Calling all 20-somethings! A roundup of nostalgic anime from the 2000s to the 2010s
Anime, a cultural treasure Japan has long been proud of.
Some titles become huge hits with film adaptations or even spark trends that define an era.
In this article, we’ve carefully selected popular anime that will feel especially nostalgic for people in their 20s.
Focusing on works from the 2000s to the 2010s, we chose titles whose popularity hasn’t faded.
Some have ongoing series that continue to air today or have been adapted into films.
Take this opportunity to revisit them!
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Calling all 20-somethings! A compilation of nostalgic anime [2000s–2010s] (1–10)
Kuroko's Basketball
An unconventional basketball manga that made its mark in Weekly Shonen Jump.
Affectionately known as Kurobas, I looked forward to each new chapter every week.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with the legendary Slam Dunk, it’s truly a monumental work in the basketball manga world.
Its most unusual aspect is that the protagonist isn’t a dazzling, radiant figure, but someone so colorless and odorless he seems to erase his very presence—so indistinct you can’t tell where he is.
Teammates like Ryota Kise, Shintaro Midorima, and Daiki Aomine—each color-coded by name—are elite talents, and the strong appeal of these characters drove the series forward in remarkable fashion.
Even after its stage adaptations, it has repeatedly broken out again and again.
A must-read not only for basketball fans, but for everyone.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
For people in their twenties, this might be the Gundam series they think of! Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is an anime whose story revolves around the protagonist Kira Yamato and his close friend Athrun Zala.
It began airing in 2002 and proved so popular that it even got a sequel, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY.
Its portrayals of human relationships and the philosophical question of what is right and what is wrong are why it continues to be beloved even after it finished airing.
That said, I have to admit—the Freedom Gundam’s design is just plain cool!
K-On!
K-On! is a popular anime with many fans overseas.
It depicts the everyday lives of junior high school girls who join the light music club.
The original work is a four-panel manga, but in the anime the story generally progresses in a mostly self-contained, episode-by-episode format.
It’s appealing for points that people who have played in bands can relate to, as well as the comical interactions between the characters.
And, uniquely to anime, there’s the fun of actually being able to hear the music they play.
Calling all 20-somethings! A roundup of nostalgic anime [2000s–2010s] (11–20)
A Certain Magical Index
Anime adaptations based on Kazuma Kamachi’s light novels, including spin-offs like A Certain Scientific Railgun and A Certain Scientific Accelerator, are also popular.
The setting—where the opposing factions of science and magic collide—and the blend of sci-fi and fantasy are especially appealing.
Depending on what you focus on—the distinctive characters starting with the protagonist, the many scattered mysteries, or the way the story faces hardships head-on—the impression of the work can change.
I imagine many people became interested in what has historically been called magic because of this series.
We Still Don’t Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day.
One work that’s been gaining attention for its heartrending story is Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.
This anime, which aired in 2011, tells the story of a reunion, interactions, and a farewell with a friend who was thought to have died.
It has expanded into various media, including manga, a TV drama, a film, and stage productions, but starting with the anime is recommended because it’s an easy and thorough way to grasp the story.
Another selling point is that, for an anime series, it’s relatively short at just 11 episodes.
Bakuman.
Bakuman by Tsugumi Ohba began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2008, and the anime started in 2010.
The story follows two protagonists aiming to become manga artists, and many people were likely hooked on it during their school days.
It portrays the world of manga creation realistically, and I’m sure many were inspired to aspire to become manga artists through this work.
The anime ran for three seasons, each with 25 episodes, making it very satisfying to watch.
Why not take this opportunity to binge it again?
Attack on Titan
Its grand, violent worldview sparked a massive craze! Attack on Titan, the anime based on the manga by Hajime Isayama, is a highly acclaimed hit even among overseas anime fans, and its Season 1 opening theme, Guren no Yumiya, was a smash success.
The music unit Linked Horizon, who created the song, also made headlines by performing it at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
The story of boys and girls fighting desperately in a brutal world must have set your hearts ablaze as well.