3 Classic Anime That Were Far Ahead of Their Time
Anime has always been admired for its affinity for boundary-pushing and its passion for bringing novel, creative ideas to life. A medium with a rich history that goes back many decades, it constantly innovates by implementing new production and animation technologies, spearheading new storytelling trends, and experimenting with various art styles.
Among anime’s timeless classics, there are many series that, even today, feel novel and seemingly untouched by age. They pioneered the ideas that modern anime series commonly explore years before they became mainstream, and some of them even led to the creation of entirely new genres. Vastly ahead of their time, these anime titles’ groundbreaking nature helped them preserve their relevance for decades.
Dragon Ball has basically created the formula for modern battle shonen series, especially during the show’s later evolutions in Dragon Ball Z, which notably altered its fundamental plot and structure. From dramatic power-ups to tournament arcs to incredible character transformations, many of the shonen tropes used to this day were popularized by Dragon Ball. Even if it might not feel fresh and novel today, it was undeniably ahead of its time.
Instead, Ashita no Joe is a gritty, brutal story of hard-earned success that stars a flawed, at times unlikable protagonist whose plights and psychological burdens are never glamorized. Ashita no Joe possesses unique rawness and honesty, speaking of the struggles of not just athletes, but all people living on society’s edges, which made it resonate with the politically conscious working-class people of Japan.
Watching the original Gundam anime today, it still feels shockingly ahead of its time. The animation might be dated, but the story itself is complex, poignant, and effective at depicting war, even a cosmic one, as something tangibly horrifying and life-ruining. It's no wonder that Gundam, despite not being an immediate success, became such a prominent cultural icon.
Among anime’s timeless classics, there are many series that, even today, feel novel and seemingly untouched by age. They pioneered the ideas that modern anime series commonly explore years before they became mainstream, and some of them even led to the creation of entirely new genres. Vastly ahead of their time, these anime titles’ groundbreaking nature helped them preserve their relevance for decades.
Dragon Ball
Today, the original Dragon Ball series, or even Dragon Ball Z, hardly feel like particularly revolutionary shows. However, there is a reason why, back in the day, it made such a big splash and has maintained such awe-inspiring popularity and fan loyalty to this day.You may also like
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Dragon Ball has basically created the formula for modern battle shonen series, especially during the show’s later evolutions in Dragon Ball Z, which notably altered its fundamental plot and structure. From dramatic power-ups to tournament arcs to incredible character transformations, many of the shonen tropes used to this day were popularized by Dragon Ball. Even if it might not feel fresh and novel today, it was undeniably ahead of its time.
Ashita no Joe
Ashita no Joe is rightfully regarded as one of the most influential anime series, not just in the sports genre but in the medium as a whole. Released in 1970, Ashita no Joe doesn’t chronicle a classic feel-good underdog story with common values of friendship and hard work (even if these themes are also prominent in the series).Instead, Ashita no Joe is a gritty, brutal story of hard-earned success that stars a flawed, at times unlikable protagonist whose plights and psychological burdens are never glamorized. Ashita no Joe possesses unique rawness and honesty, speaking of the struggles of not just athletes, but all people living on society’s edges, which made it resonate with the politically conscious working-class people of Japan.
Mobile Suit Gundam
It’s no secret for any mecha fan that the history of what the genre is best known for today as a military sci-fi dramas that blend fantastical heroics with grueling wartime realism largely started with Mobile Suit Gundam. Gundam 0079 basically created the “real robot” subgenre of mecha, on top of spanning one of the most expansive and successful franchises in the medium.Watching the original Gundam anime today, it still feels shockingly ahead of its time. The animation might be dated, but the story itself is complex, poignant, and effective at depicting war, even a cosmic one, as something tangibly horrifying and life-ruining. It's no wonder that Gundam, despite not being an immediate success, became such a prominent cultural icon.
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