Nostalgia for the 2000s, especially now, appears to be at an all-time high. This also rings true for anime fans, who continue to share their love of anime classics from this era. Many are also finding new shows to watch thanks to the resurgence of popularity for 2000s anime, whether they are popular classics or hidden gems.
On that note of hidden gem anime, there are hundreds of shows that many fans have yet to discover. There is truly something for everyone, from supernatural slice-of-life to action-packed science fiction. Some shows are even created by the same people who brought to life other classics from the era, yet are still waiting for their chance in the limelight.
8 .hack//Sign is a Legendary Video Game Isekai
Tsukasa Finds Himself Trapped in the Digital World
In the world of.Hack//Sign, 2009 becomes a true turning point for society when a violent computer virus known as Pluto's Kiss causes a destructive internet shutdown that almost even results in war. After this chaotic event, the rules of cyberspace are made even stricter. The aftermath of the Pluto's Kiss tragedy also reveals that one operating system, Altimit OS, is mysteriously immune to every known computer virus, even Pluto's Kiss. Soon after, an online fantasy role-playing game, called as The World, is introduced exclusively for Altimit OS systems.
The story truly begins when a player named Tsukasa awakens in The World, without any memories of his past nor a way to log off the game. Thus, he embarks on a grand quest to rediscover his past and learn the secrets behind the legendary online game. Despite what new audience members may believe, .hack//Sign has very little action sequences; instead, the show is slow-paced and highly introspective. .hack//Sign, as well as the series following it, are famous for diving into themes such as mental health struggles, escapism, and humanity's relationship with technology.
7 Den-Noh Coil Takes Place in a World Where AR Becomes Part of Reality
A Group of Children Discover Secrets Relating to Their Home
Set in 2026, Den-Noh Coil introduces its audience to a world where unique AR glasses, known as the Den-Noh Megane, changed society forever. Since the glasses' debut, Den-Noh technology is everywhere one looks, and even children are rarely without their own AR glasses. Many children in the series, including protagonists Yuko "Yasako" Okonogi and Yuko "Isako" Amasawa, cannot imagine life without Den-Noh technology. Yasako is even shown with a virtual pet of her own, a dog named Densuke, that can only be seen with the Den-Noh Megane.
Though the Den-Noh Megane appears to help many people, it is not without its drawbacks nor its mysteries. Yasako later joins a Children's Detective Bureau, where its members try to solve mysteries related to several Den-Noh Megane-related urban legends. In the meantime, Yasako tries to solve the disappearance of a friend while figuring out why she cannot remember her memories of visiting her new home. Since its debut, critics have widely praised Den-Noh Coil, thanks to its cast of characters, soundtrack and amazing animation.
6 Haibane Renmei Is Mysterious, Emotional, and Heartfelt
The Journey of Several Angel-Like Human Beings
Serial Experiments Lain, a legendary psychological thriller anime with character designs by Yoshitoshi Abe, is considered a gem thanks to how its narrative delves into the relationship between humanity and the internet. However, there are several fans of the series who may have never heard of Haibane Renmei, another supernatural anime that was actually created by Yoshitoshi Abe. Haibane Renmei began as a self-published work by Abe himself, including the first narrative and character design elements for the characters.
Haibane Renmei takes place in a mysterious world where angel-like beings called haibane must reside in a countryside location called Old Home after they hatch from cocoons. Rakka, a new haibane named after her dream of falling, awakens without any memories as she gets to know her fellow angel-like individuals, all while adjusting to growing wings and wearing a halo. Though things appear peaceful in Old Home and the walled city of Glie, dark secrets surround Rakka's new home and her fellow haibane. The series works with several themes such as sin, suicide, redemption and grief, yet handles every element with thoughtfulness and care.
5 Wolf’s Rain Has a One-Of-A-Kind Narrative
A Wolf Pack Tries To Find Paradise in a Dying World
In a dystopian society, the few remaining wolves of the planet Earth desperately seek for Paradise, their only refuge from violent human beings and the upcoming end of the world. The main protagonist of the series, the white wolf Kiba, arrives in Freeze City while tracking the scent of the Lunar Flower, a crucial key in finding Paradise. However, Kiba knows that his life would be in danger if human beings spotted him. Thus, like other wolves in the anime, he uses illusions to appear human, this ability also allowing him to speak.
Kiba encounters several other wolves, such as Tsume, Toboe and Hige, who have lived alongside humans for many years. However, even as their paths cross with the Lunar Flower's source, their path to Paradise will be a rough one indeed. Since its debut, Wolf's Rain has been widely praised for its unique storytelling, and has even gained a manga adaptation. One of the most beautiful aspects of the series is its soundtrack, created by legendary composer Yoko Kanno and various artists from around the world.
4 Princess Tutu Rewrites Classic Fairy Tales
A Duck Wishes To Save the Heart of a Prince
Originally premiering in Japan in 2002, Princess Tutu is a magical girl anime that is heavily inspired by classic fairy tales and ballet performances, particularly The Ugly Duckling and Swan Lake. However, the narrative that Princess Tutu has at its core is absolutely one-of-a-kind. The world of Princess Tutu takes place within a storybook, written by the author Drosselmeyer. However, before he could finish his greatest story, The Prince and the Raven, Drosselmeyer passed on. In order to defeat the wicked Raven once and for all, Prince Siegfried, the hero of the story, shattered his own heart and thus lost his emotions and memories.
Some time after, a lonesome duck has fallen in love with Mytho, the emotionless remains of the tragic Prince. Hoping to finally create a conclusion to the fairy tale, Drosselmeyer's consciousness grants her the ability to turn into a human girl as well as the magical ballerina Princess Tutu. Duck thus embarks on a quest to restore Mytho's shattered heart, though finds that not everyone in her world wants this outcome. Princess Tutu, though it has a fanciful and adorable outer shell, is also an anime with a deeply emotional and shocking true narrative at its core, and a perfect show for fairy tale fans.
3 Kaiba Is Unlike Any Other Science Fiction Anime
Warp Travels Across the Universe After Losing His Memories
Legendary anime director Masaaki Yuasa is known for his work on many unique series, yet Kaiba is an especially extraordinary title that several fans may have never heard of. In the futuristic world of Kaiba, individuals across the galaxy are now able to store their memories, and thus their minds, in memory chips. Because of this, memory chips can be preserved after one's body dies, or an individual can insert their memory chip into another body and thus live on. However, this technology is not without its consequences, and Kaiba does not hesitate to show how corruption and greed can completely destroy someone's life.
Kaiba begins when an amnesiac man known only as Warp awakens with a hole in his chest and a pendant around his neck, holding a picture of a woman he is unable to recognize. Thus, Warp embarks on a journey to discover the secrets of the galaxy around him and to figure out exactly who he is. Despite having an often cute art style, Kaiba is meant for mature audiences, and deals with themes not suitable for younger audiences. However, it is a mind-bending and heartwrenching series that is sure to remain in the memories of audiences long after watching it.
2 Mushi-Shi Is Reflective and Completely Enchanting
Ginko Encounters Many People With Supernatural Problems
In a fictional time set between the Edo period and the Meiji period, a traveler known as Ginko wanders from one village to the next. Each chapter and/or episode in Mushi-Shi usually deals with a new cast per story, yet each narrative is tied together by Ginko's arrival, as well as the appearance of a strain of supernatural beings called Mushi. These creatures appear to be similar to plants or bacteria, yet are powerful enough to greatly affect the world around them. As Ginko travels, he meets new people whose lives have been changed by the Mushi's abilities, some for better and some for worse.
Though the supernatural phenomena in Mushi-Shi can certainly take on aspects of a horror story, the anime is actually part of the iyashikei genre, a slice-of-life subgenre focused on soothing the audience. With its slow-paced narrative, gorgeous soundtrack and beautiful visuals, it is easy to see how one may feel calmer after watching an episode of Mushi-Shi or two. However, its engaging narrative and wide cast of characters makes Mushi-Shi a truly unforgettable watch.
1 Mononoke Recently Returned After Over a Decade
Fans Can Watch the Sequel Films Now on Netflix
The 2000s was truly a time for more experimental anime, from Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo to Cat Soup. However, an avant-garde anime that became very popular upon its debut, and even more years after, remains Toei Animation's Mononoke. Set around the end of the Edo period, the original Mononoke series follows the adventures of a mysterious, supernatural individual known only as the "Medicine Seller". Every story within the anime showcases the Medicine Seller's battles against harmful mononoke, spirits that cling to negative human emotions. However, in order to properly get rid of the mononoke, the Medicine Seller must learn its shape, truth, and reasoning for being there.
In 2024, seventeen years after the original series' 2007 debut, Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain released worldwide. Following the travels of a different Medicine Seller, the movie and its sequel films all work with the unique animation style that made their predecessor series so beloved. Like the original Mononoke, Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain and Mononoke the Movie: The Ashes of Rage explore the relationship between humans and mononoke, as well as the negative emotions that cause their paths to cross. The first film not only received positive reviews from critics, but helped restart the franchise's popularity with a new audience.
Mononoke
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2007
Cast
-
Takahiro SakuraiMedicine Seller -
Michael C. PizzutoIncidentals
-
Eiji TakemotoGoroumaru
-
YukanaChiyo Nomoto
