Top 10 1980s Animated Movies You Shouldn't Miss

The 1980s characterized the golden age of animated films that transitioned from simple Saturday morning cartoons to amazing full-length feature movies on animation. As such, the animators, in their pursuit of better storylines and characters, embraced technological advancements in animation. It is because of this that these days we have a library of 1980s animated movies that have stood the test of time.

The films herein are just a few examples representing different types both internationally and Disney's massive contributions in animation which were showcased throughout the 80s.

Part 1. Top 10 Best 1980s Anime Movies

Akira (1988)

Akira is an anime flick made by Katsuhiro Otomo in anime 1980s based on his book with similar title. The setting was done in a dystopian future Tokyo termed as Neo-Tokyo where Shōtarō Kaneda led a group motorcycle gang through its sprawling metropolis until Tetsuo Shima gets telekinesis after crashing his bike into a small child who later becomes captured by military superpowers ending up taking down an entire futuristic city plagued by mass revolt and anarchism.

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli. The animated movies 1980s tells the story of sisters Satsuki and Mei as they discover the magical world of Totoro, a giant furry forest spirit who lives in a huge camphor tree near their new home in rural Japan.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Grave of the Fireflies is the best anime 1980s Japanese animated war tragedy film based on the 1967 semi-autobiographical short story of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka. Directed by Isao Takahata and produced by Studio Ghibli, the film follows teenage brother and sister Seita and Setsuko as they struggle to survive the final months of World War II after losing their mother and home to Allied firebombing raids.

Castle in the Sky (1986)

Castle in the Sky is a 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli. Inspired by Gulliver's Travels, the film follows Pazu and Sheeta, two youngsters chasing a legendary floating castle.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a 1984 Japanese animated post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on his 1982 manga. Set in a future world after an apocalyptic conflict, the film follows Nausicaä, the princess of the Valley of the Wind, as she strives to restore harmony between humankind and the planet's ecosystem.

The Cat Returns (1988)

The Cat Returns is a 2002 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Hiroyuki Morita and produced by Studio Ghibli. It was based on the manga 'The Cat Returns' by Aoi Hiiragi. The film tells the story of Haru, an ordinary schoolgirl who rescues a cat from being hit by a truck. The cat turns out to be Lune, prince of the Cat Kingdom. As thanks, the cats shower Haru with gifts, and she is brought to the Cat Kingdom to marry Lune.

Angel's Egg (1985)

Angel's Egg is a 1985 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Mamoru Oshii and produced by Tokuma Shoten. With very little dialogue, the film focuses on a young girl caring for a mysterious egg in a desolate and dreamlike apocalyptic world. Angel's Egg is renowned for its haunting visuals and atmosphere and for exploring themes of fragility, loss, and redemption.

Wings of Honneamise (1987)

Wings of Honneamise is a 1987 Japanese animated science fiction film directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga and produced by Gainax. Set in an alternate world with vintage stuffed animals 1980s during an industrial revolution, the film focuses on Shirotsugh Lhadatt, an unsatisfied young man who joins his planet's struggling space program.

The Dagger of Kamui (1985)

The Dagger of Kamui is a 1985 Japanese animated ninja action film directed by Rintaro, based on a manga series. Set in 19th-century Japan, it follows Jiro, a young ninja on the run who travels to the Americas to find the woman he loves. The Dagger of Kamui is acclaimed for its stylish action sequences, dynamic ninja battles, and its historically inspired portrayal of Edo period Japan and indigenous American tribes.

Domu: A Child's Dream (1985)

Domu is a 1985 Japanese animated psychological horror film directed by Katsumi Asanuma and based on a manga by Katsuhiro Otomo. The film centers around Etsuko, a gifted psychic child, who uses her powers to confront an evil old man terrorizing the occupants of an apartment complex.

Part 2. How to Upscale Anime in 1980s to 4K?

Anime in 1980s is considered classic by many fans. However, the video quality of these older anime films and series does not hold up well on modern high-resolution displays. Thankfully, with the latest AI video enhancement technology, it is now possible to upscale and restore these anime to 4K resolution or higher.

One of the best tools for AI-powered anime upscaling is HitPaw VikPea (Originally named as HitPaw Video Enhancer). HitPaw utilizes advanced deep learning algorithms specifically trained on anime visuals to enlarge the video to 4K or even 8K resolution while preserving the hand-drawn art style.

Why Choose HitPaw VikPea

• Specially designed AI model trained on anime for optimal video enhancement.
• Upscales anime to crisply detailed 4K, 6K, 8K or custom resolutions.
• Preserves original hand-drawn art style with minimized artifacts.
• Batch processing to automatically enhance entire anime series.
• Simple workflow - just import, select AI model, set resolution, and export.

Steps to Enhance 1980s Animated Films

• 1.Download and install HitPaw VikPea on your computer from the official website.

  
  

• 2.Add your low quality 1980s anime videos into the program either by drag and drop or using the "Add File" option.

  

• 3.Select the AI Anime model specifically designed to upscale anime videos. This will optimize the enhancement for retro hand-drawn animation.

  

• 4.Preview the enhanced 1980s anime and check the improved video quality. Export the files if satisfied.

  

Learn More about HitPaw VikPea

Part 4. FAQs of Anime 1980s

Conclusion

It was in the 1980s that anime took shape as an art form with a wide range of options. Animation films produced at this time were a mash-up of beautiful artwork, fantastic made-up realms and great narratives. Those are the kind of classics that make anime an intriguing art. There is no doubt that the 1980s saw anime become one of the world's most popular 1980s animated films.