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The 20 Best ’90s Anime that Shaped a Generation

The 20 Best ’90s Anime that Shaped a Generation

Dust off those VHS tapes and cue the nostalgia! We’re hopping into a time machine for a ride back to the golden era of anime, the 1990s. We’re going to revisit 20 iconic anime that made the era an unforgettable, brimming with larger-than-life characters, offbeat humor, and wild, wonky plots that made us laugh, cry, and gasp at our TV screens.

If the ‘80s were anime’s junior high days, then the ’90s were its loud, experimental, angst-filled teenage years. Bursting with creativity, this decade saw anime spread its wings (or, should I say, flex its mecha muscles?) and stake its claim on Western TV screens. From psychological thrillers to existential sci-fi, high-kicking school girls to intergalactic bounty hunters, we’re all set to dive into an era that redefined anime. So get ready, because as any ’90s kid will tell you, they don’t make ’em like this anymore!

1. Neon Genesis Evangelion 

90s anime Neon Genesis Evangelion

Netflix

1 seasons | 26 episodes
Watch on: Netflix

Neon Genesis Evangelion (or EVA, if you’re in a hurry) snuck into the 1990s as yet another teen-mecha-monster mashup. But just as you’re warming up to ever-gloomy Shinji and space monster smackdowns, EVA plunges into a deep, dark pool of psychological drama.

“Introspection and destruction, but make it stylish!” said Studio Gainax and the distressed genius, Hideaki Anno. Probably. And what do you know—it worked! With jaw-dropping Eva-Angel battles, moody synth vibes, and a twisty psycho-philosophical narrative, EVA broke the mecha mold, became a cult classic, and sparked endless debates (that finale, right?). EVA didn’t just pass through the 1990s—it owned them.

2. Cowboy Bebop 

Cowboy Bebop 1990s anime

Crunchyroll

1 season | 26 episodes
Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll, Hulu, Tubi TV

Swinging to a jazzy beat, Cowboy Bebop zooms us into 2071, where the slick bounty hunter Spike Spiegel and his zany crew chase the galaxy’s goons. Aboard the Bebop, each episode is another wild ride to strange new worlds and a peek into our heroes’ mysterious pasts.

Revitalizing the ’90s anime scene with its heartfelt storytelling, lifelike characters, and sizzling jazz soundtrack, Cowboy Bebop’s impact was nothing short of cosmic. It made a whole new generation of Western fans stop, stare, and say, “Anime, where have you been all my life?” as it shot to the top of every best-of anime list. Missed it? Well, better late than never.

3. Trigun

Trigun anime

Crunchyroll

1 season | 26 episodes
Watch on: Netflix, Funimation, Crunchyroll, Hulu

Trigun wears its age on its sleeve—dusty art style, crammed narrative, and all—but dang, is it fun! Center stage is Vash the Stampede, a peace-loving, gun-wielding ’90s icon who’s part clown, part philosopher. Then there are Meryl and Milly, insurance clerks who prove that even paper pushers can hang it in a gunslinger’s world.

Episodic, eclectic, and unabashedly eccentric, Trigun rolls tear-jerkers, chuckle-fests, and shoot-em-ups into one. Its cowboy-western vibe overshadows its Japanese roots, perhaps explaining why it didn’t quite hit it big in its homeland. But hey, Trigun surfed the Toonami wave right into American hearts, and today, it’s a treasured piece of ’90s nostalgia with a fanbase as loyal as Vash’s love for donuts.

4. Berserk

Berserk 90s anime

Media Blasters

1 season | 25 episodes
Watch on: Netflix

In the twisted world of Berserk, we follow our beefy, tough-as-nails swordsman Guts, who has more demons in his head than in the horrific world he navigates. While other anime of the era were busy serving friendship goals, Berserk went full Game of Thrones with its complex blend of dark fantasy, political intrigue, and monstrous scares.

An epic saga of ambition, betrayal, and things that go clunk in the night, Berserk gave anime a hardcore makeover with gore and existential dread. It made ‘dark and gritty’ the new cool, giving seinen anime the spotlight it deserved. This bad boy was a trendsetter in all its low-budget-animation glory, proving that storytelling trumps flashy visuals any day. Dive in, but beware—it gets under your skin and stays there.

SEE ALSO: 10 Horror Anime Series That Are Actually Good

5. Yu Yu Hakusho

Yu Yu Hakusho Ghost Files anime

Crunchyroll

4 seasons | 112 episodes
Watch on: FunimationCrunchyrollHuluTubi TV

Get ready for a nostalgic ’90s anime trip that’s all about big hair, big fights, and even bigger attitudes with Yu Yu Hakusho, a certified classic from that golden era. Our hero, Yusuke Urameshi, is a punch-first-ask-questions-never teenage delinquent who lands a gig as a Spirit Detective after, well, biting the dust.

Yu Yu Hakusho screams ’90s with its larger-than-life storytelling and battles that made us shout “whoa!” at the TV—the Dark Tournament arc, anyone? Yet, beneath all the macho bluster, the series surprises you with nuanced character growth because, newsflash, even tough guys have feelings! With its hand-drawn charm, rockin’ soundtrack, and supernatural antics, this unabashedly loud yokai romp is ’90s shounen through and through.

6. Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell 90s anime classic

Lionsgate

Film | 1h 23min
Watch on: Prime Video, Tubi TV, Pluto TV

Welcome to the wild techno future where humans and machines have their wires crossed—literally! Ghost in the Shell introduces us to Major Motoko Kusanagi: part woman, part machine, and wholly badass, tackling existential questions while roundhouse-kicking her way through cyber-crime.

While the rest of the Internet boom era was terrified of the digital doom known as Y2K, this sci-fi anime was already having deep chats about the intersection of human and machine, AI’s existential angst and all. Ghost in the Shell is a killer mix of action, philosophy, and “we’re all just code, man” that didn’t just leave a mark on the 1990s; it drop-kicked anime straight into the 21st century.

7. Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z anime

Crunchyroll

9 seasons | 291 episodes
Watch on: FunimationCrunchyroll

Dragon Ball Z, that energetic, extra ’90s anime, takes us along with Goku and pals as they flip, fly, and fight their way through a universe as big as their hairdos. DBZ’s distinctive animation, packed with epic story arcs and larger-than-life showdowns, is a testament to an era when the term ‘overkill’ simply meant ‘can we cram in more boom?’

But let’s dial down the power levels for a moment; there’s more to this shounen anime than flexing and punching. In true ’90s fashion, the DBZ characters are all guts, glory, and heart. And the bromance between Goku and Vegeta is one for the ages. A true titan of its time and a gateway anime for many, Dragon Ball Z didn’t just shape the landscape of ’90s action anime; it detonated the proverbial spirit bomb in the middle of it. Remember, folks, it’s not just about the size of your Kamehameha wave; it’s how you use it!

8. GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka

Great Teacher Onizuka anime

Discotek Media

1 season | 43 episodes
Watch on: CrunchyrollPeacock

Class is in session, and your teacher is none other than the rule-flouting, bike-revving ex-gangster Eikichi Onizuka. Welcome to GTO, the unorthodox tutorial on education and life. Forget the boring school setting; Onizuka sensei is here to shake up Japanese pedagogy, one unconventional lesson at a time.

GTO is a shiny relic from the ’90s, delivering gut-busting laughs alongside a charming, nostalgia-filled aesthetic. Underneath its wild antics, though, it takes a serious jab at the stuffy old school system, all while offering a closer look at our characters that’s as touching as it is hilarious. This series embodies all the good stuff from the ’90s anime—it’s unfiltered, unpretentious, and unapologetically entertaining. You’ll wish you had a teacher this cool!

SEE ALSO: 20 Best Comedy Anime Of All Time

9. Slam Dunk

Slam Dunk 90s anime

Toei Animation Inc.

1 season | 101 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll, Prime Video

Slam Dunk is a high-flying homage to the decade’s love of sports and youth culture, starring Hanamichi Sakuragi, our lovestruck-schoolboy-turned-hoops-rookie. In true 90s fashion, our flawed hero battles it out in a David-vs-Goliath-style setting, stealing your cheer faster than you can say ‘free-throw’.

This anime is a time capsule of the 90s ‘tude—think Bon Jovi-esque soundtrack, trash-talking and charged-up b-ball action, making it a home run, err, slam dunk. It has enough heart to fill an arena, making you laugh, cheer, and even tear up. Off-court, the series digs into camaraderie, ambition, and that sweet underdog triumph. It even sparked a nationwide basketball craze in Japan—Slam Dunk wasn’t just playing the game; it was changing it!

10. One Piece

One Piece anime

Crunchyroll

20 seasons | 1,050+ episodes
Watch on: FunimationCrunchyrollNetflixHuluPluto TV

One Piece is the swashbuckling saga that sailed straight out of the 1990s and into our hearts. It’s all about Monkey D. Luffy, a stretchy-armed chap with dreams as big as his ear-to-ear grin, and his zany pirate crew on the hunt for the ultimate treasure: the “One Piece.”

With One Piece, it’s always a case of ‘more is more.’ More laughs, more tears, more jaw-dropping battles, and a universe so giant, it makes typical fantasy lands seem like wading pools. But what makes this shounen a true ’90s gem is its embrace of the era’s unabashed optimism. Whether it’s Luffy’s infectious spirit or the larger-than-life adventures, Eiichiro Oda’s brainchild captures a sense of wonder that’s as wide as the Grand Line itself.

11.  Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon 90s anime

Viz Media

5 seasons | 200 episodes
Watch on: HuluTubi TV

Forget the cape-clad superheroes of the West; the 90s gave us the magical, miniskirt-rocking sensation that is Sailor Moon. It’s all about Usagi Tsukino, a teen-turned-intergalactic-heroine, and her superpowered gal pals. The squad kicks alien butts, navigates high school drama, and still finds time for that classic, heart-fluttery romance.

This glittery giant of a Shoujo anime serves up a galaxy-worth of girl power and swoon-worthy crushes, proving that girls can rule the anime world, thank you very much. The series is a tribute to friendship and empowerment, with an extra helping of cheesy drama on top. Twirl-worthy transformations, a catchy theme song and all, Sailor Moon is a sweet 90s throwback you can’t help but love.

SEE ALSO: Powerpuff & Sailor Moon: Gender Play in Toon Titans

12. Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke anime

Toho

Film | 2h 14min
Watch on: NetflixPrime Video

Hop on a ride through the majestic yet ominous forest of Hayao Miyazaki’s mind in Princess Mononoke, an animated triumph from the ’90s. The headliner here isn’t a blushing princess but a fierce, wolf-riding warrior woman who could give a run for their money to any of those ‘strong and silent type’ guys.

What makes Princess Mononoke stand out from the anime crowd of the era? It’s not just Studio Ghibli’s hand-drawn artistry or the fleshed-out characters. It’s the big, green, eco-conscious heart that beats at the center of this epic. This is no fairy-tale forest—it’s a battlefield where every tree and creature matters, serving as a wake-up call about our relationship with Mother Nature.

13. Perfect Blue

Perfect Blue anime

Rex Entertainment

Film | 1h 21min
Watch on: ShudderPrime Video

Perfect Blue is a deeply unsettling story that puts the ‘psycho’ in ‘psychological thriller’. Our pop-idol-turned-aspiring-actress, Mima, is navigating the murky waters of fame, cyber-stalking, and the sneaky suspicion that she’s losing her marbles.

The ’90s anime saw a lot of experimentation, but Perfect Blue really stretched the medium’s limits. With its blurred lines of reality, skin-crawling suspense, and technicolor terror, it’s Satoshi Kon’s ultimate nightmare on screen. And Darren Aronofsky says it didn’t inspire Black Swan? Sure, and I’m the queen of England. Good luck looking away from this dark classic. You’re gonna need it.

14. Serial Experiments Lain

Serial Experiments Lain 90s anime

Crunchyroll

1 season | 13 episodes
Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll, Prime Video

If you think the internet is wild now, just wait till you see Serial Experiments Lain. Or should I say Serial Experiments Brain, because this anime will set your neurons on fire. Imagine being an average teen one moment and a digital messiah the next; that’s Lain for you, an introvert stumbling through a crazy virtual world called The Wired.

No cheery tones or doe-eyed characters in this mystery anime; Serial Experiments Lain is an on-screen existential crisis for the dial-up generation. It’s a static-charged labyrinth of philosophy, tech paranoia, and digital identity. Odd and unsettling? Absolutely. But, as with any good abstract art, you can’t help but stand back and admire.

15. Rurouni Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin anime

Aniplex of America

3 seasons | 94 episodes
Watch on: Hulu

Rurouni Kenshin, aka Samurai X, takes you back to the Meiji era in Japan. Our leading man, Kenshin Himura, once a lethal assassin, now navigates life as a wandering samurai, trying to protect the innocent with a reverse-blade sword that’s about as lethal as a butter knife.

Kenshin’s pacifist philosophy blends beautifully with intense samurai battles, ensuring that no moral or physical quandary is overlooked. With a dash of romance and a cast of endearingly oddball characters, you’ve got a vintage classic that’s as touching as it is funny. Kenshin, you had us at “oro”.

16. Pokémon

Pokemon 90s anime

The Pokémon Company Internationa

25 seasons | 1,247 episodes
Watch on: Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video

Who hasn’t heard of Pokémon, the massive anime hit that made pocket monsters a worldwide phenomenon? There’s our forever-ten hero, Ash Ketchum, whose globe-trotting, monster-catching mission was set to a theme song that still slaps harder than a Charizard’s Flamethrower.

Pokémon wasn’t just a TV phenomenon; it sparked a global wildfire of games, trading cards, and merchandise that could fill a Snorlax-sized room. It’s bright, cheery, and it reeks of nineties spirit, while its motley crew of monsters have nestled themselves firmly in our pop culture consciousness. Pokémon isn’t just any anime; it’s a nostalgia-packed symbol of ’90s glory!

17. Initial D

Initial D 90s anime

Crunchyroll

5 seasons | 81 episodes
Watch on: Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video

Initial D is the nitrous-boosted lovechild of anime and petrolhead culture. It takes you for a ride into the thrilling world of Japanese underground street racing, where our unsuspecting underdog, Takumi, shifts gears from an ordinary guy to the king of the asphalt.

The series raises the stakes with a throbbing Eurobeat soundtrack, making it feel like you’ve gatecrashed a retro 90s rave, but with cars. Every episode delivers a hyper-speed blend of nostalgia and adrenaline, an experience as dizzying as those trippy neon lights. So, hold on tight, because Initial D will have you hitting 0 to 60 in no time!

18. Cardcaptor Sakura

Cardcaptor Sakura anime

NIS America

3 seasons | 70 episodes
Watch on: FunimationCrunchyrollNetflixTubi TV

Cardcaptor Sakura is about the life and times of Sakura Kinomoto, schoolgirl by day, magical girl by, well, other parts of the day. Equal parts card hunting and a fashion parade, each episode tosses you into a whirl of magical creatures, mystery-solving, and the cutest outfits this side of a dollhouse.

While its “magic card catch-a-thon” hook is strong, Cardcaptor Sakura is a heartfelt coming-of-age story. It’s a trip through childhood themes like friendship and puppy love, set to an irresistible J-pop soundtrack. With doe-eyed characters, dazzling transformation sequences, and feels galore, Cardcaptor Sakura is the magical girl classic that keeps on giving.

19. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing anime

Nozomi Entertainment[

1 season | 49 episodes
Watch on: FunimationCrunchyrollHulu

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing—where teen angst meets giant robot smackdowns! Again! Here we’ve got five teenage pilots, each with their own custom Gundam (read: giant fighting robot), deployed to Earth to tackle militaristic bullies. Drama, adrenaline, and hairstyles that defy gravity—your average day in the 90s anime scene.

The genius of Gundam Wing lies in its ability to juggle weighty themes of identity, pacifism, and the ethical price tag of war while never losing sight of the fact that we’re here for some metal-crunching action. The Gundams themselves are the real scene-stealers. These colossal, personality-infused machines kept our eyes glued to the screen and our hearts thumping.

20. Detective Conan (Case Closed)

Detective Conan Case Closed anime

Crunchyroll

31 seasons | 1,090 episodes
Watch on: CrunchyrollNetflixTubi TV

Detective Conan aka Case Closed is a cross between high school drama and Sherlockian sleuthing. Our protagonist, high school detective prodigy Shinichi Kudo, ends up shrunk down to a grade-schooler’s size after a run-in with some less-than-savory types, but does that stop his quest for justice? Heck no!

What sets this anime apart is its near-perfect blend of suspense, humor, and plot twists galore. Every episode is a whodunit rollercoaster that’ll have you picking up your jaw from the floor time and time again. The real kick, however, is how our tiny hero makes fun of clueless adults with his epic the-reason-you-suck speeches. It just goes to show that you don’t need height to reach the top shelf of classic 90s anime.

*Streaming services’ anime catalogs vary depending on your location.

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Disclaimer: The Rockle has no affiliation with the streaming services mentioned in this article. Our opinions are based on our research and experience, and we do not receive any commission or compensation for promoting these services.

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