Dragon Ball, Neon Genesis Evangelionand akira is one of the decade-defining anime that many fans will easily recognize. They are important anime masterpieces that became the standard for subsequent titles and helped change the way people around the world viewed the anime industry as a whole.
Best Anime Movies on Crunchyroll: 2026 The Definitive Guide
Forget TV shows, Crunchyroll has an underrated library of anime movies. We're talking all-time great flicks and underrated gems.
Alas, there are some A decade-defining anime that many fans have forgotten already. This may be because these anime are not available on major streaming platforms, or they are simply buried in the heavy flood of modern anime that comes out every season and every year.
-
Genres: Drama, Historical
Released in 1980, Barefoot General The realistic depiction of the Hiroshima bombing continues to shock audiences. It doesn't shy away from showing graphic violence and gore, making Barefoot Zen a difficult anime to finish from start to finish.
At the same time, it stands as an ambitious and ahead-of-its-time project, praised by audiences for its anti-war message and refusal to sanitize one of Japan's darkest moments. The anime follows Jane, an innocent and playful child caught in the middle of a war. Viewers follow his story amid the growing destruction of Hiroshima.
6
The Adventures of the Little Samurai
-
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Dubbed by fans as Narutoancestor of The Adventures of the Little SamuraiReleased in the 1950s, it features Sasuke, who goes on a once-in-a-lifetime quest to learn shinobi skills and defeat the evil wizard Yakusha, who devours one of his animal companions.
Many fans label The Adventures of the Little Samurai As their first exposure to anime, it is the first Japanese anime to debut in North American theaters. While the animation is dated, it still holds up as a fascinating and historically significant anime masterpiece.
5
Now and then, here and there
-
Genres: Isekai, Adventure, Drama
Now and then, here and there is a dark isekai anime series released in 1999. It's a timeless anime that takes viewers on an unsettling and depressing journey into a fantasy world, not because it's bad, but because of the complex and heavy themes it constantly explores.
From the aftermath of war and the greed of humanity to the exploitation of children, the series uniquely exposes how a world ruled by corruption, violence and desperation affects everyone. Through Shue's misadventures in Hollywood, a militarized nation consumed by an obsession for power and control, viewers can draw clear parallels with real-world tragedies.
4
Magical Princess Minky Momo
-
Genres: Fantasy, Magical Girl
Minky Momo is one of the first anime series to promote magical girls even before Sailor Moon, Card Captor Sakuraand Magical Night Rayarth It came to define it for a global audience. It released more than 40 episodes, where Momo (Gigi in other translations) helps the people of Earth with their problems in various ways. Every time Momo helps them, she regains the hope that is important for the Land of Dreams to orbit the Earth again.
Minky Momo is an episodic anime, but it's surprising that it has more depth than most magical girl anime released in the same decade. Most of the characters in the series are stereotypical but reveal unexpected emotional layers as fans finish more episodes.
Rearrange the covers into the correct Japanese release order.
get started
Rearrange the covers into the correct Japanese release order.
Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)
3
Cassern Sins
-
Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Cassern Sins is another dark anime set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans are on the verge of extinction. Instead of featuring a human protagonist to narrate its story, it revolves around a robot named Kasern, who is immune to the “ruin” disease that kills other robots. Unfortunately, Cassern has no memory of her past or why everyone is blaming her for the impending destruction of the world.
Cassern Sins is a sly sci-fi anime that offers a dark and atmospheric take on a dying world where despair has overtaken civilization. It tends to be preachy, which may turn off some viewers, but that slow and heavy tone makes it special.
2
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
-
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
One of the first things that fans find impressive Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo Its impeccable animation style is rarely seen among anime in the same genre. As the title of this anime indicates, Gankutsuou Alexandre Dumas' iconic novel is reimagined in anime form and brought to life The Count of Monte Cristo With a daring sci-fi twist on top of a mysterious curse that affects a luminous calculation.
Additionally, Gankutsuou skilfully integrates elements of French culture, enriching its sci-fi interpretation of The Count of Monte Cristo with distinctive French visuals and music.
1
Desert Punk
-
Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi
Desert Punk Another forgotten anime gem that many fans seem to have left behind, perhaps due to its ecchi scenes and its morally questionable main character, who is often driven by selfishness and an over-the-top reaction to beautiful women in the harsh desert.
Kanta Mizuno is a sandy mercenary who will easily remind fans of Kazuma Sato of Konosuba and his misfortune in front of beautiful girls. However, unlike Kazuma, Kanta comes across as a very intense and unpredictable character, leading to hilarious situations when he fails at his job.
