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Astro Boy
(DAY and MONTH N/A) Astro Boy, comic series created by Osame Tezuka, became very popular. This series is about a robotic boy and his adventures. This series really influenced future Japanese manga and anime creators. -
Animated Astro Boy
(DAY and MONTH N/A) Astro Boy was animated and hit the airwaves. It became a huge hit in Japan and the animated version became a worldwide classic when it was translated for Americans several years afterwards. -
Speed Racer
(DAY and MONTH N/A) An anime called 'Speed Racer' was aired. 'Speed Racer' is called 'Mach Go Go Go!' in Japan. Today, 'Speed Racer' is just as popualr as it was three decades ago. -
Mazinger Z
(DAY and MONTH N/A) Mazinger Z aired in Japan. Mazinger Z single-handly created the giant Japanese robot genre. It was aired in America a decade later under the name 'Tanzor Z'. -
Getta Robo
(DAY and MONTH N/A) By the same person as Mazinger Z. This anime invented the concept of transforming vehicles that can transform into a robot. It was later aired in America as 'Starvengers' and formed part of the Shogun Warriors series of toys. -
Mobile Suit Gundam
(DAY and MONTH N/A) Mobile Suit Gundam aired. It featured giant war machines and was aimed at an older audience from the giant robot genre. -
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross
(DAY and MONTH N/A) This anime was wildly popular and was about robots that transform into fighter jets. It was imported into America several years later as 'Robotech'. It has 'enchanted' fans for nearly two decades. -
Akira
(DAY and MONTH N/A) An incredibly detailed, dark violent and adult oriented anime that had Americans questioning their preconceptions of Japanese animation as kids' stuff. It remains a masterpiece of Japanese sci-fi today. -
Ghost in the Shell
(DAY and MONTH N/A) This one was another dark and violent anime that was set into Japan's future. It became an international sensation and cemented Japan's reputation as 'premier animation creators'. -
Princess Mononoke
(DAY and MONTH N/A) It was screened in American art theatres. In a leap forward to treat animation seriously, Disney imported the film, which was a number one box-office hi in 1998.
