For most American anime fans who grew up during the 2000s, Toonami was a major part of childhood. This Cartoon Network segment introduced countless viewers to the world of anime, bringing a wide selection of some of the best anime ever created to audiences outside of Japan.
Despite its brief cancellation in 2008, the segment has largely withstood the test of time, allowing fans easy access to beloved modern classics such as Dandadan and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Yet, even though Toonami has not stopped shaking up its catalog, some of its more classic series that aired in the 90s and 2000s remain strong contenders for its best-ever entries.
Serena is a clumsy and friendly girl who, at first glance, does not look out of the ordinary. When intergalactic threats wreak havoc, however, she transforms into the cosmic warrior Sailor Moon. Alongside the powerful and stylish Sailor Scouts, she protects the universe while uncovering the secrets that come with her new identity.
A true classic and a series that demonstrated that girls could also be incredible action heroes, Sailor Moon has been an icon of the industry for decades. While the show got a remake in 2014, much of its popularity still comes from the original 90s iteration. This colorful, energetic, and emotive anime has more than succeeded at enchanting and entertaining generations of fans, and will likely keep doing it for years to come.
Four years after saving the world from the tyrannical King Piccolo, Goku lives a normal life with his loving wife Chi-Chi and his son Gohan. This peaceful era comes to an end when a mysterious and imposing enemy named Raditz arrives, revealing that not only is Earth being targeted by a race of proud warriors known as Saiyans, but that the protagonist himself is one of these aliens.
The show that would forever change the way in which anime is perceived and enjoyed by the world at large, Dragon Ball Z is a sequel that took everything that made its predecessor a success and improved on it immensely. Goku’s adventures as an adult might have lost a tad of the humor that made the original so iconic, but this was replaced with rich lore and impactful scenes that would go on to inspire countless other anime.
Twelve years ago, the village of Konoha was attacked by the sinister Nine-Tails Fox, a beast filled with nothing but hatred and rage against humanity. The Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself to seal the beast inside a newborn baby, saving his people. Now, this child has grown and is ready to graduate as a ninja and begin his road to becoming the next Hokage, hoping to earn the respect and admiration of a village that hates him.
Electrifying, emotive, and ready to surprise fans with its noteworthy lessons about cooperation, acceptance, and hard work, Naruto is a true classic of the shonen genre. This series inspired entire generations of fans to fight for their dreams no matter the obstacles, and it continues to do so, without neglecting its awe-inspiring story and unparalleled power system.
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