It's easy to see the 1990s as one of the greatest decades for animeif not the biggest. In addition to the creation of the Toonami anime block, the 90s were marked by animes such as Cowboy Bebop, Yu Yu Hakushoand the legendary trio of Pokémon, Sailor Moonand Dragon Ball Zall considered some of the most iconic and highly regarded anime of all time.
The 1990s was a legendary era for anime, but not everything from that era left its mark on the world. As with any decade, some anime were greatly overshadowed by bigger shows, but with how the quality of any given piece of entertainment can vary, While many anime from the 1990s were wildly underrated, there were many that, for various reasons, were not worth watching so many years after the fact.. Some anime in both categories deserve special mention, as they will be someone's unexpected gem or something they shouldn't have wasted their time on.
10
The Irresponsible Captain Tylor
Tatsunoko Productions anime series; Based on the light novel by Hitoshi Yoshioka
In the world of Tatsunoko Productions The Irresponsible Captain TylorWhile the United Planets Space Force is at war with Raalgon, Justy Ueki Tylor just wants to relax with a cushy office job. However, when Tylor accidentally foils a terrorist plot, he is immediately placed in command of the crew of the Soyokazeand from there, Tylor somehow keeps winning battle after battle and becomes a major player in the war with the Raalgon.
Captain Tylor has all the space battles and political intrigue common in space operas, but most importantly, The Irresponsible Captain Tylor always works to satirize space opera types of stories usually takes it seriouslyand with its stellar cast and great writing, it almost always works. The series works as a great comedic take on classic science fiction, and anyone who enjoys these types of stories would be remiss to pass it up.
9
Hunter X Hunter (1999)
Nippon Animation anime series; Based on the manga by Yoshihiro Togashi
Hospice Hunter X Hunter is one of the most iconic anime of the 2010s, but it wasn't the first adaptation of the iconic manga. The first anime adaptation of Hunter X Hunter It was in 1999 that Nippon Animation adapted the series until the end of the Greed Island arc, although that arc and the second half of the Phantom Troupe arc were technically part of a series of OVAs and not the original anime.
The original Hunter X Hunter the anime is fun to watch, with lots of great animation and fight scenes, even if the 2011 anime is far superior, so it's not an inherently bad watch. Unfortunately, the 1999 adaptation of Hunter X Hunter is severely hampered by the lack of closureand with its abundance of filler also dwindling, it makes a lot more sense to go straight to the 2011 anime.
8
Log of the Lodoss War
Studio AIC anime series; Based on the novel by Ryo Mizuno
AIC Studio Log of the Lodoss War is centered on Parn, a young knight on a quest to discover how his father fell from grace and restore his family's honor. Along the way, Parn ends up forming a group with a wide variety of adventurers, each on their own quest, and this ultimately turns into Parn and his group being the ones who have to save Lodoss from destruction.
The characters and world-building Log of the Lodoss War are everything you would expect from a Dungeons and Dragonsstory style, and as cliché as it may be, the frankness of Log of the Lodoss Warhis writing makes everything incredibly heartfelt from start to finish. It's one of the most classic traditional fantasy stories in anime, and anyone looking for a great 90s anime should definitely give it a try.
7
Yu-Gi-Oh! (1998)
Toei Animation anime series; Based on the manga by Kazuki Takahashi
While the Yu-Gi-Oh! The anime most people will be familiar with is Gallop's 2000 anime, Yu-Gi-Oh!The first anime was made in 1998 by Toei Animation. The anime loosely adapted the first seven volumes of the manga before Duel Monsters became the focus of the story, and with its placement in the timeline, combined with the fact that it was never licensed in English, the series is commonly referred to as "Season 0” by fans. .
Although there is a definite novelty in seeing Yu-Gi-Oh!the animation's older, darker content, as well as inconsistent art and animation, the countless changes Yu-Gi-Oh! Season 0 adds to the narrative and character writing makes it largely unfaithful to the mangaeven more so than the 2000 anime. The biggest selling point is supposed to be how it adapts the manga's initial content, but overall, you'd be better off just reading this.
6
Getter Robo Armageddon
Anime series from Brain's Base and Studio OX; Based on the manga by Ken Ishikawa
Brain Base and Studio OX's Getter Robo Armageddon is an alternative version of the iconic Get Robot series by Ken Ishikawa. In this version of the series, a battle between the evil Dr. Saotome and the Shin Getter Dragon has caused the Earth to be turned into an apocalyptic wasteland by toxic Getter rays, and 13 years later, Getter pilots, old and new, must protect the left over from the planet of alien invaders and discover the truth behind Dr. Saotome's actions.
Getter Robo Armageddon is completely different from the classic series, but with its stellar animation and engaging, complex narrative, Getter Robo Armageddon is a fantastic alternative version of the original Get Robot anime and a phenomenal mecha anime, overall. Get Robot It may not be as well known, but it's still an amazing mecha anime, and Armageddon is a great place for new fans to start.
5
Call of Recca
Studio Pierrot anime series; Based on the manga by Nobuyuki Anzai
Pierrot Studio Call of Recca stars Recca Hanabishi, a boy with mysterious fire powers who dreams of becoming a ninja. Recca begins his self-imposed journey to become a ninja by pledging loyalty to Yanagi Sakoshita, a girl with equally mysterious healing powers, and their budding relationship slowly exposes them and their friends to a mysterious and dangerous plot that dates back hundreds of years.
While the Call of Recca the manga is a useful read, between the inconsistent animation and the often baffling changes made to the original story, Call of Recca It largely fails as an anime thanks to the poor adaptation of the original manga, including not finishing the story. Call of ReccaThe characters and overall writing have a lot of overlap with Yu Yu Hakushoand how competent an adaptation is Yu Yu Hakusho is that people would be much better off just watching this Call of Recca.
4
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (1993)
OVA series by APPP; Based on the manga by Hirohiko Araki
Almost 20 years before David Production began adapting JoJo's Bizarre Adventurethe manga was first adapted into an OVA series by APPP. The OVAs were an abridged adaptation of Stardust Crusadersand although the original OVAs only covered the second half of the series, a sequel was released in 2000 that was an equally loose adaptation of the first half of the series.
As iconic as David Production's anime is, between the excellent animation and art direction and the genuinely interesting way it sometimes changes the source material, the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure OVAs are a great adaptation of the manga that even surpasses the 2012 anime in some aspects. The 2012 anime is the only way to experience the entire story, but any anime fan JoJo's Bizarre Adventure You'll still get a lot out of it.
3
Zero Apocalypse
OVA series by Ashi Productions; Based on the manga by Takayuki Yamaguchi
Ashi Productions' Zero Apocalypse takes place in a post-apocalyptic Japan invaded by mutants led by Harara Hagakure, a boy possessed by demonic armor and filled with a burning desire to destroy humanity. The only one who can stop Harara is his younger brother Kakugo, who wields the same type of armor, and Kakugo's attempts to do so end up being a truly bloody affair from start to finish.
Zero Apocalypse is an unabashedly bloody OVA series, and while that's not inherently bad, the extreme nature Zero ApocalypseThe blood and violence, combined with how lackluster the story is, make it difficult to watch to the point of being uncomfortable.. The fact that it was canceled after two episodes makes it even harder to recommend, and even if someone just wants to watch something with a lot of blood, something like Hell or Furious It's much more worth your time.
2
G Gundam Mobile Fighter
Sunrise anime series; Directed by Yasuhiro Imagawa
Sunrise G Gundam Mobile Fighter is one of the oldest entries in the iconic Mobile SuitGundam franchise. In the Future Century, colonies representing the nations of the world determine the ruler of their collective government through a fighting tournament called Gundam Fight, and for the 13th Gundam Fight, Domon Kasshu enters as a representative of Neo-Japan to not only win the tournament, but to take revenge on his traitorous brother Kyoji and discover the truth behind the mysterious and dangerous Dark Gundam.
Although often ignored for more traditional reasons Gundam anime, G Gundam Mobile Fighter is one of the best Gundam anime thanks to its great fights and the incredible sincerity in the way it embraces the absurdity of its writing and general premise. There is no Gundam very similar anime Gundam in the best way possible, and it's easily the most forgotten 90s anime that people have probably missed.
1
Tales from Byston Well: Garzey's Wing
OVA series by JCStaff; Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
JCStaff Tales from Byston Well: Garzey's Wing stars Christopher Senshu, a high school graduate whose body and spirit are suddenly torn between Earth and the fantasy world of Byston Well. Christopher has been chosen as Garzey's Wing, the legendary warrior who will save Byston Well from darkness, and Christopher is forced to fight the danger he has been thrown into as he searches for a way to reunite his body and spirit.
Despite being famous for being made by Mobile SuitGundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino, Tales from Byston Well: Garzey's Wing is an infamously terrible anime thanks to its lackluster visuals, nonsensical plot, and terrible English dubbing this is often seen as the worst English dub ever. Garzey Wing more than earns the reputation as one of the worst anime of all time, and is easily the worst anime of the 90s is better for a person to skip.