The Best Anime From The 2000s

Highlights

• The 2000s were a golden era for anime, with many iconic series that continue to captivate audiences today. Here are some of the best 2000s anime that you should definitely watch:
• Nana – A drama and romance story about two young women with the same name who become friends and navigate their lives in Tokyo.
• Mononoke – A horror anime that uses an unnerving aesthetic and sound design to create a nightmarish world filled with guilt, anger, and mystery.

While the early 2000s may seem like a lifetime ago for some, the period between 2000 and 2009 is full of anime gold. The 90s may have been one golden period for animation, but the 2000s continued that trend. Series that can grip viewers’ heartstrings, intense amounts of action, and comedic gold can all be found in this era.

Many of these series are still popular to this day, with loyal fanbases. Some have even been receiving reboots and sequels in recent years. With so many amazing 2000s anime to go through, newer audiences have plenty of great starting points.

Updated June 3, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Galleries have been added for the best 2000s anime, along with two more recommendations.

Here are the criteria for this article:

• Only anime that debuted in the 2000s will be considered. Therefore, no
  One Piece
  .
• No movies.
• MyAnimeList scores are included, but they do not determine the rankings.
• As these shows cover a wide range of genres, the rankings are fairly loose since they cannot be directly compared.

19 Afro Samurai

MyAnimeList: 7.36

The Emmy-nominated series featuring Samuel L. Jackson in a prominent role, Afro Samurai follows the life of the title character after witnessing his father being killed by a gunslinger. The gunslinger, Justice, was the owner of the Number 2 headband, and Afro’s father was the owner of the Number 1 headband. The wielder of the Number 1 headband is said to be the greatest warrior in the world and can only be challenged by someone with the Number 2 headband.

The series takes place in a feudal yet futuristic Japan, where Afro Samurai confronts a variety of enemies and even former friends on this quest for revenge. Afro Samurai is a mini0series, with only five episodes however, the series packs a punch. With a music score from hip hop artist, The RZA from the rap group Wu-Tang Clan, amazing visuals, and an all-star cast the series is a great example of 2000s anime.

18 Bleach

MyAnimeList: 7.93

Bleach is a very well-known and highly popular shonen anime, from the 2000s. The series follows Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a Soul Reaper. As he learns to master these newfound powers, he discovers many of his friends have powers of their own. Though the series starts off with a lighter tone, things take a shift when Rukia (the Soul Reaper who shared her power with Ichigo) is sentenced to be executed. Ichigo and his friends go on a mission to infiltrate the Soul Society to save her and are thrown into an even bigger plot.

Bleach is full of action and takes sword fights to a new level. Anime fans looking for a lengthy action series will absolutely want to check out Bleach. The original series spans 366 episodes; however, the anime made its comeback in 2022 to adapt the manga’s final arc.

17 Inuyasha

MyAnimeList: 7.86

With the release of its sequel Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon and the hundreds of TikToks reminiscing about love triangles and waking up to that iconic closing theme, it is no wonder Inuyasha is a 2000s classic. Shonen and romance anime fans who may not have seen the original series will want to check it out even if only to understand all the memes.

The series is full of characters that are loveable and some that are almost unredeemable. Inuyasha revolves around the protagonists’ Kagome (a human from modern-day Tokyo) and Inuyasha (a half-dog demon in the Feudal era), as they attempt to retrieve the shattered Shikon Jewel shards. Throughout their journey, they meet a variety of allies with their own motives for seeking out the jewel shards. They also face plenty of powerful enemies along the way, most notably the scheming Naraku and his incarnations.

16 Naruto & Naruto Shippuden

MyAnimeList: 7.99

Naruto is one of the most well-known shonen anime, the series has everything fans of the genre could hope for. The series revolves around the adventures of Naruto a mischievous young ninja outcast. Naruto seeks recognition from the members of his village, as well as dreams of becoming the next Hokage. Naruto finds friends and rivals along the way and discovers that he is the host of a powerful fox, which was responsible for attacking the village in the past.

The full series is divided into two parts and later received a sequel. The first part is known only as Naruto and aired between 2002 and 2007. The second part of the series Naruto: Shippuden aired from 2007 until 2017. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations focuses on the life of the characters after the original series conflicts are resolved and their children.

15 Ouran High School Host Club

MyAnimeList: 8.16

Ouran High School Host Club is a romantic comedy that is full of satire and cliches found in the shojo genre. The series follows the misadventures of Haruhi and the other host club members. Haruhi is a scholarship student at Ouran High, a school primarily for the stereotypical rich kids. After accidentally breaking one very expensive vase, belonging to the host club, Haruhi has to join the club to help pay off the debt.

The first episode centers around the members of the club all slowly realizing that despite her appearance Haruhi is actually a girl. The rest of the series involves them all trying to keep Haruhi’s identity a secret. The over-the-top use of satire is one of the reasons many fans still enjoy going back and watching the series.

14 Aria

MyAnimeList: 7.67 (Season 1)

While the most popular 2000s anime were packed with action, the decade produced plenty of tension-free slice of life and iyashikei masterpieces. Arguably one of the more polarizing series, Aria is famously slow-paced, to the point that the first few episodes can be difficult to get through. Essentially, the story is set in a future world inspired by Venice (literally called Neo Venezia) and follows a group of gondoliers as they slowly guide people through the watery streets.

Aria is in no rush to get anywhere, with the focus being squarely on creating an immersive escapist fantasy. Despite taking a while to find its feet, Aria is a beautiful and therapeutic experience. Each season is better than the last, and the characters gradually blossom into endearing personalities who share charming relationships.

13 Nana

MyAnimeList: 8.55

Based on Ai Yazawa’s manga, Nana centers around the friendship between two women with the same name. They meet en route to Tokyo and end up sharing an apartment, setting things up for a heartwarming and powerful dynamic. Grounded in reality, Nana explores unhealthy relationships, the burden of ambition, and other themes that many young adults might relate to.

Unfortunately, the anime is not a full adaptation of the available manga and does not provide much closure. Despite that, Nana is still among the best 2000s anime and holds up better than most drama and romance stories from this era.

12 Mononoke

MyAnimeList: 8.42

Anime and horror don’t go together all that well. Plenty of shows manage to build up a sense of dread, but inspiring genuine fear often seems like a step too far. Mononoke comes the closest to crossing this threshold and the anime does it without utilizing jump scares.

Through an unnerving aesthetic and unsettling sound design, Mononoke teleports viewers into a nightmarish world defined by guilt, anger, and mystery. It is a beautiful show about ugly emotions and rotten people.

11 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

MyAnimeList: 8.42 (Season 1)

Although overshadowed by the 1995 movie, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex arguably represents the franchise’s peak, particularly its main narrative. Split between episodic and serial storytelling, Production I.G’s anime follows Motoko Kusanagi and Section 9 as they take on an array of cases and public threats, including fantastic villains such as The Laughing Man.

Similar to the original film, Stand Alone Complex explores its share of cyberpunk and philosophical themes, all the while weaving a gripping detective mystery that also touches upon political tensions. The action, characters, and animation are all great and have aged incredibly well.

10 Death Note

MyAnimeList: 8.62

Anime fans who enjoy more mature themes will want to watch Death Note. The series follows Light Yagami, a model student and the son of the local police chief after he discovers a mysterious notebook. The book is actually a Death Note a tool used by shinigami (a form of grim reaper) to kill anyone. Light immediately begins using the book to create a crime-free society by writing down the names of known criminals.

Things don’t go as planned and, once challenged by the equally brilliant detective known only as L, Light spirals into a god complex. This coupled with the Death Note leads to perhaps the most complex and well-known battle of the minds in anime history. The series handles plenty of mature themes, and will constantly have new viewers wondering what’s going to happen next.

9 Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion

Metascore: 8.70 (Season 1)

The Code Geass franchise is the perfect 2000s anime for fans who may have enjoyed watching Light Yagami’s scheming in Death Note. The main series follows exiled prince, Lelouch vi Britannia, after a chance encounter with a mysterious woman. The woman, who he later learns is called C2, gives him the power of Geass. This power allows him to command anyone to do whatever he wants.

The story takes place after the Holy Britannian Empire (the Americas) takes over Japan using giant mech suits. Using this newfound power Lelouch becomes the leader of the resistance movement, with the goal of using them to get revenge on his royal family. There are tons of giant mech fights for action fans as well as plenty of double-crossing and scheming in the series.

8 Mushi-Shi

MyAnimeList: 8.66

Many, many anime inject a supernatural twist into an otherwise realistic setting, but Mushi-Shi exists in a world of its own, with its only companion being the also fantastic Natsume’s Book of Friends. Artland’s series follows Ginko as he travels through a historical version of Japan in search of Mushi, spirits that exist alongside humans without usually making their presence obvious.

Unlike most protagonists in these sorts of stories, Ginko primarily acts as a detached observer who, more often than not, tries to not interfere with the Mushi. This creative decision combines with the episodic stories’ calm pacing and naturalistic environments to give Mushi-Shi a surreal and mesmerizing feel.

7 Fighting Spirit

Metascore: 8.77

Major, The Prince of Tennis, and Eyeshield 21 – the 2000s produced plenty of fantastic sports anime that fans of more recent shows such as Haikyuu and Run with the Wind will probably enjoy. Out of all the series released during the decade, none left as big of an impact as Fighting Spirit.

A bullied but strong teenager, Ippo Makunouchi finds his inner confidence through the art of boxing, a journey filled with sweat, blood, tears, and laughter. Grueling matches are accompanied by character-focused episodes that showcase the lovable personalities of the main cast, including the hilarious Mamoru Takamura.

6 Samurai Champloo

Metascore: 8.51

Blending an alternate version of the Edo-era with modern styles and references is Samurai Champloo. The series revolves around an unlikely trio searching for “the samurai who smells of sunflowers.” A spirited girl named Fuu, a brash vagabond named Mugen, and a more reserved and traditional ronin named Jin. The series shares a director with the critically acclaimed series Cowboy Bebop.

Samurai Champloo contains many scenes which relate to actual historical events. References such as Alexander Cartwright and Hishikawa Moronobu, are just a few history fans may recognize. The series’ popular soundtrack also takes a lot of inspiration from hip-hop music, the name of the series being a nod to the mash-up of genres as well.

5 Gintama

MyAnimeList: 8.93 (Season 1)

In this alternate reality, aliens took over Earth during the Edo period, birthing a world that has room for rockets and samurai. Gintama follows the misadventures of the Yorozuya crew as they accept odd jobs that always hold a few surprises.

Gintama is predominantly a parody of shonen anime, and it happens to be hilarious. Edo, the main city, is home to one of the biggest and most complete comedic casts in anime. Gintama delivers ambitious fourth wall breaks, adult humor, and gut bustlingly funny slapstick at a constant rate; when the anime gets serious, it is violent, tragic, and unforgettable.

4 Clannad: After Story

MyAnimeList: 8.93

Key’s visual novels inspired a few popular 2000s anime, specifically Kanon, Air, and the Clannad two-parter. All three anime are good-to-great, and if someone likes one show, they are likely to enjoy the others. In terms of sheer popularity, Clannad undoubtedly takes the cake, particularly its sequel season: After Story. While its predecessor plays out like a school comedy harem, the sequel is more of a straightforward romance that focuses on Tomoya and Nagisa’s relationship. The anime covers a number of years and actively chronicles the pair’s development as they start a family.

After Story is well-known as a tear-jerker, a reputation the show more than earns; however, the series is not just an endless tragedy. The latter scenes work because they are mixed with moments of pure joy and comforting mundanity.

3 Monster

MyAnimeList: 8.87

Naoki Urasawa is the master of thriller manga, penning masterpieces like Master Keaton, Pluto, and 20th Century Boys. The creator’s most well-known work is probably Monster, and Madhouse’s adaptation does a great job of capturing the source material’s brilliance. Defying orders, Dr. Kenzo Tenma operates on a child rather than an important politician. Along with ruining his career prospects, Tenma inadvertently winds up preserving the life of a psychopath who becomes obsessed with his savior.

Monster follows Tenma’s journey as he seeks to right this wrong; in the meantime, the anime dives deep into Johan’s past. The latter might very well be the best villains of the 2000s, and an argument could be made that the decade criteria is unnecessary.

2 Gurren Lagann

MyAnimeList: 8.63

Hype. From its opening scene to its universe-spanning conclusion, Gurren Lagann unleashes a barrage of epic action, inspirational quotes, and unbeatable music. Mecha and Beastmen collide as humans seek to break free of their oppression and reach new heights. However, the anime throws out a few twists along the way.

Gurren Lagann has aged beautifully. Outside a few moments, the animation is still awe-inspiring, while the main characters have all achieved icon status. Gurren Lagann set a standard for sci-fi anime that few shows have come close to matching.

MyAnimeList: 9.09

Many anime fans have and will continue to debate which version of Fullmetal Alchemist is the best. Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) was a loose adaptation of the source material that goes in a wildly different direction during its second half; meanwhile, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009) precisely sticks to the story of the original manga. Both anime follows the adventures of the Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, as they attempt to regain their full bodies. As they search for more information on the mysterious Philosopher’s Stone, they uncover government conspiracies hiding the stone’s true origin.

Though the series has lighter moments and plenty of comedic relief, the darker tones have a way of emotionally sneaking up on viewers. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood also has a lot of inspirational moments, primarily revolving around standing back up and moving forward when things get tough.