There are a lot of feelings about modern anime, but it is a medium that has never been larger and more widely available. We are also entirely spoiled by the animation techniques and technology that can be put to work in some series. However, because it has grown so grand and beautiful, it is easy to forget about the older series. Why, I know some who simply will not watch older anime because of the animation quality. That’s valid, too. Even series like Cowboy Bebop is looking kind of rough these days. Rougher still if you watched something particularly splendid before it.
That being said, there are still older series worth remembering. It is, however, difficult to make a cut off. I’d say that late 90’s anime is tough to swallow, but still watchable if it is the right series. Going back further than that is difficult, so I’ve plucked series from the mid-90’s and back for series that are still very much worth considering despite their age.
Best Old Anime
Gunbuster
It may just be a six episode OVA from the 80’s, but Gunbuster remains one of the more influential entries in the mecha genre. If nothing else, it’s contribution to jiggly animation should be lauded. This tautly paced little series remains how mecha should and has been done, and as Hideki Anno’s prequel to Neon Genesis Evangelion, I guess you have the creation of that thanks to Gunbuster as well.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
There aren’t too many of these old series that I can easily throw out for recommendations, but this one remains a classic despite the age of the animation. Anytime someone wants anime that has excellent world building, grand scale warfare, and, in particular, top-notch political intrigue, Legend of the Galactic Heroes is there to provide without the ham-fisted-ness that comes from the Gundam series.
Rose of Versailles
It may be aged, but Rose of Versailles still has some of the most striking visuals – albeit most of them are still scenes – that I remember to this day. It is on the melodramatic side on occasion, but it leans full on into that, which comes full circle to create a pretty engaging drama. Most modern drama tends to lean more on the realistic, but sometimes just going big can pay off too.
Yu Yu Hakusho
I think because it remained popular well into the 00’s that people think Yu Yu Hakusho is younger than it actually is. Some might see it as something that came with shows like Cowboy Bebop simply because it aired around then. However, birthing from the early 90’s, this shounen series has withstood the tests of time quite well. Better than similar series like DBZ that was deemed to go on so long that they needed to condense it down with Kai.
Escaflowne
Even during its time, Escaflowne was a series that flew under the radar. Still, in this age of over-saturated isekai, I like to keep the memory of this ancient isekai alive. It’s got a story somewhat akin to Inuyasha. In which, I mean the characters are clearly in love but never admit it, and much of it revolves around them saving each other. Outside of that, it presented an interesting world and remains a solid story of adventure and action.
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Even now, Revolutionary Girl Utena is still pretty revolutionary. You don’t find a lot of series that just give a huge middle finger to classic tropes and explore a lesbian romance between a girl who wants to be a prince and her dusky skinned love interest. It’s a unique story that does get a little muddied up in the middle, but ends strong.
Macross
If you like mecha, then Macross really is a must. However, if you don’t like mecha, only some of Macross is a must. The fun thing about the Macross series like Macross 7 or Macross Frontier is that the series really becomes about fighting aliens with the power of song, and they go about that in a completely straight-faced way. It becomes pretty unintentionally comical for the audience.
Fushigi Yuugi
This is another older isekai that deserves to be kept alive in this sea of modern, mostly boring isekai anime. It actually follows the standard formula set today wherein a girl is transported to a new world and chosen to solve the problems of this new world with her companions. Yet, it has ancient Chinese influences and fleshes out all of its characters to be more than a set of tits for oogling and fap fantasies.
Irresponsible Captain Tylor
I get mad sometimes thinking that there are people out there looking to watch Irresponsible Captain Tylor, and end up watching the slap-dash effort that was the 2017 alternate version of it, which is terrible. While Tylor could stand for a glow up, if you enjoy many modern anime series for its cast of quirky and comically flawed characters, this series was one of the progenitors to the trope.
Martian Successor Nadesico
I think Nadesico only works for people if they were fans of mecha to begin with. It is the type of comedy series that pokes fun at other mecha series in the genre in a loving way, so if you know nothing about rampant tropes, even more will go over your head than what already will. The series moves at a clip with its comedy, and relies heavily on slapstick, but because the mecha tropes never age, the comedy here never ages.
Dear Brother
You know, I feel like anime about a girl getting viciously bullied in a snooty school is an underrepresented niche that needs to be filled. Sure, there are some series that poke on the cattiness, but only Dear Brother went full-on insane with the series of events. The animation does make this series so hard to watch, but that rich drama is addicting.
Lupin III
I’m not sure if this one actually counts because they are still actually making Lupin anime. There’s a new one out this season in 2021. However, Lupin being immortal doesn’t mean that the older entries aren’t worth watching. I do adore that shiny new animation, but the adventures of this gentleman thief are still the same no matter what decade they came out in.
Slayers
I weeble-wobbled back and forth on the inclusion of Slayers. In it’s time, the comically flawed, jerkass protagonist was a nice breath of fresh air. However, today, that can be a dime a dozen. Furthermore, it became something akin to a sitcom in later seasons where every adventure became pretty formulaic with less and less good jokes. Still, in a time where many series forsake comedic adventures for ecchi adventures, Slayers can be a comfortable blanket.
Do you have more old anime that you think is still worth watching today? Let curious fans know in the comments section below.
