6 Forgotten 1980s Anime Masterpieces That Officially Have No Enemies, Ranked

The 1980s are often remembered for huge anime hits, but the decade had far more to offer than its most famous names. Some series and films have become cult favorites without receiving the same attention as the classics that dominate retro-anime conversations.

From stylish urban adventures to ambitious science fiction and unforgettable experimental animation, these six titles show how wildly different 1980s anime could be. This list brings together three movies and three series, including City Hunter and the 1980 Tomorrow’s Joe film, with each entry chosen for the kind of charm that makes it easy to recommend decades later.

6 City Hunter Brings Neon Noir, Comedy, and Cool to 1980s Anime

City Hunter | Credits: Sunrise

City Hunter brought Ryo Saeba and Kaori Makimura to television with a winning mix of crime, comedy, romance, and action. The first series ran for 51 episodes from 1987 to 1988, and City Hunter 2 followed in 1988 before finishing in 1989. The show’s Tokyo setting, colorful clients, and ridiculous humor give it an easygoing charm, while Ryo’s skill keeps the action from becoming a joke. TM Network’s “Get Wild” is the perfect finishing touch. It ranks sixth because the other entries reach even higher artistic or emotional peaks, but City Hunter remains one of the decade’s most fun watches.

5 Mobile Police Patlabor: The Early Days Makes Mecha Feel Fresh

Mobile Police Patlabor: The Early Days | Credits: Studio Deen

Mobile Police Patlabor: The Early Days makes giant robots feel surprisingly normal. This seven-episode OVA, released from 1988 to 1989, follows the Special Vehicles Section 2 of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police as its officers deal with runaway Labors, unusual cases, and plenty of workplace chaos. Noa Izumi and her teammates make the show’s everyday problems just as entertaining as its mecha action. The result is funny, warm, and wonderfully lived-in. It takes fifth place because its short OVA format leaves less room to develop its world than the longer series and films ranked above it.

4 Gunbuster Turns a Classic Space Story Into an Emotional Adventure

Gunbuster | Credits: Gainax

Gunbuster, with one of the highest MAL scores, follows Noriko Takaya as she trains to become a space pilot alongside Kazumi Amano, turning a familiar giant-robot setup into something surprisingly heartfelt. The six-episode OVA was released between 1988 and 1989 and was produced by Gainax, with Hideaki Anno directing. It mixes energetic mecha battles with school-life comedy, science-fiction ideas, and a surprisingly emotional story about time and sacrifice. Noriko’s determination gives the series its heart, while the animation still has plenty of personality. It ranks fourth because its short runtime is both its charm and its biggest limitation.

3 Tomorrow’s Joe Turns a Boxing Classic Into a Powerful Film

Tomorrow’s Joe | Credits: Mushi Production

Tomorrow’s Joe had already become a landmark sports anime, but its 1980 compilation film remains a terrific piece of anime history. Released on March 8, 1980, the 152-minute movie condenses material from the original television series and follows Joe Yabuki’s early journey as a boxer. Osamu Dezaki served as chief director, with Yoichiro Fukuda as director, giving the film a cinematic rhythm that suits Joe’s rough, restless personality. It is emotional without losing its grit, and the boxing drama still lands. It earns third place because few anime films make struggle feel this immediate and human.

2 Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise Still Feels One of a Kind

Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise | Credits: Gainax

Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise feels unlike almost anything else from its era. Gainax’s 1987 feature follows Shirotsugh Lhadatt, a directionless member of a struggling space force who decides to become his world’s first astronaut. The film takes its alternate world seriously, filling it with strange technology, cultures, politics, and everyday details. Its visual ambition and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s music give the story a distinctive atmosphere, while Shirotsugh’s journey keeps it grounded. It takes second place because its imagination is enormous, even if Angel’s Egg ultimately leaves a deeper impression.

1 Angel’s Egg Remains a Haunting Masterpiece of 1980s Anime Today

Angel’s Egg | Credits: Studio Deen

One of the best standalone OVAs, Angel’s Egg, is barely interested in explaining itself, which is exactly why it remains so unforgettable. Mamoru Oshii’s 1985 film follows a mysterious young girl protecting an egg in a ruined world before she meets a boy carrying a strange cross-shaped object. Yoshitaka Amano’s designs, sparse dialogue, and long stretches of silence make the film feel like a dream you cannot quite shake. It is beautiful, eerie, and completely its own thing. That singular atmosphere gives Angel’s Egg the number-one spot, narrowly beating the other five because nothing else here feels quite like it.

Have you watched any of these? We’d love to know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.