Best Sci-Fi Anime of 2011

Inventive scientist Rintarou Okabe possesses an unquenchable drive for scientific discovery. Alongside his scatterbrained yet good-hearted friend Mayuri Shiina and his roommate Itaru Hashida, Okabe establishes the Future Gadget Laboratory, aiming to create technological breakthroughs that defy human understanding. Despite lofty ambitions, the team's only noteworthy invention so far is a microwave with the peculiar ability to turn bananas into a green sludge. When Okabe attends a time travel conference, he encounters a chain of odd occurrences that suggest the "Phone Microwave" gadget hides far more potential than initially assumed. Capable of sending text messages to the past via the microwave, Okabe delves deeper into this makeshift time machine, drawing the hostile attention of the shadowy organization SERN. This groundbreaking discovery plunges Okabe and his friends into constant peril. As he struggles to repair the damage his invention has inflicted on the timeline, Okabe fights not only to protect those he cares about but also to hold onto his own unraveling sanity.

Ganta Igarashi's day starts out ordinarily enough as he and his classmates prepare for a field trip to Deadman Wonderland, a prison-themed amusement park where inmates perform dangerous stunts for the crowd's entertainment. But everything changes when a mysterious man dressed in red slaughters the entire class. Framed for the crime and handed a death sentence, Ganta is sent to the very prison he was supposed to visit. His ordeal has only just begun. Thrust into a brutal world of sadistic prisoners and strange supernatural abilities, Ganta lives under the constant threat of a lethal collar around his neck—a device that can only be slowed by winning the prison's deadly games. He must risk his life to survive in a ruthless environment where friends and enemies are hard to distinguish, all while searching for the enigmatic "Red Man" to prove his innocence.

On December 24, 2029—a date that came to be known as "Lost Christmas"—the Apocalypse Virus swept across Japan, causing widespread death and throwing the entire nation into complete disarray. To restore order, the United Nations dispatches the GHQ to manage the crisis by containing the outbreak, but in doing so, strips Japan of all its political independence. A decade later, the country remains under GHQ's authority, unable to escape their harsh rule. Discontented with the nation's situation, a rebel faction called the Funeral Parlor seeks to free Japan from GHQ's control. Under the command of the charismatic Gai Tsutsugami, the group plans to steal a vial containing the "Void Genome" to advance their cause. The vial ends up in the possession of internet singer Inori Yuzuriha, who is then pursued by the GHQ's Anti-Bodies forces. With no place to escape, she takes shelter in a warehouse, where she encounters Shuu Ouma—an awkward high school student who is an avid fan of her music. Shuu is pulled into the turmoil the moment he comes to Inori's aid, and the Void Genome breaks in his hand, granting him the "Power of the Kings." As he struggles to master this formidable new ability, Shuu must now fight to free Japan from its cruel oppressors.

Japan created the Infinite Stratos, a powered exoskeleton that only women can pilot, and its immense destructive power led to a global treaty banning its military use. When fifteen-year-old Ichika Orimura is discovered to be the only male capable of operating an IS, he is forced to attend the Infinite Stratos Academy—an all-girls boarding school where students train as IS pilots. There, Ichika reunites with childhood friends Houki Shinonono and Lingyin Huang, and also grows close to Cecilia Alcott, the representative of the United Kingdom. Under the strict supervision of Chifuyu Orimura, his older sister and their homeroom teacher, Ichika and his female classmates must use their abilities to defend themselves and their school from the dangers that arise during their exciting school life.

A year after disappearing, Shinpachi Shimura comes back to Edo, only to find his fellow Yorozuya members, Gintoki and Kagura, acting like total strangers. Panicked by this confusion, he flees the headquarters and realizes that everyone in the city has undergone bizarre changes in both looks and personality. The most unbelievable twist is that his sister Otae is now married to the Shinsengumi chief and persistent stalker Isao Kondou and is expecting their first baby. Confused but compelled by Otae and Kondou, Shinpachi joins the Shinsengumi, where he uncovers even more shocking alterations within the group. When he learns that Vice Chief Toushirou Hijikata has stayed exactly the same, he teams up with the unchanging officer to restore Edo to its former state. Continuing with its signature mix of crude humor, witty parodies, and cheeky references, Gintama' takes the Yorozuya crew through another series of chaotic adventures in the lively, alien-infused setting of Edo.

Long ago, after a brutal world war ended, humanity sought refuge in six city-states that appeared peaceful and ideal—at least outwardly. Shion, an elite inhabitant of No. 6, had his view of this world transformed by a chance meeting with a mysterious boy called Nezumi. Nezumi was one of many who dwelled in the desolate wasteland beyond the city's walls, far from the so-called utopia. Despite knowing that Nezumi was a fugitive, Shion decided to let him stay for the night and offered him protection, which brought about severe consequences: due to his actions, Shion and his mother lost their elite standing and were sent elsewhere, and the city's darker side began to reveal itself. Now, a long time after that life-changing first encounter, Shion and Nezumi are finally reunited. The former elite and the boy on the run are about to set out on an adventure that will, in due course, expose the devastating truths hidden within No. 6.

Decades from now, humanity faces a relentless threat from an alien species called the Novas. Wherever they emerge, these inhuman creatures leave destruction in their wake, and the battles to repel them are known as Nova Clashes. To fight back, young women—dubbed "Pandoras"—and young men—called "Limiters"—are implanted with stigmata granting them superhuman abilities. They train at military academies, learning to cooperate if humanity hopes to survive. Freezing follows Kazuya Aoi on his first day at West Genetics military academy, which coincides with a Pandora battle royale. There, he mistakes Satellizer el Bridget—a formidable Pandora known as the "Untouchable Queen"—for his deceased sister and embraces her. Although his action costs her the match, she discovers that his touch does not repel her and decides to take him as her Limiter. The question remains whether their partnership can endure the schemes of their upperclassmen and the looming conflict with the Novas.

For second-year economics university student Kimimaro Yoga, money is power—and without it, life holds no value. Living in a country plagued by economic collapse, he struggles to get by while watching his peers enjoy relatively comfortable lives. Everything changes when a man in a top hat named Masakaki appears at his door late one night. Masakaki invites Yoga to the Eastern Financial District, a place overflowing with money for those willing to put up their "future" as collateral. Though hesitant, his greed overcomes his caution, and he accepts, becoming an Entre. Unbeknownst to him, this world of wealth is actually an alternate realm modeled after his own, where Entres are forced into weekly battles called Deals, wagering their collateral. Facing off against his fellow countrymen and fate itself, Yoga must quickly learn to survive in this new reality—fighting to protect both his fortune and his future, and discovering what money is truly worth.

Makoto Niwa keeps a meticulous tally of the positive and negative youthful experiences he accrues, as though grading his own life. When his parents move overseas, he relocates to a new town to stay with his aunt, embracing the change and anticipating a fresh start. However, as ordinary as he had imagined his adolescence would be, he never factored in the existence of a mysterious long-lost cousin. Upon arriving at his aunt's home, he discovers the cousin he never knew about: Erio Touwa. Though she is Makoto's age, she could not be more different: Erio chooses to spend all day wrapped in a futon rather than attend school. She even claims to be an alien, and with a speech pattern and personality to match, any hope of Makoto's dreamed-of normal life is immediately dashed. As he encounters a series of other eccentric girls in the town, Makoto must confront the possibility of seeing his youth points in the red. Yet he might be surprised by just how exciting an abnormal youth can be.

In the quiet town of Inaba, a string of serial murders has baffled the police, who have made little progress. Amidst this unsettling atmosphere, Yuu Narukami relocates to the area to stay with his uncle for a year while his parents work abroad. He begins attending Yasogami High School, where he quickly becomes friends with Yousuke Hanamura, Chie Satonaka, and Yukiko Amagi. One day after school, the group tells Yuu about an urban legend called the "Midnight Channel"—a TV show that supposedly airs only at midnight on rainy nights when the viewer is alone. Intrigued, Yuu decides to check it out that night. Instead of the expected broadcast, he sees the face of the next murder victim. Stranger still, he feels a strange pull toward the television, which sparks the curiosity of his friends and leads them to investigate further. Yuu eventually tumbles into the strange realm inside the TV, a place shrouded in thick fog and filled with dangerous beings known as "Shadows." Convinced that this alternate world holds the key to the murders, the group forms the Investigation Team, determined to solve the mystery behind the horrifying incidents.

In the city of Stern Bild, individuals with special abilities are known as NEXT, who may use their powers for either heroism or villainy. A select group of NEXT appear regularly on Hero TV, chasing criminals to bring attention to their sponsors and earn Hero Points, all while competing to become the next King of Heroes. Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, also called "Wild Tiger," is a veteran hero whose performance has recently declined, partly because of his difficulty cooperating with other heroes. After a lackluster season where most of his peers far outperformed him, Tiger is partnered with a new hero who goes by his real name—Barnaby Brooks Jr. Barnaby, nicknamed "Bunny" by his carefree partner, wastes no time making it clear that the two could not be more opposite. Even though they mix like oil and water, Tiger and Bunny must learn to work together, both for their careers and to confront the growing dangers lurking within Stern Bild.

In the far future, humanity abandons a devastated Earth and ventures into outer space. However, due to an unknown phenomenon that prevents space travel, humans return to Earth only to find it inhospitable except for Japan. To accommodate the entire population, pocket dimensions are created around Japan to house the people. In search of a way back to space, humanity begins reenacting human history according to the holy book Testament. But in Testament Era year 1413, the nations of the pocket dimensions invade and conquer Japan, dividing the territory into feudal fiefdoms and forcing the original inhabitants of Japan to leave. Now, in Testament Era 1648, the Japanese refugees live on the city ship Musashi, which constantly travels around Japan under the watch of the Testament Union, the authority that governs the historical reenactment. Rumors of apocalypse and war begin to spread when the Testament stops revealing what happens after 1648. Taking advantage of this situation, Toori Aoi, head of Musashi Ariadust Academy's Supreme Federation and President of the student council, leads fellow classmates in using this opportunity to reclaim their homeland.

In a future dystopian Tokyo, detective Shinjuurou Yuuki—known to some as the "Defeated Detective"—solves mysteries across the city. With the help of odd associate Inga, Shinjuurou's keen insight and cleverness crack cases, particularly homicides, leading to numerous solved mysteries and captured culprits. Yet Inga seems to harbor darker intentions for those caught, and the truth behind the assistant's identity and motives stays hidden.

Yukitaka Tsutsui, a high school student from Tokyo, relocates to Yamagata Prefecture on a baseball scholarship after attending Japan’s premier middle school for the sport, drawing great excitement from the local residents. Upon arriving at his new apartment, however, he finds a stranger casually wearing his clothes and reading his materials. This individual introduces himself as Baka Ki El Dogra, the crown prince of Dogra, claiming to be an alien whose ship crashed on Earth with no other place to go. In reality, he is merely one of many extraterrestrials who have settled on the planet. Despite his royal lineage, the prince is notorious across the galaxy for his extreme foolishness, showing no hesitation in bothering others for his own entertainment. Whether he conducts absurd experiments on his subordinates, grants bizarre abilities to random children, or simply acts as a general nuisance, everyone is vulnerable to the idiot prince’s chaotic behavior.

Since the Fractale system was created, the world has enjoyed lasting peace. People live in solitude, focusing on their own hobbies, sustained by Fractale terminals implanted in their bodies. Clain Necran spends his time gathering old technological relics from the era before Fractale was introduced, and his only companions are his parents' Doppels—advanced holographic clones. Clain then encounters Phryne, the first real human girl he has ever met, and he is immediately captivated by her. But Phryne is being chased by the anti-Fractale group called The Lost Millennium, and she entrusts Clain with a strange artifact before vanishing. Convinced he must rescue Phryne and return her belongings, Clain sets off to find her. His quest leads him deep into the heart of the Fractale system, where uncovering its true nature proves far more dangerous than he ever expected.

Alma Tandoji has been living in isolation. One day, Ruri Alba, accompanied by her butler and maids, comes to see him. She senses that Alma possesses the dormant power of Sacred Seven and asks him to lend her his strength. He refuses and sends her away, haunted by past incidents where his uncontrollable power harmed others. Meanwhile, a monstrous Dark Stone creature emerges in the peaceful Kanto town. Only Alma's Sacred Seven power can oppose it. But when he tries to fight, his power runs wild, making the situation worse. Ruri raises her gemstone to unlock his true potential, uttering the words, "My Soul I give to you." With Ruri's heartfelt wish sealed within that gem, can Alma overcome the Dark Stone?

Yoshino Hide is an ordinary girl who constantly attracts trouble. Seeking good luck for an upcoming exam, she visits a local shrine and notices a strange blue light emanating from within. Curious, she peers inside to see a mysterious figure casting a spell. Bad luck strikes when she trips on a small bell, crashing into the shrine just as the stranger catches her. This collision causes the magic to spiral out of control, transporting Yoshino back to the Sengoku Era. There, she meets Akechi Mitsuhide and Oda Nobunaga. However, Yoshino discovers that history has been altered, as every person in this world is female. She resolves to assist Oda Nobunaga in locating the legendary Crimson Armor, an artifact rumored to grant its wearer the power to conquer all of Japan.

"I've made up my mind! I'm going to steal that ship!" All life flows from the Grand Lake. At this holy site, the conflict between the Ades Federation and the Turan Kingdom erupts. The Federation, wielding colossal warships and aiming for global domination, launches an assault on Turan. As their forces encroach upon the kingdom, Turan faces imminent destruction. Above the chaos, the Turan princesses watch as the small vanship Vespa soars overhead. "We will now seize your flagship and remove her from this battlefield. Choose: perish here, or live on with us, Sky Pirates!" The Vespa dodges a hail of bombs as the Federation fleet closes in on Turan. What drives Luscinia, the man leading the Ades Federation into war? And what lies behind the secret of "Exile"?

In A.G. 101, the 101st year of the Advanced Generation calendar, a mysterious force called the "UE" (Unknown Enemy) assaults and destroys the space colony Angel. This devastating event becomes remembered as "The Day the Angel Fell" and signals the start of humanity's struggle for survival. The story picks up in A.G. 108 when the UE strikes the space colony Ovan, where Flit Asuno resides with his mother. Flit's mother is killed in the attack, and within her possessions—an object known as an "AGE Device"—he discovers the schematics for a legendary weapon from the past: the ancient savior called "Gundam." Using these blueprints, Flit dedicates the next several years to studying engineering at an Earth Federation base located on the Nora space colony, where he designs the AGE-1 Gundam. Seven years later, in A.G. 115, Flit finishes the Gundam just as the UE launches an assault on Nora. The battle of Flit and his bloodline piloting the AGE-1 to defend humanity is about to begin.

Nyarlko is a formless deity from the Cthulhu Mythos who can assume any form, but most often appears as a seemingly ordinary silver-haired girl. One night, normal high school student Mahiro Yasaka is chased by aliens, until Nyarlko comes to the rescue.

This 3D computer animation follows Drossel von Flügel, a female robot duchess, and her guardian servant robot Gedächtnis.

3 specials released with the BD/DVDs.

As with any dedicated card game player, Hajime Hinobori has long dreamed of seeing the Spirits from his cards become real and engage in actual battles. This wish is made possible by Hajime's scientist parents, who create an augmented reality system that transforms the competitive world of Battle Spirits. Enthusiastic players from all over the world come to try out this revolutionary fighting method. Aiming to become the champion of this new era of Battle Spirits, Hajime meets a host of vibrant and unusual rivals, such as the eccentric diva Kimari Tatsumi and the arrogant genius Tegamaru Tanashi. On this path of personal growth and card-playing adventures, there is never a dull moment for the young heroes chasing the championship title.

A junior high student named Kino is the protagonist. Every one hundred thousand years, the Seven Parrallel Universes align along a single path and stay connected for seven days. During this period, wars erupt between civilizations from different universes, typically because a being of immense power arises with the goal of conquering all universes. However, a legendary team of warriors chosen from each universe emerges to oppose them—this group is known as the Army of Ultra Beast Force. In this cycle, Mio, the most powerful lord across all universes, is about to awaken. As one of the selected warriors, Kino and his friends receive training from Master Wyatt, journey through the multiverse, and encounter both new allies and rivals in their quest to stop Mio. By harnessing his "Dark Energy Locker," Kino can transform into a Robo-Soldier by unleashing his latent dark energy, and along the way he faces many evil enemies.