Best Sci-Fi Anime of 1974

By 2199, Earth lies in ruins following a brutal assault by the Gamilas Empire. Survivors have retreated underground to avoid the irradiated wasteland above, but as the deadly radiation steadily encroaches, their refuge becomes untenable. With total extinction looming in just one year, desperation replaces hope. Every previous effort to flee or fight back has been swiftly crushed by the alien forces. However, a desperate transmission from the distant planet Iscandar in a neighboring galaxy offers a potential lifeline. In secret, Earth's Self Defense Force develops a super-speed engine for the voyage. The World War II era battleship Yamato is retrofitted with advanced weaponry and manned by a brave crew, transforming into the Space Battleship Yamato. Together, they embark on a dangerous trek across the cosmos to rescue humanity from its impending doom.

The Dinosaur Kingdom rises from deep within the Earth, launching their assault to wipe out humanity and conquer the planet with their mechanical dinosaurs. After a prototype Getter Robo is brought down by one of these mechanical dinosaurs, the Saotome Research Institute decides to deploy the fully combat-ready Getter Robo. With a shortage of pilots at the institute, Ryo Nagare heads to his college to recruit martial artist Musashi Tomoe and the recluse Hayato Jin, persuading them to join him in piloting the Getter Machines to counter the new threat and defend mankind.

A manga and anime series created by Go Nagai, serving as a direct sequel to the beloved Mazinger Z franchise. It aired in Japan in 1974, immediately after the original Mazinger series concluded.

It is the year 2074. In a world under threat from aliens, an unexpected hero appears. Ken Izumi looks like a normal ten-year-old boy, but secretly carries weapons, armor, and gadgets that turn him into the heroic Chargeman Ken. Ken defends his mom, dad, younger sister Caron, robot friend Barican, and all of humanity against the evil Juralians, shape-shifting aliens who try to terrorize Earth using flesh-eating butterflies, booby-trapped scientists, a wicked doll, a prison escape, alien mummies, a child who sets things on fire, a lethal song, and roughly 65 other schemes for global conquest. The sole barrier between the fragile human race and Juralian takeover is Chargeman Ken and his endless drive for blazing, atomic justice.

Yoroi Takeshi is a laid-back and somewhat naive young man who works as an assistant to the bumbling would-be detective Kuruma Jo. Jo constantly proclaims himself the rightful heir to the title of the Greatest Detective, "Sherlock Holmes." They run a humble and failing private investigation service from a shabby, rundown office. The spunky and cute Nanba Teru frequently meddles in their affairs, threatening eviction because Jo is perpetually months behind on back rent—Teru's father owns the building where Jo and Takeshi live and work. Since they rarely get clients, they resort to eavesdropping and spying on the Secret International Police Department headquarters, located in the building across from theirs, to pick up assignments. Unbeknownst to Jo and Teru, Takeshi harbors a deep secret. Not only is he the son of the International Police Department Chief, but in times of peril, the mild-mannered Takeshi uses his trusty Poly-Met (Polymer Helmet) to transform into the superhero "Hurricane" Polymar—a red-suited masked man with incredible fighting abilities and superhuman strength. The only one who knows Takeshi's secret is his lazy Saint Bernard, Daisaku, who often provides cutting commentary to the audience using his inner voice. Together, Jo and Takeshi (as Polymar) confront and battle myriad evil organizations, criminal gangs, mutants, and monsters as they fight crime in the futuristic city of Washinkyo (a fusion of Washington and Tokyo).

Chobin, a cute little alien prince from a distant planet, crash-lands on Earth. While searching for his mother, he relies on a magical bracelet to aid his quest.

The second installment of Zero Tester reveals that a series of space incidents were orchestrated by the Armanoid aliens, who intend to conquer Earth. Professor Tachibana unites with global leaders to assemble a team at the Future Science Invention Center. There, they prepare five advanced vehicles for Shin, Go, Lisa, and Captain Kenmotsu, forming the special Zero Tester Squad to defend against the imminent Armanoid invasion.

Polon, an alien child, arrives on Earth in a flying saucer from the far reaches of space. Upon landing, he encounters the planet's native creatures, but as a newcomer, he does not realize he has overlooked humans and instead befriends a rabbit, a bear, and a fox. This obscure science fantasy is not to be mistaken for Chobin the Starchild, which started its TV broadcast one month prior.

A foolish boy discovers a time machine hidden in a cave near his home, leading to various adventures. The five-minute episodes aired as part of the morning show "Ohayo Kodomo."