Credit: DenofGeek

Time for some early 2000s nostalgia.

I think one of my favorite things about growing up in the late 90s and early 2000s is that I was smack in the middle of the initial western anime boom. On the surface level, you had programming blocks like Toonami on Cartoon Network that would give kids just a little taste of the anime world. Behind the scenes of that, though, there was an entire invisible community of fans circulating tapes and adding subtitles. These days, anime is everywhere; you don’t have to look very hard for it. But back then, we didn’t have YouTube; if it wasn’t airing on some forward-thinking network, you had to order VHS tapes through enthusiast back channels. If you want to get a taste of that life, the best avenue is watching classic anime from the late 90s and early 2000s. If you don’t want to go hunting for them, don’t worry, because these five are all on Netflix.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Credit: Cartoon Network

One of the most well-known works of Studio Gainax and the passion project of veteran director Hideaki Anno, Evangelion is a mecha battle series like no other, exploring deep concepts like free will, existence, and the purpose of humanity as a whole. If that sounds too heavy, don’t worry, it’s all broken up by some really fantastic giant fight scenes and setpieces. If you don’t understand the story the first time around, trust me, that’s normal.

Inuyasha

Credit: Netflix

One of the major works of legendary writer and illustrator Rumiko Takahashi, Inuyasha set a precedent for many long-running adventure series. It’s a time-spanning journey following high schooler Kagome as she slips into the past and joins the half-demon Inuyasha on his hunt for a sacred jewel full of mystical energy. It’s an unforgettable blend of action, adventure, comedy, and romance.

Case Closed

Credit: Netflix

Case Closed, also known by its Japanese title of Detective Conan, is one of the longest running anime/manga franchises in the world, having started back in 1996 and still running strong today. After Shinichi Kudo (Jimmy in the English dub) is slipped a mysterious drug, he’s de-aged to a grade schooler. With the help of a scientist friend, he assumes the guise of Conan Edogawa, kid detective, and solves crimes big and small in his pursuit of the mysterious men who drugged him.

Fullmetal Alchemist

Credit: Netflix

Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the best-selling manga series in history, and the anime adaptation has an equally impressive pedigree. Set in a world of alchemy, a practice skirting the border between magic and science, brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric seek to become licensed military alchemists so they can discover a way to return what they lost. Namely, Ed’s arm and leg and Al’s entire body, stolen from them during a botched alchemy experiment. Both the original series and the remake series, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, are available on Netflix.

Code Geass

Credit: Netflix

While Code Geass may seem like a mecha anime on the surface, it’s primarily a story of political intrigue and sabotage. Our protagonist, Lelouch, is an exiled prince of Britania, an authoritarian regime that has conquered over a third of the world. Aided by a mysterious ability that allows him to bend others to his will, Lelouch assembles an underground army with the intent of destroying Britania and getting revenge for his murdered mother.