10 Overrated 1990s Anime That Would Flop If They Were Released Today
The 1990s was a major era for anime, with this being the time period that really made the medium break new ground across the world. This was mostly due to international programming blocks that showcased various works to Western audiences, with the various anime on Toonami becoming instant classics. Of course, not everything ages well, and even when it does, it’s hard to argue that it succeeded when it did due to external factors.
Several hit 1990s anime wouldn’t be nearly as successful today, and that’s for several reasons. In some cases, their international success was almost solely tied to being one of the first anime seen by a generation. Others simply aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, and hindsight with these so-called gems is definitely 20/20 in the worst ways.
Gundam Wing Isn’t Even the Best Alternate Universe Gundam
New Mobile Report Gundam Wing was the second alternate universe “main” Gundam anime, but it was the first Gundam anime brought to the West. Audiences there were enamored with its storytelling and dark themes, and it was a glimpse into narrative styles that were already tried-and-true in Japan. It’s arguably that it made a bigger impact around the world than in Japan, and therein lies its downfall.
Gundam Wing isn’t by any means a bad anime, but it’s far from one of the best Gundam anime. More than other entries, it’s plagued with nonsensical melodrama and characters whose actions are incredibly inane. If it were released today in a market that was already more familiar with Gundam and mecha as a whole, it wouldn’t be nearly as successful, with much of its popularity tied to nostalgia.
Dragon Ball Z Is Too Played Out by This Point
Dragon Ball Z is perhaps the most iconic anime of all time, and in many ways, it set the pace for other major shonen anime brands. This includes things such as power-ups, tournament arcs and other elements, with many anime and manga having their thematic DNA traced back to the anime adaptation of the second half of Akira Toriyama’s iconic franchise. Of course, it’s so archetypal that coming out in today’s world is almost impossible to imagine.
Releasing Dragon Ball Z today would have it be seen as a lot more generic, but that’s because it literally created many of the elements that viewers would find trite. It’s just too much of what other brands are based on to stand out today, especially because it’s been seen by so many people. That’s not to take away from its actual quality, but it’s both classic and dated at the same time.
Sailor Moon Might Not Be as Big of a Hit Today
Sailor Moon is the most iconic Magical Girl anime brand ever, and in the West, it’s perhaps the only well-known example of the genre. It was particularly big in the 1990s when the English dub was released, and while it made many changes to the script, kids loved it. This was part of the zeitgeist of the time, and there are several things keeping it from seeing similar success today.
Sailor Moon was sold to young girls in the West in the 1990s, but Saturday morning or post-school cartoons are a thing of the past today. There are also several annoying aspects of the original anime (including the less-than-heroic main character) that mostly involve divergences from the manga, and these might not be as well-received today. Add in the potential controversy over some of the elements (many of which were censored in the West back in the day), and it’s hard to see this anime succeeding nearly as much.
Evangelion Would Be Seen as Too Try-Hard By Modern Fans
The release of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion changed everything for anime, mecha or otherwise. It also fueled the older-skewing fanbase for the medium in the West, showing the more adult potential of animation. This success ushered in an era of similarly psychological and surreal anime, but if released today, it might be the other way around.
Evangelion‘s most notable traits would likely be more harshly received today, especially when it comes to the “deep” symbolism that actually means nothing. Likewise, the idea of having a movie explain the actual ending of the story would certainly draw the ire of many, and it doesn’t help that the final episodes of the anime lacked a major mecha battle. Some of the characterizations and themes in Evangelion are now far more commonplace, so if released today, the teacher would become the student.
The Original Digimon Adventure Would Be Judged More Harshly Today
The classic Digimon: Digital Monsters anime is still considered the best entry in the franchise, but it’s inspired a brand that still has several new entries. This anime was ahead of its time and dealt with various concepts that tied to the growing internet culture. Unfortunately, it and the brand as a whole were stuck in the shadow of Pokémon, and that might be even more the case today.
While far from overrated, the original Digimon Adventure would have a lot less success in a time when monster-raising anime brands aren’t instantly sought after. Even in its heyday, it was second to the king of that genre, and nowadays, it would likely be ignored entirely. Worst of all, some might see it as another generic isekai anime, even if the story beats make it anything but.
It’s Hard to See Escaflowne Earning Its Reputation Today
When it comes to those who can’t stand overdone and ubiquitous isekai anime, the 1990s classic The Vision of Escaflowne is constantly touted as an example of the isekai genre done right. Featuring a young lady who’s transported to a medieval fantasy world, it combines isekai with fantasy, romance and even the mecha genre. It was lightning in a bottle in the 1990s, but it might not work as well if released today.
Escaflowne might be seen as just another cliché isekai if released in today’s market, and this isn’t helped by the fact that much of its praise is nostalgic in nature. There are issues with the anime, namely, some rushed plots and a haphazard ending. Thus, while it’s still beloved by many, hindsight and modern eyes aren’t quite as kind to it.
GTO Would Be Controversial Today
The classic GTO anime was a late 1990s release that went into the year 2000, and it’s in many ways a comedic relic. The protagonist is a slacker who decides to become a teacher, even if his aims to do so are less than heroic. In the end, he ends up being revered by his students, despite his unorthodox and many times lecherous endeavors.
GTO is one of the most politically-incorrect classic anime, and this is part of why many love it. Of course, in today’s market (especially among Western anime fans), there’s a much bigger chance of this being contentious. The best traits of the anime would end up being its worst nightmare, and given that some of its international success was due to it being one-of-a-kind amid a market that didn’t release every single anime, it would have a lot more competition today.
The 1993 film Ninja Scroll was once one of the most notable anime movies, with many older fans in the West regarding it in the same light as Akira and Ghost in the Shell. It features a fictionalized version of historical figures, with these characters facing off against supernatural ninjas in epic combat. The fight scenes and animation are still top-notch, but the movie itself isn’t quite the classic some might expect.
Ninja Scroll is much more of a spectacle than a great narrative, and while it’s still a fun watch, it’s far from something on par with the anime movies it’s usually compared to. If anything, some might consider it as trying too hard to be edgy, as was the style back then. It’s already been somewhat forgotten, and it would be even more forgettable compared to works such as the modern Demon Slayer movies.
Kite Would Trigger All Manner of Scandal
Also known as A Kite, Kite is an anime OVA defined by its brutal story. A revenge-based “girls with guns” story, it’s also essentially a pornographic hentai anime. To this end, it’s been banned in certain regions, though it is known for being liked by filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino.
Kite would be seen as downright exploitative today, especially given the age of the protagonist. Some might also critique it for essentially showcasing human trafficking while only portraying sexual elements from a more erotic perspective. Already controversial and known for associating the medium as a whole with this kind of content, it would likely be lambasted today for its lack of depth.
Ronin Warriors Is and Isn’t a 1990s Anime
The anime that was dubbed into Ronin Warriors came out in the late 1980s, but the English edition was aired on TV in the 1990s. Very similar to works such as Saint Seiya, this anime featured young men who transformed into armored warriors with a mythological theme. It’s now somewhat forgotten, despite its previous success, but it’s almost guaranteed to not reach the same heights today.
Ronin Warriors would be even more in the shadow of other anime if it came out today, especially since it was already overlooked compared to works such as Dragon Ball Z. There’s a sort of generic, comfort food nature to this anime that was perfect for kids to watch on Saturday mornings in the 1990s, but it’s just too tried-and-true for modern audiences. The new anime reboot might test its potential, but the original version should be glad that it came out when it did.
