The 2000s was a great decade for anime, with many modern anime fans growing up on series that came to embody the era. A lot of classic anime doesn't feel as old as it really is, with so many 2000s series still feeling like they came out recently.
But so many anime movies that fans have come to love over the years are either turning 20 or well past that. 2006 saw some great shonen anime premieres, with some having a more lasting impact than others. With that in mind, here's a look back at some of the most notable shonen anime turning 20 this year.
Fire Force's latest episode makes Giovanni a true monster in Amaterasu
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School Rumble: 2nd term
One of the many forgotten comedy anime of the 2000s, School rumble is still a great watch two decades later. It may not have had the kind of success that other 2000s comedies enjoy Gintama or Azumanga Daioh, but it's still a fun series that does a good job of making viewers laugh.
School rumble is filled with its fair share of absurd, slapstick moments, but that's not all there is to the series. It takes some time to develop its cast, giving viewers a chance to get to know its core characters in between laughing at their exploits.
Aria the natural
The second season of the 2005 series, Aria the Animation, Aria the Natural picks up where Season 1 left off, with Akari still trying to become the highest ranking Undine (basically a sightseeing guide) in Neo-Venezia.
Aria the Natural certainly improves upon its predecessor, with solid character development for the show's lead cast, along with beautiful visuals. The ARIA anime is a great, relaxing watch for fans of slow-burn slice-of-life anime. It still looks great two decades later, so whether you're an old fan jumping back in or new to the series, the graphics and atmosphere will appeal to everyone.
Balance the critics' averages
Start
Balance the critics' averages
Light (6) Medium (8) Hard (10)
Negima!?
To get into Negima! series can be a bit confusing. There's the manga that ran from 2003 to 2012, and then there's a handful of OVAs and two anime adaptations. The first anime adaptation, Negima!begins as a retelling of the source material but eventually veers off into anime-only territory. 2006 series, Negima!?acts as an alternate version of the story, deviating entirely from the source material right from the start to tell its own story.
Although most fans enjoy the manga's story over the anime's alternate retelling, Negima!? is still a great series in its own right. It starts off a bit slow, but the series really finds its footing later in the run. Studio Shaft delivers solid animation with its signature style and handles the show's cast much better than its predecessor.
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Blackjack 21
One of the many comics written by the iconic Osamu Tezuka, Blackjack has been around since 1973, with various adaptations coming out over the years.
Blackjack 21 is a solid continuation of the 2004 series, with a slightly darker tone and overarching narrative compared to the 2004 series' episodic approach. Both the 2004 series and Blackjack 21 are great adaptations that bring out all that is great about the manga. Some fans weren't as into the overall story as others, but it still stands as a solid story that fans of the series should enjoy.
Gintama
Ginatama may seem like it's all about laughs, but the series has some great dramatic moments and action sequences outside of the usual slapstick laughs that most people know it for. Gin, Kagura, and Shimpachi are a great comedic trio, and when the series turns a little more serious, each member of the gig crew manages to rise to the occasion and show that they're more than just one-dimensional gag characters.
The Ginatama The anime was around for 12 years, and it ended just a year before the manga did. An anime film titled Gintama: The Very Final came out in 2021 and ended over a decade of laughs and emotional moments. Gintama the fans still have the spin-off, Mr. Ginpachi's Zany classwhich had an anime adaptation in the fall of 2025, if they want to see more of Gin and the rest of the gang.
D. Gråman
The D. Gråman manga is still going strong, with 29 volumes and over 250 chapters. Even though the manga has been around for over 20 years now, the anime never quite took off in the same way. The D. Gråman anime ran for 103 episodes from 2006 to 2008 and even got a sequel, D. Grey-man Hallow2016.
It may not have been the long-running, complete adaptation that the greatest shonen manga benefits from, but the 2006 D.Gray-man anime still gets a lot right and becomes a great experience in its own right. The music is fantastic, and the tone of the series really allows it to stand out from many of its contemporaries at the time.
Death Note
Death Note turns 20 this year, and October will mark two decades since Madhouse's adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba and
Takeshi Obata's hit manga aired. Death Note may not be as popular as it once was, but it's still a great watch.
Light may not be the most likable protagonist, but he's definitely an interesting character to follow. From his rise as Kira, to his memorable cat-and-mouse game with L, and getting his comeuppance, Light is a big part of why Death Note is such a fun, interesting watch. Add in a great score and a solid supporting cast, and you can see why it was popular when it came out.
