Best Supernatural Anime of 2004

Ichigo Kurosaki's mundane high school life is abruptly upended when a Hollow, a soul-devouring spirit, launches an attack on his family. Amidst the chaos, he meets Rukia Kuchiki, a Shinigami who sustains injuries while defending Ichigo's kin. Driven by a desire to protect his loved ones, Ichigo accepts Rukia's powers and transforms into a Shinigami himself. With Rukia incapacitated, Ichigo assumes the perilous duty of purging the Hollows that plague their town. He is soon aided by his friends and classmates—Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Uryuu Ishida—who each contribute their own distinct abilities to the fight. As Ichigo and his allies navigate their new roles, striving to balance combat with daily existence, he learns that Hollows represent merely the initial wave of dangers threatening the human world.

In Musashino City, panic spreads following a string of assaults by a mysterious figure named Shounen Bat. This attacker zips around on rollerblades, striking victims with a gleaming gold baseball bat. The initial target is Tsukiko Sagi, a famous but withdrawn character designer, who finds herself falsely accused of masterminding the incidents. Her sole ally is Maromi, a talking pink plush toy who staunchly defends Tsukiko's innocence, even as the toy itself becomes a target. Detectives Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa are tasked with uncovering the identity of Shounen Bat. As the victim count rises, media coverage fuels public terror while disturbing rumors circulate, tightening the grip of paranoia on both children and adults. Can Ikari and Maniwa unravel the mystery of Shounen Bat before the escalating dread consumes them too?

In the year 5053, French nobles Viscount Albert de Morcerf and Baron Franz d'Epinay attend the Carnival festivities in the lunar colony of Luna. While Franz is satisfied with the revelry, Albert craves a more profound purpose in his life. His search for meaning shifts dramatically when he captures the attention of the mysterious and charismatic Count of Monte Cristo, a self-made aristocrat, during an opera performance. As the story progresses, Albert develops a friendship with the Count and introduces him to the elite circles of French society. However, the Count's true motives go beyond simple companionship; he is orchestrating a long-awaited vengeance against those who wronged him in the past. "Gankutsuou" explores the intertwined fates of Albert and the Count, and the heavy cost of seeking justice through revenge.

Jun Sakurada has withdrawn from school and spends his days at home, habitually ordering products online with the intent of returning them before the trial period expires. His routine shatters when he discovers a cryptic note asking whether he would wind something. Agreeing without thinking, Jun sets off a chain of unforeseen events. A parcel soon arrives containing a mechanical doll. After winding her, the doll—Shinku, the fifth creation in the Rozen Maiden series—stirs to life, revealing a proud and commanding personality. Shinku explains that she and her sisters are part of a special line crafted by the legendary dollmaker Rozen, and they are locked in a contest called the Alice Game. In this competition, each doll relies on a human partner to help them triumph; the winner transforms into a real girl capable of meeting their creator. As more dolls appear in Jun's home, the situation grows increasingly complicated. An old rival of Shinku's emerges, and the resulting conflicts and battles pull Jun deeper into the dolls' world.

High school often represents a fresh start, complete with new classes and new friendships—but for Souichiro Nagi and Bob Makihara, it is merely a platform for becoming the most dominant fighters at their school. Unfortunately, Toudou Academy is the worst possible choice for that ambition. Unlike ordinary schools, Toudou Academy was established to revive martial arts in Japan, where subjects like math and science take a backseat. Souichiro’s dream of ruling the martial arts scene at Toudou Academy comes to a halt when he clashes with seniors Masataka Takayanagi and Maya Natsume. These experienced fighters quickly put the brakes on the freshmen’s aggressive march through the school. Yet instead of discouraging them, the setback only fuels their determination to compete. Who are these incredible fighters at Toudou Academy? Is there anyone stronger than Masataka and Maya? And why is Maya’s younger sister so obsessed with Souichiro? The answers to these questions and more can be found in Tenjho Tenge.

At Sakuradamon High, Seiji Sawamura is known as "The Mad Dog" due to the incredible power of his right hand. His fearsome reputation makes it hard for him to get close to girls, and after being rejected twenty times in a row, he jokes that he'll end up dating his right hand by graduation. One morning, Seiji wakes up to find that his right hand has transformed into a tiny girl named Midori Kasugano. She confesses that she has had a crush on him for the past three years. Both of them realize this strange situation isn't good for either party, so Seiji begins searching for a way to turn Midori back to normal. After a major misunderstanding at the Kasugano household, they agree to keep their secret and continue looking for a solution. This unusual bond might be Midori's only chance to be close to the person she truly adores.

Freelance photographer Kouhei Morioka travels to a German castle to collect evidence of supernatural activity for his friend Hiromi Anzai, who works for an occult magazine. Inside the castle, he encounters Hazuki, a young girl in white attire with cat ears, who shows immediate interest in him and attempts to kiss him. Instead, she reveals her vampire nature by biting him, yet Kouhei remains unaffected. Determined to escape the castle and avoid her overbearing butler Vigo, Hazuki convinces Kouhei to assist her. With help from his exorcist cousin Seiji Midou, they manage to break free. After fleeing, Hazuki travels to Japan in search of her mother. Upon returning home, Kouhei finds Hazuki living in his house and reluctantly accepts her presence. Meanwhile, other vampires pursue the elusive Hazuki. Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase blends gothic and cute elements to tell a captivating and enchanting story where an unusual duo forms a special connection while challenging the norms of an immortal society.

In "Le Portrait de Petit Cossette," Eiri Kurahashi, a Japanese art student working part-time at an antique shop, begins acting strangely, becoming preoccupied and distant from his usual self. His friends suspect a girl might be the reason behind his odd behavior. Their guess proves accurate. Eiri encounters a stunning, doll-like girl imprisoned within an antique Venetian glass that his uncle acquired in France. The girl resides in a peculiar alternate dimension inside the glass but continues to haunt Eiri's thoughts. He begins filling his sketchbook with images of her and becomes deeply enthralled by her mysterious presence. Recognizing her likeness in a painting by the elusive Italian artist Marchello Orlando, he discovers her name: Cossette d'Auvergne. Tragically, she and her entire family were violently killed. One evening, while closing the shop, Eiri hears a voice begging him not to depart. Finally connecting with the girl who has captured his attention, he agrees to a deal without fully comprehending its implications.

In the peaceful village of Mahoroba, where life flows calmly, the story follows two students from the prestigious Ototachibana Academy: Himeko, who is shy and reserved, and Chikane, who is confident and graceful. Despite their contrasting personalities, their bond remains unbreakable, even against forces that try to separate them. On their shared birthday, an evil power takes over one of their friends, turning them into a threat. At the height of the crisis, the hidden abilities of the moon and sun shrine maidens within Himeko and Chikane awaken, defeating the menace. However, this victory is only the start of many trials, as they face numerous enemies, including those they once considered close allies.

In the war-torn country of Gazth-Sonika, a civil conflict rages on. There, a mercenary known as Madlax operates with near-supernatural abilities. Meanwhile, in the seemingly peaceful land of Nafrece, Margaret Burton leads a quiet, ordinary life. Though their worlds appear vastly different, the two are linked by threads of mystery and a sacred holy book—one also pursued by the shadowy organization Anfan. As Margaret and Madlax follow the course of their fated paths, they draw closer to uncovering the hidden truth, with no assurance that it is a truth they can endure learning.

Ichinomiya Kantarou was born with the ability to see demons, but this gift led to isolation and bullying from those who could not perceive them. He instead formed friendships with the demons, developing a deep fondness for their kind. One day, Kantarou learned of a legendary demon known as the ogre-eating Tengu, said to be the strongest of all. Captivated by tales of its power, Kantarou vowed to find this demon, far mightier than any other, and decided that when he did, he would name him Haruka. From that moment on, Kantarou searched tirelessly for the ogre-eating Tengu without success, earning his living as a folklore writer and a demon-buster. On one particular job, Kantarou finally came across information about a nearby shrine that was supposedly the place where the ogre-eating Tengu had been sealed away.

Set among towering steel pipes, tangled power lines, and flickering neon lights, Kakurenbo takes place in the ruins of a deserted city where children risk everything to play a forbidden game. "Otokoyo" is a clandestine game of hide-and-seek that requires each participant to wear a fox mask, with gameplay beginning only once seven players gather. However, this is not merely a simple game; all who have played have vanished without a trace. While some attribute these disappearances to demons, others dismiss it as mere speculation. The story unfolds as seven new participants join Otokoyo, quickly discovering the harrowing truth behind the game and the fate that awaits those who dare to play.

In their unyielding journey westward, the Sanzo Ikkou strives to stop a dangerous demon from being resurrected. As Genjo Sanzo, Cho Hakkai, Sha Gojyo, and Son Goku press onward, internal conflict risks undermining their mission. When they face a powerful pair of enemies from the west, the unity of the group—and therefore the outcome of their crucial task—is challenged.

Nao, an eighth-grade student, is one of just two members of the Digital Camera Club, where she also acts as the manager. It remains a puzzle that she photographs nothing but the sky and clouds. One day, she discovers a cat on a rooftop where she usually takes her pictures. This cat has the ability to control the flow of the wind. Startled by the strange creature, Nao loses her balance and tumbles off the rooftop! Miki, the other club member, is also Nao's closest friend. Taiki is the teacher who instructed the cat in manipulating the wind's flow. Ryoko is a girl deeply infatuated with Taiki. Additionally, there is Jun, who assists Nao and Miki in searching for the flying cat. Then there is Yukio, the widow of Taiki's deceased brother. On the edge of this large city, a community of "Wind Handlers" has formed—and a mysterious Wind Festival is on the verge of starting...

Sora Naegino has firmly established herself as the greatest star in Kaleido Stage history, and a new talent begins to shine when Rosetta Passel is chosen to perform a leading role in the upcoming attraction. However, when problems arise during rehearsals, Rosetta starts doubting whether she is capable of handling the part, as well as her own place in Kaleido Stage. At the same time, Fool contends with his own inner demons from the past.

Saiki Misaki has possessed the ability to perceive ghosts since childhood. Currently employed at an S&M club, she spends her free time helping spirits move on to the afterlife by making them aware of their own death and the need to depart. This task might be somewhat simpler if she didn't have a history of hardship and solitude... and a lecherous boss.

In the story "Wind: A Breath of Heart," Okano Makoto returns to his childhood town and begins attending school once more, spending ordinary but happy days alongside his sister Hinata, the energetic classmate Tachibana Tsutomu, Tsutomu's longtime friend Shikouin Kasumi, and the rest of their group. One afternoon, Makoto catches the sound of a harmonica playing, and the melody stirs a faded memory, drawing him up to the school rooftop. There, bathed in the twilight, he encounters a girl. She is Narukaze Minamo, smiling at him—the two were close friends as children, but years have passed since they last met. Concealing their true feelings, Makuto and his companions continue their routine school life. The stories of this mysterious town are about to unfold.

Hi no Tori is a series of interconnected stories centered around the legendary Phoenix. Its blood is said to grant eternal life to anyone who consumes it, driving many to seek its death. However, the Phoenix always rises again from its own ashes. The tales span both the distant future and the ancient past, where humans continue to conflict with one another, and all fear the inevitability of death. Yet, each story imparts a fundamental truth: life marks the start of an endless, eternal cycle.

During summer vacation, Gash and his friends set out for Fuji Mountain to enjoy a picnic together. While they're there, they come across a girl named Kotoha who carries a white spellbook. Written inside her book is a message revealing that Gash's mother can be found in a cave within the forest. Yet when they finally locate the cave, a blond-haired young man named Wiseman is already inside. Hoping to help Wiseman, Gash and the others push deeper into the cavern, only to discover a gateway leading to an entirely different world. Before they can make sense of it, the mightiest fighter known as the Black Knight appears before them. Convinced that Gash is the one who stole the 101st magical book, the Black Knight launches an attack. Now Gash and Kiyomaro must track down the true culprit within a 24-hour window, or else they'll be trapped in that strange alternate world forever.

Kazenone City is a place that evokes both nostalgia and a sense of wonder. It is the hometown of Okano Makoto and his younger sister Hinata. The two return to this town in search of their mother, who vanished without warning. Their return is greeted by friends and childhood companions. Through these reunions, Makoto starts to realize something of great significance. With a harmonica's melody playing and each character carrying their own feelings in their hearts, a fantastical story unfolds in this enigmatic town.

Four bonus episodes packaged exclusively with the series' DVD release, positioned as episodes 9.5, 10.4, 10.8, and 12.5.