Anime in the 90s | Inquiry #2 by

Cowboy Bebop (1998)

jszimmer3368 — 2024-01-21 03:18:45 UTC

Listed as one of the highest rated anime of the 1990s, Cowboy Bebop follows a group of misfit bounty hunters that came together by chance in a far future space society. Dubbed “cowboys,” these bounty hunters are led by Spike Spiegel and ride in their spaceship “Bebop,” and their adventures lead to them facing their own past mistakes.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-1996)

jszimmer3368 — 2024-01-21 03:30:04 UTC

One of the most influential and praised anime of the 1990s, Neon Genesis Evangelion focuses on teenager Shinji and his troubling situation of piloting a weaponized defense mecha called an “EVA” while grappling with the struggles of puberty and making friends. He is joined by other chosen-one type children that also pilot their own EVA and kill alien beings called “Angels.”

Slam Dunk (1993-1996)

jszimmer3368 — 2024-01-21 03:35:04 UTC

Running from October 1993 to March 1996, Slam Dunk strikes the gold mine of the rising popularity of basketball in the 90s. The protagonist Hanamichi Sakuragi falls in love with a girl at his school after being rejected by fifty others, but the girl he is in love with likes a popular basketball player. Because of this, Hanamichi joins the high school basketball team to win her over.

Exploring Adult Themes and the Mundane

jszimmer3368 — 2024-01-21 04:04:55 UTC

The explosion of interest in anime at this time means an increase in thematic variety and audiences to cater to. Thus, more adult themes are seen throughout anime in this decade. Some standout examples of this being the Studio Ghibli movie Only Yesterday which focuses on the difficulties of becoming an adult and Berserk which tackles the struggles of free will and one’s destiny.

10 Best 90s Anime Movies (dualshockers.com )

Impact on Western Cartoons

jszimmer3368 — 2024-01-23 02:08:11 UTC

In 1997 Toonami was launched by Cartoon Network to capitalize on the rise of anime. Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon were staples there, and their success led to other channels introducing series like Pokemon and Digimon. The popularity of these anime in the states led to western series spawning from their influence like Teen Titans, Avatar the Last Airbender, and Steven Universe.

How The ‘90s Anime Boom Changed Western Cartoons (cbr.com )

The Anime Boom

jszimmer3368 — 2024-01-23 02:12:20 UTC

Considered the golden age of anime, the 1990s was assisted by the popularization of VHS tapes, DVD, and the internet. Anime was more accessible than ever and there were beginning to be outlets for people to discuss their favorite series. This decade was huge for widening the audience of anime outside of Japan.

https://nightcity.fm/blogs/news/why-90s-anime-is-considered-the-golden-age-of-anime#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20significant,accessible%20to%20a%20wider%20audience.