Anime, as a medium, has always been known for its creativity and diverse range of storytelling techniques. While modern anime continues to evolve, the pre-2000 era laid the foundation for many of the conventions and narrative styles that we see today. This article explores the evolution of anime storytelling through a selection of pre-2000 classics, highlighting how they shaped the anime landscape and set the stage for the explosion of the medium's global popularity.

1. Astro Boy (1963)

Creator: Osamu Tezuka
Studio: Mushi Production

Regarded as the first modern anime series, Astro Boy is a pioneering work that helped shape the industry. Created by the "God of Manga" Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy marked a significant shift in storytelling, focusing on emotional depth and complex themes despite its relatively simple animation style. The series, which tells the story of a robot boy searching for justice in a world of humans and machines, explored topics like the nature of humanity, artificial intelligence, and social inequality. Astro Boy's episodic structure and the moral dilemmas faced by its characters laid the groundwork for the development of more nuanced and thematically rich anime storytelling in the years to come.

2. Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)

Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino
Studio: Sunrise

The Mobile Suit Gundam series is not only a landmark in the mecha genre but also a significant evolution in anime storytelling. Before Gundam, mecha anime often focused on larger-than-life heroes and fantastical robot battles. Gundam brought a more grounded, realistic approach to the genre, focusing on the human cost of war, political intrigue, and the complexities of conflict. The narrative was darker and more mature, with morally ambiguous characters and themes that examined the futility of war and the harsh realities of military life. Gundam’s success paved the way for a new generation of anime with more sophisticated plots, mature themes, and character-driven narratives.

3. Urusei Yatsura (1981)

Creator: Rumiko Takahashi
Studio: Studio Deen

In stark contrast to the dark and serious tone of Mobile Suit Gundam, Urusei Yatsura offered a more lighthearted and comedic take on anime storytelling. Created by Rumiko Takahashi, this series introduced a new wave of humor and eccentricity to anime, with its mix of romance, slapstick comedy, and supernatural elements. Urusei Yatsura followed the misadventures of Ataru Moroboshi and the alien princess Lum as they navigated the chaos of an often absurd world. What set Urusei Yatsura apart was its ability to balance quirky humor with deeper explorations of relationships, making it a perfect example of how anime storytelling was starting to embrace a wider range of genres and tones.

4. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Studio: Studio Ghibli

Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a masterpiece of storytelling that marked a turning point in anime history. While it was technically released as a film, Nausicaä is often considered part of the foundation for the creation of Studio Ghibli, and its influence on the medium cannot be overstated. The film combines ecological themes with a rich, immersive world and a strong, compassionate female protagonist. Miyazaki’s world-building and intricate storytelling helped elevate anime into a medium capable of tackling profound social issues like environmentalism, war, and the balance between humans and nature. Nausicaä showed the potential for anime to explore philosophical and political themes in a way that was both entertaining and deeply thought-provoking.

5. Akira (1988)

Director: Katsuhiro Otomo
Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha

One of the most iconic anime films ever made, Akira pushed the boundaries of animation and storytelling in ways that were previously unimaginable. Set in a dystopian future, Akira follows Kaneda and Tetsuo as they navigate the corrupt and decaying streets of Neo-Tokyo, a city plagued by government experiments and gang violence. The film is known for its complex narrative, which blends political intrigue, cybernetic enhancements, and deep psychological themes, with a focus on the destructive power of unchecked ambition. The film's narrative structure is nonlinear and fragmented, adding to its overall sense of chaos and uncertainty. Akira remains one of the most influential films in anime history, inspiring countless other works and showing that anime could be a serious, mature medium capable of dealing with complex and dark subject matter.

6. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)

Director: Hideaki Anno
Studio: Gainax

If there is one anime that epitomizes the evolution of anime storytelling before the 2000s, it is Neon Genesis Evangelion. Directed by Hideaki Anno, Evangelion deconstructed the mecha genre and became a cultural touchstone for its deep psychological exploration and philosophical themes. The series follows Shinji Ikari, a teenager recruited to pilot a giant bio-mechanical robot to defend humanity from mysterious creatures known as Angels. However, Evangelion is far more than just a mecha anime. It delves into themes of existentialism, depression, isolation, and the complexity of human relationships, all while subverting traditional anime tropes. The show’s ending, controversial for its ambiguous and abstract nature, sparked debates among fans and critics, further establishing Evangelion as a work that challenged the boundaries of what anime could achieve in terms of storytelling and emotional depth.

7. Cowboy Bebop (1998)

Director: Shinichirō Watanabe
Studio: Sunrise

Cowboy Bebop is a masterclass in genre blending and narrative innovation. Set in a futuristic world where bounty hunters travel across space in pursuit of criminals, the series is a mix of westerns, noir, science fiction, and jazz, all wrapped in a compelling character-driven story. The series follows the ragtag group of bounty hunters led by Spike Spiegel, whose past catches up with him throughout the series. What makes Cowboy Bebop so special is its ability to balance episodic storytelling with an overarching narrative about loneliness, loss, and redemption. The series also broke new ground with its use of music, particularly its iconic jazz soundtrack, which perfectly complements the emotional depth of the story.

8. The Vision of Escaflowne (1996)

Director: Kazuki Akane
Studio: Sunrise

The Vision of Escaflowne is an epic blend of mecha, fantasy, and romance, telling the story of Hitomi Kanzaki, a high school girl who is transported to a mystical world where she meets Van, a prince who pilots a giant mech called Escaflowne. The series explores themes of destiny, war, and self-discovery, all set against the backdrop of a richly detailed fantasy world. What sets Escaflowne apart is its unique mix of fantasy elements with mecha action, making it one of the first anime series to blend these genres in a way that felt natural. The series also stands out for its deep emotional storytelling and the growth of its characters, especially Hitomi, who learns to confront her own fears and insecurities.

The pre-2000 era was a pivotal time for anime, as the medium began to evolve from simple entertainment into a diverse and complex art form. These classic anime series and films helped to shape the storytelling conventions that continue to define anime today. From the moral lessons of Astro Boy to the existential crises in Neon Genesis Evangelion and the genre-defying brilliance of Cowboy Bebop, these works pushed the boundaries of what anime could achieve, laying the groundwork for the next generation of creators to build upon.