Science fiction has been a part of anime for as long as the medium has existed, with Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy widely recognized as the first major work of TV anime. From there, the genre has evolved and grown over the decades, influencing not only anime in Japan, but global pop culture in general. Whether you want to expand your horizons and see the best of what the genre has to offer, or you’re just getting into anime, it’s time for IGN to celebrate the best sci-fi anime of all time. These are shows that have left a lasting impression on us and on anime itself.
Of course, picking only 10 shows from across the many decades of anime history is no easy task. That’s why we assembled a panel of experts from across IGN to put their heads together and pick the best of the best. Before we get to the selections, it’s worth noting that this list only takes into consideration pure sci-fi – think space, robots, the future, aliens, spaceships… that sort of thing. This criteria meant that shows like Dragon Ball – which does feature robots and aliens, but also dragons, magic, and demons – is disqualified.
With so many anime to choose from, we had to inevitably leave out quite a lot of shows we still consider to be great; that’s why we should acknowledge some honorable mentions. They include the surrealist coming-of-age tale designed for the MTV generation, FLCL; the thought-provoking and thrilling Psycho-Pass; and the mind-twisting classic, Serial Experiments Lain (which has only become more horrifying with time).
And now… our top 10 best sci-fi anime series of all time!
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Code Geass is a show full of unforgettable twists that manages to tell both an epic sci-fi story of rebellion with compelling mysteries and political intrigue, and also a fun high-school drama with intimate character stories. And that’s before you get to the mech action, with Code Geass offering plenty of giant robots to go along with its Game of Thrones-like machinations. There’s a bit of The Count of Monte Cristo, a bit of Death Note, and all the usual antics you’d expect from a teen drama combined in a single delightful show.
Cowboy Bebop
What can be said about Cowboy Bebop that hasn’t been said a thousand times before? There’s a reason this show is often considered the best gateway anime for newcomers. Shinichirō Watanabe’s sci-fi western is in many ways the spectacular climax of traditional cel animation – a show that seamlessly blends episodic storytelling with serialized arcs, making every individual episode endlessly rewatchable while building to a fantastic finale. The show’s mix of genres, combining influences from sci-fi classics, film noir, and westerns, all set to an incredible and influential jazz-inspired soundtrack makes this show an indisputable classic.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Who would have thought that the combination of Studio Trigger and the world of CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 would result in such a brilliant anime series? Cyberpunk: Edgerunners fulfills the promise of the game, using the cyberpunk genre for more than just cool visuals. Indeed, this is a show that lives up to the origin of that genre, delivering an emotionally devastating story of class warfare with gnarly action and heartbreaking deaths. It’s also a beautiful-looking piece of television, with bright colors, memorable character designs, and dynamic animation that create a world that feels lived-in and populated with believable characters. The dazzling visuals of the first episode lure you in, while the rest of the show tears your heart to pieces, leaving you feeling like you’ve seen something truly special.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
The 1995 Ghost in the Shell film is monumental, yet somehow a TV spin-off/follow-up managed to improve upon it. The series boasts a good mix of stand-alone episodes and a brilliant main story, with a phenomenal expansion of the film’s universe. The side characters are memorable, and the lore is complex and vast, going even deeper into the ideas introduced in the feature. Though it lacks the budget of the film, the show still has some stunning hand-drawn mechanical animation.
Gurren Lagann
The anime equivalent of a sugar-fueled, loud, hot-blooded Saturday morning cartoon, Gurren Lagann is a celebration of the mecha sub-genre and a colorful, joyful, thrilling sci-fi epic. The show features a distinct visual style that’s as ridiculous as it is designed to just create hype. Its simplicity hides a complexity that makes Gurren Lagann more than just a loud show about fighting tyranny through the power of friendship, with in-your-face messaging and over-the-top action that you can’t take your eyes off of. It’s also a show with a phenomenal sense of escalation, with the story going from a small conflict with almost monster-of-the-week encounters to fights where entire galaxies are thrown around like frisbees.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
This is an epic space opera that might just ruin other anime for you with how good it is. It has two of the best anime protagonists of all time, intricate storylines, exquisite characterization, memorable dialogue, and space battles of unparalleled scale. In fact, no other anime has quite the sense of scale as this show; it’s a complex web of backstabbing, camaraderie, conspiracies, and machinations that feel like watching an animated sci-fi version of Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Make no mistake: As dense as this anime is, it’s still also a fun sci-fi space opera full of space dogfights. This is a show that – like Dune – understands that guns in space are boring but battle axes in space rule. The series may be a bit of a commitment, but it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Mobile Suit Gundam
There’s a reason Gundam is still going strong nearly 50 years after its debut. Yoshiyuki Tomino’s 1979 masterpiece forever changed the mecha anime genre, created a pop culture juggernaut, and remains a pretty thrilling sci-fi show today. The robot-on-robot action is still entertaining, a robot wielding a laser sword is still an amazing sight to see, and Amuro Ray and Char Aznable are still two compelling and enthralling characters. Most importantly, the show’s anti-war story framed by a coming-of-age tale remains as poignant as it is spectacular. Is it the flashiest or most visually polished Gundam title? No, but it remains the most complete vision of what this franchise can be.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Hideaki Anno’s magnum opus starts out simple enough before evolving into one of the most complex and convoluted anime of all time; there’s a reason we all still need explainers for how the show ended even 30 years later. Evangelion takes inspiration from a myriad of sources (including Ultraman) to become a singular work of fiction unlike any other series. Featuring stunning animation, experimental visuals, a complex and vast mythology, and a gallery of complicated characters, Evangelion is a deeply personal and introspective story that continues to influence the sci-fi genre.
Pluto
How do you bring a classic anime like Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy into modern times? You let an auteur like Naoki Urasawa reinterpret it and turn one of its story arcs into a hard-boiled detective thriller as well as a thought-provoking sci-fi masterpiece. You don’t need to know anything about Astro Boy to appreciate the gripping mystery, exhilarating action, emotionally charged story, or the poignant exploration of evil, AI, and war. Pluto does for Astro Boy what Watchmen does for Charlton Comics characters, delivering more than just a remake, but rather an homage or love letter, and a stone-cold master class in reimagining classic characters and stories for new audiences.
Steins;Gate
A thrilling reality-bending thriller with mystery box-style storytelling, Steins;Gate delivers a captivating time-travel story wrapped in a cat-and-mouse game between a team of geniuses and a shadowy organization. It’s got enough twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout its run, characters you want to root for, and a satisfying ending that manages to bring everything together.
What are YOUR picks for the best sci-fi anime series of all time? Tell us in the comments!
