Only 90s Kids Will Know 100% Of These Anime Titles... Do You?
- by Ursula Nizalowski
- – on
- in Movies and TV
When it comes to the ever-expanding history of anime most scholars and older otakus will generally agree that the peak of anime as an art-form came about during the 90s. It was during this period that anime became less of a niche interest to certain individuals who were fascinated by Japanese culture (aka otakus) and became more widely accepted by mainstream audiences in America with the major success of certain series like Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon.
There were also more series that garnered critical acclaim from non-anime fans, such as Cowboy Bebop and Miyazaki films like Princess Mononoke were doing well thanks to the full collaboration between Studio Ghibli and Disney. On top of that, television networks such as MTV and Cartoon Network started to broadcast English-dubbed anime which made it more widely available to fans and non-fans alike as opposed to the early days where they were sold at certain stores in the form of VHS tapes and then DVDs later on. The medium itself was also better, with solid artwork interesting stories and decent characters that were easy to relate to. So if you grew up in the 90s, then take this test and see how many anime titles you remember!
Which Action anime is this?
Though this series was originally broadcasted in Japan during the late 80s, it didn’t reach the United States until the mid-90s. Based on the sequel to a well-known manga series known for its creative setting and action sequences, this show takes these elements even further making it one of the greatest anime of all time. It starts with the series’ protagonist Son Goku, who was a child in the last series and is now an adult, learning of his true heritage and protecting the world from various threats.
Which Comedy anime is this?
Originally called Kyatto Ninden Teyandee in Japan, the series was acquired by Saban who in turn licensed the English version in America. However, because the quality of the original dialogue was so bad, they had to create an entirely different script that was more comedic in tone. Set in the cybernetic utopia of Little Tokyo which is occupied by anthropomorphic cyborg animals, three cybernetic cats named Speedy Cerviche, Polly Esther, and Guido Anchovy are tasked with protecting the city while also running their own pizzeria.
Which Magical Girl anime is this?
Based on a best-selling manga, this show tells the story of Serena, a typical middle-school girl who encounters a mysterious black cat. Then later, the cat talks revealing itself to be Luna and she chooses Serena to help her find a Princess and the other members of a group of female warriors who were all wiped out a millennia ago by a great evil called the Negaverse. Fortunately, they’ve been reborn in present-day Japan and must be found before the Negaverse’s forces get to them first.
Which Kids' anime is this?
Though anime is perceived as being for children in America, the medium isn’t bound by age. There are all kinds of anime out there for not just kids, but also teens and adults. But some series like this one have touched upon multiple generations of viewers who started watching it as children in the 90s and continue to watch it till the present day. Based on an ongoing video-game series, the show focuses on Ash Ketchum, a 10-year old boy that ventures out into the world to catch unusual creatures and battle with them.
Which Sci-Fi anime is this?
One of the first anime series to premiere on MTV’s Liquid Television block (the same one where Beevis and Butt-Head got their start), this show first appeared as a series of animated shorts followed by a season of half-hour episodes. Taking place in the far-distant future, the world is divided into two nations: the anarchist Monica, and the police state of Bregna. The main character is a female secret agent of Monica’s who infiltrates Bregna on a regular basis while also confronting her rival/lover Trevor Goodchild.
Which Cyborg anime is this?
In the wake of a manga that was popular at the time, a two-part original video animation (OVA) was produced to promote the manga though a longer series wasn’t initially planned. Yet despite Japanese audiences not being impressed by it, the OVA was praised in the US to the point where an American film adaptation was planned and is being released this year after being stuck in development for so long. The story is about a scientist named Daisuke who finds a female cyborg and gives her a new body.
Which Harem anime is this?
While most harem anime series tend to be cliche-ridden and are produced a dime a dozen every year, there are a few that have stood the test of time as being one of the ‘better’ harem shows and a lot of them came out during the 90s like this 1993 OVA which was followed by a more legitimate series in the mid-2000s. The plot focuses on a college student named Keiichi Morisato who accidentally calls the wrong number and summons a divine being that offers to grant him any wish.
Which Western-themed anime is this?
In the history of anime, very few have successfully blended Western and Eastern cultural elements in a way that appeals to both cultures simultaneously. This one, however, is a perfect example of such a union as it not only pays tribute to Western movies and music styles but is still Japanese at its core. Set in a distant future where humans have colonized various planets and moons in the Solar System, a group of bounty hunters who live on a single ship together have all kinds of adventures while constantly worrying about money and starvation.
Which Space Opera anime is this?
Though space operas tend to be serious in general, no matter what medium they are presented in, there are a few that take it in a humorous direction such as this show. It begins with a young man living in a distant future who has no sense of purpose ending up in the United Planets Space Force as the captain of a decrepit ship called the Soyokaze. Yet despite this disadvantage, he manages to get out of near-death experiences and cause trouble.
Which Adventure anime is this?
Though the manga of the same name was popular during the 80s, it got an OVA adaptation which only depicted one story-arc out of the entire manga. Then in the 2010s, a proper anime adaptation was created that started from the beginning. While the story actually spans across multiple generations, the OVA’s story starts with a Japanese teen named Jotaro Kujo who learns he is capable of summoning a spiritual manifestation known as a Stand. Along with his grandfather Joseph and several other companions, Jotaro sets off on a quest to defeat his family’s immortal enemy Dio.
Which Mecha anime is this?
Considered one of the longest-running mech series, Gundam is a series of related shows and OVAs that all have to do with giant robots battling each other which either represent different empires or in the case of this show different nations. While received negatively by longtime fans of the Gundam series, it gained a more positive retrospect later on. Set in the distant future, colonies that represent nations on Earth participate in an annual contest called the Gundam Fight where robots from each colony fight in a tournament-style set-up.
Which Sci-Fi Harem anime is this?
Among the various harem anime out there, this one is definitely one of the most confusing as its chronology is hard to discern due to the sheer number series and OVAs dedicated to it. But this series of OVAs was technically the first adaptation, which are still continuing to this day. Like most harems, the story begins with an ordinary teenage boy who meets a girl who just so happens to be a space pirate. Soon after, several other alien girls show up as it turns out the boy comes from cosmic royalty.
Which Clamp anime is this?
Consisting of a four-woman group of writers and artists, Clamp has produced a number of best-selling manga series that are typically aimed at girls with some occasional ones aimed at boys. But the anime adaptations tend to range from botched but pretty messes such as X: The Movie to decent ones like xxxHolic. This series, by comparison, falls in the middle as it’s faithful to the manga but to an extent. The story tells of three middle-school girls named Hikaru Umi and Fuu who get transported to the fantasy world of Cephiro to rescue its princess from an evil priest.
Which Pokémon-like anime is this?
Following the success of the unique RPG video-game known as Pokémon, not only did it spawn a successful anime series that still continues to this day but also several similar video games and shows which follow a similar formula. While some were more blatant in their influence from Pokémon such as Monster Rancher, others like this one put a unique spin on the basic premise and essentially made it their own thing. It features a group of children that get transported to the digital world gaining animal-like companions which do battle against various threats.
Which Christian-themed anime is this?
Just as America is fascinated by asian culture, Japan is fascinated by western culture. While this appears in numerous forms, one of the most fascinating manifestations is the use of Christian symbols and elements in particular shows (though Japan is largely Shinto and Buddhist in terms of its religion). This show is one of the most famous ones that does this, which appears to be an ordinary mech anime centered on a boy named Shinji who’s forced to pilot a living robot to stop an invading force of colossal aliens called Angels.
Which Gundam series is this?
Though Mobile Fighter G Gundam may have been an initial bust due to its deviation from the original source material, a more traditional series came in the form of this one which popularized the series in the US during the 90s. Following the colonization of other planets, Earth’s nations come together as the United Earth Sphere Alliance which oppresses the colonies with an iron fist. Then following the assassination of a pacifist hero, five rogue scientists build different Gundam models which are then piloted by five teenage boys.
Which Bounty Hunter anime is this?
While series about bounty hunters are a common sub-genre in the action side of anime, only a few have risen to popularity. This one, for instance, is a three-episode OVA based on a manga about a female bounty hunter named Irene “Rally” Vincent who works from a gun shop along with her partner “Minnie” May Hopkins. Along with ex-burglar Misty Brown and informant Becky Farrah, they deal with various enemies Rally has made over the years including some gangsters and mafiosos.
Which Android anime is this?
Though the idea of an anime about androids is nothing new, as the popularity of series like Cutie Honey and movies like the original Ghost in the Shell film prove, there are some that have become notable over the years. This one, in particular is one of them. Set on Mars in the distant future, this series of OVAs is about a cop named Ross Syllibus who gets transferred to the Martian Police Department and assigned a seemingly young girl named Naomi as his partner.
Which Angel-related anime is this?
When it comes to Christian concepts in anime, some like Neon Genesis Evangelion merely use the imagery without any relation to the actual plot while it’s fully integrated into the plots of other series like Chrono Crusade. This series falls more into the latter, but only to distinguish itself from another more well-known show. Centered on a girl named Momoka and her friends Yuri and Hinagiku, they discover that they are Love Angels with the ability to transform in order to fight devils that plague humans.
Which Fantasy anime is this?
Along with sci-fi, fantasy is a popular genre of anime that either takes western elements and puts a unique spin on them or utilizes eastern mythologies and makes them more digestible for westerners. As far as this show, it falls into the former and has spawned several sequels over the years. Set in a mystical realm where magic is possible, a teenage sorceress named Lina Inverse travels the world with several companions including an amnesiac swordsman while battling various wizards and monsters.
Which Isekai anime is this?
While fantasy anime are pretty common, a new trend known as Isekai started in the 90s and gained massive popularity in recent years with the success of series like Sword Art Online. At its core, Isekai are basically stories where an ordinary boy or girl gets transported to a fantasy world and discovers special abilities that make them more valuable. This series in particular was one of the more popular ones, which tells the story of a girl named Hitomi who’s brought to the world of Gaea which is in the middle of a war.
Which Yuri anime is this?
Among the wide variety of topics anime can touch upon, one of the more noteworthy topics is Homosexuality. Whether it’s exploitative or genuine, stories about lesbian (Yuri) or gay (Yaoi) couples are extremely popular. But one of the most critically acclaimed ones is this one, which is known for its strange visuals and metaphorical plot. It begins with a tomboyish girl who gets pulled into a series of sword duels at her school which involves possession of the Rose Bride and a great power that can be attained by the winner.
Which Sports anime is this?
No matter what sport is the focus, anime always finds a way to make it more exciting than it actually is. Though in the case of this popular OVA, which was then remade into a longer series, it’s a made-up sport that requires a lot of training. The premise is that years ago, an alien race challenged Earth to a contest of strength and the human champion won. Now considered an annual event, the Cosmic Beauty competition has several young girls training to compete in it including the clumsy Akari Kanzaki.
Which Furry-related anime is this?
The term ‘Furry’ can refer to two things: a creature that has human and animal-like qualities, or someone who is obsessed with the former. Though people who call themselves Furries have suffered a bad reputation, it’s generally a harmless hobby. As for this anime, it’s a comedic fantasy cop-show set in the far future where almost all humans have vanished and so various humanoid creatures rule the planet instead telling the story of cat-girl Natsuki Sasahara and Sakura, a nine-tailed fox who wants to eat Natsuki to gain full power.
Which Bishōnen anime is this?
While Harem anime is generally aimed at boys due to the nature of the show, where an average boy has several pretty girls vying for his attention, there is an opposite type of show for girls. Known as Reverse Harem, they feature an average girl being at the center of attention to attractive young men. Then there is Bishōnen, which features attractive men as the main protagonists with hardly any female characters in them. An example of the latter, this show focuses on four male assassins who take down various underground criminals and devious organizations.
Which Computer-related anime is this?
With the birth of the Internet during the late 90s, people were going crazy over the various possibilities this new technology could accomplish. While some ideas did become reality, others ended up being pure fiction. Then there are stories which explore the darker side of the Internet, such as its unpredictable nature and those who deeply obsess over it. This series is one such story as it’s about a teenage girl who discovers a virtual network called the Wired which a seemingly dead student resides in.
Which Cowboy anime is this?
Prior to Cowboy Bebop, there were hardly any anime series revolving around cowboys and the Old West in general with Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs being the one exception from the 80s. Yet for all the Western elements Cowboy Bebop had, it pales in comparison to this anime which is more true to the genre than the former series. On a desert planet which humans colonized long ago, a man known as Vash the Stampede wanders the world unintentionally causing mass amounts of destruction wherever he goes with two female insurance agents always following him to minimize the damage.
Which Space Opera Western anime is this?
While anime about treasure hunts through space is nothing new, as 70s space operas like Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999 had either a group or a pair of characters traveling to various places looking for something important. But this series introduced better animation and a wide variety of unique characters instead of just one or two. In a distant future where mankind has developed the technology to travel faster than light, a Jack-of-All-Trades named Gene Starwind and his partner James "Jim" Hawking end up piloting a special ship to look for a mystical treasure.
Which Car-related anime is this?
Though car enthusiasts have been around for a long time, there weren’t too many car-related anime series until this one came along. Based on a popular manga of the same name, the series tells the story of Takumi Fujiwara a teenage boy who works at a gas-station but also delivers tofu for his father’s store in a Toyota Sprinter Trueno. Then when a group of drag-racers called the Red Suns start beating the local racing team known as the Speedstars, a mysterious driver enters the fray and defeats the Red Suns’ second-best driver.
Which Parody anime is this?
As a genre, self-parodying anime is relatively recent. While there were series like Samurai Pizza Cats which was comedic in tone with blatant references to other anime such as Gundam, it wasn’t a parody anime to begin with due to being adapted from another anime with bad audio which in turn forced the studio to re-dub it completely. This anime, by contrast, was based on a manga that was a parody to begin with featuring a bumbling stooge to an evil organization called Across.
Which Exploration-based anime is this?
Exploration often goes hand-in-hand with many an anime genre, sometimes even being the entire focus of the anime itself. Some examples of this include Dragon Ball, which partially revolves around a quest to look for the titular items, or Pokémon where Trainers travel the world catching the eponymous creatures and battling with them in order to become the best Trainer possible. Then there’s series like this one that revolves around a group of characters who seek to become Hunters and must pass a variety of trials to do so.
Which Dystopian anime is this?
In general, Sci-Fi tends to be divided into two camps: Utopian or Dystopian. While Utopian stories show a positive future for humanity, Dystopian ones don't. This anime in particular falls more into the latter category, taking place after the invasion of giant insects have forced the remaining humans to leave Earth and take up residence on a space colony. Into this chaotic mess a young boy named Yuji Kaido awakens after being put into cryogenic sleep due to having an incurable disease.
Which Alternate History anime is this?
Though Speculative Fiction has a wide range of possibilities, the general definition is that they’re stories based on a ‘What If?’ scenario. The most common of these scenarios includes Alternate History, where a significant detail or event is changed resulting in a different world. While some series like Sakura Wars make a big deal out of it, others like this one only change one element. Initially set during the Taishō period of Japan, a boy named Nakahito Kagura comes across a female android who is hunted by the government.
Which Noir anime is this?
Described as a style of filmmaking, Noir utilizes dark shadows and gritty narratives to distinguish itself from other styles. While these types of films were popular in Europe and America during the 40s and early 50s, they have appeared in multiple movies and even anime (often referred to as Neo-Noir). Released by the same studio that produced Cowboy Bebop, this series uses a lot of Noir elements as it tells the story of a man named Roger Smith who acts as a Negotiator for a city plagued by amnesia.
Which Pirate anime is this?
While series like Captain Harlock made pirates look cool, they were still considered the bad guys. But then this series came along and put pirates in a more positive light, and has gone on to become one of the longest-running series of all time. Set in a fictional world consisting of multiple islands, a young boy named Monkey D. Luffy dreams of becoming a pirate in order to seek a certain treasure all the pirates are after. But after eating a magical fruit, his limbs are able to stretch like rubber making him weak to water.