Alluring futuristic worlds, scientific speculations, and reality-bending scenarios — all of these enticing concepts make sci-fi anime the medium’s most acclaimed and fascinating genre. Science fiction in anime is prolific and varied, the genre’s exemplars making up some of the best, most celebrated titles of all time. However, like with any other genre, finding a sci-fi anime that is immaculate from start to finish is no easy task.
While high-concept sci-fi series with enticing premises aren’t hard to come by, titles that maintain the initial excitement throughout — or even exceed fans’ expectations — are rare gems that embody the genre’s most outstanding merits. These sci-fi anime series don’t feature a single dull moment, keeping the viewers engrossed in their worlds from the first episode to the moment the credits roll.
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10
FLCL Is 6 Episodes of Non-Stop Exhilaration
Stream FLCL on Adult Swim
A kinetic coming-of-age story that hides profound thematic depth beneath its funky, surrealist exterior, FLCL is rightfully regarded as a sci-fi cult classic. Just like the series’ protagonist, ordinary 12-year-old Naota Nandaba, the viewers are launched head-first into a whirlpool of chaotic shenanigans once the mysterious alien Haruko Haruhara crashes into Naota’s life — and that excitement doesn’t let up until the very last episode.
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Beyond the fast-paced comedy and sci-fi madness, FLCL hides many thematic and narrative layers, and uncovering them all urges fans to revisit the series multiple times. Yet, FLCL never fails to entice and captivate the viewers regardless of how many times they watch it — being just six episodes, the OVA packs a punch in every scene without overstaying its welcome.
9
Steins;Gate’s Slow Start Only Makes the Sci-Fi Anime Series Better
Stream Steins;Gate on Crunchyroll
Steins;Gate is one of anime’s most well-known and highly acclaimed science fiction titles. A refreshingly spirited take on the classic time travel premise, Steins;Gate follows the unpredictable, suspenseful adventure of Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad scientist who discovers a way to send text messages to the past.
While many find the opening episodes of Steins;Gate to be a bit of a slog, those who stick around learn to appreciate the series’ introduction for the excellent world-building and character establishment it provides. And, with the rest of Steins;Gate being an exhilarating ride of psychological thriller twists, dramatic developments, and mind-blowing sci-fi conspiracies, the entire narrative shapes into a flawless masterpiece.
Steins;Gate
- Release Date
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2011 – 2011
- Network
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Sun TV, Teletama
8
Aria the Animation Uses a Sci-Fi Setting for Grounded & Intimate Storytelling
Stream Aria the Animation on Crunchyroll
While most associate science fiction with ambitious, high-octane narratives, the genre is just as capable of scaling things down and telling unexpectedly human and grounded stories. For being set on planet Aqua, formerly known as Mars, Aria the Animation is a surprisingly down-to-earth iyashikei series following the leisurely adventures of Akari Mizunashi, a novice tour guide introducing visitors to the wonders of Aqua via gondola tours.
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In place of high-stakes futuristic plots, Aria the Animation offers the viewers an opportunity to relax, immerse themselves in a cozy fantasy, and potentially learn to appreciate life’s simplest miracles. With every episode being a perfect slice-of-life wonder, Aria the Animation subverts the conventions of its genre with its wholesome yet thought-provoking vignettes about life in a utopian future.
7
Pluto Brings to Life a Masterful Sci-Fi Classic
Stream Pluto on Netflix
Initially written in 2003 by the legendary manga author Naoki Urasawa (Monster, 20th Century Boys), Pluto had to wait far longer than most to be adapted to anime. However, the end result was certainly worth the excessive wait.
A thrilling, unpredictable detective story, Pluto is a timeless science fiction masterwork that explores a classic theme — the conflict between humans and robots — through the lens of a gripping investigation into a serial murder case targeting the world’s most advanced androids. What aided Pluto’s narrative as an adaptation the most is not abiding by the conventions of anime broadcasting. Instead of a usual one- or two-cour season, Pluto is an eight-episode mini-series that has the time and resources to craft its story into a faultless, admirably manga-accurate sequence.
Pluto
- Release Date
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October 26, 2023
6
Link Click Remains Engrossing by Challenging Its Own Status Quo
Stream Link Click on Crunchyroll
Initially, the donghua series Link Click became a modern cult hit through its uniquely intimate and heartfelt reimagining of the time travel theme. Using the premise of traveling back in time through photos, Link Click focuses not on changing the past but on capturing both the beauty and tragedy of unchangeable memories.
Its episodic first season is a collection of such precious moments relived by the protagonists on their quests to meaningfully affect the present without altering history. However, what prevented Lick Click from growing repetitive is its willingness to play with form and tone by using a mystery thriller plot to connect the touching standalone episodes together. Each of Link Click’s installments creatively expands the overarching narrative while staying true to the earnest, emotionally driven core of the series.
5
Gintama Maintains Excellence for Over 300 Episodes
Stream Gintama on Crunchyroll
Maintaining a consistently high bar of quality through a single season of anime is no easy task — yet Gintama is a rare anime series that manages to remain near-perfect for over 360 episodes. As to be expected from a long-running shonen anime series, not all Gintama episodes are equally impeccable. Yet, even a subpar episode of Gintama outshines the vast majority of anime comedies.
Gintama’s genius lies in the series’ stellar comedic writing and affinity to experimentation. A sci-fi series with an “anything can happen” attitude at heart, Gintama exists outside of genre restrictions. Its plots vary from hilarious exploits to heartfelt dramatic vignettes to massive, action-packed overarching sagas featuring alien invaders, turf wars, clashes on faraway planets, samurai duels, and every concept the audience can possibly think of.
4
The First Season of Psycho-Pass Is a Perfect Self-Contained Story
Stream Psycho-Pass on Crunchyroll
A popular subgenre of science fiction, futuristic dystopias comment on themes of societal dysfunction, oppression, and the conflict between societal and individualistic — all of which are excellently explored in Psycho-Pass, one of anime’s best dystopian titles. Set in a world where every person’s mind can be evaluated for traces of criminal intent, the series follows Akane Tsunemori, a rookie Inspector tasked with suppressing “potential criminals” who fall through the system’s cracks.
An exciting yet thought-provoking sci-fi mystery, Psycho-Pass executes its narrative immaculately, and its cathartic finale leaves the viewers with a lot of food for thought. However, the decision to resurrect the franchise in multiple less-than-stellar sequels makes the first season the only faultless installment of Psycho-Pass.
3
Astra Lost in Space Is a Character-Driven Space Adventure Without a Single Dull Moment
Stream Astra Lost in Space on Crunchyroll
Exploring the enticing vastness of space has always been one of science fiction’s most alluring fantasies. However, for the teen heroes of Astra Lost in Space, the dream of visiting alien worlds becomes unexpectedly perilous. Stranded thousands of light years away from home, Astra’s crew must navigate the cosmos with limited resources on their lengthy and danger-filled return journey.
Compelling, concise, and outstandingly exciting on a moment-to-moment basis, Astra Lost in Space combines the best elements of space adventuring and character-driven survival fiction, fantastically developing each hero and location despite its short runtime. And, being a completed adaptation with just 12 episodes, it manages to pull off an unexpected yet gratifying ending without dragging the narrative out.
Astra: Lost in Space
- Release Date
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2019 – 2018
- Network
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AT-X, Tokyo MX, Sun TV, TV Aichi, KBS Kyoto, BS11
Cast
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Naoki Tatsuta
Beego (voice)
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Saori Hayami
Yunhua Lu (voice)
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Tomoyo Kurosawa
Quitterie Raffaeli (voice)
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Inori Minase
Aries Spring (voice)
2
Planetes Makes the Space-Faring Future Look Heartwarmingly Relatable
Stream Planetes on Crunchyroll
Search for personal purpose, struggle to connect with others, and challenges of reconciling with one’s desires – all of these are universal strifes humans face across history and will likely continue conquering in the far future. Despite being set in the age of space-faring, Planetes centers on the grounded, relatable problems of its protagonists — workers of a large space corporation’s Debris Section tasked with cleaning space of junk.
From its meticulous and technical approach to science fiction world-building to the even more realistic character development, Planetes is a rare space-themed anime that doesn’t require the viewers to suspend their disbelief. The resulting narrative remains immersive throughout despite not featuring the kinetic action or high-concept thrills most sci-fi anime is known for.
1
Cowboy Bebop Doesn’t Waste a Single Episode
Stream Cowboy Bebop on Crunchyroll
Rightfully regarded as one of the best titles not just within the sci-fi genre but in anime as a whole, Cowboy Bebop is a renowned cult classic with a completely unique take on futuristic storytelling. Following Spike Spiegel and Bebop’s crew of eccentric bounty hunters on their unpredictable space adventures, Cowboy Bebop refuses to fall into just one category or genre.
Its episodic plots are kept fresh by jumping between space Western, neo-noir horror, comedy, and intimate, thought-provoking character drama. From standalone narratives to the subtle yet poignant overarching plot, Cowboy Bebop uses its runtime with intent, telling a completed, self-contained story over the span of 26 episodes that leaves the viewers changed by the time the credits roll.
