Best Drama Anime of 1986

In the town of Clock Hill, an unremarkable boarding house named Maison Ikkoku stands, but its residents are far from ordinary. Among them is the quiet tenant Yuusaku Godai, who is fed up with the endless noise and lively gatherings of his neighbors. Determined to relocate to a quieter environment to focus on his studies, he prepares to leave. However, his plans are suddenly disrupted upon meeting Kyoko Otonashi, the new manager of the boarding house. Captivated by her, Godai changes his mind about moving out. Kyoko, however, harbors her own romantic struggles; she is a widow who lost her husband only six months into their marriage. As her feelings for Godai begin to develop, she remains attached to the memory of her late spouse, believing no one else can fill the void in her life. With Godai's persistence and support from the quirky residents, Kyoko may yet discover love once more.

In the Universal Century 0088, the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) secures a hard-won victory against the Earth Federation's Titans, but Neo-Zeon—formerly Axis Zeon—remains a grave threat under Newtype leader Haman Karn, who plans to dominate Earth and the space colonies. The AEUG flagship Argama docks at Side 1's Shangri-La colony for repairs, where fourteen-year-old scrap dealer Judau Ashta works to support his younger sister's schooling. After discovering an escape pod holding an ex-Titans pilot, Judau and his friends hatch a scheme to steal a mobile suit from the Argama for a substantial payoff. Their plan is interrupted when a Neo-Zeon vessel attacks the Argama, dragging Judau and his companions into the escalating space war against their will.

In the frigid Ouu Mountains, a tiger-striped puppy named Gin is born as the son of Riki, the most formidable bear-hunting dog. To take down the murderous Akakabuto—who, after defeating Gin's grandfather and father, intends to establish a stronghold deep in the mountains of Ou—Gin enlists in the Ouu Army, his youthful spirit ablaze with resolve. With only three months left before the decisive battle with Akakabuto, his focus is on finding genuine "men" willing to fight alongside his comrades to the very end against Akakabuto, as he speeds across the entire expanse of Japan!

After a devastating nuclear war, the world is on the verge of total collapse. Civilization has fractured into a corrupted society where rival gangs of predatory looters hunt down helpless, wandering refugees. For those fortunate enough to endure the relentless violence and peril, existence is grim and hopeless. The line between living and dying becomes meaningless. The sole remaining chance for humanity is to find a champion worthy of becoming the next "Fist of the North Star"—a warrior of enlightenment—who can guide the determined survivors out of this wasteland toward a fresh beginning. However, in this brutal frontier where allegiances shift and power-hungry demigods reign, such heroes are scarce.

The Kanto Hell Earthquake completely destroys the metropolitan area. In the aftermath, a figure known as Slum King abducts girls and sells them as sex slaves. Mari wanders the devastated landscape searching for her lover, Ken, but she too is kidnapped. While she is tortured and trained as a sex slave, Ken arrives to rescue her. Ken has become a member of Slum King. The king offers him a condition: in exchange for releasing her, Ken must kill Violence Jack.

In the era of peace established by the Interstellar Alliance, the renowned Cosmo Academy was founded. Known for producing highly successful graduates, its entrance exams, held every three years, attract fierce competition. Lane Tadatos, a Terran, has advanced to the final phase of these exams. Along with ten other candidates, he is sent to the Esperanza, a ship adrift in orbit. Their final challenge is to survive on the vessel for 53 days with no means of contacting the outside world, except for an emergency surrender button. However, after a headcount, the candidates discover a discrepancy: there are eleven people aboard the Esperanza, meaning one of them is an impostor.

Two pairs of young lovers are drawn into a conflict between two opposing kingdoms: the primitive yet splendid Isa and the militaristic yet unruly Paro. Izu and his wife Marin work as simple farmers in the humble village of Saki, situated directly between Isa and Paro. Though Saki lacks the elegance of Isa or the war engines of Paro, the village is home to a magnificent tree called "Windaria," to which the villagers offer their prayers in exchange for "good memories." When war breaks out, Izu decides to enlist in Paro's army, lured by the promise of a fantastic motorbike given to him as a bribe. Before he leaves, the couple makes a mutual promise: he will definitely return to her, and she will wait for him until he does. The other pair consists of Jill, the prince of Paro, and Ahanas, the princess of Isa. Initially they want no part in the rapidly escalating war, but after Jill's father—the king of Paro—dies by his son's hand during an argument over the conflict, Jill has little choice but to carry out his father's final wish: the conquest of Isa. The only complication is that Jill had sworn to his beloved Ahanas that he would not get involved. Windaria is a war parable set in a fantasy land filled with unicorns and ghost ships.

Unusual occurrences start happening in Tomobiki Town... While Lum and her companions are working on filming a movie, a large cherry tree named Tarozakura gets suddenly cut down. Soon after, Lum loses both her horns and her supernatural powers. This marks the start of the most unconventional and whimsical film in the Urusei Yatsura series.

In a distant era when gods and men walk the earth together, a young boy named Arion plays in the rolling hills of Thrace. His mother Demeter bears a double burden: a curse of blindness and the hidden truth of Arion's birth. A mysterious stranger spirits Arion away, intent on shaping the growing boy into an assassin—a covert weapon to tip the balance in the war between Zeus and Poseidon. But Arion will not be easily manipulated, nor will he submit quietly to adversaries such as the tenacious Ares, the intelligent and fierce Athena, or the elegant and scheming Apollo. Only his tremendous strength, a forgotten weapon forged by Prometheus, and the love and loyalty of his allies can carry Arion forward. To uncover the secret of his destiny, he must storm Mount Olympus—and face down Zeus himself!

Pollyanna, a cheerful and carefree girl who lost her mother at birth and was raised by her vicar father, experiences a major change in her life when her father dies. She is subsequently sent to live with an aunt she does not know. At first, Pollyanna feels that her aunt does not approve of her, but as time passes, they develop a deep and affectionate bond.

In Nara period Japan, the celebrated sculptor Akanemaru sets out on a journey to locate the legendary immortal bird known as the Phoenix, believing it will provide the inspiration for his finest creation. Along the way, he encounters Gaou, a bitter bandit missing one eye and one arm, who attacks Akanemaru without reason and steals his belongings. After they separate, both individuals continue with their lives, oblivious to how their initial meeting will shape their futures. Akanemaru eventually gives up his search for the Phoenix due to fresh obligations, whereas Gaou experiences a dramatic downturn in fortune. These developments pave the way for their reunion, this time as enemies. Hi no Tori: Houou-hen explores the complex web of causation and consequence, tracing the lives of Akanemaru and Gaou as they contend with the fallout from their past deeds.

Set after the main storyline of the original Votoms series but before its epilogue, the one-shot OVA "Armored Trooper Votoms: Big Battle" follows Chirico and his former comrades as they are pulled into a final gladiatorial clash. The Gilgamesh and Balarant factions continue advancing their PS programs, pitting the group against an elite PS unit and a massive land battleship.

In the story "The Adventures of Scamper the Penguin," the adventurous penguin Lolo embarks on thrilling journeys alongside his friend Pepe. Together, they discover the marvels of their frozen home and learn from Don, a young dog, and Don's human companion—a scientist studying the Antarctic environment. Their adventures become more difficult when they become lost in unknown areas of the region, uncovering that hidden threats exist in their surroundings. However, with good fortune and Lolo's courage leading them, they are able to surmount every challenge.

Grey serves as a quiet soldier in a harsh futuristic military system where victory in combat brings generous pay and advancement, yet only three percent of troopers survive long enough to achieve the ultimate prize—citizenship and a chance to escape the squalor endured by most. Grey has repeatedly returned alive, earning the moniker Grey Death. But is the society he has defended really worth the sacrifice?

Compilation movie of the first year of Touch timeline. Contains plot differences, added scenes and an alternate ending.

A compelling anthology of animated adaptations highlighting selected masterpieces of modern Japanese literature. Crafted to appeal to a broad audience, this series showcases the diverse richness and distinctive essence of Japanese literary works developed over the past century. Featuring stories from Higuchi Ichiyo's "Takekurabe," Mori Ogai's "The Dancing Girl," and Natsume Soseki's "Botchan," through to Nobel laureate Kawabata Yasunari's "The Izu Dancer" and Mishima Yukio's "The Sound of Waves," the collection includes celebrated authors who have defined the course of Japanese literature.

The main character, Gun, rides a customized Honda CB750F cafe racer and eventually evolves into a pro road racer.

The film compiles scenes from the second year of Touch's story, yet its plot has little connection to the events of that year in the main series.

The Dancouga team readies themselves for their ultimate confrontation with their nemesis Zorbados. They must journey into the bizarre realm of the extraterrestrial invaders to finally protect Earth. Engaging the enemy on their own turf will demand every bit of their skill and cleverness. The Dancouga will need to battle its way into the peculiar red dimension of the aliens before it can launch its final offensive and guarantee humanity's safety once and for all.

Movie based on the Ami series of the Cream Lemon franchise. This movie was co-aired with Project A-Ko movie.

Set in Los Angeles, USA, this story follows the endearing Anderson family, whose members each possess distinct personalities that both clash with and complement one another. Through a series of shared experiences—ranging from heartfelt to outright bizarre—the family's connection deepens and grows ever stronger.

A high school boy named Kenichi Watanabe is completely devoted to his MBX50 motorcycle. He and his friends form a motorcycle club, which they name Culture.