When many of us think of magical girl or shoujo anime, we still think of the classics from the 1990s. For some reason, shoujo anime in general has lost popularity over the years. It's now rare to find a series that captures enough attention to receive a second season, or even more than 12-13 episodes. And since finding new, quality series in this genre can be difficult, why not give some of these 90s masterpieces a try? Here are my top picks (in chronological order):
1. Sailor Moon (1992)
Sailor Moon is undoubtedly the biggest magical girl and shoujo anime of all time, and for good reason. Though some may put down the show for its "monster-of-the-day" formula, I'd like to argue that it spends much more of its time focusing on its main cast of characters, particularly Usagi/Sailor Moon. We watch as Usagi struggles with the responsibility of protecting the world from destruction, despite wanting to just be an ordinary teenager. She and the other main characters are developed quite realistically, and the animation is great, providing very expressive and often comical facial expressions for the girls. I'm currently re-watching the series on Hulu and still love it after all these years!
2. Magic Knight Rayearth (1994)
Magic Knight Rayearth is by renowned mangaka group CLAMP, the ladies behind other fan favorites such as Cardcaptor Sakura (also on this list), X/1999, and Chobits. It's a fantasy shoujo anime with plenty of action and romance, and is probably the least "girly" series on this list. One of the best parts about this show is the main cast of three strong female leads. These ladies use their skills in archery, kendo, and fencing to protect themselves. There's no Tuxedo Mask showing up to save the day (almost) every episode, which is certainly refreshing for a shoujo series. If you skipped over this show in the 90s, you should definitely give it a try now.
3. Fushigi Yuugi (1995)
Fushigi Yuugi was the first anime I ever watched in full, back when I was in sixth grade. It's one of the series that really solidified my love for anime back then, along with Dragonball Z. This series has a diverse cast of heroes and heroines, none of which are safe from the chopping block, so to speak. This series in not afraid to kill off main characters, and it can be very melodramatic. But you'll also enjoy plenty of super-deformed (SD) or chibi animation sequences for some comic relief. The character design in general is wonderful and I recommend not only watching the series, but checking out the artbook for its beautiful illustrations as well.
4. Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)
Utena is the most unique magical girl or shoujo series I've ever had the pleasure of viewing. The show relies heavily on symbolism and plays out like a lucid dream with its lovely and wacky visuals. The main character, Utena of course, is a strong female lead who you watch grow through her interactions with a variety of personalities, characters who are broken, sinister, or selfish. The show can be over-the-top but it's frequently thought-provoking, exploring themes such as traditional gender roles, domestic abuse, unrequited love, and the existence of miracles. If you enjoy the show, I suggest watching the Utena Movie also. It's such a feast for the eyes!
5. Cardcaptor Sakura (1998)
Cardcaptor Sakura is one of my favorite shows of all time, regardless of genre. It's the most lighthearted series on this list, and is always a good pick-me-up. The animation is bright and cheerful, and the protagonist Sakura is adorably flawed. She's naive and spacy, and so terribly dense at times. But she's only in 4th grade at the beginning of the show, and her kindness and honesty far outweigh her negatives. My favorite part about this show is the sweet, innocent love story you watch unfold and progress naturally throughout the series. I'll carve it on a tree in a heart: Sakura + Syaoran 4ever.
I know there are many other good shoujo series from the 90's, but these are my picks. What would your guys' lists look like?
