50 Best Sci-Fi Anime To Watch Right Now
Sci-fi anime spans a wide range of themes, from space operas to dystopian futures. Here are 50 of the best sci-fi anime series and films you should consider watching.
1. Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999)
A space western following bounty hunters Spike, Jet, Faye, Ed, and Ein as they navigate the galaxy and their pasts.
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-1996)
This groundbreaking series delves into the psychological struggles of young pilots fighting mysterious beings called Angels using giant mechs.
3. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002-2003)
Follows Major Motoko Kusanagi and her team in a future where cybernetic enhancements and hacking are common.
4. Steins;Gate (2011)
A thrilling time travel series about a group of friends who accidentally discover a method of sending messages to the past.
5. Akira (1988)
This iconic film is set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo and explores themes of power and corruption through the story of a biker gang member who gains extraordinary abilities.
6. Psycho-Pass (2012-2013)
Set in a future where a computer system evaluates citizens’ mental states to prevent crime, the series follows law enforcement officers tasked with maintaining order.
7. Gurren Lagann (2007)
A mecha series following Simon and Kamina as they rise from an underground village to challenge oppressive forces on the surface.
8. Planetes (2003-2004)
A realistic take on space exploration, focusing on a group of space debris collectors and their personal and professional lives.
9. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006-2007)
A gripping tale of rebellion and strategy, following Lelouch, a prince with the power of Geass who seeks to overthrow an oppressive empire.
10. Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1988-1997)
An epic space opera exploring the complex political and military conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance.
11. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009-2010)
While primarily a fantasy series, it incorporates significant sci-fi elements through alchemical science in a richly developed world.
**12. Trigun (1998)
Follows Vash the Stampede, a gunslinger with a mysterious past, in a post-apocalyptic world with a Wild West feel.
13. Eureka Seven (2005-2006)
Combines mecha action with a coming-of-age story, focusing on Renton Thurston’s adventures with the Gekkostate and the mysterious girl Eureka.
14. Paranoia Agent (2004)
A psychological thriller exploring urban legends and mass hysteria, blending surreal elements with a sci-fi premise.
15. Mobile Suit Gundam (1979-1980)
The series that started the Gundam franchise, set in a future where giant robots are used in war between Earth and its colonies.
16. Darker than Black (2007)
Set in a world where a mysterious phenomenon grants some people superpowers, the series follows Hei, a contractor working for a shadowy organization.
17. Knights of Sidonia (2014-2015)
A space survival story set on a massive spaceship fleeing from alien threats, featuring mecha battles and genetic engineering.
18. Serial Experiments Lain (1998)
A cyberpunk series exploring the boundaries between reality and the virtual world through the eyes of a teenage girl, Lain Iwakura.
19. Astro Boy (1963)
One of the earliest and most influential anime, following the adventures of a robot boy created to replace a scientist’s lost son.
20. Big O (1999-2003)
A noir-inspired mecha series set in a city where people have lost their memories, following Roger Smith, a negotiator with a giant robot.
21. Space Dandy (2014)
A comedic space adventure following Dandy, a space explorer, and his misfit crew as they search for rare aliens and encounter bizarre situations.
22. Dr. Stone (2019-2020)
Set in a world where humanity has been petrified for thousands of years, the series follows Senku, a genius scientist, as he aims to rebuild civilization.
23. Macross (1982-1983)
A foundational mecha series that combines space warfare with musical themes and romance, known for its transforming fighter planes.
24. Ergo Proxy (2006)
A dystopian series exploring themes of identity and consciousness, following investigator Re-L Mayer as she uncovers secrets in a post-apocalyptic world.
25. Kill la Kill (2013-2014)
A hyper-stylized series blending sci-fi and action, following Ryuko Matoi’s quest for revenge against her father’s killers using a powerful sentient outfit.
26. Blame! (2017)
A dark, atmospheric film set in a dystopian future where a lone wanderer, Killy, searches for humans with the genetic key to save civilization.
27. No. 6 (2011)
Set in a utopian city with a dark underbelly, the series follows a boy named Shion who becomes involved with a fugitive named Nezumi.
28. Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (2015-2016)
Focuses on child soldiers in a war-torn future, blending mecha action with deep social and political themes.
29. The Vision of Escaflowne (1996)
Combines mecha and fantasy elements, following Hitomi Kanzaki who is transported to the world of Gaea and becomes involved in a conflict involving giant robots.
30. Aldnoah.Zero (2014-2015)
A war drama set in a future where Earth battles the Martian Vers Empire, featuring intense mecha combat and strategic warfare.
31. Space Battleship Yamato (1974-1975)
A classic space opera about humanity’s quest to save Earth from alien invaders, featuring epic space battles and a heroic journey.
32. Elfen Lied (2004)
A violent and emotional series about a genetically altered girl with deadly powers, exploring themes of humanity and prejudice.
33. Zegapain (2006)
Blends mecha action with virtual reality, following Kyo Sogoru as he discovers the truth about his existence and battles to save humanity.
34. Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (2013)
A mecha series set on a water-covered Earth, following a soldier from space who adapts to life with a peaceful community.
35. Bubblegum Crisis (1987-1991)
A cyberpunk series following an all-female vigilante team, the Knight Sabers, as they battle rogue androids in a futuristic city.
36. Guilty Crown (2011-2012)
Follows Shu Ouma, who gains a powerful ability to extract weapons from people’s hearts, as he joins a resistance group fighting a tyrannical regime.
37. Megalo Box (2018)
Set in a future where boxers use exoskeletons to enhance their abilities, the series follows Junk Dog, an underdog fighter aiming for the top.
38. Kiddy Grade (2002-2003)
Follows Éclair and Lumière, agents of the Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs, as they tackle various missions across the galaxy.
39. Casshern Sins (2008-2009)
A reimagining of the classic Casshern series, set in a post-apocalyptic world where the protagonist battles against robots seeking to end his life.
**40. RahXephon (2002)
A mecha series with deep psychological and philosophical themes, following Ayato Kamina as he pilots a mysterious robot to defend Earth.
41. Expelled from Paradise (2014)
A sci-fi film set in a future where humanity lives in a digital paradise, following an agent who is sent to the physical world to track down a hacker.
42. Dimension W (2016)
Follows a collector named Kyouma Mabuchi and a robot girl named Mira as they uncover the secrets of a fourth-dimensional energy source.
43. Spriggan (1998)
An action-packed film about an elite group of agents who protect ancient relics with dangerous powers from falling into the wrong hands.
44. Eden of the East (2009)
A mystery thriller following Akira Takizawa, who wakes up with no memory and discovers he is part of a deadly game involving ten billion yen and saving Japan.
45. Bubble (2022)
In a Tokyo overrun by gravity-defying bubbles, a young man with a mysterious power joins forces with a girl who has a secret connection to the bubbles.
46. The Big O (1999-2003)
A mecha series set in a city where people have lost their memories, following negotiator Roger Smith and his giant robot, Big O.
47. Last Exile (2003-2004)
An adventure series set in a world of aerial warfare and airships, following pilots Claus and Lavie as they deliver a mysterious girl to safety.
48. Tiger & Bunny (2011)
In a world where superheroes are sponsored by corporations, the series follows veteran hero Wild Tiger and rookie Barnaby Brooks Jr. as they protect the city.
49. Tiger & Bunny (2011)
In a world where superheroes are sponsored by corporations, the series follows veteran hero Wild Tiger and rookie Barnaby Brooks Jr. as they protect the city.
50. Time of Eve (2008-2009)
Set in a future where androids are common, the series explores the relationship between humans and androids in a café where both are treated as equals.