7 Best 80s Anime That Were Way Ahead of Its Time

Over the past few years, anime has become more popular around the world due to projects like Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayerand many others. When you think of these anime shows, you can say that they will be remembered for years to come, even though most of them have already ended or are coming to an end.

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However, this does not mean that only modern anime series transcend the boundaries of time. When you look at the 80s, the golden era of anime, there are several anime series from that era that were way ahead of their time. If you watch some anime from the 80s today, you will realize how relevant they are in modern times.

Patlabor

Patlabor is set in nearby Tokyo, where businesses use giant robots called labors to perform heavy lifting jobs such as building infrastructure or demolition. Although these machines are used for good by some prestigious engineering firms or construction firms, they also serve as destructive weapons for several criminal gangs or rival companies. So, to take care of occupational crimes, a scrap police unit called Special Vehicles Section 2 was created.

Patlabor came out in the 80s, the golden age of sci-fi and mecha anime. During this time, while most projects showcased robots as war machines and tools used by heroes to fight their enemies, Patlabor he went a completely different route. It focused more on the real struggles behind police procedures, bureaucracy and all the legal complications.

Bubblegum crisis

Bubblegum crisis takes place at the end of 2032, a year that hasn't happened yet for real people, but this 80s anime has already shown what the world will look like in an unforeseeable future. The series shows how technology has advanced in companies making androids that help people with their daily tasks. These androids are called Boomers, and although they were made with good intentions, things take a turn for the worse when some of them go insane.

Before humans were addicted to technology and artificial intelligence was even a thing, Bubblegum crisis it gave a glimpse of how it will work when androids take over the world. With great action sequences and a story that gives women's seductress a chance to shine, this anime is a must watch for any fan who likes projects involving deep themes.

Space Runaway Ideon

Space Runaway Ideon is one of the darkest sci-fi anime ever made. It takes place in the year 2300, when humanity gets its hands on ancient alien ruins on a distant planet. He subsequently accidentally awakens a giant robot known as the Ideon along with a spaceship called the Solo Ship. However, an alien race known as the Buff Clan believe that the powers of this god-like robot belong to them because humans are inferior to them. This ignites a brutal conflict between two parties who are not prepared to understand each other's perspectives.

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This anime is one of the all-time mecha classics that crossed all boundaries to reveal a story that was much darker for the time it was released. It was all about action and brutal deaths that make it a must for those who like the dark genre.

Violence Jack

People around the world were not very familiar with the post-apocalyptic genre until Violence Jack showed up It takes place in a part of Japan that is not worth living at all. There are biker gangs and sadistic criminals who don't want to see civilians living in peace. To help the weak, the saga gives us Violence Jack, a muscular anti-hero who roams the Japanese wasteland to save those in need and fight every predator.

Arrange the covers in the correct Japanese release order.





Arrange the covers in the correct Japanese release order.

Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)

Violence Jack is an extremely brutal anime that crosses all boundaries to show exactly what happens when law and order breaks down and people thirst for each other's blood. Plus this the anime introduces us to a protagonist who is not a typical hero; instead, he's a gray figure who takes matters into his own hands when all that's left in a broken world is violence.

Ranma 1/2

Ranma 1/2 follows a young martial artist named Ranma who trains with his father in China. Everything was going smoothly until he fell into a cursed spring and developed a chaotic state. When Ranma splashes cold water on herself, she turns into a girl, and when she pours hot water on her, she reverts back to her normal self. He becomes engaged to Akane Tendo, but nothing about him is normal anymore. Ranma's condition constantly leads to chaotic situations and misunderstandings, and new adversaries enter his life every now and then.

Ranma 1/2 was a comedy martial arts anime that was way ahead of its time because the way Ranma switches between male and female was not normal at the time of its release. Additionally, the female characters, including Akane, are shown to be independent and able to protect themselves instead of just appearing as someone's love interest. So if you think gender bending chaos is modern anime, you are wrong my friend Ranma 1/2 introduced the world to this style and concept before.

Votoms Armored Soldier

Votoms Armored Soldier is a military sci-fi saga that doesn't come with a “save the world” vibe. Instead, it's a story of survival that will break you with betrayals and revelations. The story revolves around Chirico Cuvie, a highly skilled soldier who is betrayed by his own army while doing what he was asked to do. Pursued by an army that has come to regard him as a traitor, Cuvie travels through several different locations, including slums, harsh lands and even battlefields, in search of evidence that can bring him justice.

Mecha stories were mostly celebrated in the 80s, but this anime actually she defied all traditional rules and wove a new path. Instead of heroic elements, Votoms Armored Soldier he tended towards realism and blessed the world with an anchored tale of survival.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes

Legend of the Galactic Heroes takes place in the distant future where people live on two different planets. One is the Free Planets Alliance, where no one is restricted in anything, and the other is the Galactic Empire, which is more like a dictatorship. Both galaxies are home to two geniuses. The first has Yang Wen-li and the second has Reinhard von Lohengram. Due to their opposite residence, the two serve as each other's rivals. Reinhard initially wanted to protect his sister, whom the Emperor had taken as a concubine, but his ambitions gradually shifted. He does not look for opportunities to stop corruption; instead, he seeks ways to bring both galaxies under his rule. On the other hand, Yang doesn't want any glory by becoming a soldier; he wants to earn money for his education. However, after demonstrating his brilliance as a strategist, he becomes an asset to the Alliance of Free Planets. In addition to them, there are also several players trying to influence everyone for their own benefit.

Most anime at the time mainly focused on either good vs evil or hero vs villain, and that's where Legend of the Galactic Heroes stands firm. It does not follow a pattern; this andit is about the clash of two different ideologies. It was ahead of its time because it came up with something that even most modern anime struggles with.

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