Anime and Manga Through the 90s by

1990: The Advent of Digital Animation Techniques

sjsamuels9527 — 2024-01-23 02:59:12 UTC

When studios began implementing CGI (computer-generated imagery), the playing field changed. The added level of versatility, detail, and overall quality that this new technology brought was seen almost immediately. The jump in technological capabilities allowed for even more visually striking animations, as seen in cult classic works such as Neon Genesis Evangelion.

1991-1992: Japanese Economic Bubble Burst

sjsamuels9527 — 2024-01-23 02:59:50 UTC

When the Japanese economic bubble burst in the early 90s, many organizations went under and animation studios were forced to cut costs. This led to studios having to adapt to tight budget contains and as such, they had to find innovative ways to tell their stories with their reduced budget. This brought out a new level of creativity in the industry and helped to establish the resilience that the industry is now known for.

1992-1995: Yu Yu Hakusho

sjsamuels9527 — 2024-01-23 03:00:43 UTC

Yu Yu Hakusho, adapted from a manga serialization in the weekly Shounen Jump comics, serves as a blueprint for many shounen anime to come. The series followed the spiritual journey of Yusuke Urameshi after his death. It is often said that this series, alongside Dragonball Z served as a strong inspiration for many later works such as Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach. Its cultural significance cannot be understated.

1995-1996: Neon Genesis Evangelion

sjsamuels9527 — 2024-01-23 03:01:07 UTC

A cult classic to many and a frequent guest on most "Top 10 Anime" lists, Neon Genesis Evangelion is considered the quintessential giant mech anime. The series follows the life of one, Shinji Ikari, a teenage boy who must don a robotic suit of armor in a fight to protect his world from "Angels." Evangelion inspired many of the new giant mech anime we see today and it is suffice to say that the genre would be lacking without its existence.

1997: The Debut of Toonami

sjsamuels9527 — 2024-01-23 03:01:24 UTC

Toonami began airing on American television as a cartoon block in 1997. Created by Sean Akins and Jason Demarco, the entertainment segment served as a gateway for the introduction of anime to a young American audience. In doing so throughout the years, Toonami solidified a place for anime as a top media import from Japan (Get in the Robot, 2018). Without it, anime would likely not be as popular as it is today in western cultures.

1998: Initial D

sjsamuels9527 — 2024-01-23 03:01:39 UTC

This anime, based on a manga of the same name created by Shuichi Shigeno, follows the journey of a young who went from a midnight tofu driver to an unbeatable street racer. The series inspired a love for cars in many young viewers, including myself. The white and black AE86 is known by many car enthusiasts and many have gone as far as to recreate the vehicle themselves.