Our childhood days wouldn’t be as nostalgic without the anime series that dominated our TV screens when we were growing up. After all, they inspired a lot of our antics with our playmates in the streets. Can you remember your favorite character’s rituals? Do you remember doing slam dunks or Rei Guns, or trading teks cards printed with our favorite anime characters’ faces?
While there’s no going back to those good old times, we can always rewatch these classic animes on the web especially now that more streaming sites are available. Here are 14 nostalgic anime series that are always worth a rewatch for Filipino millennials reminscing their childhood days at home.
Table of Contents
Image credit: Goomba Stomp.
Admit it, you probably googled Keno’s Ohayou, the opening theme song of Hunter x Hunter before to relive the good times. Hearing this OST ringing in your ears long after your parents turned off the TV in the past really explains what we call LSS, or last song syndrome.
As nostalgic anime series faves go, this show is as addictive as its soundtracks. It centers on Gon Freecss who left his home to follow the footsteps of his Hunter father. Hunters in the show were considered licensed elites as they possessed exclusive capabilities such as tracking down secret treasures and rare beasts. Along the way, he met Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua, fellow applicants each motivated to be a Hunter too due to their personal backstories.
Where to stream: Netflix
Seasons available: 6
Image credit: Looper.
The nostalgic anime series that launched a card collecting frenzy, Yu-Gi-Oh has certainly carved a card gaming phase for all of us during our childhood. Remember collecting all the spell and monster cards to create the perfect deck? We would trade these cards with friends, flaunt our newly acquired cards, and play an imaginary Duel Monsters card game ourselves.
The anime is about the adventure of Yugi Muto, who discovered the spirit of a Pharaoh after unlocking an ancient artifact known as the Millennium Puzzle. As the two eventually work together to discover the secrets of the Pharaoh’s past as the King of Egypt, while stopping the dark forces who want the king’s power, they meet a motley of characters including Joey Wheeler, Tea Gardner, Tristan Taylor, the Kaiba brothers Seto and Mokuba, and Bakura.
Where to stream: Yugioh
Seasons available: 5
Image credit: Anime Herald.
Former schoolgirls were not immune from the charms of Sailor Moon, probably role-playing the Sailor Soldier transformation with our fellow classmates after school hours. The anime follows the adventures of Usagi Tsukino, a middle school girl granted the power to become Sailor Moon by a talking cat named Luna.
Together with other Sailor Soldiers, Sailor Moon would work to defend the Earth against various evils, often supported by Tuxedo Mask or Mamoru Chiba, the college student she romantically yearns for.
Where to stream: Hulu
Seasons available: 5
Image credit: Manga Thrill.
We were all hyped by the coming of Bleach to our local shores in 2007 when it was first dubbed in Tagalog by our favorite Kapuso stars. The anime centers around Ichigo Kurosaki who was destined to become a Soul Reaper after obtaining the powers of another reaper, Rukia Kuchiki. In the show, Soul Reapers are spirits who keep order among souls traveling between the world of the living and the afterlife.
Hesitant at first to substitute for Rukia in eliminating Hollows, who are souls that failed to cross over the afterlife and stay in the human world, he eventually accepted the responsibility bestowed on him while discovering friends and classmates who also possess powers of their own.
Where to stream: Netflix
Seasons available: 8
Image credit: Alchetron.
This is probably the most nostalgic of all nostalgic anime series for millennials today. Princess Sarah is a classic. We Filipinos can’t get enough of orphan stories, a recurring theme in some of the most popular dramas we have followed through the years. Even a Japanese anime Princess Sarah has been so instilled in our local culture that we have created meme after meme of the lovely orphan.
Image credit: Joy Maria Delos Reyes via Pinterest.
Sarah’s story is a quintessential depiction of how a young orphan endures the loss of a parent. In her case, she was forced to be a maid in her school by the headmistress after her wealthy father’s death which left her family bankrupt. Her hardships are counterbalanced by the help of her true friends, such as another maid named Becky.
Watch a cut of the Tagalog live-action film here.
We probably attempted several slam dunks to show off our basketball prowess to our friends, inspired by this classic basketball anime. The lead character Hanamichi Sakuragi, although a reckless troublemaker, tries out for the Shohoku High School Basketball team despite not liking basketball with the hopes of finally getting himself a girlfriend.
He eventually develops a love for the sport, while meeting exciting teammates such as Takenori Akagi, the captain of Shohoku, and Kaede Rukawa, his rival for Haruko’s heart.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Episodes available: 14
Image credit: Anime News Network.
“Tatoe arashi ga futou tomo / Tatoe oonami areru tomo” – when these lyrics chimed from our TV screens, it was a sign that we had to pause whatever we were doing for a while to focus on watching this beloved anime.
GMA Network adapted this beloved anime into a live-action version in 2023, a testament to our long-lasting fascination over this anime that introduced us to the alien race of the planet Boazan, thousands of light years away from the Earth, alongside the pilots of Chō Denji Machine Voltes V (5), Earth’s defense against this dark force.
Watch full episodes of the live adaptation, Voltes V: Legacy, here.
Image credit: Fushigi Yuugi Fandom.
Along with other mega-popular anime series in the early 2000s, our fondest memories of Fushigi Yuugi might be printed on the teks cards with Miaka’s and Tamahome’s faces we used to trade with our kalaro. It tells the story of two teenage girls, Miaya Yuki and Yui Hongo, who were both transported to The Universe of the Four Gods, a universe in ancient China, after finding a mysterious book at a library.
Miaka soon found herself becoming a Priestess in the alternate universe while falling in love with Celestial Warrior Tamahome and dealing with the jealousy of her former best friend Yui.
Where to stream: crunchyroll
Episodes available: 52
Image credit: @dbz_best_anime via Instagram.
Like with Hunter x Hunter’s theme song, we also reminisce about Flame of Recca with its catchy opening song. The story, mainly revolving around Recca Hanabishi who can wield and control flames, focuses on Hokage ninjas who own mystical artifacts called madogu, each with its own superpower. Kurei Mori, the anime’s antagonist, is in search of these artifacts that can grant him eternal life.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Episodes available: All 42
Image credit: Allan “The Last Minoan” Amisola via Pinterest.
Of course, Ghost Fighter (or Yu Yu Hakusho) is one of the all-time anime favorites among Filipino millennials. Our fond memories of this show go beyond our homes to performing Eugene’s (or Yusuke Urameshi) Rei Gun with our playmates in the streets, alongside our super saiyans.
The story starts with Eugene being killed in a car accident while attempting to save a boy. Earning the title “Underworld Detective”, he returns to the human world to investigate its supernatural phenomena, eventually making friends with Dennis (Kurama), Alfred (Kuwabara), and Vincent (Hiei).
Where to stream: Hulu
Seasons available: 4
Image credit: Anime News Network.
Like Yu-Gi-Oh, Cardcaptor Sakura fuelled our card-collecting pursuits – because who doesn’t take pleasure in sealing magical card creatures like Sakura does with her wand? After accidentally finding and releasing magical cards known as Clow Cards from a book, Sakura Kinomoto was destined as a Cardcaptor by the guardian of the cards, ordering her to retrieve the missing cards and defeat the creatures behind them.
Image credit: Next Episode.
Perhaps the most sprawling anime series of our time, the long-standing One Piece series that started in 1997 is here to grip us with its grand storyline. It begins with Monkey D. Luffy’s quest to retrieve Gol D Roger’s treasure or the One Piece hidden at the Grand Line.
While sailing the sea, he meets his crewmates along the way: Roronoa Zoro, who wants to become a great swordsman, Usopp, buoyed by his pursuit to become a warrior of the sea, Sanji, enamored by the hidden All Blue sea, and Nami, engulfed by her desire to make a map of the world.
Image credit: Pokémon via IMDb.
Pokémon is a timeless anime that holds a special place in the hearts of millennials. It’s a captivating journey into the world of Ash Ketchum, a young trainer with dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master. Together with his trusty Pikachu, he embarks on an epic adventure, capturing and battling Pokémon while forming lasting friendships.
What makes Pokémon so nostalgic for millennials is the way it captured our imaginations as kids. We remember trading Pokémon cards, watching the show after school, and spending countless hours on our Game Boy battling and trading Pokémon. The catchy theme song is etched into our memories, and each episode fills us with excitement and wonder.
Image credit: Pokémon via IMDb.
Pokémon isn’t just an anime; it’s a cultural phenomenon that bridges generations. It reminds us of the joy of exploration, friendship, and the endless possibilities of a world filled with amazing creatures. It’s a timeless classic that continues to enchant both old and new fans alike.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Episodes available: 2
Image credit: Dragon Ball Z via IMDb.
Dragon Ball Z is a legendary anime that fuels the nostalgia of millennials. It follows the adventures of Goku and his friends as they defend Earth against powerful foes.
What makes it so nostalgic is the epic battles, iconic transformations, and character growth that we grew up with. We remember eagerly tuning in to witness Goku’s Super Saiyan transformations, the intense fights, and the emotional connections with the characters.
Image credit: Dragon Ball Z via IMDb.
Dragon Ball Z is a time capsule of our childhood, reminding us of the thrill of discovering a world of martial arts, friendship, and the pursuit of becoming the strongest in the universe.
Where to stream: Hulu
Seasons available: 5
From Hunter x Hunter to Dragon Ball Z, these nostalgic anime series have stretched our imaginations as children with relatable characters, who like us, also set out to pursue their dreams despite all odds.
While we can no longer return to our days growing up with them, trust that the Internet is and will always be a repository of our favorite episodes when nostalgia strikes.
If you’re looking for local animated films and series to dive into, check out this list of Filipino animations that showcase our artists’ creativity, or head to Aniporium Makati to get your anime merch fix.
Cover image adapted from (clockwise from top left): Goomba Stomp, Anime Herald, Just Watch, Next Episode.
Article originally published on May 2020 by Addie Pobre. Last updated by Gly Parañal on September 2023.
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