Humanity has long been fascinated by space. References to the planets and stars that populate the cosmos can be found in ancient rock drawings, myths, and religious literature worldwide.
The good news is that anime does a terrific job with space.’ Some of the most popular and successful anime are space-themed. That’s not surprising, given the importance of properties like Mobile Suit Gundam, Macross, and Legend of the Galactic Heroes in popularizing the genre.
Check out our space anime list to see what the genre offers!
1.) Planetes
Makoto Yukimura’s terrific Planetes
Fans of the
2.) Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu is a contentious anime. Some admirers consider it the best since sliced bread and anime’s response to the landmark Star Wars trilogy. Others, on the other hand, believe it is overrated.
I respect both points of view, but I lean toward the former. Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu is a profound, rich, and sophisticated space anime that takes a complete immersion in its lore to appreciate.
3.) Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop by Shinichirou Watanabe is the kind of anime that even non-fans may enjoy and develop a taste for space anime. It’s a creative parody that draws and mixes aspects from westerns, space operas, and even kung-fu films.
Watching Spike Spiegel and his ragged crew kick butt around space and on the different planets they visit is a lot of fun.
4.) Uchuu Kyoudai
Mutta and Hibito, brothers, made a pact with each other when they were little that they would become astronauts. Hibito has followed his dream of becoming the first Japanese on the moon in 2025, while Mutta has just been fired from his job.
Mutta’s brother reminds him of their boyhood promise, and he chooses to reach for space once more.
Space Brothers is a brilliantly crafted anime that mixes a pleasant plot with delightful comedy, employing realistic characters to demonstrate how difficult it is to become an astronaut.
5.) Musekinin Kanchou Tylor
Justy Ueki Tylor is lazy through and through.
He’s the type of guy that prefers to go through life without having to work hard or bear any responsibility. However, things do not go as planned, and he is quickly catapulted into the position of Lieutenant Commander, as well as Captain of Soyokaze.
This is right after saving an admiral by sheer chance!
So what is an irresponsible man to do? He can watch one of the funniest space animes in the known world.
6.) Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199
In anime and Hollywood films, Earthlings battling cruel aliens have been done to death.
Star Blazers 2199 picks up the pace and gets our hearts racing as we root for the crew aboard the legendary Space Battleship Yamato. This is a new take on an old-school
7.) Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin
We can’t discuss anime without mentioning the great Gundam series. This series is so extensive that it’s tough for newbies to know where to begin.
The first Mobile Suit Gundam will be a good starting point if you’re starting out, but it needs to be updated and may turn off viewers who are used to seeing recent anime.
No worries; Mobile Suit Gundam Origin is reimagining the series with a new
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8.) Space Cobra
Let’s get one thing straight: Space Adventure Cobra is cheesy! Fortunately, this excellent kind of cheese will make you happy.
Cobra is a space pirate who sports a Psychogun inserted in his left arm and wears a campy-looking tight red bodysuit.
He likes cigars and
9.) Sidonia no Kishi
To blame is Tsutomu Nihei! & Biomega fame has also written the Knights of Sidonia
So, did Knights of Sidonia break free from the cyberpunk ghetto and embrace space anime themes and traits? Both yes and no.
It’s a space anime, but it retains the horrific tone that has been a staple of Nihei’s previous works!
10.) Macross: Do You Remember Love?
Do You Remember Love, Macross? it’s a
Rick Hunter, Lisa Hayes, and Linn Minmei are involved in a love triangle. And amazing 80’s pop
11.) Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star
Outlaw Star has a lot in common with Cowboy Bebop. Sunrise produced both and was released in 1998, featuring an unusual ensemble of notable characters and villains.
Yes, Cowboy Bebop is the superior film, but Outlaw Star has comparable production values and is a touch wackier!
12.) Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster
Hideaki Anno is a remarkable director that has always pushed the boundaries of animation, producing some of the most original and engaging works ever! Nerae, you’re the best!
Gunbuster is his first journey into space, where his unconventional thinking is fully displayed. On the surface,
Gunbuster’s plot of earthlings battling space monsters could sound more appealing. On the other hand, the dynamic character relationships and well-conveyed science fiction components are pure gold.
13.) Seikai no Senki II
Most space anime focuses on ideas like space travel, battles with extraterrestrial species, and the political shenanigans of galactic federations.
Seikai no Senki II is a novel approach to how the sexes interact on a prison planet. And, as one could anticipate, things get complicated!
14.) Ouritsu Uchuugun: Honneamise no Tsubasa (Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise)
Shirotsugh “Shiro” Lhadatt is a cadet in the Royal Space Force (RSF) of the Kingdom of Honneamise, although he has never been in space beforeâin fact, no one has.
The RSF is frequently considered a failure by civilians and a government more interested in starting a conflict with a neighbouring country than in scientific success.
After a funeral of a fellow cadet, Shiro travels through the city one night when he meets Riquinni Nonderaiko, a young, pious woman who is excited about the importance of space research.
The movie won the Seiun Award for the Best Dramatic Presentation.
15.) Uchuu Patrol Luluco (Space Patrol Luluco)
A heated, uncontrolled environment in which a mash-up of Trigger’s many series coexist, and a middle school girl named Luluco must navigate through the chaos.
Check it out. Each episode is only 7 minutes long – what do you have to lose?
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16.) Space Dandy 2nd Season
You know it’s good when a show is produced by the same people who brought you Cowboy Bebop. The first season of Space Dandy was fantastic, and the second season does not disappoint.
It keeps the surreal style, humour, and Taoist aspects that set it unique from other space anime.
Dandy is still a hoot, but will he ever
17.) Crest of the Stars
Crest of the Stars is a story set in the far future in which a superior race of humanoids invades the small human globe. The superior humanoid race, the Abh Empire, is seen to conquer numerous worlds that stand in their way, and humanity is next.
We, as viewers, see how it all plays out as the humans ultimately join under the Four-Nation Alliance, putting their differences aside.
Jinto Linn, a count in the Abh Empire but the son of Martine’s President who sold his home world for selfish motives, is forced to live among the Abhs, the people who devastated human families on Earth.
Go Watch to grasp Jinto’s and humanity’s tangled emotions.
18.) Valvrave the Liberator
Our planet’s past significantly influences this anime. It is set in the distant future when humanity has developed the technology to establish galactic colonies and wage space wars.
What is deadlier than a man? Another dude. The anime examines the idea that no matter how far humanity progresses, it can never unify under a cloak. The plot depicts two groups gaining in strength: the Atlantic Rim United States (ARUS) and the Dorssia
These polar groups mirror two of the most realistic and robust governments on Earth; these two factions wage galactic war on one other, and amid this chaos rises a third faction, the JIOR.
19.) Voices of a Distant Star
Hoshi no Koe (Voices of a Distant Star) is an animated film set in 2046, when technology has improved and humanity has progressed significantly.
The plot revolves around a romantic couple who separated shortly after graduating
Mikako, the female protagonist, is chosen for a Space Expedition and must travel through space with her crew, whereas Noburu is stuck on Earth, pining for the love of his life. This is a must-see for anyone struggling in a long-distance relationship.
20.) Terra Formars
This anime features one of the most intriguing premises of any space anime I’ve seen on this list. Can you survive against humanoid cockroaches on Mars? I don’t think I’ll even leave the spaceship; kindly return me to Earth.
In this anime, humanity attempts to colonize Mars by sending algae as plant organisms and cockroaches as animal organisms.
Following this, the globe is under attack by an “Alien Engine Virus,” similar to how we are currently suffering from COVID-19.
21.) Kidou Senkan Nadesico (Martian Successor Nadesico)
Nadesico may be what you’re looking for if you’re seeking a space anime that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
It’s packed with witty humour or parody that will stitch you. It also has some fascinating mechanical designs that will make you nostalgic for the 1990s.
22.) Astra Lost in Space
Kanato no Astra is an anime with a typical premise: humanity has progressed through numerous stages and is striving for more. Space travel is relatively common and even feasible for everyone in this society.
Kanato Hoshijima, the show’s protagonist, is one of the adolescents on their way to a distant planet on a Space Excursion. Watch what happens when the trip goes awry, and the crew finds themselves stranded on a spaceship in an unknown corner of the galaxy, genuinely Lost In Space.
Astra and his allies must handle their resources, use them sparingly, and survive this massive voyage. Will they be able to make it through this?
23.) Tsuki to Laika to Nosferatu
The entire world saw the Federal Republic of Zirnitra’s outstanding achievement of sending the first living animalâa dogâto outer space on November 23, 1957.
Since then, the confederacy’s space race with its rival, the United Kingdom of Arnack, has heated up; the two governments want to transport humans to the heavens above one day.
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24.) Memories
After following a distress signal to a largely abandoned space station, a few engineers, Heintz Beckner and Miguel Costrela find a derelict home and decide to investigate on foot.
Their inquiry unveils a terrible secret concerning Eva Friedel’s fate, a famous opera singer with a tragic past.
Hallucinations quickly plague them, and they must fight to keep their sanity to escape the station alive.
25.) Heroic Age
Three sentient races responded when the Golden Race asked other races to join them among the stars. They were known as the Bronze, Silver, and Heroic Tribes by the Goldens.
A fourth species arrived just before the Gold Tribe left to travel to another Universe, travelling to the stars on their achievements.
The human race was dubbed the Iron Tribe by the Golds. Humanity has suffered at the hands of the more dominant races over time and is now on the verge of extinction.
26.) Vandread
Men are from Mars, and women are from Venus in Vandread! No, not quite. Humanity has colonized the Milky Way galaxy, and in a one-star system, men and women reside on two worlds, Taraak and Mejere.
A bitter and very literal gender war rages to the point where they no longer recognize each other as members of the same species!
27.) Star Wars: Visions
Star Wars: Visions will be a collection of animated short films honouring Star Wars through the lens of the world’s top anime producers, presenting all-new, innovative takes on the galaxy far, far away.
The anthology collection will feature nine fascinating concepts from some of Japan’s finest anime studios, providing a new and different cultural viewpoint on Star Wars.
28.) Blue Gender
Blue Gender takes place in the not-too-distant future, in a world where humanity has suffered dramatically. The Blue, a race of bug-like aliens who invaded Earth and pushed humanity aside, have supplanted humans at the top of the food chain.
Second Earth, a space station, has been built as a haven for humans in the hopes of one day regaining the Earth.
29.) Captain Earth
Manatsu Daichi, a second-year
Daiji shows up on the island as the alarm of a structure called Earth Engine is going off, recalling his father’s tragic death and a meeting with a strange child and girl. Someone asks him if he is a captain just before Uranian intruders known as Kill-T-Gang arrive.
The fight for the sparkling stars is about to begin.
30.) Uchuu Kaizoku Captain Harlock (Space Pirate Captain Harlock)
The late Leiji Matsumoto created many significant works with space and sci-fi themes. And one of his most well-known masterpieces is Space Pirate Captain Harlock.
The adventures of this intriguing space pirate have caught the imagination, inspiring the French electronic group Daft Punk.
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