There are a lot of TV shows out there, and in this golden age of TV streaming, the choices have never been more significant. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic? We’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, most fabulous, and unforgettable shows through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, our attention this time turns to shows rooted in science. From super-powered adventures to time travel mischief, there’s an excellent choice to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below, and we’ll add them when we can!
Dr. Stone
Dr. Stone is a scientific anime that offers fun comedy, intriguing characters, and a colorful world. That said, Dr. Stone’s execution will leave some fans decisive. There are times when it’s downright absurd and others where it’s brilliant. It offers exceptional humor but isn’t afraid to present fans with scientific facts.
Our story follows Ooki, who awakens in an unfamiliar world. Ooki meets his old science-adoring pal Senkuu, who plans to revitalize civilization through science. However, several beings break free of the petrification and plan on challenging Senkuu’s ideals despite everyone turning to stone before Ooki slept for many years.
Senkuu represents every intelligent gentleman known to humanity. How he interacts with his surroundings is always a joy; fans will adore seeing him interact with people. The side characters have lovely personalities and distinct goals to help them stand out. If you don’t mind exaggerated resolutions, hilarious situations, or intelligent protagonists, check out Dr. Stone.
Cells At Work
From an anime with mixed educational value to one that’s brilliant, we arrive at Cells At Work. This feels like the anime equivalent to Marc Hyman’s 2001 animated film, Osmosis Jones. The story follows two blood cells that must tackle numerous tasks to maintain their human host’s health.
Like Osmosis, these two cells will contend with multiple dilemmas, from fighting dangerous allergy-like enemies to completing small missions for the common folk. These two cells take their job seriously in hopes of maintaining peace. Each cell in this human’s body operates differently but serves a clear purpose.
Fans will be shocked by this world’s accurate portrayal of the human body. You’ll be able to tell that its series creator Akane Shimizu did her research, and her creativity wow you with certain aspects. Cells At Work will make everyone realize why taking care of our bodies is essential. If you’ve been looking for a fun anime series with solid educational value, check out Cells At Work.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Steins; Gate
Where Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood offers a rich alchemy plot, Steins; Gate provides a story seeping in mystery and time travel mischief. The secrets in this show unravel over time and give the viewers great pay-offs. The story’s pacing isn’t the best.
It’s one of those slow-burners that gets better and more memorable in time. For those curious, this show follows Rintarou, a scientist who adores his work. With the help of his allies, he creates the Future Gadget Laboratory to make more technological innovations.
One day, he attends a time travel-themed conference and encounters something bizarre with his Phone Microwave trinket. His device keeps sending him text messages from the past. These phenomena attract the attention of a mysterious organization, leading to an epic battle between Rintarou and his degrading sanity.
With an exciting cast and outstanding time-warping elements, Steins; Gate is a satisfying watch.
Beautiful Bones -Sakurako’s Investigation-
Looking for something with more dead bodies and an emphasis on bones? Beautiful Bones – Sakurako’s Investigation has you covered. This is a fun anime that mixes science and mystery well. It occurs amidst an encounter between our lead characters, Shoutarou and Sakurako.
Shoutarou mistakes Sakurako for a criminal and learns she’s an Osteologist, a bone investigator. To make amends for his assumptions, he attends Sakurako on various crimes involving decomposing bodies. Despite their unlikely pairing, Shoutarou and Sakurako make an incredible team.
They receive enough development and background to warrant fans’ approval. Sakurako is one of those intelligent detectives like Detective Conan’s Edogawa or Monster’s Tenma. She can solve any case, no matter how challenging it may seem. This anime can feel overly lighthearted.
It doesn’t offer much nightmarish imagery compared to other shows. Furthermore, the cases follow a repetitive theme regarding bones and dead bodies. The story’s pacing may evoke mixed reception from viewers too. If you can look past these minor issues, you should be in for a swell time with Beautiful Bones – Sakurako’s Investigation.
Steamboy
Steamboy revolves around Ray, an inventor whose life takes a drastic turn after he receives a package from the United States. His grandfather sent him a Steam Ball, a device that can drive any machine with limitless effort. His grandfather instructs him to keep the ball safe from evil-doers like the mighty O’Hara Foundation.
In a battle to decide his world’s fate, Ray must utilize his brilliance to avoid losing his grandfather’s Steam Ball. This is an impressive militaristic sci-fi film with impressive characters and fun action bits. Ray comes off as a likable hero but doesn’t have a fleshed-out backstory. This bodes the same for the rest of Steamboy’s cast.
Visually, this anime feels like a spectacle for the eyes. It evokes strong vibes of the Victorian Age and represents that period lovely with its structures, vehicles, and public attire. The machines in this anime operate as you’d expect and helps bring this world to life.
Space Brothers
Space Brothers is a comedic slice-of-life anime about two siblings named Mutta and Nanba who want to become astronauts. Mutta desires to visit Mars while Nanba wishes to head for the Moon. Into their adult years, Mutta’s life takes a massive decline.
Instead of exploring Mars, Mutta’s stuck working in at an automotive company. As for Hibito, he’s about to be the best first Japanese man to step on the Moon. Eventually, Mutta gets fired from his job after his application to become an astronaut gets accepted by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Mutta doesn’t plan to waste this life-changing opportunity and embarks on an ambitious endeavor to experience his childhood fantasy. This series wreaks realism and charm. It portrays the struggles and hurdles aspiring astronauts must overcome to obtain the occupation flawlessly.
The relationship between Hibito and Mutta is touched upon to great lengths too. If you’re looking for a remarkable anime series that features bits of drama, science, and realism, check out Space Brothers.
Comical Psychosomatic Medicine
From one underappreciated gem to another, we find ourselves discussing Comical Psychosomatic Medicine. This is one of those shows that you can binge within a day. It has 20 episodes with a runtime of 5 minutes per chapter. Despite its bite-sized episodes, there’s a lot to appreciate about this work.
This short series follows Ryou and Asuna, a psychologist and a nurse who explains many aspects of mental illness to viewers. These characters cover topics regarding the prevalence, validity, and origins of mental disorders. They share this information in a comical fashion through jokes, puns, and pop culture references.
This show covers a lot of common illnesses from schizophrenia to horrid acts like stalking and pedophilia. Each episode feels similar in theme, as Ryou and Asuna expand upon these situations in great detail while sharing ways of attacking these dilemmas head-on.
They offer real-world treatment options from medication advice to therapeutic tips. Upon watching its first batch of episodes, viewers will realize that the writers spent much time researching these illnesses based on the content provided in the series. This is a wonderful mini-series that details the importance of mental health awareness. If you’re looking for tips, Comical Psychosomatic Medicine awaits your viewership.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
Shifting gears a bit, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (Bunny Girl Senpai) is a remarkable romantic comedy anime with a hint of science elements. This series spans 13 episodes and a sequel film. It leans into its romance more, but it contains enough drama to keep people invested.
Bunny Girl Senpai centers around the fateful meeting between two high schoolers named Sakuta and Mai. Mai is infected by the school’s puberty syndrome, leading Sakuta to assist her with her dilemmas. As he gets closer to Mai, Sakuta finds himself attracting equal attention, resulting in him appearing in many misunderstood predicaments.
Like the flu, Sakuta can’t seem to escape his situation. This anime offers a clever depiction of high school life. It has our characters undergo internal and external conflicts that arise in a high school environment. Things get more intense and dramatic as viewers get closer to the show’s conclusion. The tension between Mai and Sakuta grows gradually over time.
This is a scientific and romantic blend that’ll leave a lasting impression on you.
Akira
Whether you’re a retro or newcomer anime fan, it’s hard not to deny Akira’s impact on the entertainment industry. With its iconic motorcycle slide routine to its intense body horror, this is an iconic and important landmark in anime history.
Our story takes place in a futuristic Japanese setting called Neo-Tokyo where our lead character Kaneda resides. Kaneda leads a band of misfits called the Capsules, who have a rivalry with a notorious biker group called the Clowns. Amidst one of their battles, Kaneda’s friend Tetsuo encounters a rogue esper.
Tetsuo develops strange telekinetic powers after the encounter. This leads to the government quarantining Tetsuo because they don’t want him to unleash his powers. With Tetsuo on the loose, it’s up to Kaneda to find and prevent him from losing control.
This is a jaw-dropping film meant for older audiences. It delves into deep themes and involves grotesque imagery that’s not suitable for younger audiences. While some scenes will leave your jaw dropping in amazement, others aim to gross you out. If you adore classic anime with a gritty setting, hardcore violence, and an epic soundtrack, check this one out.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best anime through the years with scientific aspects!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!