Best Sci-Fi Anime of 2007

Simon and Kamina grow up in a deep subterranean village, hidden from the legendary surface world. Kamina is a wild, impulsive rebel determined to carve out his own legend, while Simon is a shy boy without any real dreams. While digging through the earth one day, Simon uncovers a strange object that proves to be the activation key for an ancient war machine, which the two name Lagann. With their newfound weapon, Simon and Kamina repel a sudden assault from the surface, aided by Yoko Littner—a fierce redhead with a large gun who roams the world above. After the fight, the sky becomes visible for the first time, inspiring Simon and Kamina to embark on a journey with Yoko across the barren surface. They soon join the struggle against the "Beastmen," humanoid monsters that torment what remains of humanity using powerful mecha called "Gunmen." Despite encountering difficulties and losses, the trio courageously battles these foes alongside other survivors to take back the surface, gradually uncovering a mystery that spans the entire galaxy.

In a future era, humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels results in their total exhaustion, triggering an unprecedented energy crisis. In response, the world shifts to solar power as an alternative. Nations consolidate into three major blocs: the Union of Solar Energy and Free Nations, the Advanced European Union, and the Human Reform League. Each faction gains access to a solar generator, providing them with limitless energy. Consequently, countries that once depended on fossil fuel exports fall into poverty, sparking prolonged wars and internal conflicts over control of solar energy. Into this turmoil emerges an unknown paramilitary group calling themselves "Celestial Being," which aims to eradicate all warfare through armed intervention using mysterious, highly advanced Mobile Suits called Gundams. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 follows Celestial Being’s Gundam Meisters—Setsuna F. Seiei, Lockon Stratos, Allelujah Haptism, and Tieria Erde. These four plunge into the devastating battles among the three superpowers, striving to achieve their goal of changing the world.

Fifteen kids enjoying a summer camp stumble upon a small cave by the shore while spending their carefree days together. Deep inside the caverns, they discover a mysterious room where they meet a strange man named Kokopelli. He invites them to play a game that involves taking turns piloting a giant robot to defend Earth from alien threats. Believing it to be some kind of interesting computer game, all but one of the children sign a contract agreeing to participate. Later that day, the giant robot appears in reality, and the children are teleported into its cockpit. There they find Kokopelli, who pilots a battle against a similar robotic creature that has suddenly emerged nearby. After winning the fight, Kokopelli tries to apologize, but the children are teleported back to the ground amid the wreckage before he can finish. Once the shock of the battle subsides, the robot vanishes without warning, leaving the kids scared and bewildered. Though it seemed like a harmless game at first, they never imagined the true stakes involved—or how their pasts would become intertwined with the choices they must now make.

In the near future, augmented reality is an essential part of everyday life. A gentle middle school girl named Yuuko "Yasako" Okonogi and her family have relocated to Daikoku City, despite rumors of people vanishing there. Her grandmother, known as "Mega-baa," runs a shop called Megasia that deals in illegal tools capable of interacting with parts of the virtual world. Mega-baa also operates an unofficial detective agency called "Coil," made up of children around Yasako's age who investigate and address corruption within the virtual world. Yasako becomes involved with the group when Fumie Hashimoto, a playful Coil member, helps rescue her cyberdog Densuke after he becomes trapped in virtual space while chasing a mysterious virus. Also looking into these corruptions and viruses is a sharp-tongued hacker named Yuuko Amasawa, whom the others refer to as Isako. Can Coil uncover the truths behind the mysterious viruses and corruption, and if they can, at what cost?

Upon extending an invitation to other civilizations to venture among the stars, the Golden Race received responses from three sentient races, whom they named the Bronze, Silver, and Heroic Tribes. Shortly before the Gold Tribe departed for another universe, a fourth race emerged, having reached the stars through their own efforts. The Golds designated humanity as the Iron Tribe. As time passes, humanity suffers under the dominance of the more powerful races and now teeters on the brink of extinction. Guided by a prophecy left by the Gold Tribe, Princess Deianeira embarks on a quest to find a being of immense power who might rescue humankind. On a desolate planet, she encounters a boy with wild hair—a fateful meeting that will reshape not only humanity's fate but the destiny of the entire universe.

Two decades before the events of the story, an asteroid on a collision course with Earth destroys Pluto. The destruction halts the asteroid, named Thanatos, and it becomes stationary for a time. To prevent Earth's impending annihilation, the International Solarsystem Development Agency (ISDA) undertakes the "D-Project," discovering a dragon egg beneath the ocean and creating the "Dragonaut." This weapon is intended to destroy the asteroid when it resumes its approach. However, the ISDA soon realizes that the asteroid is not the only danger, as destructive dragon-like creatures begin appearing on Earth. Jin Kamishina, an 18-year-old boy who lost his family in a shuttle accident two years prior, witnesses one of these creatures kill someone. He becomes entangled in the mysteries surrounding the dragons and is chosen as the Dragonaut's pilot. A mysterious girl named Toa saves him from falling to his death after the creature attacks him, and she helps him on his journey. As they delve deeper into the secrets of the dragons, they encounter both new allies and adversaries, and their bond grows stronger.

After Earth, or Terra, was rendered uninhabitable by pollution, global governments established Superior Domination to colonize space. Centuries pass, and humanity surrenders its liberty to the AI Grand Mother; at age 14, citizens undergo memory wipes and are assigned social roles. Jomy Marquis Shin, a gentle youth protected by his parents, is rescued from this fate by Soldier Blue, the leader of the Mu, a psychic human subspecies. Viewing Jomy as a threat to their order, SD authorities pursue him, leading him to the Mu, who reside on the spaceship Shangri-La. Years later, as the Mu resistance leader, Jomy travels to Terra to evade Keith Anyan, a ruthless and ambitious agent of SD. Jomy and his followers must reach humanity’s origin before Keith extinguishes their final chance for survival.

On Kamioki Island, a terrifying event occurred five years ago that wiped out the entire human population except for Mari Wakatake, whose mind was completely erased by the trauma. Now forced to attend a secluded girls' academy, Mari is unaware that she is being observed by hidden watchers who await her memories' return. Deep within her subconscious lies a horrifying truth: although she was the sole human survivor, she might not have been the only one to survive. As an entity in a female form infiltrates Kaihou Academy, Mari finds herself inexplicably drawn to a strange girl, who becomes her only hope despite her inability to trust her.

In the near future, humanity is locked in conflict with alien creatures known as Worms. The war has devastated Earth's population, primarily claiming the lives of young men. Though the Worms were pushed back, their resurgence prompts the creation of a mecha unit called the Sonic Divers, piloted by three young girls to face this threat.

A hundred and seven years ago, the Moon was annihilated in a colossal catastrophe that reduced Earth's former satellite to eighty-one quintillion tons of orbital debris. Super-advanced science managed to save the planet itself, and nowadays hardly anyone gives that century-old calamity much thought. So when teenage Haruka Amami tries out for something called the Idolmaster Project, she believes she is auditioning to become a singing idol. Instead, Haruka finds herself at a clandestine school run by the Mondenkind Agency, living alongside other girls who have also been chosen as candidates to pilot an iDOL—a high-tech robot built specifically to intercept falling lunar fragments. But the people in charge of the Mondenkind Agency are hardly noble saviors. And then there is the lingering question of whether the iDOLs are truly just machines, because almost from the start, Haruka begins to feel emotions resonating from within the iDOL known as Imber.

Chinami Ebihara possesses a peculiar ability to produce electromagnetic waves whenever her emotions become intense. Because this "ability" disrupts anything electronic, she was forced to move between schools frequently during her childhood. Now that Chinami is 18 and transferring to a new school, she once again causes malfunctions in the school's electronic devices. This time, however, another student, Kotaro Kannagi, witnesses her doing this and becomes determined to investigate her "TYPE-E" ability.

Mushi-uta is set in the near future. Ten years before the story begins, strange insect-like beings called "Mushi" started to appear. These Mushi feed on people’s dreams and thoughts in exchange for granting supernatural abilities. At the end of the first episode, protagonist Daisuke "Kakkou" Kusuriya meets a young girl named Shiika Anmoto. Over time, the two grow close. However, Kakkou does not know that Shiika is a fugitive from a secret prison called GARDEN, where those possessed by the Mushi—known as the Mushitsuki—are confined. GARDEN’s military arm, the Special Environmental Conservation Executive Office, sends its top assassin to hunt down Shiika. But they encounter opposition from the Mushibane resistance organization, which is led by the mysterious "Ladybird."

In the mid-1800s, fireworks artisan Seikichi Tamaya and his companions attempt to get by in Edo while dealing with the strict morality laws enacted by the severe city councilor, which forbid all indulgences—including fireworks. One day, a peculiar girl arrives at Seikichi's shop with an unusual request: she asks him to create a firework capable of reaching the moon.

After conquering Mt. Everest, climbing partners Saruwatari Gorou and "Lostman" Jack F. Woodbridge gaze up at the ISA Space Station and each swears to travel into space. When Helium 3, a new energy source, is found on the moon, NASA launches a project called "Nexus" to exploit that energy for Earth. This follows the two men and the separate journeys they take to make their dream come true in the race to tap the next-generation fuel.

The year is 2031 AD. Humanity is living in prosperity when suddenly, mysterious lifeforms known as Hardians emerge. These creatures rapidly multiply and launch attacks on human society. In response, humanity establishes the N.I.D.F. organization to study the Hardians and defend against them. Fighter pilot Aiba Shu gets drawn into the conflict against these beings. Top scientist Rurika Yuno, while researching the Hardians, encounters rumors of the "Book of a Dead Man." What secrets does this book hold, and how is it connected to the Hardians? Now, the battle for humanity's survival is set in motion.

In a forgotten town referred to as the old capital of Tokyo, bizarre and inexplicable crimes are happening with increasing frequency. These supernatural events lie beyond human comprehension, instilling fear and terror in the populace. Yet one person remains undaunted by the evil behind these incidents and steps forward to face them: Hyuga Mayuki, a young boy detective who possesses a unique insight power that allows him to uncover the true truth concealed within these occurrences.

Yukari Morita set out to search for her father, who vanished in the South Seas, unaware just how far her quest would take her. Traveling alone to the Solomon Islands is already a huge undertaking for a high school girl, but Yukari then encounters an astronaut from the Solomon Space Association, an organization struggling to create a rocket powerful enough to send someone into space. When SSA director Nasuda meets the petite Yukari, he realizes she is light enough to ride a less powerful rocket the SSA has already constructed. He proposes a deal: if Yukari agrees to serve as their astronaut, the SSA will help locate her missing father. Does Yukari have the right stuff to launch into the most extraordinary space adventure ever?

Saiga is an ordinary high school student who excels at mathematics. His everyday life is interrupted when his family learns that the remains of his father—a renowned archaeologist and researcher who disappeared years ago while excavating a site—have been found. Among the remnants are notes and artifacts that require identification by the family near a distinctive triangular mountain in Japan, often called "Japan's pyramid," which some believe to be artificially constructed. A meteor carrying a strange robotic life-form crashes down and starts wreaking havoc, endangering Saiga. This triggers a mysterious bracelet from his father's research, which activates and fuses him with an ancient robot buried inside the pyramid—a robot that the runes identify as Reideen. Now Saiga and the guardian Reideen must confront this unknown alien menace descending from the sky.

After being drafted into the Earth Team, a basketball squad made up entirely of humans, ex-street punk turned pro Hideyoshi becomes unbearably arrogant. The team still faces the Gorons, a physically superior alien race that has dominated the sport for a long time. Fresh challenges and obstacles arise in their path. Hideyoshi is dissatisfied with the team, and the Gorons have new tricks prepared.

This animated spin-off originates from the Densha Otoko (Trainman) television drama. Within that drama, actor Itoh Atsushi portrays the otaku Yamada, whose primary passion is the Mina anime, featuring a cute, busty heroine with floppy rabbit ears and carrots protruding from her behind. Mina itself serves as a character homage that traces back to the Daicon Animation created by GAINAX, which included a similar unnamed bunny girl. Densha Otoko also had an opening sequence containing scenes that appeared in the Daicon Animation.

Set half a century after the events of the original series, Kotetsushin Jeeg introduces a new generation of heroes. The story centers on Kenji Kusanagi, a high school student who transforms into Kotetsushin Jeeg to combat the unexpected resurgence of the Haniwa Genjin—clay robots known as the Haniwa Phantom Gods—sent by the Jamada Empire under Queen Himika. Among the new faces are Tsubaki Tamashiro, granddaughter of Miwa Uzuki, and Kyou Misumi. Additionally, several key characters from the original series make appearances.

In 2035 AD, the heads of ancient giant idols were excavated worldwide. Using those twelve stone statues, humanity narrowly averted the extinction event known as the "Equatorial Winter." However, the stone statues forced humanity to create colossal suits of armor to serve as their bodies and commanded the humans to fight each other.

By the 22nd century, global warfare has ceased, but localized conflicts still erupt all over the planet. Amid this, a giant robot emerges to defend the powerless, known as Dancougar Nova—some even worship it as a god. Yet its true purpose remains unknown, even to its own pilots. Then, against all expectations, a second robot reveals itself as the real enemy and launches an assault on Earth. Dancougar Nova retaliates by unleashing a power that had been kept secret until now. Can Dancougar Nova save the Earth? The opening notes of this explosive confrontation ring out.

The second season of Moonlight Mile.

In the year 20XX, enormous enigmatic robots called "Giant Robo (GR)" begin to appear around the world, destroying cities and plunging Earth into fear. Their next target is Japan. The story's hero, Daisaku Kusama, who works at a diving shop, encounters a mysterious girl known only as V. She leads him to an ancient ruin on Minami Yonaguni Island in Okinawa, where he forms a contract with the massive robot "Giant Robo 1 (GR1)." Daisaku then allies with UNISOM (the good side) and is approved as the commander of GR1. His battle against GRO (the evil side) commences, generating many dramatic events. Before long, the Giant Robo of the 21st century will pose a question to the world about the true meaning of its power.

The Glass no Kantai special episodes delve into the backstory of the Imperial Royal Family, detailing the occurrences that took place prior to the television series.

This program adapts short fiction by celebrated science-fiction author Hoshi Shinichi. Each installment combines animation, live-action footage, computer graphics, and other techniques to bring multiple short-short stories to life. The collection includes the pilot episode and all 25 television episodes.