Top 10 Nostalgic High-Rating Anime of the 1980s in Japan.

The 1980s was a period when Japanese anime further developed and diversified. Many franchises that remain popular today were born during this era. Below are 10 anime series that recorded high viewership ratings and were loved by many viewers at the time.

I love the Dragon Ball and Gundam!! I used to imitate him a lot.

1. Dragon Ball (1986-1989)

• Highest rating: 27.5% (reference)

• Production: Toei Animation

• Features: Based on a popular manga from Weekly Shonen Jump, it became a national phenomenon, including its sequels.

2. Mobile Suit Gundam (1979-1980)

• Highest rating during rerun: 26.1% (reference)

• Production: Sunrise

• Features: Exploded in popularity during early 80s reruns. Sparked the Gunpla boom and laid the foundation for the series.

3. Touch (1985-1987)

• Highest rating: 25.8% (reference)

• Production: Group Tac

• Features: A youth drama intertwining baseball and romance. Its theme song was also a big hit.

4. Fist of the North Star (1984-1988)

• Highest rating: 23.4% (reference)

• Production: Toei Animation

• Features: Controversial for its graphic violence, but gained popularity for its unique world view and passionate storyline.

5. Saint Seiya (1986-1989)

• Highest rating: 22.7% (reference)

• Production: Toei Animation

• Features: An action anime based on Greek mythology. Known for its flashy battle scenes.

6. Doraemon (1979-2005)

• Average rating in the 80s: 20% range (reference)

• Production: Shin-Ei Animation

• Features: A popular series continuing from the 70s. Maintained stable popularity throughout the 80s.

7. Magical Angel Creamy Mami (1983-1984)

• Highest rating: 19.6% (reference)

• Production: Pierrot

• Features: A representative work of the magical girl genre. Also popular as an idol anime.

8. Captain Tsubasa (1983-1986)

• Highest rating: 19.5% (reference)

• Production: Tsuchida Production

• Features: A boys' anime centered on soccer. Gained high popularity overseas as well.

9. Dr. Slump (1981-1986)

• Average rating: 18% range (reference)

• Production: Toei Animation

• Features: A representative work of gag anime. Its unique humor was enjoyed by both children and adults.

10. Urusei Yatsura (1981-1986)

• Highest rating: 17.8% (reference)

• Production: Pierrot

• Features: A romantic comedy with sci-fi elements. Based on Rumiko Takahashi's popular manga.

Summary
Anime in the 1980s recorded high viewership ratings across various genres including sci-fi, fighting, sports, and romance. These works have become the origin of franchises that continue today or have greatly influenced subsequent anime productions. The 1980s was also an era when Japanese anime made a big leap towards the world, and these works are still loved by many fans as representatives of Japanese pop culture.

Note: Viewership rating data is based on official websites of each anime, announcements from production companies, books on anime history, reviews and evaluations by anime fans and critics, various anime ranking sites on the internet, and Wiki. Actual figures may vary depending on the broadcast area and time.

Comparison of All-You-Can-Watch Anime Subscription Services

We've compared the major all-you-can-watch anime subscription services available in Japan. The prices and features are based on information as of September 2024. Please note that there might be changes, so make sure to double-check when subscribing! By the way, I often use Amazon Prime Video. They seem to have fewer anime from the 70s though.

If you've tried any of these services, please feel free to comment on what you liked about them!

1. d Anime Store

• Monthly fee: 440 yen (tax included)

• Features:

  • Japan's largest anime-specific video streaming service

  • Streams over 4,000 anime titles

  • Many new anime series are streamed as soon as they air

• Supported devices: Smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs

• Free trial period: 31 days for first-time users

• https://animestore.docomo.ne.jp/animestore/tp_pc

2. Netflix

• Monthly fee:

  • Basic: 990 yen (tax included)

  • Standard: 1,490 yen (tax included)

  • Premium: 1,980 yen (tax included)

• Features:

  • Produces and streams original anime content

  • Rich selection of international anime

  • 4K HDR support (Premium plan)

• Supported devices: Smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs, gaming consoles

• Free trial period: None (may be offered in some campaigns)

• https://www.netflix.com/jp/

3. Amazon Prime Video

• Monthly fee: 500 yen (tax included), Annual plan 4,900 yen (tax included)

• Features:

  • One of the benefits of Amazon Prime membership

  • Offers original anime content

  • Movies and dramas also available for viewing

• Supported devices: Smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs, Fire TV

• Free trial period: 30 days

• https://www.amazon.co.jp/Amazon-Video/b/?ie=UTF8&node=2351649051&ref_=nav_cs_prime_video

4. U-NEXT

• Monthly fee: 2,189 yen (tax included)

• Features:

  • Wide range of content including movies, dramas, and manga in addition to anime

  • Latest releases available for separate rental (using points)

• Supported devices: Smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs

• Free trial period: 31 days for first-time users

• https://video.unext.jp/

5. ABEMA

• Monthly fee: 960 yen (tax included)

• Features:

  • Many contents available for free viewing

  • Offers both real-time streaming and catch-up services

  • Also produces original anime content

• Supported devices: Smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs

• Free trial period: 2 weeks

• https://abema.tv/

Thank you for reading this far. If I come across any interesting insights, I'll make sure to add them here. See you next time!