The 80s were a fantastic time for all kinds of media and anime was no exception. Some fantastic animators and directors were starting their careers at the time and many series fans still recognize today getting adaptations.
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With lots of shows being reanimated these days for modern audiences, it can be fun to look back at the best shows of an era to see what might get a whole new look next. There are some shows that still hold up to this day with amazing animation and gripping stories.
10 Sherlock Hound (Meitantei Holmes)
This loose adaptation of Sherlock Holmes stories comes from Hayao Miyazaki — the famed director of many films from Studio Ghibli — working with the animation studio that produced the original Animaniacs show. It has a lot of wacky antics combined with the mystery-solving those familiar with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will enjoy.
The show is great for kids and adults alike with many anime fans still watching it today due to it being free to watch on YouTube.
9 Silver Fang (Ginga Nagareboshi Gin)
Before the era of shows like Beastars, Silver Fang was an anime with tougher themes that focused on anthropomorphic animals. The story is action-packed, following Gin as he raises an army of fellow dogs to take down the evil bear Akakabuto.
Ginga Nagareboshi Gin was directed by Tomoharu Katsumata who was behind many other fantastic 80s anime including Captain Future, Mazinger Z, and UFO Robo Grendizer.
8 Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z
It is impossible to ignore the impact Dragon Ball has had on all of anime. Both it and its sequel Dragon Ball Z premiered in the 80s and won over fans in the east before being brought over to western audiences.
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Akira Toriyama was absolutely on fire in the 80s, with Dr. Slump & Arale-Chan also being adapted to great success. The main character Arale even featured in an episode of Dragon Ball making it an adorably hilarious fictional crossover.
7 Fist Of The North Star (Hokuto No Ken)
"You are already dead..." Fist of the North Star may be more recognized today as the subject of tons of hilarious memes, but it was a serious hit back in the 80s. This martial arts-based post-apocalyptic epic is quite bloody and violent at times but still tells a fantastic story of overcoming incredible odds to defend what he cares about most.
Fist of the North Star's influence on anime can still be felt today, from his signature Hokuto Hyakuretsu-ken attack being emulated in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure to multiple parodies of it in Gintama.
6 City Hunter (シティーハンター)
City Hunter was massively popular throughout the 80s with three separate seasons coming out as well as several movies based on the series. The show follows a mercenary group called City Hunter as they face the perils that come with their dangerous line of work. While it has a lot of focus on action and drama, there are plenty of lighthearted moments for viewers to enjoy as well.
5 Touch (タッチ)
Touch is a fantastic slice-of-life story that shows how simple themes like growing up and finding one's place in the world can be incredibly compelling. There is a romantic triangle of drama between Tatsuya, Kazuya, and Minami that anyone who remembers the struggles of being young and in love identifies with immediately.
With an epic twist in the middle of the show, things change drastically. We don't want to give out any spoilers, but we promise Touch is an anime worth still worth watching despite being over 30 years old.
4 Macross (Choujikuu Yousai Macross)
What happens when the human race learns it is no longer truly alone? In the world of Macross, an alien ship that crashes on earth is repurposed by the United Nations to try and become a defense force for Earth. During the ship's maiden voyage, tragedy strikes and the crew sparks a galactic war before being transported to the far reaches of space.
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While the series came out in the 80s, it still is receiving new sequels to this day including Macross Frontier in 2008 and Macross Delta in 2016. Those wanting to check out the new shows should check out the original to see where the story started.
3 Ranma ½ (Ranma ½ Nettou Hen)
Ranma ½ follows the story of Ranma, a boy who gets a curse that makes him turn into a girl whenever he is splashed with cold water. With warm water turning him back into a boy, hilarious antics ensue as Ranma has to deal with a variety of wacky situations. The show is still highly regarded by queer anime fans to this day for its themes on genderfluidity and breaking the norms of gender roles.
2 Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Considering how the original Mobile Suit Gundam was almost canceled at only 39 episodes, it can be hard to believe it managed to get a sequel. It took into the mid-80s for it to happen, but by that time, fans were eager to see more. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam has many of the classic tropes expected in Gundam shows today, building up into what the series would fully become in the future.
1 Ikkoku House (Maison Ikkoku)
Maison Ikkoku is one of the greatest slice-of-life animes of all time and its influence on that genre of anime can still be seen today. It follows the love story between Yuusaku and the new manager of his boarding house Kyoko. The eccentric tenants that live with Yuusaku create some hilarious moments that really add to the lighthearted nature of the show.