10 Anime Masterpieces of the 21st Century

Anime has moved from a niche import to a dominant cultural force in global entertainment over the past 25 years. Since 2000, the industry has produced works that have influenced global pop culture, elevated animation standards, and demonstrated that anime can rival live-action storytelling in ambition and emotional depth.

This list charts anime properties released between 2000 and 2025, selected for narrative ambition, animation quality, and cultural reach. Rather than ranking titles purely out of popularity, it considers anime like Attack on Titan, Death Note, and Fullmetal Alchemist’s long-term influence on the medium.

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Adventure, Action | MAL Score: 9.09 | IMDb Score: 9.1

Few franchises have combined world-building, character development, and thematic depth as effectively as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The story focuses on the orphaned Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, as they search for a way to restore their bodies after a failed alchemy experiment.

The anime adapts Hiromu Arakawa’s manga, known for its memorable cast, exploration of war and racial discrimination, while blending themes of morality and scientific progression. More than 15 years later, it remains a benchmark for modern shonen storytelling.

2. Attack on Titan (2013)

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Action, Drama | MAL Score: 8.5 | IMDb Score: 9.1

Attack on Titan (AoT) began as a survival story of humans hiding from titans behind colossal walls of Paradis island, before evolving into one of the most ambitious narratives in anime history. AoT follows Eren Yeager and humanity’s struggle against evolving geopolitical scenarios, oppression, and genocide. The series gained worldwide attention through its shocking plot twists, political themes, and cinematic action sequences.

3. Steins;Gate (2011)

Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller | MAL Score: 9.07 | IMDb Score: 8.8

Time-travel stories often collapse due to their narrative complexity and obscure time manipulation techniques. Steins;Gate succeeded because it paired sci-fi concepts with an emotional, character-driven narrative, where each scene increased the narrative stake.

This Studio White Fox series follows eccentric scientist Rintaro Okabe, whose invention allows text messages to be sent into the past, triggering unintended timeline shifts. Steins;Gate is widely cited as one of the genre’s strongest entries with a lasting impact on global audiences.

4. Monster (2004)

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery | MAL Score: 8.89 | IMDb Score: 8.7

Naoki Urasawa’s Monster delivered a mature psychological drama rarely seen in animation. The story focuses on Dr. Kenzo Tenma after he saves a young boy who grew up to become a terrifying serial killer, Johan Liebert. Rather than relying on action, the anime builds tension through moral dilemmas, character studies, and a mysterious background that is tied to Nazi Germany.

5. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Action, Adventure | MAL Score: 8.4| IMDb Score: 8.6

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga, remains one of the most defining anime series of the era. It not only globalized anime’s popularity during the pandemic era, but the franchise’s latest movie, Infinity Castle, became the highest-grossing anime movie of all time.

The series follows Tanjiro Kamado, a compassionate teenager who joins the Demon Slayer Corps after Muzan Kibutsuji slaughters his family and transforms his sister Nezuko into a demon.

While the plot’s emotional core and hero’s journey helped attract mainstream audiences, studio Ufotable’s cinematic animation, dynamic fight choreography, and visual effects established a new benchmark for TV anime and theatrical releases alike.

6. Violet Evergarden (2018)

Genre: Drama, Slice of Life | MAL Score: 8.69 | IMDb Score: 8.4

Kyoto Animation’s Violet Evergarden raised the bar for visual presentation in TV anime. The story follows a former child soldier who becomes a ghostwriter while learning the meaning of human emotions and social connections. Its animation often receives attention first, but the series’ real strength lies in its emotional storytelling that explores grief, healing, and communication with such elegance.

7. Death Note (2006)

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Supernatural | MAL Score: 8.62 | IMDb Score: 8.9

For many international viewers, Death Note served as a gateway into anime. The series centers on Light Yagami, a student who gains a notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written inside it.

The intellectual battle between Light and Detective L became one of anime's most iconic rivalries. Its accessibility and suspense helped fuel anime's global expansion during the late 2000s.

8. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023)

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Drama | MAL Score: 9.26 | IMDb Score: 8.9/10

Few recent anime have received acclaim as quickly as Frieren. Instead of focusing on a hero’s quest, the anime explores what happens after the adventure ends.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End follows the immortal elf mage Frieren as she reflects on lost friendships and discovers the value of human connections, decades after defeating the Demon King alongside companions who have since died of old age.

9. Vinland Saga (2019)

Genre: Historical, Action, Drama | MAL Score: 8.75 | IMDb Score: 8.8

Vinland Saga transformed from a revenge lore into a profound meditation on violence and redemption. Set against the backdrop of the Viking era, it follows Thorfinn’s journey from a vengeance-driven warrior to a man seeking peace. The series stands out for its historical authenticity, mature themes, and character-driven narrative.

10. Jujutsu Kaisen (2020) 

Genre: Action, Supernatural | MAL Score: 8.5 | IMDb Score: 8.5

Studio MAPPA’s adaptation of Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen manga became one of the most popular modern anime. The series follows Yuji Itadori’s journey, after he swallows Sukuna’s finger and joins Jujutsu High to control his newfound power and evade his death sentence. 

Jujutsu Kaisen has expanded with a sequel as well. The franchise revitalized the modern shonen format, ranking among the top-selling manga charts and most-streamed anime titles worldwide.

These 10 titles offer a look at anime’s evolution from a culturally specific art form into a global entertainment category that rivals Hollywood at the box office and dominates streaming charts. However, these are not the only anime that have popularized anime.

Series like Made in Abyss, Mob Psycho 100, Re: Zero, and the recent Witch Hat Atelier anime have shown great reception across international and domestic markets.

Disclaimer: The listicle only considers anime series. Anime films were not taken into consideration.