Anime is usually seen in an almost colorful and grandiose light, with beautiful shojo works and action-packed shonen anime giving the medium this image. At the same time, anime is no stranger to violent, post-apocalyptic worlds. Many of the best and biggest anime are set in this genre, which speaks to just how dark things can get in the medium.
One of the most influential action anime of all time is set in a dystopia, while a recent shonen hit was a somewhat more lighthearted take on the concept. Conversely, elements of dystopia show up in one of the darkest takes on isekai ever. Needless to say, those looking for a grim, dystopian anime to watch have several options available.
10 Dr. Stone Made Dystopian Anime Fun
Streaming On: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu and Disney+
Based on the manga of the same name, Dr. Stone features a youthful genius who attempts to rebuild society after a cataclysmic event. Revived after humanity at large had been petrified and contained in stone, Senku Ishigami uses everything at his disposal to recreate a new human society. He’s joined by several allies, all the while facing enemies who see no need to return to the civilization humanity once had.
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Dr. Stone is a different type of dystopian due to its tone. While society has collapsed entirely, it’s not necessarily a dark series. It’s essentially a mix between a veritable medieval series and a science fiction show, with Senku using his expertise to great effect. Due to this more positive tone, it might be a good watch to ease into the dystopian genre within anime.
Awakened into a world where humanity has been petrified, scientific genius Senku and his brawny friend Taiju use their skills to rebuild civilization.
- Release Date
- August 25, 2019
- Cast
- Ayumu Murase , Karin Takahashi , Kengo Kawanishi
- Seasons
- 3 Seasons
- Creator
- Riichiro Inagaki
- Production Company
- 8PAN, TMS Entertainment
- Number of Episodes
- 55 Episodes
9 Ergo Proxy Showcases Cyberpunk Dystopia
Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video and Crunchyroll
Ergo Proxy is a cyberpunk gem, combining all the elements that many associate with the genre. This includes philosophy, vague religious concepts and the idea of what it means to be human. Of course, there are cyborgs and androids among humanity, with a virus causing the robotic creatures to turn against their organic counterparts.
While it’s similar to works such as Ghost in the Shell, Ergo Proxy has a much more downtrodden and dystopian world. The setting is the result of a previous environment disaster, with people living in domed cities for their own safety. Each new person is also meant to fill a certain role in society, giving the grim future an even more dystopian outlook. These elements have made the show beloved by many, but those just wanting a slick and cool sci-fi series will get so much more than just that.
Ergo Proxy
In a post-apocalyptic future humans live in peace with androids in a domed city. However, a strange series of murders has intruded into bored inspector Re-l Mayer’s life.
- Release Date
- February 25, 2006
- Cast
- Akiko Yajima , Liam O’Brien , Kôji Yusa , Rachel Hirschfeld , Taliesin Jaffe , Megan Hollingshead , Yuri Lowenthal
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Manglobe
- Creator
- Manglobe
- Number of Episodes
- 23
8 Gundam X Was Set In the After War Timeline
Streaming On: N/A
After War Gundam X was an alternate continuity series that was released in the wake of the success of the preceding Mobile Fighter G Gundam and New Mobile Report Gundam Wing. As the name suggests, it’s set long after any official armed conflict, separating it from many other entries in the franchise. The show’s setting is a dystopian wasteland in which Gundams and mobile suits are scavenged for scrap metal as survivors vie for dominance over each other.
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The alternate universe nature of Gundam X makes it an easy series for newcomers to get into. Likewise, it showcases how the series’ mecha action would feel in a world that’s already been ravaged by war. Thus, the show’s giant robot-filled world isn’t a futuristic utopia, but rather one in which advanced technology was simply used as a weapon to decimate humanity.
Mobile Suit Gundam After War Gundam X
Fifteen years after a catastrophic war, humanity struggles to survive in a world ravaged by the conflict. Mobile suits, once symbols of war, now represent both hope and danger. Garrod Ran, a young scavenger, discovers the legendary Gundam X, a powerful machine capable of changing the course of the world. As he becomes entangled in the fight between the Earth Federation and the rebel Guiana Zoldark, Garrod must confront his own past, forge unlikely alliances, and navigate the complexities of a world forever changed by war.
- Release Date
- April 5, 1996
- Cast
- Hikaru Midorikawa , Masashi Ebara
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- sunrise
- Artists
- Kouji Sasamoto (
- Creator
- Sunrise
- Number of Episodes
- 39
7 Violence Jack Is the Darkest Dystopian Anime
Streaming On: Pluto TV
Based on the Go Nagai manga, the Violence Jack anime OVAs more than live up to their name. Set in a dark, desolate future in which violent gangs run rampant amid the remains of humanity, the series follows the events surrounding the titular Jack. A brutish beast of a man who can kill most with barely any effort, Jack is only one of the many violent elements in the grisly, harrowing stories.
Violence Jack is one of the darkest anime ever made, with brutal gore and harsh assaults being inflicted upon several characters. The negative tone and scope never lets up, and it’s truly a series where hope has long since gone on vacation. It’s not for the faint of heart, but those looking for a dark dystopia should look no further.
Violence Jack
In a hell-torn Japan, where motorcycle gangs and violence overrun the country; one man named Violence Jack stands up to it all. He fights violence with violence.
- Release Date
- September 9, 1996
- Seasons
- 1 Season
- Production Company
- Anime International Company (AIC), Anime Roman
- Cast
- Issei Futamata , William Roberts
- Creator
- Go Nagai
6 Heavenly Delusion Is a Narrative Experiment
Streaming On: Hulu and Disney+
Released in 2023, the overlooked Heavenly Delusion is more than the average dystopian anime. Its story is split into two divergent plots, with one involving kids at school while the other focuses on two teens as they traverse a dark, mysterious post-apocalyptic world. While they intiially seem separate, these two narrative paths are more related than they initially come off as.
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In some ways, Heavenly Delusion is a more consistently successful version of the somewhat infamous The Promised Neverland. It goes beyond the usual post-apocalyptic cliches and creates a much more original narrative. Most importantly, it also focuses on the mental anguish of its characters, going beyond the cliches and tropes and delivering a must-watch anime experience that revels in how bleak it can be.
A boy grows up behind the safe walls of an apocalyptic Japan full of monsters. Tokyo flourishes as a paradise, while outside the walls of hell dangers lurk. However, a small group searches for heaven.
- Release Date
- April 1, 2023
- Seasons
- 1 Season
- Studio
- Production I.G
- Franchise
- Heavenly Delusion
- Characters By
- Nick Martineau, Gen Satô, Sayaka Senbongi
- Creator
- Masakazu Ishiguro
- Main Characters
- Tokio, Mimihime, Maru, Kiruko
- Production Company
- Production I.G
- Writers
- Makoto Fukami
- Number of Episodes
- 13 Episodes
5 Girl’s Last Tour Is a Comfy Form of Dystopia
Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video and HIDIVE
The thought of a post-apocalyptic dystopian wasteland is an inherently negative one, which is why one anime series is such a breath of fresh air. Oddly enough, the cutesy Girl’s Last Tour is a rather cozy anime following two young girls who traverse the hellish fallout of a massive war. With little in the way of civilization still standing, they go about their day searching the wreckage and occasionally encountering other survivors.
Girl’s Last Tour shows that life goes on, even amid the biggest socital tragedies. For as morose as it can be, it’s still an strangely optimistic slice of life series in its own way. Thus, even those who don’t usually enjoy dystoian programming will potentially like this adorable dystopia.
Yuuri and Chito explore the aftermath of the apocalypse in a ruined world, seeking food and supplies.
- Release Date
- October 6, 2017
- Creator(s)
- Tsukumizu , Takaharu Ozaki
- Cast
- Yurika Kubo , Inori Minase , Akira Ishida , Kotono Mitsuishi , Yûki Kaji , Kana Hanazawa , Sumi Shimamoto , Motomu Kiyokawa
- Seasons
- 1
- Character(s)
- Yuuri , Chito , Kanazawa , Ishii , Automaton , Nuko , Eryngii , Grandpa
4 Nausicaa Has an Almost Magical Feel to Its Dystopia
Streaming On: Max and Hulu
Created by legendary anime filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is something erroneously seen as a Studio Ghibli production. It’s set in a future in which the world has been ravaged by pollution, with giant bugs called Ohmu essentially ruling the now dangerous surface world. The noxious gases make things hard to survive for humanity as many cling to prophecies for hope.
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Nausicaä is a classic that’s revered by many, with numerous fans and critics lauding its environmental themes. Its dystopian world sometimes felt more fantasy than sci-fi, but it was still a reality that could sadly come true in the near future. By the end of the story, things finally take a more hopeful tone, but the characters and the world at large are put through the ringer beforehand.
Nausicaä, the young princess of the Valley of the Wind, strives to protect her people and the natural world from the toxic jungle that threatens their existence. As she explores the mysteries of the jungle, she encounters giant insects and discovers the true nature of the environmental catastrophe. Her compassion and bravery lead her to seek harmony between humans and nature, battling destructive forces and uncovering ancient secrets along the way.
- Release Date
- March 11, 1984
- Cast
- Sumi Shimamoto , Gorô Naya , Yôji Matsuda
- Writers
- Hayao Miyazaki , Cindy Davis , Donald H. Hewitt , Kazunori Itô
- Runtime
- 117 Minutes
3 Fist of the North Star Is the Most Prolific Dystopian Anime
Streaming On: Crunchyroll
Fist of the North Star paved the way for many modern anime, but optimistic shows such as My Hero Academia and One Piece would be hard pressed to find much creative DNA tied to the old show. Set in a grim future, Fist of the North Star follows the wandering warrior Kenshiro as he protects the innocent from resource-stealing gangs and searches for his long-lost love. Using an esoteric martial art, the hero is able to violently defeat his enemies by simply striking their hidden pressure points.
Fist of the North Star is a more violent take on shonen archetypes, feeling more adult despite being so much older than more modern works. The world of the series is one that’s now ruled by violence, with the innocent suffering in the wake of tyranny. Thus, those who love old-school anime while wanting something with a bit more edge should definitely check out the classic show.
Fist of the North Star
- Release Date
- October 11, 1984
- Creator(s)
- Yoshiyuki Okamura , Tetsuo Hara
- Cast
- Akira Kamiya , Shigeru Chiba , Teiyu Ichiryusai , Tomiko Suzuki , Kenji Utsumi , Takaya Hashi , Yuriko Yamamoto
- Main Genre
- Action
- Seasons
- 4
- Writers
- Hiroshi Toda
- Directors
- Toyoo Ashida
2 Attack on Titan Is the Modern Dystopian Must-Watch Anime
Streaming On: Hulu, Sling TV, Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime Video
The popular Attack on Titan series is one of the biggest brands in the past decade, with the series’ success being a big part of what drove the modern dominance of anime. The series takes place in a world that’s victimized by gigantic, monstrous Titans. Lacking much in the way of resources or safety, much of humanity hides in a walled environment and strikes back at the Titans as best it can.
Many anime newcomers are at least familiar with the series, but not everyone has seen it. The success of Attack on Titan provided an alternative to more lighthearted and family-friendly anime, and it’s one of the most prominent examples of a dystopian series. Now that the anime and manga are finished, it’s a better time than ever to jump into its dark yet epic world.
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Original title: Shingeki no Kyojin.
After his hometown is destroyed and his mother is killed, young Eren Jaeger vows to cleanse the earth of the giant humanoid Titans that have brought humanity to the brink of extinction in Attack on Titan.
- Release Date
- September 28, 2013
- Cast
- Bryce Papenbrook , Yûki Kaji , Marina Inoue , Hiro Shimono , Takehito Koyasu , Jessie James Grelle
- Seasons
- 4 Seasons
- Studio
- Wit Studios, MAPPA
- Creator
- Hajime Isayama
- Production Company
- Number of Episodes
- 98 Episodes
1 Now and Then, Here and There Is the Darkest Isekai Ever
Streaming On: N/A
The commonly-seen isekai genre is everywhere, and it’s usually a vehicle for power fantasy storytelling. That’s not the case with Now and Then, Here and There, which is anything but happy-go-lucky. Featuring a young man who’s summoned to a dark and hopeless new world, Now and Then, Here and There is the reverse of most isekai. The world of the series is borderline medieval after major conflicts and disasters, with everyone forced into harsh roles to keep “society” going.
Featuring child soldiers, brutal assaults and other gruesome events, Now and Then, Here and There might be even harsher than Violence Jack. The situations that the many times young characters are put through would tax even the bravest hearts, and it’s shocking that they’re still able to come out with some semblance of hope for a better tomorrow. It’s not only a grim dystopian world, but one that showscases the potential of isekai beyond how it’s usually used.
Now and Then, Here and There
A young boy named Shuzo rushes to the defense of a stranger who is being attacked for her magic pendant, only to find himself transported into another world where water is a scarce commodity and he is forced to join an army of children.
- Release Date
- October 14, 1999
- Cast
- Crispin Freeman , Dan Green , Lisa Ortiz , Akemi Okamura , Kaori Nazuka
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- WOWOW
- Number of Episodes
- 13
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