The '90s were a great time for anime. A lot of series made their appearance during this era and many of them have been ranked as some of the best anime of all time by a lot of fans of the medium. But how do some of these once-great series hold up in a new era?
This list will be taking at a look at exactly that. There were a lot of juggernauts of the 90s age of anime but are they worth watching now, or were they simply a product of the time that were exciting because of them being the first exposure to a new world of animation from overseas? Find out how the 10 biggest anime of the 90s hold up today!
10 AGED A BIT: Pokémon
Of course the cultural phenomenon's anime had to make an appearance on this list. Pokémon was the series of a lifetime back in the 90s and continues to live on even now with fans going back to check out this original take on the anime constantly with things like Twitch streams and watching on Netflix.
While Pokémon was great for the younger audiences of its time, it doesn't really hold up as well for those that grew up with it now besides being go-to laugh material. However, there are some episodes and movies that are generally great - even if they're more of the exception than the rule.
9 TIMELESS: Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon was the true start of the magical girl anime genre. This series introduced a lot of the tropes that are still used in the genre now. That is one of the exact reasons that this series is still so re-watchable nowadays; Sailor Moon is just as powerful and addicting as it was when it first aired back in '95.
The feminism ingrained in the series is just as great and yes, the cheese factor actually makes it even more charming. Sailor Moon is seriously a timeless series that doesn't miss a beat.
8 AGED A BIT: Gundam Wing
There is no Gundam series more divisive among the fans of it than Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. This series was the Gundam series that broke onto the scene in America through the Cartoon Network Toonami block and lives on in the hearts of many because of it.
While Gundam Wing isn't the worst the franchise has to offer, it isn't nearly the best. The protagonist is boring and it feels very repetitive. It's simply an okay mecha anime and not much more. If anything, Wing can serve as an introduction to better Gundam shows released after its initial run.
7 TIMELESS: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Want a series that is just as confusing and mind-boggling as it was back when it first showed up on the anime scene? Well then the original Neon Genesis Evangelion is a must-watch anime.
This series opened a Pandora's box when it came to the medium and inspired an entire future of series like it. Neon Genesis Evangelion is admittedly not for everyone due to its heavy themes and disturbing imagery, among other things. But for the curious, this anime is just as good as it was back then. It actually feels perfect in this new era of anime!
6 AGED A BIT: Berserk
Released in 1997, the original Berserk anime remains one of the best adaptations of the series to exist. It is a great introduction into the series for anyone curious, as it nearly perfectly adapts the Golden Age arc accompanied by great atmosphere, art, and of course no one can forget that amazing soundtrack.
Sadly, there are a great number of flaws in this series as well. It doesn't fully cover what makes Berserk great - the Golden Age arc is only the manga's beginning - and glosses over a lot of great details present in the original story. This series is fine as a stand-alone watch but not the full animated Berserk experience that the source material and fans deserve.
5 TIMELESS: Outlaw Star
Outlaw Star is an anime that viewers constantly compare to Cowboy Bebop and with good reason. The two series are similar in many ways, taking place in space and starring some unlikely heroes. However, Outlaw Star is moreso one long cohesive story without as many one-off episodes as Cowboy Bebop.
Upon viewing this series, even now, you'll find a great story with some of the best characters to offer. It goes from lighthearted fun to deep philosophical examinations and character studies. Surprisingly, it excels in both corners.
4 AGED A BIT: Dragon Ball Z
The original Dragon Ball Z is one that still lives on nowadays, being re-released countless times. While the manga that the series came from is great, the same can't be said for the original anime adaptation. Dragon Ball Z is bogged down by massive plotholes that can ruin one's experience as well as some of the worst pacing issues ever seen in anime.
While some of the filler of the series help with characterization, a lot of it is pointless and gets in the way of a story that was paced well in the manga. If you're not invested in the original series' nostalgia, you're better off watching an updated version of this adaptation - specifically, Dragon Ball Kai.
3 TIMELESS: Cowboy Bebop
Speaking of Cowboy Bebop, this anime is often hailed as the absolute best of the '90s era and even sometimes the best of all time by anime fans everywhere. Essentially an anthology of the Bebop crews' misadventures, Cowboy Bebop feels more different from so much that came around the time and has great characters, stories, and animation to boot.
One thing that helps make it even more timeless is the amazing voice acting and iconic soundtrack that accompany every great thing that unfolds throughout the series. There's been nothing quite like Cowboy Bebop in the time after it ended and it's likely that there never will be.
2 AGED A BIT: Samurai X
Samurai X or Rurouni Kenshin is a samurai anime of the 90s, and a well-known one at that. This series is actually highly praised for the most part, as it has a very strong start and that strength continues well throughout a lot of the series.
However, once the story was finished in the manga, the anime kept going with filler content. Though the filler's reception varies from viewer to viewer, the mere presence of these arcs bogged the series down a bit. This left fans with a series that was literally half good and half meh.
1 TIMELESS: Yu Yu Hakusho
Yu Yu Hakusho is another one of those timeless anime that is even great in this day and age. Granted, the series is another shonen but this particular series actually runs quite deep and becomes something more than the likes of Dragon Ball - which was quite noticeable back in that age when it came to shows aimed at children in America.
Yu Yu Hakusho takes a look into more mature themes and implications of its supernatural world, and is great because of that. The characters and the battles are some of the best in the genre, with the Dark Tournament Saga not only being the best tournament arc ever seen in anime but also setting the standards of all anime tournaments to follow.