10. Ashita no Joe (1970)

A masterpiece of the sporty anime genre, with a shadowy heroic image that inspires sympathy

“Ashita no Joe,” which began airing in 1970, is a masterpiece of the sport anime genre based on the boxing manga written by Kajiwara Ikki and drawn by Chiba Tetsuya. The main character, Takeshi Yabuki, who grew up poor, discovered boxing, and matured as a human being through mortal combat with rivals, struck a chord with many young people.

Realistic depiction and psychological portrayal

Unlike conventional sports anime, “Ashita no Joe” realistically depicts the conflicts in the hero's mind and the contradictions in society. In particular, the shadowy image of the hero resonated with the youth of the time and became a social phenomenon.

Innovations in Animation Expression

“Ashita no Joe” was also a revolutionary work in terms of animation expression. Director Izaki Tadashi Izaki took on the challenge of creating a realistic visual expression that had never before been seen in animation, including the incorporation of live-action film techniques, and his efforts were highly acclaimed. “Ashita no Joe” is a monumental work that had a tremendous impact on later animated films.