10 Most Notable Shoujo Anime Classics From The ’90s And Earlier

The ’70s to the ’90s saw the production of some of the most well-regarded shoujo anime ever produced, with all-time classics like Rose of Versailles and Sailor Moon reaching the peaks of their popularity during this era. Although there are plenty of contemporary shoujo offerings to satisfy those with a taste for romance and drama, there’s just something about the classics that keep fans coming back.

Perhaps it’s the rosy aesthetics and sweeping melodrama, or maybe it’s the grand romantic gestures and otherworldly adventures. Whatever the reason, those willing to look back will find an abundance of retro classics and hidden gems in the subgenre ranging from romance and adventure to gritty melodrama.

10 Aim For The Ace!

1973’s Aim for the Ace! is an all-time classic sports story for the medium, following a seemingly untalented girl named Hiromi as she struggles to reach the upper echelons of her school’s tennis team hierarchy. Although she’s of unremarkable skills, the team’s intense coach takes interest in her, helping her to realize her full potential. Jealous rivals will make things difficult along the way, though.

A story of personal growth punctuated by sports drama and the occasional love story subplot, audiences can’t help but feel inspired by Aim for the Ace! Watching Hiromi’s unwavering perseverance in the face of adversity is a moving experience, and it successfully sells the theme that simply refusing to give up can help us past most obstacles in life.

9 Magic Knight Rayearth

While on a field trip in Tokyo, three ordinary students are suddenly spirited away to the magical world of Cephiro, where the land has fallen into disarray and despair on account of the nefarious Zagato’s kidnapping of the realm’s princess. The three protagonists are enlisted as Magic Knights and burdened with a quest to rescue the princess and restore order to Cephiro. There are also magical giant robots.

Rayearth follows a familiar isekai route, coupling action and comedy with the occasional romance subplot, Magic Knight Rayearth delivers a consistently exhilarating fantasy adventure story. The show also looks fantastic, with the adaptation successfully capturing the essence of the era’s glittery shoujo aesthetic.

8 Oniisama E…

Osamu Dezaki’s Oniisama E… remains one of the most uncompromisingly intense entries in the annals of shoujo anime, outright refusing to shy away from what are often considered to be taboo topics in a typically lighthearted genre. In what seems like a relaxed, low-key premise, the story follows a student named Nanako as she enrolls in a prestigious girls’ school, but her idyllic aspirations are quickly dispelled when she finds herself at the center of some vicious interpersonal melodrama.

Indeed, Oniisama E… is well suited to those with a taste for heady melodrama. In addition to the intense subject matter, the artwork and character designs, composed excellently by Dezaki in what is one of his most inventive directorial efforts, help bring the show’s atmosphere to life.

7 Fushigi Yuugi

As another adaptation of a manga by Yuu Watase, the group behind Magic Knight Rayearth and Cardcaptor Sakura, expectations for 1995’s Fushigi Yuugi were naturally high. The story follows protagonist Miaka and her friend Yui as they are transported, by way of a magical book, to a mythical version of ancient China where Miaka receives a divine quest that sets the plot in motion.

Along the way, Miaka attracts the attention of a gaggle of magical anime boys who proceed to compete for her attention as she works towards completing her quest. With a fun setting, exciting action sequences, and a diverting romantic subplot, Fushigi Yuugi is an intensely watchable ’90s romp.

6 Kareshi Kanojo No Jijou

Kareshi Kanojo No Jijou, or simply Kare Kano as it is known to most fans, is a 1998 anime adaptation of a manga by the same name, serialized in the famous Hana to Yume magazine. Kare Kano is notable for a few reasons, but chiefly for being a Gainax production, and a joint vehicle from Hideaki Anno and his frequent collaborator and co-director, Kazuya Tsurumaki.

On its own, Kare Kano takes a typical shoujo manga setup and elevates it by presenting the story in a refreshingly mature and grounded way, as there’s little in the way of unnecessary misunderstandings to create conflict here. Anno and Tsurumaki bring unique surrealism to the production, as well, but viewers should be warned that the production of Kare Kano was infamously troubled, forcing the staff to cut some pretty obvious corners in the later episodes.

5 Kodomo No Omocha

Kodomo no Omocha, or simply Kodocha, is a lengthy 1996 shoujo anime that wastes no time setting the stage for its audience. Successful child actress Sana is fed up with the disruptive influence that is Akito, a boy who is seemingly compelled to make life miserable for her and her classmates. She decides to try and learn more about Akito in hopes of getting him to behave better, and with that, all the players are set for a classic shoujo romance plot.

Although beginners might be intimidated by the show’s hefty runtime of 102 episodes, it never feels like a chore to watch thanks to its diverting comedy and skillful pacing. It’s one of those shows that feels endlessly watchable.

4 Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

There isn’t all that much to be said about Sailor Moon that hasn’t already been said. It’s easily one of the most internationally recognizable anime ever produced, and its legacy overseas is seemingly unmatched. What is somewhat lost amidst the nostalgia and ’90s anime aesthetic moodboards, though, is that Sailor Moon is actually really good.

Those who revisit the show now will find that it features well-timed comedy, charming aesthetic sensibilities, and, above all, an immensely likable and well-realized cast. Yes, the Sailor Senshi have endearing personalities on their own terms, but what really makes Sailor Moon click across its many seasons is the Sailor Scouts’ chemistry.

3 Marmalade Boy

Marmalade Boy is, much like the modern-day Fruits Basket, is an anime tailor-made for shoujo genre enthusiasts, as it features many of the familiar tropes from other romance outings on full display. Love triangles, misunderstandings, complicated familial circumstances, and agonizingly long stretches without romantic progress are all front and center in Marmalade Boy.

While that might be a turnoff for some people without much experience with shoujo romance manga, seasoned viewers will find the show immensely rewarding. Despite the inherent twists and turns in a romantic dramedy of this length, Marmalade Boy never fails in its mission to get the audience invested in its myriad romantic plots.

2 Cardcaptor Sakura

1998’s Cardcaptor Sakura hardly needs an introduction, as it’s perhaps the most recognized and fondly remembered magical girl anime outside of Japan—save, of course, for Sailor Moon. It’s a classic magical girl setup; Sakura inadvertently awakens magical powers and a talking animal sidekick who promptly tasks her with recapturing all of the magical cards she clumsily loosed upon the world.

It might not be the most unique setup to a magical girl anime, but Cardcaptor Sakura remains a classic of the genre on account of the earnestness of its presentation, some uncommonly in-depth characterization for its main cast, and excellent production values courtesy of studio Madhouse.

1 Rose Of Versailles

Osamu Dezaki’s Rose of Versailles is a titan of the late ’70s, one that, despite its age, is widely regarded as one of anime’s all-time classics. A sweeping historical epic set during the build-up to the French Revolution, Versailles sets the classic shoujo love story trappings against a thrilling tale of sword fights, palace intrigue, and the limits of personal loyalty.

The dramatic irony inherent in the anime’s setting is leveraged flawlessly, and the audience can palpably feel the tension building as Paris winds itself tighter and tighter as the story goes on, delivering the high drama an audience expects from a historical epic of this caliber.

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