George J. Horvath Profile picture
Jul 7, 2021 58 tweets 27 min read Read on X
So, naturally, I wrote this tweet, which then made me wonder "Huh, I wonder if I could pick a single notable anime from each year of anime out there that has yet to be licensed for North American release?".

So I did just that... And it was hell, but an enlightening hell.
So I figure that maybe I'll just make a thread featuring each of these, from 1968 (because there isn't much point going further back than that) to 2019.

Also, I wound up cheating a lot, mainly during the 00s, because holy crap there's still a ton of cool stuff from that decade.
By the way, this is going to happen over the course of the next week or so (if not longer), because this is A LOT of stuff. Look forward to the start of this thread tonight.
Are you ready for this giant thread? Here we go!

1968: Star of the Giants
There's really no other option than one of the most iconic anime of all time, & the first sports anime ever shown on TV. It's immensely long, but for good reason.

It'll never get licensed, though. Image
1969: Otoko Ippiki Gaki Daisho
I did consider picking Tiger Mask, but I figure starting with two 100+-episode shows would be a bit much. Therefore, we go with the first Jump manga to be adapted into anime, a series that would influence the likes of Masami Kurumada & Tetsuo Hara! Image
1970: Ashita no Joe
Sure, we did get the compilation movie made to prepare people for the second anime in the 80s (twice at that!). Still, I'll gladly make a special exception for the full-length anime that influenced, well... Just about everything anime & manga. Image
1971: Marvelous Melmo
Just to show that this list won't be filled with action, here's a lesser-celebrated, but still relevant, Osamu Tezuka anime about a girl who can change her age by taking drugs!

OK, that's being a bit over-the-top, but one can honestly describe it like that. Image
1972: Dokonjo Gaeru/The Gutsy Frog
The 1st long-running Jump anime, & a true comedic icon for a generation, in both anime & manga. Creator Yasumi Yoshizawa may have ruined his own life after this series (he got better), but his work is still celebrated for the classic that it is. Image
1973: Ace wo Nerae!/Aim for the Ace!
The iconic shojo tennis series directed b Osamu Dezaki. Another all-time influential classic that remains without any sort of official English release. Who knows, maybe one day, but I highly doubt it'll happen. Image
1974: Getter Robo
Watching this won't really help explain enough backstory for the new Getter Robo Arc anime, but I do find it interesting that we have the original Mazinger Z available now, & later Getter Robo anime, but not the original anime.

What's up with that?! Image
1975: Brave Reideen
The first mech anime to be directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, before he left halfway through & the reigns were given to Tadao Nagahama, which would result in it becoming the precursor to the Robot Romance Trilogy.

RahXephon was a giant shout-out to this. Image
1976: Cat Eyed Boy
Did you know that there was an anime adaptation of Cat Eyed Boy? I sure as hell didn't know! That makes this literally the only TV anime adaptation of a Kazuo Umezu manga. That alone makes it worth being a part of this list. Image
1977: Invincible Superman Zambot 3
Sunrise's first in-house production, and the anime that truly showed how unrelentless Yoshiyuki Tomino could be. This is where the "Kill 'Em All" Tomino name came from.

Also, a literal anchor fight in the first episode between two kids. Image
1978: Takarajima/Treasure Island
I originally had Future Boy Conan in this slot, but then GKids had to go & do the impossible by licensing it. Luckily, Osamu Dezaki's adaptation of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel is more than worthy of attention. Image
1979: Akage no Anne/Anne of Green Gables
Based on the novel by L.M. Montgomery, this TV anime adaptation directed by the late Isao Takahata is still often listed as one of the greatest anime ever made in Japan, and is influential in too many ways to count. Image
1980: Ganbare Genki
While Shonen Jump had Ring ni Kakero, Shonen Sunday had its own iconic boxing manga classic, one that did get an anime adaptation back in its day. This boxing series about a boy wanting to carry his dead father's dream is a giant influence in its own right. Image
1981: Dr. Slump Arale-chan
This anime is literally the reason why Shonen Jump manga tends to get the most anime adaptations, even to this very day. While Discotek released some of the movies, & the 1997 reboot is available over on Tubi, the OG series is the one people truly want. Image
1982: Fairy Princess Minky Momo
The Minky Momo is an attitude, the Minky Momo is a mellow mood... It's a series you've likely heard of, and you might even know about it's infamous ending.

William Winckler Productions did make some compilation dub movies, but I won't count those. Image
1983: Stop!! Hibari-kun!
A gag romance series based on the Jump manga by Hisashi Eguchi that was wildly ahead of its time with its positively-portrayed LGBTQ lead character.

I mean, Kosaku is technically the main character, but we all know Hibari's the real star. Image
1984: Panzer World Galient
Honestly, this year had pretty slim pickings at this point, but it's not like I'd ignore Ryosuke Takahashi's lesser-known, but still beloved, fantasy mech anime.

You can also count Blue Comet SPT Layzner here if you want, because the next year has... Image
1985: Touch
Easily one of the most beloved & cherished sports anime in history, achieving TV ratings in Japan that even One Piece & Detective Conan are jealous of

We got its modern-day sequel, Mix, which I actually keep forgetting that we actually got on home video by FUNimation Image
1986: Ginga Nagareboshi Gin
While it's not Yoshihiro Takahashi's first dog-focused manga, it's easily his most iconic, starting a franchise that's still ongoing to this day.

Toei's 21-episode TV anime adaptation is considered an all-time classic in Scandanavia. Image
1987:Mister Ajikko & Metal Armor Dragon
My first cheat, because while Yasuhiro Imagawa's genre-defining cooking anime is honestly the "best" choice here, I just really love Dragonar that much.

U.S. Renditions did look into licensing the latter, but closed shop before doing so. ImageImage
1988: Sakigake!! Otokojuku
Toei's TV series (+ a movie) based on Akira Miyashita's loving self-parody of "MANLY" anime/manga. It's a series that takes itself seriously as much as it likes to say that anything can be an ancient Chinese martial art. Image
1989: Tenku Senki Shurato/Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato
Tatsunoko's Hindu/Bhuddist-inspired take on Saint Seiya's "pretty boys in armor" concept. I've always heard how good it is, & I'm amazed that Sentai Filmworks hasn't put it out, despite their relationship with Tatsunoko. Image
1990: Raven Tengu Kabuto (TV)
We did receive the OVA adaptation of Buichi Terasawa's short manga (directed by the man himself!), but we never got the prior TV series, which is a completely different production.

Admittedly, 1990 is also pretty slim pickings. Image
1991: Mitsuteru Yokoyama's Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The TV anime adaptation of Yokoyama's 60-volume magnum opus, and possibly(?) still the best anime adaptation of China's most iconic historical tale.

Also, Fence of Defense does all the music (or, at least, its vocalist). Image
1992: Tetsujin 28 FX
TMS' next-gen sequel to Mitsuteru Yokoyama's genre-defining giant robot series, starring Shotaro's son Masato & a new Tetsujin.

Amazingly, this is now the only (traditional) Tetsujin 28 anime left to release in English! (2013's Gao is all comedy shorts) Image
1993: The Brave Express Might Gaine
I had to include one entry of the Brave Series while in the 90s, so I went with the fourth show. It's generally considered one of the best, with memorable characters, good action, & an ending that takes a metatextual stand against Takara! Image
1994: Akazukin Cha-Cha & Shinken Legend Tight Road
Another cheat, as while I'm sure someone like @bunnycartoon can make all the right arguments for Cha-Cha, I have to stand behind Shinken Legend, which was made to promote a fighting game that never came out, yet stands on its own ImageImage
@bunnycartoon 1995: Ninku
As short as the original Jump manga was, the anime was a giant hit, and is literally the reason why Masashi Kishimoto created Naruto.

Seriously, Kishimoto admitted to making a ninja manga simply because he wanted more Ninku anime. The Rasengan is a direct reference. Image
@bunnycartoon 1996: Violinist of Hameln (TV)
What happens when you take a fantasy/gag manga, put it in the hands of a director who wants to imitate Evangelion, hire Yasuhiro Imagawa to write literally every episode by himself, & hire Kohei Tanaka to arrange a ton of classical music?

THIS! Image
@bunnycartoon 1997: Hareluya II BØY
The first Jump anime to air in late-night, arguably the only yankii manga to ever receive a TV anime, & yet another show which Imagawa headed up the writing for.

I hate how forgotten BØY is, because it rises above "meh" animation & is awesome. Image
From 1998 to 2009 we have nothing but me cheating (except for two specific years), & that is because this is when late-night anime starts to become important for TV anime production, but the idea of "simulcasting" wasn't around.

Therefore, there's a ton of stuff. Get Ready!
1998: Sexy Commando Gaiden, Legend of Basara, & Yu-Gi-Oh! "Season 0"
One's a cult gag favorite, another's the first "UHF" anime based on an iconic shojo action manga, & the last is the original anime adaptation of Yu-Gi-Oh!'s pre-Duel Monsters story.

This is just the beginning. ImageImageImage
1999: Phantom Thief Jeanne, Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko (TV), & Ippatsu Kiki Musume
One's the first anime adaptation of an Arina Tanemura classic, another is the first TV anime that truly shows Akiyuki Sinbo's iconic visual style, & the last is just wild & crazy and hilarious. ImageImageImage
2000: Platinumhugen Ordian
The start of the new millennium (don't @ me) has mostly been mined, except for Masami Obari's second time directing TV.

This is Obari's take on the style Evangelion made popular, & he still has a soft spot for it, as shown via the occasional tweet. Image
2001: Pachislo Kizoku Gin
This year is even more mined, as I have no option other than this uber-obscure anime about pachislot & the people who are obsessed with playing it.

Gin is essentially the Yu-Gi-Oh! of pachislot, but actually doesn't hesitate in demonizing it a little. Image
2002: (Toei's) Kanon & Hanada Shonen-shi
Both are interesting picks, but neither will ever get licensed.

The first is now just a curious abomination compared to what KyoAni did in 2006, while the second literally has the Backstreet Boys for its theme songs... I'm not joking. ImageImage
2003: Mermaid Melody: Pichi Pichi Pitch, Uninhabited Planet Survive, & Twin Spica
One was licensed by ADV, & even fully dubbed, but never saw release, another is a cult favorite in the style of Robinson Crusoe, & the last is an adaptation of a manga that Vertical once released. ImageImageImage
2004: Monkey Turn, Ring ni Kakero 1, & Major
It's a sports anime trio!

One is technically "master" licensed by Viz (through an old merger) but otherwise forgotten, another is here because I said so, & the last is an iconic series that has its next-gen sequel simulcasted. ImageImageImage
2005: Gag Manga Biyori, Play Ball, & Fighting Beauty Wulong

One is pure insanity via shorts, another is my way of representing iconic baseball series Captain since it wasn't chosen for 1983, & the last is an all-female martial arts series that's (seemingly) focused on fighting! ImageImageImage
2006: Gundoh Musashi, Kemonozume, & Binbo Shimai Monogatari

We're going from one extreme to another! One is "The Worst Anime of the Century", another is Masaaki Yuasa's directorial debut for TV, & the last is about two destitute sisters staying alive.

Talk about range. ImageImageImage
2007: Wangan Midnight, Kotetsushin Jeeg, & Shion no Oh

One is essentially "Initial D, but with the Shuto Expressway instead of Touge racing", another is "The Forgotten Go Nagai Mech Anime Reboot", & the last is a mix between a shogi anime & a murder mystery. ImageImageImage
2008: Hakaba Kitaro, Tentai Senshi Sunred, & One Outs
One interprets Shigeru Mizuki's classic in its original form, another is an excellent comedy where the hero & villain alignments are mixed, & the last is a Madhouse gambling anime that got ignored because it's not by Fukumoto. ImageImageImage
2009: Genji Monogatari Sennenki, Slap Up Party: Arad Senki, & Souten Kouro
The first is Osamu Dezaki's final anime, another is the original (comedic) anime adaptation of Dungeon Fighter Online, & the last is a Three Kingdoms story focused around Cao Cao, for a change! ImageImageImage
2010:Tale of the Strongest Warlords: Romance of Three Kingdoms
We enter the era of simulcasting, so this year's light on "missed" productions. However, there is yet another Three Kingdoms anime left untouched, this one a Japan/China co-production! Image
2011: Showa Monogatari, Hyouge Mono, & Moshidora
The first looks at life in Tokyo back in 1964, another is Koichi Mashimo's final anime (& was hurt by both real-life marijuana & the mangaka disowning it!), & the last asks "What if a baseball manager read Drucker's 'Management'?" ImageImageImage
2012: Cho Soku Henkei Gyrozetter, Natsuiro Kiseki, & Ginga he Kickoff!!

The first is a mech anime everyone forgot, another feels like it would have been simulcasted but wasn't, & the last is an adapation of a 2006 soccer novel.

Yeah, even as late as 2012 we still missed stuff! ImageImageImage
Next time will mark the end of this thread, as look at 2013 to 2019.

Thankfully, by this point simulcasting truly became prevalent & all reaching, so each of these will only have one anime to cover!
2013: Yozakura Quartet ~Hana no Uta~
As brought up in an ANN article regarding anime reboots not long ago, this isn't a second season to the Yozakura Quartet that did get an English release, but rather is a more manga-accurate adaptation that completely disregards the first show. Image
2014: Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers
Not to be confused with the later Marvel Future Avengers by Madhouse, which is available dubbed on Disney+, this Toei-animated series, though receiving its own English dub by the same people, only saw English availability in Southeast Asia. Image
2015: Go! Princess PreCure
If you're wondering where any of the older Pretty Cure/PreCure anime are in this list, here's one for you! In all honesty, 2015 was pretty mined out via simulcasting & the like, so I figure I'd best throw a bone to the Pretty Cure fanbase. Image
2016: Reikenzan: Hoshikuzu-tachi no Utage
Another Japan/China co-production, this one based on a Chinese fantasy online novel & manhua by Guo Wang Bi Xia, which started back in 2013.

I know we get some of these co-productions, so this one just missed the boat, for some reason. Image
2017: Choyu Sekai: Being the Reality
Another Japan/China co-production, this one based on a manhua also known as World of Super Sand Box.

At this point, I really don't have much else to say about these kinds of shows, so maybe someone else can shed some light on this anime. Image
2018: Sword Dynasty
Yet another Japan/China co-production, this time based on an web novel. I think you're starting to see a pattern here, right? Image
2019: Fafner The Beyond
To be fair, this series might eventually get streamed, since it's coming out three episodes at a time via theatrical runs, with the last three debuting this November.

However, with Fafner Exodus no longer streaming anywhere in English, what's the point? Image
And that's it! That's 52 years of anime, from 1968 to 2019, with (at least) one notable TV series that has yet to be licensed for English release.

Naturally, there are still a lot of anime I DIDN'T bring up, and let's not even get into movies & OVAs...

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More from @LandofObscusion

Sep 12, 2020
So today I looked up all of Shonen Jump's old covers that featured the various mangaka in person, which was done from 1979 to 1997, & found the four best reactions:
Akira Toriyama in 1982
Masami Kurumada in 1986
Hirohiko Araki in 1992
Tsunomaru in 1995 (he's eating an ink brush)
Of them all, my favorite has got to be Araki in 1992. Him holding a giant axe (it was a "Space Pirate" theme) while giving that kind of face for the photo makes me think too many things.
As for why exactly Shueisha stopped doing these kinds of covers for Jump, though they still do the "gathering of current Jump leads" cover that always came before these every year, I think part of it was because Jump was no longer the biggest fish in the pond after 1996.
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