Top 20 Best Old School Anime from 1999 or Older: Anime Store Near Me Houston Texas
Top 20 Best Old School Anime from 1999 or Older: Anime Store Near Me Houston Texas
Most anime fans prefer watching recent anime, and understandably so considering how much anime has evolved since the earliest anime series debuted in the 1960s as explained at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Newer anime series are also written for more modern audiences, are easier to digest, and you don’t have to consider the cultural differences between us and past generations. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any gems from the past, and this article will look to put you on by listing the top 20 best old-school anime from 1999 or older.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)
Hideaki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion is like no other mecha anime when it comes to pairing cool giant robots with a deeply thought-provoking story according to RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Shinji’s struggles with women, friendships, family, and his own trauma are deeply relatable.
Yu Yu Hakusho (1992)
While Yu Yu Hakusho helped to establish now-staple Shonen tropes, it also proved that the genre could be more than collections of highly-dramatized fight scenes. It follows the story of street thug Yusuke Urameshi, who dives in front of an oncoming car to save a child’s life, is killed, and is then revived as a ghost to see firsthand the surprising effects his death imparts on those he knew.
Dragon Ball (1986)
The original Dragon Ball anime is one of the most iconic anime of all time as per RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Everything about this anime is colorful and fresh, and if you are a fan of DBZ, then you might also want to watch this one.
Space Battleship Yamato (1974)
The original 1974 Space Battleship Yamato is arguably anime’s most seminal space opera. It is at its core a nautical adventure with a transplanted setting featuring acts of great heroism and self-sacrifice, honor, and the inherent nobility of a lone ship tasked with saving humanity against impossible odds.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Based on a manga by Hayao Miyazaki, this anime tackles themes like war and environmentalism. Not only does it show us how war could wipe out everything we know, but it also reminds us that even then, we would probably just rise from our ashes to fight with sticks and stones.
Fist of The North Star (1984)
As articulated at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, Fist of the North Fist is structurally simple. The protagonist, Kenshiro, is the inheritor of a secret style of deadly martial arts. He takes it upon himself to cleanse the wasteland of evil by way of blowing bad guys’ heads up using a special technique. Villains and allies join the party along the ride, making this a Shonen action classic that is worth watching.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1988)
Legend of the Galactic Heroes is another space opera that is worth watching. The writing is incredible, the characters are amazing, and the soundtrack is inspiring. While the art here hasn’t aged that well – to be expected as it is an anime from the 80s – it stays with you long after the last episode is over.
Speed Racer (1967)
Speed Racer was one of the first anime series to receive localization for Western audiences as captured at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Starring the Racer family, the series was known for its instances of slapstick comedy and its breakneck narrative pace.
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985)
Other than presenting one of the coolest portrayals of Gundam’s best character, MS Zeta Gundam shines for its pessimistic realism. War teaches people to kill, and it can quickly become a habit. It is one of the most profound anime series out there.
Urusei Yatsura (1981)
This is another adaptation of a manga by the amazing Rumiko Takahashi. It is a lighthearted romantic comedy that features a no-good guy who unexpectedly finds himself at the center of extraterrestrial female attention. The series is the prototypical anime rom-com, and many of the tropes that pervade the genre today can be traced back here.
Cowboy Bebop (1998)
The popular Cowboy Bebop is a dark and gritty show that tells a mature story about a group of mismatched individuals who are trying to move forward while dealing with their accumulated karma as covered at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. The character and setting design in this anime have a detailed old-school charm that you just won’t find in most modern shows.
Astro Boy (1963)
Astro Boy is considered by many to be the first-ever anime series and began life as a moderately-successful manga series before making the jump to TV in 1963. A hero story that combined fairytale-like mythos with influence from the atomic age, Astro Boy was as influential to the world of anime as it was to the rapidly-expanding genre of science fiction.
Rurouni Kenshin (Samurai X) (1996)
As described at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, this incredible show takes place eleven years into the Meiji Era, when Japan was undergoing massive changes and letting go of its isolationist past to welcome an industrialized future, and is another one worth watching.
Aim for The Ace (1973)
One of anime’s quintessential sports stories, Aim for The Ace is a classic tale of an untalented tennis player who rises through the ranks by the power of hard work and perseverance. Along for the ride are an intense coach, aloof role models, and a gaggle of jealous rivals who conspire to bring the protagonist’s downfall.
Perfect Blue (1997)
Directed by the influential Satoshi Kon, Perfect Blue follows Mima Kirigoe, a former idol, and aspiring actress, being harassed by a stalker who is not too happy about her career change. This psycho-thriller plays with blurring the lines between fantasy and the mundane reality of modern Japan.
Future Boy Conan (1978)
1978’s Future Boy Conan chronicles the adventures of a titular protagonist in a post-apocalyptic future in which war and climate change have obliterated most of humanity as discussed at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.
Berserk (1997)
The sheer cruelty of some characters and the inherent violence of the world of Berserk means this anime is not for everybody. However, if that sort of stuff doesn’t bother you, then this dark fantasy series is worth a watch.
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross (1982)
One part epic mech anime and one part tense romance, Super Dimensional Fortress Macross is responsible in part for popularizing multiple aspects of the Shonen genre as outlined at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Both an otherworldly space opera and a very human tale of struggle, it helped lay the groundwork upon which series like Neon Genesis Evangelion would build.
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Ghost in the Shell follows Motoko Kusanagi, a public safety operative with an interchangeable cyborg body. Through her, the show explores the consequences of a post-human world where the lines that separate us from machines have disappeared.
Ashita No Joe (1970)
Adapted from the manga of the same name, this 1970 anime series tells the story of a boxer named Joe rising to fame from nothing, struggling not only against his opponents but against society and the system itself to eke out his own niche.
If you are interested in anime of the anime listed here and are looking for an anime store near you in Houston, Texas, then look no further than the amazing RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.
