Due to ease of access and the sheer volume of output, anime is arguably at its peak currently. Every year has a dozen or so shows that achieve excellence or manage to write their name among the greatest anime of all time. For all its warts and production issues, I love modern anime...that said, I might love '90s anime just a little bit more. I grew up in this era, watching shows like Moero! Top Striker and Sailor Moon on Italia Uno and later Toonami, and I can still recite DBZ's Italian OP by heart. Somehow, I even feel nostalgia for the '90s anime that I didn't watch during their original run. There is just something about the animation from this decade that is simultaneously dated and ageless.
12 Best Anime To Watch If You Like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Here are some great choices of anime to select from if you like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
So, let's celebrate the greatest decade in anime by highlighting some of the shows that were either smash hits or are nowadays remembered as masterpieces. Although plenty of '90s anime are hard to come by nowadays, many of the bigger series are available on platforms like Crunchyroll or HIDIVE, making them far more accessible than ever. This might have resulted in '90s anime's surge in popularity, although I think AMVs on TikTok and YouTube might have had a bigger impact.
Criteria for an anime to qualify:
- Only series, no movies.
- If an anime started in 1989, it would be considered if more than 50% of its episodes aired during the 1990s.
- If an anime started in 1999, it would be considered if it ended in 2000.
- Anime like Case Closed and One Piece will not be included since most of their content aired after the 1990s.
Updated January 7, 2026, by Mark Sammut: Winter 2026's anime are just starting to roll out, so you probably already have your plate full of shows to watch. However, if you don't, why not fill it up with series from the golden age of anime?
Why the 90s Were Anime’s Golden Age
Ah, that eternal question – which decade was anime's greatest? As fun as this discussion can be, the real answer is that every decade produces its share of masterpieces and legendary failures. Over the last decade or so, anime has gradually become more accessible, and nowadays, most people can watch seasonal shows on the day of their release. While this means that millions of people get to watch each year's greatest series, it also means that millions of people sit through a season's forgettable and terrible anime. Due to survivor bias, only the best anime of the '90s are still remembered, which can give the illusion that shows were more consistent back then.
That said, the '90s were fantastic for anime. Studios perfected hand-drawn animation during this decade, delivering cel animation that has aged absurdly well and can still put modern shows to shame. '90s anime are defined by bold colors, expressive characters, and painting-like backgrounds that are just works of art. Beyond the animation style, '90s anime seemed more willing to take risks, as the decade so the rise of Neon Genesis Evangelion and Serial Experiments Lain. Finally, OVAs were a huge deal and allowed studios to pursue darker stories, all the while delivering animation that could rival movies.
35 Marmalade Boy
MyAnimeList: 7.41
Marmalade Boy
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- March 13, 1994
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Wataru Yoshizumi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
While shonen dominated the '90s like every other era, shojo had a pretty big decade in its own right. Everybody remembers Sailor Moon, but that iconic magical girl anime was hardly the industry's only noteworthy effort to cater to the demographic. As anime was not easily accessible before services like Crunchyroll, plenty of shows were technically big but had little presence outside of Japan. Although not unknown by any stretch of the imagination, Marmalade Boy is one of those names that is likely only familiar to people really into old-school shojo romances.
Producing a movie and a 76-episode series, Toei's anime follows Miki and Yuu, two teenagers who learn that their parents are about to get married. Honestly, that description is an oversimplification, but the main thing to know is that Miki and Yuu quickly fall in love, which creates a bit of a taboo situation. Marmalade Boy manages to walk the line between absurdity and realism, exploring genuinely relatable relationships while also throwing out constant twists and turns to keep things interesting. The result is a messy but mostly entertaining anime, albeit one that loses quite a bit of steam towards the end of its run.
Has Marmalade Boy Aged Well?
Marmalade Boy is definitely a product of its time, and it has aged worse than most '90s anime. As such, I would not really recommend it unless you are looking for old-school shojo shows.
34 Be-Bop Highschool
MyAnimeList: 7.51
- OVA Series
- 7 Episodes
- Toei Animation Studio
- Based On Manga By Kazuhiro Kiuchi
Be-Bop Highschool is not the best anime of the '90s, but it encapsulates why the decade was so incredible. An OVA series that released 50-minute episodes over the span of eight years, Be-Bop Highschool might just be the most "90s anime" on this list, despite being a fairly unknown property compared to most of the other shows.
Toei's series revolves around the delinquent culture of the '80s and early '90s, making it something of a time capsule nowadays. Though it mainly follows two teenagers, the story explores quite a few different gangs, showing both their internal and external conflicts. While this would not be the first show I would recommend, Be-Bop Highschool is certainly worth a watch if you manage to find it, which is easier said than done. The animation is very of the era, but it is charming; honestly, that can be said for the entire show.
33 Master Keaton
MyAnimeList: 7.61 (Series)
Master Keaton
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1998 - 2000
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Naoki Urasawa, Hokusei Katsushika, Takashi Nagasaki
- Number of Episodes
- 39
We don't get many adaptations of Naoki Urasawa's manga, so we need to cherish every one of them. While not as fondly remembered as Monster, Master Keaton is another great thriller, albeit one that leans into episodic storytelling and case-of-the-week mysteries. It is quite similar to Case Closed, albeit with a more consistently mature tone and more continuity between episodes. The writing is unsurprisingly tight and consistent, with the mysteries never overshadowing the characters or vice versa.
Madhouse handled the animation, so the quality is pretty darn good and should not be all that hard to enjoy in this day and age. Still, the storytelling is the most important, and Master Keaton will always shine in that department.
Has Master Keaton Aged Well?
Yes. If you can find it, watch it.
32 The Vision of Escaflowne
MyAnimeList: 7.65
The Vision of Escaflowne
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1996 - 1996
- Japanese Title
- Tenkuu no Escaflowne
- Studio
- Sunrise
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Shōji Kawamori
- Number of Episodes
- 26
Isekai is inescapable nowadays, with every season including at least a couple of shows that fit the bill. When everything is said and done, 2025 will likely produce more isekai anime than the '90s in its entirety. While the concept predates Sword Art Online by decades, isekai was very much a rare treat before the adaptation of Reki Kawahara's novel exploded in popularity. Consequently, when a character found themselves on an otherworldly adventure, it was novel rather than expected. More importantly, most shows were chasing tropes from other genres (or creating their own), rather than sticking to an established formula.
Even all these years later, The Vision of Escaflowne is still a surprisingly refreshing example of an isekai anime, and this is coming from someone who has spent too much of their life watching these types of stories. Along with featuring a well-written female protagonist who is competent but not overpowered, the show incorporates high fantasy, sci-fi, mecha, and romance, creating a blend that is more than the sum of its parts. Sunrise's animation is also top-notch, as tends to always be the case with the studio's classic output. If it were not for the fact that the story was cut short by 1/3rd of its run, The Vision of Escaflowne could have been one of the absolute best anime of the '90s.
Has The Vision of Escaflowne Aged Well?
Surprisingly, The Vision of Escaflowne has aged nicely. Isekai stories are way more tired nowadays, but this series is closer to classic fantasy than that theme's modern interpretations.
31 You're Under Arrest (Season 1 & OVA)
MyAnimeList: 7.53 (Season 1)
You're Under Arrest
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- November 2, 1996
- Japanese Title
- Taiho Shichau zo
- Studio
- Studio Deen
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kōsuke Fujishima
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
I went back and forth on whether to include You're Under Arrest, as seasons 2 and 3 aired during the 2000s. Ultimately, the anime was at its best during the '90s and very much feels like a product of that era, so it seems fair to include a mention here. More importantly, there are surprisingly few cop procedural anime, and You're Under Arrest sits comfortably among the best of all time.
Unlike, say, Patlabor, this series is far more laid-back and relaxed, opting to provide a pretty grounded look at the profession. Sure, there are a couple of high-stakes situations, but they are few and far between. You're Under Arrest is very much a workplace slice of life comedy that just happens to be set in a police station, and the show is carried by its lovable characters rather than action, mystery, or tension. Lasting for arguably too many episodes, the anime does threaten to overstay its welcome after a while, but you can always throw on a random episode and have a decent time.
Has You're Under Arrest Aged Well?
Honestly, I'd say the OVAs have aged better than the TV series, just because they have better animation. That said, the series is enjoyable on the whole, especially if you are craving a lighthearted cop anime. It is not like there are plenty of those, anyway.
30 Remi, Nobody's Girl (Or Sans Family)
MyAnimeList: 7.90
Remi, Nobody's Girl
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1996 - 1997
- Japanese Title
- Ie Naki Ko Remy
- Studio
- Nippon Animation
- Based On
- Sans Famille by Hector Malot
- Number of Episodes
- 26
Nowadays, the World Masterpiece Theater's numerous shows have largely been lost to time. By the '90s, the project had been around for roughly three decades and was struggling, although it did manage to produce a couple of good shows. Remi, Nobody's Girl was the last adaptation released during this period, and it was something of a surprising pick as Hector Malot's Sans Familie had already been adapted into a highly regarded anime in the '70s. Perhaps to differentiate the new version, WMT decided to swap the protagonist's gender, while generally leaving the basic story in one piece.
Remi, Nobody's Girl is a respectable adaptation of a literary classic that accomplishes a lot in just 26 episodes. The story gets quite heavy at times, while still incorporating some much-needed moments of levity and slice of life. Is it worth seeking out today? Honestly, I would not strongly recommend it, just because it is not accessible on a streaming platform. Still, if you can find it and love the novel, Remi, Nobody's Girl is a worthwhile watch.
Has Remi, Nobody's Girl Aged Well?
Yes, as the story itself is timeless. The animation is not great by modern standards, but it is watchable.
29 Tenchi Muyo!
MyAnimeList Score: 7.61 (Ryo-Ohki Season 1)
Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- September 25, 1992
- Japanese Title
- Tenchi Muyou! Ryououki
- Studio
- AIC
- Creator
- Masaki Kajishima
- Number of Episodes
- 30
While its star faded considerably over the last few decades, Tenchi Muyo! Was a huge deal during the '90s. Introduced to the world as an OVA series called Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki, the franchise also spawned two '90s spin-off/reboot series in Tenchi Universe and Tenchi in Tokyo. During the 1990s and early 2000s, Tenchi Muyo! Was a constant presence, helping to set the standard for harem anime moving forward.
Nowadays, the series is dated and archetypal, but it is important to remember that a lot of its clichés and tropes were not that common in the early 90s. The humor mostly holds up fine, too, and the same can be said for the animation. Even though I did not grow up with Tenchi Muyo, I still had a blast watching its '90s entries, even more so than its more modern releases.
Has Tenchi Muyo! Aged Well?
Yes and no. Tenchi Muyo is a must-watch for harem fans, but it probably will not offer that much to anybody else. The series is also wildly inconsistent, particularly the OVAs.
28 Digimon Adventure
MyAnimeList Score: 7.78
Digimon Adventure
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- March 7, 1999
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Number of Episodes
- 54
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
Digimon Adventure follows the story of a group of friends who get transported into the Digital World and meet Digimon. They also receive Digivices, which help them evolve their Digimon. The friends learn that they have been chosen to save the Digital World from a malevolent force.
All Royal Knight Digimon & What They Do
The Royal Knights are a group of 13 powerful mega and ultra-level Digimon who act as guardians of the digital world. Here's what they all do.
Along with Dragon Ball and Pokemon, Digimon Adventure was an introductory anime for a lot of '90s and early 2000s kids. While it might not hit as hard with new viewers who carry no nostalgia, the 1999 series was and still is top-notch, delivering an addictive blend of action, adventure, drama, and character development. Unlike Pokemon, Digimon Adventure's story seemed more consequential and ambitious, even sprinkling in some fairly dark moments.
Has Digimon Adventure Aged Well?
Digimon Adventure is still an absolute blast and comfortably one of the best anime for kids. Now, if you don't have any nostalgia for the original season, your mileage may vary; however, I would recommend it to newcomers who are looking for a fun adventure series.
27 Dear Brother
MyAnimeList: 7.85
Dear Brother
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1991 - 1992
- Network
- NHK BS1
- Directors
- Osamu Dezaki, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Hideki Hiroshima, Takuo Suzuki, Shinichi Matsumi, Yutaka Satoh, Kazuo Nogami, Kazuya Miyazaki, Toshiya Shinohara, Yusaku Saotome
- Japanese Title
- Oniisama e...
- Studio
- Tezuka Productions
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Riyoko Ikeda
- Number of Episodes
- 39
Based on a manga by Riyoko Ikeda, Dear Brother is nearly as fantastic as the author's most well-known story, The Rose of Versailles. Set in an all-girl school, the 1991 anime presents a pretty realistic and, at times, heavy look at teenage life, tackling themes like suicide, peer pressure, and manipulation. A lot of the narrative's tension is caused by the school's sorority, which exerts an oppressive hold on the student body.
Dear Brother does not pull its punches nor try to sanitize its characters, allowing them to commit genuinely awful acts born out of arrogance, jealousy, and pettiness. At the same time, the anime incorporates slice-of-life moments that help make the girls feel real rather than just moving pieces in a melodrama. Dear Brother even has some girls love elements, although arguably not as much as one might expect from this type of premise.
Has Dear Brother Aged Well?
Honestly? Dear Brother has aged better than about 95% of anime dramas from yesteryear, especially ones that incorporate some girls love (or boys love) themes.
26 Ranma ½
MyAnimeList Score: 7.77
Ranma 1/2
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1989 - 1992
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Studio Deen
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Rumiko Takahashi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu, Hoopla, Peacock
Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma ½ is an all-time great shonen manga that has aged pretty gracefully. The source material has received two major anime, including a fantastic modern adaptation that aired its first season in Fall 2024. Apart from the manga, the new series is the best entry point for newcomers, delivering top-notch animation alongside timeless humor.
That said, the original Ranma ½ anime is still a classic that is well worth a watch if somebody enjoyed the remake and wants more. The first two seasons primarily adapt the manga, and they have by far the anime's strongest episodes (and they mostly aired during the '80s). After that point, the series enters filler territory, delivering five seasons of mostly decent humor but very little in the way of character or relationship development. Putting aside a couple of terrible episodes, Ranma ½ is watchable throughout its entire run.
Has Ranma ½ Aged Well?
The first two seasons of Ranma ½ are great, but the anime is inconsistent and occasionally frustrating after that point. The 2024 debut lessens the original's rewatch value as well, since there is little reason to pick the latter when the former is so good.