The ’80s were a fantastic time for all kinds of media, andanimewas no exception. Some fantastic animators and directors started their careers during this era, launching many series and franchises that became classics or are still producing content to this day.
With lots of shows being reanimated these days for modern audiences, it can be fun to look back at thebest ’80s animeto see what might get a revival next. Some of the decade’s shows still hold up to this day with great animation (for the era) and gripping stories, and while they might not always be the easiest to find on streaming services, they are generally worth the effort of tracking down.
Updated on June 26, 2025, by Mark Sammut:Anime is always changing, with each of the last four decades producing dozens, if not hundreds, of great shows. As influential as thebest anime of the 1980sare, they are considerably harder to revisit than series from the ’90s. Still, the ones below are timeless, and some of them are evenreceiving modern updates.
To qualify, an anime must have aired its first episode in the 1980s and completed most of its run during that decade. Also, no movies.
Raised as a ninja by his strict grandfather, Igano Kabamaru knows nothing outside 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 defineIgano Kabamaru, an anime that is silly but a lot of fun.
Igano Kabamarufeels dated beyond its animation as its premise and characters are quite basic. However, the anime does itsshonen tropeswell, and they are relatively timeless. As the action is a bit difficult to sit through nowadays, the series is at its best when comedy is the focus, which is fortunately most of the time.
A minor cult classic that is a pretty easy recommendation for anybody into old-school anime rom-coms,Kimagure Orange Roadrepresents the genre at near to its best, even if it is not quite held in as high esteem as some subsequent releases. Obviously, like most1980s anime, the show’s animation has aged pretty poorly, and it was not particularly great looking for its era either. However, that aspect is easier to overlook in a character-driven series like this, as dated visuals do not take anything away from the strength of the writing, both in terms of drama and humor.
So, what is the story about? Kyousuke moves to a new town and instantly gets stuck in the middle of a love triangle featuring the seemingly perfect Madoka and the energetic Hikaru. Despite their appearances, both girls have way more to them than meets the eye, and that includes negative traits that inject an element of realism into their characterization. The same can be said for Kyousuke, who manages to feel like an ordinary teenager despite having special powers. The latter is mostly just a plot hook for the first few episodes, paving the way for an effective romance and comedy.
Despite not being an instant hit,Mobile Suit Gundam’s eventual successlaunched a decade of mecha, spawning plenty of classics that are still highly regarded to this day. That said, while they can still be charming, most of the genre’s releases during the decade have not aged particularly well, and shows likeSpace Emperor God SigmaandVideo Warrior Laserionwill likely struggle to keep most viewers' attention in this day and age.
Walking the line between classic and charmingly dated,Armored Trooper Votomsis a must-watch for mecha fans but a difficult recommendation for people who are not that familiar with the genre. Unlike super robot shows, Sunrise’s series treats mecha as essentially tank weapons to be wielded by their wielders, and a fight’s outcome is determined by a pilot’s abilities. While resulting in fairly repetitive designs, this decision paves the way for mostly captivating battles, and there are plenty of them throughout the series. At more than 50 episodes,Armored Trooper Votomsthreatens to overstay its welcome, but the individual chapters are generally high quality.
Like quite a few forgotten anime from the ’80s,The Mysterious Cities of Goldis simultaneously impressive but also difficult to recommend. For one, the show is not easy to find in this day and age, provided someone is not willing to purchase episodes on a platform like Amazon Prime Video. Secondly, the story unquestionably shows its age through generally surface-level characterization, although the main protagonists are likable enough to carry the series. Naturally, the animation is very dated, especially since it was not necessarily ground-breaking for its era.
That said,The Mysterious Cities of Goldis also quite charming in a classic fantasy-adventure type of way. Its 16th-century setting helps distinguish it from most other anime, and the writing is generally endearing and family-friendly.
Astro Boy’s influence on manga and anime cannot be understated.Osamu Tezuka’s original serieswas a smash hit that set most of the standard tropes that would come to define traditional shonen stories, and it has received quite a few adaptations over the decades. The 1963 anime is mainly worth watching as a historical artifact, while the 2003 adaptation is likely to be most people’s entry in the franchise if they decide to go with a series. However, overall, the 1980 version is the pick of the bunch, as long as realistic expectations are maintained regarding its animation (which is decent for the era).
At this point, Atom’s story is legendary. Created to replace his master’s son, Atom is abandoned, only to be saved by Dr. Ochanomizu. While stepping up as Japan’s hero in its time of need, Atom constantly strives to learn what it means to be human, and he meets plenty of resistance due to his birth. With strong writing and lovable characters,Astro Boyis comfortably one of thebest ’80s anime.
Fist of the North Starwas huge during the ’80s (and still is, to be honest), to the point of naturally inspiring some similar stories.Charge!! Men’s Private Schoolwears its inspiration loudly and proudly, basically selling itself asFOTNSin high school. That said, it would be a disservice to diminish this show to just a copycat, as it does establish a unique identity fairly quickly.
Charge!! Men’s Private Schoolhas a pretty strong sense of humor, especially during its earliest episodes that focus on parodying action tropes of its era. The story also goes to some incredibly bizarre places, even more so thanFOTNS. While losing steam towards the end of its run, and concluding well before the manga’s ending, this manly anime is still a treat.
Space Adventure Cobrais very dated; honestly, the 1982 anime kind of feels like a remnant of the ’70s, which makes sense considering the manga debuted in that decade. After recovering memories that remind him of his badassery, Cobra sets out to engage in planet-hopping adventures, ones that are filled with gunfights, cigars, and women.
Yes,Space Adventure Cobrais not the deepest show out there, but it is quite charming in a cheesy-type of way. Also, compared to space operas, anime that lean into over-the-top fantasy and action are not extremely common, particularly during the ’80s. Despite being packed with cliches, this sci-fi series was and still is relatively unique, at least for the industry.
This loose adaptation ofSherlock Holmesstories comes from Hayao Miyazaki — the famed director of many Studio Ghibli films — working with the animation studio that produced the originalAnimaniacsshow. It has a lot of wacky antics combined with mystery-solving those familiar with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will enjoy.
The show isgreat for kidsand adults alike with many anime fans still watching it today due to it being free to watch on YouTube. Compared to many othergreat ’80s anime,Sherlock Hound’s animation has aged relatively well, and the same can be said for the humor. Now, this series will probably not blow away many people since it plays things fairly safe, but it is fun and wholesome.
Outside ofDragon Ball,Saint Seiyais perhaps the most popular ‘80s anime as it managed to crossover from Japan into Western countries. Inspired by Greek mythology,Saint Seiyarevolves around a group of teenagers who are given magical powers so they can protect Athena and take on other gods from the pantheon.
A classic battle shonen series,Saint Seiyamoves along at a blistering pace compared to other anime from this era. Good animation, simple but effective storytelling, and an epic soundtrack combine to create one of thebest anime of the ’80s.
Urusei Yatsurais arguably the most influential anime comedy of all time, and the property is still popular to this day. In 2022,Ataru and Lum made a comeback in the form of a well-done reboot, and that series is a good entry point for people who never experienced the 1981 version. That said, even though the latter is unquestionably dated in its animation, the show’s humor holds up reasonably well, which serves as a testament to its characters' timelessness.
Despite carrying the “sci-fi” banner,Urusei Yatsuracasts a far wider net than just one genre. The anime essentially parodies Japanese culture, both historical and of its era; consequently, the show can feel like something of a time capsule for the early 1980s. However, so many of its gags are still relevant to this day, making the ride fairly easy to enjoy when viewed through a modern lens.
