Toonamibegan in 1997. The afternoon weekday block of anime and cartoons lasted until 2004. It then moved to Saturdays and was given a longer time slot to work with. After this point, it remained on the air, swapping out different shows until 2008. Then, the brand was shuttered for a good while.
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Part of that might be because Adult Swim came into existence. They could show anime uncut, which gathered a huge audience. That’s not to say there weren’t good anime in the 2000 to 2008 era of Toonami. There are plenty of shows to get nostalgic about that still hold up today. However, tracking them down nowadays is a different story.
Updated on July 18, 2025, by Layann Basileh:Despite being firmly rooted in the past, there are still many gems hidden in theToonami animelineup to look back fondly on. Although some of theseToonami showsoriginally aired, either in the U.S. or internationally, years before the 2000s,Toonamiwould offer them another run on the silver screen during this era and another opportunity to leave a sentimental mark on the childhoods of their viewers. These reruns would also expose young anime fans to the charms beyond that ofearly 2000s anime, cementing an appreciation for beloved and iconic titles throughout the various eras of Japanese animation.
20Yu-Gi-Oh!
Fromthe franchise that produced a card gamesecond only to the infamousPokemoncards,Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsterswould mark the original manga’s second anime adaptation. Whether viewers owned a pack ofDuel Monsterscards or not, all were captivated by the adventures of the memorably haired Yugi Muto, his alter ego Yami Yugi, and his companions as they battled against other card duelists and delved into the depths of Yami Yugi’s past.
Toonamiwouldn’t end up airing the entirety of the series, but its short run surely attracted the attention of what would become longtime fans of the anime.
19Hikaru no Go
Genres collide as mind sports meet the supernatural in this coming-of-age anime that follows the journey of Hikaru, a young boy who becomes uniquely possessed by the ghost of a Heian period Go player. Instead of overtaking his body, the ghost resides in Hikaru’s mind and pushes him to enter Go matches, internally educating him on the complexities of the game as the matches unfold.
The series is credited with widely generating interest in Go among Japanese youth and introducing American audiences to the strategy board game.
18Dragon Ball
The first animated installment to adapt one of the most distinguished mangas of all time,Dragon Ballmade its debut in the 1980s but would air onToonamiin the early 2000s in the form of reruns, allowing another generation of fans to grow up with the legendary series.
While the shonen anime’s sequel series,Dragon Ball Z,would garner more popularity, it’s undeniable thatDragon Ballpaved the way for its successor’s acclamation and began the fantastical, action-packed animated adventure fans continue to cherish in their hearts today.
17The Prince of Tennis
Adapted from the eponymousbestselling sports manga,The Prince of Tennisfollows tennis prodigy and protagonist Ryoma as he enters Seigaku, an academy renowned for its talented tennis team. The series touches on teamwork, passion for the sport, and its technical aspects.
Although not as prominent asSlam Dunk, a sports series that revolutionized basketball in Japan,The Prince of Tennisremains a significant entry in sports anime, with adaptations spanning stage musicals, live actions films, and even a reboot of the series in 2022 to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
16Hamtaro
The wide-eyed image of this slice of life’s titular furry protagonist is no rare sight for those who dabble in Japanese media culture, which was even utilized as a symbol of government greed during student protests in Thailand in 2020.Hamtaro’s adorable, retro style and the twinkling eyes of its hamster hero have remained endearing to both new and old viewers.
The shojo series circulates around Hamtaro’s lighthearted misadventures with his equally cute Ham-Ham Gang and Laura (known as Hiroko in the original Japanese run), Hamtaro’s beloved ten-year-old owner.
15Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Zis an anime pretty much everyone even remotely familiar with the shonen genre is aware of. The amazing transformation and earth-shattering battles of this series make for some of the most iconic moments in anime history. WatchingGoku, Vegeta, and the rest of the Z Warriorsattain new heights in power to try and fight against various intergalactic threats makes for a great time indeed.
From Goku and Piccolo’s battle against Raditz to the fateful confrontation between Gohan and Majin Buu — the sheer number of memorable moments in this anime is simply mind-boggling. It’s easy to see why so many people holdDragon Ball Zin high regard as one of the greatest anime ever made, withDragon Ball Superdoing its part in continuing the legacy of his historied series.Dragon Ball Zoriginally aired in the early 1990s but was featured onToonamiin the 2000s.
14Duel Masters
Many anime that focused on certain card games or toys became the norm for quite some time. Shows likeBeybladeandYu-Gi-Oh!proved that such anime had the potential to become popular in the West as well. As a result,Duel Mastersbecame another showthat tried to cash in on this popularity by airing on Toonami, and most people would argue that it succeeded in this goal.
Duel Masterswas a great show that took its card game to new heights of popularity with a simple yet engaging premise. People loved building up their ownDuel Mastersdeck after watching this show, even if certain liberties were taken when it came to the actual rules during a game. Regardless, the adventure of Shobu and his friends as they attempt to become the ultimate duelist makes for a great time!
13Gundam Wing
Gundam Wingwas the first big showin the franchiseto capture the youth in 2000, though the series initially aired in 1995. It was a grittier story and featured more Gundam models than any previous iteration before it. To call it a hit would be an understatement.
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The show was so big that Toonami even started a nightly run of it, uncensored. This midnight block of anime later became Adult Swim. The unedited version changed some language and added blood, but it wasn’t anything shocking.
12Tenchi Muyo
Tenchi Muyoalso came out in 2000 on Toonami despite debuting in the nineties. It was the first series ofTenchi Muyo, but manymore were soon to followon Toonami. It is a typical harem anime except with fantastical space pirates and ancient Japanese magic.
The blending of the two genres worked well. Plus it had plenty of fan service for harem anime lovers. Much of it was censored on Toonami, though. Thankfully fans of this old anime can get all the fan service they want through other releases.
11The Big O
The Big Owas released in 2001 in North America, right after it finished airing in Japan. Most series on Toonami were brought over from the mid-90s to the early 2000s. So,The Big Obeing somewhat new was a nice change of pace. The anime would prove popular enough in the West that eventually a second season would be greenlit in association with Adult Swim.
It was a combination of a mech anime likeGundam, featuring a giant robot, andBatman: The Animated Series. The art style fits in well with the animatedBatmanseries from a few years previous. For example, the city of Paradigm had an Art Deco design to it, much likeBatman. It is a fun,over-the-top mech animethat should still please fans of the genre to this day.
