90s Anime Memes for OG Otakus Who Grew Up with Goku and Usagi on Toonami (March 10, 2025)

Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor

Mar 11, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

A question to all the OG anime fans out there: did you know that anime was Japanese when you were watching it on TV as a kid? American kids watching anime on Toonami, 4Kids, or Cartoon Network were treated to English dubs of the shows, so depending on what you were watching, it wasn't always clear. If you grew up only watching Pokémon, you might not have had a clue that it originated in Japan because they live in a fantasy world, and the characters' names are pretty ambiguous. Similarly, young Dragon Ball fans may have caught every single episode while totally missing the Japanese cultural references. Most kids that were into Sailor Moon probably picked up on the fact that the show was foreign; she and her friends live in Tokyo, after all, and their names are distincly Japanese. Still, I knew a few people that thought it was just another fantasy location. If you grew up in a world without Google on your fingertips to look up the Wiki for your favorite TV shows, scroll down below for some nostalgic memes!

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via @hubterxhunterworn
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via @sailormoon.memes
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via @anime_otakumemes
This totally tracks… Dragon Ball fans may be eligible for compensation!
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via @sailormoon.memes
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via @sailormoon.memes
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via @anime_otakumemes
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via @cowboybebopmemes
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via @dr.crowler_memes
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via @anime_otakumemes
Is it the skincare? Better styling? Less time outside keeping everyone out of the sun? 30 year olds are truly drinking the elixir of life.
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via @anime_otakumemes
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via @sailormoon.memes
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via @anime_otakumemes
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via @anime_otakumemes
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via @sailormoon.memes
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via @cowboybebopmemes
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via @cowboybebopmemes
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via @sailormoon.memes
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via @SAILORMOON_CARDCAPTORS
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via @SAILORMOON_CARDCAPTORS

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1990s dragon ball Pokémon throwback elder millennial anime millennials animemes Dragon Ball Z sailor moon anime memes 90s kids Japan 90s cartoons otaku television

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