Some of the pioneers of anime culture began in the 1960s. For the last couple of decades, there have been so many changes in the anime scene, from the graphics, and plots, to trends. 

Some of the earlier anime series can still compete with newer ones in terms of their overall quality — some even stand the test of time.

On this occasion, Dunia Games would like to give you a list of the best old-school anime that you should consider watching in 2022. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

1. Yu Yu Hakusho

This anime tells the journey of Yusuke Urameshi, a high school delinquent who saved a child from getting run over by a car.

He died but then revived as a ghost, and returned to his body to serve as an emissary from the underworld.

Yu Yu Hakusho is arguably one of the pioneers in the shonen genre and has since proved that the genre can be more than just dramatized battle scenes. To this day, Yu Yu Hakusho is still regarded as one of the best anime series of all time.

2. Fist of the North Star

Are you familiar with the “omae wa mou shindeiru” meme format? Yep, the meme is inspired by an old anime series titled Fist of the North Star. This post-apocalyptic anime follows Kenshiro, the inheritor of a secret deadly style of martial arts.

He travels alone to eradicate evil people by killing them using a special technique. Fist of the North Star is a classic shounen anime that you should definitely watch.

3. Astro Boy

Some anime enthusiasts consider Astro Boy the first anime series. Before being adapted into an anime in 1963, Astro Boy was a quite successful manga.

With the anime set in the atomic age, Astro Boy had a big influence on the rapidly growing sci-fi genre in anime.

Without Astro Boy, there might never be anime series like Mobile Suit Gundam and even more modern ones like Boku no Hero Academia.

4. Mobile Suit Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam isn't the first mecha anime, but it certainly helped popularize the subgenre. The anime, which was released in 1979, made a breakthrough with its use of sci-fi settings and giant robots to tell the story of war and space politics.

This anime series struggled with a limited budget, yet the storyline and character designs made the Gundam series an interesting spectacle to watch even decades after its first release.

5. Ashita no Joe

Ashita no Joe is one of the most influential anime series in the industry. The anime adaptation of the manga, Ashita no Joe follows the titular main character Joe, a boxer, in his rise to greatness.

Joe's struggles aren't only about fighting tough enemies, but also against society and the system.

It's a bittersweet story of one man's struggle against the world that gained popularity among Japanese audiences in the '60s—some people at the time would find Joe and his struggles relatable to their daily lives.

6. Rose of Versailles 

Considered by many to be the masterpiece of the legendary director Osamu Dezaki, Rose of Versailles is a tale of love, war, drama, and intrigue. This anime revolves around the French revolution, and Rose of Versailles managed to make extraordinary use of this setting.

Well-constructed characters and passionate melodrama made Rose of Versailles one of the best old-school anime series. This anime is also one of the most influential works in the world of shoujo anime.

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7. Lupin the Third

A hugely popular mix of Franco-Japanese crime novels, Lupin the Third follows the titular main character Lupin and his friends' adventure in pursuit of wealth. In their journey, they are kept being chased by a determined detective who's obsessed with catching them.

Lupin the Third was very well-animated for its time, and also influenced numerous popular anime series such as Cowboy Bebop and Space Dandy.

8. Future Boy Conan

Future Boy Conan tells the story of a boy in a post-apocalyptic future where war and climate change have wiped out most of humanity. Conan believes that only he and his grandfather are the last remaining humans, but his prejudices are proven wrong when a mysterious girl gets stranded on their island.

Future Boy Conan is the first anime project for Hayao Miyazaki as a director. Despite being the directorial debut for Miyazaki, the anime features the typical Ghibli atmosphere.

For those of you Ghibli or Hayao Miyazaki fans, Future Boy Conan is certainly a must-watch for you.

9. Aim For The Ace!

Aim For The Ace is one of the classic anime sports stories about an ungifted tennis player and her rise to greatness through hard work and perseverance. The entire series is full of intense training sessions, and a group of rivals who are jealous of the protagonist's rise.

Despite its simple premise and theme, Aim For The Ace managed to become one of the best classic anime series. This anime shows how hard work and perseverance will eventually pay off if you trust the process.

10. Legend of Galactic Heroes

Legend of Galactic Heroes, which debuted in 1988, is arguably one of the best space anime series you can find. The anime, which has 110 episodes as well as several movies and side stories, boasts a well-structured and well-written plot.

Legend of Galactic Heroes tells the story of war filled with action, complex space politics, and a series of compelling tactical battles.

11. Space Battleship Yamato

Space Battleship Yamato is, without a doubt, the best space anime.

Devastated by relentless onslaughts from aliens, humanity sends its last hope into space: the battleship Yamato and a crew tasked with securing a device that might yet be able to reverse the destruction on planet Earth.

12. Top Wo Nerae!! Gunbuster

Top Wo Nerae!! Gunbuster is probably the most iconic 80s anime ever made. This anime does have a simple plot, but as the story progresses, it slowly gets darker.

The anime is also Hideaki Anno's directorial debut before his widely-acclaimed work, Neon Genesis Evangelion. For those of you fans of the Evangelion series, you should definitely watch Top Wo Nerae!! Gunbuster, especially that it only has six episodes.

13. Speed Racer

The most influential children's series, Speed ​​Racer, was one of the first anime to be localized for Western audiences. This anime was also known for its comedic scenes and engaging narrative pace.

Despite its simplicity, Speed ​​Racer managed to become a hit series. Due to its popularity back in the day, Speed ​​Racer received a live-action adaptation in 2008.

14. Urusei Yatsura

One of Japan's renowned mangakas, Rumiko Takahashi, is considered the pioneer of the rom-com genre in anime. Her works, such as Ranma and InuYasha, have been highly successful, but her earlier works, such as Urusei Yatsura, also deserve recognition.

This light rom-com anime tells the story of a bad boy who suddenly becomes the center of an extraterrestrial woman's attention.

Urusei Yatsura is also getting a reboot, which will be released in October 2022.

15. Super Dimensional Fortress Macross

When an alien ship crashes on Earth, humanity enters a new era of technological achievement. But, when an alien species tries to invade years after, the citizens of the Macross are forced to teleport lightyears away and must fight their way to return to their homeland.

An epic mecha anime with a compelling romance, Super Dimensional Fortress Macross helped popularize various aspects of the space shounen genre.

Some might even say that this series paved the way for later series such as Neon Genesis Evangelion and Code Geass.

So, those were the best old-school, classic anime series that are still worth watching in 2022. Stick around for more anime and gaming info, and make sure to follow Dunia Games on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

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