Science Fiction Anime Recommendations

[Snownine]

I can't get enough sci-fi, I love it! I also love anime, so when the two come together I am a happy man. Can you fellow Escapists recommend some good science fiction anime series or movies? I do not mind if it is subbed or dubbed. If it involves extra terrestrials, particularly in a war or invasion scenario, all the better but it can be about anything. The one thing I will say is that I am not looking for any Gundam series. Mechs are ok but please no Gundam.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Space operas are A-ok. Does not have to be hard science, but it is welcome.

 

[delet]

Neon Genesis Evangelion. My favorite anime by far.

The first half is a fairly standard mecha anime, but half way through it takes a different turn. It becomes more psychological and, in my opinion, it gets even better. Many people consider it Nightmare Fuel and quite fucked up, and just about everyone I know considers the very end to be an incredible mindfuck. Trust me, it does make sense, you just have to look into things a bit.

First, watch the full 26 episode anime, then the movie 'End of Evangelion' for the complete experience. There's another movie: Death and Rebirth, but that's just a recap movie.

If you find that you like the anime enough, or you just want to see what the anime would be like if the characters were a little happier throughout, watch the Rebuild movies. So far, there's 2 out. The first one follows the anime quite closely, but the second one deviates heavily.

 

[Diligent]

I'm not a big anime expert or anything, so the only ones I've seen are Ghost in the Shell which I thought was sort of "meh", and Akira which I think is pretty awesome.
But everybody has seen those...

 

[Sampsa]

Banner of the stars <-- first season
Crest of the Stars <-- second season

Beautifully drawn space opera with absence of macho elements.

 

[arsenicCatnip]

Mmmm, good question. A lot of the shows I love are 'space operas', but I'm not sure they qualify as sci-fi.

Gundam Wing is a good one though.

EDIT: Whoops, exactly what you don't want. Well, I stand by it.

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

What comes to mind is Appleseed (movie), Ghost in the Shell (series), and Ergo Proxy (series). None involve aliens I'm afraid, can't think of any beyond DBZ that do.

I haven't watched Ghost in the Shell or Ergo Proxy to the end, but the former is fairly cyberpunk styled, the latter almost post-apocalyptic.

Sadly I don't think they're exactly what you're looking for, but they're as close as I can think of.

EDIT: There's also Serial Experiments Lain which is quite interesting, but if you're looking for big fights you'll be very disappointed.

 

[Lust]

Battle Angel Alita. Epic, violent, and thought provoking. All good things for a sci-fi anime.

 

[X Gintoki X]

umm, Tengan toppa Guren lagann if you haven't seen it, can't think of more right now, i don't watch alot of strictly si-fi war shows...

 

[somedarnguy]

I cannot recommend Planetes enough! It is a phenomenal Hard SciFi anime.

 

[armaina]

Outlaw Star
This is a quirky space series, one part drama, one part action, one part harem. No seriously, there are times where it feels like they're trying to go for the girl harem genre... but in more of a parody sort of way. It's a short series too, but it was a lot of fun and had some rad fight scenes.

 

[Snownine]

I cannot recommend Planetes enough! It is a phenomenal Hard SciFi anime.

Thank you so much, I have been trying to find that show but could not remember the name.

 

[Ensiferum]

Ghost in the Shell and Akira are must-sees.

Wolf's Rain is a phenomenal series that I would consider SciFi though it's definitely not conventional SciFi and may not be quite what you're looking for.

Robotech is great as well.

You might also enjoy Code Geass. Lots of mecha and ship fighting.

 

[klakkat]

umm, Tengan toppa Guren lagann if you haven't seen it, can't think of more right now, i don't watch alot of strictly si-fi war shows...

Watch this (the English version I've sometimes seen called just "Gurren Lagann"). It's worth it.

Also:
Outlaw Star
Cowboy Bebop

 

[dariuskyne]

series:

Gunslinger Girl, yeah it's more drama centric, and it's more modern day, but the girls are all cyborgs, c'mon!

if you want something with a kinda steampunk/alternate tech vibe i suggest Last Exile

Planetes, outer space drama, trash collecting was never as interesting before this
Now and Then, Here and There, according to netflix: Dragged through a time warp by a giant machine, Shu is thrust into a hellish future of slavery and war. There he is captured by an army of kidnapped children. Caught between reluctant soldiers and the madman who has stolen their innocence, Shu fights to save the future. Can one child stop a war?
(couldn't find a good trailer or opening vid)

Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo, now updated with alot of anime tropes, big mechs, alien beings, spaceships, and the old revenge plot of the origional count of monte cristo, though if you want alot of action, pass on this, it is dialouge and plot heavy.

I keep hearing good things about gurren lagann, though I have yet to watch it.

you could always go with the classics like anything from the Spaceship Yamato series, Southern cross, or Genesis Climber Mospeada (Macross, Southern cross and Mospeada being the origional seperate series that got lumped into making the Robotech here in the States)

movies:
Metropolis

Voices of a Distant Star

Steamboy

Appleseed (the old origional 90 min one and defiantely the new one and it's sequel)

There's tons more out there, and i'm certain you'll get alot of suggestions from many people, have fun, watch and enjoy.

 

[Snownine]

series:

Gunslinger Girl, yeah it's more drama centric, and it's more modern day, but the girls are all cyborgs, c'mon!

if you want something with a kinda steampunk/alternate tech vibe i suggest Last Exile

Planetes, outer space drama, trash collecting was never as interesting before this
Now and Then, Here and There, according to netflix: Dragged through a time warp by a giant machine, Shu is thrust into a hellish future of slavery and war. There he is captured by an army of kidnapped children. Caught between reluctant soldiers and the madman who has stolen their innocence, Shu fights to save the future. Can one child stop a war?
(couldn't find a good trailer or opening vid)

Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo, now updated with alot of anime tropes, big mechs, alien beings, spaceships, and the old revenge plot of the origional count of monte cristo, though if you want alot of action, pass on this, it is dialouge and plot heavy.

I keep hearing good things about gurren lagann, though I have yet to watch it.

you could always go with the classics like anything from the Spaceship Yamato series, Southern cross, or Genesis Climber Mospeada (Macross, Southern cross and Mospeada being the origional seperate series that got lumped into making the Robotech here in the States)

movies:
Metropolis

Voices of a Distant Star

Steamboy

Appleseed (the old origional 90 min one and defiantely the new one and it's sequel)

There's tons more out there, and i'm certain you'll get alot of suggestions from many people, have fun, watch and enjoy.

I love Macross, and hate what they did to make Robotech. Do you know if the DVDs of Genesis Climber MOSPEADA are subbed or dubbed? Planetes looks like a lot of fun.

 

[GloatingSwine]

Macross, Macross Plus, or Macross Frontier are fine SF anime.

Macross Plus is the only part that's available at a reasonable price though. Macross is hella expensive and Macross Frontier will never be legally available.

 

[GloatingSwine]

Macross, Macross Plus, or Macross Frontier are fine SF anime.

Macross Plus is the only part that's available at a reasonable price though. Macross is hella expensive and Macross Frontier will never be legally available.

 

[dariuskyne]

series:

------SNIP---

There's tons more out there, and i'm certain you'll get alot of suggestions from many people, have fun, watch and enjoy.

I love Macross, and hate what they did to make Robotech. Do you know if the DVDs of Genesis Climber MOSPEADA are subbed or dubbed? Planetes looks like a lot of fun.

unfortunately i do not know if they're subbed or dubbed, i don't own them, and they're pretty far along in my netflix list ( i think around # 280 or so)

Macross, Macross Plus, or Macross Frontier are fine SF anime.

Macross Plus is the only part that's available at a reasonable price though. Macross is hella expensive and Macross Frontier will never be legally available.

as for cost if you live in the states (not advertising seriously) netflix is pretty good, quick on the shipping and at 19bux a month 3 movies out with no late fees (not that anyone does late fees anymore) i average about 3 dvd's a week when i'm busy. so that's 12 dvd's a month, yeah you unfortunately don't own them, BUT you get to see the anime without having to shell out hundreds of dollars for the box set, though i've bought more box sets because of netflix, the try before you buy syndrome i guess.

 

[Snownine]

series:

------SNIP---

There's tons more out there, and i'm certain you'll get alot of suggestions from many people, have fun, watch and enjoy.

I love Macross, and hate what they did to make Robotech. Do you know if the DVDs of Genesis Climber MOSPEADA are subbed or dubbed? Planetes looks like a lot of fun.

unfortunately i do not know if they're subbed or dubbed, i don't own them, and they're pretty far along in my netflix list ( i think around # 280 or so)

Macross, Macross Plus, or Macross Frontier are fine SF anime.

Macross Plus is the only part that's available at a reasonable price though. Macross is hella expensive and Macross Frontier will never be legally available.

as for cost if you live in the states (not advertising seriously) netflix is pretty good, quick on the shipping and at 19bux a month 3 movies out with no late fees (not that anyone does late fees anymore) i average about 3 dvd's a week when i'm busy. so that's 12 dvd's a month, yeah you unfortunately don't own them, BUT you get to see the anime without having to shell out hundreds of dollars for the box set, though i've bought more box sets because of netflix, the try before you buy syndrome i guess.

I actually own Macross, I loved it enough to shell out the money for it. It was in the ball park of $70-80 if I remember correctly. What is the issue with Macross Frontier? Most of these I planned on watching through netflix unless they did not have them, then I will go the illegal download way.

 

[avelmen1889]

you should watch gurren lagann.