2022 was a stellar year for anime, and saw the release of many amazing shows, including the likes ofSummertime Render,Chainsaw Man,andSpy x Familyto name a few. The year also brought back many fan favorites likeKaguya-Sama Love is War.It even brought Mob’s story fromMob Psycho 100to a close. While the anime medium has been going strong recently, the sci-fi genre is one that hasn’t seen the limelight in the anime medium for quite a while now.
Thescience fiction genre has always been one of the most engaging anime genresout there, and though this year hasn’t been the best for it, a decade ago was a totally different story. 2012 was an absolutely amazing year for fans of sci-fi anime, filled with time-traveling mysteries and strange apocalyptic worlds. Here are some of the best anime in the genre that are now officially a decade old.
5Accel World
Released in the spring of 2012,Accel Worldis a sci-fi show that stars a badly bullied overweight boy named Harukyuki Arita, whoseonly escape from his miserable life are online video games. One day he finds out that all his high scores have been topped by the vice president of his school’s Student Council, Kuroyukihime. Kuroyukihime then offers Harukyuki a chance to play an Augmented Reality fighting game called Brain Burst, capable of accelerating brain waves to a point that time appears to stop.
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Kuroyukihime offers to help Harukyuki get rid of his bullies and in return asks him for his help to find the creator of Brain Burst and figure out why the game was created in the first place, After making the deal, the two start their efforts to become the best fighters in Brain Burst and reach the top.Accel Worldhas a core of 7.23 on MyAnimeList.
4From the New World
From the New Worldis a mystery sci-fi show set in a dystopian future where some humans have the ability to awaken psychic powers. This show tells acoming-of-age story about a girl named Saki Watanabeas she awakens to her psychic abilities. But soon after she does so, Saki begins to wonder about the fate of those who are unable to awaken psychic powers, and starts to question the utopian world around her.
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As Saki and her group of psychic friends try to find answers to the mysteries surrounding their perfect society, they start to realize that the truth might be more disturbing than they could have ever imagined.From the New Worldhas a rating of 8.29 on MyAnimeList.
3Space Brothers
Space Brothersis a tale of two brothers who dream about going to outer spacetogether after witnessing what they believe to be a UFO encounter on one summer night. Following this event, the two vow to become astronauts and go to the moon. But as they grow up, the challenges of adulthood make them go their separate ways.
While the younger brother, Hibito, was still aiming for the moon, the elder brother, Mutta, started working for an automotive company. However, after losing his job and getting offered a once-in-a-lifetime offer to go on a space expedition, Mutta decides to finally chase his old dream. The two brothers then set course to fulfill their ambitions that were set 19 years ago. The first season of Space Brothershas a rating of 8.50 on MyAnimeList.
2Sword Art Online
Sword Art Onlineis one of the most influential and popular anime series ever made.The series successfully combined futuristic science fiction elements with the genres of fantasy and romance.A decade later,Sword Art Onlinestill holds updue to its interesting premise and originality. Interestingly enough, the show is set in the year 2022, a time when virtual reality technology has revolutionized the gaming medium enabling players to log into immersive virtual worlds.
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With the release of the innovative virtual reality headset, NerveGear, players from across the world can immerse themselves in amazing fantasy worlds and play to their heart’s content. However, this dreamlike experience soon turns into a nightmare when an accident leaves protagonist Kazuto Kirigaya and thousands of other players trapped within a VR game known as Sword Art Online. The show has a rating of 7.20 on MyAnimeList.
1Psycho Pass
The first season ofPsycho Passisarguably one of the best sci-fi anime ever.The show aired in the fall of 2012 and is set in the 22nd century, a time when Japan has introduced a new system for detecting criminal activity known as the Sybil System. The Sybil System allows law enforcers to measure a person’s criminal intent, apparently enabling the enforcement of an ideal justice system. However, some individuals are aware of the flaws in the Sybil System all too well, and are bent on exploiting it.
Akane Tsunemori is an up-and-comer enforcer with a desire to uphold true justice, but when she is paired with the veteran Shinya Kougami, Akane soon learns that the Sybil System is far from perfect. As the two start to embark on dangerous cases together, Akane starts to question what the true meaning of justice is. This futuristic thriller is a must-watch for sci-fi fans, and has a rating of 8.34 on MyAnimeList.
