Science fiction as a genre serves as a cornerstone of many masterpieces. As for anime, it usually triumphs in visuals and storytelling. Combine that with an iconic sci-fi premise and what you get is a series so compelling it gained worldwide recognition. And yet, for every massively popular anime series that “makes it,” there are many others that fly under the radar. In this list, we will champion 20 such science fiction anime series that haven’t yet received mainstream attention, but are still adored by small anime fan circles. You’ll find entries spanning cyberpunk societies on the brink of collapse, humanoid machines going rogue, and even vast space empires falling victim to war. But what unites these selections (beyond them being criminally underrated) is how intelligently they handle their narratives.
20 Underrated Sci-Fi Anime Series
This list celebrates the science fiction anime series that haven’t yet received mainstream attention, but are still adored by small anime fan circles.