Fans of old-school anime often refer to the 1980s as the golden era of anime. The decade gave us classics that fans continue to come back to years later, such as Akira and Fist of the North Star. These giants inspired many of the modern titles that anime viewers are familiar with today.
The 80s had a deep well of anime, and many of the shows and movies that were released in this decade have either been largely forgotten or simply never caught on with Western audiences. These titles were awesome, and they deserve the same recognition as other giants of the era for their style, themes, and impact on the industry as a whole.
10 Ashita No Joe: The Tragedy Of Joe Yabuki
The golden era of anime cannot be discussed without mentioning Joe Yabuki. Joe is a troubled youth with no direction until he meets Tohru Rikiishi. Joe's desire to beat Rikiishi fuels his passion for boxing and allows him to finally feel alive for the first time in his life.
Ashita No Joe follows Yabuki's life and career as a professional boxer, and the show's beautiful art style and seat-gripping boxing fights carry the viewer along an epic journey filled with triumph and tragedy.
9 Kinnikuman: Inspiring A Generation
Fans who love whacky wrestling violence and over-the-top characters around every corner need to give Kinnikuman a watch. The show originally ran from 1979 to 1987, with a revival in November 2011 that is still running today.
The show also spawned multiple sequels, including Ultimate Muscle, which Western fans may be more familiar with. Kinnikuman is often seen as a pioneer in the industry, as this is the first iteration of the classic Shonen story of friendship, teamwork, and overcoming evil.
8 Golgo 13 - The Professional: The Debut Of CGI
Golgo 13 - The Professional is the film adaptation of the Manga series, which is the oldest Manga still in production dating back to 1968. The film released in 1983 and was the first anime to use CGI animation. The story follows Duke Togo, an assassin for hire and the absolute best at his job.
Togo is hired to execute the son of a wealthy politician, who spend the rest of the film attempting revenge on Duke for taking his son's life. It's a visually stunning watch with a soundtrack that delivers hit after hit.
7 Black Magic M66: Anime Meets The Terminator
Two androids crash-land onto earth with one goal: kill the granddaughter of their creator, an unsuspecting earthling girl. The androids are viewed by Sybil, a freelance journalist who spends the rest of the short film trying to save the girl from a violent android catastrophe.
The combat scenes flow like water, and watching these metal monstrosities tear through everything in their path is a delight. Fans of Ghost in the Shell should certainly give this film a watch as it was co-directed by the legendary Masamune Shirow.
6 City Hunter: Neon Tokyo Bliss
Ryo Saeba is a James Bond-like protagonist with inappropriate tendencies and incredible firearm skills. Ryo is a sweeper, someone that takes jobs not fit for normal police or detectives. His partner Kaori is the perfect balance to his antics, and watching her keep Ryo in check as they save the day together is a joy.
City Hunter pairs its gorgeous atmosphere with a killer soundtrack, making it an aesthetic masterpiece. Fans of vaporwave neon themes need to fast-track City Hunter to the top of their watch list.
5 Dirty Pair: Sci-Fi Buddy Cops
Kei and Yuri are "trouble consultants" responding to planetary-level threats across the cosmos. Their relationship as a duo is the foundation of the whole show, and their banter is top-notch. Yuri acts as the more ladylike and level-headed mind while Kei is more brash and assertive in her actions.
Seeing the two traverse the galaxy together and taking down bad guys left and right is a treat, as the action sequences are impressively fluid. Dirty Pair originally aired for just 24 episodes, and the show was traded around many anime conventions in the west during the 80s.
4 Bubblegum Crisis: Mecha Cyberpunk Madness
Bubblegum Crisis is a series of 8 original video animations that ran from 1987 to 1991 and is chock-full of android action and American pop culture references. The Knight Sabers are an all-female mercenary team that utilizes powerful mech suits to combat robots known as boomers, that can take human forms.
The show doesn't delve too deep into the backstory of The Knight Sabers, though the visuals are very colorful and fans of the cyberpunk aesthetic should absolutely give it a try.
3 Space Adventure Cobra: Wild Plot And Wilder Visuals
Space Adventure Cobra is 99 minutes of intergalactic nonsense but in the best possible way. The protagonist, Cobra, is a clumsy guy with wiped memory who falls for Jane, a bounty hunter with a mysterious past.
The two are attacked by a rogue group known as the "Pirate Guild", led by the powerful Crystal Bowie, who rules over several galaxies. There are high stakes, plot twists left and right, and gorgeous backdrops all through the film, making Space Adventure Cobra a real treat for the eye.
2 Robot Carnival: A Robotic Anthology
9 short films packaged into one 90-minute experience, Robot Carnival offers a little something for everyone. The stories cover all genres from comedy films to heavily dramatized ones, all wrapped in a world with dark colors and a dreary atmosphere.
Each story is unrelated from the last, with the only qualification being that robots are included. The films ask questions about artificial intelligence's morality, and each has its unique art style.
1 Angel's Egg: A Philosophical Wonder
1985's Angel's Egg is a cult phenomenon from the mind of Mamoru Oshii, who has stated himself that even he isn't sure what the film is about. Oshii has said that he was dealing with a major internal struggle of faith when making this film, and that battle from within is one of the few clear things present throughout Angel's Egg.
The movie follows a young girl through a bleak, dilapidated world filled with jagged nature and gothic architecture. If there was ever a film that truly captures the hope, faith, fear of the unknown, and loneliness all in one gorgeously mind-boggling experience, that film is Angel's Egg.