3 Forgotten 2000s Anime That Deserve More Attention
Anime is a storytelling medium that's constantly evolving, which means that each decade brings something different to the table. The 2000s were a pivotal transition period for anime that experienced some growing pains after the unbridled success of the '80s and '90s. They ushered in new forms of technology and a darker tonal shift that felt like a natural response to the many bright and light-hearted anime that dominated the '90s.
The 2000s saw a greater appetite for mature storytelling, which led to many established series taking bigger and more ambitious swings. While it's hard to forget about essential anime hits like Death Note and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the 2000s also introduced some equally exciting titles that have largely faded into obscurity.
Each episode follows Kino and their talking motorcycle, Hermes, as they travel to a different community in this magical alternative reality. Kino operates as an impartial observer and never spends more than three days in each location, so as not to grow too attached.
This means that each of Kino's treks turn into rewarding opportunities to examine different slices of life, some of which are deeply beautiful and inspirational, while others are dark, dangerous and oppressive. Kino's Journey uses these self-contained stories to make grander statements about the world at large, that almost operate like haunted fables.
Scrapped Princess gets a lot of mileage out of Pacifica's loving dynamic with her found family foster siblings, Shannon and Raquel, who become the beating heart of this exciting adventure. The show begins as a fairly traditional fantasy anime, but it brilliantly pulls the rug from under the audience when it reveals that this world is actually a futuristic version of Earth, and that its magic is actually advanced technology and science fiction.
Two kids, Haruka and Yu, become pivotal players in a cosmic war between alternate realities that feature futuristic versions of themselves, a hearty emphasis on quantum mechanics, and the highest of stakes that could lead to the end of all realities. Noein juggles this futuristic war with the grounded, coming-of-age struggles of its conflicted characters.
Noein engages in rich character development where Haruka, Yu, and others must confront difficult truths about themselves and if they're doomed to fulfill these fates when they meet alternate versions of themselves. It's an exciting blend of realistic characters, experimental visuals, and an adrenaline-pumping and ambitious narrative that keeps the audience guessing until its end.
The 2000s saw a greater appetite for mature storytelling, which led to many established series taking bigger and more ambitious swings. While it's hard to forget about essential anime hits like Death Note and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the 2000s also introduced some equally exciting titles that have largely faded into obscurity.
Kino's Journey
Kino's Journey is a distinct interloper that pulls by its own rules, which has turned it into a rather fringe fascination as a result. It's a challenging combination of adventure, science fiction, and philosophy that almost functions like an anthology series that's interested in humanity.Each episode follows Kino and their talking motorcycle, Hermes, as they travel to a different community in this magical alternative reality. Kino operates as an impartial observer and never spends more than three days in each location, so as not to grow too attached.
This means that each of Kino's treks turn into rewarding opportunities to examine different slices of life, some of which are deeply beautiful and inspirational, while others are dark, dangerous and oppressive. Kino's Journey uses these self-contained stories to make grander statements about the world at large, that almost operate like haunted fables.
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Scrapped Princess
Scrapped Princess is one of the best exercises in misdirection, and it's unfortunate that it remains such an under the radar cult classic. The show is a sword and sorcery fantasy anime that follows Pacifica Casull, a royal who was left for dead upon being born due to a prophecy that says she'll destroy the world when she turns 16.Scrapped Princess gets a lot of mileage out of Pacifica's loving dynamic with her found family foster siblings, Shannon and Raquel, who become the beating heart of this exciting adventure. The show begins as a fairly traditional fantasy anime, but it brilliantly pulls the rug from under the audience when it reveals that this world is actually a futuristic version of Earth, and that its magic is actually advanced technology and science fiction.
Noein: To Your Other Self
Some of the best anime tell stories that ask its characters and the audience to question everything that they learn. A dramatic reveal that completely changes the status quo can be unforgettable when it's properly implemented. Noein: To Your Other Self is a 24-episode anime from 2005 that lives in this tense place of uncertainty.Two kids, Haruka and Yu, become pivotal players in a cosmic war between alternate realities that feature futuristic versions of themselves, a hearty emphasis on quantum mechanics, and the highest of stakes that could lead to the end of all realities. Noein juggles this futuristic war with the grounded, coming-of-age struggles of its conflicted characters.
Noein engages in rich character development where Haruka, Yu, and others must confront difficult truths about themselves and if they're doomed to fulfill these fates when they meet alternate versions of themselves. It's an exciting blend of realistic characters, experimental visuals, and an adrenaline-pumping and ambitious narrative that keeps the audience guessing until its end.
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