7 best 80s anime that were way ahead of their time

Over the last few years, anime has become more popular around the world because of projects likeAttack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and many more. When you think of these anime shows, you can say that they will be remembered for years to come, even though most of these have or are close to coming to an end.

However, that doesn't mean that only modern anime series will transcend the boundaries of time. When you look at the 80s, the golden era for anime, there are several anime series from that time that were way ahead of their time. When you look at some of the 80s anime today, you'll realize how relevant they are in the modern era.

Patlabor

Patlabor takes place in near-future Tokyo, where businesses use huge robots called labors to perform heavy lifting work like building infrastructure or demolition. While these machines are used for good by some prestigious engineering firms or construction companies, they also serve as weapons of destruction by several criminal gangs or rival companies. So, to take care of labor-related crimes, a scrappy police unit called Special Vehicles Section 2 is formed.

Patlabor was released in the 80s, the golden age of sci-fi and mecha anime. During that time, while most of the projects showcased robots as war machines and tools used by the heroes to fight their enemies, Patlabor took an entirely different route. It focused more on real-life struggles behind the police procedures, bureaucracy, and all the legal complications.

Bubblegum Crisis

Bubblegum Crisis is set in late 2032, the year that hasn't yet arrived for the real people, but this 80s anime has already shown what the world will look like in the unforeseen future. The series showcases how technology has advanced with companies manufacturing androids to help people with their daily tasks. These androids are called Boomers, and while they were made with good intentions, things get worse when some of them go rogue.

Before people were dependent on tech and artificial intelligence was even a thing, Bubblegum Crisis gave a glimpse of how things would work when the androids take over the entire world. With the cool action sequences and a story giving a chance to the female leads to shine, this anime is a must-watch for every fan who enjoys projects involving deep themes.

Space Runaway Ideon

Space Runaway Ideon is one of the darkest science-fiction anime ever made. It takes place in 2300, where humankind gets its hands on ancient alien ruins on a distant planet. Following that, they mistakenly awaken a giant robot known as Ideon, along with a spaceship called Solo Ship. However, an alien race known as the Buff Clan believes that the powers of the god-like robot belong to them, as humans are inferior to them. This sparks a brutal conflict between the two sides that aren't ready to understand each other's perspectives.

This anime is one of the mecha classics of all time that crossed every boundary to reveal a story that was way darker for the time it was released. It was all about action and brutal deaths that make it a must-watch for those who are into the dark genre.

Violence Jack

People around the world weren't very familiar with the post-apocalyptic genre until Violence Jack showed up. It is set in a part of Japan that is not at all worth living in. There are biker gangs and sadistic criminals who don't want to see the civilians live in peace. So, to help the weak, the saga gives us Violence Jack, the muscular antihero who wanders across Japan's wasteland to rescue those in need and fight every predator.

Violence Jack is an extremely brutal anime that crosses every boundary to show what exactly happens when law and order collapse, and humans get thirsty for each other's blood. In addition, this anime introduces us to a protagonist who isn't a typical hero; instead, he is a grey character who takes things into his hands when violence is all that is left in the broken world.

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 condition. When splashed with cold water, Ranma transforms into a girl, and when splashed with hot water, he again goes back to his normal self. He gets engaged to Akane Tendo, but nothing about him is normal anymore. Ranma's condition keeps on leading to messy situations and misunderstandings, with new opponents entering his life now and then.

Ranma 1/2 was a martial arts comedy anime that was way ahead of its time because the way Ranma switches between male and female wasn't normal at the time it was released. Moreover, the female characters, including Akane, were shown to be independent and capable of protecting themselves instead of appearing only as someone's love interest. So, if you think gender-bending chaos is a modern anime thing, you are wrong, my friend, asRanma 1/2 introduced the world to this style and concept way before.

Armored Trooper Votoms

Armored Trooper Votoms is a military science fiction saga that doesn't come with a 'saving the world' vibe. Instead, it is a survival story that breaks you with the betrayals and the revelations. The story revolves around Chirico Cuvie, a highly skilled soldier, who is betrayed by his own army while he is doing what he was asked to do. Hunted down by the military that has started seeing him as a traitor, Cuvie passes through several different places, including slums, harsh lands, and even the battlefields, in search of the evidence that can bring him justice.

Mecha stories were mostly glorified in the 80s, but this anime actually defied all the traditional rules and weaved a new path. Instead of giving heroic elements, Armored Trooper Votoms inclined towards realism and blessed the world with a grounded survival story.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes

Legend of the Galactic Heroes is set in a distant future where humans live on two different planets. One is the Free Planets Alliance, where no one is restricted from doing anything, and the other is the Galactic Empire, which is more like a dictatorship. On both galaxies, two geniuses reside. The former has Yang Wen-li, and the latter has Reinhard von Lohengramm. Given their opposite residences, they both serve as each other's rivals. Reinhard initially wanted to protect his sister, who was taken as a concubine by the emperor, but his ambitions gradually shifted. He does not seek opportunities to stop corruption; instead, he looks for ways to bring both galaxies under his rule. On the other side, Yang doesn't want any fame by becoming a soldier; he wants to earn money for his education. However, he becomes an asset for the Free Planets Alliance after showcasing his brilliance as a strategist. Besides them, there are also several players who try to influence everyone for their own benefit.

Most anime back then mainly focused on either good vs bad, or hero vs villain, and this is where Legend of the Galactic Heroes stands strong. It doesn't follow the pattern; this anime is all about the clash of two different ideologies. It was way ahead of its time, as it came with something that even most of the modern anime struggle with.