Some shows may look visually appealing and exciting today, but they will fade from our memory in a matter of days and become downright obnoxious in five years.
Other shows shine with their timeless appeal and real literary value, remaining relevant decades after they first aired.
Let's take a look at some of the best old school anime worth watching today.
15. Lupine the Third (Part I)
Release year: 1971
Genre: action, comedy
Length: 23 ep.
Studio: tokyo movie
Lupine the Third is one of the longest running anime franchises still spinning.
It stays fresh through constant renewal but always stays true to the spirit of the show.
This spirit was born back in 1971 with the original Lupine III, which introduced the world to Arsène Lupin and the many iconic characters that surround him.
It's full of Lupin's mischievous appeal and his keen sense of adventure, and features a great fast-paced visual storytelling that's still relevant 50 years later.
14. Assassins
Release year: 1995
Genre: fantasy, adventure, comedy
Length: 78 ep.
Studio: E&G Films
Slayers is a cult show for a lot of reasons, but what I enjoy watching 25 years later is the incredible main character, Lina Inverse.
Lina is one of the funniest anime characters. She is beautiful, stupidly strong, and surprisingly human in her motives.
It's a goofy comedy about the Dungeons & Dragons, who only seem to take anything seriously when their lives are in immediate danger. If that sounds like fun, Slayers remains a fantastic watch in the 2020s.
13. Sayonara, Sensei Zetsubo
Release year: 2007
Genre: Dark comedy, Satire
Length: 38 ep. + OVAs
studio: Shaft
What could be cooler in our time (seemingly) where surly millennials rule than a show about desperation?
Where the normal harem show has stereotyped characters, SZS' dark and satirical approach to the genre offers us characters that are defined by their trauma and neuroticism and asks us to fall in love with them.
Depression, eating disorders, drugs, and human trafficking are just some of the ugly truths embodied by Nozomu's students.
SZS is dark butfunny study of the whole human society, which leads us to despair.
12. Fullmetal Alchemist
Release year: 2003
Genre: Dark fantasy, Adventure, Steampunk
Length: 51 Eps.
Studio: Bones
People like to dunk the original 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist for deviating from the manga and minding their own business, but I think it's too limited.
The 2003 anime adaptation might be more exciting and fun compared to FMA: Brotherhood, which does follow the manga more closely.
In fact, the 2003 anime touches on the same themes of war, loss, and death with just as much force. And he manages to balance the horror of the situations the Elric brothers find themselves in with a healthy dose of humor and tough battles.
11 Mobile Suit Gundam
Release year: 1979
Genre: Mecha, Military Sci-Fi, Space Opera
Length: 43 Eps.
Studio: Sunrise
What made the Mobile Suit Gundam stand out in the past is the same thing that keeps it relevant today.
It's a very grounded series compared to other mecha anime of the time.
This makes it easier for modern audiences to engage with the story and its characters, which other shows from around the 70s/80s can't achieve.
The characters are very well written and you can see how the events of the show affect them as individuals.
Not only that, but the more militaristic designs of the super robots and their realistic depiction in the eternal war between the Federation and Zeon seem to be relevant in our fast paced world.
10 Escaflowne Vision
Release year: 1996
Genre: fantasy, mecha, melodrama
Length: 26 ep.
Studio: Sunrise
If you're into old school anime, you'd better get to know mecha. They are everywhere!
Even the best romantic anime series have them, including Vision of Escaflowne.
This show is essentially a very early isekai, where the protagonist Hitomi Kanzaki is transported to another world full of anthropomorphic animals and, oddly enough, furs.
These medieval style furs have a timeless appeal. And the battles are epic.
But actually the best point of the show is Hitomi.
Characterwell crafted and quite realistic in his decisions. She is vulnerable, but also incredibly competent, which makes her interesting.
9.FLCL
Release year: 2000
Genre: surreal comedy, fantasy
Length: ep 6
Studio: Gainax
Badly aging anime are all products of their time.
They are often full of patterns and stylistic choices that only make sense in the context in which they are released.
But when your anime is as breaking stereotypes and generally crazy as FLCL, you have nothing to worry about.
The themes of growing up, hormones, and the struggle to be taken seriously as an adult when you're just taking the leap as a teenager are timeless - as is FLCL's minimalist yet dynamic art style, which often changes to suit the situation.
Its casual and dynamic nature means you can enjoy it all the way through, even if you're not too sure what's going on.
8. Super Dimension Fortress Macross
Release year: 1982
Genre: Mecha, Military Sci-Fi
Length: 36 Eps.
Studio: Artland & Tatsunoko Productions
Super Dimension Fortress Macross is one of the most influential series in the mecha anime genre and was one of the first to really lean into the romantic and dramatic aspects of anime storytelling.
This creates a more in-depth story with real character development that can appeal to a wider audience, while also providing a complete anime viewing experience for fans of the mecha genre.
Of course, great graphics and fluid animations help Macross stand the test of time.
7 Martian Successor Nadesico
Release year: 1996
Genre: comedy, mecha, space opera
Length: 26 ep.
Studio: Xebec
The Martian successor Nadesico looks a bit old-school at first glance.
But his humorous (and slightly dramatic) take on the super robot anime genre is still a delight to watch 25 years later.
The show takes everything that Macross and Gundam did right and adds a healthy dose of slapstick and some genuinely likable characters to it.
We follow Nadesico's motley crew through many ups and downs, getting to know them little by little, as well as seeing how the events of the shared narrative affect the average inhabitant of this world.
6. Cowboy Bebop
Release year: 2002
Genre: Space Western, Neonoir
Length: 26 ep.
Studio: Sunrise
High quality is usually a fair measure of anime's longevity, and Cowboy Bebop is nothing short of high quality.
Not only does it have a great, albeit old school, art style, but it also has a fantastic jazzy soundtrack. And every line of dialogue is written perfectly.
This show is about its incredibly deep and human characters and how their past comes back to bite them at every turn.
Cowboy Bebop is just a classic. And just as Robinson Crusoe is still a pleasure to read despite being over 300 years old, this amazing show also fits that mold.
5. Nausicaa in the Valley of the Winds
Release year: 1984
Genre: fantasy
Length: 117 min.
Studio: topcraft
I just recently watched Nausicaä in the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki and that was the first thing that came to my mind when I thought of a well-seasoned anime.
Every aspect of this movie seemsincredibly fresh later over 30 years. And you can argue that the post-apocalyptic nature of Princess Nausicaa is just as relevant now as it was in the 1980s.
It also touches on topics such as protecting the environment and humanity's place in the Earth's ecosystem, all of which are reminiscent of the teachings of Buddhism and other Eastern philosophical beliefs.
In a world fascinated by yoga and mindfulness, this can resonate strongly with many observers.
4. Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Release year: 1988
Genre: Military fiction, Space opera
Length: 110 Eps.
Studio: kitty film
"The Legend of the Galactic Heroes" is one of those legendary shows that makes people think "they just don't make them the way they used to be."
This epic space opera shines with beautiful writing. Like other great media of the 80s, LotGH deals with topics such as the human condition and humanity's role in the world as a warring species.
It's quite long at 110 episodes (and three films), but it does feel like it needs time to fully flesh out its characters and their motivations.
This incredible character development has timeless literary value.
3. Dragon Ball
Release year: 1986
Genre: fantasy, adventure, martial arts
Length: 153 eps
Studio: Toei Animation
When people talk about Dragon Ball they usually focus on DBZ.
But the real highlight of the original 1986 series.
I have goosebumps from one memory of the saga of Emperor Plov. Learning about capsule technology, getting to know Bulma, and just watching this epic journey begin to unfold is as exciting now as it ever was.
This Dragon Ball world building is done right.
2 Neon Genesis Evangelion
Release year: 1995
Genre: Psychological, Mecha
Length: 26 Eps.
Studio: Gainax
Neon Genesis Evangelion is unique in that no one understands it at first, but you can't help but want to watch it.
Like most great works of art, Evangelion will show you something new every time you sit down to watch it.
The deep psychological imagery of each character and the exquisitely crafted symbolism give the show a rich and almost inexhaustible content.
From a visual standpoint, the brutal battles between biopunk mechanics and Lovecraft's enemies are some of the most memorable scenes in anime, and the excellent animation quality is pleasing to the eye.
1. Gunbuster
Release year: 2006
Genre: Mecha
Length: 6 Eps.
Studio: Gainax
Many contemporary mech shows, such as Senki Sessho Symphogear and Darling in the Franxx, owe a lot to the classic Gunbuster, Gainax's seminal show with a strong '80s charm.
Everything about this anime reflects its high production value and the genuine genius of Studio Gainax.
The characters are interesting, Noriko is a very interesting protagonist, and the super robot battles have some of that intense, triple distilled cool factor that Gainax can use in their shows.
The Gunbuster stands out from the rest of this list with its incredible affordability and versatile quality.
