Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
Back in the 1990s, it still wasn’t the age of the internet.
These days, late-night anime and VOD subscriptions are the norm, but when you think of 90s anime, it was all about those early evening broadcasts.
Many of you probably spent your grade-school days rushing home after classes and turning on the TV right away.
This time, we’re featuring anime songs from that nostalgic 90s era!
Be sure to look for tracks from the shows you were obsessed with.
They’re great picks to keep in mind for karaoke, too!
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- Recommended anime songs for people in their 50s. Classic and popular anime theme songs.
- Nostalgic anime songs. Anime theme songs full of memories.
- [Top 20] Anime Song Sales Ranking of the Heisei 30 Years!
- [Nostalgic Songs] A compilation of classic anime themes that hit home for those born in the Showa and Heisei eras
- Including global smash hits! Anime songs recommended for Gen Z
- [Nostalgic & Latest] A Special Feature on Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 20s
- [Hot & Cool] Up-tempo, hype-inducing anime song
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Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks (41–50)
Get alongMegumi Hayashibara, Masami Okui
It’s the opening theme of the first anime adaptation of Hajime Kanzaka’s popular light novel series Slayers, sung by Megumi Hayashibara, who voices the protagonist Lina Inverse, and singer-songwriter Masami Okui.
It peaked at number 36 on the Oricon weekly chart.
Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks (51–60)
FLYING IN THE SKYHitoshi Ujima
Mobile Fighter G Gundam was the first entry in the Gundam series set in a world outside the Universal Century timeline, and its distinctly different style from previous series became a major talking point.
The first opening theme is Flying in the Sky, which was Jin Hashimoto’s debut song.
Hurry, hero!!Dan Jiro
This is the theme song from when the manga DRAGON QUEST: The Adventure of Dai—an original story based on the Dragon Quest series—was adapted into an anime.
It is sung by actor Jiro Dan, with composition by Koichi Sugiyama, well known for his work on the Dragon Quest series.
My First KissReassured Dad
This is the theme song of Fujiko F.
Fujio’s masterpiece, Kiteretsu Daihyakka—a track so distinctive that its quirky vocal effects have inspired countless imitators.
It’s a truly “kiteretsu” (bizarre/clever) approach, which is part of its charm, but the lyrics are what truly shine.
It also carries a slightly wistful atmosphere, making it a tear-jerking anime song.
With adorable spoken lines in the middle, it stands out as one of the most memorable tracks among the many great songs from Kiteretsu Daihyakka.
STEP BY STEPZIGGY
This is the first ending theme of the hugely popular anime Detective Conan.
It’s a brave, bright, and refreshing song that perfectly suits Detective Conan.
The title “STEP BY STEP,” meaning to move forward one step at a time, matches the image of Detective Conan very well.
It was ZIGGY’s 11th single, released in March 1996.
I want to see your smileRie Hamada
Marmalade Boy, a shoujo manga serialized in Ribon, was a huge hit in the 1990s.
It remains a beloved work, even getting a live-action film adaptation in 2018.
For the 1994 anime adaptation, the theme song chosen was Rie Hamada’s “Egao ni Aitai.” In fact, beyond anime, she has written and composed numerous songs for children’s programs on NHK Educational TV (E-Tele).
Blue waterMiho Morikawa
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water is an anime series directed by Hideaki Anno as chief director, who would later go on to create Evangelion.
Its theme song is Blue Water, sung by Miho Morikawa, which reached a peak position of 17 on the Oricon chart.