ICv2 has released its latest top manga and anime properties list. You’ll have to get the actual guide to see the full lists, but here are the top ten titles:
ICv2’s Top Ten Manga Properties for 2007:
1. Naruto
2. Fruits Basket
3. Death Note
4. Bleach
5. Kingdom Hearts
6. Pokemon
7. Vampire Knight
8. Fullmetal Alchemist
9. Absolute Boyfriend
10. LovelessICv2 Top Ten Anime Properties for 2007:
1. Dragon Ball Z
2. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
3. Pokemon
4. Naruto
5. Afro Samurai
6. Howl’s Moving Castle
7. Bleach
8. Robotech Shadow Chronicles
9. My Neighbor Totoro
10. Karas the Revelation
On library listservs I see a lot of librarians who are new to manga and anime asking, “So what are core titles?” I won’t say that these lists are mini core collection lists; older series are not well represented on them, and all titles are not appropriate for all collections. But if you’re trying to keep up with manga and anime for some professional reason, everything on here should be pretty recognizable to you: these properties are popular, and people are likely to be asking about them.