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The 20 Best Anime Series of the 2000s, Ranked

By Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck Updated 1 hour ago Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread 7 Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

The 2000s were a time when anime really found its footing. While it would eventually explode in the 2010s and 2020s in the West, anime became increasingly popular in the 2000s, leading to bigger and better productions here. Without the innovation and scale of these projects, anime wouldn't be the goliath it is today.

Despite anime having larger budgets today, the 2000s are home to some of the greatest anime of all time, including classics like Black Butler, Soul Eater, and Ergo Proxy, which just missed this list. These anime have profound messages, thrilling plots, and fist-pumping action. They are still revolutionary and recognized as timeless masterpieces among their respective genres, inspiring many popular shows airing today.

20 'Black Lagoon' (2006–2011)

Black Lagoon anime featuring the Lagoon Company Rock being shot at

Black Lagoon anime featuring the Lagoon Company RevyImage via Madhouse

When an average salaryman finds his everyday life boring, he gets just the thrill he was looking for. With a band of mercenaries holding him hostage, instead of begging for his life, he asks to join them, now living an exhilarating life of danger.

Black Lagoon is best known for its iconic female protagonist, Revy, who is as badass as she is well-written. The anime has a great blend of comedy, action, and drama, creating a well-balanced series that knows when to thrill and when to make viewers laugh.

19 'Fairy Tail' (2009–)

Guild in the Grand Magic Games from Fairy TailImage via A-1 Pictures

Fairy Tail is one of the most polarizing anime series of all time, but it is also one of the most popular of the 2000s. Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Erza take on random jobs in this magical world, but as dark guilds threaten to revive the world's strongest wizard, Fairy Tail must put a stop to their nefarious ways.

Technically, Fairy Tail ended in 2019, but a sequel anime has continued the series, giving fans even more adventures. Some complain about the overt fan service and overuse of the power of friendship, but as a whole, Fairy Tail is another incredible long-running shōnen series. It is emotional, hype-inducing, and features fantastic characters, making it a show close to many fans’ hearts.

18 'Toradora!' (2008–2009)

A small girl punches a taller man in the anime series Toradora.Image via TV Tokyo

Most anime viewers watch it for the action-packed shōnen anime, but there are plenty of worthwhile romances, including Toradora! Ryuuji looks tough, but is actually a sweetheart, and Taiga looks innocent, but is actually fierce. When the two meet, they get to know each other for who they are and not what they look like.

Toradora is a genre-defining romance that popularized the tsundere trope with its protagonist, Taiga. Some find it tired, but for its time, it was fresh, new, and absolutely remarkable. Toradora is excellent every season, but it is primarily a good anime to watch on Christmas because of its renowned holiday arc.

17 'Monogatari Series' (2009–)

Araragi carrying Senjougahara in Monogatari Series.Image via Shaft

The Monogatari Series doesn’t feel like it’s from the 2000s, but the first season came out in 2009. Araragi possesses vampire powers and uses them to help his friends defeat the physical manifestations of their mental illnesses.

New seasons are sparse, but fans will take whatever they can get, especially when it is one of the best anime series of all time. Monogatari’s unconventional editing and riveting dialogue pair to create one of the most fascinating anime series ever. This critically acclaimed masterpiece is a must-watch 2000s anime.

16 'Clannad' (2007–2009)

Nagisa Furukawa and Tomoya Okazaki under cherry blossoms in the anime series 'Clannad'Image via Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation is one of the greatest anime studios of all time, and their most iconic work is arguably Clannad. This anime follows a handful of characters and their lives from childhood crushes all the way to adulthood and their grown-up issues.

The first season can be a bit of a challenge to get through, but the second season alone is one of the best pieces of anime ever. It is heartbreaking, touching, emotional, and flawless, using expert character development and emotional weight to create a perfectly written anime that is a triumph of the 2000s.

15 'Samurai Champloo' (2004–2005)

Two samurai with the sunset in the background Samurai Champloo.

A promotional image for Samurai Champloo.Image via Manglobe

Created by the legendary Shinichirō Watanabe, known for other anime like Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo is yet another masterpiece from the genius. The anime follows Fuu, who is looking for a samurai from her past and enlists the help of Jin and Mugen to serve as bodyguards on her journey. However, because of the tense relationship between the samurai and unexpected enemies, this adventure has much more action than Fuu would like.

Samurai Champloo has fantastic characters; Fuu is a great anime protagonist made even better by the trio's dynamic. The best part of the show is the unique atmosphere it creates with its mashup of samurai and hip-hop music, revolutionizing the trend. Samurai Champloo has an unparalleled style that is seen throughout every aspect of the show, from fights to characters and even the story.

14 'Mononoke' (2007)

A warrior brandishin a katana in mononoke-Anime

Image via Crunchyroll

Mononoke is an experimental horror anime that focuses on two/three-episode arcs. The series recently received a revival, with the Mononoke: Karakasa movie release in Japan in July 2024. Following Kurusiuri, a medicine seller, the anime brings fans on his adventures of exorcising demons and spirits that haunt everyday life. Featuring stunning animation and a unique art style, Mononoke has become a cult classic.

What makes Mononoke such a successful horror anime is that it doesn't rely on cheap tricks like gore or jump scares. Instead, it utilizes a powerful editing style and unsettling events to build a sense of tension and unease. This anime experimented with its editing, art, and animation, making it one of the most unique anime ever. With how good this cult classic anime is, Western anime fans should be excited for the movie when it releases overseas, which was, unfortunately, part of the massive Netflix anime leak.

13 'Nana' (2006–2007)

Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu in NANAImage via Madhouse

Nana follows the two titular characters who share the same name and meet by coincidence on a train. Despite sharing the same name, they have opposite personalities, with one dreaming of finding a perfect romance and the other setting her sights on a music career. After unfortunate events, the two find themselves reunited in Tokyo, where they become roommates and support each other through their new lives in the big city.

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Featuring a mature story ahead of its time, Nana is a tragic romance anime that excels in its grounded storytelling approach. With themes of loss, grief, vulnerability, and growth, this anime does an incredible job of having two relatable and well-written female leads. With its emotional moments and engaging romance, the anime has become a staple in the Josei demographic/genre. Despite Nana not having an ending, the anime is still worth watching.

12 'Gurren Lagann' (2007)

Tengen Toppa from Gurren Lagann.Image via Gainax

Gurren Lagann tells the story of two teenagers living underground in a wasteland of a planet. Kamina is a hothead with massive aspirations, and Simon is timid with no real dreams. After discovering an ancient weapon, they set out to the outside world and get their first good look at the sun and sky. Things only heat up from there as they go on a galactic journey to free the planet and defeat any threat that opposes them.

Gurren Lagann is an anime that does hype like no other show with its massive stakes, incredibly animated fights, and emotional moments. Despite a slow start, the enormous twist early on in the series speeds things up and never slows down, and the anime goes from a planet-wide war to a giant robot fighting an omnipotent alien as the two fight by throwing galaxies at each other. With stellar character development, animation, and hype moments, Gurren Lagann is one of the best anime of this century, let alone the 2000s.

11 'FLCL' (2000–2001)

flcl-posterImage via Gainax

Animated by the legendary studio Gainax, responsible for revolutionary anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gurren Lagann, FLCL is another of their innovative anime. The anime follows Naota, a kid who forces himself to act older than he is to take care of the responsibilities of his brother, who left for America. Haruko flips his life upside down with her using him in a plot to bring forth her intergalactic lover in a bizarre series of events.

With only six episodes, fans can binge FLCL in a day, but the short runtime shouldn't cause fans to think there isn't a lot of content. The anime is a rollercoaster of imagination featuring ludicrous scenarios and absurd plot points. Despite the unorthodox narrative, it is a relatable story about growing up masked in imaginative tellings. FLCL is a generational masterpiece that tells a simple plot through some of the most creative storytelling in anime to create an essential anime of the 2000s.