18 Must-watch 90s Anime Series and Movies

Peruse the list below to learn about a few anime shows from the 90s that will make you feel like throwing on some pajamas or grabbing a bowl of sugary cereal while you let the good times roll.

1. 'Dragon Ball Z' (1989-1996)

Although the Dragon Ball franchise kicked off in the late 80s, it didn't catch the attention of Western audiences until the sequel took off roughly a decade later. Dragon Ball Z was many '90s kids' first anime experience, and it proved to be an absolute home run.

In the story, a diverse cast of martial arts phenoms helps Super Saiyan Warrior Goku defend Earth from aliens and magical creatures.

2. 'YuYu Hakusho' (1990-1994)

YuYu Hakusho follows the trail of a teenage delinquent named Yusuke, who dies in a final act of self-sacrifice as he pushes a boy out of the way of a speeding car.

The supernatural deities of the afterlife inform him that his uncharacteristic altruism has confused their judgment. He is allowed to return to his body for a price: Yusuke must become an underworld detective charged with investigating demons, apparitions, and other creatures of the night.

3. 'Sailor Moon' (1992-1997)

This shojo series from Toei Animation is a 90s anime staple that balanced the brutal kick-assery of Dragon Ball with feminine elegance. The story follows a tight-knit group of middle school students who transform into magical girls imbued with special abilities that help them vanquish evil forces.

4. 'Slam Dunk' (1993-1996)

Slam Dunk is a sports anime series about a teenage boy named Hanamichi who leaves his life of crime to join the Shohoku High School basketball team. However, Hanamichi quickly learns that he isn't just an ordinary basketball player but a naturally gifted all-star on the court.

5. 'Mobile Suit Gundam Wing' (1995-1996)

Many anime series use stylistic animation to illustrate intense battles and swift motion during fights. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing just does it better than just about every other show. This famous mecha anime is set during a futuristic civil war between Earth and its many space colonies.

6. 'Rurouni Kenshin' (1996-1998)

This hall-of-fame anime classic follows the story of a young wandering swordsman traveling through the countryside of Meiji-era Japan. His quest for atonement for past violence brings him to the door of a struggling martial arts school, where he meets new friends and battles old enemies.

7. 'Vampire Princess Miyu' (1997-1998)

Vampire Princess Miyu continues the girl-power motif that the Sailor Moon anime started—with a few minor deviations. Instead of following magical girls' bubbly, sparkly adventures, this storyline follows a vampire-turned-demon-slayer who hunts evil forces, hoping she can one day return home to her realm of darkness.

8. 'Cowboy Bebop' (1998)

Considered by many Japanese TV enthusiasts as a top contender for best anime series ever, Cowboy Bebop covers the futuristic misadventures of an easygoing bounty hunter and his eclectic crew.

Accompanied by a popular manga written in the same neo-noir, space western style, the franchise earned several prestigious accolades and an army of diehard fans.

9. 'Initial D First Stage' (1998)

Sports anime fans are likely more familiar with the modern anime series MF Ghost (2017-present) than its predecessor. However, Initial D First Stage paved the way by retrofitting old anime tropes with high-octane modern car racing action.

10. 'Serial Experiments Lain' (1998)

Serial Experiments Lain is a groundbreaking anime series that explores various psychological concepts, including reality, identity, conspiracy, and communication. Fans consider it one of the best animes in the animated horror genre, and it continues to attract new fans each year.

11. 'Hunter x Hunter' (1999-2001)

Hunters, elite members of a prestigious organization, are the select few allowed to explore the human world for uncharted treasures, rare beasts and uncharted locations filled with wonder.

Orphan boy Gon Freecs passes the exam and embarks on a journey to find his missing family, as well as his potential as a hunter.

Anime is one of those diverse art forms that can be incorporated into almost any genre — from bone-breaking, over-the-top fight scenes to realistic, idyllic scenery in a Ghibli Studio masterpiece.

If you're interested in watching some of the best anime films of the 1990s, we've listed some of the most iconic in order of release.

1. 'Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest' (1990)

"Dragon Ball Z" is most famous for the globally renowned anime series, but the franchise has proven the ability to masterfully extend a storyline to feature-film lengths without pulling punches. The legendary Toei Animation studio produced the film, which features iconic voice acting by Mayumi Tanaka and Mosako Nozawa.

"Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest" begins with the young hero Gohan searching for magical dragon balls: prized supernatural relics that, when found and joined together, could summon the wish-granting dragon Shenron.

However, the devious antagonists — Dr. Kochin and his bionic henchmen — have already beaten Gohan to the punch.

In classic bad-guy fashion, Dr. Kochin reveals that his evil agenda is to capture the strongest warrior on planet Earth and transfer Kochin's genius consciousness into the warrior's brain. Gohan's father, Goku, just so happens to be that prized fighter at the top of his list.

2. 'Only Yesterday' (1991)

Ghibli is arguably the greatest anime studio of all time. Although their 1991 coming-of-age flick "Only Yesterday" earned a perfect Rotten Tomato score, it did not receive the overwhelming viewership or fanfare enjoyed by some of the studio's more notable releases.

This anime film follows a young professional who decides to take a much-needed vacation away from the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy some peace in the countryside. As she travels, memories from her childhood begin flooding back, and she reminisces on all the milestones of a child's life.

3. 'Ninja Scroll' (1993)

Few Japanese animated films have been as instrumental in recruiting Western anime fans as Yoshiaki Kawajiri's 1993 epic "Ninja Scroll." This action-thriller is set in feudal Japan and follows the story of mercenary swordsman Kibagami Jubei as he battles a band of supernatural ninjas.

4. 'Ghost in the Shell' (1995)

This sci-fi cyberpunk story centers on Major Motoko Kusanagi, who is forced to live in a cyborg body due to a traumatic accident in her childhood.

Since everything in this futuristic landscape is connected through technology, Kusanagi and her counterterrorism task force have their (often robotic) hands full discerning which criminals are acting independently and who is pulling the strings if they are just puppets in a cloak-and-dagger game of chess.

Ghost in the Shell may not be the best anime film for young audiences due to excessive fan service and gritty violence. However, it is a classic psychological thriller with white-knuckle action that will make you a little nervous about how close our society may be to this Orwellian future.

5. 'Princess Mononoke' (1997)

There are several reasons why Studio Ghibli is synonymous with excellent Japanese animation. Apart from the studio's top-notch storytelling, heart-warming characters and nostalgia-inducing soundtracks, Ghibli has the best anime landscape scenes of any production company.

This extraordinary attention to detail is apparent in one of their flagship films, "Princess Mononoke" (1997).

6. 'The End of Evangelion' (1997)

This two-part blockbuster was the theatrical answer to overwhelming fan disappointment over the ending of the beloved mecha anime series "Neon Genesis Evangelion" (1995-1996). Fans applauded director Hideaki Anno's final installment as one of the greatest anime films ever.

The story follows the teenage protagonist, Shinji Ikari, as he suits up one last time in the powerful mechanical Evangelion suit to battle "angel" forces that threaten Earth's survival.

7. 'Pokémon: The First Movie' (1998)

This anime industry juggernaut took the Western world by storm with its colorful, creative characters and catchy soundtrack, which still lives rent-free in any 90s kids' heads.

The plot follows a young boy named Ash Ketchum, a host of hopeful Pokémon trainers, and their friendly creature companions who battle it out amidst a conspiracy orchestrated by antagonist Team Rocket, led by Dr. Fuji.

Many critics and pop-culture historians consider Astro Boy the first anime show, citing that it was the first use of a purely Japanese aesthetic. The first episode aired in 1963 during the global space craze. Humans would land on the moon just six years later.