Evolution of Anime: Decade-by-Decade Journey of Japan's Animation
Navigating the Evolution of Anime Through the Years
Known for its vibrant artwork, epic themes, and memorable characters—and for shaping my entire childhood—anime has experienced a fascinating evolution through the decades.
My aim with this article is to explore the growth of this art form from the plot-intensive 1980s through the digital revolution, up to the current era of visually stunning streaming service exclusives (and isekais… Can’t forget the isekais).
Now, this is by no means an exhaustive analysis—more of a sky-high overview of the landscape of anime as it’s developed. After all, this is just a short article, not a 1-hour analytical video or an anime college course. We’re just going to hit some of the overarching themes and throughlines of the medium in each of these eras. Also, I’ll let you know ahead of time that I’m not going to cover the 2020s—though I look forward to looking back at this decade in about ten years’ time. Who knows, maybe I’ll update this article then.
And with that, let’s get started.
1980s Anime: Embracing Realism and Complex Narratives
To Gen Z, this decade is already counted as ancient history, a time of antiquity and primitive civilization. The 1980s marked a pivotal era in anime, characterized by intricate illustrations and sophisticated storytelling — really setting the bedrock from which the medium sprang out into the rest of the world and left such a deep impact. This decade saw the rise of grand space operas, intense cyberpunk tales, and sprawling fantasy epics such as Mobile Suit Gundam and Macross, a reflection of the audience's growing preference for detailed narratives and visually striking artistry. And I mean, y’all, we got Dragon Ball (predecessor to Dragon Ball Z) in the 80s. What more do you need to know?
Also, one of my favorite comparisons I’ve ever come up with is that Dragon Ball is to Dragon Ball Z what The Hobbit is to The Lord of the Rings. It’s literally the best 1-to-1 comparison ever. Don’t @ me. (But feel free to leave a comment.)
The times were changing, and I’m so glad they were — otherwise, we wouldn’t have gotten Akira. A revolutionary film and Kanye West’s favorite anime, Akira not only gained global recognition for its exceptional detail and intricate plot but also set the tone for the themes and styles that became standard in the following years. The growth of otaku culture—hardcore anime fans dedicated to the appreciation and understanding of anime—combined with a robust Japanese economy, helped propel the animation industry to new heights.
I would be remiss to not mention the Studio Ghibli classics that this era also produced. We’re talking My Neighbor Totoro, Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind… like, this decade is where people’s childhoods get defined. I was (and am) forever changed by the Miyazaki masterpieces that came from this time.
If you’re interested in learning more about the genius himself, check out this free, 4-part NHK docuseries: 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki. Somehow, the NHK convinced Studio Ghibli to allow them to film a documentary about Miyazaki over the course of 10 years—but they were only allowed to do it if it was one cameraman. If you’re anything like me, this series will probably make you cry. It covers everything from the famed director’s creative process to his messy family life.
Anime in the 1990s: Genre Expansion and Global Appeal
This is the time period I grew up in. For me in America, it was Toonami all the way—they always had the best anime picks playing after school. The 1990s were a time of genre expansion in anime, making it more attractive to a wider audience. The Japanese animation industry started to incorporate various genres like magical girls, mechas, action-adventures, and psychological dramas to diversify the viewer base and increase its global appeal.
Big-hitting anime series like Dragon Ball Z (DBZ), Sailor Moon, and Pokémon played a significant role in promoting anime in the West. They were my bread and butter, and they totally separated themselves from western cartoons not only in their visual style, but also in the depth of their characters, their commitment to narrative, and how unafraid they were of raising the stakes. People’s lives were regularly at stake in DBZ, and the main character literally dies. Multiple times. You weren’t gonna get that in Dexter’s Laboratory.
But honestly, those shows were just the kiddie pool of the anime world—while I was eating my afternoon snack and losing my mind at how cool Goku was in DBZ, the real stuff was happening elsewhere. We’re talking classics that remain pillars of not just the animation world, but of storytelling in general. Shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, and Serial Experiments Lain, which blended various genres and featured layered emotional depth, dominate this era in my mind. It seems that the creative exploration of these series was driven by a desire to push storytelling boundaries and reach new international markets—and hot damn, am I glad for it. I wouldn’t catch these classics until years later, but they belong to the 90s even if I didn’t see them till the 2010s.
Finally, I have to mention Ghost in the Shell. Set in a cybernetic future where human-machine integration is commonplace, this movie (and followup series) straight up addresses the deepest questions of identity, consciousness, and the nature of humanity in an increasingly digital world—in the 90s. Its impact on the anime industry, and broader pop culture, is profound. It had the level of effect that Akira had in the 80s. All by itself, Ghost in the Shell brought about a paradigm shift in the perception of anime, proving it could handle mature, complex themes beyond typical action and fantasy genres.
The 2000s Anime: Digital Transformation and a More Confident Industry
Now we’re really getting into my childhood years.
The 2000s signified the digital transformation of the anime industry. The shift from traditional cel animation to digital techniques resulted in cleaner lines, brighter colors, and greater versatility in animation production. Advancements in technology offered more effective and efficient ways of producing animation, enhancing its global reach and competitiveness.
This decade feels like the true rise of the shōnen genre to me. “Shōnen” (少年) literally means “young boy” or “youth,” and it’s the term used in the manga and anime industry to refer to a demographic of young and early teen males, typically between the ages of 12 and 18. It also refers to the genre of anime that’s geared toward that age group and the typical characteristics of those shows — think lots of battle scenes, power systems, action, friendship, and personal growth and goals. We’re talking One Piece, Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Death Note, Gurren Lagan, and Bleach. Can you believe all those series came out in just one decade? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Honestly, I learned so much about life from these stories. The main characters became my role models and heroes (for better or worse—but mostly better). It felt like everything Shōnen Jump Magazine, the premier shōnen manga publication, came out with was pure gold.
This decade also saw insane classics like Samurai Champloo, Mushishi, Natsume’s Book of Friends, Black Lagoon, Elfen Lied, Eden of the East, FLCL, Monster… the list goes on. And on, and on, and on. The anime industry had its footing, and it felt more confident in what its strengths were — to animate incredible, weird, monstrously creative stories, and broadcast them not only to Japan, but to the whole world. Now, anime series didn’t have to wait for years and years after they ran in Japan to be broadcast in America — it was happening in a matter of months.
Anime in the 2010s: The Streaming Revolution and Isekai Dominance
Now we get modern. The 2010s brought about a digital revolution in the form of streaming platforms, fundamentally changing the way anime was distributed and consumed worldwide. Platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix facilitated instant, global access to anime, resulting in a significant rise in its popularity outside Japan.
Big series from this decade:
Attack on Titan
Steins;Gate
Demon Slayer
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Dr. Stone
Kaguya-sama: Love is War
Hunter x Hunter
Dragon Ball Super (the follow up to Dragon Ball Z)
And so many more. I want to highlight the diversity here—as the anime and manga industries have grown over the years, Mangaka (漫画家), the authors of manga, have been able to hit massive success while writing more and more specialized and “out-there” stories. Some might argue that all anime from this era and beyond was trending toward the lowest common denominator and all felt the same, but I would argue the opposite—we couldn’t have had an Attack-on-Titan-esque story in the 90s because the anime industry hadn’t found the massive global audience that it now has. Sure, the manga might have done well in Japan, but I’d bet that it wouldn’t have made it across the seas as an animated series. And it wouldn’t have become one of the most popular anime of all time.
Moving along, I want to cover the isekai genre, featuring characters transported to otherworldly realms. “Isekai” (異世界) means "different world" or "otherworld," and boy, have we seen a lot of different worlds by now. There are hundreds of series that fall into this category, and although the genre is totally oversaturated now, there are still a number of gems that are worth watching. Sword Art Online (I don’t like it) is the quintessential example of the genre, and Re:Zero (I do like it) is another. No Game No Life, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, That Time I Was Reincarnated as a Slime, and KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! are some more prime examples. Just the names alone are enough to tell you that this genre was written for nerds of a different breed than shōnen anime (don’t worry, I am both).
The rise of isekai anime was largely due to the popularity of light novel adaptations and resonated with viewers seeking escapism in fantasy worlds. Light novels are literally just that — novels that aren’t very long. Think novella as opposed to 1,000-page behemoths.
Closing Thoughts
The evolution of anime from its early beginnings to the present mirrors not only changes within Japanese culture and society, but also global shifts in technology, narrative themes, and distribution models. Each decade's distinctive characteristics were shaped by societal transformations, tech advancements, and audience preferences, and in turn, the anime of those decades shaped their viewers (like me) and the creators of the following generation.