Japanese animation has become so prevalent in American pop culture that it’s easy to forget the days when it was a niche phenomenon. Before the age of streaming, you’d have to wait months for the latest anime to be translated into English. Nowadays, you may get anime translations the same day they air in Japan.
While streaming platforms like Crunchyroll have granted us easy access to the newest anime, they haven’t forgotten the classics. The older anime that formed the foundation of anime as we know it today are just waiting amid all the simulcasts. So if you feel like taking a trip to the past, here’s some of the best classic anime that Crunchyroll has to offer.
1981-1982
1
52
Status
Ended
Before hitting American television screens asVoltronin the mid-80s cartoon scene, the lion-themed giant robot was known in Japan asBeast King GoLion. Set in the distant future (of 1999!), five space pilots are the only hope for planet Altea against the evil forces of the Galra Empire. To stop the advancing Emperor Daibazaal, the pilots must unite to wield the giant robot known as GoLion, transforming into a sword-wielding warrior composed of five lion robots.
What might surpriseVoltronviewers about this source material is its incredible violence. The war between Altea and Galra was marked by considerable bloodshed and tragedy, portraying a more somber conflict than what Voltron implied through its localization. It’s an anime where the comic relief of space mice feels like an obligatory chaser for episodes with such titles asThe Red Rain of HellandAngry Youth Suicide Corp.
1996-1997
26
Nadesicowas the sci-fi anime show tailor-made for anime geeks. The series takes place in a future where Earth is under attack by aliens known as Jovian Lizards. The only hope for the planet lies in the quirky crew of the ND-001 Nadesico starship. Aboard the ship is Akito Tenkawa, a mysterious boy who pilots giant robots, but would much rather cook and watch the mecha anime show, Gekiganger III.
The show is part space opera and part knowing comedy of anime tropes. It merges the drama present inSpace Battleship Yamatowhile acknowledging the campy allure of superhero mecha anime, such asGetter Robo.Nadesicowas genuinely exciting with its characters and comedy, which led to it becoming one of the more popular anime shows of the 1990s and briefly gracing theanime block of Toonami on Cartoon Network.
1987-1991
4
140
When someone in Tokyo needs a crackshot, they go to Ryo Saeba, the sly yet silly gun for hire. Whether defending clients or taking out targets, he rarely misses a shot, but also never wastes an opportunity to be playfully horny. Though he takes his job seriously, his perversion often leads to him being hammered by his assistant Kaori (she literally bonks him with a giant hammer like a Looney Tunes character).
City Hunterhas a distinct late-80s vibe, with its detailed urban setting and fashion, likely being used as background for those city-pop compilations on YouTube. Ryo is also a lot of fun for feeling like a fusion ofLupin The Thirdcharacters, merging the marksmanship of Jigen with the goofiness of Lupin. The clever city antics of Ryo and Kaori were engaging enough to warrant multiple seasons, direct-to-video movies, and a Korean live-action TV series.
1984-1987
6
109
Set in a post-apocalyptic world,Fist of the North Starfollows the violent journey of the wandering warrior Kenshiro. Trained in Hokuto Shinken, Kenshiro specializes in a fighting technique that allows him to deliver several punches that result in exploding heads. Armed with this literal mind-exploding ability, he defends the innocent from the cruel rule of warlords like Raoh, leaving bloody explosions in his wake.
Fist of the North Starserves as a beefier and bloodier version ofMad Max, boasting 80s punks and masked gang leaders with absurd proportions and absurd deaths. The brutality is deliciously over-the-top, and there are plenty of iconic moments, including Kenshiro’s notable punchline, “You’re already dead.” For those seeking classic anime violence served extra gruesomely, look towards the North Star.
1978-1981
3
113
Based on the manga by the late Leiji Matsumoto, this sci-fi adventure follows the poor boy Tetsuro Hoshino as he boards the space-bound train, Galaxy Express 999. Accompanying him on his voyage is the beautiful and mysterious Maetel, who bears an uncanny likeness to his deceased mother. His quest across the stars will take him to various planets, where he will encounter a multitude of robots and space pirates.
Galaxy Express 999is one of the most emotionally driven of Matsumoto’s works, filled with pathos and a desire for immortality. It was also the anime series that showcased the significant crossover with Matsumoto’s sci-fi universe, featuring pirate characters like Queen Emeraldas and Captain Harlock. So if you like trains, pirate ships, and Western shootouts in outer space,Galaxy Express 999should satisfy that urge for genre fusion.
1988-1989
Before Hideaki Anno directed the popular mecha animeEvangelion, he made his debut withGunbuster, a mecha anime that tinkers with genre. Formulated by merging the tennis training ofAim for the Aceand the excitement ofTop Gun, the sci-fi series finds Noriko Takaya recruited to pilot a giant robot. Along with other women, she may be one of the few hopes for Earth’s defense against an alien assault on the planet.
Gunbusterbroadcast in the 1980s, but it might surprise you with its intricate construction. The premise took into account the time dilation of space, an aspect sure to garner comparisons toInterstellar. The result is an anime that toys with convention while still presenting intriguing ideas about our place in the universe, highlighting early on how Anno was capable of thoughtful anime while still using tropes like giant robots and gorgeous girls.
1985
Set in the distant future,Dirty Pairfollows the action-packed adventures of the duo Kei and Yuri. As members of a consultant team, nicknamed Lovely Angels, they tackle everything from terrorist attacks to crime syndicates. The problem is that they often cause a lot of destruction in their investigations, earning them the less desirable nickname of Dirty Pair.
Dirty Pairjust screams ’80s anime pique with its dated depiction of the future and charming hand-drawn animation. The feuding duo has a fantastic buddy dynamic amid their eccentric carnage. While speculation of the future might be stuck in the past, the show was surprisingly ahead of its time in offering an intense depiction of kick-butt women and a surprising episode where the pair defend a trans woman’s acceptance.
1979-1980
43
Mobile Suit Gundamshifted giant robots from being superheroes that saved the day to soldiers in a brutal war. Set amid a battle between Earth and space colonies, the teenager Amuro Ray is forced to pilot the giant robot known as the Gundam. While Amuro might be the only hope for the Earth Federation, he’s also not ready for the horrors of war, including the intimidating pilot known as Char “The Red Comet” Aznable.
Aside from launching the long-running Gundam franchise, the originalGundamanime still holds up for its portrayal of an intergalactic war, which is depicted with great viciousness. Some unforgettable moments reshaped mecha anime forever, from Amuro’s bitter battle with the veteran Ramba Ral to Char’s headshot with a missile launcher. With an operatic score and gritty animation of the 1970s, everything that made Gundam great started here.
1981-1986
194
BeforeInu-YashaandRanma ½, Rumiko Takahashi’s rom-comUrusei Yatsurawas playing up the absurd and the fantastical on 1980s television. The show follows the slacker teenager Ataru Moroboshi and his accidental romance with the alien Lum. With Lum seeking Ataru’s hand in marriage, hijinks ensue with romantic misunderstandings and alien technology gone awry.
Takahashi’s hallmarks of love triangles and slapstick are brilliantly woven into this sci-fi rom-com. The comedic energy is high as the show finds the hilarity in everything, from alien invasions to forced engagements. The manga and anime launched Takahashi’s career to the point where we wouldn’t have the mythic Inu-Yasha or gender-bending Ranma if not for the antics of Lum’s flirting and Ataru’s blustering.
1977-1980
155
One of the few retro anime icons that has stood the test of time is the mischievous thief,Lupin the Third. Based on the comic series by Monkey Punch, the series follows the thief’s globetrotting capers with the gun-toting Jigen, sword-wielding Goemon, and femme fatale Fujiko. They engage in various heists while staying one step ahead of the aggravated and determined Detective Zenigata.
There are plenty of Lupin shows to watch on Crunchyroll, butPart II(sometimes referred to as the Red Jacket era) was when Lupin found his groove of the goofy and the gallant. Keep your eyes locked for two episodes that were directed by Hayao Miyazaki, one of which features a prototype for his robots in Studio Ghibli’sCastle in the Sky.Even the English dub of this series is enjoyable!
Classic anime has a lasting impact that extends beyond its hand-drawn animation charm and retro-chic vibe. You can see the building blocks for how fans started to gravitate towards the medium, whether it was for the caper comedy ofLupinor the ultraviolence ofFist of the North Star.
Crunchyroll has thankfully preserved this history, offering something for everybody, whether you crave romantic comedy, giant robot action, or both genres combined.
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll has plenty of new anime, but also retro classics worth watching for either nostalgia or a history lesson in anime.
