The DVD market exploded in the 2000s. Anything and everything was burned to discs. That included shows and movies most had forgotten about. That was a real plus for fans of these shows to see a return. The Blu-ray market wasn’t as phenomenal. Part of the reason is that they were so expensive.
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They’re much cheaper now but there is another reason why this form of media wasn’t as revolutionary as the DVD. That’s because streaming was soon to follow. Who cares about physical media when seemingly any show or movie is there online or on an app? Well, some do andanimefans, in particular, are feeling left out. Theseclassic early 2000sanimeare still not available on blu-ray. Some can’t even be streamed.
10.hack//Sign
.hack//Signis not the only anime series to be missing in action..hack//Legendand.hack//Liminalitywould also be cool to see in one mega collection. This original series from 2002 was the first big one to study the idea of being trapped in an MMO.
It was on a smaller scale as only one user couldn’t get out. The whole series did tackle this issue though from other anime to manga to games..hack//Signcould be a bit dull at times and hard to follow but it still deserves an HD treatment.
9Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Final Fantasy: Unlimitedis nothing like the video game series on which it is based. It’s an Isekai wherein two twins from Japan, and another girl that follows them, wind up in a magical world ruled by a tyrant.
They all soon meet the mysterious Kaze who can fight off these enemies with his gun arm. This canon summons classic monsters like Phoenix and Titan. This is among the best of animated spinoffs even though it undoubtedly could have been better.
8Cromartie High School
Cromartie High Schoolis like a series of skits that loosely tie together in each episode. The anime stars the toughest of the tough high school vagabonds that keep getting caught in high concept buffoonery.
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From helicopter hair to robots to looking manly in the face of defeat, this show has it all. It’s one of those anime that has to be seen to be believed. It’s a hilarious short-lived anime which is more the reason why it should get re-released. It’s time to give this oddball comedy another chance for a new generation.
7Hellsing
Hellsing Ultimateis on Blu-ray butthe original animeis not. This started in 2001 before the manga was finished. Because of this, the anime had to take some liberties in its storytelling.Hellsing Ultimatefollows the manga more closely then and is considered to be better. However, the original series should still get its time in the sun, or more like moonlight. The other version may not exist if not for the original’s popularity.
6Ghost Stories
Ghost Storiesisa somewhat unremarkable anime about a bunch of high schoolers who start to look into ghosts and the occult. What makes it worth watching is the English dub. The localization made efforts to break the fourth wall, beyond the original’s intentions.
That’s why it is so beloved by fans as niche as they may be. Some of the jokes may not land as hard today due to their risqué nature. It was an anime of its time that still works for the most part even with a few sigh-inducing blemishes.
5Gantz
Gantzhad two seasons that reached 26 episodes in total. This was in 2004. However, the manga did not end until 2013. It is amazing that a reboot anime was never started,unlikeHellsing Ultimate. The anime is about two high schoolers who die trying to save someone one night.
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They wake up in an apartment to see a nude old man emerge from a black sphere He gives them and several other survivors special suits and turns them into a mercenary squad to do his bidding. It’s an extremely dark, depressing, and bloody show that will have viewers on the edge of their seats.
4Rave Master
Rave Masterwasthe first big manga and anime by Hiro Mashima. Anime fans may be more familiar with his other work,Fairy Tailalong with the new show,Edens Zero.Rave Masterhad two full seasons between 2001 and 2002.
This was another case where the anime finished on its own terms whereas the manga continued into 2005. It was a bit more kid-friendly when it came to the West. This may be why it never got a huge following and thus why it has never been released on Blu-ray, unlike the aforementioned Fairy Tail.
3The Tower Of Druaga: The Aegis Of Uruk
The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Urukis based on the old arcade game. It’s a later 2000s era anime from 2008. It isa similar storytoFinal Fantasy: Unlimited.The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Urukhas almost nothing to do with its game series.
The first episode pays homage to the classic but it is framed as a dream. The anime itself is part of the fantasy action genre with some nice callbacks and twists along the way. It had a sequel season as well and both are not available on Blu-ray.
2Monster
Monsteris a riveting murder mystery. It starts out with the protagonist, Dr. Tenma, choosing to operate on a sick child rather than the mayor. The anime then flashes forward wherein Tenma realizes this may have been the wrong decision as he gets involved in a series of murders.
The anime has a whooping 74 episodes and it covers the manga completely for the most part. This is one anime that cannot be missed which is why it’s so odd that it has been missing from modern physical media.
1Lupin The 3rd
Lupin The 3rdis a cheat to appear on this list. The first season the West ever got was Part 2 which aired from1977 to 1980in Japan.Adult Swimbrought it over in 2003. While it may look like a 70s anime, the localizers modernized the script so it at least appeared to be a 2003 era anime. That’s why it should count.
Even when this season did get localized, the whole thing was never fully translated due to a variety of reasons. Popularity and censorship were two issues. Of the over hundred episode arc, only half, if that, ever aired. A giant Blu-ray box set would-be killer.
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