Anime tier list videos are one of the most reliably viral formats on Anime TikTok and YouTube Shorts — the fandom is enormous, opinions are passionate, and ranking videos generate massive comment engagement. Here’s how to make a polished anime tier list video in 60 seconds, no editing skills required.
Why anime tier lists go viral
Three reasons anime ranking content consistently outperforms other formats:
- Massive fandom — Anime TikTok has 50B+ video views combined per year. The audience is there.
- Tribal opinions — One Piece fans vs Naruto fans vs AOT stans will defend their pick to the death. Comments = algorithm boost.
- Endless topic depth — Top 10 series, best villains, romance arcs, openings, animation studios — you have years of content from one fandom.
Step 1: Open the anime template
Head to TierReel’s Anime template. It pre-loads 15 of the most iconic series:
- One Piece, Naruto, Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen
- My Hero Academia, Death Note, Fullmetal Alchemist, Bleach
- Hunter x Hunter, Dragon Ball, Tokyo Ghoul, Code Geass
- Steins;Gate, Cowboy Bebop
Click Use This Template — Free and the editor opens with all 15 in the unranked pool.
Step 2: Drag into your tiers
This is where you make it personal. Some hot takes that perform well on TikTok:
- Putting Naruto in B-tier guarantees angry comments from Gen Z anime fans.
- Bleach in S-tier reignites the Big Three debate (One Piece, Naruto, Bleach).
- Demon Slayer below A-tier wakes up the older anime fans who consider it overhyped.
- Steins;Gate in S-tier earns respect from anime veterans.
- Code Geass anywhere except S = controversial.
Reorder freely within tiers — drag your top pick to the front of S-tier so it’s the first thing viewers see.
Step 3: Add anime images (optional but recommended)
Anime images make the video pop visually. Two ways to add them:
- Use Pixabay search in the left sidebar — type “naruto”, “goku”, “eren yeager” and click an image to add it as an item.
- Upload your own — drag-drop image files into the upload panel. Common sources: official poster art, fan wiki, screenshot from the anime.
Copyright note: For TikTok and YouTube Shorts, fair-use commentary on anime is generally OK. Avoid using images with watermarks from other fan accounts. Crunchyroll/MAL official posters are widely tolerated.
Items without images get a colored placeholder with initials (e.g. “ON” for One Piece) — clean and readable, even without art.
Step 4: Customize the title and tier names
On the right panel, set:
- Title: “Anime Tier List 2026”, “My Anime Hot Takes”, or “Anime That Actually Slaps”
- Subtitle: optional. Use it for stance like “You won’t agree” or “controversial opinions”
- Format: 9:16 for TikTok, 16:9 for YouTube long-form, 1:1 for Instagram
You can also rename the tier letters. Some anime creators use:
- S → “GOAT”
- A → “Peak”
- B → “Solid”
- C → “Mid”
- D → “Skip”
- F → “Trash”
Click any tier letter to rename. Hover for a color picker if you want custom colors.
Step 5: Export and post
Click Export Video in the top-right. Free tier exports 720p WebM with a small TierReel watermark + 5-second outro. Pro removes both for $4/mo or $39 lifetime.
Post tips for Anime TikTok:
- Hashtags that work: #anime #animetiktok #animetierlist #weeb (yes, weeb is a self-claim) + 1-2 niche tags (#shonen, #seinen, #shojo)
- Caption hook: “If you don’t agree with my S-tier you have bad taste” (controversy = comments)
- Best post time: 7-10pm in your audience’s timezone, weekdays. Anime fans are more active evenings.
- Engage in comments: defend your tier ranking actively in first 30 minutes. The more comments, the more reach.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a Studio Ghibli or shojo-specific tier list?
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Yes. Use the AI Generate panel to type “Studio Ghibli films” or “Shojo romance anime” and Claude generates 12 items. Or click Blank template and add items manually.
Will my video have anime music?
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TierReel doesn’t add audio currently — it’s a video without sound. After export, you can add anime music in CapCut or directly in TikTok’s editor by selecting a sound.
How many anime should I include?
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12-15 is the sweet spot. Fewer than 8 looks empty, more than 20 is hard to read in 12 seconds. The Anime Top template ships with 15 — adjust to taste.
Can I do a tier list of one specific anime’s characters?
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Absolutely. Use AI Generate with “Naruto characters” or “One Piece characters”. Or load Blank template and add character names manually.
Are exported videos OK to monetize?
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The video itself is yours to monetize on YouTube/TikTok. The anime images you use have their own copyright considerations — fair-use commentary is generally tolerated, but check platform terms.
Anime tier lists are one of the easiest content formats to start a TikTok with — the audience is huge, the format works, and TierReel makes the production part 60 seconds long. Open the Anime template and post your first one today.