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 is science-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 the best sci-fi anime ever, along with recommendations for the current seasons.
While the focus is mainly on series, some seminal movies will be highlighted.
Updated July 21, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Looking for some Summer 2025 sci-fi anime to watch? Well, I would recommend checking out these shows:
- Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 (Just good-old fashioned big monster action)
- Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 2 (Starting to approach fantasy territory, but the anime still grounds most of its technology in genuine science)
Unfortunately, it is not a big season for sci-fi.
33 Urusei Yatsura (2022)
MyAnimeList: 7.41 (Season 1)
Urusei Yatsura
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2024-00-00
- Studio
- David Production
- Number of Episodes
- 46
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Rumiko Takahashi
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
A sci-fi comedy classic, Urusei Yatsura is 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 Yatsura represents that side of the equation, and there is a reason the property has been around since the late '70s.
The 1981 anime is also very good and fondly remembered, and it could have replaced the 2022 version. However, the latter was picked due to its accessibility.
32 The Promised Neverland
MyAnimeList: 8.50 (Season 1)
The Promised Neverland
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2019 - 2021-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Japanese Title
- Yakusoku no Neverland
- Studio
- CloverWorks
- Number of Episodes
- 23
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kaiu Shirai
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
This horror anime will 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 spooky sci-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.
31 NieR:Automata Ver1.1a
MyAnimeList: 7.52 (Season 1)
NieR:Automata Ver1.1a
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2023 - 2024-00-00
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Based On
- Nier:Automata Game
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
NieR: Automata Ver1.1a has 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.
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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 Ver1.1a features 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.
30 World Trigger
MyAnimeList: 7.58 (Season 1)
World Trigger
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2014 - 2022
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Tubi
Similar to Black Clover in the fantasy genre, World Trigger does not leave the best first impression. The first 15–20 episodes are not particularly interesting, and they give the appearance of a sci-fi anime that 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 Trigger is consistently great for the rest of its run, with the sequel seasons being even better than the first.
In many ways, World Trigger is 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.
29 Kaiju No. 8
MyAnimeList: 8.33
Kaiju No. 8
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Kaijuu 8-gou
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Studio
- Production I.G
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Naoya Matsumoto
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
One of Spring 2024's biggest shows fell within the sci-fi category, although it is more Godzilla than Steins;Gate. Kaiju No. 8 envisions 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.
Best Manga To Read If You Like Kaiju No. 8
These manga series are the ideal reads for fans of Kaiju no. 8, a diverse story filled with characters and monsters with interesting abilities.
With great production value, lovable characters, and intense fights, Kaiju No. 8 leaves 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 area Kaiju No. 8 nails.
28 Heavenly Delusion
MyAnimeList: 8.21
Heavenly Delusion
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2023 - 2023
WHERE TO WATCH
- Japanese Title
- Tengoku Daimakyou
- Studio
- Production I.G
- Number of Episodes
- 13
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Masakazu Ishiguro
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
Heavenly Delusion is 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.
Heavenly Delusion Season 1 Review
Beautiful visuals, mysteries galore, and fantastic characters make Heavenly Delusion one of the most enjoyable shows of the year.
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 Delusion has raised way more questions than answers, and if the latter eventually arrives via a sequel, this sci-fi anime could turn out to be one of the greats.
27 Made In Abyss
MyAnimeList: 8.66 (Season 1)
Made in Abyss
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2017 - 2022-00-00
- Network
- AT-X
- Directors
- Hitoshi Haga, Shunsuke Takarai, Satoshi Mori, Motoki Nakanishi
- Studio
- Kinema Citrus
- Number of Episodes
- 25
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Akihito Tsukushi
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
Made in Abyss ranks 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 while Made in Abyss is certainly fantastic, the show is anything but lighthearted. The anime deals with abuse, sacrifice, and human experimentation, just to name a couple of themes.
26 Dandadan
MyAnimeList: 8.70
Dandadan
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Studio
- Science Saru
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Yukinobu Tatsu
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu
Dandadan is 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, Dandadan is 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, Dandadan is 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 either yokai or aliens, taking part in generally spectacular fight sequences.
25 Ergo Proxy
MyAnimeList: 7.90
Ergo Proxy
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2006 - 2006
- Directors
- Shuko Murase
- Writers
- Dai Sato
- Number of Episodes
- 23
- Creator(s)
- Shuko Murase
- Studio
- Manglobe
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Ergo Proxy is one of those sci-fi anime that 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 Proxy is 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 great cyberpunk anime with relentless ambition.
24 Gintama
MyAnimeList: 8.94 (Season 1)
Gintama
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2006 - 2021-00-00
- Studio
- Sunrise, Bandai Namco Pictures
- Number of Episodes
- 367
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Hideaki Sorachi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
A hodgepodge of genres, Gintama mixes sci-fi, comedy, action, and fantasy to 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.