Launching an anime YouTube channel feels electric—ideas everywhere, edits in your head, thumbnails in your mind. But without a clear content strategy, most beginners stall fast. What should your first video be? Which topics actually pull views and subs? And how do you turn this into money?

That’s exactly why I put this list together. And to be clear, this is not another generic “YouTube ideas” list. It’s based on research I’ve done analyzing more than 210 big and small anime channels, combined with my hands-on experience designing thumbnails and managing channels. I refresh it each year so you always have the latest trending video ideas that small creators can actually rank for.

But here’s the key: a video idea alone isn’t enough. From years of experience, you also need:

• A catchy thumbnail (the “book cover” of your video).

• A good title (use my YouTube Title Generator to instantly create 10 options).

• A clear monetization strategy (ads, affiliates, digital products, sponsorships).

That’s why my article won’t just give you 25 video ideas. It also shows you:

• Why they work (psychology + search demand)

• How to monetize them in the anime niche

• What kind of thumbnail grabs clicks

• Which tools/templates save you time

Let’s dive in.

25 Anime YouTube Video Ideas

1) Top 10 Anime for Absolute Beginners (Short Series)

Low barrier for viewers; listicles are highly clickable.
Monetization: Affiliate Crunchyroll/Funimation, Amazon links to manga box sets.
Pro tip: Thumbnail with bold “TOP 10” + character collage; use 2–3 brand colors only.

2) First-Time Reaction to Demon Slayer Episode 1

“First time” frames your POV and invites community replies.
Monetization: Patreon for full-length reactions, editor affiliate tools.
Pro tip: Big expressive face + logo/episode number badge.

3) Ranking Every Studio Ghibli Film (Worst to Best)

Rankings trigger comments (“you forgot X!”) → more engagement.
Monetization: Affiliate Blu-rays, posters, art books.
Pro tip: Tier-list style thumbnail with S/A/B labels.

4) Anime Genres Explained in 7 Minutes (Shounen, Seinen, Josei…)

Evergreen search for newcomers.
Monetization: Digital “Beginner’s Anime Guide” PDF.
Pro tip: Clean infographic thumbnail with 3–4 genre badges.

5) Best 15 Anime Openings of All Time (OP Compilation + Commentary)

Music + nostalgia = high CTR; add commentary for fair use.
Monetization: Music tools affiliates (mics, headphones), sponsor shoutouts.
Pro tip: “OP” letters huge + waveform icon.

Struggling to design thumbnails? That’s exactly what we handle in our management service — scroll down for details.

6) Is Attack on Titan Worth Watching in 2025?

Timely “Is it worth it?” videos convert searchers.
Monetization: Affiliates to merch/figures; sponsor placements.
Pro tip: Face + big “WORTH IT?” text, season badge.

7) The Most Underrated Anime You Missed This Year

Discovery content builds authority fast.
Monetization: Newsletter signup → later sponsors/affiliates.
Pro tip: Use “UNDERRATED” stamp and unfamiliar key art.

8) Beginner’s Guide: Watch Order for Fate/Monogatari Without Confusion

Watch-order guides get saved & shared.
Monetization: Downloadable watch-order PDF; affiliate streamers.
Pro tip: Flowchart thumbnail with arrows.

9) Top 20 Anime Fights Ever (And Why They Work)

“Best fights” compels comments; add analysis to stand out.
Monetization: Editing pack/plug-ins affiliate; Patreon for extended cuts.
Pro tip: Freeze-frame explosion + “TOP 20” badge.

10) How to Start an Anime Channel with Just a Phone

Beginner-friendly and practical.
Monetization: Affiliate tripods, mics, lighting kits.
Pro tip: Phone + mic close-up; “NO PC” sticker.

Remember: great ideas only work if people click. That’s where pro thumbnails + titles come in — scroll down to see how we help.

11) Anime News Weekly (New Seasons, Delays, Announcements)

Recurring format = habit building.
Monetization: Sponsors; affiliates to news sources/books.
Pro tip: Date in thumbnail + “NEWS” banner.

12) My Honest Review After 3 Episodes: Solo Leveling

“3-episode rule” is a known hook.
Monetization: Affiliate light novels; channel memberships for early access.
Pro tip: 3-ep counter icon.

13) Anime Hot Takes: Unpopular Opinions You’ll Hate Me For

Debate fuels engagement and retention.
Monetization: Merch (“Hot Takes” tee); sponsors later.
Pro tip: Spicy text + warning emoji.

14) Best Anime to Watch Under 6 Hours (Short & Complete)

Time-boxed lists speak to busy viewers.
Monetization: Affiliate bundles; newsletter lead magnet.
Pro tip: Clock icon + “<6HRS”.

15) The Ultimate Beginner’s Editing Workflow (AMVs & Shorts)

Skill videos attract creators & collab offers.
Monetization: Affiliate editing software/plugins; sell presets.
Pro tip: Timeline screenshot thumbnail.

Don’t waste time guessing. Our management team designs, optimizes, and grows your channel — details below.

16) Anime Openings Tier List (S/A/B/C) — Live Stream

Interactive streams boost watch time.
Monetization: Superchats; sponsor segments.
Pro tip: Tier list board in thumbnail.

17) What Order to Watch Dragon Ball in 2025 (No Filler)

“No filler” is a golden search modifier.
Monetization: Guide PDF; affiliate to box sets.
Pro tip: “NO FILLER” sticker + path arrows.

18) Best Anime for Couples / Friends to Watch Together

Social angle opens new traffic.
Monetization: Streaming affiliates; Amazon snacks “watch night” list.
Pro tip: Two silhouettes + heart icon.

19) Anime Character Design Breakdown (Why This Protagonist Works)

Analysis content builds expert positioning.
Monetization: Art tablets/stylus affiliates; sell design breakdown PDFs.
Pro tip: Rule-of-thirds overlay graphic.

20) 30 Days of Anime Shorts — What I Learned

Challenge formats are bingeable and teach process.
Monetization: Shorts preset pack; newsletter case study.
Pro tip: Calendar grid thumbnail.

Need help turning these ideas into views? That’s our specialty. Scroll down and see what we do.

21) Should You Watch Sub or Dub? (Pros & Cons)

Controversial but safe engagement topic.
Monetization: Headphone/mic affiliates; sponsor opportunities.
Pro tip: “SUB vs DUB” split screen.

22) The Best Order to Watch the Evangelion Rebuilds

Franchise-specific search intent converts well.
Monetization: Affiliate Blu-rays/figures; PDF guide.
Pro tip: Numbered arrows + minimalist art.

23) My Anime Desk Setup (Budget vs Pro)

Setup videos perform across niches.
Monetization: Gear affiliates (monitor, mic, lights, shelves).
Pro tip: “BUDGET vs PRO” side-by-side.

24) Reacting to the Most Heartbreaking Anime Moments

Emotion drives shares and comments.
Monetization: Patreon full reactions; sponsor tissues/snacks (fun bit!).
Pro tip: Tear emoji + blurred scene frame.

25) How to Avoid Copyright Strikes with Anime Content

High-value utility for beginners.
Monetization: “Fair-Use Checklist” PDF; editor tool affiliates.
Pro tip: Shield icon + “SAFE REACTIONS”.

How to Make Money with These Ideas

Even if you’re starting at zero, these ideas can become income streams.

• AdSense, once you qualify

• Affiliate marketing (Crunchyroll trials, Amazon manga/figures, gear)

• Digital products (watch-order PDFs, editing presets, guides)

• Fiverr outsourcing — hire a professional video editor or thumbnail designer

• Sponsorships (apps, merch, collectibles) once you build an audience

Do you want to speed things up? Use PackaPop anime templates to edit thumbnails in Canva or hire my verified team to manage your channel from A to Z — Contact us.

Thumbnails That Boost CTR in Anime

What works best:

• Big emotion (shock, joy) + bold 2–3 word text

• Tier lists / rankings with S/A/B labels

• “First-time reaction” face + episode/season badge

• Minimal palettes (2 main colors + 1 accent)

King Crane Reacts YouTube Channel

7 Minutoz YouTube Channel

KING AMV's 夢 YouTube Channel

If you don’t want to design from scratch, explore ready-made Canva templates like PackaPop’s anime thumbnail packs — tested for high CTR.

Boost Your Titles with PackaPop’s Generator

Even the best idea fails without a clickable title. Use my YouTube Title Generator to instantly create viral-ready options, free.

Combine this with insights from vidIQ to test what really performs.

Conclusion

Anime is competitive — but it’s also evergreen and wildly passionate. With the right video idea, thumbnail, and monetization strategy, even small channels can grow fast.

If you’re serious about growth:

• Just drag and edit with PackaPop templates (CTR-approved).

• Hire our chosen thumbnails designer expert on Fiverr

• Analyze with vidIQ and double down on winners.

That’s the stack I’ve used to help creators go from zero to thousands of subscribers — and turn their passion into a business.