1990s – Anime Afar

Manga is perhaps Japan’s most famous cultural product and one with an incredibly rich history as well. Although it might seem like a very modern art form, in actuality, manga can trace its roots back to the 12th and 13th centuries, where illustrated scrolls formed the very first basis of the art. In the Edo period in the 17th century, the art form continued its development in the form of a book called Toba Ehon. Finally, in 1798, the first recorded use of the word “manga” appeared as a way to describe the art form of sequential illustrated art. In the 19th century, manga continued to develop as an art form. Books such as “Hokusai Manga”, a collection of ukiyo-e (i.e. Japanese woodblock prints) was one such example. However, it was the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, with the increase in communication with the western world, that manga began to embody more of what we know it to be today. In that time period, Japan was introduced to western-style comics, and some of them even began appearing regularly in Japanese print media. In 1902, Japan saw its first native comic strip, created by the artist Kitazawa Rakuten, which was serialized in the Jiji Shinpo newspaper. By the time the 1930s rolled around, manga was well-established as an art form; it was serialized in many places and often collected in volumes. World War 2 and its aftermath further changed and modernized manga. After World War 2, due to numerous treaties and laws, censorship was effectively banned in Japan, which led to a proliferation of creativity in manga. During this time period, manga such as Astro Boy and Sazae-san expanded the boundaries of what manga could be and set new standards and tropes for the art form. During this time, manga found itself separating into two major genres, Shonen (aimed at boys) and Shojo (aimed at girls.) Through the decades up to the 1970s, most manga was Shojo manga, such as popular titles like Princess Knight. During this time, manga developed and established its own unique art style, which lay somewhere between imported western comics and manga’s cultural basis in traditional Japanese art. In the 1970s and 80s, manga thematically changed to encompass more mature themes and shift away from being primarily female-focused. In tandem with anime, which was also developing at the same time, manga began to develop many common tropes and genres still popular in manga today, such as mecha and character archetypes found in many different series. In addition, during this time period, it became more commonly exported to other countries rather than being a specifically Japanese-consumed art form. By the time the 90s rolled around, manga was solidified as a globally popular Japanese art form. It was—and still is—distinguished from western comics in that western comics focus primarily on superheroes, but manga’s subject matter is extremely broad and targeted towards many different demographics, male and female, young and old. Popular series such as Sailor Moon, Naruto, and One Piece—which started in the 1990s and were adapted into anime series as well—became huge phenomena worldwide. Even today, manga created in the 1990s still captures the public imagination and influences manga that continues to be created today. To get a full list of manga created in the 1990s, take a look below. All links lead to their respective Wikipedia articles where you can learn more about a specific title! 1990 All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku NukuAmai SeikatsuAngel CopAquarium (manga)Basara (manga)Battle Angel AlitaBondage FairiesChameleon (manga)Compiler (manga)Crayon Shin-chanCrows (manga)Dragon KnightsDragon PinkEven a Monkey Can Draw MangaFutaba-kun Change!Getter Robo GoHime-chan's RibbonIshii Hisaichi's CNNItazura na KissJungle King Tar-chanKamasutra (manga)Kaze no DaichiKeiji (manga)The Legend of Mother SarahLiving GameMadara (manga)Makoto Call!Man of Many FacesList of non-video game media featuring MarioMazinSagaNaniwa Kin'yūdōNiji-iro TōgarashiOkami-sanOL ShinkaronOrion (manga)Sanctuary (manga)Shishunki Miman OkotowariShonan Junai GumiShoot! (manga)Slam Dunk (manga)Spirit WarriorTasuke, the Samurai CopTatoeba Konna Love SongTokyo BabylonTransformers: ZoneUshio and ToraVampire Princess MiyuThe Walking Man (manga)Waltz in a White DressWangan MidnightYu Yu Hakusho 1991 4koma Manga Kingdom801 T.T.S. AirbatsAah! HarimanadaAkagi (manga)Akazukin ChachaAo no FūinBaby & MeBaki the GrapplerBenkei in New YorkBlue Hole (manga)Boys Be...Codename: Sailor VCompiler (manga)Detonator OrgunDuklyon: Clamp School DefendersEarl CainFuriten-kunGetter Robo GoGhost in the Shell (manga)Ghost Sweeper MikamiGo!! Southern Ice Hockey ClubGon (manga)Gunsmith CatsThe Heroic Legend of ArslanInochi no UtsuwaItazura na KissKaze no DaichiLegend of LemnearMiracle GirlsMizuiro JidaiNono-chanOgre SlayerOrion (manga)Oruchuban EbichuPapuwaParasol HenbēRecord of Lodoss WarRoujin ZSailor MoonSamurai CrusaderShi to Kanojo to BokuSilent MöbiusTenshi Nanka Ja NaiTwilight of the Dark MasterViolinist of HamelnYoban Sādo 1992 Adventures of KotetsuAngel DensetsuAsunaro HakushoBara no Tame niBlue SeedBokkō (manga)Bonk (series)Bow Wow (manga)Boys Over FlowersCall Me PrincessCB Chara Nagai Go WorldClamp School DetectivesClub 9Cutie HoneyDiamond Is UnbreakableDominion (manga)Dororon Enma-kunEight Clouds RisingFushigi YûgiGallery FakeGenocyberGestalt (manga)Gin to KinGolden Boy (manga)H2 (manga)Hen (manga)I Shall Never ReturnIce BladeIguana GirlJapan (1992 manga)JinbēKosaku ShimaKamen Rider SDThe Kindaichi Case FilesKizuna: Bonds of LoveKurokami CapturedKyūkyoku!! Hentai KamenLegend of Chun HyangMagical Circle Guru GuruMarmalade BoyMinami no TeiōMugen ShinshiOur Field of DreamsRuin ExplorersSamurai LegendShadow LadyShadow SkillShirahime-Syo: Snow Goddess TalesShishunki Miman OkotowariShōta no SushiSuper Dimensional Fortress Macross II: Lovers AgainTakeru: Letter of the LawTokyo Daigaku MonogatariTwin SignalVampire Princess MiyuVideo Girl AiVoyeur (manga)Wangan MidnightWeather Report GirlX (manga)ZenkiZetsuai 1989 1993 All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku NukuAzuki-chanBlade of the ImmortalBlue Spring (manga)Chō Kuse ni NarisōA Cruel God ReignsDNA²Fish in the TrapFrom Far AwayGo! Go! AckmanGoldfish Warning!Hanada Shōnen ShiHaō Taikei Ryū KnightHappy! (sports manga)Hell Teacher NūbēHito Natsu no Kids GameHot TailsHyper PoliceI Dream of MimiJyu-Oh-SeiKiko-chan's SmileKirara (manga)Kizuna: Bonds of LoveLevel CLove (manga)Magic Knight RayearthMagic Woman MMama Loves the Poyopoyo-SaurusMama wa Shōgaku 4 NenseiMiyuki-chan in WonderlandMoldiverMuka Muka ParadiseNinkuOjarumaruThe One I Love (manga)Onihei HankachōOnmyōji (novel series)Orfina (manga)Ping-Pong ClubRecord of Lodoss WarRyūrōdenSamurai GunSekai de Ichiban Yasashii OngakuSongs to Make You SmileSorcerer HuntersThe Special Duty Combat Unit ShinesmanStreet Fighter II (manga)Super Radical Gag FamilySuper TabooTekkonkinkreetTokyo TribeTottemo! LuckymanTough (manga)Violence Jack 1994 8 ManA.I. Love YouA.I. RevolutionAngel SanctuaryApocalypse ZeroArigatō (manga)Atashin'chiAzumiB't XBakugyaku FamiliaBakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!!Bomber GirlCanon (manga)Captain TsubasaCase ClosedCoji-CojiDemon Lord DanteDetatoko PrincessEden's BowyFake (manga)Fujimi OrchestraGanba! Fly HighA Gentle Breeze in the VillageHarenchi GakuenHarlem BeatHotmanIC in a SunflowerIf I See You in My DreamsJaja Uma Grooming Up!Japan (1994 manga)Kaguyahime (manga)Kishin CorpsKodochaKodoku no GourmetMacross 7Major (manga)Maryuu SenkiMidnight PantherMidori no MakibaōMint de Kiss MeMirage of BlazeMobile Fighter G GundamMobile Suit Crossbone GundamMobile Suit Victory GundamMonster (manga)Mouryou KidenMy Dear MarieNeon Genesis Evangelion (manga)No Need For Tenchi! (manga)Octopus GirlOretachi ni Asu wa NaissuPhantom DreamRecord of Lodoss WarRumic TheaterRumic WorldRurouni KenshinSaint TailSalaryman KintarōShōnen to InuSilent MöbiusSohryuden: Legend of the Dragon KingsSōten KōroSteam DetectivesTenchi Muyo!Those Who Hunt ElvesTokyo Boys & GirlsTonde BurinTough (manga)Tower of the FutureThe Vision of EscaflowneVixensWaltz in a White DressWedding PeachYokohama Kaidashi KikōYugo (manga) 1995 Armitage IIIAshen VictorBaby Love (manga)Burst Ball Barrage!! Super B-DamanChallengers (manga)Chirality (manga)Chūka Ichiban!Cobra (manga)Dan Doh!!DarkstalkersDemon Fighter KochoDescendants of DarknessDirty Pair FlashDokabenDolls (1995 manga)Dominion (manga)The DoraemonsDragon HeadEl-HazardExcel SagaFirefighter! Daigo of Fire Company MFlame of ReccaGeobreedersGokudo the AdventurerGolden Wind (manga)Helter Skelter (manga)Hyper DollHyper RuneI'll (manga)Initial DIron Wok JanJing: King of BanditsKanon (manga)Karakurizōshi Ayatsuri SakonKero Kero ChimeKimera (manga)Kirby of the Stars: The Story of Dedede Who Lives in PupupuKocchi Muite! MiikoKōtarō Makaritōru!Lament of the LambLevel ELove ModeMagic Knight RayearthManmaru The Ninja PenguinMaze (novel)Mobile Suit Gundam WingMobile Suit Victory GundamMojackoNeighborhood StoryNeo Gōmanism Manifesto Special – On WarNonchan NoribenNurse Angel Ririka SOSOpus (manga)Pet Shop of HorrorsRecord of Lodoss WarRed River (manga)Rica 'tte Kanji!?Saint TailSakigake!! OtokojukuSakura DiariesSci-Fi HarrySexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi yo!! Masaru-sanSexy Sailor SoldiersShadow LadySlayersSpring Fever (manga)Starship Girl Yamamoto YohkoStreet Fighter II VTaimashinThose Who Hunt ElvesTrigunTsubasa: Those with WingsVendémiaire no TsubasaWild CardzWish (manga)The Young Magician 1996 After War Gundam XAir MasterAngel LipBad Boys (manga)Bad Company (manga)Blue (manga)Buzzer Beater (manga)Cardcaptor SakuraCeres, Celestial LegendDelicious!Descendants of DarknessDevil Hunter YohkoDirty Pair FlashEat-ManExcel SagaFour Shōjo StoriesGarōdenGrander MusashiGravitation (manga)Hana-KimiHappy ManiaHaunted JunctionHoshin EngiIn Clothes Called FatInuyashaKaiji (manga)Kaine (manga)Kaishain no MelodyKare KanoKiko-chan's SmileKurogane (manga)Lament of the LambLove VibesLovely AngelLudwig II (manga)Magic User's ClubMaps (manga)Mars (manga)Master of MosquitonMobile Fighter G GundamMojackoMonkey TurnThe Moon and the SandalsMusashi Number 9Ninja CadetsOkojo-sanOld Boy (manga)Outlaw StarOver Rev!Ping Pong (manga)Pocket Monsters (manga)Power Office GirlsPsychometrer EijiPure TranceRevolutionary Girl UtenaRica 'tte Kanji!?Saber Marionette JSamurai GunSayonara Midori-chanSchool Zone (manga)Shinsei Motemote ŌkokuShort Program (manga)Shout Out Loud!Strain (manga)Street Fighter: Sakura Ganbaru!Tokyo Crazy ParadiseTokyo Juliet (manga)TrigunVampire GameVampire Princess MiyuThe Vision of EscaflowneVS Knight Ramune & 40 FireYamada Tarō MonogatariYasha (manga)Yu-Gi-Oh! 1997 801 T.T.S. AirbatsAgharta (manga)Akira Toriyama's Manga TheaterArc the LadAyane's High KickB.B. ExplosionBad Company (manga)Barairo no AshitaBattle AthletesBlame!Blue Submarine No. 6Bomberman B-Daman BakugaidenBowling KingBoys Be...Butsu ZoneThe Candidate for GoddessCannon God ExaxxionCestvs: The Roman FighterClover (Clamp manga)Clover (Toriko Chiya manga)Cowa!Cowboy BebopCowboy Bebop: Shooting StarCutie Honey FlashCyborg Kuro-chanD.N.AngelDear BoysDesert PunkDevil LadyDoki Doki School HoursDream SagaE'sEagle: The Making of an Asian-American PresidentEnomoto: New Elements that Shake the WorldEt Cetera (manga)Forbidden DanceFutari EcchiG-TasteGhost in the Shell (manga)Good Morning CallGreat Teacher OnizukaHamtaroHaré+GuuHellsingHiroki Endo's TanpenshuI.O.N (manga)Icaro (manga)Iketeru FutariInugami (manga)Ironfist ChinmiI"sItsudatte My Santa!KakeruKamikaze (manga)Karakuri CircusKaze HikaruThe Kindaichi Case FilesKiss All the BoysKurogane CommunicationThe Legend of the Gambler: TetsuyaLiling-PoLost UniverseLupin the ThirdMagical Pokémon JourneyMaico 2010Mamotte ShugogettenMartian Successor NadesicoMedabotsMiami GunsMint na BokuraMobile Suit Gundam WingMobile Suit Gundam: Blue DestinyMultiple Personality Detective PsychoNew Mobile Report Gundam Wing Dual Story: G-UnitNono-chanOne PieceOzanari DungeonPeach GirlPhoton: The Idiot AdventuresPokémon AdventuresPokémon: The Electric Tale of PikachuProject ARMSQ.E.D. (manga)Saiyuki (manga)Salad Days (manga)Seikimatsu Leader den Takeshi!Sensual PhraseShadows of SpawnShiawase no JikanShindō (manga)Shōta no SushiSing "Yesterday" for MeSpeed RacerSteel Angel KurumiSuper Yo-YoTenjho TengeThus Spoke Kishibe RohanTo HeartTokyo TribesTrigunTruly KindlyTuxedo GinW JulietWeiß KreuzYakyū-kyō no UtaYume no Crayon Oukoku 1998 Afro SamuraiAgent AikaAi Yori AoshiAlichinoAlien NineAppare Jipangu!Aqua KnightArc the LadArcade Gamer FubukiArm of KannonBambi and Her Pink GunBeast Wars II: Super Life-Form TransformersBlame!Blood Reign: Curse of the YomaBlue InferiorBōken ShōnenBomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden VBrain PowerdCannon God ExaxxionCat Shit OneChrono CrusadeColorful (manga)Cowboy BebopCowboy Bebop (manga)Crown of Love (manga)Cyber Team in AkihabaraD4 PrincessDark EdgeThe Day of RevolutionDear MyselfThe Demon OroronDi Gi CharatDigimon Adventure V-Tamer 01A Distant NeighborhoodDoll (manga)Double House (manga)Eden: It's an Endless World!Electric HandsFancy LalaFighting FoodonsThe First President of JapanForest of PianoFrom KobeFruits BasketGals!GasarakiGhost Hunt (novel series)Gundam Wing: Endless WaltzGuru Guru Pon-chanHands Off!Harlock SagaHello JadooHey Pitan!Hunter × HunterI Hate You More than AnyoneIchi the Killer (manga)Ichigenme... The First Class is Civil LawIketeru FutariJibaku-kunKagen no TsukiKaiōkiKajikaKarura MauKatteni KaizōKinnikumanLady VictorianLand of the BlindfoldedLove HinaLupin the ThirdMahoromaticMicromanMobile Suit Gundam: Char's CounterattackThe Monkey King (manga)One OutsOtakus in LovePhantom Thief JeannePietà (manga)Planet LadderRecord of Lodoss WarRookies (manga)Sadamitsu the DestroyerSalad Days (manga)Samurai Girl: Real Bout High SchoolShadow StarShaman KingShamanic PrincessShamo (manga)Shishunki Miman OkotowariShort-Tempered MelancholicSkull ManSolfege (manga)Songs to Make You SmileSorcerous Stabber OrphenSuper Doll Licca-chanThe Sword of ShibitoTaro the Space AlienTenjho TengeTokimeki Memorial (series)Tokyo UndergroundTrigun MaximumUFO BabyUmizaruUntil the Full MoonUzumakiVagabond (manga)Virus Buster SergeWhistle!White BrandWild ActX-KaiYakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki JikenboYoiko (manga)Yume no Crayon OukokuZ MazingerZombie Hunter 1999 20th Century BoysAfro SamuraiAi Yori AoshiAi-RenAji Ichi MonmeAll Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku NukuAmon: The Darkside of the DevilmanAngel LinksAngelic LayerAnimal YokochōAntique BakeryAsk Dr. Rin!Azumanga DaiohBaby PopBaki the GrapplerBeck (manga)Believers (manga)Beyblade (manga)The Big OBinetsu ShōjoBoogiepop and OthersBroken Angels (manga)Bus GamerCaptive Hearts (manga)Cheeky AngelChocolat (manga)Color (manga)Corrector YuiCrescent Moon (manga)Crest of the StarsDazzle (manga)Dear MyselfThe Devil Does ExistDevilmanDT EightronDuel MastersEerie Queerie!Embracing LoveFamily ComplexFantasista (manga)Fire CandyFlint the Time DetectiveFruits BasketGarden DreamsGate KeepersGetBackersGinga Legend WeedGirl Got GameGorgeous CaratHappy LessonHaruka: Beyond the Stream of Time (manga)Heat (manga)Hikaru no GoHiwou War ChroniclesIl gatto sul GImmortal RainInfinite RyviusJazz (manga)Jing: King of BanditsKagome Kagome (manga)Kamen TanteiKenichi: The Mightiest DiscipleKing of Cards (manga)Koudelka (manga)Laugh Under the SunLegend of HimikoLovers in the NightLudwig KakumeiMad Bull 34Magic User's ClubMars (manga)MedabotsMon Colle KnightsMouse (manga)MushishiNarutoNeko MajinNever Give Up!NieA 7Omishi Magical Theater: Risky SafetyOmukae desuParadise KissPeacemaker KuroganePita-TenPlanetesThe Prince of TennisPsychic AcademyPukupuku Natural Circular NoticeR.I.P.: Requiem in PhonybrianRave MasterReal (manga)Red Prowling DevilReiko the Zombie ShopRevolutionary Girl UtenaRune SoldierSadamitsu the DestroyerSaikanoSaiyuki (manga)Samurai Deeper KyoSatisfaction Guaranteed (manga)Secret ChaserSgt. FrogSt. Dragon GirlStar Ocean: The Second Story (manga)Steel Angel KurumiSuki: A Like StorySuper Life-Form Transformers: Beast Wars NeoThe Sword of ShibitoTelepathy Shōjo Ran Jiken NoteTokyo ZombieTurn A GundamUsagi-chan de Cue!!Venus in LoveVS (manga)Wild AdapterThe World of NarueZombiepowder.