Best anime of 2004 — top 28 ranked

The best anime that premiered in 2004, ranked by MyAnimeList user score. Monster leads with a score of 8.90, followed by Howl's Moving Castle and Samurai Champloo. The 28 titles below average 7.98/10 and are drawn from MyAnimeList's top 2,000.

Filter & explore this listAll lists
  1. 1 Monster poster

    Monster

    TV · 74 eps · Spring 2004 · Madhouse
    Adult CastDramaMysteryPsychologicalSeinen
    ★ 8.90
    1.4M members
    #24 on MAL
  2. 2 Howl's Moving Castle poster

    Howl's Moving Castle

    Howl no Ugoku Shiro
    Movie · 1 ep · Fall 2004 · Studio Ghibli
    AdventureAward WinningDramaFantasyRomance
    ★ 8.67
    1.5M members
    #81 on MAL
  3. 3 Samurai Champloo poster

    Samurai Champloo

    TV · 26 eps · Spring 2004 · Manglobe
    ActionAdventureComedyHistoricalSamurai
    ★ 8.52
    1.4M members
    #154 on MAL
  4. 4 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG poster

    Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG

    Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
    TV · 26 eps · Winter 2004 · Production I.G
    Adult CastDetectiveMechaMilitaryMystery
    ★ 8.51
    245.8K members
    #161 on MAL
  5. 5 Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad poster

    Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad

    Beck
    TV · 26 eps · Fall 2004 · Madhouse
    DramaMusicShounen
    ★ 8.29
    384.2K members
    #336 on MAL
  6. 6 Hunter x Hunter: Greed Island Final poster

    Hunter x Hunter: Greed Island Final

    OVA · 14 eps · Winter 2004 · Nippon Animation
    ActionAdventureFantasyShounen
    ★ 8.25
    159.1K members
    #395 on MAL
  7. 7 Major S1 poster

    Major S1

    TV · 26 eps · Fall 2004 · Studio Hibari
    ShounenSportsTeam Sports
    ★ 8.21
    109.2K members
    #441 on MAL
  8. 8 Initial D Fourth Stage poster

    Initial D Fourth Stage

    TV · 24 eps · Spring 2004 · A.C.G.T.
    ActionDramaRacingSeinen
    ★ 8.18
    219.8K members
    #492 on MAL
  9. 9 Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo poster

    Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo

    Gankutsuou
    TV · 24 eps · Fall 2004 · Gonzo
    Award WinningDramaMysterySci-FiSupernatural
    ★ 8.10
    275.4K members
    #605 on MAL
  10. 10 Detective Conan Movie 08: Magician of the Silver Sky poster

    Detective Conan Movie 08: Magician of the Silver Sky

    Meitantei Conan Movie 08: Ginyoku no Magician
    Movie · 1 ep · Spring 2004 · TMS Entertainment
    AdventureComedyDetectiveMysteryShounen
    ★ 8.06
    63.5K members
    #674 on MAL
  11. 11 Bleach poster

    Bleach

    TV · 366 eps · Fall 2004 · Studio Pierrot
    ActionAdventureShounenSupernatural
    ★ 8.01
    2.3M members
    #752 on MAL
  12. 12 Wolf's Rain OVA poster

    Wolf's Rain OVA

    OVA · 4 eps · Winter 2004 · Bones
    ActionAdventureDramaFantasy
    ★ 7.98
    78.1K members
    #802 on MAL
  13. 13 Hikaru no Go: Hokuto Hai e no Michi poster

    Hikaru no Go: Hokuto Hai e no Michi

    Special · 1 ep · Winter 2004 · Studio Pierrot
    ShounenStrategy Game
    ★ 7.92
    26.4K members
    #898 on MAL
  14. 14 Ojamajo Doremi Na-i-sho poster

    Ojamajo Doremi Na-i-sho

    OVA · 13 eps · Spring 2004 · Toei Animation
    ComedyMahou Shoujo
    ★ 7.92
    13.5K members
    #907 on MAL
  15. 15 Yakitate!! Japan poster

    Yakitate!! Japan

    TV · 69 eps · Fall 2004 · Sunrise
    ComedyGourmetShounen
    ★ 7.90
    106.3K members
    #957 on MAL
  16. 16 School Rumble poster

    School Rumble

    TV · 26 eps · Fall 2004 · Studio Comet
    ComedyGag HumorLove PolygonRomanceSchool
    ★ 7.88
    348.7K members
    #1,000 on MAL
  17. 17 Mind Game poster

    Mind Game

    Movie · 1 ep · Summer 2004 · Studio 4°C
    Adult CastAdventureAvant GardeAward WinningComedy
    ★ 7.81
    99.2K members
    #1,166 on MAL
  18. 18 Detective Conan Movie 08: Time Travel of the Silver Sky Recap poster

    Detective Conan Movie 08: Time Travel of the Silver Sky Recap

    Meitantei Conan Movie 08: Ginyoku no Time Travel Recap
    TV Special · 1 ep · Spring 2004 · TMS Entertainment
    AdventureMystery
    ★ 7.80
    23.2K members
    #1,193 on MAL
  19. 19 Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence poster

    Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

    Innocence
    Movie · 1 ep · Winter 2004 · Production I.G
    Adult CastAward WinningDetectiveMechaMilitary
    ★ 7.77
    182.8K members
    #1,271 on MAL
  20. 20 Sgt. Frog poster

    Sgt. Frog

    Keroro Gunsou
    TV · 358 eps · Spring 2004 · Sunrise
    ComedyParodySci-FiShounen
    ★ 7.72
    85.3K members
    #1,415 on MAL
  21. 21 Paranoia Agent poster

    Paranoia Agent

    Mousou Dairinin
    TV · 13 eps · Winter 2004 · Madhouse
    Adult CastAvant GardeAward WinningDetectiveDrama
    ★ 7.66
    487.8K members
    #1,602 on MAL
  22. 22 Gakuen Alice poster

    Gakuen Alice

    TV · 26 eps · Fall 2004 · Group TAC
    ComedySchoolShoujoSuper Power
    ★ 7.65
    107.9K members
    #1,620 on MAL
  23. 23 Genshiken poster

    Genshiken

    TV · 12 eps · Fall 2004 · Palm Studio
    Adult CastComedyOtaku CultureParodySeinen
    ★ 7.63
    196.1K members
    #1,690 on MAL
  24. 24 Maria Watches Over Us: Printemps poster

    Maria Watches Over Us: Printemps

    Maria-sama ga Miteru: Haru
    TV · 13 eps · Summer 2004 · Studio Deen
    DramaGirls LoveSchoolShoujo
    ★ 7.63
    31K members
    #1,699 on MAL
  25. 25 Black Jack (TV) poster

    Black Jack (TV)

    TV · 61 eps · Fall 2004 · Tezuka Productions
    DramaMedicalShounen
    ★ 7.62
    42K members
    #1,713 on MAL
  26. 26 Kyou kara Maou! poster

    Kyou kara Maou!

    TV · 78 eps · Spring 2004 · Studio Deen
    AdventureComedyFantasyIsekaiShoujo
    ★ 7.61
    125.3K members
    #1,764 on MAL
  27. 27 Gunbuster 2 poster

    Gunbuster 2

    Top wo Nerae 2! Diebuster
    OVA · 6 eps · Fall 2004 · Gainax
    Award WinningComedyDramaMechaSci-Fi
    ★ 7.59
    86.8K members
    #1,854 on MAL
  28. 28 InuYasha the Movie 4: Fire on the Mystic Island poster

    InuYasha the Movie 4: Fire on the Mystic Island

    InuYasha Movie 4: Guren no Houraijima
    Movie · 1 ep · Fall 2004 · Sunrise
    ActionAdventureFantasyHistoricalMythology
    ★ 7.56
    100.4K members
    #1,957 on MAL

Related lists

All-time top 100MoviesTV seriesHidden gemsMost popularMost favoritedAiring nowShort seriesLong seriesWeb anime (ONA)OVAs20262025202420232022