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Anime of the Year 1979 - Alps no Shoujo Heidi (1979)


kivandopulus

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Alps no Shoujo Heidi (1979) is the only work I could rate as a borderline masterpiece in 1979 .
 
1. Akage no Anne Anne of Green Gables 赤毛のアン [1997-I] Nippon Animation (Dropped 3/50)
Tags: Historical, Iyashikei Drama, Slice of Life
Life isn't easy for Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan with a vast imagination and a short temper. In a twist of fate, she gets taken into the Cuthbert house in Avonlea. The elderly occupants Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert were looking for a young boy to help in the fields, but they're in for quite a shock when they realize Anne is a girl.
Adapted from the acclaimed classic by L. M. Montgomery, Akage no Anne portrays Anne's upbringing from 11 to 17 years of age and her encounters and separations with various people. Only time will tell what major decision Anne has to make that will change her life forever.
World masterpiece theater series are back with another classic adaptation. It's probably the best one in the series, but it's really just coming of age story in the 19th century, so should be prepared for slow pace, observational nature and absence of twists. Well, I don't like main heroine with her overreaction to everything, so I'd rather watch Candy Candy instead.  
Overall Rating: 5/10
 
2. Hana no Ko Lunlun Flower Angel 花の子ルンルン [1979-I] Toei Animation (Dropped 3/50)
Tags: Shoujo Adventure, Drama
The King of the Flower Planet is dying, but his heir can't take up the throne until the legendary Seven Color Flower, symbol of the King's power, is found. The Angels, Cateau and Noveau are sent to Earth to find the Flower Girl, a young female who descends from both humans and Flower Angels (who once inhabited Earth a long time ago) - and they find Lunlun in France. They convince her to go in a long journey to find the Flower - she'll know the good and bad sides of humans and Flower Angels (incarnated in the ambitious Togenishia and her sidekick Boris), and will fall in love with Serge Flora, a man who holds a great secret.
Can't tolerate this kind of shoujo as it focuses on romance, magic and flowers right from the start without providing anything to enjoy for non-shoujo audience, not even some humor.  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
3. Time Bokan Series: Zenderman タイムボカンシリーズ ゼンダマン [1979-I] Tatsunoko Production (Dropped 1/52)
Tags: Mecha, Super Power Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Dr Monja is a scientist who is curious about the nature of the legendary Elixir of Life which grants the drink eternal lifetimes and forever youth. He built a device called the "Time Tunnel" in order to let a team of youngsters to start a quest down the timeline and various spaces to find an exact answer. A trio of villains, however, is also seemingly after the exact same thing.
If Yatterman pretty much abandoned all the time travel concept , Zenderman is the same Yatterman with advanced older heroes , but with the return to the roots - time travel . It's the best of the three due to major focus on humor and adult heroes, also some of adult humor as a result.  
Overall Rating: 5/10
 
4. Nobara no Julie Julie the Wild Rose 野ばらのジュリー [1979-I] DAX Production (Dropped 3/13)
Tags: Historical, Music Adventure, Drama
Eleven-year-old Julie Braun lives in the lush green mountain pastures of Austria's Southern Tyrol. Her parents are killed by Italian soldiers, and she is sent to Vienna to live with her relatives, the Clementes. She befriends cousins Johan and Tanya but has trouble adjusting to life with Uncle Karl and Aunt Klara. As Austria is plunged into World War I, Karl is fired from his job at a glass factory, and Julie's new family is forced into a life of hardship.
Another world masterpiece theater work. This time narration takes place in Europe of beginning of XXth century, so more dramatic events are involved. But the gist is same observational as ever - moreover , majority of notable monuments and sceneries are showed in the form of real life footage, so it also becomes a tourist tour of a sort. And main heroine here is rather bland, so loses even to Akage no Anne. Overall, a disappointment.  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
5. Alps no Shoujo Heidi (1979) The Story of Heidi アルプスの少女ハイジ (1979) [1979-I] Nippon Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Historical Drama, Slice of Life
Condensed version of the entire TV series where all the voice actors, except for Heidi and the grandfather, were replaced.
Finally it's just 1h 47m and not 52 episodes. Touching as it is, still can't bear so many episodes of nothing much happening, so OVA is perfect for me, and I can finally rate it as masterpiece, because it's an important pre-Ghibli work .  
Overall Rating: 7/10
 
6. Tatsu no Ko Tarou Taro the Dragon Boy 龍の子太郎 [1979-I] Toei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Historical, Mythology Adventure, Fantasy, Supernatural
Patterned after Japanese art and silk screens, Taro, The Dragon Boy is an animated feature about Japanese mythology and cultures, focusing on Taro, a young boy who has to make a voyage to a distant lake to save his mother, who has been turned into a dragon.
Can't see any value in this anime. Superstrong boy lives and competes with oni demons, protects the neighboring girl and starts to help people eventually meeting with dragon mother. The point of it all is unclear to me.  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
7. Kurumiwari Ningyou Nutcracker Fantasy くるみ割り人形 [1979-I] Sanrio (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
The young girl Clara visits her Aunt Gerda and Uncle Drosselmeyer. Her aunt tells her scary stories about the Ragman, a creepy and mysterious man who turns children into mice if they don't go to bed on time. The Ragman is always spying on sleeping children searching for more victims.
Just before Clara goes to bed her eccentric uncle gives her a wooden nutcracker doll. He's a bit embarrassed because the only part on the doll that's perfect is the heart, but Clara loves her new doll.
She falls asleep but wakes up hearing mice squeaking...
It's not animation, just doll play about nutcracker toy with some real life ballet scenes added. And since it's not animation, I could not care about it less.  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
8. Ashita no Eleven-tachi あしたの勇者(イレブン)たち [1979-I] Toei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Sports 
A boy from the farm with amazing running speed is asked to join a newly formed national soccer team and discovers a natural talent for the game. The movie is inspired by Japan's hosting of the world soccer championships that year.
Just your average spokon ova centered around one newbie soccer player.  
Overall Rating: 3/10
 
9. Ganbare! Bokura no Hit and Run Hit and Run がんばれ!ぼくらのヒットエンドラン [1979-I] Nippon Animation (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: School, Team Sports
Inaba Junior High School's baseball team has been defeated miserably since the senior members left. Because of their poor results, the players are suspended from games and are almost forced to break up. Ironically, however, this hardship makes them band tighter together and intensifies their desire to play. They practice hard in the hope of regaining the respect of the other students and teachers. Soon, their will-power leads them to unbelievable victories. This story portrays the boys' dreams and friendship through baseball.
Not found.  
Overall Rating: 0/10
 
10. Mobile Suit Gundam 機動戦士ガンダム [1979-II] Sunrise (Dropped 3/43)
Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Sci-Fi
It is year 0079 of the Universal Century. Mankind has moved to space, living in colony clusters known as "Sides." One of these Sides declares itself the "Principality of Zeon" and declares war on the Earth Federation, the governmental body currently ruling Earth. Using powerful humanoid robots known as "mobile suits," Zeon quickly gains the upper hand.
Nine months into the conflict, the Earth Federation has developed its own powerful mobile suit called the Gundam. When Zeon launches an attack on the colony holding the Gundam, a 15-year-old civilian named Amuro Ray suddenly finds himself thrown into a conflict that will take him all across Earth and space, pitting him against the enemy's ace pilot, Char Aznable.
70s is the bloom of mecha, and Gundam marks its climax for me. It's nice to finally see realistic mecha fights in the civil war rather than usual giant mecha fights vs androids or giant beasts. Still to get a 6 I need to appreciate at least some of main characters and get a faint desire to watch series to the end - I got none.  
Overall Rating: 5/10
 
11. Cyborg 009 (1979) Cyborg 009 サイボーグ009 [1979-II] Toei Animation (Dropped 3/50)
Tags: Shounen Mecha Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Joe Shimamura and his companions may seem like regular men, but they are anything but. Joe is actually Cyborg 009, member of a team of cyborgs who fight for the greater good. Each cyborg is outfitted with a special power, from the ability to melt any material, to underwater breathing and flight. He and the other eight cyborgs were modified against their will by the Neo-Black Ghosts organization in order to further their own interests. But instead, they decided to band together and use their powers to fight against their former captors, and all forces of evil.
We've seen different versions of Cyborg 009 many times already. While it's always a decent entertainment, never got anxious to watch any of of its series to the end.  
Overall Rating: 5/10
 
12. The☆Ultraman ザ☆ウルトラマン [1979-II] Sunrise (Dropped 3/50)
Tags: Space, Super Power Action, Sci-Fi
The first animated Ultraman series.
Ultraman tries to bring human relations in the superhero mecha. Don't remember this much emphasis in similar shows before it. But characters are too bland and similar looking for that. There is some potential, but I'd rather see it in some remake.  
Overall Rating: 3/10
 
13. Mirai Robo Daltanias Future Robo Daltanius 未来ロボ ダルタニアス [1979-II] Toei Animation (Dropped 3/47)
Tags: Mecha, Space Action, Sci-Fi
It is the year 1995. Earth has been conquered by an alien army from the Saar cluster known as the Akron. The cities of Earth have been destroyed, and the remaining survivors live in harsh shanty towns and villages. Kento, a war orphan, hides within a cave along with his companions in order to escape some bandits. In the cave, they find the secret base of Dr. Earl, who was an inhabitant of the planet Helios, a planet conquered by the Akron. Dr. Earl then fled to Earth, bringing with him the greatest achievement in Helian technology: the super robot Daltanius, whose power is increased when combined with the intelligent lion robot, Beralios. Dr. Earl entrusts the fight for Earth to Kenta, who happens to be a descendant from the long disappeared Helian royal line.
In contrast to Ultraman, all characters have distinctive appearance, because there are like 10 of them and it would be a mess otherwise. But in the center is the usual cheeky protagonist brat who pilots a plane that transfroms into giant mecha when in pinch . But apart from already conquered humanity and orphan council instead of usual genius professor it's usual giant machines action in the end .  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
14. Paris no Isabelle 巴里のイザベル [1979-II] DAX Production (Dropped 3/13)
Tags: Historical Drama
The principal character is 15-year-old Isabelle Laustin, other characters being her parents Leon and Marie, Isabelle's friends Jean and his sister Marie, and Isabelle's suitor, Captain Victor.
When Paris is besieged and Napoleon III's army is defeated, Isabelle escapes to London, disguised as a boy, and engages in secret agent stuff.
The main problem of this anime is that it's not the first tomboy shoujo already. Haikara-san ga Tooru aired in 1978 beats Isabelle in every single way unless someone likes Napoleon era or Chopin too much. It's all mostly surface-scratching .  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
15. Animation Kikou: Marco Polo no Bouken Marco Polo's Adventures アニメーション紀行 マルコ・ポーロの冒険 [1979-II] Madhouse (Dropped 2/43)
Tags: Historical Adventure
Seventeen-year-old Marco Polo leaves his home in Venice on a trip to the little-known country of "Yuan", in the company of his father Nicolo and his uncle Matteo. Their mission is to deliver the sacred oil from the Tomb of Christ and a letter from the Pope to the Kublai.
What I got from the two found episodes is that it's mostly a travel-show with real life footage, and in that sense it's hardly anime at all.  
Overall Rating: 3/10
 
16. Kujira no Josephina くじらのホセフィーナ [1979-II] Ashi Production (Dropped 1/23)
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy 
Santi is a shy Spanish boy who keeps a tiny whale in a bowl, invisible to everyone but him. The whale, named Josephina, is able to alter her size and fly; she takes Santi on many dreamlike adventures and helps him confront the challenges during his childhood; however, things change as Santi starts taking interest in the outside world and gets to know his distant father.
From the only found episode it looks very much like classical tale of Karlsson-on-the-Roof, just with a flying whale. Humor is nice, so I can rate it relatively high.  
Overall Rating: 5/10
 
17. Shin Kyojin no Hoshi II 新巨人の星II  [1979-II] Tokyo Movie Shinsha (Dropped 0/23)
Tags: Team Sports
A continuation of the popular baseball saga about the star pitcher of a professional baseball team.
Not even going to start as it's continuation of remake of serious and boring spokon.  
Overall Rating: 0/10
 
18. Umi no Triton (1979) Triton of the Sea (1979) 海のトリトン (1979) [1979-II] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Shounen Adventure, Fantasy
A recap of the TV series. While two parts were made, only the first one was shown in theaters during the Uchuu Senkan Yamato Festival. The second part was released half a decade later direct to home-video by Nippon Columbia. Later releases on DVD in 1999 and 2002 put both halves of the recap together for sale.
I never understood the meaning of this series. Boy is threatened by ocean king, and thus boy starts to travel while defending from various attackers. Plot is not going anywhere, plus series were super slow. OVA recap at least makes plot coherent with length cut tenfold. Now it's finally watchable. Despite rash boy and tsundere girl triton Bibi tandem there is at least some humor and action. Still average at best.  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
19. Kaitou Lupin: 813 no Nazo 怪盗ルパン 813の謎 [1979-II] Tatsunoko Production (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: Mystery 
Based on the novel "813" by Maurice Leblanc.
Not found. No regrets.  
Overall Rating: 0/10
 
20. Tondemo Nezumi Daikatsuyaku The Legend of Manxmouse トンデモネズミ大活躍 [1979-II] Nippon Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adventure
This animated story features Manxmouse, the mouse that looks like a rabbit, and all because of his ears. Join in the adventures in this delightful story.
Story is pretty bad as we just observe this manx mouse life , working in circus , then suddenly by the end we're told the story of origins of manx mice and cats and dogs which in turn is instantly resolved. It is very messy.  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
21. Maegami Tarou まえがみ太郎  [1979-II] Nippon Animation (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: Adventure
This is a folk-tale-like adventure story of an active boy on a quest for the Water of Life. The boy sets out on this quest after learning that the Water of Life is needed to make his village happy.
On the way, he meets gods, demons... Soon, he discovers that the evil snake has stolen the Water, and he heads for the snake`s palace. Defeating the snake is not easy since it has the Water of Life to revive itself. This boy - Maegami Tarou - continues his courageous quest in cooperation with various creatures and the gods.
Not found.  
Overall Rating: 0/10
 
22. Pink Lady Monogatari: Eikou no Tenshi-tachi Recaps ピンク・レディー物語 栄光の天使たち総集編 [1979-II] Toei Animation (Dropped 0/2)
Tags: Music Drama, Slice of Life
Omnibus/compilation episodes of the main series that aired on TV right after the main series finished broadcasting sometimes known as episode 34 & 35.
Not found.  
Overall Rating: 0/10
 
23. Kinpatsu no Jeanie 金髪のジェニー [1979-III] DAX Production (Dropped 3/13)
Tags: Historical Drama
During the civil war a girl living in Virginia, named Jeanie, waits for her old boyfriend Robert to marry him, according to a childish promise, but the war makes the things complicated and, Robert comes back as northerner soldier.
Only with the conflict's end, and many misadventures, their dream will become true.
Depiction of black people in inferior positions and simplicity of characters are my biggest concerns. Average.  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
24. Kagaku Bouken-tai Tansar 5 科学冒険隊タンサー5 [1979-III] Sunrise (Dropped 1/34)
Tags: Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Supernatural 
In 1999, a special mystery/paranormal investigative unit consisting of five youths is formed. The series uses a mix of real tokusatsu footage (vehicle scenes) and animation (character drama).
All these half toy staged movies feel fake to me, also always too childish to matter.  
Overall Rating: 2/10
 
25. Ginga Tetsudou 999 (Movie) Galaxy Express 999 [1979-IIIToei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Space Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Tetsurou Hoshino is a boy bent on obtaining an immortal mechanical body in order to take revenge against his mother's murderer, the machine man Count Mecha. However, due to the incredible cost of obtaining what he seeks, his only hope is to steal a boarding pass for the Galaxy Express 999, a space train that travels across the galaxy and whose final stop is a planet where the metal replacements are provided for free. After swiping a pass, Tetsurou is pursued by the police and ends up collapsing into the arms of a mysterious woman named Maetel, who closely resembles his mother. Once he awakens, she tells the boy that she will provide him entry onto the 999 as long as he agrees to travel with her. Accepting her proposition, Tetsurou boards the cosmic railway with Maetel and begins a journey across the galaxy.
Better quality, more integral story, so it's definitely more pleasurable than the series, yet not really interesting still.  
Overall Rating: 6/10
 
26. Ace wo Nerae! (1979) Aim for the Ace! (1979) エースをねらえ! [1979-IIIMadhouse (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shoujo School Drama, Romance, Sports
High school freshman Hiromi joins the tennis club because of her admiration for Ryuzaki. Ryuzaki is a senior, who's the best tennis player on the team and also nicknamed "Ochoufujin", ("Madame Butterfly"), because of her elegance on the tennis court. However, the new coach, Jin Munakata, wants the inexperienced Hiromi to play in a forthcoming tournament.
Due to this, Hiromi considers quitting tennis for good but, in the depth of her soul, she soon realizes that she loves tennis after all. She returns to the club and, under Munakata's coaching, her talent starts to bloom.
In the end, Hiromi develops a strong emotional bond with her coach, not knowing that Munakata is risking his life because of a chronic illness.
Can't say that anything after start was as good. Rather expected development and ending, so can't say I got anything new after watching the story to the end for once.  
Overall Rating: 5/10
 
27. Mirai Shounen Conan (Movie) Future Boy Conan Movie 未来少年コナン (1979) [1979-IIINippon Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
In the aftermath of a war fought by magnetic weapons which caused massive earthquakes, a young and spunky boy named Conan gets involved in a grand adventure. Conan lives in a world that is mostly oceans; the major land masses having been destroyed by the weapons of the great war. He meets a young girl named Lana, and they eventually foil the plans of the city-state of Industria which wants to regain the lethal weapons.
I don't like the pace here. 26 episodes is not that big of an issue to cut it in four. Only if you're out of time at all.  
Overall Rating: 6/10
 
28. Daikyouryuu Jidai 大恐竜時代 [1979-IIIToei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Sci-Fi 
Jun, his female companion, Remi, and her little brother, Chobi, are taken to the Cretaceous Period by a flying saucer.
Very simple, just as in the synopsis. No sense it it, nothing to catch the eye. Just encountering dinosaurs and then a tribe while saving a child.  
Overall Rating: 3/10
 
29. Hokkyoku no Muushika Miishika Adventures of the Polar Cubs 北極のムーシカ・ミーシカ [1979-III] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adventure
Adventures of the polar cubs is a delightful story of Mushka and Mishka, two polar bear cubs who set out on a series of adventures in the North Pole. Mushka is thoughtful; Mishka is daring. While out on their own Mishka befriends Aura, A prank-playing seal and Mushka stumbles over swan eggs, breaks them and creates havoc in the bird village. The cub's father is Scholar Mu (voice of Joseph Campanella), who is the wise leader of the Great Northern animal kingdom and is in charge of their annual Summer Festival. When Mu is injured by man, the cubs must take on the responsibilities of their father and save the other animals from the hunters.
Another wild life observation with very basic stuff in it. Child stuff.  
Overall Rating: 5/10
 
30. Yakyuukyou no Uta: Kita no Ookami Minami no Tora 野球狂の詩 北の狼南の虎 [1979-IIINippon Animation (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: Action, Drama, Sports
A re-edited version of episodes 13 and 14 of the TV series. Double billed with Mirai Shounen Conan movie in the cinemas.
Not found, but I would not want to watch just recap of two episodes.  
Overall Rating: 0/10
 
31. Uchuu Senkan Yamato: Aratanaru Tabidachi 宇宙戦艦ヤマト 新たなる旅立ち [1979-III] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adult Cast, Military, Space Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
It is the year 2201. The Yamato has returned from the devastating battle with Emperor Zordar and the Comet Empire. Sanada, Aihara, and Shima are released from the hospital, and go to pay their respects to the fallen crew members at Okita's memorial. They meet Tokugawa's son Tasuke, who says that he will be joining the crew once he graduates from cadet school. The next day at his graduation, he ends up capsizing a boat full of new cadets because they are all too busy staring at the Yamato to watch where they are going.
After some problems during launch due to the new engine crew hitting the wrong switches and stalling the ship, the Yamato departs on what should be a simple training mission.
Another useless OVA that's more of a senseless teaser of 3rd season. And of course half of it is another epic launching the ship. Very similar to previous OVA in composition.  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
32. Kaitei Choutokkyuu: Marine Express Undersea Super Train: Marine Express 海底超特急 マリン・エクスプレス [1979-IIITezuka Productions (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
The year is 2002, and the Marine Express, the first underwater train between America and Japan, is ready for its maiden voyage. The chief engineer suspects that the train's test run will be used for illicit purposes and hires private detective Ban Shunsaku. He arrives to his client's mansion only to find that he has just been murdered. Armed with just a glimpse of the murderer's face, Shunsaku boards the Marine Express to get to the bottom of this mystery. This job, however, is much more than what he bargained for, as the train holds secrets beyond anyone's imagination.
It's actually a crossover between Astro boy and 100-man-nen Chikyuu no Tabi with adventure and robot vs human theme that fits Astro Boy just fine. Nothing deep at all.  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
33. Anne no Nikki: Anne Frank Monogatari アンネの日記 アンネ・フランク物語 [1979-IIINippon Animation (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: Historical Drama
This is the true story of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl living in Amsterdam during WW2. Anne's father realizes on time the danger the Jews face and hides his family (his wife Edith and his two daughters Margo (16) and Anne (13), along with four more people, in "the house behind". For two years the 8 people live in darkness and whispers, in fear to be discovered and sent to the German crematories. During that time young Anne writes a diary, describing day by day life in the cellar, her complicated realtionship with her mother and the story of her first love - Peter, the young boy in the hiding place. Anne writes down her wishes to run out free and breath the air and flowers, her dreams to be free at last. Then they are discovered and are all sent to death.
Not found. I guess I'll wait till 1995 as that version is available all right.  
Overall Rating: 0/10
 
34. Jean Valjean Monogatari ジャン・バルジャン物語 [1979-IIIToei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Drama 
Animated adaptation of Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables".
A faithful to text story about Jean Valjean from Miserables. Nothing fancy though.  
Overall Rating: 4/10
 
35. Versailles no Bara The Rose of Versailles ベルサイユのばら [1979-IVTokyo Movie Shinsha (Dropped 3/40)
Tags: Shoujo Historical, Military Drama, Romance
In a time of class stratification and rising tensions amongst the impoverished population, the Austrian Empire sends Princess Marie Antoinette to France to be wed to Crown Prince Louis XVI. The political marriage is arranged to strengthen the alliance between both countries, but the future queen is deeply unsatisfied with her fate being decided for her. Upon arrival in the country, Marie Antoinette is acquainted with Oscar Fançois de Jarjayes—Commander of the Royal Guard.
Due to her father's desire for a son, Oscar is raised as a boy with an expectation to inherit his title as The Commander. Though she is revered by both men and women alike, Oscar cannot help but desire to live life as a woman instead of masquerading as a man. As Oscar reluctantly serves the young, spoiled queen, the growing resentment and suffering of the poor become harder for her to ignore—especially when Marie Antoinette frivolously spends her wealth.
There was already anime about princess brought up as a prince, but it was with a bit younger heroine and more about adventures. This one is more about court life and romance. And it's probably the most serious and advanced shoujo so far.  
Overall Rating: 5/10
 
36. Kagaku Ninja-tai Gatchaman F Eagle Riders (2) 科学忍者隊ガッチャマンF [1979-IVTatsunoko Production (Dropped 0/48)
Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
After Leader X is seemingly destroyed for good at the end of Gatchaman II, a fragment of him that survived grows and mutates into Z. With the head of the Egobossler family, Count Egobossler (and his two subordinates Mechandol and Kempler), Z is bent on destroying the Earth, and the Science Ninja Team, once more.
In the wake of Anderson's death, Dr.Nambu has become the new head of the ISO, while the team is now confined to the Gallatown (aka "G-Town") underwater base. Engineer Kamo is introduced, and after the New GodPhoenix is destroyed early on, the team receives the new Gatchaspartan as their mecha. The Gatchaspartan has a special mode as well, called Hypershoot, that can only be utilized by Ken (with his new "Gatchafencer" sword).
As the series progresses, it is learned that the radiation exposure from constant use of the Hypershoot is slowly killing Ken, and that continued use would mean death. Meanwhile, Z plans to destroy the earth with an antimatter asteroid, codenamed "Poison Apple".
I don't think I can bear any more of Gatchaman seasons, they move too slow and little changes on grand scale. From now on can only bear its OVA.  
Overall Rating: 0/10
 
37. Uchuu Kuubo Blue Noah Space Carrier Blue Noah 宇宙空母ブルーノア [1979-IV] (Dropped 4/24)
Tags: Military, Space Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Set in the year 2052, Earth has managed to find peace until the arrival of the Death Force - ruthless aliens from a dying solar system - who are desperately searching for a new home. Attacking the Earth with a massive satellite ship called Terror Star, the aliens proceed to terraform the planet to make it their own. For mankind there is one hope: it's up to Colin Collins and a small band of his fellow surviving students to crew a top-secret submersible vessel that can fight the invaders at sea or in space.
It's basically bound to Earth spaceship Yamato. Things take place in Solar system and move slowly. There's more emphasis on realism and overcoming difficulties (what shocked me in Yamato is how often it was hit and how miraculously fast it repaired). Bigger team and more focus on communication between the team members. But there's no spice, just slow expected development.  
Overall Rating: 5/10
 
38. Entaku no Kishi Monogatari: Moero Arthur 円卓の騎士物語 燃えろアーサ [1979-IV] (Dropped 3/30)
Tags: Historical Adventure, Drama, Romance
After his parents are killed by the Evil Lavic, Arthur is a contender to become King of all Britain. Arthur and his brave knights embark on a quest for the Holy Shield – the only hope to beat Lavic and unify the kingdom.
There's no translation. It starts pretty slow and first episodes are meeting companions/future knights. Spirit-wise it feels very old, somewhat akin to Record of Lodoss War anime that I used to like, but now consider extremely boring. 
Overall Rating: 5/10
 
39. Sasurai no Shoujo Nell Nell the Wandering Girl さすらいの少女ネル [1979-IV] (Dropped 3/26)
Tags: Historical Adventure
Nell is a young girl living with her grandfather, Mr Trent, the owner of a shop in London. As he couldn't payback a loan he made, he has to flee with Nell. They decide to search for Nell's mother, who is living somewhere in Great Britain...
Why even bother with a story, when you can just call it a wandering kid and let it flow. But Charles Dickens original material and not too young protagonist actually make it shine more than the predecessors. But the core is still travelling and meeting different people, so it just does not appeal to me.  
Overall Rating: 6/10
 
40. Manga Sarutobi Sasuke Ninja the Wonder Boy まんが猿飛佐助 [1979-IV] (Dropped 0/24)
Tags: Historical Adventure, Comedy, Supernatural
Sasuke is the story of a ninja child that starts right after the battle of Sekigahara where Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun of Japan. Sarutobi Sasuke (Jump Like Monkey Sasuke) was a famous ninja in the employ of Sanada Daisuke who fought for the losing side against Ieyasu. He was believed to have committed suicide when he was trapped in a castle, but the story takes off that he really escaped and that Sarutobi is not a name of a ninja but a whole ninja clan.
There's no translation, so I'd rather watch full movie that comes in the 1980s.  
Overall Rating: 0/10
 
41. Toushi Gordian Gordian Warrior 闘士ゴーディアン [1979-IVTatsunoko Production (Dropped 3/73)
Tags: Mecha Action, Sci-Fi
The Earth had become a wasteland of deserts as the survivors work to rebuild communities. Daigo Otaki is a young orphan raised by his uncle. Becoming an adult, Daigo discovers that Victor City was in fact planned by his father who was a genius scientist. Daigo's sister Saori had been managing it. She plead Daigo to take on the inheritance that Daigo's father left him, a super robot system known as Gordian. Daigo would join the Mechacon mechanic combat 18th regiment unit, an organization of law enforcers that defend Victor City against attacks from the Madokuta organization.
Did not find anything worth mentioning in this mecha, very stale and irritating taste.  
Overall Rating: 3/10
 
42. Lupin III: Cagliostro no Shiro Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro ルパン三世 カリオストロの城 [1979-IVTokyo Movie Shinsha (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Adult Cast Action, Adventure, Comedy, Mystery
Arsene Lupin III discovers that the spoils from his latest casino robbery are actually "Gothic Bills," legendary counterfeits that are nigh impossible to distinguish from genuine bills. Together with colleague Daisuke Jigen, he heads to the small nation of Cagliostro to investigate the origin of these counterfeits. Upon arrival, they save a girl from a high-speed chase who turns out to be Clarisse d' Cagliostro, the daughter of the late Duke d' Cagliostro. She is running from a sinister plot by Count Cagliostro to steal her family's treasure through a forced marriage.
Natural flirt Lupin dislikes seeing a girl in distress and seeks to remedy the situation. Goemon Ishikawa XIII, Fujiko Mine, and Kouichi Zenigata also join the fray, each with their own motivations. As everyone converges at Cagliostro Castle, Lupin reminisces about his visit there 10 years ago, and the castle's secrets emerge from the depths.
Canonical story for Lupin. It's definitely much better than previous OVA about immortality, but I guess it's as high as this series can get for me - still not deep , not entertaining, just shallow twists and intrigues in memorable entourage.  
Overall Rating: 6/10
 
43. Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! がんばれ!! タブチくん!! [1979-IVTokyo Movie Shinsha (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Comedy, Sports
The Seibu Lions baseball team makes it to the next round of a baseball tournament thanks to the heroic efforts of its star player, Tabuchi, but the next stage will involve hard work and cooperation.
Slice comedy about sports, yet untranslated one, so there's a roof it can hit.  
Overall Rating: 6/10
 
44. Ashinaga Ojisan Daddy Long-Legs あしながおじさん [1979-IVTatsunoko Production (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shoujo Comedy, Drama
An orphan girl receives a scholarship for a prestigious school from an anonymous benefactor who she refers to as Daddy Long Legs.
Anime is one hour long and is all about waiting to meet uncle, reminded me of visual novel from the 90s My Dear Arenaga Oji-san a lot.  
Overall Rating: 4/10

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In regard of Anne, there's also the fact that Hayao Miyazaki also work on this for 15 episodes and that this is the last work that the late Takahata Isao do on World Materpiece Theater series. Other than Anne, obviously the most prominent thing in 1979 is the birth of first Gundam anime in that it spawned several sequels and spin off, and the first one characters has two iconic characters in form of Amuro Ray and Char Aznable in that the latter has many villain based on him so much that there's a trope called Char Clone. No much to say other than those two anime, so that's all for what I can comment in regard of 1979 anime.

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