The 2000's was an interesting decade for anime. Films like Ghost in the Shell and series like Cowboy Bebop had introduced anime for more mainstream fans. Shows like Pokemon and Yugioh targeted kids; and the scene exploded.
Increasing strides in technology allowed for easy sharing of anime, spawning a substantial subtitling community. Gone were the days when you had to wait months for anime to be released in your country (if at all;) now, the latest episodes of the most popular anime could be viewed days or even hours after the original Japanese airing. Streaming sites like Youtube also facilitated the spread of anime throughout the world. This was no longer a Japanese thing; anime fans were beginning to form a large international community the nineties could never have imagined.
Anime studios like Gainax would rehash their old series or make new ones. Anime creators would also show their hand in Hollywood productions, like in the Animatrix, or the sequence in Kill Bill. Genres would also shift; the harem anime of the nineties began to fade away. Ero-game adaptations would surface, as standards on late night TV began to loosen, shows would tend to show even more. Josei anime would find their niche in the noitaminA block on television.
The Shounen genre would find itself a cornerstone of the industry with the "Big Three" Shounen Anime: Bleach, Naruto and One Piece. These new shows would gain large fanbases of their own and push anime even further into the mainstream.
Aside from manga, light novels would also become a source of anime adaptation. Shows like Haruhi Suzumiya and Toradora! would find their beginnings as light novels, then become adapted as highly popular anime. Still, anime creators would find time to make original productions of their own, making some of the best creative works of the decade.
And so, without further ado, my favorite anime of the past ten (+1) years:
Paranoia Agent - one of the most unique anime series to come out of Japan, and one of the late Satoshi Kon's masterpieces. As with most of his works, the series tackles the issues of dreams, perceptions and reality and brings them to life in a way only an animated film can.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann - it has to be said that this anime epitomizes the meaning of "epic." Virtually a distillation of every hot-blooded mecha anime series into its purest, most pristine form. As it outdoes itself in over the top shenanigans with every episode, it never fails to deliver. Except probably for Garlock, although the movies correct this a bit.
Death Note - Although fans are divided over the second, lesser half of the series, the first half of Death Note is nothing short of awesome: a pure battle of wits between two supremely clever individuals. It really isn't about the notebook anymore; it's about the rivalry between these two men over their difference in ideology.
Honey and Clover - this series perfectly captured college life for me: the friends, the transcience, the pain, the happiness, the memories. You may notice the rest of the series in this list are either shounen or seinen series. This is the only title that even comes close to being shoujo (it's actually a Josei title) and there's a pretty fucking good reason why: because it kicks ass. Honey and Clover Sandwhiches, that's all I'm going to say about that.
Samurai Champloo - I would include Cowboy Bebop, but that was in 1998 so I can't lol. But this series, a fusion of hip-hop and jidaigeki/chambara culture, creates a great mishmash of both. References to samurai films of old and pop culture in general abound, but one could say the interactions between the three main characters between themselves and with others solidify what is a great series.
Akagi/Kaiji - I'd like to lump these two series by Nobuyuki Fukumoto together. Although not brimming with explosions or over the top mecha battles, these two series erupt with sheer manliness from start to finish. While Kaiji is the kind of poor bastard you'd want to buy a drink, Akagi is the kind of person that you'd cheer on for the sheer reason that the man is freaking insane. For some reason, these two gambling series have a strong (implied?) anti-gambling message. Or maybe it's just me.
Mushishi - Bar none the best anime series of the decade for me. Each tale tells of the human condition through strange creatures neither animal nor human. The show itself feels like some vibrant, quiet organism, thrumming with life. A show that deserved as many seasons that it could get, but settled for 26 amazing episodes.
Genshiken - an anime about anime (and a manga about manga... and I guess about anime too.) Like its spiritual predecessor Otaku no Video, Genshiken is an anime about anime and manga fans. Like me! (and probably you?) But take away the anime and manga, and this show is about a group of people engaging in a hobby that they love, a hobby that is a fundamental part of their lives.
Monster - What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be a good person? What does it mean to be evil? Naoki Urasawa delivers with a rich and complex tale layered with interesting characters and questions that burn through to your moral center. THe awesome thing is, minor characters or not, each one has a story behind them, influencing their actions. Would you agree with Dr. Tenma's actions? Would you agree with Johan's?
Code Geass - Despite the second season, which most deemed a flaming trainwreck, this anime, a sort of bildungsroman of one's ascent from obscurity to total world domination, is pretty engrossing from start to over-the-top finish. One might think of the ascent of emperors or great conquerors while viewing the entirety of the show. Oh, and it has robots on roller skates. ROLLER SKATES.Special Mention: Rebuild of Evangelion - The original series made such a huge impact on my teenage life that I still consider it a major influence in my tastes and likes today. The revamp of the series, helmed by a more mature (and slightly less depressed) Hideaki Anno, reflects on how I have changed from an angsty teen into a slightly less angsty young adult. lol
Honorable mentions: Eureka 7, Eden of the East
Next: Hollywood!
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