>>3605If you want a theoretical "Old Anime Canon", it'd probably look something this (exclusively just works fully subtitled in English given the demographics of English imageboards).
Only ordered by release date, this isn't a ranking.
>Sasuke (1968)Will be releasing in English this October. It's an early ninja anime that is one of the first steps towards the 70s in terms of expected quality.
>Dororo to Hyakkimaru (1969)Stylistically sublime… until it isn't. Still good, and you may recognize the name from the 2019 remake, simply called Dororo.
>Ashita no Joe (1970)The first true Osamu Dezaki work, adapting the story of a drifter kid who becomes a boxer.
>Lupin III (1971)I'll only put the original series here, but it's a short and sweet episodic adventure/heist anime.
>Ace wo Nerae (1973)Another Osamu Dezaki, this time about the struggles of a high schooler as she is pushed to 'Aim for the Ace' by her school's new tennis coach.
>Ie Naki Ko (1977)Another Dezaki work, this one adapting the french novel 'Sans Famille', about an orphan boy who is sold by his adoptive father to a traveling entertainer.
This is probably my favourite work on this list.
>Chirin no Suzu (1978)The first movie of this list, this is about a young sheep who encounter a viscious wolf.
>Galaxy Express 999 + Captain Harlock (1978)Landmark adaptations of Leiji Matsumoto's manga. They are incredibly long, but they both hold a most episodic nature, exploring rather somber and bittersweet themes in a fantastical rendition of the final frontier.
>Anne of Green Gables (1979) The big name of the World Masterpiece Theatre series, adapting the Canadian novel of the same name.
You will be able to tell this is a precursor to a lot of Japanese ideas of moe. In particular, Anne feels reminiscent of certain mahou shoujo protagonists, like the ones from Princess Tutu and Ojamajo Doremi.
>Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)THe first truly major work from Yoshiyuki Tomino which you likely already know about. Do not watch the films, watch the show.
>Rose of Versailles (1979)The second last Osamu Dezaki work I will mention, but there are many, many more, all incredibly important. This is an adaptation of a manga that depicts a woman raised as a man during the years leading up to the French Revolution.
>Space Runaway Ideon (1980)The second Tomino work and the last I will mention. Held a firm grip on Japanese culture and its influence can still be felt in echoes. Watch the show, then the movies.
>Ashita no Joe 2 (1980)Dezaki's sequel to the 1970 original, finishing off the story of the work in what is perhaps the best anime production to ever occur in the early industry.
>DAICON III & IV (1981-82)Gainax's debut works, emblematic of otaku culture.
>Patalliro! (1982)An… interesting Toei TV anime, depicting rather intense, even today, themes of homosexuality.
>Dr. Slump Movie 2 (1983)I would recommend the show but it does not have a complete TL. Just watching this after engaging with existing materials will be enough though, as it loosely adapts a few short arcs of the manga into an epic space adventure that I swear is parodying UY: Only You despite releasing before it.
That's all for now, would do more but the 80s is more firmly tied into my biases (lots of mecha).
