Summary

For Japan, the 1980s were a time of massive economic advancement. By 1983, the island nation had gained considerable fame and income with itsiconic red plumber. However, its domestic media trends reflected a different reality: a constant three-way tug-of-war between national identity, technological advancement, and economic growth.

While not every 1980s anime was mired in philosophical ponderings, this tumultuous landscape forged the foundation of modern anime. It birthed masterful enduring franchises, skilled storytellers, and unique settings. The 1980s marked the beginning of modern anime, even if many of its masterpieces took a decade to reach Western audiences.

Two characters from Fist of the North Star. Both are large, muscular men.

9Fist Of The North Star (1984–1987)

It may not be themostinfluential on the list, but Fist of the North Star gained a dedicated cult following during its brief Western release. The anime spanned 152 episodes, although only 36 were “officially” dubbed and released over a decade after the show’s conclusion.

Truthfully, most of this series’ influence happened online. The violence-heavy anime’s protagonist, Kenshiro, has a catchphrase,“Omae wa mou shindeiru.”(Roughly, “You are already dead.”) A still image of Kenshiro pointing and uttering this phrase became an internet meme, and the rest is digital history!

The protagonist of Neo-Tokyo stands in the rain. He wears a white button-up shirt and black glasses.

8Neo-Tokyo (1987)

Despite its 50-minute runtime, Neo-Tokyo isn’t a film, it’s a short story anthology produced by Madhouse. The science fiction collection covers three unique tales, each by a different director. While each entry is a masterpiece, the most influential is Katsuhiro Otomo’s “Canceled Construction Order” (often presented as the final part of the anthology).

Upon its release, Otomo’s short presented a bleak — but not uncommon — view of the future. It posited that people would grow overly reliant upon technology, eventually becoming its unwitting pawn. That cynical mindset paired well with dense metropolitan settings, and the combination evolved into what we now know as “cyberpunk.”

Tomako Nobi waving. She wears round glasses, a pink sweater, and a beige skirt.

7Doraemon (1979–2005)

If you’ve ever seen a blue cat-like creature with a red nose and oval eyes, you may have seen Doraemon! (Then again, you may have also seen a poorly-drawnSonic the Hedgehog.) This odd, rounded critter isn’t very popular in the West, but it’s a bit like Pooh Bear or Mickey Mouse in Japan.

Doraemon began as a manga series in 1969. Its popularity has earned the series plenty of fame worldwide. It’s not only one of the longest-running anime; Doraemon also ranks as one of the best-selling manga of all time. The series has also spawned films, video games, and plenty of toys.

A child in a straw hat points and warns villagers of the “Robot Carnival” arriving.

Despite its 1979 start date, Doraemon had a previous adaptation. However, the 1979 reboot supercharged the feline robot’s sprint into the hearts of countless Japanese children. The light-hearted show ran throughout the 1980s, outlasting its peers to become one of Japan’s longest-running animated shows. Officially, this iteration’s tenure spanned a whopping 1,787 episodes!

6Robot Carnival (1987)

Older anime fans probably remember late-night broadcasts of surreal, futuristic anime shorts. While thesemayhave come from 1987’s Neo-Tokyo, they’re equally likely to have come from the Robot Carnival anthology. This 91-minute sci-fi collection covered nine stories from different animators, although two are part of the opening and closing framing device.

Robot Carnival lacks a grand plot but makes up for it with visual identity and storytelling. Its existential themes would influence later anime and manga, forming the basis for many influential franchises of the 1990s. Its directorial cast is similarly prestigious, including Katsuhiro Otomo and Hiroyuki Kitazume, the latter of whom worked as a Zeta Gundam character designer.

Keith from Voltron. He wears a red and white jumpsuit and a red helmet.

5Voltron (1984–1985)

The most recent iteration of the Voltron saga ran from 2016 to 2018 onNetflix, but the series’ pedigree is much older. The first Voltron series (sometimes known as Lion Force Voltron and Vehicle Team Voltron) premiered in 1984 as a joint American and Japanese production effort.

During its televised tenure, Voltron ran alongside similar mecha-centric titles, although the series’ relaxed production oversight gave it room to tackle more mature topics. Its darker stories gave Voltron a wider potential audience, introducing countless fans to the joys of mecha anime and combining robots. Artistically, its robot designs would later influence many shows of the 1990s and 2000s, includingPower Rangers.

Nausicaä, wearing a blue biohazard suit with a leather mask, collects spores from mold.

4Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind (1984)

Now considered part of theStudio Ghiblicanon, Hayao Miyazaki’s eco-dystopia masterpiece was originally distributed by Toei Company. Its story remains as prescient as ever, and its gorgeous visuals will leave you wanting more.

Hayao Miyazaki’s friendship with Hideki Anno didn’t end when production wrapped on Nausicaä. Anno’s friendship helped him earn a role as Jiro Horikoshi in Miyazaki’s 2013 historical fiction film, The Wind Rises.

Totoro and Mei stand at a bus stop in the rain. Both have umbrellas. Totoro is a large, furry, cat-like creature.

However, its production planted the seeds for anime’s cultural growth. Nausicaä laid the groundwork for Ghibli’s foundation. Moreover, it helped a then-unknown animator, Hideki Anno, hone his craft. Watch closely during the “Giant Warriors” sequence; you’ll see some prototypes for the iconic mechas ofNeon Genesis Evangelion!

3My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Every anime fan knows about My Neighbor Totoro, even if they don’t know it by name. Its bus stop scene has become a memetic way for creators to acknowledge the influence of legendary storyteller Hayao Miyazaki. Its titular cuddly critter has also become the primary logo for Studio Ghibli.

Notably, the film’s plot is credited with the evolution of Miyazaki’s whimsical storytelling. Its meandering plot perfectly targeted its younger audience by mimicking their playful mindset. Later, Miyazaki recycled this childlike mindset for Spirited Away and Ponyo.

Goku helps someone on a bike.

2Dragon Ball (1986–1989)

In February 1986, the fabric of anime changed forever. While the manga had already gained critical acclaim, the televised adaptation catapulted Akira Toriyama’s series to the spotlight.Dragon Ballran for three years, ending in 1989, and covered the first 192 chapters of Toriyama’s epic manga.

However, Western audiences wouldn’t learn of Dragon Ball until much later.Funimationdubbed some of this series before switching to the more popularDragon Ball Z. Fortunately, Goku’s indomitable popularity prompted Funimation to complete the dub for this animated gem. The completed dubbing of the original Dragon Ball series ran from 2001–2003.

Kaneda, wearing a red-orange biking jacket, slides on his motorcycle.

1Akira (1988)

There’s no way to deny that Katsuhiro Otomo’s 1988 film has become an emblematic cultural touchstone. Its iconic motorcycle slide and cinematic release poster have been duplicated across the world. You’ll find both homages and parodies in the most unexpected places, such as Cartoon Network’s OK K.O.

However, Otomo’s epic sci-fi vision is more than eye candy; it’s also a narrative triumph. Akira is a timeless coming-of-age story. Its narrative perfectly encapsulates the unwieldy angst of being a teenager and pairs it with a bleak, dystopian depiction of retrofuturism.