6 Nostalgia of Tokusatsu and old Japanese cartoons

Old Japanese cartoons marked the childhood and adolescence of a large part of the Brazilian population. Other Japanese works that dominated the 90s were the tokusatsu, live-action series of heroes.

To remember these Japanese cartoons and tokusatsu from the 1980s and 1990s, we made a list to share these memories with you.

6 old Japanese works that are still popular today

These old Japanese cartoons (animes) and tokusatsu evoke emotions and captivate anyone.

So, whenever you have a little time, watch and remember the entire saga of the characters being heroes for many, even today. 

1 – Knights of the Zodiac

Knights of the Zodiac is a Japanese animated series based on a manga and anime, written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada.

The legendary Saint Seiya is the main character of the series, launched in 1985. Knights of the Zodiac was the first Japanese cartoon to go viral in Brazil. 

Despite being an old Japanese cartoon, fans still follow the saga of the characters to this day. Moreover, its characters continue to appear in other animes.

2 – Sailor Moon

After the success of Knights of the Zodiac, Sailor Moon started being aired for fans in 1996.

This anime was inspired by the manga written and illustrated by Naoko Takeuchi.

3 – Jaspion

Many say that the beginning of Jaspion’s opening was the best of the 1980s.

This television series shows the destined Jaspion wearing a metallic armor to eliminate threats on Earth.

Jaspion is a classic of old Tokusatsu, bringing back good memories to this day.

4 – Jiban

This old Japanese tokusatsu had only one season, but it was very successful in Brazil for featuring the steel policeman Naoto Tamura, who fought the villains of Biolon. 

5 – Jiraya

Jiraya was a hero who sought strength in his heart, inspiring people to believe in a new era of the power of love. 

He lives in the moment and believes he is the good that will prevail. Jiraya, besides being Tokusatsu, has gained other adaptations such as animes and mangas.

6 – Dragon Ball

Premiering in 1986 with 153 episodes, Dragon Ball quickly became a worldwide success.

Subsequently, Dragon Ball Z (1989–1996), GT (1996–1997), Kai (2009–2015), Super (2015–2018), and Super Dragon Ball Heroes (2018 – present) were released.

It is considered by many to be one of the most famous animes ever created, remaining popular with kids to this day.

What is a Japanese cartoon and how is it popularly known?

The Japanese cartoon is popularly known as anime.

However, in Japanese culture, anime is a term used to classify all kinds of animations, regardless of their origin.

Although it is often confused with the animation genre, anime also presents other genres such as horror, children’s, romance, adventure, science fiction, comedy, etc.

In the mid-1980s, Japanese cartoons began to gain more popularity here in Brazil and marked childhood and adolescence with popular shows like Naruto, Dragon Ball, Sakura, Knights of the Zodiac, Pokémon, Sailor Moon, among many others.

The contrast, bright colors, and science fiction elements are some characteristics of animes.

What is a manga cartoon?

You know those Japanese comic stories? Well, manga is the name given to them.

Manga has some characteristics that differentiate it from other comic books, such as the drawing style of the characters, reading format, layout, among others.

The characters in manga have slender bodies and large eyes.

Additionally, a curiosity is that many of these mangas gave rise to television series in anime, including those available on Netflix today.

What is a Tokusatsu?

Unlike animes, tokusatsu are Japanese works made with live-action characters, which may mix a bit of the era’s computer graphics, special effects, costumed characters, and others.

Some follow the same principles as animes and can be based on mangas or original works. What differentiates tokusatsu from traditional series and dramas is the fact that tokusatsu generally deals with the skin of a hero or group of heroes.

We recommend reading: Guide to Japanese Heroes – Where to Watch Tokusatsu Online?

What is the difference between anime and manga?

The main difference between anime and manga is that mangas are comic drawings, while animes are TV cartoons.

The only difference is the medium used to deliver to the audience, as the principle of both is the same.

It is worth remembering that many animes were created based on their mangas, such as Knights of the Zodiac.

Conclusion about old Japanese cartoons

Old Japanese cartoons, especially from the 1980s and 1990s, marked the childhood and adolescence of many people around the world, including in Brazil.

As discussed in this article, many of these Japanese cartoons are still popular today, not only as animated shows on TV but also as inspiration for many children and adults who start dreaming of learning to draw, beginning with animes and mangas.

Finally, don’t forget to share this article with that friend who is also a fan of Japanese cartoons.