What character from the ’90s anime do you think was the best?
The “90s anime romance” is a list of the best characters from ’90s Anime. The ranking is based on their popularity and how well they fit into the plot.
The nineties, in my opinion, are unjustly maligned.
Granted, I was a young kid for the most of it, so it’s possible I just missed the worst parts.
But one thing I can say for certain was that the anime scene was fantastic back in the day. There were dozens of fantastic anime series available, each with its own cast of distinctive and entertaining characters.
The most famous ’90s anime characters to ever grace our screens are what we’re concentrating on today. Each of them may be on this list for a variety of reasons, but they all have one thing in common: their proclivity for sticking out in the past.
Shin Chan is 15 years old.
Shin Chan is a Japanese anime series.
Shin Chan is the show’s lively, cheery, and always naughty star.
He was a bright point in an otherwise excellent, though sometimes bizarre animation.
There was something here for both children and adults. There was an equal amount of truly ridiculous innuendo or double entendre for every non-sequitur chunk of oddity Shin Chan spouted.
But there was that impossible-to-hate youngster at the heart of it all, who, according to the English adaptation of the program, could hurl nasty one-liners that would make a sailor blush – along with more usual juvenile pranks.
14. Ketchum, Ash
Pokémon: The Animated Series
Wouldn’t it be negligent of us not to include the big guy on campus of all nineties anime?
Yes, the hero of Pallet Town was not exactly a role model for children, having left home at the tender age of ten.
But there’s no doubting that Ash’s hero’s journey, and his unwavering will to conquer every challenge, provided for some thrilling and inspiring watching.
He also threw in a few decent one-liners for chuckles – but I suppose anybody else would seem fairly good in compared to Brock and his famed quips, wouldn’t they?
Sakura Kinomoto (age 13)
Cardcaptor Sakura is a Japanese anime series.
You’d be excused for believing that Card Captor Sakura was a blatant rip-off of the Pokémon franchise when seen side by side.
That’s what you’d assume if you’d never viewed either anime in detail before!
They may have debuted in the same year, but Pokémon may have fared better than the other. Sakura, on the other hand, has an undeniable appeal and persistence.
Her spell-turned-mantra, “Everything will indubitably be okay,” is a perfect match for her tenacious personality. And nothing could stop her from completing her task once she put her mind to it.
Misato Katsuragi, No. 12
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese anime series.
While there are a number of characters in the Evangelion world that might qualify for this list, I picked Misato because of the massive influence she had on the show’s overall universe.
Shinji Ikari is not only sent off on his journey to become a pilot by the NERV operations director, but he and Asuka also reside with Misato at some time.
She’s a fiercely professional lady with a tender side that’s seldom seen. Her terrible past alone would have turned weaker-willed folks into cartoonish monsters.
Misato, on the other hand, prefers to put her head down and get the work done.
Shinichi Kudou (#11)
Detective Conan the Animated Series
Here’s a character that pushes the stereotype of massive anime eyes to new heights.
Shinichi Kudou, as an amateur investigator, could be one of the only characters from the 1990s who might benefit from such eyes.
Shinichi utilizes his strong senses and razor sharp brain to solve crimes… for someone else after being poisoned with something that reverts his physical shape back to how it was when he was six (don’t ask, that’s anime logic at work).
He’s not trying to transform himself into the world’s finest detective; he’s attempting to make his girlfriend’s jerk of a father become the world’s greatest investigator.
It’s a voyage that demonstrates the character’s wit, particularly when he has to work out of a first-body. grader’s
10. Iwakura Lain
Lain’s Anime: Serial Experiments
Imagine learning that a buddy has committed suicide, then being tormented in a strange digital world as she speaks to you, attempting to figure out the reality of it all.
In this series, Lain is surely put through the wringer. That is without a doubt the case.
But, for a heroine who might have started out as any bashful fourteen-year-old, Lain transforms into an unstoppable badass on the hunt for the truth about her friend’s disappearance.
Is she, or isn’t she?
There’s a potential that her journey through the realm of the Wired has left her less transformed and more like a whole other person… You’ll have to see it for yourself to decide.
9. Yuy Heero
Anime: Gundam Wing Mobile Suit
For a character with the moniker “Heero,” our MC starts off as a bit of a jerk (yes, Mobile Suit Gundam as a franchise has some very on-the-nose naming conventions).
When he isn’t tearing up birthday invites and threatening to murder the girl who sent them, Heero’s character growth is so astounding that it’s almost difficult not to root for him towards the end.
Heero is as much of a stand-up character as you could ever want to have on your side — and a damned fine pilot to boot – after he gets past his tormenting little brat phase.
Hanamichi Sakuragi, no. 8
Slam Dunk is an anime series about a basketball player.
Slam Dunk isn’t the first sports anime to follow the rules it establishes.
It does, however, have one of the most powerful major personalities to back it up.
Hanamichi isn’t gifted in any way. In the case of certain sports anime, there is also no superhuman skill.
He joins the sport in order to seem cool in front of a lady he loves.
But, as he learns and trains, he realizes that his passion for the sport is propelling him up the ladder of success, and we get to experience the entire evolution of one of the most well-written anime characters to date.
Slam Dunk is a fantastic television program.
One of the main causes for this is Hanamichi Sakuragi.
Usagi Tsukino is a character in the anime Usagi Tsukino.
Sailor Moon is a Japanese anime series.
In and of itself, Sailor Moon is a cultural landmark of the 1990s.
But it also introduced us to Usagi Tsukino, a.k.a. Sailor Moon herself, in the form of Usagi Tsukino.
The Guardian of Love and Justice may have started out as an immature adolescent, but she grew up to be a woman with more courage, bravery, and drive than any of her peers.
And yeah, every now and again, that immaturity shows through.
It does, however, provide a little of dimension to a character who might have easily been any run-of-the-mill magical-girl-trope in existence for the last thirty years.
Yusuke Urameshi, No. 6
Yu Yu Hakusho is a Japanese anime series.
Yu Yu Hakusho is an exhilarating rollercoaster trip that I recommend everyone watch at least once.
And, in my opinion, it wouldn’t have been half as effective without Yusuke Urameshi’s help.
Yusuke began his career as the unquestioned head of the gang as an immature adolescent who lacked discipline and direction.
The Spirit Detective, on the other hand, pulled his socks up and became a figure who anybody could look up to and learn from, not just his squad.
5. Guts
Berserk is a Japanese anime series (1997)
I could have simply put “Berserk” and you would have known who was coming.
Yes, everyone’s favorite antihero is back. Guts exposed a new generation of anime fans to a new breed of characters that could be both heartbreakingly sympathetic and bone-crushingly cruel from episode to episode.
He was also shown to be defeatable.
Which is a quality that many recent anime don’t dare to force on the protagonist.
This made him look a lot more approachable. And, in the end, when he triumphed, it made him feel a lot more complete.
4. San
Princess Mononoke is a Japanese anime series.
The no-nonsense Princess of the Forest exposed a lot of people to the notion of a tough female anime heroine.
And there are a lot worse places to start than with her.
This wolf-reared eco-warrior is also not to be trifled with — she might kill you in the blink of an eye.
She’s one of the best female characters in any anime to date, and she’s deserving of a spot on any 90s character list.
3. Goku
Dragon Ball Z is a Japanese anime series.
If it wasn’t Pokémon that first sparked your interest in anime, I’m inclined to guess it was Dragon Ball Z.
Didn’t it have to be Goku in this case?
He’s a fighter with a golden heart. In the 1990s, Goku was idolized by children all across the globe, and many aspired to be like him.
His courage and strength were inspirational. However, he sometimes felt legitimately threatened by the foe-of-the-week, which contributed to Goku’s overall development as a strong character.
So, despite the diversity of DBZ’s extraterrestrial and human characters, none of them could ever dethrone Goku.
Physically, some of them may be able to… But that’s a different list!
Spike Spiegel is number two.
Cowboy Bebop is a Japanese anime series.
If you were asked to explain “cool,” there’s no way you wouldn’t include a photo of Spike Spiegel somewhere in the presentation.
He’s far from the show’s sole character with a sense of style.
He’s certainly not the only character in the program with a horrible history.
But there’s something about him that’s so seamless and slick that he’s practically difficult to dislike – and nearly hard to leave out of any discussion about ’90s anime.
Motoko Kusanagi, No. 1
Ghost in the Shell is a Japanese anime series.
Without a doubt, this is one of the most badass characters in any anime series.
Motoko Kusanagi can get herself into (or out of) any predicament via fighting, hacking, or falling in love.
The Major consistently goes above and above the call of duty. And she looks fantastic while doing it, to to the displeasure of her friends and coworkers.
While her reckless disregard for her personal safety is the scourge of everyone who loves about her, it’s all in the name of protecting and helping the innocents in her vicinity.
I can’t think of a better character to put at the top of our list!
Watch This Video-
If you grew up in the ’90s, chances are you watched a lot of anime. And if you did, there’s a good chance that some of your favorite characters were from animes that came out in the 80s or 90s. This list ranks the best characters from these time periods. Reference: anime 80s and 90s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the top 3 anime in the 90s?
A: Dragon Ball Z (1989), Sailor Moon (1992) and Pokemon, which was released in Japan on April 1st 1996.
What was the most popular anime in 1990?
A: The most popular anime in 1990 was Dragon Ball.
What anime came out in the 90s?
A: Dragon Ball Z.
Related Tags
- dark 90s anime
- best 90s anime
- old anime series
- 90s anime movies
- top 10 best 90s anime