The particular style of Japanese animation known as 'anime' came of age with Osamu Tezuka's 'manga' comic book series in 1952. The Astro Boy TV series was fairly crude by modern standards, but the Japanese lapped it up and international audiences weren't far behind. The hero is a robot who tries to fit in with the human world. Historically important anime series.
Space operatic fare has the wreck of the World War II Japanese battleship Yamato brought back to life as a spaceship to fend off an invading alien race trying to irradiate the planet. The war themes and violence were dumbed-down a bit for Western audiences, with the series best known as Star Blazers in the United States. A major step in the historical development of anime.
Voltron - Defender of the Universe 124 episodes (1984-85) 30m
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Anime originals Hyakujuo Go-Lion (Hundred-Beast King Go-Lion) and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV (Armored Fleet Dairugger XV) were edited into this series for American TV with most of the violent content removed. Five young pilots each control robotic lions, which together can form the giant robot Voltron. An evil warlord is provided courtesy of King Zarkon.
By the mid-90s computer age, anime had become decidedly more cutting edge. Suffering the effects of depression, Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno used the show's characters to express what he had learned in psycho-therapy. Biomechanical Evas are piloted by 14-year-olds to thwart the invading 'Angels'. Somewhat intense and a genuine classic for the modern age.
Cowboy Bebop 26 episodes (1998) 30m
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A team of bounty hunters crewing an old fishing spaceship try and track down jobs that pay using the hyperspace gateways that connect the solar system. Best known for its adult themes, the dramatic tension mainly revolves around the blood feud between the main character and his ex-partner nemesis from his dark past. Ultra-cool cutting-edge series with a hard bopping soundtrack.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED 50 episodes (2002-03) 30m
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The series kicks off in the Cosmic Era with the Bloody Valentine War between the human 'Naturals' of the Earth Alliance and the genetically engineered 'Coordinators' of ZAFT. The hero uses a mobile suit that turns him into a mech in pursuit of a peaceful solution. Award-winning series that broke through to mainstream audiences in Japan, resulting in the follow-up Destiny series.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 52 episodes (2002-04) 30m
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In the near-future the agents of Section 9 combat all manner of cyber-crimes. Each episode tips the viewer off as to whether or not it is a 'standalone' or 'complex' containing implications for the overarching plot. Unlike most modern anime, individual episodes can usually be watched without too much background info being necessary. Internationally popular.
Set against a re-imagined world history culminating in a near-future controlled by three superpowers. When the oppressive Holy Britannian Empire conquers Japan with their Knightmare Frames robot super-weapons, a disowned prince rebels against his father, the Emperor. Highly acclaimed and very popular series that gave young audiences hope and older ones a sense of true belief.
