Top 10 classic manga of the 1990s, One Piece didn't even make it into the top 5

One Piece - Photo 1.

The most familiar to Vietnamese audiences is certainly the Korean drama starring Lee Min Ho, which was shown on HTV3 - Photo: Shonen Jump/SBS

The survey was conducted to select 36 most prominent names in terms of plot, style and drawing, including immortal stories such as One Piece, City Hunter...

Just in the top 10 titles, we can see the diversity in genre and style during a golden age of Japanese manga.

Dragon Ball, One Piece still lose to many classic names

Topping the list is City Hunter by Tsukasa Hojo, an action comedy manga set in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

After a plane crash, protagonist Ryo Saeba is raised as a guerrilla fighter in Central America, then returns to Japan to become a "sweeper" - a profession that blends detective, bodyguard and assassin.

One Piece - Photo 2.

Slam Dunk still proves its classic status after the resounding success of the movie The First Slam Dunk - Photo: Toei

He initially partners with former police officer Hideyuki Makimura, but when Hideyuki is murdered, Ryo agrees to take care of his friend's adopted sister, Kaori Makimura. Kaori becomes his new partner, and the pair continue to take on missions to protect victims from the underworld .

Not only impressing with its cinematic action scenes, City Hunter also stands out with its charming comedy and many unique details that have become cultural icons.

The work was well received worldwide and has sold over 50 million copies worldwide. In addition, City Hunter has also been adapted into many anime versions and live-action films.

Coming in second is Slam Dunk , Takehiko Inoue's sports manga masterpiece. The series follows the unruly Hanamichi Sakuragi and his journey from amateur basketball player to professional player.

The First Slam Dunk anime trailer

Not only attracting attention thanks to dramatic matches, Slam Dunk also inspired a generation of sports lovers in Japan.

In 2023, the film version of the series, The First Slam Dunk, created a fever, earning more than 279 million USD globally and reaffirming the influence of this work despite ending nearly 3 decades.

Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai comes in third. Based on the legendary Dragon Quest RPG series , the manga follows the young boy Dai on his journey to defeat the demon king Hadlar.

The work combines a fantasy world and a message of courage, and is considered one of Shonen Jump's most successful game adaptations, especially after the anime series aired in 2020.

One Piece - Photo 3.

The Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai series was once published in Vietnam under the name The Adventure of Dai - Photo: Kim Dong Publishing House

Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball legend still makes the list at number four. Despite debuting in the late 1980s, Goku's journey and interplanetary battles have had a profound impact on popular culture, becoming a model for later shonen manga.

One Piece also made the list at number six. Since its debut in 1997, One Piece has become one of the best-selling manga series of all time. That success is attributed to the rare talent and dedication of author Eiichiro Oda.

One Piece doesn't just attract readers with epic battles or legendary treasures. Underneath the adventure are profound messages about freedom, justice and humanity.

One Piece - Photo 4.

Dragon Ball and One Piece, although they are "later" on this list, both have the most enduring vitality, especially One Piece - Photo: Shonen Jump/Toei

The world of One Piece mirrors real society with injustice, racism, censorship of information and manipulation of power.

Despite spanning thousands of chapters, One Piece has never lost its creative juices. Recent arcs like Egghead Island show that Oda is still at his best, while the anime produced by Toei Animation is keeping up with the times with modern animation techniques and beautiful effects.

The list of top 10 most attractive Shonen Jump manga of the 1990s according to Goo Ranking includes: