1990s anime stands out from other decades through its high-quality plots with many twists and turns. ’90s anime also saw the spread of new techniques that gave rise to a distinct visual style that stands out from previous decades and even modern anime today. ’90s characters feature bold outlines and low-saturation colors that make them feel like stylized comic book characters. ’90s anime also featured the propagation of VFX techniques that made more types of animation possible. Many anime movies were able to take advantage of these techniques that combined with quality plots to tell incredible stories. Let’s look at the best anime movies of the 1990s that you should make time for if you haven’t seen them already.

10 Whisper of the Heart (1995)

First on the list is the romantic drama anime film Whisper of the Heart. This film was distributed by Toho and released in 1995. It is an adaptation of a manga of the same name by mangaka Aoi Hiiragi. Studio Ghibli did the animation work, and the movie stars Yōko Honna, Issei Takahashi, and Takashi Tachibana. The plot follows a love story between a book-loving girl and a boy who checked out the same books that she wanted to read. As it turns out, the boy had been checking out the books to try to get her attention. The story then follows the pair’s journey into reading and writing as they make the decision of whether to attend high school. The two end up happily together, riding on a bicycle together into the sunset.

It is a very moving film that gives us an intimate insight into the two characters. Thanks to its stellar animation, the viewer gets to feel the crampedness of the apartment and a believable, lived-in world. It has a distinct mood and tone that makes everyday life feel mysterious and down-to-earth at the same time. It manages to avoid feeling sappy by taking the emotions of its characters seriously and not relying too much on tropes. The film’s earnestness and honesty shine through and make you root for the film and the characters every step of the way.

9 Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (1994)

The next ’90s anime film on this list is Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie. It was released in 1994 and distributed by Toei Company. Despite its name, the film was not actually a sequel, but rather an adaptation of a video game of the same name. The Street Fighter video game series became an international success, which also spawned a live-action film during that same year. The film follows the video game protagonist Ryu as he fights his way to defeating the evil mastermind Bison, who is searching for him. This film is a love letter to video game fans and has gorgeous and crisp animation. The characters translate extremely well to animation, and the fight scenes and visual effects still look spectacular today.

8 Only Yesterday (1991)

Only Yesterday is a drama anime film animated by Studio Ghibli and released in 1991. The film was distributed by Toho and is adapted from a 1982 manga that shares the same name. Only Yesterday became a sleeper hit at the box office, becoming the top-grossing Japanese film of 1991. It tells the story of an office worker who decides to travel to the countryside. While on the train, she reminisces about growing up in Tokyo. She remembers how she used to want to go on vacation outside the city, much like her friends who have families outside the city. After arriving in the countryside, she meets an acquaintance from her past and begins a journey of realization where she is reminded of how this acquaintance has had a large effect on her life. The office worker decides to stay in the countryside and begin a relationship with him.

7 Kayaoko’s Diary (1991)

Another great ’90s anime film is Kayaoko’s Diary. This film was released in 1991 by Mushi Productions and told the story of a young Japanese girl living during World War II. Her family becomes torn apart because of the war’s conflict, and she has to move around to different places in an effort to survive and avoid encountering the horrors of the war. She starts out as a bit of a crybaby who just likes to have fun with her siblings. However, as she grows older, and the war drags on, she starts to realize how the war has affected her life. She also realizes that there are only bleak moments ahead of her. The film does a great job of depicting the suffering and excesses of war and how it affects kids. It shows how war separates people while containing an inspirational message.

6 Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999)

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is an action thriller film released in 1999. It was distributed by Bandai Visual and is based on the manga series Kerberos Panzer Cop. The story follows Kazuki Fuse, a member of a special police unit in the 1950s. He is working during the Japanese riots of the 1950s and refuses an order to kill a girl who denotes a suicide bomb. Kazuki visits her grave and meets the girl’s sister, with who develops a relationship. The movie follows the relationship between this police officer and a terrorist sister and how they fit into a larger conflict. It is a gorgeous display of animation that relies on classic techniques instead of flashy effects. It is set in an alternate history earth and tells a bleak story about post-WW2 Japan.

5 Perfect Blue (1997)

Perfect Blue is a psychological thriller anime film released in 1997 and directed by Satoshi Kon. It is based on a novel of the same name and distributed by Rex Entertainment. The plot follows a Japanese pop star who is part of an idol group. She decides to leave her career in music to pursue acting, but is met with resistance from her devoted fans. One of these fans becomes a stalker, and people begin being murdered around her. She starts to lose her grip on reality, and the film delves into surreal territory. The animation is well done, especially the backgrounds with an ethereal quality. It has some clever visual flourishes that make it a unique viewing experience, especially with the surreal elements.

4 Pokémon: The First Movie (1998)

Pokémon: The First Movie is a fantasy adventure anime film released in 1998 by Toho. It is the adventures of Ash Ketchum and Pikachu as they encounter legendary monsters on a mysterious island. As the name suggests, this was the first movie of the popular Pokémon series. The protagonist’s monster trainers fight against an organization known as Team Rocket, which has cloned living weapons in an attempt to take over the world. One of the monsters, known as Mewtwo, escapes their control and builds a lab of his own. The film is remembered for its emotional conclusion and touching characters. It was famously panned by film critics at its release, but audiences loved it. This is reflected in Pokémon: The First Movie’s Rotten Tomatoes score, which has very low critic ratings but high audience ratings.

3 Princess Mononoke (1997)

Princess Mononoke is an epic anime fantasy film released in 1997 and animated by Studio Ghibli. It was distributed by Toho and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It tells the story of Ashitaka, a traveler looking for a cure to a curse. Through his travels, he gets involved in a war between the forest spirits and a nearby mining colony. In his quest to get the cure, he encounters Princess Mononoke, who was raised by wolves and hated all humans. The story is complex, and the animation is smooth, leading to a series of emotional scenes that draws the viewer in.

2 Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Ghost in the Shell is a cyberpunk Sci-Fi film released in 1995. It was directed by Mamoru Osshi and distributed by Shochiku. It tells the story of Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg police agent who is desperate to catch a mysterious hacker. The film is set in a digital future where many humans have become cyborgs, leaving them susceptible to being hacked. It examines themes of what it means to be human and the separation between man and machine.

1 Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997)

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion is the last film on the list. It is a science fiction anime film animated by Gainax and released in 1997. It served as an alternative ending to the Neon Genesis Evangelion series and was distributed by Toho. It follows the exploits of several teenagers who pilot robots in an effort to protect humanity from beings called Angels. One of the groups, Shinji, is the product of an experiment to merge human souls together. This allows his great skill as a pilot, but also takes a toll on his sanity. The art direction of the film is a standout element. The story and plot can be hard to understand, but nonetheless entertaining all the way through.