Top 21 Anime Moments of Each Year (2000 - 2020)
Top 21 Anime Moments of Each Year
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we are counting down our picks for the Top 21 Anime Moments of Each Year.
For this list, we’re going to be celebrating over two decades worth of quality anime content by bringing you the medium’s most defining moments, with more of an emphasis on character interactions rather than battles.
Do these scenes still make you well up or should they be left to otaku history and forgotten? Let us know in the comments!
2000: The Walk to Arlong Park
“One Piece” (1999-)
For a crewmate, Luffy would be willing to go to war. While we would discover just how far this mentality would go later down the line, this relatively small-scale act of defiance still made for one of the best moments of the Straw Hats’ early career. After Nami begs for his help, Luffy and the lads walk on down to where Arlong and his Fishmen are lounging. And from the intensity of their stride and their stoic expressions, it’s clear they have every intention of tearing the place down.
2001: Yugi Summons Slifer
“Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters” (2000-04)
Hey, if you’ve got an Egyptian God waiting in the wings, you might as well flaunt it! Once again thrown into a Shadow Game against Bakura, Yugi and the Pharaoh are given no choice but to channel their inner Kaiba and showcase their new legendary monster. Bringing forth thunderstorms while coiling around the entire blimp, the serpentine Slifer the Sky Dragon proves itself to be just as imposing as its brethren, if not more so. You know Bakura crapped himself when he was forced to look this thing in the eye.
2002: Kira’s Despair
“Mobile Suit Gundam SEED” (2002-03)
While many could make the argument that SEED is essentially Gundam Lite, there’s no denying that this was a truly dark moment; an act of murder that would make the Zabi family proud. Frustrated by his defeat and shattered ego, Yzak Joule shows no hesitation in shooting down a spacecraft filled with the civilians that Kira had just saved. Unable to get there in time, all our lord and saviour can do is watch on in horror as the innocents get blown into cosmic dust.
2003: Zabuza’s Death
“Naruto” (2002-07)
The first major loss from the Naruto canon, and let’s be honest those are far and few between, but when they hit – they hit hard. Despite serving as the initial antagonist for Team Seven to content with, Zabuza’s passing was wholly tragic. Faced with Haku’s sacrifice, the Demon of the Mist chooses to turn on his wicked employer, slicing his way through hordes of mercs despite his arms being rendered useless. With just enough life in him to say his parting words to Haku, Zabuza’s death was an emotional pay-off no-one had expected to be so monumental.
2004: Hughes’ Funeral
“Fullmetal Alchemist” (2003-04)
This thing is a triple threat. You’ve got the death of one of the most beloved characters in the franchise, who could have gone on to do so much more. Then we have to sit back and watch as his casket disappears into the ground WHILE his wife and child have a breakdown. And just to top it all off, we have Mustang silently crying over the loss of his best friend. That’s too much to take in all at once guys! Not even Brotherhood could duplicate this scene’s emotional peak!
2005: Ichigo Uses Bankai
“Bleach” (2004-12)
Before everyone and their grandma could whip out a Bankai, accessing this final zanpakuto form was a big deal, especially during the series’ arguably greatest arc. Arriving just in time to save Rukia from her execution, Ichigo once again clashes blades with her older brother Byakuya…only this time he’s come prepared. Unleashing Tensa Zangetsu for the first time, back in the day this had every shounen fan worth their salt losing their damn minds, since they finally got to see their strawberry go toe to toe with the all powerful Shinigami Captain.
2006: I Want to Live
“One Piece” (1999-)
There’s no shortage of moments in Oda’s world that will bring you to tears, whether due to utter dismay or overwhelming delight. This one blurs the line, since it’s built on the tragic backstory of a crewman both we and the Straw Hats have come to adore, while also paving the way for a hopefully future. Sentenced to execution, the sudden arrival of Luffy and company compels Robin, for the first time in her life, to declare that she wants to be saved. It kickstarted one of anime’s greatest arcs, and broke a lot of hearts at the same time.
2007: Simon Becomes a Man
“Gurren Lagann” (2007)
Losing Kamina was hard for everyone, but none more so than for Simon. Following his bro’s death at the hands of the beastmen, the digger was brought down so low that nothing could wrestle him out of his depression…except for some sharp words from his future wife Nia. From there, we see Simon blossom from side character all the way to the leading man the series deserves, erupting onto the scene with a bitter speech as well as some top notch mecha action. Kamina would be so proud!
2008: Lelouch’s Sacrifice
“Code Geass” (2006-08)
You couldn’t ask for a more pitch perfect ending, even if it was wholly bittersweet. In order to unite the world, Lelouch paints himself as the ultimate tyrant, earning the ire of both Britannians and Japanese alike, all the while working behind the scenes to plot his own downfall. With Suzaku posing as Zero, Lelouch’s masterplan plays out flawlessly, resulting in a public assassination. History may remember him as a demon, but the rest of us know he was a painfully flawed hero willing to give his life for peace.
2009: Edward Promises to Save Alphonse
“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” (2009-10)
This second iteration had already amped up the quality in practically every way imaginable, and while it had plenty of emotionally taut and impressive fight scenes, the highlight was undoubtedly this little reunion. Trapped inside the Gate of Truth, Ed discovers his brother’s waning body, leading him to reaffirm their vow to reclaim what they had lost. There’s so much gravitas and power to this promise that even as Ed is snatched back to reality, the potency of his words proves far more intense than the giant eye trying to snag him.
2010: The Kiss
“Inuyasha” (2000-10)
It took over a decade and the last-second introduction of a Final Act, but finally, one of the oldest and most beloved pairing in all of classic anime got their due. Hacking and slashing his way through the nightmares of the Shikon Jewel, the half-dog demon finally frees the girl out of time from her imprisonment. And just like that, all hardcore Inuyasha and Kagome fans rejoiced as the two at long last shared a kiss. Sucks for Kikyo, but hey, she had her chance!
2011: Kaiji's Somewhat Happy Ending
“Kaiji: Against All Rules” (2011)
More often than not, it was this gambling loser’s own ego and greed that sent him hurtling into both debt and danger, the consequences of which often costing him a lot more than money. That being said, in spite of his infinite loser status, we couldn’t help but root for him as his back was up against the wall. Besting the bog and earning millions, only to subsequently lose all the money, that’s quintessential Kaiji, and an oddly fitting end for his character. Thankfully, he was afforded a ray of sunshine after being reunited with his former labour camp colleagues. He may not be wealthy, but at least he’s got his freedom and his squad.
2012: Dio Rejects His Humanity
“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” (2012-)
And just like that, one of anime’s most acclaimed villains was born. While far from the Stand user we would all come to associate his name with, Dio’s transition from scumbag to literal bloodsucker was still Phantom Blood’s highpoint. With his sinister deeds brought to light, Dio ditches the deception and lets his inner monster out. Not only does he strike down Jonathan’s father, but uses the chaos and confusion to attach the stone mask to himself. Add a little splash and blood and poof – say hello to Dio the Vampire.
2013: Annie’s Last Stand
“Attack on Titan” (2013-)
Back when the truth about the Titan Shifters was a mystery, long before we knew about the other traitors hiding among the Survey Corp’s ranks, Annie’s reveal as the Female Titan was the biggest bombshell this anime could deliver. With her cover blown and her former team-mates trapping her out in the open, Annie is given no choice but to transform and start raising some hell inside the Walls. Though not before gracing us with an uncharacteristic and wholly unsettling laugh; a precursor to her rampage.
2014: Gon's Transformation
“Hunter x Hunter” (2011-14)
Keep in mind we’re not including the subsequent battle with Pitou, we’re only focusing on Gon’s harrowing shift from light-hearted hunter all the way to a solemn monster of a man. And yet, even isolated, this scene is still spectacular. So, overwhelmed with grief over Pitou’s refusal to bring Kite back, Gon willingly sacrifices his life force in order to gather the strength he needs to kill the Chimera Ant – rapidly aging his body to the pinnacle of strength. While it’s all kinds of epic, it’s the palpable sense of dread that really elevates this confrontation to god-tier status.
2015: Direct Drive Zone
“Kuroko’s Basketball” (2015)
The sports anime scene is filled with killer moments that can rouse a cheer from any fan, but the final face off between Seiren and Rakuzan takes things to a whole other dimension. Oh sure, it abandons reason for the sake of spectacle, but it still makes for an unmissable conclusion. Unleashing an ascended form of the Zone, Kagami is able to outdo Akashi and his elite players with an unprecedented level of athleticism, allowing them to come back from the brink and win the Winter Cup.
2016: Naruto Returns Sasuke's Forehead Protector
“Naruto Shippuden” (2007-17)
Their battle at the Valley of the End may have been the most defining confrontation in Naruto’s long history, but it was their quiet, subdued reconciliation that really brought the feels. At least for those that mired through so much sublime content and numbing filler to get to this point. Before setting off on his lone journey, Sasuke finally accepts his headband back from his former teammate. Accepting him as a friend and burying the bad blood that had consumed them for years. It’s an unexpected yet truly heartfelt way to bring both of their personal stories full circle.
2017: Bertholdt & Reiner Revealed
“Attack on Titan” (2013-)
Just when you think you know a guy, along comes a soul-shattering reveal that rocks the very foundation of all you thought you knew. Losing himself to his trauma, Reiner’s rather cavalier announcement that her and Bertholdt were actually the Armoured and Colossal Titans remains one of the best twists in modern anime, swiftly followed by one hell of a heavyweight Titan fight. It’s a betrayal many have yet to recover from, one that not only broke Eren, but served to deepen the enigma that was this world’s puzzle box of lore.
2018: Ultra Instinct
“Dragon Ball Super” (2015-18)
All throughout the Tournament of Power, we had been teased about this new form Goku had been edging towards; a state that even rivalled that of the Gods. It certainly took a while, but during his final confrontation with Jiren, everyone’s favourite Saiyan achieved it. Complete with a shimming set of silver hair, the build-up and execution of Goku’s Perfected Ultra Instinct is the closest a Dragon Ball series has come to matching the splendour of the original Super Saiyan transformation. And that is no easy task!
2019: Ash Wins the Alola League
“Pokémon” (1997-)
Over two decades of waiting, and while Ash may not have succeeded in making it to eleven, he did achieve something that old school fans had written off a long time ago – he went and became the freakin’ champion. Of an actual Pokemon League. The thing gamers had been doing for years, yet never thought we’d see in the anime, at least in our lifetime. The fact his clashes with Gladion and Kukui were also way more epic than they had any right to be didn’t hurt things either! Maybe he is a competent trainer after all!
2020: Kirito Finally Wakes Up
“Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld” (2019-)
After spending the majority of this sequel series as a vegetable, Kirito finally remembered he was the main character, eventually rousing himself up and joining the fray in Underworld’s most desperate hour. Guess having your mind melted is nothing to all healing properties of having your harem swoop in and offer their intimate affections! Jokes aside, his last-second arrival still packed all the hype we could have hoped for; saving Asuna and the gang from the sadistic PoH.
