As the end of the decade rolls near, it’s time to look back at some of the anime series that topped the charts during the 2000s. All the series on this list started airing between the winter 2000 season and the fall 2009 season. In addition to being a 2000 series, this list looks at the best anime from Kyoto Animation during the time period.
KyoAni is a powerhouse in the anime industry releasing over 100 anime and still going. Here are some of the top series KyoAni has put out. It’s impossible to limit their best anime to 10 so be sure to check out their anime series that didn’t make this list too.
10 Munto
Kicking off the list is Munto, an original anime. The original Munto came out in 2003, but the series is most known for its remake. The Munto series has themes of fantasy and magic and aired during the winter 2009 season. Munto is a Magical King that needs to save the Magical Kingdom and the heavens.
To do so he must restore the flow of Akuto, the magic source in the world. Munto is taksed with finding Yumemi, a girl from a vision, that lives in the normal world. Yumemi is a ordinary girl with an unordinary power. She can see the Heavens floating above her world. The Munto remake is nine episodes and is one season.
9 The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya 2
The sequel to the ever popular, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, the second season didn’t make the same impact as the first. The series still follows Kyon and Haruhi in their adventures during the SOS Brigade. Having been used to the unusual events, Kyon has lost interest in the supernatural. However, there is no end to the events of the SOS Brigade as he is forced by Haruhi to accompany her antics. The second season of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya aired for 14 episodes during the spring 2009 season.
8 Air
Air is a supernatural-drama series released during the winter 2005 season. The anime follows Yukito Kunisaki on her journey to find the Winged Maiden. The story of the Winged Maiden was a childhood tale told to Yukito by his mother. Working to make a living in a small town, Yukito meets Misuzu Kamio. Misuzu is somewhat of a loner that struggles to make friends. Yukito gets caught up in helping the towns people and moves in with Misuzu after being forced to stay in town longer than he expected. Yukito’s true goal is to search for the Winged Maiden. Air is 12 episodes and aired for one season.
7 Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid
The Second Raid is the second season in the Full Metal Panic series. The first season was done by studio Gonzo before KyoAni took the reigns. The action-mech story continues with Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori, back for more crazy adventures. The two students balance school with battling against the terrorist organization Amalgam. While the world relies on the two to save humanity, there’s complications within the anti-terrorist organization Mithril. Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid is 13 episodes and has a sequel adapted by studio Xebec.
6 Kanon
Released during the fall 2006 season, Kanon is a slice of life-drama. The anime follows Yuuichi Aizawa who visits his cousin Nayuki Minase in the city. After a tragic incident Yuuichi was kept away for seven years and developed amnesia. When Yuuichi gets to the city he comes across three girls, Ayu Tsukimiyam, Mai Kawasumi, and Mokoto Sawatari.
These three girls were all apart of Yuuichi’s past. As he is reintroduced to each girl he starts to recover some of his memories. Kanon is 24 episodes and is a remake of Toei Animation studio’s Kanon released in 2002.
5 Lucky☆Star
Lucky☆Star is a slice of life-comedy series released during the spring 2007 season. The anime follows the daily lives of four girls, Konata Izumi, Miyuki Takara, and fraternal twins Kagami and Tsukasa Hiiragi. The four girls each have a different trope whether it’s the lazy otaku, or the quiet smart girl. The show follows the different interactions they have at high school. Despite not having an end task or goal, the anime is light and very enjoyable to watch. Lucky☆Star is 24 episodes and aired for one season.
4 K-On!
Released during the spring 2009 season, K-On! is a musical-school life anime. Falling under the category of “cute girls doing cute things”, the anime follows Yui Hirasawa. Yui decides to join the Light Music Club but doesn’t know how to play any instruments. The Light Music Club needs members to avoid disbanding so they accept Yui into the club.
The other members, Ritsu Tainaka, Mio Akiyama, and Tsugumi Kotobuki perform for Yui and convince her to become a guitarist. Yui must learn to play guitar while balancing the rest of her classes at school to perform at the school festival. K-on! is 13 episodes and aired for two seasons.
3 Clannad
One of KyoAni’s most popular series Clannad starts the top three. The romance-slice of life series was adapted from the popular visual novel with the same title. The anime follows Tomoya Okazaki, a high school student at Hikarizaka Private High School. Tomoya meets a plethora of girls at his high school, spending time with each in a harem-arc type format. Tomoya takes a liking to Nagisa Furukawa, a quiet girl with a dream of reviving the school’s drama club. Together Tomoya and Nagisa work with the other girls to make Nagisa’s dream come true. Clannad is 23 episodes and aired for two seasons.
2 The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya
The first season of the Haruhi Suzumiya series is regarded as a classic to some. Released during the 2006 spring season, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a slice of life-school series following Haruhi Suzumiya. Haruhi only has an interest in the supernatural and gets bored easily with regular people. Kyon shares this interest with Haruhi and the two start the SOS Brigade, a club with interest in the supernatural. After recruiting more members, some strange events start happening in the club and Kyon’s normal life is turned upside down. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is 14 episodes and aired for two seasons. The series has a film titled The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya set after the events of the anime’s second season.
1 Clannad: After Story
Rounding out the list as KyoAni’s greatest anime of the 2000s, Clannad’s second season, Clannad: After Story tops the list. The romance-drama takes place after Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa graduate high school. The two ended up together and have a child named Ushio. Clannad: After Story is known for having one of the most heart-breaking anime deaths, as the family learn the struggles of adulthood. The series expands on the supernatural element known as the Illusionary World which shows the truth behind the world they live in. Clannad: After Story was released during the fall 2008 season. The anime is 24 episodes and has a prequel season titled Clannad.