The 7 Most Unwatched Shonen Anime of the 2000s, Ranked

Some of the most successful shonen anime came out in the 2000s, such as Masashi Kishimoto NarutoTite Kubo's Bleachand Hiromu Arakawa Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. It goes without saying that the 2000s was one of the best times for shonen fans, experiencing some of the most epic moments in anime, from character transformations to incredible story arcs.

We hate to break it to you, but the 2000s also produced its fair share of weaker shonen anime that didn't match the quality of its most iconic series. Unfortunately, most of them Shonen anime from the 2000s are absolutely unwatchable today, as time has further revealed their mediocre storytelling, poor animation, and lack of originality.

Gokusen

• Release year: 2004
• Number of Episodes: 13 episodes

At some point, there was a trend in anime where high school teachers became the protagonists of action, comedy, and stage shows. One of them is Gokusenwhich introduced viewers to Kumiko Yamaguchi, a passionate teacher with a not-so-ordinary background. After all, she was not only a teacher at an all-boys campus, but also the secret leader of a yakuza clan.

While the premise itself is interesting, Gokusen it comes out as a generic copy of infamous Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO)which implements the delinquent-teacher concept much better. Instead of watching Gokusen's 13 episodes, it's worth revisiting Eikichi Onizuka and his unforgettable journey in GTO. Also a Japanese live action adaptation Gokusen is much more entertaining and memorable than its anime counterpart.

Shakugan No Shana

• Release year: 2005
• Number of Episodes: 24 episodes

When Shakugan No Shana When it first came out, many fans praised it for its incredible soundtrack, visuals and exciting story. Shana is celebrated as a strong female lead, which was rare for many anime at the time, making the series stand out in a genre dominated by male protagonists.

Re-watching over time Shakugan No Shana it reveals flaws that were not apparent during the first run. From the indecisive male lead to the unnecessary love triangle, the anime could have been better without these predictable tropes. The fights, on the other hand, may be flashy and still worth seeing for crimson Shan, but there are other aspects of the anime that can easily turn viewers off.

The Prince of Tennis

• Release year: 2001
• Number of Episodes: 178 episodes

When it comes to sports anime that heavily features tennis, The Prince of Tennis by Konomi Takeshi is one of the first titles that comes to mind. Ryoma Echizen is a tennis prodigy who joins Team Seigaku to compete against other teams from qualifiers to nationals. Like any other sports anime, it has training and tournament arcs with the main team until they reach their dream championship.

While the journey to the top is inspiring, the number of episodes fans have had to watch to get there can be overwhelming. In addition, almost every match in The Prince of Tennis it features the same reaction scenes from onlookers and the same camera angles, making watching the games exhausting. Not to mention, the techniques used by the players in this series are so over the top that the matches start to feel more like supernatural battles than actual tennis games.

before we forget The Prince of Tennis is still ongoing, so getting into this long-running anime from the very beginning can be a daunting task.

Buzzer Beater

• Release year: 2005
• Number of Episodes: 13 episodes

Buzzer Beater is another sports and shonen anime that was released in 2000. It has an ambitious plot, pitting ordinary basketball players against alien athletes in an intergalactic league. Sounds exciting, right? However, the anime never quite lived up to its potential, as the execution of the sport is surprisingly flat for such a bold premise.

Buzzer Beater it could have been another great basketball anime po Slam Dunkbut ultimately fell short of expectations. This anime would hardly be worth watching considering how badly it has aged compared to other sports anime.

Ikki Tousen

• Release year: 2003
• Number of Episodes: 13 episodes

Ikki Tousen is a cult classic guilty pleasure anime that features anime girls fighting each other in a battle royale style. From one episode to the next, viewers are treated to intense fight sequences, over-the-top action, and of course, an endless parade of fanservice moments that range from cheeky to downright absurd.

As for the story, Ikki Tousen it can't offer much in the way of depth or meaningful character development. The series was clearly marketed towards ecchi fans, favoring fanservice over narrative coherence. For those curious about Ikki Tousen, it's best approached as a guilty pleasure spectacle that entertains on a surface level.

Ragnarok animation

• Release year: 2004
• Number of Episodes: 26 episodes

For a long time Ragnarok player, watching Ragnarok animation was a disappointment. The adaptation failed to live up to the rich world, diverse character classes, or complex lore that made MMORPGs so engaging. Worse, the series didn't even try to capture the sense of adventure and strategy that made the game so compelling.

Understandably, it's hard to translate the depth and freedom of an MMORPG as Ragnarok online to anime. However, that's not to say that other anime adaptations of games have failed miserably. It's just the way it is Ragnarok animation I feel like it completely misses the point of what made the game so special.

Beyblade

• Release year: 2001
• Number of Episodes: 51 episodes

Beyblade is one of those shonen anime that became a huge part of our childhood days. At the time, owning Beyblades was a flex, especially those designed with rare parts or limited edition features that could dominate real Beyblade battles.

However giving Beyblade the watch may no longer be worth it because of nostalgia. It's a shonen anime that only exists to promote a line of toys, with much of the story feeling like a weak excuse to show off battles and spin tricks.