AbstractAbstract works are generally intellectual in nature and rooted in imagination or philosophy, portraying a unique message or theme. As such, they don't necessarily focus on traditional narration, characterization, or development, presenting unique, unconventional or vivid visual styles instead. | ||
AliensThe universe is vast, and it's easy to imagine that there might be non-human life on distant worlds. Whether physically similar to mankind or vastly different, these works feature beings born on other worlds. Anime that take place on Earth might encounter unexpected visitors with unknown intentions; or on the homeworld of another culture, human beings are the Aliens. | ||
AndroidsAndroids are artificially-created beings that are made to look and act like humans - in advanced cases, they are indistinguishable. As machines, they are often shown as possessing stronger logic and reasoning than real humans; however, this logic can also limit them, as they can have difficulty processing emotional concepts or social relationships. These anime feature Androids in starring roles, either as main characters or as important elements of the plot or setting. | ||
AstronautsThese anime showcase characters that are in training or have been trained by NASA, JAXA or some other space exploration organization to complete tasks outside of the confines of Earth, such as working on space stations or cleaning up debris in orbit. Unlike futuristic civilizations where travelling into the galaxy is commonplace, these anime take place in an era where space travel isn't easily accomplished by the general populace. | ||
AstronomyCharacters in these anime love to look up at or study the stars, using a telescope, planetarium, or just their own eyes. | ||
Based on a Mobile GameThese anime are based on Mobile Games: games that you can play on your phone or other small portable devices. | ||
Chinese AnimationThese anime usually have original Chinese dialogue and/or were first released in China. This type of animation is referred to as Donghua. For Chinese manga, see Manhua. | ||
Combining Mecha | ||
CyberpunkCyberpunk is a type of science fiction where rapid advancement of technology comes at the cost of neglecting social issues. Common themes include powerful or intelligent computers, vast cyberspace networks that can be jacked into or explored virtually, or human augmentation. Many Cyberpunk anime showcase a society that's evolved into a hyper-efficient Dystopia where human needs are secondary to a smoothly functioning corporate machine. | ||
CyborgsHarder, better, faster, stronger. Cyborgs are organic beings enhanced by mechanical prosthetics, granting them abilities beyond those of mere mortals. Where does the man end and the machine begin? | ||
DystopiaUnlike idyllic utopias, a Dystopia is an imagined timeline where something has gone terribly wrong. In these anime, invasive, totalitarian governments might rule the populace with an iron fist and use fear as a controlling mechanism. Sentient machines, ethics violations, forced population control and corrupt justice systems are common Dystopian themes. Some Dystopias might appear to be utopias, but once you look beneath the surface, terrible secrets are exposed. | ||
MechaMecha are self-propelling machines that are modeled after humans; some can change into multiple, non-humanoid formats as well. They're usually controlled by an internal pilot or by remote, but are sometimes sentient beings that move autonomously. A mecha's size ranges from bulky, wearable armor to a massive, towering contraption and beyond. While mecha have a wide range of applications, such as making manual labor easier, they are most commonly portrayed as heavily-armed war machines. | ||
No DialogueThese anime contain no dialogue. | ||
Real RobotThese anime feature Mecha that are based on hard science, and have realistic abilities and limitations. These anime tend to have overarching plots and more mature themes than their Super Robot counterparts. | ||
RecapIn these titles, a character or narrator recaps the events of part or all of a series. Recaps are typically movies (anime) or specials, and sometimes have new animation or artwork that showcases the characters doing the narration. | ||
Sci FiSci-fi, or science fiction, is a speculative genre which builds on imagination. Sci-fi anime ask, "what if things were different?" They explore a new world, whether it's the world of the future or past, a present Earth with a changed history, a land that was previously unknown, or another planet entirely. The genre commonly features humanity's inquisitiveness and innovation, as they grapple with new technologies, new societies, or new frontiers in Outer Space. | ||
Sentient MechaThese anime feature living, sentient Mecha that don't have a pilot. They might be Transforming Mecha or Combining Mecha. | ||
Transforming MechaThese anime feature Mecha that can rearrange their parts to take another form, such as a car, boat, or plane. Each piece of a Combining Mecha usually transforms before joining into its final shape. |