The 2000s were the heyday of animation, and many modern anime fans grew up on series that embodied that era. Many classic anime don't feel as old as they actually are, and many 2000s series still feel as recent as they did.
However, many of the anime that fans have come to love over the years have reached their 20th anniversary or are well past it. 2006 saw some amazing shonen anime premiere, some having a more lasting impact than others. With that in mind, let's take a look back at some of the most notable shonen anime celebrating their 20th anniversary this year.
The latest episode of Fire Force makes Giovanni the true monster of Amaterasu.
The latest episode of Fire Force makes Giovanni one of the series' most memorable villains.
School Rumble: 2nd semester
One of the forgotten comedy animations of the 2000s school rumble Even after 20 years, it's still a great watch. It may not have been as successful as other 2000s comedies. Gintama Or Azumanga Daioh, but it's still a fun series that makes viewers laugh.
school rumble It's full of absurd and slapstick moments, but that's not all the series is about. It takes some time to develop the cast, giving viewers a chance to get to know the key characters while laughing at their exploits.
Aria the Natural
The second season of the series in 2005; Aria the Animation, Aria the Natural Akari is still working to become the highest rank of Undine (basically a tour guide) in Neo-Venezia.
Aria the Natural really improves on its predecessor, with solid character development for the series' main cast along with beautiful visuals. that aria The anime is a great, relaxing watch for fans of slow-paced, slice-of-life anime. It still looks great 20 years later, so the visuals and atmosphere will appeal to anyone, whether you're a returning fan or new to the series.
Balance the critic average
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Balance the critic average
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Negima!?
get into Negima! The series can be a bit confusing. There is a manga serialized from 2003 to 2012, as well as a handful of OVAs and two anime adaptations. first animated adaptation, Negima!It starts off as a retelling of the source material, but eventually moves into animation-specific territory. 2006 series, Negima!?serves as an alternate version of the story and tells its own story, completely departing from the source material from the start.
Although most fans prefer the manga's narrative over the anime's alternate adaptation, Negima!? It's still a great series in its own right. Although it starts off a little slow, the series really finds its footing as it runs. Studio Shaft delivers solid animation in its signature style and handles the series' cast much better than its predecessors.
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blackjack 21
One of Osamu Tezuka's representative works. blackjack It's been around since 1973 and has seen various adaptations over the years.
blackjack 21 is a solid continuation of the 2004 series, with a darker tone and overall narrative compared to the episodic approach of the 2004 series. 2004 series and blackjack 21 It's a great adaptation that highlights everything that's good about the manga. While some fans didn't like the overall narrative as much as others, it still remains a solid story that fans of the series should enjoy.
Gintama
Kinatama It might all seem like a joke, but the series has some great dramatic moments and action sequences that are different from the generic slapstick shenanigans it's best known for. Gin, Kagura, and Shimpachi make a great comedic trio, and as the series gets a bit more serious, each member of the odd job team rises to the occasion, showing that they are more than just one-dimensional comedy characters.
that Kinatama The anime ended just a year before the manga ended, which ran for about 12 years. An animated film titled Gintama: Final Moments Released in 2021, it ended over 10 years of laughter and emotional moments. Gintama Fans still have spin-offs, Teacher Kinpachi's Weird ClassIf you want to see more of Gin and the rest of the gang, there was an anime adaptation airing in the fall 2025 season.
D.Gray Man
that D.Gray Man The manga is still going strong with 29 volumes and over 250 chapters. Even though the manga has been around for over 20 years, the anime has never succeeded in the same way. that D.Gray Man The anime ran for 103 episodes from 2006 to 2008 and also had a sequel series. D.Grayman Hollow2016.
It may not be the long-term, full-blown adaptation that the biggest shonen manga would benefit from, but the 2006 D. Gray-man anime still did a lot of good and ended up being a great experience in its own right. The music is amazing, and the tone of the series makes it stand out from many of its contemporaries at the time.
death note
death note This October marks the 20th anniversary of Madhouse's adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba.
Takeshi Obata's popular manga was aired. death note It may not be as popular as it once was, but it's still a great watch.
Wright may not be the most likable protagonist, but he's certainly an interesting character to follow. From growing up as Kira, to the memorable game of cat-and-mouse with L, and his introduction, Light is a big part of the reason why. death note It's a really fun and interesting watch. Add to this the incredible score and solid supporting cast, and you can see why this work was so popular when it came out.
