Great Teacher Onizuka doesn't set high expectations but will leave you with a blown mind after watching. The true greatness of this anime doesn't lie in the story or the characters, but in the life lessons Onizuka gives his students. | © Kodansha
If you love the cel animation aesthetic and don't mind the series being long and dramatic, The Vision of Escaflowne is a timeless classic for you. The storyline, characters, action, and sheer imaginative power are compelling enough to make you love the movie. | © Sunrise
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water is a complicated and conflicted series to watch and discuss. Nadia is one of the best female leads in anime who lashes at others as a defensive mechanism to prevent herself from being hurt by society. | © NHK
Serial Experiments Lain can be considered one of the best psychological dramas in anime. If you can take its slow pace without entertaining value, you'll get a unique mystery show that combines life and sci-fi. | © Pioneer LDC
His and Her Circumstances is a very grounded romance anime that's not plagued with cliches and fillers like many modern series. The love story is always changing and evolving, characters feel real and animations help to emotionally live through every scene. | © Crunchyroll
While Slayers is still passable by present-day standards, it hasn't aged as well as timeless classics. Slayers have good elements of fantasy and comedy and a pretty solid dub that raises it above its contemporaries. | © Crunchyroll
Crest of the Stars is an underrated gem and must-watch from the 90s. It's very dialogue-heavy and loves exposing tons of interesting details. | © Crunchyroll
Despite being largely episodic, Cardcaptor Sakura manages to stay engaging and progressive throughout the first to the last episode. Although the anime is fairly predictable, the stories are always fresh and entertaining. | © Amazon
Ghost in the Shell is a timeless heavy classic renowned for presenting difficult questions like "What is Reality?" and "Could everything be a simulation?". Ghost in the Shell feels like a techno-thriller with an emotionless cyborg as the main protagonist. | © Kodansha
With more than 1000 chapters, One Piece boasts an interconnected story and deep investment in character development. It has TONS of action, emotional moments, and surprising twists that will keep you engaged. | © Shueisha
Trigun is an episodic anime with action and adventures that get darker toward the anime. Watching it, you will find yourself dying to find out what's next when you're not laughing your head off action scenes. | © Crunchyroll
Pokémon is a legendary anime series that is incredibly easy to understand for all ages. It's entertaining, light-hearted, and dramatic in some moments. | © Netflix
Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files is truly a unique drama that brings humor, drama, and romance together. It has various characters with unique abilities and classes, a professional voice cast, and fluid animation. | © Crunchyroll
If you've enjoyed Naruto or Bleach, there's a high chance Rurouni Kenshin will be your favorite anime series from the '90s. It brings fighting to the highest point so everyone can enjoy it. | © Aniplex USA
Sailor Moon evokes good memories from childhood and sheer nostalgia with funny characters and animation. However, watching it without nostalgia goggles may feel repetitive. | © Amazon
Don't judge it by the story: the world of mechs, angles, and divinities shouldn't be realistic. However, these are used as a backdrop for deep character development and burning the director's feelings into a series. | © Anime Limited
While Dragon Ball Z suffers from terrible pacing and painful fillers, which is a common issue in its genre, it has exceptional manga, fast-paced fights, and a strong plot that has covered thousands of years. | © Toei Animation
Berserk creates a world of dark fantasy you can believe exists. It blurs the lines between good and evil, shows the life struggles of well-developed characters, and captures attention with intense and thrilling battles. | © Amazon
One of the strongest anime series ever, Cowboy Bebop masterfully utilizes fiction, western, and neo-noir genres and blends them. It focuses more on individual character development than a central plot, making it a satisfying experience. | © Amazon
The '90s produced many groundbreaking anime series that helped the industry grow, so it might be hard to narrow down the list of best just to about 20 pieces. However, we've gathered must-watch anime that still entertain audiences like 30 years ago. What do you think – did we miss anything?
