Top 10 Anime Series Of The Pre-90s

What starts with humanity discovering an abandoned alien spaceship developed into a story that covers three generations, three devastating wars, and one legendary mecha series that even continues to date. Like most of the anime we enjoyed back in the day, we had no idea how much editing went on behind the scenes as, when it reached American shores, it was repackaged as “Robotech”. This was more than just name changes and unaired episodes, this anime is actually three series rolled into one: “Super Dimension Fortress Macross,” “Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross,” and “Genesis Climber MOSPEADA.” Still, any puritan will tell you, the original source is definitely the best version.

A prime example of why we’re going off of Japanese release dates, this gem of a series didn’t make it to the U.S. until 2003... and, no surprise, it was heavily edited. But we guess it was... interesting... to hear a cover to “I Ran” as the opening theme. Retro covers aside, this anime is heavily inspired by Greek mythology, with five mystical warriors defending the reincarnation of Athena in her quest to protect the Earth from other Olympian Gods. It’s the perfect classic anime series with a team of five protecting humanity with their fists... and a pinch of cosmic power.

If you’re a fan of works like “Revolutionary Girl Utena” and “Le Chevalier D’Eon”, you’re probably familiar with this series. Taking place before, and during, the French Revolution, we’re introduced to Oscar Francois de Jarjayes, a woman who was raised as a man. Skilled in fencing, horsemanship, and medieval combat, Oscar is unlike any woman of the time period, something she, initially, doesn’t like. As the series progresses, she comes to accept herself and realizes how much she is needed. While anime fans today are used to strong, female leads, at the time, this was a refreshing change of pace.

God bless the 80s for its unapologetically buff heroes. Our good friend, Kenshiro personifies the trend perfectly, with his larger than life build and the ability to pop his opponents heads with just his fingertips. Like most action heroes at the time, not much is known about our mysterious wanderer at first. He’s just a man trekking through the desert who just so happens to be trained in a deadly fighting technique. Soon, we learn that he’s trying to rescue his fiancee from a former friend, which leads to several brutal battles that make your body ache just thinking about them.

Get in the damn robot, Shinji! Oh... sorry, we’re getting this confused with a certain other series by beloved director, Hideaki Anno. Though this series is nothing like eva, what with it’s giant robots, impending apocalypse at the hands of a mysterious creatures, and teenagers being trained to face impossible situations that will probably emotionally scar them for life -- yeah, don’t let the cute girls and bouncy opening fool you, things get intense pretty quickly. Huh, we guess it is a little like Eva, but a little more hot-blooded, and Eva was kind enough to be longer than six episodes.

Isn’t it a drag when you take a dip in some cursed springs that end up turning you into whatever drowned in them before you got there? What never happened to you? Well this begins the story of Ranma, a boy who turns into a girl with just a simple splash of cold water. We suppose it could be worse since his father turns into a panda. Needless to say, Ranma’s involuntary transformation causes a lot of problems that make for a quirky, fun series that’s become a staple in anime history.

You know that anime aesthetic we’ve all become used to seeing? You can thank this iconic series for that. Looking back, the plot is pretty standard, with our cute robot being created to replace Dr. Tenma’s deceased son. Unsurprising to no one who is familiar with this kind of story, Astro is able to feel human emotions. Oh, and he’s super strong, too. Still, for the 60s, this was new to see in animation, and it’s impressive that it aired on network television in the U.S.
Sure, it may be a little dated, but there’s many a reason why Astro Boy was the first popular anime series.

We can’t possible do a “best of the pre-90s” list without including some Gundam action. Taking place eight years after “Mobile Suit Gundam,” the series focuses on a rebel group as they try and defeat an elite task force of the Earth Federation called the Titans. Our lead character, Kamille Bidan, finds himself in the middle of the conflict because of his parents’ ties to the Federation... and because he punches a poor Jerid in the face for making fun of his name. As Kamille’s story progresses, he meets characters from both sides of the battle, which shows us the full scale of the war. And it truly is hell.

Before things were over 9000, Goku was just a boy living in the woods with his most prized possession: his grandfather’s 4-star dragon ball. After meeting a girl named Bulma, Goku embarks on an adventure where most of his future allies try to kick his ass. Considering the popularity of the franchise now, it’s hard to believe that it struggled in the U.S., with the 80s dub never being released to the public and the 90s dub being cancelled due to low ratings. Fortunately, we all knew that Goku was destined for greatness, even when he was just a child.

Based on the science fiction novels by Yoshiki Tanaka, this anime tells the story of the battle between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. We watch the development and growth of two men: Reinhard von Lohengramm of the Galactic Empire and Yang Wen Li of the Free Planets Alliance. The series shows each of their stories, which makes you understand where both are coming from in their goals and ideals. It’s not just the battles that make this series memorable, it’s the participants of the war and the harsh realities that are presented throughout the series.