The hand drawn animation with its insane detail is why I prefer the style to be honest, it just has soul. Also its just a breath of fresh air, nowadays with CGI becoming massively popular.
That's what it is. Computers are a hinderence, blocking the connection between artist and viewer. New anime, while entertaining, are soulless entertainment.
Cowboy bebop is literally 1 season, gun grave 1 season, trigun 1 season, the thing is, they had a vibe. It was beautiful, I believe digital have the potential, but it’s a trend area right now until we see the right production company that will separate themselves
Cowboy Bebop is two seasons. The first one ended with the Jupiter Jazz two parter. There's also the movie that fits squarely between episodes 22 and 23. IMO, it is not optional to skip the movie as it helps bridge the radically different tones of both of those episodes.
There was always something that I liked about sci-fi anime back in that era. Maybe it was when the screens popped up, you would see the fuzziness of the light surrounding the screens. Definitely the atmosphere
its not just nostalgia, i didnt see most of the 90s animated movies and series until i was already an adult, including Cowboy bebop. i grew up watching Naruto, Bleach and similar shows. but my god when i got into 90s anime, its just so perfect in soul capturing and putting you in a mood that no new show can.
HAND DRAWN is king. CG can work at times but with moderate use. HAND DRAWN and Traditional will ALWAYS rule as the beloved standard. We were better people before digital.
You literally have read my mind, for the past week, I've been looking back on old anime shows, video games, consoles, Xbox and ps2.. And I'm sorry but back then, they put heart and soul into their projects, and you could literally feel it!
bro when were u born idk why people are acting like the 90s were a long time ago im 28 and thats not that long ago idk why all these yojngings act like this was ages ago
@@J91Y because the internet happened. You know a decade was a decent measurement for times changing? Since the late 2000s. It's been a bland wash of everything happening at once. Nothing truly defines these last 2 decades aside from like Ai.
@@J91Y because it was a long time ago. Last decade before the new century to which the digital era really flourished. Same reason why people now look at film photography and vinyls differently - it’s a by-gone age.
It was absolutely the storytelling. Each one is unique and special in their own ways. The writers weren't scared to take their stories to dark places or make them more themed for adult viewers. Today's anime could learn from its predecessors.
Outlaw Star is still to this day my favorite anime. I've watched 100s of series, 10s of thousands of episodes across all genres. Lots of good stuff out there but OS is a series I come back to again, and again, and again.
Great video. One thing I've found not often discussed when talking about anime from the 80s and 90s is how the medium took into account the format that most people were going to be watching at the time: barring movies released in theaters, many anime were made for 4:3 CRT TVs. Many of the imperfections are hidden by the glow of the screen and the shading often looks profoundly different, much more stark and deeper in contrast compared to watching it through modern formats. It's one of the reasons the lines are so thick in older shows like DBZ; if they weren't, they wouldn't be visible on TV. It's impossible to capture in a UA-cam video for obvious reasons, but if you have the chance, pick up some old anime tapes and watch them on an old tube TV. It's seriously a whole different experience.
I'm really glad I discovered this video, ever since I began watching anime shows again a few years ago, I couldn't help but think how I preferred the nostalgic look of 90's/early 2000's shows (even though I was hardly even there at the time). I've spoken to countless friends about it and they always seem to come to the conclusion that these ideas are weird, and that technology has made animation the best its ever been. However, this has clearly shown me why these shows stand out as being some of the best ever... Much appreciated!
Cheers man, all the best for more subs as this is a great presentation. Un-cut DBZ on Cartoon Network in NZ in the 90's, was well worth setting the VCR up to record the Toonami slot at 1am LOL.
First off, I appreciate you making a video about this subject without being hostile towards other eras of anime. Like, yeah, I grew up on 90's anime and it'll always be my favorite, but I can still acknowledge the good in the modern. Instant like. With that out of the way, I think it really has to do with the culture of the time. Japan was suffering a huge recession, depression was starting to be acknowledged as a serious issue, and it just felt right to have intensely flawed heroes in media as a reflection of that. Evangelion might always be my favorite anime, but it won't be because of the animation, (cue another 10+ seconds of still elevator rides and robots holding cute angel guys) it will be because of the tone and feel of the show, and though it's a master class in that feeling of artistic miasma of melancholy, it wasn't the only one. I couldn't tell you what made the animation so good, I'm no expert, but I would like to point out that it's easy to see 90's anime as special because, as it was a niche import, we actually got to see far less of the turds at the time, versus now where anime is a fairly common nerdy interest that you can see every turd alongside anything special, thanks to The Internet. The modern blunders stand out more because you don't have to dig deep to find them, as you would have to do the 90's blunders. Also, as a giant robot fan, I've got this "who can beat Goku" shit locked down. An angered Ideon could destroy the fucking universe, and there's no way Goku's personality, such as it is, isn't going to frustrate it.
for me its how much saturated newer anime are. like they are all so bright 0 contrast of colors. Everything just look so shiny like they rubbed Vaseline on everything
I definitely agree that the aesthetic of '90s anime is virtually unrivaled in the realm of animation. I understand why shows today can't look exactly like they did back then, but I wish more animated works would at least make an effort to look more like that classic cel animation the way that Dragon Ball Super: Broly did-that is easily one of my favorite works of Japanese animation from the past ten or fifteen years aesthetically.
A lot of shows now are actually done using cel animation too! It’s not as common but when you notice, it’s amazing. Also, that DBS broly movie is FANTASTIC
90s anime had concentrated storytelling. It was like how old movies are complete stories. No long standing plot threads. As some have said, they were a vibe. Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Berserk, Yu Yu Hakusho. Shows like Naruto, Bleach and One Piece want to constantly expand their worlds and lore whilst 90s anime aren't interested in being the next Star Wars. They were happy being vibes.
As an artist that has studied with japanese mangaka, try to understand from a historic standpoint, that not all 90s anime is better, we just remember the best ones. Consider that there are many good animes yet to be discovered of this period and with really original ideas. Sometimes the "good idea bad execution" is not remember too much. this is, for example, why some people believe that beethoven was the only good musician of his time when in reality there are a bunch of great art pieces that are not as good but good enough. We are going to have a period where the 2010 animes are going to be remembered as the classics too. edit: I guess some people do not understand that preference or mood (whatever that is) doesnt equal quality, dont get me wrong I prefer many older animes over new ones but im no so blindfolded to think with nostalgia over objective analysis. your "mood" is an effect created by vhs recordings, broadcasters and limited color palettes. its the tech not the animation. We have today Waaaay better fight scenes than before.
All I can say for late 1990s/early 2000s anime is: Boogiepop Phantom, Serial Experiments Lain, Birdy the Mighty, Blue Seed, Gasaraki, so many magnificent shows that most "anime influencers" never talk about.
@@EmptyKingdoms finally someone that mentioned the birdy the mighty ova. let's not forget stuff such as gunbuster, golden boy, battle angel alita, gunsmith cats, etc.
I think something that helped a lot too was the CRT TVs that we had in those days. They added to the charm of that era's anime. Unlike modern displays CRTs felt like you were watching through a window, they gave the images a lot of depth and bit of a 3D feeling. Modern displays make everything look flatter.
great analysis of the craftsmanship of everything that went into making this. the quiet tone of the video adds to the contemplative feeling. thanks for making this!
Also all the omega level legendary animators were doing there thing big time in the late 80s and 90s, now they just pop up for a 20 sec clip in your fav modern anime.
Really beautiful video man u did a great job. I see u like the ghibli movies as they were portrayed so often in this video and it would be so cool if u could make videos about them individually because I think they are all so iconic and deserve to be talked about
I think a lot of it has to do with Character Models. The style today for the most part is a particular style. The 90s had that realistic proportion. It translated into a lot of Gritty scenes. Its a lot easier to distance yourself visually when you got absurdy slender appearances, static and often ridiculous hair and massive eyes that have like 3 looks.
The fact action sequences dominate the scene now shows us what the current directors paid attention to when they were younger. Goes to show why most shows now are so forgettable. Even the stories now do not captivate me any more (live-action cinema seems to do it better).
For me it’s the psychological depth sometimes hidden sometimes projected straight forward. Although today’s Anime still has it it’s way more rare and I think because of the bright colors that are preferred 99% of the time it doesn’t hit as much as 90s anime this goes for sadness to and emotions like relief, pressure, scare, numbness and the occasional cute happiness sometimes even a bit bittersweet. Maybe it’s the writing though I don’t know but it had and still has its flear
90s anime is truly unmatched. It has a charm that most modern day anime simply lack. They all just look "generic anime" nowadays. I just started watching Ninja Kamui and only because of a few screenshots I've seen on Instagram. It gave me that 90s anime vibe. Ghost In The Shell meets Ninja Scroll type of a thing. More of that please.
My favorite anime from '90s are Cowboy Bebop, Sailor Moon, Tenchi Muyo, Outlaw Star, and Princess Mononoke. All of these have great sketch work, art, color, storytelling, location, and creators talent.
Yeah, I'll take '80s and '90s hand-drawn anime over 21st Century "cel-shaded" shit, all day every day. I love series like Cowboy Bebop, Macross/Robotech, Gundam Wing, Neon Genesis Evanglion and Gatchaman, and movies like Akira, Ghost In The Shell, Ninja Scroll, Wicked City, Demon City Shinjuku, Arcadia Of My Youth, both Vampire Hunter D films, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Grave Of The Fireflies.
As someone who grew up in the 90s The thing you say are not incorrect, but 90s Anime wasn't inherently special. Like today there was a bunch of low budget garbage around, we just only remember the truly outstanding masterpieces.
Hate to be that guy, but AKIRA came out in 1988 based on a manga from 1982. It's more indicative of anime from that time period than from the "lost decade" of the 90's.
I was almost that guy. I think Akira is just on another level that I don’t believe it fits any time period. Although 80s it would look amazing no matter what year it was released. I can imagine showing this to someone who had no background on it and trying to get them to guess the year.
90s anime had a lot of depth and soul. The hand drawn visuals, the painting, the colors the movement. And in a lot of the 90s animes, not all, but many were more realistic than today. Mostly I noticed when it comes to movement and body proportions. Women had more natural waistlines than today and the stories felt more typical and every day. Stories of normal girls and boys, men and women dealing with life. With just a little fantasy thrown in.
90’s anime was a golden era of experimentation that’s been lost in newer generations. I think Miyazaki talks abt this a bit. But some of the soul that was present in older studios taking the risk lead to greatness. But as it’s aged it seems it’s becoming more formulaic and standardized for more safe bets because the studios know more of what will generally work without having to take those risks. It’s become less about the style and pressing against the wall, and more about ensuring a show that will bring in the money. As well as them trying to cut costs b/c the studios have never treated animators well.
They're outdoing each other to our benefit and soon, the world took notice. If the anime today was what we had back then, it wouldn't be the worldwide hit it was.
As amazing as anime is now in this current era, the traditional hand-drawn animation and the overall aesthetic of 90s anime is unmatched. There was a lot more heart and soul put into the art form back them.
as a moonie 🌙 it is so nice to see usagi get some respect put on her name. people really underestimate how powerful she is, mainly because they’re too wrapped up in the “magical girl” aspect of it. thank you for showing sailor moon love 💖
Can't deny the long working hours due to nearly everything is manual labor. It was the last years of the multiplane camera era. Yes, technology has come a long way and it should be alleviate some of the burden off but unfortunately some studios are taking way too many projects even though they possess the latest tech in animation. I have no particular favourite but I'll go with Agent Aika. One of the examples of 90's OVA (direct-to-video) animes and it's an original work (not adapted from any source materials such as manga).
Thank you so much for this video. Ever since I've been watching these old animes, I've always been having a connection with the characters, their flaws, and perspectives on life. It was truly a wonderful experience.
I couldn’t have found this video at any other perfect moment. It’s 22:30, barely -1C° foggy, almost no people around and the unpaved ground is covered in 1 meter thick snow. It’s the fog and the snow makes it so quiet and the lights by the church are dimmed by it. It’s almost ghostly, yet the air is crisp and the smell of winter is so distinct I can taste it. So I stand at my balcony, sipping a cup of tea and listens to this video. Indeed it’s like a quiet scene from a 90's anime.
I think one factor in why 90s anime was great is that it obviously drew a ton of inspiration from 80s Hollywood films. In the decades since, I feel that newer anime are increasingly drawing inspiration from older anime, and this starts to feel repetitive and boring to old heads like myself.
What you are feeling is works done for art vs works done for profit. There is a reason why there are 50 "in another world" animes released each year. That is profit. The reason why 90's anime is so good is passion. There was no expectation of a global audience and market, just art being done for the love of the manga.
The hand drawn animation is what makes it so special, not to mention they just wanted to tell Amazing Stories. I could go back and watch great teacher onizuka anytime any day amazing god tier show
I agree with you on these reasons. I think, it was realer. They didn't have to make twisted characters into twisted worlds and twisted motives and so on. It was more humane, more flesh and blood. Even if it was the biggest fantasy ass world ever, it stood out because it related more to our world, our everyday lives. New animes can do that, but most of them are dull, mere entertainment and profit chasing . 90's anime had message, had meaning, something we could build in into ourselves, something that made us more. An experience closer to us, more colorful worlds (multi-dimensional and feeling evoking), like our's.
To be brutally honest is that the market wasn’t so saturated there was anime/manga for everyone but it was targeted more so but also they took their time with the styles and stories, I think the rarity of the anime at the time meaning that we never seen anything like it but now we can kind of guess where and when the story will lead to.
Something about the 90's in general was really special. Grunge/Alt Rock wave, Golden era of Hip Hop, start of the internet, and everyone was really violent for some reason. I firmly believe that a lot of the best media we have came from the 90's. People just made good art at that time for whatever reason.
Oh I definitely agree, especially with the Grunge/Alt Rock wave comment. I’ve only recently (the past 2 years or so) gotten into that phase and it’s amazing
The video hit every point, and I believe it's due to the nostalgia factor. It's important not to forget where we came from because it helps us understand where we're headed. If the animators didn't put in the effort and love to create the animations and characters, we would feel that something was missing. However, since they did, we can feel the same emotions they intended.
Nostalgia definitely plays a huge factor in how we remember and rate things. As important as it is to appreciate old anime, newer 2000s anime also did amazing things! (Video on it maybe? 👀)
I feel like most of what was said here applies to 80's anime too. Zeta Gundam was made in 85 and I think it still looks beautiful. It's also a good reference because it can be compared to the original series from 79. In six years there were some major leaps in quality and funding.
I tend to consider the late 80s to early oughts to be a golden era for anime. Yes, in part because it finally clicked and I began watching these odd cartoons that were broadcast over satellite back in high school, and most of it was the 90s back catalogs in Japan. But over this time period it evolved quite significantly in terms of vision and artistic expression. We saw it mostly in the OVAs and films, but many of the older series are now considered iconic and must watch for new fans and the old guard alike. We don't see this for eras prior. There are gems from the 80s that get rediscovered (I suggest the Crusher Joe film and OVA), however with earlier icons we don't see the recommendations as often. A hardcore fan will seek out Astro Boy or Mazinger Z but that push of "you gotta see this!" isn't there even with remastered titles. But Akira, Ghost in the Shell and Cowboy Bebop are still held in high regard for raising the bar for their time. We still discuss Evangelion and Perfect Blue, we debate Bebop's ending to this day. It's very much the only place to start for newcomers.
The best 1990’s tv-series is Lain in my opinion. If we look at movies, Ghost in the Shell is my number 1. While not Japanese, Heavy Metal, which came out in 1981, was very good as well.
Bro the way you explained the Era I l grew up in and be so Eloquent about it and the love you showed brother I thank you I 😢 cause this was the best time in life for most of us and you showed ❤️ I appreciate you 🙏 more then you know. P.s Spike was a great man.
My personal opinion is that I prefer the older 80s and 90s art aesthetic to today's animation styles. I watch dozens of shows a year and have been watching anime from the time of VHS tapes picked up in rental stores as a kid in the late 90s. I think my love of the medium was brought back by watching so many LoFi hip hop vids here on youtube during the early 2010s. So many great feelings well up inside just seeing an old vid on Triangle Music or any of the other great channels focused on vaporwave and lofi. After a few years of watching these relaxing and beautiful music videos I had to of course start watching the old series I had been away from for a decade. Now I am watching alot of the older anime to see the beauty and love put into each and every frame. Craftmanship and attention to detail define the era even for silly shows like Urusei Yatsura. And the most beautiful ones are always OVAs or original video animation that was released straight to VHS with a high budget and even higher production quality. Watch something like the chase scene in Gunsmith Cats or the You're Under Arrest OVAs and you will see what I mean. This was also a time of very free reign given to storytelling so Sci Fi and horror had a golden era of fantastic series and gorgeous watercolor backgrounds.
Honestly I prefer the animation in something like Sonny boy or a place further than the universe over any 90s anime and lotgh is one of my top 3 anime’s of all time
What made it special? Tools to create and produce and distribute it weren't as widely available as they are today, so people put more effort into ensuring it would be well received (same with games and movies)
Liked, subscribed and commented not only because this is a great video, but so your channel has more reach. You're putting in the work and it shows, bro. Keep it up! ❤️💯
Dope video bro. I'll always have soft spot in my heart for 90s anime. It was what I grew up on and inspired much of my creative work. Its always gon be undefeated for me.
Man this video didn’t just hit me but how much I despise the current anime fans who have been harassing animators online the whole internet world destroyed a whole generation instead of being thankful they are ungrateful thanks for this video would you mind putting the music in the description?
Very good video. I would like to add something that I don't think I heard you mentioned. It is something about anime from the 80s and 90s that I find others share the same sentiment. Anime from this era was released into the West in the time that the internet was not so popular nor could it do the things it could do today easily. In other words, it was harder to get a hold of, look into or find others who shared your interest especially as a kid or teen. It was also something reserved for the Nerdy or Geeky crowd vs how everybody watches it today openly. As anime was introduced into the west it carried a feeling of being Foreign, Alien, Taboo, Unknown yet beautiful especially to our young impressionable minds. I talk to people my age who have the same feelings. It's undescribable sometimes. Not quite nostalgic but something else. I'm not saying anime now is lesser but it just doesn't seem to carry that feeling with us or the current generation but 90's anime will always be remembered for that feeling for me at least
I think it's amazing that in 2021 with Arcane, we finally have something that harkens back to 90's anime. How did over 2 decades pass without something as quality as Outlaw Star being produced?
Let's just face it, 2010 was when the world started falling apart, marking around ten years after the internet really became prevalent, bringing about a change in social media, access to things we shouldn't have access to and the world at large just fell apart, it's been going downhill since. Thankfully Japan has avoided a lot of these issues, but still...
The story telling felt more real and grounded to be honest. Today's anime are so over the top most of the time, that it doesnt feel like we could put ourselves in their shoes. Thats why Vinland Saga feels so different in this time. Its the same kinda story we had in the 90s.
As an "old" head (40 years old) I've been through this debate before with gaming. I grew up with sh!tty graphics both in games/anime. I love the aesthetic but I need quality in terms of resolution. I want that crisp vibrant color spectrum. I need fluid realism in my anime/gaming. I require something different. Nothing wrong with that. Just like yall kids need that old school look/feel in both gaming and anime.
What’s your favourite 90s/Retro anime? Personally, I’d pick Yu Yu Hakusho! Check out all my socials @adrynsweb and thank you for watching ❤️
For 90's I'd say yu yu hakusho too but if were also counting early 2000's then flcl
Cowboy bebop
Slayers 1995
Feels like cheating choosing YYH.
Dark Tournament is still the best tournament arc ever.
yyh and cowboy bebop
The hand drawn animation with its insane detail is why I prefer the style to be honest, it just has soul. Also its just a breath of fresh air, nowadays with CGI becoming massively popular.
That's what it is. Computers are a hinderence, blocking the connection between artist and viewer. New anime, while entertaining, are soulless entertainment.
Too bad with costs and the already mistreatment of animators now we will never get this type ever again
It's still hand drawn on paper AI haven't take over lol.
The insane details are usually reserved for direct-to-video (OVA) depending on the skills of the animator and budget allocated.
It depends tbh. We only remember the well made stuff, but there’s plenty of stuff that looked bad while being hand drawn.
90s anime with a good budget is the most gorgeous art ever
Definitely!
To be honest, nothing has ever captured the same feeling I get from watching 90s anime. I like a lot of new stuff, but 90s always hits different.
I think a lot of people here would agree xd
Exactly. Its a feel
Cowboy bebop is literally 1 season, gun grave 1 season, trigun 1 season, the thing is, they had a vibe. It was beautiful, I believe digital have the potential, but it’s a trend area right now until we see the right production company that will separate themselves
Cowboy Bebop is two seasons. The first one ended with the Jupiter Jazz two parter. There's also the movie that fits squarely between episodes 22 and 23. IMO, it is not optional to skip the movie as it helps bridge the radically different tones of both of those episodes.
There was always something that I liked about sci-fi anime back in that era. Maybe it was when the screens popped up, you would see the fuzziness of the light surrounding the screens. Definitely the atmosphere
Oh I definitely agree. The slight chromatic abbreviation on the characters too? You just can’t beat it can you?
its not just nostalgia, i didnt see most of the 90s animated movies and series until i was already an adult, including Cowboy bebop. i grew up watching Naruto, Bleach and similar shows. but my god when i got into 90s anime, its just so perfect in soul capturing and putting you in a mood that no new show can.
Same here. The 90s stuff I got into as an adult and man I understand why they were so timeless.
Can’t explain it either man. Like it’s charm, the beautiful art it’s perfect. And it hits so good around the midnight time as well.
90's anime just hit different when watching it
HAND DRAWN is king. CG can work at times but with moderate use. HAND DRAWN and Traditional will ALWAYS rule as the beloved standard. We were better people before digital.
You literally have read my mind, for the past week, I've been looking back on old anime shows, video games, consoles, Xbox and ps2.. And I'm sorry but back then, they put heart and soul into their projects, and you could literally feel it!
bro when were u born idk why people are acting like the 90s were a long time ago im 28 and thats not that long ago idk why all these yojngings act like this was ages ago
@@J91Y because the internet happened. You know a decade was a decent measurement for times changing? Since the late 2000s. It's been a bland wash of everything happening at once. Nothing truly defines these last 2 decades aside from like Ai.
@@J91Y because it was a long time ago. Last decade before the new century to which the digital era really flourished. Same reason why people now look at film photography and vinyls differently - it’s a by-gone age.
It was absolutely the storytelling. Each one is unique and special in their own ways. The writers weren't scared to take their stories to dark places or make them more themed for adult viewers. Today's anime could learn from its predecessors.
Outlaw Star is still to this day my favorite anime. I've watched 100s of series, 10s of thousands of episodes across all genres. Lots of good stuff out there but OS is a series I come back to again, and again, and again.
Same Here
RIP Akira Toriyama 🕊
Just made my tribute to him: eternally grateful for all his work 🕊️
Great video.
One thing I've found not often discussed when talking about anime from the 80s and 90s is how the medium took into account the format that most people were going to be watching at the time: barring movies released in theaters, many anime were made for 4:3 CRT TVs. Many of the imperfections are hidden by the glow of the screen and the shading often looks profoundly different, much more stark and deeper in contrast compared to watching it through modern formats. It's one of the reasons the lines are so thick in older shows like DBZ; if they weren't, they wouldn't be visible on TV.
It's impossible to capture in a UA-cam video for obvious reasons, but if you have the chance, pick up some old anime tapes and watch them on an old tube TV. It's seriously a whole different experience.
I'm really glad I discovered this video, ever since I began watching anime shows again a few years ago, I couldn't help but think how I preferred the nostalgic look of 90's/early 2000's shows (even though I was hardly even there at the time). I've spoken to countless friends about it and they always seem to come to the conclusion that these ideas are weird, and that technology has made animation the best its ever been. However, this has clearly shown me why these shows stand out as being some of the best ever... Much appreciated!
Cheers man, all the best for more subs as this is a great presentation. Un-cut DBZ on Cartoon Network in NZ in the 90's, was well worth setting the VCR up to record the Toonami slot at 1am LOL.
First off, I appreciate you making a video about this subject without being hostile towards other eras of anime. Like, yeah, I grew up on 90's anime and it'll always be my favorite, but I can still acknowledge the good in the modern. Instant like.
With that out of the way, I think it really has to do with the culture of the time. Japan was suffering a huge recession, depression was starting to be acknowledged as a serious issue, and it just felt right to have intensely flawed heroes in media as a reflection of that. Evangelion might always be my favorite anime, but it won't be because of the animation, (cue another 10+ seconds of still elevator rides and robots holding cute angel guys) it will be because of the tone and feel of the show, and though it's a master class in that feeling of artistic miasma of melancholy, it wasn't the only one.
I couldn't tell you what made the animation so good, I'm no expert, but I would like to point out that it's easy to see 90's anime as special because, as it was a niche import, we actually got to see far less of the turds at the time, versus now where anime is a fairly common nerdy interest that you can see every turd alongside anything special, thanks to The Internet. The modern blunders stand out more because you don't have to dig deep to find them, as you would have to do the 90's blunders.
Also, as a giant robot fan, I've got this "who can beat Goku" shit locked down. An angered Ideon could destroy the fucking universe, and there's no way Goku's personality, such as it is, isn't going to frustrate it.
for me its how much saturated newer anime are. like they are all so bright 0 contrast of colors. Everything just look so shiny like they rubbed Vaseline on everything
Modern animators knows the bottom line more than they knows the delivery of a quality message.
"Sailor Moon wins that fight and I will not be elaborating"
Well he ran away from that debate quickly
I definitely agree that the aesthetic of '90s anime is virtually unrivaled in the realm of animation. I understand why shows today can't look exactly like they did back then, but I wish more animated works would at least make an effort to look more like that classic cel animation the way that Dragon Ball Super: Broly did-that is easily one of my favorite works of Japanese animation from the past ten or fifteen years aesthetically.
A lot of shows now are actually done using cel animation too! It’s not as common but when you notice, it’s amazing. Also, that DBS broly movie is FANTASTIC
With the Disney renaissance also happening around that time period, an argument can be made that animation as a whole peaked in the 90s
Thats the one thing i dont like about demon slayer. It needs to Tell you everything thats going on. It doesn't just Show you.
Definitely agree! I love the show it’s animation is beautiful and the fights are fantastic but the plot is just okay.
Studio Ghibli still makes animation like the 90s absolute classic .
God I love Ghibli movies
90s anime had concentrated storytelling. It was like how old movies are complete stories. No long standing plot threads. As some have said, they were a vibe. Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Berserk, Yu Yu Hakusho. Shows like Naruto, Bleach and One Piece want to constantly expand their worlds and lore whilst 90s anime aren't interested in being the next Star Wars. They were happy being vibes.
As an artist that has studied with japanese mangaka, try to understand from a historic standpoint, that not all 90s anime is better, we just remember the best ones. Consider that there are many good animes yet to be discovered of this period and with really original ideas. Sometimes the "good idea bad execution" is not remember too much. this is, for example, why some people believe that beethoven was the only good musician of his time when in reality there are a bunch of great art pieces that are not as good but good enough. We are going to have a period where the 2010 animes are going to be remembered as the classics too.
edit: I guess some people do not understand that preference or mood (whatever that is) doesnt equal quality, dont get me wrong I prefer many older animes over new ones but im no so blindfolded to think with nostalgia over objective analysis. your "mood" is an effect created by vhs recordings, broadcasters and limited color palettes. its the tech not the animation. We have today Waaaay better fight scenes than before.
All I can say for late 1990s/early 2000s anime is: Boogiepop Phantom, Serial Experiments Lain, Birdy the Mighty, Blue Seed, Gasaraki, so many magnificent shows that most "anime influencers" never talk about.
That’s not true.
@@EmptyKingdoms finally someone that mentioned the birdy the mighty ova. let's not forget stuff such as gunbuster, golden boy, battle angel alita, gunsmith cats, etc.
@@bryanc7094 Yes it is lol, anime from any time period can be special.
Hit the nail right on the head. I love anime of all era's i have no biasses. Newer stuff will be called classics eventually.
gj dude!!!
Vision of Escaflown was one of my favourites...and also Golden Boy
I think something that helped a lot too was the CRT TVs that we had in those days. They added to the charm of that era's anime. Unlike modern displays CRTs felt like you were watching through a window, they gave the images a lot of depth and bit of a 3D feeling. Modern displays make everything look flatter.
great analysis of the craftsmanship of everything that went into making this. the quiet tone of the video adds to the contemplative feeling. thanks for making this!
Really happy you enjoyed the video! I spend a lot of time building atmosphere so it’s nice to see people recognise that 🤍
Also all the omega level legendary animators were doing there thing big time in the late 80s and 90s, now they just pop up for a 20 sec clip in your fav modern anime.
The vision of escaflowne was peak animation when I was still young.
Really beautiful video man u did a great job. I see u like the ghibli movies as they were portrayed so often in this video and it would be so cool if u could make videos about them individually because I think they are all so iconic and deserve to be talked about
I think a lot of it has to do with Character Models. The style today for the most part is a particular style. The 90s had that realistic proportion. It translated into a lot of Gritty scenes. Its a lot easier to distance yourself visually when you got absurdy slender appearances, static and often ridiculous hair and massive eyes that have like 3 looks.
The fact action sequences dominate the scene now shows us what the current directors paid attention to when they were younger. Goes to show why most shows now are so forgettable. Even the stories now do not captivate me any more (live-action cinema seems to do it better).
I do not have the answer, but it was when we were young and life did not suck. Toonami was awesome.
For me it’s the psychological depth sometimes hidden sometimes projected straight forward. Although today’s Anime still has it it’s way more rare and I think because of the bright colors that are preferred 99% of the time it doesn’t hit as much as 90s anime this goes for sadness to and emotions like relief, pressure, scare, numbness and the occasional cute happiness sometimes even a bit bittersweet. Maybe it’s the writing though I don’t know but it had and still has its flear
Amazing video man, well put out. I grew up with 90's to early 2000 anime and i still revisit and rewatch them whenever i get a chance
Really happy you enjoyed the video! Even as somebody who never grew up in the 90s, I can appreciate the art from that time
90s anime is truly unmatched. It has a charm that most modern day anime simply lack. They all just look "generic anime" nowadays. I just started watching Ninja Kamui and only because of a few screenshots I've seen on Instagram. It gave me that 90s anime vibe. Ghost In The Shell meets Ninja Scroll type of a thing. More of that please.
My favorite anime from '90s are Cowboy Bebop, Sailor Moon, Tenchi Muyo, Outlaw Star, and Princess Mononoke. All of these have great sketch work, art, color, storytelling, location, and creators talent.
Yeah, I'll take '80s and '90s hand-drawn anime over 21st Century "cel-shaded" shit, all day every day. I love series like Cowboy Bebop, Macross/Robotech, Gundam Wing, Neon Genesis Evanglion and Gatchaman, and movies like Akira, Ghost In The Shell, Ninja Scroll, Wicked City, Demon City Shinjuku, Arcadia Of My Youth, both Vampire Hunter D films, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Grave Of The Fireflies.
90's anime like cowboy bebop and inuyasha were instrumental parts of my childhood, it was something me and my brother bonded over still too this day
My two favorites…..
As someone who grew up in the 90s
The thing you say are not incorrect, but 90s Anime wasn't inherently special.
Like today there was a bunch of low budget garbage around, we just only remember the truly outstanding masterpieces.
Hate to be that guy, but AKIRA came out in 1988 based on a manga from 1982. It's more indicative of anime from that time period than from the "lost decade" of the 90's.
Akira was so professionally done I don't think it's indicative of anything not if you know what that word means.
I was almost that guy. I think Akira is just on another level that I don’t believe it fits any time period. Although 80s it would look amazing no matter what year it was released.
I can imagine showing this to someone who had no background on it and trying to get them to guess the year.
I would say the slowness of it felt calming and excitement to what could happen next or what the character is going through.
We all remember those sailor moon transformation scenes
90s anime had a lot of depth and soul. The hand drawn visuals, the painting, the colors the movement. And in a lot of the 90s animes, not all, but many were more realistic than today. Mostly I noticed when it comes to movement and body proportions. Women had more natural waistlines than today and the stories felt more typical and every day. Stories of normal girls and boys, men and women dealing with life. With just a little fantasy thrown in.
All those animators deserved way more money.
90’s anime was a golden era of experimentation that’s been lost in newer generations. I think Miyazaki talks abt this a bit. But some of the soul that was present in older studios taking the risk lead to greatness. But as it’s aged it seems it’s becoming more formulaic and standardized for more safe bets because the studios know more of what will generally work without having to take those risks. It’s become less about the style and pressing against the wall, and more about ensuring a show that will bring in the money. As well as them trying to cut costs b/c the studios have never treated animators well.
For me , Cause they don't overdo with Isekai Formula and Well Written Story
the answer boils down to the way kids and young teens view the world and are carefree. We associate these animes with those times
Animes back then had soul, nowadays it's just flashy stuff
True
Video games too
90s was peak in general
True
”If it’s made on cell, you can tell”
90s anime are just something else. I like them much more than today's anime.
They're outdoing each other to our benefit and soon, the world took notice. If the anime today was what we had back then, it wouldn't be the worldwide hit it was.
As amazing as anime is now in this current era, the traditional hand-drawn animation and the overall aesthetic of 90s anime is unmatched. There was a lot more heart and soul put into the art form back them.
Bro JJK is a classic where been reading it since 2018
I would take handrawn animation anyday. U feel the imperfection of the world in there .
I absolutely love your choice of music. Especially in the characters section and also great video.
Makes me smile to see the music getting appreciated :)
as a moonie 🌙 it is so nice to see usagi get some respect put on her name. people really underestimate how powerful she is, mainly because they’re too wrapped up in the “magical girl” aspect of it. thank you for showing sailor moon love 💖
literally!! usagi had some crazy powers (not to mention the other sailors) and people don’t appreciate her enough! 🫶🏽
i personally love the aesthetic animation of akira. it just feels so lively and human
Agreed!
Can't deny the long working hours due to nearly everything is manual labor. It was the last years of the multiplane camera era. Yes, technology has come a long way and it should be alleviate some of the burden off but unfortunately some studios are taking way too many projects even though they possess the latest tech in animation.
I have no particular favourite but I'll go with Agent Aika. One of the examples of 90's OVA (direct-to-video) animes and it's an original work (not adapted from any source materials such as manga).
What makes 90s anime so special? Nostalgia, my friend 😉. Anime now is amazingly beautiful and with great characters too.
Thank you so much for this video. Ever since I've been watching these old animes, I've always been having a connection with the characters, their flaws, and perspectives on life. It was truly a wonderful experience.
Glad I could help!
I couldn’t have found this video at any other perfect moment. It’s 22:30, barely -1C° foggy, almost no people around and the unpaved ground is covered in 1 meter thick snow. It’s the fog and the snow makes it so quiet and the lights by the church are dimmed by it. It’s almost ghostly, yet the air is crisp and the smell of winter is so distinct I can taste it. So I stand at my balcony, sipping a cup of tea and listens to this video. Indeed it’s like a quiet scene from a 90's anime.
I love the atmosphere you’ve just built off this. Wow. I’m glad the video sat well with you and you found it at the perfect time!
I think one factor in why 90s anime was great is that it obviously drew a ton of inspiration from 80s Hollywood films. In the decades since, I feel that newer anime are increasingly drawing inspiration from older anime, and this starts to feel repetitive and boring to old heads like myself.
What you are feeling is works done for art vs works done for profit.
There is a reason why there are 50 "in another world" animes released each year.
That is profit.
The reason why 90's anime is so good is passion.
There was no expectation of a global audience and market, just art being done for the love of the manga.
Also nostalgia play a big role
They were gritty, real, intense and emotional
The hand drawn animation is what makes it so special, not to mention they just wanted to tell Amazing Stories. I could go back and watch great teacher onizuka anytime any day amazing god tier show
I agree with you on these reasons. I think, it was realer. They didn't have to make twisted characters into twisted worlds and twisted motives and so on. It was more humane, more flesh and blood. Even if it was the biggest fantasy ass world ever, it stood out because it related more to our world, our everyday lives. New animes can do that, but most of them are dull, mere entertainment and profit chasing . 90's anime had message, had meaning, something we could build in into ourselves, something that made us more. An experience closer to us, more colorful worlds (multi-dimensional and feeling evoking), like our's.
To be brutally honest is that the market wasn’t so saturated there was anime/manga for everyone but it was targeted more so but also they took their time with the styles and stories, I think the rarity of the anime at the time meaning that we never seen anything like it but now we can kind of guess where and when the story will lead to.
Something about the 90's in general was really special. Grunge/Alt Rock wave, Golden era of Hip Hop, start of the internet, and everyone was really violent for some reason. I firmly believe that a lot of the best media we have came from the 90's. People just made good art at that time for whatever reason.
Oh I definitely agree, especially with the Grunge/Alt Rock wave comment. I’ve only recently (the past 2 years or so) gotten into that phase and it’s amazing
The video hit every point, and I believe it's due to the nostalgia factor. It's important not to forget where we came from because it helps us understand where we're headed. If the animators didn't put in the effort and love to create the animations and characters, we would feel that something was missing. However, since they did, we can feel the same emotions they intended.
Nostalgia definitely plays a huge factor in how we remember and rate things. As important as it is to appreciate old anime, newer 2000s anime also did amazing things! (Video on it maybe? 👀)
I feel like most of what was said here applies to 80's anime too. Zeta Gundam was made in 85 and I think it still looks beautiful. It's also a good reference because it can be compared to the original series from 79. In six years there were some major leaps in quality and funding.
Not to mention the Japanese economy at that time.
Felt like evey anime from the 90s to early 2000s had alot more heart n soul put into them from the drawling to story telling
truly awesome video, great music selection and voice edition :))
man I’m really happy you enjoyed it! thank you
I tend to consider the late 80s to early oughts to be a golden era for anime. Yes, in part because it finally clicked and I began watching these odd cartoons that were broadcast over satellite back in high school, and most of it was the 90s back catalogs in Japan. But over this time period it evolved quite significantly in terms of vision and artistic expression. We saw it mostly in the OVAs and films, but many of the older series are now considered iconic and must watch for new fans and the old guard alike. We don't see this for eras prior. There are gems from the 80s that get rediscovered (I suggest the Crusher Joe film and OVA), however with earlier icons we don't see the recommendations as often. A hardcore fan will seek out Astro Boy or Mazinger Z but that push of "you gotta see this!" isn't there even with remastered titles. But Akira, Ghost in the Shell and Cowboy Bebop are still held in high regard for raising the bar for their time. We still discuss Evangelion and Perfect Blue, we debate Bebop's ending to this day. It's very much the only place to start for newcomers.
The best 1990’s tv-series is Lain in my opinion. If we look at movies, Ghost in the Shell is my number 1. While not Japanese, Heavy Metal, which came out in 1981, was very good as well.
Heavy metal 🤘🧔♀️
The talk in 90 anime is like Quentin Tarantino dialog in his movies
Bro the way you explained the Era I l grew up in and be so Eloquent about it and the love you showed brother I thank you I 😢 cause this was the best time in life for most of us and you showed ❤️ I appreciate you 🙏 more then you know. P.s Spike was a great man.
Wow man! I’m humbled that my video can make you feel so strongly: thank you for your support!
I really prefer and love this 90s style. hunter x hunter is by far my fav animated series(ANIMATION WISE).
Something in my brain just kinda clicks when looking at 90s anime. I can’t bring myself to ignore it but just sit and admire. It’s so hard to explain.
Don’t worry, I can understand that completely! It’s just a fantastic experience
I miss the one off OVA’s from the 90’s
Sailor Moon 90's anime was magical. Especially the Canadian dub by Dic and Jennifer Cihi soundtrack.
Sailor Moon was definitely amazing
My personal opinion is that I prefer the older 80s and 90s art aesthetic to today's animation styles. I watch dozens of shows a year and have been watching anime from the time of VHS tapes picked up in rental stores as a kid in the late 90s. I think my love of the medium was brought back by watching so many LoFi hip hop vids here on youtube during the early 2010s. So many great feelings well up inside just seeing an old vid on Triangle Music or any of the other great channels focused on vaporwave and lofi. After a few years of watching these relaxing and beautiful music videos I had to of course start watching the old series I had been away from for a decade. Now I am watching alot of the older anime to see the beauty and love put into each and every frame. Craftmanship and attention to detail define the era even for silly shows like Urusei Yatsura. And the most beautiful ones are always OVAs or original video animation that was released straight to VHS with a high budget and even higher production quality. Watch something like the chase scene in Gunsmith Cats or the You're Under Arrest OVAs and you will see what I mean. This was also a time of very free reign given to storytelling so Sci Fi and horror had a golden era of fantastic series and gorgeous watercolor backgrounds.
(3:10) I did not notice this before. The background looks a little bit more cheery without the shadowy buildings.
Most 90s and early 2000s dubs had a licensed soundtrack back then.
Honestly I prefer the animation in something like Sonny boy or a place further than the universe over any 90s anime and lotgh is one of my top 3 anime’s of all time
What made it special? Tools to create and produce and distribute it weren't as widely available as they are today, so people put more effort into ensuring it would be well received (same with games and movies)
Liked, subscribed and commented not only because this is a great video, but so your channel has more reach. You're putting in the work and it shows, bro. Keep it up! ❤️💯
Really appreciate that man, thank you! And don’t worry I’ll be making even more
Dope video bro. I'll always have soft spot in my heart for 90s anime. It was what I grew up on and inspired much of my creative work. Its always gon be undefeated for me.
Man this video didn’t just hit me but how much I despise the current anime fans who have been harassing animators online the whole internet world destroyed a whole generation instead of being thankful they are ungrateful thanks for this video would you mind putting the music in the description?
Very good video. I would like to add something that I don't think I heard you mentioned. It is something about anime from the 80s and 90s that I find others share the same sentiment.
Anime from this era was released into the West in the time that the internet was not so popular nor could it do the things it could do today easily. In other words, it was harder to get a hold of, look into or find others who shared your interest especially as a kid or teen. It was also something reserved for the Nerdy or Geeky crowd vs how everybody watches it today openly. As anime was introduced into the west it carried a feeling of being Foreign, Alien, Taboo, Unknown yet beautiful especially to our young impressionable minds. I talk to people my age who have the same feelings. It's undescribable sometimes. Not quite nostalgic but something else. I'm not saying anime now is lesser but it just doesn't seem to carry that feeling with us or the current generation but 90's anime will always be remembered for that feeling for me at least
You've mentioned some 80s anime🙏🏾
I think it's amazing that in 2021 with Arcane, we finally have something that harkens back to 90's anime. How did over 2 decades pass without something as quality as Outlaw Star being produced?
Let's just face it, 2010 was when the world started falling apart, marking around ten years after the internet really became prevalent, bringing about a change in social media, access to things we shouldn't have access to and the world at large just fell apart, it's been going downhill since. Thankfully Japan has avoided a lot of these issues, but still...
loved it! keep it up. i personally love the aesthetic more than anything than what we have today, my fave being Monster by Urasawa.
really happy you enjoyed the video!! monster is one of my favourites too :)
The story telling felt more real and grounded to be honest. Today's anime are so over the top most of the time, that it doesnt feel like we could put ourselves in their shoes. Thats why Vinland Saga feels so different in this time. Its the same kinda story we had in the 90s.
As an "old" head (40 years old) I've been through this debate before with gaming. I grew up with sh!tty graphics both in games/anime. I love the aesthetic but I need quality in terms of resolution. I want that crisp vibrant color spectrum. I need fluid realism in my anime/gaming. I require something different. Nothing wrong with that. Just like yall kids need that old school look/feel in both gaming and anime.