10 Best ’90s Series From The Golden Age Of Anime

In the eyes of many anime fans, the 1990s were the golden age of anime. The 1990s saw many now-beloved series make their television debut, as well as several series that would reshape the industry and lay the foundation for numerous later series.

This is doubly true for American fans, as the 1990s saw anime finally make inroads into America, with blocks like Cartoon Network’s Toonami giving many kids their first taste of anime. However, even in this crowded field, there are anime that many ’90s fans consider the best due to both their inherent brilliance and their lasting effect on the anime industry.

Cowboy Bebop Is the Perfect Anime

Making its Japanese television debut on April 3, 1998, Cowboy Bebop was animated by Sunrise and directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. The series follows Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, two down-on-their-luck bounty hunters who travel the galaxy in their ship, the Bebop. Famously, despite the simple premise, the anime features one of the most emotionally resonant overarching plots in history, as both Spike and Jet are forced to confront the guilt and ghosts of their pasts.

However, alongside this amazing storyline are some of the best single episodes of television ever produced, from moving dramas (“Waltz for Venus”) to comedic send-ups of popular sci-fi tales (“Toys in the Attic”). Combine this with Yoko Kanno’s now-legendary soundtrack, and you’re left with one of the best overall packages in anime history. Cowboy Bebop is a must-watch series for all anime fans.

Slam Dunk Is an Intense Sports Anime

Over the years, numerous writers and animation studios have attempted to create sports-based anime series. However, no series has captured the intense highs and lows of their focused sport better than Slam Dunk. Based on Takehiko Inoue’s manga series, the Slam Dunk anime was animated by Toei Animation and ran for 101 episodes between 1993 and 1996.

The series follows Hanamichi Sakuragi, a high school delinquent who takes up basketball after a girl he has a crush on pushes him to give it a try. Slam Dunk stands out from other sports anime in how it handles Hanamichi’s journey to the top, capturing both the pleasure and pain of competition in a deeply relatable way. Combine this with the detailed basketball match animation, which takes into account small details like foot positioning, and you’re left with one of the most engrossing sports series ever created.

Neon Genesis Evangelion Tackles Big Topics

Directed by Hideaki Anno and animated by Gainax, Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most iconic anime ever created. Running for 26 episodes between 1995 and 1996, the series follows Shinji Ikari, an insecure young man who is called to Tokyo-3 to pilot a hulking biomechanical mecha. The series features many memorable visuals as the massive robots battle with the Angels, strange otherworldly creatures with the potential to bring devastation to the world.

Evangelion is iconic for its final two episodes (“The Ending World” and “The Beast that Shouted ‘I’ at the Heart of the World”). During these final two episodes, the viewers are taken into Shinji’s mind as he grapples with what it means to be human in an inherently painful world. While these episodes are legendary for their strangeness (due to their cryptic nature), they do feature some of the most moving moments in anime history.

Serial Experiments Lain Is a Digital Fable

One of the biggest trends in the latter half of the 1990s was the massive growth in home computer sales and home internet access, something that led people to ponder and debate how the virtual world would affect everyone’s lives. However, nothing tackled the topic quite as well as Serial Experiments Lain. Animated by Triangle Staff and running for 13 episodes in 1998, the story follows Lain Iwakura, a young girl who tries to find out what happened to her friend, only to find herself entangled in a massive mystery linked to the Wired, her world’s version of the internet.

Featuring a twisting plot and some delightfully surreal animation, it’s easy to see why Serial Experiments Lain has cemented itself as a cult-classic. However, the most fascinating thing about Serial Experiments Lain is that it has only become more relevant with time. Due to the rise of social media, everyone has to deal with Laine’s dilemma every day, making the anime feel like a prophetic glimpse into the future.

Sailor Moon Laid the Foundations of Modern Magical Girls

Based on the series written and illustrated by Naoko Takeuchi, Sailor Moon burst onto screens in 1992. Today, Sailor Moon is considered the anime that laid the foundation for modern magical girls, taking elements from the numerous series that came before it and transforming them into something unique. Sailor Moon remains one of the most influential anime series to ever exist.

One thing that often gets overlooked today is how progressive Sailor Moon was at the time, especially for American kids. Not only was it rare to have a girl lead an action-focused series, but Usagi was a rare example of a female lead who was simultaneously heroic, clumsy, and a bad student. Combine this with the other Sailor Scouts’ stories featuring common teen problems, and it’s easy to see why Sailor Moon spoke to a whole generation.

Dragon Ball Z Was a Rite of Passage for Anime Fans

It is impossible to discuss anime from the 1990s without talking about Dragon Ball Z. While the series began in the ’80s (making its Japanese TV debut on April 26, 1989), most of the anime’s most famous moments would play out during the 1990s. Beginning five years after the end of the original Dragon Ball, this anime follows adult Goku as he goes on more adventures and learns surprising secrets about his history.

It’s easy to see why Dragon Ball Z became so iconic. The anime retains the blend of action and comedy that made Dragon Ball so popular and kicks up the intensity, leading to several of anime’s best fight sequences. The series also introduced numerous iconic characters such as Vegeta and Frieza, both of whom have influenced hundreds of later creators.

Slayers Was a Great Fantasy Anime

Making its Japanese television debut in April 1995, Slayers is based on Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Araizumi’s beloved series of light novels. The series follows Lina Inverse, a notorious sorceress who wanders a fantasy world, getting into numerous scrapes, both serious and comical. The ’90s anime version was produced by E&G Films and ran for three seasons (dubbed Slayers, Slayers Next, and Slayers Try) between 1995 and 1997 (though the series would get two additional seasons in the late 2000s).

The Slayers anime does a fantastic job of bringing the light novels to life. E&G Films’ animation retains the color and personality of Rui Araizumi’s art, and the cast members perfectly capture the light novel’s blend of comedy and drama in a way that feels natural. Thus, it’s easy to see why Slayers is one of the most enduring anime series of the 1990s.

Revolutionary Girl Utena Is a Symbolic Masterpiece

Debuting in 1997 and animated by J.C.Staff, Revolutionary Girl Utena is a legendary anime. It follows Utena Tenjou, a young girl who joins Ohtori Academy to pursue her dream of being a prince, only to become entangled in the school’s strange dueling system. Across its 39 episodes, Utena dives deeply into numerous topics, including gender (and its nature as performance), the pain of coming of age, and the struggles young girls face in the modern world.

The anime features beautiful animation that blends the real and the surreal to stunning effect, creating some of the most breathtaking moments in anime history. Combine this with the excellent soundtrack (produced by J. A. Seazer and Shinkichi Mitsumune) and you’re left with one of the most memorable anime series ever created. Because of this, it’s easy to understand why Utena remains iconic decades after its debut.

Trigun Is a Weird Western-Themed Anime

Based on the manga series written and illustrated by Yasuhiro Nightow, Trigun made its Japanese television debut in 1998. Running for 26 episodes and animated by Madhouse, the series follows Vash the Stampede, a weird outlaw who has a massive bounty on his head, meaning he is always surrounded by a cloud of chaos. This leads to a delightful blend of comedy and action as viewers see Vash do his best to navigate a world of over-the-top characters.

Trigun does so much right. Not only are the individual episodes a lot of fun, but the anime’s overarching storyline is expertly handled, leading to several deeply emotional moments. Combine this with some fantastic animation and excellent voice acting, and Trigun is a series that’s sure to stick with you long after the credits roll.

Cardcaptor Sakura Built on the Magical Girl Format

Arriving on screens in 1998, Cardcaptor Sakura is based on the manga series created by Clamp. Animated by Madhouse, the series follows Sakura Kinomoto, a young girl who accidentally releases the magical Clow Cards and is thus tasked with recovering and resealing them all. This leads to a colorful adventure full of fun twists and turns as Sakura is forced to quickly learn how to perform magic and come to terms with her new destiny.

While Cardcaptor Sakura is a magical girl anime at its core, the series approaches the genre from a unique angle. Cardcaptor Sakura feels vastly different from the other magical girl anime of the era. Combine this with the series’ colorful animation and excellent music, and it’s easy to see why so many ’90s kids hold fond memories of the series.