The anime medium went through a massive revolution in the 2000s. Following a surge of popularity from a handful of '90s classics, the 2000s brought anime to new heights with unique and fresh shows and films that would go on to become pivotal works in their respective genres.
While every generation has their own beloved anime, fans during the 2000s era undoubtedly have some of the most important anime ever made in their catalog. These anime defied the odds and elevated the growing medium to household recognition, setting the stage for anime's cultural dominance in our modern-day zeitgeist.
10 Spirited Away Is One Of The Biggest Anime Movies To Date
When it comes to animated films, the average person's mind first goes to Disney, but one of the few artists capable of challenging Disney's grip on animation culture is undoubtedly Hayao Miyazaki.
Miyazaki has given the world some of its most beautiful art, with Spirited Away holding records for being one of the highest-selling anime movies to ever exist. While no one could surpass Disney as far as cultural awareness, Spirited Away gets extremely close and is arguably of an even higher quality.
9 Code Geass Brought Together Mechs, Politics, And Geniuses
Code Geass is a special addition to the mech genre, using the battle robots for full-scale, political warfare unique in the anime world. Few anime can boast a political scope as wide as Code Geass, with characters competing in strategic, chess-like battles for control of the world.
Code Geass helped popularize the genius protagonist archetype with Lelouch and set an exceptionally high bar that most anime have yet to reach. When fans want to watch intelligent people engage in battles of wit, Code Geass is at the top of their list.
8 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherood Is The Most Acclaimed Anime In Existence
For an anime that came out in 2009, many fans would be surprised to learn that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood still maintains the highest rating on all of MyAnimeList. With over a decade of anime that have arrived since and countless anime that came before, it may be hard to imagine how one battle shonen rules above all.
But Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood fans know that its distinct power system, fascinating world structure, and deeply intelligent writing make it particularly unique in the anime world. To this day, few anime do it as well as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
7 Soul Eater Was The Coolest Anime Of Its Time
Soul Eater was a massively influential part of its viewers' lives when it aired. It was one of the few anime to blend the Japanese animated medium with a hip-hop soundtrack, elevating the show to an unparalleled level of cool.
The animation was slick to watch and exciting in a way that few other anime at the time could boast. While it was far from a perfect show, its unique aesthetic was more than enough for fans to overlook its few flaws.
6 Naruto Is The Face Of Battle Shonen
Many anime have tapped into the cultural zeitgeist over the past few decades, but very rarely has one done so at a level comparable to Naruto. Fans of different demographics know and have seen Naruto.
It had great influence over the market, with many newer anime trying to copy its formula to varying levels of success. But no matter how many stories attempt to do what Naruto did, no one could ever get close to the impact that Naruto had on the world.
5 Monster Is Anime's Best Psychological Thriller
Whether deserved or not, anime has a reputation among the average crowd to be juvenile and mostly for children. Many anime from each generation seek to refute this reputation and showcase the maturity that anime can offer, but very few have done so as well as Monster.
Among those who have seen it, Monster has built a reputation as being one of the greatest anime of all time. It's a haunting psychological thriller with twists and turns that shock even the most seasoned anime watchers.
4 Death Note Redefined What It Means To Be Shonen
Death Note premiered in the mid-2000s and has redefined what it means to be shonen. The anime is a profound story about a cat and mouse game between two geniuses battling over the fundamentals of justice.
Death Note writes at a level of intellect that few anime could even dream of. Since its premiere, it has been considered one of the most unique and important anime to carry the shonen label. The anime broadened the scope of what shonen means and opened the door for a ton of new stories like it.
3 Baccano! Is A Roller Coaster Of Fun From Start To Finish
Baccano! is the type of story that comes around only once every couple of years. It's an exciting thriller from start to finish that keeps its audience at the edge of their seats, desperately trying to piece together its chaotic timeline.
While Baccano! is a mystery of sorts, it's much more fun than your average "whodunit." While some anime have tried to replicate the feeling of Baccano!, none have been able to capture its magic entirely. Baccano! is a unique addition to anime.
2 Samurai Champloo Reinvented The Samurai Archetype
Premiering in 2004, Samurai Champloo was an anime original TV series following the lives of two ronin and their new friend. Together, the three of them travel the lands, searching for a samurai who smells of sunflowers. Samurai Champloo brought fluidity to its animation and design that made samurai feel new.
They were no longer stoic warriors in heavy, metal armor. Instead, Samurai Champloo presented samurai that were quick and nimble, dressed in just light robes and wooden sandals. Few anime have been able to make samurai feel cool in the same way Samurai Champloo did.
1 Ouran High School Host Club Was A Romantic Comedy For Everyone
Ouran High School Host Club is a reverse harem, romantic comedy anime that premiered in April 2006. While initially a genre that feels specific to women, Ouran High School Host Club stands out from the crowd with its ability to draw a diverse viewership.
Its charming cast and comedic abilities helped it reach popularity well beyond what might be expected. For many anime fans in the mid-2000s, Ouran High School Host Club was a pivotal influence on their young lives.