Given the abundance of anime that was available outside of Japan in the 1990s, it is no surprise that this period is considered anime’s breakthrough decade in the West. From superhero-like magical girls to space cowboys to hip-jazz hits, anime of the 1990s spawned many of the themes, styles, and trends that now dominate the industry. Karma.
However, just because an anime was popular or innovative 20 years ago doesn’t mean it still holds up today. Some programs introduced new ideas and have since become the norm, while others simply cannot compete in a more confident and diverse market. However, there are some series that tend to fade to the point of no longer being relevant and are still good today. The list below includes the 10 best anime of the 1990s that are still especially relevant today thanks to their continued popularity and influence, or simply because they are still worth watching in 2023.
10 Yu Yu Hakusho (1992)
Yu Yu Hakusho tells the story of teenager Yuusuke Urameshi who – after dying saving a child from being hit by a car – has the chance to be reborn if he helps rid the world of evil spirits. Agreeing to the proposal, Yuusuke and his team set out to conquer evil wherever it spawned. What makes Yu Yu Hakusho worthy of being on this list is the longevity of the ideas in the story. At its most basic level, it is a story of redemption. Yuusuke, who was a bad person before his death, now has a chance to correct his mistakes, help others, and become a better person after his troubles. Even though the story is old, the medium in which it was conveyed, specifically his work as a psychic detective, was a great creative choice that made the story even more interesting. For those who love anime, the entire original Yu Yu Hakusho manga can now be read for free.
9 Hard Hits (1993)
Slam Dunk revolves around the lives on and off the court of Shohuko High School’s basketball team as they strive to overcome all opponents. Although Slam Dunk was not the first sports anime, it was the first that many Western anime fans encountered and remains influential. Slam Dunk takes all the essential ideas of sports anime and consolidates them into a distinct sub-genre. There is an emotional backstory mixed with intense sports action, rivalry within a team and between teams, camaraderie and the iconic “from zero to hero” theme. The result is that the story, not the sport, becomes the reason to watch. Every contemporary sports anime has Slam Dunk to thank for its chance at wider success. However much Slam Dunk inspired what came after, it remains a unique and compelling story in its own right.
8 Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)
Neon Genesis Evangelion follows teenager Shinji Ikari, who is convinced by his father to control Evangelions – super-advanced biological machines that are the best weapons humans have in the war against the alien race. mysteriously known as Angel. Neon Genesis Evangelion has aged well because it was truly an anime ahead of its time. It covers a wide range of issues about humanity, technology, war and family that were futuristic and controversial when released but are now major topics of social discussion and public policy in life. real. Those issues include child soldiers, the stress and horror of war, and the dehumanizing potential of technology. This anime is not only a fascinating story but also a great primer on the main issues of a modern information society that is just catching up with the perspective of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
7 Wing Gun Mobile Suit (1995)
No other franchise has done more to increase the popularity of mech anime than Mobile Suit Guns, and no other part of this franchise has done more to define the Western mech anime experience than Mobile Suit GTA Wing. It was the first franchise to be widely popularized in America and defined the Western idea of mech anime. It’s for this reason that Mobile SuitGundam Wing has aged well – a lot of mech anime has been created since this re-commenting of the series, and watching the original will explain why. On one hand, it continues to serve as a starting point for anyone interested in the mech anime genre. On the other hand, it is a great way to connect with the ideas, values and traditions of Mobile Suit Gun.
6 Detective Conan (1996)
Thematically, Detective Conan, or Case Closed as it is known in the West, doesn’t break any new ground. The story is a classic “whodunit,” in which the main character – amateur detective Jimmy Kudo – helps hapless local police solve the most puzzling crimes. However, what Detective Conan fails to revolutionize in terms of theme it makes up for in its delivery. Indeed, Kudo’s interest in helping the police was not just because he was a good Samaritan. Also because it will help him solve the most important question in his life: who is behind turning him into a child. The integration of those storylines is fun to see in and of itself, but it’s the individuals living these adventures that make this anime so unacceptable. Detective Conan’s character development is its greatest triumph, and that hasn’t changed.
5 Sailor Moon (1996)
If there’s any series on the list that became an instant classic around the world, it’s Sailor Moon. Although Sailor Moon did not create the Magical Girl anime subgenre, it did develop the original model for creating “Magical Girl superheroes.” It’s the Magical Girl who uses her powers to defeat the villains that prey on society. Sailor Moon was also one of the first to add a super sentai team format to the Magical Girl style. Additionally, its focus is on female empowerment and the idea that girls have the right to have as much fun as boys, especially after saving the world. A large amount of the anime that came out after that spent most of its time trying to be Sailor Moon – something the original achieved without any effort. Taken together, these elements prove that Sailor Moon is an anime that should be on everyone’s watchlist, even if they don’t usually care about Magical Girl stories.
4 Crazy (1997)
Berserk is a masterpiece that every anime fan deserves to experience. Its characters and their developments are fascinating, and the relationships built, destroyed and then revived between the main characters – Guts, Casca and Griffith – are the stuff of classic literature. dictionary. The visceral fight scenes and tense action get old, but Berserk is a study of raw human emotion and delves into observations about human nature that never go out of style.
3 Pokémon (1997)
Given the multi-platform entertainment Goliath that the Pokémon franchise has developed, it would make sense for the original ’90s anime to lose relevance, but the reality is completely different. The original anime presents the Pokémon concept in its purest form, telling a story of pure coming-of-age adventure. Inspired by childhood insect collecting, Pokémon has some truly emotional moments, but is mostly a diverse story of friends on a grand adventure – an adventure today remains as captivating as when the franchise was in its infancy.
2 Trigun (1998)
Trigun tells the story of Vash the Stampede – a cowboy-like outlaw wanted by the government for $60 billion. However, unlike the infamous robbers in those old Western movies, Vast is a pacifist who wants to do nothing more than find his long-lost brother Knives. , if only the bounty hunters chasing him would leave him alone. Trigun has aged well because its story and themes are timeless. Everyone loves a good Western, and Trigun is exactly that – with a few tweaks that remove some of the more dangerous Western tropes in favor of interesting new themes that still work with the genre’s fundamental clash between righteous good and corrupt evil. Throw in the technological aspects of the series and Trigun is a true anime classic of the 1990s.
1 Cowboy Bebop (1998)
Cowboy Bebop follows the adventures of bounty hunters Spike, Jet Black, Faye, Ed and Ein as they travel across the galaxy to find fugitives and bring them to justice. Although the show’s story is nothing new, what makes Cowboy Bebop a timeless classic is its delivery. The concept of a bounty hunter is just a canvas for Cowboy Bebop’s stylish sci-fi genius. That genius includes delving into a range of themes and influences from the corrupt characters and lighting of film noir, to the smoky jazz of Bebop-era lounges, to the inevitable melodrama in Shakespeare’s romances. Cowboy Bebop featured major changes in both style and content, and although it has often been imitated, it has never been equaled.
The 1990s were the decade in which access to anime finally allowed Western fans to embrace the great promise of the medium. However, accessibility is not the only factor driving the West’s adoption of anime. As this list clearly shows, many 1990s anime are truly some of the best anime of all time, and this immense quality changed the history of popular culture.