Cartoon Network and YTV, too, ran the anime series from 2005 to 2009. Naruto has been the fourth bestselling in history. The manga series has sold over 250 million copies globally, with over 153 million copies sold alone in Japan. It has attracted tremendous international attention, with the English versions being named as the best-selling series by the New York Times multiple times. The seventh volume of the manga series even earned a Quill Award in 2006.
Bleach
Bleach is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. The story is about the experiences of Ichigo Kurosaki, a hotheaded youth who inherits the destiny of his parents after he obtains the powers of a soul reaper, someone who is similar to a grim reaper.
He received the powers from another soul reaper named Rukia Kuchiki. The first launch of the manga lasted from August 7, 2001, until August 22, 2016. The manga series contains around 74 volumes in all. On an international basis, Bleach has sold over 120 million copies. It has also been the 6ty top selling manga series in history. The 34th volume of the manga series sold 874,153 copies and was also the 12th bestseller in the year 2008.
Moreover, the series has been considered as the best continuing Shōnen Manga of 2007 by Deb Aoki from About.com due to its captivating storyline and amazing character development.