When I set out to write a “Top Ten” or “Best Of” list for anime from the previous decade (just like all the other anime websites), I had a look-see of what others had to offer first.

That’s when I noticed that far too many of these lists were skewed in favor of shows that had a strong auteur-istic (if that’s even a word) streak.

It felt like it had turned into a “I know more obscure anime than you do!” contest, and that annoyed me to some extent. Which is why this list is going to be about my favorite anime from 2000-2009, based on what I as a viewer value in the films I see.

You may agree completely or disagree entirely, but both our opinions are valid so let’s leave it at that. So here they are, in no particular order:

Tengen Toppa Gurren Laggan
天元突破グレンラガン　(2007)

Any show that gives rise to such internet memes as “Row Row Fight the Powah” and “My drill shall pierce the heavens!” deserves a place in animation history. More than just a show about oversized robots and miniscule bikini tops, TTGL is about the simple struggles of a young man trying to find his way to adulthood.

Ridiculously funny and unexpectedly thought-provoking at the same time, TTGL is another classic from Gainax (the same studio that fucked up the kids of the 90s with Shin Seiki Evangelion).

Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
千と千尋の神隠し (2001)

Spirited Away is a fairy tale for adults disguised as an animated film for children. Its rich imagery, exquisite production values, and nuanced storytelling make it brilliant for viewers of all ages. I also love the fact that it never talks down to children – Spirited Away relies on their innate sensitivity and unfettered intelligence to figure out the story on their own.

Millennium Actress (Sennen Joyuu)
千円女優 (2001)

For many fans, the quintessential Kon Satoshi film is Paprika or Tokyo Godfathers – but for me, Millenium Actress was the film that made me sit up and pay attention to the then up-and-coming animation director. It is a love story that spans an entire lifetime, and what makes it particularly poignant is the absence of a happy ending.

A mesmerizing blend of reality and fantasy, Millennium Actress also puts a spotlight on the death of the classic film studio as an institution, and sense of loss that accompanies it.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo)
時をかける少女　(2006)

I think I have a thing for pure love stories that traverse time and space, as shown by my previous choices Spirited Away and Millennium Actress, and again by The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. Deceptively simple at first: a young girl discovers she has the power to twist time to suit her desires, it nevertheless spools off into the realm of both science fiction and philosophy by way of the temporal paradox.

However, the single most compelling reason for me to place this film in my top five list, is Konno Makoto. She is a unique, strong-willed individual in a sea of awkward, self-loathing, damsel-in-distress female protagonists from a million other anime titles. Oh, and Twilight — let’s not forget Twilight.

Macross Frontier
マクロス フロンティア (2008)

Giant mecha space opera with a spunky self-made diva (no, not Ranka) and a prettier-than-thou pilot princess, with lots of fan service and Easter eggs and property destruction thrown in for good measure — WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE, PPL?!?!?!