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 popular 2000s anime to go through, newer audiences have plenty of great starting points.
Updated March 13, 2025 by Mark Sammut: The 2000s was such a great era for anime, arguably the best of all time. Consequently, two more of the best 2000s anime have been added as recommendations: Higurashi and Spice and Wolf.
Here are the criteria for this article:
- Only anime that debuted in the 2000s will be considered. The only exception is One Piece since it aired fewer than 10 episodes in the 90s and more than 400 in the 2000s.
- If a series started in the 2000s but ended in 2010, it will be considered.
- 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.
34 Bleach
MyAnimeList: 7.96
Bleach
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2004 - 2012-00-00
- Number of Episodes
- 366
- Studio
- Pierrot
- Creator
- Tite Kubo
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
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 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 want to check out the anime adaptation of Tite Kubo's manga. While some of the filler arcs are notoriously exhausting to get through, at its peak, Bleach features all-time great fight sequences, along with one of battle shonen's best-paced storylines in the Soul Society arc. The original series spans 366 episodes, although an even better sequel debuted in 2022.
33 Inuyasha
MyAnimeList: 7.87
Inuyasha
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2000 - 2004-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Number of Episodes
- 193
- Studio
- Sunrise
- Creator
- Rumiko Takahashi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, The Roku Channel, Tubi
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.
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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 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.
Inuyasha showcases Rumiko Takahashi's incredible talent for crafting likable characters who are equally apt at humor and drama, with this particular series balancing the two incredibly well.
32 Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
MyAnimeList: 8.26
Kaiji
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2011-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji
- Number of Episodes
- 52
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Creator
- Nobuyuki Fukumoto
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Arguably the greatest gambling anime of all time, Kaiji is relentless. The story follows the eponymous character as he is dragged into the underworld due to a debt, showing the lengths he has to go to try and regain control of his life. Beyond Kaiji's desperation and slow-building addiction, the anime reveals an organization that uses people like him as not only revenue but also entertainment.
Most gambling anime are about geniuses who rarely ever come close to losing, and these types of stories are satisfying. However, Kaiji differs due to following a "normal" protagonist who is consistently over his head and can fail at any given moment. No outcome is guaranteed, which makes every situation extremely intense.
As awesome as this 2000s anime is, the second season aired in 2011, so it cannot fully be counted for this discussion. The first season is overall superior to the sequel, although the latter's opening arc is stronger than anything in the former.
31 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
MyAnimeList: 7.82 (Season 1)
The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2006 - 2009
- Japanese Title
- Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu
- Studio
- Kyoto Animation
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Nagaru Tanigawa
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a pretty important anime, and its success might have inspired more studios to turn to light novels rather than manga for adaptations. The ED's Hare Hare Yukai dance was inescapable for a while, and the anime helped make otaku culture more mainstream (with the help of Lucky Star, which debuted the following year). Haruhi Suzumiya's mix of slice of life comedy, philosophical musings, and mystery was very novel in 2006, even if this blend might not seem that fresh when viewed through a modern lens.
Haruhi Suzumiya is difficult to rank. Season 1 is good with moments of greatness, despite the convoluted release order. The eponymous girl is purposefully obnoxious, and her antics involving Mikuru can be off-putting. However, Kyon is a fantastic male lead, and the rest of the characters are generally fascinating. Season 2 has the ambitious but polarizing Endless Eight arc, which did seem to derail the show's momentum. Finally, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is a masterpiece, but that film came out in 2010 and requires sitting through both seasons to fully appreciate.
30 Naruto & Naruto Shippuden
MyAnimeList: 7.99 (Naruto)
Naruto
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 2, 2002
- Number of Episodes
- 220
- Studio
- Pierrot
- Creator
- Masashi Kishimoto
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube
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.
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Arguably the most popular 2000s anime, Naruto was inescapable throughout the decade, even more so than Bleach or One Piece. While Shippuden mostly aired after 2010, its predecessor's canon arcs are contenders for the best in the series, delivering consistently great action, comedy, and world-building.
29 Skip Beat!
MyAnimeList: 8.07
Skip Beat!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2008 - 2009
- Directors
- Kiyoko Sayama
- Writers
- Mayori Sekijima
- Number of Episodes
- 25
- Studio
- Hal Film Maker
- Creator
- Yoshiki Nakamura
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
If there is one big criticism that can be thrown at Skip Beat!, it would have to be the anime's length. The adaptation barely scratches the manga's surface, which has over 50 volumes and has been going on for more than two decades. Still, the anime serves as a good entry point into this story, beautifully introducing the three main characters, along with showcasing the mangaka's incredible talent for blending humor and drama.
After learning that her boyfriend was using her as a doormat while he pursued fame, Kyouko decides to become a superstar herself in the name of revenge. Before long, she ends up in the middle of a love triangle with her ex and another famous actor who she initially dislikes. Skip Beat! Works mainly due to Kyouko, who is just an all-round delight.
28 Higurashi: When They Cry
MyAnimeList: 7.87 (Season 1)
Higurashi When They Cry
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 5, 2006
- Japanese Title
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
- Studio
- Studio Deen, Passione
- Based On
- Visual Novel
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
Anime and horror do not go together all that often, but the industry has produced a few memorable scary stories over the decades. Except for maybe Another and Elfen Lied, Higurashi is arguably the most famous horror anime of all time, and it is considerably scarier than either of those two shows.
While the franchise became convoluted with its more modern releases, the original season and Kai hold up incredibly well, offering 50 episodes filled with dread, gore, shocking reveals, and the most terrifying girls in anime. Higurashi is a must-watch for pretty much any horror fan who is also into anime, but it is harder to recommend to people who are not into the genre. Still, it also works well as a mystery story and a psychological thriller.
27 Paranoia Agent
MyAnimeList: 7.66
Paranoia Agent
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2011 - 2005-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Mousou Dairinin
- Number of Episodes
- 13
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Creator
- Satoshi Kon
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Satoshi Kon should need no introduction to anime fans. The creative force behind Perfect Blue, Paprika, and a few other brilliant movies, the director is primarily associated with his cinematic output; however, Kon's dip into TV should not be ignored. Directing all 13 episodes, Paranoia Agent is a thriller that utilizes a supernatural element to dive deep into a range of characters' psyches, telling a captivating and cerebral story that lingers in a viewer's mind long after the credits roll.
The basic premise involves a mysterious teenager who goes around smacking people with a bat, and these attacks have strange effects on the victims' lives. While the full series is great, episode 3 is a masterpiece and one of the best anime episodes of the 2000s, if not just straight-up the best.
26 Toradora!
MyAnimeList: 8.05
Toradora!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2008 - 2009
- Directors
- Tatsuyuki Nagai
- Writers
- Mari Okada
- Number of Episodes
- 25
- Studio
- J.C.Staff
- Creator
- Yuyuko Takemiya
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Tubi
One of the most influential romance anime of the 2000s, Toradora is still pretty popular as a gateway option to not just this genre but also the medium in general. That said, the series seems to get a bit more criticism nowadays, with Taiga's tsundere antics being particularly divisive. Still, as long as someone is fine with some over-the-top slapstick, they will find a cute story that starts comedic and gradually ramps up the drama, culminating in a mostly satisfying finale.
Toradora primarily revolves around the budding relationship between Ryuji and Taiga, two people who could not be more different. Initially, they are essentially just using each other to further their other romantic interests; however, they steadily become closer, and their journey is quite lovely.
25 Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad
MyAnimeList: 8.29
Beck
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 7, 2004
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Harold Sakuishi
- Number of Episodes
- 26
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Anime has a couple of standout stories revolving around music, with Bocchi the Rock being probably the most famous recent example. While that show might conjure up flashbacks of K-On!, it arguably has more in common with 2004's Beck, at least in the sense that both of them prioritize music and try to provide a relatively realistic look at the industry. Out of the two series, Beck is the more grounded one, and it follows a group of boys who form a band as they try to make in-rounds into a cutthroat industry.
This journey is primarily framed from Koyuki's point of view, a teenager who discovers his love for playing the guitar and jumps head first into the music world. Beck dives pretty deep into the instrument learning process, all the while creating tangible goals for the band and the protagonist. While visually dated to an extent, the anime has aged incredibly well overall.