From “Memories of Yesterday” to “Perfect Blue”: 10 anime classics released in the 90s

The untimely death of Satoshi Kon has left our hearts in a fist and the stealth escape of some justified tears based on great, immense films that remain, and that’s no small feat, as one of the most interesting and dazzling cinematic legacies in the history of the film. ‘animation.

A short but intense career in which we find masterpieces the size of ‘Perfect Blue’, a dark and disturbing thriller, complex and suffocating, a feast for the eyes accompanied by an inevitable knot in the pit of the stomach. A masterpiece in all respects.

Perfect Blue on eCartelera

For many, many people, the absolute pinnacle of anime history. And for the rest? At least a work of art. “Akira” by Katsuhiro? Tomo arrived in Spain four years after its premiere in Japan, but the echo of its impact remains steadfast among several generations who have found there one of the most brutal cinematic experiences of their lives. Complex, hypnotic, frenetic and loaded with images of indelible memories, ‘Akira’ is a prodigy that goes far beyond the limits of genres, styles and labels. A stainless classic.

Akira on eCartelera

It was the year 1997 when Studio Ghibli reached a new peak. She was called “Princess Mononoke” and left millions of viewers with bulging eyes, disengaged jaws and swollen hearts for five-star cinema. Let’s talk about classic. Let’s talk about a masterpiece. We are talking about an unforgettable adventure in which it is still difficult to find a mistake.

A jewel from the first sight that, for all those who love the classic aromatic stories starring noble characters, continues to keep intact its ability to hypnotize through a truly enviable sense of wonder. In short, if you’ve ever seen “Princess Mononoke”, you already have a number of memorable scenes to come back to over and over again to keep enjoying yourself like the first time. A real treasure that, fortunately, continues to be handed down from generation to generation. And never stop doing it.

Princess Mononoke on eCartelera

We would need an exclusive special just to list the number of directors whose work has been heavily influenced by “Ghost in the Shell”, a futuristic masterpiece directed by an extremely inspired Mamoru Oshii. Featuring one of the best female characters in film history in general and anime in particular, this apex of cyberpunk devours itself passionately through a look that never ceases to receive fascinating stimuli in just over 80 minutes that pass as the best of sighs. An excellent proposal to which you never get tired of returning.

Ghost in the Shell on eCartelera

Three years after directing his first great masterpiece, ‘The tomb of the fireflies’, Isao Takahata repeated the feat with ‘Memories of yesterday’, one of the greats forgotten in reviewing the studio’s most undeniable peaks. And it is a great little injustice since we are before a beautiful story told with the delicacy, tact and wrist of a master.

‘Memories of Yesterday’, which is also one of the most adult, profound and complex proposals in the history of Ghibli, moves through a fabulous animation, hypnotic in its relentless simplicity, to tell a set of pieces of life that move deeply, reaching an exemplary balance between matter and form, both elements of a stratospheric level. A great little classic.

Memories of yesterday in eCartelera

A delusion of violence, action, adventure, sex and incredible characters. So we could perfectly define ‘Ninja Scroll’, a cult film that, even today, continues to be a roller coaster full of strong emotions. There is no time to breathe a proposal as frenetic as it is memorable where everything works to its full potential. A first-rate cinematic feast.

Ninja Scroll on eCartelera

The world premiere of Yoshifumi Kondô’s feature film after his fantastic short film “Little Nemo” came with “Whispers of the Heart”, a brilliant story of firsts. First adventures, loves, betrayals, tears and laughter. First fears, insecurities, doubts, certainties and acts of madness. First dreams, nightmares, realities and fictions. First kisses, hugs, goodbyes and meetings.

In short, a succession of postcards of pure life that explode before the eyes of the viewer with the power of the best animation. A good movie full of unforgettable characters and with one of those endings destined to get you up from your chair (or sofa) to clap at the top of your lungs.

Whispers of the heart in eCartelera

Katsuhiro? Tomo, K? Ji Morimoto and Tensai Okamura joined forces in 1995 to give shape to “Memories”, another essential anime proposal in the 90s. Adaptation of three short graphic stories from the aforementioned Ôtomo, this series of small big films dialogue with each other through an astonishing visual perfection and, above all, a background that invites fun and reflection with the same force. Everyone will have their favorite, in my case I admit I have a soft spot for Morimoto’s “Magnetic Rose”, but the full experience is what really shines in this fabulous “Memories”.

Memories in eCartelera

Plot of the ‘Porco Rosso’: Period between the two wars. Porco is an aviator pig who foils all acts of piracy perpetrated by the air pirates of the Adriatic. These, determined to kill the brave and skilled aviator, agree to hire an American adventurer whose mission will be to eliminate him.

Yes, you read that right, he’s an aviator pig. And he’s more charismatic and memorable than half the animated heroes who hit billboards week after week. A film that had a good handful of mines in the way of him and that, however, not only came out victorious from the challenge, but also it remains enviably firmly among the best films ever made by Ghibli. A wonderful adventure.

Porco Rosso on eCartelera