There’s no doubt that the 2000s were a decade of change and progress. With new technologies and trends emerging at an alarming rate, anime fans had to find new ways to keep up with the latest trends and developments. Some of the most defining anime of the decade were those that explored social issues, explored LGBTQ+ characters in a positive light, or simply entertained with their unique story-telling style. Here are 10 of the most popular anime Waifus that defined the decade:

  1. Attack on Titan – Yūki Kaji ( Attack on Titan ) created an intense and powerful character study in this dark and suspenseful series. Yūki Kaji’s unique writing style made for an engaging experience that left viewers captivated from beginning to end.
  2. Fullmetal Alchemist – Hiromu Arakawa ( Fullmetal Alchemist ) took a break from his usual action-adventure stories to explore more introspective themes in this dark and mysterious series. Themes such as love, loss, and self-discovery were explored in depth in this highly anticipated release.
  3. Cowboy Bebop – Shinichiro Watanabe ( Cowboy Bebop ) continued his trend of exploring social issues with his characters in this groundbreaking series. This innovative show broke many boundaries at its time and continues to be one of the most popular anime today.
  4. Death Note – Takeshi Obata ( Death Note ) took a different approach to manga storytelling by creating an all-encompassing story about life after death. This dark but compelling series left readers captivated from beginning to end.
  5. Naruto – Masashi Kishimoto ( Naruto ) continued his trend of exploring social issues with his characters in this popular series. This innovative show broke many boundaries at its time and continues to be one of the most popular anime today.
  6. One Piece – Eiichiro Oda ( One Piece ) took a break from his