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Each decade brings its own wave of influential anime, but the 1990s stand out as a particularly rich era for the genre. During this time, anime began to make significant inroads into North American markets. Iconic series like Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, and Pokémon were dubbed and broadcast widely, captivating a new audience and igniting a passion for anime that remains vibrant today.
While these popular shows served as the entry point for many, the ’90s also introduced other seminal series such as Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, and YuYu Hakusho. Though these classics continue to inspire contemporary anime, there are numerous lesser-known treasures from the same era that deserve recognition alongside these titans.
Among these hidden gems is Flame of Recca, a series that surprisingly did not achieve the mainstream success of its peers like Yu Yu Hakusho, Naruto, or Ninja Scroll. The story follows Recca Hanabishi, a teenage enthusiast of all things ninja, who discovers he is a descendant of the legendary Hokage ninja clan. This revelation sets him on a journey to embrace his newfound heritage and the pyrokinetic abilities that come with it.
Flame Of Recca Accents Fiery Ninja Combat With Incredible Characters
It’s a little hard to understand why Flame of Recca didn’t become a mainstream hit on par with comparable shonen series like Yu Yu Hakusho, Naruto, or Ninja Scroll. Flame of Recca chronicles the adventures of Recca Hanabishi, a ninja-obsessed teenager who learns that he’s actually the descendant of the prolific Hokage ninja clan. Recca reckons with his newly-discovered lineage and the pyrokinetic powers that come with it.
Flame of Recca offers compelling characters, exciting action, and tight pacing that doesn’t wear out the audience’s patience. Flame of Recca is only 42 episodes long, yet its shorter length shouldn’t be regarded as a failure. A modern Flame of Recca reboot would be an absolute hit that’s able to take advantage of the medium’s growing infatuation with supernatural ninja narratives.
The Ping Pong Club Is Comic Absurdity That Knows No Limits
There are plenty of different trends that are reflected in different decades of programming, but comedy is an especially subjective genre that doesn’t always age gracefully. The ‘90s were a somewhat fearless time for broad, mature comedies that were able to completely let loose without worrying about censorship, tact, or decency. The Ping Pong Club is one of the ‘90s’ more extreme comedic offerings and a title that was even compared to South Park in terms of its lewd content.
The anime revolves around a group of social outcasts who create a ping-pong club at their high school as a pretense to connect with the opposite sex. The Ping Pong Club‘s humor is outrageous and an acquired taste, but it properly commits to the bit and understands the framework for effective comedy.
Angel Links Breaks Down Galactic Bureaucracy to an Exciting Secret
Angel Links is technically an Outlaw Star spin-off, following two characters who are introduced in one of the anime’s episodes. Angel Links takes advantage of Outlaw Star‘s rich futuristic universe, yet it still finds an original perspective that’s more focused on the ins and outs of space cargo and how to keep coveted bounty protected from space pirates.
There’s a procedural nature to Angel Links‘ 13 episodes, which is quite refreshing in comparison to an overly-plotted mess. Angel Links is such a loving throwback to ’90s science fiction and a reminder that these types of anime can be silly and fun, rather than lost in doom and gloom. Licensing issues were previously a hurdle for Angel Links and it remains a fringe fascination.
Pet Shop Of Horrors Perfects Twilight Zone’s Horror Anthology Format
Horror is a genre that’s really allowed to thrive in anime, with the ’80s and ’90s being especially encouraging decades for over-the-top films, OVAs, and series. Pet Shop of Horrors is a four-episode OVA from 1999 that indulges in creepy, cautionary tales that play out with a twisted Twilight Zone sense of morality.
Each episode looks at a new exotic pet that gets adopted from Count D’s pet shop, only for the owner to ignore the pet’s contract and incur the karmic consequences. Pet Shop of Horrors is an excellent anthology horror anime that even received an English dub, despite its cult status. There’s so much more Pet Shop of Horrors source material to adapt that perhaps a modern take on the property would finally put it on the public’s radar.
Infinite Ryvius Explores an Impossible Sabotage Situation
There’s so much variety present in anime’s sci-fi and mecha genres, which means that seemingly similar series can cover wildly different subject matter. The 26-episode Infinite Ryvius features intergalactic warfare and giant robots, but it operates like a futuristic version of Lord of the Flies, more than anything else. Infinite Ryvius all boils down to its characters, despite its heightened science fiction trappings.
Stranded teenagers must manage an impossible crisis, the likes of which have dire consequences for the rest of the universe. It’s a rewarding change of pace for an anime that’s set in space to be so interested in realistic character development and dynamics, while a more sinister psychological edge colors everyone’s behavior. Infinite Ryvius isn’t dense in combat like the Gundam series of the decade, but it’s still an exceptional experience.
Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure Is Multiversal Mecha Mayhem
Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure seemed destined to become a bigger hit. It’s a mecha series from Masaki Kajishima, the creator of Tenchi Muyo!, that was inspired by Neon Genesis Evangelion. Despite these strong ingredients, Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure is a true hidden gem that got lost in the shuffle of the late ’90s.
Kazuki Yotsuga is a teen who is plagued by visions of a world that’s full of giant robots. These visions are revealed to be glimpses of an alternate world where mecha and monsters fight for survival. Kazuki finds himself in this alternate world, piloting a mecha for the Earth Defense Force, so that he can safely return home. However, these two worlds are growing increasingly close to collision.
Ehrgeiz Gets Lost in a Power Struggle For the Superior Mecha Tech
Ehrgeiz examines a tense power struggle between three separate factions that hinges on dangerous mecha technology. There’s plenty of room for Ehrgeiz to dig into political strife and the horrors of war, but the anime also features psychic powers and other paranormal touches that turn it into more than just robot warfare. Ehrgeiz both embraces the decade’s expected mecha staples, while also pushing a story of this nature to fresh places.
Unfortunately, Ehrgeiz‘s imprint on the anime industry has only dwindled over time. All 12 episodes used to be available to stream on the Bandai Channel, but it never received a proper DVD or Blu-Ray release in North America or Japan. AnimeVillage’s dubbed VHS release is practically lost media at this point.
Blue Seed Infuses Japanese Mythology With Demon Slaying
Blue Seed is a ’90s anime that feels cut from the same cloth as InuYasha or even The Vision of Escaflowne, to some extent. The anime draws inspiration from Japanese mythology and focuses on the descendant of a mythical princess who is fated to be sacrificed for the greater good. This special girl, Momiji Fujimiya, fulfills her destiny, albeit in a considerably more activated manner.
Momiji turns to demon slaying, with the help of a cursed boy and the resources of the Terrestrial Administration Center. Blue Seed stands out as a shonen-style series with a strong female protagonist. The series’ license briefly lapsed, which likely hurt its reputation. However, Blue Seed also made a minimal impact as a manga, too.
Video Girl Ai Creates a Quirky Love Story For the Ages
The ’90s were a great decade for subversive romance anime. Many of these series incorporate some kind of supernatural hiccup in what is otherwise a sweet, slice-of-life relationship. Video Girl Ai looks at a heartbroken teenager who rents a magical videotape, only for the tape’s female character, Ai, to enter the real world.
Video Girl Ai has some truly sweet moments and an original love triangle and obstacles that come from Ai potentially being recalled. At only six episodes, Video Girl Ai doesn’t have the same staying power as some of its peers, but its storytelling is still successful. Video Girl Ai has found a larger audience in Japan, thanks to its live-action film and television dramas, but its anime remains largely overlooked.
Excel Saga Is Unabashedly Extreme Satire With No Limits
Excel Saga made waves upon its release in 1999 and it’s an anime that tonally represents the end of the ’90s and the start of the 2000s. Excel Saga is technically about a group of revolutionaries who want to take over the city, before gradually setting their sights on world domination. However, Excel Saga‘s secret weapon is that every episode transforms the series into a different anime genre, whether it’s a magical girl spoof, sports anime, mecha series, or Pokémon copycat.
Excel Saga delivers delirious comedy that’s delivered at an overwhelming pace from its out-of-control characters. It’s a massive love letter to anime and Excel Saga’s jokes hit harder for anyone who is well-versed in the medium. However, the title’s extreme weirdness has led to it becoming more of an obscure outcast in the past 25 years.