Key Takeaways
- Neon Genesis Evangelion is an evolving mecha series with psychological horror, complex characters, and emotional turmoil.
- Cowboy Bebop features episodic space travel, a great protagonist, an action-packed scenario, and smooth jazz.
- Akira is a dystopian science fiction animation film featuring superpowers and high-speed chases.
There are so many hit animes released every year that the landscape is constantly changing. From slaying demons to figuring out the complexities of a long life, anime can approach a very diverse genre with a variety of art styles and stories.
Animation fans may love all things new and shiny, but returning to the nostalgic stuff is always a good option. There are so many classic anime that are old, but there are also anime that you wouldn't think of as classics until you look at the calendar. So, here are some classic animations you must see.
8 Neon Genesis Evangelion
From Mecca to Fear
Neon Genesis Evangelion starts out as an ordinary mecha series, but soon morphs into a full-blown psychological horror story. As the teenage EVA pilots struggle to keep Earth safe from the ever-attacking angels, they must also find a way to defeat their inner demons.
Characters are complex and no one is without flaws. But this only further emphasizes the fact that they are only human. This is one of the most interesting anime of all time because of the way it was made. Due to budget cuts, the animation soon reused scenes and even used crayon drawings in certain frames, but this only intensified the emotional turmoil the episode conveyed.
7 cowboy bebop
Smooth jazz and softer dub
Spike Spiegel is one of the coolest animated characters of all time. Just the way he moves, talks, and handles weapons can make you really like him. The animation revolves around him and his fellow bounty hunters traveling through space, but the show is very episodic.
While most modern anime strive to tell a cohesive story from beginning to end, Cowboy Bebop has the luxury of taking its time while working towards a climactic conclusion. This gives viewers plenty of time to watch Spike and his crew get caught up in action-packed and comedic scenarios.
6 Akira
Origin of Akira Slide
Anime definitely loves dystopian and post-apocalyptic scenarios. Akira focuses on Kaneda and Tetsuo, whose friendship falls apart when Tetsuo begins to develop superpowers. These forces are the same as those that devastated Tokyo in the past.
If you're wondering where the Akira slide came from, this is it. This animated film has had such an impact on pop culture as a whole that it can't help but be noticed whenever it's referenced through animation. So if you like high-speed chases, superpowers, and gritty violence, this is the place to satisfy.
5 ghost in the shell
No, not Ghost in the Shell
This is Ghost in the Shell. No, it's not the movie starring Scarlett Johansson, it's the original animated movie. When a hacker known as the Puppet Master begins hacking into these enhanced minds, Motoko Kusanagi must find a way to stop them.
Ghost in the Shell may have been introduced to the world over 30 years ago when it was first serialized, but its message still rings true as our world evolves further. The same technology that helps make things easier can also be misused, whether in the realm of fiction or reality.
4 inuyasha
romantic drama
Inuyasha may sometimes feel like a '90s anime, but it's actually a product of the early 2000s. Inuyasha took the romance genre to a whole new level. The blossoming love between Inuyasha and Kagome is always central to the story, but there is an exciting and action-packed narrative happening simultaneously.
When the Shikon Jewel shatters into pieces, Inuyasha must collect them before they can bestow their power on the darkest beings. There are a lot of scary monsters running around in this show, so it may give off scary images to younger audiences. Revelations and twists keep the story fresh and make you want to know more about Inuyasha's history.
Off the rails and off course
Fullmetal Alchemist will baffle you if you've only seen Brotherhood. With the manga going strong, Fullmetal Alchemist received its first animated series in 2003. But the story soon took a completely different turn.
In anime, characters are written differently as their backstories and relationships change. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood may fill you with hope and victory, but the original animation goes in the opposite direction. It might not be for those who like happy endings, but if you're looking for an adaptation that sometimes has a bit more depth and fleshes out some of the characters, check it out.
2 dragon ball
What is a power level?
Before Dragon Ball Z explored Namek, Android, and even the monster Majin Buu, everything was much simpler. Dragon Ball is an original story that follows Goku's journey to meet Bulma for the first time and collect the Dragon Balls.
The action has a traditional martial arts approach, focusing on characters developing new skills rather than resorting to transformation. Goku is also not the most powerful, but we see him grow from an innocent kid in the woods into the fighter he would eventually become. If you like the feeling of your characters growing older over time, don't skip Dragon Ball before starting Z.
1 Yuyu Hakusho
ghosts and psychic powers
Yu Yu Hakusho follows the story of a delinquent who spends the last seconds of his life saving his child. This act of kindness prevents those responsible from going straight to hell while Yusuke Urameshi debates what to do with him.
This causes him to be sent back to the realm of the living, but given a new role as Young Detective. He uses his new powers to fight demons, participate in tournaments, and solve mysteries. Slowly but surely, his life begins to change as his change in attitude attracts the attention of more friendly people. A fantastic redemption story for lovers of ghosts and the supernatural.
