Science fictionis an incredibly versatile genre with one of the most passionate fan bases around. Western media has produced powerhouses likeStar Wars,The Matrix, andStar Trek.Science fiction in animeis no different - it’s been a staple of the art form for as long as it’s been popular. TakeAstro Boy, for instance, a sci-fi anime series dating back to the 60s!
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With interesting premises, cool tech, and epic fight scenes, the sci-fi genre continues to provide fans with intriguing and bingeable anime. The2023 animelandscape looksvery promising for sci-fi and mecha fans, with plenty of original content, reboots of classic series', and new installments in beloved franchises on the horizon. Here are somesci-fi and mecha anime to look out for in 2023!
Season
Winter 2023
Technoroid: Overmindis a sci-fi/music anime originally scheduled for releasein the Summer 2022 season, postponed until January 2023 for the health and safety of production staff due to rising cases of studio COVID-19 infections. Finally making its debut, the series revolves around entertainment tower Babel, a new hope for humanity after climate change has submerged the world underwater.
Musical units stirring the hearts of humans and robots alike through their performances compete to reach the summit of Babel. Dogo Kobo is also known for iconic series' likeMonthly Girls Nozaki-KunandNew Game!.
Unknown, 2023
From Bandai Namco comes multimedia projectSynduality, an upcoming third-person shooter and anime. Not a lot is known about the franchise currently, though it’s known that it is a mecha series set in the year 2222. There’s no indication of a release date as of yet, but it is expected to release in 2023.
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Syndualityisset in a post-apocalyptic Earthfollowing a devastating poisonous rain that wiped out most of the human race. The series is based in underground heaven ‘Amasia’, safe from the deadly climate. It explores themes of artificial intelligence, dystopia, and humanity.
Based on a concept book and series of novels,Bullbusteris an original series about Tetsurou Okino, a young engineer transferred to a vermin extermination company called Hato Industries. He joins the team with his robot ‘Bullbuster’,a mecha that he designed and builthimself.
Once there, Okino finds himself up against a mysterious life form called the Kyoju. On top of that, the series deals with the harsh realities of running a small business, as they are always stuck between their obligation to exterminate Kyoju and the reality of the economy. Produced by Studio NUT (FLCL,Deca-Dance),Bullbusterpromises to be an exciting addition to the 2023 lineup.
FLCL, orFooly Cooly, is a classic anime andan absolutely wild ride. While it sets out as a coming-of-age story, the anime quickly veers into surrealist sci-fi comedy. Twelve-year-old Naota Nandaba’s ordinary life is uprooted by bass guitar-wielding maniac Haruko Haruhada, who runs him over, hits him on the head, and creates a portal in his brain that spawns robots.
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FLCL: Grungeis one of twoFLCLinstallments slated for 2023. Not much is known about the plot yet, though it looks to follow the anthology format and center around a new protagonist.
The Legend of Heroes: Sen no Kiseki - Northern Waris an anime adaptation of video game seriesTrails of Cold Steel. The series follows Lavian WInslet, born in North Ambria, the poorest region in the northwestern Zemuria. Lavi, a devoted spy on an impossible mission, is determined to set herself apart from her grandfather, who betrayed North Ambria.
The anime adaptation will focus on the events ofTrails of Cold SteelI, II, III, and IV. Animation is headed by studio Tatsunoko Production (Neon Genesis Evangelion,Ping Pong the Animation, Psycho-Pass 2).
Spring 2023
Kawaisugi Crisisis a super-cutesci-fi comedybased on an original manga by Mitsuru Kido, and animated by SynergySP(Kakkou no Iinazuke,Hayate no Gotoku!,Hachi-nan tte Sore wa Nai deshou!).
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The protagonist, Liz Luna, is an alien from the space empire Azatos, sent by its Interstellar Survey Team to destroy Earth. Her plans are thwarted, however, when she encounters a cat café, and is overcome by its cuteness. Liz decides to settle on Earth in order to study cats and other animals, deeming their cuteness to be a severe threat.
Produced by Studio A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online, Fairy Tail, Your Lie In April),Nier: Automata Ver 1.1ais one of the most anticipated anime of the Winter 2023 season, and perhaps the whole year. The story revolves aroundNier, a man searching for a cure for his daughter who is infected with the Black Scrawl virus, a seemingly incurable disease.
It’s currently unknown whether the anime will bea continuation or adaptationof the popular video game series, as teaser trailers and promotional material have been deliberately vague.
Trigun Stampedeis a reboot ofTrigun, a classic 90s anime that gained a cult following in the west, despite basically flopping in Japan. Based on the original Manga by Yasuhiro Nightow,Trigunis a space western that follows Vash the Stampede, a famous gunman constantly fighting off bounty hunters that want the hefty payout on his head.
This reboot by Studio Orange (Beastars, Black Bullet) usesCGI instead of cel animationto appeal to the diehard western audience, while still remaining faithful to the classic anime style.
