Lovely anime song

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

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerWakachan Araki
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

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!

Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s: Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks (21–30)

Butter-FlyKoji Wada

Butter-Fly – Kouji Wada (Full) (Digimon Adventure OP)

Butter-Fly Wada Kouji

Digimon Adventure became extremely popular among children at the time and helped bring the Digimon franchise into the mainstream.

The theme song of this hit anime is Koji Wada’s “Butter-Fly.” Even today, it remains a classic anime song with tremendous popularity—many of you have probably sung it at karaoke.

Raise the rankinglower

Until the World Ends…WANDS

Until the World Ends... – WANDS (Full)

Until the World Ends… WANDS

This is the ending theme for episodes 25–49 of SLAM DUNK, which aired from October 16, 1993 to March 23, 1996.

SLAM DUNK itself is an amazing work, and its music is full of great songs, too.

Listening to it makes me want to play basketball.

Raise the rankinglower

Just one wishMiho Komatsu

Miho Komatsu – Only One Wish

Just One Wish by Miho Komatsu

Miho Komatsu’s delicate vocals beautifully capture the inner conflict of a protagonist who can’t be honest with their feelings.

Starting in December 1997, it was used as the ending theme for Detective Conan and reached No.

8 on the Oricon charts, ultimately becoming a major hit with total sales of 500,000 copies.

This work is captivating for its warm vocals that gently embrace the complexities of love and its lyrics that stay close to the heart.

Through the lyrics, you can feel the interplay between the desire not to get hurt and the feelings for a loved one, which really tightens your chest.

Raise the rankinglower

GHOST SWEEPERChie Harada

Chie Harada – Ghost Sweeper

GHOST SWEEPER Chie Harada

“Ghost Sweeper Mikami” is a TV anime based on the manga by Takashi Shiina.

You can really feel the era from the fact that the protagonist, Reiko Mikami, wears body-con outfits.

The theme song “GHOST SWEEPER” is Chie Harada’s debut single, with lyrics by Satomi Aomori and composition by Toshiyuki Omori.

Raise the rankinglower

Well then,SURFACE

SURFACE – Now then

Come on, SURFACE

This song was released as the third single by SURFACE, a two-member unit that debuted in 1998.

It was used as the opening theme for the anime Mamotte Shugogetten! that aired the same year, and it became their first entry to rank within the top 20 on the Oricon charts.

For the lyrics, vocalist Yoshiharu Shiina closely read the original work, and the song’s words reflect the world of the series.

Raise the rankinglower

Give a reasonMegumi Hayashibara

Slayers NEXT Opening (Give a reason)

Give a reason, Megumi Hayashibara

“Give a reason” is a signature song by Megumi Hayashibara, who is active as a voice actress, narrator, lyricist, and radio personality.

It was the opening theme for the TV Tokyo–aired anime Slayers NEXT and was released in 1996.

It won the Voice Actor Song Award in the Heisei Anisong Grand Prize for 1989–1999.

The song brought widespread attention to Megumi Hayashibara as a voice-actor artist, earning strong public support.

Raise the rankinglower

1/2Makoto Kawamoto

1/2 Makoto Kawamoto - Guitar [Rurouni Kenshin] Cover

1/2 Makoto Kawamoto

It’s the theme song of Rurouni Kenshin, a popular Jump anime that was also adapted into a live-action film.

Although the story is set in the era of samurai like a period drama, the pop quality of this song felt refreshingly well-matched to the narrative.

In any case, it’s truly worthy of being called a masterpiece—the cute, rhythmic lyrics and the way the song unfolds are wonderful, and it’s a moving piece no matter how many times you listen to it.

Raise the rankinglower