Best Sci-Fi Anime of 1998

In the year 2071, humanity has colonized the galaxy, yet Earth-like problems such as murder, drug abuse, and theft persist. Consequently, a rising number of tough bounty hunters chase intergalactic outlaws. Spike Spiegel and Jet Black travel through space, hunting criminals to earn a modest living. Under Spike’s goofy and detached exterior lies the burden of a violent history. Jet copes with his own painful memories while caring for Spike and their ship, the Bebop. They are later joined by the attractive con artist Faye Valentine, the eccentric child Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV, and Ein, a bioengineered Welsh corgi. As the Bebop crew forms bonds and captures a diverse array of criminals, their lives are shaken by a threat from Spike’s past. With a rival’s insane scheme unfolding, Spike faces a choice between his life with his new family or vengeance for his old grievances.

Fourteen-year-old Lain Iwakura, a shy and socially awkward student, receives a peculiar email from Chisa Yomoda, a classmate who has recently taken her own life. Despite having no interest or experience with technology, Lain opens the message, which transports her into the Wired, a digital communication network akin to the real-world internet. Her existence is upended as she faces a series of enigmatic puzzles. Individuals known as the Men in Black start appearing in her vicinity, interrogating her with knowledge of her life that surpasses her own self-awareness. As the line between physical reality and cyberspace grows increasingly indistinct, Lain is drawn into increasingly surreal situations that challenge traditional notions of identity, consciousness, and perception. Created by Chiaki J. Konaka, the creator of Texhnolyze, Serial Experiments Lain is a psychological, avant-garde mystery that tracks Lain’s pivotal decisions, which resonate across both the tangible world and the Wired. Only Lain can grasp the true weight of these dual existences as one realm closes and another opens.

Vash the Stampede carries a 60 billion double-dollar bounty on his head. The reason: he is supposedly a heartless outlaw who destroys anyone who stands in his way and levels entire cities for amusement, earning him the nickname "The Humanoid Typhoon." Wherever he goes, death and ruin follow, and rumor says that even making eye contact with him means certain doom—or so the stories claim. In truth, Vash is an enormous softie who insists he has never killed anyone and does everything he can to avoid violence. With his absurd doughnut obsession and clownish demeanor in tow, Vash travels across the desert planet Gunsmoke, constantly tailed by two insurance agents, Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson, who try to keep his collateral damage under control. Before long, their chaotic adventures turn into life-or-death struggles when a group of legendary assassins is called in to bring suffering upon the trio. Vash's painful past comes to light, and his beliefs and moral code are pushed to their absolute limits.

Gene Starwind has always dreamed of flying his own starship into the vast reaches of space. However, that dream remains out of reach as he spends his days taking odd jobs alongside his partner James Hawking on the small planet Sentinel III. Everything changes when the pair accepts a job from Rachel Sweet, a treasure-hunting outlaw in disguise. Tasked with protecting a mysterious girl named Melfina, this encounter irreversibly alters their lives and sends them hurtling into the unknown aboard the highly advanced vessel Outlaw Star. Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star follows Gene and his motley crew as they brave the final frontier, traveling among the stars to uncover the secrets surrounding Melfina. Along the way, they clash with dangerous bounty hunters, space pirates, Taoist mages, and even catgirls—ensuring a thrilling adventure lies around every corner.

Following a catastrophic earthquake, Tokyo was rapidly reconstructed thanks to humanoid robots called boomers, which now serve as inexpensive labor. Genom Corporation, the creator of these machines, has amassed immense wealth and expanded its influence into space. However, neural malfunctions are causing some boomers to go berserk, leading to violent rampages that destroy property and kill humans. In response, Tokyo established the Advanced Police to handle boomer-related incidents, while rumors persist of a shadowy vigilante group known as the Knight Sabers. Eager to investigate this unit, the adventurous Linna Yamazaki travels to Tokyo to meet her idols. There, she encounters the mysterious singer Priscilla Asagiri, the sleek entrepreneur Sylia Stingray, and the energetic Nene Romanova, who have united for their own reasons. As the conflict escalates, the girls discover that the boomer crisis runs far deeper than they ever imagined.

Millie Nocturne's single greatest ambition is to become the best in the universe at absolutely everything. Yet when she tries her hand at being the "best detective," she finds herself reluctantly partnered with two people who will change her life forever: Kane Blueriver, the psi-blade-wielding master of the starship Swordbreaker, and Canal, the sharp-tongued holographic form of the ship's computer. Follow this mismatched trio as they race through space, taking on intergalactic crime lords, rogue starships, and hijackers dressed as chickens—and that's just the start of the chaos.

In the year 2023, extraterrestrial entities called Lucifer Hawks launch an invasion of Earth from a parallel dimension. The sole barrier against their subjugation of humanity is the Attacked Mystification Police Department, an elite Tokyo Police unit composed of female officers possessing extraordinary supernatural powers.

Set a few months after the events of the Saber Marionette J OVA, this new chapter in the Saber Marionette saga follows Otaru and his devoted, possessive marionette girls as they face fresh challenges. The villainous Faust has returned, once again meddling with forbidden Marionette technology. The Saber Dolls reappear, caught between their budding affection for Otaru and their unshakable allegiance to Faust. Can Otaru, Lime, Cherry, and Bloodberry thwart Faust a second time, or will they all end up on the scrap heap?

Team Warrior operates as a specialized anti-terror unit within the Neo-Tokyo Police force. Its members include Rio, who is perpetually broke; Maya, who has an obsession with guns; computer expert Lillica; technology specialist Nanvel; Yuji, a pilot with voyeuristic tendencies; and their enigmatic leader, Maki. The team handles various assignments such as bodyguard details, dismantling robbery and arms trafficking operations, and guarding a highly formidable tank. Rio and the others consistently foil the schemes of Ruby, an agent working for a mysterious coalition of influential figures. In the lead-up to the final confrontation, the story uncovers how Team Warrior was originally assembled, how the clever Rio came to be part of it, and the painful history that Maki carries.

In the near future, much of Earth has been flooded or shattered by earthquakes. At the heart of the chaos lies the enigmatic Orphan, who may or may not be the original cause of these disasters. Orphan aims to raise a ship buried deep beneath the ocean to the surface—an act that would wipe out all humans except for the small number loyal to Orphan. Orphan's agents pilot mysterious mecha called Grand Cheres, scouring the world for enormous, mysterious disks that sporadically appear, tearing through the countryside or cities at high speed when they crash. When one such dying disk nearly kills Hime, a Brain Powerd is born from it. Brain Powerds are another type of mecha, similar to but distinct from Grand Cheres. Hime becomes the Brain Powerd's pilot, forming a symbiotic bond with the living machine, and joins an international organization dedicated to stopping Orphan—or at least saving humanity if Orphan succeeds.

Ryo, Gawl, and Koji are three youths who journey to the past with a single goal: to alter the course of history. In their own era, they discover that their nation, Kubere, employs genetically enhanced individuals known as generators as military weapons. These generators trigger the Third War, which wipes out most of humanity. So Koji, Ryo, and Gawl have arrived to prevent those events from happening.

In the 25th century, a dark lord has contaminated history with time-devices that could cause irreversible damage. Genshi and his father once lived in prehistoric times before being fossilized. After their discovery, Genshi is restored to his original state. With assistance from his father, a boy named Tony, and a girl named Sara, he must journey through time to return the time-devices to the land of time and save history.

Each episode follows Nuku Nuku's high school adventures and mishaps, along with her interactions with fellow students. The overarching plot involves the villainous Mishima Industries trying to dominate the globe with their products. Opposing them are the eccentric Kyuusaku Natsume and Nuku Nuku, an android who serves as a companion to his young son. Nuku Nuku's classmates are all peculiar: class president Futaba is a domineering control freak who can't stand losing authority at school. Chieko Shirakaba is a wealthy snob accompanied by two sycophants who always back her up. There is also a bookworm, a mystic, a scientist, and a pop singer. Each lives up to their label: the mystic constantly predicts doom using tarot cards, spirits, or other occult methods; the pop singer communicates only through song; the bookworm always has her nose buried in a book. These quirks contribute to the show's humor.

A "patapi" is an adorable mechanical creature similar to a cyber pet, capable of eating, sleeping, playing, and even assisting its owners with various tasks. When Hibari Hanakoganei receives a patapi from a prince she encounters in her dreams, she is overjoyed and names it Densuke. However, when shady forces attempt to steal Densuke, Hibari learns that it is no ordinary patapi—Densuke possesses magical abilities that let it transform into a powerful cyber-fighter bearing Hibari's appearance. Hibari's friends also obtain similar patapis, and together they unite as the Cyber Team in Akihabara.

After a great and terrible war, Haruka is the last surviving human on Earth. Even though humanity is gone, she is not alone—advanced robots survived the apocalypse, and five of them live with and care for her: Spike, a boyish android deeply attached to her; Trigger, hot-tempered and fond of firearms; Cleric, the intelligent problem solver; Reeves, whose thoughtfulness masks his intimidating appearance; and Angela, a sword-wielding recluse who avoids humans. They reside in a high-rise building at the city center, where Haruka leads a fairly peaceful life with her mechanical family. But her life is far from stable. Resources are scarce, and violent remnant robots from the war roam free, ready to destroy anyone they meet. Kurogane Communication follows Haruka as she tries to survive in an apocalyptic world, facing many dangers that challenge her daily life.

Bolt Crank, the World's Greatest Mercenary, continues his exploits. His unique ability lets him consume any object, particularly metal and weapons, and later materialize those items from his right hand when needed.

Milk-chan is a girl living in a house that is stuck on the side of a building, accompanied by her two sidekicks: Tetsu-ko, a paranoid robot shaped like a bottle, and Hanage, a green blob with a mustache. Milk is too poor to pay the rent, especially after her failed attempt to extort a local ant family. However, she is saved when the president himself offers her a job—some kind of secret mission. Milk-chan answers the phone to receive these missions from the president by saying something like, "Hello, Bank of Hokkaido. Just kidding!" After receiving her mission, Milk-chan and her sidekicks take off in the "Milk-6" helicopter to carry it out. Did I mention this is a spoof of 1970s spy thrillers or some sort of Bond movie?

By the year 2010, radio broadcasting in Japan is experiencing a downturn. In an effort to boost their falling listener numbers, a radio station run by a group of chronic underachievers decides on a bold strategy: bringing on the very first android announcer. Maico may be adorable, but simply being a novelty isn't enough to capture the unpredictable audience's attention—especially when her colleagues are so incompetent.

In ages past, the Dark B-Da, or dark beings, assaulted B-Da City in an attempt to seize control of the entire Blue Solar System. Utilizing their legendary might and clever technology, the valiant B-Daman managed to defeat the Nol Arc Empire and bring tranquility back to the cosmos. A millennium later, the Dark B-Da have resurfaced to subjugate the Blue Solar System and expand their rule. Shirobon, a young B-Daman driven by a fierce sense of justice, steps up to protect B-Da City. Teaming up with his companions, they engage in combat against the Dark B-Da, who have arrived to obliterate their homeland.

Beast Wars Second introduces a new group of characters taking place far in the future, who journey to a devastated Earth that has been renamed the planet Gaia. The Cybertrons, under the command of Lio Convoy, are dispatched to examine a strange alteration in the planet’s behavior and to stop the Destrons, led by Galvatron, who aim to consume Gaia’s abundant energy source known as Angolmois.

Shu comes from Datania, a nation where young children are forced into labor. While trying to flee with his friends, they encounter the Returners, a group of rebels opposing Datania. Shu joins the Returners in their fight against Zero, Nines, and his followers, who are pursuing DT—a unique substance found within humans.

A conflict among young band members and a disastrous musical selection accidentally pulls them into the demonic terror called the desert-god Gandalla.

Cyress is a tranquil world where life proceeds as usual: lovers embrace, a family celebrates a child's birthday, and a group gathers for festivities at a local restaurant. But without warning, smoke and fire erupt around them. A terrorist faction has breached the planetary defenses and launched an attack. The citizens of Cyress are defenseless. While the military races to understand the situation, the terrorists take control of seven PDP missiles—weapons capable of annihilating an entire planet. Calling themselves "Solomon," these terrorists now hold whole worlds hostage. They must be stopped.

The space travel company YAT finds itself drifting into uncharted regions of outer space. Meanwhile, the group meets the psychic Maron and the scientist Note. Soon after, they are attacked by the evil ruler Ganon. Note is taken away after being assaulted by one of Ganon's followers, Baras. To rescue Note, the team must use the instantaneous portable device that Note invented in order to reach Ganon's planet. However, the planet's location remains a mystery.

The story revolves around Kanipan aiming to be the best inventor and his adventures while trying to accomplish this.

Matsuzawa-sensei’s debut work features an elite soldier nicknamed the God of Death who gets reassigned to the PaPaRa Army, a unit notorious for its brilliant yet absurdly eccentric members. The story lacks a serious narrative, relying entirely on comedy, slapstick violence, and sheer absurdity.

On July 27, 1996, director Takeyuki Kanda passed away unexpectedly at the age of 52. Since he was known for directing several animations, including VIFAM, a new TV series was broadcast in 1998 as a tribute to his memory. Aired from March 21 to October 3, 1998, in the Kansai area, the series consists of 26 episodes. Similar to Twelve People Disappeared, it serves as a sidestory but introduces new elements such as additional characters and a new RV. The narrative can be placed between episodes 22 and 26 of the original VIFAM series, with episodes 24 and 25 being digest recaps. It is structured into three parts: Act I (episodes 1-14), Interlude (episodes 15-18), and Act II (episodes 19-26), though Act I and Act II share little connection. While some view it as a New Testament, it is generally considered apocryphal, or even a pseudo-VIFAM. Various reasons support this classification, but watching the series is the best way to comprehend them.

To defend Earth from alien invaders, the god of Takoyaki created the five warriors of justice: Takoyaki Mantle Man. They risk their lives for justice. Each hero has a round face, wears a white cape, and bears an octopus belt as their symbol. Red serves as leader, with a special attack called Pickled Ginger Clash. Green is an energetic and impulsive boy whose special attack is Green Onion Nunchaku. Pink is a precocious girl whose special attack is Okaka Flash. Blue is a sweet crybaby whose special attack is Seaweed Buster. Yellow is a cheerful boy whose special attack is Tenkasu Beam. Takoyaki Mantle Man are cute and strong heroic characters, friendly toward children. Their enemies are too silly to hate. The story is very lively and amusing.