Best Sci-Fi Anime of 2016

Naho Takamiya's first day of her second year of high school gets off to a rough start. After waking up late, she discovers a mysterious letter addressed to her—one that comes from herself ten years in the future. At first, Naho is doubtful, but when the events described in the letter begin to unfold exactly as written, she accepts that it truly came from her 26-year-old self. The letter explains that her future life is full of regrets, and she wants her younger self to correct the mistakes of the past. It also warns her to keep a close eye on the new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, because he is no longer around in the future. With the letter as her guide, Naho now has the chance to protect Kakeru before she ends up regretting it all over again.

Katsuhira Agata is a reserved and introverted high school student who has almost completely lost the ability to feel pain. His classmate, Chidori Takashiro, is one of the few people who remembers what Katsuhira was like before this drastic change. Because of his indifferent and subdued demeanor, Katsuhira becomes an easy target for bullies who extort large sums of money from him; they can hit him without getting much of a reaction, as he remains emotionally detached. One day, Katsuhira, Chidori, and four other teenagers are abducted and forced to take part in the Kizuna System as designated "Kiznaivers." This network connects participants through shared pain, so when one member is injured, the others feel the same level of agony. Assigned to be test subjects for a flawed system meant to create worldwide peace, these teens are bound together by fate. To survive, they must show their true selves to one another, or face consequences that go far beyond the failure of the Kizuna System.

The Savage, an alien lifeform, has begun attacking humanity, with the Hundred being the only technological countermeasure capable of stopping them. Hayato Kisaragi, who survived an encounter with the Savage, has the highest compatibility rate with these weapons. As a result, he is enlisted into Little Garden, a prestigious military academy located on a battleship, to train and improve his skills. In the midst of his intense training, Hayato soon catches the interest of multiple female classmates and gets caught up in various incidents while fighting the creatures that now overrun Earth and threaten its security.

On day 2539, Rin awakens alone again, her memories fuzzy and with no contact from any other human. Yet she feels no boredom, for she holds a tablet capable of generating any world she wishes. Each day, Rin constructs a splendid reality—one paradise after another—to protect herself from isolation, all while hoping to uncover the mystery behind her own existence.

In the near future, humanity uncovers a fourth dimension known as Dimension W, which holds a seemingly limitless source of energy. To harness this profound power, people create advanced "coils," devices that connect to and utilize the energy from Dimension W. However, by 2071, the New Tesla Energy corporation has monopolized the energy market through coils, leading to the widespread illegal distribution of unofficial coils that flood the markets. Kyouma Mabuchi is an ex-soldier who is suspicious of all coil-based technology, even to the point of still driving a gas-powered car. Kyouma works as a "Collector," someone whose only job is to hunt down illegal coils for money. What begins as just another routine mission changes dramatically when he encounters Mira Yurizaki, an android with ties to the "father" of coils. As a series of bizarre events unfold, these two unlikely allies join forces to uncover the secrets of Dimension W.

One quiet and peaceful day, the sky tore open as extradimensional beings known as the Unknown launched a swift and brutal assault on humanity. To preserve the future of the nation, all of Japan's children were placed into cryogenic freezing to keep them safe until the war concluded. Several years later, humanity had established a stronghold in a corner of Japan, now serving as the frontline of the conflict. With the threat of extinction no longer imminent, the children were awakened. They discovered that during cryogenesis, each child had developed Worlds—unique supernatural powers. The six most powerful children were given command of the reclaimed cities, using their abilities to defend the strongholds against the ongoing invasion. Childhood friends Ichiya Suzaku and Canaria Utara led Tokyo, siblings Kasumi and Asuha Chigusa managed Chiba, and Maihime Tenkawa and Hotaru Rindou oversaw Kanagawa. Over time, the near-routine attacks from the Unknown and the clashing personalities of the city heads and subheads fostered petty rivalries, leading to constant arguments among the three cities. As the Unknown suddenly intensified their assaults, the leaders of the three cities must learn to work together or risk losing the last line of defense against humanity's extinction.

Cocona is a typical middle schooler who lives with her grandmother. Still uncertain about what she wants to pursue in life, she suddenly encounters a peculiar girl named Papika, who invites her to join an organization called Flip Flap. Pulled along by this energetic newcomer, Cocona ends up in Pure Illusion—a strange alternate dimension—where she helps Papika search for crystal shards. After completing their task, the two are transported to another realm within Pure Illusion. A dangerous creature appears, and the girls use their crystals to transform into magical girls: Cocona becomes Pure Blade, while Papika becomes Pure Barrier. As they attempt to defeat the monster, three individuals from a rival organization intervene, slay the creature, and take a fragment left behind from its remains. In the aftermath, Cocona and Papika realize that to stand a chance against both their competitors and the threats within Pure Illusion, they must cooperate and align their emotions to transform more effectively.

The story of the Divine Gate is a legend told to children, describing how the living world, heaven, and the underworld came together. "Adapters"—individuals born with unique elemental powers from the union of these realms—established the World Council, an organization that manages the chaos surrounding the Gate by dismissing its legend as mere myth. These Adapters train at a special academy run by the World Council to refine their abilities. Aoto, a teenage boy with exceptional water abilities and a tragic history, repeatedly refuses invitations to join the academy—until he is eventually persuaded by the energetic wind user Midori and the stubborn fire user Akane. Together, with the World Council and their enigmatic leader Arthur, they search for the Gate to uncover the truth. However, to achieve their goal, they must unite and overcome their own despair while confronting hidden schemes behind the scenes.

Tekkadan has become a direct subsidiary of Teiwaz following the successful establishment of a new trade deal with Arbrau. With its increased financial resources and reputation, Tekkadan sees both its circle of supporters and its number of adversaries expand. At the same time, the internal conflict within Gjallarhorn continues to escalate. As part of her initiative to secure Mars' economic independence from Earth, Kudelia Aina Bernstein establishes the Admoss Company and brings Tekkadan on as her business partner. The risks grow greater as the Tekkadan family expands. Can Orga, Mikazuki, and the rest of the Tekkadan faction keep pace, or will Kudelia's vision of a free Mars collapse?

In Ogikubo, the sole Space Immigration Zone on Earth where humans and aliens coexist in an abnormal melting pot, Luluco is a cheerful middle school girl who only wishes to live a normal life. But one morning, her father—a worker at the Space Patrol—accidentally eats a volatile sleep capsule and becomes frozen solid. To make matters worse, Luluco breaks him by mistake, so she rushes to his office for assistance. There, the Space Patrol chief, Over Justice, hires Luluco as a temporary space worker for undercover investigations, aiming to crack down on crime within her school. Forced into the Space Patrol suit and sent off to dispense justice, Luluco tries to maintain the facade of a normal girl who doesn't stand out. However, she soon realizes that with the automatic systems and inherently zealous judiciousness of the Space Patrol suit, staying normal will be far more challenging than she anticipated.

With the invention of anti-gravitational footwear called Grav-Shoes, the ability to fly freely has become an ordinary part of daily life for the people living on a four-island archipelago south of Japan. This innovation has introduced new ways of living and a new sport known as "Flying Circus," where competitors earn points by touching floating buoys or an opponent's back. The naive and clumsy Asuka Kurashina, a transfer student at Kunahama High School, stumbles into this world of flight when she unexpectedly performs a difficult maneuver during her first Flying Circus match. This leads her to join her school’s Flying Circus club. Under the guidance of their coach, Masaya Hinata, the team includes the skilled Misaki Tobisawa and her overprotective friend, Mashiro Arisaka. Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm follows this rookie group as they soar high above the skies, chasing their dreams with unwavering passion in the face of an uncertain future.

At the start of the 21st century, the United Nations Kurobe Research Institute was built in Japan to examine an ancient relic uncovered while constructing the Kurobe Dam. Scientists from across the globe have assembled at the facility to analyze the object, while their kids go about their normal lives attending Mt. Tate International Senior High School. Yukina Shirahane, a quiet high school student, is the daughter of the institute's lead scientist. When she visits her mother at the facility, Yukina manages to unlock part of the artifact's riddle. To her astonishment, a young samurai from the Sengoku period named Kennosuke Tokisada Ouma appears before her. When a danger arrives from beyond Earth, Yukina, together with Kennosuke, finds herself protecting the planet from the invading forces. Along the way, she uncovers the truth about Kennosuke and the reason he is so committed to safeguarding her.

Kogorou Akechi established a private investigation agency called the Boy Detectives' Club, a team that handles inquiries of varying scales. During an assignment, junior member Kensuke Hanasaki encounters Yoshio Kobayashi, a mysterious boy who cannot die and has lost his memory. Impressed by Yoshio’s immortality, Kensuke proposes a pact: Yoshio joins the club to assist with cases, and in return, Kensuke will help him find a way to end his life. Though reluctant and indifferent to others, Yoshio agrees, unaware of the significant changes awaiting him. As he spends more time with his new companions while working on cases, he slowly starts to recognize their value. Based on Edogawa Ranpo’s "Shounen Tanteidan," this series follows Akechi and the Boy Detectives' Club as they tackle diverse mysteries while facing a concealed menace lurking in the shadows: the Fiend with Twenty Faces.

In 1983, the Cold War rages while humanity faces a new threat: strange aliens named BETA have landed on Earth with the goal of annihilating all life. Soldiers are deployed to pilot large combat suits called Tactical Surface Fighters (TSF) to fight back the alien invaders, but the front line is gradually being forced back toward the remaining cities. Schwarzesmarken centers on Second Lieutenant Theodor Eberbach and the other members of the 666th TSF squadron—a merciless unit that prioritizes completing missions over preserving human lives. Stationed in East Germany and headed by war hero Captain Irisdina Bernhard, the squadron specializes in counterassault strikes against laser-class BETA. Yet the 666th squadron soon faces more foes than just the alien forces when optimistic rookie Katia Waldheim joins, drawing the scrutiny of East Germany's secret police, the Stasi.

In Terra Formars: Revenge, the crew of Annex I persist in their war against the Terraformars, massive humanoid cockroaches that evolved from specimens sent to Mars long ago. Instead of finding a remedy for the devastating Alien Engine Virus ravaging Earth, the Annex I team discovers that various squadrons harbor their own nationalistic agendas. Consequently, the fighters must contend not only with the Terraformars to stay alive but also with one another in a ceaseless struggle for global supremacy.

In a futuristic age, an entity called "The World" maintains peace across the globe. Its actual location remains hidden, but it has watched over Earth for so long that warfare has become nothing more than a legend. The airship Norn is assigned to carry nine individuals who possess special abilities to The World. Once the last passenger is gathered, Norn lifts off. Aboard are eight men and three women: Koharu, who has finally freed herself from loneliness and despises her own ruinous power; Mikoto Kuga, born into a noble household, who employs her barrier ability to shield the Norn and everyone on it; and Nanami Shiranui, whose talent only brings her agony, and who wishes to die to atone for a past transgression. During the voyage, doubt spreads among the passengers when they notice there are more people on the ship than there should be. As they attempt to uncover who has secretly boarded, the vessel is assaulted by an unknown enemy determined to stop the Norn's journey at any price. From this upheaval emerge questions: for what reason were they bestowed these powers, and what is their purpose once they arrive at The World?

Eight years following the events of Macross F, the galaxy slowly falls prey to a mysterious affliction called the Var Syndrome. A fresh generation of skilled Valkyrie pilots must rise to confront this universal threat. As if that weren't enough, the Aerial Knights Valkyrie fighter squadron from the Kingdom of Wind arrives to challenge the Delta Squadron.

After a decade away from home, Azuma Kazuki has no clue what awaits him on his return. He never expects to be ambushed by a swarm of heavily armed individuals and taken captive. Luckily, his time as a prisoner is brief. His childhood friend, Kogane Asabuki, comes to his rescue, wielding a strange sentient weapon called a "Bubuki" on her right arm. Once free, Azuma discovers that he, too, can control a Bubuki. Alongside his new allies, he must awaken the slumbering Buranki titan Oubu, hidden far underground. Armed with this knowledge and mission, a new path to uncover the secrets behind the Buranki opens up for Azuma.

In 2027, Phantasy Star Online 2 dominates the social landscape of Seiga Academy, with every student participating in the craze except for Itsuki Tachibana, a well-rounded student who avoids video games. As the academy debates whether the title harms its students, perfectionist student council president Rina Izumi steps in to defend it. She recruits Itsuki as vice president, charging him with mastering the game while maintaining his academic performance. Tasked with reporting his daily experiences and analyzing its value to Rina, Itsuki finds the future of Phantasy Star Online 2 resting in his hands.

With the ongoing conflict against the Neuroi, a mysterious and hostile alien race wielding unmatched weaponry, spanning across Europe and Africa, a new combat unit is established. The 502nd Joint Fighter Wing, dubbed the Brave Witches, defends the eastern front, patrolling the frozen expanses of Orussia for extraterrestrial threats. One member sustains critical injuries before reaching the base, leaving her unfit for duty. Consequently, her sister, Hikari Karibuchi, steps in to fill the vacancy. Lacking unique talents or potent magic, she strives to meet her comrades' expectations and prove herself a worthy Witch.

Set in a futuristic Tokyo recovering from past disasters, the Special Public Security Fifth Division Third Mobile Assault Eighth Unit, known as Unit Eight, is a police squad tasked with apprehending criminals who utilize hazardous wearable technology referred to as Willwear. Although they possess their own Willwear gear, the unit frequently faces public backlash for their perceived negligence and flouting of standard protocols. Asami Kazari arrives as a government undercover agent bearing special directives from superiors, aiming to reform a group she assumes to be utterly incompetent. However, she discovers a team of skilled professionals who employ highly effective but unconventional tactics, constrained by rigid regulations. Joined by this newest member, Unit Eight continues its crime-fighting efforts while confronting unforeseen enemies in Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hachi Gakari.

The five realms of Black, White, Green, Red, and Blue, which maintain harmony through the Halo, face an existential crisis when the Halo unexpectedly opens in an incident called the World Connect. This event threatens the entire universe, prompting the worlds to call upon girls with unique powers known as Exceed to combat Ouroboros, an alien race intent on hastening cosmic destruction. Saya Sougetsu, a resident of the Blue World, Earth, is among those capable of wielding Exceed abilities. Seeing this as an opportunity to contribute, she joins the defense forces, where she encounters Amane Ayashiro, another girl from Earth, along with warriors from the other realms. To overcome the overwhelming threat, the girls must demonstrate that their newly formed connections are powerful enough to safeguard the future.

Nene Nanakorobi, a cheerful full-body cyborg who yearns for global harmony, crosses paths with inventor Uzal Delilah aboard a cruise ship bound for the picturesque Cenancle Island. They quickly bond, along with Clarion, a feline combat android serving as Uzal’s pet. However, their budding friendship is tested when terrorists strike the island. To protect Uzal, Nene is gifted the Pandora Device extracted from Clarion, granting her the power to instantly master advanced abilities, though Uzal appears to perish in the process. Now, the duo embarks on missions ranging from rescuing children from mall fires to apprehending criminals, all in pursuit of world peace. Their journey is complicated by B.U.E.R, a sentient laser disguised as a distorted teddy bear whose lewd behavior and volatile power endanger their safety. Compounding the trouble, the brilliant inventor Takumi Korobase, who serves as Nene’s guardian, is obsessed with acquiring B.U.E.R. As Nene and Clarion struggle to safeguard the device from malicious forces while pursuing their utopian ideals, the immense pressure threatens to tear their newfound bond apart.

In the Universal Century year 0096, a tenuous peace reigns after years of strife. Sixteen-year-old Banagher Links is stranded in the Industrial 7 space colony after a shuttle malfunction during a school excursion. War has always been a distant myth to him, but his reality shifts instantly when he saves Audrey Burne. She desperately seeks an audience with Cardeas Vist, head of the nearby Vist Foundation, to convince him to conceal Laplace's Box, an artifact capable of global destruction. As various galactic factions converge on Industrial 7 to claim the Box, conflict erupts between Neo Zeon remnants and Earth Federation Forces. In his dying breath, Cardeas entrusts Banagher with the key to the Box and a mobile suit known as The Unicorn Gundam. Driven by explosive action and mounting tension, the story follows Banagher as his beliefs are challenged and a century-old destiny is fulfilled.

The narrative centers on Valt Aoi and Shu Kurenai, along with their friends Rantaro Kiyama, Daina Kurogami, and Wakiya Komurasaki, who attend Beigoma Academy in Japan. Outside of class, the close group is deeply passionate about their Beyblades, and later in the season they establish a school bey club, challenging one another to battles in their Bey Stadium. In time, these friends evolve into friendly rivals as they enter a tournament to determine who will become Japan’s top Blader.

In an alternate version of Japan, the impossible is everyday reality. This world is populated by extraterrestrial Titans, beings from mystical realms, ancient phantoms and goblins, scientist-made cyborgs, and artifacts resurrected from lost civilizations. While some of these superhumans hide their true identities, others revel in their celebrity status. Jiro Hitoyoshi works for the Superhuman Bureau, tasked with monitoring the activities of these extraordinary individuals.

In the kingdom of Rimgarde, two mysterious giant robots engage in a duel that wipes out nearly all human life before vanishing. Twelve years later, the young empress of Enastoria, Yuinshiel Asteria, works relentlessly to preserve both her authority and the loyalty of her people. However, Enastoria's peace is shattered when survivors from Rimgarde arrive. Armed with giant machines called Regalia Gear, they target Yuinshiel's adopted sister, Rena. Rena is forced to reveal herself not only as a Regalia Gear wielder but as a true "Regalia"—a human who can transform into a giant robot—and the one responsible for Rimgarde's destruction. Suddenly thrust into an international conflict, Yuinshiel must safeguard her nation while protecting Rena from those who seek to exploit her powers. But by fighting for her sister, Yuinshiel risks triggering the same catastrophe that once annihilated Rimgarde. In this precarious situation, the two girls push their bond to its limits as they battle not just for themselves but for the safety of the entire world.

Sequel of Bubuki Buranki.

The narrative unfolds in a district of Tokyo that has sunk into a mire of lawlessness, focusing on Unit 8 of the 5th Special Public Security Section's 3rd Mobile Assault Division—commonly referred to as "The Eighth"—who utilize Willwear exoskeleton suits to fight the surge in criminal activity.

The Blue World, representing reason, faces relentless assaults from the Nightfly O'Note—creatures born from the Red World, which embodies instinct. Akira Asagi, a 17-year-old researcher from the Blue World, is chosen to command the war effort at Ryuukyuu LAG, a proud defensive stronghold on the islands of Ishigaki and Iriomote. There she encounters the sixth combat unit "IS," formed four years after the fifth unit was wiped out in a brutal battle. Akira must guide these six riders—known as the Scared Rider Xechs—to fight against the opposing world while simultaneously fostering bonds among them.

Mari Hayase is the daughter of scientist Eiji, who vanished three years ago. He left behind a pendant known as the armillary compass. One day, after coming across a mysterious book, the compass glows and sends Mari back in time. Supported by her best friend Waka Mizuki and Waka's brother Shun, Mari travels through time in search of her missing father, and along the way meets prominent scientists who changed the way people think about magnets and electricity.

Smartphone apps are used by people all around the world. However, hidden within them are mysterious AI lifeforms known as "Appli Monsters," or "Appmon." These beings can think and act on their own, existing at the boundary between the human realm and cyberspace. In the vast expanse of the internet, the ultimate boss AI called Leviathan infects the Appmon with a virus and begins hacking into every system, thereby seizing control of the human world from the digital world. Haru Shinkai is guided to obtain the Appli Drive, which allows him to bring to life Gatchmon, a search-type Appmon.

One day, Saya, an operative of the World Space Association, receives an urgent alert stating that a massive swarm of asteroids is heading toward Earth, and it is up to Saya to prevent the impact. Unfortunately, the sole method to save the planet requires three individuals of exceptional talent to master a new ability on a crane game, producing a beam of energy capable of deflecting the asteroids. The only three candidates with the required potential are Asuka, Mirai, and Kyouko—all high school girls. To channel their power, Saya tells them she has scouted them as idols and has them work at an arcade where she can keep an eye on them. She claims that any successful idol must be skilled at crane games, and improving their technique is the first stage of their idol training. As the girls pick up new crane game maneuvers, they start to question Saya's motives, yet they remain unaware that the future of the Earth depends on them.

Having used the power of crane games to save Earth from asteroid destruction, the Crane Game Girls rose to become the planet's top idol group. Yet their triumph was marred by the disappearance of their manager, Saya, on the day of their ultimate final mission. Their routine was shattered when the Earth Invasion Idol group, Dark Cherry, interrupted a broadcast to issue a challenge. The situation grew more complicated with the return of Saya, who had become the manager for Dark Cherry. As the Crane Game Girls ready themselves to confront these new adversaries, they start to uncover the truth behind Saya's betrayal and the motives driving the sudden invasion from the planet Dark Gorilla.

Set on the screw-shaped island country of Nejigajima, this anime follows two Bokyabots—Hebot and the Yurui Prince Nejiru—as they go around collecting various Bokya Neji screws. When the Bokyabots put these Bokya Neji screws on their heads, they gain the ability to take part in Bokya Battles, competitions where the aim is to invent and present the best jokes.

The story unfolds in a world where all events have been converted into programs, and mysterious monsters called Promin maintain order. However, many Promin have transformed into bugs known as Bugmin, causing various real-life glitches. If left alone, these Bugmin could eventually become a major disaster. A boy named Yuuto encounters the space dog Wanda, and the pair use a camera-like device and special key items to capture Bugmin. Promin themselves possess abilities such as "accelerating objects," "spouting fire," or "creating objects" through a power called Kamiwaza (miracle), and they can fend off Bugmin with it. At first, the Bugmin only cause small, bothersome incidents, but soon the threat escalates to a global scale. Can one boy and one dog save the world?

Fourth season of the Washimo series.

G.G. Bonds ventures into the dreamscape to halt the expansion of evil's influence. To restore the 5 element powers, he must ensure the residents of Crystal City recall their dreams and allow them to recharge.

A group of Degirdians, each standing just 6.5 centimeters tall, crash-land on Earth while chasing fugitives. Their spacecraft transforms into a capsule toy vending machine beside a toy store, and a human boy unknowingly takes one of the aliens home, believing it to be a capsule toy. The Degirdians befriend the boy and search for a way to return home, all while battling the evil alien they were pursuing.

According to legend, Twin City emerged concurrently with Crystal City as a place of evil. A mirror-like lake hovers above this metropolis, wielding a terrifying ability that forces individuals to confront the darkest aspects of their souls. This inner shadow takes physical form as the person's dark counterpart. The heroes are tasked with banishing these malevolent entities back to their own dimension before they can destroy Crystal City.

Team Typhoon is commanded by the gifted yet impulsive Taren Swift, who carries on a legacy in the Robot Dodgeball League thanks to his grandfather, Mr. Swift, one of the sport's founders. This team joins forces with Team Athlon to track down a mysterious villain hiding among the league's members. It's a challenging mission, but the two young pilots gradually learn to cooperate and combine their unique abilities—and their Athlons do the same! Dr. Hughes unveils integration technology for Alpha, Beta, and Theta, which merge to create the impressive Champion. Furthermore, Dr. Hughes surpasses herself by engineering a six-part integration involving the Athlons of Kyle and Taren. Together, these form the huge and powerful Magma 6!

Athlon Tobot serves as a sports-focused spin-off within the broader Tobot universe. Kyle Hughes, an elementary schooler and devoted fan of Robot Racing, finally pursues his passion by joining the League alongside Alpha, Beta, and Theta, three Athlon units created by his mother, Dr. Hughes. However, Kyle soon learns that his former idol, Mavrik Stone—the celebrated Robot Racing Champion and media favorite—is actually a super-villain behind the numerous rigged and sabotaged races plaguing the competition. Committed to safeguarding the sport he cherishes, Kyle teams up with his family and friend Tori Wade to root out corruption within the League and expose Mavrik’s true nature as a cheater. The most effective strategy for Team Athlon to achieve this goal is to advance as far as possible in the racing tournament.