Summary

• The 1990s defined anime with diverse themes, from gritty futurism to upbeat optimism, while expanding into international markets.
• Iconic series like Detective Conan, Pokemon, and One Piece solidified their place in anime history during this decade.
• Anime classics like Cowboy Bebop, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Berserk inspired countless series and left a lasting impact on the genre.

The 1980s gave anime fans a mountain of unforgettable material, but the 1990s truly deღfined the genre. As the previous decade’s economic boom faded, the resulting economy catered to underemployed young adults. While some themes changed, others flourished.

Gritty futurism seeped deeper into Japanese science fiction, while upbeat optimism and individualism permeated the increasingly popular (and stereotypically “girly”) shojo genre. Perhaps more importantly, more Japanese media — including anime — started appearing on international markets, introducing audiences to the unique worlds that dominate the modern perception 💧of anime.

10 🎶 Detective Conan 💎

Also known by its alterna꧅te localized title, Case Closed, 𝔍the Detective Conan series was one of many procedural police anime of the 1990s. It debuted in January 1996, nestled amidst a sea of similar crime-solving dramas. However, Detective Conan distinguished itself with its unique premise.

Its prime detective, Shinichi Kudo (or “Jimmy,” per some localizations), is poisoned and transforme☂d into a child. This humorous twist gave the series its charm, and that charm propelled it into the ranks of the world’s longest-running anime series. Detective Conan still airs new episodes.

9 Pokemon

Today, the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pokemon franchise spans over two dozen seasons of anime and over 130 games, but everything starts somewhere! The first episode of the world’s most iconic anime series aired on April 1, 1997. In the West, the (perhaps infam⭕ous) 4Kids dub debuted in 1998.

4Kids’ “unique” dubbing policies were meant to increase the show’s Western appeal. Some of the brand’s most humorous dubbing decisions stem from its policy of Americanizing everything, including turning rice balls into “jelly donuts.” Similar policies, particularly an aversion to on-screen death, led to the creation of the “Shadow Realm” in Yu-Gi-Oh.

As the predecessor of all modern “collect-’em-all” anime, Pokemon remains the undefeated champion of monster-snagging media. Alone, it’s spawned countless new games, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:trading cards, adaptations, and movies. However, Pokemon also paved the way for more beast-hunting franchises, including Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Dragon Drive, and Level-5’s Yokai Watch.

8 Trigun

The most recent addition to the Trigun saga is Netflix’s 2023 Trigun Stampede, but Vash the Stampede’s televised journey began in 1998. The Madhouse-produced series ✨was a modest success in Japan, but most of its fame came after its international release.

Its iconic “Love and Peace” catchphrase has found a home in many works, including 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Avatar: The Last Airbender and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Its stunning character designs and weaponry have also inspired many, with references appearing in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Enter the Gungeon, Gintama, RWBY, and Voltron: Legendary Def🥀enders.

7 One Piece

With an October 1999 release date, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:One Piece is one of the last smash hits of the 90s. Today, the show is still airing new episodes; as of 2024, there are overไ 1,100 episodes of the long-running pirate show. Its adventurous plot and lovable cast have spawned spin-off games and countless adaptations, including a live-action stage play.

Its massive appeal has also led to countless references across all genres. One Piece has even made cameos in video games, with references appearing in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:World of Warcraft.

6 🅺 ✅ Cowboy Bebop

Despite a one-season run, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Cowboy Bebop is one of the most iconic anime of the 1990s. Shinichiro Watanabe’s toe-tapping cultural icon original▨ly ran from September 1997 to June 1🍃998; its Western debut came a few years later, in 2001. Much of the series’ appeal comes from its widespread relatability.

While common in many modern anime, Cowboy Bebop’s decidedly Western setting was a rarity in the 1990s. Many of its contemporaries (understandably) imbued their worlds with Japanese culture, making them somewhat inaccessible to foreign audiences. In bucking that trend, Watanabe cemented Cowboy Bebop’s status as a “gateway” anime — something for everyone to enjoy.

5 𒉰 Yu Yu Hakusho ಌ

Yu Yu Hakusho attracted a sizable following over its two-year, 112-episode run. Yoshihiro Toga🦩shi’s supernatural adventure premiered on television in 1992, although the manga was published from 1990 to 1994. The series’ animation betrays its age, but the story’s timeless appeal has earned Yu Yu Hakusho a place in anime history.

Many stories have borrowed from Yu Yu Hakusho’s template, and even more series have paid homage to the show. You’ll find references everywhere, including Cuphead, Jujutsu Kaisen, Pop Team Epic, and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Skullgirls.

4 🥂 Sailor Moon 🍨

The magical girl genre existed before 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Sailor Moon, and there were other magical girl anime in the 1990s. However, Naoko Takeuchi’s pastel version of contemporary Japan took the world by storm. Its 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:powerful cast and relatable themes captured teenage hearts worldwide.

At the same time, its overwhelming influence propelled the magical girl genre to the forefront, inspiring many similar (and much less memorable) imitations. As for its influence, the beloved feel-good show’s🌜 themes would eventually be turned on their head, forming the basis for &l🍃dquo;edgy” magical shows, including Madoka Magica.

3 Berserk

Berserk, Kentaro Mi🌃ura’s gory tale of a wandering mercenary, first graced television screens in 1997. The violent epic of 🍌Guts captivated audiences immediately, effortlessly drawing them into a world of vengeance and power-hungry warriors. Its unflinching portrayal of complex topics limited Berserk’s broadcasting options, but its direct-to-video releases were met with overwhelming praise.

The mature themes and visual precision may not give the series widespread appeal, but they’ve cemented Beserk as a 90s classic. Guts’ trek has been directly cited as an inspiration for the fantasy manga Black Clover, and you’ll find Berserk references in many unexpected places — including 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Doom Eternal!

2 Neon Genesis Evangeliܫon

Hideki Anno’s 1990s classic only aired for five short months — October 1995 through March 1996 — but its impact is as massive as its famed mechs. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Neon Genesis Evangelion defined modern mecha anime, although it was far from the first of 𓆏its kind. The firꦗst widely recognized mecha media, Tetsujin-28, made its manga debut in 1952.

Nonetheless, Evangelion’s unique combination of mystical imagery, psychological drama, and social commentary still influences all genres of anime. Traces of Evangelion are apparent in countless works, including Gurren Lagann, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Se♕rial Experiments Lain, and Xenogears.

1 ꧒ Dragon Ball Z 💯

There’s no debating the influence of Dragon Ball Z. While Goku’s first televised appearance was in 1986, during the original Dragon Ball series, his most famous iteration debuted in the sequel, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dragon Ball Z. The massive 291-episode story w🔴as acquired and dubbed by Funimation in 1996.

However, Dragon Ball Z’s original Japanese broadcast began in 1989, technically disqualifying the iconic series from this list. Nonetheless, the enormous influence of Akira Toriyama’s masterpiece is worth recognition, and the series’ broadcast schedule technically spanned most of the 1990s.