The legacy of many different anime varies from place to place from the beginning of when the animation medium started booming. While in certain countries anime have always been popular, in America they only just began picking up enough steam to become a part of mainstream media.
While these series just began picking up steam they actually started their trek to get where they are in the year 1998 with the Cartoon Network late-night action animation and anime block. That block was named "Toonami" and it kickstarted an era of anime and the legacy of many series in the West.
10 Dragon Ball Z
This one is a no-brainer. Dragon Ball Z is now widely seen as the essential shonen anime that literally everyone has seen and grew up with. This is all thanks to Toonami airing the show.
In the year of 1998, Dragon Ball Z made its Toonami debut and was met with a lot of love. It wasn't until 2001 that the block aired the original Dragon Ball and finally in 2005 it aired the series uncut.
9 Yu Yu Hakusho
The Yu Yu Hakusho anime originally ran from the years of 1992 through 1994 with 112 episodes of pure awesomeness that have pulled in anime fans long since that original air date.
Fast forward eight years later and Yu Yu Hakusho is being rebroadcasted for the Toonami block with its first English dub by Funimation. This series is yet another essential shonen series that fans even rave about to this day.
8 Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
When it comes to Gundam series to debut in the West, many fans would have picked just about any series other than New Mobile Report Gundam Wing as the series is seen as one of the worst.
Nevertheless, in 2000 the 1995 mecha anime made its debut on Toonami. While many are nostalgic for it, most Gundam die-hard see it as only liked for the Toonami nostalgia.
7 Immortal Grand Prix
The anime Immortal Grand Prix is one of the best high octane anime series there is. It's about a mecha racing and battle circuit and always has the most high energy possible
It also has a very different origin than many anime that appear on this list, as both IGPX anime series were co-produced by Cartoon Network. Making this a product of the West as well.
6 Tenchi Muyo
The Tenchi Muyo series is one that didn't totally capture the hearts of anime fans like the more action-oriented shows did. However, it has still enjoyed some love from fans.
While the series was one that many would rent on VHS before the days of Toonami, the anime block helped get it, and its many sequels, names even further out there.
5 Outlaw Star
Outlaw Star has many times been compared to the likes of the legendary anime Cowboy Bebop, due to a somewhat similar cast and space adventure tone.
Thankfully, both amazing shows have garnered large followings and tons of success. They're also both a part of some of Toonami's best bumps, which are remembered fondly by fans.
4 Dragon Ball GT
The anime-exclusive original (but now very non-canon) sequel to Dragon Ball Z hit Japan and premiered on Fuji TV for 64 episodes in 1996. However, it wasn't as successful as the previous series.
In the West, it had another story, as Dragon Ball GT found a lot more success with the American branch of Dragon Ball fans. This sequel hit the block with a so bad it's good opening theme in 2003.
3 The Big O
The Toonami slot became known for its more adult-oriented anime programming which of course included anime like Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and more.
One of those anime that fans absolutely loved has been called the Batman anime by many. The Big O is a mecha anime that evokes the dark tone that is a perfect fit for Toonami.
2 Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin or Samurai X is the famed samurai story that shonen fans look at as one of the best in the business. Sadly, this was one series that was quite butchered by the block.
Rurouni Kenshin stopped airing on Toonami after the second season's completion. It was heavily edited and episodes 63-95 never aired.
1 Naruto
Naruto is seen as one of, if not the, most popular anime in the West. In fact, this anime can be seen as one of the series its generation when aired on Toonami.
The influence of this anime can finally be seen in anime of the new generation, with lots of team-oriented anime hitting like My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen. Not to mention that it was so successful that it even has received its own sequel series starring Naruto's son, Boruto, in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.