Over the years, anime has become incredibly popular. What was once considered a niche hobby has become something watched and appreciated by millions and millions of people. Anime like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen are at the top of streaming sites like Netflix, while legendary series like Naruto are talked about years after their completion. But anime's influence on our lives may be much older than we realize.
Back in the day, even if we didn't realize what anime was, we watched and enjoyed it. Many fans today grew up watching popular titles from the 90s on television. Of course, everyone watched shows like Doraemon and Pokemon. But several shonen titles have also been enjoyed by children and teenagers around the world. The following are some of the most famous and popular shonen anime from the 90s that you may have grown up watching.
The 5 Best 90s Anime to Stream on Netflix
As anime continues to see a massive surge in popularity in the West, streaming platform Netflix has added some classic 90s series to the binge.
The great teacher Onizuka
Once the fearsome leader of a gang, Onizuka decides to change his life and become a teacher. But his motivation is neither wonderful nor mature. In short, he wants to teach high school students to find a young woman who will be beautiful when she grows up. On the surface, Grand Teacher Onizuka doesn't look like an impressive show. With humor now over the top and problematic, GTO may be unmissable for new viewers.
But the themes that grow out of this humor are what make it a memorable anime. Onizuka is silly and cheerful, but he also genuinely cares for his students. He transforms from a delinquent into a wonderful teacher who bonds with his students. Using empathy and unconventional methods, she helps her students escape personal problems. It's a great coming-of-age story that fans remember for its iconic lead character.
Trigun
Vash the Stampede, infamous in cities for causing immeasurable destruction, has a $60 billion district over its head. But the reality is quite different. Contrary to rumors, Vash is actually a kind-hearted man who wants to stay away from violence. As bandits, bounty hunters and insurance agents continue to pursue Vash, his true nature is revealed to others.
Set in Western society, Trigun immediately became appealing to Western fans. It begins in a highly comedic way and continues to do so, but also with deeper philosophical themes, making it more than just a comedy. There's tons of action and interesting characters that complement each other beautifully.
Ranma ½
Tendou Souun eagerly awaits his good friend and son Ranma, whom he wishes one of his daughters to marry. But when he finally meets Ranma, he is shocked to find out that Ranma is actually a girl! But the bigger shock comes when Ranma turns into a man! Juggling between two genders, Ranma and his father are welcomed into the Tendou household.
Ranma ½ is fairly simple. It has an interesting premise, but the plot doesn't develop much. Its highlight is the fun and entertaining everyday life of its large cast of likable characters. For the most part, it focuses on making its viewers laugh, and that's enough for some fans to remember it as a great show.
Gundam Wing mobile suit
The massive universe of the Gundam series is still going strong today. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing was not an exceptional series. It was enjoyable, but by no means a masterpiece. It doesn't feel complete without its sequel, yet it had a major impact. It introduced the Gundam universe to many new eyes. Active airing on Toonami introduced the genre and beloved franchise to a large audience.
Case closed
Case Closed, also known as Detective Conan, is a long-running series that has over 1,000 episodes. Similar to other long-running anime like Doraemon, it focuses on a group of kids who work together. But with incidents like murder and other serious series, it is aimed at an older audience and thus qualifies as shonen.
Instead of following a strict singular plot. The anime tells a number of different mysteries. The long-lasting mix of comedy and mystery makes it an anime that everyone has at least heard of.
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Rurouni Kenshin
Once living the life of a legendary assassin, Kenshin renounced his previous life and became a wandering swordsman. One day, he encounters a young woman named Kaoru who tries to stop Kenshin by claiming that he is a famous assassin: Battousai. But when an impostor shows up, her suspicions are swept away. But when danger comes again, Kenshin reveals his identity and saves Kaora.
Rurouni Kenshin is an iconic historical anime full of action, comedy and romance. It explores the past of an evil warrior and has themes of redemption and finding a new purpose.
Slam Dunk
Slam Dunk is considered a sports anime classic. After getting his heart broken 50 times in a row, Hanamichi begins to hate basketball. But that changes immediately after he meets Haruko, who asks him if he likes basketball. Hoping to impress Haruko, he attempts a Slam Dunk and fails miserably. Despite his failure, Haruko is impressed and invites him to join the basketball team.
Awarded for its realistic sports action, Slam Dunk has a large cast of characters. Everyone plays their part well. There's plenty of comedy, personal motivations, rivalries and romantic interests. It perfectly portrays high school life immersed in sports.
Yu Yu Hakusho
Yuusuke is a delinquent who is disliked by most of his classmates and teachers. Fed up with school life, he runs away from school and meets a young boy. Seeing a young boy in danger, he steps in to save him and dies as a result. When he opens his eyes, he sees the aftermath of his death. He is visited by a grim reaper named Botan and is offered a test to reclaim his life.
Yu Yu Hakusho has connected with fans through a story that has it all. There is comedy and emotion, fantasy mixed with normal school life. But above all, there are characters that seem realistic. It explores empathy, friendship and the power of choice.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Fifteen years after disaster struck the world, danger arises again when angels attack humanity. Humanity is protected by large, powerful humanoid robots called Evangelion, piloted only by teenagers. As the battle to protect the world continues, greater plans lie beneath.
Evangelion is often considered one of the greatest anime ever. It reinvented the mecha genre by moving away from typical action plots to psychologically focused and darker themes. It is iconic and often dubbed as the show that saved anime. Although it is shonen, it deals with many themes that seem suitable for an older audience.
The cultural and emotional impact of Evangelion is huge. She gave fans characters that fans will always cherish and a complex, depressing and disturbing, yet beloved story.
Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z is a name that even non-anime watchers have known for years. It is without a doubt the most iconic series of the 90s. It set the standard for the next generation of shonen anime with high-profile battles, iconic character transformations, and themes of personal growth.
It has its visible flaws with fillers and a sense of repetition in themes, yet it cannot be denied that every child has enjoyed or at least heard of this international hit.
The anime mentioned are all responsible for shaping the teenage years of many fans. Today, they have become the springboard for what has become a global phenomenon. Each of them holds an important place in the hearts of fans, full of nostalgia and adoration.
