What is the best anime from 1989?

Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl (7.55) ranks #1 among anime from 1989 on the Anime Codex rubric, which scores each show on story, characters, themes, world, animation and cultural impact.

How are these 3 anime from 1989 ranked?

Each show is scored 1–10 on six criteria, weighted by demographic, into a single Codex score. This page lists every qualifying anime from 1989 by that score and updates as the catalogue grows.

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Best anime of 1989, ranked

Every anime from 1989 in the Codex, scored on six things that actually matter and ranked by weighted score (1989–1989). 3 titles, led by Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl (7.55). Re-ranked automatically as scores change — no stale lists.

The short answer

The best anime from 1989 is Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl — 7.55 out of 10 on the Anime Codex six-criterion rubric — scored, not voted. All 3 ranked below.

7.55

Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl

1989Top: Character 8.2

6.93

Dragon Ball

1989Top: Cultural 10.0

6.22

Ranma ½

1989Top: Cultural 8.0

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FAQ

What is the best anime from 1989?: Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl (7.55) ranks #1 among anime from 1989 on the Anime Codex rubric, which scores each show on story, characters, themes, world, animation and cultural impact.
How are these 3 anime from 1989 ranked?: Each show is scored 1–10 on six criteria, weighted by demographic, into a single Codex score. This page lists every qualifying anime from 1989 by that score and updates as the catalogue grows.