5 Greatest 90s Anime Characters That Will Always Be Legends

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Feature header contrasting characters from Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, and Pokemon

Published Jul 15, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT

Joshua Edward Ryan Fox is a freelance writer for Screen Rant with a passion for pop culture. Joshua grew up in Connecticut where he developed an appreciation for writing and entertainment and has earned a Master's degree in professional writing and technical writing. His writing has been quoted by both the anime streaming site Crunchyroll and the anime YouTuber Gigguk.

The 1990s were one of the most important eras in anime, if not the most important, and it’s easy to see why. The 1990s were the era when anime first became popular outside of Japan, so it certainly has the benefit of nostalgia, but more than that, some of the most popular and influential anime in history came out or became popular during that time, and to this day, they’re still held in incredibly high regard for both their visual and narrative spectacle, all of which has aged spectacularly.

Anime from the 1990s almost always rank among the best anime to watch, and much of that, of course, is thanks to the characters of that era. Through a combination of great writing and oftentimes gorgeous animation used to highlight their action and emotional drama, 90s anime characters often have peaks to them that are still unmatched by any other era of anime, and for a few characters in particular, they stand out as absolute legends who will always rank among the best characters in all of anime.

For clarity and brevity, only anime characters who specifically debuted in the 1990s will be accounted for.

5 Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop)

Spike with a gun in Cowboy Bebop episode 1

Sunrise’s Cowboy Bebop is an anime that was perfectly tailored for the 1990s, and that’s best exemplified by its protagonist, Spike Spiegel. Not only does Spike have an incredibly cool design, one that’s been referenced and parodied countless times in pop culture, but with how action-heavy Cowboy Bebop can get, Spike is almost always at the center of some of the best-looking and all-around coolest action scenes, which adds even more appeal to his overall character.

There’s more to Spike than just being cool, of course. Underneath all of Spike’s charm and action hero writing is a surprisingly melancholic man scarred by his tragic past, and not only does that subtly inform many of his actions throughout the story, but the times when it’s fully brought out into the open make for some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in Cowboy Bebop. It all gives Spike an incredible amount of depth and tragedy to his character, and the series perfectly kept that going up until the very end.

Almost 30 years after its premiere, Cowboy Bebop is still heralded as one of the greatest anime in history for its fun and thoughtful writing and its gorgeous animation, and unsurprisingly, Spike Spiegel is at the center of much of that. It’s often the case where a character from an original anime will be hard-pressed to leave an impact on people, but sure enough, that’s never been an issue for someone like Spike.

4 Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon)

Eternal Sailor Moon strikes a pose at the end of her transformation sequence.

When it comes to classic magical girls, few are more noteworthy than Usagi Tsukino, the hero of Toei Animation’s Sailor Moon. Despite being largely characterized as a lazy brat, Sailor Moon always makes Usagi come off as funny and endearing, making her one of the best sources of comedy around. More than that, of course, is the genuine heart to Usagi’s character; at her core, Usagi is just a girl who wants to protect the people she loves, and the unwavering strength with which she stands by that, no matter how dark things may get, is always great to watch.

To this day, Sailor Moon is one of the most influential and all-around iconic anime of all time, and none of that would have been possible without Usagi being such a heartwarming and entertaining protagonist, one who’s been inspiring countless characters like her for decades. It’s hard to imagine what anime would be like without a character like Usagi, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.

3 Pikachu (Pokémon)

Pikachu smiling while standing in an arena in the Pokemon anime.

When Pokémon was first conceived, Pikachu wasn’t created to be anything other than another creature, but fans were quickly enamored with Pikachu’s cute design, leading to Pikachu becoming the main Pokémon of the anime by OLM, Inc. a year later. That, of course, was the best decision that could have been made, as not only did the anime expose even more people to Pikachu’s design, but the anime made it a cute and feisty creature who paired nicely with the impulsive and scrappy Ash Ketchum, and Pikachu became a legend almost overnight.

The popularity of the Pokémon anime has gone up and down, but the one constant has been that it’s always fun to watch Pikachu battle other Pokémon, shock people with lightning, and just be goofy and cute. Even after Ash was retired as the protagonist, the next Pokémon anime, Pokémon Horizons, kept Pikachu around by way of the new character, Captain Pikachu, and while they couldn’t be more different, it perfectly encapsulates how important Pikachu became to the brand.

Thanks to Pikachu’s popularity in the anime, the video games followed suit by making Pikachu their definitive mascot; not only do most games give Pikachu something special, whether it’s new moves or an exclusive form, but the games will even introduce “Pikachu clones” to further capitalize on his popularity. Pikachu went from just being a face in the crowd to one of the most iconic characters in gaming, and it’s all thanks to how big it became after the anime.

2 Frieza (Dragon Ball Z)

Image from Dragon Ball Daima anime Episode 1 show Frieza during a flashback with his arms crossed and one large foot with apposable toes reaching towards to frame while he's lit in a bright purple light.

When Toei Animation’s Dragon Ball transitioned into Dragon Ball Z, it slowly introduced characters who would define the franchise for decades, and among characters who debuted in the 90s, specifically, none are more iconic than Frieza. As the one responsible for killing the Saiyan race, Frieza was essentially the main antagonist of the first half of Dragon Ball Z, and when he finally appeared, he more than lived up to his reputation through his delightful sadism, immense power, and increasingly stellar character design.

Frieza essentially set the standard for what’s expected of a pure evil villain in anime, and he got even better in Dragon Ball Super; between Frieza's massive boosts in power and how the series is doubling down on his sadism and its comedic potential, Frieza’s even better than ever and has become the closest thing Dragon Ball has to a central antagonist. There’s no villain in Dragon Ball who’s left as big an impact on anime as Frieza, and as things stand, he’s only going to get bigger and better.

1 Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)

Since its debut in 1999, anime has been defined by the massive success of Toei Animation’s One Piece, and that, of course, is thanks in large part to its protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy. Much like his most direct inspiration, Goku, Luffy excels as a character who’s delightfully goofy and optimistic, but is no less capable of being serious when in a fight to protect his friends, and with how charismatic Luffy is in pursuit of his goals, it’s always fun watching Luffy to see how far he will push himself and others.

Luffy has always been an amazingly fun character, and as One Piece has expanded the scope of its story, Luffy’s handling has always responded in kind; Luffy always becoming stronger to deal with new threats is one thing, but what’s been even better has been how the core elements of his character have stayed the same, and that perfectly complements the otherwise heavy tone the anime often adopts.

Grand Line · Pirate Adventure Edition The One Piece
Anime Quiz

⚓CrewNakama

⚡PowersDevil Fruit

🌊ArcsAdventure

☠VillainsEnemies

🌎WorldBlue Sea

SET SAIL! →

Monkey D. Luffy is the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and dreams of becoming King of the Pirates. He gained his signature stretching abilities by eating a Devil Fruit as a child. What was this fruit originally believed to be called?

AMera Mera no Mi BGomu Gomu no Mi CBara Bara no Mi DHana Hana no Mi

✓ Correct! The Gomu Gomu no Mi (Gum-Gum Fruit) was what Luffy’s Devil Fruit was believed to be — a Paramecia-type fruit that turned his body into rubber. Luffy accidentally ate it from the treasure chest of the Red Hair Pirates when he was a child in Foosha Village.

✗ That answer missed like a Gum-Gum Pistol in a storm! The answer is the Gomu Gomu no Mi. The Mera Mera no Mi is the Flame-Flame Fruit eaten by Ace, the Bara Bara no Mi is Buggy’s Chop-Chop Fruit, and the Hana Hana no Mi is Robin’s Flower-Flower Fruit.

The One Piece world is divided by a massive geological formation that runs around the entire globe, separating the oceans. What is this continent-like structure called?

AThe Grand Line BThe Red Line CThe Calm Belt DReverse Mountain

✓ Correct! The Red Line is a massive continent that circles the globe vertically, dividing the world’s oceans into four seas: North Blue, South Blue, East Blue, and West Blue. It intersects with the Grand Line at two points, including the holy land of Mary Geoise.

✗ That answer missed like a Gum-Gum Pistol in a storm! The answer is the Red Line. The Grand Line is the ocean route where pirates compete, the Calm Belt is a windless sea surrounding it full of Sea Kings, and Reverse Mountain is the entry point to the Grand Line. The Red Line is the massive continent dividing the world.

In the One Piece world, there is a spiritual power that allows users to sense others’ presence, predict attacks, and even exert their willpower over others. What is this power called?

AChakra BNen CHaki DKi

✓ Correct! Haki is a mysterious power that exists in every living being in the One Piece world. It comes in three types: Observation Haki (sensing), Armament Haki (invisible armor), and the rare Conqueror’s Haki (dominating willpower), which only one in a million people possess.

✗ That answer missed like a Gum-Gum Pistol in a storm! The answer is Haki. Chakra is the energy system from Naruto, Nen is from Hunter x Hunter, and Ki is from Dragon Ball. Haki is One Piece’s unique power system with three distinct forms: Observation, Armament, and Conqueror’s.

The Seven Warlords of the Sea (Shichibukai) were powerful pirates who worked for the World Government in exchange for pardons. Which of these characters was NOT one of the original Seven Warlords?

ADracule Mihawk BCrocodile CDonquixote Doflamingo DKaido

✓ Correct! Kaido was never a Warlord — he was one of the Four Emperors (Yonko), the most powerful pirates ruling the New World. Known as “the Strongest Creature in the World,” Kaido ruled over Wano Country with the Beast Pirates. Mihawk, Crocodile, and Doflamingo were all Warlords.

✗ That answer missed like a Gum-Gum Pistol in a storm! The answer is Kaido. Mihawk (the world’s greatest swordsman), Crocodile (the desert king of Alabasta), and Doflamingo (the Heavenly Demon) were all Warlords. Kaido was a Yonko — an Emperor of the Sea — a rank above the Warlords entirely.

The Marineford War arc is considered one of the most emotional and pivotal arcs in One Piece. Luffy desperately fought to save someone important to him from execution. Who was Luffy trying to save?

ANico Robin BPortgas D. Ace CRoronoa Zoro DSabo

✓ Correct! Portgas D. Ace, Luffy’s sworn older brother, was captured by the Marines and sentenced to public execution at Marineford. Luffy broke into Impel Down prison and then stormed Marineford itself in a desperate attempt to save Ace, leading to one of the most heartbreaking moments in anime history.

✗ That answer missed like a Gum-Gum Pistol in a storm! The answer is Portgas D. Ace. Nico Robin was rescued during the Enies Lobby arc, Zoro is rarely in that kind of danger, and Sabo was believed dead at the time. Ace’s execution at Marineford triggered an all-out war between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Marines.

Roronoa Zoro is the first member to join Luffy’s crew and serves as the Straw Hats’ swordsman. He has a unique fighting style. How many swords does Zoro wield in his signature technique?

AOne BTwo CThree DFour

✓ Correct! Zoro is famous for his Santoryu (Three Sword Style), wielding one sword in each hand and a third in his mouth. This unique fighting style makes him one of the most distinctive swordsmen in all of anime. His dream is to become the world’s greatest swordsman by defeating Dracule Mihawk.

✗ That answer missed like a Gum-Gum Pistol in a storm! The answer is three. Zoro’s signature Santoryu (Three Sword Style) involves wielding one sword in each hand and gripping the third in his mouth. While he can fight with one or two swords, his three-sword technique is his most iconic and powerful combat form.

The World Government in One Piece is controlled by a mysterious group of individuals who sit at the very top of its power structure, above even the Admirals and the Fleet Admiral. What are they called?

AThe Five Elders (Gorosei) BThe Celestial Dragons CThe Revolutionary Army DThe Yonko

✓ Correct! The Five Elders (Gorosei) are the highest-ranking leaders of the World Government, residing in the holy land of Mary Geoise. They command all military and political power, including the authority to order a Buster Call. Their true nature and abilities have only recently been revealed in the series.

✗ That answer missed like a Gum-Gum Pistol in a storm! The answer is the Five Elders (Gorosei). The Celestial Dragons are descendants of the founding kings but don’t rule directly, the Revolutionary Army opposes the government, and the Yonko are pirate emperors outside government control. The Gorosei sit at the absolute top.

It was revealed that Luffy’s Devil Fruit is not actually the Gomu Gomu no Mi, but a mythical Zoan-type fruit with a much more significant true name. What is the fruit’s real identity?

AHito Hito no Mi, Model: Sun God Nika BTori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix CUo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu DInu Inu no Mi, Model: Okuchi no Makami

✓ Correct! The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Sun God Nika is a Mythical Zoan-type fruit that the World Government had been hunting for 800 years. When Luffy awakened it during the Wano arc, he unlocked Gear 5 — gaining the power of “the most ridiculous ability in the world” with limitless imagination-based combat.

✗ That answer missed like a Gum-Gum Pistol in a storm! The answer is the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Sun God Nika. The Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix belongs to Marco, the Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu was Kaido’s dragon fruit, and the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Okuchi no Makami was Yamato’s fruit. Luffy’s true fruit is the legendary Sun God Nika.

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With his ever-growing power and how much life his fun personality adds to the story, Luffy has always been the key to what’s made One Piece so great, and even with the anime in its final saga, he’s only going to get better in the coming years. There’s truly never been an anime character like Luffy, and that’s what makes him the greatest 90s anime character of all time.

Release Date October 20, 1999

Network Fuji TV

Directors Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou

Writers Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda