A turn of a century, a millennium, and a style of anime. The 2000s changed a lot of things for many people from the release of the first iPod, to MySpace and Lady Gaga. And in anime, there was an explosion as some of the biggest shonen anime likeNaruto, Bleach,andOne Piece,were colloquially dubbed asThe Big Three.
However, there were shonen anime that did not get the same level of fame or were even given the chance to be fully adapted into an anime, perpetually left for the rest of time to be manga that people may or may not read. Since the early 2000s, anime has developed a lot with new Sakuga techniques and the globalization of online streaming services garnering more viewers each and every year. Some of these anime took ideas that were quintessentially Japanese and bizarre, and in itself an artistic expression of the author’s beliefs, thoughts and internal philosophical debates sharing them with the world.
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Shonen anime is one of themost popular categories of animeand contains many sub-genres for all different types of people to enjoy different and intriguing stories. And out of the ones aired in the 2000s, a lot of them deserve more recognition and a better chance of finding success today.
8Claymore
A dark fantasy series created by Norihiro Yagi and released in 2007. One day in an unassuming humble village ayoumaappears, astrong demonthat thirsts for human flesh. Before it can slaughter the townspeople and feast on their meat, aClaymorearrives, humanity’s answer to the demonic scourge. A half-human, half-youma female warrior tasked to smite their evil enemies.
This anime is considered a lesson in power-scaling and is a masterpiece in its own right, however now with the manga completed and chapters numbering over the 200s, the series could do with a complete anime.
7InuYasha
Beginning in October of the year 2000,InuYashawas a long-running anime series created by Rumiko Takahashi. The protagonist, Kagomi Higurashi, is celebrating her 15th birthday when she is pulled by a demon into the old well in her family’s shrine. She is brought to the past where the land is rife with demons who are searching for her to acquire something in her possession:The Shikon Jewel.On her journey, she meets her protector, the half-demon Inuyasha. He reluctantly protects her when they encounter enemies, but in the midst of battleThe Shikon Jewelshatters, and they must venture out to assemble it again.
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One of the earlier anime of the 2000s, which would benefit the most from updated animation techniques, color palettes, and high-fidelity textures. Plus, it would allow the animation studio to streamline episodes as the old show often recycled a lot of footage to try and ramp up the emotional and narrative impacts of some scenes.
6The Law of Ueki
One of the more out-there animes that did not receive a lot of commercial success, however, it boasts an incredibly unique magic system that fans may enjoy together. Sharingsimilarities with power systemssuch asNeninHunter x Hunter (2011),where each character has a unique ability that evolves as the series progresses,The Law of Uekimay find success with a faithful reboot.
With a likable cast and an interesting power system, this anime has aspects of classic battle shonen anime. In retrospect, the story could get bogged down at times and a new adaptation can cut away at the extraneous narratives making for a solid modern adaptation.
5Rave Master: Groove Adventure Rave
BeforeEden ZeroandFairy Tail,there was another series that Hiro Mashima created back in the early oughts. Fans of his particular works will recognize a lot of shared designs and motifs that appeared in his later works that originated in this earlier creation.
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In the world ofGroove Adventure Rave,there existed powerful stones calledDark Bringsthat brought about theOverdrive,a cataclysmic event that destroyed a tenth of the world. In the world’s present-day the organization,Demon Card,is trying to recover the stones for their own nefarious means. The hero of the story, Haru Glory, has inherited the titleRave Masterand wields his blade and the legendaryRave Stones(the only thing capable of destroying the Dark Brings) to stop them in their tracks.
4Kekkaishi
A sleeper hit of the battle anime world, reminiscent ofShaman KingandNurarihyon No Mago, however with its own particular flavor. This anime takes on the themes ofOnmyojiand spirits as seen in other popular anime. It follows two heroes and childhood friends, Yoshimura Sumimura and Tokine Yukimura, who areKekkaishi(Barrier Masters). They are charged with destroying evil creatures calledAyakashiwho sometimes cross over into the human world in order to feast on the energy seeping from theKarasumori, a seat of power (unfortunately) located on their high school grounds.
The anime had 52 episodes and left on a pretty important cliffhanger that has been hanging over the heads of anime fans since 2008. There weremany chapters of the mangathat did not get the anime treatment and now would be as good a time as any.
3Elfen Lied
A cult classic and if one hasn’t watched it then they’ve heard of it, at least. This anime suggestion strays a bit older with more violence and darker themes than other anime (so we might be venturing a little into seinen territory).Elfen Liedfollows the story of Lucy, aDioclonius,a human with two small horns on their head and invisible telekinetic arms. Her otherworldliness leads to her capture and subsequent subjection to government experimentation.
After she was tortured in the experiments, she escapes, receiving a head wound in the process and splitting her personality into that of a helpless little girl and a ruthless killer. She is found by two college students who end up embroiled in a shadowy world of conspiracy and government secrecy.
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The series was very short with only 13 episodes, and it did not remain faithful to the original source material, splitting the narrative off from what Lynn Okamoto intended. Updating the animation and finishing off the story would be a massive boon to old fans and new anime enthusiasts alike.
2Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
What do you get when you combine high school, celestial bodies,the mafia, and a talking baby? It’s either a fever dream orKatekyo HItman Reborn!,an anime that ran for 203 episodes and finished airing in 2010. A likable underdog of a hero, Tsunayoshi Sawada, finds out he has inherited the boss’s seat in the Vongola mafia family and is destined to become their Ninth boss. With his criminal affiliate and infantile mentor, Reborn, he learns how to be a leader and defeat other syndicates that threaten his new Mafioso life and his new position as a Don.
Even with its over 200-episode run, the animenever completely animated the mangaand had a few arcs left before the story was fully concluded. A remake of the original series may be too much to ask for, however completing the anime would be a dream come true, especially with modern animationfighting techniques and the unique powerson show in theReborn!world.
1Soul Eater
Atsushi Ohkubo’s second manga he ever created and arguably one of his best (obviously in contention withFire Force)it took on huge narratives around the metaphysics of the soul and combined it well withgothic-comic stylingsthat shows some of the best world-building, and intriguing power systems, of the shonen world.
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Sadly, the anime wasovershadowed by the endingwhich it coins to bebrave,but comes off as foolhardy and rushed. A faithful adaptation of the manga would be great, especially as his other anime successes. Plus, some of his best narrative and fighting work was part of the last arcs of the story, and it would be an injustice for it not to be showcased.
