Best Action Anime of 1989

Five years following his triumph at the World Martial Arts Tournament, Goku lives a tranquil life with his family until Raditz arrives, revealing himself as Goku's older brother. Raditz explains that Goku is a Saiyan, a member of a once-powerful race nearly wiped out after their home planet was destroyed. Sent to Earth as an infant with a mission to subjugate and ruin the world, Goku's aggressive nature was erased by a head injury that caused amnesia, leading him to grow into someone who uses his strength to defend others. When Raditz fails to recruit Goku, he warns Goku's friends of a looming danger that will soon reach Earth, igniting an interstellar conflict that shakes the universe. The battle for the seven magical Dragon Balls, capable of granting any wish, is about to commence, with only the strongest surviving the coming confrontation.

In the realm of martial arts, Ranma Saotome—a prodigy of the Saotome "Anything-Goes" school—suffers an unusual mishap while training in China. Tumbling into a cursed spring afflicts him so that contact with cold water transforms him into a girl, while hot water returns him to a boy. To complicate matters, Ranma's father had previously arranged his betrothal to one of the Tendo family's three daughters, aiming to secure the Tendo dojo's future. Even after learning about Ranma's curse, Soun Tendo goes ahead with the plan, picking his youngest daughter, Akane—a skilled martial artist who strongly dislikes men. Ranma ½ follows the comedic escapades of Ranma and Akane as they face numerous rivals, attract new romantic interests, and constantly get on each other's nerves, all while dealing with their unwelcome engagement.

During his training on a remote cliff, Piccolo is defeated by a group of unknown assailants. These same attackers then head to Mount Paozu with the goal of stealing Gohan Son's Dragon Ball. Upon arriving, they easily overpower Chi-Chi and Gyumao—Gokuu Son's wife and father-in-law, respectively—and proceed to kidnap Gohan. Sensing something is wrong, Gokuu returns home to find Chi-Chi injured and learns what happened. He goes to Kame House to get the Dragon Radar, which he uses to track the Dragon Balls and locate both the enemies and Gohan.

Ryou Saeba and his long-suffering partner Kaori are dedicated to keeping the streets of Shinjuku safe for the weak, the poor, and the downtrodden—though, in truth, Ryou is only hoping for a bit of "mokkori" from a grateful client. Meanwhile, Kaori is just hoping her 100-ton hammer is hefty enough to shift Ryou's focus from the ladies to his actual duties. Surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women and a host of dastardly villains, City Hunter is always prepared for any kind of action!

In a future where terrorism is rampant across Japan, law enforcement has become nearly as ruthless as the criminals they pursue. Among them, a cop known as Angel stands out as the most relentless, stopping at nothing in her pursuit of justice. Her routine takes a sharp turn when she and her new partner start looking into a string of murders—each victim being a criminal, dispatched in gruesome fashion. The perpetrators are a band of psychics who have united to hunt down the city's worst scum and deliver their own brand of justice. After several clashes between the police and these psychics, two of the psychics begin to question whether they are truly on the side of right, while the third cares more for killing than any moral code. Augmented with cybernetics from an unknown source, this rogue psychic embarks on a killing spree, with Angel as his primary target. Even with assistance from the two conflicted psychics and her partner—who has been transformed into a cyborg after a tragic accident—Angel faces an uphill battle to track down the rogue psychic and the mysterious organization pulling the strings.

In "Riding Bean," Bean Bandit and his partner Rally Vincent work as professional couriers, delivering both passengers and cargo for high fees using Bean's customized sports car, the "Roadbuster." After accepting a job to bring a kidnapped girl named Chelsea back to her family, they unknowingly become involved in a plot set up by their former clients, Semmerling and Carrie, who are planning to escape with Chelsea's father and the ransom money.

In "Baoh the Visitor," Ikuroo, an innocent young boy, is implanted with the parasite Baoh through an operation performed by the villainous Doress organization. This organism grants him near-invincibility and the capacity to transform into a formidable monster when danger arises. Though Doress plans to use Ikuroo for profit or global control, their vehicle is attacked by Sumire, a talented psychic girl who was imprisoned by the organization. She assists Ikuroo in escaping, and they flee together. But Dr. Kasuminome, the creator of Baoh, is resolved to recapture his test subject. Backed by vast resources, including an army of superhuman henchmen and his own military force, Dr. Kasuminome chases the pair without mercy.

When an ice comet struck Venus, it transformed its toxic atmosphere into one that could support human life, turning humanity's dream of colonizing other planets into reality. However, for the settlers, Venus is far from the paradise they envisioned. As harvests fail and competition for limited resources escalates, tensions mount until the two inhabited continents edge toward open conflict. Reporter Susan Sommers reaches the capital of Aphrodia just as Ishtar launches an attack, and only the timely intervention of Hiro Seno and his Battle Bike squad saves her from certain death. But with Aphrodia now under Ishtar's control, Sue, Hiro, and his teammates are forced to flee. Their exceptional skill in Battle Bike—a sport blending motorcycle racing with roller derby—might become the secret weapon Aphrodia needs to turn the tide in the Venus Wars.

During the championship bout of a martial arts competition, sixteen-year-old Shurato and his companion Gai are suddenly swept up into an enormous sphere of radiance. When they come to their senses, the pair discover they have been transported to a mystical celestial realm suffused with a sacred ambiance. There, it is revealed that Shurato once ruled this world as its sovereign king, and that he has merely been restored to his true former self. Shurato is left in disbelief when Gai abruptly turns against him. Following this shocking turn of events, an awe-inspiring and fantastical saga unfolds between the two.

The land has been devastated by a brutal conflict, and now, nourished by the lifeblood of countless slain soldiers, the Yoma—demonic entities from the underworld—rise again. A lone ninja attempts to halt the slaughter these monsters bring to mankind, yet to succeed, he must confront his reanimated former closest friend, another ninja who fell in combat and was brought back to serve the Yoma.

In the story "Legend of Lemnear," the young and beautiful woman Lemnear watches as her hometown is destroyed and her brother is kidnapped by the evil sorcerer Gardin. Driven by a desire for vengeance, she swears to kill Gardin. Setting out on a journey with her allies, Lemnear pursues her goal of retribution. What she does not realize is that a far more powerful entity is pulling the strings behind Gardin's actions.

In Tokyo, a highly skilled pianist comes to perform at a charity concert, catching the interest of City Hunter. Although he is not a musician, he is keen to master the subtleties of love. The atmosphere grows tense as a series of murders take place, including the killing of a foreign dignitary. Undercover operatives comb the city searching for a stolen microchip, and the diplomatic climate becomes unstable as the concert approaches. Only City Hunter can stop the situation from descending into further disorder.

In "Lupin III: Goodbye Lady Liberty," Lupin III sets out to wipe his records from the international police database. While carrying out this task, he discovers the existence of the Ultravirus—a powerful computer program capable of controlling other viruses—whose location is known only to a young child. At the same time, Lupin steals the Statue of Liberty in search of a massive diamond the size of a football that is believed to be hidden inside. It appears that the diamond and the Ultravirus are somehow linked.

In Esteria, the people are locked in a struggle against mythical beasts that ceaselessly attack, wearing down their defenses despite the assembled army's efforts. The fortified town of Minea, where survivors take shelter behind castle walls, cannot escape the hopelessness born from these endless assaults. Amid this gloom, a prophecy emerges, foretelling that a courageous young hero will appear to save the land. Adol Christin, an explorer driven by a thirst for adventure, reaches Esteria after surviving a shipwreck. Together with fortune-teller Sarah Tovah and other allies, Adol sets out on a dangerous journey across the island to find the legendary Books of Ys. Though the path is perilous, this quest may allow Adol to realize the prophecy and restore peace to Esteria.

Private investigator Gokuu Fuurinji is hired by Ryoko Kadoma to find her missing brother, Ryuu. But Gokuu quickly realizes this is no ordinary missing person case—Ryuu has been subjected to a dangerous genetic experiment that could turn him into an uncontrollable superhuman. Using the most advanced supercomputer in the world, which is implanted in his left eye, Gokuu sets out to track the boy down. As the investigation grows deeper and more complicated, Gokuu is forced to confront a grim choice: whether Ryuu can still be saved from his fate, or if stopping his complete transformation might require killing him.

In "Dragon Warrior," which takes loose inspiration from Dragon Quest III, familiar character names and elements appear in a distinct world with a smaller map. The story centers on two key characters, Abel and Tialah. The wise sage Master Yogi from Aliahan Village entrusts Tialah with the legendary Red Stone. Shortly thereafter, the villainous Baramos kidnaps Tialah, intending to use the Red Stone to revive the Great Dragon and gain immortality. Determined to rescue Tialah, Abel embarks on a journey and receives the Blue Stone, a potent artifact that can seal the Great Dragon upon its revival.

The year a comet streaks across the sky, splitting the heavens, the dark god will rise again from deep within the Earth. Then, the sinister evil hiding in the darkness will emerge from the depths of Hell and manifest in the present world. The emotions of the wind blade will gather at the source of the blue light. And the three blades will merge into one, defeating evil. It is the year 1580, and the unholy armies of Lord Nobunaga Oda steadily expand across Japan. Barely escaping the massacre of her clan, a young ninja slips into the shadows. She is Ayame, the last surviving member of the Kasumi clan, and the dagger she carries is one of three mystical blades. She is joined by Sakon and Ryoma, renegade ninja who wield the sacred sword and spear. Now, these shadow warriors must combine their weapons and abilities to fulfill "The Prophecy of the Enchanted Swords" or perish in the attempt... This is a shortened version of the earlier OVA.

In the center of the United States economy sits the mighty Cleopatra Corns Group, known as Cleopatra DC—a financial empire with power rivaling that of the government itself. At its helm is Ms. Cleo, a remarkably beautiful, quick-witted, and courageous Chairman. Her leadership faces a challenge when an unexpected plane crash damages her residence, though she manages to cover the repair costs. Soon, however, her fortune takes a downturn as she becomes caught in a series of escalating troubles: the theft of precious artifacts, high-stakes corporate kidnappings, and malfunctions in top-secret cyborg initiatives.

The galaxy is a strange and dangerous place, and there are moments when even the United Space Force is powerless. That's where the Crushers step in—expert problem-solvers who handle any issue, big or small, for a price (and a steep one at that!). And among them, none surpasses Crusher Joe.

Hailing from a difficult past, Sonnet is a cyborg and esper who has been molded into the world's ultimate warrior and deadliest weapon. Her mission sends her to Japan to keep an eye on Komatsuzaki Lan, a girl believed to be influenced by the fury of the esper known as Akai Kiba (Crimson Fang). Lan, a reserved individual aware of her own uniqueness, begins exhibiting manifestations of Crimson Fang following her encounter with Sonnet. As they clash, Sonnet gradually rediscovers her own humanity. Meanwhile, Lan struggles to hold onto her humanity while controlling the Crimson Fang within her.

Hakuo Academy was once a prestigious high school renowned for its martial arts, but it began to decline when the rival school Seishikan started poaching superior students through underhanded means. To turn things around, Hokujo Hikoko, the chairperson of the board of directors, sent a messenger to Fuma Village. The Fuma Clan was a legendary ninja group said to be capable of running thousands of miles in a day, hearing a needle drop from three miles away, and distinguishing a person's face in darkness from a mile off. The clan's leader dispatched Kojiro to the academy. Upon arriving, he found himself thrown into battle against the Yasha Clan, who worked for Seishikan, and their most formidable enemy, Asuka Musashi. Musashi fought to support his little sister, who was suffering from an incurable disease.

An American scientist who possesses the secret to curing AIDS is captured by an arms dealer, forcing the retired hero John Kyosuke to emerge from hiding. His objective is to recover the crucial anti-serum. Along the way, he discovers that his targets are linked to him personally, adding a deeper significance to his mission.

Shoko and Maiko Ougi appear to be ordinary schoolgirls mainly concerned with finishing school and enjoying themselves—Shii-chan is the more studious one, while Mai-chan is the more easygoing. However, they are in fact adept exorcists from the Karura temple. Each sister wields half of the full power: Shii-chan can sense spirits, and Mai-chan has the ability to drive them away. This movie is based on a spine-tingling series that explores traditional Japanese supernatural themes.

The story begins when Hayato, a soccer enthusiast, and his girlfriend Yumi, an aspiring musician, pay a visit to Dr. Leonard's lab. They accidentally activate the Tondekeman, a funny talking kettle that transports them many centuries into the past. In Baghdad, Hayato and Yumi are reunited but become separated from the Tondekeman. They encounter Aladdin, Prince Dandarn, and Princess Shalala. They also meet the cunning Abdullah, who is always ready to kidnap the princess so that he can marry her to his master. Our heroes travel to different places and times, meeting several historical and literary figures as they pursue Abdullah through time to prevent him from abducting the princess. Hayato and Yumi are stranded in the past until they can retrieve the Tondekeman from Abdullah's possession.

In the year 2755, the cargo vessel XeBeC suffers a malfunction while traversing a warp gate, which throws it off course and sends it into the orbit of the remote planet Garaga. After crash-landing on Garaga's surface, the crew struggles to survive against monstrous beasts, savage ape-like fighters, and a enigmatic group of psychics.

Jecy is a young man driven by revenge, his parents having been killed by the organized crime syndicate known as the Bismark House, a group that will stop at nothing to acquire a substance called lyzorium. Possessing extraordinary abilities like enhanced speed and agility, Jecy travels through space alongside a girl named Tiana; Fork Green, a priest of the Heartland faith who dispatches criminals slowly to grant them passage to heaven; and a living ship named Paolon. But Jecy's path to vengeance is far from straightforward—a woman named Jera, her bloodthirsty younger brother Cross, and numerous other foes stand in their way.

Combining her expertise as an archaeologist with her black belt in martial arts, Ray Kazuki must use both her intellect and physical prowess as she dives headfirst into an exhilarating adventure. She is investigating a stunning new archaeological find: a legendary temple located in a remote region of the globe. As always, she carries a strange mirror that once belonged to her father—a mirror that might grant access to a vanished civilization. During the excavation, Ray encounters Mai and Mami Tachibana, two carefree adolescent girls who recklessly seek out danger. And danger they find, in the form of Rig Veda. Veda is after a major prize: Ray's mirror. But she must stop him at any cost, because if Veda gets his hands on this powerful object, he will unlock secrets that could lead to catastrophe.

The story follows second-year students Reiko Shinokita and Junko Yajima as they travel between schools, taking on threats such as villains, ninjas, yakuza, and corruption. At their latest high school, they uncover a hidden ninja organization, a corrupt administrator, and a tragic incident from the past. With the help of the skilled ninja Kotetsu, they work to restore peace to the school, though their actions stir up emotional turmoil among their classmates.

In Space Century year 336, on the planet Sieren, a blind woman named Flora Rain works at an elementary school in the state of Innex. Loved by her pupils, the school principal, and everyone in town, she lives a quiet, happy life there. One day, she happens to encounter a mysterious young man called Locke. Though Locke possesses numerous superpowers, he keeps them well hidden and comes across as an ordinary youth. Later, a military officer, Major Caliann, comes to see Locke and asks for his help in looking into Lordleon. Lordleon and his band of space pirates had attacked the Astoria Concern enterprise, yet its chairman, Great Georg, never reported the incident to the Union. Since the Union already knew about the attacks, they found this silence suspicious and chose to investigate Lordleon with Locke's aid.

Instead of fading away after the Sengoku period, the assassin underworld in this tale of psychic ninjas went into hiding beneath Japan, now engaged in a fresh battle with extraterrestrial creatures originating from an ancient, crashed spaceship concealed for thousands of years.

Three years have passed since the series concluded. Ryo is employed at NASA as an engineer working on a major rocket project. Anise, his fellow Borgman and romantic partner, has been reduced to flipping burgers at a restaurant. So when she receives a letter offering her a professional position in a large, high-tech Japanese project, she eagerly accepts. Ryo, however, remains as indecisive as ever, so she leaves for Japan without him. Chuck Sweager, the third Borgman, works as a police officer, as does his girlfriend Miki. After Miki witnesses a fight among several cyborgs, she informs Chuck, who flatly states that it cannot be possible since the only living cyborgs are Ryo, Anise, and himself. But she persuades him, and they begin investigating. Anise arrives for her new job, and when they meet for dinner, they explain the situation to her. Anise volunteers to sneak into the Heaven's Gate project, which they suspect is the source of these new cyborgs. Meanwhile, Ryo is en route to Japan to pursue his girlfriend. Accompanying him is Hussan, one of the two surviving researchers from the Borgman Project, who has been summoned to testify before the Tokyo Police to assist in the investigation. Once the entire cast gathers in Japan, matters start to grow complicated.

A Japanese schoolboy, Heibon, is enlisted in the efforts of the time patrol to keep the past out of trouble.

Robin Jr. and his friends fight to save the solar system.

Music video for the song Materials by Tomoyasu Hotei.