The 1990s were a truly remarkable time for anime. This decade was key in bringing Japanese animation and culture to audiences around the world, laying the groundwork for the incredible popularity it enjoys today. Before streaming made it easy to find, anime started gaining a Western following, eventually becoming a global phenomenon. Its exciting stories and unique animation style quickly captivated viewers and built a large international fanbase.
The music was truly memorable and greatly enhanced many anime series and films. Popular shows like Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon were broadcast on television and remain classics. While these titles are still incredibly popular, the 1990s also produced a wealth of amazing films that are still enjoyed today.
7) Only Yesterday
Isao Takahata’s beloved film from Studio Ghibli beautifully captures the feeling of youth and longing for the past. It tells the story of Taeko Okajima, a 27-year-old woman from Tokyo who decides to escape the city and visit her family in the countryside. As she travels, she fondly remembers her childhood. Once she arrives, she meets Toshio, a local farmer, and begins to experience a slower, more peaceful way of life, which contrasts sharply with the fast pace of the city she left behind.
6) Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
This unsettling 1997 film offers a different conclusion to the last two episodes of the often-debated anime series, Neon Genesis Evangelion. It portrays the catastrophic Human Instrumentality Project, where all of humanity has become one collective mind. The story centers on Shinji Ikari and his grief over losing a close friend. As the world falls apart, Shinji must decide whether to withdraw completely or embrace the difficulties of being an individual, and the future of humanity depends on his choice.
5) Porco Rosso
Hayao Miyazaki’s charming film tells the story of Marco Pagot, a World War I flying ace who was magically turned into a pig. Now calling himself Porco Rosso, he earns a living as a bounty hunter, taking down sky pirates in the Adriatic Sea. He mostly keeps to himself on a quiet island, only venturing out for work or to visit Gina, a talented singer who runs the Hotel Adriano. But when Porco Rosso faces off against Donald Curtis, a skilled American pilot leading a pirate crew, he needs help from a bright young engineer named Fio Piccolo to fix and upgrade his plane.
4) Perfect Blue
Satoshi Kon made a huge impact on anime with his first film in 1998, a visually stunning psychological horror that expertly mixes reality and imagination. The story centers on Mima Kirigoe, a popular J-pop star trying to transition into acting. This career change sparks a dangerous obsession with a fan who begins to stalk and impersonate her.
3) Whisper of the Heart
This heartwarming Studio Ghibli film, directed by Yoshifumi Kondō, beautifully captures the journey of growing up. It centers on Shizuku Tsukishima, a book-loving 14-year-old who prefers fantasy novels to her schoolwork. She becomes fascinated by a boy named Seiji, who seems to always borrow the same books from the library. While running after a cat to deliver her father’s lunch, Shizuku discovers Seiji isn’t quite who she thought he was.
2) Ghost in the Shell
Directed by Mamoru Oshii, Ghost in the Shell revolutionized animation with its beautiful visuals, combining classic hand-drawn techniques with early computer graphics. Set in the futuristic city of Niihama in 2029, the film features a world where people commonly replace body parts with robotic prosthetics. Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg operative for Japan’s Section 9, is assigned to hunt down a shadowy hacker who can control cyborg bodies online. As she investigates, she uncovers disturbing truths about the increasingly blurred boundaries between humanity and technology.
1) Princess Mononoke
Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke was a huge success, though it nearly bankrupted the studio making it. The film centers on Prince Ashitaka, who is forced to leave his home after being cursed while defending his village from a demon boar. He sets out west in search of a cure and quickly finds himself caught in a fierce conflict. This war pits the industrial town of Iron Town, led by Lady Eboshi, against the spirits of the ancient forest – including San, a young girl raised as a wolf who is determined to protect her home.
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2026-01-15 06:40