The world of sci-fi anime is vast and has remained a staple in the anime world for a long time. Heavyweights like Ghost in the Shell, Mobile Suit Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Cowboy Bebop made it possible for it to be mainstream. From child-friendly movies like Castle in the Sky, horror elements found in shows like Parasyte -the maxim-, or being psychologically complex like Serial Experiments Lain, there is something for just about everyone in the sci-fi genre.
With so many shows to choose from, there are a few that might’ve slipped under the radar. They may not have gotten mainstream success, but they are great shows to watch if viewers are wanting to expand their horizons in the sci-fi genre.
10 Fafner In The Azure
With most of the world destroyed by the Festum, giant alien-like creatures, the floating island of Tatsumiyajima has remained unscathed thanks to an advanced cloaking shield. However, all of that changes when a Festum finds it and attacks the island. Teenager Kazuki Makabe finds himself in the middle of everything when he’s chosen to pilot the Fafner, a giant humanoid mecha, after its original pilot dies. From here, he and his friends find themselves in the middle of a fight for humanity’s survival.
A show that is great for fans of sci-fi and mecha genres. If fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion are looking for something similar to watch, Fafner in the Azure is pretty close to it. There are plenty of things that Fafner has that pays homage to Evangelion, but still manages to have originality.
9 Secret Of Cerulean Sand
An adventure, sci-fi anime about a young girl named Jane Buxton. Her dream is to build a flying machine after hearing stories from her brother George. According to him, there is a mystical blue sand that can make machines float and he sets out to find it. He sets off to find it but is reported to have been executed for treason soon after. Jane receives a mysterious letter containing blue sand that floats. She believes he’s still alive and sets off to find him, prove his innocence, and learn about the mysterious blue sand.
It’s a great watch for just about every age group. Watching it might give viewers some Studio Ghibli vibes thanks to its visuals and the emotional parts of the show.
8 Den-Noh Coil
In a world where people wear glasses with augmented reality technology, it’s become part of everyday life that the children of today don’t know life outside of the glasses. Yuko “Yasako” Okonogi just moved to Daikoku City. She learns that her grandmother runs a shop that sells illegal parts to interact with the virtual world and runs a detective agency that handles corruption in it. Yasako joins the group in finding out who is causing the corruption and viruses, and learning a little bit more about her past that she seems to have forgotten.
It’s the perfect blend of adventure, mystery, and sci-fi with some comedy. This one is a bit more on the jovial side of the sci-fi genre, but the air of mystery is compelling and leaves viewers on the edge of their seats.
7 Texhnolyze
If sci-fi anime fans are looking for a show a little more on the psychological side with some sci-fi and cyberpunk elements, look no further. Texhnolyze is about a young man named Ichise, who lives in the underground city of Lux, AKA The City. He’s a street fighter who fights for money in underground fight clubs. He loses his arm and leg after a fight promoter grows angry with him. Luckily he’s saved by scientist Eriko, who gives him a newly designed Texhnolyze (cyber prosthetics).
After this, Ichise decides to join an organization known as Organo, “professionals” who work with the criminal underworld to control the world of Texhnolyze. However, after meeting a mysterious girl named Ran, there seems to be a serious problem in The City.
This anime gets pretty dark as it goes on and is not for the faint of heart. There’s plenty of violence and bloodshed that Berserk fans will feel right at home watching. Beautifully bleak yet very detailed in its story and design. Texhnolyze is a show that will keep fans watching and discovering new things every time while discussing its overall meaning.
6 Angelic Layer
Misaki Suzuhara just moved to Tokyo to live with her aunt and learns about the game known as Angelic Layer. The game involves two players that mentally control dolls known as Angels to battle and see who comes out victorious. After being encouraged to try it, Misaki buys and creates her doll, naming her Hikaru.
Misaki starts entering tournaments and figuring out the game. It’s a sweet sci-fi show that isn’t complex or dark. It’s a little like Pokemon where the Angels fight while being controlled by their users, but they build a friendship that’s beyond the normal relationship.
5 Heroic Age
A sci-fi show that has Greek mythology elements mixed in. The Golden Race invited other races to join them in the stars and three other races answered. After creating the Bronze, Silver, and Heroic tribes, a fourth race appeared and became the Iron Tribe/humans. As time went on, humanity suffered at the hands of other tribes and is now facing extinction. Learning about a prophecy left by the Golden Race, Princess Dhianelia searches for someone powerful enough to save mankind. Her search leads to Age, a teen boy who lives on an abandoned planet.
It has some classic sci-fi tropes but still manages to be unique. Each episode leaves viewers on a cliffhanger and adds to the story. If sci-fi fans are wanting to add some mythology to their favorite genre, this anime is worth checking out.
4 Bodacious Space Pirates
This series takes place in a future where space travel is possible and colonization has reached all of the known galaxy. Marika Kato is a high school student that has a pretty normal life and stays busy in the space yacht club and working at a cafe.
Two mysterious people visit her one day and reveal that her father has passed away. They also tell her that he is a space pirate and that she needs to assume command of his ship to continue legal operations. After this encounter, her life is turned upside down, and has to divide her time between being a student, work, and her duties as the new captain.
The title does sound deceptive, almost making it sound like there would be a lot of fanservice, but this is not the case. Viewers will be pleasantly surprised to see that there’s hardly any of it. Bodacious Space Pirates has a great cast of characters with incredible growth and a very well-written story that is very entertaining to watch.
3 Code Geass Akito The Exiled
A spinoff of the popular show Code Geass. It takes place within the same timeline as the main series. It follows how the Britannian Empire took over Japan, renaming it Colony Area 11, and is now at war with the E.U. It follows Akito Hyuga, a young soldier who uses the mecha known as Knightmare, and Leila Malcal, both who have the Geass power.
It can be considered a standalone in the Code Geass universe. The show doesn’t delve too deep into politics and takes on a simpler approach to it.
2 Mars Daybreak
Life on Mars has turned bleak for humanity. Almost all of it is covered by water, the economy is in shambles, and food is very expensive. Gram River and his friends are just trying to survive, but life changes for him really quickly. Somehow, he ends up on the ship of the most notorious pirates, The Ship of Aurora.
This pirate crew is known for stealing supplies off city ships and selling its contents to less fortunate people. Gram joins on their adventures all the while his ex Vestemona, who is part of the military, goes after him and the crew.
A little different from most mecha anime since it takes place in the water, but still has all the mecha elements that fans love and hold dear. Mix this with a blend of comedy, romance, adventure, and fans will have a great show to watch.
1 Planetes
Space travel is part of everyday life. Humans have set up colonies on the moon and large space corporations have formed. Ai Tanabe just landed a job at Technora Corporation and is the newest of the Debris Section. She finds out that she and her team are looked down upon by other sections because their job is removing junk from the orbits of Earth and Moon. Despite this, having a poor-conditioned ship, being understaffed, and having little to no funds, Ai and the crew work to prove to the other sections their worth, while making their own dreams come true.
It has romance, drama, and action. It's about an ordinary yet great group of people and their struggle while working for a corporation that doesn’t seem to care about them. It gives each crew member time to shine and develop their personalities along with interacting with each other. Viewers will be surprised how many issues the world in Planetes mirror some issues in the real world along with how relatable the characters are.