10 Timeless Classic Anime No One Should Skip

by

I’ve been watching anime for a while now, and it’s amazing to see how much it’s changed over the years – from the types of stories told to the way they look. Right now, in the 2020s, it feels like anime is more popular around the world than ever before, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Shows like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer are definitely bringing in a lot of new viewers, which is great. But it’s a shame many of these new fans stick to what’s popular right now. There’s a whole history of incredible anime that they’re missing out on! The older animation styles aren’t for everyone, of course, but those of us who’ve been watching for years still find them really captivating – there was something special about the way things looked when the technology wasn’t as advanced.

I’m a huge anime fan, and while I love what modern animation can do, there’s just something special about those older classics. They have a unique charm that really pulls you in! If you’re looking to discover some of the most iconic anime ever made, I’ve put together a list of 10 timeless shows that you absolutely have to check out.

10) Fist of the North Star

I remember first encountering this story from the 80s, and it really drew me in. It centers around Kenshiro, a skilled warrior, who’s on a desperate quest to find his kidnapped fiancée, Yuria. His rival, Shin, is the one who took her, and Kenshiro’s journey is complicated by the fact that he was previously betrayed and left for dead. As he travels through this devastated, post-apocalyptic world, he uses his incredible martial arts technique, Hokuto Shinken, to help anyone he can, fighting off dangerous bandits and thugs. But the more he does, the more powerful enemies seem to emerge, constantly throwing new obstacles in his path. It’s a tough road, but he slowly starts to become a symbol of hope, a true savior for this broken world.

9) Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon is a truly famous and influential series in the Shojo genre, known for celebrating girls’ friendships and empowering femininity. It was incredibly popular in the 1990s and helped make Shojo manga and anime – aimed at young girls – widely popular. The story centers on Usagi Tsukino, a typical student, who discovers she’s destined to become Sailor Moon after saving a cat. As Sailor Moon, she’s a planetary guardian with the important job of protecting Earth from evil.

8) Legend of the Galactic Heroes

This popular science fiction series from the 1980s takes place after a 150-year war between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance finally comes to an end. The new peace brings forth ambitious leaders like the brilliant military strategist Reinhard von Lohengramm and the insightful historian Yang Wenli. Despite attempts at peace, old conflicts and differing beliefs cause tensions to rise. When a tragic event unfolds, Reinhard and Yang are forced to confront the real reasons behind their ongoing struggle and consider setting aside their differences.

7) Perfect Blue

Satoshi Kon’s first feature film as a director, released in 1998, is a chilling psychological horror story. It centers on Mima Kirigoe, a popular member of the J-pop group CHAM!, who decides to leave the band to become an actress. While navigating the challenges of a new career and a divided fanbase, Mima discovers acting is more difficult than expected, particularly after landing a role in a crime show. Her life spirals out of control when a deranged fan, unable to accept her career change, begins to stalk and impersonate her, blurring the lines between what’s real and what’s not.

6) Dragon Ball

More than forty years ago, Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball first appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and it instantly revolutionized the world of action-packed anime and manga. The series became famous for introducing now-common elements, like characters powering up with transformations, which you still see in many shows today. The original anime, which came out in 1986, tells the story of Bulma, a teenage girl searching for magical Dragon Balls. She meets Goku, a young boy raised by his grandfather, who already has one of the Dragon Balls. Bulma convinces Goku to join her quest by offering him a chance to borrow the Dragon Ball’s power.

5) Ghost in the Shell

In the technologically advanced city of Niihama, 2029, robotic limbs are commonplace. Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg agent with Japan’s elite Section 9, combats threats like corruption and terrorism. Her latest mission involves tracking down a shadowy hacker known as the Puppet Master, who is capable of taking control of cyborg brains online. As Motoko investigates, she uncovers unsettling truths about the merging of humanity and technology, and the dark side of this cybernetic world.

4) Cowboy Bebop

Created by Shinichirō Watanabe, this acclaimed series takes place in 2071, when humans have colonized the galaxy. With the growth of new settlements on different planets, crime – including murder, drug use, and theft – has surged. Bounty hunters like Spike Spiegel and Jet Black work to bring criminals to justice. While chasing down outlaws, the team faces challenges as Spike’s hidden past begins to unravel, threatening to disrupt their lives.

3) Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Released in 1984, shortly before the founding of Studio Ghibli, this early film by Hayao Miyazaki is set over a thousand years after a devastating nuclear war nearly wiped out life on Earth. Though centuries have passed, humanity continues to struggle for survival in a world where the jungle has become incredibly dangerous due to the war’s effects. Nausicaä, the young princess of the Valley, foresees a threat to her kingdom and ventures into the toxic jungle to prevent invaders from unleashing a powerful weapon from the ancient conflict.

2) Samurai Champloo

Shinichirō Watanabe’s Samurai Champloo is a fantastic anime series. It’s structured around individual adventures following Mugen, Jin, and Fuu in a reimagined Edo-period Japan. The story begins when Fuu, a young woman working as a waitress, enlists the aid of two very different samurai, Mugen and Jin. Despite a rocky start, the unlikely trio embarks on a journey to find a mysterious samurai connected to Fuu’s past – their only clue is that he has a distinctive sunflower scent.

1) Neon Genesis Evangelion

Considered one of the most intense sci-fi anime ever made, this story is set fifteen years after a world-shattering event called the Second Impact. As humanity tries to rebuild, it’s threatened by powerful, otherworldly beings known as Angels. To fight back, a secret group called NERV creates giant robots called Evangelions. The series follows Shinji Ikari, a fourteen-year-old boy called upon by his distant father to pilot one of these robots. Though hesitant at first, Shinji accepts, only to discover that battling the Angels is far more challenging – and emotionally draining – than he ever imagined.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/anime/list/10-incredible-anime-with-no-bad-episodes/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-12 05:41