Like any form of visual media, there are countless genres and subgenres of anime shows and films. With no limits to the amount of creativity a writer can have when creating an animated piece of work, anime has been able to cover a wide variety of topics, themes, and cultures. One of the most popular genres isscience-fiction anime, with a few of the highest-rated movies and series being categorized as sci-fi.
Those looking for adventures that explore the far reaches of space or ask the big what-if questions of life in the future will find that Japanese animation has them covered. More importantly, the industry’s sci-fi tales cover a wide range of subgenres, tones, and art styles, ensuring there is something for just about everyone. Here are thebest sci-fi animeever, along with recommendations for the current seasons.
While the focus is mainly on series, some seminal movies will be highlighted.
Updated July 10, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Looking for someSummer 2025 sci-fi animeto watch? Well, I would recommend checking out these shows:
A sci-fi comedy classic,Urusei Yatsurais a sitcom about a perverted guy who winds up with an alien fiancée. Lum loves her darling with all her might, while Ataru mainly wants to flirt with girls and do his own thing, two acts that normally result in a quick electrocution. The anime has a well-established status quo that paves the way to plenty of laugh-out-loud moments courtesy of its larger-than-life protagonists and a plethora of quirky secondary characters.
Sci-fi is associated with heavy social themes and lofty concepts, but the genre can get silly as well.Urusei Yatsurarepresents that side of the equation, and there is a reason the property has been around since the late ’70s.
The1981 animeis also very good and fondly remembered, and it could have replaced the 2022 version. However, the latter was picked due to its accessibility.
Thishorror animewill make viewers' skin crawl. Following a group of orphaned children being cared for by their appointed Mother, this series shows the traumatic experiences of intelligent kids trying to escape the deadly home they’re trapped in.
The Promised Neverland’s soundtrack is chilling, the characters are wonderful, and the villains are too creepy to handle. The first episode alone will get audiences hooked. For anime fans looking to get scared out of their pants, this spookysci-fi anime’s first season needs to be a priority. Unfortunately, the second season is underwhelming and rushed, to the point that skipping it might be the better option.
NieR: Automata Ver1.1ahas a lot of things going for it, including great animation courtesy of A-1 Pictures. 2023’s first season was hampered by production issues that led to a momentum-killing delay, which is particularly awful for an anime as story and lore-driven as this peculiar adaption. Nevertheless, the first cour ended on a relatively high note, setting the stage for a promising and superior sequel.
While the story can be complicated at times, the anime can be enjoyed solely for its action, twists, and clever world-building. Beyond the sheer spectacle,NieR: Automata Ver1.1afeatures a great cast of characters, with 2B and 9S being particularly fantastic. Their relationship serves as the show’s emotional heart, and it is very fragile.
Similar toBlack Cloverin the fantasy genre,World Triggerdoes not leave the best first impression. The first 15–20 episodes are not particularly interesting, and they give the appearance of asci-fi animethat lacks much in the way of interesting characters or novel ideas. However, the series picks up a lot of momentum once the invasion arc begins, which happens around the 22-episode mark. After that point,World Triggeris consistently great for the rest of its run, with the sequel seasons being even better than the first.
In many ways,World Triggeris a war anime, with the story revolving around humanity’s attempts to fight off enemies from another world called Neighbors. One of the main heroes is a Neighbor, and he teams up with two humans who are trying to prove themselves as part of the National Defense Agency. The series has pretty fantastic action, along with characters who get progressively better as the story moves along.
One of Spring 2024’s biggest shows fell within the sci-fi category, although it is moreGodzillathanSteins;Gate.Kaiju No. 8envisions an alternate reality where humanity has to constantly deal with attacks from massive (or smallish) monsters, a dangerous but important role only a few people are equipped to handle. Japan’s Defense Force are (essentially) superheroes who use equipment designed from the kaiju they beat, and they are always on the lookout for capable soldiers. Despite his best efforts, Kafka was never able to pass the group’s entrance exam, forcing him to join the post-battle clean-up crew instead. However, when the exam’s age limit is raised, he decides to give it one final go. Also, he accidentally eats a kaiju and unlocks the ability to transform into a powerful monster. So, there is that too.
With great production value,lovable characters, and intense fights,Kaiju No. 8leaves impressive first, second, and third impressions, and the season seems to be improving with each new episode. In his early 30s, Kafka is a nice change of pace for a shonen lead, and he embodies maturity, passion, and hints of desperation well. The rest of the characters are not too shabby either, particularly Reno and Shinomiya. Still, a show like this lives and dies on the quality of its monsters, an areaKaiju No. 8nails.
Heavenly Delusionis drenched in mystery. The anime envisions a post-disaster world filled with monstrosities and the scattered remains of human civilization. Maru and Kiruko travel across Japan in search of a place called “Heaven,” a journey defined by frustration, near-death experiences, and constant terror. As this unfolds, the anime also follows a group of children living within a research facility that seems to be a safe haven but is likely anything but.
Production I.G’s anime has only started to pull back the curtain on the manga’s lore and mysteries, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in widespread uncertainty alongside the main characters. So far,Heavenly Delusionhas raised way more questions than answers, and if the latter eventually arrives via a sequel, thissci-fi animecould turn out to be one of the greats.
Made in Abyssranks low because it is more fantasy than science fiction; however, it sprinkles just enough elements from the latter to qualify. In this world, adventurers turn to The Abyss in search of glory, descending its numerous layers filled with wonder and horror. The young Riko yearns to follow her mother to the bottom of the Abyss, a seemingly impossible journey that becomes only improbable once the girl befriends Reg, a boy with a body seemingly modified by science.
Young kids going on a wild adventure might sound like a pleasant time, and whileMade in Abyssis certainly fantastic, the show is anything but lighthearted. The anime deals with abuse, sacrifice, and human experimentation, just to name a couple of themes.
Dandadanis a bit of a weird one. The 2024 series is absolutely brilliant and a must-watch by anyone interested in anime, and sci-fi fans are no exception since the story specifically features aliens. However,Dandadanis a great anime with sci-fi elements rather than a great sci-fi anime. That might seem like the same thing, but the former prioritize other aspects over the exploration of science-fiction themes.
First and foremost,Dandadanis a rom-com following two absolutely lovable protagonists: Momo and Ken. They have adorable banter and an ever-evolving dynamic that permits both of them to shine, along with influencing other characters like Aira. Occasionally, they deal with eitheryokai or aliens, taking part in generally spectacular fight sequences.
Ergo Proxyis one of thosesci-fi animethat is quite divisive, especially due to its structure and pacing. While not devoid of overarching threads, most episodes are fairly situational and loosely connected, which can create a sense that the story is going nowhere fast. However, the series is seemingly designed to be watched a couple of times, and things improve on a second viewing.
Ergo Proxyis primarily about its atmosphere, character development, and philosophical ideas, the latter of which are dense by anime’s standards. Even if those elements fail to hit the mark with some viewers, they can still look forward to an inconsistent but regularly greatcyberpunk animewith relentless ambition.
A hodgepodge of genres,Gintamamixes sci-fi, comedy, action, and fantasyto create a shonen anime quite unlike anything else on the market. During feudal times, Japan fell at the hands of aliens, who quickly outlawed samurai and started to reshape human society and its technology. Consequently, Edo transformed into a futuristic city with historical sensibilities.
Left with nowhere to go as a former samurai, Gintoki sets up a business designed to take on any requests, and he is accompanied by the straight-laced Shinpachi and the powerful Kagura. Together, they go on many inspired misadventures, producing plenty of laughs and tears along the way.Gintama’s blend of genres means it does not fit into one category, and the anime only occasionally explores themes relating to sci-fi.
