10 must-watch anime from the 90s

The 1990s represented a renaissance era for Japanese anime. It was the decade that catapulted this medium from an obscure niche into a global cultural force. Anime from the 90s like Cowboy Bebop and Sailor Moon captivated youth worldwide, while Neon Genesis Evangelion redefined anime’s creative boundaries.

Many of these most enduring classics that still shape pop culture emerged in the '90s. The revolutionary strides in storytelling and visual arts made during this period built the foundation for the current international popularity of this medium.

A generation of creators drew inspiration from 1990s anime to elevate the medium. Let's rediscover 10 anime from the 90s that exemplify the dazzling creativity that flourished throughout the remarkable decade. Each one made a unique impact that continues to resonate through modern animated series.

10 unforgettable anime from the 90s

1. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Image via Gainax)

This subversive sci-fi milestone revolutionized mecha anime through its avant-garde approach. The series chronicles young pilots maneuvering biomechanical titans called Evas to defend futuristic Tokyo-3 from alien attacks.

Rather than focusing on robot battles, Evangelion uses its apocalyptic setting to explore psychological trauma and philosophical themes of identity and pain. This focus on the fragility and intimate struggles of the human soul battling apocalyptic scenarios shook anime conventions.

Its surreal, abstract finale generated intense controversy, challenging anime norms through psychological storytelling. Over 20 years later, Neon Genesis Evangelion's ripple effect still influences works that dare to challenge expectations.

2. Cowboy Bebop

This genre-blending masterpiece followed an eccentric crew of bounty hunters aboard their ship Bebop as they track dangerous criminals across the solar system. Its seamless fusion of sci-fi, Western, action, and noir aesthetics, paired with thrilling episodic plots, crafted a truly distinctive take on the space opera.

The magic of this anime from the 90s came from how it balanced a connected saga centered on the characters' past with fun episodic adventures reflecting genres from horror and comedy to thriller.

Backdropped by Yoko Kanno's seminal jazz-flavored soundtrack, it channeled pulp fiction's cool through slick style, fluid action, and shades of tragedy. As one of the truly lyrical experiences, Cowboy Bebop raised the bar for creative storytelling.

3. Berserk

This dark medieval tragedy chronicles the epic saga of lone mercenary Guts pursuing vengeance on monstrous forces and former friends who betrayed him. Berserk's genre-blending shocks fueled its terrifying yet human drama.

Past hideous demons, Berserk offers a haunting character study on morality and overcoming inner darkness reflected by Guts's relentless spirit. His aggressive yet vulnerable nature contrasts with other fighters wrestling trauma, seeking purpose, or finding bloody atonement.

Behind the nightmarish monsters are intimate stories of human shortcomings and sacrifices that test moral fiber, making Berserk an acclaimed masterwork, even though the '90s series covers only the Golden Age Arc.

4. Serial Experiments Lain

Serial Experiments Lain (Image via Triangle Staff)

A moody avant-garde thriller, this anime from the 90s delves into questions of identity and perception through a loner teen investigating a deadly online network. She descends further into connections between the Wired cyber-network and reality itself.

With its cold aesthetic and meandering pace, Lain was prescient in using an intricate narrative mimicking networked communication to tackle themes of consciousness and technology's omnipresence.

Love it or hate it, this aesthetically radical climax of Serial Experiments Lain captures an innovative exploration of existence through a storytelling experience unlike any other.

5. Yu Yu Hakusho

Yu Yu Hakusho (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Considered one of shonen's finest combat classics, Yu Yu Hakusho stars Yusuke Urameshi, a street punk who was killed while saving a child and given a second chance to become Earth's spiritual detective.

He oversees supernatural events and threats emerging into the human world. This anime from the 90s made its mark through imaginative demonic factions and plotlines laced with emotive themes of sacrifice and loyalty.

While the early episodes follow detective cases, Yu Yu Hakusho shifts into martial arts tournaments escalating to fateful stakes. Inspiring characters trading witty insults and wisdom between spectacular fights resonated deeply with fans worldwide.

6. Sailor Moon

This iconic "magical girl" series left an unmatched cultural footprint for its empowering coming-of-age story. It popularized the transformational team-based sub-genre about school-aged girls protecting Earth from evil.

Despite its implied demographic, Sailor Moon appealed to wide audiences with its stylish aesthetic blending retro sci-fi and fantasy elements. Beyond transforming heroines and cosmic adventures, the series is an addictive drama around romance and friendships.

Combine it with flashy production design, and it becomes clear why Sailor Moon enjoys enduring mainstream popularity.

7. Rurouni Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin (Image via Studio Gallop, Studio Deen)

Set in Japan during the early Meiji period, this historical fiction series revolves around Kenshin Himura, a wandering samurai warrior defending the innocent while avoiding his bloodstained past as a wartime assassin. Its initial intrigue lies in its sword-wielding action scenes with influences from kabuki theater's style.

What cements it as a beloved franchise is Kenshin's growth from a faceless killer into a sympathetic hero guided by pacifism. His philosophical conflict strikes an emotional chord amplified by the colorful cast. It captures the excitement of historical fiction while presenting moving character arcs.

8. Slam Dunk

Slam Dunk played a pivotal role in basketball becoming a sports subgenre unto itself. It stars problem student Hanamichi Sakuragi joining his high school team to impress his crush, only to discover a genuine love for the game.

Its humor and kinetic matches charmingly capture basketball's inspirational appeal. The series took a sport with a modest following in Japan and made it widely popular through appealing characterization and matches that brought viewers to the edge of their seats.

Slam Dunk is distinguished by how it dedicates time to strategizing plays while emphasizing themes of diligence, passion, and team spirit intrinsic to sports drama.

9. Trigun

This space Western, set on a desert planet, features Vash the Stampede, an eccentric gunslinger wanted for massive property damage, most notably for the accidental destruction of a city in his past.

He spends his days saving townsfolk while thwarting bounty hunters aiming for the $$60 billion double-dollar reward for his head. Trigun bent genres in its post-apocalyptic world to produce engaging characters in funny misadventures.

Its charm lay in Vash's oddball antics balanced by emotional complexity regarding his traumatic past. These contradictions culminate in an impactful core message on pacifism. Though mainly comedic, Trigun executed an impactful genre-blend, making it one of the most influential anime from the 90s.

10. Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke (Image via Studio Ghibli)

Director Hayao Miyazaki's epic fantasy reflected pressing ecological concerns through a feud between forest spirits and humans encroaching on nature for iron production. It centers on young Emishi prince Ashitaka making peace between the two sides while battling a cursed corruption consuming his life force.

Princess Mononoke made history by winning Best Picture at Japan's Academy Awards. Beyond achieving excellence in animation, Miyazaki crafted a profound environmentalist fable that explores complex ideas on progress through its medieval backdrop and mystical beasts.

The spectacular clash of nature and industry rendered through iconic imagery cements its visionary status.

Conclusion

The 1990s proved a breakthrough decade that propelled anime into mainstream consciousness like never before through several all-time classics.

Series like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Serial Experiments Lain demonstrated animation’s potential for avant-garde storytelling and philosophical commentary once deemed impossible for the medium. Stylish hits like Cowboy Bebop and Yu Yu Hakusho gained global acclaim for their unique visuals and compelling stories.

The '90s unlocked anime’s creative boundaries to deliver transcendent experiences on par with cinema and literature. It set the stage for anime to become a dominant force in 21st-century pop culture thanks to the masterpieces it produced.