Interest Stacks

This legendary series is known for its massive impact on the anime and manga industries as well as Japanese culture and society in general. Directed by Osamu Dezaki, it features a gritty tale of boxing where the main character Joe is a delinquent orphan who finds his purpose in life and adjusts to living in society. It inspired a generation in Japan, influenced its politics and changed the Japanese perception of what manga and anime could achieve in storytelling. Some of its characters are the most beloved fictional characters in Japan.

A must watch for fans of: boxing, sports, delinquents and anime history

Ashita no Joe 2 continues from where episode 53 leaves off...

Ten years later, the latter half of this anime was continued. With updated animation and music, Osamu Dezaki continued this adaptation. The ending has cemented itself as one of the most iconic in anime/manga history and has been referenced many times.

Prequel movie to Legend of the Galactic Heroes

This movie is the pilot episode for Legend of the Galactic Heroes. It features the first battle the two main characters, Reinhard and Yang, face off in as well as sets up the series in a grand fashion.

Better version of the first two episodes of Legend of the Galactic Heroes

A remake of the first two episodes, this movie has aged spectacularly and has nicer animation and cinematography than the first two episodes. Having a longer runtime, it also adds more detail to the story and is a definitive way to begin the series.

This highly regarded show is the anime adaption of Yoshiki Tanaka's celebrated Space Opera novel series. With its grand sweeping narrative, massive cast of characters and universally relevant themes in politics and human nature, this sci-fi epic has established itself as a benchmark in anime storytelling.

A must watch for fans of: space, politics, history, military, scheming, classical music and strategic battles

The legendary mecha series that kick-started its own sub-genre. Mobile Suit Gundam is one of Japan's most successful franchises and is beloved all over the world. This first entry was the birth of the "Real Robot" genre where mechs were used more as tools for war and were not romanticized. Being a much darker take, it also focuses on the psychological effects of war on its cast as well as humanity's desire and ability to transcend itself.

A must watch for fans of: space, mecha, politics, military, drama, anime history and Star Wars

Zeta Gundam is the sequel to the original series that takes everything up another notch. With a bigger focus on characters, politics, worldbuilding and themes it manages to be a more than worthy successor.

ZZ Gundam is the third entry in the series. Following Zeta Gundam, it continues the previous conflicts with a new cast of characters.

The final entry in the main Gundam series, this movie concludes the rivalry between two major characters and serves as the end to the general story of this timeline.

A short side story that takes places near the end of the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Being the first release outside of the main story it contains a wholly unique perspective to the One Year War and is a must watch for Gundam fans.

A Dezaki adaptation of one of the most culturally significant Shoujo manga ever made. The Rose of Versailles challenged gender stereotypes and norms, and left a profound influence on manga, Shoujo, theatre and anime as well as how Japanese women viewed themselves, even earning the mangaka Riyoko Ikeda the French Legion of Honour. It's dark and complex historical tale filled with drama, mainly featuring Queen Marie Antoinette and her female soldier and friend Lady Oscar. Referenced by many anime and manga, The Rose of Versaille helped shape how people viewed storytelling in those mediums.

A must watch for fans of: historical fiction, drama, romance, politics, breaking gender norms and anime history

The beginning of one of the most popular and beloved anime franchises of all time. Dragonball is famous the world over and its success is undeniable to this very day. Starting out as a gag manga and transitioning into an action series, Dragonball is known for pioneering the "Battle Shounen" sub-genre and influencing a countless amount of stories and fans.

A must watch for fans of: comedy, action, adventure and anime history

The second part of the legendary Dragonball series. This is arguably the part that brought this series worldwide acclaim and introduced some of its most beloved characters and villains as well as taking the action up another notch. This is where many staples of the Battle Shounen sub-genre were introduced or popularized.

An incredibly influential series from the 80's, Fist of the North Star is known for shifting the anime and manga industry's views towards depicting violence in fiction and has inspired plenty of later works in both mediums. It features a post-apocalyptic tale of a man on the path of revenge for the sake of a peaceful world and is known for setting the trend of hypermasculinity in 80's anime and manga

A must watch for fans of: action, post-apocalyptic worlds, ultraviolence, hypermasculinity and anime history

A massive hit in Japan and overseas, Saint Seiya was a major player in laying the groundwork for modern Shounen. With its Greek mythology backdrop and aesthetic, Saint Seiya was a cosmological action series featuring a group of heroes fighting for the Goddess Athena. It is also notable for creating diverse male leads each with their own form of valid masculinity.

A must watch for fans of: action, Greek mythology, themes of friendship and camaraderie and battle shounen anime

A dark and gritty story of a young man tricked into fighting as a mercenary in a war-torn region by his best friend. Shin is a peaceful and kind man who is forced to be a fighter pilot in order to earn enough money to buy back his freedom and go home to his fiancé

A must watch for fans of: action, military and drama

Being Studio Gainax's and Hideaki Anno's first big hit, Gunbuster was major influence on anime that paved the way for Neon Genesis Evangelion. It was also the originator of many staple tropes of Gainax. The story features two female leads that are trained to use mecha to combat an alien invasion.

A must watch for fans of: space, sci-fi, mecha, military, drama, anime history and badass female protagonists

Written by Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of Gundam, Space Runaway Ideon features a tragic war between humans and an alien race. The humans end up piloting an ancient Lovecraftian Super Robot which is a source of great mystery throughout the series. This is the series Tomino is most proud of and its ending was Anno's biggest influence for End of Evangelion.

The movie, Space Runaway Ideon: Be Invoked, should be watched in place of the final episode.

A must watch for fans of: sci-fi, mecha, space, drama, military and cosmological horror

The shocking and avant-garde ending for the Space Runaway Ideon Series featuring the conclusion to the war between Humanity and the Buff Clan, This movie was Hideaki Anno's biggest influence for End of Evangelion.

A pop culture icon, Lupin III is one of Japan's most successful long running series. It's a comedic crime thriller that was worked on by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata of Studio Ghibli and is famed for introducing more adult characters and topics into the mediums of anime and manga

A must watch for fans of: crime thrillers, comedy, action, adventure, mystery and anime history

One of World Masterpiece theatre's most celebrated works, Akage no Anne is the adaptation of the famed Anne of Green Gables directed by Isao Takahata. It features the coming of age of an eccentric young orphan Anne when she is accidentally adopted by two elderly siblings.

A must watch for fans of: drama, slice of life, historical fiction and classic literature

Heidi: Girl of the Alps is an adaptation of Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning directed by Isao Takahata. It's notable for being the precursor for the World Masterpiece Theatre series

A must watch for fans of: drama, slice of life, historical fiction and classic literature

Princess Sara is World Masterpiece Theatre's adaptation of The Little Princess. It features a young girl who must adjust to a harsh life at an all-girls boarding school and popularized many tropes commonly seen in shoujo.

A must watch for fans of: drama, slice of life, historical fiction and classic literature

Nobody's Boy Remi is an adaptation of the French novel Sans Famille directed by Osamu Dezaki. It is a critically acclaimed story of a young boy travelling with animal friends performing musical acts and searching for a place he belongs. All while enduring the harsh lessons of life.

A must watch for fans of: drama, slice of life, adventure, historical fiction and classic literature

Takarajima is an adaptation of the classic novel Treasure Island by Osamu Dezaki. It is the story of a young boy teaming up with a pirate to search for the legendary treasure left by a famous pirate.

A must watch for fans of: drama, pirates, adventure, historical fiction and classic literature

Future Boy Conan is a series based on The Incredible Tide worked on by a star studded cast with names like Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Yoshiyuki Tomino. It features a young boy in an post-apocalyptic world that goes on a journey which shapes the fate of everyone in it. In many ways it feels like a classic Miyazaki film spread out into a full TV series.

A must watch for fans of: sci-fi, post apocalyptic worlds, action, adventure and Ghibli/Miyazaki films

A famous mecha series created in the 80's, Macross features a war between humans and the alien race Zentradi. Another real robot anime, Macross sets itself apart by introducing idol culture, love triangles and drama to the genre.

The movie version, Macross: Do You Remember Love?, is not a substitute for the series but is something every anime fan should experience.

A must watch for fans of: space, mecha, military, drama, romance, Japanese pop, idols and Star Wars

Nearly unrivalled in its impact on space operas, Space Battleship Yamato is a Leiji Matsumoto story which set the groundwork for all space anime going forward. The story features humanity's last hope of the human race on the ship Yamato racing to a distant planet before the Earth is annihilated by an alien Empire's asteroid bombardment.

A must watch for fans of: space, action, sci-fi, adventure, drama, anime history and Star Wars

This Leiji Matsumoto story, Galaxy Express 999, features a young boy accompanied by a mysterious woman going on a journey to a planet where he can freely obtain a mechanical body and achieve immortal life. In its episodic nature, this melancholic and contemplative story covers themes of poverty, desire, dreams, tragedy, life, death, love, and many other facets of the human experience. All while experiencing a wide array of strange and whimsical planets via a space travelling steam-powered train.

A must watch for fans of: space, action, sci-fi, drama and more contemplative stories

Space Pirate Captain Harlock is a Leiji Matsumoto story taking place in an era where humanity is stagnant and over reliant on robots to do work. Captain Harlock is a Space Pirate rebelling against this state of affairs, but now he must defend the Earth against a secret alien invasion. All while dodging the ire of the lazy and corrupt Earth government.

The movie, Captain Harlock: Arcadia of my Youth, is a prequel to an alternate series, but is a must watch for anime fans.

A must watch for fans of: space, action, sci-fi, adventure, drama and pirates

This series was Rumiko Takahashi's first major hit and was responsible for inspiring a generation of anime fans and creators. By blending romantic comedy, science fiction, the supernatural and social satire, incorporating pop-culture and meta-humor and creating a massive cast of rich character archetypes, Urusei Yatsura was able to leave an impact on the anime industry and Japanese pop culture that's felt even to this day.

A must watch for fans of: romance, comedy, sci-fi, drama and anime history

Rumiko Takahashi's slow burn and grounded romantic comedy. This romance features a young man struggling in life trying to win over the affections of the manager at the boarding house he lives at all while dealing with his rambunctious neighbors.

A must watch for fans of: romance, comedy and drama

Ranma ½ is Rumiko Takahashi's popular genderbending martial arts series. It's known for its wacky comedy and plot as well as influence on the harem genre and unconventional gender dynamics.

A must watch for fans of: action, comedy and martial arts

A classic space series featuring a witty and comedic ex-space pirate Cobra which is directed by Osamu Dezaki. This is a fun stylish action series rather than a more serious space opera.

A must for fans of: space, action, adventure, sci-fi, crime thrillers and Star Wars

This Mecha series sets up a more realistic interpretation of the Real Robot sub-genre. It's a very influential series in the military mecha genres and created a massive franchise.

A must watch for fans of: space, action, sci-fi, military, drama and mecha

Captain Tsubasa is a massive Japanese franchise featuring soccer (or football). Based on one of the best selling manga series of all time, this series is beloved all over the world.

A must watch for fans of: sports, action, soccer (football) and anime history

City Hunter is a large action franchise created in the 80's. Oozing with style, this series features the lecherous Ryou tackling investigations and hunting down crooks and villains.

A must watch for fans of: action, comedy, mystery, crime and anime history

This mecha franchise features a special task force of police that use specialized mechs to tackle crimes where criminals also use them. This series is highly celebrated in Japan and is a big influence on the mecha genre. It offers a more slow paced slice of life and workplace feeling as opposed to military themes common in mecha.

A must watch for fans of: action, mecha, sci-fi, crime, comedy and workplace

The first anime adaptation of the critically acclaimed Naoki Urasawa, Yawara! is a story featuring a young girl that reluctantly becomes a prodigy in judo, despite wanting to be ordinary and feminine. It's a sports comedy that features romance.

A must watch for fans of: combat sports, comedy, romance and Naoki Urasawa

A big hit in 80's Japan, Touch is the story of two twin brothers, their childhood female friend and their relationships with each other and baseball. Its a human story of growth and relationships.

A must watch for fans of: drama, romance and sports

Bubblegum Crisis is a police cyberpunk series that perfectly encapsulates the 80's OVA era. It set the stage for future dystopian cyberpunk series in anime.

Must watch for fans of: sci-fi, police, mecha, cyberpunk and action

This iconic Cyberpunk movie is most well known for its gore filled bizarre story and animation that was ahead of its time. One of the most influential and celebrated anime movies ever made.

A must watch for fans of: sci-fi, Cyberpunk, action, delinquents, horror and anime history

Angel's Egg is an artistic an avant-garde movie with beautiful, haunting and bizarre imagery. With minimal dialogue the story is meant to be left up to individual interpretation.

A must watch for fans of: avant-garde, fantasy and surreal art

A Ghibli film featuring two orphans trying to survive in Japan during the final stages of World War II. Critically acclaimed and loved by many, this film explores how war can affect even the most innocent and uninvolved.

A must watch for fans of: historical fiction, drama and Studio Ghibli

This Miyazaki film is about a Princess name Nausicaä living in a post-apocalyptic world who must defend her peaceful kingdom from both a war mongering industrial country and a toxic jungle. It features themes of environmentalism and anti-war.

A must watch for fans of: fantasy, post-apocalyptic worlds, environmentalism, adventure and Miyazaki/Ghibli

Castle in the Sky is a Miyazaki film about two children going on a journey to find an ancient castle floating in the sky, rumored to contain many treasures. This steampunk adventure features planes, ancient lore, air pirates and greedy government agents.

A must watch for fans of: fantasy, steampunk, adventure, romance and Miyazaki/Ghibli

My Neighbor Totoro is a Miyazaki film about two girls moving to the countryside and befriending a mystical forest spirit. It's a simple film about the wonders of childhood.

A must watch for fans of: Miyazaki/Ghibli

Kiki's Delivery Service is a Miyazaki film about a young girl that must leave home in order to become a full fledged witch. It's a coming of age story that's relatable to anyone who has ever moved or had to gain independence.

A must watch for fans of: adventure, coming of age, comedy and Miyazaki/Ghibli

The Wings of Honneamise is Studio Gainax's first work. It features a story of a man named Shiro who's country is more interested in war than advancing scientific progress. Wanting to go to space, Shiro and his contemporaries stubbornly defy the government so that they can develop their country's space program and successfully send humans into space.

A must watch for fans of: sci-fi, drama, space, military and action

Barefoot Gen is a semi-autobiographical movie of a young boy who's family is living in Hiroshima during the final days of World War II. This harrowing film explores how war can devastate the lives of civilians.

A must watch for fans of: historical fiction and drama