The 10 Greatest Anime of the '90s, Ranked

Image Toei Animation Published Oct 1, 2026, 4:05 PM EDT Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts. Sign in to your Collider account Anime has come a long way since its conception, with its creativity and fabulous animation making it one of the most popular media in the world. Shows such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Dragon Ball continue to push it forward to new heights. However, the golden age of anime really kicked off in the 1990s, with the craze starting to reach the West and the medium seeing a jump in quality. For many, the '90s are the best decade of anime, boasting gorgeous hand-drawn animation and imaginative stories not plagued by modern storytelling faults. That is why this list will rank the ten greatest anime series from the 1990s based on aspects such as story, animation, influence, how well it holds up, how well it defines the decade, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality. 10 'Trigun' (1998) Image via TOHO Animation One of the best aspects of the 1990s was their blend of silliness and seriousness, and one of the greatest anime series to embody this was Trigun. This Western sci-fi follows Vash the Stampede, a walking disaster bringing chaos wherever he goes, which is why two insurance agents are trying to find and stop him. However, there seems to be a deeper conspiracy behind the constant catastrophes that follow him. Vash is one of the defining protagonists of the decade, using his pacifist ideals and goofy charm to hook an entire generation of fans. Trigun is a fascinating blend of Western style and sci-fi intrigue, creating an episodic series that follows Vash's adventure for peace. The story tests Vash's ideals and puts him to the test, resulting in incredible character development in the face of adversity. 9 'Serial Experiments Lain' (1998) Image via Triangle Staff One of the biggest events of the 1990s was the invention of the World Wide Web, and while that created plenty of technological advances, it also presented unimaginable dangers, and that is what Serial Experiments Lain is about. After receiving an email from her deceased classmate, Lain enters the dark web to learn all of its secrets, becoming a god of the realm in the meantime. Serial Experiments Lain can be hard to understand, but so are the best avant-garde anime, because that only means its experimental story is thought-provoking. Dark and bleak, this anime questions the unknown of the dark web and the dangers it can lead to through a unique lens. Serial Experiments Lain was ahead of its time, using a relevant topic in the 1990s to create a timeless story. 8 'Slam Dunk' (1993-1996) Image via Toei Animation The sports genre is one of the most popular in anime, and in the 1990s, there wasn't a bigger series than Slam Dunk. Hanamichi is nothing but a school punk who wants to get a girlfriend, and he sees his best chance to impress his crush by joining the basketball team. Obsessed with scoring, he will need to put aside his selfish ways if he wants to work together with the team. Basketball was everywhere during the 1990s, and it became famous in Japan largely because of Slam Dunk, which hopped on the trend to popularize the sport in the country. It would place higher if not for the slow pacing, but this anime is still a masterpiece of the '90s. Slam Dunk is a definitive sports anime that outlines many of the tropes in the genre while remaining fresh by today's standards. 7 'Yu Yu Hakusho' (1992-1995) Image via Pierrot Shounen is the most popular demographic in anime, and it has been forever, and one of the best of the time was Yu Yu Hakusho. Yusuke is an ordinary punk, but when he dies before his time, the underworld doesn't know what to do with him. Making him a spirit detective, he needs to pass certain tests to get his life back, now keeping the balance between the mortal and supernatural worlds. Yu Yu Hakusho is one of the most influential anime series, using its revolutionary aspects like its protagonist, tournament arc, and general storytelling to pave the way for future shounen anime. The tournament arc in particular is regarded as one of the best in the medium, a masterclass in contained storytelling. Yu Yu Hakusho is such a unique anime for the time that defines the vibe of the 1990s and the classic tropes of shounen. 6 'Great Teacher Onizuka' (1999-2000) Image via Pierrot The delinquent genre is all but dead nowadays, but it used to be one of the biggest tropes in the 1990s, and Great Teacher Onizuka was the best of it. Onizuka has always wanted to be a teacher for less-than-noble reasons, but when he finally lands his dream job, he is placed with a sinister group of students. Luckily, he used to be a gang leader, and his tough tactics might be exactly what is needed to scare these students straight. Comedy is entirely subjective, but classic humor always gets outdated fast, and some will consider GTO offensive nowadays, justifiably, perhaps. However, this anime has aged perfectly in other aspects, specifically its mix of comedy and seriousness. GTO tackles heavy issues such as bullying and suicide and handles them with nuance, but can also have fun throughout its groundbreaking story. 5 'Initial D' (1998-2014) Image via Fuji TV The 1990s were defined by many staple anime, and with the rise of the internet, the biggest shows were often cultural icons, like Initial D. Takumi is a delivery driver with a knack for driving, even if he doesn't enjoy it. But when a friend suggests he try out drifting, he joins an underground league and finds a love for the sport, competing to be the best in the country. Some of the later seasons get repetitive, but most fans never get tired of this classic formula. Initial D is a masterpiece of the '90s because it reflects the decade so well with its animation, style, humor, and story. The music is the best part of this anime, becoming an ageless meme and cultural staple that everyone loves, not to mention that it pairs perfectly with the high-octane drifting. 4 'Sailor Moon' (1992-1997) Image via Toei Animation Anime is for everybody, but most of the series on this list have been targeted towards boys. However, one of the biggest shows of the decade was for girls, and that is, of course, Sailor Moon. Usagi is a clumsy girl who is failing at her studies, but when a mysterious cat grants her powers, she becomes a protector of the world who has to manage her newfound power with her homework. Few other anime were more popular than Sailor Moon during the '90s, defining an entire genre not just for the decade, but for all time. This iconic show cemented the magical girl transformation as an iconic trope, codifying the genre for years to come. On top of this, Sailor Moon handled mature themes and paved the way for female-centric shows with its ahead-of-its-time style. A certified cultural phenomenon, this anime changed the game. 3 'One Piece' (1999-present) Image via FUJIJP Almost every anime that came out in the 1990s has ended by now, but one series that persists after over a quarter of a century is none other than One Piece. Monkey D. Luffy wants to become King of the Pirates, and in order to do it, he needs to make a name for himself and build a crew. He does so by fighting whoever he wants, from other pirates to the Marines or the World Government. One Piece is an anime with lots of filler, and while that does hold it back a lot, the rest of it is nearly flawless. It is undoubtedly the most popular anime of the decade, even if it achieved that outside of the 1990s. Still, One Piece boasts some of the best worldbuilding and most creative characters alongside its political plot. It isn't just an anime, but a cultural event that has been famous for every decade since it came out. 2 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' (1995-1996) Avant-garde anime like Serial Experiments Lain aren't the most popular even if they are fantastic, but some from the genre have become popular, like Neon Genesis Evangelion. As the world faces its third apocalypse event, Shinji and a group of other teenagers are the only ones who can pilot these mechs and take down the angel-like aliens in order to save the planet. The visual style of Neon Genesis Evangelion was unmatched, using this phenomenal animation to create one of the most appealing shows of the decade. More than that, Neon Genesis Evangelion uses its innovative story to revolutionize the stigma around mental health in storytelling, its impact extending beyond the boundaries of the medium. In the process, it creates an expressive masterpiece that is epic, relatable, and experimental. 1 'Cowboy Bebop' (1998-1999) Image via Sunrise Shinichiro Watanabe is one of the greatest anime directors of all time, and his magnum opus, Cowboy Bebop, is also the best anime of the decade. Spike Spiegel and his group of bounty hunters make a living by cleaning up the galaxy of scum, but when his dark past resurfaces, he must face it head-on or risk losing his friends. The '90s were truly a decade full of the best and most creative anime, and the greatest from the era is Cowboy Bebop. However, it isn't just the greatest of the decade; it is one of the best anime series of all time. The unique blend of noir, jazz, '80s action, and sci-fi creates a style unlike anything else, leading to poetic stories and timeless messages. Undoubtedly, Cowboy Bebop is the quintessential '90s anime that represents the best of the decade in terms of narrative, animation, style, and fame. Cast Koichi Yamadera, Unsho Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara, Aoi Tada, Isshin Chiba, Hiroshi Naka, Tsutomu Tareki, Miki Nagasawa, Takeshi Aono, Norio Wakamoto, Gara Takashima, Rintaro Nishi, Yurika Hino, Takehiro Koyama, Katsumi Cho, Mari Maruta, Ryuuzaburou Ootomo, Yuzuru Fujimoto, Ako Mayama, Keiji Fujiwara, Shinji Ogawa, Mari Arita, Jin Hirao, Toshihiko Nakajima, Chafurin, Naoki Makishima, Yutaka Nakano, Aruno Tahara, Masaki Aizawa Showrunner Shinichirô Watanabe Creator Hajime Yatate Seasons 1