10 Forgotten '80s Anime That Still Hold Up

The 1980s were a golden decade for anime, but many shows have slipped out of the mainstream conversation. Collider recently compiled a list of ten forgotten titles that have aged surprisingly well, spanning sci-fi, romance, mecha, and comedy.

Space Adventure Cobra is a psychedelic visual feast. It follows a salaryman who remembers his past as a space adventurer. Collider calls it pure eye candy with a maximalist style that still feels fresh.

Giant Gorg is a mecha series about a boy discovering a giant robot on an unmapped island. The animation is fluid and the mech movements feel realistic, according to Collider. It was made by a team of legendary creators but flew under the radar.

Kimagure Orange Road is a school romance with a supernatural twist. The protagonist can communicate with the dead. Collider says it captures the nostalgia of slow school days and young love, though some characters are one-dimensional.

Gunbuster follows two rookie pilots defending Earth from aliens. Collider describes it as a cult classic with fluid animation that looks more like a '90s show. The space battles carry real weight.

Bomber Bikers of Shonan represents the delinquent genre. It follows rebellious youth in Japan. Collider notes it instills a rebellious spirit and is set in gorgeous real-world locations. The genre needs a comeback.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes is less forgotten than others on the list. It follows two young leaders from opposing colonies who break a ceasefire. Collider says its philosophical discussions and lack of plot armor make it one of the best anime ever.

Yawara is an early Naoki Urasawa series about a girl who wants to hide her judo talent. Collider points out it shows Urasawa's early skill with comedy and character development, and it's often overlooked.

Touch is a romance and sports anime about brothers and a childhood friend. Collider says it's a touching story about adolescent grief with gorgeous background art and naturalistic animation.

Space Runaway Ideon is a mecha series with existential dread. Collider notes it predates Neon Genesis Evangelion in dealing with cosmic horror and has no plot armor. The ending is tragic and mature.

Sherlock Hound is a Hayao Miyazaki series with anthropomorphic dogs solving mysteries. Collider calls it charming and whimsical, a hidden gem from before Studio Ghibli.

If you are looking for something from the 80s that holds up, any of these are worth your time. Collider's list is a good starting point.