The Top 10 Space Opera Anime That You Need To Watch
From Cowboy Bebop to Space Brothers, these anime series explore the wonders and dangers of outer space with thrilling stories and stunning visuals.
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that features melodramatic tales set in outer space, often involving romance, friendship, and warfare. Anime is an ideal medium to tell such stories, as it can create immersive worlds and characters with expressive animation and sound. Here are 10 of the best space opera anime that you should check out if you are a fan of this genre.
10. Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982-1983)
This classic anime series is one of the pioneers of the mecha genre, as well as the basis for part of the Robotech franchise in America. It depicts the conflict between humans and an alien race called the Zentradi, who invade Earth after a mysterious spaceship crashes on the planet. The spaceship, named Macross, is transformed into a giant robot that fights against the aliens, along with a team of pilots who also use transformable fighter jets. The series also explores the cultural and romantic interactions between humans and Zentradi, as well as the power of music as a weapon and a bridge.
9. The Irresponsible Captain Tylor (1993)
This comedy series subverts the typical space opera tropes by featuring a protagonist who is anything but heroic. Justy Ueki Tylor is a lazy and incompetent slacker who joins the military to get an easy job and avoid danger. However, due to his luck and charisma, he manages to foil a hostage situation and an assassination attempt, which earns him a promotion to the captain of a space cruiser. The series follows his misadventures with his loyal crew, as he faces various enemies and challenges in space.
8. Space Pirate Captain Harlock (1978-1979)
This anime series is directed by Rintaro, a legendary animator who also worked on Metropolis and Galaxy Express 999. It tells the story of Harlock, a renegade space pirate who rebels against the corrupt and decadent Earth government. He commands a spaceship called Arcadia, which he uses to fight against an alien invasion by the Mazone, as well as other threats in space. Harlock is a complex anti-hero who struggles with his past and his ideals, while inspiring loyalty and admiration from his friends and foes alike.
7. Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (2012-2013)
This anime series is a remake of the original Space Battleship Yamato from 1974, which is considered one of the most influential anime of all time. It depicts a desperate mission by the crew of the Yamato, a spaceship that is built from the remains of an old battleship. The Yamato travels to a distant planet called Iscandar, where they hope to obtain a device that can restore Earth's environment, which has been devastated by an alien attack. Along the way, they face many dangers and enemies, as well as moral dilemmas and personal conflicts.
6. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985-1986)
The second series in the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, this anime series is set eight years after the events of the original Mobile Suit Gundam. It follows Kamille Bidan, a young pilot who joins a rebel group called the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG), which opposes the oppressive regime of the Titans, an elite faction of the Earth Federation. Kamille pilots a powerful mobile suit called Zeta Gundam, which he uses to fight against the Titans and their leader, Scirocco. The series deals with themes such as war, politics, trauma, and identity, as well as featuring spectacular mecha battles.
5. Astra Lost in Space (2019)
This anime series is based on a manga by Kenta Shinohara, who also created Sket Dance. It revolves around nine students who are stranded in space after their space camp goes wrong. They find an abandoned spaceship called Astra, which they use to travel back to their home planet. However, they soon discover that their situation is not an accident, but part of a sinister conspiracy that involves their pasts and their futures. The series combines survival drama with mystery and comedy, as well as showcasing different planets and cultures.
4. Galaxy Express 999 (1978-1981)
This anime series is based on a manga by Leiji Matsumoto, who also created Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Space Battleship Yamato. It follows Tetsuro Hoshino, a young boy who wants to get a mechanical body, which is a symbol of status and immortality in the future. He boards the Galaxy Express 999, a train that travels through space, and meets Maetel, a mysterious woman who offers to take him to the planet where he can get his wish. Along the way, they visit various planets and encounter different people and situations, which teach Tetsuro about life, death, and humanity.
3. Space Brothers (2012-2014)
This anime series is based on a manga by Chuya Koyama, which is still ongoing. It depicts the lives of two brothers, Mutta and Hibito Nanba, who share a dream of becoming astronauts since they saw a UFO when they were children. Hibito becomes the first Japanese person to go to the moon, while Mutta struggles with his career and his self-esteem. However, he gets a chance to join the space program and pursue his dream, as well as reconnect with his brother. The series is realistic and grounded, as it portrays the challenges and joys of space exploration and brotherhood.
2. Outlaw Star (1998)
This anime series is inspired by the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. It centers on Gene Starwind, a bounty hunter and adventurer who inherits a spaceship called Outlaw Star from a dying man. He learns that the ship contains a secret weapon and a mysterious android girl named Melfina. He decides to search for the Galactic Leyline, a legendary place that holds a great treasure and the secrets of Melfina's origin. He is joined by his partner Jim Hawking, an assassin named Suzuka, and a catgirl named Aisha Clanclan. The series mixes comedy, action, and romance, as well as featuring unique designs for its spaceships and weapons.
1. Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999)
This anime series is widely regarded as one of the best anime of all time, as well as one of the most popular and influential. It follows the adventures of Spike Spiegel, a former hitman who becomes a bounty hunter in space. He travels with his partner Jet Black, a former cop; Faye Valentine, a femme fatale with a mysterious past; Edward Wong, a quirky hacker; and Ein, a genetically enhanced dog. The series blends various genres and influences, such as westerns, noir, jazz, and cyberpunk, to create a stylish and unique vision of the future. It also explores themes such as loneliness, redemption, love, and death, through its complex and charismatic characters.