Over the past decade, anime's popularity in the West has completely exploded, moving from a somewhat niche interest to a mainstream boom. Series like Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man, One Punch Man, and My Hero Academia have seen massive success, with 2025's Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle becoming the first R-rated non-American and animated film to gross over $700 million at the box office. As 2026 begins, the anime boom is set to continue, with newcomers to the medium often eager to dive into more classic series alongside current heavy hitters.
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The 1990s were a great time for anime, and several series from the era remain popular today. Here are the best anime from that decade.
In the days before streaming video and easy-to-find information online, anime news in the West came from magazines like Animerica and Newtype, and those wanting to see the latest hits would need to tune into particular TV blocks like Toonami or Kids' WB. Shooting down to Suncoast Video at the mall or the neighborhood Blockbuster were ways to track down more niche anime. Today, thousands of series are available at the click of a button, including many that set the stage for anime's popularity today.
2001 was a banner year for the medium, seeing many series released that are still beloved and remarked on today as inspirations for more recent works or as masters of their genre. Some fans may find a dose of nostalgia here, while newcomers to anime could find a classic hit to binge to kick off the first month of 2026. Here are some of the best series turning a quarter-century old this year.
Shaman King
Kids growing up in the 4Kids era may remember Shaman King's run on FOX (and its painfully catchy English theme song that still has staying power in 2026). Running for a whopping 64 episodes, the popular shonen series followed Yoh Asakura, a shaman able to communicate with the dead. In order to become Shaman King, Yoh is tasked with embarking on a treacherous journey and winning a once-every-500-year tournament to channel the power of the Great Spirit.
Notably, the manga series that inspired the 2001 anime, serialized in Shonen Jump, was penned by Hiroyuki Takei, who discussed the story with One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda. The story's themes are unique, with the author focusing on shamanism due to its obscure nature, and Takei was largely inspired by hip-hop and rap culture at the time, which can be seen in the series' art style. While a second anime adaptation was released in 2021 that more closely follows the manga, there's a particular charm found in the original series that can't be reproduced. Many fans still call the mega-popular series Bleach a spiritual successor.
The Prince of Tennis
Every generation has a signature sports anime, and in the early 2000s, The Prince of Tennis reigned supreme. Ryoma Echizen, a young tennis prodigy, aims to catapult his school's tennis club to the pinnacle of greatness, with the ultimate goal being to win the National Middle School Tennis Championship. As with other entries in the genre, much of the series focuses on Ryoma's relationship with his classmates and his growth as an athlete. There's no rush, either, as the anime series boasts a whopping 178 episodes.
The Prince of Tennis manga series remains one of the best-selling of all time, with over 60 million copies in circulation. The series has even inspired over a dozen stage musicals and a live-action film, along with over 30 video games and mountains of merch. Despite being 25 years old, the anime has major staying power, with its themes and style still impressing audiences today.
Hellsing
When it comes to dark fantasy, Hellsing remains a fan favorite. The Hellsing organization seeks to find and destroy all supernatural forces of evil, including the undead, despite the original and most powerful vampire known to man, Alucard, being on the payroll. As it turns out, a Nazi group formed during World War 2 is still kicking, and it needs to be stopped. The 13-episode 2001 anime adaptation of the manga series was created by Gonzo, the studio behind other hits of the time, such as Saikano, Full Metal Panic, Trinity Blood, and Last Exile.
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Between 2006 and 2012, a new OVA adaptation, Hellsing Ultimate, was aired, which aimed to be more faithful to the manga series than the original release. While it's also worth a watch, the original contains a certain charm that many fans still praise to this day, with its character-focused storytelling, music, and more vintage animation style making it a juggernaut in the horror genre.
Arjuna
One of the more niche entries on this list, Arjuna flew under the radar for many anime fans in the West. The brief 12-episode series, which expertly combines the magical girl and sci-fi genres, follows Juna Ariyoshi, a high school girl who is suddenly tasked with saving the dying Earth as the "Avatar of Time." Shoji Kawamori, the man behind mega-hits like Macross Frontier, Genesis of Aquarion, and The Vision of Escaflowne, created the unique series, which is packed with influences from Indian culture and Hinduism. The soundtrack is another highlight, with Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain) acting as composer.
Despite its release in 2001, Arjuna's themes are particularly poignant today, with Kawamori aiming to highlight the disconnect between people's thoughts and actions and the ongoing fragmentation of society. It also focuses on environmentalism, putting an emphasis on the importance of the natural world and why it should be protected. The show's animation style is also something to be admired, given its age.
Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years, largely due to its more polished 2019 anime adaptation. However, the 2001 release, coming in at a manageable 26 episodes, still holds a place in fans' hearts. Tohru Honda, an orphan, meets several male members of the Sohma family, quickly befriending them and learning more about their odd quirks. As it turns out, 13 members of the Sohma family are cursed, transforming into animals from the Chinese zodiac whenever they are weak, stressed, or embraced by a member of the opposite gender.
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The Fruits Basket manga release remains one of the best-selling shojo series of all time, and the 2019 anime, which clocks in at a bulky 63 episodes, gives more time to each character and includes countless scenes that were cut from the 2001 show. Those who want to return to the series' roots, however, should consider giving the original a watch, given Studio DEEN's history in the medium and the wistfulness of its animation style.
Zoids: New Century
The first Zoids series to be dubbed in English, Zoids: New Century found a host of new fans after appearing on Cartoon Network's Toonami block in late 2001. While most mecha series feature giant robots that are humanoid in their design, Zoids filled a unique niche, with its machines inspired by animals and mythological creatures. New Century focused largely on tournaments and competitions, making it an easy and entertaining watch without too much exposition. Despite being well-liked by Toonami viewers, Zoids was phased out of the Toonami lineup only a few short years after its premiere, but its cult following remains passionate to this day.
The history of Zoids is curious, with the franchise beginning as a lineup of model kits made by the Japanese toy company, Tomy, way back in the early 1980s. While this lineup of merchandise eventually spawned six anime series, New Century remains the face of the franchise in America, as it was the first to ever air on US television. Its unique approach to the mecha genre and its use of CG animation make it an instantly recognizable release, even 25 years later.
S-CRY-ed
In the realm of action and sci-fi, s-CRY-ed was one of the more bizarre releases of the early 2000s, but its all-star cast and unique plot have made a lasting impact on anime fans. Kanagawa Prefecture is split into two during a major geological event, with some people residing in the "Mainland" and others in the "Lost Ground." Some in the latter begin developing a strange power called "Alter," which grants the ability to create supernatural weapons. Unsurprisingly, opposing groups begin to form, and some of these enhanced humans choose to work for the super police force stationed on the Mainland. Kazuma tries to keep his head low as a mercenary, avoiding the government at all costs, but he's soon pulled into the chaos when his best friend is captured.
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The robust action scenes in s-CRY-ed had the biggest impact on viewers, along with the relationship between its main characters, Kazuma and Ryuho. Some have cited similarities with Dragon Ball Z, while others have noted that the series' music conjures memories of Cowboy Bebop. Packed with plot twists and character growth, s-CRY-ed also forces viewers to pick a side, something that makes it more engaging than it may seem at first glance.
Digimon Tamers
Digimon fans often have trouble picking their favorite entry in the anime franchise, but Digimon Tamers was a highlight for many. Featuring an entirely new setting and a darker, more serious story, the 51-episode release follows Takato Matsuki and his friends as they utilize cards from the Digimon card game to defend the city of Shinjuku. Packed with both familiar and new creatures, flashy fights, and a heavier focus on relationships and character growth, Tamers also featured one of the most terrifying villains in the franchise as a whole.
Following the recent release of Digimon Story: Time Stranger, interest in the franchise has seen a major uptick, with longtime fans and newcomers alike eager to consume as much Digimon content as possible. Digimon Tamers marked a pretty big change in tone when compared to Digimon Adventure and its sequel, and it feels a little more similar to the newest anime release, Digimon Beatbreak.
Angelic Layer
Throughout the 90s and early 2000s, Clamp was a household name for anime fans. The all-female manga artist group was responsible for some of the most beloved works of the time, from Magic Knight Rayearth and Cardcaptor Sakura to Chobits and xxxHolic. One of their more artistically unique works, Angelic Layer, spawned an anime series in 2001, and the adventure sci-fi comedy went on to become one of the most recognizable works of the year. The series follows Misaki Suzuhara, a young girl who becomes obsessed with a game called "Angelic Layer," in which players fight using custom-designed dolls that are moved via mental control.
Best Anime From The 2000s, Ranked
From Fullmetal Alchemist to Skip Beat and Samurai Champloo, the best 2000s anime are just all-time great shows.
Angelic Layer is an accessible series for those new to anime, with its tournament format and classic style easy to digest and fun for the entire family. Its pacing and characters are of particular note, and its music and animation have all the hallmarks of an early 2000s action romp. While it didn't see mountains of success in the West and is often forgotten, its worth picking up, even if only for pure nostalgia purposes.