Akira and Ghost in the Shell, I believe, were the first two major anime breakouts in the west. They paved the way for the rest of the "Japanese Invasion," that took hold in the 90s, and has really kicked into high gear in the current decade.
Akira especially, was a landmark in technical quality for its time. (Whoever says Cowboy Bebop was the first 'big budget' anime doesn't know what they were talking about. Akira was made through back-breaking effort by a legion of animators, and cost millions of dollars, but the animation quality is still superior to many cartoons of today.)
Originally posted by Piedmon
Akira and Ghost in the Shell, I believe, were the first two major anime breakouts in the west. They paved the way for the rest of the "Japanese Invasion," that took hold in the 90s, and has really kicked into high gear in the current decade.Akira especially, was a landmark in technical quality for its time. (Whoever says Cowboy Bebop was the first 'big budget' anime doesn't know what they were talking about. Akira was made through back-breaking effort by a legion of animators, and cost millions of dollars, but the animation quality is still superior to many cartoons of today.)