27 Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece Memes for Millennial Anime Fans That Were Raised by the "Big Three" on Cartoon Network

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Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Mar 24, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

The year is 2008, and it's a great time to be an American kid that likes anime. Thanks to Cartoon Network, you have access to more Japanese media on television than any other generation before you. Not only that, but only the absolute best is gracing your screen: One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach are all airing around the same time. School playgrounds across the country are filled with children pretending to be pirates, ninjas, demon hunters, or all of the above. The massive popularity of these three shows with Western audiences gave them the monicker, "The Big Three."

Some fans of other big anime of the 00s – Dragon Ball, Pokemon, or Yu-Gi-Oh – might get up and arms sometimes when their favorite is excluded from the honorary title. Even though Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh did indeed have popular kids' shows, the main focus of these franchises were their card or video games. Dragon Ball was and still is a global phenomenon, but it was released too early to be considered a part of the "Big Three." If you were raised alongside Luffy, Naruto, and Ichigo, scroll down for memes curated for your amazing taste.

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  • 01
    1999 2024 M
    via @zoro
  • 02
    When you don't have enough chakra for Kamui so you're forced to use other forms of transportation
    via @nagato
  • 03
    When everything that you've studied shows up on the exam paper FB/AnimeFuture
    via AnimeFuture
  • 04
    When it's been three straight episodes of Talk no Jutsu You...have rambled on too long. eandoulers
    via @nagato
  • 05
    How Instagram feels showing the loneliest people the most romantic couples reels
    via @anime_otakumemes
  • 06
    When you eat a werid fruit and get a bacterial infection instead of devil fruit powers
    via @anime_otakumemes
  • 07
    When they had to go to google to check it and you were still right
    via @tybw.sosuke_
  • 08
    1x ONE PIECE EPISODE, MY FRIEND Me ONE YEAR LATER
    via @zoro

  • I can't lie, I don't really have the courage to take on the One Piece anime! Even if I watched the first episode, I think the massive episode count is so daunting. That said, I am currently reading the manga, which is a swashbuckling experience.

  • 09
    Shikamaru exposed
    via @nagato
  • 10
    The way Sasuke described Naruto Do you have a blonde kid with a dumb-looking face, about my age
    via @nagato
  • 11
    When you hear a Japanese word and you understand it without needing subtitles:
    via @nagato
  • 12
    Google map was launched in 2005 People before 2005:
    via @anime_otakumemes

  • Honestly, this was sort of the vibe after printing out MapQuest directions and not knowing how to reroute if you missed a turn.

  • 13
    Me: Do you watch Naruto? Her Yea, I'm a big fan! Me What's his last name? Her 'Shippuden"
    via @anime_otakumemes
  • 14
    someone said Shuhei is just an E-Boy Ichigo and now I can't sleep 69
    via @anime_otakumemes
  • 15
    Ordinary people: One Piece fans: AniMEME 000
    via AniMEME
  • 16
    OG Naruto had some of the best arcs ever 創家
    via @naruto_lovers_page
  • 17
    MARUTO i ii ナルト- DRAGON BAY ONEPIECE
    via @zoro
  • 18
    that one friend house who usually be our basecamp
    via @anime_otakumemes
  • 19
    Her: How can you watch anime and read subtitles at the same time? Me: funny.co
    via ifunny.co
  • 20
    Kakashi explaining the strategy to beat the villain Naruto ready to spam rasengan MB
    via @naruto_lovers_page
  • 21
    how i feel when that one question i actually studied for shows up on the test
    via @tybw.sosuke_
  • 22
    "Don't worry. My dog is harmless." His dog: ww Naruto Manga Fans
    via Naruto Manga Fans
  • 23
    When half the episode is about flashbacks you've seen a million times
    via @naruto_lovers_page
  • 24
    What normal people see: What Naruto fans see:
    via @anime_otakumemes
  • 25
    Shawty don't know i still sleep like this
    via @anime_otakumemes
  • 26
    when im tryna speak but bro keep interrupting me
    via @tybw.sosuke_
  • 27
    when the stomachache be so painful that you gotta hit this pose:
    via @zoro

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Tags

ninja bleach anime millennials nostalgia japanese animemes naruto cartoon network pirates anime memes Japan cartoons one piece television
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