Everything changes and evolves over the course of time, sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worse. Just look at anime: it was once considered a children’s medium and is now one of the leading forms of entertainment, with shows such as One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen launching the medium into new heights across the globe. However, better animation and quality don’t always get worse with age; some anime series only get better, aging like fine wine.
Anime nowadays is all about flashy animation and badass action sequences, and while that is what viewers want to see and where the money is at, sometimes what is forgotten is what is needed. Whether they be older and irrelevant or simply overshadowed, plenty of anime have been forgotten, even if they are incredible. Ironically, these anime shows may even be better than ever, which is why this list will feature forgotten anime series that have aged like fine wine based on animation, story, art style, originality, popularity, themes, relevance, and overall quality.
‘Crest of the Stars’ (1999)
This list features a lot of forgotten anime, but to be forgotten, they once needed to be popular; out of all the anime highlighted, Crest of the Stars was the least popular. The Abh Empire is a powerful and dangerous race of humanoid aliens that have already taken over hundreds of planets, and as they set their sights on Earth, the world forms an alliance to take down these extraterrestrial threats.
A lot of space operas simply showcase a fleet of spaceships shooting at each other, especially in modern anime. But the reason why Crest of the Stars aged well is because it has a well-written plot and plenty of detail and fascinating concepts woven into the story. From the tense battles that spawn from tactical warfare and ingenious battle plans to the linguistic detail and language barriers faced in the show, Crest of the Stars is a riveting anime that most fans have never heard of.
‘xxxHOLiC’ (2006–2011)
A lot can happen in 20 years. For example, an anime can come out, be very popular, develop a cult following, end, and then stay forgotten for the years following. That is exactly what happened with xxxHOLiC, which follows a character with a strange connection to the supernatural. One day, a mysterious shop catches his attention, and when he becomes an assistant to an even more mysterious woman who helps those in supernatural trouble, his life gets even crazier.
What was once one of the leading supernatural anime is nothing more than a legacy, but that shouldn’t discount xxxHOLiC and everything it represents. The 2000s humor isn’t for everyone, but it is a time capsule that holds up better against a lot of modern comedic anime. It isn’t the best anime series of all time, but the profound and tragic plots in each episode hold a certain weight. Plus, this anime doesn’t take itself too seriously, allowing itself to be silly, something new anime needs to learn.
‘Dennou Coil’ (2007)
Cyberpunk is a popular anime genre, but it isn’t just dark and gloomy stories; they can also be quirky and unique, as is the case with Dennou Coil. Set in a world that is embracing augmented reality, a group of children notices a handful of strange disappearances. They form a detective agency and head out into the town during their spare time to investigate the corruption of the virtual world and how it is affecting the real world.
Before AI and AR became mainstream, Dennou Coil used the concept to portray a charming and whimsical, yet dystopian nightmare. Not only did it predict the way people would interact with AR technology, but it also presented a list of dangers that come with it. Dennou Coil touches on the blurring lines between reality and digital fantasy, focusing on how real this digital space can feel, and the flaws that come with it.
‘Kaiba’ (2008)
Anime doesn’t have to be old to be forgotten. Some modern classics from two years ago are already irrelevant, but the newest anime featured, Kaiba, is from 2008. Set in a sci-fi world where people can copy their consciousness and transplant it into new bodies to live forever, the titular character is one such body without any memories. This is the story of him traveling around the galaxy in order to learn the history of this body and who he really is.
Avant-garde anime aren’t made nowadays simply because they aren’t popular, but they age better than most because of their distinct experimental style that can captivate viewers. Not only that, but Kaiba features such a fun retro art style that it visually holds up compared to new shows. As one of the best avant-garde anime series, Kaiba takes risks that paid off perfectly, making it a top-shelf classic.
‘Ashita no Joe’ (1970–1981)
A lot of old anime don’t age well, whether it is their animation, outdated style, themes, or simply not resonating with modern viewers. However, despite being the oldest show on this list, Ashita no Joe hasn’t gone out of style. Joe is a street punk, but when a retired boxer sees promise in him, he tries to get him into boxing. Struggle after struggle, the two finally get a match, thus starting their rocky road to becoming champions, right after Joe gets out of prison.
Not everything about Ashita no Joe aged perfectly, especially the animation since it is so old, but the art style and presentation, while dated, have a certain classic feeling that everyone can appreciate. This anime didn’t just pioneer the sports genre; it features a story that still hasn’t been replicated because it is so unique. From flawless character development to its tragic narrative, Ashita no Joe is a true classic that, while forgotten due to its age, is still one of the most intriguing sports dramas out there.
‘Paranoia Agent’ (2004)
Satoshi Kon is arguably the best anime film director of all time, but he also delivered one of the best avant-garde anime series with Paranoia Agent. When an overworked toy designer is brutally attacked, she falls into a reclusive state, paranoid that whoever attacked her might strike again. However, as more attacks occur, the entire world gets paranoid that they could be next.
Compared to most anime on this list, Paranoia Agent is less forgotten than most, but it certainly isn’t mainstream or getting the love it deserves. From the art to the animation and narrative, everything in this anime is flawless, not to mention the relevance. Representing a variety of themes, including toxic work culture and how it forces people to escape reality, idolizing cute mascots and numbing ourselves to reality, and developing main character syndrome, all of these are more present than ever in the modern age. Paranoia Agent is scarily accurate in its themes, and that is why it is one of the best thriller anime series ever.
‘Legend of the Galactic Heroes’ (1988–1997)
This list features many older anime, and while Ashita no Joe is the oldest, another true classic is Legend of the Galactic Heroes, a timeless sci-fi opera. After a hundred-year ceasefire is ended by two new young commanders, the galactic war has started again. Each commander has an opposing philosophy that they believe to be fact, but that fact is only proven by whoever wins, thrusting the galaxy into a long war of pain, tragedy, and hope for the future.
It may be old, but some people still remember the name and the legacy attached to it; that doesn’t mean it isn’t forgotten by the general audience. Legend of the Galactic Heroes doesn’t get the recognition it deserves despite having one of the most riveting plots that delves into politics and philosophy. Animation aside, everything about this anime is remarkable, and the story only gets better and more relevant as the years pass. Good storytelling never ages, but Legend of the Galactic Hero only gets better the older it gets.
‘Serial Experiments Lain’ (1998)
Some anime on this list aged well because the style and animation hold up, but other series prove timeless because their stories grow ever more relevant, such as Serial Experiments Lain. The titular character receives an email from her dead classmate inviting her into the dark web, and when she logs on, Lain discovers a whole new world of dark truths as she establishes herself as the god of the online domain.
This experimental anime came out just as technology and the World Wide Web were really taking off, and using its thematically appropriate story, it now stands as a cautionary tale that even predicted many modern events. Serial Experiments Lain can be trippy, dark, obscure, and hard to process, but it is because of that avant-garde style that it has become such a titillating experience. Outside its cultural legacy and technological accuracy, Serial Experiments Lain is simply an entertaining show, which made it an avant-garde anime blueprint that changed the way fans view the medium.