The Best Shonen Anime Series of Every Year of the ’90s

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The 1990s were a fantastic time for anime, with iconic shows like Cowboy Bebop and Neon Genesis Evangelion becoming hugely popular and influencing the anime world. It was also a strong decade for action-oriented ‘shonen’ anime. While series like Dragon Ball and Ranma ½ started in the 80s and continued airing in the 90s, many other excellent anime debuted between 1990 and 1999.

While some of these anime haven’t remained popular over time, revisiting the decade’s biggest hits allows us to rediscover truly great series that might have been forgotten.

1990: The Three-Eyed One

Osamu Tezuka, widely known as the “Godfather of Manga”, created many popular series and inspired generations of comic artists. While titles like Astro Boy and Black Jack are his most famous works, Tezuka produced a lot of other great stories. One often-forgotten gem is The Three-Eyed One.

The story centers on Sharaku Hosuke, a boy who has the potential to become a powerful, evil sorcerer with world-domination ambitions – but only if he unlocks a hidden power. To prevent this, he keeps one eye covered, unaware of the dangerous side of himself and its plans. This isn’t the first time this story has been told; a TV movie adaptation, Akuma Tou no Prince: Mitsume ga Tooru, came out in 1985.

1991: City Hunter ’91

City Hunter was a huge hit in the 1980s, and its popularity continued into the 90s with several movies and follow-up series. City Hunter ’91 was the only series to actually debut in the 90s, airing after the conclusion of City Hunter 3 and following the films Bay City Wars and Million Dollar Conspiracy.

City Hunter ’91 continues the tradition of previous installments, maintaining the same overall feel. It does inject a bit more comedy, which some viewers might enjoy more than others. While the series finale is somewhat controversial among fans, it generally serves as a satisfying conclusion to the anime.

1992: Yu Yu Hakusho

YuYu Hakusho is a classic anime from the 90s, and a truly defining series of that era. It’s an excellent adaptation of Yoshihiro Togashi’s popular manga, yet it often gets left out of conversations about the greatest action anime ever made, despite having a very loyal fanbase.

This anime combines exciting martial arts action with supernatural powers. It’s a fantastic action-packed series full of incredible fights, and the detailed world-building really pulls you into the story. From beginning to end, it’s a near-perfect show that any anime fan should definitely check out.

1993: Slam Dunk

While the 2023 movie, The First Slam Dunk, likely brought the story to a new audience, it’s a fantastic film with stunning animation and a tight storyline. However, the original 1993 anime series is still definitely worth checking out.

Many fans consider Slam Dunk to be one of the greatest sports anime ever made. It’s a heartwarming story about an unlikely team, filled with memorable characters who grow and improve throughout the show. If you’re looking for an exciting anime that isn’t your typical action series, Slam Dunk is a unique and rewarding watch.

1994: DNA²

The 90s offered a lot of imaginative shows, but few were as unique as DNA². The story centers on Junta Momonari, who has a peculiar problem: he gets sick whenever he’s attracted to a woman. His life gets even more complicated when Karin arrives from the future with a mission to stop him. She believes Junta will become a notorious womanizer and father 100 children, leading to global overpopulation. Ironically, Karin accidentally triggers his transformation into a playboy with a special bullet, and then desperately tries to fix her mistake before it’s too late.

DNA² is a fun and nostalgic anime that really captures the feel of its time. While many romance anime follow familiar patterns, DNA² offers a unique twist that makes it memorable. A follow-up OVA series came out in 1995, and though the original anime is enjoyable by itself, the OVA is definitely worth checking out.

1995: H2

Everyone knows popular sports anime like Slam Dunk, Hajime no Ippo, and Captain Tsubasa, but there are many other fantastic series that often fly under the radar. H2 is a prime example of one of these lesser-known gems.

Hiro Kunimi stopped playing baseball when he started high school after hurting his elbow, even though he and his friend Hideo Tachibana had been star players in middle school. While Hideo and another friend, Hikari, went to a different high school, Hiro joined the soccer team at Senkawa High. However, after meeting Haruka Koga, the manager of Senkawa’s casual baseball team, he decided to pick up a glove and play baseball again.

1996: Case Closed

With over 1,174 episodes since its debut in January 1996, Case Closed is a truly long-running anime series. Over the past three decades, it has become a well-known and beloved anime and manga franchise.

The story centers around Shinichi Kudo, a brilliant high school detective who often helps the police solve challenging crimes. After being attacked by a criminal group known as the Black Organization and given a mysterious substance, Shinichi is transformed into a child of seven years old. Despite his new appearance, his detective skills remain intact, and he uses the name Conan Edogawa to investigate the Black Organization and find a way to return to his normal self.

1997: The File of Young Kindaichi

While Case Closed is a very popular mystery anime, many other excellent series don’t get the attention they deserve. One example is The File of Young Kindaichi, which first aired in 1997. This series centers on Hajime Kindaichi, a gifted high school detective and the grandson of Japan’s most famous detective. He investigates a wide range of cases, including shocking murders and complex, seemingly impossible mysteries.

As a mystery reader, I definitely noticed the name “Kindaichi.” It turns out Hajime Kindaichi is the grandson of Kosuke Kindaichi, the well-known detective from Seishi Yokomizo’s books! And Hajime really carries on the family tradition. The File of Young Kindaichi is full of fantastic cases that I think anyone who enjoys a good mystery – especially those familiar with Yokomizo’s work – would absolutely love.

1998: Trigun

Many fans consider Trigun one of the best anime series from the 1990s. While it recently received a new adaptation called Trigun Stampede in 2023, with another season, Trigun Stargaze, planned for 2026, the original series remains a favorite for a lot of people.

The story centers on Vash the Stampede, a notorious outlaw with a massive bounty of $60 billion. Despite his dangerous reputation, Vash isn’t actually a ruthless criminal. He travels the planet Gunsmoke, constantly pursued by insurance agents Milly Thompson and Meryl Stryfe. Their lives become even more complicated when a team of highly skilled assassins begins targeting them.

1999: One Piece

The One Piece anime series began in the late 1990s and has remained incredibly popular ever since. The story follows Monkey D. Luffy’s quest to become the Pirate King and discover the legendary One Piece treasure, captivating audiences worldwide and making it one of the most successful anime of all time. While the original manga is a key part of its success, the long-running anime adaptation produced by Toei has also been hugely influential.

The One Piece anime has its ups and downs, and sometimes the story feels rushed or slow. However, the show is changing to a seasonal format, starting after the Egghead Arc finishes. Recent episodes have been excellent, and this new approach should help One Piece stay popular and continue for a long time.

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2025-12-12 22:38