10 Underrated 1990s Anime You Probably Haven't Seen
Anime is a lot older than Demon Slayer and Naruto, kids.
Japanese anime isn't a new phenomenon, with the animated versions of Astro Boy and 8 Man debuting as far back as the 1960s. And while the 1980s had many great series, it was the nineties where Anime really started to flower in the west.
Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Gundam Wing, Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Yuyu Hakusho became popular and for good reasons. Many of the manga artists who create the modern era's anime cite the creators of these nineties anime as their influences.
But there are many shows from that decade that passed under the radar due to anime still being a niche subject. If it wasn't on Cartoon Network or the SciFi Channel, many westerners may have missed it. I mean - we are talking about the era where you could subscribe to a monthly anime VHS tape being mailed to your home. You want niche? Mail-order VHS anime.
From a lesbian romance to anthropomorphic cats selling Italian food, there are plenty of shows out there that you may have missed - if for no other reason than the fact people born in 1990 are in their 30s now.
But hey, your thirties are a great time to catch up on shows that came out when you were too young to appreciate them. If you can find them.
10. Revolutionary Girl Utena
Tenjou Utena is an orphan who dreams of being a prince, in this late nineties magical girl anime made by some of the same folks behind the Sailor Moon series earlier in the decade.
Utena is a tomboy who idolises a handsome prince she fixated on as a child. Said prince gave her a signet ring shortly after her parents died and promised they would meet again some day.
Engaging in numerous sword fights she begins courting a young damsel at her school, Himemiya Anshi, known as the Rose Bride. The Rose Bride is said to have the power to revolutionize the world and will become engaged to whomever becomes the Academy's Champion. Naturally Utena works to become said Champion.
The whole series is a surrealist affair that allows varying interpretations of the narrative. While the manga is a bit more conservative the anime series dives deep into the lesbian romance between Utena and Anshi. A feature film would come along in 1999 that basically retells the story, but in a much darker tone.
Sadly Utena's popularity was overshadowed by Sailor Moon's, though it is a classic among LGBT otaku for its lesbian themes.