Summary
The best classic animated films are those with themes that are still relevant today, evoking nostalgia but still connecting to modern entertainment. Classic anime dates back about 20-40 years, but art style, historical context, and universal enjoyment must also be considered. InuYasha, Slam Dunk, Trigun are classic series that paved the way for isekai, sports anime, and Western science fiction plots.
The The best retro anime that were ahead of their time are classic series that not only have aged wonderfully, but have also been meticulously crafted around themes and questions that remain relevant today. In addition, among these series there is no lack of variety, as there are fantasy anime, sports anime, science fiction anime, etc.
The concept of “retro” is not as specific as many people think. Of course, there’s a basic definition of age, where anything between 20 and 40 years old can be considered classic. However, in the realm of animation, there are many more things to consider, such as artistic style, historical relevance, chronological justification, and universal enjoyment. Therefore, the best classic anime series are those that evoke a natural sense of nostalgia, while remaining connected to modern entertainment and literature.
10 InuYasha Long predates the Isekai genre
Based on the manga by Takahashi Rumiko
Year of release:
2000
Episodes:
167
Where to stream:
Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
InuYasha is an isekai shounen anime that has truly stood the test of time, as the early 2000s series remains a relevant series in modern media. Its popularity was even consistent enough to warrant a follow-up series in 2020 called Yashahime, which tells the story of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru’s children. The main plot of InuYasha follows the adventures of Kagome, a modern-day girl who falls into a country with strong connections to feudal Japan, which is accidentally filled with monsters and yokai.
After being transported to this new world, Kagome meets Inuyasha, the show’s main character and a half-demon. From then on, both of them started to get excited adventure through an isekai world created even before the modern explosion of the genre stretching all the way to the idea of reincarnation as a vending machine in a fantasy world.
9 Slam Dunk is the first serious basketball anime
Based on the manga by Inoue Takehiko
Year of release:
1993
Episodes:
101
Where to stream:
Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video
Slam Dunk is a sports anime that laid the foundations for the entire genre. It not only sets the stage but also sets extremely high standards for its successors. The anime follows the basketball journey of Sakuragi Hanamichi, a criminal with no experience playing basketball but with incredible athletic ability. Throughout the program, he quickly improved and was challenged by both the physical and mental elements of the game.
What makes Slam Dunk special, however, is its ability to popularize the idea of basketball and how it creates an arrogant yet lovable protagonist. Besides, The amount of inspiration that modern sports anime takes from Slam Dunk is further testament to its cultural relevance.Kuroko’s Basketball is almost a modern mirror of Slam Dunk with a similarly talented red-haired protagonist wearing the number 10. Even non-basketball sports anime like Haikyu!! inspired by the character prototype of Slam Dunk.
8 Trigun is a classic Western science fiction work
Based on the manga by Nightow Yasuhiro
Year of release:
1998
Episodes:
26
Where to stream:
Crunchyroll, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
Trigun was one of the first successful films from the famous studio Madhouse, as it was influenced by the West and combined perfectly with the sci-fi setting and shounen plot developments. The series follows the main character, Vash the Stampede, a cowboy-like wanderer who roams the world dressed in bright red and armed with his trusty silver revolvers.
Although Vash is despised by the world, audiences are quickly shown his cheerful, innocent attitude. Through the conflicts created throughout the plot, Tskirt expertly tells a story that any demographic of any time period can enjoy. Vash’s struggles and the mysteries of the world he discovers are carefully crafted for generations to come.
7 Hikaru no Go Explores the universality of time
Based on the manga by Obata Takeshi and Hotta Yumi
Year of release:
2001
Episodes:
75
Where to stream:
Hulu, Vudu
Hikaruo no Go is a sports anime in disguise, as the series follows Shindoh Hikaru on his journey through the world of Go (Chinese chess). Although Hikaru initially did not want to play the game because he was urged by a mysterious ghost haunting him through an ancient chess board, he eventually fell in love with the game. With his ethereal tutor, Fujiwara no Sai, by his side, Hikaru struggles with his own skills and identity, especially when Sai occasionally plays Hikaru’s games for him, wreaking havoc on his opponents. most experienced player.
Hikaru no Go not only builds the idea of competition deeper than many anime of its time and even in modern times, it offers valuable commentary on immortality and the transience of life through the character Sai. All in all, it makes for a lovely coming-of-age story that’s guaranteed to induce a tear or two.
6 Revolutionary Supernatural Yu Yu Hakusho Shonen
Based on the manga by Togashi Yoshihiro
Year of release:
1992
Episodes:
112
Where to stream:
Tubi, Funimation
Yu Yu Hakusho is a ghost story anime like no other, as it takes the supernatural and shounen genres and creates a masterpiece of storytelling and character development. The series follows delinquent teenager Urameshi Yusuke through his life as a soul detective, a job that involves fighting demons and phenomena often invisible to the natural world. However, Yusuke’s path to this job was completely unorthodox, as it cost him his life.
In the first episode, Yusuke was hit by a car while saving a small child, something that even the spirit world did not expect, so there was no place for Yusuke in the afterlife. Although this premise is very funny, Togashi brilliantly broke down the universality of the plot and wrote an emotional revival story exceeded all expectations. He explores diverse grief through sinister characters who talk behind Yusuke’s corpse and unexpected friends. With all these complex themes and ideas, Yu Yu Hakusho is an anime that is not limited by time.
5 Neon Genesis Evangelion changed a genre forever
An original film directed by Anno Hideaki
Year of release:
1995
Episodes:
26
Where to stream:
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a seinen mecha anime which is one of the anime the supporting pillar of the popular genre. The original series tells the story of Ikari Shinji, a boy who finds himself piloting a giant robot carrying the hope of humanity on his shoulders. The world is ravaged by similarly large creatures called angels, and Shinji and the other children are forced to grapple with the difficult situations they are forced into.
Furthermore, in a genre that focuses heavily on earth-shattering combat, mechanical design is required to stand out. Evangelion goes above and beyond with not only the designs but also the concept of EVA that is truly original and has stood the test of time. Although EVA is introduced as a robot, there is something much more biological and mysterious lurking beneath the armor. What makes Evangelion truly unforgettable, however, is the complex symbolism of its plot and its unparalleled exploration of the psychology of its characters.
4 Ranma ½ was one of the first gender benders
Based on the manga by Takahashi Rumiko
Year of release:
1989
Episodes:
161
Where to stream:
Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu
Ranma ½ is a shounen fantasy anime that focuses on martial arts but explores much more than that. Created by the same mangaka Inuyasha, Ranma ½ shares many of the same themes and art styles, as the series follows the adventures of Saotome Ranma and Tendo Akane, two young characters of the dojo entangled in a marriage. arrange.
However, the twists don’t stop there, as the main premise of the story is Ranma’s curse causes him to magically change gender when splashed with water of different temperatures. A revolutionary exploration of gender and identity that outstripped mainstream thinking for decades, as the anime of the late 1980s painted a compelling and thought-provoking story that still sets the tone today. unanswered questions.
3 Akira brought Cyberpunk anime into the mainstream
Based on the manga by Otomo Katsuhiro
Year of release:
1988
Running time:
124 minutes.
Where to stream:
Crunchyroll, Hulu
Akira is one of the most influential science fiction films of all time, if not the most influential film in general. Akira was not only one of the founders of cyberpunk, but also delved into post-war literature and the Japanese way of thinking about the atomic bomb. These ideas come and go with varying intensities as the story follows Kaneda and Tetsuo through a chaotic Neo-Tokyo and countless corrupt organizations.
Although the main themes and ideas of Akira are influenced by past events, they are no less relevant today, especially in the field of history. Not considered The film’s art and animation were top-notch in the 1980s.Akira also addresses the anxieties of adolescence as well as the power of imagination and perversion, themes that have profound implications for the future of entertainment.
2 Revolutionary Girl Utena is a diverse story
An original film directed by Ikuhara Kunihiko
Year of release:
1997
Episodes:
39
Where to stream:
Crunchyroll, Funimation, Amazon Prime Video
Revolution Girl Utena is a shoujo anime that truly lives up to its name, as it is a series that heavily challenges modern ideology, whether it was released in 1997 or today. The main character of the story, Tenjou Utena, is a fallen princess who ends up studying at Ootori Academy, which is tied to her by fate through the prince who saved her at her most difficult times. .
However, the truly revolutionary aspect of the anime is the ability to challenge ideas about gender, sexuality and diversity. When the beautiful Anthy is considered the champion’s prize in the Gladiator world, Utena enters the fight for the Rose Bride not as a princess but as a prince. Additionally, Anthy is depicted with dark skin, her beauty shining, something unheard of in the Japanese social outlook of the 1990s, which was known to trudge ahead of progress.
1 Naussicaä of the Valley of the Wind is an environmental masterpiece
An original film directed by Miyazaki Hayao
Year of release:
1984
Running time:
117 minutes.
Where to stream:
Max, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu
Naussicaä of the Valley of the Wind was one of director Hayao Miyazaki’s earlier Ghibli films that addressed environmental concerns long before they entered the political realm. The film is about a young girl named Naussicaä who experiences conflicts between industrial encroachment and environmental protection in a world that has still not recovered from the devastation of a nuclear war that occurred more than a thousand years ago.
In the established setting, which is a struggling forest where humans are forced to live with strange creatures, a strange airship crashes into the valley where Naussicaä lives. From this airship emerged the terror of the Tolmekian army, who wished to discover powerful weapons from the nuclear age. This causes chaos to erupt and Naussicaä embarks on a journey herself to not only prevent the impending disaster but also shed light on the environmental relevance of her story. Released nearly 40 years ago, Naussicaä still strikes hard at the core of modern thought.