Science fiction as a genre serves as a cornerstone of many masterpieces. As for anime, it usually triumphs in visuals and storytelling. Combine that with an iconic sci-fi premise and what you get is a series so compelling it gained worldwide recognition. And yet, for every massively popular anime series that “makes it,” there are many others that fly under the radar. In this list, we will champion 20 such science fiction anime series that haven’t yet received mainstream attention, but are still adored by small anime fan circles. You’ll find entries spanning cyberpunk societies on the brink of collapse, humanoid machines going rogue, and even vast space empires falling victim to war. But what unites these selections (beyond them being criminally underrated) is how intelligently they handle their narratives.
Set in futuristic settings and making piercing social commentary, these anime series force you to think about certain subjects. Some focus on grand drama and others unfold on a more personal scale, but they all make the genre more fascinating than ever. So, without further ado, let’s discover some truly brilliant sci-fi anime series worth checking out.
20 Fafner In The Azure
Laying low in the backwaters of the Japanese isles is a small island named Tatsumiyajima, the only place that remained after a mysterious band of giant creatures called Festum destroyed the entire world. The only reason Tatsumiyajima was safe was because of a protective shield, which eventually sheds when a Festum locates it.
As humanity struggles against ongoing assaults, young pilots take up formidable war machines and pilot them into battle. Among them is a teenager named Kazuki Makabe, assigned to pilot Fafner, an incredibly huge and powerful humanoid mecha. With intricate battles and overarching plot details, Fafner In The Azure is a gem that proves that anime is capable of standing toe to toe with the most exemplary live action series out there.
19 Secret Of Cerulean Sand
This little 26-episode anime follows the story of a young girl named Jane Buxton. Her brother George was somewhat of a believer and dreamer, and his energy was always so infectious that he led Jane to believe that there was magic residing in distant Asian sands. On a journey to find him, George sets out of Japan, and soon after, Jane hears that he was killed for treason. Receiving a small portion of Asian sand reminds her that she can still find the cerulean gift that can make machines fly.
Along the way, the series features some stunning visuals and philosophical musings that would be enjoyable for fans of Studio Ghibli movies. Moreover, Secret Of Cerulean Sand prides in its graceful minimalism, which makes the sci-fi series only more profound.
18 Time of Eve
Set in a futuristic Japan where the world is divided into humans and humanoid ‘sheltered’ androids, Time of Eve uses a peaceful but thought-provoking setting to question what it means to be sentient in an ever evolving world. Apparently, every human in Japan is expected to follow the Three Laws of Robotics, which state that the androids must never be considered equals. Instead, they be treated as any minor home appliance.
Rikuo Sakisaka is a boy who was raised on the same belief. However, all of his perceptions about the world change when he discovers a cafe named Eve no Jikan that treats androids and humans similarly. Subtle animation and interesting characters bring this series into life. With its endearing storyline, Time of Eve finds a place in one of the most understated anime out there.
17 Den-Noh Coil
We may live in a world where augmented reality is finally making sense, but back in 2007, the concept was still fresh and limited to the Western industry. Navigating the same premise with elite level animation and storytelling is this incredible series, Den-Noh Coil. It centers around a middle school girl named Yuuko "Yasako" Okonogi, who has recently moved to Daikoku City with her family.
People in the city are completely immersed in augmented reality and wear glasses that allow them to interact with the digital. But technology has its side effects and news about people disappearing spreads fast. Amidst it all, Yuuko teams up with her grandmother, who runs an unofficial detective agency to get to the bottom of curroption. From charting virtual spaces to handling mysterious viruses, Yuuko becomes the strong and sophisticated protagonist.
16 Texhnolyze
Entering a more psychological-slash-cyberpunk arena is this dark yet poetic anime, Texhnolyze. It tells the tale of an underground city named Lux, that is filled with several crime rings led by their respective leaders. But above its activities, Lux is also the only place that produces “raffia,” a rare element used by humans to parts of their body with cybernetic prostheses.
Almost all authority of this production is in the hands of Keigo Oonishi, a man whose own legs are texhnolyzed and is believed by many as someone who can hear the “voice of the city.” The gangs operating in Luz have an unspoken harmony that is disturbed by a newcomer named Kazuho Yoshii. Overall, this cerebral tale not only touches upon themes of existential complexities but also tries to advocate free will and fate within its grim dystopian setting.
15 Heavenly Delusion
Heavenly Delusion is a wonderful treat for our delulu besties, who not only thrive in isolation but also love a good dystopian premise where the outside world is nothing short of extraordinary.
Fifteen years ago, the entire civilization was threatened by the presence of man-eating monsters who ended almost everybody except a handful of survivors. There remaining humans live peacefully withing towering walls that keep them safe from harm. Naturally, their curiosity about what exists outside of their nursery walls is intense and unwavering. Meanwhile, two survivors named Maru and Kiruko, who live beyond the walls are on an epic search for a place called Heaven. Whimsical yet moving, the series tries to find kindness even in the bleakest settings and eventually unravels magic.
14 Angelic Layer
Fans of Pokemon, gather around because there’s a new show to obsess about. At the center of Angelic Layer is our little protagonist, 12-year-old Misaki Suzuhara, who has just moved to Tokyo to live with her aunt. Curious and intelligent Misaki soon makes friends with the other girls and learns about a new game they play around here, which involves two players using mind control on dolls and battling them against one another. Misaki buys a doll for herself and begins entering tournaments and discovers that she has a natural talent for it.
What starts as a lighthearted sport evolves into a platform that reflects universal hopes, fears, and wonders. While science fiction is the main focus here, let’s not forget that the series affords being so great through imagination, themes of friendship and empowerment, and some of the most beautiful CG enhanced visuals.
13 Level E
Created by Yoshihiro Togashi (who is also the mind behind authoring popular mangas like Hunter x Hunter and Yu Yu Hakusho) for Tokyo TV back in 2011, Level E follows Yukitaka Tsutsui, a Tokyo-born schoolboy and ace baseball player, who moves to Yamagata Prefecture for his further education. Apparently, Yukitaka’s reputation precedes him and before he can even set foot in town, the folks are overly enthusiastic. But when he does arrive and settles into his apartment, he’s faced with a strange man casually pretending to live there, wearing his clothes, and acting like him.
Yukitaka learns that the man is an alien – Baka Ki El Dogra, the crown prince of the planet Dogra, to be precise – and he is among thousands of others inhabiting the Earth. Never getting too dark or intense, this anime is known particularly for subverting science fiction tropes.
12 Heroic Age
The original concept for Heroic Age was drawn by Tow Ubukata, and later, when it was adapted into an anime, the series became an epic sci-fi space opera that unfortunately doesn’t get the praise it deserves. Transporting viewers to a realm where even stars and races wage wars, the anime chronicles a time after the Golden Race summoned other races to join them in the stars.
By answering to the call, the Bronze, Silver and Heroic Tribes became legendary, but right before they would begin their travel, another race, the Iron Tribe, helmed by humans, appeared. After years of being oppressed by the more powerful races, humanity finds itself at the brink of extinction. But Princess Deianeira seeks the boy from the Golden Race’s prophecy because he could be their only hope. Sweeping animation and a colossal scope combine to make this saga on bravery so amazing.
11 Planetes
Released in 2003 and adapted from the manga of the same name, Planetes is set in a future where space travel is routine but space debris clean-up is a mundane occupation. The year is 2075 and mankind has colonized the moon, made outer space a commercial business, and set up corporations to give people jobs and keep them invested.
Our protagonist, Ai Tanabe, is a normal woman with big goals who joins Technora Corporation and starts working in a department that specializes in removing any junk between Earth’s orbits. Looked down upon by the rest of the professionals, Ai holds her own and imbues her job with resilience and heart. As a slice-of-life story mixed with astonishing sci-fi elements and a touching exploration of extraterrestrial labor, Planetes sure stands out from the lot.
10 Akudama Drive
The cyberpunk genre has always managed to fascinate anime lovers. But while Psycho-Pass and Neon Genesis Evangelion have amassed millions of views, some series remain criminally underwatched. Set in the fast-paced metropolis of Kansai, Akudama Drive is among those. Apparently, the city is divided between good and evil and defined by an arbitrary management that brands the former as Kansai police and the latter as a group of fugitives called “Akudama” residing in the city’s criminal underbelly.
When the police have ordered a public execution of Cutthroat, an infamous Akudama, all the other criminals unite to free him and earn themselves some money. Style meets substance in this gripping series that features great action and greater effects.
9 Space Brothers
Acting as a love letter to brotherhood and childhood dreams, Space Brothers is a beautiful anime that follows Mutta Nanba and his younger brother Hibito, who decided that they were going to become astronauts right after witnessing what looked like a UFO. However, growing up took a toll on them and older brother Mutta finds himself working for an automotive company. Hibito, however, is very close to becoming the first Japanese man to set foot on the Moon.
Fate gives Mutta a chance to follow his little brother when the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency picks his name for the next astronaut selection. Filled with timeless truths about having big dreams and never losing hope, the anime teaches important lessons along with telling a story.
8 Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Masquerading as a romance but then turning out to be a classic revenge tale, this hallucinatory sci-fi series transports the audience to the year 5053, where the intrigues of future civilizations stun all. The main characters, French aristocrats Viscount Albert de Morcerf and Baron Franz d'Epinay, are first seen attending a major carnival on the moon.
While the latter only wants to have fun, the former finds himself drawn into the charm of the enigmatic nobleman Count of Monte Cristo. As the two become close and Albert introduces the Count to French society, the last thing he expects is to be deceived by his schemes and secrets. Filled with intricate details and a gorgeous animation, Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo revels in every trope that makes a sci-fi anime win.
7 Crest of the Stars
It is interesting how so many entries on this list revolve around a plot where an alien race attacks Earth and the remaining survivors strive to stay alive and relevant, and yet there is no shortage of creativity and possibility within the trope. Crest of the Stars is set in a cast interstellar empire, the Four Nations Alliance, that was established by mankind after they took an attack from Abh Empire, a race of powerful humanoid beings.
Embroiled in the drama between the four factions is Jinto Linn, whose father once sold their empire for earning a higher rank. Linn may have become a count now, but he can’t run away from his ancestral conventions and space battles.
6 Bodacious Space Pirates
Marika Katou may seem like a normal high school student on the outside and spend her days at the space yacht club and waitressing at a restaurant. But she lives in a world where space travel is no longer a leisure but a common activity, so to be visited by customers and their eccentric stories wasn’t surprising.
But one day, when a repeating customer gives her the news that her father has passed away, that he was a legendary pirate named “Gonzaemon,” and that it is her responsibility to resume command of the ship, Marika must choose between her current life and embarking on a whole new journey as a high-octane space pirate. Bodacious Space Pirates excels at storytelling because of how deftly it blends action, comedy, and breezy hijinks.
5 Code Geass Akito The Exiled
Inspired by the iconic series and somewhat continuing after the same events as the pioneering Code Geass, this standalone show transports fans to post apocalyptic Europe, where the forces of the Holy Britannian Empire have waged a war against the people. In order to fight back, the army established a special unit and named it Wyvern, or W-0, the members of which are former Japanese citizens living in the ghettos.
Led by Lieutenant Akito Hyuuga, the W-0 showcased their admirable prowess by piloting humongous war machines known as Knightmares. Despite being derived from an intricate series, Code Geass Akito The Exiled doesn’t indulge in showcasing any futuristic conflict, but instead focuses only on pulse-pounding action and CGI.
4 Mars Daybreak
In Mars Daybreak, we witness a world where humanity resides on Mars, which is almost entirely covered with water, except for the little cities that float around like islands. The situation, however, is bad, because the food is scarce and there aren’t many jobs. Gram Rivers is among the boys who are trying their best to find work and stay afloat. Piracy is a career people seem to be thriving in.
But even that has dangers, especially with the feared Ship of Aurora, which is responsible for spreading corruption on the planet. Gram and his friends are appointed to combat the most notorious pirates on the planet, but it turns out that Gram actually grows to like them. The series is quite fresh in its premise, and it manages to be awesome despite walking the delicate tightrope between making socio-political commentary and delivering simple fun.
3 Last Exile
Aerial adventures and stylish storytelling meet in this steampunk fantasy that is set in the world of Prester, where flying is the primary mode of transportation. Now, this scale of travel is only made possible with the help of Claudia Fluid – crystals in liquid form. The Guild is an organization that has complete control over the skies. Meaning, nothing flies past them and they have monopoly over the Claudia Fluid.
Meanwhile, the countries of Anatoray and Disith are facing major disputes because of their dwindling resources, and caught in their battle are innocent Sky Couriers who have the very important job of passing messages and people from one place to another. Needless to say, Last Exile has some really cool visuals that complement the precise world building.
2 Ergo Proxy
Post-apocalyptic setting? Check. Humans desperate for survival? Check. Autobots going rogue? Check. Ergo Proxy is a wildly compelling anime that plays out in isolated domed cities that were built by humans after an ecological catastrophe destroyed everything in sight. Now calling these ravaged wastelands their home, mankind has begun to find companionship and safety in humanoid robots called AutoReivs.
However, when a disease named the Cogito Virus gives these AutoReivs consciousness and self-awareness, they start questioning their role in the society. Re-l Mayer takes it upon herself to investigate the matter. Dark yet provocative, the anime makes some really good points about society.
1 Dimension W
In a near future where humans have discovered a fourth dimension and named it Dimension W, there are coils that can harness boundless energy from that dimension so that man can use this energy for various purposes. However, any coil not registered under New Tesla Energy Corporation is considered illegal. Kyouma Mabuchi is an ex-soldier with suspicions about coils and Dimension W. His refusal to utilize this energy and investigation of coil-driven incidents is what adds momentum to the story.
By winding witty detective-esque plot pieces and pairing them with seamless sci-fi elements, Dimension W emerges as a charming little series. Moreover, the characters are also quite interesting, which further proves that anime can easily balance intrigue and interest to its advantage.
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