Anime has many genres with a particular type of story and execution. Science fiction story-based anime, or science anime, is one of the most popular among those genres. You may know them briefly as sci-fi anime, mainly containing a futuristic fictional story and highly developed, complex, and advanced technology.
Science-related anime is one of the leading lifebloods of the anime industry. Some animes may cover multiple genres of stories, but you can find various anime solely based on science fiction. Moreover, some original science fiction ideas originated in manga and were later adopted as anime.
Nowadays, it is easy to find all sorts of science anime based on stories like time travel, futuristic crime thrillers, alien invasions, space travel, space warfare, etc. On the contrary, selecting the best few from those myriad options is challenging. We have done detailed research to make your quest for better science anime easier.
You may read about the following 10 science fiction anime, select the best one, and start watching it immediately.
1. The Promised Neverland (2019)
MAL Ratings: 8.5
Studios: CloverWorks
Number of Episodes: 12
Source: Manga
Genres: Mystery, Sci-Fi.
In this future world, demons exist alongside humans. There were 1000 years of war between them, and in the end, peace came with the peace treaty called “The Promise.” Despite the so-called peace, there were multiple violations and abominations done by both sides. Amidst the chaos, the story brewed inside an orphanage with the protagonist, Emma, and her two friends.
Synopsis:
This is the story of 11-year-old Emma and her two friends, Norman and Ray. Emma lives in an orphanage with 37 other children. Their mother, Isabella, takes care of them with the utmost care and privileges, like good food, clothing, accommodation, etc.
Their quality education and cognitive development are two of the main concerns of the orphanage. They were living happily and comfortably within the perimeter boundary of the orphanage. Strangely, they were not allowed to leave the perimeter wall, and they were forbidden to cross the wall.
At some point, a girl named Conny is about to get adopted and is accidentally followed by Ray and Norman. Shockingly, they found the unpleasant truth about the purpose of the orphanage.
You may watch anime to find the truth and the aftermath of the revelation of the truth.
2. Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999)
MAL Ratings: 8.75
Studios: Sunrise
Number of Episodes: 26
Source: Manga
Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Space Western
Cowboy Bebop is a perfect choice if you like western action-packed thriller movies. This story follows the pattern of stories based on the Wild West. The conflict between outlaws and authority is almost similar, but everything happens in a world of the future with much more exciting occurrences.
Synopsis:
This is the story of 2071, when the Earth became uninhabitable due to an accident at the Hyperspace Gateway. Humanity has colonized all the rocky planets and their satellites. With the expansion of civilization, the crime rate has increased exponentially.
To control the crime rate, a special policing authority called Inter Solar System Police (ISSP) set up a legalized contract system for bounty hunters to capture and bring back criminals for handsome rewards.
One of the bounty-hunter groups named after their spaceship “Bebop” is the main protagonist of this story. This team consists of Spike Spiegel, a former Gold Dragon crime syndicate hitman, and Jet Black, a former ISSP officer. Faye Valentine is a con artist, among others.
The story’s core is based on the rivalry between Spike and Vicious, an influential criminal from Gold Dragon. The rivalry started with an affair between Spike and his vicious girlfriend, Julia. At some point, Vicious kills Julia, and this rivalry is cemented for the rest of the series.
The space cowboys move forward through a lot of action and thrilling experiences. Their bounty hunting becomes more exciting with the occasional appearance of Vicious, the antagonist.
For more about their exciting lives and the end of their great rivalry, watch and enjoy the entire series.
3. Steins;Gate (2011–2015)
MAL Ratings: 9.08
Studios: White Fox
Number of Episodes: 24
Source: Visual novel
Genres: Sci-Fi, Drama, Psychological, Time Travel
This is a profound story about time travel, but not in the conventional sense. You find time travel from a very different perspective in this anime. It is not only focused on time travel but also on what kind of catastrophe appears with it.
Synopsis:
The self-proclaimed “Mad Scientist” Rintaro Okabe lived in an apartment with his two friends, Mayuri Shiina and Itaru “Daru” Hashida. They use the apartment as the Future Gadget Laboratory for their research on time travel.
While attending a time-travel conference, Okabe finds the dead body of his crush, Kurisu Makise, a neuroscience researcher, and sends a message to Daru about the incident. Later, he finds out that Karisu is still alive, and his text to Daru arrives before he even sends it to him.
Further investigation reveals that he sent himself back in time using a microwave. He later designs a device to send memory to the past and use it to change the future. They called the memory-sending process D-Mail.
This technology sought the attention of CERN (a scientific authority) and was about to start the Third World War on time-lapse dominance. Okabe lost his loved one and best friend in this chaos of the time travel experiment.
He finds some upsetting truths about time travel and its origin to make everything back to normal. To find out the fascinating ending of this series, you may watch the anime.
4. Code Geass (2006–2008)
MAL Ratings: 8.7
Studios: Sunrise
Number of Episodes: 25
Source: Original
Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
This is an anime about an alternative timeline in a shared universe. As an original story based on an imaginary world, this anime is not different from the current world’s problems. However, it represents the world conflict far more enticingly. Personal loss and gain will capture your attention while watching the anime alongside the great power conflict.
Synopsis:
Three superpowers named the Britannian Empire, the Chinese Federation, and Europa United coexist in alternate timelines. The story began after the Holy Britannian Empire’s conquest and subordination of Japan.
Due to King Charles Zi Britannia’s negligence, his wife, Queen Marianne Vi Britannia, was brutally murdered in front of her daughter. His son, Prince Lelouch vi Britannia, accused him of all the mishaps that happened to his wife and daughter. He demanded a proper investigation, but his father did not allow it. Instead, he sent his son and daughter to Japan as some diplomatic gimmick.
He attacked Japan while his children were there, and Lelouch vowed to avenge his father. He wanted to disintegrate his father’s evil empire, try to find his mother’s killer, and provide a safe place for her disabled sister.
Eventually, a mysterious girl named CC (C2) saves him from the Britannian Imperial Guard and gives him the “guess” power. With the power, he can control another human with eye contact and make the person do whatever he wants.
With this power, he became one of the resistance leaders, the Black Knights. He gained a new name, “Zero,” and started a battle against the most potent force from Britania, named “Knightmare Frame.” In his effort to get revenge and ensure the safety of loved ones, he changes the course of the world and his life forever.
5. Silver Spoon (2014)
MAL Ratings: 8.09
Studios: A-1 Pictures
Number of Episodes: 11
Source: Manga
Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life
You may have seen a lot of science fiction recently and are currently craving something completely different, and then this is the best option for you. This anime is full of comedies, but you will get scientific flavors in a rural agricultural innovation along with the spectacular adaptation of the main protagonist.
Synopsis:
Unable to fulfill his parents’ expectations, Yuugo Hachiken left his family and joined the mild manners education program at Ooezo Agricultural High School.
His unsuccessful attempt to enter a decent high school haunted him, along with his deteriorated relationship with his parents. The new agro-based education and surrounding environment were strange to him due to his childhood in an urban center.
Initially, he faces many challenges because his upbringing separates him from the nature of education. At the same time, his other classmate was raised on a farm and has immense knowledge about agriculture, animal husbandry, etc.
The protagonist’s emotional journey to adapt to the new world is a fun part of this anime. Some exceptional scientific experiments and Yuugo’s everyday struggles may give you some pure entertainment.
6. Parasyte (2014-15)
MAL Ratings: 8.34
Studios: Madhouse
Number of Episodes: 24
Source: Manga
Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
The alien invasion is one of the most common themes in science fiction anime. But you can find different storytelling in Parasyte. Unlike typical horror movies, this anime will show us the coexistence of humans with deadly aliens in a single body.
This horrifying but thrilling science fiction is unique in its expression of the stories. You can enjoy every moment of it from the beginning to the end.
Synopsis:
One night, a 17-year-old boy named Shinichi Izumi woke up and found a worm-like alien with drill-like heads trying to enter his nose. He tries to stop the weird creature with his arm, and the worm-like creature digs a hole in his right hand.
Later, Shinichi discovers the parasitic alien invasion of the Earth. The parasites mostly enter the human brain through the nose and ear, possess the brain, and control the human body.
Luckily, the parasite attacked Shinichi and could not possess his brain, and their consciousness coexisted in a single body. Later, they find their dual personalities and skills helpful to survive against the other parasite-ridden humans.
Gradually, Shinichi becomes friends with the parasite, and their cooperation develops some emotion between these two species. Their emotional bonding raises the philosophical question about the mutual relations among species, human dominance, and destructive control over other species.
7. Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972)
MAL Ratings: 6.94
Studios: Tatsunoko Production
Number of Episodes: 105
Source: Original
Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
As far back as the 1970s, this anime first introduced environmental conservation and meticulous and sensible use of modern technology that became relevant in this second decade of the 21st century. This classical science fiction will give you the feeling of the early days of anime. To feel the difference, you can play and enjoy every episode.
Synopsis:
For this conservation and to save humanity, a group of superhero ninjas called Gatchaman comes into action against a terrorist organization. This terrorist organization with highly advanced technology called Galactor is trying to control the Earth’s resources like water, oil, sugar, and uranium.
Kōzaburō Nambu from the fictitious International Science Organization (ISO) first assimilates these five members into the group and teaches them the unique and effective martial art he has developed.
The team has a specially named God Phoenix vehicle with extraordinary capability and firepower.
Moreover, the extraterrestrial entity that created and operated Galactor tried to gain control over the ISO to control the ever-decreasing natural resources on the planet. The only thing that stands between the existence of ISO and the total dominion of Galactor is the five gifted Ninjas named Ken, Joe, Jun, Jinpei, and Ryu and their great ship, the Phoenix.
8. Space Brothers (2012)
MAL Ratings: 8.50
Studios: A-1 Pictures
Number of Episodes: 99
Source: Original
Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life
Science fiction sometimes comes closer to reality. With the leap of scientific innovation, all parts of our lives may not change. Some parts of our lives remain the same, like love, dreams, struggle, and success. In Space Brother, you will find all of them.
Synopsis:
In a summer breeze, two brothers, Mutta Nanba, and Hibito, saw something that resembled a UFO. At that moment, they had made a pact to become astronauts and explore space.
Younger Hibito aimed for the Moon, but elder Mutta aimed for something as magnificent as Mars to reach after becoming an astronaut and resolving the UFO mystery.
After 19 years, in 2025, life brings two brothers down a different path. Younger Hibito became an astronaut in the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and fulfilled his dream of being the first Japanese to set foot on the Moon.
Contrarily, Mutta drifted away from his dream and worked for an automotive company. Then he lost his job, and life brought him another opportunity to become an astronaut for JEXA. With the motivation of his younger brother, he went to chase the dream.
Was he able to become an astronaut and join his brother, or did the harsh reality consume his effort? To find the bittersweet ending, you should watch the anime soon.
9. Dr. Stone (2019)
MAL Ratings: 8.29
Studios: TMS Entertainment
Number of Episodes: 24
Source: Manga
Genres: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Survival
Dystopia, or the worst possible future outcome, is prevalent in fiction and anime. However, there is always hope for a new beginning. Dr. Stone will show the imperfect world and more imperfect human intentions that bring catastrophe to humanity. No one can escape the mistakes of a few.
Synopsis:
A strange lightning flash from an unknown source froze humanity into stone for 3700 years. Teenage scientist Senku Ishigami was the first to wake up.
After waking up, Senku found the civilization eroded and reclaimed mainly by nature. He set up his research camp and tried to find the reason behind human petrification and the cure for those still in the frozen state.
After six months, his friend Taiju Oki woke up and joined him in his quest for the cure. They discovered that nitric acid was the reason for their waking up. They formulated a new compound that can revive anyone instantly.
Gradually, they have started to revive others. Senku wanted to revive everything and rebuild a science-centered civilization. However, recently revived martial artist Tsukasa Shishiō disagreed with him and thought humanity was too tainted and corrupted to revive as before.
A severe conflict emerges between them, and the story continues with thrills and twists.
10. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002–2005)
MAL Ratings: 8.43
Studios: Production I.G
Number of Episodes: 26
Source: Manga
Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Detective, Mecha, Military
This futuristic crime thriller will keep your nerves active. With technological leaps, crime can get much more complex and sophisticated, along with preventive measures. In this science anime, we will present a single season. Although there are more seasons and feature films produced by this same franchise that you may also enjoy.
Synopsis:
2034 Public Security Section 9 is investigating a mysterious series of suicides of refugees from the Siak Republic. In response, some terrorists from the Siak Republic tried to attack with the micromachine virus.
Section 9 sent Batou to intercept the operative from Siak. During the effort, he met Kusanagi, who warned him about a secret society. Section 9 suspects a mastermind named Puppeteer behind all of this.
Togusa found 16 children who are potential carriers of the virus. Soon after, Puppeteer makes the 16 children disappear, and Section Nine discovers a conspiracy behind all this.
Section 9 then intercepts a Siak Sniper, who says the Puppeteer is not a person but a mechanism in a solid state that cannot be captured or destroyed.
In the twisted end, the real identity of the Puppeteer and the primary intention of all this catastrophe will blow your mind.
Final Thought
We have tried to separate the best science anime from loads of medicare work only for you. This is one of the most enjoyable segments or genres of anime you can watch. We tried to cover all the elements that anime can provide.
Eden, for once, you can find all story types in each of the 10 anime we select for you. Only some of them will fascinate you. Hopefully, one of these 10 anime will give you the amusement you deserve based on your tastes and demands.
