The 2000s had some amazing manga series. Like the shonen title Naruto and a piece Having really made a name for themselves throughout the decade, they began serializing in the late 90s. Other amazing shonen manga debuted during the decade and went on to gain a large following, some of which are still highly regarded by fans two decades later.
Some years were better than others, but every year of the 2000s had at least a few notable shonen manga debuts. With so much out there, it was hard to narrow things down to just one series for a given year. Here's a look back at one of the best decades for shonen manga, and the series that stood out from each year.
The best Shonen anime movies of every year of the 2000s
What were the best shonen anime movies to come out 20 years ago?
2000: The Black Cat
Before he became famous To love RooKentaro Yabuki made his debut with another series that was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump, black cat. While To love Roo Somewhat notorious for its comedically excessive fan service, black cat An even simpler action-adventure series.
The series follows Train Hartnett, a bounty hunter with a mysterious past. black cat Didn't last long To love Roo Or so did its sequel series, which came out in 2004 with the final chapter of the manga. Although overshadowed by Yabuki's other works, black cat Still holds up as an enjoyable read.
Hiromu Arakawa is one of the most popular mangaka of the 2000s, with his 2001 series, Fullmetal AlchemistEstablishing him as one of the best of his generation. The story follows the Elric Brothers, who lost their original bodies in an ill-fated human transmutation ritual, set out to learn how to bring them back, uncovering dark truths about their homeland, Amestris.
Fullmetal Alchemist Received two amazing anime adaptations, the 2003 series, which deviated from the source material at Arakawa's request, and the 2009 series, brotherhoodWhich was very faithful to the manga. Both anime have their strong points, but fans will need to read the manga to get the full Fullmetal Alchemist Experience.
2002: Eyeshield 21
When it comes to sports manga, baseball has emerged as the most popular sport for mangaka to write around, with a myriad of popular sports series centered around it. But unique game series focusing on different games have come out over the years. One of the biggest game series of the 2000s, Eyeshield 21, Focuses on American football.
The series is a pretty standard underdog story, following Sena Kobayakawa, who is forced to join as a running back by the quarterback of his high school football team due to his astonishing speed. Now a key part of the team, Sena is slowly building bonds with his teammates, becoming more comfortable with himself as a person and as a soccer player as the manga progresses.
2003: Soul Eater
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With the anime adaptation of Atsushi Ohkubo's Fire Force currently airing, it's easy to overlook the mangaka's other notable series, Soul Eater. Soul Eater takes place in Death City, where students from the Death Weapon Meister Academy work to protect humanity from evil creatures and forces. The student body is divided into two categories: Demon Weapons, which are individuals who can shape-shift into various weapons, and Masters, who are trained to use those weapons in battle.
Soul Eater The series concluded in 2013 and is one of the best shonen manga of the era. An anime adaptation by Bones aired from 2008 to 2009, but it deviated from the source material, due to its hold on the manga. It's still a great series, and with any luck, Fire Force The anime will be successful enough to see Bones or another studio day Soul Eater Full customization it deserves.
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2004: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run
Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure continues to grow stronger, with Part 9, JoJoLandsCurrently serialized in Shuisha's Ultra Jump magazine. While each segment has its ardent fans, Steel Ball Run Considered the best jojo Many should offer.
Taking place in a separate continuity from the previous six parts, Steel Ball Run Follows Johnny Joestar, a disabled ex-jockey who decides to take part in the Steel Ball Run race after encountering a mysterious racer named Gyro Zeppeli. An anime adaptation was announced in April 2025 and will stream on Netflix from March 19, 2026.
2005: Higurashi When They Cry
It may seem strange to see Ryukishi07's breakthrough sound novel, Higurashi when they cry, Noted among the best shonen manga series of the 2000s, the manga adaptation was serialized in various shonen magazines during its six-year run, from Monthly Shonen Gangan to Monthly GFantasy, and more. Although the series is notable for its horror psychological elements, the overarching themes of friendship and overcoming hardships through the connections you make with others are classic shonen tropes.
Higurashi is set in the remote village of Hinamizawa. The series follows Keiichi Maibara, who has recently moved to a village with his family. Although Keiichi seems to make friends quickly and adjust quickly to his new life, his idyllic village life begins to take a sinister turn when he learns of Hinamizawa's annual cotton drift festival and a series of murders and disappearances linked to their mysterious deity, Oyashiro.
2006: Pandora Hearts
Although it is not as popular as during its run, Pandora Hearts Still stands out as one of the best shonen series of its era. The series follows Oz Vesalius, who is exiled to a place called the Abyss by the mysterious Baskerville Clan during his coming-of-age ceremony. Now trapped in the Abyss, Oz teams up with Alice, himself, an Abyss-dwelling monster called 'Chain', to escape the Abyss and return home.
Pandora Hearts Square Enix's monthly GFantasy ran from 2006 to 2015, and received an anime adaptation in 2009 from Xebec. The anime is a good enough adaptation of the beginning of the manga, but at only 25 episodes, it just doesn't compare to the source material.
2007: SKET Dance
SKET dance A great series, but as far as 2000s jump manga goes, it's often overshadowed by the iconic 'Big 3' and other contemporaries. But that doesn't change the fact that it was one of the best shonen manga of the 2000s.
The series follows the daily activities of a skate-don high school club, who spend their time helping out fellow students and the odd teacher or two. The club is made up of three members: leader Yuusuke, Hime, and Kazuyoshi, and while the group is committed to helping those around them, they spend much of their time having fun. SKET dance Still holds up as a great comedy and it's a joy to read after all these years.
2008: The World God Only Knows
Harem manga were almost a dime a dozen in the 2000s, so a series would have to do something unique to stand out from the never-ending wave of competitors out there. Tamiki Wakaki's Only God knows the world Definitely adds an interesting spin to the formula.
The series follows Keima Katsuragi, a high school student who is incredibly skilled at dating games. Although he is known for his online gaming skills, Keima is an outcast at school. But Keima's gaming knowledge comes in handy when he accidentally makes a deal with a demon named Elsie, who is tasked with capturing the escaped souls hidden in the hearts of various girls. By forcing Elsie to help fight all the escaped souls, Keima puts her dating sim skills to the test in the real world.
2009: Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan began in the late 2000s, so the series is largely related to the 2010s due to the dominance of anime adaptations and manga. Still, if you're talking about the best anime of 2009, you should mention it AoT.
The manga ran in Besatsu Shonen Magazine from 2009 to 2021, with an anime adaptation from 2013 to 2023. The manga and anime quickly became an international hit, with fans around the world falling in love with Hajime Isayama's characters and world-building. Its ending was one of the most talked about in recent memory, and it remains a favorite of anime and manga fans.
