Best Drama Anime of 2003

Edward Elric is a gifted young alchemist who, at age twelve, suffers devastating losses. When he and his brother Alphonse attempt to bring their deceased mother back using the forbidden technique of human transmutation, Edward loses both his brother and two of his own limbs. Using his exceptional alchemical abilities, Edward manages to anchor Alphonse's soul to a massive suit of armor. One year later, Edward has become a state alchemist with the title of Fullmetal. Together with his younger brother, he sets out in search of the Philosopher's Stone. This legendary artifact is said to greatly amplify an alchemist's power, allowing them to bypass alchemy's core principle: equivalent exchange, where one must sacrifice something of equal value to gain something. Edward intends to use the military's resources to locate the stone and restore his and Alphonse's bodies to their original state. But as the Elric brothers delve deeper, they realize the stone holds secrets far beyond their expectations, drawing them into the heart of a conflict much darker and more vast than they ever anticipated.

Kino, a 15-year-old traveler, develops a close bond with Hermes, a motorcycle that can speak. Together, they journey across various lands, visiting different countries and places without any clear destination in mind, because travel is a venture full of unknowns. Along the way, they encounter a wide range of customs—some morally ambiguous, others tragic or mesmerizing. They meet many people: those who live only to work, those who live to bring others joy, and those who live in pursuit of their dreams. In each country they explore, there is always something new to learn from how the inhabitants conduct their lives. It is not for Kino or Hermes to judge whether these values are right or wrong; they simply act as observers within this small world. No matter how absurd those values might seem, they make no effort to change or influence the places they visit. They believe, in their own way, that things are fine as they are—that "the world is not beautiful; therefore, it is."

In a world on the verge of collapse, an old legend tells that when the end arrives, the path to paradise will open. This perfect world offers the only hope for the few living things left in this desolate land, but the myth says only wolves can discover the way to this fabled place. Although they were believed to have vanished long ago, wolves still exist, hiding among humans by using complex illusions. A lone wolf named Kiba is pulled by an irresistible scent to Freeze City, a poor settlement ruled by the cruel Lord Orkham. There, Kiba finds that wolves Hige, Tsume, and Toboe have also been lured by the same smell. Chasing the fragrance of "Lunar Flowers," which are rumored to unlock the door to their perfect world, the wolves travel across barren lands and decaying cities in search of their legendary paradise. But they are not the only ones hunting for this haven, and others with darker motives will stop at nothing to get there before them.

On Christmas Eve, Hana, Gin, and Miyuki are sifting through trash for gifts when they stumble upon an abandoned baby in the frigid winter night. Horrified by the tragic scene, Hana's maternal instinct takes over, and she insists on tracking down the baby's biological mother to get an explanation. They name the infant Kiyoko—meaning pure child—and begin their search using the few clues left with her: a mysterious key and a single note. But their plans quickly unravel as they become tangled in a string of unexpected events. Tokyo Godfathers traces the journey of this trio as they remain united through every hardship, determined to bring Kiyoko to her true home, and to discover their own Christmas miracle.

In the subterranean city of Lux, shrouded in darkness, its inhabitants live under constant dread and subjugation by competing criminal syndicates. Cut off from the world above, these gangs interact with the surface solely through the mining of "raffia," the city's sole reason for existence. This rare mineral, found only in Lux, serves as the foundation for "texhnolyze" transplants, which allow humans to replace body parts with cybernetic limbs. These prosthetics uniquely avoid immune rejection, and the mysterious "Class" organization holds the privilege of researching them. The Class, which also oversees raffia production, entrusts its executive power to a group called Organo, led by Keigo Oonishi—a self-righteous man with texhnolyzed legs, rumored to hear the "voice of the city." The fragile power balance in Lux shatters when a mysterious newcomer, Kazuho Yoshii, begins a series of crimes that incite conflict among the gangs. Amid the ensuing chaos, new figures emerge: Ichise, a former boxer mutilated by Organo and recently fitted with texhnolyzed limbs by Eriko "Doc" Kamata; and Ran, a young florist with the ability to see the future. As Lux spirals into madness, both Ichise and Ran become entangled in the greatest crisis the city has ever faced.

By 2075, traveling through space has become an ordinary part of daily life rather than a distant fantasy. Scientific and technological progress has enabled lunar colonization, the commercialization of outer space, and the rise of massive space corporations. Ai Tanabe, a cheerful young woman fascinated by the cosmos, joins Technora Corporation and is assigned to the Debris Section—a team tasked with clearing hazardous space junk from the orbital paths between Earth and the Moon. Ai quickly realizes how little respect her role commands. The Debris Section is the butt of jokes at Technora: chronically understaffed, barely funded, and forced to operate a worn-out spaceship nicknamed the "Toy Box" for its debris retrieval missions. Unfazed, Ai presses on and grows familiar with the quirky crew members, including the clumsy yet kind-hearted chief clerk Philippe Myers; the mysterious, tight-lipped temporary worker Edelgard Rivera; and the hot-tempered, passionate Hachirouta Hoshino, who dreams of owning his own spaceship. Planetes is an unconventional sci-fi story that uses the immense scale of space as a backdrop for the everyday lives of ordinary people—individuals born on Earth, but whose aspirations and dreams reach for the stars.

Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowel are two friends as close as brothers, until one fateful day they receive a violent, harsh reminder of just how cruel the world around them truly is. Before that, their lives were simple and carefree, filled with local scuffles, chasing women, and small-time theft to get by and pass the time. What they failed to grasp was that in this unforgiving world, happiness is fleeting and change is unavoidable. Then comes Millennion, the largest and most notorious mafia syndicate in the region, which takes Brandon and Harry into its fold, starting them at the very bottom. Harry dreams of climbing the ranks and eventually replacing Big Daddy as the supreme leader of Millennion, while Brandon only wants to support his friend and appease Big Daddy, who has taken custody of the woman Brandon loves. Based on the third-person shooter video game of the same name, Gungrave is an epic tale of friendship, betrayal, and greed that unfolds over several years, ultimately circling back to the gripping and ominous first episode, all while building toward the story's thrilling climax.

In Italy, the Social Welfare Agency takes in young girls from hospital beds and offers them a new life through advanced cybernetic enhancements. Their bodies artificially strengthened, the girls are brainwashed and trained as assassins to perform the Italian Government's covert operations. Despite these modifications, they remain children at heart, yearning for affection from those they care about, even knowing that love is artificially created. This tragic story follows the girls as they struggle with their emotions within an agency that views them merely as ruthless weapons.

Under a bright golden sun, shy high schooler Haruka Suzumiya confesses her feelings to Takayuki Narumi, the boy she has long admired. Takayuki accepts, and they begin dating, with their close friends Mitsuki Hayase and Shinji Taira cheering them on. Life seems perfect for the group—until a devastating event occurs. One of them falls into a cruel fate, trapped in a coma. Three years later, that person finally awakens, but their return suddenly casts a shadow over the friendships, pushing everyone's loyalties and emotions to their breaking point.

Born into royalty, Pacifica Casull is called the "Scrapped Princess" due to a catastrophic prophecy claiming she will bring about the world's end on her sixteenth birthday. Saved from execution by a compassionate family, she lives under the protection of her adoptive older siblings, Shannon and Raquel Casull. When followers of the deity Mauser learn she is still alive, they order her elimination at any cost, forcing Pacifica to flee for survival. Beset by dangers from the church, aristocracy, and ordinary citizens, the three siblings struggle to escape the destiny Pacifica is fated to fulfill, constantly wondering whether one girl's existence is worth the planet's ruin. As the princess' sixteenth birthday draws near, the true identity of the Scrapped Princess and the shocking truths about the world become increasingly clear.

In the universe of Maburaho, every person is born with magical abilities, making them magicians. But magical capacity differs from one individual to another. The number of times you can cast spells dictates the level of esteem you earn, and because magical power is fixed from birth through lineage and heredity, those descended from renowned magicians are highly coveted. At Aoi Academy, Kazuki Shikimori possesses the lowest magic count, causing his peers to regard him as a nearly useless magician. Yet his ancestry includes numerous legendary magicians across history, meaning that while he may not be powerful himself, his future children could be. This makes him a target for three different young women: Yuna Miyama, a transfer student who immediately claims to be his wife; Rin Kamishiro, a proud swordswoman from a traditional family who wishes to kill him so she can follow her own path; and Kuriko Kazetsubaki, a girl from an influential clan who openly tries to seduce him for his genetic potential. Now he must cope not only with the envy of every male student at school, but also with the relentless pursuit of multiple women.

Maiku Kamishiro has always been uncertain about his origins. The sole hint he possesses regarding his family is a vintage photo depicting a boy and a girl playing in a small pool in front of a blue house. Driven by the desire to uncover his past, he relocates to that very blue house and takes a job as a programmer. His comfortable existence is disrupted when two distinct girls arrive at his doorstep, each holding a copy of the same photograph and asserting that they are his twin. Unable to determine which one is his actual relative and which is a stranger, Maiku permits both girls to move in with him until the truth can be revealed.

The Kaleido Stage is renowned worldwide for mesmerizing audiences with incredible acrobatics, creative routines, and lavish costumes and sets. It’s a place where guests can believe in magic, and Sora Naegino dreams of becoming part of that magic by joining the famed circus as an acrobat herself. To achieve her goal, she leaves Japan for California to try out for a spot in the troupe. However, Sora quickly realizes that natural talent alone isn’t enough to bring smiles to the crowd. She soon understands how challenging it is to be a professional performer, where the risks—and the stunts—are greater and any mistake can be dangerous! To deliver performances worthy of the Kaleido Stage, she must undergo intense training, handle unusual tasks, face fierce rivalry, and put up with the mischief of a playful spirit named Fool. Will Sora rise to new heights, form friendships, overcome her fears, and push past her limits to become a Kaleido Star?

The town of Hatsunejima is filled with mysteries—among them are cherry trees that never wither and are believed to grant the most sincere wishes. Whispers also circulate about individuals possessing extraordinary abilities, such as Junichi Asakura, who can peer into others' dreams and conjure sweets from thin air. He lives a peaceful life alongside his sister Nemu, spending time with friends at Kazami Academy, though he keeps his true nature hidden. His calm school days are disrupted when his childhood friend Sakura Yoshino returns from America after six years. She comes with a single goal: to fulfill the promises she made long ago with Junichi. Yet no one realizes that Sakura's arrival will alter everyone's fate—whether for good or ill.

Anita King, Maggie Mui, and Michelle Cheung—known as the Paper Sisters—operate the Three Sisters Detective Agency in Hong Kong, specializing in cases related to books. They are hired to act as local guides for Nenene Sumiregawa, a Japanese novelist suffering from writer's block ever since her close friend Yomiko Readman vanished. Each sister is a Paper Master, possessing the ability to manipulate paper. Using these powers, they rescue Nenene from dangerous terrorists who attack her during a book signing. To ensure her safety, the sisters remain with her as bodyguards in case of further assaults. For book lovers Maggie and Michelle, guarding their favorite author is a dream come true, but young Anita despises books despite her paper‑based abilities. The trio struggles to adjust to their new life in Japan while protecting Nenene and continuing detective work under the shadowy organization Dokusensha. As they grow closer to Nenene, they uncover connections between her, Yomiko's disappearance, and the mysterious books Dokusensha sends the Paper Masters to investigate. What started as a routine job escalates into the most significant case they have ever faced. Are these girls truly willing to risk their lives for literature?

It has been two years since Aoi and Kaoru were released from the constraints of their families. Kaoru is now attending graduate school, and the tenants remain as boisterous as ever. The story explores what will become of the romance between Aoi and Kaoru as they continue to live their everyday lives with their usual friends in their house.

To uncover the secrets of immortality, global scientists convened to investigate "Heaven's Gate," the tomb-laboratory of the legendary ruler Gilgamesh. When the project was condemned as unethical and shut down, a terrorist group ignored the halt and breached the facility, triggering an explosion that destroyed the advanced information civilization. Years later, siblings Tatsuya and Kiyoko Madoka are fleeing from thugs, but they soon become embroiled in a conflict between two mysterious factions. Both groups claim to act for society's benefit, forcing the siblings to determine which side deserves their trust.

While on summer break at her grandparents' home, Tamai Shiina, a bright and cheerful student, encounters a peculiar creature. The two form a bond, and Shiina christens it Hoshimaru: The Round Star. Upon returning to school after the vacation, Shiina discovers other children who have also bonded with strange beings similar to Hoshimaru. However, she quickly learns that not all of these creatures and their partners share the same amiable nature.

Continuing their westward journey, priest Genjo Sanzo and his companions Cho Hakkai, Sha Gojyo, and Son Goku aim to prevent the demon Gyoumao from being resurrected. As the Sanzo Ikkou's reputation precedes them, they battle demon assassins at every turn, yet must also contend with rising tensions within their own group to overcome a powerful enemy.

Kyuu is a typical boy with a talent for logic and reasoning. Hoping to become a detective, he learns about the Dan Detective School (DDS), a renowned institution where students are permitted to carry weapons. Alongside Megu, who possesses a photographic memory, martial arts expert Kinta, genius programmer Kazuma, and the enigmatic Ryuu, Kyuu investigates numerous meticulously planned crimes while always pursuing the truth.

Around a century in the past, a bright and cheerful girl named Nadja grows up in an orphanage near London, England. She was left there as an infant, so she believes both her father and mother have passed away. However, just before turning thirteen, she learns that her mother may still be alive. Determined to find her, Nadja embarks on a journey across Europe, beginning her thrilling adventure.

According to an old legend, eating mermaid flesh grants immortality. Five hundred years ago, Yuta unknowingly consumed a piece of such flesh. For centuries, he wanders Japan, hoping to find a mermaid who might restore his humanity. When he finally discovers one, he learns that she and her companions have been raising a girl as food, intending to eat her and steal her youthful appearance to stay young themselves. Yuta kills the mermaids and rescues the girl, but she has already ingested some mermaid flesh. Though he had to destroy them, Yuta is not too disheartened. His once-lonely existence is over now that he has found a companion in Mana. And Mana, who spent her entire life confined to a small hut, finds joy in even the simplest things. Together, Yuta and Mana search for more mermaids, hoping to become normal humans once again.

The sisters Ai, Mai, and Mii, along with their android maid Mea and a slippery pet ferret named Unagi, journey through time and space while keeping their beloved mansion with them. Guided by clues from strange dandelion-like plants called Popotan, they seek someone who can answer their most personal questions, yet they still find time for side trips, meeting new friends, visiting hot springs, and occasionally running the X-mas shop kept inside their house. However, their ultimate destiny holds many surprises, and not every moment is cheerful—moving through time forces them to leave friends behind.

Aikawa Kazuhiko previously served as captain of Tendoji High School's celebrated basketball squad. He relocates to a new area and enrolls at Mizuho High, where he joins the basketball team. But Mizuho's team is anything but celebrated—it has actually become inactive. Needless to say, Kazuhiko's determination, enthusiasm, and talent on the court motivate the other members of the dysfunctional team to regroup and resume practice. Their objective is to reach the national tournaments, where all young basketball players face their rivals in competition. The youth story of the five main characters—Fujiwara Takumi, Ishii Tsutomu, Dobashi Kenji, Miura Ranmaru, and Aikawa Kazuhiko—has only begun, alongside the revival of the Mizuho High School basketball team.

The conflict originated in 1945 during the final stages of the Pacific War, when extraterrestrial beings descended upon the planet, compelling humanity to unite against an unprecedented danger. Now, more than half a century later, the war continues to rage with devastating casualties. The Japanese military must depend on the youth of Unit 5121, including Atsushi Hayami and his classmates, who fight fearlessly using HWT humanoid combat units and the powerful PBE bomb.

Kai possesses abilities that set him apart from others. Along with his ailing sister Hikaru, he is under the protection of the organization ASHURUM. Scouted by Eiji, Kai is assigned to ASHURUM's special force AESES and undergoes rigorous training. In his free time, Kai visits Hikaru at the organization's hospital, but her condition never shows improvement. Thus, one year later, having grown remarkably from the intense training, Kai decides to flee the organization.

By the 24th century, interstellar travel has become a reality. One of the earliest remote outposts in space is WATCHER'S NEST—an inflation hole drive portal—now under assault by a mysterious force called GHOUL. A group of young female cadets stationed at the portal unexpectedly find themselves thrust into escalating danger as they complete their training to become elite pilots in the Seraphim Squadron.

In the far-off future, trains are no longer confined to physical rails. They soar through the skies and traverse the cosmos via the Galaxy Railways, carrying humanity between planets. Yet these railways are not without peril: criminals, terrorists, and hostile aliens constantly create chaos. Manabu Yuuki, a reckless and hot-tempered young man, becomes the newest recruit in the Galaxy Railways' elite Space Defence Force (SDF). This courageous team is tasked with safeguarding the railways and confronting any extraordinary threats, putting their lives on the line to shield the innocent from evil. As the story unfolds and the SDF faces an escalating crisis, Manabu must grasp the true essence of being a member of the SDF before it is too late.

Around the 37th year of the Meiji Era (1904), during the Russo-Japanese War, the outnumbered Japanese army relies on a special flying ship called the Amanohara, powered by a benevolent demon, to launch an assault on Russia's key stronghold at Port Arthur (Lushun). Umakai Shintaro, a Japanese-born Russian diplomat, defects and travels to Sapporo to teach at a girls' academy. But this academy is far from ordinary—it is located aboard the Amanohara, and the five girls Shintaro instruct form the Raimu Unit, each possessing the ability to summon powerful beings to fight on their behalf. Shintaro soon becomes both their teacher and battlefield commander, and together the six embark on a bizarre and highly erotic journey. As Shintaro helps the girls overcome their weaknesses, grow stronger for the final battle at Lushun, and unravel the motives behind the opposing "Russian Spiritual Corps," he discovers that among its members is someone he once knew well.

As a baby, Kamogawa Asumi's mother was critically injured when a rocket crashed to the ground. After spending five years in a coma, Asumi's mother finally passes away, leaving the young girl struggling to cope with the loss of a parent she barely knew. In the midst of her grief, Asumi encounters "Lion-san," a mysterious figure wearing a lion mask who claims to be a ghost. Lion-san helps Asumi bury her mother's ashes, and through this experience, Asumi makes a firm decision: "When I grow up, I'm going to be a rocket pilot."

A high school student at age seventeen, Nanaka Kirisato takes her studies and life ambitions very seriously. She often scolds her close friend Nenji Nagihara for acting like an immature troublemaker who wastes time brawling with other boys. However, after a violent quarrel with Nenji, she tumbles down a staircase and sustains a head injury, causing her mental state to regress to that of a six-year-old child. Because of this condition, Nanaka's father and Nenji have to conceal her accident while she attempts to navigate everyday life and undergo a second journey of growing up.

The basics of life—shelter, a job, and companionship—become threatened in this anthology series. Rumiko Takahashi explores the pressure that arises when these essentials are put in danger. From penguins to wedding chapels to husbands with amnesia, each episode portrays seemingly ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, blending the dramatic skill and twisted humor expected from the world-renowned creator of InuYasha, Ranma 1/2, and Urusei Yatsura.

Families, husbands and wives, lovers, and everyday people—dramas unfold at life’s human crossroads. Ordinary individuals navigate through existence, crossing paths in random ways, much like pedestrians on a road intersection with no clear destination. Human Crossing offers a realistic portrayal of common people in modern Japan, capturing both its beauty and ugliness. The series examines the lives of a boxer whose dark past is reignited by his estranged mother in "The Wound," an idealistic lawyer who fights for a disadvantaged young mother in "The 25th Hour," a workaholic businessman who rediscovers life’s true priorities in "A Promise," and an independent woman who reunites with her deadbeat father in "Direction." Human Crossing is a collection of vignettes about hope, a reminder of the small victories one can achieve amid life’s vicissitudes.