Best Sci-Fi Anime of 1978

Conan is the sole survivor of Remnant Island, a sanctuary established by refugees fleeing a cataclysmic magnetic bomb that nearly exterminated the human race. Two decades after their arrival, only Conan and the elderly man who raised him remain. Convinced his island is the last refuge of humanity, Conan is stunned to find a young girl named Lana stranded on the shore. While Lana reveals that the industrial nation of Industria seeks to capture her as leverage to compel her grandfather, Dr. Lao, to operate their machines, their exchange is interrupted by Monsley, the nation’s elite pilot, who abducts her. Resolute in rescuing her, Conan departs from Remnant Island, embarking on a quest that will decide the future of the world.

In a far-off era, people achieve immortality by buying mechanical bodies, though the cost is prohibitive. Poor Tetsurou Hoshino wants to ride the Galaxy Express 999, a train traversing the cosmos, because it is rumored that passengers receive a mechanical body for free at the destination. After the villainous machine-man hybrid Count Mecha shoots Tetsurou's mother, he faces despair. The mysterious Maetel, a blonde woman resembling his mother, rescues him from death and offers him a ticket on the Galaxy Express, provided they travel together. Tetsurou then embarks on a cosmic journey across unique planets and thrilling adventures, striving to obtain the mechanical body he longs for.

In the year 2977, humanity has grown complacent. Machines handle every task, subliminal messages keep the populace docile, and government officials spend their time on trivial pastimes like golf and horse racing. Captain Herlock rejects this stagnant existence, leading a band of kindred spirits on a life of adventure aboard the spaceship Arcadia. A hidden alien menace called the Mazone infiltrates Earth, appearing as cloaked women who eliminate anyone who uncovers their true intentions. Tadashi Daiba becomes their target after his scientist father is dismissed by the authorities and murdered by the Mazone. He then joins Captain Herlock and his motley crew of pirates, aiding their mission to protect humanity from the extraterrestrial threat.

It has been one year since the Star Force returned to save Earth, but a new threat emerges from deep space. A gigantic White Comet races toward the galaxy, annihilating everything in its path. This is no ordinary comet—it is the deadly Comet Empire, a conqueror of worlds, and Earth is the next target. Disobeying orders, the Star Force launches to investigate. However, even if they can get past the flagship Andromeda, they still do not know the true nature of this new enemy.

The third installment of Tadao Nagahama's Romance Super Robot Trilogy. (Volume One: Chou Denji Robo Combattler V, Volume Two: Chou Denji Machine Voltes V) Following the annihilation of their home world, the survivors from the planet Barm head toward Earth, hoping to negotiate the purchase of land for emigration. However, during the talks, the Barmian leader, Leon, is murdered by his second-in-command, Olban, and the Earth delegation is framed for the killing. In the resulting turmoil, Doctor Isamu Ryuuzaki, a member of the Earth delegation, is shot and dies. Shortly after the negotiations collapse in disaster, the Barmians (referred to as "Valerians" in Starbirds) launch a terror campaign against Earth, led by Leon's son, Admiral Richter, who unleashes a variety of "Mecha Soldiers" against the planet's defenses. The only barrier between humanity and total destruction is the transforming, karate-wielding super robot Daimos and its pilot, Kazuya Ryuuzaki. But everything changes when he meets and falls in love with a mysterious girl named Erika, who turns out to be Richter's sister. Throughout their efforts to be reunited, Kazuya and Erika each come to realize that the other's people are not entirely evil—and that their own people are not entirely good.

Orphaned as a baby when his parents perished in their artificial satellite, Curtis Newton, known as Captain Future, was raised by his late father’s associates. His father, a scientist, had left Earth to pursue research alongside his elderly friend, the brilliant Dr. Simon Wright. Sensing his impending demise, Wright transferred his consciousness into a mechanical body. Together, they created a super robot and an android. Captain Future now dedicates his existence to battling evil, supported by his three companions: the brain, the android, and the robot.

Brilliant scientist Souzou Haran was conducting research on Mars when he created a type of cyborg life form capable of independent thought. These Meganoids soon went out of control, killing Dr. Haran and his entire family except for his youngest son, sixteen-year-old Banjou Haran. Banjou escapes Mars aboard a rocket with Daitarn 3, a solar-powered super robot forged from special Martian metals. Now eighteen and residing in a luxurious mansion on Earth, Banjou battles the Meganoids with the help of his loyal butler Garrison and his two attractive companions, Reika and Beauty. Together, they must halt the evil Meganoids, who seek to convert all humans into cyborgs in order to "improve" the human race.

The Great Planet faces death as its Queen grows old and powerless, threatening the entire universe. Princess Aurora of the Moon offers to become the new Queen, embarking on a perilous journey accompanied by her friends and protectors—the formidable Cyborgs Jan Kogo, Sa Jogo, and Don Hakka.

Two years after Galactor's defeat and Condor Joe's apparent death, Leader X attacks a cruise ship, killing nearly everyone aboard. One survivor, a young girl, is captured by X and rapidly aged into the bizarre, masculine-voiced villainess Gel Sadra. Despite her adult appearance, Gel Sadra frequently throws childish tantrums and behaves immaturely. As Galactor revives, the Science Ninja Team is called back into action, with a shady man named Hawk Getz acting as Joe's replacement. Getz is quickly revealed to be a disguised Galactor agent who killed the real Getz, and he is slain by a mysterious feather shuriken. After hints dropped in the first three episodes, Joe reappears in the fourth episode, having somehow survived his fatal injuries from the original series, and rejoins the team. It is later revealed that an ex-Galactor scientist rescued him on the brink of death and gave him various cybernetic augmentations. Later in the series, a female scientist named Dr. Pandora is introduced, having lost her husband and daughter in the cruise ship disaster. Unbeknownst to her, her daughter Sammie survived and is actually Gel Sadra.

The enormous robot Daikengo travels through space aiming to restore peace across the galaxy. On board is Prince Ryger, who fled his home world of Emperius to confront a threat beyond its borders and protect his people. He is aided by Cleo, the daughter of a corrupt prime minister, along with two friendly little robots named Anike and Otoke. Together they battle the villainous Lady Baracross, who leads an invasion force, and her assistant Roboleon, recognizable by his Napoleon-style hat. Daikengo is the first robot to have scuttles on his mouth. When he opens them, his vampire-style teeth are revealed, and he can spit fire.