Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.

Driver’s HighL’Arc〜en〜Ciel

GTO – Opening 1 – Driver’s High – [DE/EN/JP] Lyrics

It was the opening theme for episodes 1 through 16 of GTO, which aired from June 30, 1999 to September 2000, and the ending theme for the final episode.

The engine sound in the intro is so cool, and I remember getting totally hooked on L’Arc at the time because of this song.

The track matches perfectly with the protagonist, Eikichi Onizuka—he’s a hopeless guy, but he always ends up looking awesome—and I looked forward to it every week.

Dream ShiftSILK

Dream Shift

It is the opening theme of Absolutely Invincible Raijin-Oh, the first entry in Sunrise’s Eldran series and a work that still enjoys enduring popularity.

It is sung by Kinuko Omori under the name SILK.

The lyrics were written by Hitoshi Shinohara, a member of the folk band Zero Zahyo, and the music was composed by Kazuya Izumi.

DREAMSROMANTIC MODE

Mobile New Century Gundam X OP DREAMS

The Gundam series is synonymous with Japan’s flagship robot anime.

One of the works broadcast on TV in the 1990s, After War Gundam X, aired in 1996.

Its opening theme, DREAMS, was ROMANTIC MODE’s debut song, and the vocalist Akira Asakura also made a name for herself as an anime song singer.

PlatinumMaaya Sakamoto

Sakura Card Captor Opening 3 – Platina

Despite being released in the ’90s, the anime Cardcaptor Sakura continues to grow in popularity and enjoys immense support.

This is its opening theme—a song that further heightens the story of Sakura-chan as she gathers powerful cards and battles foes with magic.

Listening to it again after a while brings back a fun feeling, as if the richly unique characters are starting to move once more.

Wind Climbing ~Played by the Wind~Aki Okui

Wind Climbing ~Toyed by the Wind~

The popular manga Magical Circle Guru-Guru, serialized in Monthly Shonen Gangan, was adapted into an anime in 1994 and later became a major hit with a film version as well.

The ending theme for the TV anime was Aki Okui’s “Wind Climbing ~Kaze ni Asobarete~.” She later handled the ending theme as well, and has gone on to produce many other anime theme songs.

Absolutely no oneZYYG

ZYYG “Zettai ni Daremo” ~30th Anniversary ver~

Many of you may remember it as the theme song for the anime SLAM DUNK, right? Released in 1995 by the Being-affiliated rock band ZYYG, this track marked the beginning of the anime’s second season.

Takayama Seiki’s powerful vocals and the heavy guitar riffs create a tough, hard-edged sound that really electrifies you.

The lyrics strikingly mirror Hanamichi Sakuragi’s stoic resolve after losing to Kainan and vowing to rise again.

When you feel like you’re about to be knocked down by something, listen to this song—it will fire you up with the message that “no one can take your place.” It might just help you find the resolve to face tomorrow.

Katsushika RhapsodyKohei Dojima

Katsushika Rhapsody – Kohei Dojima (Aiemu acoustic cover)

It’s the opening theme of “Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo.” The somewhat nostalgic melody is nice, isn’t it? Maybe the content of the series influences it too, but when I listen, I get the feeling I’m in Tokyo’s shitamachi downtown.

It’s sung by Kohei Dojima, a singer-songwriter from Osaka Prefecture.