5 Underrated 1990s Anime That Are Masterpieces From Start to Finish

The 1990s are remembered for towering anime classics, but plenty of brilliant shows lived outside the spotlight. Some were too strange, too quiet, too dark, or simply released in formats that made them harder to find. That does not make them any less memorable.

From globe-trotting mysteries and bleak dystopias to eerie science fiction and space survival, these five anime offer stories that still feel remarkably complete today. None needs a huge franchise behind it to leave an impression. If you have already worked through the decade’s obvious favorites, these are five worth putting on next.

1 Master Keaton Turns Quiet Mysteries Into Unforgettable Adventures

Master Keaton follows Taichi Hiraga-Keaton, a freelance insurance investigator with an unusual past who travels around the world solving cases. The setup sounds dry until the episodes start mixing mysteries, danger, history, family drama, and little human stories. Keaton himself is wonderfully easy to spend time with: capable without feeling invincible, and thoughtful without becoming dull.

The TV series aired from 1998 to 1999, with 15 additional episodes released as OVAs, bringing the complete anime to 39 episodes. It is the kind of show you can settle into slowly, and every case leaves you wanting more.

2 Now and Then, Here and There Makes Every Moment Hit Painfully Hard

Shu is a Japanese teenager who gets pulled into a brutal future where water is scarce, and children are forced into war. The Isekai classic Now and Then, Here and There is undeniably heavy, but it never feels cruel just for the sake of being shocking.

Shu’s stubborn kindness gives the story a beating heart, while Lala-Ru and the cast make the journey difficult to shake. AIC’s 13-episode series premiered in October 1999 and finished in January 2000. It is short, intense, and emotionally devastating without stretching its story beyond what it needs to be.

3 Key the Metal Idol Makes a Strange Android Story Deeply Human

Key the Metal Idol begins with Tokiko Mima, a 17-year-old girl who believes she is a robot created by her late grandfather. According to his final message, she can become human again by making 30,000 true friends. Her attempt to achieve that goal takes her into the world of pop music, technology, and increasingly disturbing events.

Released from 1994 to 1997 as a 15-episode OVA series, Key the Metal Idol feels unlike almost anything else from the decade. What starts as an unusual premise gradually becomes something much darker and surprisingly emotional.

4 The Irresponsible Captain Tylor Makes Space Comedy Unforgettable

The Irresponsible Captain Tylor follows 20-year-old Justy Ueki Tylor, who joins the United Planets Space Force hoping for an easy life and somehow ends up commanding the destroyer Soyokaze. His crew quickly learns that their captain may be a complete idiot, a secret genius, or somehow both.

The 26-episode TV series aired entirely in 1993, from January to July, and tells a complete story without needing its later OVAs to finish it. It is funny, surprisingly warm, and packed with characters who are genuinely fun to spend time with.

5 Infinite Ryvius Turns a Stranded Space Crew Into Gripping Drama

Infinite Ryvius follows teenage cadets who are left on their own after their training station is destroyed and its adult crew is killed. They escape aboard the Ryvius, but getting home becomes increasingly difficult as tensions and power struggles develop among the young survivors.

The 26-episode Sunrise series aired from October 1999 to March 2000, and its large cast gives the story plenty of room for friendships, rivalries, mistakes, and breakdowns. It can get surprisingly intense, but that is exactly what makes it so easy to become invested in the crew’s journey.

Have you watched any of these 90s underrated anime series, and if so, which one is your favourite? We’d love to know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.