They took the anime scene by storm! Join Ashley as we look over the anime of each year that fans couldn't get enough of
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00:00 Okiro!
00:01 Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the series that won the hearts of anime fans from the turn of the century onwards.
00:16 Tatoe!
00:17 Aiuchi ni natta to shite mo!
00:20 2000, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters. All together now!
00:26 It's time to d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-duel!
00:30 While its success likely comes as a by-product of its symbiotic relationship with the card game that launched alongside it,
00:38 Yu-Gi's days battling his way through Duelist Kingdom were as campy as they were entertaining.
00:43 Forced to compete in a tournament in order to save the soul of his grandfather,
00:48 Yu-Gi and his ancient Egyptian ghost bro entranced young viewers everywhere
00:53 with the game of Duel Monsters, its epic creature designs, nebulous rulebook, and of course, its iconic dub.
01:01 My grandpa's deck has no pathetic cards, Kaiba, but it does contain...
01:07 the unstoppable Exodia!
01:10 While it was very much a show of its time, you won't find an anime fan out there who hasn't wanted to own a blue-eyes white dragon at least once in their life.
01:19 2001, Fruit Basket.
01:22 "Wait, stop, don't fire!"
01:24 While its modern remake arguably did everything better and is overall a much more faithful adaptation,
01:35 credit still deserves to be given to its initial attempt,
01:39 which introduced many to what some consider one of the pinnacles of the shoujo genre.
01:45 Where Sweet and Simple Girl struck by tragedy, Toru's meeting and eventual integration with the Soma family
01:53 proved itself to be a melting pot of slice-of-life goodness, shockingly dark storytelling,
01:59 as well as all the romantic tension you could want.
02:02 Ask your parents if they remember the great fishy war between Kyo and Yuki.
02:07 "So, it looks like Kyo was the loser today, was he?"
02:10 "Yes, but I'll still help him clean up."
02:12 2002, Naruto.
02:15 "I'll be your shadow!"
02:17 "I'll change your face!"
02:25 The ninja that assisted in guiding the shounen genre into the mainstream,
02:30 Naruto's popularity and placement in the anime landscape can still be felt today,
02:36 but even in its early stages, it captured the attention of the masses
02:40 with its abundance of flashy fight scenes, an endearingly expansive cast,
02:45 and a lead whose dogged determination set the trend for many a protagonist to come.
02:50 But to win its awesome initial arcs as well as the birth of the now infamous Naruto run,
03:03 you'd have to be under a genjutsu to not recognize how much of an impact this shinobi had upon release.
03:09 "Shinobi!"
03:11 2003, Full Metal Alchemist.
03:18 Despite branching out into its own narrative away from its beloved source material,
03:23 the Elric brothers and their journey to recover their bodies had such incredible bones to it
03:28 that audiences couldn't help but become enraptured by their struggle.
03:32 Between the world-building, use of alchemy and beautiful bonds formed between its cast,
03:37 everything about this initial adaptation was a masterclass as far as newcomers were concerned,
03:43 and even with hindsight, the shine certainly hasn't dulled,
03:47 to the extent that many still swear by this being the superior version.
03:51 "They're wrong, though."
03:52 "Maybe this is a more fitting end."
03:55 [Gunshot]
03:57 [Music]
04:08 2004, Bleach.
04:10 Another of the "Big Three", one that showed immense promise even with its humble beginnings,
04:16 echoing many of the tropes that shounen fans had come to adore
04:20 in the form of its sword-swinging, spirit-sealing punk of a main character, Ichigo.
04:25 [Music]
04:31 [Speaking Japanese]
04:35 Bleach's first arc may have seemed a tad slow compared to those that followed,
04:40 but after laying down its roots in its central cast,
04:43 it exploded to frantic heights thanks to the beast that was the Soul Society arc.
04:49 [Speaking Japanese]
04:57 Its sophomore season was so phenomenal in terms of developing the world and the stakes
05:02 that it was enough to lock in long-term fans for the sequel series 20 years later.
05:08 [Speaking Japanese]
05:15 2005, Yurika 7.
05:18 In a market as crowded as the mecha genre,
05:21 you really have to do something to stand out amongst all the noise and robot parts.
05:26 Yurika 7 did just that, and in doing so, brought with it a level of charm, intrigue,
05:32 and resulting adoration that you rarely see these days.
05:36 "I feel like I have to do something to make up for it."
05:39 [Music]
05:41 "Amazing! She is so nice!"
05:44 Giant robots on surfboards is one of the most radical ideas ever,
05:48 but what really stole the hearts of fans was the way in which the budding love of its central duo
05:53 was pitted against the war and intolerance of the world around them.
05:57 The series found so much success and goodwill that fans have since become very protective of it,
06:03 hence the rabid hatred and refusal to acknowledge inferior and detrimental spin-offs such as Astral Ocean.
06:11 [Screaming]
06:20 2006, Death Note.
06:23 Swapping fists for mind games, Death Note was a juggernaut of a series that dared to ask questions
06:29 of morality, justice, and when does a noble cause descend into rabid narcissism.
06:35 [Music]
06:41 In an effort to save the world from itself, genius student Light Yagami harnesses the power of the Death Note,
06:48 eliminating anyone with but a stroke of the pen.
06:51 And that's when the enigmatic detective L steps in, leading to one of anime's greatest cat-and-mouse games.
06:59 Beyond the thrilling twists and tightly-based narrative, what kept Death Note's name in everybody's mouths
07:06 was the way in which fans found themselves debating the manner in which Light was committing his crusade
07:12 and whether or not he was justified.
07:14 Any series that can inspire that level of conversation is certainly doing something right.
07:20 [Music]
07:27 2007, Gurren Lagann.
07:29 [Speaking Japanese]
07:34 Yes, it was another space-faring rebellion combined with giant robots again,
07:39 the only difference being just how bombastic it turned out to be.
07:43 Gurren Lagann is the epitome of "go big or go home" in just about every regard.
07:49 From its heroes, its villains, its ladies, all the way to its finale.
07:55 It not only set the standards of both excellence and madness that would lead to the creation of Studio Trigger,
08:01 but it was also a trailblazer for anime in terms of just how wild one could get with their premise.
08:07 No wonder it's remembered so fondly.
08:10 [Speaking Japanese]
08:15 2008, Soul Eater.
08:17 [Speaking Japanese]
08:26 Yes, its ending will live on in infamy forevermore,
08:30 but everything before that little slip-up was a great ride that still earned it quite the following.
08:36 Focusing on a group of weapon-wielding students who hunt down witches and monsters by order of death itself,
08:43 Soul Eater is equal parts quirky and savage in the best ways possible,
08:48 with the animation lending itself to some wild throwdowns.
08:52 We dare say that should they ever decide to re-adapt it and stick to the original source material,
08:58 there's enough fervor left behind from its first attempt to bring the faithful clamoring back.
09:03 [Speaking Japanese]
09:10 2009, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood.
09:12 Not only is it considered one of the best anime remakes of all time,
09:17 but to many, it's the greatest anime of all time, plain and simple.
09:22 Of course it was popular.
09:24 [Speaking Japanese]
09:30 Bringing back the Elric brothers for a faithful adaptation of the beloved manga,
09:35 Brotherhood didn't skip a single beat when it comes to the narrative, animation, and performances,
09:41 resulting in a journey with a pitch-perfect ending that wrapped everything together seamlessly.
09:47 Something that's proving to be a rarity these days.
09:50 Pair that with the ravenous fanbase that it accrued courtesy of the 2003 adaptation,
09:56 and this thing was practically destined to succeed.
09:59 [Speaking Japanese]
10:09 2010, Angel Beats
10:12 [Speaking Japanese]
10:16 High school, limbo, aspirations, regrets, weapons, young love.
10:21 One wouldn't expect all these would go together, but in the hands of Angel Beats,
10:26 it became one of those series that was able to balance seemingly everything.
10:31 It made us laugh, it made us weep, it offered that comfy slice-of-life goodness so many fans crave,
10:37 even the occasional bit of bullet hell.
10:40 The result was, for many, a viewing experience that left us emotionally drained, destroyed,
10:46 and yet all too happy for the experience.
10:49 Oh God, here comes the waterworks again.
10:52 [Speaking Japanese]
10:59 2011, Hunter x Hunter
11:01 [Speaking Japanese]
11:05 By the time that this now-legendary anime aired, the shonen formula was becoming pretty stale.
11:12 Everyone knew what to expect, and then came along a kid named Gon,
11:16 and an unbreakable desire to become a hunter, and enough strength to make it a reality.
11:22 [Speaking Japanese]
11:32 While it still adhered to all of those conventions that had come before it,
11:36 the second attempt at adapting Hunter x Hunter was operating on another level.
11:41 The intricacies of its world, characters, and combat blew collective minds.
11:46 The richness of its storytelling kept audiences captivated across over a hundred episodes,
11:52 and has since left them salivating for a continuation they're unlikely to ever see.
11:58 [Speaking Japanese]
12:07 2012, Sword Art Online
12:10 Some love it, some hate it, everyone was talking about it back in the day.
12:15 While later seasons and a higher budget would certainly boost its reputation,
12:20 the original SAO outing was one everyone loved to dunk on,
12:24 mostly for the same reasons everyone else enjoyed it.
12:27 [Speaking Japanese]
12:34 The romance between Kirito and Asuna, the logic of the gaming world, the harem subplots,
12:40 it's like it was born to divide the fanbase.
12:43 And yet, audiences kept coming back for more.
12:46 No matter your stance on all things SAO, it certainly carved a niche for itself in the anime sphere.
12:53 [Speaking Japanese]
12:57 2013, Attack on Titan
13:00 Before the mystery in the basement, before the secrets of Emir,
13:04 before every other plot point that would go on to define this series as an absolute masterpiece in its later seasons,
13:11 Attack on Titan was still a cultural explosion,
13:14 one that drew the attention and adoration from all who gazed upon its blood-soaked world.
13:20 [Speaking Japanese]
13:27 The first season alone was a rollercoaster with a portrayal of a dismal future
13:32 where humanity's last bastion comes under siege from giant humanoids.
13:37 All the while, a vengeful pup named Eren begins his ruinous road to revenge.
13:43 There was no escaping this series back in the day,
13:46 even before it transcended into the stuff of animated legends.
13:50 [Speaking Japanese]
13:53 2014, Haikyuu!
13:59 [Speaking Japanese]
14:05 There is sports anime, and then there's Haikyuu.
14:08 With volleyball serving as the framework,
14:11 the journey of Karasuno's underdogs as they endeavour to reclaim their past glories soared above others in its field.
14:18 The enthusiasm of its players, the high-octane back-and-forth of its matches,
14:23 from its crushing defeats to its euphoric wins,
14:26 this series hit all the boxes and only seemed to reach higher heights with every match taken.
14:32 [Speaking Japanese]
14:37 [Speaking Japanese]
14:43 It can't be understated how big of a deal the lads' time on the court turned out to be.
14:48 2015, One Punch Man.
14:58 [Speaking Japanese]
15:05 Fans of all things capes were treated very well during the 2010s,
15:09 and kicking off the trend was a certain hero able to wipe out just about any threat with a singular blow.
15:16 Something of a deconstruction of the superhero tropes many had come to know,
15:21 Saitama's career as the strongest hero that no one acknowledges was primed for popularity
15:28 due to a combination of wild comedy and jaw-dropping battles
15:32 that pushed the visual quality into the stratosphere.
15:36 Even if it lost some of its luster going forward,
15:39 all anyone could talk about upon his debut was Saitama and his insta-killing fist bump.
15:45 [Speaking Japanese]
16:00 2016, My Hero Academia.
16:03 [Speaking Japanese]
16:07 As we said, superhero fever was running amok,
16:12 with this series in particular capturing the hearts of fans everywhere
16:16 through its loving homage to the comics of old,
16:19 all the while putting a modern spin on it courtesy of its high school setting,
16:24 creativity of its quirks, and the arcs of its adolescent avengers,
16:28 especially superfan-turned-Chosen One, Deku.
16:32 The innocence and affection in which My Hero Academia presented itself
16:37 as a match made in heaven for those who liked their anime,
16:40 with a bit of Marvel flair to it,
16:43 means it has continued to endure even from its early days in the classroom.
16:47 [Speaking Japanese]
16:57 2017, Black Clover.
17:00 [Speaking Japanese]
17:04 Much like its lead character, this series had everything going against it.
17:09 Another fantasy-laced anime with a down-and-out protagonist who liked to scream a lot?
17:15 What's so special about that? Well, we soon learned.
17:18 Aston Company certainly didn't reinvent the wheel when it came to high-fantasy anime,
17:23 complete with spells, swords, and the power of friendship,
17:27 but there was something about it that struck a chord with fans.
17:30 Maybe it was the relentless action, how light on filler it was,
17:34 or perhaps we all fell victim to Aston's simple charm
17:38 as he strove to become the Wizard King.
17:41 He certainly made a believer out of us.
17:43 [Speaking Japanese]
17:51 2018, that time I got reincarnated as a slime.
17:56 Amongst the dregs of the Isekai apocalypse, a lone champion emerged.
18:01 A squishy, highly-absorbent champion.
18:04 That's right, out of all the series featuring average Joes being sent to fantastical kingdoms,
18:10 Remuru's story stood tall as the one that garnered the most intrigue.
18:15 [Speaking Japanese]
18:20 It certainly did wonders, blending together the joy of watching an all-powerful blob
18:24 build a nation of peace for all monster kind,
18:27 before switching it up to some rather brutal fight scenes.
18:31 Hey, just because he's a slime doesn't mean he doesn't know how to throw down.
18:36 And that's the dichotomy that guaranteed Remuru some serious staying power.
18:41 [Speaking Japanese]
18:48 2019, Demon Slayer, Kimetsu no Yaiba.
18:52 [Speaking Japanese]
18:55 Like a bat out of hell, this series blazed onto the anime scene
19:02 and eviscerated all in its wake, and fans couldn't get enough of it.
19:07 Thanks to Ufotable's god-tier animation, we were given some of the most beautiful battles
19:12 the medium has ushered in.
19:14 All helmed by the adorably optimistic Tanjiro, as he pursues the life of a Demon Slayer
19:20 in order to save his sister from her cursed fate.
19:23 The Taisho period setting combined with some truly marvellous character work
19:28 and again, the absurd budget, ensured Demon Slayer as a modern classic in the making.
19:34 [Speaking Japanese]
19:42 2020, Jujutsu Kaisen.
19:45 Arguably MAPPA's masterpiece, this blood-soaked portrait of action, horror, shounen conventions
19:52 and bleak storytelling rocked the anime world upon release, and in many ways has left it reeling.
19:58 [Speaking Japanese]
20:10 On one side, you've got the battle between Jujutsu sorceress and curses,
20:15 complete with their blinding fights that don't skip out on the ferocity and grisly aftermath.
20:21 And on the other, you've got the unsaned thirst for the likes of Satoru Gojo,
20:25 who quickly established himself as a tour de force of a character and anime's most sought-after husband.
20:32 To say it's lost not an ounce of steam or interest would be an understatement.
20:37 [Speaking Japanese]
20:40 2021, Tokyo Revengers.
20:48 Delinquents, time travel and a wimpy lead character unable to turn off the waterworks.
20:54 Put all that together and you've got yourself a winning formula.
20:58 After discovering an old flame of his has died,
21:01 Takamichi finds himself suddenly able to travel back into the days of his youth.
21:06 Dead set on using his new gift to change the future.
21:09 [Speaking Japanese]
21:12 But in order to do so, he's got to join the most feared delinquent gang of all of them.
21:20 The central mystery is certainly compelling,
21:23 and with the branching paths caused by Takamichi meddling with timelines,
21:28 along with its titanic supporting characters such as Mikey and Drakken,
21:33 there was plenty of riveting content here for fans of anime hoodlums.
21:37 [Speaking Japanese]
21:40 2022, Chainsaw Man.
21:49 Few anime in recent years have had the kind of hype generated akin to Chainsaw Man, and with good reason.
21:56 [Gasping]
21:59 The manga was groundbreaking in its insane premise,
22:03 and the adaptation's execution certainly lived up to the madness that is Denji's life.
22:08 [Speaking Japanese]
22:11 Going from a vagabond to a hybrid demon capable of turning his body into a slew of chainsaws,
22:24 Denji finds himself under the leash of the mysterious Makima.
22:28 As he goes around slicing up demons for the good of all,
22:32 and to indulge in whatever decadent needs he can come up with.
22:36 As bizarre as it might sound, Chainsaw Man was a breath of fresh air
22:40 for all looking for a series with a tad more spice to its storytelling.
22:45 [Speaking Japanese]
22:48 2023, Free Ran, Beyond Journey's End.
22:53 Enchanting, meditative...
22:55 [Speaking Japanese]
22:58 Insightful, hilarious, heartbreaking...
23:05 The tale of the ageless mage following the end of her party's quest to defeat the Demon Lord
23:11 captured all our hearts, and subsequently split them open
23:15 as it delved into the nuances of her being destined to outlive all her companions.
23:20 Peppered with some top-tier magical battles...
23:23 [Speaking Japanese]
23:26 And excellent development between Free Ran and her allies, in both the past and future,
23:33 and you'll have yourself a very special series that demands to be experienced.
23:38 [Speaking Japanese]
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24:03 2024, Solo Leveling.
24:06 There are popular manhwa, and then there's Solo Leveling,
24:10 arguably one of the most decorated and beloved power fantasies out there.
24:14 Many were in doubt that the adaptation could be pulled off
24:17 unless it was being done by the top echelons of the anime industry.
24:22 Mercifully, what A-1 Pictures managed to pull off
24:25 was just about as close to a perfect representation of the source material
24:29 as we're ever likely to get.
24:32 [Speaking Japanese]
24:35 Going from the weakest hunter of all,
24:44 to an absolute unit able to ascend to greater levels of strength with every victory,
24:50 Jun'ou's gradual rise to become the most powerful entity in existence
24:54 already had us locked in and salivating for more.
24:58 If they do justice to the following arc, the anime community might explode.
25:03 [Explosion]
25:05 [Speaking Japanese]
25:11 What's your favourite anime of the last 20 years?
25:15 Let us know in those comments below.
25:18 [Explosion]
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25:32 [Outro Music]
25:43 [BLANK_AUDIO]