anime art style evolution 👀

I’m obsessed with how anime art styles have evolved over time, and now with AI becoming more accessible, I can’t stop wondering what the next era will even look like. Yeah, my is thriving. ❤️

📼 80s Era – The Foundation Years

This is where anime really started flexing visually. Hand-painted cels, dramatic lighting, wild character designs, and maximum personality. Everything felt experimental and fearless. Without this era, the 90s wouldn’t hit as hard. The 80s walked so 90s anime could run.

🌙 90s era

This was peak vibes. Thick linework, muted colours, dramatic shadows, and that unmistakable cel-animation feel. It wasn’t perfect and that’s what made it special. Every frame felt hand-crafted, emotional, and raw. You could feel the effort.

💿 2000s transition

Digital starts creeping in. Cleaner lines, brighter colours, smoother motion. Some grit got lost, but animation became more consistent. This era felt like anime finding its balance between art and efficiency.

✨ 2010s–now

Super sharp visuals, insane fight choreography, glowing effects everywhere. Studios are flexing HARD. Sometimes it looks breathtaking… sometimes it feels a little too polished? Almost like perfection took away a bit of soul (hot take, I know 😅).

🤖 The future (AI era?)

Now here’s the wild part. AI tools are getting more accessible. Faster production, insane backgrounds, experimental styles, even reviving older looks digitally.

But… will it enhance creativity or dilute it? Will anime become more personalised and niche, or start looking samey?

I kinda hope the future is a blend. AI handling the heavy lifting, while artists focus on emotion, storytelling, and that human touch we all fell in love with in the first place.

What do you guys think? 👇

• Which era is your favourite anime art style?

• Do you miss the 90s grit or love the modern polish?

• Are you excited or worried about AI in anime?

• Would you watch an anime fully made with AI if the story slapped?