10 Fantastic Forgotten Anime From the 1980s

The 1980s were a pivotal moment for anime, similar to a major explosion of creativity. The growing popularity of home video allowed studios to create OVAs – original video animations – that weren’t limited by TV restrictions. This meant they could target specific fan groups with a wider range of content, like gritty cyberpunk, complex science fiction, and more mature or action-packed stories, alongside the usual TV shows tied to toy lines.

In the 1980s, anime was still developing its own unique style, unburdened by the need to appeal to a wide audience. The 1990s, however, marked a shift as anime creators started focusing on reaching more viewers. While the 80s were known for bold experimentation, the 90s emphasized cleaner animation, more organized storytelling, and international popularity. Although animation quality improved with new technology, some of the raw, distinctive energy of 80s anime was lost.

10. They Were Eleven

Moto Hagio’s sci-fi mystery, They Were Eleven, was also adapted into an anime film in 1986. The story follows ten students sent to an abandoned spaceship for their final exam to enter a prestigious space academy. Once aboard, they discover a mysterious eleventh person among them, leading to suspicion and fear. The students must work together to survive and identify the imposter. If you enjoy suspenseful stories like those found in The Twilight Zone or games like Among Us, this is a great choice.

9. Future Police Urashiman

Future Police Urashiman is a fun, fast-paced sci-fi comedy from the early 80s. It follows a man from 1983 who unexpectedly travels to the year 2050 and ends up becoming a police officer, despite having amnesia. He joins a team fighting a powerful and stylish criminal organization called Necrime. The show is mostly made up of self-contained episodes, each offering a unique adventure. It doesn’t try to be overly serious, which adds to its charm. If you enjoy shows like Bubblegum Crisis or City Hunter, you’ll likely enjoy this one too.

8. Round Vernian Vifam

I’m a huge fan of Round Vernian Vifam, a really cool mecha anime from ’83-’84! The story follows a group of kids whose space colony gets attacked, leaving them stranded and having to fend for themselves. It’s amazing watching them learn to pilot a spaceship and try to find their families without any adults to help. The director, Takeyuki Kanda – who also worked on legendary shows like Mobile Suit Gundam and Space Battleship Yamato – really knew his stuff. You can tell from the confident world-building and how well the story moves. Honestly, even after all these years, a lot of the episodes are still incredibly well-directed and hold up beautifully!

7. Bagi, the Monster of Mighty Nature

Bagi, the Monster of Mighty Nature is a special TV program from 1984 created by Osamu Tezuka, the famous creator of Astro Boy and Black Jack. It tells the story of Bagi, a creature who is part human and part panther, created through genetic engineering. She’s running from the scientists who made her and joins forces with a young man named Ryo, who shares a hidden connection to her. Together, they discover a plot involving dangerous genetic experiments and damage to the environment. Despite being a standalone story from the past, Bagi is a surprisingly powerful and moving experience.

6. Be Forever Yamato

Be Forever Yamato is a film within the famous Space Battleship Yamato universe. While it tells a complete story on its own – meaning you don’t *need* to watch the rest of the series to understand it – knowing a little about Yamato beforehand will definitely enhance your experience, particularly if you’ve seen Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato or the original series.

The classic story of *Yamato* returns, with Earth facing a new threat from the alien Dark Nebula. The crew of the Yamato must once again rise to the challenge and save the planet. The film focuses on the strong emotional themes the series is known for – courage, selflessness, and a bittersweet feeling of hope even when things seem hopeless. If you haven’t seen *Yamato* before, it’s best to start with the original TV series, the 1977 movie, or the 2199 remake to fully appreciate the emotional impact.

5. The Mysterious Cities of Gold

The Mysterious Cities of Gold is a 1982 adventure series that combines an exciting treasure hunt with interesting historical details. The show centers on Esteban, a boy searching for his father in the 1500s, who becomes involved in a large-scale quest to discover the fabled Cities of Gold in the Americas. He’s joined by Zia, an Incan girl, and Tao, who is the last survivor of a forgotten civilization.

The series follows a group who encounter challenges ranging from Spanish explorers to lost, advanced technology as they search for the secrets of legendary cities. Though aimed at children, it’s remarkably intelligent and respectful of its viewers—much like the films of Studio Ghibli. This quality helped it build a dedicated fanbase, leading to surprising sequel seasons in 2012, 2016, and 2020, decades after the original aired.

4. Dallos

I recently discovered *Dallos*, and it really struck me as a hidden gem from Mamoru Oshii – a film from 1983 that doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves. What’s really interesting is that it was the very first original video animation, or OVA, ever made! This format later became hugely popular and gave us iconic anime like *Akira* and *Ghost in the Shell*. The story unfolds on a Moon colony, where people from Earth are taking advantage of the lunar colonists for their resources. We follow Shun Nonomura as he gets pulled into the growing rebellion against Earth’s control. *Dallos* feels like a surprisingly mature and thoughtful piece for its time, tackling complex issues with a lot of subtlety. And it’s fascinating to see Oshii experimenting and developing his style – it feels like a preview of the brilliance he would later bring to *Ghost in the Shell*.

3. Space Adventure Cobra

If you enjoy charming, rebellious heroes, you’ll love *Space Adventure Cobra*. The series follows Cobra, a charismatic bounty hunter who likes to smoke cigars. After pretending to die to escape his past, he’s pulled back into a dangerous world of space pirates and galactic mysteries. He partners with fellow bounty hunter Jane and clashes with the powerful Pirate Guild. This influential series inspired many later works, including *Cowboy Bebop* and *Outlaw Star*, and remains a stylish and incredibly entertaining space adventure.

2. Plawres Sanshiro

Before shows like *Medabot* and *Pokémon*, there was *Plawres Sanshiro*, a largely forgotten anime from 1983. It centers on Sanshiro Sugata, a teen passionate about miniature robot wrestling called “Plawres.” The series follows Sanshiro and his robot, Juohmaru, as they compete against tougher and tougher rivals, learning valuable lessons about sportsmanship along the way. Notably, the show features surprisingly strong character development for an 80s anime geared towards children. *Plawres Sanshiro* also offers a nostalgic glimpse into early 80s Japan, a time when building model kits and the idea of robotics really sparked people’s imaginations.

1. Aoki Ryuusei SPT Layzner

Aoki Ryuusei SPT Layzne begins in a 1996 where Earth and Mars are trying to build a peaceful relationship, but tensions erupt when Earth diplomats on Mars are attacked by the aggressive Grados Empire. The story follows Eiji Asuka, who is half-human and half-alien, as he deserts the Grados army with his powerful mecha, the Layzner, to safeguard a group of Earth students caught in the crossfire. Be aware that the series takes a significant turn near the end with a time jump that has proven divisive among fans, and sadly, the intended final movie was never made, leaving some plot points unanswered. Despite this, Layzner is known for its surprisingly mature themes and storytelling, standing out among 80s mecha anime.

2025-10-08 21:15