The 2000s had some of the most iconic shonen anime that fans still love today. Series like Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, and Fullmetal Alchemist defined the decade along with other notable hits. But not all of them can be hits.
As much as there were great shonen titles in the 2000s, you also had some mediocre series along with some real stinkers. These are some of the dullest or worse, downright awful shonen anime the decade has to offer.
The 7 Most Unexpected 2000s Shonen Anime, Ranked
You would be better off watching other 2000s shonen anime than these.
2000: To be a boy…
The 2000s were full of rom-coms, and while you had some good ones pop up, most of them weren't really that interesting. the boy is… is an anthology series following various teenage romances centered on the romantic adventures of Kyoichi, Makoto, and Yoshihiko.
The series suffers from some of the best animation quality, and although it initially starts out as a fresh take on the genre, it quickly becomes stale. It's a short series, so you don't feel like everyone gets their fair share of time to develop. If you really want to check out this series, the manga would be great.
2001: Babel II: Beyond Eternity
A modern adaptation of Mitsuteru Yokoyama's 70s manga, Babel II: Beyond Eternity It's an example of why some series don't need a modern adaptation. When Koichi discovers that he is the reincarnation of an alien parent from Earth, he is forced to take cover. Joined by three other Guardians, Kouichi sets out to protect Earth from danger.
Babel II: Beyond Eternity Can be a fun action sequence at times, but it doesn't offer much more to the audience than that. It looks okay for its time, but nothing remarkable is happening in terms of story progression or character development.
2002: Barom 1
Another modern adaptation of a 70s manga, Barom 1 Close friends follow Takeshi Kido and Kentaro Shiratori. When they are attacked by a strange creature, they hear a voice that they believe has mysterious powers. When the two join hands, they transform into Barom One, an incredibly powerful monster that allows the boys to protect those around them from harm.
The series does some interesting things, mainly the two-in-one transformation that Takeshi and Kentaro go through. But it looks and feels like a low-budget series, and with only 13 episodes, it doesn't do enough in its run to make an impact. Tokusatsu fans can enjoy the series, and that's about it.
2003: World of Naru
While The world of Narue Not necessarily scary, it just doesn't do anything remotely interesting or noteworthy. The series follows Kazuto Izuka, who is rescued by his schoolmate Naru after being attacked by an alien monster. The surprises don't end there, Kazuto learns that Nanu is an alien himself.
The series is a pretty light-hearted watch, with typical 2000s shonen antics and some light romance thrown in there. Narue is a fun character at times, but he and Kazuto alone aren't interesting enough to carry the series.
2004: Hanaukyo Maid Team: La Verite
A remake of the 2001 series, Hanaukyo maid team, La Verité Your standard early 2000s shonen fare. The series was cut short due to the original anime production issues. But Daume's team didn't fare too badly the second time around.
After his mother's death, Taro is sent to live with his grandfather. But when he gets there, he finds that his grandfather has retired and left him his estate, leaving Taro alone with countless beautiful maids who wait on him hand and foot. It's a pretty standard, clichéd harem setup, all excessive fan service and mediocre animation make Hanaukyo Maid Team: La Verite just another mediocre entry in a sea of 2000s harems.
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2005: Jinky: Expand
If you're a mecha fan looking for something new to try, there are plenty of options Jinky: Expand. The series follows Aoba, a model robot enthusiast who is kidnapped one day and taken to a secret base where she discovers a real giant robot. The robots are used to fight something called the Ancient-Jinki, though the cause is left a mystery to Aoba. With his dream before him, Aoba sets out to pilot his own mech.
The biggest problem with Jinky: Expand It has an inconsistent quality. It's an interesting series, but it doesn't really pick up that momentum in its 13-episode run. Things sort out in the latter part of the series, and overall just comes off as a rushed, incomplete product that isn't worth your time.
2006: Tonagura!
Kazuki anxiously awaits the return of her old neighbors, especially her childhood crush, Yuji, for 10 years. But when Yuji and his family return, Kazuki is shocked to learn that Yuji is a big lecher. As the two try to reconnect and attend the same school, things don't play out as well as Kazuki expected.
Tonagura! Its premise won't wow you, but it can be a fun guilty pleasure at times. The issue is that the series is incredibly repetitive, the gags and Yugi's antics getting old very quickly. There were a lot of ecchi comedies in the 90s and 2000s, and some were good, but Tonagura! Does not stand out.
2007: Nagasarete Erantou
When Ikuto has an argument with his father, he boards a ship and runs away from home. But when Ikuto is thrown aboard, he miraculously finds himself on a tropical island full of girls. As the island's male population is wiped out in a wave, Ikuto quickly becomes the target of the girls' affections.
Nagasarete Airantau Just another 2000s harem comedy that relies on overused tropes and recycled jokes. It might be a fun enough watch for fans of the genre, but it does nothing to set it apart from many other series.
2008: To Love Rs
Rito Yuki's life is turned upside down when an escaped alien princess named Lala Satalin Deviluke stumbles upon his home and decides to stay there. To stay on Earth and avoid returning home, Lala announces that she is marrying Rito. The only problem is that Rito already has someone he likes, and Lala's protests and unwanted affection introduce a steady stream of chaos into Rito's chaotic life.
If that setup sounds familiar, you're probably a Rumiko Takahashi fan and enjoy Urusei Yatsura. To love Roo Not the worst harem anime to come out of the 2000s, but there were a lot of good anime that came out in 2008. Soul Eater, Black Butler, Aria the Originand Chief S4 These are just some of the great options that 2008 has to offer. While the series uses all the classic harem tropes, it is notorious for going heavy on fan service. It's a true 'guilty pleasure' anime, with some fun moments that don't do much to save it from being a middling adaptation of the manga.
2009: Samurai Harem
After spending his entire life training with his father in the mountains, Yoichi is sent to a city dojo to improve his skills and continue his training to learn more about modern society after a lifetime of isolation. The issue is that Yoichi only knows how to act like a samurai. As Yoichi sets out to live with the Ikaruga sisters at the dojo, he sets out to understand the modern world while navigating various misunderstandings.
of the samurai harem The name tells you all you need to know about it. The series isn't anything special, and if you've ever seen a slapstick harem, you'll probably be familiar with most of it. Samurai harem should be offered. It has some moments, and the setup isn't too bad, but there is good anime.
