Ulysses 31

Ulysses 31 was produced in 1981 as a collaborative effort between the French production company DIC Audiovisuel and the Japanese animation studio Tokyo Movie Shinsha. The series sought to translate Homer’s Odyssey into a space-age science fiction setting, capitalizing on the surging popularity of space operas during the post-Star Wars era. By combining Western narrative tropes with the distinct aesthetic sensibilities of Japanese anime, the show created a unique hybrid style that defined its place in 1980s television history.

The series design is noted for its blending of Greco-Roman mythology with high-tech futurism, featuring iconic imagery such as the Odyssey starship and the guardian robot Nono. The character designs were overseen by Shingo Araki and Michi Himeno, whose work provided a cinematic quality to the animation. Upon its release, the series garnered critical attention for its ambitious fusion of high-concept storytelling and electronic synthesised scores, ultimately securing a devoted cult following in Europe and beyond for its imaginative reimagining of classical antiquity.