The legacy of anime is a long and rich one, with each and every decade witness the debut of several amazing shows that are worth checking out for any fan of this medium. From battle shonen anime that pushes the boundaries of what is achievable in this genre all the way to personal and more human stories which end up serving as major tear-jerkers — there are several genres encompassed in this medium, all of which are quite engaging in their own right.
There are several anime released around 20 years back that have become quite legendary in their own right, and this list serves as a celebration of all anime that have gracefully aged by two decades. Chances are that many people have witnessed these amazing anime firsthand!
8 Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Ghost in the Shell was a brilliant movie that gave viewers a tantalizing glimpse into a cyberpunk city that was rife with detail. Major Motoko Kusanagi's adventures were a joy to witness, and it was clear that players wanted to see way more of her.
This led to the creation of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, which took a look at Public Security Section 9, a law enforcement unit that included Kusanagi and other such characters. The cases dealt with by this unit are riveting and encompass 52 episodes in total.
7 Full Metal Panic!
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The term "Full Metal" brings a vivid picture of one of the most popular anime of all time... but that's not being discussed here. Rather, it's the series Full Metal Panic! that was released in 2002 and featured a pretty familiar yet fun premise.
The series takes a look at Sousuke Sagara and her struggles to be undercover in a high school and take care of a hot-headed student called Kaname Chidori. It's a fun series that viewers will definitely find some enjoyment in if they love the high-school backdrop that accompanies its action set pieces.
6 Hungry Heart: Wild Striker
Sports anime can be a bit of a hard sell, but the easily-identifiable conflict coupled with some emotional moments made Hungry Heart: Wild Striker worth checking out for most fans. Watching Kano Kyosuke transform from a delinquent into one of the most promising strikers in football is a blast.
It's a great feel-good story with several tear-jerking moments that fans will love. It helps that the side characters are also pretty engaging in their own right, making Hungry Heart: Wild Striker a blast from start to end.
5 Duel Masters
Duel Masters is a show based on the popular card game that made waves in Japan and overseas as well. The adaptation might've been a marketing tool for this card game but it definitely had enough quality moments to make it worth a watch.
Watching Shobu evolve from a greenhorn into one of the more competent duelists around was a blast. Viewers loved watching this show as a kid before meeting up with their friends and partaking in some major Duel Masters battles.
4 Hunter X Hunter OVA
Most people consider the 2011 adaptation of Hunter X Hunter to be the definitive way to experience the series. While this is definitely quite true in its own right, there's no denying that the older anime also has its fair share of draws that make it worth a watch.
After the original anime ended its run, a sequel in the form of Hunter X HunterOVA was launched in 2002. This series spanned 30 episodes and covered more of the manga's story, although it never received an English dub.
3 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Gundam is one of the most popular mecha anime series of all time, with this long-running franchise still going strong to this day. The ninth installment in the series, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, was released in 2002 to both critical and commercial success.
The idea of mankind developing into sub-species makes for a great concept that Mobile Suit Gundam SEED uses to great effect. While it's still similar to past shows in the series in many ways, it's still well worth a watch for fans of mecha anime.
2 Princess Tutu
Princess Tutu is easily one of the more unique magical girl anime out there. The idea of a duck transforming into a ballerina called Princess Tutu makes for a pretty enjoyable watch, even if some of its concepts might be way out there.
Along with its obvious ballet inspiration, the series also takes cues from several fairy tales to create a riveting and enjoyable story that fans of such anime will have a great time with. The idea of using dance instead of combat to bring about change in the world is utilized with great finesse and elevates the anime's quality in the eyes of many fans.
1 Naruto
Naruto is a series that needs no introduction. This popular shonen anime became a part of the Big Three and continues to be one of the most popular shows of all time, with the underdog story of the eponymous protagonist being a joy to follow.
Naruto's conflict with Sasuke is one of the strongest pillars of the series, with the side characters also getting their time to shine. The Fourth Shinobi World War arc might have had its fair share of missteps, but the quality of Naruto is still unquestionable even now.