One of my husband’s favorite genres of anime is sci-fi. While I love a good sci-fi adventure myself, sometimes things that go too deep into tech or science can lose my interest. At times like these, I find myself thinking of the action-packed shounen or wild fantasy adventures that’ve just aired and not what I’m supposed to be watching.
Of course, this means each night is a mad dash to see who can open the Funimation app the fastest. But hey, it doesn’t have to be like this! I’ve done the hard work of sifting through countless sci-fi anime to find those special shows that straddle and blur genre lines and have a little something extra for those of us who aren’t always as excited as our partners at the prospect of watching the season’s latest sci-fi series.
So without further ado, here are five amazing sci-fi anime series that have tons to offer both you and your partner.
Dr. STONE
Are you a fan of big shounen series? Then you’re be in for a treat with Dr. STONE. This Stone World showstopper is equal parts traditional shounen, adventure and sci-fi set in the far future. If you’re looking for a show with a bit of sci-fi flair without going full force, then this is the one for you.
The series is set in a world where, after a strange green light washes over everything, all of humanity is turned to stone. But protagonist Senku has counted each and every second since the very moment he was frozen, and through a combination of science and luck, he’s able to break free of his stone prison thousands of years later. The next step? Using his scientific know-how to reawaken humanity and rebuild society, all while figuring out how it happened in the first place.
RELATED: Dr. STONE Finds Optimism in the Apocalypse
Dr. STONE features a lovable cast, ingenious fight scenes and a stunning sense of adventure that will keep you coming back for more shounen goodness, while the real-world science and a unique take on the far future will have your sci-fi-loving partner hooked.
Watch Dr. STONE on Funimation!
Steins;Gate
Do you like tense dramas? What about psychological stories? How do you feel about anime that ventures into the horror genre at times? Say hello to the absolutely amazing series Steins;Gate.
Rintaro Okabe is a self-proclaimed mad scientist who’s always tinkering and inventing new, usually useless gadgets in a small rented room serving as his lab. But when he sees a woman get murdered after a seminar about how time travel isn’t real, he finds himself returned to earlier in that same day, that talk now canceled, and the venue mysteriously cordoned off.
RELATED: The Many Worlds of Science in Anime
The culprit? Maybe the microwave he’s been experimenting with that changes bananas back to green, goopy copies of their former ripe, yellow selves. A wild ride through multiple timelines ensues as whispers of a shady organization begin to grow louder.
This blissful combination of psychological horror, suspense and sci-fi sings as it explores multiple world theory and guarantees a ton to love for both you and your partner.
Watch Steins;Gate on Funimation!
ID: INVADED
If mysteries or police drama are your thing, then we’ve got one for you! This anime combines the best aspects of science fiction with the mystery genre, bringing you and your sci-fi-loving partner an amazing anime you’ll both love.
This police unit is a little different than most. Instead of the usual procedure, former detective Akihito Narihisago uses something called cognition particles, a very specific type of particle found near the scene of the crime, to solve it. Using something called the Mizuhanome System, Narihisago is able to travel into the human mind itself.
RELATED: The Works of Ei Aoki: From Fate/Zero to ID: INVADED
Within this manifestation of the perpetrator’s mind are clues—important clues that could lead to their capture of the culprit. But it isn’t just run-of-the-mill criminals that Narihisago needs to watch out for. Not everything is as it seems, and danger may just lurk closer than expected.
This blend of science fiction and mystery is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat while your partner indulges in a fascinating look at a very literal exploration of the human mind.
Watch ID: INVADED on Funimation!
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
If you’re looking for something with a little bit of everything, there’s no better stop on your anime journey than The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Part-high school slice of life, part-romance, part-fantasy and part-science fiction, this anime is the best of all worlds and is sure to keep both you and your partner entertained the whole way through.
Kyon is just your regular high school student. He may have once had an interest in the supernatural and unexplained, but real life has long since tampered that down. Then Haruhi Suzumiya storms into his class and his life, turning everything upside down.
RELATED: The 5 Most Rewatchable Supernatural Anime
Bored with school and finding no interesting clubs, she creates the SOS Brigade, dragging poor Kyon along with her. The club’s goal? To find evidence of the supernatural and unknown—things like time travelers, aliens and espers just to name a few. And the more time Kyon spends with his new clubmates, the more he suspects that Haruhi may just be onto something.
You really can’t go wrong with this anime. With a little bit of many different genres and each episode featuring new antics and wild happenings, led by the titular Haruhi Suzumiya, both you and your partner will find tons to love here.
Watch The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya on Funimation!
Eureka Seven
How do you like stories of growing up? Are you up for some wild adventures? Well, look no further, because you’re about to get an absolutely amazing coming-of-age story and a fantastic musical score, while your partner gets to indulge in flying, surfing robots.
Renton Thurston is the son of the man who once saved the world at the cost of his own life, and that’s sort of a lot to live up to. All Renton wants is to join the illusive Gekkostate, a ship full of counterculture rebels he’s seen on the front cover of the magazine ray=out. But dreams don’t always live up to reality. When the Nirvash, a mecha, crashes directly into his bedroom along with its pilot, the mysterious Eureka, it seems the universe may have other plans for him.
RELATED: Growing Up Through Renton in Eureka Seven
It’s not that he minds being caught up with the Gekkostate. That’s exactly what he wanted! But there’s more to Eureka, Holland and the rest of the Gekkostate than just using trapar waves to surf on special boards in midair. Something far beyond Renton’s wildest dreams is going on, and now he’s stuck in the middle of everything whether he likes it or not.
Eureka Seven is an amazing example of what it’s like to grow from a child into a teenager and then an adult. Add tons of family secrets, mysteries that affect life as we know it and some of the coolest giant mechs in the genre, and neither you nor your partner will be able to tear your eyes away from this amazing anime.
Watch Eureka Seven on Funimation!
