5 old school ’80s anime that are better than anything on right now

Robotech – 1985

Made in America from three unrelated Old School Anime. The first part tells of humanity’s first contact that ends in a war.

Rick Hunter is a pilot who gets dragged along with the SDF-1 and joins with them to stop the invaders.

Lyn Minmei is a singer who Rick rescues and falls for. Together they try to save the Earth and end the war without fighting, but with love.

The second part deals with children of the first, the rebuilding complete; we send the SDF-3 to attack the masters.

While it travels out in hyperspace to their worlds, the masters crawl into our solar system.

The Earth must fight a devesting second war for a secret prize. Someone else wants the prize, the Invid. The third part gives us a world controlled by the Invid.

The SDF-3 sends a probing force that is destroyed upon exiting hyperspace. A single survivor remains, a man taught to fight, with the will to free Earth.

He forms a resistance with the goal of destroying the Invid hive at Reflux Point, aka New York.

15 Урусей Яцура

японское название	Урусей Яцура
Студия	Студия Пьеро, Студия Дин
Где транслировать	Н/Д

Урусей Яцура возможно, самая влиятельная аниме-комедия всех времен, и эта собственность по-прежнему популярна по сей день. В 2022 году Атару и Лам вернулись в виде хорошо сделанной перезагрузки, и этот сериал является хорошей отправной точкой для людей, которые никогда не видели версию 1981 года. Тем не менее, несмотря на то, что анимация последнего, несомненно, устарела, юмор шоу сохраняется достаточно хорошо, что служит свидетельством вневременности его персонажей.

Несмотря на знамя «научной фантастики», Урусей Яцура забрасывает гораздо более широкую сеть, чем один жанр. Аниме по сути пародирует японскую культуру, как историческую, так и ее эпоху; следовательно, шоу может показаться чем-то вроде капсулы времени начала 1980-х. Тем не менее, многие из его приколов по-прежнему актуальны и по сей день, что делает поездку довольно легкой, если смотреть на нее через современную линзу.

6 Macross

Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Japanese Title

Choujikuu Yousai Macross

Release Date

October 3, 1982

Genres

Mecha , Action , Romance

Studio

Tatsunoko Production

Number of Episodes

36

What happens when the human race learns it is no longer truly alone? In the world of Macross, an alien ship that crashes on Earth is repurposed by the United Nations to try and become a defense force for the planet. During the ship’s first voyage, tragedy strikes and the crew sparks a galactic war before being transported to the far reaches of space.

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While the series came out in the ’80s, it still is receiving new sequels to this day including Macross Frontier in 2008 and Macross Delta in 2016. Those wanting to check out the new shows should check out the original to see where the story started.

Slam Dunk

School, Sports

Originally aired 1993 to 1996

101 episodes (1 season)

Watch Now

Before we got Kuroko’s Basketball in the late 2000s, we had Slam Dunk the anime series. It’s the story of a teenage student named Hanamichi Sakuragi and his journey to becoming a basketball player.

Tagging himself as the Shohoku team’s secret weapon (Coach Anzai only calls him that to stop his tantrums), he manages to help the team while learning from his experiences and embracing teamwork.

The Slam Dunk anime series features romance, sports action, and a hefty dose of comedy. It was based on the manga of the same name, which was written and illustrated by Takehiko Inoue (who was himself a big fan of basketball).

My Neighbor Totoro

My Neighbor Totoro 1988 Studio Ghibli

Renowned for its captivating charm and timeless appeal, My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ) stands as a signature work from Studio Ghibli and esteemed director Hayao Miyazaki. Released in 1988 alongside Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Fireflies, this enchanting animated film was crafted as an original story, without any pre-existing source material. The movie’s delightful narrative and endearing characters have captured the hearts of audiences spanning multiple generations.

Set in early 1950s Japan, this fantasy tale casts a spotlight on the Kusakabe family, including 12-year-old Satsuki and her 4-year-old sister Mei, who move to the countryside. The story unfolds as the girls interact with the mysterious creature Totoro, who is said to only appear to children. As the family worries about their hospitalized mother, the film showcases the idyllic rural landscapes of old Japan and the people who reside there.

Released: 1988

Runtime: 86 min

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

9 Fist Of The North Star

Fist Of The North Star

Japanese Title

Hokuto no Ken

Release Date

October 11, 1984

Genres

Action , Sci-Fi

Studio

Toei Animation

Number of Episodes

152

Based On

Manga

Creator

Buronson

See at Amazon

«You are already dead…» Fist of the North Star may be more recognized today as the subject of tons of hilarious memes, but it was a serious hit back in the ’80s. This martial arts-based post-apocalyptic epic is quite bloody and violent at times but still tells an engaging story of overcoming incredible odds to defend what he cares about most.

Fist of the North Star’s influence on anime can still be felt today, from his signature Hokuto Hyakuretsu-ken attack being emulated in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to inspiring multiple parodies in Gintama.

Outlaw Star – 1998

Outlaw Star is a space opera | Space Western set in the fictional “Towards Stars Era” universe.  

Gene Starwind and his partner Jim Hawking run a small business on the backwater planet of Centinel 3.

But all that changes the day that Hilda hires them for a bodyguard job. Now, thrust into a mystery they don’t fully understand, they’re on the run from the cops, the pirates, an angry alien, and a mysterious assassin.

But they’ve got one thing going in their favor – they have the galaxy’s most advanced ship, the Outlaw Star.

First off I’d say, right away, Outlaw Star does a fantastic job of painting a beautiful world of good vs. evil and those inbetween, the outlaws. The characters are all solid, but I particularly love that the main character is so… human.

He’s morally complex (and sexually deviant). I find something about his character so… believable, if not relatable. I hate it when characters, main ones in particular, are so pristine or so caught up in idyllic optimism that they just come across as naively romantic.

9 Angel’s Egg

Released in 1985 to director Mamoru Oshii and designed by Yoshitaka Amano of Final Fantasy fame, the film is 71 minutes that is more akin to visual art rather than telling a proper story. The science fantasy anime tells the story of an unnamed girl living in an abandoned city finding food, caring for a mysterious egg. The film was critically panned by critics who criticized it’s often sparse structure, but despite not finding work for years, Mamoru Oshii considers it one of the highlights of his career. Since then, the director has created many acclaimed animes including 1995’s Ghost in the Shell.

Ashita no Joe (1970)

Most stories about “coming of age” are about high school graduates and other people with bright futures.

Ashita no Joe is not the same.

The show is about a young homeless man named Joe Yabuki who gets interested in fighting while he is in jail.

After he gets out of prison, he puts everything he has into becoming a professional boxer, even though he has no formal schooling and no money.

He slowly gets better and better until he is a world-class boxer.

Still, the show shows the sport in a way that is pretty true to life. It also talks about the risks and health problems that come with living there.

It’s a game for people like Joe who have nothing to lose and a lot to win.

12 Gunbuster

Gunbuster

Japanese Title

Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster

Release Date

October 7, 1988

Genres

Action , Mecha

Studio

Gainax

Number of Episodes

12

A 6 episode OVA series, Gunbuster is a brilliant mecha anime that has aged amazingly. Gainax’s animation is a notch above most ’80s shows, but what cements this anime as a classic is its characters. Gunbuster boasts an irresistible cast of fully developed personalities, including an endearing lead in Noriko Takaya.

When not engaging in epic mecha battles, and there are plenty of those, Gunbuster devotes its time to fleshing out its pilots and villains. The show is also consistently funny, perhaps even more so than most comedies.

12 Ганбастер

МойАнимеСписок: 7.87

Gunbuster — шестисерийный OVA-сериал — великолепное меха-аниме, которое удивительно состарилось. Анимация Gainax на ступень выше большинства шоу 80-х, но что делает это аниме классическим, так это его персонажи. Gunbuster может похвастаться неотразимым составом полностью развитых личностей, включая очаровательную главную роль Норико Такая.

Когда Gunbuster не участвует в эпических механических битвах, а их много, он посвящает свое время проработке своих пилотов и злодеев. Шоу также неизменно смешное, возможно, даже больше, чем большинство комедий.

Bubblegum Crisis

In the near future, a giant earthquake destroys the bustling city of Tokyo. Thanks, in part, to the recent advancement of Boomer synthetic life form technology, a new city Mega-Tokyo is built in its place. But GENOM, the corporation behind the Boomers, seem to be brewing a plan to take over the world. Fortunately for the citizens of Tokyo, there’s the Knight Sabers, an all-female group of mercenaries who wear hardsuits to fight rogue Boomers and GENOM.

For a series that is more than three decades old, Bubblegum Crisis is one of the best female-led cyberpunk anime there is. And although the animation may not be up to par to today’s standards, there’s an alluring feeling to hand-drawn visuals that much of the more recent anime misses.

On top of having amazing and beautiful illustrations, the series embraces its tropes, crazy hairstyles, music, and dialogue to such a degree that it’s more nostalgic than a cheesy joke. Besides, the action in Bubblegum Crisis never stops. This is a full-blown mecha series that never slows down with its constant battles, transformation, high-speed chases, and absolutely no filler.

7 Touch

Touch (1981)

Release Date

March 24, 1985

Genres

Sports , Romance , Drama

Studio

Group TAC

Number of Episodes

101

Based On

Manga

Creator

Mitsuru Adachi

Touch is a fantastic slice-of-life story that shows how simple themes like growing up and finding one’s place in the world can be incredibly compelling. There is a romantic triangle of drama between Tatsuya, Kazuya, and Minami that anyone who remembers the struggles of being young and in love identifies with immediately.

With an epic twist in the middle of the show, things change drastically. We don’t want to give out any spoilers, but we promise Touch is an anime still worth watching despite being over 30 years old.

3 Tomorrow’s Joe 2

Tomorrow’s Joe 2

Japanese Title

Ashita no Joe 2

Release Date

October 13, 1980

Genres

Sports

Studio

TMS Entertainment

Number of Episodes

47

Based On

Manga

Creator

Asao Takamori

See at Amazon

The impact of Asao Takamori’s Ashita no Joe manga should not be overstated. Joe Yabuki’s journey from the slums to the top of the boxing world comes packed with drama, tragedy, life lessons, unbeatable highs, and devastating lows. The manga was adapted into a 1970 anime, producing 79 episodes. Nearly a decade later, Joe made a comeback for a second season, one that is considerably better than its predecessor.

Ashita no Joe 2 is a timeless anime in every sense of the word. Like most sports shows, someone doesn’t have to be a boxing fan to enjoy Ashita no Joe 2 as its themes are universal.

9 Человек-дьявол: Рождение (1987)

В то время как многие поклонники аниме знакомы с жестоким аниме Netflix Devilman Crybaby, поклонники аниме старой школы помнят более раннюю OVA Devilman: The Birth. Человек-дьявол — это сериал из трех частей, транслируемый прямо на видео, рассказывающий ту же общую историю, что и Devilman Crybaby, основанный на невероятно запутанной манге Go Nagai. Однако, по общему мнению, Devilman Crybaby — это лучшая версия той же истории.

Фанаты должны посмотреть OVA, потому что озвучка настолько плохая, что весело, а насилие более тревожно. В Devilman OVA используются гораздо более реалистичные модели персонажей, менее плавные и анимированные, чем в Devilman Crybaby.аналоги. Это приводит к тому, что кровь кажется более висцеральной. Трансформация больше похожа на что-то из хоррора Кроненберга. На насилие смотреть гораздо больнее.

City Hunter

The ‘80s classic anime, City Hunter, is one of those shows that have become an example of the winning combination of comedy, action, and drama. Set in Tokyo, Ryo Saeba aka the City Hunter is a detective who sweeps the streets clean. Along with his assistant, Kaori Makimura, they solve dangerous cases, which has earned them quite the reputation. But, when Saeba isn’t solving crimes, he’s putting on the charms with the ladies. Thankfully, Makimura along with her trusty mallet are right beside Saeba to keep him in check.

In each episode, the series’ main lead, Ryo Saeba displays both his mental and physical strength when it comes to solving cases and fighting criminals. But, the anime also has its comedic side thanks in part to Saeba’s lewd behavior and the subsequent lashing that he gets from Makimura.

Many popular series, like Sailor Moon, Cowboy Bebop, and Fullmetal Alchemist, have copied the format of City Hunter and have proven that this is a winning combination.

Mobile Suit Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam 創通・サンライズ

The 1980s can be regarded as the period when the famous Gundam series took the world by storm, which is now known as one of the pioneers and masterpieces of mecha anime. The long-lived mecha anime series that still continues to this day began with its first title Mobile Suit Gundam (機動戦士ガンダム) in 1979-1980. Directed by a legendary anime director Yoshiyuki Tomino, it was made as the third original anime by Nippon Sunrise, following Invincible Super Man Zambot 3 (1977-1978) and Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3 (1978-1979). The series continued in the 1980s with Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム) and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ).

Mobile Suit Gundam is set in the year 0079 of the Universal Century timeline, where space colonization has been underway for over half a century. The Principality of Zeon, which includes Lieutenant Char Aznable, also known as the Red Comet, declares war against the Earth Federation in an attempt to gain independence. Amuro Ray, the son of Tem Ray, a technician and developer of Mobile Suits for the Federation, inadvertently finds himself piloting the new Gundam Mobile Suit in the midst of the chaos of war. Amuro becomes the pilot of the Gundam through a series of events and gradually adapts to his role as a soldier, fighting alongside the Federation against the Zeon forces.

If you think you can’t watch an old mecha anime like Gundam, I urge you to watch Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, which started in 2022.

Aired: 1979-1980 (Mobile Suit Gundam)/1985 (Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam)/1986 (Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ)

Episodes: 43 (Mobile Suit Gundam)/50 (Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam)/47 (Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ)

Studio: Nippon Sunrise

16 Igano Kabamaru

Igano Kabamaru

Release Date

October 20, 1983

Genres

Action , Adventure , Comedy , Romance

Studio

Group TAC, Toho

Number of Episodes

24

Based On

Manga

Creator

Yū Azuki

Raised as a ninja by his strict grandfather, Igano Kabamaru knows nothing outside the mountain life, which leads to a bit of a culture shock when the protagonist suddenly finds himself attending a school in Tokyo. Puppy love, rival schools, and fish-out-of-water humor define Igano Kabamaru, an anime that is charmingly silly and a lot of fun.

Igano Kabamaru feels dated beyond its animation as its premise and characters are quite basic. However, the anime does its shonen tropes well.

6 Ангел-полицейский (1989)

Полицейский-ангел — еще одна опора аниме 80-х и 90-х годов. На бумаге это звучит как совершенно ничем не примечательный боевик. Террористы пытаются уничтожить Японию, и только Ангел может положить этому конец. В аниме даже удалено большинство научно-фантастических элементов из манги.

Но две вещи делают Полицейского-Ангелапамятный для поклонников аниме, выросших в раннюю эру VHS. Его дубляж ужасен и смехотворен, и он невероятно ужасен. Начальный логотип представляет собой буквально брызги крови в виде букв. Пули выбрасывают галлоны крови. Черепа вбиты. Однако никто из персонажей толком не реагирует на свои смертельные травмы. Так что, хотя OVA и кровавая, она настолько нелепа, что в конечном итоге становится смешной.

Grave of the Fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies 野坂昭如／新潮社,1988

Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓) is one of the many masterpieces among Studio Ghibli’s early works. Directed by Isao Takahata, who is as renowned as Hayao Miyazaki within the studio, the film is based on the 1967 novel of the same name written by Akiyuki Nosaka. Released alongside Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro, Grave of the Fireflies is a realistic animated movie that deals with the events of World War II, showcasing a different side of Studio Ghibli’s storytelling.

Set during the final stages of the Pacific War, 14-year-old Seita and his 4-year-old sister Setsuko lose their mother and home in the Kobe air raid in Hyogo Prefecture. They find refuge in a relative’s house, but as they feel uncomfortable there, Seita decides to leave with Setsuko and begin living in a nearby air raid shelter. However, their food supply becomes increasingly scarce, leading to malnutrition and weakness. The film realistically depicts wartime issues such as starvation and war orphans, as well as post-war problems.

Released: 1988

Runtime: 88 min

Director: Isao Takahata

2 Maison Ikkoku

Maison Ikkoku

Release Date

March 26, 1986

Genres

Slice of Life , Romance

Studio

Studio Deen

Number of Episodes

96

Based On

Manga

Creator

Rumiko Takahashi

Maison Ikkoku is one of the greatest slice-of-life stories of all time and its influence on that genre of anime can still be seen today. It follows the love story between Yuusaku and the new manager of his boarding house Kyoko.

The eccentric tenants that live with Yuusaku create some hilarious moments that really add to the lighthearted nature of the show. The story covers roughly five years of time and is given room to breathe thanks to the series lasting nearly 100 episodes, allowing the characters and their relationships to develop organically.

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Kiki’s Delivery Service 1989 角野栄子・Studio Ghibli・N

Released in 1989, Kiki’s Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) is a long-beloved Studio Ghibli anime movie, cherished by fans of all ages and genders. As a feature-length film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, it is the first to adapt someone else’s work. The original story is a children’s literature series written by Eiko Kadono, which was serialized from 1982 to 1983.

Kiki, a 13-year-old girl who inherits witch’s blood, lives in a peaceful countryside town. To become a fully-fledged witch, she embarks on a journey to spend a year of training in another town. Accompanied by her black cat Jiji, Kiki decides to settle in the beautiful seaside town of Koriko, where she faces challenges and grows as a person. The focus of the story is more on the coming-of-age aspect of a young girl leaving her rural home to use her talents and become independent in the city, rather than the fantasy elements of magic. The subtle emotional movements of the young girl entering puberty are also depicted in great detail.

Released: 1989

Runtime: 102 min

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Dragon Ball Z

Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

Originally aired 1989 to 1996

291 episodes (9 seasons)

Watch Now

Although Dragon Ball Z debuted in 1989, the series didn’t end until the mid-90s, giving it plenty of time to make an unforgettable mark on that decade. This wildly popular anime follows the exciting story that comes after the original Dragon Ball series.

Dragon Ball Z is worth the hype that it’s been getting for decades. It follows Goku and his friends, as they engage in grueling battles against extraterrestrial opponents.

The anime has some of the most epic fight scenes in all of anime, along with a ton of unique villains and characters.

Gunbuster

Sometime in the near future, humanity starts to venture into the vastness of outer space and soon discover a race of insectoid aliens known as “Space Monsters.” But, it isn’t a friendly encounter as these aliens’ only goal is to eradicate humankind from existence. In response, the government develops giant fighting robots, piloted by youths from around the world.

One such navigator is Noriko Takaya, who enters the pilot training school despite her lack of skills. There, she meets Kazumi Amano, an experienced upperclassman who is nothing like Takaya. Now the two of them must work together to face the sacrifice that every space pilot must endure: the loss of friends, family, and their own lives.

Gunbuster offers a neat package of an emotional rollercoaster ride of being a mecha pilot. Throughout the six episodes, we watch these young pilots giving up everything to protect the Earth from the aliens. The OVA anime is a vivid emotional ride thanks to the creativity and visuals of studio Gainax and its director Hideaki Anno.

The series is an example of Japanese animation that, even after many decades, is still the standard of what a mecha anime should be. Gunbuster’s reputation, style, and quality are something that many anime series airing now are not able to achieve.

Dr. Slump & Arale-chan

Dr. Slump & Arale-chan 鳥山明／集英社・東映アニメーション

Dr. Slump & Arale-chan (Dr.スランプ アラレちゃん) is one of the series that started an era of manga and anime in the 1980s. Serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump from 1980 to 1984, its original manga series titled Dr. Slump is an early masterpiece of Akira Toriyama, who is world famous for Dragon Ball. The sci-fi comedy manga was adapted into Dr. Slump & Arale-chan, the first anime consisting of 243 episodes in 1981-1986, and Doctor Slump, the second series composed of 74 episodes in 1997-1999.

The first animated series in the 1980s was a huge hit, and its popularity extended to women and kids. It depicts the crazy daily life of Arale Norimaki, a girlish humanoid robot created by Senbei Norimaki, an inventor and self-proclaimed scientific genius living in Penguin Village. The story centers around Arale, who is powerful enough to destroy police cars and motorcycles with her body, and depicts her slapstick daily life with villagers, aliens, and others.

As a small child, I used to admire Arare-chan’s mischievous behavior. The collaboration between Arare-chan and Dragon Ball’s Goku is also interesting, and a kind of prototype of Dragon Ball is seen here.

Aired: 1981-1986

Episodes: 243

Studio: Toei Animation

7 Aim For The Ace! (1973 — 1974) — The Sports Anime that Set the Bar

Written by Sumika Yamamoto, animated by Tokyo Movie

Aim For The Ace! is one of anime’s quintessential sports stories; it’s a classic tale of an untalented tennis player who’s able to rise through the ranks by the power of hard work and perseverance. Along for the ride are an intense coach, aloof role models, and a gaggle of jealous rivals who conspire to bring about the protagonist’s downfall. Despite the straightforward premise and themes, Aim For The Ace! manages to be thoroughly endearing on account of how earnest it is. This is a show about how perseverance works out in the end, and, as the audience watches Hiromi struggle to improve, they’ll come to trust the process, as well.

BONUS ANIME 👏👏👏

This is another old school anime series receiving an anime. MAPPA just recently announced that there will an adaptation of another old-school manga from the 1960’s titled Dororo. I believe it doesn’t have a set release date just yet. Should be noted this will actually be the series 2nd adaptation/remake of this series. Since the series did get an anime back in the 60’s. The series is old school samurai based series with a mix of Supernatural elements involving demons. The concepts and themes in this series sound really interesting. I sadly do not know much more about this series but it’s probably something you should keep an eye on because it might end up being a really great old school anime series.

4. Мобильный костюм Зета Гандам

МойАнимеСписок: 7.90

Учитывая, что оригинальный Mobile Suit Gundam был почти отменен всего лишь из 39 эпизодов, трудно поверить, что ему удалось получить продолжение. Это произошло в середине 80-х, но к тому времени фанаты жаждали увидеть больше.

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam включает в себя множество классических образов, ожидаемых на сегодняшних шоу Gundam, превращаясь в то, чем сериал полностью станет в будущем. Хотя персонажи могут быть немного противоречивыми, основной сюжет Зеты фантастичен, морально неоднозначен и затягивает. Чар не только один из лучших персонажей франшизы, но и один из самых запоминающихся антагонистов 1980-х годов.

City Hunter

City Hunter 北条司／コアミックス・読売テレビ・サンライズ

One of the popular manga and anime series from the 1980s, City Hunter (シティーハンター) was originally created by Tsukasa Hojo and serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump. The anime adaptation debuted in 1987, spanning four installments that aired from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. In addition to the TV series, a number of anime movies have been released, such as City Hunter: The Movie – Shinjuku Private Eyes in 2019. The franchise continues with City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust, set for release in 2023.

City Hunter is an anime that combines elements of action, comedy, and drama. Set in Shinjuku, Tokyo during the late 1980s, the story follows the young protagonist Ryo Saeba as he takes on various requests from clients to track down criminals and solve cases. As a Sweeper who takes on jobs such as assassination, bodyguarding, and detective work, the anime showcases the hard-boiled comedic adventures of the City Hunter.

Aired: 1987-1988 (City Hunter)/1988-1989 (City Hunter 2)/1989-1990 (City Hunter 3)/1991 (City Hunter ’91)

Episodes: 51 (City Hunter)/63(City Hunter 2)/13(City Hunter 3)/13(City Hunter ’91)

Studio: Sunrise

9 Urusei Yatsura (1981 — 1986)

Created by Rumiko Takahashi, animated by Studio Pierrot

One of Japan’s preeminent manga artists, Rumiko Takahashi, can be credited for essentially inventing the rom-com as we currently know it in the worlds of anime and manga. Her works, like Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha, have been wildly successful in their own right, but the earlier anime adaptations of her manga deserve attention as well. Of particular interest is the lighthearted romantic comedy Urusei Yatsura, which features a no-good guy who unexpectedly finds himself at the center of extraterrestrial female attention. Hijinks ensue. In many ways, Urusei Yatsura is the prototypical anime rom-com, and many of the tropes that pervade the genre today can be traced back to this common ancestor.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Before deciding to watch Nausicaä, which is based on a manga by Hayao Miyazaki, I watched the majority of Ghibli’s most well-known films.

Like the majority of Miyazaki’s works, it addresses issues like environmentalism and war.

It not only demonstrates how a war could destroy everything we know, but it also serves as a reminder that even then, we would probably rise from the ashes to engage in stick-and-stone combat.

Both Nausicaä and the primary antagonist Kushana are fantastic characters that Miyazaki presents as strong and in charge, which at the time of the film broke with gender norms and continues to do so today.

Akira

No other ‘80s anime has had quite an impact like Akira. The movie takes place after World War 3 in the fictional city of Neo-Tokyo which is rife with economic problems, anti-government terrorism, and gang violence.

One day, Tetsuo Shima gets into an accident with an esper, who is trying to escape from a government research facility. This encounter awakens latent psychic powers within Tetsuo. As a result, government agents capture him for government experiments. Now, an anti-government group along with Tetsuo’s best friend, Shotaro Kaneda, must rescue Tetsuo before his newfound abilities destroy Neo-Tokyo.

Akira‘s creators pack the film with so much detail, large and small, that it feels like Neo-Tokyo is a real city. The visuals and landscape are one of the movie’s most magnificent visions of a genuinely dystopian city. Also, the film does a great job of developing its characters. The citizens and agents are not inherently good or evil, they’re just trying to make it through life in a city that is about to implode.

Although a lot of anime are products of their time, Akira holds up as a movie that still feels modern and original. This anime is a true classic and will be remembered for decades to come.

Akira

Akira 1988マッシュルーム／アキラ製作委員会

Born in the 1980s, Akira is one of the greatest masterpieces in Japanese animation history. Released in 1988, the anime film has garnered worldwide acclaim ever since. Based on Katsuhiro Otomo’s cyberpunk manga, the animated movie was directed by Otomo himself. As the film was created before the manga’s completion in 1990, it features its own unique climax, separate from the original source material.

Akira focuses on themes of power, corruption, and the human struggle to maintain control over advanced technology. The story is set in Neo-Tokyo, a new city built after the destruction of Tokyo in 2019. The protagonist, Kaneda, is the leader of a motorcycle gang. His friend Tetsuo becomes involved with a mysterious boy named Akira, who possesses a mysterious power, and develops psychic abilities. As the plot unfolds, they become entangled in a massive conspiracy.

Released: 1988

Runtime: 124 min

Director: Katsuhiro Otomo

Akira is a masterpiece that should be chosen not only for the 1980s, but throughout the history of the world, and should be seen at least once if you have never seen it before.

3 Завтрашний Джо 2

МойАнимеСписок: 8.72

Влияние манги Асита но Джо Асао Такамори не следует переоценивать. Путешествие Джо Ябуки из трущоб на вершину боксерского мира наполнено драмой, трагедией, жизненными уроками, непревзойденными взлетами и разрушительными падениями. Манга была адаптирована в аниме 1970 года, состоящее из 79 серий. Почти десять лет спустя Джо вернулся во втором сезоне, который значительно лучше, чем его предшественник.

Ashita no Joe 2 – аниме вне времени во всех смыслах этого слова. Как и большинство спортивных шоу , не обязательно быть фанатом бокса, чтобы насладиться «Ашита но Джо 2», поскольку его темы универсальны.

5. Воздушный змей (1998 г.)

В отличие от большинства жестоких аниме, Kiteна самом деле хорошо. Этот короткометражный фильм — фаворит режиссера Квентина Тарантино. Это нигилистическая, мрачная история о детях-убийцах и извращениях, которые нужно увидеть, чтобы поверить в них.

Kite запрещен в Норвегии и в течение многих лет выпускался даже с цензурой. в Америке. Есть экранизация с участием Сэмюэля Л. Джексона, которой следует избегать. Воздушный змейэто своего рода ультра-жестокое аниме, которое по-прежнему производит впечатление даже спустя годы. Он закрученный и мрачный, но при этом невероятно смотрибельный.

1 Rose Of Versailles (1979 — 1980) — A Dramatic Tale of Revolution

Created by Riyoko Ikeda, animated by TMS Entertainment

Considered by many to be legendary director Osamu Dezaki’s masterwork; Rose of Versailles is an operatic tale of love, war, drama, and intrigue. The story follows a cast of characters from different walks of life in the build-up to the French Revolution, and the anime leverages this setting marvelously. The audience can feel the mounting dread in the air as Paris creeps closer and closer to its descent into chaos, and the story’s characters must adapt. Exceptional pacing, well-constructed characters, and passionate melodrama have made Versailles a classic for the ages. It’s also one of the most enormously influential works in the world of shoujo anime, being credited as a primary influence for creators like Kunihiko Ikuhara in his work on Revolutionary Girl Utena.

6 Future Boy Conan (1978) — A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Nippon Animation

1978’s Future Boy Conan chronicles the adventures of the titular protagonist in a post-apocalyptic future in which war and climate change have obliterated most of humanity. Conan believes he and his grandfather to be the last humans alive, but this preconception is shattered when a mysterious girl washes ashore on their island refuge. It’s impossible to mention Future Boy Conan without stressing that this is the first anime project that the now-legendary Hayao Miyazaki is credited as the lead director on. Despite being an early work for him, the characteristic imagination and sense of setting that his Ghibli films are beloved for shine through. Anybody interested in Miyazaki’s work—or in Ghibli movies in general—should definitely check this one out.

Miyazaki’s «final» movie, The Boy and the Heron, released on July 14, 2023 in Japan, to massive praise.