Garn's Guides: 25 Anime that I highly recommend
by garn | created - 30 May 2019 | updated - 12 Jan 2021 | PublicA list of anime from the 2000s that I've enjoyed very much.
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1. Spice and Wolf (2008–2009)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
Kraft Lawrence goes from town to town to make profits as a travelling merchant, with the help of a wolf deity by the name of Holo.
Stars: Jun Fukuyama, Ami Koshimizu, J. Michael Tatum, Brina Palencia
Votes: 5,043
2. Chobits (2002–2003)
TV-14 | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Hideki finds the discarded and malfunctioning Persocom Chi, a personal computer that looks like a girl. While trying to fix and care for Chi, Hideki discovers that she might be a Chobits, a robot of urban legend that has free will.
Stars: Sarah Hauser, Rie Tanaka, Crispin Freeman, Tomokazu Sugita
Votes: 4,714
3. D-Frag! (2014)
TV-14 | Animation, Comedy
Kazama is a wannabe delinquent on a mission to rule the school, but a run-in with the cuties of the Game Creation Club derails his plan.
Stars: Kana Hanazawa, Katsuyuki Konishi, Chiwa Saitô, Mikako Takahashi
Votes: 861
Very funny! If you like this, you should also like Haganai.
4. Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends (2011–2013)
TV-MA | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A friendless teenager, feared by his fellow classmates, joins a club hoping to finally make some friends.
Stars: Ryohei Kimura, Marina Inoue, Kanae Itô, Jerry Jewell
Votes: 2,722
Very funny! If you like this, you should also like D-Frag!.
5. Eden of the East (2009)
TV-MA | 23 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as "Careless Monday," does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon ... See full summary »
Stars: Ryohei Kimura, Saori Hayami, Jason Liebrecht, Leah Clark
Votes: 4,021
6. Steins;Gate (2011–2015)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
After discovering time travel, a university student and his colleagues must use their knowledge of it to stop an evil organization and their diabolical plans.
Stars: Mamoru Miyano, Asami Imai, Kana Hanazawa, Ashly Burch
Votes: 73,550
7. Gate (2015–2016)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A gate appears in modern-day Tokyo which allows access to a fantasy world. A Japanese military squad is formed to establish ties between both worlds.
Stars: Jun'ichi Suwabe, Nao Tôyama, Hisako Kanemoto, Risa Taneda
Votes: 4,129
Science versus Magic, gotta love it.
8. Gurren Lagann (2007)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Two friends, Simon and Kamina, become the symbols of rebellion against the powerful Spiral King, who forced mankind into subterranean villages.
Stars: Tetsuya Kakihara, Shizuka Itou, Yuri Lowenthal, Marina Inoue
Votes: 21,061
9. Land of the Lustrous (2017)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Fantasy
The Houseki fight against the Moon Dwellers, beings who attack them and use their shattered bodies as decorations. Each Houseki is assigned a role, and Phos, the youngest, is assigned to create an encyclopedia of natural history.
Stars: Tomoyo Kurosawa, Sarah Wiedenheft, Ai Kayano, Yumi Uchiyama
Votes: 2,070
Beautiful animation and an intriguing story.
10. Log Horizon (2013–2021)
TV-PG | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
30,000 Japanese players trapped in MMORPG, unable to log out. Veteran gamer Shiroe leads exploration of this new reality, negotiating with NPCs to bring order to the virtual city of Akihabara.
Stars: Jad Saxton, Mike Yager, Jôji Nakata, Andrew Love
Votes: 4,757
As an MMORPG gamer, I like this the best of all the trapped-in-a-game type of shows I have seen.
11. Lord Marksman and Vanadis (2014)
TV-MA | 25 min | Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
Tigre, a young noble, is captured by a beautiful female general from an enemy country. Though enchanting, her curves aren't the only dangerous thing about her. She's backed by an army of desirable warrior-goddesses called the Vanadis!
Stars: Caitlin Glass, Kyle Hebert, Vic Mignogna, Bryce Papenbrook
Votes: 1,502
12. Samurai Champloo (2004–2005)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Fuu, a waitress who works in a teahouse, rescues two master swordsmen, Mugen and Jin, from their execution to help her find the "samurai who smells of sunflowers."
Stars: Kazuya Nakai, Ginpei Sato, Ayako Kawasumi, Steve Blum
Votes: 55,439
13. The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
G | 94 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
The Clock family are four-inch-tall people who live anonymously in another family's residence, borrowing simple items to make their home. Life changes for the Clocks when their teenage daughter Arrietty is discovered.
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi | Stars: Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Mirai Shida
Votes: 104,504 | Gross: $19.20M
14. Snow White with the Red Hair (2015–2016)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Drama, Fantasy
Although her name means "snow white," Shirayuki is a cheerful, red-haired girl living in the country of Tanbarun who works diligently as an apothecary at her herbal shop. Her life changes ... See full summary »
Stars: Saori Hayami, Ryôta Ôsaka, Yûichirô Umehara, Kaori Nazuka
Votes: 3,681
English Title: Snow White With the Red Hair. A good romantic adventure with a very strong and intelligent female protaganist.
15. Barakamon (2014)
TV-PG | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A proud young calligrapher is punished for punching a critic by being sent to a faraway island in the east coast of Japan. But as he meets and lives with the island's friendly people, his attitude begins to improve.
Stars: Daisuke Ono, Suzuko Hara, Nozomi Furuki, Rina Endô
Votes: 4,195
A warm and funny story suitable for family viewing.
16. Tiger & Bunny (2011–2022)
TV-14 | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In a world where superheroes have corporate sponsors and are the stars of their own reality TV show, a new superhero team is born as the veteran hero Wild Tiger is assigned to be partners with rookie Barnaby Brooks Jr.
Stars: Hiroaki Hirata, Masakazu Morita, Wally Wingert, Yuri Lowenthal
Votes: 1,233
A very fun take on the superhero genre.
17. Toradora! (2008–2009)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Toradora tells the tale of Ryuji (dragon) and Taiga (tiger) helping each other confess to their crushes.
Stars: Rie Kugimiya, Junji Majima, Yui Horie, Hirofumi Nojima
Votes: 18,876
Very good romantic comedy.
18. Btooom! (2012)
TV-MA | 25 min | Animation, Action, Drama
A young man gets transported into a video game he plays called Btooom. A plot is uncovered involving an organization that aims to conquer the world by dominating the virtual world.
Stars: Tyler Galindo, Brittney Karbowski, Kanata Hongô, Suzuko Mimori
Votes: 4,762
19. The Devil Is a Part-Timer! (2013–2023)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
Hilarity and fun ensues when Satan ends up in modern day Japan without any magic to return, and starts working part time in a fast food joint.
Stars: Yôko Hikasa, Jessie James Grelle, Felecia Angelle, Tia Lynn Ballard
Votes: 8,673
English Title: The Devil is a Part-Timer!
20. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (2015–2023)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A fateful encounter - what adventuring is all about. But for Bell Cranel, meeting a girl doesn't go quite as planned.
Stars: Bryson Baugus, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Maaya Uchida, Inori Minase
Votes: 10,479
English Title: Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
21. KADO: The Right Answer (2017– )
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Drama, Mystery
Kojirou Shindou. Cabinet Office Director-General for Policy Planning, is at Haneda Airport for a business trip. While the plane is on the runway, a giant structure suddenly appears out of ... See full summary »
Stars: Sonny Strait, Jason Liebrecht, Dawn M. Bennett, Christopher Wehkamp
Votes: 198
22. Recovery of an MMO Junkie (2017)
TV-14 | 23 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A stressed office worker quits her job and begins spending all her time playing an MMORPG, becoming part of a tight-knit friend group that helps her rediscover the joy of living in the real world.
Stars: Mamiko Noto, Takahiro Sakurai, Tomoaki Maeno, Yûichi Nakamura
Votes: 1,435
23. ReLIFE (2016–2018)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A young man, failing at life, is offered a new start as a 10 years younger high-school student.
Stars: Jessie James Grelle, Micah Solusod, Jeannie Tirado, Kristen McGuire
Votes: 6,462
24. Darker Than Black (2007–2010)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Drama
In Tokyo, an impenetrable field known as "Hell's Gate" appeared ten years ago. At the same time, psychics who wield paranormal powers at the cost of their conscience also emerged.
Stars: Jason Liebrecht, Kate Oxley, Christopher Sabat, Brina Palencia
Votes: 12,480
25. Baccano! (2007–2008)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A crazy fantasy caper involving alchemists, immortals, gangsters, outlaws and an elixir of immortality, spread over several decades.
Stars: Michael C. Pizzuto, J. Michael Tatum, Caitlin Glass, Akemi Kanda
Votes: 12,668
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