Top 50 Best 80s Anime Movies To Watch

 

The 1980s as an era is remarkable in many ways and among them was the enormous ways of entertainment that gave the best of all time.

 

From drama series to movies and then to anime, we have got a bulk of themes and genres that just do not match with the particular decade but with the saying of Ben Jonson for Shakespeare, that is, “of all time”.

 

The most prominent was the emergence of science in entertainment. Science and technology as a theme as well as a development in cinema can be seen appropriately in animes.

 

And with no surmise, the 1980s has given the best of all the anime movies. So, without further waiting, here are the Best 80s anime movies of all time that you must watch.

 

 

 

1. Akira (1988)

 

 

Considered one of the best 80’s anime movies, Akira was released on 16 July 1988. It has multiple genres like action, fantasy, thriller, science fiction, and drama.

 

The movie is directed by Katsuhiro Ôtomo who also stands well in the position of being a writer alongside Izô Hashimoto.

 

The story is of 31 years later when the world was destroyed in World War III when the city of Tokyo was rebuilt from ashes.

 

The protagonist named Shotaro is in the story as a leader of a biker gang. Shotaro with his friend Tetsuo got injured in an accident that gained government facilities.

 

Soon after, he got to know about the telekinetic powers and decided to use them for evil forces rather than using them for good deeds.

 

By doing so, he will have the same power as Akira, a force that destroyed Tokyo in 1988 which makes history repeat itself.

 

Akira is a movie that will give you a taste of what excellence means in the anime medium. This movie goes far and beyond with its storytelling and animation to portray a narrative that will blow your mind and entertain you from the core.

 

If you haven’t watched this movie yet, you need to watch it this weekend itself. 

 

 

 

2. Appleseed (1988)

 

 

Kazuyoshi Katayama, the director and writer of the anime movie, Appleseed, created a movie that blends elements of drama and science fiction. Released in 1988 in Japan and later in the USA, the story revolves around the leading characters Deunan Kute and her partner Briaros Hecatonchires.

 

Together, they are tasked with preventing a terrorist who is attempting to gain control of Olympus City’s computers. This terrorist’s sole mission is to cause massive chaos in the city and revel in destruction. The two protagonists fight to stop the destruction and the terrorists to preserve society.

 

Appleseed is a very popular name from its generation. There’s no denying that the franchise is heavily appreciated for its content and the way it managed to encompass the message it was trying to convey in the format of a movie.

 

Therefore, your eyes must seek out this story. 

 

 

 

3. Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)

 

 

The two-hour-long movie called Laputa: The Castle in the Sky is a fantasy film full of adventure. The movie is inspired by a novel called Gulliver’s Travel written by Jonathan Swift.

 

The story covers when a young boy meets a mysterious girl who floats from the sky. The girl is Sheeta who got chased by the pirates, government, and army agents.

 

To save the life of a girl, they together started their flight and adventure which goes through almost every sort of flying machine.

 

In between these adventures, the boy got to know about the real identity of Sheeta who lives in the lost civilization of a floating castle.

 

Being a movie that is made by the legendary Studio Ghibli, you can expect it to be nothing less than incredible for the audience.

 

The storyline is beautiful and the animation adds layers that are just so much more appealing than what we would have gotten from other studios. 

 

 

 

4. Adieu, Galaxy Express 999: Last Stop Andromeda (1981)

 

 

Rintarô’s directorial Adieu, Galaxy Express 999: Last Stop Andromeda released in August 1981. It has genres like action, drama, and science fiction that come with the themes of coming of age and outer space.

 

Just like any outer space anime of the 80s, this movie also covers the destruction of the planet and colonization.

 

The story comes after the three years of La Maetel, a planet, destroyed. It is set in a spacefaring Future full of Hightech where humans got to know how to transfer emotions as well as minds into mechanical bodies, thus achieving practical immortality.

 

The lead character of the movie is Tetsuro, a 10-year-old who wants his machine body that gives him the ability to live forever.

 

 

5. Arcadia of My Youth (1982)

 

 

The two-hour-long movie called Arcadia of My Youth was directed by Tomoharu Katsumata. It was written in the pen of Leiji and covers the genre of action drama.

 

After a great war, the Earth has been conquered by many aliens of the Illumidus Empire. To prevent all these things, the captain of the Earth fleet, Harlock crashed his ship and refused to join his enemy.

 

The story also covers Tochiro with space pirate Emeraldes and Miya starts a war against Illumidus Empire. The movie is remarkable for its dark theme although it does have some confusing moments.

 

Because it departed from the real storyline presented in the series, the film somehow became a little coherent; however, it stood with a great design.

 

 

6. Black Magic M-66 (1987)

 

 

The science fiction thriller movie called Black Magic M-66 was released on 28 June 1987 under the production companies Animate Film and Anime International Company.

 

It was directed by Shirow Masamune and Hiroyuki Kitakubo. The plot revolves around a freelance reporter who becomes entangled in a desperate military operation.

 

Meanwhile, the story takes a turn when an Army chopper crashes, and its cargo gets activated. The story also involves two lethal Androids running wild in the wilderness, targeting the daughter of their inventor.

 

The Army’s sole mission is to stop these two Androids, while the reporter strives to reach the girl before any harm befalls her.

 

 

7. Angel’s Egg (1985)

 

 

Instead of covering the traditional everyday life in the series, it covers a world that is filled with ominous phenomena like statues of Goddesses, army tanks moving without man, fishermen having nonexistent fish, and many more.

 

In this world, a young girl is taking care of an egg. She somehow met a mysterious man who had crossed over his shoulder.

 

The man soon becomes curious about the existence of the girl and her egg. Both characters decided to explore the broken landscape while questioning their nature of faith.

 

They also dealt with the purpose of the world and how they got their lives. The movie was released on 22 December 1985 with a duration of 1 hour and 11 minutes.

 

It came under the genres like drama and fantasy, produced by Tokuma Shoten.

 

 

8. Dragon Ball: The Legend of Shenron (1986)

 

 

Dragon Ball: The Legend of Shenron is a 1986 movie that came under a running time of 15 minutes.

 

It is an action-packed adventurous movie that comes with a mixture of fantasy and science. The story is of King Gurumes who becomes greedy by discovering large rubies under his kingdom.

 

His greed reaches its peak and destroys many things, thus resulting in the curse of getting transformed into a monster.

 

The king now goes on the quest of seven Dragon Balls that can summon a mighty Dragon who can fulfil one wish of the King.

 

Since it was not easy to find the seven Dragon Balls from Goku, King went through many obstacles. The story goes on when Goku becomes aware of the destructive nature of the King and his falling Kingdom.

 

In the end, he decided to free the land from the oppressive King,  thus becoming a hero.

 

This movie from the Dragon Ball franchise is the beginning of an era that will shape our experience regarding this series.

 

In other words, fans will continue to watch more and more movies after this one as they get a gist of how beautiful Dragon Ball movie can be. 

 

 

9. Gall Force: Eternal Story (1986)

 

 

The 1986 anime movie called Gall Force: Eternal Story is a typical 80s anime with science as its main perspective.

 

It was produced by Movic and Sony Music Entertainment and gained a score of 6.42 (myanimelist). Paranoids and Solenoids, two advanced civilizations are in a war that has continued for centuries.

 

When Solenoid left the battle to defend an experimentally formed world, a damaged ship named Star Leaf got separated from its feet.

 

The ship consists of seven women known to be Star Leaf who eventually became the leading characters and the one who decides the fate of both civilizations.

 

 

10. Codename: Robotech (1985)

 

 

Robert V. Barron, the director, and writer of the movie got an enormous number of recognitions because of his making.

 

The movie is an adventurous science fiction film dealing with the themes of spacecraft and robots. After getting through the pursuing fleet of Zentraedi, Captain Gloval finally managed to get back on earth.

 

After getting this accomplishment, the captain reported all the details of the events of his robotic war that started with the arrival of the first alien ship on Earth.

 

Captain described the adaptation and the technology of the ship in eagerness for the arrival of its owner. The series, later on, goes with a war that started with the captain and their crew who are fighting with a ship and the enemy who had an unknown agenda.

 

 

11. Fist of the North Star (1986)

 

 

First of the North Star is an action drama that was directed by Toyoo Ashida and written by Susumu Takaku.

 

The movies are remarkable for not having repetitive scenes and falling under the sequential order of the series. When a nuclear attack happened, the world was left in destruction and mankind was forced through many difficulties.

 

Difficulties like getting authorized and living on Earth, which is devoid of life, seem to be getting worse with time. The story gains its momentum when a saviour emerges from the Ashes and is tasked with defeating those who caused the torment.

 

He is the one who would make the world a livable place, named Kenshiro. Fist of the North Star is a movie that is talked about even to this day. And that’s why fans are still in touch with the meme side of it.

 

However, keeping that aside, the sheer grace that this movie had and the masculine nature that it offers were just too good to be ignored by anyone. 

 

 

12. Gandahar (1987)

 

 

Released on 11 December 1987, Gandahar falls under the category of science fiction and was written by René Laloux.

 

It is based on a novel named The Machine-Men versus Gandahar written by Jean Pierre Andrevon. Gandhar, a utopian world, gets shattered when a mysterious evil force comes into the story and turns the people into stone.

 

To destroy the enemy, the Council of Women held a meeting and decided to send Sylvain on the mission.

 

Sylvain and Arielle eventually get to know that the enemy is nothing but a failed scientific experiment. His brain was created in a destructive army of metal men to destroy the land.

 

So to avoid these things, Sylvain must battle the Metamorphis and help the natives.

 

 

13. Dragon’s Heaven (1988)

 

 

Set in the year 3195, the movie comes with science fiction and themes of robots. It is about a war that happened between robots and humans.

 

After losing a companion in battle, the stories almost shut down till the time internal systems got a new human.

 

The movie is remarkable for not having a complicated storyline and incredible designs. Backgrounds are also drawn appropriately and that’s why it has got millions of views.

 

 

14. Fire and Ice (1983)

 

 

The anime movie Fire and Ice is known to be a masterpiece because of its characterization and plotline. It is an adventurous fantasy film directed by Ralph Bakshi.

 

The evil named Lord Nekron summons the blackest of sorcery to give birth to a towering glacier, and the remnants of humanity escape south to get refuge in the realm of King Jarol.

 

As the conflict progresses, Princess Teegra, King Jarol’s resilient and resourceful only daughter, finds herself in danger. As Nekron’s hideous minions rise, the crushing clasp of Nekron’s sorcery affects the last of the survivors.

 

To save Teegra, the young defender, Larn comes into the story risking life and limb to shun Nekron’s evil ambitions.

 

 

15. Monster City (1988)

 

 

Based on the novel of the same name written by Hideyuki Kikuchi, it is a fantasy horror that was released on 25 October 1988 with a running time of 80 minutes.

 

The story revolves around the leading character named Kyoya, whose father was a great warrior but eventually met his end at the hands of a psychic named Rebi Ra. To complete what his father had left, he started a battle against Demons. In the process of doing so, he never forgets to protect the young women from harm.

 

The only problem lies in him not being a classical hero-type character whose power is latent.

 

 

16. Golgo 13: The Professional (1983)

 

 

Golgo 13: The Professional is written by Shûkei Nagasaka and directed by Osamu Dezaki. It is an action drama with a lot of thrill.

 

The story comes with an assassin whose code name is Golgo 13. He is very resistant to women and destructive to his enemies however, a mystery revolves around him all the time.

 

Known for hitting those who stand in his least, Golgo 13 never breaks a contract and thus builds his reputation like concrete.

 

The story reaches its peak when combined forces of the FBI come against him with the US Army. However, with superhuman powers for being a snake and evil psychopathic Golgo 13 somehow manage to stay in his identity.

 

 

17. Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (1988)

 

 

Consider the best of martial arts and comedy, third as well as the final Dragon Ball movie released simultaneously with the series.

 

Just like the rest of the 2 movies of Dragon Ball, this also tells the story of moments that happened during the television series.

 

The wife of Emperor Chiaotzu was missing and the only thing that can return her is the seven Dragon Balls.

 

To do so, the emperor started collecting the Dragon Ball which later on got captured by Bora and went under the control of an evil named Shen.

 

It also deals with the protagonist Goku and Krillin who attended a World Martial Arts Tournament that was under the control of the Emperor.

 

The story continues with Bulma conducting her search to get the Dragon Balls with Puar, Oolong, and Yamcha.

 

 

18. Ashita no Joe (1980)

 

 

Released on March 8, 1980, Ashita no Joe is the adaptation of the manga of the same name. It is an arc with an iconic feel reminiscent of underdog sports shows. The visuals are also great, with a lot of action involved.

 

The story is of boxing, where an orphaned kid named Joe enters the boxing world professionally. At the movie’s beginning, Joe appears to be a bad guy, almost like an antagonist who makes the audience wonder why Rikiishi is not the protagonist.

 

However, things change, not instantly, as he changes his behavior while learning and growing from his mistakes.

 

 

19. Mobile Suit Gundam I (1981)

 

 

Also known as First Gundam or Gundam ’79, the movie is a military science and space opera. It is directed by Ryôji Fujiwara with a running time of 2 hours and 17 minutes.

 

The story is set in 0079 of the Universal Century. Where humans have colonized the area between Earth and Moon.

 

Due to the same reason, the ruler of the Duchy of Zeon started a war where one-half of the humans were decimated.

 

Within a month, they have got hold of half the surface of Earth. The only thing that can stop them is the Federal Forces of Earth and their project called the V project.

 

They aim to build mobile suits for the Federal Forces whose Chief is a 15-year-old boy named Amuro Ray.

 

The story continues with the way of his struggle to protect his friends, neighbors, and the rest of the humans.

 

 

20. Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space (1982)

 

 

Writers like Yoshihisa Araki, Ken’ichi Matsuzaki, and Hiroyuki Hoshiyama have done a great job in making this anime movie one of the best in science fiction war.

 

It is about Amuro Ray and the rest of his crew named White Base who got dominated by 13 Autonomous.

 

Just to support the Earth Federation, they return to outer space for a battle against the Duchy of Zeon Forces.

 

They try to learn new types of abilities and use them in the best way. It also deals with the love angle of Amuro with a mysterious woman called Lalah Sune, knowing the full abilities and potential of a Newtype.

 

 

21. Grey Digital Target (1986)

 

 

One of the most loving anime movies of 1986 is Grey Digital Target, directed by Tetsu Dezaki and penned by Tetsu with the help of Yasushi Hirano.

 

It is about the future Earth and its soldier named Grey. Grey is fighting to get the dream of his sister and become a citizen.

 

As the series goes on, Grey has got the reputation of a warrior who never leaves any survivors, except for those of his comrades.

 

When his mentor Red was captured by the enemy, he and his female friend went on a search. They soon started a quest that would become the turning point in their life as they will get a different perception of the world.

 

They soon discover the harsh truth of their new enemies and learn to live on their own.

 

 

22. Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow (1981)

 

 

Osamu Sekita, Yoshiyuki Tomino, and Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s directorial Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow was released on 11 July 1981.

 

It is a science fiction drama about war and action. The story is about the crew of Federation Warship White Base who have managed to survive the attacks of Char Aznable and Garma Zabi or Zeon.

 

The battle happened with the forces through the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, and Asia just to reach the headquarters alive.

 

During the process of Survival, many crew members like Bright Noah, Sayla Mass, Amuro Ray, Hayato Kobayashi, Fraw Bow, and Mirai Yashima overcame their fears and immaturities.

 

They also dealt with their insecurity and losses for their survival.

 

 

23. Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984)

 

 

With a running time of almost 2 hours, Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? is about romance and adventure with the typical theme of the 80s, science fiction.

 

It is about a ship named Macross that carried thousands of refugees as they returned to earth. The young pilot Hikaru rescued a singer named Lynn Minmay from giant humanoid warriors but later on, got trapped for many days.

 

After the rescue, they both continued on good terms until the time they and their family got captured by the Giants.

 

The story later carries how they together fight for their survival.

 

 

24. Heavy Metal (1981)

 

 

Loc-Nar, a green orb, reaches Earth with multifaceted cosmic malice that surpasses the boundaries of the universe. No one is aware of this floating crystalline sphere and its power.

 

It is a Canadian science fantasy movie that is based upon the original stories written by Richard while the screenplay was done by Daniel and Len Blum. It has various science fiction stories that are intertwined as a single theme of evil force. It features graphic violence and is divided into 11 parts.

 

 

25. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

 

 

Considered one of the best 80s anime movies, Grave of the Fireflies falls under the genre of drama, a sad one.

 

It is based on a novel written by Akiyuki Nosaka and directed by Isao Takahata, the writer too. Released in 1988 in Japan and 1989 in the UK, the film is remarkable for its plot and design.

 

It is about 2 young siblings named Setsuko and Seita living in the days of World War II. Between the anarchy and destruction of declining days, the two children got separated from their parents.

 

The story continues with the time when both siblings rely upon each other and struggle for their survival.

 

 

26. My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

 

 

My Neighbour Totoro is a 1 hour 26 minutes movie under the direction and screenplay of Hayao Miyazaki. It is a comedy and fantasy about a young girl of 10 years old named Satsuki and her sister Mei, 4 years old.

 

The siblings live in the country with their father and hospitalized mother. Soon these two sisters got aware of the nearby forest that is right now inhabited by some magical creatures named Totoros.

 

They soon befriend Totoros and embark on magical adventures, providing a plethora of entertainment. The film is said to be a partial autobiography based on the director and his brothers when they were kids, as their mother battled tuberculosis and spent most of her life in the hospital.

 

 

27. Phoenix 2772 (1980)

 

 

The 1980 movie named Hi no tori 2772: Ai no kosumozôn is about self-sacrifice and revival with the genre of fantasy, romance, and adventure.

 

It is directed by Osamu Tezuka and Taku Sugiyama who also contributed to the screenplay. The story is set in 2720 when Earth is almost on its decay because of many colonies.

 

Meanwhile, a terrible kid is getting raised in a single room called a Kindergarten Cell where he was surrounded by high tech.

 

As a birthday gift, he got an Android nurse who is responsible for protecting the kid. As soon as the kid grows, he enters Space Academy while exploring the universe to find a space Firebird.

 

While the process of knowing the race is going on, the creature enters the Android and falls in love with her master.

 

 

28. Project A-Ko (1986)

 

 

Katsuhiko Nishijima’s directorial anime movie has the typical sets and themes of adventure, comedy, and science fiction. It is about a huge spaceship that landed on Earth.

 

The story goes on 16 years later when a new Metropolis was built around the spaceship. Meanwhile lead character A-Ko is trying to cope in her new school with her friend C-Ko.

 

On the other hand, B-Ko is all set to ruin the leading character by making her fight with robots and a girl.

 

The story is also about the superpowers of A-Ko and the way she uses it. She has to deal with an alien who is on a mission to get their lost friends.

 

 

29. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

 

 

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a science fiction adventurous movie of 1984 which was directed by Hayao Miyazaki, one of the writers of Hisako Kyôda and Donald H. Hewitt.

 

The story is set in a future where Earth has nothing but an abundance of pollution in its lap because of anarchy and war.

 

It is about the valley called Valley of the Winds where Nausicaä, the princess, lives. The land of Princess and other night tales is in a toxic jungle that is filled with oversized insects.

 

The story also covers a war that is going on between two nations while on the other hand, the Valley of the Wind is stuck in the middle of chaos and destruction.

 

 

30. Patlabor: The Movie (1989)

 

 

With its amazing popularity, Patlabor: The Movie is 1 hour and 40 minutes long. It is directed by Mamoru Oshii and written by Masami Yûki and Kazunori Itô.

 

With the themes like action, mystery, and drama, the movie also amalgamates the flavor of science fiction and thriller.

 

The story of a mysterious suicide and a series of robots sparking off a police investigation is appropriate for the time of the 80s.

 

Sooner, the police found themselves entangled in a situation that led to the activation of thousands of virus-destroying robots. The lead named Asuma and his team step forward to complete the task before these viruses wreak havoc in Tokyo.

 

 

31. Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (1988)

 

 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack was released on 12 March 1988 with a running time of 2 hours and 4 minutes.

 

The story of the two best mobile suits that are robotic weapons named Char and Amuro. These two pilots are ready to fight against Titans after the Independence war of Zeon.

 

These two have to face each other in a duel where Zeon would be led by Char in time to drop a huge asteroid as well as many nuclear weapons on the planet Earth.

 

The only reason behind doing it is to cause a nuclear winter so that all the inhabitants of Earth can be shunned off at one go.

 

 

32. Wings of Honneamise (1987)

 

 

Hiroyuki Yamaga as writer and director of Wings of Honneamise has given his best to the movie. Considered one of the best 80’s anime movies that consist of the genre of science fiction and drama.

 

The story is set on a far-off planet where a Kingdom tries to launch its first spacecraft of man.

 

It faces not just funding problems but also technical problems and thus became a subject of political conspiracy. It also became a controversy and aggression of the neighboring Republic.

 

A leading character named Shilo is there in the anime as the first would be a spaceman. He and his friends are determined to make this space project a success and try their best to get it.

 

 

33. Space Adventure Cobra (1982)

 

 

Just like the typical theme of the 80s, Space Adventure Cobra also falls under the category of action fantasy with science fiction; however, it comes with the uniqueness of romance.

 

The movie is well-directed by Osamu Dezaki and amazingly written by Haruya Yamazaki. The story is set in a deep space where the United Galaxies Federation of Justice has set some boundaries over criminals.

 

Cobra comes into the story with some action to help the hunter named June in her quest of getting two sisters as well as saving the planet called Myras.

 

The villain of the story is the leader of the Galactic Guild named Lord Nekron who is following every track of Cobra and June.

 

 

34. Be Forever Yamato (1980)

 

 

When the earth was brutally attacked by Black Nebula Empire, a threat of blowing up the whole planet emerged instantly.

 

To defend themselves and keep Black Nebula Empire out of the planet, The Yamato group emerged as heroes as they tried to defuse the bomb that may cause destruction.

 

The movie is considered to be the beginning of the Yamato franchise and that’s why it is the best to deliver the whole plot structure.

 

A lot of scenes in the movie are surreal, especially the Empire’s homeworld. 

 

 

35. Rock & Rule (1983)

 

 

Rock & Rule is about Angel, one of the members of a rock band in a destroyed future.

 

Angel got kidnapped by a legendary super rocker named Mok. Mok is a dark character who is obsessed with some experiments and that’s why he plans to use the voice of Angel to get all the Demons.

 

With the help of Angel, Mok summons the demon from different dimensions. Coming to the other members of the band, except for Angel, then they try to follow Mok and find a way to get back Angel.

 

The movie is known for its storyline and plot with a unique presentation and incredible bonding of characters.

 

 

36. Toward the Terra (1980)

 

 

Hideo Onchi, Chigusa Shiota, and Keiko Takemiya’s penned anime movie named Toward the Terra is a science fiction drama.

 

It was directed by Hideo Onchi who tells the story of Jomy Mark Shin. Jomy being a normal boy on earth has a different fate than his expectations.

 

After getting to know he is a member of a race of psionic humans, responsible for the death of Mother Eliza, he got rescued by the rebel group.

 

Group leader Soldier Blue has shown him a space colony where he must become a successor. For Jomy, it is the only way of helping his people and returning to earth safely.

 

However, humans were led by an officer named Keith Anyan.

 

 

37. Starchaser: The Legend of Orin (1985)

 

 

Considered to be one of the best anime movies, Starchaser: The Legend of Orin is released with a typical theme of action and adventure with science fiction.

 

The story is set in a subterranean mine world. It is about a band of a human worker who was treated as nothing less than slaves under the ruling power of an evil named Zygon.

 

It continues until Orin comes into the story and digs out the sword that he deserves. Leaving the planet, he goes directly to the smuggler named Dagg and The Princess to come back into the world as a team.

 

They together formed the team to free the people of the subterranean from the ruling brutality of Zygon.

 

 

38. Saint Seiya: Legend of Crimson Youth (1988)

 

 

With action and fantasy, Saint Seiya: Legend of Crimson Youth was released with amazing characters and a storyline. It was directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi and written by Masami and Yoshiyuki Suga.

 

The plot revolves around a resurrected Sun God named Abel who came to take his sister Athena to rule the world.

 

He decided to destroy humanity with natural disasters. With its warrior group, Abel and some golden knights came together for a fight.

 

The other characters like Seiya and Athena try to save the Earth from anarchy and the brutality of Abel.

 

 

39. Robot Carnival (1987)

 

 

Released under a running time of 1 hour 30 minutes, Robot Carnival falls under the genre of comedy and drama with the amalgamation of fantasy and science fiction.

 

The story is related to the anthology of robots in which the noblest are Deprive, Nightmare, and Presence. Nightmare is the story of evil that rises one night to unleash a robotic servant.

 

Coming to Deprive, is a science fiction story about a young girl who was kidnapped by an army of robots.

 

The last one is Presence which is about young toy makers who made a female cyborg. She appears to be a bit too real for his life and that’s the reason why he decided to destroy her.

 

Later on, the young boy was haunted by the spirit of the female cyborg throughout his life.

 

 

40. The Dagger of Kamui (1985)

 

 

The 1985 release by the director Rintarô called The Dagger of Kamui is an action-adventure movie. The story is about an orphan whose name is Taro.

 

There is another character named Tien Hei who is responsible for the death of Taro’s father. Taro steps forward in the story and attempts to seek revenge by initiating a trial for assassination.

 

Taro also went with the Ninja swords fight and went to California where Tien was gradually hidden. This revenge resulted in a climactic battle and the fall of the Shogun era in Japan.

 

 

41. Neo Tokyo (1987)

 

 

Considered one of the shortest anime movies released in 1987 with a running time of 50 minutes, Neo Tokyo has the theme of horror and adventure.

 

The story is of three plots in which the first one is called Labyrinth Labyrinthos where a little girl and her cat who has found a long clock that transfers them into a strange supernatural world.

 

The second one is called Running Man, about a thrilling racing championship where racers compete for the ultimate victory. In the last part, titled the Construction Cancellation Order, a man is tasked to halt his robotic construction workers responsible for building something for the government.

 

 

42. Urusei Yatsura Movie 2: Beautiful Dreamer (1984)

 

 

Released in 1984, Urusei Yatsura Movie 2: Beautiful Dreamer has a common theme of adventure with the amalgamation of comedy that goes well with science fiction and thriller.

 

It is directed by Mamoru Oshii who was also responsible for its screenplay. The story goes with the protagonist Lum, a cheerful alien who lives with her fiance, a human named Ataru.

 

They both were living a happy life till the time it changed and things started repeating themselves. All the necessary functions came to a halt and people started disappearing while the streets remained deserted.

 

The building started decaying except for Lum and their friends. The series progresses when all the characters realize that it is something of a fantasy where someone’s dream is changing into a reality.

 

 

43. Venus Wars (1989)

 

 

Yoshikazu Yasuhiko is the director of Venus Wars while Yuichi Sasamoto is the writer. It is an action animation drama with the storyline of a new Frontier of Venus.

 

This frontier has turned into a dystopian world of the anarchy of the Civil War that happened between Aphrodia and Ishtar.

 

A reporter named Susan Sommers arrives in the capital which was captured by Ishtar, and thus falls with some strange things and people.

 

One of the prominent characters is a rider named Hiro who with his friend has joined the struggle of getting the independence of capital.

 

They together come up with some plans and secret weapons to get their hold in the battle.

 

 

44. Vampire Hunter D (1985)

 

 

Vampire Hunter D is an anime movie that was released in 1985 with a running time of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Themes like vampires, dark heroes, and half-human are giving a breath to it. It is the story of a young girl who has requested to get the help of a Vampire Hunter.

 

The only reason behind seeking help is to take down a vampire who has beaten her once, so that she can prevent herself from becoming a vampire. The movie is remarkable for its well-thought-out plotted story which serves as the best example of storytelling in the fantasy world.

 

It is also remarkable for portraying Evil, not as a monolithic and human not as a God, but rather treating everything with reality.

 

 

45. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

 

 

Based on the novel written by Eiko Kadono, the anime got its screenplay from Hayao Miyazaki, also the director.

 

It has action-adventure and fantasy as the main genre, however, the family also becomes one of the supporting characters.

 

The story is of a young 13-year-old witch named Kiki. Despite being a headstrong personality Kiki is also an imaginative, resourceful as well as determined character.

 

She is known for having conversations with a talking cat called Jiji. They both have the ambition of taking the world into their hands or at least getting control of a European seaside village which they consider their new home.

 

 

46. Wicked City (1987)

 

 

Just like any 80s anime movie, Wicked City also had the genres like fantasy and action. It was directed and written by Yoshiaki Kawajiri with the help of Norio Osada.

 

Themes like neo-noir, demon, surrealism, and fighter are typical in it as it tells the story between the worlds of supernatural and mortals that have been going on for centuries.

 

The peace between these two worlds was in balance however, it, later on, got threatened because the Radical elements were crossing their lines into the mortal universe.

 

The only reason behind them crossing the line is to destroy the peace forever, thus resulting in anarchy.

 

 

47. Arion (1986)

 

 

Arion, a young shepherd residing in Thrace alongside his blind mother, Demeter, enjoys a tranquil existence until the day his uncle Hades emerges and entices him into the realm of the underworld.

 

Hades promises a means to restore Demeter’s vision but at the cost of slaying Zeus, the omnipotent ruler of Olympus who inflicted the curse upon her.

 

Following extensive training in the depths of the underworld, Arion emerges as a formidable warrior and embarks on a relentless quest to exact vengeance upon Zeus.

 

Throughout his perilous journey to Mount Olympus, Arion forms improbable alliances with peculiar individuals including the towering Geedo, the cunning thief Seneca, and the silent maiden Resphoina.

 

As he carves a bloody path through a sprawling world teeming with warring armies and mythical beasts, Arion gradually unravels the enigmas surrounding his lineage and the fate manipulated by the gods.

 

 

48. Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise (1987)

 

 

Shirotsugh “Shiro” Lhadatt is a cadet in the Royal Space Force (RSF) of the Kingdom of Honneamise, but he, like everyone else, has never experienced space travel.

 

The RSF faces widespread scepticism from the nation’s citizens and a government more interested in initiating a war than achieving scientific breakthroughs.

 

One night, after attending a fellow cadet’s funeral, Shiro encounters Riquinni Nonderaiko, a devout and passionate woman who genuinely believes in the significance of exploring outer space.

 

Riquinni’s unwavering enthusiasm inspires Shiro to step forward and volunteer as a pilot for a potential rocket, with the aim of becoming the first astronaut from Honneamise.

 

Joined by a dedicated team of elderly scientists and engineers, they set out on a mission to revolutionize their country’s space program. 

 

 

49. Amon Saga (1986)

 

 

Set in the world of fantasy and adventure the 1986 movie Amon Saga is about a young warrior named Amon, the title.

 

He is on a quest of taking revenge for the death of his mother, leading him to the kingdom of Valhiss.

 

Just to get an opportunity for the exact revenge, Amon has enlisted himself in the army of this particular Kingdom.

 

However, this chance got ruined when he met Princess Lichia, thus getting captivated by the Emperor. The anime movie is directed by Shunji Ôga and written by multiple writers like Noboru, Baku, and Yoshitaka Amano.

 

Apart from adventure, Amon Saga also stands well with fantasy and design.

 

 

50. Cyborg 009: Legend Of The Super Galaxy (1980)

 

 

Based on the TV Series called Cyborg 009, this movie is considered gentler and quieter than its predecessors. The action scenes are also spectacular and the ideas about Cosmos are more interesting than the space battles.

 

The story starts after the year of beating Black Ghost and the ways 00 Cyborgs have moved on with their life to pursue a career.

 

Living a peaceful life, Doctor Gilmore and 0001 are living in the laboratory. His research assistant named Doctor Cosmo is looking after a super energy called The Vortex.

 

Through this energy, he wants to seek control; however, Dr. Gilmore wants a peaceful retirement. When the force was threatened Dr. Gilmore decided to have 00 Cyborgs deal with the situation as they had no option left.