The anime world has a habit of focusing on only the most popular series. Most mediums have this problem: people often overlook some amazing gems because they remain overly focused on something that's already well-known. Even worse, in the world of anime, the only genre that seems to get any focus is battle shonen.
But anime also had some pretty amazing series from other genres as well. Long before battle shonen took center stage, there were science fiction series. And while people often think of the same few, well-known sci-fi shows, there are plenty of other classics that curious fans should seek out.
10 Legend of the Galactic Heroes Is A Classic Ignored By Mainstream Anime Fans
Legend of the Galactic Heroes rarely finds its way into mainstream conversations about anime, which is a shame because it's an excellent show. The series follows two strategic geniuses: Yang Wen-Li of the Free Planets Alliance and Reinhard von Lohengramm of the Imperial Army.
Their two militaries have been at a stalemate for nearly a century, but these two men's actions cause the war to accelerate towards a victor. This series has gotten a reboot from Production IG, but the original anime is still incredible. Fans of political intrigue and space combat should definitely check it out if they haven't already.
9 Martian Successor Nadesico Is A Sci-Fi Comedy Classic
Nadesico was originally considered a must-watch by sci-fi and mecha fans alike, but everything relevant eventually fades into obscurity over time. The series is supposed to be about a war between humanity and the people who've destroyed their Martian homeworld.
Nadesico is actually a comedy that pokes fun at many of the tropes of giant robots that had built up even as early as 1996 when this series launched. Most of the story takes place on the Nadesico, which is filled with people who seemingly have no business in any military. Each member secretly has their own talents that make them perfect for their current conflict.
8 Astra, Lost in Space Shows Not Every Sci-Fi Anime Needs To Be A Space Opera
Astra, Lost in Space is proof that not every sci-fi anime series has to be a massive space opera epic. In this world, space travel has become so common that high school students go on trips to other planets.
Nine students have all been assigned to travel to the remote planet McPa when all of them are sucked out into space, and barely make it to an abandoned spaceship. Together, the nine of them have to find a way back to civilization with nothing more than their wits. A unique take on the survival genre, fans looking for light-hearted sci-fi should give this a shot.
7 Stellvia of the Universe Follows A Group Of Kids Training To Protect Humanity From A Supernova
Stellvia of the Universe is about as high-concept as sci-fi ideas get. In the year 2167, the explosion of a supernova from a nearby star system wipes out a large portion of humanity. Two hundred years later, the remains of that supernova are set to hit Earth again, causing even more damage.
But this time, humanity has been preparing massive space colonies known as Foundations to protect the solar system. This is referred to as "The Great Mission." Stellvia focuses on a group of teenagers, including protagonist Katase Shima, who are training to travel the stars and protect humanity.
6 Crest of the Stars Was A Sci-Fi Epic From The 2000s
Crest of the Stars and its sequel, Banner of the Stars, are two sci-fi series that slipped under the radar during the early years of the first anime boom of the 2000s. The series follows Jinto and Lafiel during a war between the Abh Empire and United Mankind.
Jinto is the son of Rock Linn, a man who surrenders his star system to the Abh Empire and gains noble status for him and his son. Lafiel is the granddaughter of the Empress of Abh, who finds herself becoming closer to Jinto as the war rages. Crest of the Stars' only drawback is its shortness. The series and its sequel are both less than forty episodes despite being a grand epic.
5 Iria: Zeiram the Animation Features A Bounty Hunter Tracking An Invincible Alien
Even for those few fans that don't like older anime, Iria is one of the prettiest old-school anime out there. The eponymous protagonist is a bounty hunter who works alongside her partner Gren. Together, the two of them have been tracking down a dangerous alien known as Zeiram, who's responsible for an attack on a space station.
Though Iria isn't a very long series, it's captivating because no other sci-fi series looks quite like it. Everything from the character designs to the backgrounds are unique and stick with viewers long after watching the series.
4 Galaxy Warring State Chronicle Rai Has Space Samurai
Most people have forgotten this series ever existed. Also known as Thunder Jet, Galaxy Warring State is meant to fuse elements of space opera with tons of references to classic Chinese and Japanese culture.
The protagonist is a samurai known as Rai Ryuuga, who's aiming to bring peace to the Milky Way. This series is not for people who prefer hard sci-fi. Everything in Galaxy Warring State happens because it looks cool, right down to there not being a single instance of a spacesuit for people fighting in space.
3 Toward the Terra Sees The Next Evolution Of Humanity Battle For The Right To Exist
Toward the Terra takes place in the far future, where humanity has colonized the stars. They've also learned how to mind wipe people for brainwashing, so things aren't exactly perfect. But after several centuries, a new race of humans known as the Mu has appeared.
The Mu have power psychic powers but are physically weak. Still, they have come to be at war with the rest of humanity as they seek to free all of their people and find their way back to Terra, the home planet of humankind. With Toward the Terra taking place over the course of decades, this series is a ride for even experienced fans of sci-fi.
2 Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Is A Beautiful Remake Of A Classic Series
Set in the distant future, Space Battleship Yamato 2199 follows the story of people traveling the stars in the hopes of saving their homes. After a war with the Gamisalas Empire, Earth's only hope is special technology located on the planet Iscandar.
The powerful Yamato battleship and its crew are humanity's only hope and some of the bravest people around. A remake of the classic '70s series, Yamato's worth watching if for no other reason than its gorgeous visuals and space battles. Like every good space opera, the series also has likable characters that make every episode a compelling watch.
1 Space Cobra Is About Cool Space Pulp Adventures
Space Cobra and its sequels are the series to check out if fans want to enjoy the cool parts of sci-fi without the nerdy parts, such as explaining how everything works. The protagonist is a legendary space pirate named Cobra, who literally has a gun for an arm.
Cobra goes on adventures alongside his partner Lady Armaroid, where they fight against both the authorities and the Pirate Guild. This series is pulp space science fiction at its best, with a heavy dose of '80s anime vibes. This is the kind of series that people either really get into or don't get into at all.