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!
- [Nostalgic] Classic and Popular Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 30s
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- [Nostalgic] A roundup of anime songs and theme songs that were hits in the 1980s
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- Recommended anime songs for people in their 50s. Classic and popular anime theme songs.
- A coming-of-age song that was a hit in the ’90s. A classic and popular track in Japanese music.
- [Nostalgic] A special feature on legendary anime theme songs: revisiting those classic tracks
- [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
- 1990s J-Pop to listen to in summer: classic and hit summer songs
- [Hot & Cool] Up-tempo, hype-inducing anime song
Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s: Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks (21–30)
Smile BombMawatari Matsuko
This is the opening theme of Yu Yu Hakusho, which began airing in 1992.
It was released in 1992 as the second single by Masako Mawata, a singer from Miyazaki Prefecture.
There are many cover versions as well, so some of you may know it from those.
A third of pure-hearted feelingsSIAM SHADE
One of the biggest hits that represented Weekly Shonen Jump in the 1990s was Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story.
The anime was also hugely popular, and the song that became a hit after being used as its ending theme was “1/3 no Junjou na Kanjou” by the rock band SIAM SHADE.
This track was their first major hit, and it has been covered by many artists, not only rock bands but also those from the anison (anime song) scene.
Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s: Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks (31–40)
I stopped being alone.Yano Akiko
It’s a warm pop song whose beautiful piano melody resonates in the heart.
Released by Akiko Yano in August 1999, it was used as the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s “My Neighbors the Yamadas.” The song carries a message of overcoming loneliness and cherishing connections with others.
Yano’s gentle voice and the sound of the piano envelop the listener.
Give it a listen when you want to recall the warmth of time spent with family and friends.
The Strongest, Number One, All-OutFEEL SO BAD
Hell Teacher Nūbē is an anime about Meisuke Nueno, a teacher with an Oni Hand, who exorcises yokai.
The theme song “BARIBARI Saikyō No.1” was performed by FEEL SO BAD.
Its highest position on the Oricon weekly chart was 35th.
Dream ShiftSILK
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.
The radiance is within you.Suzuki Yume
The opening theme of the anime NINKU, which aired in 1995, is Kagayaki wa Kimi no Naka ni by singer-songwriter Yumi Suzuki.
It’s a distinctive song that, unusually for a boys’ anime, conveys a somewhat dark worldview, so many people may still remember it.
Incidentally, the original manga, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, went on repeated hiatus and remained unfinished for a long time, but it was revived with serialization in Ultra Jump and concluded in 2011.
A night when the moonlight softly fallsOgawa Nao
Many ending themes from old anime tended to leave you with a touch of melancholy, didn’t they? This is Nao Ogawa’s debut single, used as the ninth ending theme for the nationally beloved TV anime Crayon Shin-chan.
Her distinctive vocals, heartwarming lyrics, nostalgic atmosphere, and subtly oriental sound arrangement are all superb.
In the 2010s, artists like Nagi Yanagi and Wednesday Campanella covered the song, so it’s fun to listen while comparing their versions with the original.
