Best Anime of the 1960s

To secure his rule over Japan, the tyrannical lord Daigo Kagemitsu sacrifices his unborn child to 48 demons. The pact is sealed, and the infant is born without limbs, only to be abandoned in a raging river. Fifteen years later, a resourceful orphan named Dororo fights to survive in a war-ravaged land, battling starvation and hostile samurai. After provoking a gang of thugs, Dororo is cornered until a masked stranger intervenes, claiming to sense nearby spirits. A river monster soon appears, and the stranger reveals prosthetic arms containing hidden blades, using them to defeat the beast before disappearing. Intrigued, Dororo tracks the man down and insists on joining him. The stranger, Hyakkimaru, explains that the demons stole his body parts and that he is hunting them to reclaim his humanity. Despite his isolation, Dororo refuses to leave his side. Together, they journey across a brutal Japan, accompanied by a dog named Nota, confronting the horrors of both the spirit world and human cruelty.

The Mach 5 is among the fastest and most technologically advanced race cars ever built. Loaded with special features and a high-performance engine, it poses a serious challenge to any opponent who dares to race it. Behind the wheel of this incredible machine is Gou Mifune, a young man with dreams of making it into professional racing. However, Gou's father, Daisuke Mifune—the creator of the Mach 5—refuses to let his son anywhere near a racetrack. Despite this, Gou's girlfriend Michi, his younger brother Kurio, and Kurio's pet monkey Sanpei become his biggest supporters as he strives to become the greatest racer of all time. But Gou quickly discovers that turning pro is no simple task. Between the shady schemes of corrupt businessmen and fierce competition from his rival, Racer X, he must overcome countless challenges on his journey, proving himself again and again before he can finally cross the finish line.

After a car crash claims the life of his son Tobio, Dr. Umatarou Tenma, head of the Ministry of Science, directs his team to build Atom, a robot modeled after the deceased boy. Possessing superior strength and intellect alongside youthful innocence, Atom is rejected by Tenma when he realizes the android cannot age. Dismissing the machine as a mere tool, Tenma sells him to a circus where performers are treated as disposable. Despite this harsh treatment, Atom remains compassionate toward both humans and robots, constantly risking his safety to protect others. His fortunes change when Dr. Ochanomizu, an advocate against robot mistreatment, rescues him. Under Ochanomizu’s mentorship, Atom strives for peace in a society where humans and robots coexist, while learning to navigate its intricate complexities.

Originally known as Naoto Date, Tiger Mask earned a fearsome reputation as a heel wrestler in America, notorious for his brutality in the ring. Upon returning to Japan, he underwent a change of heart when a young boy from the same orphanage where Tiger Mask grew up declared he wanted to become a villain like him. Unwilling to let the child idolize a villain, Tiger chose to become a heroic wrestler instead. The principal antagonist in the manga and anime is Tigers' Den, a shadowy organization that trains young people to be villainous heel wrestlers under the condition that they surrender half their earnings. Tiger Mask was once a member of Tigers' Den under the alias Yellow Devil, but he abandoned them and started donating his money to the orphanage. This enraged the organization's leader, who dispatched numerous assassins—including other professional wrestlers—to exact revenge.

The protagonist is Sazae-san, a mother who shares her home with her husband, children, and parents. This series stands as the quintessential family program, adhering to conventional themes throughout. If you imagine it as Japan's counterpart to "The Partridge Family," you will have a solid grasp of its atmosphere. Do not anticipate violence, profanity, martial arts action, or magical girls. Instead, stories revolve around everyday events such as "Today, Sazae-san visits the new mall and becomes lost." These seemingly mundane plots, paired with the simple artwork, often deter non-Japanese viewers; however, most Japanese audiences hold the show in high regard. Consequently, it remains one of the highest-rated shows on television and is among the few anime deemed "acceptable" for adult viewers.

Leo, a white lion, was born aboard an ocean liner that wrecked on the coast of a busy city. He spent his youth there, learning human language and customs, yet felt a void. Seeking his family and a true home, Leo returned to Africa to embark on his quest to become the King of the Jungle. His adventure focuses on establishing peace between humans and animals in Africa, who often clash over resources. As he matures, Leo must endure the harsh environment, threats from other beasts, and humans who hunt lions for sport. He believes that communication and mutual understanding are the keys to stopping the conflict, and his grasp of human culture may be exactly what the jungle requires. Jungle Taitei is an epic tale of a young lion’s struggle to survive in a perilous land.

This series draws very loosely from the Moomin novels written by Finnish author Tove Jansson. Jansson rarely endorsed the adaptation because of the significant alterations made to the plot, atmosphere, character traits, appearances, and names. Additionally, the show was intended for an adult audience rather than children.

The Cyborg fighters stand against darkness and aid the vulnerable. Alongside scientist Dr. Gilmore, this squad of nine cyborgs employs their unique bodily enhancements to combat an unending stream of adversaries, ranging from robotic crabs and extraterrestrials to other cyborgs. Every member possesses distinct abilities utilized in their battle against malevolence. The title character, 009, also known as Hurricane Joe, the renowned racing driver, guides the group using superhuman strength, bullet resistance, and the power to accelerate through time. His comrades fight alongside him to protect humanity from falling under evil control. The Cyborg 009 team confronts numerous foes and neutralizes innumerable dangers threatening their home and the planet Earth. Justice will ultimately prevail regardless of the circumstances.

In the kingdom of Silverland, Prince Sapphire conceals a major secret: he is actually a girl. At birth, Sapphire was mistakenly given both a boy's blue heart and a girl's pink heart. To keep the kingdom safe from the scheming Duke Duralumin, who stands to inherit the throne, Sapphire lives a double life by pretending to be a boy, since women are forbidden from ruling. A trainee angel named Tink is sent by God to take back Sapphire's boy heart, but she refuses to give it up. While the Duke plots to seize the throne, Sapphire faces an even more complicated situation as her two identities clash—she falls in love with Prince Franz Charming from the neighboring kingdom. Together, Sapphire and Tink set off on thrilling adventures, but along the way, they must battle various enemies to protect the throne at any cost.

Kitarou, a yokai, uses his unique abilities to assist humans in distress during his existence. Simultaneously, he opposes malevolent spirits dedicated to harassing humanity.

The kind yet mischievous princess of the Land of Magic, Sally, becomes fascinated by the human world. Seeking to experience it for herself, she runs away and meets two girls her age—Yoshiko "Yocchan" Hanamura and Sumire Kasugano—at a department store. They quickly become friends and spend time at Sally's mansion, which she conjured with magic. The two girls realize they left something behind at the store, and despite it being closed for the night, they go back to retrieve it. Sally and her younger brother Cub, who was sent by their parents to bring her home, follow them and discover that the girls have been captured by thieves attempting to rob the store. Using their magic, Sally and Cub drive the thieves away and rescue the girls, who remain unaware of Sally's powers. Attached to her new friends and the fun of the human world, Sally decides to stay, taking the surname Yumeno and attending school with Yocchan and Sumire. Cub chooses to live with her, and together they make a variety of new friends and go on various adventures, all the while adding magic to their lives.

After Mitsuo receives a mask from a retiring superhero, he becomes Perman.

Dr. Haneda was building experimental giant robot warriors intended to fight for the Japanese side in World War II, but before his creations could be deployed, Allied bombing raids destroyed the facility and killed him. Ten years later, criminals located two surviving prototypes—numbers 26 and 27 in the series—and used the remote-controlled machines to pull off various crimes. Twelve-year-old Shotaro Haneda, the doctor's son, investigated and learned that the gang was searching for the twenty-eighth robot in the line, believed to be the most powerful of all. Racing the villains, Shotaro found the robot first, alongside Dr. Shikashima, a former colleague of his father who had also been presumed dead in the Allied attack. Together they kept Tetsujin-28 (the robot’s official name) out of the criminals' hands and decided to dedicate it to peaceful purposes instead of warfare. For a long time afterward, Shotaro fought crime with support from Dr. Shikashima—who repaired Tetsujin-28 whenever it was damaged—and police officer Otsuka. Eventually, Shotaro even faced the alien Magmans, invaders from the planet Magma who arrived on Earth late in his career, bringing their own giant robots, Magma X and Gold Wolf.

Atsuko "Akko-chan" Kagami (also known as "Stilly," "Caroline," or "Julie" in Western adaptations of the anime) is an energetic elementary school girl who loves mirrors. One day, her favorite mirror, given to her by her mother (or, in some versions, by her father as a gift from India), breaks. Rather than throwing it away, she chooses to bury it in her yard. In her dreams, a spirit (or in some accounts, the Queen of the Mirror Kingdom) contacts her, moved that the young girl treated the mirror with such respect instead of discarding it. Akko-chan is then granted a magical mirror and taught an incantation that allows her to transform into anything she desires.

A wacky comedy about identical sextuplets causing wild pranks. Each episode features 2 stories.

Hyuma Hoshi is a young baseball pitcher with great promise, driven by the dream of becoming a top star like his father Ittetsu Hoshi once was in Japan's professional league. His father played third base until a World War II injury forced him into early retirement. Hyuma joins the immensely popular Giants team, but soon discovers just how tough it is to live up to such lofty expectations. From enduring brutal training sessions to facing off against rival Mitsuru Hanagata of the Hanshin Tigers, he must unleash his finest pitching magic to rise to the occasion.

Following the massive success of Jungle Emperor in Japan, Dr. Tezuka created a sequel in 1966, released locally as The New Jungle Emperor or Onward, Leo! The catch for international audiences was that Tezuka produced this series independently, without an agreement with NBC, and stayed much closer to his original manga narrative. This approach resulted in numerous character deaths and episodes with a somber tone. NBC deemed such content unmarketable and, content with their existing stock of 52 episodes, did not broadcast the New Jungle Emperor series in the United States until 1984, when it aired under the title Leo The Lion. Set several years after the original Kimba series, this installment features an adult Kimba who is mated to Kitty and has two cubs. The primary focus is on Rune, the male cub, as he matures and strives to match his father's strength. Due to legal restrictions preventing the use of the name Kimba in the English dub, the production team reverted to the original Japanese names for all characters.

This series chronicles the journeys of Sabu, a young investigator for the Edo bakufu, and his companion Ichi, a blind master swordsman. Together, they roam the land helping ordinary citizens by solving mysteries and correcting injustices, typically perpetrated by bandits or corrupt officials. Meanwhile, Sabu is engaged to Midori, the daughter of his superior who serves as a police officer under the Tokugawa shogunate.

Ougon Bat is a golden warrior adorned with a cape and a scepter, originally a protector spirit from Atlantis. He was brought back to life from a tomb inscribed with hieroglyphics by a scientist and his associates, notably the kind-hearted Marie. His appearances are announced by a golden bat and a chilling laugh, and he employs his superhuman powers to oppose the wicked Dr. Zero.

Kamui, a ninja from the Edo period, abandons his clan and becomes the target of a relentless manhunt by former comrades who brand him a traitor and seek his death. To survive, he travels across Japan, relying on his wits and exceptional skills to evade his pursuers. As the series progresses, the pressure of being a hunted man drives Kamui into paranoia. He comes to believe that everyone intends to kill him, leading to deep distrust of every person he encounters.

Sasuke is the son of a highly skilled ninja named Ozaru. After their master Yukimura Sanada is defeated, the ninjas serving Tokugawa and Hattori begin hunting down all of their surviving enemies. As a result, Ozaru and Sasuke are forced to flee their home and engage in a desperate struggle for survival. Danger, vengeance, anger, loyalty, and pain are the core elements of this story, which portrays the darkest aspects of the human soul alongside the growth of the young protagonist, Sasuke.

Sanshiro Kurenai, the esteemed successor to his family’s Judo dojo, is devastated when he discovers his father’s lifeless body alongside a mysterious glass eye. Determined to restore his family’s honor and avenge his father, Sanshiro joins forces with his friend Ken to hunt down the enigmatic one-eyed killer responsible for the tragedy.

Deep within a mysterious laboratory, a chaotic mass of cellular material spirals out of control, giving rise to the terrifying Humanoid Monsters—Bem, Bela, and Belo! Despite their hideous appearances, a fierce sense of justice flows through their veins. Whether confronting simple human greed or supernatural threats, this monstrous trio fights back with their extraordinary inhuman powers. But why do they go out of their way to protect those who fear them? Some say they do so in hopes of one day becoming human themselves…

One day, Kan-chan discovers a magical bottle in the attic. Each time someone sneezes, a genie called Hakushon Daimaou is summoned and is obligated to fulfill the wish of the sneezer until they sneeze once more. Occasionally, however, he botches the task, resulting in mischief rather than granted desires.

While handling a standard investigation into stolen tech, a private eye is critically injured. To survive, he must surrender his humanity and transform into 8Man, a formidable cyborg enforcer powered by a living human brain. Now reborn as a high-tech vigilante, 8Man is tasked with delivering justice to the criminal underworld and halting the rising tide of violence. This classic animated thriller promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Kaibutsu-kun, the prince of Kaibutsu Land, chooses to journey to the human realm as part of his preparation to become the King.

During World War II, Dr. Asagumo is summoned to Nazi Germany, where Hitler tasks him with developing the ultimate weapon, Big X. Worried about the catastrophic consequences of its completion, Asagumo deliberately slows the research alongside his sinister colleague, Dr. Engel. On the eve of Germany’s defeat, Asagumo embeds a card containing Big X’s secrets into his son, Shigeru, before being executed by German forces. Two decades later, the card is found within Shigeru, who is now residing in Tokyo. A faction aligned with the Nazis soon steals the card and finalizes the Big X project, with Dr. Engel’s grandson involved in the alliance. The completed Big X is revealed to be a substance that allows unlimited human physical expansion. Shigeru’s son, Akira, boldly confronts the Nazi Alliance and Hans Engel to reclaim Big X and thwart their global conquest plan.

An anime adaptation of Motomiya Hiroshi's Weekly Shonen Jump manga Otoko Ippiki Gaki Daishou, centering on a young gang leader and the endless trouble and brawls that his gang becomes involved in.

The Amazing 3 is a black and white anime series based on an Osamu Tezuka manga. The story follows three extraterrestrial agents dispatched to Earth to assess whether the planet poses a threat to the universe that warrants its destruction. The weapon designated for this task is a large black sphere with two antennae, referred to interchangeably as an anti-proton bomb, a solar bomb, or a neutron bomb. Upon landing, the agents—Captain Bokko, Nokko, and Pukko—transform from their original humanoid forms into the likeness of animals they captured as representatives of Earth’s fauna: Bokko becomes a rabbit, Nokko a horse, and Pukko a duck. While on the planet, they navigate using the Big Wheel, a tire-shaped vehicle capable of high speeds on land and water, and in the air with modifications. The series addresses several issues that were notably progressive for its time, with a particular focus on ecological concerns and poverty.

After being kidnapped and subsequently saved by a ninja, Fujimaru has spent years perfecting his martial arts skills. He now embarks on a quest to track down his mother and uncover an ancient tome filled with hidden combat techniques.

In the secluded ancient Chinese settlement of Taoyuan, the community consists entirely of Taoist hermits. While the elder, Lao Shi, dedicates himself to studies in magic and alchemy, his student Zhi Huang pursues sensual delights. He has fallen deeply in love with three stunning sisters residing in the vicinity.

Due to feedback from children who felt Goku was portrayed as an overly eager student, the film reimagined him as a mischievous modern boy. However, the production subsequently faced numerous complaints from the PTA regarding inappropriate language, ultimately leading to its removal from the broadcast.

The adventures of a zero fighter pilot during World War II.

A detective club is formed by a group of young boys, along with a token girl and her little brother who serves as the obligatory brat. They combine their skills in intellect, physical strength, invention, and driving to crack cases across Tokyo. Police chief Nakamura is frequently frustrated because they manage to solve crimes that the professional police cannot.

Another addition to the Marine Boy franchise. This time, 65 episodes were produced to extend the 1966 series, and all 78 episodes were sold to the United States. The show's airing pattern in Japan was a bit more complex: initially, only the first 36 of the 78 episodes were broadcast, but later all 78 aired—65 are part of this entry, while 13 belong to the Ganbare! Marine Kid series. Marine now wields an underwater boomerang and a hydrojet, and the mermaid Neptuna/Neptina has become his girlfriend. Some earlier episodes from Ganbare! Marine Kid had their footage partially reused for this series.

Q-taro is a supernatural being residing with the Ohara family. Although he possesses the ability to fly and render himself invisible, he lacks the transformative powers common to other yokai. Often scatterbrained, his clumsiness frequently leads to errors and chaotic situations.

A squadron of robots defends the planet against alien invaders.

A member of the Universal Peace Corps from Planet Radion travels to Earth to evaluate whether the planet qualifies for the Galactic Union of Worlds. During his stay, he helps the local population and assumes the alias of an Earth boy named Bobby. Alongside new comrades, he fights against both extraterrestrial and local threats.

Each three-minute episode has characters discovering significant historical events that happened on that specific date. Aired on Fuji Television, the show frequently used photographs and video footage sourced from the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, which also published Ryuuichi Yokoyama's ongoing comic strip at the time.

Dr. Tatsunoko and his daughter Asari venture underwater to investigate mysterious radiation, where they uncover a giant shell containing a globe that emits the energy. Inside the globe lies an object resembling a compact with a message revealing that a space alien from the near-extinct Planet of Parlum is sealed within. The alien, named Ace, emerges with wild behavior and possesses superhuman abilities fueled by space food. He utilizes a Silver Ring, which gathers aerial energy to enable flight and serve as a combat weapon. Assisted by Asari, a robot dog named Ibo, and Hermit Crab Reporter, Ace bravely tackles challenges posed by mystical robots and hostile space invaders.

The story follows Ken, a boy raised by wolves in the jungle, bearing similarities to The Jungle Book. His closest companions are two young wolves named Chi Chi and Po Po.

As the planet Earth faces an invasion by the Ghostar, a courageous youth possessing the power of fifty men emerges from a cave atop Mount Fuji. This is Shadar, a mysterious figure of unidentified origins, who, accompanied by his loyal canine companion Pinboke, battles to protect the world from destruction.

Ichirou Higashi, a young amateur wrestler, wants to participate in the Olympics Games in Mexico.

A continuation of Instant History.

Akane, a spirited girl from the countryside, has just enrolled in a prestigious school. Her vibrant energy wins over her peers, including Hidemaro, an arrogant wealthy student who finds himself drawn to her. Supported by her new friends, Akane navigates and resolves the various challenges they encounter.

Another sequel to Instant History, now under a different name. This installment was sponsored by Kirin, a Japanese brewery.

Hustle Punch focuses on three homeless animals residing in a dilapidated vehicle atop a scrapyard: Punch, Touch, and Boom. Punch is a bear with a head as hard as stone, making him nearly indestructible. Boom, a weasel, is a skilled marksman who relies on a slingshot rather than firearms. Touch, a mouse, utilizes her tiny size to infiltrate restricted areas and evade detection by adversaries. Their primary antagonist is Gari-Gari, a wolf mad scientist determined to construct a mansion on the junkyard. He deviss various nefarious schemes to amass the funds required to purchase the land, ranging from manufacturing counterfeit 10 yen coins to stealing valuable artworks for resale. As an inventor, Gari-Gari creates gadgets to facilitate his crimes. Since acquiring the site would displace the trio, they repeatedly interfere with his plans. Gari-Gari employs two subordinates: Black, a cat gangster who frequently shoots at Punch and his friends, and Nyu, a strong but simple-minded pig.

Following an extraterrestrial assault, a youth named Jun is saved by beings from another world who bestow upon him extraordinary abilities and enlist him in their Space Patrol force. The show underwent a title change to Patrol Hopper Uchukko Jun for its concluding eighteen episodes.

Raised on a floating island in the Caribbean, Kid enjoyed a peaceful existence surrounded by animal friends. His world shifts when his dying foster father confesses that Kid is not his biological child, but rather the son of Captain Morgan, the feared pirate who commands the seven seas. Seeking his true father, Kid discovers he has already passed away. With other pirates, including the infamous Tiger Hook, vying for control of the ocean, Kid assumes the mantle of pirate king and takes command of his father’s vessel to safeguard the seas.

A futuristic sci-fi action series where a planetary police force fights an international crime syndicate, blending science fiction with the style of an old western.

A classic sci-fi TV anime following the adventures of a super-boy. In the 21st century, a human boy is raised on Planet Soran, home to one of the most advanced civilizations in the Galactic Federation. The planet has gravity 15 times stronger than Earth. The people of Soran transform the boy into a cyborg so he can survive on their world. Years later, the boy returns to Earth, calling himself Soran. On Earth, his physical abilities are 15 times greater than those of normal humans, and he uses this power in the name of justice.

Donning a special mask, a young man defends the planet.

A time patroller from the 30th century goes back to the 20th century to stop a meteor from destroying the world.

A boy known as a troublemaker transfers into a new school.

A young boy uses his scientific skills to fight enemies.

Bouken Gabotenjima is about children who are shipwrecked on a desert island.

Robotan is a household robot built by a nerdy schoolboy named Kan-chan. It resides with a typical Japanese family, acting as both a domestic servant and a friend to the children.

Ganbare! Marine Kid serves as an expanded continuation of the earlier Dolphin Ouji series. To distinguish this new iteration from the initial trial episodes, the title was changed to Ganbare! Marine Kid, and several elements were modified, including renaming the protagonist from Dolphin Prince to Marine Kid and altering Neptuna to Neptina. Additional characters were introduced and the concepts were further developed. Marine is the son of Dr. Mariner, an oceanographer working for the Ocean Patrol. He has been genetically modified to possess exceptional underwater swimming skills and relies on Oxygum to breathe while submerged. Teaming up with Whitey, a white dolphin known as Splasher in the U.S. version, Marine assists his father in protecting the seas.

The goofy tales of a king and his family who make their way to Earth after their planet explodes.

A new transfer student arrives at school and is immediately confronted by the local gang. He defeats the members one by one before issuing a challenge to their leader. The series consists of ten-minute episodes broadcast from Monday through Saturday.