While modern anime shows are driven by quality animation and visually stunning action sequences, 90s anime are nostalgic, and many prefer watching them to modern ones. There's an apparent reason for this: most modern anime shows rely heavily on elevating the experience, rather than addressing the plot and paying attention to aesthetic details.

That said, the development isn't all bad, as many prefer to watch modern anime series because they're not comfortable with the older ones. If you're one of the few anime viewers who enjoys watching aesthetic anime from the '90s, here are some of the best recommendations for you.

13. Bubblegum Crisis

Despite being an anime released in the late 1980s and having the aesthetic of 1990s anime, it is far ahead of its time in both concept and execution. The story is set in 2032, and Tokyo has transformed into Mega Tokyo filled with android servants known as "Boomers."

With humanity's new servants becoming too powerful to control, even the military and police have been unable to completely stop them. Just as the world is on the brink of these Boomers' control, four girls wearing powerful suits represent humanity's last hope. Who are they, and what purpose do they have in opposing these powerful androids?

12. Magic Knight Rayearth

Isekai anime shows were already quite popular in the 1990s, thanks to shows like Magic Knight Rayearth. The story follows three girls—Shidou, Ryuuzaki, and Hououji—complete strangers who are brought together by fate and transported to a mysterious world where they meet Master Mage Clef.

Apparently, the world is in chaos, and Clef has summoned them to save it from High Priest Zagato. Reluctantly accepting the mission, the girls embark on a journey to save the world of Cephiro. The anime is a perfect binge if you enjoy the retro aesthetic of the early '90s and some excellent mecha action scenes.

11. Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon epitomizes the '90s anime aesthetic, not only because of its seemingly nostalgic fantasy theme, but also because the animation and character goals play a significant role. The story revolves around a young girl named Usagi Tsukino, whose life is turned upside down when she saves a cat from danger.

However, it was a fated encounter, and Usagi discovers she is Sailor Moon, a planetary guardian charged with protecting Earth from Queen Beryl and her minions from the Dark Kingdom. Will she be able to fulfill her duties without fail?

10. Fushigi no umi no Nadia

Nadia: Secret of Bluewater is a complicated anime that doesn't feature a futuristic world or a nostalgic 90s feel. Instead, it features a historical theme with a mix of adventure and science fiction, and can easily be considered one of the few underrated classics that many anime fans overlook.

The story takes place in 1889, a time when technological advances are taking great strides, but a sinister enemy known as the Gargoyle is obsessed with restoring the ruined Atlantean empire. However, Nadia, Jean Roque Lartigue, and Captain Nemo stand in his way as humanity's saviors, but defeating this terrible enemy who will use any means to achieve his ambitions will not be easy.

9. Taiho Shichauzo

You're Under Arrest is one of the best 90s anime we've ever seen, delivering everything a viewer needs, whether it's brilliant aquatic animation that adds to the old-school aesthetic or incredibly well-written characters.

The story follows two police officers, Miyuki and Natsumi, who get off to a rocky start when the latter is arrested by the former for reckless driving. However, it turns out that Natsumi broke the rules to get to work faster, and they eventually learn about each other's personalities, bonding and pursuing the perpetrators together.

8. Record of Loss of War

While it's not one of those quality '90s anime shows, Record of Loss War delivers exceptional content that keeps you hooked. The anime's strongest points lie in its character development, chemistry, and sinister atmosphere.

Lodoss and its kingdoms have been at war for thousands of years due to various evil beings seeking to plunge the world into darkness. Although peace has finally been achieved, unifying the lands of the entire country to create a world free from conflict, war once again arrives in the form of an ancient witch who hopes to bring only destruction. We follow a group of determined young warriors led by Parn as they attempt to save their country.

7. Tenku no Escaflowne

The '90s were truly a great time for mecha anime series, as we saw so many masterpieces released during that decade, and The Vision of Escaflowne is certainly one of them. While it conveys a sense of '90s aesthetic, it also delivers in other aspects, which is precisely why it's a favorite anime of many anime enthusiasts.

The story follows Hitomi, who is unexpectedly transported to a different world where mechanized battlesuits are a common sight. Using her unique talent for divination, she accompanies a boy named Van Fanel, who unfortunately failed to save his kingdom from the evil Zaibach empire. With some new allies along the way, the duelists attempt to stop Zaibach from reviving the ancient empire.

6. Serial Experiments Lain

There are anime series that exist simply to entertain viewers, and there are others that push the limits of human imagination, and Serial Experiments Lain falls into the latter category.

When Lain Iwakura, a technophobe, receives an email from her recently deceased friend, she opens it out of curiosity, only to enter a virtual world that turns her life upside down. Can she make the right choices that influence both the virtual and real worlds?

5. Shoujo Kakumei Utena

Fantasy anime series from the '90s are nothing like they are today because they're filled with three-dimensional characters that show people's lives in a different light, and that's the kind of aesthetic we love about that decade.

Revolutionary Girl Utena is the perfect example of this, following the story of Utena, who, after losing her parents, is comforted by a mysterious prince. The interaction deeply impacts her, and, following her promise, she attends Ootori Academy, where she unexpectedly enters the world of the Duelists, who strive to become the Rose Bride. Despite its somewhat complex plot, it's a beautiful anime that you should watch.

4. Akira

Akira is a controversial retro anime from the 90s that is beloved by many viewers, and its animation is surprisingly impressive for its time. Unless you're very picky about anime choices, Akira is definitely one of the best aesthetic anime shows from the 90s.

After a devastating catastrophe struck Tokyo due to the outburst of an individual who couldn't control his psychic powers, the city slowly transformed into Neo-Tokyo. Nearly 30 years later, the city is no longer the same, with gangs and terrorism springing up around every corner. But when another psychic reappears, everything becomes the least of their worries.

3. Yu Yu Hakusho

To this day, Yu Yu Hakusho remains the greatest shonen battle anime of the '90s, and it's no slouch compared to modern anime. It has a typical '90s feel with a dark setting and plenty of thrilling battles.

Yusuke Urameshi, a 14-year-old delinquent, never expected to sacrifice himself for others, but he died while saving a boy from a car accident. Moved by his selfless nature, the heir to the spirit realm, Koenma, granted him another life, but Yusuke had to work as a Spirit Detective. Joining him are his former rival Kuwabara and two criminal demons, Hiei and Kurama, and they attempt to stop the forces of evil with their new powers.

2. Princess Mononoke

When it's written by Hayao Miyazaki, an anime must either become a masterpiece or an underrated masterpiece, and Princess Mononoke falls into the former category due to its immense popularity. The anime is a landmark in Japanese cinema, and despite being released in the late 1990s, its beautiful visuals are truly mesmerizing.

When a vicious boar attacks the Emishi village, young prince Ashitaka risks his life to kill it. However, before dying, the boar places a curse on Ashitaka's arm, slowly eroding his life. With the instruction of the village elders, he travels west in search of a cure. What follows is destiny as he battles humans who seek the destruction of a sacred forest that is home to many incredible beings.

1. Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell has always been the pinnacle of futuristic stories in anime, and no matter how many years pass, it continues to be. The reason is that it has a unique, dark, sci-fi aesthetic that immediately puts viewers in a trance, as if transported to the setting, and everything you've heard about the anime is true.

Set in 2029, the story follows Major Kusanagi, who tracks down a notorious hacker called the Puppet Master, who hacks into the brains of cybernetic humans and confidential networks, leaving a trail of bodies wherever he goes. The past, and the answers can only be found with the Puppet Master.