Feeling nostalgic? Looking back at pixiv rankings from the last 10 years!
In 2017, pixiv is celebrating its 10th anniversary. In the past 10 years, many trends and characters came and went. How about looking back at these past 10 years of pixiv illustration rankings? Many submissions are posted on the website every day, and even though trends keep changing, some of you will probably still remember what was popular back in the days. Check out the rankings of the past 10 years and let nostalgia get to you! That anime is from that year!? Wait, what's that style of drawing!? These and many more questions will pop into your mind, we're sure.
In this article, we'll cover pixiv rankings spanning from 2007 to 2016. How many pieces did you fall in love with? Are you to hop on the feels train?
In this article, we'll cover pixiv rankings spanning from 2007 to 2016. How many pieces did you fall in love with? Are you to hop on the feels train?
◼︎ 2007
◇ pixiv Very First Ranking #1
pixiv started getting submissions in September 2007. This is the top illustration from the website very first ranking.
◇ Hatsune Miku submissions
The vocal synthesis software VOCALOID was released by Krypton Future Media on August 31, 2007. Illustrations portraying Hatsune Miku start to be posted right away!
◇ Popular 2007 Illustrations
◼︎ 2008
◇ Kagamine Len & Rin submissions
On December 27, 2007 Krypton Future Media released two new Vocaloids, Kagamine Len & Rin. Just like it happened with Hatsune Miku, illustrations portraying them are all the rage!
◇ The rise of "Touhou Project"!
Touhou Project, by Team Shanghai Alice, started getting more and more popular on pixiv and made it multiple times to #1. The series is still popular in 2017, and we can assume things won't change any time soon!
◇ Popular 2008 Illustrations
◼︎ 2009
◇ Anime "K-ON!" taking the world by storm!
K-ON! by Kyoto Animation starts broadcasting in April 2009. It influenced the nation to a point where high school music club members peaked!
◇ "Axis Powers Hetalia" makes its way to the top!
Born in 2006 as a webcomic, it got serialized officially by Gentosha in 2008. This marks the start of the anthropomorphization (gijinka) boom!
◇ Popular 2009 Illustrations
Yoshito Usui, creator of Crayon Shin-chan, dies on September 11, 2009.
◼︎ 2010
◇ Anime "Durarara!" starts broadcasting!
In January 2010, the TV anime Durarara! starts broadcasting. From that moment, it was regularly part of pixiv rankings.
◇ Popular 2010 Illustrations
The last volume of Full Metal Alchemist was published in July 2010.
◼︎ 2011
◇ Anime "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" breaks the charts!
Puella Magi Madoka Magica starts broadcasting in January 2011. Cute witches and the kawaii drawing style of the title will dictate the popular trends for months to come.
◇ Anime "TIGER&BUNNY" starts broadcasting
TIGER&BUNNY by Sunrise starts broadcasting in April 2011.
Many works were posted on pixiv by fans who restlessly followed the battle between the heroes.
Many works were posted on pixiv by fans who restlessly followed the battle between the heroes.
◇ Popular 2011Illustrations
◼︎ 2012
◇ The boom of the "Fate" series
The first season of TV anime Fate/Zero broadcasted between October~December 2011, while the second season got on air between April~June 2012. Mortal battles between magicians and charming characters contributed to making this series super popular, and dedicated illustrations started climbing pixiv rankings.
◇ Anime "Kuroko's Basketball" starts broadcasting
Kuroko's Basketball started broadcasting in April 2012. Many fans wer enthusiastic about the gifted youth that this title portrays.
◇ Popular 2012 Illustrations
◼︎ 2013
◇ Anime "Attack on Titan" starts broadcasting
In April 2013, Attack on Titan starts broadcasting. The intense fight between humans and the giant threat got everyone super excited!
◇ The boom of "Kantai Collection"
Kantai Collection started its service in April 2013 and it instantly became very popular on pixiv. Mechanical and military warships personified into pretty girls became an hot topic.
◇ Popular 2013 Illustrations
◼︎ 2014
◇ "Love Live!" becomes a social phenomenon
Love Live! became both an anime and a smartphone game during the course of 2013, and saying that it took Japan by storm is making an understatement! Cute idol characters and catchy songs contributed to make this title a social phenomenon.
◇ Popular 2014 Illustrations
◼︎ 2015
◇ "The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls" starts broadcasting.
The smartphone game The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls was made into an anime in January 2015. With a plethora of old and new fans, it wasn't a big surprise that it climbed pixiv rankings right away!
◇ The age of "Touken Ranbu"
The PC browser game Touken Ranbu, co-produced by DMM games and Nitro Plus, started service from January 2015. It instantly gained a huge fanbase, becoming popular on pixiv too.
◇ Popular 2015 Illustrations
◼︎ 2016
◇ "Your Name."
Makoto Shinkai's animation movie Your Name. released in theaters in August 2016. The beautiful graphics and perfect music choices, together with an exciting story where a boy and a girl swap their lives in dreams, contributed to making this title a social phenomenon which took the world (and not only Japan) by storm. pixiv rankings from this period are a valid testimony of this movie popularity.
◇ Popular 2016 Illustrations
Final words
How was it? Are you surprised at how old some of your favorite anime are? Please keep checking pixiv rankings if you always want to keep up to date with the current trends!