[Showa Classics] A Collection of Nostalgic 70s Anime Songs
Back in the 1970s, many iconic anime that represent Japan were broadcast.
Not only the anime themselves, but their theme songs have also captivated many people since those days.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide selection of nostalgic anime songs from the ’70s for those who remember that era.
We’ve picked everything from timeless standards you still hear often today to unforgettable classics you might not have heard recently but can hum the moment they start playing.
As you look back on those times, take this opportunity to sit back and enjoy these nostalgic masterpieces.
- Anime songs recommended for people in their 70s: nostalgic theme songs that let you feel the history of anime.
- [Nostalgic] A roundup of anime songs and theme songs that were hits in the 1980s
- [Classic Hits] Popular Anime Songs Representing the Showa Era. Also Introducing Recommended Anime Songs!
- Moving and iconic anime songs, popular tracks
- Recommended anime songs for people in their 50s. Classic and popular anime theme songs.
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese idols from the 1970s
- Cute Anime Song Special: From the 1970s to Today!
- Commercial songs from the 70s. Nostalgic TV commercial jingles.
- Anime songs recommended for people in their 60s: from nostalgic classics to the latest hits
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- [Nostalgic Songs] A compilation of classic anime themes that hit home for those born in the Showa and Heisei eras
- Hit songs in Japan in the late 1960s
- A classic from the good old days! A famous birthday song born in the Showa era.
[Showa Era Classics] Nostalgic 1970s Anime Songs Collection (1–10)
Space Battleship YamatoIsao Sasaki
Space Battleship Yamato is a quintessential Japanese sci-fi anime series that began airing in 1974 and has long been beloved, spawning sequels, remakes, and even live-action films.
While incorporating sci-fi elements such as aliens and weaponry, it carries a powerful message about human growth through the experience of war.
The opening theme song, famous in its own right, feels both like a straightforward depiction of the story and an expression of unwavering resolve, conveying a sense of valor and strength.
Orphan HachiYuri Shimazaki
Feelings for a mother and hope are woven through a voice that balances gentleness and strength.
With her clear, translucent vocals, Yuri Shimazaki paints scenes that tenderly envelop the story of a small protagonist’s adventure and growth.
You can’t help but empathize with the figure who continues their journey with love and courage in their heart, making this a heartwarming work that gives you the strength to move forward step by step.
Released as a single by Nippon Columbia in May 1970, it captured the hearts of many viewers as the opening theme for the anime “Mitsubachi Māya no Bōken” (Insect Story: Orphan Hacchi).
In 1974, she also performed the theme for the sequel, successfully enriching the world of the series.
It’s the perfect song for when you need encouragement or want to lift someone’s spirits.
Gutsy FrogSusumu Ishikawa
This is the opening theme of the anime The Gutsy Frog, based on Yasumi Yoshizawa’s manga that ran in Weekly Shonen Jump.
The story begins when the protagonist, Hiroshi Kaizuka, trips and accidentally squashes a frog named Pyonkichi against his chest.
Through sheer grit, Pyonkichi survives by sticking to Hiroshi’s shirt and continues to live as a flat “2D” frog, accompanying Hiroshi everywhere.
This amusing setup is one of the work’s major hallmarks.
The opening theme is notable for its energetic lyrics that seem to embody Pyonkichi’s way of life, as well as the delightfully deflating sound effects woven into the music.
[Showa Era Classics] Nostalgic 1970s Anime Songs Collection (11–20)
Doraemon SongKumiko Osugi
This is the opening theme, released in 1979, for Doraemon, a work featuring the cat-shaped robot from the future who springs into action, based on the manga by Fujiko F.
Fujio.
The series itself is often described as a national anime, and this song, Doraemon no Uta, is remembered alongside the series as a representative Japanese anime song that symbolizes the work.
The lyrics portray what kind of being Doraemon is, and another distinctive feature is the choice of simple words that are easy to understand for any age group.
Getter Robo!Isao Sasaki
The Getter Robo series, created by Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa, is considered the originator of combining and transforming robots.
A hallmark of the series is that the manga and anime have significantly different stories, and this song is the opening theme of the anime version of Getter Robo, where it all began.
Set to a sound that epitomizes classic hero songs, it clearly depicts the form and features of Getter Robo.
The repeated sound effects in the lyrics are striking, making it a tune that easily sticks in the listener’s head.
Please tell me.Kayoko Iju
This is the theme song of the anime Heidi, Girl of the Alps, which aired in 1974 as part of the World Masterpiece Theater series and is based on children’s literature by Swiss author Johanna Spyri.
The sound has a majestic, sunny feel—as if gazing out over the Alpine mountains where the story is set—and it seems to reflect the protagonist Heidi’s bright, straightforward personality.
The timbre of the brass at the beginning and the yodeling chorus draw listeners into the world of the work.
Genius BakabonIdol Four
One of the manga artists whose name is etched in Japanese history, Fujio Akatsuka, is best known for his work Tensai Bakabon.
This song is the opening theme of the very first anime in the long‑loved Tensai Bakabon series, which also includes live-action dramas, and it’s an indispensable element when discussing the franchise.
Throughout the song, it deliberately sings incorrect “facts,” and as a result many listeners even ended up remembering the direction of the sunrise incorrectly.
It’s a track that strongly conveys a positive message—namely, that it’s okay to be wrong.
The vocals are performed by the Idol Four, known for mood kayo (mood ballads) and comic songs.