“Harmagedon / Genma Wars” (幻魔大戦), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1983, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) Q262
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1983 for the first release of Harmagedon / Genma Wars (幻魔大戦 / Genma Taisen), the ambitious science-fiction anime feature directed by Rintaro and associated with the landmark creative team of Kazumasa Hirai, Shotaro Ishinomori, and Katsuhiro Otomo.
Original Japanese posters for Genma Taisen are especially collectible because of the film’s important place in early-1980s anime history. It stands at the intersection of science fiction, psychic fantasy, apocalyptic spectacle, and the emergence of a more adult visual language in Japanese animation.
Film background
Released in 1983, Genma Taisen is a large-scale anime epic centred on a cosmic battle against the destructive force known as Genma. The story brings together psychics, warriors, spiritual figures, and other extraordinary characters from across the world, uniting them against an existential threat to humanity.
The film is particularly notable for its connection to Katsuhiro Otomo, whose character design work helped give the project a distinctive modern anime identity. Coming before the international impact of Akira, this makes Genma Taisen an important title for collectors interested in the development of 1980s Japanese animation and Otomo’s broader visual legacy.
Poster design
This Japanese B2 poster features a clean, striking ensemble composition. Against a pale green background, the principal characters are arranged in a formal group portrait, with the imposing armoured figure of Vega rising behind them. The design presents the cast almost like a heroic alliance, emphasising the film’s cosmic scale and supernatural team structure.
At the top, the English title HARMAGEDON appears in bold silver lettering across a black border. At the bottom, the Japanese title 幻魔大戦 is printed in vivid red, anchoring the sheet with strong graphic force.
The poster’s contrast between the calm, almost static character arrangement and the apocalyptic implications of the title gives it a distinctive presence. It is less chaotic than many action-focused anime posters of the period, instead presenting the film as a major ensemble science-fiction event.
Collector significance
This poster is highly appealing for collectors of 1980s anime, Katsuhiro Otomo-related material, Rintaro films, Madhouse-era animation, and Japanese science-fiction cinema. It is also a strong companion piece for collectors interested in the visual transition from late-1970s theatrical anime into the more mature, graphic, and internationally influential anime culture of the 1980s.
Condition
Excellent condition. Please review the photos carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale.
The poster presents very well, with strong colour, clean character artwork, sharp title lettering, and excellent overall display appeal. Minor signs of age and handling may be visible, consistent with an original Japanese theatrical poster of this period.
This poster is an original Japanese theatrical B2 from the 1983 first-release campaign.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is over 40 years old!
Certificate of Authenticity included.
