There is a lot of buzz about the launch of a new anime project in 2026 called Mobile Police Patlabor EZY, a spin-off of the popular Mobile Police Patlabor series. Patlabor was created by HEADGEAR, a unit of five creators: Masami Yuki, Yutaka Izubuchi, Kazunori Ito, Akemi Takada, and Mamoru Oshii. The manga created by Yuki was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday (Shogakukan) from 1988 to 1994. What was it like in 1988 when the manga version began serialization? Looking back at "those days." ◇Ranma 1/2 currently being serialized, and YAIBA too! Yuki is a manga artist also known for works such as Ultimate Hero R and Tetsuwan Birdy. In 1988, when "Patlabor" began, "Weekly Shonen Sunday" was also serializing "Ranma 1/2" by Rumiko Takahashi and "Rough" by Mitsuru Adachi. In the same year, "YAIBA" by Gosho Aoyama and "Kenji", written by Takatomo Matsuda and illustrated by Yoshihide Fujiwara, also began serialization.
The TV anime version of "Ranma 1/2" is currently being broadcast for the first time in about 32 years, and a new anime version of "YAIBA" has been announced. Is it a coincidence that Sunday works that began serialization in the late 1980s, such as "Patlabor", "Ranma 1/2" and "YAIBA", are being made into anime again in the Reiwa era? It may be inevitable, as all of these works have continued to be loved across generations.
The following year, 1989, "Obi wo Tightly!", "Spriggan" and "Kenta Yarisu!" began, and in 1990 "Nijiiro Togarashi", "Ushio to Tora" and "Kyou kara Ore wa!!" began. "Ushio and Tora" was made into an anime in 2015, and "Spriggan" in 2022. "From Today, It's My Turn!!" was serialized in "Shonen Sunday Special Edition" from 1988 to 1990, and moved to "Weekly Shonen Sunday" in 1990.
◇"Dragon Quest III", "Char's Counterattack", and "AKIRA" were also published.
In 1988, other magazines began serialization of "Ah! My Goddess", "Silent Don", "Super Doctor K", "Silent Service", "Tokyo Love Story", and "Master Keaton". This was also the time when "Rokudenashi Blues", "Magical Taruto-kun", and "BASTARD!! - Dark Destruction God -" began serialization in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha).
TV anime series that began include "Sakigake!! Otokojuku", "Kiteretsu Daihyakka", "Mashhin Hero Wataru", "Yoroiden Samurai Troopers", "Soreike! Anpanman", and "Oishinbo".
The social phenomenon that was Dragon Quest III was released, and the animated films released in the same year were all masterpieces, including Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, My Neighbor Totoro, Grave of the Fireflies, and AKIRA.
