Here's a list of really cool, vintage, obscure, slightly disturbing anime and cartoons that I wanna watch lol
Petshop of Horrors (1999) is a horror anime about a mysterious man named Count D who runs a strange pet shop in Chinatown. He sells unusual pets but each one comes with special rules. When people break those rules scary and unexpected things happen...
The Hobbit (1977), directed by Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin Jr. A classic animated fantasy film based on the 1937 novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. The story follows Bilbo Baggins, a quiet hobbit who is drawn into an epic journey with Gandalf and thirteen dwarves to reclaim their stolen homeland from the dragon Smaug. Simple animation, timeless music, and a strong focus on courage, friendship, and stepping beyond comfort.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!
‘Fire and Ice’ (1983) by Ralph Bakshi was created in collaboration with legendary fantasy artist Frank Frazetta, bringing his iconic style to life on screen. It’s a visually stunning clash of fire and ice, where sword and sorcery meet in an epic battle for survival.
Vampires of Geona (1991) was directed by Gennady Tishchenko. Soviet animated science-fiction film and the first part of an unfinished fantasy saga developed under the working title Starworld. Set on the alien planet Geona, the story explores the dangers of space exploration, conflicts with native inhabitants, and strong ecological themes. The sequel, The Hosts of Geona, was released in 1992.
Brave Exkaiser (1990) a classic 90s mecha anime about a young boy who befriends a transforming robot from space. Together, they fight evil forces to protect Earth. A nostalgic journey filled with action, friendship, and courage.
In Eureka Seven..the creators intentionally designed the series to fix the growing fatigue around mecha anime in the early 2000s. They felt that giant-robot shows had become too predictable with endless battles and little emotion. So they set out to build something different by blending mecha action with surf culture, deep romance, youth rebellion & emotional storytelling
Gunsmith Cats (1991-1997)
Dragon's Heaven (1988) directed by Makoto Kobayashi is a sci-fi anime film set over 1000 years in the future. The story follows Shaian who is a sentient combat armor that shuts down after losing its partner in a war between humans and robots only to be reawakened almost a thousand years later when it encounters a human girl.
Twilight of the Dark Master (1997) is a cyberpunk OVA by Madhouse that mixes gothic horror with supernatural battles in moody cityscapes. The story takes place in a world of demons, guardians and ancient secrets hiding in Neo-Shinjuku...easily a forgotten gem that feels like a fever dream of late-90s anime experimentation
Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama is a Japanese–Indian anime feature film based on the Hindu epic Ramayana, produced in the early 1990s as an unprecedented cultural collaboration between both countries. It was directed by Yugo Sako, alongside Koichi Sasaki and Ram Mohan, and created entirely using traditional hand-drawn animation by an international team of hundreds of artists.
The film tells the classic story of Prince Rama, his exile, the abduction of Sita, and the battle against Ravana, blending Indian mythological fidelity with a distinctly Japanese visual language. With a runtime of nearly two hours, it stands out for its epic tone, dramatic compositions, and staging, becoming a cult work praised for presenting the Ramayana through a unique aesthetic lens within world animation. ⚔️🔥
The Irresponsible Captain Tylor (1993): Justy Ueki Tylor is an easygoing, seemingly incompetent drifter who accidentally joins the United Planets Space Force and is inexplicably promoted to captain of the destroyer Soyokaze. Despite his carefree attitude and questionable leadership, Tylor repeatedly outmaneuvers enemy fleets and political rivals during a war with the Raalgon Empire. Whether he is a strategic genius or simply impossibly lucky remains the central mystery of this satirical space opera.
Genius Party Beyond (2008) is an experimental anime anthology by Studio 4°C that throws traditional storytelling out the window. Each short uses different art styles and techniques from chaotic sketch animation to soft, storybook visuals. It wasn’t made to please everyone especially the audience. The anime was made to push animation itself to its limits and that's why it became a cult favorite among animators and anime fans
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000), directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. A dark, atmospheric anime classic based on the novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi. Set in a distant future where technology and gothic horror collide, the story follows D, a half-vampire, half-human hunter hired to rescue a woman taken by a powerful vampire lord. Stylish action, deep loneliness, and haunting beauty make this one of the most iconic anime films ever made.
Please Save My Earth (1993) is a sci-fi romance anime OVA based on Saki Hiwatari’s manga. It follows a group of modern-day youths who begin recalling their past lives as alien scientists from the Moon where love, jealousy and tragedy once unfolded while they observed Earth. As those memories resurface, unresolved emotions threaten their present lives making the story less about action and more about fate, responsibility, and the fragile bond between humanity and the planet
The Maxx (1995) - 13 episodes: The story follows Maxx, a strange superhero in a purple suit who lives as a homeless drifter. But beneath the unusual style, the series explores trauma, identity, and the human mind
Spicy City - 6 episodes: this is like a cyberpunk cartoon. I think it's American. Spicy City is a neon-drenched cyberpunk anthology where every episode slips into a different corner of a broken future, crime, obsession, technology, and desire colliding in ways that feel both hypnotic and unsettling. Guided by a smoky, late-night narration, the city becomes a character of its own seductive, dangerous, and impossible to escape.
Vasilisa Mikulishna (1975) was directed by Roman Davydov for Soyuzmultfilm, the studio responsible for much of the Soviet Union's animation canon. Unlike many fairy tales centered around magical intervention or heroic battles, the film adapts a medieval East Slavic bylina in which victory comes through intelligence, rhetoric, and political maneuvering rather than physical strength.
The story originates from the cycle of legends surrounding the court of Prince Vladimir of Kiev, one of the central figures in East Slavic epic tradition. In the original tale, Vasilisa disguises herself as a male envoy from the Golden Horde to secure the release of her imprisoned husband, using diplomacy and deception to navigate a court dominated by warriors and princes. Her success depends not on combat but on her ability to manipulate expectations surrounding status, gender, and authority.
Visually, the film draws heavily from medieval Russian icon painting, manuscript illustrations, and traditional folk ornamentation rather than pursuing the more rounded character designs associated with Western animation of the same period. The flattened perspectives, decorative patterns, and stylized architecture intentionally evoke the aesthetic language of Kievan Rus' art and Orthodox iconography.
Iranian animation "Amir hamza the lover and sad Zebra" (1978). During the 1960s and 1970s, Iran became one of the first countries in the Middle East to take animation seriously. Iranian artists, inspired by the Shahnameh, Persian miniature painting, and classical poetry, created worlds of color, movement, and imagination — worlds that were neither Western imitations nor Eastern repetitions.
Satoshi Kon’s Paprika (2006) isn’t just a film, it’s a full-blown dive into the subconscious where dreams bleed into reality and nothing feels stable for long. Every frame is chaotic, hypnotic, and way ahead of its time.
The story unfolds like a puzzle that doesn’t want to be solved, shifting between surreal dreamscapes and fragile reality. It’s confusing, overwhelming, and strangely beautiful… the kind of film that demands your attention but never fully explains itself.
By the end, you’re left questioning what was real and what wasn’t. Paprika doesn’t just tell a story, it gets inside your head and stays there.
Parasite Dolls (2003) is a dark cyberpunk anime set in a future where humans live alongside advanced androids called "Boomers" and a secret police unit that handles crimes involving these machines
Doomed Megalopolis (1991-1992) is a cult early ’90s OVA produced by Madhouse, based on the Teito Monogatari saga. Set in early 20th-century Tokyo, it blends real history with occultism and horror: the sorcerer Yasunori Kato seeks to destroy the city by invoking supernatural forces tied to the vengeful spirit of Taira no Masakado. With a dark, violent, and surreal tone, the work combines urban apocalypse, Japanese mysticism, and adult aesthetics, becoming a key piece of ’90s horror anime 🔥
Wizards (1977) is an animated fantasy film directed by Ralph Bakshi and produced by 20th Century Fox. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, it tells the story of two wizard brothers — the good-hearted Avatar and the evil Blackwolf — who battle for control over a world where magic and ancient technology collide.
Silent Möbius (1991), created by Kia Asamiya - A cult classic cyberpunk anime from the early 90s, Silent Möbius follows the brave women of the Attacked Mystification Police (AMP) as they protect Tokyo from supernatural threats and dark forces in a futuristic world. Combining mystery, action, and sci-fi elements, this series stands out for its strong female leads and atmospheric storytelling.
Magnetic Rose (1995) - A haunting story of love, memory, and illusion set in the silence of space. Based on a story by Katsuhiro Otomo, directed by Kōji Morimoto, written by Satoshi Kon, with music by Yoko Kanno. A timeless masterpiece from Memories.
X (also titled X/1999 or X: The Movie) is a Japanese animated film released in 1996, directed by Rintaro and produced by Madhouse. The script was co-written by Rintaro and Nanase Ohkawa, the lead writer of Clamp. Adapted from Clamp’s manga of the same name, the film made its Japanese premiere on August 3, 1996. Set in Tokyo on the brink of the new millennium, the story follows Kamui Shiro, a powerful esper who returns home after six years, destined to make the ultimate choice that will decide the fate of humanity.
Æon Flux (1991–1995) is an experimental sci-fi animated series created by Peter Chung for MTV’s Liquid Television. Set in a dystopian future, it follows the skilled and enigmatic secret agent Æon Flux, who operates in a surreal world of espionage, rebellion, and moral ambiguity.
“Puparia” is an independent anime short created by Shingo Tamagawa. The film serves as a symbolic critique of the anime industry, which, according to the artist, has become increasingly driven by profit rather than passion, abandoning its artistic and emotional roots. In the companion documentary “3 Minutes, 3 Years,” Tamagawa explains that the short was born out of his frustration with the industry’s assembly-line production model and a growing sense that the values shaping the world were fading away.
