Science fiction, be itanimeor otherwise, is a genre that’s designed to make its audience think in a way that few other genres of fiction do. These stories don’t shy away from asking big questions, and often pose their own answers while making clear that there are other possibilities as well.
Science fiction ultimately asks the burning questions that lie at the heart of humanity’s struggles. What does it mean to be human? Are we alone in the galaxy? Do intelligent species like humans have a responsibility to care for their environment? These kinds of questions are the driving force of the plot for many sci-fi anime.
The following anime pose some deep thoughts that merit further pondering, even once the anime is over.
10Space Dandy (2014)
Original Anime Series by Shinichiro Watanabe, Animated by Bones
As a comedy series,Space Dandymight seem like an odd choice, but the series actually has a surprising degree of depth to it. Each episode ofSpace Dandyis set in a slightly different alternate universe, showing different versions of Dandy and his crew. Some are more serious than others, however, and altogether tell a unique story.
Space Dandyis also known for its beautiful animation, with various episodes animated by different teams and directors, sometimes in entirely unique styles, which helps to emphasize the mood of a given episode. Some episodes are almost parables, designed to get fans thinking about the lessons that they have to offer.
Space Dandy’s ending is of particular note, as it can be a bit confusing and seemingly come out of nowhere on first watch. However, it adds a layer of depth that underpins the entire series, delivering on what was teased all along.
9Trigun (1998)
Based on the Manga by Yasuhiro Nightow, Animated by Madhouse
Trigunfollows the story of Vash the Stampede, an outlaw with a massive bounty on his head who is reportedly followed by disaster wherever he goes. As such, two insurance agents, Milly and Meryl, are hot on his trail, attempting to prevent the damage that he inevitably causes with his mere presence.
However, as Milly and Meryl get to knowVash, they learn of his pacifist waysand how much Vash has suffered as a result of them. It isn’t that Vash is causing disasters; it’s that he’s being hunted by his evil brother, Knives, who couldn’t care less about the devastation that results.
Trigunposes some interesting questions about what it means to truly be human—is it about more than just DNA? It also focuses on vengeance, and whether going to extreme lengths is really helpful to anyone at all.
8Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)
Original Anime by Hideaki Anno, Animated by Gainax
Neon Genesis Evangelionshows a world where humanity has come under attack by alien beings known as Angels, with only the biomechanical Evangelion units able to stand against them. Unfortunately, EVAs (as they’re known) can only be piloted by certain people, and Shinji Ikari could not be less interested in being responsible for the fate of the world.
What follows is a deep exploration of the mental state of Shinji and other characters as they’re forced to endure the end of the world, and how the stress and pressure of being in this situation affect them. The story may even have fans questioning whether humanity is worth saving by the end of the series.
Known for its exceptionally confusing ending, thefinal episodes ofNeon Genesis Evangelionwill definitely keep fans thinking for weeks to come.
7Parasyte: The Maxim (2014)
Based on the Manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki, Animated by Madhouse
Parasyteis the story of Shinichi Izumi, a high school senior who was attacked by a parasitic alien in his sleep, which attempted to take over his body. However, the takeover failed, and the alien only managed to take over Shinichi’s right hand. A horrified Shinichi is dragged into the world of these aliens, who fight against one another.
Shinichi must work with the Parasyte, dubbed Migi, in order to survive, and the two develop a close bond as their survival depends on one another. The series ponders the question of what it means to be human; is it determined by actions and things like empathy, or is humanity something that can be lost?
As Migi grows warmer and more caring, Shinichi becomes colder and more callous, ultimately asking the question of who is more deserving to be considered human.
6Psycho-Pass (2012)
Original Anime by Production I.G.
Set in a dystopian future where the government monitors the mental states of every citizen using AI as a means of predicting crime,Psycho-Passfollows the Inspector known as Akane Tsunemori, who handles criminal incidents in the city. When she encounters a criminal who is immune to the AI, Akane is dragged into a conflict that could bring down society.
As dystopian fiction,Psycho-Passpaints a dark vision of the future; the flaws in the so-called Sibyl system are immediately apparent in the first episode, showing that while it may help prevent crime, it can also lead to innocent people being swept up, as even feeling extreme panic or fear can set off the AI.
Psycho-Passhighlights the dangers of handing the keys to society to AI, something that’s become all too relevant in recent years.
5Ghost in the Shell: Stand-Alone Complex (2002)
Based on the Manga by Masamune Shirow, Animated by Production I.G.
Based on the famed movie,Ghost in the Shell: Stand-Alone Complexfollows Public Security Section 9 on a new mission. On the hunt for the Laughing Man, a world-class hacker who struck several corporations years ago, they encounter strange copycats, all seemingly inspired by the same thing, and each one believing themselves to be the original.
InGhost in the Shell, almost everyone has a cybernetic body, and that means that even one’s mind isn’t safe from being hacked. Not only is the idea of who’s good and bad quite murky in this story, but it also brings up lots of philosophical theories, such as the idea of a copycat with no original, the so-called “Stand-Alone Complex.”
Ghost in the Shellcan be quite dense, as characters discuss philosophy and psychology at a high level, owing to the fact that they’re permanently connected to the Internet. Each episode is likely to leave you with a heavy thought.
4Steins;Gate (2011)
Based on the Visual Novel by 5pb and NitroPlus, Animated by White Fox
Steins;Gateis a time-travel seriesthat follows Rintaro Okabe, a self-described “Mad Scientist” who discovers a way to send text messages backward in time, causing the development of alternate realities. They eventually discover a means of sending memories back in time as well, allowing for “mental” time travel to the past.
Steins;Gateis well known for being one of the best time-travel anime out there, posing interesting questions about changing the past and the moral responsibilities of such an amazing ability. The series also deals with PTSD and the effects that such a condition can have, exploring elements of humanity as it deals with the complexities of time travel.
With fascinating characters who weigh the consequences of their actions heavily,Steins;Gateis likely to leave one with a lot of questions to ponder.
3Cowboy Bebop (1998)
Original Anime Series by Shinichiro Watanabe, Animated by Sunrise
Cowboy Bebopis a story about bounty hunters who travel the solar system in search of their next big score. However, the crew of theBebopis afflicted with some seriously bad luck, and almost never end up getting paid for their bounties. As such, much of the series is about the daily life of Spike Spiegel and Jet Black.
However, Spike has a long and bloody history that he just can’t quite seem to escape from, and time and again the specters of his past come back to haunt him. The unfolding of Spike’s backstory makes up a major part of the plot, raising questions about whether it’s truly possible to leave the past behind you.
Cowboy Bebopdeals with many existential themesas well, with each character having a unique and interesting approach to life.
2Serial Experiments Lain (1998)
Original Anime Series Animated by Triangle Staff
Serial Experiments Lainis a bizarre series that opens with a student’s suicide, jumping to the point quickly. However, the student’s classmates soon receive a mysterious email from her, claiming that she’s now alive and well on the Wired, the equivalent of the Internet. While most dismiss it as a prank, Lain Iwakura becomes interested in learning the truth.
Lain discovers that the Wired and the real world can affect each other in unpredictable ways, and that there might be more truth to the suspicious email than it appears. It asks lots of big questions about topics from conspiracy theories to the afterlife to the question of personal identity.
Lainis an eerie, yet fascinating look into the developing internetof the 90s and how people feared it might evolve, and in some ways, is incredibly prescient for the problems of our time.
1Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These (2018)
Based on the Light Novels by Yoshiki Tanaka, Animated by Production I.G.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue Theseis a modern reboot of the classic (and exceptionally long) seriesLegend of Galactic Heroes. It follows two young, up-and-coming soldiers in different armies: Reinhard von Lohengramm, of the Galactic Empire, and Yang Wen-li, of the Free Planets Alliance. The story follows the brewing war between the two space powers.
War series are often prone to speculating about the nature of humanity and whether coexistence and peace are even an option, and the same is true for this series. By focusing on characters on both sides of the conflict, it presents a fairly balanced portrayal, showing the faults and virtues of both the Empire and the Free Planets Alliance.
The characters have a surprising degree of depth, and while there’s a clear underdog, the battles will often leave fans torn over which side to root for. Fans of this series are often left pondering big questions about humanity’s future, and that makes it a solid pick for the most profound sci-fi anime.
