The first anime series premiered in the 1960s, and like any medium, each succeeding piece had a variety of intriguing and significant influences on the work that came after it. Where did the clichés found in slice-of-life rom-com shows originate? What did 1990s old-school anime look like? Where did some of the most important anime creators of today get their start?
These are fantastic shows in and of themselves, even for those who have no interest in the development of anime as a genre. Although the popularity of anime in Western countries peaked around the 2000s, there is still a ton of great content available for those who are prepared to delve a little bit deeper into the past.
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5. Yu Yu Hakusho
Yusuke Urameshi, a street thug, is killed after dodging a moving car to save a child, but he is subsequently brought back to life as a ghost so he can see the surprising effects of his passing on those he knows. To serve as a representative of the underworld, he is then returned to his body.
Yu Yu Hakusho demonstrated that the shonen genre could be more than just a collection of overly dramatic action scenes. It also contributes to the development of now-standard shonen clichés. The show still airs in some capacity today. Although it’s best known for being among the most significant to make its debut in the early 1990s.
4. Mobile Suit Gundam
Without the popularity of the show’s model kits, Gundam would have stopped after its initial run of 43 episodes. The year 0079 of the Universal Century, which is an incredibly futuristic year, is where the narrative takes place.
Although it is mostly focused on enormous robots that are controlled by humans. But, it actually offers some extremely insightful and profound insights about the nature of war and the individuals who engage in it on our behalf. Many anime films, manga, television shows, and model kits have their roots in the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. In fact, you could argue that it served as the model for a plethora of other anime series.
3. Neon Genesis Evangelion
In Japan, Neon Genesis Evangelion is considered to be a really good old-school anime that ran from 1995 to 1996. It was well-liked all the way through its conclusion, which turned out to be somewhat contentious. The plot is quite imaginative. Enemies known as Angels are spreading havoc and wiping out civilization in post-apocalyptic Japan.
Evangelions are enormous humanoid robots that can be commanded by humans who enter them. The tale centers on Shinji Ikari, a youngster who is assigned to control one of these robots.
2. Astro Boy
It is commonly acknowledged that the first anime series, which aired in 1963, served as the model for the style that would later become universally known as “anime.”It is a classic old-school anime. The television program is based on a manga created by Osama Tezuka between 1952 and 1968.
Umataro Tenma created a young android child with human feelings to aid in his grief over the loss of his son, who is central to the story. Both in 1983 and 2003, Astro Boy received a reboot, and it has since been turned into a number of video games and motion pictures.
1. Cowboy Bebop
One of the best old-school (OG) anime examples is Cowboy Bebop. The plot takes place in the year 2072 after mankind had destroyed Earth and moved on to inhabit several moons and planets throughout the cosmos.
The crew of bounty hunters known as “Cowboys” that flies in the Bebop starship, which includes Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Win, Faye Valentine, and Edward Wong, assists the government in maintaining peace. The score, the cast of characters, the humor, the action, and the animation are all excellent in this series.
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