20 years ago..."adult" anime premiered for the first time on American TV. Yes, we previously had "Robotech" and Voltron in the 80's, but anime was growing in popularity, and in either 1993 or 1994 (can anyone confirm the exact date?), the Sci-Fi channel did a "Sci-Fi Channel's Global Showcase", which aired 3 anime movies: Lensman, Robot Carnival, and Vampire Hunter D.
Here's the intro for the Lensman:
And here's the intro's for Robot Carnival and Vampire Hunter D:
SciFi Channel Adventures In Japanese Animation - YouTube
1996 Sci-Fi channel- Global showcase (Vampire hunter D) intro - YouTube
One video claims it was 1993, the other says 1994. The Vampire Hunter D one claims it was '96, but that's not right. I remember a friend loaning me a VHS tape with the Vampire Hunter D movie on it, it was a recording of this broadcast, and I watched that in the Spring of '94 (it was one of the first anime I ever watched. I was hooked!)...and since that was a VHS recording, I want to say my friend originally recorded it when it first aired in early '94 or in the Fall/Winter of '93.
Anyway, the Sci-Fi channel in 1995 or 1996 aired "Akira", here's the promo for that, which I also distinctly remember, and they started having yearly anime festivals, which I remember watching from 1995 to 1997...
But that was in the evening hours...beyond that, the Sci-Fi channel also aired anime every Saturday morning, starting in 1995. It was called "Saturday Anime" (catch the promo here!), and as a Saturday morning program, I think it ran until 1999 or 2000. And it was awesome!
So does anyone remember watching these? What do you think about 20 years passing since Sci-Fi brought adult anime to cable?!?
Here's the intro for the Lensman:
And here's the intro's for Robot Carnival and Vampire Hunter D:
SciFi Channel Adventures In Japanese Animation - YouTube
1996 Sci-Fi channel- Global showcase (Vampire hunter D) intro - YouTube
One video claims it was 1993, the other says 1994. The Vampire Hunter D one claims it was '96, but that's not right. I remember a friend loaning me a VHS tape with the Vampire Hunter D movie on it, it was a recording of this broadcast, and I watched that in the Spring of '94 (it was one of the first anime I ever watched. I was hooked!)...and since that was a VHS recording, I want to say my friend originally recorded it when it first aired in early '94 or in the Fall/Winter of '93.
Anyway, the Sci-Fi channel in 1995 or 1996 aired "Akira", here's the promo for that, which I also distinctly remember, and they started having yearly anime festivals, which I remember watching from 1995 to 1997...
But that was in the evening hours...beyond that, the Sci-Fi channel also aired anime every Saturday morning, starting in 1995. It was called "Saturday Anime" (catch the promo here!), and as a Saturday morning program, I think it ran until 1999 or 2000. And it was awesome!
So does anyone remember watching these? What do you think about 20 years passing since Sci-Fi brought adult anime to cable?!?
Last edited: