The 2000s was a great decade for anime, with many fans of modern anime growing up on series that epitomized the era. A lot of classic anime doesn't seem as old as it actually is, and so many series from the 2000s still feel like they only came out recently.
But so many anime that fans have grown to love over the years are either in their 20s or well past their prime. 2006 saw some amazing shonen anime premieres, some with 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.
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School Rumble: 2nd Semester
One of the many forgotten comedy anime of the 2000s, School rumble it's still a great watch two decades later. It may not have been as successful as other comedies of the 2000s Gintama or Azumanga Daioh, but it's still a great series that makes the audience laugh out loud.
School rumble It's full of absurd, grotesque moments, but that's not all there is to the series. It takes a while to develop its cast, giving the audience a chance to get to know its main characters in between laughing at their heroes.
Aria natural
The second season of the 2005 series, Aria Animation, Natural Aria picks up where Season 1 left off, with Akari still trying to become the top Undine dignitary (essentially a sightseeing guide) in Neo-Venezia.
Aria the Natural really improves on its predecessor, with some solid character development for the series' main cast, accompanied by beautiful visuals. The Aria anime is a great, relaxing watch for fans of slow-burning slice-of-life anime. Two decades later, it still looks great, so whether you're an old fan returning to the series or new to the series, the visuals and atmosphere will appeal to everyone.
Match the critics' averages
Start
Match the critics' averages
Easy (6) Medium (8) Hard (10)
Negima!?
Get into Negima! series can be a bit confusing. There's a manga that ran from 2003 to 2012, and then there's a handful of OVAs and two anime adaptations. The first anime adaptation, Negima!it begins as a retelling of the source material, but eventually veers into anime-only territory. 2006 series, Negima!?it serves as an alternate version of the story, completely diverging from the source material right from the start to tell its own story.
Although most fans enjoy the manga's narrative over the anime's alternate retelling, Negima!? is still a great series in its own right. It starts off a bit slow, but later on the series really finds its footing. Studio Shaft delivers solid animation with its signature style and handles the cast of the series much better than its predecessor.
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Black Jack 21
One of the many series written by the iconic Osamu Tezuka, Blackjack it has been around since 1973 and various adaptations have come out over the years.
Black Jack 21 is a solid follow-up to the 2004 series with a slightly darker tone and overarching narrative compared to the episodic approach of the 2004 series. Both the 2004 series and Black Jack 21 are great adaptations that highlight everything that is good about the manga. Some fans weren't as excited about the overarching narrative as others, but it's still a solid story that fans of the series should enjoy.
Gintama
Ginatama it may seem like it's all for laughs, but the series has some great dramatic moments and action sequences outside of the usual gags most know it for. Gin, Kagura, and Shimpachi make for a great comedic trio, and when the series gets a little serious, each member of the goon team rises to the occasion, showing that they're more than one-dimensional gag characters.
The Ginatama the anime existed for 12 years and ended just a year before the manga. Anime movie titled Gintama: The Very Final was released in 2021, capping off more than a decade of laughs and emotional moments. Gintama fans still have a spin-off, Mr. Ginpachi's Zana classwhich had an anime adaptation in the Fall 2025 season if they want to see more of Gin and the rest of the gang.
D.Gray-man
The D.Gray-man the manga is still going strong with 29 volumes and over 250 chapters. Despite the manga being around for over 20 years, the anime never really took off in the same way. The D.Gray-man the anime ran for 103 episodes from 2006 to 2008 and even got a sequel series, D. Gray-man Hallowin 2016.
It may not have been the long-term full adaptation that the greatest shonen manga benefits from, but the 2006 D.Gray-man anime still gets a lot going and ends up being a great experience in its own right. The music is amazing and the tone of the series really makes it stand out from many of its contemporaries at the time.
Death Note
Death Note turns 20 this year, and October marks two decades since Madhouse's adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba and
Takeshi Obata's hit manga aired. Death Note It 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 watch. From his rise as Kira to his unforgettable game of cat and mouse with L and getting his compensation, Light is a big part of why Death Note it's such a fun, interesting watch. Throw in an amazing score and a solid cast and you can see why it was a hit when it came out.
