8. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Japan; Tomu Sōyā no Bōken; 1997)
The show is based on Mark Twain’s novel of the same name where Tom skips school to swim and was made to paint the fence as punishment. Tom Sawyer managed to transcend well into the digital age. Similar to Princess Sara, netizens had taking into creating memes of this character.
7. The Adventures of Huck Finn (Japan; Huckleberry no Bōken; 1997)
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is in some respects a sequel to Adventures of Tom Sawyer where Huck is adopted by the Widow Douglas who attempts to “civilize” him. Huck is then kidnapped by his father but manages to fake his own death and escape to Jackson’s Island, where he coincidentally meets up with Jim, a slave of the Widow Douglas’ sister, Miss Watson. Together they construct a raft and travel on the Mississippi River, Jim hoping for freedom from slavery, and Huck searching freedom from his drunk father and controlling foster parent.
6. Zenki (Japan; Kishin Dōji Zenki; 1997)
Zenki is a demon guardian who was sealed away by his former master after defeating the demon Karuma. He was then freed by his former master’s descendant but takes on the form of a bratty child. Chiakke Enno, Zenki’s new master, uses a bracelet to transform him back to his useful form. Zenki appears because the seeds of Karuma (which look like eyeballs) start appearing and turning people into monsters and Zenki needed again to defeat him.
5. Heidi (Japan; Arupusu no Shōjo Haiji; 1997)
Heidi is a story of a young girl who almost dies of homesickness after being sent away to become a companion to Clara, the crippled daughter of the wealthy businessman Mr. Sesemann.
More animes from the 90s on the next page…
