OBSCURE O.V.A.S, *Dallos

Going back to the very first OVA ever made, Dallos premiered at the dawn of the VHS era, which considering how much both video players and tapes went for back then was considered a hefty penny, meaning getting the entire 4-part series could have cost some kids a whole year's worth of allowance. Pioneered by Mamoru Ooshi(who later would direct Ghost In The Shell)and Gatchaman animator Hisayuki Toriumi based this sci-fi epic on a Robert Heinlein novel about a lunar civil war. Anime studio Peirrot cut their teeth with their long career in the home video market with this 1983 release.

Set at the end of the 21st Century, mankind has long colonized the Moon, supplying Earth with precious minerals. However, the residents called Lunarians work under a strict government, and a group lead by the rebellious "Dog" seeks to free the workers from their harsh conditions. The resistance's belief in an uncovered alien structure called Dallos is what furthers their cause. New generation Lunarians like Shun and Rachel are drawn into the fight, while the Earth security leader Riger tries to free his love from the rebels. The moon government gets military backing from Earth, as the moon residents modify their drilling equipment into battle mechas, all while Dallos itself acts as a neutral party caught in the middle of the conflict.

The idea of class warfare in space was already covered in anime like Mobile Suit Gundam, but Dallos shows how everyday futuristic hardware is remade into weapons of destruction. An abridged collected edition of the entire series was later released in Japan, and then dubbed into American markets titled Battle for Moon Station Dallos. The complete OVA is now available on DVD through Discotek, and various streaming services, but only in the original Japanese format. There are numerous elements used in Dallos you can see used in future anime like Macross and Bounty Dog, so its worth a watch for the foundation of several science-fiction titles both in Japan and the rest of the world.