The Best Anime Of The Century Premiered 10 Years Ago, And It's Still Undefeated

Battle shōnen anime has evolved in recent years. While many of its tropes remain largely the same in today’s biggest shows, how those shows go about delivering their stories and portraying their heroes has changed. A character like Chainsaw Man‘s Denji is a far cry from the unchanging, naturally good protagonists of the past. His desires are a bit more selfish, his reasons for fighting aren’t always tied to a desire to save those he cares about.

Much of battle shōnen’s evolution can be traced back to one incredibly important series that debuted a decade ago, the supernatural action comedy masterpiece, Mob Psycho 100. Based on the manga by ONE, likely better known for One Punch Man, Mob Psycho 100 used the genre’s familiar tropes, and followed a hero unlike many fans had seen before.

Mob Psycho 100 premiered 10 years ago, and it has yet to be topped by any other show in its genre since.

Mob Psycho 100 Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary with a New Official Illustration

The Best Anime of the Century Officially Turns 10 Years Old This Year

Nearly four years on from its ending, Mob Psycho 100 has returned in a brand-new official illustration by studio Bones, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the series’ premiere. Mob Psycho 100 was as instant a success as there’s ever been in anime, helped by a sizable following of ONE’s original manga. The series is unique in more ways than one, starting with its deceptively complex art style. However, Mob Psycho 100‘s lasting impact can better be traced back to Mob himself.

The series follows middle schooler Shigeo Kageyama, also known as Mob, who has exceptional psychic powers, but a complicated relationship with them. When he was young, an outburst of emotion caused his powers to skyrocket, leading to an accident he’s spent the rest of his life trying to prevent from happening again. Unfortunately, such a struggle causes Mob to repress his emotions at all times, the boy not allowing himself to feel much of anything.

While the action is a spectacle throughout Mob Psycho 100, it’s Mob himself which makes the series so special. His character, flaws and all, are shoved into the spotlight as he learns how to deal with his emotions, and eventually discover and accept who he is. Mob Psycho 100 opened the door for other battle shōnen series to take a more measured approach towards their characters, rather than keep them the one-trick heroes they had been for decades.

Of course, other shows in the genre have done something similar in the past, but none have ever been executed quite as well, or looked so good doing so. Despite 10 years having passed since the series’ debut, few shows have ever looked as consistently awesome as Mob Psycho 100.

No Series Has Outdone Mob Psycho 100 Since Its Premiere

Shigeo Kageyama crying in Mob Psycho 100

Though many anime fans have preferences for certain decades, especially the golden age of the 1990s, it can be argued that anime this past decade is better than it’s ever been before. Each year, a new series seems to step into the spotlight and take the ever-growing global anime community by storm, such as 2023’s Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, or 2022’s Chainsaw Man, 2020’s Jujutsu Kaisen, and so many others.

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However, in that time, no show has managed to outdo Mob Psycho 100 in any aspect, from visuals to characters, or in its balance between blood-pumping action, sly comedy, and heartfelt drama. The series is turning 10 years old this coming July, and there’s no better way for fans to celebrate than by starting yet another re-watch.

Release Date: 2016 – 2022
Network: Tokyo MX
Directors: Katsuya Shigehara, Kenichi Fujisawa, Yohei Shindo, Hiroshi Takeuchi, Tsuyoshi Tobita, Takashi Kawabata, Shohei Miyake, Yoko Kanamori, Toshiyuki Sone, Tomoaki Ohta
Writers: Hiroshi Seko
Franchise(s): Mob Psycho 100