With so many anime being released every season, every year, it's hard to keep up with them all. There's so much out there that it can be a little overwhelming, and that's just modern titles. Over the decades, thousands of anime have aired, and each era has some great titles that defined that generation.
The 90s had some incredible anime that many fans look back on fondly, while others are just discovering them for the first time. With so much variety, there's no shortage of unique titles to explore. If you're feeling nostalgic, be sure to check out these great 90s anime on Crunchyroll.
The irresponsible Captain Tylor
It might not be the first series that comes to mind when you hear “90s anime,” though The irresponsible Captain Tylor is a fun series that stands out from many of the series coming out today. Big space adventures aren't really in anymore, but they were really popular in the 80s and 90s.
The titular Tylor is a lazy lecker who strives to do nothing but live a simple life and stay as far away from trouble as possible. But when he accidentally manages to diffuse a hostage situation, he is rewarded with command of an ancient space cruiser. Stuck in command of the ship and its crew, Tylor finds himself in the trouble he had hoped to avoid.
Yu Yu Hakusho
Although it may not be as popular as iconic titles such as Dragon Ball and One Piece, Yu Yu Hakusho definitely stands as one of the best shonen series of the 90s.
When 14-year-old criminal Yuusuke Urameshi saves a child from being hit by a car, he is given the opportunity to reclaim his life by performing various tasks. Yuusuke then sets out to protect humanity from evil threats as a spirit detective. Yu Yu Hakusho
has a fantastic picture and a story that makes it stand among the best out there. If you've never seen this one, or it's been a while, it might be time to give it a watch.
You may have come across this series recently, and it has been making the rounds on social media. Key the Metal Idol may not be the most well-known series, but it's definitely a hidden gem of its time and would make a great watch.
The series follows 17-year-old Tomiko Mima, who looks human but is actually a robot. When her “grandfather” passes away, she learns that she can become human if she makes 30,000 friends. Tomiko moves to Tokyo, determined to fulfill her mission by becoming an idol. Meanwhile, an old rival of her grandfather seems to have more nefarious plans in mind for the mysterious Tomiko.
Amazing teacher Onizuka
A sequel to mangaka Toru Fujisawa's lesser-known series Shonan Junai Gumi and Bad company, Amazing teacher Onizuka continues the adventures of Eikichi Onizuka, a now ex-criminal who wants to lose his virginity and ends up in a teaching job because of it.
Onizuka is in charge of some of the worst kids out there, and while other teachers have struggled, this former gang leader is more than ready to handle them. GTO is a great series that definitely tackles some heavy subject matter from time to time, although Onizuka can always turn things around.
Card Catcher Sakura
Magical Girl anime aren't as popular as they used to be, and at the same time Sailor Moon stands as the most well-known of the genre, there are plenty of good options out there. One of the best of the 90s is Card Catcher Sakura.
The series follows Sakura Kinomoto, who, after accidentally releasing the “Clow Cards” in her hometown, is tasked with tracking them down. Although it may not have had the same success as Sailor Moon, Card Catcher Sakura remains iconic and an absolute must watch for any fan of the magical girl genre or anyone interested in it.
Trigun
Although it recently received a new adaptation that modernized the graphics and style, the original can't be beat Trigun. It's a must-watch for any anime fan, and a great series for anyone looking to see some of the best the 90s had to offer.
Trigun follows Vash the Stampede, a man with a $60,000,000,000 bounty who has a reputation as a violent madman who destroys everything he comes across. Except Vash is nothing like that. Vash travels around the planet Gunsmoke with insurance agents Milly Thompson and Meryl Stryfe, who follow him around to minimize the damage he is said to cause. But things turn serious for the trio when they are hunted by a group of legendary assassins.
Record of the Lodoss War
Before the Isekai genre eventually flooded the anime landscape, more straightforward fantasy titles like Record of the Lodoss War was the norm. The series follows Parn and his friends as they travel across Lodoss to investigate strange occurrences across the island. The group is eventually drawn into a conflict that will determine the future of Lodoss.
Record of the Lodoss War still looks great all these years later. Everything about the series screams 90s, and if you're looking for an interesting fantasy story with that timeless old-school anime aesthetic, this should be at the top of your list.
