Newer anime fans don't realize how spoiled they are these days. With a single click, they can stream practically any series ever made in crisp HD, complete with professional subs or dubs in multiple languages. And you don't even need a dedicated service like Crunchyroll anymore — Netflix alone has a catalog strong enough to keep the casual fan entertained for weeks.
But back in the day, if you wanted to watch anything beyond what aired on Toonami, you had to work for it. Maybe your local video store carried a dusty VHS or two, but if not, you were left scouring sketchy download sites at 2 a.m., praying the file didn't wreck your computer. Even then, what you got might be a pixelated mess with hilariously off-base fan subs or a bootleg dub that sounded like it was recorded in someone's garage. For a lot of us, shows like Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, and Pokémon weren't just childhood staples, they were the only reliable glimpse we had into the wider world of anime.
Back when your best friend lived two blocks away, not two states away.
