Sliding Scale of Anime Obscurity

This is an approximate categorization of how well-known or obscure anime series are. This list is to be used as a guideline. It may be handy as an informed guess as to whether your audience might know what series you're talking about.

This list is divided into seven categories. They are:
 * Level 0: Series is so well-known that many people outside the anime fandom generally know about this. The series is to some extent part of worldwide pop culture (and usually dominates in Japan).
 * Level 1: Some people outside the anime fandom may have heard of this. Pretty much everyone in the fandom knows about the series. They may not know it in great detail, but they should know enough to talk about the series and likely have an opinion on it. You may find limited traces of it in pop culture.
 * Level 2: Detailed knowledge is mainly restricted to a specialized fandom, but most people in the fandom know about it enough to have some idea what it's about.
 * Level 3: General awareness is not guaranteed, but fandoms are sizable enough to be notable.
 * Level 4: Fandoms are small, but sizable enough that the series still shows up on some radars. For example, you may be able to find a number of fan-videos focused on these series, and chances are that in any bunch of 10-20 tropers you might have one or two who know the series in question other than you. The internet has really helped bring these fandoms together, due to how small and scattered they tend to be.
 * Level 5: Even more obscure. Fandoms very small, mainly because word hasn't really even got out about the existence of this series. You'd probably be lucky to find 1 out of those 20; you should be casting your net wider. If the series isn't current, you might be one of only a handful in a convention who knows of it.
 * Level 6: For things that, while they exist, seem to be impossible to find, even on the internet with modern proliferation of filesharing.

Rules about this list:
 * The general anime fandom, as relevant to this list, is defined as being:
 * the English-speaking anime fandom, AND
 * as is present on the internet.
 * Substantially different adaptations that have led to split fandoms, such as between Go Lion and Voltron, can be listed separately in this list.
 * This list pertains only to anime series. Do not include manga-only series. Only judge popularity of the anime itself; if the manga is very famous but few fans know about the existence of the anime version, it still counts as obscure.

Things to remember when reading, editing, and using this list:
 * When editing this list, please give an edit reason, especially if you are moving a series from one category to another. Try to avoid edit wars if at all possible; if a dispute can't be resolved, take it to the fora.
 * This list is not a measure of the quality of a show. Very obscure series can be very good, pretty good, meh, pretty bad, and very bad. Try to think as objectively as possible about how many people within the groups stated in the criteria above would know the series.
 * If this article should be translated to another language, please make it pertain to the internet anime fandom in that language, not English. Rankings may obviously be different.
 * Please list series in alphabetical order, and please type out alternate names (such as "Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha" and "Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha"), so it's easier for other people to read the list and find series.
 * Recent series may be difficult to categorize. It can take some time for the hype to subside.

The list is formatted in folders. The top folder is not part of the list, but a separate list of works that people have requested rankings for, but which they themselves have not been able to place. You, the reader, are requested to help out.

Series requesting placement

 * Angel Beats!
 * Ben-To
 * Bungaku Shoujo (Book Girl, Literature Girl, whatever you want to call it...)
 * Duel Masters
 * Genesis of Aquarion
 * Gun X Sword
 * Heavy Metal L-Gaim
 * Infinite Stratos
 * Kaichou wa Maid-Sama!
 * Kaiji
 * Narutaru
 * Nichijou
 * The Swiss Family Robinson: Flone Of The Mysterious Island
 * Daily Lives of High School Boys

Level 0 series

 * Digimon
 * Dragon Ball Z
 * Hello Kitty
 * Naruto
 * Pokémon
 * Sailor Moon
 * Speed Racer
 * Yu-Gi-Oh

Level 1 series

 * Afro Samurai
 * Akira
 * Astro Boy
 * Bakugan
 * Beyblade
 * Bleach
 * Cardcaptor Sakura
 * Code Geass
 * Cowboy Bebop
 * Death Note
 * Dragon Ball (original series)
 * Dragon Ball GT
 * Fullmetal Alchemist (as well as its 2003 anime adaptation)
 * Ghost in The Shell
 * Gundam (a 0 in Japan and amongst people of a certain age (those who were 8-15 or so in 2000 when Wing was on TV); beyond that, its fandom is huge but it never hit in America the way it should have)
 * Inuyasha
 * Haruhi Suzumiya
 * Naruto Shippuden
 * Neon Genesis Evangelion
 * One Piece (Definitely a 0 in Japan. In fact, it's the 0 in Japan.)
 * Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
 * Pretty Cure
 * Princess Mononoke
 * Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica)
 * Ranma One Half
 * Rurouni Kenshin
 * Spirited Away
 * Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
 * Vampire Knight

Level 2 series

 * Ah! My Goddess / Oh My Goddess
 * Axis Powers Hetalia
 * Azumanga Daioh
 * Berserk
 * Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji)
 * Castle in The Sky
 * Chobits
 * Clannad
 * Detective Conan (Case Closed: One Truth Prevails)
 * Digimon Savers (Data Squad) and Xros Wars
 * D.N.Angel
 * Doraemon (a definite 0 in Japan, Indonesia, much of East Asia and Mediterranean Europe)
 * Dragon Ball Kai
 * Elfen Lied
 * Eureka Seven
 * Fairy Tail
 * FLCL
 * Fate Stay Night
 * Fruits Basket
 * Gintama
 * Grave of the Fireflies
 * Great Teacher Onizuka
 * Hellsing
 * Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry)
 * Howls Moving Castle
 * Initial D
 * K-On!
 * Kanon
 * Katekyo Hitman Reborn
 * Kiki's Delivery Service
 * Kyou Kara Maoh!
 * Last Exile
 * Lucky Star
 * Lupin III (along with The Castleof Cagliostro)
 * Mahou Sensei Negima
 * Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha)
 * Mirai Nikki
 * Monster
 * My Neighbor Totoro
 * Mazinger Z
 * Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
 * Ouran High School Host Club
 * Porco Rosso
 * The Prince of Tennis
 * Revolutionary Girl Utena
 * Robotech (these days due to its historical significance)
 * Rozen Maiden (Largely because of Suiseiseki)
 * Samurai Champloo
 * Samurai Pizza Cats
 * School Days (due to the "Nice Boat" Me Me)
 * School Rumble
 * Shakugan no Shana
 * Shin Chan
 * Slayers
 * Sonic X
 * Soul Eater
 * Super Dimension Fortress Macross
 * Tenchi Muyo
 * Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (Gurren Lagann)
 * Toki o Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)
 * Tokyo Mew Mew
 * Trigun
 * Vampire Hunter D
 * Vision of Escaflowne
 * Voltron
 * Welcome to The NHK
 * Yu Yu Hakusho
 * Zero no Tsukaima (Familiar Of Zero)
 * Zoids

Level 3 series

 * .hack//Roots
 * AIR
 * Air Gear
 * Aria
 * Baccano
 * Beck
 * The Big O
 * Black Cat
 * Black Jack
 * Black Lagoon
 * Black Rock Shooter
 * Bobobobo Bobobo
 * Boku No Pico
 * Claymore
 * D Gray Man
 * Da Capo
 * Darker Than Black
 * Dirty Pair
 * Durarara
 * Eden of the East
 * El Cazador de la Bruja
 * El Hazard the Magnificent World
 * Excel Saga
 * Fist of the North Star
 * Full Metal Panic
 * Galaxy Angel
 * Gao Gai Gar
 * Getter Robo
 * Gravitation
 * Gunnm (Battle Angel Alita)
 * Gunsmith Cats
 * Gunslinger Girl
 * Haibane Renmei
 * Hamtaro
 * Hayate the Combat Butler
 * Hell Girl
 * Hikaru no Go
 * Honey and Clover
 * Hunter X Hunter
 * Ikki Tousen
 * Karano Kyoukai
 * Keroro Gunsou
 * Kimi ni Todoke
 * This series would be placed on a somewhat higher level in Japan, where it recently became a fad.
 * Kinnikuman Nisei
 * La Blue Girl
 * Madlax
 * Magic Knight Rayearth
 * Mai-HiME and Mai-Otome
 * Maria Holic
 * Mariasama ga Miteru
 * Martian Successor Nadesico
 * Mega Man NT Warrior
 * Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch
 * Millennium Actress
 * Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
 * Nana
 * Natsume Yuujinchou
 * Noir
 * Outlaw Star
 * Panty and Stocking With Garterbelt
 * Paprika
 * Paranoia Agent
 * Perfect Blue
 * Planetes
 * RahXephon
 * Record of Lodoss War
 * Saki
 * Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
 * Serial Experiments Lain
 * Shinryaku! Ika Musume
 * Shugo Chara
 * Sonic the Hedgehog The Movie
 * Spice and Wolf
 * Steins;Gate
 * Strawberry Panic
 * Strike Witches
 * The World God Only Knows (Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai)
 * Toradora!
 * To Aru Kagaku no Railgun
 * To Aru Majutsu no Index
 * Tokyo Godfathers
 * Trinity Blood
 * Tsukihime
 * Umineko no Naku Koro ni
 * Uchuu Senkan Yamato (aka Star Blazers) (although in Japan, this would be arguably a 1 or 2 depending on the age of the fan.)
 * Yakitate!! Japan

Level 4 series

 * Area 88
 * .hack Legend of the Twilight
 * .hack Sign
 * Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai (Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi)
 * Appleseed
 * Bakemonogatari
 * Bamboo Blade
 * Busou Renkin
 * Bokurano
 * Captain Harlock
 * Cat Shit One (Apocalypse Meow)
 * CLAMP School Detectives
 * Dennou Coil
 * Detroit Metal City
 * ef - a tale of memories./melodies / ef: a fairy tale of the two
 * Ergo Proxy
 * Eiken
 * Galaxy Express 999
 * Gankutsuou
 * Gatchaman
 * Gate Keepers
 * Ga-Rei Zero
 * Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro
 * Girls Bravo
 * Gunbuster / Die Buster
 * Heroman
 * Hidamari Sketch
 * High School of the Dead
 * Himechan's Ribbon
 * Ichigo Mashimaro
 * Irresponsible Captain Tylor
 * Junjou Romantica
 * Kamen no Maid Guy
 * Kämpfer
 * Kannagi
 * Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl
 * Kiddy Grade
 * Kinnikuman - Specifically, its toy release under the MUSCLE name gives it a boost it might not otherwise have.
 * Kino's Journey
 * Kurau Phantom Memory
 * Kyou Kara Maoh!
 * Legend of Galactic Heroes
 * Lost Universe
 * Mao-chan
 * Midori no Hibi
 * Minami-ke
 * Moetan
 * Mononoke
 * Mushishi
 * Noein
 * Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu
 * Now and Then, Here and There
 * On Your Mark
 * Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai
 * Pandora Hearts
 * Parallel Trouble Adventure Dual
 * Parappa the Rapper
 * Perfect Blue
 * Potemayo
 * Princess Tutu
 * Read or Die
 * Rune Soldier Louie
 * Saber Marionette J
 * Saikano
 * Sakigake Cromartie Koukou
 * S-Cry-ed
 * Seirei no Moribito
 * Seitokai no Ichizon
 * Shiki (Corpse Demon)
 * Sora no Woto
 * Makoto Shinkai's movies
 * Shuffle
 * Simoun
 * Sketchbook: ~full color'S
 * Skip Beat
 * Sky Girls
 * Sora O Kakeru Shoujo
 * Speed Grapher
 * Stellvia of the Universe
 * Stratos 4
 * Tears to Tiara
 * Tentai Senshi Sunred
 * Tekkon Kinkreet
 * This Ugly Yet Beautiful World
 * Tiger and Bunny
 * To Heart and To Heart 2
 * Tsukuyomi Moon Phase
 * Urusei Yatsura
 * Utawarerumono
 * Vandread
 * Wandering Son
 * Wolfs Rain
 * Zatch Bell

Level 5 series

 * 801 T.T.S. Airbats
 * Airmaster
 * Angel Densetsu
 * Asura Cryin
 * Aura Battler Dunbine
 * Battle Programmer Shirase
 * Beat Angel Escalayer
 * Blame
 * Blue Comet SPT Layzner
 * Every other series in the Braves franchise.
 * Cat Soup
 * Cencoroll
 * Chibi Maruko Chan
 * Chrono Trigger OVA
 * Corrector Yui
 * Crest/Banner of the Stars
 * Dangaioh
 * Fantastic Children
 * Flag
 * From Far Away
 * Gamba No Boken
 * Generator Gawl
 * GEAR Fighter Dendoh
 * Ginga Sengoku Gunyuuden Rai
 * Go Lion
 * Hitohira
 * Innocent Venus
 * Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
 * Jo Jos Bizarre Adventure (OAV)
 * Kaiba
 * Karas
 * King of Thorn
 * The Legend of Koizumi
 * Library War
 * Magical Play
 * Mahoraba
 * Master Keaton
 * Master Of Mosquiton
 * Munto
 * Musumet
 * Nagasarete Airantou
 * Ocean Waves (would be level 6 if not for the Ghibli name giving it some recognition)
 * Odin Photon Sailor Starlight (aka Odin: Starlight Mutiny) (The uncut version is not well known)
 * Ogre Slayer
 * Nightwalker: The Midnight Detective
 * Omamori Himari
 * Ookamikakushi
 * Outlanders
 * Oyasumi Punpun
 * Puni Puni Poemi
 * Real Drive
 * Rocket Girls
 * Rockman OVAs
 * Sakigake Otokojuku
 * Sentou Yousei Yukikaze
 * Shoujo Sect
 * Spoon Oba-San
 * Super Mario Bros..: Peach-Hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen
 * Taishou Yakyuu Musume (Taishou Baseball Girls)
 * Tamayura
 * Tattoon Master
 * Texhnolyze
 * Tokyo Magnitude 8
 * Uta Kata
 * Wangan Midnight
 * Xamd Lost Memories
 * Manga/Zeorymer

Level 6 series

 * Aku Daisakusen Srungle
 * California Crisis
 * Candy Candy
 * Garzeys Wing (possibly a level 5, but even then, only because of a single video which was linked to from This Wiki. As a testament to how obscure the series is, the video failed to spawn Memetic Mutation)
 * Eagle Riders
 * Goshogun Etranger (aka Time Stranger): Of the few who have seen this, no one seems to notice the connection between this movie and the Macekre known as Macron I.
 * Macron I (a Macekre of the anime series Goshogun of which the previous entry is a followup)
 * Idol Densetsu Eriko
 * Pokonyan!
 * Princess Rouge: The Legend of the Last Labyrinth
 * Windaria: The original Japanese non-Macekered version is impossible to find anywhere in the West although some have claimed to have seen it and universally declare its superiority.
 * Pretty much anything made before 1960 (although Japanese animation shorts from the '20s have been well preserved and are easily available on YouTube for viewing)