Trying to Please Everyone: Or Converting multiple Pop Culture Utopias into a Timeline.
- Thread starter Marco Incognito
- Start date
1980 in Anime
Anime in 1980
Due to the success of Galaxy Express 999 and Gatchaman. Compilation Movies Post 1979 became more common, usually created with the express goal of condensing a series from show length into film length. These helped to make some anime more accessible as those who couldn’t commit to a full show could watch the film instead. Some, mainly those by Toei, reused animation from the original show, though some used original animation and the plot was rewritten to work in the different runtime.
Compilation Movies released this year:
Tomorrow’s Joe- The ambiguous ending of the original is remarkably kept intact.
Nobody’s Boy: Remi-By the same studio and director. It also kept the surprise twist revealed in its sequel.
From the Apennines to the Andes- Miyazaki helped touch up the animation as a favor to Takahata.
Cyborg 009-Somewhat easier as the series started with a film, meaning the film is a remake and conclusion as well as an anniversary celebration.
The Wizard of Oz(1980)
An Adaptation of the 1900 L.Frank Baum novel airing on World Masterpiece Theatre and the first American adaptation on the show. Taking a queue from the 1939 film, the story begins in Black and White and transitions to color, but with the film switching from monaural Vistavision to Quadraphonic Cinemascope[1].
The Little’ Bits(1980)
A 26 episode series produced by Tatsunoko Productions in cooperation with TV Tokyo. Directed by Masayuki Hayashi and produced by Ippei Kuri.. The series enjoyed popularity in Europe,the Middle East and Spanish speaking countries. It was often compared to the Smurfs. The series follows a race of tiny people living in a village, focusing mainly on the children. Willbit is the main protagonist and is in love with Lillabit but clashes with Snagglebit over her affection. All characters follow the “Bit” naming scheme. The most controversial of the characters was “Drunkabit” which in the original Japanese was depicted as Drunk, something unchanged in the English dub to some controversy. Despite “Drunkabits’ alcoholism he proves to still be a caring father to Lillabit , who he adopted after her parents died and is respected as the town doctor. The plot of the last two episodes has the children characters learn her parents are alive and were exiled and go to search for them. They are revealed to belong to a warring tribe called the Wanderbits that nearly drove the Bits to extinction. In the end after Lillibits parents help save the children and turn on their tribe, they are allowed back into the village. Immediately after an earthquake, actually a man walking by, causes devastates the village and everyone is forced to work together to rebuild. Liillibit is also show not be able to talk to animals and recruit their help such as Snuffly the flying Squirrel and Blue the Hedgehog. The show frequently touted messages and morals for children, including messages on family and prejudice[2].
The Wonderful Adventures of Nils(1980-1981)
Based on the 1906 novel of the same name by Swedish author Selma Lagerlof. It ran for 52 episodes on NHK and was produced by Pierrot(it was their first animated series as they were founded in 1979, sticking true to the original but adding a pet hamster and more scenes to Smile the Fox, adding cut animal sidekicks. It was directed by Hiyasuki Toriumi. Nils Holgersson is a 14 year old boy who is lazy and disrespectful and loved to bully the animals on the farm. One day while home alone, Nils captures a Nils, a gnomelike creature in Scandinavian folklore, who turns Nils into a Tomte himself along with his pet hamster, granting him the ability to talk the animals. The animals all try to get revenge on the shrunken Nils for their torment on his hands. Niles escapes by jumping onto a goose named Morten’s back, as Morten wants to join the flock. As a result her is taken along for a ride as they fly and adventure across Sweden,encountering other animals and Nils begins to learn lessons about helping others and not being selfish. Nils also learns from the Tomte that if he changes his ways, the Tomte might change him back.
Maeterlinck’s Blue Bird: Tyltyl and Mytyl’s Adventurous Journey(1980)
Based on the 1908 play by Maurice Maeterlinck. Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa with character designs by Leiji Matsumoto and running for 26 episodes. The series is set in a German speaking country in the 1970’s and follows 12 year old girl Mytyl and her 13 year old brother Tyltyl as they attempt to catch the Blue Bird of Happiness which would bring them eternal happiness with the aid of the fairy Berylune. They are followed by a cat and dog named Shanet and Tyrol who are given anthropomorphic forms and the ability to talk by Berylune.
Invincible Robo Trider G7(1980-1981)
A series created by Hajime Yatate and produced by Sunrise. Narration was provided by Ichirou Nagai, who did the narration on Mobile Suit Gundam. Takeo Watanabe and Yuushi Matsuyama wrote both the soundtrack for Mobile Suit Gundam and Trider G7 but they were later discovered to have sampled other tracks to finish it on time. The series attempted to be as realistic as possible to prove a Mecha Giant Robot scenario. The world is attacked by an alien invasion of Giant Mechanized robots. The robots only kill and cannot communicate but several are taken down and researched. While the fear they will return is present, that fear does not seem to materialize but the nations of the world still prepare(one character theorizes that because space is so vast they likely will never encounter the robots or the species who invented them and first contact was just a fluke. He also doesn’t believe the aliens intended to be hostile invaders as any intelligent species would at least try to make peaceful contact first rather than invade immediately. Another belief is that the Mecha design wouldn’t have taken off if it wasn’t proven to work as designing human shaped machines for combat would be deemed impractical over Tanks and Ship designs.
America, the Soviet UNion, and China are the ones to build Giant robots, as they are the only world powers with enough resources, money, land and people to undergo this endeavor. Other nations in the world begin to fight amongst themselves to gain the resources necessary such as a war in South America as Brazil invades its neighbors. Canada and Mexico allow the US to annex them. The European Union grows much tighter while Africa and the Middle East has factions fighting amongst themselves to be the one to united the lands(though India succeeds in building a Mecha called Vishnu which devastates Pakistan). China has conquered Korea and attacked Japan but America sees China as too valuable an Ally in the war with the Machines and cannot help. Japan however, begins to fight back and win, making some nervous that they have become an imperial power and making America and the Soviet Union hesitant on joining aside. Japan gains its first Mecha in the titular Robo Trider G7 due to a scientist studying the machines defecting to the country. Adults are initially used to pilot the Mechas but China begins to employ Child soldiers(including the removal of the one child policy) and Japan is forced to do the same when the Home Islands are invaded and they need all able bodied pilots. One such child is the protagonist Watta[3].
Rescueman(1980-1981)
Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Produced by Kenji Yoshida for Tatsunoko Productions. The series is the third in the Time Bokan Series(Yatterman is seen as not counting). It follows three individuals Atachi, who wants to become the most beautiful woman in the world, Sekobitchi who wants to become the greatest scientist in the world, and Duwarusuki, who wants to be the greatest hero in the world. The catch is that all three are villains and are obsessed with their own ambitions rather than doing any actual good. In a twist, three time patrollers were killed and passed on the power to time travel not to worthy successors but to these three villains, who freely tamper with history when they realize that time travel creates an alternate universe where there changes stick instead of risking the space time continuum or altering their own. The three still end up being accidental heroes such as opposing an evil queen to kill her because Atachi thinks she is prettier than her, Sekibitchi proving his genius by solving a problem, or Duwarusuki genuinely doing good. The inspiration for the series came specifically because Doronbo and her gang where the most popular part of Yatterman and the popularity of Lupin the Third[4].
Back to the Forest(1980)
A TV Special airing on Fuji TV based on the children’s novel Jakobus Nimmersatt by German author Boy Lornsen. The story focuses on animals who’s forests are being torn down by humans, forcing them to declare war.
Monchhichi(1980)
Based on the line of Japanese stuffed Monkey toys made by the Sekiguchi Corporation that were released in 1974 and licensed by Mattel, which brought them over to the US. Tokyo 12 adapted the series[5].
Lalabel, the Magical Girl(1980-1981)
A Magical Girl series by Toei Animation that aired on TV Asahi. The series followed a Magical girl named Lalabel who lived in a magical world until a thief named Biscus stole several magical tools. She startles the thief and the tools fall through a portal into the human world. Lalabel falls through and is found by an elderly couple called the Tachibanas, who let her stay with them when they find out she is an orphan. Lalabel escapes until she can capture Biscus. She attends school with the granddaughter of the Tachibanas Teko and begins to fall in love and growing happy on Earth. In the finale she defeats Biscus and all the magical items are used up, rendering both human, meaning Lalabel stays on earth.
Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur(1980)
The first animated Doraemon Feature film. Based on a Doraemon story of the same name by Fujiko Fuji (who also wrote the script) and directed by Hiroshi Fukutomi. The pilot centers on Nobita, wanting a pet, using Doraemon’s time machine to abduct an egg, which hatches into a Plesiosaur that eventually becomes too big to hide after Nobita puts it in a pond and then a lake. After being forced to reveal what he did. His friends and Doraemon transport the Plesiosaur back in time but are attacked by a group of what turn out to be Dinosaur hunters from the 24th Century. Nobita takes the time machine and hides it in what later turns out to be the Loch Ness in Scotland before he retrieves it once they’re clear of the hunters. They then bring the Plesiosaur back to its own time period but the time machine is destroyed by the Dinosaur hunts and the group is forced to make their way through the Bering, or the land bridge between Asia and North America that broke apart to split the continents, encountering Dinosaurs along the way, to reach a point where the time machine parts where left on an earlier tripe, eventually defeating the hunters, saying goodbye to the Plesiosaur and going him.
Phoenix 2772(1980)
Based on the Osamu Tezuka Manga, which features the encounter of various people throughout history with the titular Phoenix. The film is set in the distant future of the title. The Earth is dying due to lack of resources and climate, leading humans to be created in test tubes and assigned roles by computers. Godo was born as a cadet and raised by a robot made named Olga. Rock. The dictator candidate for Prime Minister(“Played “ by the Metropolis antagonist), sends Godo to kill the capture the Phoenix as its blood will heal the Earth but Rock actually wants to drink the blood and become immortal. Godo is troubled by the mission as he views all living things as sacred. He is further conflicted when he learns Olga will be destroyed. He is also in love with Rena, who is the bride to be of Rock. Godo and Rena are caught and Godo is sent to a labour camp in Iceland where he meets Doctor Saruta, who plots a way to escape, find the Phoenix and save the world. The two are saved during a breakout by Olga and Pincho, a pet of Rena’s she commanded to help rescue Godo. On a ship, the crew find the Phoenix but it is too powerful and shapeshifts into various monsters. Godo hears that Rena married Rock and gives in to despair, leading to the crew being killed one by one including Saruta. Godo freezes and cradles Olga after she is killed. Godo’s declaration of love leads to the Phoenix also calming down into a smaller peacock live form and speaks to Godo, making a deal to grant one wish and revives Olga on the condition he gives the Phoenix something. It then disappears after reviving Olga and the two see the Phoenix createa paradise like planet for them to live on. Godo still wants to return to Earth and gathers food from the planet to go back only for Rock to arrive there to capture him along with Rena, who seems happy with Rock. Rock goes into the planet and finds the Phoenix there and tries to kill it, causing the planet to begin to shake and collapse, killing Rena and blinding Rock. The Phoenix is revealed to have possessed Olga as part of their deal and asks to be killed so that Godo can drink its blood and become immortal but he refuses, instead asking for his life in exchange for the revival of the Earth. The Phoenix agrees and Godo collapses dead into Olga’s arms with the Phoenix leaving Olga’s body soon after. And the planet exploding. The Earth is shown to be recovering with plant life as human ships begin to arrive. Godo is seen being revived as a baby being held by a human version of Olga as the ship arrive.
The film was distributed by Toho. It was seen by American critics as well drawn and imaginative but two long in parts with scenes that could have been cut. Many fans who saw Mighty Atom Super Train were hoping it told the origin of the Phoenix, which it did not. Despite its flaws it won the San Diego Comic Con Inkpot award in 1980(an award voted on by fans at Comic Con, usually given to an installment in a franchise with a large fandom, in this case animated films)[6].
Twelve Months(1980)
Directed by Yugo Serikawa, Kimio Yabuki, and Tetsuo Imazawa. Produced by Toei Animation in partnership with Soyuzmultfilm from Russia. Based on the fairy tale of the same name by Samuil Marshak with music composed by Vladimir Ivanovich krivtsov performed by the National Petrograd Philharmonic. The plot follows a spoiled young queen that asks for a bouquet of Galanthus, a spring wildflower in the winter in exchange for a reward of gold. A greedy woman of the evil stepmother variety sends her young stepdaughter Anja instead of her own daughter to fetch it. Anja knows it is impossible but is forced outside and nearly freezes to death but is awoken by a light from a bonfire and meets several spirits revealing themselves as personifications of the twelve months. When Anja tells them her task they take pity on her and temporarily bring spring to allow the flowers to grow but she cannot say how she got them. Anja returns and presents the bouquet but the queen is not satisfied and demands to see where she got the flowers.
Space Emperor God Sigma(1980-1981)
A series created by Toei’s Television Division but produced by Academy Productions. Popy, which now ha da contract with Bandai for toys. Tadao Nagahama and Takashi Ijima planned on departing Toei along with Katsuhiko Taguchi. The series was set in 2050 AD where mankind had advanced into the stars but were then attacked by the Elder, aliens who’s planet had been conquered in the future, now using time travel to come from 2300 AD and obtain Earth’s Trinity Energy, which was used to conquer their home in their own time with God Sigma being Earth’s main defense. Due to the popularity of dark series, the angle that the aliens were desperate and that the future humans were an evil conquering empire was addressed as it made the morality far less black and white.
Captain(1980)
Based on the manga by Akio Chiba which ran concurrently with another Chiba Manga Play Ball. It aired on TV Asahi. The Manga ran from 1972 to 1979. The Manga swapped out protagonists as when a character graduated from school, they left and a new protagonist started their journey. While this worked for the Manga, the Anime kept one due to its shorter run[7].
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table(1980-1981)
A series based on Arthurian Legend, specifically the Once and Future King but merging most versions together. Produced by Toei Animation and consisting of 30 half hour episodes. The series covers the entirety of Arthur’s life, beginning with the death of his father plunging the sword into the stone and his death and his body being taken to Albion[8].
Fisherman Sanpei(1980-1982)
Based on the manga by Takao Yaguchi that ran from 1973 to 1983. The series was adapted into 109 episode on Fuji TV. It’s simple premise and slice of life setting likely contributing to its longevity.
Don Quixote(1980)
A 23 Episode series directed by Kunihiko Yuyama based on Miguel De Cervantes’ Don Quixote and airing on Tokyo Channel 12[9].
Toward the Terra(1980)
Based on a Science Fiction Manga by Keiko Takemiya that ran from 1977 to 1980. The series proved difficult to classify, the author was female but it had a broad appeal and in a first for a manga series, it was ultimately chosen to declare it the General winner since it qualified for both anyway, winning the award in 1979. Upon conclusion in 1980 it was adapted by Toei Animation and director Video Onchi.
The plot is set in the 31st century where humanity us ruled by Supercomputers called the Super Dominance which selects certain humans. This occurred after a war on Earth and Pollution rendered Earth inhospitable. The Supercomputers also select parents for children. A race of humans have evolved as psychics and now seek to exterminate the super computers while rescuing as many as possible from being brainwashed or killed. Earth or Terra is seen as the promise land and they believe it is no habitable and wish to one day return there.
Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! (1980)
Translated as roughly “Good Luck! Tabuchi-kun. The series is a baseball gag series similar to American comic strips with four panels called a Yonkoma, created by Hisaichi Ishii, it ran in Manga Action nMagazine from 1978 to 1979 and after it ended, Ishii went onto create more baseball gag comics. The main characters based on Professional Baseball player Koichi Tabuchi. Since there was little to no plot to the strips. It was adapted into one Animated film, made up mostly of gags with a weak plot, like the Bad News Bears of Anime.
Space Runaway Ideon(1980-1981)
A television series Produced by Sunrise and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino immediately after his success on Mobile Suit Gundam and aired on TV Tokyo. The series is set in the year 2300, where mankind has begun colonizing other planets. On the planet Solo in the Andromeda Galaxy they find the remains of several tanks which can combine into a Mecha and a Spaceship. They restore the machines but cannot get the tanks to move. An alien civilization called the Buff Clan came across the planet Solo. Among the group is the young daughter Karala, who vanishes along with her assistant Mayaya. The Buff Clan suspect the humans were involved and attack. Cosmo Yuki, the protagonist,, jumps into the tanks with his friends, which activate on their own and combine to repeal the Buff Clan. Another attack is sent and the leader of the Military force Bes Jordan has the Odeon tanks equipped with weapons while the Buff Clan obliterate the cities on Solo and try to capture the Ideon. Karala and Malaya are mistaken for colonists and taken to safety with the others. The Odeon pilots include Tekuno, Bento, Cosmo, Kasha, and Moera. Karala and Mayaya are discovered to be aliens and Mayaya is killed but Yes allows Karala to live. She tells everyone the legend of Ide. The power of Ide once save the buff clan and they’ve been searching for it with the energy powering Ideon and the solo ships. The Solo ship fights the Buff Clan in Space on the planet Saurus and confront Buff Clan commanding officer Gije in his own mobile suit. Orders are received that Karala can be killed for associating with humans.These orders lead Buff Clan member Abadidi to chase the Solo Ship only to be killed. Harulu, Karala’s sister takes control. Karala tries to make peace with Harulu on a nearby planet but is rejected and is shown to be willing to die, earning the respect of the Solo Ship crew.
The Solo ship arrives on the planet Ajian and the Buff Clan attacks commence with Ideon destroying missiles fired on Earth, but destroy much of the planet itself. The Solo ship engages Harulu’s ship and the latter is destroyed. Harulu reunited with Daram Zuba, a former member seeking to overthrow the Buff Clan Emperor with Gije’s help. The Solo Ship heads to earth by chased by Daram but cannot be allowed on Earth for fear of bringing the war and stop at the moon to use a supercomputer there to study the Idea power. Several children sneak onto the Ideon and it becomes stronger to protect the children, developing more weapons. One character attempts to take advantage of this by putting children as the pilots but the Ideon’s cannons suddenly fire without warning, killing her, illustrating the Ideas thinks that’s a bad idea. Gilje is betrayed by Zaram and tries to join the Solo ship but few trust him even when he kills Daram in battle. The Solo Ship leaves Earth and continues to repel attacks from the Buff Clan. Moera is killed and Gilje takes his place as an Ideon pilot. As the deaths mount, including Gilje in a battle, the Ideon begins to change to become more and more powerful. In one attack, Karala is taken and discovered to be pregnant with Bes’s child. The leader of the Buff Clan Doba vows to kill his own daughter. While the Solo Ship makes a move to rescue her, allowing Karala to escape in the chaos with Ideon attacking. Doga declares the Ideon to be destroyed, causing his own soldiers to turn on him before they themselves are killed by the Ideon, unaware of this. A handful of survivors escape at the Solo Ship crashes and destroys the base on the Ideon[10].
Space Warrior Baldios(1980-1981)
A Series by Ashi Productions and Kokusa Big-sha. The series ran for 39 episodes. The series is set in a future world where pollution forced humanity underground. The Emperor is assassinated by Zeo Gattler and his followers, who frame a team of scientists who found the solution for the planet’s decay. Gattler’s followed destroy the work of the scientists , loads the population on a fortress and sets off to conquer a new planet. The son of the leader scientist Marin Raygun, tries to escape but in doing so is caught in Algol’s Warp drive and arrives in the year 2100 , where Gattler’s army attacks a martian colony and he joins the military organization Blue Fixer and their Mecha, the Space Warrior Baldios. Gattler devastates the Earth by causing the polar ice caps to melt. This causes Marin Raygun to realize that Gattler was responsible for the disaster that forced them to leave via a closed time loop and has a final battle where he kills Neo Gattler.
Do your Best Genki(1980-1981)
Based on the manga by You Koyama that ran from 1976 to 1981. It is a sports series about a boy raised by a single father who wants to be a boxer like him. It was made by Toei Animation and won the Shogakukan Manga award for Shonen in 1979.
Makoto-Chan(1980)
Based on a comedy manga that ran from 1976 to 1988 about socially awkward kindergartner Makoto Sawada with a series filled with toilet and adult humor. The animated film adaptation was directed by Tsuomu Shibayama(who mostly directed Doraemon) and distributed by Toho.
The Tomb of Dracula(1980)
Based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name that ran from 1972 to 1979. The plot is a greatly condensed version of the series which had little overarching story. The summarized plot is that Dracula crashes a satanic ritual intended to sacrifice a bride to Satan and takes her as his own. Dracula find he cannot bite the girl as she resembles his long lost love from he was Vlad the Impaler. Satan vows revenge and tries to steal her back. Meanwhile the descendants of the Harkers and the Helsings come together to defeat Dracula but are approached by the worshippers of Satan. Satan's followers lure Dracula into a trap where the windows a boarded quickly by crosses and a Silver crossbow bolt is fired, Dracula turns into mist and the bolt shoots and kills Dracula's wife and his unborn son. He is able to assist his wife in escaping. A Satanic ritual is conducted in which Dracula is stripped of his powers but the Satanists kidnap his wife. Dracula, stripped of his powers leads to a surreal scene of Dracula eating fast food, specifically a cheeseburger and fries for the first time in full outfit and appearances. Dracula returns to Transylvania to be turned again and gain the strength to save his wife while Satan intends to possess his dead child, originally intending to sire an Antichrist. Dracula fights a vampire but due to having the cross burn his hand as Vampire before he became human, he now has an unhealed cross shaped scar on his hand which he uses to melt a vampire's face with his touch. He is once more transformed and cuts the injured hand off before engaging the Satanists. The Helsing and Harker group, having been previously betrayed by the Satanists and unaware of their true nature, attack. Dracula kills the Antichrist, cutting off Satan's connection to the mortal world before Helsing blows himself up with a bomb in a wheelchair, seemingly killing Dracula and allow Dracula's wife and the Harkers to escape. The film has become a source of memes in the present day due to over the top acting and bad animation[11].
Nextworld(1980)
Based loosely on a 1951 Osamu Tezuka story, though ironically he wrote the script for the film. The Manga was considered the last part of a trilogy with The Lost World and Metropolis as the first and second installments. All three installments feature Shunsaku Ban and his nephew Kenichi as the main characters. Lost World wasn’t adapted as the premise involved traveling to an alien planet populated by Dinosaurs and was likely to similar to film adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s the Lost World.Tezuka, as he’d done with Metropolis, rewrote Nextworld. The original story had involved atomic tests during the Cold War creating mutant animals. That decided to leave earth before the two superpowers of America and the Soviet Union blew each other up. Now it was a sequel to both Metropolis and Mighty Atom: Super Train once more follow Kenichi and Tina. Kenichi was aged up into a teenager while Tina was shown to still a child to create drama as she did not age while Kenichi did. The film addressed the idea of a Cold War Hot scenario in the future, as the original story was written in the 1950’s at the height of the Cold War paranoia. The protagonists are now involved to stop an international incident from escalating into World War Three due to an evil Supercomputer intending to launch nuclear weapons[12].
The Monster Kid(1980-1982)
Based on the Manga by Fujiko A.Fujio that ran from 1965 to 1969 on TV Asahi and TBS in the US. The series follows a young monster kid who lives with the adult monsters of Dracula, the Wolfman and Franeksntein and they are forced to live in a modern suburban area and end up battling other monsters summoned by the Demon Group Demonish. The series was made largely due to the success Fujio’s other creation Doraemon was enjoying.
Muteking, The Dashing Warriors(1980-1981)
Proced by Tatsunoko Productions for Fuji TV. The series follows Twelve Year old Tin Yuki who’s father was laughed at for predicting alien would invade. Ran met an alien sheriff named Takoro who was chasing space criminals seeking to become masters of the Earth. Ran becomes the hero Muteking to thwart their schemes. The series was unsuccessful in the US.
Ojamanga Yamada-kun(1980-1982)
Based on the Comedy Manga by Hisiachi Ishii. The series lasted for 103 episodes on Fuji TV. Episode consisted of 3 7 minute stories on Sundays from 7 to 7:30pm.
Black Jack(1980-1981)
With the success of the Mighty Atom, Tezuka’s second most popular character, Black Jack, was adapted to the screen by Mushi Productions[13].
Gigantor(1980-1981)
An in color remake by Tokyo Movie Shinsha of Mitsuteru Yokoyama’s manga Tetsujin 28-go. It was directed by Tetsuo Imazawa produced by Shigeru Akagawa and Tora Horikoshi. It aired on Nippon Television with Fred Ladd adapting all 51 Episodes into English. Despite the timing, the creators insisted they were not inspired to revive the 60’s icon due to the success of the Mighty Atom. Though the proximity of the remakes did lead to Tezuka considering a crossover between the two[14].
Adieu Galaxy Express 999(1980)
The sequel to the 1979 film. On Earth, an unknown amount of time later, Tetsuro on Earth receives a message from Maetel that seems to be a cry for help and once more boards the Galaxy Express 999. On the way there Tetsuro reunited with Captain Harlock and reveals his intentions. Harlock gives him a signal flare to fire if he needs help but it needs to be fired into space. Tetsuro reaches reache the final destination of the Galaxy E xpress 999 which to his shock is a planet named Maetel, the mechanization homeworld. It is here that Tetsuro realizes that Maetel originally intended to bring him to the planet to sacrifice him and turns him into a mechanized slave, one of many and that Maetel did this multiple times(flashbacks to first film show the two first meeting and then departing mixed in with previously unseen scenes of the two). Tetsuro angrily slaps Maetel when he learns the truth, that she originally intended to sacrifice him, but is captured by Maetel’s mother Queen Prometheum. However, Maetel saves Tetsuro and reveals her intent to destroy the planet using a weapon created by her father, the engineer of the city. Maetel hesitates to do so but Tetsuro does activate the destruction of the planet and shoots the signal flare that allows Harlock and Emeralds to arrive to rescue them as the planet collapses. Maetel reveals that the body of Tetsuro’s mother was used to provide Maetel with a body of her own and departs to Pluto where her true body is preserved, promising to reunited with Tetsuro in her own body and they once more say a tearful goodbye.
Notes
[1] OTL the Adventures of Tom Sawyer was released in place of Wizard of Oz. Because the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn adapted both that book and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ITTL, there is no need seen for a remake(I’d say at least more than ten years before remaking something and that previous adaptation was in 1976, hit 1986 and then we’ll talk), and so this series is butterflied away, leading World Masterpiece Theater to choose something different in its place. Since ITTL they’ve yet to adapt an American story(OTL their first was Rascal the Raccoon which was butterflied away). They choose Wizard of Oz, allowing them to employ the change where the film switches from monaural Vistavision to Quadraphonic Cinemascope to simulate the wonder of entering Oz, an effect Space Battleship Yamato III did OTL. They do not outsource the production ITTL as they previously did that with Jack and the Beanstalk and that was a failure, making World Masterpiece Theatre more hesitant to endorse another created work.
[2] OTL the name of Drunkabit in English was Snoozabit and they dubbed him as always being sleepy rather than drunk. Naturally this is controversial ITTL, but it did try to teach kids to be careful when adults are showing signs of being drunk, that they may not be in control of what they do and tried to squeeze a lesson in there.
[3] FYI I made pretty much all of this up. Despite the mission statement of “trying to be a realistic Mecha Series”, Robo Trider G7 still follows, a Robot Invasion of Earth, a scientist who defected from the villains, builds a robot, dies and passes the robot to a child main character. It took the “realistic” Mecha angle and did my own take on it. ITTL its more inspired by Tomino’s other work and the more successful Gundam. I imagine ITTL there’s an Alternatehistory.com timeline which imagines a similar premise as the series occurring in 1940, meaning America, the Nazis, the Soviet Union, and Japan are the world powers building Mechas with different leaders in charge complete with historical figures as Mech pilots such as General Patton, Elvis Presley, John F.Kennedy and world leaders getting their own Mechs for Stalin, Hitler and the US President.
[4] Rescueman has been tweaked compared to OTL and the heroes are now basically the villains as a nod to the villains of Time Bokan usually stealing the show anyway, justified by them not being too evil beyond being thieves and incompetent at that.
[5] Monchhichi toys had a boost in sales ITTL thank to Pippi Longstocking and TTL’s 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother popularizing monkeys, making them more successful, and the Monkey craze allowed the company to bill their toys as “Don’t buy a real monkey. Buy a stuffed Monkey. They’re much easier. They don't throw feces and won't bite you.”
[6] Phoenix 2772 does better ITTL due to Tezuka being more famous and it being just a year after the Phoenix appeared in Mighty Atom: Super Train so more people recognize it. ITTL Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen composites the Tezuka’s Phoenix with the Phoenix Force of X-Men fame.
[7] Captain was adapted into a film first. Changed to an anime as a concept such as rotating protagonists would really only work as a series.
[8] OTL King Arthur as a series was released OTL in 1979 followed by a sequel, King Arthur: Prince on White horse which had the characters in a futuristic setting. My plan ITTL is to delay that version so that it becomes an Anime adaptation of the similar premise of the Comic Camelot 3000 which debuted in 1983.
[9] This series was of the funny animals variety OTL with animals in the main role. Personally I think you should have at least one faithful adaptation before you go the talking funny animal route. That’s not why Animal Treasure Island was butterflied away, that was just a coincidence based on the logic of Miyazaki leaving before he suggested the idea.
[10] A Significantly more upbeat ending even if its still a sad one than OTL where the TV show and the film ended differently but both with the everyone dying and shown to be reborn. The first destroys both races and the second destroys the universe.My guess is Tomino is in better health thanks to Gundam doing a lot better and so he decided to give the series a happier ending. Thing is OTL this series was the heavyweight champion of downer endings and inspired Hideakki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion. ITTL by changing it things are going to be very different down the line for Evangelion. Also ITTL the series sells better but OTL the DVD box set was overproduced and when the second boxset and movie came out they produced less, resulting in the opposite problem of 80,000 to 120,000 yen DVD boxes. Here with Gundam being a success it sells better helped by lacking a downer ending.
[11] The plot is changed slightly to make a bit more sense but I personally enjoyed the OTL film on an ironic level. You can watch the film on YouTube but this review of it I think illustrates my points:
[12] Nextworld is Radically different from OTL due to the success of Metropolis, with the same people involved, meaning the plot changes to be a sequel. I imagine it being some combination of Metropolis and the Sum of All Fears.
[13]OTL an Astro Boy series in color aired at this time, since the series debuted earlier in 1977, its position is replaced with Tezuka’s second most popular character Blackjack, who already made a recent appearance in Mighty Atom: Super Train so audiences are familiar with him.
[14] OTL Gigantor and Astro Boy both had in color remakes at the same time, ironically given they premiered the same year. Not ITTL once again due to Mighty Atom’s earlier in color debut so there's an argument to be made that the Gigantor staff remade the show because of Mighty Atom's success even though they didn't do that OTL.
And now for those who have been Butterflied Away
Be Forever Yamato. Has been butterflied away as TTL’s equivalent Space Asteroid Icarus, never needed to retcon its ending away. The effect where the film switches from monaural Vistavision to Quadraphonic Cinemascope when the Yamato enters the Double Galaxy is used ITTL for the Wizard of Oz instead. Space Battleship Yamato III is butterflied away for the same reason and also because Matsumoto is working on Galaxy Express 999's film sequel.
Tomorrow’s Joe 2. A continuation of the OTL Anime. ITTL the Anime was completed and a compilation movie was released leaving no need for Tomorrow’s Joe 2 to exist and any kind of sequel after the Manga's point would go against the author's intentional ambiguous ending. Instead two series would later be released show two possible futures are the Manga's ending. It's kind of like how OTL there is a comic book series where Archie marries Betty and another where he marries Veronica released at the same time.
Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! Another Film. Butterflied away due to personal reasons. Two films of the same franchise the same year seems redundant especially for a comedy.
I have one more thing before we finish with 1980. I'll give you a hint. It's a Miyazaki film, but one that he didn't make OTL but wanted to. One that...quite frankly sounds bizarre on paper. And yes it's getting its own post. Because I have some Concept Art.
Due to the success of Galaxy Express 999 and Gatchaman. Compilation Movies Post 1979 became more common, usually created with the express goal of condensing a series from show length into film length. These helped to make some anime more accessible as those who couldn’t commit to a full show could watch the film instead. Some, mainly those by Toei, reused animation from the original show, though some used original animation and the plot was rewritten to work in the different runtime.
Compilation Movies released this year:
Tomorrow’s Joe- The ambiguous ending of the original is remarkably kept intact.
Nobody’s Boy: Remi-By the same studio and director. It also kept the surprise twist revealed in its sequel.
From the Apennines to the Andes- Miyazaki helped touch up the animation as a favor to Takahata.
Cyborg 009-Somewhat easier as the series started with a film, meaning the film is a remake and conclusion as well as an anniversary celebration.
The Wizard of Oz(1980)
An Adaptation of the 1900 L.Frank Baum novel airing on World Masterpiece Theatre and the first American adaptation on the show. Taking a queue from the 1939 film, the story begins in Black and White and transitions to color, but with the film switching from monaural Vistavision to Quadraphonic Cinemascope[1].
The Little’ Bits(1980)
A 26 episode series produced by Tatsunoko Productions in cooperation with TV Tokyo. Directed by Masayuki Hayashi and produced by Ippei Kuri.. The series enjoyed popularity in Europe,the Middle East and Spanish speaking countries. It was often compared to the Smurfs. The series follows a race of tiny people living in a village, focusing mainly on the children. Willbit is the main protagonist and is in love with Lillabit but clashes with Snagglebit over her affection. All characters follow the “Bit” naming scheme. The most controversial of the characters was “Drunkabit” which in the original Japanese was depicted as Drunk, something unchanged in the English dub to some controversy. Despite “Drunkabits’ alcoholism he proves to still be a caring father to Lillabit , who he adopted after her parents died and is respected as the town doctor. The plot of the last two episodes has the children characters learn her parents are alive and were exiled and go to search for them. They are revealed to belong to a warring tribe called the Wanderbits that nearly drove the Bits to extinction. In the end after Lillibits parents help save the children and turn on their tribe, they are allowed back into the village. Immediately after an earthquake, actually a man walking by, causes devastates the village and everyone is forced to work together to rebuild. Liillibit is also show not be able to talk to animals and recruit their help such as Snuffly the flying Squirrel and Blue the Hedgehog. The show frequently touted messages and morals for children, including messages on family and prejudice[2].
The Wonderful Adventures of Nils(1980-1981)
Based on the 1906 novel of the same name by Swedish author Selma Lagerlof. It ran for 52 episodes on NHK and was produced by Pierrot(it was their first animated series as they were founded in 1979, sticking true to the original but adding a pet hamster and more scenes to Smile the Fox, adding cut animal sidekicks. It was directed by Hiyasuki Toriumi. Nils Holgersson is a 14 year old boy who is lazy and disrespectful and loved to bully the animals on the farm. One day while home alone, Nils captures a Nils, a gnomelike creature in Scandinavian folklore, who turns Nils into a Tomte himself along with his pet hamster, granting him the ability to talk the animals. The animals all try to get revenge on the shrunken Nils for their torment on his hands. Niles escapes by jumping onto a goose named Morten’s back, as Morten wants to join the flock. As a result her is taken along for a ride as they fly and adventure across Sweden,encountering other animals and Nils begins to learn lessons about helping others and not being selfish. Nils also learns from the Tomte that if he changes his ways, the Tomte might change him back.
Maeterlinck’s Blue Bird: Tyltyl and Mytyl’s Adventurous Journey(1980)
Based on the 1908 play by Maurice Maeterlinck. Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa with character designs by Leiji Matsumoto and running for 26 episodes. The series is set in a German speaking country in the 1970’s and follows 12 year old girl Mytyl and her 13 year old brother Tyltyl as they attempt to catch the Blue Bird of Happiness which would bring them eternal happiness with the aid of the fairy Berylune. They are followed by a cat and dog named Shanet and Tyrol who are given anthropomorphic forms and the ability to talk by Berylune.
Invincible Robo Trider G7(1980-1981)
A series created by Hajime Yatate and produced by Sunrise. Narration was provided by Ichirou Nagai, who did the narration on Mobile Suit Gundam. Takeo Watanabe and Yuushi Matsuyama wrote both the soundtrack for Mobile Suit Gundam and Trider G7 but they were later discovered to have sampled other tracks to finish it on time. The series attempted to be as realistic as possible to prove a Mecha Giant Robot scenario. The world is attacked by an alien invasion of Giant Mechanized robots. The robots only kill and cannot communicate but several are taken down and researched. While the fear they will return is present, that fear does not seem to materialize but the nations of the world still prepare(one character theorizes that because space is so vast they likely will never encounter the robots or the species who invented them and first contact was just a fluke. He also doesn’t believe the aliens intended to be hostile invaders as any intelligent species would at least try to make peaceful contact first rather than invade immediately. Another belief is that the Mecha design wouldn’t have taken off if it wasn’t proven to work as designing human shaped machines for combat would be deemed impractical over Tanks and Ship designs.
America, the Soviet UNion, and China are the ones to build Giant robots, as they are the only world powers with enough resources, money, land and people to undergo this endeavor. Other nations in the world begin to fight amongst themselves to gain the resources necessary such as a war in South America as Brazil invades its neighbors. Canada and Mexico allow the US to annex them. The European Union grows much tighter while Africa and the Middle East has factions fighting amongst themselves to be the one to united the lands(though India succeeds in building a Mecha called Vishnu which devastates Pakistan). China has conquered Korea and attacked Japan but America sees China as too valuable an Ally in the war with the Machines and cannot help. Japan however, begins to fight back and win, making some nervous that they have become an imperial power and making America and the Soviet Union hesitant on joining aside. Japan gains its first Mecha in the titular Robo Trider G7 due to a scientist studying the machines defecting to the country. Adults are initially used to pilot the Mechas but China begins to employ Child soldiers(including the removal of the one child policy) and Japan is forced to do the same when the Home Islands are invaded and they need all able bodied pilots. One such child is the protagonist Watta[3].
Rescueman(1980-1981)
Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Produced by Kenji Yoshida for Tatsunoko Productions. The series is the third in the Time Bokan Series(Yatterman is seen as not counting). It follows three individuals Atachi, who wants to become the most beautiful woman in the world, Sekobitchi who wants to become the greatest scientist in the world, and Duwarusuki, who wants to be the greatest hero in the world. The catch is that all three are villains and are obsessed with their own ambitions rather than doing any actual good. In a twist, three time patrollers were killed and passed on the power to time travel not to worthy successors but to these three villains, who freely tamper with history when they realize that time travel creates an alternate universe where there changes stick instead of risking the space time continuum or altering their own. The three still end up being accidental heroes such as opposing an evil queen to kill her because Atachi thinks she is prettier than her, Sekibitchi proving his genius by solving a problem, or Duwarusuki genuinely doing good. The inspiration for the series came specifically because Doronbo and her gang where the most popular part of Yatterman and the popularity of Lupin the Third[4].
Back to the Forest(1980)
A TV Special airing on Fuji TV based on the children’s novel Jakobus Nimmersatt by German author Boy Lornsen. The story focuses on animals who’s forests are being torn down by humans, forcing them to declare war.
Monchhichi(1980)
Based on the line of Japanese stuffed Monkey toys made by the Sekiguchi Corporation that were released in 1974 and licensed by Mattel, which brought them over to the US. Tokyo 12 adapted the series[5].
Lalabel, the Magical Girl(1980-1981)
A Magical Girl series by Toei Animation that aired on TV Asahi. The series followed a Magical girl named Lalabel who lived in a magical world until a thief named Biscus stole several magical tools. She startles the thief and the tools fall through a portal into the human world. Lalabel falls through and is found by an elderly couple called the Tachibanas, who let her stay with them when they find out she is an orphan. Lalabel escapes until she can capture Biscus. She attends school with the granddaughter of the Tachibanas Teko and begins to fall in love and growing happy on Earth. In the finale she defeats Biscus and all the magical items are used up, rendering both human, meaning Lalabel stays on earth.
Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur(1980)
The first animated Doraemon Feature film. Based on a Doraemon story of the same name by Fujiko Fuji (who also wrote the script) and directed by Hiroshi Fukutomi. The pilot centers on Nobita, wanting a pet, using Doraemon’s time machine to abduct an egg, which hatches into a Plesiosaur that eventually becomes too big to hide after Nobita puts it in a pond and then a lake. After being forced to reveal what he did. His friends and Doraemon transport the Plesiosaur back in time but are attacked by a group of what turn out to be Dinosaur hunters from the 24th Century. Nobita takes the time machine and hides it in what later turns out to be the Loch Ness in Scotland before he retrieves it once they’re clear of the hunters. They then bring the Plesiosaur back to its own time period but the time machine is destroyed by the Dinosaur hunts and the group is forced to make their way through the Bering, or the land bridge between Asia and North America that broke apart to split the continents, encountering Dinosaurs along the way, to reach a point where the time machine parts where left on an earlier tripe, eventually defeating the hunters, saying goodbye to the Plesiosaur and going him.
Phoenix 2772(1980)
Based on the Osamu Tezuka Manga, which features the encounter of various people throughout history with the titular Phoenix. The film is set in the distant future of the title. The Earth is dying due to lack of resources and climate, leading humans to be created in test tubes and assigned roles by computers. Godo was born as a cadet and raised by a robot made named Olga. Rock. The dictator candidate for Prime Minister(“Played “ by the Metropolis antagonist), sends Godo to kill the capture the Phoenix as its blood will heal the Earth but Rock actually wants to drink the blood and become immortal. Godo is troubled by the mission as he views all living things as sacred. He is further conflicted when he learns Olga will be destroyed. He is also in love with Rena, who is the bride to be of Rock. Godo and Rena are caught and Godo is sent to a labour camp in Iceland where he meets Doctor Saruta, who plots a way to escape, find the Phoenix and save the world. The two are saved during a breakout by Olga and Pincho, a pet of Rena’s she commanded to help rescue Godo. On a ship, the crew find the Phoenix but it is too powerful and shapeshifts into various monsters. Godo hears that Rena married Rock and gives in to despair, leading to the crew being killed one by one including Saruta. Godo freezes and cradles Olga after she is killed. Godo’s declaration of love leads to the Phoenix also calming down into a smaller peacock live form and speaks to Godo, making a deal to grant one wish and revives Olga on the condition he gives the Phoenix something. It then disappears after reviving Olga and the two see the Phoenix createa paradise like planet for them to live on. Godo still wants to return to Earth and gathers food from the planet to go back only for Rock to arrive there to capture him along with Rena, who seems happy with Rock. Rock goes into the planet and finds the Phoenix there and tries to kill it, causing the planet to begin to shake and collapse, killing Rena and blinding Rock. The Phoenix is revealed to have possessed Olga as part of their deal and asks to be killed so that Godo can drink its blood and become immortal but he refuses, instead asking for his life in exchange for the revival of the Earth. The Phoenix agrees and Godo collapses dead into Olga’s arms with the Phoenix leaving Olga’s body soon after. And the planet exploding. The Earth is shown to be recovering with plant life as human ships begin to arrive. Godo is seen being revived as a baby being held by a human version of Olga as the ship arrive.
The film was distributed by Toho. It was seen by American critics as well drawn and imaginative but two long in parts with scenes that could have been cut. Many fans who saw Mighty Atom Super Train were hoping it told the origin of the Phoenix, which it did not. Despite its flaws it won the San Diego Comic Con Inkpot award in 1980(an award voted on by fans at Comic Con, usually given to an installment in a franchise with a large fandom, in this case animated films)[6].
Twelve Months(1980)
Directed by Yugo Serikawa, Kimio Yabuki, and Tetsuo Imazawa. Produced by Toei Animation in partnership with Soyuzmultfilm from Russia. Based on the fairy tale of the same name by Samuil Marshak with music composed by Vladimir Ivanovich krivtsov performed by the National Petrograd Philharmonic. The plot follows a spoiled young queen that asks for a bouquet of Galanthus, a spring wildflower in the winter in exchange for a reward of gold. A greedy woman of the evil stepmother variety sends her young stepdaughter Anja instead of her own daughter to fetch it. Anja knows it is impossible but is forced outside and nearly freezes to death but is awoken by a light from a bonfire and meets several spirits revealing themselves as personifications of the twelve months. When Anja tells them her task they take pity on her and temporarily bring spring to allow the flowers to grow but she cannot say how she got them. Anja returns and presents the bouquet but the queen is not satisfied and demands to see where she got the flowers.
Space Emperor God Sigma(1980-1981)
A series created by Toei’s Television Division but produced by Academy Productions. Popy, which now ha da contract with Bandai for toys. Tadao Nagahama and Takashi Ijima planned on departing Toei along with Katsuhiko Taguchi. The series was set in 2050 AD where mankind had advanced into the stars but were then attacked by the Elder, aliens who’s planet had been conquered in the future, now using time travel to come from 2300 AD and obtain Earth’s Trinity Energy, which was used to conquer their home in their own time with God Sigma being Earth’s main defense. Due to the popularity of dark series, the angle that the aliens were desperate and that the future humans were an evil conquering empire was addressed as it made the morality far less black and white.
Captain(1980)
Based on the manga by Akio Chiba which ran concurrently with another Chiba Manga Play Ball. It aired on TV Asahi. The Manga ran from 1972 to 1979. The Manga swapped out protagonists as when a character graduated from school, they left and a new protagonist started their journey. While this worked for the Manga, the Anime kept one due to its shorter run[7].
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table(1980-1981)
A series based on Arthurian Legend, specifically the Once and Future King but merging most versions together. Produced by Toei Animation and consisting of 30 half hour episodes. The series covers the entirety of Arthur’s life, beginning with the death of his father plunging the sword into the stone and his death and his body being taken to Albion[8].
Fisherman Sanpei(1980-1982)
Based on the manga by Takao Yaguchi that ran from 1973 to 1983. The series was adapted into 109 episode on Fuji TV. It’s simple premise and slice of life setting likely contributing to its longevity.
Don Quixote(1980)
A 23 Episode series directed by Kunihiko Yuyama based on Miguel De Cervantes’ Don Quixote and airing on Tokyo Channel 12[9].
Toward the Terra(1980)
Based on a Science Fiction Manga by Keiko Takemiya that ran from 1977 to 1980. The series proved difficult to classify, the author was female but it had a broad appeal and in a first for a manga series, it was ultimately chosen to declare it the General winner since it qualified for both anyway, winning the award in 1979. Upon conclusion in 1980 it was adapted by Toei Animation and director Video Onchi.
The plot is set in the 31st century where humanity us ruled by Supercomputers called the Super Dominance which selects certain humans. This occurred after a war on Earth and Pollution rendered Earth inhospitable. The Supercomputers also select parents for children. A race of humans have evolved as psychics and now seek to exterminate the super computers while rescuing as many as possible from being brainwashed or killed. Earth or Terra is seen as the promise land and they believe it is no habitable and wish to one day return there.
Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! (1980)
Translated as roughly “Good Luck! Tabuchi-kun. The series is a baseball gag series similar to American comic strips with four panels called a Yonkoma, created by Hisaichi Ishii, it ran in Manga Action nMagazine from 1978 to 1979 and after it ended, Ishii went onto create more baseball gag comics. The main characters based on Professional Baseball player Koichi Tabuchi. Since there was little to no plot to the strips. It was adapted into one Animated film, made up mostly of gags with a weak plot, like the Bad News Bears of Anime.
Space Runaway Ideon(1980-1981)
A television series Produced by Sunrise and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino immediately after his success on Mobile Suit Gundam and aired on TV Tokyo. The series is set in the year 2300, where mankind has begun colonizing other planets. On the planet Solo in the Andromeda Galaxy they find the remains of several tanks which can combine into a Mecha and a Spaceship. They restore the machines but cannot get the tanks to move. An alien civilization called the Buff Clan came across the planet Solo. Among the group is the young daughter Karala, who vanishes along with her assistant Mayaya. The Buff Clan suspect the humans were involved and attack. Cosmo Yuki, the protagonist,, jumps into the tanks with his friends, which activate on their own and combine to repeal the Buff Clan. Another attack is sent and the leader of the Military force Bes Jordan has the Odeon tanks equipped with weapons while the Buff Clan obliterate the cities on Solo and try to capture the Ideon. Karala and Malaya are mistaken for colonists and taken to safety with the others. The Odeon pilots include Tekuno, Bento, Cosmo, Kasha, and Moera. Karala and Mayaya are discovered to be aliens and Mayaya is killed but Yes allows Karala to live. She tells everyone the legend of Ide. The power of Ide once save the buff clan and they’ve been searching for it with the energy powering Ideon and the solo ships. The Solo ship fights the Buff Clan in Space on the planet Saurus and confront Buff Clan commanding officer Gije in his own mobile suit. Orders are received that Karala can be killed for associating with humans.These orders lead Buff Clan member Abadidi to chase the Solo Ship only to be killed. Harulu, Karala’s sister takes control. Karala tries to make peace with Harulu on a nearby planet but is rejected and is shown to be willing to die, earning the respect of the Solo Ship crew.
The Solo ship arrives on the planet Ajian and the Buff Clan attacks commence with Ideon destroying missiles fired on Earth, but destroy much of the planet itself. The Solo ship engages Harulu’s ship and the latter is destroyed. Harulu reunited with Daram Zuba, a former member seeking to overthrow the Buff Clan Emperor with Gije’s help. The Solo Ship heads to earth by chased by Daram but cannot be allowed on Earth for fear of bringing the war and stop at the moon to use a supercomputer there to study the Idea power. Several children sneak onto the Ideon and it becomes stronger to protect the children, developing more weapons. One character attempts to take advantage of this by putting children as the pilots but the Ideon’s cannons suddenly fire without warning, killing her, illustrating the Ideas thinks that’s a bad idea. Gilje is betrayed by Zaram and tries to join the Solo ship but few trust him even when he kills Daram in battle. The Solo Ship leaves Earth and continues to repel attacks from the Buff Clan. Moera is killed and Gilje takes his place as an Ideon pilot. As the deaths mount, including Gilje in a battle, the Ideon begins to change to become more and more powerful. In one attack, Karala is taken and discovered to be pregnant with Bes’s child. The leader of the Buff Clan Doba vows to kill his own daughter. While the Solo Ship makes a move to rescue her, allowing Karala to escape in the chaos with Ideon attacking. Doga declares the Ideon to be destroyed, causing his own soldiers to turn on him before they themselves are killed by the Ideon, unaware of this. A handful of survivors escape at the Solo Ship crashes and destroys the base on the Ideon[10].
Space Warrior Baldios(1980-1981)
A Series by Ashi Productions and Kokusa Big-sha. The series ran for 39 episodes. The series is set in a future world where pollution forced humanity underground. The Emperor is assassinated by Zeo Gattler and his followers, who frame a team of scientists who found the solution for the planet’s decay. Gattler’s followed destroy the work of the scientists , loads the population on a fortress and sets off to conquer a new planet. The son of the leader scientist Marin Raygun, tries to escape but in doing so is caught in Algol’s Warp drive and arrives in the year 2100 , where Gattler’s army attacks a martian colony and he joins the military organization Blue Fixer and their Mecha, the Space Warrior Baldios. Gattler devastates the Earth by causing the polar ice caps to melt. This causes Marin Raygun to realize that Gattler was responsible for the disaster that forced them to leave via a closed time loop and has a final battle where he kills Neo Gattler.
Do your Best Genki(1980-1981)
Based on the manga by You Koyama that ran from 1976 to 1981. It is a sports series about a boy raised by a single father who wants to be a boxer like him. It was made by Toei Animation and won the Shogakukan Manga award for Shonen in 1979.
Makoto-Chan(1980)
Based on a comedy manga that ran from 1976 to 1988 about socially awkward kindergartner Makoto Sawada with a series filled with toilet and adult humor. The animated film adaptation was directed by Tsuomu Shibayama(who mostly directed Doraemon) and distributed by Toho.
The Tomb of Dracula(1980)
Based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name that ran from 1972 to 1979. The plot is a greatly condensed version of the series which had little overarching story. The summarized plot is that Dracula crashes a satanic ritual intended to sacrifice a bride to Satan and takes her as his own. Dracula find he cannot bite the girl as she resembles his long lost love from he was Vlad the Impaler. Satan vows revenge and tries to steal her back. Meanwhile the descendants of the Harkers and the Helsings come together to defeat Dracula but are approached by the worshippers of Satan. Satan's followers lure Dracula into a trap where the windows a boarded quickly by crosses and a Silver crossbow bolt is fired, Dracula turns into mist and the bolt shoots and kills Dracula's wife and his unborn son. He is able to assist his wife in escaping. A Satanic ritual is conducted in which Dracula is stripped of his powers but the Satanists kidnap his wife. Dracula, stripped of his powers leads to a surreal scene of Dracula eating fast food, specifically a cheeseburger and fries for the first time in full outfit and appearances. Dracula returns to Transylvania to be turned again and gain the strength to save his wife while Satan intends to possess his dead child, originally intending to sire an Antichrist. Dracula fights a vampire but due to having the cross burn his hand as Vampire before he became human, he now has an unhealed cross shaped scar on his hand which he uses to melt a vampire's face with his touch. He is once more transformed and cuts the injured hand off before engaging the Satanists. The Helsing and Harker group, having been previously betrayed by the Satanists and unaware of their true nature, attack. Dracula kills the Antichrist, cutting off Satan's connection to the mortal world before Helsing blows himself up with a bomb in a wheelchair, seemingly killing Dracula and allow Dracula's wife and the Harkers to escape. The film has become a source of memes in the present day due to over the top acting and bad animation[11].
Nextworld(1980)
Based loosely on a 1951 Osamu Tezuka story, though ironically he wrote the script for the film. The Manga was considered the last part of a trilogy with The Lost World and Metropolis as the first and second installments. All three installments feature Shunsaku Ban and his nephew Kenichi as the main characters. Lost World wasn’t adapted as the premise involved traveling to an alien planet populated by Dinosaurs and was likely to similar to film adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s the Lost World.Tezuka, as he’d done with Metropolis, rewrote Nextworld. The original story had involved atomic tests during the Cold War creating mutant animals. That decided to leave earth before the two superpowers of America and the Soviet Union blew each other up. Now it was a sequel to both Metropolis and Mighty Atom: Super Train once more follow Kenichi and Tina. Kenichi was aged up into a teenager while Tina was shown to still a child to create drama as she did not age while Kenichi did. The film addressed the idea of a Cold War Hot scenario in the future, as the original story was written in the 1950’s at the height of the Cold War paranoia. The protagonists are now involved to stop an international incident from escalating into World War Three due to an evil Supercomputer intending to launch nuclear weapons[12].
The Monster Kid(1980-1982)
Based on the Manga by Fujiko A.Fujio that ran from 1965 to 1969 on TV Asahi and TBS in the US. The series follows a young monster kid who lives with the adult monsters of Dracula, the Wolfman and Franeksntein and they are forced to live in a modern suburban area and end up battling other monsters summoned by the Demon Group Demonish. The series was made largely due to the success Fujio’s other creation Doraemon was enjoying.
Muteking, The Dashing Warriors(1980-1981)
Proced by Tatsunoko Productions for Fuji TV. The series follows Twelve Year old Tin Yuki who’s father was laughed at for predicting alien would invade. Ran met an alien sheriff named Takoro who was chasing space criminals seeking to become masters of the Earth. Ran becomes the hero Muteking to thwart their schemes. The series was unsuccessful in the US.
Ojamanga Yamada-kun(1980-1982)
Based on the Comedy Manga by Hisiachi Ishii. The series lasted for 103 episodes on Fuji TV. Episode consisted of 3 7 minute stories on Sundays from 7 to 7:30pm.
Black Jack(1980-1981)
With the success of the Mighty Atom, Tezuka’s second most popular character, Black Jack, was adapted to the screen by Mushi Productions[13].
Gigantor(1980-1981)
An in color remake by Tokyo Movie Shinsha of Mitsuteru Yokoyama’s manga Tetsujin 28-go. It was directed by Tetsuo Imazawa produced by Shigeru Akagawa and Tora Horikoshi. It aired on Nippon Television with Fred Ladd adapting all 51 Episodes into English. Despite the timing, the creators insisted they were not inspired to revive the 60’s icon due to the success of the Mighty Atom. Though the proximity of the remakes did lead to Tezuka considering a crossover between the two[14].
Adieu Galaxy Express 999(1980)
The sequel to the 1979 film. On Earth, an unknown amount of time later, Tetsuro on Earth receives a message from Maetel that seems to be a cry for help and once more boards the Galaxy Express 999. On the way there Tetsuro reunited with Captain Harlock and reveals his intentions. Harlock gives him a signal flare to fire if he needs help but it needs to be fired into space. Tetsuro reaches reache the final destination of the Galaxy E xpress 999 which to his shock is a planet named Maetel, the mechanization homeworld. It is here that Tetsuro realizes that Maetel originally intended to bring him to the planet to sacrifice him and turns him into a mechanized slave, one of many and that Maetel did this multiple times(flashbacks to first film show the two first meeting and then departing mixed in with previously unseen scenes of the two). Tetsuro angrily slaps Maetel when he learns the truth, that she originally intended to sacrifice him, but is captured by Maetel’s mother Queen Prometheum. However, Maetel saves Tetsuro and reveals her intent to destroy the planet using a weapon created by her father, the engineer of the city. Maetel hesitates to do so but Tetsuro does activate the destruction of the planet and shoots the signal flare that allows Harlock and Emeralds to arrive to rescue them as the planet collapses. Maetel reveals that the body of Tetsuro’s mother was used to provide Maetel with a body of her own and departs to Pluto where her true body is preserved, promising to reunited with Tetsuro in her own body and they once more say a tearful goodbye.
Notes
[1] OTL the Adventures of Tom Sawyer was released in place of Wizard of Oz. Because the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn adapted both that book and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ITTL, there is no need seen for a remake(I’d say at least more than ten years before remaking something and that previous adaptation was in 1976, hit 1986 and then we’ll talk), and so this series is butterflied away, leading World Masterpiece Theater to choose something different in its place. Since ITTL they’ve yet to adapt an American story(OTL their first was Rascal the Raccoon which was butterflied away). They choose Wizard of Oz, allowing them to employ the change where the film switches from monaural Vistavision to Quadraphonic Cinemascope to simulate the wonder of entering Oz, an effect Space Battleship Yamato III did OTL. They do not outsource the production ITTL as they previously did that with Jack and the Beanstalk and that was a failure, making World Masterpiece Theatre more hesitant to endorse another created work.
[2] OTL the name of Drunkabit in English was Snoozabit and they dubbed him as always being sleepy rather than drunk. Naturally this is controversial ITTL, but it did try to teach kids to be careful when adults are showing signs of being drunk, that they may not be in control of what they do and tried to squeeze a lesson in there.
[3] FYI I made pretty much all of this up. Despite the mission statement of “trying to be a realistic Mecha Series”, Robo Trider G7 still follows, a Robot Invasion of Earth, a scientist who defected from the villains, builds a robot, dies and passes the robot to a child main character. It took the “realistic” Mecha angle and did my own take on it. ITTL its more inspired by Tomino’s other work and the more successful Gundam. I imagine ITTL there’s an Alternatehistory.com timeline which imagines a similar premise as the series occurring in 1940, meaning America, the Nazis, the Soviet Union, and Japan are the world powers building Mechas with different leaders in charge complete with historical figures as Mech pilots such as General Patton, Elvis Presley, John F.Kennedy and world leaders getting their own Mechs for Stalin, Hitler and the US President.
[4] Rescueman has been tweaked compared to OTL and the heroes are now basically the villains as a nod to the villains of Time Bokan usually stealing the show anyway, justified by them not being too evil beyond being thieves and incompetent at that.
[5] Monchhichi toys had a boost in sales ITTL thank to Pippi Longstocking and TTL’s 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother popularizing monkeys, making them more successful, and the Monkey craze allowed the company to bill their toys as “Don’t buy a real monkey. Buy a stuffed Monkey. They’re much easier. They don't throw feces and won't bite you.”
[6] Phoenix 2772 does better ITTL due to Tezuka being more famous and it being just a year after the Phoenix appeared in Mighty Atom: Super Train so more people recognize it. ITTL Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen composites the Tezuka’s Phoenix with the Phoenix Force of X-Men fame.
[7] Captain was adapted into a film first. Changed to an anime as a concept such as rotating protagonists would really only work as a series.
[8] OTL King Arthur as a series was released OTL in 1979 followed by a sequel, King Arthur: Prince on White horse which had the characters in a futuristic setting. My plan ITTL is to delay that version so that it becomes an Anime adaptation of the similar premise of the Comic Camelot 3000 which debuted in 1983.
[9] This series was of the funny animals variety OTL with animals in the main role. Personally I think you should have at least one faithful adaptation before you go the talking funny animal route. That’s not why Animal Treasure Island was butterflied away, that was just a coincidence based on the logic of Miyazaki leaving before he suggested the idea.
[10] A Significantly more upbeat ending even if its still a sad one than OTL where the TV show and the film ended differently but both with the everyone dying and shown to be reborn. The first destroys both races and the second destroys the universe.My guess is Tomino is in better health thanks to Gundam doing a lot better and so he decided to give the series a happier ending. Thing is OTL this series was the heavyweight champion of downer endings and inspired Hideakki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion. ITTL by changing it things are going to be very different down the line for Evangelion. Also ITTL the series sells better but OTL the DVD box set was overproduced and when the second boxset and movie came out they produced less, resulting in the opposite problem of 80,000 to 120,000 yen DVD boxes. Here with Gundam being a success it sells better helped by lacking a downer ending.
[11] The plot is changed slightly to make a bit more sense but I personally enjoyed the OTL film on an ironic level. You can watch the film on YouTube but this review of it I think illustrates my points:
[12] Nextworld is Radically different from OTL due to the success of Metropolis, with the same people involved, meaning the plot changes to be a sequel. I imagine it being some combination of Metropolis and the Sum of All Fears.
[13]OTL an Astro Boy series in color aired at this time, since the series debuted earlier in 1977, its position is replaced with Tezuka’s second most popular character Blackjack, who already made a recent appearance in Mighty Atom: Super Train so audiences are familiar with him.
[14] OTL Gigantor and Astro Boy both had in color remakes at the same time, ironically given they premiered the same year. Not ITTL once again due to Mighty Atom’s earlier in color debut so there's an argument to be made that the Gigantor staff remade the show because of Mighty Atom's success even though they didn't do that OTL.
And now for those who have been Butterflied Away
Be Forever Yamato. Has been butterflied away as TTL’s equivalent Space Asteroid Icarus, never needed to retcon its ending away. The effect where the film switches from monaural Vistavision to Quadraphonic Cinemascope when the Yamato enters the Double Galaxy is used ITTL for the Wizard of Oz instead. Space Battleship Yamato III is butterflied away for the same reason and also because Matsumoto is working on Galaxy Express 999's film sequel.
Tomorrow’s Joe 2. A continuation of the OTL Anime. ITTL the Anime was completed and a compilation movie was released leaving no need for Tomorrow’s Joe 2 to exist and any kind of sequel after the Manga's point would go against the author's intentional ambiguous ending. Instead two series would later be released show two possible futures are the Manga's ending. It's kind of like how OTL there is a comic book series where Archie marries Betty and another where he marries Veronica released at the same time.
Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! Another Film. Butterflied away due to personal reasons. Two films of the same franchise the same year seems redundant especially for a comedy.
I have one more thing before we finish with 1980. I'll give you a hint. It's a Miyazaki film, but one that he didn't make OTL but wanted to. One that...quite frankly sounds bizarre on paper. And yes it's getting its own post. Because I have some Concept Art.
Oooooo, furries.
Maeterlinck’s Blue Bird: Tyltyl and Mytyl’s Adventurous Journey(1980)
Based on the 1908 play by Maurice Maeterlinck. Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa with character designs by Leiji Matsumoto and running for 26 episodes. The series is set in a German speaking country in the 1970’s and follows 12 year old girl Mytyl and her 13 year old brother Tyltyl as they attempt to catch the Blue Bird of Happiness which would bring them eternal happiness with the aid of the fairy Berylune. They are followed by a cat and dog named Shanet and Tyrol who are given anthropomorphic forms and the ability to talk by Berylune.
Rowlf(1980)
Funny you should say that.
Rowlf(1980)
Rowlf was an American comic written by Richard Corben. It is filled with over the top violence, nudity and gore. Naturally it was a perfect fit for Heavy Metal. The Comic is set in a quasi fantasy sci fi world. There’s a princess with a canine companion need Rowlf. The dog loves the princess. Then she is kidnapped by Demons. An evil Wizard falsely believes Rowlf killed the princess and tries to turn him into a man so he can confess but ends up accidentally turning him into a half human half dog hybrid. The now half man half dog, his own best friend, Rowlf sets out to save the Princess from the Demons, who have tanks. Rowlf gets his paws on some guns. And its off to the races mowing down enemies with blood and gore galore and some nudity too(Rowlf recalls the Princess bathing in a lake naked).
Naturally Hayao Miyazaki wanted to turn it into a movie.
Granted Miyazaki hasn’t always been kid friendly, heck at the time Nausicaa was a stretch and his later films also attested to that but this one really took the cake. Corben has written a proposal but admitted that adaptation would prove difficult to Japanese audiences but would be a hit in America. Miyazaki drew up some concept art. Now to be clear, Miyazaki has always taken “liberties” with stories he adapts, Pippi Longstocking was a rare exception. It was his first film and he greatly respected the source material, but otherwise if he adapts something, it’s going to come out looking far different than what went in. The story was changed. The Princess had a style similar to the previous film Castle of Cagliostro. Rowlf is drawn a lot cuter and lovable even when wielding a gun. Corben hesitated. He wasn’t against the idea of animation since one of his Stories would be adapted in the film Heavy Metal far more faithfully at around the same time. Also he’d seen Naussicaa and enjoyed it so while not giving the project his blessing, he gave it a shrug, and thus Rowlf was born.
Among the changes Miyazaki made to the story was softening the romance idea from Rowlf’s lust toward the Princess towards the platonic and unconditional love. The King character received more focus and was shown as incompetent. It is he that demands Rowlf be cursed and the wizard is far nicer as a result. Miyazaki’s themes are illustrated in the Demons use of modern weaponry agains the serene and beautiful Fantasy setting. The film ultimately ended up sharing many similarities with Nausicaa. Nowadays however it’s seen as un underrated film in his filmography[1].
Also yes, The Muppet Show couldn't resist parodying it with their own Rowlf in a similar setting on a quest to save miss Piggy.
"It's time to meet your maker on the Muppet Show tonight."
Notes
[1] A film planned OTL but pitched in 1980. ITTL it was pitched earlier due to Miyazaki’s better standing. Comparing it to OTL films is a bit tricky. I’d say it would have elements of the main character’s transformation in Howl’s Moving Castle, the film I imagine its closest to in terms of reception but lacks a romantic love plot and is as violent as Nausicaa. Most of the design from the cancelled Rowlf went to the later Nausicaa OTL, which has the side effect of making the design of Rowlf and it very similar but also refined somewhat. The films already a bit too bizarre and likely doesn’t do that well but is still at least considered a Miyazaki classic. So it has the reception of OTL's Howl's Moving Castle. It's too out child unfriendly for most Miyazaki fans and alienated fans of the original stories, making it a runt of the litter.
Rowlf was an American comic written by Richard Corben. It is filled with over the top violence, nudity and gore. Naturally it was a perfect fit for Heavy Metal. The Comic is set in a quasi fantasy sci fi world. There’s a princess with a canine companion need Rowlf. The dog loves the princess. Then she is kidnapped by Demons. An evil Wizard falsely believes Rowlf killed the princess and tries to turn him into a man so he can confess but ends up accidentally turning him into a half human half dog hybrid. The now half man half dog, his own best friend, Rowlf sets out to save the Princess from the Demons, who have tanks. Rowlf gets his paws on some guns. And its off to the races mowing down enemies with blood and gore galore and some nudity too(Rowlf recalls the Princess bathing in a lake naked).
Naturally Hayao Miyazaki wanted to turn it into a movie.
Granted Miyazaki hasn’t always been kid friendly, heck at the time Nausicaa was a stretch and his later films also attested to that but this one really took the cake. Corben has written a proposal but admitted that adaptation would prove difficult to Japanese audiences but would be a hit in America. Miyazaki drew up some concept art. Now to be clear, Miyazaki has always taken “liberties” with stories he adapts, Pippi Longstocking was a rare exception. It was his first film and he greatly respected the source material, but otherwise if he adapts something, it’s going to come out looking far different than what went in. The story was changed. The Princess had a style similar to the previous film Castle of Cagliostro. Rowlf is drawn a lot cuter and lovable even when wielding a gun. Corben hesitated. He wasn’t against the idea of animation since one of his Stories would be adapted in the film Heavy Metal far more faithfully at around the same time. Also he’d seen Naussicaa and enjoyed it so while not giving the project his blessing, he gave it a shrug, and thus Rowlf was born.
Among the changes Miyazaki made to the story was softening the romance idea from Rowlf’s lust toward the Princess towards the platonic and unconditional love. The King character received more focus and was shown as incompetent. It is he that demands Rowlf be cursed and the wizard is far nicer as a result. Miyazaki’s themes are illustrated in the Demons use of modern weaponry agains the serene and beautiful Fantasy setting. The film ultimately ended up sharing many similarities with Nausicaa. Nowadays however it’s seen as un underrated film in his filmography[1].
Also yes, The Muppet Show couldn't resist parodying it with their own Rowlf in a similar setting on a quest to save miss Piggy.
"It's time to meet your maker on the Muppet Show tonight."
Notes
[1] A film planned OTL but pitched in 1980. ITTL it was pitched earlier due to Miyazaki’s better standing. Comparing it to OTL films is a bit tricky. I’d say it would have elements of the main character’s transformation in Howl’s Moving Castle, the film I imagine its closest to in terms of reception but lacks a romantic love plot and is as violent as Nausicaa. Most of the design from the cancelled Rowlf went to the later Nausicaa OTL, which has the side effect of making the design of Rowlf and it very similar but also refined somewhat. The films already a bit too bizarre and likely doesn’t do that well but is still at least considered a Miyazaki classic. So it has the reception of OTL's Howl's Moving Castle. It's too out child unfriendly for most Miyazaki fans and alienated fans of the original stories, making it a runt of the litter.
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Hey Marco, do you have any plans for Who Framed Roger Rabbit ITTL? Also what happens to the new Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers film?
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Directed by Terry Gilliam(Found the process too challenging. Later regretted it). Though Spielberg and Zemeckis were there for input as Producers. Still has Paul Reubens as Roger Rabbit but Harrison Ford as Eddie Valiant(Spielberg's choice. Too Expensive OTL but the Film ITTL has the original planned 50 Million Dollar budget which helps) and Tim Curry as Judge Doom(OTL deemed too scary) Judge Doom also implies that he shot Bambi's mom but its pointed out that makes no sense since Bambi is an actor. Eddie Murphy plays a supporting role in the film(OTL he turned down the lead role due to misunderstanding the concept of toons and live action actors interacting and regretted it). Gary Wolf(the original book's author) makes a cameo voicing Tex Avery's Wolf who howls when she comes out and tries to get to her but is stopped by security(a mix of a cut scene with Tex Avery's Wolf and the author's later admission of how he'd wanted his cameo to go, making him the Wolf to play on his name. Since the author loved the film so much he retconned the original book into being a dream Jessica Rabbit hat. ITTL the original book is implied to be the Wolf's fanfiction. A cut scene of Marvin Acme's funeral is shown with characters they OTL couldn't get the license to such as Popeye, Felix the Cat, Fleischer's Superman, Tom and Jerry, Mighty Mouse, Dick Tracy, Casper and so on(Popeye was going to be in there but King Feature demanded three times the amount Warner Bros asked for from Spielberg and he was cut. They would regret this decision). The effects were by Eric Goldberg(making the Animation as Fluid as OTL Aladdin's Genie).
Answering you next question. Roger Rabbit did indeed have a sequel around 2022 with the cast returning but addressing how the animation industry has changed. Peter Pan is not the villain ITTL and Judge Doom is dead. It's also not Charlie Brown which it was going to be at one point in development(though ITTL the comic Weapon Brown was adapted into a film. It's essentially a Judge Dredd style post apocalyptic Animated story with Newspaper strip characters in the wasteland such as a giant Mutant Garfield "Nicknamed Gorefield" , Charlie Brown with his dog and Calvin with his Pet Tiger). Due to the passage of time the sequel is set in the 1980's with 80's characters and Icons and the villain being a business mogul type who introduces CGI(keep in mind that OTL there is an unmade CGI film predating Toy Story called the Works that was worked on from 1979 to 1986 which ITTL was made). The Sequel isn't better than the original but is seen as still a decent follow up. Think Blade Runner 2049 vs the original Blade Runner.
1981 in Anime
1981 in Anime
Heart(1981)
A series continuation of From the Apennines to the Andes by Studio Ghibli and Takahata, the movie being based off only one chapter of the original book. Takahata chose to return and adapt the rest of the series. The series follows the rest of Enrico Bottini’s life as a boy, telling heart warming stories. Naturally World Masterpiece Theater was delighted to have the chance to release a sequel to the original beloved film[1]
Hashire Melos(1981)
Translated to Run Melos. Directed by Tomoharu Katsumata that ran for 68 minutes. Based on the 1940 short story by Osamu Dezar. The story is set in 360 BC and follows Melos, a greek man arrest for conspiring agains the King and is given three days to travel to his sister’s wedding while a sculptor named Selinentius that Melos just met but the authorities confuse for a friend of his, is taken hostage to ensure Melos returns. Melos is innocent of the crime he is accused on in the film as opposed to being guilty in the original story. The king promises to pardon Melos if he can make the trip to and back but many things hamper Melos’s journey.
Yattodetaman(1981-1982)
The Fourth Installment in the Time Bokan Series by Tatsunoko Production and directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Airing on Fuji Tv. The series is set 1000 years in the future. The King of the land of Fir has died and one faction led by Prince Kamaro, princess Mirenjo and two minions, mechanic Julie Kokematsu and guard Alan Sukadon conspire to takeover. However, the rightful ruler is sent on a mission through time and space to find the mysterious Firebird and the villains go on the journey. Princess Karen and her robot dog Daigoron travel to 1981 and recruit the ancestors of the King Water Toei and Kotomu Himekuri for help in stopping the villains and catchingg the Firebird with Wataru becoming Tarrodetaman.
Golden Warrior Gold Lightan(1981-1982)
A Tatsunoko Mecha series that aired on Tokyo 12. Directed by Koichi Mashimo. The series ran for 52 episodes. It was popular in Hong Kong and was released there around the same time. The series follows a young boy named Hiro Takai who gains a goblin lighter that can transform into a sentient gold robot. He id given the mission to stop an alien invasion of Earth by King Ibalda.
Beast King GoLion(1981-1982)
Directed by Katsuhiko Taguchi for Toei Animation and airing on Tokyo Channel 12. The Series is set in 1999. The Gaira Empire has taken over the planet Galra. At the same time Five pilots, Akira Kogane, Takashi Shirogane, Isamu Kurogane, Tsuyoshi Seidou, and Hiroshi Suzuichi return to Earth to find that is has been devastated in a Nuclear War. They are ambushed by the Galra Empire and forced to become gladiator’s in Emperor Daibazaal’s Arena. They escape and arrive on Altea where they learn about the robot GoLion, which was separated into five pieces resembling giant robot Lions capable of flying through space. Fala, the Princess of Altea recruits the five. World Events Productions, founded by Ted Koplar in 1980, was searching for Anime to dub and came across GoLion and made a deal to dub it. As part of the deal the series was adapted faithfully[2].
Hello! Sandybelle(1981-1982)
A series by Toei Animation that aired on TV Asahi. The series was never popular in the US but was in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe, specifically Scandinavia. The series follows a girl who lives in Scotland with her father and dog Oliver. She meets the Countess of Wellington and the arrogant young lady Kitty. The son of the Countess, Marc falls in love with Sandybelle and the Countess gives her a white lily, which reminds her of her mother, which she learns is still alive and goes to search for, who is recovering from amnesia and doesn’t recognize her daughter[3].
Ohayo! Spank(1981)
Translated as Good Morning Spank! Based on the manga written by Shun’ichi Yukimori and illustrated by Shizue Takahashi that ran from 1979 to 1982. The series follows Spank, a go who’s owner went missing and he waits by the beach everyday for him. He meets Aiko Morimura, a high school student waiting for her missing father to return and who recently lost her own pet dog. The two comfort each other and then vow to find each other’s loved ones rather than simply wait.
Doraemon: Nobita’s Spaceship(1981)
Written by Doraemon creator Fujiko F.Fujio. Produced by Shin-Ei Animation and distributed by Toho. It was the second Doraemon film. The film begins severn years before the present where two children named Lopplc and Morina are playing in a park on Koya Koya Planet when an earthquake begins. A ship arrives to save them and they board before the planet is destroyed. A lightning bolt hits the ship and it disappears. Nobita and friends encounter the ship and meet Loppic and Chammy, a rabbit like creature. Loppic(now 12 years old) becomes good friends with Nobita and Doraemon. They learn that a group of planet miners have been going around threatening worlds. Nobita and Doraemon begin to work towards saving each world from the Miners and defeating their corporate boss.
21 Emon(1981-1982)
A series based on a series by Fujiko F.Fujio set in the same world as Doraemon. The Manga ran from 1968 to 1968. The Series is set in then future year of 2018. It follows 21 Emon, who is the 21stin a line of hotel owners who wishes instead to have adventures in space.
Mobile Suit Gundam(1981 Compilation Film)
Following in the footsteps of other Compilation films. Mobile Suit Gundam received one as well with Tomino personally reworking the footage into the first of what would become three films, due to Gundam being more plot heavy and serialized than most other series compiled so far. Tomino changed several elements of the series he was unhappy with. He removed elements he felt were cliches of the genre and removed certain weapons such as Gundam hammer weapon and the G-Armor upgrades with Care Booster support fighters, and Hayato receiving the RX-77 Gun cannon. The release of the film in Japan attracted a large crowd at its premiere, leading to fears it could cause a riot. The Day is seen as a turning point in the history of Anime, known as “The Dat that Anime changed” and became the fourth highest grossing film in Japan that year.
Swan Lake(1981)
Based on the Ballet of the same name by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The first animated film by The Samuel Goldwyn Company. Produced by Toei Animation in partnership with Soyuzmultfilm from the Soviet Union. It was directed by Kimio Yabuki. Tchakovsky’s score was used in the series, which was fairly faithful.
Natsu e no Tobira(1981)
Translates as “The Door into Summer”. Based on the Manga by Keiko Takemiya that ran for one volume in October 1975. It is a short story set in a French Academy where a following a young boy named Marion in love with an older woman named Ledania while Claude is in love with Marion. Two other friends Lind and Jacques begin a rivalry over Ledania. It was adapted by Toei Animation and Madhouse.
Dotakon(1981)
A Comedy manga by Hosuke Fukuchi that ran on Manga Sunday in 1968 and was adapted and broadcast on Fuji TV.
Belle and Sebastian(1981-1982)
Based on the French 1965 novel Belle et Sebastien by French author Cecile Aubry. The series ran for 52 episodes on NHK as a co-production of MK company, Visual 80 Productions and Toho Company. The head writer of the series was Toshiyuki Kashiwakura. The show was the first anime broadcast on Nickelodeon, which launched in 1979. The series shared many of the same staff as Nippon Animation’s World Masterpiece Theater and it is often confused for an entry in the series. The series follows a young boy named Sebastian and his mountain dog Belle in a village in Southern France. Sebastian saved the dog from being put down and the two go on the run from police while searching for his missing mother.
Little Women(1981)
Based on the Louisa May Alcott novel. The series was directed by Kazuya Miyazaki, no relation to Hayao Miyazaki, who’d worked on Honey Idol and Grendizer. It was produced by Toei Animation and aired on Channel 12. Many people falsely believe it was part of World Masterpiece Theater.
Arale-Chan(1981-1986)
Translated simply to Arale in English. Mangaka Akira Toriyama and his editor Kazuhiko Torishina were still relatively new to their professions. Toiryama had difficulty getting a manga off the ground and sought out Osamu Tezuka and Go Nagai among others for advice in improving his writing. Toriyama did write what one story which would serve as the basis for Arale called Ageha-chō Kansatsu Nikki. Toriyama’s first somewhat successful story was female detective story called Tomato the Cutesy gumshoe and this inspired him to write a series starring a female lead. The manga would later provide a likely falsified account of tits own creation process, such as Toriyama wanted to write a story about a doctor and Torishina wanted a robot. It was Torishina’s idea to make the main character Arale. Torishina liked romance while Toriyama did not and it was included largely to appease him. Toriyama did however have to admit that most of his ideas turned out to be good ones. Arale within the story was an android girl created by Senbei Norimaki in a small town of Penguin Village, who acted as a Superhero along with her boyfriend Obatchaman, an incompetent and non powered parody of Superman. The series included a large use of gags, including frequent use of poop in jokes. The series did borrow much from The Mighty Atom and was seen as a parody of it to some extent. Some advertising tried billing the series as “Look out Mighty Atom! Here comes Arale!” Despite Toriyama and Tezuka personally getting along quite well, having a teacher and student relationship and the two series being different enough that their fandoms rarely clashed.
Toriyama and Torishina were not expecting Arale to become as popular as it did but the manga ran from 1980 to 1983. Toriyama wrote the series while working at home with his parents with one assistant who worked one day a week and admitted to making up ideas when Torishina called and asked for the next chapter, sending the rough draft to Tokyo by mail. The series did well, selling a million copies regularly and being awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for Shonen and Shojo in 1981, but Toriyama wanted to move onto other things and the Chief Editor of Jump and Shueisha refused to allow it to end unless Toriyama could promise a more successful series. One day Toriyama finished a chapter earlier than normal and spent the remaining time brainstorming ideas. He also wanted to be in more control of the Anime adaptation As Arale-Chan’s Anime adaptation took liberties with his own story due to being produced around the same time. The Anime was done by Toei Animation and on Fuji TV on the Saturday 6pm timeslot for five years(a coveted airing time as it meant families would watch it, and most people were available to view it, pretty much guaranteeing success in the ratings). Part of the wide appeal is credited to its use of Toilet and adult humor mixed with compelling storytelling and drama. Still Toriyama was ready to move on. The back of one manga was devoted to answering fan questions and depicted Toriyama and Torishina as robot caricatures of themselves working as Jump. One question towards the end of Arale’s run in 1983 asked what series Toriyama would work on next. Toriyama’s caricature is about to tell them but Torishina silences him by covering his mouth and insisting that the reader stay tuned and buy it when it comes out. Toriyama was only able to get out: “ I am working on a spectacular new series called Dragonb…” before Torishina’s speech bubble blocks it[4].
Furiten-kun(1981)
A theatrical film Based on the Yonkoma Manga(four panel one page jokes like an American comic strip) by Masashi Ueda in several magazines.
Jarinko Chie(1981)
Translated as Chie the Brat. Based on the Manga by Etsumi Haruki, which ran from 1978 to 1997 and won the General Shogakukan Manga award in 1981. The Manga was adapted into a film by Isao Takahata. The film follows the ten year old Chie “The Most unfortunate girl in Japan”. Her father is a member of the Yakuza and runs a small tavern on Osaka. She sneaks out to visit her mother, hoping to reunite her parents and get her father a “Real Job”. The success of the film led to Takahata expressing interest in a TV Show continuation but is too busy with the TV Show adaptation of “Heart” and will begin once that show concludes.
In the News
In other news, Studio Ghibli Producer Toshi Suzuki, a close friend of Miyazaki and Takahata has teased that Miyazaki’s next film is inspired by his own script “Warring States Demon Castle”. Suzuki would later be quoted behind the scenes at Studio Ghibli, questioning Tahata’s choice to adapt Jarinko Chie saying “ After a classic like From the Apennines to the Andes how can you now do a film about a girl cooking eggs on the sidewalk?” [5].
Millennium Queen(1981)
Based on the Manga by Leiji Matsumoto that ran from 1980 to 1983 with Matsumoto involved in the production, therefore conceiving the ending to the Manga in the process. It is a prequel to Galaxy Express 999, depicting the origins of Maetel. While initially conceived as a series, the success of the Galaxy Express 999’s two film adaptations led to it becoming a film instead to capitalize on it and round up the series into a trilogy.
The film begins in 1999, the then future. Professor Amamori discovers a Tenth Planet that will collide with Earth on September 1999 at 9pm 9 minutes and 9 seconds. Th planet is named La-Metal and is revealed to be inhabited by a human like species ruled by Queen Larela, who intends to destroy Earth to prevent the collision with agents led by Andromeda Prometheum, or Queen Millennium who was an agent on Earth for 1,000 years but Andromeda in the human disguise of Yukino Yayoi begins to work with Professor Amamori to prevent both worlds from being destroyed but doing so would require the two worlds to work together. Complicated when War breaks out between the two planets[6].
Tiger Mask II(1981-1982)
A Sequel to the original Tiger Mask which ran from 1969 to 1971. The series followed a new protagonist Tatsuo Aku. An orphan and and an of Tiger Mask revealed to have been the child who’s reaction to Tiger Mask caused him to change his ways and become heroic wrestler. Like the first series, a wrestler adopted the persona of Tiger Mask but Antonio Inoki had retired the role and it went to up and comer Satoru Sayama. Sayama had spent time traveling abroad and had recently returned. He was met both by fans and by other wrestlers with hesitancy that he could match up with the legacy of the original but proved himself by pinning the Dynamite Kid, earning him the respect of Japanese fans and he immediately became a premiere star[7].
GoShogun(1981)
A Super Robot Anime created by Takeshi Shudo and directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. The series is a lighthearted parody of its own genre while keeping a serious tone in contrast to the dark reconstructions of the genre by Tomino. The series is set in the early 21st century. An evil organization called Dokuga led by Lord NeoNeros controls the world. A brilliant scientist named Professor Sanada is taken hostage and forced to work for them but commits suicide, leading his son Kenta to be their next target. Kenta is taken by one of his fathers colleague to Good Thunder, a Flying Fortress made after Sanada discovered an energy with powers both teleportation and the giant robot GoShogun which requires three pilots who travel the world fighting NeoNero’s plans. At the conclusion it is revealed that the energy, called Beamler, use din the robot and teleportation came from space and arrived from a meteorite that landed at the site of the Tunguska 1909 blast. The energy was intended to test humans to see if they were worthy of contact with aliens with NeoNeros using the negative form of the energy. Kenta defeats NeoNeros and takes GoShogun into space to make first contact. GoShogun was the first Anime dubbed by Saban Entertainment(formed in 1980)[8].
The Sea Prince and the Fire Princess(1981)
Based on a story by Shintaro Tsuji. Itself a loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The God of Water Glaucus and Goddess of Fire Themis fall in love until Argon, Lord of the Winds turns them against each other, starting a war that ended when the highest god struck down Argon, removing his eye, the source of his power and casting him down in to the ocean, giving the eye to Glaucus. Themis at the same time creates “The Holy Flame” near the sea to protect her children from the ocean.
Years later, Glaucus’s son Prince Sirius becomes the heir to the Sea Kingdom and protector of the Eye of Argon while at the same time. Themis’s daughter Malta is about to succeed her as Queen and is entrusted with the Holy Flame. Sirius’s little brother Teak wanders off to the surface but returns to the sea while Sirius ends up meeting Malta who saves him when the Holy Flame seems to attack him and knock him unconscious. Sirius returns home and is made ruler. A giant Japanese salamander named Mabuse tries to take the eye of Argon for himself but is defeated by Sirius. Afterwards Sirius returns to Malta and while both are hesitant they begin to trust each other and eventually fall in love with frequent visits before Sirius has to return to the sea as the sun is dangerous to him. Before he leaves the two share a kiss.
Sirius and Malta are seen together by Teak while giant jellyfish attack the sea Kingdom while Sirius is away and he arrives too late, causing Teak, who was injured in the attack to lash out. Sirius speaks with the wise turtle Moelle but is told to forget Malta. Sirius does go to see Malta again but Mabuse follows. Unable to be with Sirius after being crowned Queen and no longer needing to guard the Holy Flame, Malta throws herself into it when Sirius tries to stop her and both fall unconscious to be rescued by Moelle. Moelle tells them of the past and the two lovers embraced, implying they can be together. Moelle says there is a star where Water and Fire can come together and that a flowers called the Klaeco blossoms there will allow them to be together. The place is called Mobius Hill and the flowers float up the star, indicating the way. The flower blooming will occur during an eclipse where Malta will be made Queen. Mabuse overhears this and flees to report them but Moelle chases after him before revealing where Mobius Hill is. The Eternal flame, unattended, goes out. Piale, Malta’s assistant who has witnessed her love for Sirius, confesses her love for Malta before sacrificing herself to become the new Holy Flame and buy time for her and Sirius to flee to Mobius Hill. The deception is discovered and Sirius and Malta are discovered together by Glaucus and Themis, who forcibly separate the two and imprison them.
Malta is freed by friends of Piale. Teak tries and fails to get Sirius out of prison. Sirius continues to call Malta’s name and earns sympathy from the creatures of the sea. Mabuse attempts to trick Teak into stealing the eye of Argon and using it to break Sirius out in order to steal the eye for himself. Teak tells Sirius this plan and he realizes the deception but Sirius refuses to be given the eye and tells Teak to go to the King, only for Teak to be amused by Mabuse and his gang, who take the eye and use it to break Argon free. Argon goes on a rampage, drawing the attention of Glaucus and Temis to fight and defeat him together. Sirius escapes when his dungeon is destroyed while the destruction also threatens the surface world and Malta. Sirius finds Teak dying after Mabuse wounded him with Argon having killed Mabuse and his followers shortly after being released. Teak tells Sirius to find Malta before he dies. Sirius is late and Malta tries and fails to stop the spores of the Klaesco Blossoms from floating away. Malta is then transformed into the new Fire Queen. Sirius goes on a dangerous journey, losing his eyes when he falls from a collapsing cliff. He finally finds Malta, who has become bitter and she refuses to speak with him. Sirius chases after her as the eclipse ends despite Malta’s warnings about the sun. The sunlight kills Sirius and Malta weeps. She then promises they won’t be apart again and carries his body into the water, which in turn kills her. Glaucus brings their bodies to Themis in the aftermath and the two sides have a joint funeral to bury the two together as they wanted. Glaucus and Themis discuss the possibilities of uniting their kingdoms again. In an epilogue, Moelle finishes narrating the story to children of both fire and water and says they now share a star in the night sky, which appears as both blue and red.
The Enchanted Journey(1981)
Based on the 1970 book of the same name by Atsuo Saito and produced by Studio Korumi. The series follows the domestically raised chipmunk Glikko, who learns from a carrier pigeon named Pippo about chipmunks in the North Forest and decides to leave to join them, facing many dangers[9].
Kyōfu Densetsu Kaiki! Frankenstein(1981)
A 98 Minute film based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the Marvel Comic Book series. It is a combination of the films and novel. The monster resembles the Boris Karloff version but is depicted more sympathetically. After creating the monster, Dr.Frankenstein tries to destroy his creation, which kills his assistant and falls off the cliff. The monster begins to accidentally kill people but befriends Frankenstein’s family, including his grandfather, a kind old man, and granddaughter.When the monster kills a member of the family again, the family is convinced the monster did it on purpose and are too late to realize the truth. The monster is killed and Dr.Frankenstein in horror commits suicide.
Captain Harlock: The Last Voyage(1981)
The character’s first solo film by Matsumoto. Harlock and his enemy Dressler are forced to team up against a new enemy called the Bolars that threatens the galaxy[10].
Ninja Hattori-kun(1981-1987)
Based on the manga by the duo Fujiko Fujio that ran from 1964 to 1988. The show aired on Shin-Ei Animation. The series follows 10 year old Kenichi Mitsuba who struggles with school due to being stubborn and lazy. He befriends Kanzo Hattori, a kid who is the descendant of famed ninja Hattori Hanzo with his entire family down to his baby sister and his dog being ninjas. Hattori is a good friend towards Kenichi and supports him while trying to encourage him to be better. Kenichi is too lazy to commit to ninja training and relies on Hattori. They had an enemy in Kemumaki, a rival kid Ninja with a ninja cat who tries to put the two friends against each other. Not helping this is Kenichi usually asks Hattori for help getting revenge but he refuses if the reason is petty. One instance had Kenichi claim that a bully of his killed someone, leading Hattori to go after the bully and stop barely short of killing him when Kenichi reveals he lied. Kenichi and Hattori are also in love with the same girl.
SuperBible(1981-1982)
A Christian Anime series telling stories from the Bible by Tatsunoko and TV Tokyo with the Christian Broadcasting Network airing it in the US. To the chagrin of Christian groups, the Anime did not shy away from adapting the darker and violent elements of Bible Stories. The battle between David and Goliath is intense. Job’s life falling apart is depicted as agonizing to watch. The destruction of Sodom and Gamorah is depicted like the atom bomb going off with the people inside turning into salt. The series ran for 52 episodes with 26 episodes used to tell the Old Testament and the other half for the new. The framing device is of a boy named Chris Shephard discovering the titular Super Bible which is a bible that can transport someone into the story described. Peeper and his friends discover a time traveling villain trying to disrupt history and must thwart him every episode. This time traveling villain appears to be a Demon capable of shapeshifting, possibly Satan. In the finale, Chris discovers he is the second coming of Jesus and using time travel, disappears and reappears as an adult to fight the Demon. He appears to die but is revealed to be alive three episodes later and resumes the final battle defeating the Demon and then his friends are pulled out of the book with Chris returning with no memories of what had happened[11].
God Mars(1981-1982)
A Mecha Animation series based loosely on the 1976 Manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama. The titular Robot is named after the Roman God of War. The series was popular in Japan, Hong Kong and Italy and ran for 64 episodes. The series is set in 1999 where Humanity has expanded beyond the Solar System. The planet Gishin and its Emperor Zul tries to conquer the Earth and sends a boy named Mars to Earth with a robot named Gaia which can destroy the entire planet and will do so if the pilot dies. Mars grows up being adopted by a Japanese family who named his Takeru and grows to love Earth, going against his purpose to defend Earth instead, joining the Earth Defense Force and fights against his true home. Mars later discovers that he was not the only one sent and has to fight several others, some like him and some not. The series did very well and won the Anime Grand Prix in 1982[12].
Dash Kappei(1981-1982)
Based on the manga by Noboru Rokuda that ran from 1978 to 1982. It was adapted into 65 episodes by Tatsunolo directed by Masayuki Hayashi(known as Rintaro). It aired on Fuji Tv on Sundays at 6pm. It was one of Tatsunoko’s most successful show in the early 90’s and did excellent in ratings which reached 15 to 20%. It was also successful in Italy and the entire manga was released there translated with the original names. It was also popular in Spain and Latin America. The series follows teenager Kappei Sakamoto who is a high school student that joins the basketball team. He is less than a meter tall and has a weakness for women’s underwear. He falls in love with another athlete named Akane. He is challenged in his advances by Akane’s dog Seichiro, who is smart enough to sabotage Kappei’s efforts with his owner.
Galaxy Cyclone Braiger(1981-1982)
A 39 episode Mecha Series. The series was based on taking a scientific approach like Robo Trider G7. Focusing heavily on the science to make Mechas plausible and was made largely by a Korean team with illustrator Kazuo Komatsubara asked to create characters in the style of Lupin III. The story is set in 2111 in a world where the solar system has been colonized and crime in running rampant, leading Team Cosmoranger J9 to be formed to fight the underworld with the Robot Braiger. The heroes are mercenaries. Earth itself if divided by four powers, one of which, Nubia, seeks to destroy Jupiter to create more habitable planets at the risk of destroying the Earth.
Honey Honey no Suteki na Bouken(1981-1982)
Based on the Shojo Manga by Hideko Mizuno. The series lasted 29 episodes and was adapted by Kokusai Eiga-sha(Movie International Company, Ltd). And was released as Honey Honey in the US, European countries and Latina America(the title translates roughly to Honey Honey’s Wonderful Adventures).
The story begins in Vienna in 1907 where Princess Flora is having a birthday. Many suitors come to propose marriage. A jewel thief called the Phoenix comes to steal the Princess’s gemstone, “The Smile of the Amazon” which is a ring the Princess wears. When the thief tries and fails to steal the ring, he comments the princess is not beautiful without the ring. The Princess surprises everyone by hiding the ring(in a fish being served) and promises whoever can find it will marry her. A young girl working as a servant named Honey brings her cat Lily to the party, who eats the fish, accidentally swallowing the ring. This causes Honey and Lily to flee from the suitors, including the Phoenix. Honey is unaware of why the suitors are after her. She then boards a hot air balloon to escape them, continuing the adventure as she travels to various cities from Paris, New York, London, Oslo, Monte Carlo, Tokyo and Gibraltar. Honey falls in love with the Phoenix and views the Princess chasing her as a villain. While the ring is removed by a Veteran. It is discovered Honey is the younger sister of Princess Flora and a new antagonist named Slag is introduced who usurped control of the kingdom, forcing the young Honey to be hidden and placing Flora in charge. The Phoenix saves Honey during which there is an explosion(implied to be the Tunguska Event of 1908). Honey reunited with her father who is working as a gardener in Russia but Honey, her father and the Phoenix are captured and sold into slavery. Honey is sold to an Indian Sultan. Honey discovers a magic carpet in his possession and takes it, flying away to look for her father and the Phoenix. This leads to a showdown in New York as Princess Flora, the Phoenix, the suitors and Honey Honey’s father all converged in the city. It happens to be 1933 when King Kong is set loose in the city and abducts Princess Flora before Honey Honey is able to convince King Kong to let her go and she does. This leads to the Princess allying with Honey as thanks and helping take down Slag. Honey marries the Phoenix. Princess Flora throws the ring away and the suitors go after a dog with the ring in its mouth.
Miss Machiko(1981-1983)
Original title was “The Shame of Miss Machiko” by Takeshi Ebihara which ran from 1980 to 1982. The series was adapted in 95 episodes by Studio Perrot. The series focused on Miss Machiko Mai, an elementary school teacher who is the target for boys trying to look up her skirt or catch her undressing. Machiko usually shrugs these off and genuinely tries to help the students despite their efforts. In the Anime Rihoko Yoshida voices Machiko[13].
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds(1981-1982)
A Spanish-Japanese children’s show adaptation Alexander Dumas’s story d’Artagnon and the Three Musketeers. Produced by BRB Internacional and Nippon Animation and broadcast on MBS. The characters in the story are anthropomorphized dogs. In Spain it was broadcast on Television Espanola’s Primera Cadena. The partnership worked well enough that they would collaborate on another series in the future. It was dubbed in English by Intersound USA and broadcast on the BBC. It can be found on Youtube and Netflix.
Ulysses 31(1981-1982)
A French-Japanese Coproduction providing a science fiction update to the greek myth of Odysseus. It is set in the 31st century and consisted of 26 episodes coproduced but DIC Audiovisuel and TMS Entertainment. The plot was created by French executive Jean Chapolin. In the series, Odysseus, who is the Captain of a crew on a spaceship, battles and killed a giant Cyclops to save a group of children. Zeus is angered by this and curses Odysseus and his crew to wander the universe until they find the Kingdom of Hades, where the dead crew members can be revived and they can return to Earth. They meet other figures from greek mythology with a Scifi twist. The show aired in the US on Kideo TV[14].
Urusei Yatsura(1981-1986)
Based on the manga series by Rumiko Takahashi which ran from 1978 to 1987. The series began as a short story called Those Selfish Aliens in 1977 and the actual series was published when Takahashi was 21 years old. The title roughly translates to “Those obnoxious Aliens”. In the story, an Alien Race called the Oni arrive to invade Earth but instead of simply invading they propose a game of tag where if the human player can touch the horns of the Oni Player within one week. The invaders select the human champion. They choose high school student Ataru Moroboshi while the Oni player is Princess Lum, daughter of the leader of the alien invaders, who perpetually wears only a tiger stripe bikini. When the competition starts Lum flies away and Ataru nearly gives up until his girlfriend Shinobu Miyake promises to marry him if he wins. Ataru barely wins the competition by stealing Lum’s bikini top, leading her to cover herself and allow Ataru to grab her horns. Ataru wins but mentions how he is happy to get married, which Lum mistakes for a proposal and accepts on live television. This causes Lum t fall in love with Ataru and move into his house and later the same school. Ataru tries to reconnect with Shinobu, making Lum jealous. Lum also develops many admirers at the school. The series was adapted by Kitty Films and aired on Fuji TV. In 1982, the Anime was ranked sixth in Animage’s reader voted Grand Prix and climbed to Fourth, usually remaining in the top ten for the rest of its run.
Fang of the Sun Dougram(1981-1983)
A 75 episode series created by Ryosuke Takahashi and Sunrise that aired on TV Tokyo. The series begins in a desert on the colony planet of Deloyer where a red haired woman stands before a destroyed robot. The woman hallucinates a group of armed soldiers and the undestroyed robot only for a man named Rocky to lead the girl to safety. The series then flashes back. There is talks of independence from the Earth Federation on the Deloyer colony and a coup in launched. The Governor, Donan Cashim declares martial law and becomes absolute dictator with support from the Federation. A group including the Governor’s son Crinn Cashim rebel using the Combat Armor, the Dougram to fight for independence. The main group is known as the Deloyer 7. The series employs realistic combat armor, support vehicles and military tactics. Like Gundam, Dougram uses a “Space Century” calendar and goes into great detail on the generation of Mechas created and their features such as size weapons and history. It was the first successor to what would become the “Real Robot” genre inspired by Gundam due to sharing production designer Kunio Kawara working on both. The series was a hit, especially surprising due to the focus on Mechanical details, military tactics and slow pace.Merchandising was done by Toymaker Takara, who created plastic model kits, die cast toys. They also released strategy war-games based on the setting with die cast tiny metal pieces. The smaller pieces were released in a Collection series, sometimes with plastic parts that could be attached. Similarly there were also metal endoskeletons which plastic armor could be attached and swapped out. Takara also had Dougam toys with magnets that allowed parts to be connected. The series was released in North America with the toys as well, sometimes packages with similar toys from other Mecha series.
Daicon I(1981)
An Anime Opening short film made on 16mm film that was made for the 1981 Daicon IV Nihon SF Taikai Convention. In fact it was completed moments before its presentation at the morning of the convention. They were noteworthy for the high level of production quality for amateur filmmakers, many of which would go onto find Studio Daicon such as Hideakki Anno, Hiyouki Yamaga, and Takami Akai all students at the time at Osaka University of Arts. The group worked as cheaply as possible at Okada’s home, taking turns with Akai doing the character animations and Anno the Mecha. Osamu Tezuka watched the film and commented “ All there certainly are a lot of characters in that film…there are also a lot of characters that aren’t in the film.” Making the group realize they hadn’t depicted Tezuka characters and they vowed to fix this in their next film. The film directly addresses the convention goers and the Otaku, even somewhat making jokes at their expense. Several elements of copyright are broken such as several American songs. The quality of the openings has led them alone to qualify on top 100 Anime entries. To pay off the debt Video copies were sold, resulting in the invention of the DVA(Direct to Video Anime).
The first Daicon Opening depicted the jet from Ultraman descending down witnessed by a school girl. The School Girl is taking care of a Daikon(a type of radish). The Radish explains that it is an alien ship filled with aliens that need to return home. It can grow things but needs more water to grow living things. The little girl runs to get a glass of water but the sink is not working and the neighbors aren’t home so she goes to the store to get some followed by an alien probe. As she runs out, Ultraman appears fighting The monster Gamora. Several aliens and robots including Godzilla, Gamera, King Ghidorah, Daimajin crash in the background. An alien probe who followed the girl uses technology to bring several of the toys in her backpack to life, including spaceships from Starship Troopers, Star Wars, War of the Worlds, Atragon, Space Asteroid Icarus and Star Trek. To protect the girl and help fight the Kaiju but most are destroyed. The little girl is granted a small mecha and a lightsaber to fight with. The little girl finally makes it to the Daikon and when she delivers the water it turns into a giant spaceship and flies into the air, being revealed to be piloted by the film’s producers. The Spaceship then shape shifts and transforms into the Convention Hall as a way repaying humanity.
The Mecha the little girl uses was a tease for an in progress Starship Troopers anime. While the team was originally planning to disband upon the film’s completion, it was well received and they were now experienced animators with a promise and a desire for more[15].
NOTES
[1] OTL the series Ai noGakko Cuore Monogatari was released(The Story of Cuore, School of Love), though Cuore means Heart in Italian. The series is indeed an adaptation as the same novel partly adapted in 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, though done by Nippon Animation and Mainichi Broadcasting System. ITTL its done by Takahata instead. Without Heidi existing ITTL he only really has one famous work that’s all his and not Miyazaki’s. So he might be open to the idea of making a sequel to it adapting the rest of the novel.
[2] OTL what happened is World Events Production sampled some Anime and asked for “The One with the Lion” meaning Future Robot Daltanious which had a large Lion head on the chest plate. Due to a misunderstanding Beast King GoLion was sent instead(since it had robot Lions) and the World Events Production staff loved it, leading to it be dubbed into what we know as Voltron. ITTL dubs rights are snatched up immediately in most cases and are usually as faithful as possible, basically OTL’s dubbing practices much earlier meaning the misunderstanding doesn’t happen. However, because there’s an influx of Mecha Anime into America, Voltron will have to fight harder to become popular. Keep in mind that it is largely forgotten in Japan. Voltron ITTL is under the threat of becoming a largely forgotten Mecha Anime among many others, lucky to get a roster slot when Super Robot Wars comes around.
[3] OTL the series originally had the name Sandybelle but at some point the “e” at the end dropped off and it is now known as Sandybell just through cultural osmosis. ITTL it has a Mandela Effect thing to it where people don’t remember whether or not it had an e at the end.
[4] OTL the series was called Dr.Slump, referring to the nickname of the scientist character Senbei Norimaki, who was originally the main character before it became Arale, hence the title change ITTL to reflect it. The series itself is somewhat different due to some Tezuka influence, making it somewhat more Astro Boy esque but with Toriyama’s humor. While Toriyama is usually thought of as being a more intense writer due to Dragonball Z, he did not start off that way and Dr.Slump is noticeably different due to the immature humor present. Still it was a success and I won’t take away someone’s enjoyment of it just because I don’t like scat humor. Also this series is responsible for the existence of the Poop emoji, due to how Toriyama drew it. I am really temped to butterfly away the poop emoji if Toriyama wasn’t so fond of it that he’d likely use it at least once ITTL. I’d say it never catches on.
[5] OTL Isao Takahata directed the animated series adaptation of Jarinko Chie for Tokyo Movie Shinsha and Toho. ITTL however, he is part of Studio Ghibli and is also bust with the “Heart” TV Series since he’d want to be involved with a show based on a film he created and so is not involved. Because of “Heart” the Jarinko Chie TV show which OTL followed the film the same year has been delayed.
As for Toshio Suzuki, OTL he was a journalist and editor for Animage which began a friendship with Miyazaki after interviewing him for The Castle of Calgiostro. When OTL’s “Jarinko Chie” was released Suzuki asked Takahata "After producing a classic like Heidi, how can you now do a film about a girl cooking giblets on skid row in Osaka?”. Ironically he would go onto become the producer for Studio Ghibli.
However it should be noted that OTL as an editor, Suzuki asked for an interview with Takahata and Miyazaki on Hols: Prince of the Sun but was refused. ITTL he was not for TTL’s equivalent for the Sun over Chikkisani and interviewed the two, where they announced they were forming Studio Ghibli. As with their OTL first meeting in 1978, Suzuki and Miyazaki became friends and he became involved with Studio Ghibli much earlier, meaning TTL’s equivalent of his OTL quote referring to Jarinko Chie is a behind the scenes question that comes out years later when he is interviewed for “Making of” special features and laughs about it. The film unmade film mentioned “Warring States Demon Castle” was proposed by Suzuki to Miyazaki OTL in 1981 but was rejected. ITTL Miyazaki agreed though since little is known about it, the film will likely be TTL’s equivalent to Princess Mononoke or close to it.
[6] Millennium Queen is called Queen Millennia OTL(a slight change in how it was translated from the original title. It was a show OTL and not a film and was cancelled due to low ratings. Backed up by the strength of the two others films and the tease that we finally learn Maetel’s origins it does better. OTL Maetel Legend, which contradicted the Queen Millennia was made in 2000 and Queen Millennia is preferred by the fans over it. Maetel Legend will likely not be made ITTL for reasons that will be revealed later on.
[7] OTL Satoru Sayama was the first Wrestler to use the Tiger Mask identity. ITTL he’s the second. So the hurdle isn’t a fictional wrestler becoming a real one but whether he’s a worthy successor. I honestly considered killing off Antonio Inoki in an allusion to Rikidozan’s OTL death where he was stabbed in a fight with a Yakuza member but Inoki OTL had a successful career in politics and many achievements that it would be a shame to butterfly away all that. Art doesn’t have to imitate life that much. I imagine at some point there’s a scene where it is revealed that Sayama didn’t know Inoki was Tiger Mask only that Tiger Mask disappeared after an accident(shown in footage during a wrestling match) and Inoki simply retired the role. This leads to Inoki and Sayama battling over who deserves the identity of Tiger Mask with Sayama losing since he was planning on leaving New Japan anyway and left OTL in 1983, leaving the mantle of Tiger Mask empty, the mask symbolically left propped up empty on the ring floor.
[8] The average Anime series was shorter than US Syndication required(65 episodes required for Syndication versus the average 52 Episodes of an anime). This usually resulted in American distributors editing unrelated Anime together to frame it as a longer story. A practice which doesn’t exist ITT due to different Syndication rules. OTL Go Shogun suffered this fate at Saban’s hand and was merged with Akū Dai Sakusen Srungle (Great Military Operation in Subspace Srungle or Mission Outer Space Srungle) to become Macron 1.
[9]OTL the Enchanted Journey boasted the English voice talent of Jim Backus and Orson Welles. ITTL Orson Welles’s so far sole anime credit is Lord Yupa from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind(OTL it was Patrick Stewart due to Naussicaa’s 1984 release OTL).
[10] Replaces OTL’s Adieu Galaxy Express 999, an arguably unnecessary sequel where a 16 year old Tetsuro reunites with Maetel to take down Queen Prometheum again. ITTL its rendered redundant as elements from the film go into TTL’s Adieu Galaxy Express 999, which is part two of the Galaxy Express 999 compilation movie. Here a Harlock film is made instead but doesn’t do as well as expected similar to how OTL Queen Millennia didn’t do that well. The Bolas are antagonists from OTL’s Space Battleship Yamato III, which doesn’t exist iTTL.
[11] OTL’s Superbook, nowhere near that extreme but I couldn’t resist when I heard Bible Anime.
[12] Slightly different title since having enemies and allies on the same level rather than allies was more interesting. OTL Six God Combination Godmars was featured in Super Robot Wars with a special game over screen based on its home series. ITTL when it is defeated, it will explode. The player controlling God Mars can either fly off and try to explode in space, or explode and try to take out the opponents.
[13] Miss Machiko is slightly different than OTL as it otherwise hasn’t age well due to playing sexual harassment for comedy, especially underage children which could send the wrong message. To counter this Miss Machiko is much smarter and doesn’t just try to shrug it off but does indeed address it and scolds the children while trying to help them flat out telling them that such behavior is not ok.
[14] Odysseus 31 had a pilot. The plot was identical but all the character designs were completely different. ITTL the character designs from the Pilot are used.
[15] Titled Daicon III OTL. Here the Convention’s founding was delayed, making OTL’s third convention the first so that the video is titled the First. The plot of the opening is slightly different due to my attempts to justify all the weird stuff that just shows up with no rhyme or reason.
And now for those butterflied away:
Swiss Family Robinson. World Masterpiece Theater released an adaptation of it this year. ITTL with Takahata making a sequel to From the Apennines to the Andes, they jumped on that instead, butterflying away this adaptation. It may come back if World Masterpiece Theater has an empty slot created by another production butterflied away.
The Fantastic Adventures of Unico. Doesn’t need to exist. Unico OTL had several pilot movies that were never picked up. Since it’s Tezuka’s creation and Mushi Productions is still active and owned by him. Tezuka simply asked for a show to be made and has moved onto other projects.
Ashita No Joe 2. Doesn’t exist due to the Compilation Movies. The next animated entry in the series will be a remaster on DVD and later Blu Ray which includes two separate series on it with the viewer having the choice to choose one of two endings whether Joe lives or dies(Similar to the DVD release of Batman: Death of the Family that was multiple choice).
Dr.Slump and Arale-Chan: Hello! Wonder Island. The crew has decided to focus on the series for the time being which was released at the same time, leading elements of the short film to be reworked into the series.
The Gutsy Frog 2. Given the fairly simple premise. I decided to just butterfly it.
Taotao. The 1981 film is largely forgotten with the 1983 show remembered anyway so ITTL it doesn’t exist.
Space Warrior Baldos. A 1981 film compressing the unfinished and unreleased final 5 episodes of the series was released. ITTL the series completed its run. Butterflying away the film.
The Delayed:
Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow. Sunrise is smart enough to realize the movies would be a big franchise and make the choice to delay the second film for a next year release, which allows animation touch ups and plot reworking.
Jarinko Chie TV Series. Delayed as Takahata wants to see if the movie will do well first before jumping into making a show about it.
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Ford Grenada starring Neil Morrissey as Sam Williams. A Cop out of time.
The original show was pitched in 1998 and was rejected several times until 2006, meaning most of those rejected concepts stick around ITTL due to its earlier release.
This doesn't fit the current anime theme, was it a question or suggestion?
No it wasn't. You mentioned a show. Mentioned the main character's name and mentioned the basic premise. I assume you are trolling. If you are stop right now or I will report you.
The Manga premiered in 1997 and the Anime in 2000. It's not around yet.
I can imagine it looking something like this.
Iron Man(2006)A Fox film directed by Joss Whedon and starring Tom Cruise as Tony Stark. MODOK is played by Peter Dinklage. The film takes a surprising twist by revealing the mastermind behind the terrorist organization to be Howard Stark, Tony Stark's father, who is alive in the film and operates the company alongside Tony. This leads to a battle between Tony Stark and his father in Iron Man suits at the conclusion. MODOK also appears as a villain Stark initially battles, being the (literal) head of the terrorist organization A.I.M. Rachel McAdams was cast as Pepper Potts and Paul Bettany was cast as Edwin Jarvis. The film was scored by Harry Gregson-Wiliaims. An after Credits Scene had Nick Fury approach Tony Stark. He says the line "as if gamma accidents, radioactive bug bites and assorted mutants weren't enough", hinting at the larger Marvel Universe, before mentioning that he wants to talk to Tony about "the Avengers initiative." For this ending to make sense, a change was made where Tony Stark reveals to the world "I am Iron Man."