Only 10 Anime Series From the 1990s Are True Masterpieces
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.
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Anime has been around for a long time, with series such as Astro Boy kicking off the historic medium. However, it is at its peak popularity today, with shows like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End evolving it into a worldwide sensation. Even though the 2020s are the most popular era of anime, the 1990s were a key turning point for the medium, breaking out into the West and defining the style for years to come.
The 1990s were a fun decade of anime that prioritized entertaining shounen shows, goofy comedies, and cheesy romances, but that doesn't mean there weren't any good ones. This list will feature the only ten anime masterpieces from the '90s based on aspects such as influence, originality, animation, writing, entertainment value, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality.
10 'Berserk' (1997–1998)
Berserk is considered one of, if not the greatest, manga series of all time, and while its anime adaptations have had a rocky history, the 1990s version can still be considered a masterpiece. Guts was born from a hanging corpse, but that was only the start of his trauma, and just as he was starting to find a home with the Band of the Hawk, a betrayal quickly took everything away from him.
Sure, the anime doesn't hold up compared to the manga, but it is still one of the best shows from the 1990s. Berserk captures the story of the manga, portraying its bleak yet engaging narrative with some of the best character dynamics. Not only that, but the art and color in this adaptation are absolutely gorgeous, proving why Berserk is a true masterpiece.
9 'Trigun' (1998)
Image via TOHO Animation
There aren't a lot of anime that cover the Western genre, but one of the few is Trigun, which blends this with sci-fi intrigue. Vash the Stampede seems to be involved in every major catastrophe, leading to two insurance agents going on a quest to stop him. However, when they learn the truth, they help Vash in his pacifistic fight against the ones trying to kill him.
It may not be a true Western, but Trigun is still the best Western anime that captures that spirit better than others. It can switch between simple slice-of-life fun, dramatic standoffs, and town-destroying battles with sci-fi moments. Vash is such an endearing character with fresh motivations compared to other anime characters, which leads to fascinating storytelling and fight scenes.
8 'Yu Yu Hakusho' (1992–1995)
Shounen anime has always been popular, but one of the most popular and influential of the 1990s is Yu Yu Hakusho. Yusuke is an ordinary street punk, but when he dies before his time, the underworld doesn't know what to do with him. Now working as a spirit detective, he teams up with others to keep the balance between the supernatural realm and the human world.
Yu Yu Hakusho is one of the most important anime from the 1990s, serving as a clear influence on future shounen series. The disappointing final arc is what holds it back from landing higher, but Yu Yu Hakusho still innovated the genre with its rowdy protagonist and tournament arcs. This revolutionary shounen is deserving of the title of masterpiece as a defining '90s anime.
7 'Slam Dunk' (1993–1996)
Takehiko Inoue is one of the most prolific manga authors, and one of his best works also became a fantastic anime. Slam Dunk follows Hanamichi, who just wants to get a girlfriend. He sees an opportunity to impress his crush by joining the basketball team, but if he really wants to impress her, he needs to learn to work together with equally headstrong teammates.
Slam Dunk is an anime blueprint that single-handedly created the basketball craze in Japan, easily making it an influential anime that transcends the medium. This definitive sports anime series set the rules for the genre, and while the pacing can be inconsistent, it is clear that the characters and blend of motivational storytelling and entertainment make it a masterpiece.
6 'Sailor Moon' (1992–1997)
The '90s introduced plenty of defining anime that many children grew up with, and Sailor Moon is still a legendary series for young girls. Usagi may be a bit of a klutz, but when a mysterious cat visits her at night and gives her powers, she becomes a magical girl. Fighting against evil and managing school life, she learns that saving the world takes a lot more effort than she thought.
Anime isn't just for boys, and Sailor Moon proved that, becoming the greatest shoujo in anime history and a true pioneering icon that started a genre. It isn't perfect, but most anime aren't, especially when they are as long as this one. Sailor Moon was ahead of its time with progressive themes that blended with fun action to prove why it was such an influential classic of the 1990s.
Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you'd actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of.
04
How do you deal with authority you don't trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn't just tactical — it's physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they're actually made of.
08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
Your Fate Has Been Calculated You'd Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You're a systems thinker who can't help but notice the seams in things.
- You're drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
- You'd find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines' worst nightmare.
- You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
- The Matrix built an airtight prison. You'd be the one probing the walls for the door.
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn't reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That's you.
- You don't need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
- You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you're good at all three.
- You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
- In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Blade Runner
You'd survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
- You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
- In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
- You're not a hero. But you're not lost, either.
- In Blade Runner's world, that distinction is everything.
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
- Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they're survival tools.
- You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
- Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You'd learn its logic and earn its respect.
- In time, you wouldn't just survive Arrakis — you'd begin to reshape it.
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn't have it any other way.
- You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
- You'd gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire's grip can be broken.
- You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn't something you're capable of.
- In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
5 'One Piece' (1999–Present)
Almost all the anime on this list have ended, but the one that is still going, over 25 years after it came out, is One Piece. Monkey D. Luffy has big aspirations of becoming the King of the Pirates, but in order to do so, he must make a name for himself and form a crew. He and the Straw Hat Pirates terrorize the seas, aiming to make their dream come true, and they don't care who they have to beat to do so.
One Piece was a masterpiece of the 1990s, and now it is a modern anime masterpiece, remaining a legendary narrative masterwork because of its remarkable worldbuilding, interconnected plot, eccentric characters, and political themes. It is a masterpiece of every decade, only getting better, but when it came out in the '90s, it was a landmark of the era. From bizarre islands to emotional moments and epic fights, One Piece has everything an anime fan could want.
4 'Great Teacher Onizuka' (1999–2000)
Comedy anime generally don't age well or are at least very polarizing, and this is proven with Great Teacher Onizuka, which maintains its masterpiece crown even today. When the titular character lands his dream teaching job for less-than-ideal reasons, he is stuck with a class full of manipulative brats. However, his former biker gang experience makes him the perfect teacher to scare these kids straight.
Some aspects of Great Teacher Onizuka can be uncomfortable now, yet it remains a masterpiece because it is one of the few comedies that can be funny and profound. Dealing with mature themes such as bullying and suicide with nuance, it creates a sentimental and emotional story inside a goofy and raunchy comedy, a feat which makes it an unmatched 1990s masterpiece.
3 'Serial Experiments Lain' (1998)
The 1990s saw a technological and worldwide web surge, with growing interest and fear in both of them, leading to many stories about the topic, including Serial Experiments Lain. When the titular character receives an email from her deceased classmate about the dark web, Lain delves into it to learn all the dark secrets, becoming a god of the web in the meantime.
Serial Experiments Lain was a defining anime on the dark side of the 1990s, specifically about the eerie, prophetic storytelling that got lots of disturbing details right about the internet. As one of the best thriller anime series, it keeps viewers on edge with its thick tension, and while a lot of it can be hard to understand, it allows viewers to dig deeper and really learn about the intention of the themes.
2 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' (1995–1996)
Serial Experiments Lain is an avant-garde anime, meaning it wasn't that popular until it got a cult following years later. However, the most famous avant-garde anime show is also from the 1990s, Neon Genesis Evangelion. When the Earth faces another apocalyptic event, it is up to Shinji and other teenagers to pilot mechs and fight angel-like aliens.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a genre-redefining anime that pioneered its avant-garde style and mental health focus. Relatable to some and entertaining to everyone, this series could wow viewers with its badass mecha fights or through its dazzling directing and imagery. Either way, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a definitive anime from the 1990s with some of the best hand-drawn art and character writing.
1 'Cowboy Bebop' (1998–1999)
Shinichiro Watanabe is a critically acclaimed anime director who rose to prominence in the 2000s, but his first work is from the '90s and is also his magnum opus. Cowboy Bebop follows Spike Spiegel and his group of bounty hunters who make a living by cleaning up scum from the galaxy. But when his dark past reappears, he must face it head-on or risk putting himself and his friends in danger.
Cowboy Bebop is specifically praised for blending genres together to create something entirely new that hasn't been replicated since. It is so unique, which is increasingly rare in today's anime landscape. But that just proves how ahead of its time Cowboy Bebop was. Outside its elegant aesthetic, it features smooth animation and fight scenes alongside a thought-provoking story with plenty of charm, proving why it isn't just a '90s masterpiece, but one of the best anime series of all time.
Cowboy Bebop
- Release Date
- 1998 - 1999
- Network
- TV Tokyo, WOWOW Prime
- Showrunner
- Shinichirô Watanabe
- Directors
- Yoshiyuki Takei, Ikuro Sato, Hirokazu Yamada
-
Koichi Yamadera
Spike Spiegel / Ein (voice)
-
Unsho Ishizuka
Jet Black (voice)
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.