The Greatest Anime Series From 2000 to 2010

Though each time period in anime history has its own importance behind it, the early 2000s were truly something extraordinary. With the growing popularity of the internet, especially YouTube, more and more people were learning about anime. The rise of Toonami and Adult Swim in the '90s and turn of the century also helped introduce new fans to the anime medium, and would continue to do so in the 2010s.

When it comes to what anime series truly defined the early 2000s, the answer is not so simply put. After all, a wide roster of anime from this era continues to be widely talked about among fans, with many pieces inspiring current creators. However, every year there are many series that are destined to remain renowned, even among other popular anime.

2000: InuYasha Introduces an Iconic Cast of Characters

Kagome Finds Herself Working Alongside the Fierce InuYasha

Initially, Kagome Higurashi believed she was an ordinary teenager, until the fateful day a mysterious centipede demon whisks her away to the past via her family's old well. After escaping, Kagome finds that she is now near a small village in the Sengoku period. However, what shocks Kagome most of all is that she is the reincarnation of the deceased priestess Kikyo, and that her sacred Shikon Jewel has manifested within her. Unfortunately, many forces desire the jewel, including InuYasha, a half-human, half-dog demon.

After the jewel is shattered and pieces scatter across the land, Kagome and InuYasha find that they have little choice but to work together in order to find the pieces before wicked forces do. However, InuYasha and Kagome are famously known to bicker, making their journey all the more difficult at times. The two soon find common ground, and later begin to realize their feelings for one another as their long battle grows all the more perilous. A staple of Toonami for many anime fans, InuYasha continues to be a beloved series to this day.

2001: The First Adaptation of Fruits Basket Has a Unique Charm

Tohru Honda Moves in With the Secretive Sohma Family

Sweet-natured teenager Tohru Honda lived happily with her mother until a tragic car accident resulted in Kyoko Honda's sudden death. As her father passed away when she was young, Tohru is sent to live with her grandfather, who later advises her to stay with some friends while the house is undergoing renovations. However, Tohru is worried about troubling anyone, so she secretly decides to stay in a tent until the renovations are done. What Tohru certainly does not expect is for her classmate Yuki Sohma and his older cousin to discover her one day, nor does she expect that they would offer Tohru a place to stay after a landslide ruins her tent.

At first, Fruits Basket appears to simply be a slice-of-life anime, until Yuki's other cousin Kyo arrives. As such, Tohru discovers that select members of the Sohma family, the three young men included, are cursed to turn into animals if embraced by a member of the opposite sex. As Tohru learns more about the Sohma clan and the somber secrets surrounding each member of the Zodiac, she also grows closer with Yuki and Kyo, the three beginning to heal from their pasts along the way. Although the original Fruits Basket anime was not well-received by Natsuki Takaya, the original manga's author, many fans to this day still find the first adaptation charming in its own way, especially due to the soundtrack. However, the 2019 remake of Fruits Basket, in comparison to the 2001 anime, is even more popular.

2002: The Hidden Leaf Village’s Legendary Hero Debuts in Naruto

Naruto Uzumaki Trains to Become the Next Hokage

Like many other children his age, pre-teen Naruto Uzumaki wants nothing more than to become a powerful and respected ninja. Unfortunately, many people in the Hidden Leaf Village (also known as Konoha) dislike Naruto, as he is the vessel of the powerful fox known as Nine-Tails. Naruto is unaware of this for several years, and cannot understand why so many of those around him act so scornfully. However, when the aspiring ninja's powers awaken, he gets the chance to train, bringing him one step closer to his dream of becoming the next Hokage.

However, training to become a ninja will not come easily, especially as Naruto has to learn to get along with Sakura and Sasuke, the other two ninjas taught by Kakashi Hatake. As time goes on, Naruto will not only learn to hone in his powers, but to truly become the hero that his world needs. Naruto has gained critical acclaim since its premiere, thanks to its unique narrative and cast of characters. The anime is often lighthearted and goofy at times, yet can also be surprisingly somber as well.

2003: Fans Met the Elric Brothers for the First Time in Fullmetal Alchemist

The Anime Finishes Before the Original Manga Is Completed

As Hiromu Arakawa was creating the rest of her bestselling manga, Fullmetal Alchemist, an anime adaptation was already in the works. Premiering in Japan in 2003, Fullmetal Alchemist would act as the very first animated version of Arakawa's story, and it was how many fans would first be introduced to Edward and Alphonse Elric. Like the manga, the story would start out by following the Elric brothers as they traveled across Amestris in order to find the legendary Philosopher's Stone.

However, about halfway through the series, the anime would divert from Arakawa's original storyline. At this turning point, characters exclusive to the 2003 anime are introduced, with many having very different storylines compared to their manga counterparts. Despite this, many characters, including the Homunculi only showcased in this version, remain fan-favorites. The anime also moves at a slower pace, allowing the audience to be able to better connect with the cast at the beginning.

2004: Ichigo Kurosaki’s Journey Begins in Bleach

A Teenager Who Can See Ghosts Becomes a Soul Reaper

Ichigo Kurosaki wanted his life to be a normal one, though his wish was one that sadly would not be granted in the narrative of the legendary anime Bleach. After all, the teenager had the unique ability to see and communicate with ghosts, and he felt that it was only necessary to help them when needed. However, Ichigo's powers would soon cause him to cross paths with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who was usually invisible to humans. After Ichigo ends up gaining Rukia's powers, he too must become a Soul Reaper and protect his home from enraged ghosts called Hollows.

What makes Ichigo's newfound role of fighting Hollows especially unique is how these foes are written in terms of their backstories. As it turns out, a Hollow is actually a lost soul, and their fate ultimately depends on what kind of person they were while they were alive. For instance, if a Hollow was a good person while living, then it is Ichigo's duty to purify them and send them to the Soul Society, where they may rest in peace. However, if that Hollow was evil, then Ichigo is required to send his foe to Hell. As Ichigo starts to get the hang of being a Soul Reaper, trouble begins to brew in the Soul Society, resulting in a great battle that the new Soul Reaper finds himself a part of.

2005: Ginko Navigates a World Unlike Any Other in Mushi-Shi

The Mysterious Mushi Master Helps People With Supernatural Problems

Based on Yuki Urushibara's manga of the same name, Mushi-Shi (also written as Mushishi) follows the journey of a mysterious individual called Ginko. In his world, fantastical beings known as Mushi exist alongside humanity, and tend to take on the appearance of bacteria-like organisms, though they are said to be even more primitive. Even so, the Mushi possess immense supernatural powers, abilities which affect the flora and fauna around them, even human beings. Ginko, as such, travels around Japan in order to help those who have been affected by the Mushi.

An important part of Mushi-Shi is how one must respect the Mushi, as they are simply trying to survive in the world like everyone else. However, Ginko is also adamant about protecting people from the Mushi's powers, especially as they can be deadly if not taken into account. The overall atmosphere of Mushi-Shi can indeed be gloomy at times, yet it is also a beautiful and hopeful series. Mushi-Shi also has an absolutely gorgeous soundtrack, one which truly transports the viewer to the world that Ginko travels through.

2006: Death Note Questions the Ethics of Godlike Powers

Brilliant Teenager Light Yagami Discovers the Abandoned Death Note

Teenager Light Yagami excels in his studies, yet this has caused him to become very bored. One fateful day, Light discovers a mysterious book titled "Death Note", and discovers that by writing a person's name in it, that individual will die. With this newfound power, Light decides to rid the world of criminals. As it turns out, the shinigami Ryuk had purposely left the Death Note in the mortal world, as he wished to see what would happen next.

Using the alias "Kira," Light continues to use the Death Note to try and create a "perfect" world. However, the local police force grows uneasy as more and more people suddenly die, and thus call upon the help of the genius detective L. As Light and L's paths cross, Light's role in the story begins to change, until he too starts to transform into a villain in his own right. A true staple of the psychological thriller genre, Death Note has remained famous even today thanks to its engaging storyline.

2007: Clannad & Its Sequel Remain Unforgettable Coming-of-Age Anime

Tomoya Okazaki’s Life Changes After Meeting Nagisa Furukawa

Based on Key's visual novel of the same name, Clannad follows the life of Tomoya Okazaki, a young man in his last year of high school. After his mother passed away when he was younger, Tomoya's father went into a downward spiral, resulting in a fight that would leave Tomoya's shoulder permanently injured. As he could no longer focus on his goal of joining his school's basketball team, Tomoya began to distance himself from others and from school in general, with many peers labeling him as a delinquent. Because of everything that has gone on in his life, Tomoya tends to view the world in a negative light. However, everything changes for the young man after he meets Nagisa Furukawa, another student who was unable to attend school for nine months due to an illness, and now must repeat her final year.

Although Tomoya and Nagisa had previously never met, their lives are forever intertwined with one another upon officially getting to know the other. In time, the two find themselves becoming one another's sources of support. For instance, while Tomoya agrees to help Nagisa revive the school's drama club despite her shyness, Nagisa's unique perspective of the world allows Tomoya to begin to see his life in a different, brighter light. What especially makes Clannad a legendary series even today is the second season, Clannad: After Story, which follows Tomoya and Nagisa after high school and as they start a family. What follows is a story filled to the brim with love itself, from complete heartbreak to sheer happiness.

2008: The Atmosphere and Soundtrack of Spice and Wolf Continue to Leave Audiences in Awe

Kraft Lawrence Agrees to Travel Alongside the Wolf Goddess Holo

In 2008, the characters of Isuna Hasekura's beloved light novel series Spice and Wolf were adapted into anime for the very first time. During the events of Spice and Wolf, calm-natured traveling merchant Kraft Lawrence finds his simple life forever changed after he suddenly encounters Holo, a wolf goddess that is related to the local town's harvest. As the years have gone by, the townsfolk have gradually begun to stop truly believing in Holo, causing the deity to become abandoned. Because of this, she asks Lawrence to take her back to her homeland of Yoistu, though she also wishes to travel to see how the world has changed over time.

Several fantasy anime tend to focus on magic and battling, yet this is not a common sight in the slightest in Spice and Wolf. Instead, the anime is very atmospheric and slow-paced at times, allowing the audience to truly get to know Lawrence and Holo, just as they are learning more about one another. The series also deals quite a lot with economics, an element of the narrative that Holo learns more about over time during her travels. Though the original adaptation remains beloved to this day, the anime sadly did not get another season or a proper ending, much like Soul Eater, another incredibly popular anime from this time period. Thankfully for Spice and Wolf fans, a new adaptation, Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf, is currently ongoing.

2009: Edward & Alphonse’s True Story Comes to Light in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Hiromu Arakawa’s Original Manga Is Fully Adapted in FMA:B

Though the 2003 anime adaptation is certainly still worthwhile in its own way, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the second adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's renowned shonen manga, remains even more popular. This anime begins at a very fast pace, to the point where it can be harder to connect with the characters at times compared to the original adaptation or the manga. However, once characters from the manga are introduced, the pacing begins to slow down, allowing the audience, alongside the characters, to better question their surroundings. Once everything falls into place, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood truly showcases how masterful of a story it is at its core.

Compared to the 2003 anime, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood remains faithful to the original manga. As such, the characters are able to develop in the way Arakawa planned out, resulting in some of the most thought-provoking storylines seen in the medium. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood also allows the audience to learn even more about the history of the world the Elric brothers live in, and how their own family is tied to forces that neither of them could have ever imagined. Each of these elements, from the characters to the themes explored, is why Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is stated by many fans to be the greatest anime of all time.