The '90s, what a wonderful time to have been alive! Pastel colors adorned clothes and drinking cups, the Chicago Bulls were the greatest team on earth, the internet was born, and some of the greatest anime ever graced the television screen. The ’90s were defined by freedom, rebellion, exploration, and multiculturalism, and nothing was more indicative of those characteristics than the anime of the time.
While the ’90s were considered a time for change and progress, not everything that came out the era would be widely accepted today. On this list, we take a look at some of the most beloved anime of the 1990s that would not fly today.
10 Wicked City
The story of Wicked City takes place between the human dimension and the demon dimension otherwise known as The Black World, which is inhabited by superpowered shapeshifting monstrosities. It's up to two secret agents to restore the peace treaty that has existed between the two dimensions for centuries. It manages to tread the line between sadism and eroticism while propping itself up on misogynist stereotypes. While you do get a nightmarish Cronenberg love-child of epic proportions created by the minds behind Vampire Hunter D. and Ninja Scroll, its problems would make it fall flat today.
9 Princess Mononoke
When you think of Studio Ghibli, there are probably a few words that pop into your head. Family-friendly, fun, adventurous, all words that aren’t very far from the truth. Princess Mononoke is a tale rife with symbolism, metaphors, and ideologies that are not only thought-provoking but still remain relevant today. Princess Mononoke is not an extremely violent film like some of the other anime on this list. The one thing that separates it from the rest, was upon its release it was marketed as PG-13. The fact that it displayed scenes of blood, gore, and violence did not sit well with a lot of parents and caused a public outcry around the U.S. Mistakes like this didn’t fly back then, and it definitely wouldn’t fly now.
8 Genocyber
Like the wet-dream of a 60s dystopian author, Genocyber follows a society where the world's nations are ruled under one umbrella. Massive corporations in control of private militaries are using their influence to take control of the world when one company, Kuryu Group, decides to create the earth's most powerful weapon, The Genocyber. Genocyber takes comfort in its sadistic violence, the kind that cannot accurately be described in words. Oddly enough, Bandai Visual produced this perverse, blood-soaked, science-fiction nightmare. There are many reasons this anime would not fly today, particularly the things they decide to do with children.
7 Serial Experiments Lain
When it comes to the strange and haunting, Serial Experiments Lain takes the cake. A deeply cerebral thriller about a withdrawn fourteen-year-old girl. After receiving a message from a classmate who recently committed suicide, she becomes obsessed with life in a virtual realm known as “The Wired”.
It’s a genuinely eerie, mind-twistingly horrific commentary on human interaction, reality, loneliness, identity, and mental illness that dares to stare the ennui of existence in its face and ask life all of its most puzzling and philosophical questions. In a day and age where everything is hardwired to the Internet, an anime about the social and psychological effects of the Internet might hit too close to home.
6 Kite
Kite is notorious among anime fans for its dark, devilish, and disturbing themes. After finding her parents hideously murdered the main character, Sawa, is forced into a life as a hitman. The violence that ensues is nearly unimaginable, from bullets that cause her victims to explode into pools of blood and gore, explicit depictions of sex and rape, and headless bloody corpses. It is a shocking tale of abuse, self-destruction, and revenge that takes brutality and mind-numbing bloodshed to another level. It was banned and censored in many countries for the liberties it exercised simply in the name of cruelty. It's safe to say this would happen again if it were released today.
5 Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z is one of the most widely recognized anime phenomena to make its way out of Japan, but just because it's great doesn’t mean it's free from controversy. While the rest of society tries its best to recognize and hold others accountable for their acts of racism, whether intended or unintended, the Dragon Ball series does its best to perpetuate stereotypes. Look no further than Killa, a fighter, oddly reminiscent of something from Disney circa 1930, plastered with oversized pink lips and speaking with a slurred, incoherent accent. There's Mr. Popo, who’s a blatant black-face caricature, who much like Jinx from Pokemon, went on to face censorship issues around the world. And just when you thought they were done, there’s still Mr. Satan. Yes, Mr. Satan, need I say more? If this series was not as old and beloved as it is, then this level of unaccountability would not fly today.
4 Golden Boy
Widely regarded as one of the greatest comedy anime ever created, Golden Boy is a far cry from your typical funny anime. Following the adventures of a law school drop-out named Kintaro, who is in search of life experiences and lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom, sets out on a search for a life of meaning and fulfillment. There are many aspects of Golden Boy that serve as good lessons for those of any age. That being said, err on the side of caution. Known for its somewhat mature content, it features scenes of nudity, explicit depictions of orgasms, and even instances of female masturbation. There is a reason it hasn’t been remade or continued. It's not the type of thing you would want to sit down and watch with your children.
3 Berserk
The anime adaption of the famous manga series aired in 1997. The story follows a wayward swordsman named Guts who is forced to join a mercenary group by a man named Griffith who is striving to become king. What starts off as an action, adventure tale of one man and his armies' rise to the top quickly descends into a tragedy of epic proportions. Fueled by rage, sacrifice, carnage, and vengeance, it's about Guts' plunge into an underworld of demons, suffering, and deceit.
The series is scarred by its occasionally gruesome animation style, as well as unabashed scenes of nudity, and explicit depictions of rape. Even after a new season of the series was released a few years back, it still feels like the original would be a hard sell today.
2 Ninja Scroll
Ninja Scroll is praised universally as one of the most influential animated films of all time. The story begins with mercenary swordsman Jubei, slaughtering one of his comrades. This leaves him to a life-for-hire as a roving assassin. After saving a young woman, he is ultimately tasked with killing the Eight Devils of Kimon, supernatural ninjas hellbent on overthrowing the Japanese government. The level of blood and gore, stylized violence, and nudity borders on the occult. At one point, after being poisoned, a man is told the only cure is to have sex with a woman. With its thin story and its affection for adult themes; Ninja Scroll would have a hard time in any other era than the ’90s.
1 Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion, you have always heard of it but have never watched it. It has been entrenched in controversy since the beginning, and for good reason. The story begins after a near-catastrophic event almost destroys the entire world. It follows Shinji Akari, who is recruited by his father to an organization named NERV, and must pilot giant mecha called Evangelions in order to fight inter-dimensional demons known as Angels. The series unfolds into a deluge of horrific events ranging from death, necrophilia, psychological terror, and cannibalism, all intermingled with themes of spirituality, depression, entropy, and philosophy. It is without a doubt a product of its time, and if it had premiered today, it might just be too overwhelming and incoherent for modern audiences.