The 90s were fun times. Millennials know that very well. It was during this decade when stuff and people like Tamagotchi, the Spice Girls, beepers, the Game Boy, and Britney Speaks took over the world.
In the arena of animes, countless shows added color and spice to the lives of the kids who watched TV during that time. Yes, TV as the Internet wasn’t rife yet then. Here are some of the best animes of the 90s.
Best Animes Of The 90s
1. ‘Digimon Adventure’
Kids and teens of the 1990s know “Digimon Adventure” quite so well. They also know of the controversy that “Digimon” was Toei Animation’s (its studio) answer to the popularity of “Pokémon” at that time.
“Digimon Adventure” is the very first season of the “Digimon: Digital Monsters” anime sage. Its story revolves around a group of young boys and girls whisked away to a parallel world known as the DigiWorld while they are at summer camp.
They were brought there as they were selected to be the DigiDestined or children that would save that world from the evil forces that wanted to destroy it. They would partner with digital monsters, or Digimons, which were somewhat like Pokémon in ways such as they also evolve.
2. ‘Sailor Moon’
The influence of “Sailor Moon,” which became popular during the 90s, is still felt today in merchandise like clothing, school bags, and more. Little girls from that decade loved this anime.
Based on a manga series, “Sailor Moon” follows the journey of Usagi Tsukino, a school girl who transforms into the eponymous character in search of a magical artifact called the Legendary Silver Crystal.
In her adventures, she goes with a group of comrades known as the Sailor Soldiers or Sailor Guardians as they fight villains and protect the Silver Crystal, as well as protect the Solar System from destruction.
Interestingly, the characters here are inspired by astronomy, with names like Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus, and Sailor Jupiter, among various others.
3. ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Wing’
As online games and social network platforms like Facebook were not very big during the 90s decade, the boys of that time played with mecha toys, such as Gundam. These are based on popular animes such as “Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.”
Actually, “Mobile Suit Gundam Wing” is the sixth installment in the Gundam franchise. But, like the original series, this anime’s story revolves around a war in the future waged between planet Earth and its orbital colonies in the Earth-Moon system. If you are a fan of anything related to astronomy, you can watch this after watching “Sailor Moon.”
4. ‘Trigun’
Of course, we will never forget “Trigun,” also a very phenomenal anime from the 90s decade.
Taking place in a fictional planet called No Man’s Land, the story of “Trigun” follows the main character, Vash the Stampede, a renowned gunman who finds himself battling with bounty hunters who unscrupulously want to amass immense bounty.
What’s also interesting about this anime is how it also explores Vash’s past. The anime is inspired by movies about the Wild West, as the author of the manga where it is based, Yasuhiro Nightow, loves that genre so much.
5. ‘Hunter X Hunter’
Followers of Gon Freecss may be overjoyed right now as they reminisce “Hunter x Hunter” as one of the most popular animes of the 90s.
The story of “Hunter x Hunter” focuses on Freecss, a young, once innocent boy who finds out that his dad, who left him years ago, is actually a famous Hunter. In the story, Hunters are licensed professionals who specialize in fantastical pursuits like locating unidentified and rare animals, hunting down lawless individuals, surveying uncharted territories, and treasure hunting.
Freecss then departs on a journey to follow his father’s footsteps while searching for him, too. Along the way, he meets with other Hunters as they come across the paranormal.
6. ‘Detective Conan’
What will you do if a child solves a criminal mystery first than you do? Well, this is what “Detective Conan” is all about. But don’t be threatened because Conan is such a cute, fun-loving boy.
But while this series tells about real-life crime scenes, it also adds a tinge of fantasy. The story follows Shinichi Kudo, a high school detective whose body is turned into that of a grade school-age child while he is investigating a mysterious organization. The group, called the Black Organization, poisoned him, which was why he transformed into a child.
Each episode takes viewers to a mystery that Conan tries to solve.
7. ‘Pokémon’
The Pokémon franchise still lives on to this day, such as with new Pokémon games being launched every now and then. Count how many years it has been dominating the world since the franchise arrived in 1996.
“Pokémon” happens in a shared universe where human beings co-exist with creatures known as “pocket monsters” or “Pokémons.” These creatures are gifted with special powers.
Those who were able to catch the very first “Pokémon” anime series know that it was about Ash Ketchum and his friends, Misty and Brock, but because the anime franchise has expanded through the years, there are also now several trainers as the series’ main characters.
Honorable Mentions
Those are just some of the most phenomenal animes from the 1990s, but we’re expanding this list with these honorable mentions:
- “Ghost in the Shell”
- “Dragon Ball Z”
- “Rurouni Kenshin”
- “Slam Dunk,” and so much more!
The 90s Were The Golden Age Of Anime
The 90s decade was touted as the golden age of anime, and it should be because this was a time when things like Facebook, Netflix, and YouTube were still not existing. So, during their free time or as they go home from school, the kids and teenagers of that decade would turn on their TVs and watch these animes. Unforgettable, indeed.
