Notable Animes for the 60’s

Here is a list of notable anime from the 1960s, a pioneering era in Japanese animation, particularly for the TV anime format:

1960

  1. Astro Boy (1960 Pilot) – Prototype of what would become “Astro Boy.”

1961

  1. Otogi Manga Calendar – The first Japanese anime TV series.

1963

  1. Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom) – Considered the first popular Japanese TV anime, created by Osamu Tezuka.
  2. Wanpaku Ōji no Orochi Taiji – A theatrical film known in English as “The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon.”

1964

  1. Shōnen Ninja Kaze no Fujimaru – A ninja-themed anime series.
  2. Big X – Created by Osamu Tezuka, a science fiction anime involving a Nazi invention.

1965

  1. Jungle Taitei (Kimba the White Lion) – A classic anime also created by Osamu Tezuka, often credited with being one of the first full-color TV anime series.
  2. Obake no Q-tarō – A light-hearted anime about a ghost that befriends humans.

1966

  1. Sally the Witch (Mahōtsukai Sally) – Considered the first “magical girl” anime.
  2. Prince Planet (Yūsei Shōnen Papii) – A space-themed superhero anime.
  3. Rainbow Sentai Robin – A team-based superhero anime series.
  4. Bōken Gabotenjima – An adventure series that aired for a short time.

1967

  1. Golden Bat (Ōgon Bat) – An anime adaptation of one of Japan’s oldest superheroes.
  2. Captain Ultra – A sci-fi anime with a futuristic setting.
  3. Mach GoGoGo (Speed Racer) – An anime about racing cars, later popularized in the U.S. as “Speed Racer.”
  4. Pyūta no Bōken – A series of animated shorts about a boy and his adventures.
  5. Perman – A superhero anime created by Fujiko Fujio.

1968

  1. Kaibutsu-kun – A comedic anime about a prince from the Monster Land.
  2. GeGeGe no Kitarō – A supernatural series about yokai (Japanese ghosts/monsters).
  3. The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun – A landmark anime film by Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki.

1969

  1. Sazae-san – A long-running slice-of-life anime that started in 1969 and continues to this day.
  2. Dororo – An anime about a ronin and his quest to reclaim his stolen body parts, created by Osamu Tezuka.
  3. Star of the Giants (Kyojin no Hoshi) – A baseball anime considered one of the most influential sports anime of all time.
  4. Moomin – An anime adaptation of the Swedish-Finnish Moomin stories.

This era was foundational in shaping the anime industry, with many series helping to establish the genres and styles that would become popular in the following decades.

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