In a recent nationwide survey conducted by the ranking site Rankingoo, Toei Animation’s iconic series Dragon Ball has been surpassed in nostalgia by two other beloved anime. The survey, which gathered responses from 9,560 participants aged 30 and older, sought to identify the anime that viewers would most like to revisit.
The top spot in the rankings went to Star of the Giants (1968-1971), a sports anime inspired by the fictional Yomiuri Giants baseball team, which garnered 667 votes. It was followed closely by Japanese Folklore Tales (1975) with 662 votes, while Dragon Ball, which came in third, received 461 votes. Rounding out the top five were Mobile Suit Gundam (1979-1980) with 368 votes and Touch (1985-1987) with 365 votes.
Star of the Giants originated as a manga series in Shonen Jump, created by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Noboru Kawasaki. The story follows Hyuuma Hoshi, son of the legendary baseball player Ittesu Hoshi, as he strives to prove himself within the Giants baseball team. Many respondents shared fond memories of the series, noting its significant impact on their childhood. One participant reminisced, “I’m sure everyone in the class watched it, both boys and girls alike,” while another stated, “This was an anime while I was in middle school, but watching it gave me courage.”
Interestingly, Touch, which secured the fifth position, also focuses on baseball. The series, based on Mitsuru Adachi’s manga, tells the story of twins Uesugi Kazuya and Tatsuya, with Kazuya excelling as a pitcher and Tatsuya perceived as a slacker. Their childhood friend, Minami Asakura, treats both brothers with equal regard, leading Tatsuya to develop feelings for her. Following Kazuya’s tragic death in a car accident, Tatsuya is inspired to pursue his brother’s dream of competing in the National Baseball Championships. Voters expressed how Touch resonated with them emotionally, with one commenting, “Touch made me laugh, my heart raced, I cried and it moved me.”
The series Japanese Folklore Tales, produced by Group TAC—the same studio behind Touch—consists of ten-minute shorts that reinterpret well-known stories from Japanese mythology. Notably, one episode, “The Moon Princess,” draws from the same folktale that inspired Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed film The Tale of Princess Kaguya, directed by Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata.
As of now, Star of the Giants, Japanese Folklore Tales, and Touch are not accessible on mainstream streaming platforms outside Japan. However, the original Mobile Suit Gundam series is available on Crunchyroll, and both Dragon Ball and its sequels can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Hulu.
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