Cartoon Network’s Toonami was a cartoon block that launched on March 17, 1997, and targeted children and teens. Since then, many of the anime that aired on Toonami have become industry icons, timeless classics, or obscure favorites for many anime fans. For an entire generation of viewers, Toonami was one of the first places they encountered anime, introducing audiences to everything from magical girls and giant robots to supernatural adventures and over-the-top battle series.
While Toonami has changed several times since its debut, its impact on anime fandom remains undeniable. Some series on the block became massive franchises, while others developed smaller but devoted followings that still remember them fondly. With so many shows passing through Toonami’s lineup over the years, these are 10 anime that every new fan should watch at least once.
Dragon Ball Z Is Synonymous With Toonami
Most people whostarted watching anime have at least heard of Dragon Ball Z. It’s an iconic, internationally known anime that first aired in 1989 and eventually reached audiences inmore than 80 countries. For many American anime fans, however,Dragon Ball Zbecame synonymous with Toonami, where its explosive battles and larger-than-life characters helped make the series a household name.
The tale of Son Goku and the Z Fighters ran the gamut from fighting back alien invaders and reaching insurmountable power levels to amazing battles and, of course, dying a lot. Every episode ofDragon Ball Zwas hyped up by the amazing Doc Harris, making every episode seem like a world-ending event, in which it oftentimes absolutely was. Iconic villains such as Frieza, Cell and Majin Buu were staples of their respective arcs, keeping viewers glued to their seats and wondering how Goku and his friends would defeat them.
Although it’s best known for fighting and screaming,Dragon Ball Zhad plenty of heart. Many of its core characters, including Goku, Gohan, Piccolo and Vegeta, had memorable character arcs that fans still remember to this day.Dragon Ball Zremains the pinnacle of its original era, and while the franchise continues withDragon Ball Super, the heart of the series will always belong toZ.
Naruto Is a Member of Anime’s Big Three
Narutois one of the series that make up what the anime fandom affectionately calls the Big Three. The three shonen anime, which includeNaruto,BleachandOne Piece, dominatedWeekly Shonen Jumpand anime fandom throughout the 2000s.Naruto’s original animeran from 2002 to 2007, while Naruto: Shippuden, the sequel series in which manycharacters are aged up, ran from 2007 to 2017.
The series’ leading character is Naruto Uzumaki, an orphaned ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village who dreams of becoming its leader despite being ostracized by those around him. Alongside Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, Naruto goes on various missions for the village while unraveling decades-old conflicts and confronting their own inner demons.
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The characters are one ofNaruto’s strongest aspects, with their motivations and development as children often laying the groundwork for their actions and fates as adults. The series also helped introduce a new generation of fans to shonen anime when it joined Toonami’s lineup.
Mobile Fighter G Gundam Is Pure Toonami-Era Mecha Cheese
The best starting place for Gundam is typically the original Mobile Suit Gundam from 1979, but Mobile Fighter G Gundam throws that political drama out the window for an Olympics-style mech battle tournament. Taking place in the Future Century timeline rather than the main Universal Century timeline, G Gundam follows Domon Kasshu, a Mobile Fighter who pilots the Shining Gundam and competes in the Gundam Fight.
Domon’s quest is to find his fugitive brother, Kyoji, who is accused of stealing the Devil Gundam, an act that resulted in their mother’s death and their father being sentenced to cryostasis. What sets G Gundam apart is the pure soap-opera-style drama surrounding nearly every interaction in the show.
Even with how over-the-top it can be, the sincerity behind every line makes it a fun introduction to the Gundam franchise before viewers dive into the larger Gundam universe. Even viewers who aren’t normally interested in giant mechs can find something to love in the passion delivered in every single line.
Zoids: New Century Turns Mech Battles Into a Sport
Zoids: New Centuryis a delightful step into the mech battle genre, taking place a long time afterZoids: Chaotic Century, which had previously aired on Toonami. The audience entersNew Centurybeing told that Zoids are simply machines and do not possess the living spirits seen in Zoids such as Zee fromChaotic Century. That idea is quickly disproven when Bit Cloud discovers that Liger Zero has its own personality and consciousness.
For a Toonami show, this is one of the better introductions to the Zoids universe because its straightforward story does not require prior knowledge of the franchise. Bit Cloud finds Liger Zero, a living Zoid, and joins the Blitz Team, participating in various tournaments while slowly uncovering a massive conspiracy behind the scenes.
With its easy-to-follow story, lovable cast and ridiculous mech battles, Zoids: New Century has exactly the kind of accessible action that made it a natural fit for Toonami. That’s not the only reason to watch it now, though, as its high-octane Zoid battles and comedic asides make the series feel closer to Pokémon than Gundam.
Hellsing Ultimate Showed Viewers the Horror Side of Anime
Hellsing Ultimate is an OVA (original video animation) based on Hellsing that originally ran from 2006 to 2012. It was brought to Toonami in 2014, showing viewers a hyper-violent horror side of anime that had become more prevalent on the block during its Adult Swim revival.
Its presence helped demonstrate that Toonami could showcase anime aimed at a considerably older audience without losing the larger-than-life action that defined the block. Unlike most Toonami fare, Hellsing Ultimate was unapologetically gory and violent, with its highly stylized fight scenes becoming a major part of its appeal.
Viewers had seen vampires before, but few were quite like Alucard, a vampire who brings just as much firepower as he does fangs. Between its grotesque imagery, supernatural battles and dark sense of humor. For anyone looking for vampires with a little more bite, Hellsing Ultimate delivers that in bloody abundance.
Hunter x Hunter Gets Darker Than Expected
Hunter x Hunteris Yoshihiro Togashi’s most recent shonen series, and unlike the original 1999 anime, which ended after the Greed Island arc, the 2011 series had the opportunity to go beyond it into the Chimera Ant arc.WhenHunter x Hunterjoined Toonami’s Adult Swim lineup in 2016, it became part of the block’s modern revival and brought one of the era’s most celebrated shonen series to a new generation of Toonami viewers.At its core,Hunter x Hunteris a battle shonen about characters growing and improving their Nen abilities as the series progresses.Each member of the core four—Gon, Killua, Leorio and Kurapika—gets an opportunity to shine, showcasing their abilities while establishing strong characterization throughout the series. Thanks to Togashi’s storytelling,Hunter x Hunterfit comfortably alongside Toonami’s classic shonen while offering something considerably stranger and more unpredictable.
.hack//SIGN Made Being Trapped in a Video Game Existential
.hack//SIGN originally aired on Toonami’s Super Saturday block, which was canceled shortly after the series premiered in 2003. It later found a home on Saturday Video Entertainment System (SVES), but those first four episodes were enough to make it a memorable part of Toonami’s history.
Trapped inside a video game, Tsukasa doesn’t know how to escapeThe World, but as the series progresses, the other characters begin to wonder if he even wants to leave..hack//SIGNisn’t the only cerebral and psychological anime to find a place in the Toonami lineup.However, its dense atmosphere and slow-burn storytelling make it a unique introduction to the isekai genre for many viewers. A much more cohesive and grounded Isekai story for viewers than something like Sword Art Online.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Knows How to End a Story
The difference between Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood‘s run on Toonami and the 2003 version’s run on Adult Swim is that, with the manga now finished, the anime could finally stick the landing. Rather than creating its own ending, Brotherhood could faithfully follow Hiromu Arakawa’s completed story to its conclusion, giving the Elric brothers’ journey a definitive end.
With a tale as old as time, two brothers attempt to bring their mother back from the grave through forbidden human transmutation, only for them to lose an arm, a leg and an entire body in the process. The Elric brothers set out to find the Philosopher’s Stone in hopes of restoring what they lost, but like many of Toonami’s mainstays, especially during the 2010s, there is much more to the story than a simple battle between good and evil.
Anyone who’s ever watched traditional battle shonen needs to watch this version of Fullmetal Alchemist. Brotherhood balances action, comedy, tragedy and political intrigue while steadily building toward an ending that actually feels earned.
Yu Yu Hakusho Is the Quintessential Battle Shōnen
If it wasn’t forHunter x Hunter,Yu Yu Hakushowould still be Togashi’s best-known work. It originally aired in Japan in 1992 before eventually making its way to Toonami in 2003.The series introduced viewers to a delinquent teen who sacrifices himself to save a young boy from being hit by a car. What follows is the journey of one of the most iconic heroes in anime. The quartet of Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei and Kurama’s iconic run on the channel can’t be overstated.Between the nail-biting Dark Tournament arc and the subversive Chapter Black Saga, where Yusuke comes face-to-face with a former Spirit Detective, the series constantly pushes its characters in unexpected directions. These characters go through such complex journeys as individuals that new viewers have to see where they end up by the end.
Sailor Moon Is Iconic
Sailor Moon premiered on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block in 1998 and quickly became an international sensation. LikeDragon Ball Z,Sailor Moonhas endured all these years for good reason, and its staying power is about more than nostalgia.
This is a story about a 14-year-old girl gaining a solid group of friends, finding love and growing into an adult. Something conveniently left out of many narratives aboutSailor Moonis that Usagi isn’t just a whiny teenage girl who gets into all sorts of drama. She’s a hero who learns to become a force for good while growing into a stronger and more compassionate person.
Sailor Moonis so iconic. By the end, especially with the future timeline in mind, Usagi has truly grown up. Even with the cheesiness of the original dub, her journey remains at the heart of what makes
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