Anime has been a term that everybody knows, even if they have not seen it themselves. The 90s has some of the most aesthetically pleasing anime that are popular even today, and every pro turns to these classics before going to any other show.
Animes are usually adapted from Japanese comics such as Manga which is also a graphic novel created in Japan. Manga is utterly famous for its graphic craft not only in Japan but worldwide.
Retro Anime had an aesthetic that cannot be matched still like this style of animation is done only in Japan. Anime became famous for its storylines as well as its mind-boggling animations.
However, as the times progressed, Anime got better animations with new technology. Let’s talk about some classic 90’s aesthetic Animes below and see what suits you the best.
22. Black Jack
- Logline: It is a drama about the dark and mysterious world of underground medicine and how Black Jack puts his life on the line to cure some of the impossible diseases even if he has to break the law.
- Year:1993 – 2011
- Genre: Drama, suspense, mystery
This is a classic 90’s anime that also got popular pretty fast. It shows the troy of Kuroo Hazama, who was the Black Jack of the show.
He was a legendary medicine expert who saved countless people’s lives with the help of the most bizarre medicines with or without the following law.Â
21. Serial Experiments Lain
- Logline: As Lain becomes obsessed with a virtual realm known as ‘The wired,” the strangest events start occurring.
- Year: 1998
- Genre: philosophical, psychological
The show features great imagery and surreal representation of certain philosophical topics such as reality, communication, and identity.
This show has one of the most artistic and aesthetically weird animations, which was appreciated by the audiences. It is one of those accidental arts.
20. H2
- Logline: Hiro loves baseball and porn but gives up baseball due to his elbow injury. However, he comes back to the baseball club when a soccer team challenges them to humiliate them.
- Year: 1995 – 1996
- Genre: Romance, comedy
This has the typical 90’s anime aesthetic that you will love to watch. It is the classic story of who wins over whom.
The best thing about it is that it is predictable, but you will still love to watch what happens because it’s natural.
19. Hunter X Hunter
- Logline: This is the story of a boy, Gon Freecs, who leaves his home to become a hunter. Later, he meets Kurapika, Killua and Leorio.
- Year: 1999-2001
- Genre: adventure, action, animation
This is the perfect movie with an engrossing storyline, aesthetic animation, and whatnot. This has a martial art theme with action and adventure as its storyline. This is adapted from the popular Manga series Hunter X Hunter.
This falls under the 90’s aesthetic Anime as martial art-themed shows were a classic of that time, and the whole premise of good winning over evil was a thing.
18. Sailor Moon
- Logline: This is the story of a teenage girl who learns about her destiny as she becomes the Sailor Moon, a legendary warrior. She must band with the other scouts to defend the earth and the whole galaxy.
- Year: 1992
- Genre: action, fantasy
It has been one of the most popular Animes on the globe ever since it came out in the ’90s. The drama shows a band of sailor scouts fighting using powers, and the whole show gives off an aesthetic look.
It also showcases feminism in its truest form, and it is one of those Anime that have pretty colors spread throughout the series.
17. Akira
- Logline: Shotaro’s friend, Tetsuo, gets hit by accident and is taken to a top-secret facility of govt. Where he harbors telekinetic powers and uses the powers to destroy Tokyo the same way as it was destroyed by Akira, the force.
- Year: 1988
- Genre: Drama, action, animation
This Anime is a famous anime with synchronized movements of the mouth for all the characters as well as having a full-length feature of the characters.
This was a popular anime back then, and even now, it is appreciated for its amazing animation.
16. Roujin Z
- Logline: A young nurse is hell-bent on helping an elderly invalid who is strapped to a health care bed but has to go through unexpected problems.
- Year: 1991
- Genre: Drama, comedy, animation
This is one of those classic comedy movies that you will just have a good laugh at. The film shows a take on the robot that has gone crazy.
The beds that were experimented on the elderly patients became mental beds. The bed is a special nursing bed for the elderly, which turns crazy and cannot be controlled.
15. GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka
- Logline: It is the story of Eikichi Onizuka, who is a 22-year-old ex-gangster and also is a virgin, but his ultimate goal is to become a teacher.
- Year: 1999 – 2000
- Genre: Drama, comedy, and Animation.
Eikichi was a member of a bike gang but retired from it to become an amazing teacher.
What the story shows is how he tries to make his teaching fun for the students with his rowdy style and weaknesses like a thing for girls.
14. Princess Nine
- Logline: It is the story of a team of baseball players from an all-girls high school who wish to enter and win the national championship.
- Year: 1998
- Genre: family, drama, animation
You could say this has the ultimate retro theme of all time. By centering on sports as a basis for the story, the Anime talks about friendships, relationships, and, most importantly, family.
It has a soothing relatable tone that everybody can enjoy watching.
13. Slam Dunk
- Logline: It is the story of Sakuragi, who is a freshman at Shohoku High school and is new to sports but not an ordinary basketball player.
- Year: 1993 – 1996
- Genre: Drama, comedy, animation
The slam dunk is downright hilarious. The best part about this Anime is that it’s a classic one.
This is one of those sports shows but with a lot of comical nuances. It is also quite a famous anime as it got popular when it came out, and it still is.
12. Slayers Gorgeous
- Logline: Lina and Naga are stuck in opposition when they are fighting dragons in a blood feud.
- Year: 1998
- Genre: Comedy, adventure, animation
This is one of those anime that try to mix fantasy with comedy. In this Anime, you will see a gold-hungry sorceress play both parts of the conflicts to lead to a dark twist.
11. Perfect Blue
- Logline: A pop singer becomes an actress but starts getting crazy as she gets stalked by a fan who seems to be an unwanted ghost of her past.
- Year: 1997
- Genre: Drama, crime, animation
This has one of the most plot twists of all time. The story is an amazing and engaging one, and you will love everything about it. It makes for a very engrossing watch.
10. The Slayers
- Logline: The story follows the adventures of a sorceress and her companions as they fight and win for glory and gold.
- Year: 1995 – 2009
- Genre: adventure, action, animation
This is a proper fantasy show with beautiful aesthetics. What’s better is that it shows a teenager conquering through all these quests with the help of her friend.
9. The Dog of Flanders
- Logline: An orphaned boy known as Nello rescues a dog who becomes his best friend in Victorian Flanders.
- Year: 1975
- Genre: family, drama
The animations of this Anime were beyond their time. The aesthetics were pretty unbeatable with the tragic nature of the story. The score of the movie is a masterpiece in itself.
The story of this movie hits your heart, and you break down as you go through the movie. It is a must-watch and an underrated classic as well.
8. Dragon Ball Z
- Logline: A team of Dragon Ball fighters led by the Saiyan warrior Goku tries to defend the planet from the extraterrestrials with the help of dragon balls.
- Year: 1989 – 2003
- Genre: adventure, animation, action
The Anime is a 500 episodes anime that will have you hooked by its nail. Anime is so popular everywhere, not just in Japan but on a global level.
The story of this show can never end, and the character development of this show is never-ending.
7. Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a new war
- Logline: An unwilling hero must face opposition to prove their worth in the battle of astate.
- Year: 1993
- Genre: Drama, action, adventure
The legend of galactic heroes shows favoritism and nepotism as the main basis of the whole drama.
It is the presentation of a hero who unwillingly tries to prove their worth in a battle. This is also a classic retro show.
6. Romeo no Aoi Sora
- Logline: It is a story about a boy who lives with his family in a small village but decides to lease himself as he needs money.
- Year: 1995
- Genre: Family, drama, animation
It is one of those dramas that gives you a good feeling with a good story and a happy ending, leaving you pleased and calm in the end.
5. Ghost in the shell
- Logline: A story of a policewoman who is a cyborg and, with her partner, hunts a powerful but mysterious hacker who is also known as the puppet master.
- Year: 1995
- Genre: crime, action, animation
It is a classic yet excellent drama that shows cyber thrillers in a futuristic way.
The graphics of this Anime are beyond its time, and the creative team put a lot of effort into its details in the animation. It is a delight culturally and artistically.
4. Rurouni Kenshin
- Logline: During the time of Meiji restoration in Japan, an assassin tries to revive his humanity.
- Year: 1999
- Genre: Adventure, action, animation
The storyline is so good that it will linger in your mind always. The plot of this Anime is just like life; it is not good or bad, not everybody dies, but you get to see everybody’s story.
It is an amazing anime about love and life and its amazingness.
3. Whisper of the Heart
- Logline: It is a love story about a girl who likes to read and a boy who checks out all the books from the library she chooses.
- Year: 1995
- Genre: family, drama, animation
This is a heartwarming story with a touch of inspiration. Even though it is cliché and cheesy, it is also very mature and shows very understanding characters who are aware of the consequences of the choices they would make.
You see the characters go through friendships, love, and various paths of life. You love, laugh, and cry with them. It is one of those 90’s classics that you will not get enough of.
2. Cowboy Bebop
- Logline: It is the story of misadventures of the future and the tragedies faced by a bounty hunter who is easy going yet relentless.
- Year: 1998 – 1999
- Genre: adventure, animation, action.
The show has a touch of self-awareness that you would not see anywhere in any shows or movies. It has mixed genres and does not have boundaries when it comes to the story.
You will find that every episode that you watch is different from the last one and that you are stuck into this Anime as long as it is going. The show has a lot of post-modern touches. The soundtrack or the background score of this show is also amazing, and you will thoroughly enjoy it.
1. Princess Mononoke
- Logline: Ashitaka is hit with a curse that is deadly to him, and he must go on a journey to the west to save his life.
- Year: 1997
- Genre: adventure, action, animation
This is one of those imaginary stories but with an intense plot and amazing executions. The story goes on to show that the balance of good and bad is shaken, and there is a conflict between the industry and nature.
The animation of the show is amazing yet unusual too. The sci-fi is great too.
