People who were lucky enough to be children, teens, or young adults in the 1980s will tell you without hesitation that 80s life was the best life. Not only was America enjoying an economic boom, but some of the best pop culture icons ever were launched in the 80s; popular movies, TV shows, and singers that are still cherished today.
Somehow the movies, music, and television were just better in every way. Maybe it was because everything seemed so fresh and new, and we were just starting to see the tip of the ice burg when it came to rapid technological improvements in entertainment. People that enjoyed the 80s will fondly remember walkmen, MTV, trapper keepers, and the obsession with brightly colored fashion.
Quietly, somewhat behind the scenes, a fandom was brewing. A fandom centered on Japanese animation and was rapidly growing in popularity with American audiences. While anime first arrived on the small screen in American in the 1960s with Astro Boy, it took a while for western audiences to catch on.
We weren’t used to highly evolved animated stories that featured adult situations, complex characters, and even violence. Back in the 60s, American audiences were accustomed to cartoons made for kids and featuring funny animals that lacked human features and emotions. Astro Boy flopped in America after just one year, but it planted a seed.
Adult-focused animated series called anime and similar graphic novels called manga were both extremely popular in Japan. More and more of that style of entertainment started to find its way to America. However, the shows and movies were being reshaped for American audiences. Character names were changed, and some of the violent and suggestive scenes were removed.
VHS imports straight from Japan became a popular underground movement in the US. Fans of anime would import anime services on VHS tapes and then do the work to translate them, add subtitles, redistribute them, or show them during anime clubs. Once these unedited versions found their way into the hearts of American anime lovers, there was no turning back.
Around this time, full-length anime movies were starting to become more popular in Japan. Japanese directors battled with American directors over not making cuts or too many alterations to their work. Audiences were treated to many movies that came to have cult-like followings and whose characters are still part of our pop culture today, such as My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Anime series and movies are meant for adults and therefore have a vast genre pool that includes everything from comedy to horror. In the 80s, robots were trendy. Towards the end of the decade, a movie called Akira would shock and amaze American audiences who finally saw just how competitive anime could be with mainstream movies. While it was a bit of a financial flop in Japan, Americans enjoyed it so much that it ushered in a whole new generation of fans in the 90s.
Here is a list of popular anime from the 1980s. If you missed any of these gems, make sure to check them out. Excluded are OVA’s.
1980 Anime Shows
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1980 TV series)
- Ashita no Joe
- Astro Boy (1980 TV series)
- Fisherman Sanpei
- Ganbare Genki
- Invincible Robo Trider G7
- King Arthur (TV series)
- King Arthur: Prince on White Horse
- Lalabel, the Magical Girl
- The Littl’ Bits
- Maeterlinck’s Blue Bird: Tyltyl and Mytyl’s Adventurous Journey
- Monchhichi
- The Monster Kid
- Muteking, The Dashing Warrior
- Ojamanga Yamada-kun
- Rescueman
- Ruy, the Little Cid
- Space Battleship Yamato III
- Space Emperor God Sigma
- Space Runaway Ideon
- Space Warrior Baldios
- Tetsujin 28-go
- The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (TV series)
- Zukkoke Knight – Don De La Mancha
1980 Anime Movies
- 11 Piki no Neko
- 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
- Ashita no Joe
- Back to the Forest
- Be Forever Yamato
- Captain (manga)
- Cyborg 009
- Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur
- Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!!
- Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! 2: Gekitō Pennant Race
- Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! Hatsu Warai 3: Aa Tsuppari Jinsei
- Hana no Ko Lunlun
- Hana no Ko Lunlun: Hello Cherry Garden
- Lalabel, the Magical Girl
- Makoto-chan
- Nextworld
- Nobody’s Boy: Remi
- Phoenix (manga)
- Phoenix 2772
- The Tomb of Dracula
- Toward the Terra
- Twelve Months (1980 film)
1981 Anime Shows
- Ai no Gakko Cuore Monogatari
- Beast King GoLion
- Belle and Sebastian (Japanese TV series)
- Dash Kappei
- Dotakon
- Dr. Slump
- Fang of the Sun Dougram
- Galaxy Cyclone Braiger
- Golden Warrior Gold Lightan
- GoShogun
- The Gutsy Frog
- Hello! Sandybell
- Honey Honey no Suteki na Bouken
- Jarinko Chie
- Little Women (1981 TV series)
- Manga Mito Kōmon
- Miss Machiko
- Ninja Hattori-kun
- Ohayō! Spank
- Queen Millennia
- Six God Combination Godmars
- Superbook
- The Swiss Family Robinson: Flone of the Mysterious Island
- Tiger Mask
- Ulysses 31
- Urusei Yatsura
- Voltron (1984 TV series)
- Yattodetaman
1981 Anime Movies
- 21 Emon
- Ashita no Joe
- Captain (manga)
- Daicon III and IV Opening Animations
- Doraemon: The Records of Nobita, Spaceblazer
- List of Dr. Slump films
- Enchanted Journey (film)
- Furiten-kun
- Galaxy Express 999
- Hashire Melos!
- Jarinko Chie
- Kyoufu Densetsu Kaiki! Frankenstein
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Mobile Suit Gundam (1981 film)
- Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow
- Natsu e no Tobira
- Ojamanga Yamada-kun
- The Sea Prince and the Fire Child
- Space Warrior Baldios
- Swan Lake (1981 film)
- Taotao (TV series)
- Unico
1982 Anime Tv Shows
- Acrobunch
- Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX
- Armored Fleet Dairugger XV
- Asari-chan
- Cobra (manga)
- Combat Mecha Xabungle
- Don Dracula
- The Flying House (TV series)
- Galactic Gale Baxingar
- Game Center Arashi
- Gyakuten! Ippatsuman
- The Kabocha Wine
- Little Pollon
- Lucy-May of the Southern Rainbow
- Lupin VIII
- Magical Princess Minky Momo
- Maya the Honey Bee
- The Mysterious Cities of Gold
- Patalliro!
- Robby the Rascal
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross
- Thunderbirds 2086
- Tokimeki Tonight
- Warrior of Love Rainbowman
1982 Anime Movies
- Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp (1982 film)
- Andromeda Stories
- Arcadia of My Youth
- Asari-chan
- Doraemon: Nobita and the Haunts of Evil
- List of Dr. Slump films
- Future War 198X
- GoShogun
- Haguregumo
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space
- The Monster Kid
- Ninja Hattori-kun
- Ohayō! Spank
- Queen Millennia
- Six God Combination Godmars
- Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie
- Space Runaway Ideon
- Star of the Giants
- Techno Police 21C
- The Wizard of Oz (1982 film)
1983 Anime Tv Shows
- Aishite Knight
- Armored Trooper Votoms
- Around the World with Willy Fog
- Aura Battler Dunbine
- Captain (manga)
- Captain Tsubasa
- Cat’s Eye (manga)
- Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel
- Fushigi no Kuni no Alice
- Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger
- Genesis Climber MOSPEADA
- Georgie!
- Ginga Hyōryū Vifam
- Igano Kabamaru
- Itadakiman
- Kinnikuman
- Lightspeed Electroid Albegas
- Mīmu Iro Iro Yume no Tabi
- Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman
- Miyuki (manga)
- Mrs. Pepper Pot (TV series)
- Nanako SOS
- Perman
- Plawres Sanshiro
- Psycho Armor Govarian
- Sam (mascot)
- Serendipity the Pink Dragon
- Special Armored Battalion Dorvack
- Stop!! Hibari-kun!
- Story of the Alps: My Annette
- Super Dimension Century Orguss
- Superbook
- Taotao (TV series)
1983 Anime Movies
- Barefoot Gen (1983 film)
- Combat Mecha Xabungle
- Crusher Joe
- Daicon III and IV Opening Animations
- Doraemon: Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil
- List of Dr. Slump films
- Fang of the Sun Dougram
- Final Yamato
- Genma Wars
- Golgo 13: The Professional
- Miyuki (manga)
- Nine (manga)
- Ninja Hattori-kun
- Noel’s Fantastic Trip
- Patalliro!
- Perman
- Unico
- Unico in the Island of Magic
- Urusei Yatsura (film series)
- Urusei Yatsura: Only You
1984 Anime Tv Shows
- Adventures of the Little Koala
- Attacker You!
- Bismark (TV series)
- Cat’s Eye (manga)
- Chikkun Takkun
- Chō Kōsoku Galvion
- Choriki Robo Galatt
- Elves of the Forest
- Fist of the North Star
- Futari Daka
- Galactic Patrol Lensman
- Giant Gorg
- Glass Mask
- God Mazinger
- Gu Gu Ganmo
- Heavy Metal L-Gaim
- Katri, Girl of the Meadows
- Little Memole
- Lupin III Part III
- Lupin the Third
- Noozles
- Okawari-Boy Starzan S
- Once Upon a Time… Space
- Panzer World Galient
- Persia, the Magic Fairy
- Sherlock Hound
- Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross
- Taotao (TV series)
- Video Warrior Laserion
- Voltron (1984 TV series)
- Wing-Man
1984 Anime Movies
- Bagi, the Monster of Mighty Nature
- Doraemon: Nobita’s Great Adventure into the Underworld
- List of Dr. Slump films
- Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! Dream Capital Mecha Police
- Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! The Treasure of Nanaba Castle
- Future Boy Conan
- Gamba no Bōken
- Great Riot! Seigi Choujin
- The Kabocha Wine
- Kinnikuman (film)
- Kinnikuman: Showdown! The 7 Justice Supermen vs. The Space Samurais
- Lensman (1984 film)
- Locke the Superman
- Macross: Do You Remember Love?
- Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (film)
- Nine (manga)
- Papa Mama Bye bye
- Perman
- Urusei Yatsura (film series)
- Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer
- Wata no Kunihoshi
1985 Anime Tv Shows
- Alpen Rose
- Blue Comet SPT Layzner
- Bumpety Boo
- Button Nose
- Dancouga – Super Beast Machine God
- Dirty Pair
- GeGeGe no Kitarō
- High School! Kimengumi
- Little Ghost Q-Taro
- Magical Emi, the Magic Star
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Musashi no Ken
- Ninja Senshi Tobikage
- Onegai! Samia-don
- Princess Sarah
- Touch (manga)
1985 Anime Movies
- Arei no Kagami
- Captain Tsubasa
- The Dagger of Kamui
- Doraemon: Nobita’s Little Star Wars
- List of Dr. Slump films
- GoShogun
- Gu Gu Ganmo
- Here Come the Littles
- A Journey Through Fairyland
- Kimagure Orange Road
- Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo
- Legend of the Gold of Babylon
- Little Memole
- Odin: Photon Sailer Starlight
- Perman
- Seigi Choujin vs. Ancient Choujin
- The Three-Eyed One
- Urusei Yatsura (film series)
- Urusei Yatsura 3: Remember My Love
- Vampire Hunter D (1985 film)
1986 Anime Tv Shows
- Adventure Island (video game)
- Animated Classics of Japanese Literature
- Anmitsu Hime
- Bosco Adventure
- Doteraman
- Dragon Ball (TV series)
- Family!
- Ganbare, Kickers!
- Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin
- Hikari no Densetsu
- List of Dragon Ball anime
- Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos
- Maison Ikkoku
- Maple Town
- Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
- Mock & Sweet
- My Favorite Fairy Tales
- Pastel Yumi, the Magic Idol
- Robotan
- Saint Seiya
- The Story of Pollyanna, Girl of Love
- Uchūsen Sagittarius
- Wonder Beat Scramble
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (TV series)
1986 Anime Movies
- 11 Piki no Neko
- The Adventures of Lolo the Penguin
- Ai City
- Arion (manga)
- Barefoot Gen 2
- Call Me Tonight
- Captain Tsubasa
- Castle in the Sky
- Cream Lemon
- Dirty Pair: Project Eden
- Doraemon: Nobita and the Steel Troops
- Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
- Fist of the North Star (1986 film)
- Gall Force
- Grey (manga)
- High School! Kimengumi
- Little Ghost Q-Taro
- Maple Town
- Megazone 23
- Phoenix (manga)
- Project A-ko
- Robotech: The Movie
- Saint Elmo – Hikari no Raihousha
- Sango-sho Densetsu: Aoi Umi no Erufii
- Super Mario Bros.: Peach-Hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen!
- Tabidachi: Ami Shusho
- They Were Eleven
- Toki no Tabibito: Time Stranger
- Touch (manga)
- Touch 2: Sayonara no Okurimono
- Touch: Sebangō no Nai Ace
- Urusei Yatsura (film series)
- Urusei Yatsura 4: Lum the Forever
- Windaria
1987 Anime Tv Shows
- Akakage
- Bikkuriman
- City Hunter
- Fist of the North Star
- Grimm’s Fairy Tale Classics
- Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater
- Hiatari Ryōkō!
- Kimagure Orange Road
- Lady!!
- List of Hello Kitty television series
- Machine Robo: Battle Hackers
- Mami the Psychic
- Maple Town
- Metal Armor Dragonar
- Mister Ajikko
- Norakuro
- Oraa Guzura Dado
- Ox Tales
- Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
- Tales of Little Women
- The Three Musketeers Anime
- Transformers: The Headmasters
- Tsuide ni Tonchinkan
- Ultra B
- Zillion (TV series)
1987 Anime Movies
- Adventure Island (video game)
- Bats & Terry
- Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs
- Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle
- Gall Force
- List of Saint Seiya films
- Little Ghost Q-Taro
- Maple Town
- Minna Agechau
- Neo Tokyo (film)
- Robotech II: The Sentinels
- Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise
- Saint Seiya: The Movie
- The Tale of Genji (1987 film)
- Touch (manga)
- Touch 3: Kimi ga Tōri Sugita Ato ni
- Treasure Island (1978 TV series)
- Twilight of the Cockroaches
- Ultraman: The Adventure Begins
- Wicked City (1987 film)
1988 Anime Tv Shows
- Anpanman
- The Burning Wild Man
- City Hunter
- Dagon in the Land of Weeds
- F (manga)
- Grimm’s Fairy Tale Classics
- Hello! Lady Lynn
- Himitsu no Akko-chan
- Ironfist Chinmi
- Kinnikuman
- Kiteretsu Daihyakka
- Little Lord Fauntleroy (TV series)
- Mashin Hero Wataru
- Oishinbo
- Osomatsu-kun
- Ronin Warriors
- Sakigake!! Otokojuku
- Sonic Soldier Borgman
- Topo Gigio (anime)
- Transformers: Super-God Masterforce
- Tsurupika Hagemaru
- What’s Michael?
- Wowser (TV series)
1988 Anime Movies
- Akira (1988 film)
- Bikkuriman
- Doraemon: The Record of Nobita’s Parallel Visit to the West
- Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure
- Fair, then Partly Piggy
- Gall Force
- Grave of the Fireflies
- Hiatari Ryōkō!
- Hiatari Ryoko! Ka – su – mi: Yume no Naka ni Kimi ga Ita
- Kimagure Orange Road
- Kinnikuman
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes
- List of Saint Seiya films
- Maison Ikkoku
- Mami the Psychic
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
- Mobile Suit SD Gundam
- My Neighbor Totoro
- Sakigake!! Otokojuku
- Six God Combination Godmars
- Ultimate Teacher
- Ultra B
- Urusei Yatsura (film series)
- Urusei Yatsura 5: The Final Chapter
1989 Anime Tv Shows
- The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee (1989 series)
- The Adventures of Peter Pan
- Akuma-kun
- Alfred J. Kwak
- Bikkuriman
- Blue Blink
- Chimpui
- City Hunter
- Dash! Yonkuro
- Dragon Ball Z
- Idol Densetsu Eriko
- The Jungle Book (1989 TV series)
- Jushin Liger (TV series)
- Kimba the White Lion
- Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato
- Madö King Granzört
- Magical Hat
- Miracle Giants Dome-kun
- The New Adventures of Kimba The White Lion
- Ohayō! Spank
- Parasol Henbē
- Patlabor: The TV Series
- Ranma ½
- Sally the Witch
- SD Gundam’s Counterattack
- Time Travel Tondekeman
- Transformers: Victory
- Yawara!
1989 Anime Movies
- Bye Bye, Lady Liberty
- City Hunter
- Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan
- Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone
- The Five Star Stories
- Gall Force
- Karura Mau
- Kiki’s Delivery Service
- List of Saint Seiya films
- Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
- Mini-Dora SOS
- Mobile Suit SD Gundam
- Onegai! Samia-don
- Patlabor: The Movie
- SD Gundam’s Counterattack
- Sonic Soldier Borgman
- Urotsukidōji
- Utsunomiko
- Venus Wars
- Yōtōden