Where there is a dystopia, there is usually a utopia of sorts not too far away. There are plenty ofanime showsthat take place in a dystopian world thatare usually post-apocalypticand show a pretty bleak future. Despite the dark undertones of their stories, a good number of the shows are some of the best in the anime world.RELATED:Anime That Are Emotional Roller CoastersWhen it comes to living in a utopia, it usually comes at a heavy cost. Very few show the happier side of it and tend to show the dark cost of keeping a seemingly peaceful world. For anyone wanting to see how living in a utopia can function, look no further than theseanime shows.
10Expelled From Paradise
After a disaster ravaged Earth, most of humanity abandoned it along with their physical bodies, and their minds were relocated in digital form into the space station known as DEVA that orbits the planet. It’s considered a utopia of sorts since these people no longer have limitations like normal humans, never going hungry and thirsty, and have essentially become immortal since they can’t die.
The peace of this world is ruined when a skilled hacker known as Frontier Setter hacks the system and spreads subversive messages to the population. Angela Balzac, a member of DEVA’s law enforcement, is sent to go after the hacker and is given a physical body to go down to Earth. There, she meets her partner Dingo and together they set off to find out more about Frontier Setter.
It might sound likea typical sci-fi animewith a hacker trying to disturb the peace of the world, but viewers will be surprised. Angela has little time to adjust to having a physical form and learns the pros and cons of being human.
9Harmony
An anime film that shows that not everyone wants to live in a perfect utopia. After a nuclear war, humanity was devastated by a catastrophe called “The Maelstrom”. To keep humankind alive, the World Health Organization has worldwide power and changed society by controlling it with nanotechnology. The film is about three friends named Cian Reikado, Miach Mihie, and Tuan Kirie, all three who form a suicide pact because they reject this utopia and its ways. Miach is the only one to succeed in this while Cian and Tuan live.
It follows Tuan 13 years after the attempt and is working for the World Health Organization. She is sent back to Japan and has to investigate why a mass suicide happened on the day she returned. The film is full of psychological twists mixed in with sci-fi elements. It’sa pretty dark moviethat deals with some pretty heavy psychological topics, so it might be for everyone. It’s worth a watch if viewers are wanting to switch up from typical dystopian-utopian shows.
8Aria The Animation
An anime that is a little more on the lighthearted side. In the future, humans have settled on planet Aqua (formerly known as Mars) and colonized it. Many cities take inspiration from well-known cities on Manhome (formerly known as Earth) and the story takes place in Neo Venezia, which is inspired by Venice, Italy. It follows Akari Mizunashi, a free-spirited teenager who is training to be a gondolier.
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The show is more ofa slice-of-life series and lightheartedin nature. It doesn’t force the idea that Neo Venezia is perfect. It lets viewers just enjoy seeing the city and enjoy watching the characters talking with visitors and learning some life lessons.
7Psycho-Pass
One of the best anime shows withboth science and fantasy elements.Set in the future, Japan is now ruled by the Sibyl System, a biomechatronic computer system that analyzes peoples’ brains and mentality. By doing this, it predicts if someone will be a criminal and if they exceed the amount of the Crime Coefficient index number, they are apprehended and either arrested or killed. The show follows Akane Tsunemori, an Inspector for the Sibyl System, and her partner Shinya Kogami, an Enforcer.
It seems like the world around is a perfect utopia because they stop criminals ahead of time, but there are some really dark undertones to this. People can be marked as latent criminals in their childhood and carefully watched by the System. For any viewers wanting a show with sci-fi and fantasy elements mixed in with detective work, this show is pretty good.
6Ergo Proxy
This anime is a dystopian anime set in a utopian world. After a global catastrophe, the world becomes inhospitable and humanity is forced to live in domed cities that seem pretty perfect. In these domed cities, humanity lives with androids called AutoReivs which are made to assist humans in their everyday lives. However, a virus is infecting the AutoReivs which causes them to have self-awareness and some have been committing murders. Re-l Mayer is sent to investigate and find out the truth about the virus.
It’s the perfect mix of cyberpunk, sci-fi, and mystery with a great story and characters. Re-l isa pretty strong protagonistbut is not without her flaws. However, she grows as the show goes on while trying to solve the case.
5From The New World
An anime that looks a little deceiving at first sight. This anime is about 12 year old Saki Watanabe, whose psychic powers have awakened. Now that she has her powers, she is able to join her friends at a school exclusive for psychics. However, she begins to wonder what happens to anyone who doesn’t awaken their powers and questions some of the things around her.
The anime is somewhatreminiscent ofThe Promised Neverlandbecause there is a rather dark and violent secret of what happens to the children who make the cut. Plus, she and her friends learn about how the utopian world truly functions around them and it’s pretty bleak. If viewers are wanting something close toThe Promised Neverland, this show comes close to it.
4Darling In The Franxx
An anime that is more dystopian for the main characters and utopian for the adults. Humanity is now under the constant threat of creatures known as Klaxosaurs. This forces humans to live in large technologically advanced cities known as Plantations. Children are artificially created for the sole purpose of piloting mechas known as FranXX to protect humanity in boy-girl pairs. The show follows Hiro, a young aspiring pilot, who has failed the aptitude test and loses his motivation, but that changes after meeting Zero Two, a mysterious girl with horns, with the reputation of a “pilot killer”.
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It’s a little sad and disturbing to know that children are created for thesole purpose of protecting humanity.The Plantations are a utopia for adults not just because they live on the more technically advanced side, but also because they’re immortal. Children, on the other hand, are kept isolated and live in areas that emulate bygone eras. It definitely lives up to the trope that utopias usually have a dark undertone to them.
3Kyousougiga
An anime that’s a little more onthe supernatural and fantasy sidewhen it comes to finding or living in a utopia. Long ago, a monk named Myoe had the strange ability to make anything he drew come to life. He drew many things including his family which consisted of a wife and three kids. This made him an outcast because many villagers were scared of him and the family fled to an alternate world that Myoe created and not long after, he and his wife disappeared. As his children wait for their return, a mysterious girl who looks like them appears and wants to return to her world.
The anime itself has a lot going on and therefore can be a little confusing for first-time viewers. Despite this, it’s worth rewatching over and over because viewers do find something new in it that might’ve not been seen before.
2No Game No Life
Sora and Shiro are two step-siblings who are well-known in the online gaming world and an undefeated duo. After they are challenged by a god from another reality, they are offered a chance to live in a world that revolves around games. Believing it’s a joke, they agree and are taken to a new reality. In this reality, no one is allowed to harm one another, but settle disagreements by gambling through playing games. Here, they encounter duchess Stephanie who wants to be the next ruler and the siblings agree to help her.
It does feel a little bit like watchingSword Art Onlineorthe.hackserieswhere the main characters are taken to a game world. Kind of like Kirito, who is usually a genius in the anime, Shiro and Sora are like him and very intelligent. Though they are stronger in certain areas, they’re not dumb and balance each other out where they’re a little weaker.
1Toward The Terra, AKA Terra E…
An anime that takes place in a future where humanity is living on colonized planets and their lives are controlled by a system of computers. Evolution has changed some to be born with tremendous power, creating a new race called the Mu. They are hated and feared because of this, making the Mu dream of a place where they can live in peace. The anime follows 14-year-old Jomy, who has a dormant power waiting to come out and is being hunted by the government for execution while the Mu want to save him.
There is a movie that came out in 1980, and it has a 24 episode series that came out in 2007. Both are good watches and well-written even though the movie does feel a little short. It’san underrated gemthat is beautifully designed and is worth the watch for anyone wanting to watch a sci-fi drama.
