Animage Lists Most Important Anime Ever

Animage Magazine, the oldest and most respected anime magazine in Japan, has published a list of what they consider the 100 most important anime of the 20th century, in terms of historical significance, influence and impact on the anime industry. Select entries from the list have been translated and posted on the ‘web.

In order of importance:

1. Hakujaden (Tale of the White Serpent), movie, 1958
2. Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy), TV, 1963
3. Horus, Prince of the Sun, movie, 1968
4. Kumotochuribu, 1943
8. Ashita no Joe, TV, 1970
9. Lupin III, TV, 1971
10. Gatchaman, TV, 1972
11. Mazinger Z, TV, 1972
13. Space Battleship Yamato, TV, 1974
19. Space Battleship Yamato, movie, 1978
20. Future Boy Conan, TV, 1978
22. Aim for the Ace, TV, 1979
23. Akage no Anne, TV, 1979
24. Mobile Suit Gundam, TV, 197
25. The Ideon: Be Invoked, Movie, 1982
27. Armored Trooper Votoms, TV, 1983
28. Galaxy Express 999, movie, 1979
29. Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro, movie, 1979
30. Urusei Yatsura, TV, 1981
31. SDF Macross, TV, 1982
35. Daicon Films, (fan produced anime), 1983
38. Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, movie, 1984
39. Macross: Do You Remember, Love?, movie, 1984
42. Wings of the Honneamise, movie, 1987
43. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, movie, 1984
44. Laputa: Castle in the Sky, movie, 1986
45. Tonari no Totoro, movie, 1988
46. Grave of the Fireflies, movie, 1988
47. Princess Mononoke, movie, 1997
48. Dr. Slump, TV, 1981
49. Captain Tsubasa, TV, 1983
50. Fist of the North Star, TV, 1984
51. Touch, TV, 1985
52. Dragonball, TV, 1986
53. Saint Seiya, TV, 1986
55. Yu Yu Hakusho, TV, 1992
56. Yoju Toshi (Wicked City), OVA/movie, 1987
57. Akira, movie, 1988
58. Ghost in the Shell, movie, 1995
60. Gunbuster, OAV, 1988
61. Patlabor, OAV, 1988
62. Giant Robo, OAV, 1992
63. Tenchi Muyo, OAV, 1992
64. Ah! Megami-sama, OAV, 1993
65. Patlabor 2 movie, 1993
66. Tokyo Babylon 2, OAV, 1994
67. Macross Plus, OAV, 1994
68. Memories, movie, 1996
69. Mahou Tsukai Tai, OAV, 1996
70. Blue Submarine No. 6, OAV, 1998
71. Sailor Moon, TV, 1992
72. Nadia: Secret of Blue Water, TV, 1990
73. Crayon Shin-chan, TV, 1992
74. Mobile Suit G Gundam, TV, 1994
76. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, TV, 1995
77. Kodomo no Omocha, TV, 1996
78. Escaflowne, TV, 1996
79. Slayers Try, TV, 1997
80. Revolutionary Girl Utena, TV, 1997
82. Pokemon, TV, 1997
83. Cowboy Bebop, TV, 1998
85. Serial Experiments Lain, TV, 1998
88. Digimon: The Movie, 2000
89. Jin-Roh, movie, 2000
90. Blood: The Last Vampire, movie, 2000
91. Card Captor Sakura, TV, 1998
93. Neon Genesis Evangelion, TV, 1995
94. Hunter X Hunter, TV, 1999
95. One Piece, TV, 1999
96. Detective Conan, TV, 1996
97. Love Hina, TV, 2000
98. Sakura Taisen, TV, 2000
99. Martian Successor Nadesico, TV, 1996
100. Doraemon, TV, 1979

Close inspection of the list reveals some interesting placements. No OAV series placed higher than #60 on the list. Akira ranked 57th. G-Gundam made the list while Zeta Gundam did not. Kodomo no Omocha made the list while Marmalade Boy did not. Jubei nin Pocho (Ninja Scroll) did not make it onto the list; neither did Bubblegum Crisis, Fushigi Yuugi, Rurouni Kenshin or Rayearth, yet Tokyo Babylon OAV 2, Maho Tsukai Tai and the Sakura Taisen TV series did. Doraemon placed #100 while Sazae-chan and Chibi Maruko-chan were not included at all. Jungle Taitei (Kimba), Captain Harlock (TV or movie) and Gatchaman did not make the list. The Ah! Megami-sama, Evangelion, Utena and Escaflowne movies did not make the list. The only Slayers anime acknowledged was the third TV season. Seminal shoujo shows Ribbon no Kishi (Princess Knight) and Minky Momo were not included on the list.

Source: UMJAMS Anime News