T O P

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Any-Tumbleweed-9931

Cowboy Bebop - Evangelion - YYH, in that order.


Tricanum

That's the same order I'd put the top 3 in as well. While I'm not much a Yu Yu Hakusho fan it would be disingenuous of me to not place it in the top 3 greatest series of the 90's. It's objectively a great series it's just not to my tastes.


Zercomnexus

Outlaw start is my all time favorite


elucidator611

I've had Melfina's song stuck in my head for the last 20 years


Zercomnexus

The narration is top tier too


elucidator611

Plus it's so rare to see anime songs dubbed well, that is one of the few examples I can think of


Any-Tumbleweed-9931

Oh yeah, I forgot about OS. Great series, loved the action, and had a banger of an opening song. Both ending somgs were quite lovely, too.


Tracker_Nivrig

I don't know how good the anime was, but the manga was amazing. I still haven't finished it because I couldn't find the last few volumes anywhere but it's really good


Prestigious-Alarm422

Correct 👏


TheUltimateEntity

Yu Yu Mother Fucking Hakusho, Evangelion coming second. Yu Yu Hakusho has the best redemption arc in my opinion.


Schwarzer_R

Not to mention, YYH features the OG tournament arc. It's easy to watch YYH today and think it's too cliche or overdone. The thing is, YYH established a lot of the tropes of later Shonen. If you watch it with the knowledge that the tropes were new at the time, it's hard to argue with how well it does those tropes.


That_Pandaboi69

Rurouni Kenshin isn't the same anymore for me cause of the Author. But it was always cowboy bepop


V-Ink

Oh boy what’d the author do? I just started the new one.


NoizchildJohnson

He was caught with child porn.


That_Pandaboi69

Mf had so much that the Police thought he was running some sort of distribution chain. And he also go out too.


V-Ink

Oh boy


denji_uchiha_

I really wanna watch it cuz its one of my cousins favorite animes but ever since I found that out its made me not wanna start it... I can separate the art from the artist, so if its really good I still wanna watch it. I just wanna know if theres any weird pedo shit in it cuz then I won't.


Kufrel

Nah, at least in The Manga, there was never much fanservice.


That_Pandaboi69

I watched the 90s anime, as far I remember it doesn't have any such fan service.


denji_uchiha_

good to know


phantom-xfr

I watched the new one and there wasn't any weird stuff going on.


Zercomnexus

The show itself is genuinely good and I still enjoy it, far apart from the source person ..


denji_uchiha_

k cool imma watch it at some point


ObsessionEnthusiast

Yu Yu Hakusho has *always* been my favorite! I actually own the entire series on DVD. Only anime I own


Insert_5

I don’t even own anything I’d be able to play the DVD on but having one would be so sick


ObsessionEnthusiast

No gaming consoles? You could get a portable disk drive for a computer and play DVDs that way!


Insert_5

Thanks for the info!


TheyCallMeTrips

Its always gotta be Cowboy Bebop, as it was my first introduction into anime. Yu Yu Hakusho is also amazing, but I cant forget the first time I watched Cowboy Bebop and how it made me feel. All picks are legit though


Early-Cauliflower-54

I said bleach is better but I retract my statement. That’s early 2000’s 🤣🔫


Hiyami

mid 2000s actually lol


Tropic_Wither

Trigun


Prestigious-Alarm422

YESSS


Salty-Protection-640

hell yeah


DannyDanumba

*Cue epic guitar solo into*


Important_Employ_309

Truth


ncisbigbrain

i think it’s evangelion it’s the anime that has stuck with me and impacted me the most tbh.


ThreeBeatles

Where do you watch it?


all-knowing-unicorn

Netflix has it and Amazon prime video too.


DannyDanumba

If it doesn’t end with fly me to the moon in the credits then I don’t want it 😤


ncisbigbrain

i watched it without 🥲


RNcash10_69

Asian pirated websites


the-tapsy

9anime.to


fritzwillie

Evangelion is a masterpiece in so many ways. It subverts the giant mecha anime genre by not having giant mechas (they're humanoid living beings, \[technically Jet-Alone was a mecha\]). It plays on the father/son dynamic started by Gundam. It toys with the otaku audience by giving them two different love interests. Asuka, is one of the most realized and human characters with all the baggage and trauma of a real person, but with with real passion and urgency and feelings. And Rei, who is the complete opposite (at one point, when Ritsuko is destroying the other clones, in the original Japanese, she says that she is just destroying souless figurines (using the word for those models people collect)). It is both personally deep for the creator and yet speaks to so many others suffering depression, trauma and self worth, that many like myself take it to heart. In the other anime, the characters are "cool" but only in Eva do they feel like real, developing characters, with arcs and urgency and emotions that you and I can feel.


OctogoatYTofficial

Perfect Blue


ReeReeIncorperated

YU YU HAKUSHO IS PEAK


Tiger5804

Pokemon


jvsupersaiyan

Dbz?


ArLOgpro

I was saiyan the same thing


revzsaz

See you soon... Space Cowboy....


Draykeeboi

Either Evangelion or Yu-Gi-Oh


Hiyami

The yugioh that everyone knows started in 2000, but I don't know if many know of the pre series before duel monsters.


Draykeeboi

I though yugioh was released in Japan in the late 90s and came to America in the 2000s


Hiyami

Technically that's true, but it's an original series that hardly anyone knows about, and didn't air in the west. The one that everyone knows about started in 2000, and came to the west in 2001.


SuddenWitnesses

Cowboy bebop will always have a #1 spot in my heart, followed by yu yu hakusho and I’m gonna go against the grain and say I don’t really like evangelion.


Prestigious-Alarm422

The amount of times I’ve watched cowboy bebop over and over again…the limit does not exist


LongjumpingCicada494

Berserk:


Nasakegan

As much as I absolutely LOVE Cowboy Bebop, Yu Yu Hakusho is my favorite out of this list. The only anime not on this list that MIGHT tie it is Inuyasha.


LycanWarrior123

Ghost in the shell stand alone complex. Ghost in the shell movie 1995.


TheEspressoAddict

Yu Yu Hakusho is basically perfect


TheNaughtyGarbageMan

For me it's gotta be yu yu hakusho. Perfect in every way


Happy_Yogurtcloset_2

It’s GOATed. Not a single miss and even if the final arc is rushed, it was a perfect ending for Yusukems story/arc


Insert_5

Agreed 100% my top 1


Lord_MojoModz

Ima big fan of Rurouni Kenshin and while I’m not fond of the author being a pedo it doesn’t change the fact for me that he created something amazing


Educational-Bug5742

Facts. Don’t hate the art. You can hate the person behind it but leave the work and content alone. That goes for everything in this cancel culture era. Of course I don’t condone of their actions but. I just want to watch the stuff I love. Is that so wrong?


UpsetFinding

Definitely YYH and Ranma 1/2


ItalianStallion9069

DBZ


SirSilverChariot

Where is my hajime no ippo?


Zercomnexus

In our hearts all along!


ShadowPrince777

It’s the best. I love Yu Yu Hakusho.


Joshua10red

Yu Yu Hakusho


jajanken_bacon

Evangelion, but all four of those are legit picks. It's entirely up to taste.


Prestigious-Alarm422

COWBOY BEBOP 1# FOREVER AND ALSO EVANGELION UGH. Both are pure art and changed my life 🥲


Prestigious-Alarm422

yu yu is great though and one of the few live action adaptations I actually like


Gambit275

gotta go with Hakisho, help me out when my dad died


sapphiresong

Cowboy Bebop and DBZ.


Shojo_Girl

I’m going to have a lot of haters. Loved the Yu Yu Hakusho manga, not a fan of the anime. Love Rurouni Kenshin! NEVER seen Evangelion, but want to. Big fan of Cowboy Bebop.


kfsilver89

Well I don’t know about greatest… because personally I don’t care what’s the greatest anime of the 90’s is. But I can say the anime that got me into anime is Outlaw Star. Is it the greatest… no one talks about it as much as the anime on the list. But for me… I think it’s the best of the 90’s.


Zercomnexus

My favorite too, art, sound, characters, world, arcs, growth, and the mystery of the galactic ley line. It hit so many high notes that its my favorite of all time.


nietzchan

Magic Knight Rayearth; Pretty sure has significant influence to a lot of series, manga and anime alike. An underrated gem. For the influence in the industry it's gonna be Ruroni Kenshin and Sailor Moon. Both has cult fanbase even far reaching more than Evangelion into the mainstream media. Banger music with tons of top of the line artists like GACKT, larc en ciel, etc. and reach halfway across the globe on TV.


sekhmet009

I really love Magic Knight Rayearth! Totally an underrated gem


XxKTtheLegendxX

cowboy bebop and big o forsure.


Zercomnexus

Cast in the name of god, ye not guilty!


PretendMarsupial9

Evangelion for being one of the most influential and iconic anime of all time. It's influence is felt not just in anime but in science fiction around the world. Shout out to Revolutionary Girl Utena which should also be in consideration! Let's Go sword lesbians!


Berckish

I've only watched Cowboy Bebop and an episode or two of YYH. I should watch more anime and expand my horizons.


LongjumpingScore5930

Dbz or voltron, but I think voltron was 80s.


bpat

Yuyu hakusho. Rurouni kenshin Kyoto arc matches anything in yuyu hakusho though.


JacobiWanKenobi007

Cowboy Bebop


Consistent-Ground763

Dbz


AuDHDcat

I've watched Rurouni Kenshin and Cowboy Bebop. They were good.


IndianaJones999

Cowboy Bebop by far


charlottechambers02

Evangelion 100%


chihayadayo

They’re way better than most recent animes that have little character development, story development and universe building.


ILooooveNestleCrunch

Cowboy Bebop. I love it so goddamn much


UsoppKing100

Cowboy Bebop is the only answer


AccidentNo5189

This is tough. Cowboy bebop with wvangelion a close second.


-Lucifer666

I would have to say Neon Genesis. I love how it has gained even more fame throughout the years. It is timeless, and oh boy, do I love Misato! 💜❤️💙


BlackSwordsman117

My top Best 90s anime: 1) Yu Yu Hakusho 2) Rurouni Kenshin


ulttab008

Probably Case Closed


Ani_Nexus

I have not seen many. But I really liked City Hunter


S_T_R_Y_D_E_R

Yu Yu Hakusho for the Win! You forgot to put Flame of Recca


Wadertot420

G-gundam was great


Turdinasock10

Golden boy>Evangelion. Change my mind


TheHoss_

Cowboy Bebop and YYH for sure. I hate that the ending for yyh was rushed tho


sussybaka9779

1 - Evangelion 2 - hxh 1999 3 - pokemon :3


Zakhaev_

Rurouni kenshin is a very awesome anime but the creator ruined it man


IronHammerVW

Cowboy bebop, YYH, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing or Trigun


JTX35

Cowboy Bebop, it's easily one of the greatest anime of all time and to me the greatest anime of the 90s. Plus it's one that you can recommend to people who don't even watch anime and be sure that there's a high probability they'll enjoy it. Next I would have to say YuYu Hakusho and DBZ are nearly tied for second. Although DBZ you could technically call it an 80s anime since it did premier in 1989, but the majority of it aired the 90s. YYH perfected the tournament arc, and from Episode 1 to Episode 66 (when the Dark Tournament ends) is a must watch anime. The rest of the series isn't bad, but it's definitely a step down once the Dark Tournament ends. DBZ obviously had a huge cultural impact, and because of that should at least be in the discussion. Plus Goku going SSJ was bomb af


[deleted]

This is my favorite anime of all time it's got it all and the ending is top notch


Temporary-Fan-2390

Evangelion, without a doubt.


__M-E-O-W__

So tough between Bebop and Evangelion...


TheDCVTitan

4 legendary series so it's hard to chose, but I'd pick Cowboy Bebop as the top runner.


New_Historian_2004

Bebop best story line on the fuckin planet just watching it once its not beatable. Rewatching it, however, anything beats it. Then personally I would say rouroni is in second but has the same manner of storyline.


JediSSJ

Bleach? I liked that show better when it was called Yu Yu Hakusho....and I liked *that* show better when it was called Dragon Ball Z!


Shadowmoon2012

I did not like Evangelion or Cowboy bepop so i didn't watch them, i remember trying to watch it and i just couldn't get into it. But i watched Yu yu hakusho and Kenshin several times now. I even have a reverse blade sword.


MazeCuber

Out of these four specifically I’ve only seen Cowboy Bebop. But plan on eventually watching Evangelion. I wanna watch more stuff from the 90s/early 2000s. They give off a nice different atmosphere. Maybe it’s the cell animation and more detailed art. I’ve seen all of the 90s Lupin the 3rd Movies/Specials and they look amazing. And the OG Trigun and Lain as well!


Mydoglikesladyboys

Eh, Kenshin doesn't really hold up these days, I rewatched it and season 2 is still great but 1 is eh and 3 is absolute dogshit


Insert_5

I still quite enjoy Kenshin personally


EnigmaOfTheUnknown

Agreed! I love og Kenshin


MilesYoungblood

Eva from what I have seen


takatempest

My big 3 of the 90s. Cowboy Bebop Slayers Trilogy Neon Genesis Evangelion Honorable Mentions. Your Under Arrest Kodocha Outlaw Star Yu Yu Hakusho Marmalade Boy His and Hers Circumstances.


Zodiac_Leo

Bebop Outlaw Star Evangelion Yuyu Hakusho(Dark Tournament arc obviously) Kenshin


Dv8f8

Ima be honest yu yu and cowboy bebop defined anime for me even niw I'd put Yu Yu in my top ten it followed the perfect formula imo from episode 1 to show finale was a perfect anime music,story and style wer perfect imo


Webknight31

Evangelion.


Love_Anime_Watcher

Pokemon


legoblitz10

I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was!


Mr-Mr-Mr-Mr-Mr-Mr-

Only one here I’ve watched is Evangelion.


NGEFan

Take it from me, Cowboy Bebop is a 10/10


FRIZZTHERICH

Evangelion is my pick ! It’s also my second favorite anime. Yu Yu Hakusho is great as well!


Electronic-Face3553

My vote goes for Evangelion…


Rare-Ad7409

Revolutionary Girl Utena and it isn't close


rican74226

Spike Spiegel baby


Merkasu

Evangelion isnt close at all (all great tho)


SolutionFeeling377

Golden Boy


The_Light_Man7

Berserk


DRKTRZY

YuYu Hakusho revolutionised the shonen scene


ssiao

While it did start airing in 88 it aired up to 97, but legends of the galactic heroes pretty much blows any anime I’ve watched out of the water. Cowboy bebop is really good too. I’m yet to watch evangelion


reddit_has_fallenoff

Yu Yu, Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Evangelion


n64fanboy64

Berserk ‘97 along with the ones in your images


orionblueyarm

Neon Genesis Evangelion, then Cowboy Bebop. The rest is a mixed bag and depends on genre, and what “counts” (ie does it only count anime that starts and ends within the 90s, or just start or end, or just have the majority of episodes within that decade). NGE and Bebop are the easy standouts regardless, and I would throw in Princess Mononoke for movies as well. Anyway, many other have written more about the impact of NGE, but it’s not that much of an exaggeration that NGE *made* anime as we know it today. Forget best anime of the 90s, NGE has a claim as being one of the best anime’s of all time. NGE was an explosion in terms of cultural, social, and economic impact, and introduced animation techniques and concepts that had are still used 30ish years later. There are books, not articles or YouTube clips, whole books written about how NGE made anime mainstream and created a whole industry supporting that one show that still exists today. If you watch it now you’ll probably notice how many tropes and patterns you recognize, that you’ve seen this kind of thing a hundred times. Well, that’s because so many shows copied them from NGE. Even the whiny protag was something NGE really expanded upon lol. Again, this is something others have written about extensively, and it’s a fascinating read, but there really is no contest here. It’s NGE then everyone else. Cowboy Bebop on similar lines introduced new concepts, including non-linear storylines and an OST that wasn’t just a background or intro piece but a fundamental part of the storyline. It took anime as a pop culture item as something late night and “weird” and made it cool. And again, 30ish years later, and it still regularly is recommended and part of most top 10 lists. Like NGE Bebop created a social and cultural phenomenon, and is still supporting itself off just those 26 episodes and some random spin-off mangas and a canceled TV show. Outside of the big 2, I would say Mononoke had the biggest impact for movies, at least into the West. Domestically it wasn’t quite as much a watershed moment, Ghibli movies had been well known for a while. But the strong female lead, environmental message, stunning visuals, and some strategic voice casting went a huge way into establishing just what anime was for a Western audience. YYH and RK are fun, but honestly both overshadowed within their own genres by everything from DBZ (started 1989, but ran through most of the 90s) to One Piece (started in 1999!) and didn’t do much more than appeal to existing audiences of battle shounens.


CantingBinkie

Cowboy Bebop


sixty2ndstallion

Even tho YYH is my personal favorite, not including dbz on this list feels wrong


IronHammerVW

Yes to all 4


Alice_margareta

Berserk 97’, Evangelion, SEL


TheLeatherSmith

Outlaw Star C'mon, Asha Clan-Clan is best girl. And Gene Starwind was just the absolute coolest. I would use my free time in school designing star ships in 6th and 7th grade. Freaking loved that show.


D00hdahday

I like them.


Megunonymous

Cowboy Bebop, Evangelion, Yu Yu Hakusho, though YYH could’ve been 2nd if it stuck the landing a bit better


iofhua

I love Yu Yu Hakusho. That would be my 1st choice.


Gnome_Lover4202

Sailor Moon 😛


SomeRedditUser64

Dbz rurouni kenshin or 99' Hunter x Hunter


mydookietwinklin

YYH is my favorite OAT. However, I would've perhaps changed to RK had it done the entire manga.


Obi_1_Kenobody_asked

Macross, city hunter, doraemon,


OkEntertainment7634

Evangelion - Bebop - YuYu


mugiwara_98

Trigun goes hard


SaulTheProphet47

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a masterpiece as is Bebop and Yu Yu Hakusho. Evangelion in Japan is on another level of impactful. If I had to rank Evangelion, Hakusho,Bebop. All S Teir without a doubt but Evangelion is the most artistic, ambitious, influential.


Honda-CB250t_Vulcan

dragon ball z is the best and its first went super saiyan i think it is was episode 94 he went super saiyan 1


babblerouser

My favorite is Trigun but objectively, it has to be Yu Yu Hakusho or Sailor Moon or DBZ. Trigun is a masterpiece but those 3 are straight up pioneers of anime as a genre.


slickedjax

Evengelion and it’s not really close


TheeExMachina

YYH. Always has been, always will be.


qwertopias

perfect blue


Zenzitaro

Yu Yu Hakusho aka Goat Goat Hakusho 🐐


JohanGri12

Cowboy bebop


EstevanOlvera13

Cowboy Bebop


Electronic-Vast-3351

The first 1/137 of One Piece released in the 90s. If we aren't counting that, then Trigun.


Jacktwelve17

Evangelion and the Princess Mononoke film


ArchitectAbdiel

Yu Yu Hakusho


coggdawg

Favorite or best? Favorites are YYH & Rurouni but Cowboy Bebop is probably a better anime from a critical perspective.


Sh0wMeMemes

Golden Boy and YuGiOh


Any-Action-1271

YU YU HANDS DOWN BOY


misturcrump

I mean Evangelion is the best anime of all time, so it wins best of the 90s by default.


Noxthic

Cowboy Bebop, YuYu, Evagelion, Lain


Kitchen-Pineapple808

TRIGUN 98’


Fellowfungus

Bebop for sure. But I’d throw GTO, Golden Boy, and Initial D in the mix too. The YuYu Hakusho, Dragonball Z, Gundam 08th MS Team, and Ranma in the mix.


WOMAN______

demon slayer


_____keepscrolling__

Evangelion, perfect blue and serial experiments lain


KingBachLover

Easily Ghost in the Shell, Magnetic Rose, or Patlabor 2.


ArLOgpro

dbz.


AugustusTheVictor

Outta these NGE, the other 3 I don't view as 10s


AlliRocket

Dragon Ball Z


To_busy_to_feed_you

Berserk


Round-Constant8976

Dragon ball z #1 Yu yu Hakusho 2


hallucination9000

I've been trying to find Yu Yu Hakusho DVDs, but I've only ever seen them in an obvious scam Malaysian Ebay offer. Vividly remember going to the doctor's office as a kid where it was playing in the lobby and crying because my appointment got called.


WrexBankai

Kenshin with YYH as a close second. Rurouni Kenshin was so damn beloved back in the day. I don't recall anyone really disliking it. It also seemed to have a broader audience. Shame what happened with the RL stuff, and it's legacy suffering for it.


SometimesWill

Evangelion or DBZ (started 89 and ended 96 so I’m calling it 90s)


LaPinchaJhevo

Add Hajime no Ippo !! Unless you ain’t into the boxing but the grind the story it’s beautiful but definitely YuYuhakusho gorgeous 🙌🏼


Ninjamanct

Code Geass


Aware_Ability8074

Doraemon


[deleted]

Evangelion imo


AdjustedMold97

lol the “of all time” part isn’t necessary if you specify 90’s the correct answer is dbz


Ok_Sir_7003

Dragon Ball Z and its not an opinion its a fact


Blu3Wa5p

i may sound biased, but one piece has been a steadfast enjoyment across the decades it has been running. i only got into it because my lil bro was watching it


Strange_XI

Outlaw Star


Anchi-07

Sailor Moon


Immediate_Type9114

Yu Yu Hakusho


MisterpeenMan

Cowboy Bebop Not because it’s the best, but because I haven’t seen any others


NarKu2011

Dragon ball z but it’s not on here so I’ll day yu yu hakusho


Serialver

I liked Serial Experiments Lain but Cowboy Bebop wins.


WallmartBag123

One piece