Trust in old anime classics might not always mean they’re the greatest of all time.
Some classic anime remain relevant due to qualities like animation, writing, and music.
Cowboy Bebop stands out as a timeless favorite loved by casual and hardcore fans alike.
“Trust me, you’ll love this anime from my youth.” Every anime fan has surely said something along these lines to a friend, partner, or family member to get them to watch a classic anime series. While something from the 80s, 90s, or maybe even 70s could have helped shape a person’s interests, that doesn’t mean it’s the greatest anime of all time.
Some anime are only relevant in a time and place, but not these anime. Thanks to exquisite animation, solid writing, and music, these anime from the past have stayed relevant, and they are essential viewing for new and old fans of the medium.
Case Closed
A Strong First Few Seasons
Case Closed, also known as Detective Conan in Japan, is a mystery anime series with a high concept: teenage detective Shinichi gets turned into a child on a fateful night. Still determined to solve crimes, mostly gruesome murders, Shinichi dons the guise of Conan and slithers his way into his girlfriend’s father’s detective agency.
Like all good mystery dramas, after a case is solved, it can be hard to go back, but that’s why returning to Case Closed periodically can be fun. The first few seasons that were established in the 90s are strong, but the series is still ongoing in both manga and anime forms.
Cowboy Bebop
The Best Anime Of All Time?
Dragon Ball Z may be the most important anime of all time, at least in the West, but Cowboy Bebopis the anime loved by everyone from casuals to hardcore fans. It’s one season of pure perfection, from the episodic storytelling to the animation.
It is set in the future, but remains down to earth with crime organizations still running rampant and bullets being the number one way to kill a man. There’s an episode of Cowboy Bebop for everyone, from action-packed chases involving spaceships to a horror premise aboard the titular ship, Bebop.
Dragon Ball
An Equal Playing Field
Dragon Ball Z was for anime fans who wanted nothing but intense action, and that’s exactly what the market dictated in the 90s in the West. Unfortunately, its predecessor story about young Goku, Dragon Ball, didn’t get as much love in the West, which is a shame because it holds up better and offers something beyond just fighting.
All the characters start on a level playing field, and there’s no such thing as Scouters or Power Levels to get in the way. It’s a martial arts comedy that is raunchy, and perhaps a few jokes won’t fly today, but Japan has a different sense of humor that needs to be acknowledged. Overall, as the theme song boldly says, Dragon Ball is an adventure, so jump in and enjoy the ride.
Giant Robo: The Day The Earth Stood Still
The Origins Of O
Toonami fans ate up The Big O when it was released in the 2000s after Japan got it in the late 90s. It’s still a great mech anime, but fans may be interested to know that it was heavily inspired by an OVA series called Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still. Looking at the various mechs and character designs side by side makes this clear.
Most OVAs sport high-quality animation, and this one is no different. As such, fans of The Big O should check this one out, as it’s still fun even without knowing the backstory behind several characters taken from other stories written by the creator, Mitsuteru Yokoyama.
Hideaki Anno is best known for his iconic mecha anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, but his earlier work, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, is just as impressive.
Unlike his angelic robot series, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water is a global adventure story about a young inventor, Jean, who befriends a girl named Nadia. Together, they attempt to unravel the mystery behind her pendant and discover why a group of pirates is after it. It’s a great anime for all ages and one that is soothing to have on in the background thanks to its jaw-dropping animation.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Unsettling Mecha Action
Speaking of Hideaki Anno, Neon Genesis Evangelion deserves to be discussed too, because it’s unlike any other mecha anime out there. At its core, the giant mechs fighting angels to save the Earth isn’t really what the show is about.
The main character, Shinji, is a broken teenager going through existential crisis after existential crisis as he is effectively pushed into the role of a child soldier by his uncaring father. It’s a series steeped in a feeling of forlorn sadness, with shots lingering on blades of grass while bugs chirp. It’s one of those series that has to be watched a few times to truly appreciate it, and the movie sequels shouldn’t be skipped either.
Pokemon
A Video Game Adaptation That’s More Than An Advertisement
Kids who grew up in the 80s had a lot of cartoons that advertised directly to them, often with poor animation, from G.I. Joe to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Pokemonanime is admittedly an advertisement for the games, but it’s also so much more than that.
The animation is better than anything Western 80s cartoons had to offer, while also offering valuable lessons amidst the monster battling. What holds up best is the humor, from Team Rocket’s hijinks to Pikachu constantly zapping Ash. Fans who grew up watching Pokemon may be surprised at how well the first few seasons still hold up, especially in the Indigo League.
Princess Mononoke
Nature Fights Back
If one movie has to be recommended from the classic era of anime,Princess Mononoke is the one. It’s still a favorite among Studio Ghibli fans who get something new out of it every time they sit down and watch.
Ultimately, it’s a story about mankind trying to harvest Earth for all its precious resources without a care for how that will affect the environment. It’s a global problem facing today’s society, presented through the lens of a fantasy world rife with monsters and battles aplenty.
