The anime industry is full of exciting options to entertain a wide range of audiences, so it can be daunting to sift through the copious content to determine which series is worth the time. There are plenty of groundbreaking anime series and feature films that have pushed the medium to new places, but there’s also never been more disposable and empty material.
Every decade features important innovations to the anime industry. However, an anime doesn’t need to be brand new to make an impact. There are some revelatory series from the 1980s. They may not look like much, but some '80s anime should be mandatory viewing for anyone with at least a passing interest in the medium.
10 Fist Of The North Star Is A Brutal Action Series That Lives And Breathes The '80s
There are lots of important anime series to come out of the 1980s, but there are few that convey the feeling and energy of the decade better than Fist Of The North Star and its burly brawlers. Kenshiro is the heir of a deadly martial arts power that he uses to keep the peace.
Kenshiro and his opponents have an aggressive look that’s enough to dissuade some audiences, but there's so much hidden in this action series that goes beyond its stark aesthetic. Many of the best modern shonen series are indebted to Fist Of The North Star and its storytelling.
9 Bubblegum Crisis Eschews Stereotypes With Its Competent, Compelling Crimefighters
One of the leading disciplines in anime from the 1980s is that a lot of the material that focuses on female characters reduces them to lascivious stereotypes. “Fan service” is still a common issue in anime, but there was even less variety present several decades back. Bubblegum Crisis is a breath of fresh air as a crime and action series that empowers female characters.
Bubblegum Crisis makes sure that the female characters' personalities and abilities are as distinct as their looks. The series' female mercenary team know their way around weapons and high-tech mecha suits. The action and corruption that's looked at in Bubblegum Crisis still holds up decades later.
8 Vampire Hunter D Highlights The Depth Behind Demon Slaying
Anime has a healthy fascination with vampires and there are many series that explore this territory and embrace the bloody violence that's typically associated with these creatures of the night. Vampire Hunter D is one of the biggest anime vampire texts and it establishes many of the genre's tropes early on in the 1980s.
Vampire Hunter D is a property that continues to experience growth, but the 1985 anime movie is considered to be its apex. It's an action story with a genuine message and not just the brutal evisceration of bloodsuckers.
7 Sherlock Hound Gives A Classic Character A Creative Change
There's a lot to love in the 26-episode adventure/mystery/steampunk hybrid, Sherlock Hound. The anime is a glowing love letter to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's signature detective series. It's also one of Hayao Miyazaki's earliest directorial efforts and an early precursor for the magical anthropomorphic adventures that became a staple of Studio Ghibli.
Sherlock Hound will appeal to children, but there's a deep enough backbone to it that it will also keep adults engaged. Sherlock Hound is also ahead of the curve when it comes to other anthropomorphic animated detective sagas, and it predates The Great Mouse Detective by more than a year.
6 Wicked City Sets The Mold For The Decade's Fascination With Extreme Brutality
One of the most pervasive anime trends during the 1980s was a wealth of ultra-violent material that gave audiences a taste of gruesome body horror that was previously a rarity. Wicked City is a 1987 anime movie that was a staple in video rental stores during the decade. Wicked City's dystopian future is full of frightening demons and a secret police force is the only hope to contain this threat.
The edgy and aggressive energy of Wicked City won't be for everyone, but it's indicative of an important compulsion from the '80s. Demon City Shinjuku is another gory anime horror story that’s held in comparable regard.
5 Dr. Slump: Arale-Chan Provides Hundreds Of Episodes Of Effortless Gag Comedy
Akira Toriyama is a prolific name in the manga and anime industries whose biggest claim to fame is the ongoing Dragon Ball franchise, but he’s responsible for several lovable series. Dr. Slump predates Dragon Ball and caters towards Toriyama’s more comedic and playful sensibilities rather than the action-heavy perspective that Dragon Ball slowly adopts.
Several Dr. Slump series have come to pass, but Dr. Slump: Arale-chan produced 243 episodes throughout the 1980s as well as five feature films. Dr. Slump might seem too juvenile for some, but it’s hard to not get pulled into its endearing world.
4 The Legacy Of Devilman Lives On As Superior 1980s Anime
Go Nagai is responsible for some of the biggest manga and anime franchises that came out of the 1970s and '80s, such as Cyborg 009, Cutie Honey, and his riff on the horror genre, Devilman. Devilman has had many iterations over the years, most recently receiving a stylish update by Masaaki Yuasa for Netflix.
The original Devilman is a product of its time in many ways, but the franchise's successors all repeat the same narrative beats of the original, which speaks to its maintained relevancy. There’s a definite novelty to the heavy violence in Devilman, but Go Nagai knows how to properly tell an engaging story.
3 Vampire Princess Miyu Effectively Toes The Line Between Man And Monster
It's now become a common trope for a human character to get pulled between two worlds after they learn that they're some variety of demon hybrid. Vampire Princess Miyu looks at a courageous half-vampire who's determined to wipe out these supernatural threats. Miyu's mission, along with the mysteries that she solves about herself, are more than mindless demon slaying.
There is such a strong foundation to these four installments from the 1980s that a proper anime series followed in 1997. More recently, Vampire Princess Miyu continues to connect with audiences through its manga. The titular character has grown into one of the horror genre's most beloved heroines.
2 Violence Jack Sets An Impressive Precedent For Future Generations
Violence Jack is pure power fantasy bliss that looks at a seven-foot tall powerhouse who takes it upon himself to handle the demons who have invaded the Earth after a debilitating Hell Quake. Violence Jack is a lot to take in, but it's aware of its heightened nature and embraces it.
There are three Violence Jack OVA specials, two of which are from the 1980s and the final one is from 1990. Violence Jack hasn't risen to the same heights as Devilman or Go Nagai's other horror-centric material, but it's still a popular relic of the decade and its voice carries over into the future of Nagai's work.
1 Lupin III: Part III Pushes The Iconic Gentleman Thief Into Broader Territory
Lupin The Third is a legendary series that's been around for more than 50 years and has been a staple of the anime industry through the changing sensibilities of different decades. There are six separate Lupin The Third series that have been produced, which accumulates to more than 300 episodes. Lupin The Third: Part III is the gentleman thief series' contribution to the 1980s.
Part III, signified by the central character's pink jacket, has 50 episodes and is a satisfying entry point to the series. However, Lupin The Third: Part III takes some exciting liberties with its animation style, which makes it even more interesting.