Comprehensive List of Anime Classics on Dvd

[Area88]

List of Anime Classics on Dvd in the US


- 1970's-

Animal Treasure Island - 1970
Puss 'n Boots - 1970
Gatchaman - 1972
Nobody's Boy Remi - 1977
Space Battleship Yamato Movie -1977
Taro: The Dragon Boy - 1978
Farewell Space Battleship Yamato - 1978
Lupin III :Season II - 1978
Lupin III :The Mystery of Mamo - 1978
Lupin III :The Castle of Cagliostro - 1979
Space Battleship Yamato:The New Voyage - 1979
Mobile Suit Gundam -1979


- 1980's-

Astro Boy - 1980
Be Forever Yamato - 1980
Toward the Terra - 1980
Urusei Yatsura - 1981
Hyaku Juuou Go-Lion - 1981
Arcadia of my Youth - 1982
Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV - 1982
Armored Trooper Votoms - 1983
Aura Dunbine - 1983
Final Yamato - 1983
Macross - 1982
Barefoot Gen - 1983
Cat's Eye - 1983
Crusher Joe - 1983
Genesis Climber Mospeada - 1983
Golgo 13 Professional - 1983
Harmageddon - 1983
Orguss - 1983
Birth - 1984
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind - 1984
Southern Cross - 1984

Area 88 - 1985
Dagger of Kamui - 1985
Dirty Pair: Affair Of Nolandia - 1985
Fight Iczer One - 1985
Goshogun Time Etranger - 1985
Megazone 23 - 1985
Night on the Galactic Railroad - 1985
Vampire Hunter D - 1985
Zeta Gundam - 1985
Amon Saga - 1986
Animated Classics of Japanese Literature - 1986
Gall Force - 1986
Laputa Castle in the Sky - 1986
Machine Robo - 1986
Maison Ikkoku - 1986
MD Geist -1986
Outlanders - 1986

Project A-ko - 1986
Prefectural Earth Defence Force - 1986
Saint Seiya - 1986
They were Eleven - 1986
Battle Royal High School - 1987
Black Magic M-66 - 1987
Bubblegum Crisis - 1987
City Hunter - 1987
Dirty Pair OVA's - 1987
Dirty Pair: Project EDEN
Kimagure Orange Road - 1987
Metal Skin Panic Madox 01 - 1987
Wicked City - 1987
Wings of Honneamise - 1987
Yotoden - Wrath of a Ninja - 1987
Akira - 1988
Appleseed - 1988

Demon City Shinjuku - 1988
Dominion Tank Police - 1988
Grave of the Fireflies - 1988
Gunbuster - 1988
Gundam: Char's Counterattack - 1988
Hades Project Zeorymer - 1988
My Neighbor Totoro - 1988
Patlabor - 1988
Ronin Warriors - 1988
Tokyo Project - 1988
Vampire Princess Miyu - 1988
Angel Cop - 1989
Ariel - 1989
Assemble Insert 1989
Baoh - 1989
Blood Reign: Curse of the Yoma - 1989

Cleopatra DC - 1989
Cybernetics Guardian - 1989
Dragonball Z - 1989
Five Star Stories - 1989
Garaga - 1989
Gundam 0080 - 1989
Guyver - 1989
Kiki`s Delivery Service - 1989
Madonna - 1989
Ranma 1/2 - 1989
Riding Bean - 1989
Venus Wars - 1989
Yawara - 1989

[Scandiadream]

Wonderful. Please do cover the 70s as well. Anything and everything WILL help.

[Area88]

Updated the list so it now includes the 70's.

Also added a few more titles to the 80's list.

I'm tempted to include early 90's (1990-1993) since financially the anime industry was still going strong and alot of classics came out in this time.

[Leader Desslock]

I don't really agree with many of your selections, and I don't put much stock in such lists in any case. However, I will point out that you're missing the bulk of the Leijiverse and other works I'd consider definitive. To my knowledge, the Appleseed OAV wasn't anything special (unlike the manga), but you're missing Ranma 1/2? They're not even in the same league. Likewise, you've got Vampire Hunter D (which even a fangirl like Shiroiyuki didn't like) but no Dragonball? I can understand maybe forgetting Cutey Honey, but no Sailor Moon or Cardcaptor Sakura?

There was a guy who did a VERY comprehensive list a while back. I think it was in the Ask John forum, but it might've been on the main boards. You might do a forum search for it. It was quite impressive and got a ton of feedback.

[Shiroiyuki]

Vampire Hunter D (which even a fangirl like Shiroiyuki didn't like)

Well *ahem*, I didn't like the first one, no...But, I had very good reasons! (don't judge me V_V).

The animation was poor (even for that time), and the voice actors did such a terrible job in their roles--I was cringing during most of the dialogue. Yeah, it didn't measure up to most standards, and left you feeling a little saddened, but I still think people should see this film. I still think it should be on this list, if only because it has the Vampire Hunter D name (and is a representation of Hideyuki's genius). It's a classic...just not a very good one.

[Leader Desslock]

Well *ahem*, I didn't like the first one, no...But, I had very good reasons! (don't judge me V_V).
Haha - wasn't a judgement at all. I merely provided the detail for the sake of the perspective it offered. ^_^

I commend the original poster for his ambition and idea; I just think he needs to do a bit of research. I wish I could remember who posted the list I'm thinking about. It had his idea for the top 100 or so series, as well as a lot of feedback from AN veterans.

Another note: No Mazinger Z?!

[Rain]

I commend the original poster for his ambition and idea; I just think he needs to do a bit of research. I wish I could remember who posted the list I'm thinking about. It had his idea for the top 100 or so series, as well as a lot of feedback from AN veterans.

http://animenation.net/forums/showthread.php?t=192337&highlight=getter77

My memory is way worse than yours.

PS. You spelt judgment wrong :P

[Shiroiyuki]

Haha - wasn't a judgement at all. I merely provided the detail for the sake of the perspective it offered. ^_^

Ahhh, well I guess using me as an example DID give a better argument for your opinion--You know, instead of just citing some random person (say a normal, non-obsessed D fan :P). I do however, STILL disagree with your position on the matter...Vampire Hunter D, despite its faults and shortcomings, still deserves to be on any person's list of essential anime to watch.

It was one of the first anime films to be released outside of Japan, and this dark (ish) cult classic gave way to the second film. If the 1985 movie hadn't been at least slightly popular, I doubt that the Bloodlust film would have ever been made in the first place. I truly thank this film for having a fan base big enough to warrant such a GREAT sequel. *Bows to DVD*.

I really think that this title was a 'gateway' anime for many people. It got them into the genre of entertainment as a whole (for me anyway, this anime really struck a chord in my heart ^_^). It should be included on this list--and all others for that matter. Yeah, the animation was mediocre. And yes, the voice actors should all be tied up and shipped back to acting school...but, this movie still deserves honorable mention. ^_^.

[Leader Desslock]

http://animenation.net/forums/showthread.php?t=192337&highlight=getter77
Nope, that's not the one. That's another good thread, though. The thread I'm thinking about was posted last year sometime.

PS. You spelt judgment wrong :P
It's legit: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/judgement :P

[Area88]

This is a list of anime classics on dvd. While Getter77's list is for classics not on dvd.

Big Difference!

I'm putting down all the 70's and 80's anime series to let you guys decide what you want to buy. I'm not just putting down my favourites.

Vampire Hunter D has great voice acting and atmosphere if you listen to it in it's original Japanese language but if you listened to it in it's terrible english dub than i'm not suprised you hate it.

Appleseed OVA is mediocre but it's still a great entry into the manga. Alot of the city landscapes were really nicely animated too and couldn't help but enjoy some of the cheesey synthesiser music.

[Leader Desslock]

Here's the thread I was thinking about:

http://www.animenation.net/forums/showthread.php?t=175970

Lots of info and leads for you to research, lots of feedback from a lot of forum regulars. Good luck!

[Area88]

Thanks alot, that will defintly help fill some of the gaps.

[Shiroiyuki]

Vampire Hunter D has great voice acting and atmosphere if you listen to it in it's original Japanese language but if you listened to it in it's terrible english dub than i'm not suprised you hate it.


Yes well you see, I unfortuately saw it in English the first time I saw it (and many, many times afterwards), so I cannot bring myself to change my opinion of the movie. Yeah, the Japanese version is better but I still am haunted by the memory of the english dub. *Shiver*

Either way, the animation sucked and did not stand up to other anime of its time. They must have had almost no budget while making this movie, so they had no choice but to skimp on the animation aspect (and this is coming from a devote D fan). But, like I've said before--the 1985 movie still deserves honorable mention on this list. It is a classic, even though it was poorly made both visually, and vocally.

When it first came to America, the English dub was the only thing aired. A lot of people who watched it back in the day share my opinion....it wasn't until the unveilling of the DVD that we were finally able to watch it in Japanese. The way we were intended to.

[getter77]

Lol, how did my woefully unupdated list ( I KNOW..I KNOW...I STILL suck for now updating it yet) find its way into this topic? :)

But so my post isn't total self-hate....I'll chime in to add up some or all of the MANY Lupin III movies and specials out there.

[Suiko Eiji]

Do you only want those that have DVDs already released for them, or perhaps a licensed classic whose DVD is in production?

[Area88]

'Upcoming dvds yet to be released' are gladly welcome on the list.

I've already put the odd one or two up already so please feel free to make any suggestions.

[Suiko Eiji]

Hyaku Juuou Go-Lion - 1981
Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV - 1983
Top 'o nerae! Gunbuster - 1988

[Suiko Eiji]

Missed some more:

Space Battleship Yamato Movie (1977)
Farewell Space Battleship Yamato - Soldiers of Love [Arrevederci Yamato] (1978)
Space Battleship Yamato - The New Voyage (1978)
Yamato yo, Eien ni - Be Forever Yamato (1980)
Space Battleship Yamato Kanketsu-hen - FINAL YAMATO (1983)

[Area88]

Thanks alot added them all to the list. Also added 'Astro Boy - 1980'.

Also read abit of your blog. Some really interesting stuff there, i've always wondered what exactly happened to 'US Renditions', i didn't realise it was bankruptcy. Looks like they followed the same path as Streamline.

Shame it was Manga who absorbed US Rendition's catalogue as it deserved better treatment. I also wonder if Manga Entertainment would have broken into the market at all had they not got lucky.

[Suiko Eiji]

Also read abit of your blog. Some really interesting stuff there, i've always wondered what exactly happened to 'US Renditions', i didn't realise it was bankruptcy. Looks like they followed the same path as Streamline.

Thanks for reading, I appreciate that I'm actually finding an audience - more than me just listening to myself talk.

I wouldn't say they followed the same path as Streamline; while from a marketing perspective they were the same (being some of the first companies to advertise them as Japanese animation), I still hold Streamline Pictures in a very negative light, where as US Renditions I still hold in between a positive and indifferent light. For some reason though, I really like their name, hence adapting it for my own work recently.

Shame it was Manga who absorbed US Rendition's catalogue as it deserved better treatment. I also wonder if Manga Entertainment would have broken into the market at all had they not got lucky.

Manga absored a lot of their titles it looks like, but I am also seeing that CPM picked up some of their catalogue. While what sources are available to me, it appears USRen went bankrupt, I believe they liquidated their entire library to the highest bidders.

One thing I've actually liked about going through and compiling this "database" is that I'm finding out how many licenses have changed hands through other companies that aren't in the marketplace any more. I remember US Renditions at the very tail end of things (though I don't believe I've seen any of their work), and have seen a lot of their print ads from the early 1990s but I've found one as of late - L.A. Hero - that I've never heard anything about? Anyone who might be able to enlighten me? Perhaps, Area, greg, or John can?

[Twinbee]

L.A. Hero originally released the Devilman OVAs and Ambassdor Magma, both of which were rereleased by Manga. Magma never made in to R1 DVD and both licenses now are expired.

[Suiko Eiji]

^Yeah, I figured that since I'm just now of learning of L.A. Hero's existence that they either went out of business just as I was getting into anime in the mid-nineties or before. I've not found their library to have been rather extensive, either, so even when they were in business, they must not have been very large.

I guess my real question is that did they go completely out of business, get bought-out and/or merge with another company, or just stop licensing anime and sold thier anime IP or allowed licenses to expire?

[Area88]

Did some digging for information and apparently L.A. Hero got absorbed by Manga Entertainment which explains why Manga were able to release the Devilman OVA's.

[Suiko Eiji]

Ah, jolly good, then, I suppose.

[greg]

Area88, you forgot to list Nadia. I just checked the copyright date on my DVD and it says 1989.

[Area88]

Wow does your dvd really say that? This is probaly an error because all the online websites state that Nadia aired between 1990-1991. Plus i found a Japanese Magazine with a Nadia cover from 1990 and they usually only do covers for anime released that year.

Thanks for the suggestion, if i do turn out to be wrong i will happily put it on the list.

[Levon]

Some more

Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985)
Once Upon a Time (1986)
Black Magic M-66 (1987)
Wings of Honneamise (1987)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988)
Dominion Tank Police (1988)
Hades Project Zeorymer (1988)

I'm not sure if Guyver should count or not, the OVA started in 1989 & ended in 1992.

[Area88]

Thanks added all of them except 'Once Upon a Time' which is a hacked version of Windria done by Harmony Gold. It would be like putting Robotech or Transformers (many don't realise it was animated in Japan) on the list when i consider neither to be anime.

I never understood why ADV licensed the hacked version and not the original.

[greg]

I never understood why ADV licensed the hacked version and not the original.

Probably because Carl Macek works for them.

[Whoomp]

Thank's for the list, really useful. Didn't even know that some of those series had been released on dvd. Also I would like to add:

Toward the Terra (1980)
...which has been licensed by Nozomi (RightStuf) to be released on dvd.

[Area88]

Lol, thanks for reviving this thread. Forgot I even created it.

I will add Toward the Terra to the list.

[reversethief]

Great list to have, thanks! Too bad so many DVDs are out of print.

[Caster13]

The Irresponsible Captain Tylor (1993)

I know it's not (nearly) as old as the others, but considering this is 2008, it's still 15 years old. Unfortunately it's not that well known.

And it's freakin hilarious.:lol::lol::lol:

[Broand]

I'm currently looking at a box of what I believe to be Legend of the galactic heroes in french sub. 42 episode collectors editon. Released in 2007. Said show was made in 1978.

Is this eligible for that list?

[Area88]

That can't be right aurthur51, the original Legend of the Galactic Heroes is a 110 episode series that started in 1988 and ended in 1997. There are also many sequels and prequels too.

I can only add to list if it's Region 1 and includes Japanese with English subtitles.

I'll consider extended it to the early 90's but only if thats what others want, the list may become too big.

[Broand]

I Googled it. The DVD isn't LofGH at all. It's Space Pirate Captain Harlock. Sorry for the mix up. It was written ALBATOR which I thought meant Legend and Corsaire that I thought meant heroes.

Doing some further Googling. I found that it is Very popular in france and possibly Canada and that Harlock was changed to Albator due to possible mixups with Captain Haddock.

Sorry for that mix up.

Edit: It has dubs as well into french.

[thewayneiac]

Heh, heh. I had read half of this thread before I noticed it was two years old. Anyway, if there's one title on your list that is definately not a classic, that would be Angel Cop. It's one of the worst shows I've ever seen, right down there with M.D. Geist. It's your list, of course, but I'd reccomend you remove it.

[Suiko Eiji]

^The list is more about old, aged classics rather than a classic that implies qualitative reasons.

Though, Angel Cop is classic, just not in the 'good' category. If you watch it and take it seriously, you wind up with a sick taste in your mouth. But, if you watch it for the absurdity, then it's a comedic gold mine.

[hiei_kurama27]

Has everyone forgotten about Yawara! ? The first boxset should be released in due time. (when? who knows)

[Levon]

I think they have to be released first in order to be in the list.

[Hisoka]

Speaking of Yawara, looks like the release date is still unknown. Is AnimEigo only pressing enough to fill the preorders? I still need to get on that and I assume their site is the place to do so. But it's currently down... :unsure:

[tenshi_a]

I guess this list needs the Imaginasian stuff on it now...

I've got an R1 Sonic Soldier Borgman DVD at home that I think is 1980s...

I also own a DVD that's a double-bill with the Digital Devil OVA and "The Cockpit" on it, but it's probably a UK-only release - I wouldn't know if there was a US version as well.

Wasn't the Hokuto No Ken movie and part of the 1st series released on DVD too?

[John]

Potentially another two entries for the list.

A massively edited and altered English dubbed "movie" version of the 1977 Rintaro directed TV series "Arrow Emblem: Grand Prix no Taka" was released on American DVD in 2001 by Liberty International as "Super Grand Prix."

Gisaburo Sugii's 1976 Jack no Mame no Ki (Jack & the Beanstalk) movie is available on bilingual (but dubtitled) American DVD from Henstooth Video.

[tenshi_a]

Oh! I have that "Super Grand Prix" DVD, it's pretty funny - he still has his original name written on his cap but no-one notices. My dad said he saw it before we got the DVD - on TV under the name of "Crash Corrigan". He was a drag racer and then became a rally driver... and about 3/4 through the film in the middle of a race he learned a special move - how to turn corners. :lol:

Well, maybe it was handbrake turns, but all the same, :lol: it's as though he had no idea how to drive a car apart from in absolute straight lines! No wonder he kept crashing! :lol:

I don't know if it was originally like that or because of editing...

When I got the "Super Grand Prix" DVD, I also picked up another DVD at the same time, released by the same company. It's called "MAGNOS THE ROBOT" and it's actually a bunch of episodes of the 1970s super robot anime Magnerobo Gakeen stuck together (as far as I can tell - I know it's Gakeen but I don't know about the edits).

Again, I don't know if this was released in the US - I picked it up in the UK.

I've also got some other cheap dub-only DVDs from £1 shops, released by a company called "23rd Century" - there are a few of the ("Force Five") episodes of Starzinger ("Sci-Bots") and Getter Robo G ("Starvengers") and Gaiking ("Attack of the Xelans"), also in the range is some dubbed Choujin Locke ("Star Warrior 1 and 2") and a few episodes of a Don Quixote (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1316) anime. All bargain bucket fodder.

There are also some old World Masterpiece Theatre films dubbed into English... and I don't know how you'd classify stuff like Willy Fogg or Dogtanian and the Muskehounds...

Oh, I just remembered one more thing - a few months ago someone was wondering about something they'd seen ages ago as a childhood memory and it turned out to be Kerokko Demetan, which he was happy to be able to seek out a DVD of. :)

[John]

I've only watched the first episode of the original Japanese Grand Prix no Taka series, but even in that first episode the protagonist crashed twice. I do recall wondering how he could be a pro driver if he can't ever manage to finish a race.

[slyfox299]

Might I ask that you not forget the infamous Hikari no Densetsu? It came out around '84 or '86, around the time of the Japanese olympics, if I am correct... Thanks!

(sorry to revive a *dead* post...)