Though anime adaptations have significantly evolved over the years, one cannot shake off their roots within timeless classics in the genre. These masterpieces continue to charm the audience with their innovative narratives and artistic expressions. Here are five of the best classic anime if you want to travel back in time and dive into the unparalleled stories that resonate across decades. Dive into this list of five of the best classic anime of all time, recommended by Otakus around the internet.
Rurouni Kenshin (January, 1996-September, 1998)
Number of episodes: 96
The television anime series Rurouni Kenshin is indubitably one of the best classic anime ever. In the wake of the Bakumatsu era, Hitokiri Battousai terrorized Japan as a feared assassin. However, he suddenly disappeared during the Japanese Revolution, although his terror still shook war veterans.
As it happens, Battousai attempted to leave his past behind and venture on a journey to redeem himself. Forsaking his dark past, he guised himself as Kenshin Himura. Kenshin aimed to protect the weak, leading a life of redemption as a skilled swordsman.
Berserk (October, 1997-April, 1998)
Number of episodes: 25
Berserk revolves around Guts, who comes to be known as the Black Swordsman and a mercenary who travels around. He works for money, shifting allegiance to those who offer him more money. This is until he finds the Band of Falcon and mercilessly kills many of its members.
Guts encounters Griffith, the Band of Falcon’s leader, who manages to defeat Guts, leading him to become a Falcon. Within three years of joining forces with Griffith, Guts becomes an indomitable commander in the Band of Falcon.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (October, 1995-March, 1996)
Number of episodes: 26
Neon Genesis Evangelion stems from its director Hideaki Anno’s depressive episodes, exploring dark life themes. The series has a psychological influence on the viewers as it features Angels. These angels are monstrous entities who appeared fifteen years after the Second Impact catastrophe in Tokyo-3.
Humankind struggles to find ways to defeat the monsters, but to no avail. However, this led to the emergence of an organization called NERV, led by Gendou Ikari. The group builds Evangelions, the humanoid robots capable of combating Angels. With human lives at stake, the series explores Gendou and his young son, Shinji, navigating Evangelion Unit-01 to protect them from Angels.
Ghost in the Shell (November 1995)
Adapting Masamune Shirow’s manga, Ghost in the Shell is an anime film set in Niihama City. The plot is also set in the future, that is, 2029, preparing fans for a theme that touches upon technological advancements. As such, the city undergoes cybernetic enhancements that allow its residents to replace their human limbs with robotic ones.
The director, Mamoru Oshii, worked on the film, catering to its philosophical elements as Motoko, the protagonist, grapples with them. Motoko Kusanagi leads Public Security Section 9 and is responsible for protecting the city from any worldly threats. While doing so, he seeks the Puppet Master, a hacker who strips citizens of their memory. With rising stakes, the anime perfectly captures various complicated themes, leading to global acclaim.
Yu Yu Hakusho (October, 1992 to January, 1995)
Number of episodes: 112
Yu Yu Hakusho is another of the best classic anime ever to garner global acclaim. It ranked as the second-best anime in 1993 and reached deserved heights. The narrative features Yuusuke Urameshi, a 14-year-old delinquent. One fateful day, he saves a young boy in a road accident. This captures spirit realm authorities’ attention. Koenma, the leader of the group, along with other authorities, offers him an opportunity that could help him seek redemption.
Hence, the spirit realm gives Yuusuke the task of wiping evil out from the face of Earth. As such, he becomes a Spirit Detective, forming unexpected alliances in his journey. They turn against threats to humanity, attempting to challenge and defeat them one by one.
