There are several old anime series that were greatly popular in Japan and overseas. Let’s rewind the best out of them to feel nostalgic with their old-school vibes. 

#1. Sailor Moon (1992 – 1997)

Source: TV Asahi

“Moon prism power! Make up!” You must have forgotten this iconic line from the series whenever a character does a flashy transformation. It tells the story of Usagi Tsukino, a teenage schoolgirl, and her companion, a magical cat named Luna. Later, she joins with other Sailor Guardians including Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus to fight evil. Their biggest strength is their friendship. Up to today, Sailor Moon costumes are still impactful as the series has become an icon in Pop Culture, in Japan and globally. Its adaptations consist of several movies, TV series, games and merches. 

#2. Dragon Ball (1986 – 1989), Dragon Ball Z (1989 - 1996)

Source: Bird Studio

“Kamejoko“. Any kid that grew in the 90s might still remember this phrase with the hand gestures to activate the skill. It is based on Akira Toriyama’s manga of the same title. It is one of the most long-running anime in Japan during that time and gained success domestically and internationally. The Dragon Ball franchise is also hugely received around the world with multiple related products and releases. 

#3. Case Closed/Detective Conan (1996 – present)

Source: Nippon Television Network System

This is a mysterious detective anime series about a teenage detective Shinichi Kudo. After an accident, he was turned back to the 6 year old version of himself. With his bravery and intelligence, Kudo, now Conan Edogawa, takes part in several cases to find out the criminals. Also, he is also investigating the Black Organization, an international criminal league that is responsible for his transformation. Since its release, the series has captured love and attention globally. New manga chapters and episodes are still being published with new exciting plots. 

#4. Doraemon (1973 - present)

Source: Toho

Among these old anime series, this is basically the oldest. Being illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio more than 50 years ago, Doraemon is not only a successful franchise but also a symbol for Japanese culture. This character has impacted greatly to other countries, notably China, Japan, Vietnam, India to America and European countries. While watching the series, you might find many interesting gadgets which actually resemble available modern hightech devices. Moreover, Doraemon is a vital character for everyone’s childhood. New installments focusing on this robotic cat premiered annually in Japan. There were also live-action movies, 3D movies, games, merches. 

#5. Inuyasha (2000 - 2004)

Source: Shogakukan

Despite being not as old as other old anime series, this series is also one iconic anime series that originated from Rumiko Takahashi’s manga. Kagome Higurashi incidentally meets with Inuyasha, a half dog demon. Starting from there, they stay together to fight the evil and complete their mission. This lyrical and romantic anime is also memorable for its original soundtracks. One of them, Every Heart, was sung by the first ever global K-pop superstar BoA.   
If you're interested in more posts on anime, you might want to check out the best Ghibli movies or anime about time travel. We will keep you updated on our website . Make sure to bookmark our movie & entertainment section.