From Cowboy Bebop to Kaiju No. 8, here are the 18 best sci-fi anime to watch in 2024.
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Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate is a sci-fi anime that delves into the concept of time travel and its moral implications.
Set in the year 2010, the anime follows Rintaro Okabe, the self-proclaimed Mad Scientist and front-runner of the Future Gadget Laboratory, who discovers the deceased body of neuroscience researcher Kurisu Makise.
As a result, Okabe discovers that the cellphone-powered microwave oven they are currently developing can send "D-mails" back in time.
They collaborated with Kurisu and their friends to complete the microwave oven that could allow anyone to travel back in time.
Aside from its unique and captivating plot, Steins;Gate is distinguished by its excellent soundtrack, compelling voice acting, unpredictability, humor, and high-quality animation.
Indeed, some anime fans have given Steins;Gate a 10/10.
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop, one of the classics, is a fan-favorite anime. It is a sci-fi anime that deals with space exploration, science, and technology.
Cowboy Bebop was adapted into a Netflix live-action series, but it ceased due to inconsistency and widespread fan criticism.
Cowboy Bebop follows the eccentric bounty hunter Spike Spiegel and his ragtag group as they search for wanted fugitives with large bounties, while also delving into their issues and history.
Spike and his friends travel through planets and moons aboard the spaceship "Bebop" in the fictional year of 2017, where a futuristic and post-apocalyptic Earth has become uninhabitable.
Code Geass
Code Geass is a sci-fi anime that delves into the world of Knightmares, which are giant-fighting mechanical robots. It is one of the most popular, mind-blowing, and successful animes of all time.
On that note, these Knightmares are used as weapons of mass destruction piloted by elite soldiers in the anime.
Former royalty Lelouch Lamperouge, aka Lelouch Vi Britannia, is a brilliant high schooler who seeks to exterminate all Britannian forces, including its corrupt and unjust system, beginning with his father, Emperor Charles Vi Britannia, to avenge his deceased mother and protect his crippled sister.
Lelouch meets the enigmatic green-haired C2, aka C.C., one fateful day and offers him an unusual partnership contract.
He gains the "Geass" ability, which he uses to exploit his avant-garde and unpredictable plans against the British forces, whom he once considered his family.
From this point forward, Lelouch assumes the identity of Zero, the leader of the Japanese rebel organization known as the Black Knights.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a top-tier sci-fi anime that is propelled by its incredible and outstanding animation, engaging concept, and so many great and appealing characters.
It is one of Studio Trigger's best anime, possibly the best of 2022, and it caused a stir in the anime community.
This sci-fi anime also goes into societal atrocities such as the hierarchy, politics, corporate slaves, and the value of money in determining one's standing.
Night City is explored through the perspective of David Martinez in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
David becomes enmeshed in the world of net runners after losing his mother to make ends meet.
Knowing he had nothing to lose, David agreed to have a high-grade military implant known as the Sandevistan implanted in his body.
Made in Abyss
Because of its character designs and backdrop animation, Made in Abyss appears to be a kid-friendly anime show at first glance. It also has youthful heroes with big goals, which are ideal for a children's anime.
But keep in mind that Made in Abyss is not a children's show! Don't be deceived by the calm animation, beautiful music, and talk of dreams; you'll end up in the abyss!
The plot of Made in Abyss revolves around Riko and Reg as they descend into the Abyss in pursuit of its secrets.
They aren't prepared for the harsh atmosphere of the Abyss, let alone the horrors of living in the Netherworld.
Riko and Reg encounter many types of vegetation, monsters, and deadly people as they descend deeper into the Abyss.
Kaiju No. 8
Kaiju No. 8 is one of the most anticipated anime of the spring 2024 season.
It revolves around Kafka Hibino, a 32-year-old employee at Monster Sweeper Inc., in charge of dismantling kaiju and cleaning up their remains.
Upon meeting the rookie Ichikawa, Kafka’s dream to become a defense officer continues.
However, Kafka’s life changes when a strange insect-like kaiju inhabits his body and turns him into a kaiju!
Will Kafka be able to become a defense officer and fight side by side with Ichikawa and his childhood friend, Mina?
Parasyte: The Maxim
Parasyte is a sci-fi horror anime that delves into the world of parasites or extraterrestrial beings.
Having said that, these parasites came to Earth to devour humanity by infiltrating their brains and gaining complete control of their bodies.
The sci-fi anime follows Shinichi Izumi, an ordinary high schooler, as he juggles his daily life following a chance encounter with the parasite he later refers to as Migi.
Migi, it appears, was unable to control Shinichi's brain and instead landed on Shinichi's right hand.
As a result, the two must coexist to survive in the face of their disturbing enemies in a series of traumatic events.
Psycho-Pass
Psycho-Pass is a sci-fi anime inspired by the American sci-fi film Blade Runner.
It delves into the sci-fi subgenre of cyberpunk, which depicts a dystopian futuristic setting while also emphasizing scientific and technological achievements.
Akane Tsunemori, a rookie inspector of the Ministry of Welfare Public Safety Bureau's Criminal Investigation Department, is the focus of Psycho-Pass. Her defining characteristic is her sincere desire to uphold justice.
They discover, along with her superior, Shinya Kougami, that the current system, known as Sibyl, is corrupt and unjust.
In 22nd century Japan, the Sibyl System is used, which incorporates the threat level of every citizen via their criminal intent known as "Psycho-Pass."
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a sci-fi anime that deconstructs the elements of mechanical robots. It is also one of the classics and has one of the best theme songs in anime history, known as Cruel Angel Thesis.
The sci-fi anime is set in the post-cataclysm territory of Tokyo-3 and follows Shinji Ikari, an ordinary student who becomes the pilot of a massive biomechanical robot to fight against extraterrestrial entities known as Angels.
Neon Genesis Evangelion delves into Shinji Ikari's personal experiences and psychological emotions as he and the other pilots try to prevent angels from causing even more devastation.
Dr. Stone
Dr. Stone is a sci-fi anime that explores the element of world-building and/or world creation based on scientific and technological concepts that not only entertain but also educate its viewers.
Dr. Stone, billed as an educational anime show, is a must-see for its unique and intriguing concept.
The anime follows Senku Ishigami, a genius prodigy, and his friends as they attempt to save the world before a flash of light turns humanity into stone after approximately 3,700 years.
Senku will work hard from now on to figure out what causes human petrification and find a cure to bring the survivors back to life.
Megalo Box
Megalo Box is an anime-original tribute to one of the best sports-drama shows of all time, Ashita no Joe. It's a futuristic and modern take on the renowned sports anime concept.
Megalo Box is an anime with a lot of styles, similar to Cowboy Bebop, and it shows in every sequence TMS Entertainment creates.
It also features fluid fighting sequences with no extraneous effects that make it tough to watch.
Set in the future, Joe fights in underground boxing matches under Nanbu Gusaku’s tutelage.
The difference is that it is not an ordinary boxing match, for Joe is equipped with gear machines that enhance the user’s capacity to fight.
Go! Go! Loser Ranger!
Aside from Kaiju No. 8, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! also has a sizable audience in the spring 2024 season.
Go! Go! Loser Ranger! is set in a world where dragon keepers exist to fend off the forces of evil.
Following the defeat of the evil bosses, the dragon keepers enter into a contract with the evil footman soldiers to put on a show for the general public.
For almost a thousand times, the footman soldiers known as dusters come up with final bosses for the dragon keepers to defeat over and over again.
Fighter D, one of the dusters, decided that it was time to break the cycle, so he infiltrated the dragon keepers.
Darling in the Franxx
Darling in the Franxx, like Code Geass and Neon Genesis Evangelion, is a sci-fi anime that focuses on the mechanical robots known as Franxx. The anime also delves into the ideas of world creation and extraterrestrial life.
The anime follows the lives of ten child pilots, most notably the main protagonist, Hiro, also known as Code 016, who are tasked with defending the last vestiges of human civilization from Klaxosaurs.
Hiro needs to stay alive as much as he can to bond with and understand his mysterious partner, the enigmatic Zero Two, who has a reputation for driving her pilot partner to death.
Astro Note
Astro Note is a sci-fi comedy anime that centers around the residents of the Astro Lodge, a shared housing unit that offers breakfast from Monday to Friday.
Following the death of the former owner, Mira Gotokuji assumes the responsibility of taking care of the Astro Lodge’s affairs.
The problem is that she can’t cook, and her food tastes incredibly bad, much to the residents’ dismay.
Enter Miyasaki Takumi, an aspiring head chef who applies to Astro Lodge, unaware that Mira only copied the job offer and requirements from high-end hotels.
Upon meeting each other, Takumi made up his mind to work at Astro Lodge. What he doesn’t know is that Mira is not the girl he thinks she is.
There’s something strange about Mira, but will Takumi ever figure it out?
Toaru Majutsu no Index
Toaru Majutsu no Index, in addition to its spin-offs and side stories such as Toaru Kagaku no Railgun and Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator, is a sci-fi and action anime that deals with science and technology.
It delves into the long-running conflict between science and religion, which is still a major issue today.
To Aru Majutsu no Index, also known as A Certain Magical Index, follows Kamijou Touma, a high schooler in Academy City, Japan, who has the lowest psychic aptitude of Zero.
Despite his low rank, Kamijou possesses a unique ability known as "Imagine Breaker," which allows him to negate other supernatural abilities.
One fateful day, he meets Index Librorum Prohibitorum, a mysterious girl on the run from a dangerous organization due to her knowledge of forbidden grimoires.
Since deciding to protect Index from her enemies, Kamijou's daily life has changed drastically.
Orange
If you're looking for a shoujo anime with a sci-fi twist, Orange will take you on an enjoyable yet mysterious journey. Orange is distinguished by its exploration of the element of time travel.
Orange follows Naho Takamiya, a high-school sophomore, as she receives a strange letter from herself ten years in the future.
The letter's contents describe how Naho's life became full of regrets, bad decisions, and Kakeru Naruse's unfortunate fate.
Naho, 26, appears to be warning her younger self to avoid making bad decisions, save Naruse, and live a more peaceful life.
Tiger & Bunny
Tiger & Bunny, like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, is an extremely bright and lively sci-fi anime with edgy animation and charming characters.
The difference is that Tiger & Bunny explores the world of superheroes and villains in Sternbild, a technologically advanced city.
It's similar to My Hero Academia but Tiger & Bunny's heroes require sponsors to clean up after them.
While the heroes fight the villains, a live feed entertains the viewers to generate revenue for the advertisers.
Space Brothers
Space Brothers is an extremely upbeat sci-fi anime that will be a hit or miss for the great majority of people.
However, if you're curious about how someone can become an astronaut and travel to space, Space Brothers shows the full process of the application.
Most importantly, if you're the type of viewer who enjoys a slow burn, Space Brothers may keep you entertained with its believable drama and sense of comedy.
This sci-fi anime follows the bond between two brothers who share the same dream: traveling to space together.
However, while Hibito is a very accomplished astronaut at such a young age, his older brother Mutta is stuck in his dead-end profession with no notable accomplishments on his shoulders.
Mutta's parents sign him up for JAXA's space program when he is sacked.
Will Mutta catch up to his younger brother, Hibito, and achieve their shared dream?
What are your go-to sci-fi anime shows? Share your recommendations in the comments below, and follow us on Facebook for the latest news!
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