There continues to be endless options when it comes to the eclectic range of content that's available in the anime industry. Anime series can indulge in broad stereotypes and lean into specific genres, but there are also plenty of other programs that pride themselves in their niche nature. Similarly, it frequently feels like the anime programming from each decade is representative of different tones and sensibilities that continue to evolve over time.

RELATED: 10 2000s Anime Every Anime Fan Should Watch At Least Once

The 2000s were somewhat chaotic for the anime industry, and some superficial trends became popular. However, there are also some inventive anime series from this decade that are not only unique but also ahead of their time.

10 Paranoia Agent Remains One Of The Most Nuanced Looks Into Its Societal Issues

Anime Paranoia Agent Group Insanity Dolls

Satoshi Kon was a prolific name in the anime industry that passed away at a young age, but he was still able to create four of the most celebrated movies of the generation, including Perfect Blue and Tokyo Godfathers.

Paranoia Agent is Kon's only major foray into television, but he uses the format to unravel a gripping mystery from a myriad of different perspectives to great effect. Each episode of Paranoia Agent succeeds on a singular level, but as a whole, it's such a powerful statement on mob mentality and social phenomena.

9 Excel Saga Throws Unstoppable Comedy At The Audience Where Nothing Is Sacred

Anime Excel Saga Crowd Of Excel Chaos

Excel Saga kicks off the year 2000, and it's one of the most fitting examples of the coming decade's shifting sensibilities in comedy. Excel Saga nails the parody and genre deconstruction concept way ahead of the curve, but it also spits out references to other anime series at a delirious rate.

Exel Saga has one of the most unrelenting tempos of any anime series, which accentuates the chaotic comedy, but also adds more value to rewatches. Two decades have passed since Excel Saga, but it's still one of the best parodies of the anime industry.

8 RahXephon Is A Dark And Contemplative Coming Of Age Mecha Story

Characters stare at RahXephon mecha in awe in RahXephon.

The mecha genre is one of the most bloated areas of storytelling in the anime industry, and there are many needless properties that coast by on a flashy mecha design. RahXephon is much more in the style of Neon Genesis Evangelion in how it combines giant robot combat with existential malaise and teenage angst.

RELATED: 10 Worst Trends Of 2000s Anime, Ranked

RahXephon is much more accessible than Evangelion, but it explores similar themes. The arc of its protagonist, along with the show's use of music, is much more emblematic of modern anime series.

7 Kaiba Is Tender And Thoughtful As It Explores The Boundaries Of The Mind

Androids jump for joy in Kaiba anime

Masaaki Yuasa is one of the most groundbreaking people who is currently working in anime. He's responsible for countless classics across feature films and television series, but a great deal of his work has come recently in the 2010s and beyond. Kaiba is an earlier effort from Yuasa that's much more subdued than some of his later work, but it's equally expressionistic and out of control when it comes to environments and motion.

Kaiba is a stunning meditation on memory and identity that was certainly popular at the start of the 2000s, but Kaiba is much more than a simple story about artificial intelligence.

6 Gurren Lagann Pushes The Established Mecha Staples To The Extreme To Set A New Normal

The Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is born in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

It's very easy to get lost in the sea of mecha series that exist, but it feels like the whole point of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is to cut through the crowd and create a show that's bigger and bolder than everything else. However, Gurren Lagann isn't without substance, and the struggle that it depicts with its downtrodden and subterranean rendition of humanity is heartbreaking.

There's a deep message and complex characters that course through Gurren Lagann, but its animation truly goes above and beyond. It's unbelievable to watch the final space spectacles that happen, and it sets a high standard for the future work of studios like TRIGGER.

5 Blue Gender Crafts A Dreary Sci-Fi Horror Story With A Lot Of Bite

Marlene holds Yuji in a crowd of Blue alien in Blue Gender

There's such a natural relationship between science fiction and horror, and the 2000s increasingly blends these two genres together. A lot of these efforts can feel gratuitous or that they're not bringing anything new to the table. However, Blue Gender is a moody series from the start of the decade that rises to the occasion when it comes to bleak hard sci-fi and gory violence towards an alien race who are absolutely horrific.

RELATED: 10 Things Fans Miss Most From 2000s Anime

Blue Gender got lost in the shuffle upon its initial release, but it stands out even more now since similar series have come along only to reach diminishing returns with the same idea.

4 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Resets The Slate With One Of The Better-Looking Gundam Sagas

Celestial Being's mobile suit pilots pose with their mecha in Mobile Suit Gundam 00

The alternate timeline Gundam series can get a bad reputation, and many of them have had to work harder to justify their existence. The 2000s are a messy period for Mobile Suit Gundam that's full of many unmemorable misfires, but Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is a significant exception that's one of the most beautiful looking Gundam series from any decade.

High production values help Mobile Suit Gundam 00 dominate with its action sequences. The Gundam themselves have unique designs that feel distinct from earlier models with smart revisions, and it has a villain who's not afraid to prove his point.

3 The Higurashi: When They Cry Supernatural Saga Begins To Take Hold

8_When They Cry_Kai Anime

Anime has been experimenting with connected universes and huge franchises for decades, but one of the more recent surprises to come along is the Higurashi: When They Cry series.

There's still new Higurashi content that's coming out and adding more layers to its unusual world, but many of the foundational series, like the original When They Cry, When They Cry: Kai, and When they Cry: Rei are from the 2000s. They establish an impressive blueprint on how to play with perspective, subvert the audience's expectations, and explore time loop possibilities that are really only becoming mainstream now.

2 Lupin III Vs. Detective Conan Is An Inventive Crossover Effort That Steals The Audience's Hearts

Anime Lupin the Third vs Detective Conan

There are some fantastic anime properties that have been around for multiple decades, and Lupin III and Detective Conan are both beloved series that dig into the detective and mystery genres. Lupin III vs. Detective Conan started as a feature-length television special that then received a proper cinematic sequel.

Some of these pairings can feel soulless, but this dual endeavor effectively captures the voice of both properties and crafts a scenario that feels organic to both of these talents rather than some of the modern crossovers that exist.

1 Gintama Never Falters With Its Hilarious Comedy And Thrilling Drama

Tsukuyo blows smoke in Gintoki's face in Gintama

Many shonen series go on to become long-running sensations that span hundreds, or even thousands, of episodes. It's understood for there to be some drop in quality or repetitive storytelling to occur for these shows, but Gintama is the rare exception of a shonen series that actively gets better across its run of more than 350 episodes.

Gintama's run covers the entirety of the 2000s, and it brings forward a new standard of how to mix dramatic serialized episodes with absurdist episodic experiments. Gintama effortlessly balances extreme tones, never phones it in, and consistently pushes the parameters of the medium and anime as an art form.