Growing up in the 1990s was an experience. Those formative years were important for me to focus on the things I love today, and I suspect the same is true for many people my age. One thing that was very important in this decade was anime.
The 1990s was a great time for anime, and many of the shows that made the all-time list came from this decade. If you already knew about anime like Dragon Ball Z and Trigun’s tape trading and underground scene, you were good to go. If you were just a kid, however, chances are you were a regular viewer of a little show called Toonami.
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Toonami was an anime gold mine back in the day. It is often identified as a gateway drug to the world of anime, as its programming block has featured many shows that can lead viewers to find more to devour. I know I wouldn’t have the same interest in it today if it weren’t for my nights watching Toonami, and these are the shows that helped cultivate an entire generation of anime fans.
8
Dragon Ball Z
Finally, in Dragon Ball Z
As far as quintessential 1990s anime goes, Dragon Ball Z is very clear and decidedly in the upper echelon of those standards. Anime in North America was given much thanks to the localization of DBZ, and a big part of that was its appearance on Toonami in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Surprisingly, Toonami managed to stream the entire original 291 episodes of DBZ. Spread over two years, starting in the fall of 1998, Toonami would complete the monumental task of bringing DBZ to America, creating one of the world’s most influential pop culture sensations.
Even after its first run, DBZ would be a Cartoon Network staple for years. It didn’t matter that everyone had seen it, it still got big numbers. DBZ would eventually leave Cartoon Network in 2008, but the impact it had as a gateway anime was immeasurable.
7
Rurouni Kenshin
AKA Samurai X
Although Toonami only aired 62 of the show’s 95 episodes, Rurouni Kenshin, sometimes known as Samurai X, was instrumental in the expansion of anime in North America. It created an entire generation of anime fans that would grow up to be deeply invested in so-called sword anime.
It was a show during one of Toonami’s most confident periods, as this was a time when the block aired a huge variety of anime and original shows. It didn’t capture as many audiences at the time as its contemporaries, but it was an important episode in the explosion of anime in the US.
The show itself is also great, and one of the most underrated anime shows of the 1990s. It was animated by Studio Gallop for its first 66 episodes, and Studio Deen took on the remaining 29 episodes.
6
Outlaw Star
Baby’s First Anime
Whenever someone asks me what the first anime I ever watched was, it’s always a quick answer. I don’t remember exactly how I found out about it, but Outlaw Star was something I had heard on the grapevine in school, and it sounded like something I would enjoy.
Glad I did, as Outlaw Star will be one of my favorite anime of all time. I wasn’t alone, as Outlaw Star was among the first anime to dominate Toonami in the early 2000s. It opened the 2001 season of Toonami, starting in January.
Even all these years later, Outlaw Star is still one of those shows that many people look back on as their first introduction to the world of anime. It has a fun, cute attitude and can easily stand next to modern anime and not look out of place.
5
Yu Yu Hakusho
Happy Memories for Every Child of the Y2K Era
Children of the 2000s had few signs of self-centeredness, but the iteration of Yu Yu Hakusho on Toonami is probably the best. It started on Toonami in March 2003, and I think this was the season of Toonami that I remember the most.
There were a lot of great shows on Toonami at this time, and the anime selection at this time was absolutely top notch. YuYu was a must-watch at the time, and opened up anime to a whole new generation of teenagers.
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It was also a TV series, spanning more than 100 episodes and an excellent 1993 film. No wonder Toonami couldn’t air the entire series, only airing 88 out of 112. The remaining episodes will air later on Cartoon Network, but the Toonami run of Yu Yu Hakusho was a very special moment.
4
The Big O
Dorothy, Dorothy
More than twenty years after I first watched Big O on Toonami back in 2001, I still find myself thinking about it. The clever combination of mystery, intrigue, a jazz soundtrack and giant robots was a guaranteed hit back in the early 2000s.
It was one of those shows you had to watch, and Toonami did its part by successfully promoting its debut. There was a serious sense of cool and likability that The Big O had, and it’s a show that retains that two decades later. There’s just no show like it.
The Big O was unfortunately the subject of some strange editorial decisions, however. The first season aired on Toonami in 2001, but the second will only air on Cartoon Network’s block Night Swim Adults. It hasn’t hurt its legacy, but there have certainly been some unusual marketing decisions made in its name.
3
Voltron
The beginning of Toonami
Toonami made its debut on March 17, 1997, and the first anime it ever launched was Voltron: Defender of the Universe. It was a landmark moment for anime in North America, and Voltron would become the poster child for that.
Based on the seasons of Lion Force, which was part of the broadcast in 1985 in Japan, Voltron is still the first anime that many people have seen. There was a certain cool aspect to the Toonami and Voltron broadcasts, where it felt like you were in some secret club.
Years later, Voltron is still very popular, but not what it used to be. It has gone through many spin-offs and remakes, but its most interesting legacy is the one that opened the door for many people to fall in love with anime.
2
Cowboy Bebop
See you, Space Cowboy
The only word I can use to describe my relationship with Cowboy Bebop is obsession. It’s the only one that really fits, because that’s who I was when this show came out in the early 2000s.
Through online gatherings with friends, this stylish cyberpunk adventure would be my influence for years to come. I also watched the entire show with my dad back during its many runs, a memory I’ve held close to my heart ever since.
It first aired in the US on the Adult Swim block in 2001, which is when I first watched it, but would later join Toonami during the 2012 revival. Its timeless nature and stunning animation are simply delightful, and could be the introduction to anime that so many 90s kids have been waiting for.
1
Dragon Ball GT
Resolution of Separation
Although I have a lot of respect for it, I am something of a Dragon Ball neophyte. I have limited experience with it, but the Dragon Ball GT experience has always been incredibly interesting to me.
Dragon Ball GT was produced without the participation of DBZ creator Akira Toriyama, and remains one of the most divisive projects in the history of the franchise. While the original DBZ was largely responsible for bringing anime to North America for 1990s kids, Dragon Ball GT had its strongest hooks in the kids of the Y2K era.
After watching a fair amount of each, I still tend to prefer GT, but its influence on anime cannot be overstated. Much of the fandom is divided on GT, which has truly helped elevate its legacy in many ways. The production gap is incredibly compelling, and Dragon Ball GT was a portal for many people to discover an even bigger world.
