Updated September 1, 2022 by Ernie
Anime was not born in the 60s, however, they broke through many walls during those great years. New genres were introduced, masterpieces were created, and they dared to defy and depict taboo topics.
Table of Contents
A lot happened in the 60s and some of the anime that were created at that time became so famous that they are not forgotten even today.
To make sure the new generation of Otaku doesn’t miss out on legendary titles that are must-watch, I prepared a small list of the Best 60s Anime ever released.
BEST 60’S ANIME THAT WILL BRING YOU BACK TO THE OLD DAYS
16. Princess Knight
Title |
Princess Knight |
Author |
Osamu Tezuka |
Genre |
Action, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Mushi Production |
Premiered |
Apr 2, 1967 |
Episode Count |
52 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
Princess Knight is the very first anime that depicted an androgynous female main character. Sapphire is the Princess of her kingdom. Although born with a girl’s body, she possesses the mind of a righteous boy.
Since the King and Queen had no male successor, they decided to hide the sex of their daughter and raised her as the man who will inherit the throne one day.
I know it sounds like a cruel fate but I assure you, Sapphire couldn’t have been more okay with this. However, the evil ministers ended up uncovering her secret and are hell-bent on exposing her to the world in order to grab power for themselves.
Sapphire above all those perky schemes disguised herself as the “Princess Knight” and unleashed her sword of justice on the devils that are trying to ruin her kingdom.
15. Horus: Prince of the Sun
Title |
Horus: Prince of the Sun |
Author |
Kazuo Fukazawa |
Genre |
Adventure, Drama |
Type |
Movie |
Studio |
Toei Animation |
Premiered |
Jul 21, 1968 |
Episode Count |
1 episode |
Duration |
1 hr. 22 min. |
You will see many firsts in this list, and that includes this movie. This was the first of many future collaborations between Director Isao Takahata and the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki!
Horus is just a little boy who has to shoulder the fate of the world upon his small shoulder just because of an unlucky twist of destiny.
Hunted by a horde of wolves, as he was running for his life, he stumbled upon a sword, however, that sword was special. Known as the sword of the sun, the weapon possesses incredible power and thus he managed to survive.
Sometime later, his father drew his last breath and Horus decided to go on an adventure to find the mystical village his dad had told him about.
On his way, he got mixed up with Grunwald, the leader of an evil organization that is trying to take over the world, and now it is up to him to stop them.
14. Cyborg 009
Title |
Cyborg 009 |
Author |
Shotaro Ishinomori |
Genre |
Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi |
Type |
Movie |
Studio |
Toei Animation |
Premiered |
Jul 21, 1966 |
Episode Count |
1 episode |
Duration |
1 hr. 5 min. |
This animated movie is the first that introduced the concept of a superhero team composed of members from different origins and backgrounds.
Based on the manga of the same name, Cyborg 009 movie will start by giving you a small flashback on 009 to then move on to some awesome battle scene depicting a war between him and the Black Ghosts at the head of their evil robot army.
13. Tetsujin 28-gou
Title |
Tetsujin 28-gou |
Author |
Mitsuteru Yokoyama |
Genre |
Adventure, Sci-Fi |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Eiken |
Premiered |
Oct 20, 1963 |
Episode Count |
96 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
The concept of giant robots was inspired by this legendary animated series. War was raging on planet Earth and the humans were up against aliens.
To give them a fighting chance, Dr.Haneda started building a giant warrior robot, however, before he could finalize his masterpiece, the enemy dropped bombs on his facility destroying everything inside and stripping him of his life as well.
Some years later, criminals put their hands on prototype No. 26 and prototype No. 27 and used them to commit heinous crimes while trying to find the last and most powerful prototype, No. 28.
The son of the Doctor Haneda got wind of their plan and is now trying to stop them although he is only 12. I see that anime were born with no age logic.
12. Sally the Witch
Title |
Sally the Witch |
Author |
Mitsuteru Yokoyama |
Genre |
Fantasy |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Toei Animation |
Premiered |
Dec 5, 1966 |
Episode Count |
109 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
Meet Sally, the first magical girl in the anime universe! She looks cute and all but she is in fact a mischievous little princess who has her eyes set on the mysterious world of humans.
She ran away from home, travelled to Earth, magically built a giant mansion, and made two friends. Everything was going smoothly, and she was having the time of her life.
One day, her friends forgot something at the store and went back at night to retrieve it only to get captured by thieves. Sally rescued them with her power and somehow she managed to do it without them realizing that she could use magic.
Finding the human world even more interesting, she decided to settle forever. She endorsed a new identity, enrolled at her friends’ school while her royal parents are ripping their hair out back at home.
11. Prince Planet
Title |
Prince Planet |
Author |
Hideoki INOUE |
Genre |
Action, Sci-fi |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Eiken |
Premiered |
Jun 3, 1965 |
Episode Count |
52 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
This series was one of the first Japanese anime that ever aired on American television. The story revolves around a member of the Universal Peace Corps. The boy travelled all the way to Earth for a very special mission.
He is to determine whether the Blue Planet is fit to enter the Galactic Union of Worldsor not.Upon arrival, he takes a human name, Bobby, and infiltrates the human civilization to live among them.
During his time with us, he made many different comrades, and people he got attached to and suddenly his mission became much more than a simple task.
As aliens are trying to spread chaos on the planet that he grew to love, he will do anything in his power to keep his new home safe
10. Ougon Bat
Title |
Ougon Bat |
Author |
Suzuki Ichiro and Takeo Nagamatsu |
Genre |
Action, Sci-fi |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Dai-Ichi Douga, Dongyang Animation |
Premiered |
Apr 1, 1967 |
Episode Count |
52 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
Now I think you are gonna like that but Marvel and DC weren’t the creators of comic superheroes, the first one ever created was, Ougon Bat. Anime are the mothers of superheroes, how cool is that!
He is a fighter, a warrior covered in gold. He wears a cape, wields a scepter and his face resembles a skeleton. Looks more like a villain to me.
Formally the protector of the mythical Atlantis before it sank, he was in an eternal slumber in a tomb covered in ancient hieroglyphics.
Years later, a scientist and his assistant, the kind and beautiful Marie, found him and freed him. When the tomb opened, a golden bat appeared and evil laughter surrounded the room. Bad omens announcing the beginning of doom.
However, the bad omens weren’t directed toward the awakened spirit but at the arrival of the horrifying Dr. Zero that our new superhero is going to fight.
9. Rainbow Sentai Robin
Title |
Rainbow Sentai Robin |
Author |
Shotaro Ishinomori |
Genre |
Action, Sci-fi, Adventure |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Toei Animation |
Premiered |
Apr 23, 1966 |
Episode Count |
48 episodes |
Duration |
26 min. per ep. |
The 60s had a thing for robots. One anime about them came out and suddenly thousands followed. But this one is kind of special, it’s not a first for anything, it’s just that the plot sets itself apart from all the other robot series.
On a faraway planet called Palta, the inhabitants, terrorized, knew that they were at dooms door, and their home days could be counted.
To save themselves, they began searching for resources on neighboring planets and guessed which one matched their criteria, Earth!
Prepared to annihilate humankind, it’s now us who are in mortal danger. The government, out of ideas to defend the Earth, requested the help of a boy called Robin.
What can a boy do you might ask, well, it’s not him that they desired specifically but his collection of robots. Why does he have such advanced technology? His father is a Paltan spy!
However, he fell in love with his mother, so when he was asked to return, he left behind the robots to protect his wife and son and they will turn out to be Earth’s only hope.
8. Shounen Ninja Kaze no Fujimaru
Title |
Shounen Ninja Kaze no Fujimaru |
Author |
Sanpei Shirato |
Genre |
Action, Adventure |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Toei Animation |
Premiered |
Jun 7, 1964 |
Episode Count |
65 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Let’s go back to our firsts, this is the first ninja anime that was ever released, as far as I know of course, if you have any older titles than this one please don’t hesitate to share.
A young boy called Fujimaru was kidnapped to be sold as a slave. Luckily he was saved by a wandering ninja. However, unable to bring him back home, he decided to make him his very first pupil.
Imagine Fujimaru sensei’s surprise when he witnessed his student controlling the wind. Sure that he was going to become one of the best martial artists in the world, no, scratch that! THE BEST martial artist in the world! He was determined to share all his knowledge and most prized techniques with him.
The boy grew up, strong and proud, but there was still something missing in his heart and that was parental love.
He set on a journey to find his mother and picked up skills and technique along the way, refined them, mastered them, just how far is he going to go on the road of martial excellency.
7. Youkai Ningen Bem
Title |
Youkai Ningen Bem |
Author |
Akira Adachi |
Genre |
Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Dai-Ichi Douga |
Premiered |
Oct 7, 1968 |
Episode Count |
26 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
Kind of a first, Youkai Ningen Bem, is the first horror anime on that list! Does that count? Not really? Okay, but it’s still the first anime that features devilish creatures like monsters and demons and such. It’s said to be a horror anime, but I doubt any of you will get petrified in fear while watching.
Here we have three main characters, the three of them are demons or Youkais: Ben who looks like a dark elf gangster, Bero, a middle-aged man who looks like a kid and Bera an oversized witch.
Abused and discriminated against by humankind due to their different appearance, the three peculiar MCs still decide to fight against their own kind in order to protect a weak boy who suffers from endless monster attacks.
What do they have to gain? They simply desire to become humans themselves and this is the condition that was given to them if they wanted to make their wishes come true.
6. Speed Racer
Title |
Speed Racer |
Author |
Tatsuo Yoshida |
Genre |
Adventure |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Tatsunoko Production |
Premiered |
Apr 2, 1967 |
Episode Count |
52 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
Here we have the first racing anime ever made! The humans just invented an extraordinary car, the Mach 5. A machine at the peak of technology (for their time of course), it’s a racing car with the most powerful engine on Earth, plus it is equipped with many Kakkoii gadgets that will most probably never be used!
Don’t try to race one, your chances of winning is at -1%. Any racer would kill to get to drive it, unfortunately, the car already has an owner, a kid called Gou Mifune who still didn’t even make it to the world of professional racing.
How did he get this gem? That’s because it’s his father who builds it. Is he worthy of it? Right now, I believe not, but he will make sure to prove the contrary to us and all the characters in the series.
One problem, the man who gave him the car doesn’t want him stepping off a racing track. But which kid listens to their parent’s advice? Certainly not him, determined to become the number one racer in the world, it’s not a simple “No” that was going to stop him.
However, the young boy will soon learn that it is not the machine that makes the pilot but the pilot who makes the machine, meaning that a prodigy on the wheel of a mediocre car can turn it into a beast on the road.
5. Sabu & Ichi’s Arrest Warrant
Title |
Sabu & Ichi’s Arrest Warrant |
Author |
Shotaro Ishimori |
Genre |
Action, Adventure, Drama, Slice of Life |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Toei Animation |
Premiered |
Oct 3, 1968 |
Episode Count |
52 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
In the 60s, anime were still considered kids‘ series, however, Sabu & Ichi’s Arrest Warrant is one of the rare stories that was written for an adult audience due to its mature content.
The series unravels the adventures of Sabu. Sabu is a young investigator engaged to the daughter of a police officer working for Tokugawa shogunate, in other words, his boss, her name is Midori.
However, instead of spending his days with the ravishing woman, he travels the land accompanied by a blind and bold master swordsman.
Of course, he doesn’t do it for fun, together, they assist the inhabitants in solving their thief-related problems and right wrongs perpetrated by dirty and greedy officials who abuse the authority that they were given.
4. Attack No. 1
Title |
Attack No. 1 |
Author |
Chikako Urano |
Genre |
Drama, Sports |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Tokyo Marine Shinsha |
Premiered |
Dec 7, 1969 |
Episode Count |
104 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Attack No. 1 is responsible for the fame and adoration of the shōjo genre in the 60s. You can consider it the Haikyuu of old times.
The series tells the story of Kozue. The young high school girl is a volleyball addict, she adores the sport, it’s everything to her and of course, she is determined to make it big
Don’t worry she’s not Hinata, she doesn’t suck. She started competing in small interschool’s competitions and from there she started to climb up the ladder of fame.
Now a player in the international volleyball championship, the reality suddenly hit her. Success was just a beautiful word, but on top, there was absolutely nothing that was beautiful.
The ever higher expectations, the pressures, the dirty looks, the envy, the jealousy, the backstabbing, big problems that will look small compared to the problems she is about to face.
3. Ninpuu Kamui Gaiden
Title |
Ninpuu Kamui Gaiden |
Author |
Sanpei Shirato |
Genre |
Action, Adventure |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Tele-Cartoon Japan |
Premiered |
Apr 6, 1969 |
Episode Count |
26 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
Another one of the rare adult anime shows in the 60s, one that will touch you to your core. I watched it myself, and I vouch for how great it is!
Kamui, not Kakashi’s technique, it’s the name of a ninja who lived in the Edo period in Japan. Because of a certain turn of events, he decided to abandon his clan and claim his freedom.
Like that was going to be easy, deserters, and traitors only deserve death and you know how stubborn ninjas can be. Practically every one of his ex-comrades are now after his throat and he only managed to survive so far thanks to his wits, intelligence, and talent, in other words, he is just that much better than they are.
However, living hunted and on your guard, every second of every day takes a toll on the mind and Kamui ended up suffering from severe paranoia.
Now thinking that everyone around him plans on murdering him he is unable to put his trust in any human being. Will Kamui ever bond with another soul again?
2. Astro Boy
Title |
Astro Boy |
Author |
Osamu Tezuka |
Genre |
Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Mushi Production |
Premiered |
Jan 1, 1963 |
Episode Count |
193 episodes |
Duration |
26 min. per ep. |
If I tell you that Astro Boy is one of the most influential animated series that was ever made, would you believe me? Well, even if you don’t, that doesn’t change the fact that it is. I mean that series aired in 1963 and even today there is not one Otaku who hasn’t heard of it.
Set in the future for the characters, in the distant past for us now, we are in the year 2003. Professor Tenma just lost his only son in a car accident and decided to drown himself in work in order to try and ease or most exactly forget the pain.
He ended up building a robot with the appearance of a young boy who is encoded to be “forever good”. I think you realized it, he tried to make a replacement for his dead son.
The robot might look like him and act like him, however, there is one major difference, the robot that he named Atom will never grow up.
Unable to look at him anymore, he sells him to an evil circus owner called Ham Egg and directly escapes his grasp when he is adopted by a kind Doctor who not only builds him a sister but also taught him what it really meant to be good.
1. Dororo
Title |
Dororo |
Author |
Osamu Tezuka |
Genre |
Action, Adventure, Supernatural |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Mushi Production |
Premiered |
Apr 6, 1969 |
Episode Count |
26 episodes |
Duration |
26 min. per ep. |
Now the number one pick really came down to personal taste. Dororo is and will forever be one of the greatest series that I ever watched and I thought I’d share it with you, putting it in the first position to make sure I’ll excite you enough to watch it.
It is known to be the first admission in the World Masterpiece Theater series and it is also the creepiest and scariest anime series of its century.
Lord Daigo Kagemitsu’s domain was dying. To secure his position and power, he offered his newborn son to be sacrificed and devoured by 48 demons.
However, the boy’s will to live was too strong and the last demon failed to strip him of his soul, the boy lived but he was left with no limbs, flesh, eyes, mouth, or nose.
The cruel lord threw him in a river to die a slow death and yet the boy survived once again. He was adopted by a prosthetic maker (how convenient) who made him a body from scratch.
You’d believe he would grow up as a disabled burden, well think again. He might not be able to see, however, he can feel souls, he might not have real legs and yet he moves at lightning speed and possesses inhuman reflexes. He wields the Katanas that he has for arm better than a master swordsman.The boy is OP!
He also discovered that if he slays the demons that ate his body parts he would retrieve what he lost and this is when the grand hunt began!
Conclusion
