Mass Effect is back, thanks to the release of Mass Effect Legendary Edition, and with it returns a universe of incredible characters, far-spanning stories, and an emotional, action-packed adventure!
If you’re familiar with the series, you’ve probably been a fan since 2007, when the first game released on Xbox 360. The epic, star-spanning voyage puts you at the helm of a state-of-the-art ship as you and your crew fight to protect the galaxy from an existential threat known as the Reapers.
RELATED: All-New, Updated Funimation App Arrives on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
Saving the Earth is vital, of course, but so are the adventures and the strong relationships you forge with your crew along the way!
But we figure you’ll need a break at some point from saving the universe and hopping through mass relays. So, here are some stellar anime choices that keep up the spirit of Mass Effect, even when you’re not soaring among the stars.
Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-
Is EDI your favorite member of the Normandy crew in Mass Effect? Then you’ll love seeing a futuristic A.I. take center stage in the time-hopping Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-.
Diva—nicknamed Vivy by her biggest fan—is the first fully autonomous android. She spends her days performing for the empty seats in a quiet theme park.
RELATED: Experience the Music of Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song- With New Streaming Playlist
With the single objective to make people happy with her singing, Vivy’s programming is thrown for a loop when an A.I. from the future arrives with a new mission to prevent a war between humans and A.I.
Like Mass Effect, this series pairs high-stakes action with thought-provoking questions about humanity and the nature of existence.
Watch Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song- on Funimation!
My Hero Academia
If there’s one anime that’s all about forming the perfect team of heroes to save lives, it’s My Hero Academia! The ensembles of Mass Effect and My Hero Academia both find strength in their bonds and friendships.
Players who enjoy getting to know their teammates more than anything else in Mass Effect will love meeting the heroes of this blockbuster anime and experiencing each of their stories.
RELATED: The Physicality of Quirks in My Hero Academia Redefines Shounen Training
My Hero Academia is a shounen anime set in a near future where most humans are born with unique abilities called Quirks. It’s the story of young Izuku “Deku” Midoriya and his goal of becoming the world’s number one superhero, helped along the way by his own personal heroes and his classmates and friends.
Watch My Hero Academia on Funimation!
ASTRA LOST IN SPACE
The year is 2063. Space travel is so common in this future that a group of high schoolers can embark on a five-day camp to another planet for some education and relaxation.
Nine kids leave one fateful day and find themselves stranded on the other end of the galaxy when a wormhole opens unexpectedly. Will they ever reach home again?
RELATED: Anime That Lets Us Explore the Stars ✨
Ragtag crew of mismatched personalities on board a ship? Check. Intense interpersonal drama in space? Check. Twists and turns and a whole lot of fun? CHECK.
When you’re done adventuring with Shepard, Garrus and Liara in Mass Effect, embark on a new journey with Kanata, Aries and the rest of the young crew of ASTRA LOST IN SPACE.
Watch ASTRA LOST IN SPACE on Funimation!
Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 & 2202
If you’re here for a space opera, Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 & 2202 delivers that and much more. The successor to Space Battleship Yamato from the 1970s, the two seasons of this expansive series are a remake and sequel to the classic series.
Anyone who loved exploring planets in Mass Effect will feel at home during the epic space scenes of Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 & 2202
Like the innovative video game, Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 & 2202 pits humanity against an alien race in our very own solar system. Military action and adventure, space drama, and so much more await anyone who boards the space battleship Yamato.
Watch Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 & 2202 on Funimation!
Cowboy Bebop
You can’t have a list of sci-fi anime and not include Cowboy Bebop! The timeless 26-episode series is the tale of a crew with hearts of gold on a ship travelling across the stars.
But unlike the squad in Mass Effect, these adventurers are more concerned with saving themselves rather than mankind. These bounty hunters and their ship, the Bebop, are just trying to make their way through the galaxy in one piece—and earn a few bucks along the way.
RELATED: At 27, I Have Never Related to Cowboy Bebop More
If you prefer your spaceship crews to be a little more renegade than paragon, it’s time to meet Spike Spiegel and his team in the classic series. It’s widely considered to be one of anime’s best. Let’s jam!
Watch Cowboy Bebop on Funimation!
Bonus: Mass Effect: Paragon Lost
Did you know there actually is a Mass Effect anime? Mass Effect: Paragon Lost is the prequel story of James Vega, an Alliance soldier who appears in the third installment of the beloved video game.
RELATED: The Best Anime for NieR Replicant and NieR:Automata Fans
The animated feature film takes place during the events of Mass Effect 2. In this explosive anime, Vega (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr.) and his squad are deployed to Fehl Prime to protect the colony. They find much more than they bargained for.
Watch Mass Effect: Paragon Lost on Funimation!
What anime would you recommend to a Mass Effect anime fan? Share this list with your pick! And stay tuned to Funimation for the latest on all things anime, this season and beyond.
