Anime has a long and storied history and I find that classics are all too often overlooked in favour of new releases. Therefore, I thought it might be nice if I discussed my favourite anime that I’ve watched from each decade. These anime can be a film, short, TV series, OVA etc. However, I’ll not be including the 2020s as they have not finished and there will be one decade absent since I don’t believe I’ve seen any anime from it. With all that said, let’s start with the first decade that I want to cover.
1940s – Momotaro: Sacred Sailors
I don’t exactly have many options when it comes to the 1940s anime that I’ve seen but I think Momotaro: Sacred Sailors is my favourite for both its historical importance and for its animation. Originally released in 1945, Momotaro: Sacred Sailors was the first feature-length anime film which also served as a propaganda film where animals led by the legendary Momotaro fight against Devil Island, a thinly veiled version of the US. While its story drags at certain points and many of its messages have aged very poorly, its technical accomplishment for the time period is remarkable and there are some surprisingly well animated sequences with my personal favourite being where the Dutch arrive in Indonesia. It’s no masterpiece but it is certainly interesting to watch and examine.
1960s – A Thousand and One Nights
I’m sad to say that I’ve yet to see any anime from the 1950s so I’ll be moving straight onto the 1960s. Again, I don’t have many options since I believe I’ve only seen 2 films and a TV series from this period but I decided to go for A Thousand and One Nights from 1969. The story opens up with Aldin, a water merchant, arriving in Baghdad to find a slave auction being held. Miriam, a slave, is auctioned off but Aldin uses the distraction of a tornado to rescue/kidnap her. The film’s biggest issue for me is how long it is due to a few unneeded story elements but the incredible animation alongside the wondrous story and the amazing soundtrack helps secure its position as my favourite 60s anime that I’ve seen so far. If you want a more detailed discussion of my thoughts on the film, feel free to look at my review of the film on UK Anime Network.
1970s – Lupin the Third
I’ve seen a significant amount of 70s anime so I had a hard time picking one but I decided to settle on the original 1971-72 anime Lupin the Third. I love the Lupin the Third franchise but I still consider the original to be my favourite entry due to the high number of excellent episodes. For those unfamiliar with the series, Lupin the Third is a thief who carries out schemes with the help of his friends while being pursued by Inspector Zenigata. While the animation may be a little basic by today’s standard, the show retains the style, humour and quality that many shows today wish they had.
1980s – The Legend of the Forest
My next choice is actually an unfinished short that Osamu Tezuka created that was to be told in four parts but only had parts 1 and 4 completed before he passed away. Still, what has been released, the two parts were completed in 1987 and first shown in 1988, is nothing short of brilliant. The first part tells the story of a squirrel but shifts its animation style throughout to reflect the history of animation up to that point. The work itself is, in my opinion, a masterpiece and one of the best pieces of animation I’ve ever seen. The fourth part shows the conflict between forest denizens, who are depicted in full animation, and deforestation workers, who are depicted in limited animation. This part is still superb but I wasn’t as amazed by it as I was the first part. Nonetheless, The Legend of the Forest is, after some great difficulty deciding, my favourite anime of the 1980s and something that anyone who considers themselves a fan of animation needs to watch.
1990s – Princess Mononoke
Studio Ghibli has produced some of the most incredible pieces of animation ever made but my personal favourite comes from 1997 and also happens to be my favourite anime of the 1990s. The film follows Ashitaka who ends up getting cursed by a beast he slays and sets off to find a cure. The storytelling and animation is incredible and features some of the most wondrous moments I’ve ever seen in an anime. I don’t know if this film will ever be topped by another Studio Ghibli film (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya came close) but it’s undoubtedly one of the reasons that I fell in love with the medium.
2000s – Code Geass
Code Geass was one of the earliest anime I watched when I was just beginning to discover what it offered and I came away entranced. Set in an alternate history where the Holy Britannian Empire has conquered Japan, renaming it Area 11, and Lelouch Lamperouge, an exiled Britannian prince in hiding, gains powers from the mysterious C2 which he uses to head the Japanese resistance. The series is gorgeous to watch and is filled with an incredible amount of intrigue and scheming that is constantly keeping you on your toes. It’s an incredible series that has stuck with me ever since and is my personal favourite anime from the 2000s.
2010s – Puella Magi Madoka Magica
I remember hearing about Puella Magi Madoka Magica and how everyone was calling it one of the greatest anime ever made. I remember thinking to myself that I was sure to be disappointed when I got around to watching it so imagine my joyful shock when it managed to not only meet my already high expectations but to exceed them! To give the premise quickly, a girl called Madoka and her friend Sayaka encounter a creature called Kyubey who offers them the chance to become magical girls in return for the granting of their wish. If you have not seen this show then don’t look anything up about the plot or characters! Watch the show and revel in the incredible storytelling and the unbelievably beautiful and creative animation! It’s not only my favourite anime of the 2010s but it’s also my favourite TV anime ever!
Of course, I’ll be curious to hear what you think about my favourite anime that I’ve watched per decade, what your favourite anime per decade that you’ve watched are, what you think about the anime listed here and any additional information you might have on the topic.
Hopefully you have found this article interesting and informative and, if you wish to seek any of the works I mentioned, don’t hesitate to use amazon.co.uk or amazon.com for all of your needs!