’90s Anime You Absolutely Shouldn’t Sleep On
10. The Irresponsible Captain Tylor (1993)
Think Space Dandy meets Ferris Bueller. Justy Ueki Tylor is a clueless guy who joins the Space Force for an easy life and somehow ends up commanding a destroyer. The crew thinks he’s a genius planner, but he’s really just riding a wave of pure, chaotic luck. It’s a hilarious, lighthearted space opera that flips every military trope on its head.
9. Gunsmith Cats (1995)
This three-episode OVA is pure, unadulterated high-octane action. Set in Chicago, it follows Irene "Rally" Vincent, a bounty hunter who runs a gun shop, and her explosive-expert partner Minnie May Hopkins. The car chases are legendary, and the attention to detail with firearms and vehicles is a love letter to classic American action movies.
8. Martian Successor Nadesico (1996)
Don't let the standard mecha setup fool you. While a giant alien force attacks Earth, the crew of the battleship Nadesico is made up of eccentric misfits, including a mecha pilot who is obsessed with an in-universe retro anime. It perfectly balances laugh-out-loud parody of giant robot shows with surprisingly deep, dark space drama.
7. Record of Lodoss War (1990)
This series is essentially a brilliant tabletop RPG session brought to life with gorgeous, cinematic animation. A classic party of heroes—a knight, an elf, a dwarf, a wizard, and a thief—unites to save their land from a dark, ancient threat. The fantasy aesthetics and the epic orchestral soundtrack make it an absolute must-watch for D&D fans.
6. Blue Gender (1999)
For anyone looking for dark, gritty survival horror, this sci-fi nightmare is a hidden masterpiece. Humanity has been nearly wiped out by the "Blue," a terrifying race of giant insectoid creatures, and the remaining humans live in a cold space station. The story follows a cryogenically frozen young man who wakes up right into the middle of the brutal, gory war for Earth.
5. Outlaw Star (1998)
Often overshadowed by Cowboy Bebop, this show delivers an incredible space-western adventure with deep magical lore. Gene Starwind and his ragtag crew travel the galaxy in an advanced, grapple-armed ship looking for the legendary "Galactic Leyline." The world-building is incredibly rich, the cast is effortlessly cool, and the action holds up beautifully.
4. Golden Boy (1995)
This six-episode comedy OVA is a masterclass in physical comedy and expressive animation. Kintaro Oe is a brilliant university dropout who travels Japan on his bicycle, taking random jobs and learning about life. While the humor is incredibly ecchi and over-the-top, Kintaro's genuine kindheartedness and work ethic give the show a surprising amount of heart.
3. Now and Then, Here and There (1999)
An incredibly intense and emotionally heavy take on the "isekai" transport genre. A normal boy gets dragged into a desolate, dystopian desert world ruled by a ruthless dictator where water is scarce and children are forced into war. It is a haunting, beautiful story about survival and hope that leaves a massive impression long after the credits roll.
2. Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)
A gorgeous, surreal, and deeply symbolic masterpiece that completely subverts traditional fairy tales. Utena Tenjou attends a mysterious academy and is drawn into sword duels to win the "Rose Bride," a girl holding a power to revolutionize the world. The show tackles complex themes of identity, gender roles, and adulthood with brilliant metaphors and an iconic rock soundtrack.
1. Serial Experiments Lain (1998)
An absolute mind-bender that accurately predicted the isolating reality of the modern social internet decades in advance. The story follows a shy middle school girl who becomes increasingly obsessed with "The Wired," a global virtual reality network that begins to blur with the real world. It’s a slow-burn cyber-psychological horror that challenges everything about consciousness and reality.
