Best Time Travel Anime

Key Takeaways

Time travel anime can be hit or miss, but when done well with strong narrative and world-building, they can be exceptional to watch.
Tokyo Revengers offers a different take on shonen stories with a weaker protagonist trying to fix the future, making it a unique watch.
Steins;Gate is considered one of the greatest anime series for its intricate handling of time travel and diverse genres like romance and drama.

As an anime enthusiast with over two decades of viewing under my belt, I must say that these three time-traveling masterpieces have left quite an indelible mark on my screen-strolled memories.

Time travel has intrigued humans for ages due to its allure of visiting the past or future and possibly altering events. Yet, some time travel series tend to get complex and filled with explanations. But when skillfully crafted with a compelling storyline and imaginative world-building, these series can be truly captivating viewing experiences.

In the realm of anime, time travel has been a popular and intriguing topic, giving rise to entire genres that transport characters to various realities, both real and fictional. Some of these series have quickly become beloved classics, earning rave reviews from dedicated anime fans. To offer some insight into this fascinating subject, let’s delve into the top time travel anime of all time.

11 Tokyo Revengers

MyAnimeList: 7.90 (Season 1)

The anime titled “Tokyo Revengers” narrates the tale of Hanagaki Takemichi, a man who finds himself in a rut with no prospects. However, an unfortunate incident triggers a time travel sequence that sends him back 12 years into the past. It takes some time for him to comprehend this strange occurrence, but he eventually does. Unlike typical shonen stories, “Tokyo Revengers” offers a unique twist by keeping its protagonist weaker than other characters. This may not be universally appealing as Takemichi doesn’t become more physically capable over the course of the series. Nevertheless, if you’re intrigued by a “realistic” character striving to alter the future, “Tokyo Revengers” is definitely worth watching.

Currently, “Tokyo Revengers” is often considered one of the most recognized anime that involve time travel. However, it may not necessarily rank among the top-tier ones. The initial season holds promise, but subsequent story arcs tend to become repetitive in nature. Notably, the time travel aspect isn’t particularly captivating or thoroughly developed; instead, it primarily serves as a setup for the next plot progression.

10 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

MyAnimeList: 7.23 (Season 2, Endless Eight Arc)

Meet Haruhi Suzumiya, a typical 15-year-old high school girl with an extraordinary secret: she can materialize anything she dreams of or concentrates on. However, she’s oblivious to her divine powers. The story revolves around Haruhi and Kyon, who are members of the SOS Brigade, an after-school club that investigates supernatural occurrences. Since Haruhi’s abilities could potentially disrupt reality, the club monitors her actions. Each adventure offers a glimpse into the mystery behind Haruhi’s powers, bringing the characters and audience closer to unveiling the truth about her.

Sure thing!

9 Inuyasha

MyAnimeList: 7.87

Inuyasha is a widely recognized anime series derived from the writings of Rumiko Takahashi. The story follows Kagome Higurashi, who, after tumbling into a well on her family’s shrine grounds, discovers herself transported back to Japan during the Sengoku era. Over time, she encounters Inuyasha and embarks with him on a nationwide quest to retrieve shards of a broken jewel scattered across the land.

“Inuyasha” stands out among other time-travel themed anime due to its high level of adventure. It offers an appealing blend of action and romance, keeping viewers captivated throughout. Additionally, with over 100 episodes, it provides a lengthy viewing experience for those who enjoy extended series.

8 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

MyAnimeList: 8.10

In simple terms, Mamoru Hosoda’s 2006 sci-fi romance film, titled “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time“, follows the story of a teenager named Makoto who discovers time travel. However, she often misuses this powerful ability, leading to unfortunate consequences. While the narrative may seem simple at first glance, it’s actually a compelling and thought-provoking tale about growing up, with scenes that feel very real and relatable to many viewers.

Makoto possesses both an appealing and down-to-earth personality, often utilizing her recent powers in ways typical of many teenagers. Initially, the film maintains a casual and tranquil atmosphere; however, as a secondary character enters the scene, this peaceful tone shifts towards a more dramatic one.

7 Your Name

MyAnimeList: 8.83

In a narrative fashion, the title “Your Name” follows the tale of two characters, Taki from Tokyo and Mitsuha from the countryside, who mysteriously exchange their bodies at times. This unique situation allows them to assist one another in various ways throughout their lives. As their bond strengthens and they strive to understand this phenomenon, the body-swapping suddenly ceases, leading Taki on a quest to discover why. The twist involving time travel is not instantly obvious; it gradually unfolds about halfway through the story, making it a significant part of the plot but not immediately apparent.

With stunning animation backed by the catchy tunes of Radwimps, Your Name is a heart-tugging film that leaves viewers cheering for its characters. Since its debut, this remarkable anime movie has solidified itself as one of the best ever made, and it’s unlikely to lose that status in the near future.

6 Re:Zero

MyAnimeList: 8.23 (Season 1)

In the realm of Isekai stories, “Re:Zero” revolves around Subaru Natsuki, a character who gets whisked away to a magical world. An intriguing twist comes into play as Subaru experiences time travel whenever he dies; each time, he’s revived at the last save point, much like in video games. This forces him to navigate through various challenges to reach the next checkpoint. As the story unfolds, the emotional strain of witnessing his companions and himself perish repeatedly, only to be reborn again, gradually affects his mental state, crafting a complex and at times unsettling fantasy tale.

In addition to his unique ability to resurrect, Subaru is typically ordinary and lacks strength, forcing him to rely on his understanding of events to gain an advantage in situations that are usually beyond his capacity. One of the most impressive aspects of Re:Zero lies in its deep examination of Subaru’s mental state.

5 Erased

MyAnimeList: 8.30

In my perspective as an enthusiast, “Erased” is a gripping psychological thriller infused with time travel elements, unfolding in the backdrop of Tokyo and Hokkaido. This series tells the tale of me, who encounters a peculiar phenomenon called ‘revivals’, transporting me back minutes before calamitous events to prevent them. When my mother meets an untimely end, this incident propels me 18 years into the past, enabling me to not just save my mother, but also my old classmates whose grim fates eerily resemble that of my mother’s.

A captivating crime thriller series, “Erased” is highly recommended for fans of mysteries and suspenseful dramas. Despite its finale dividing opinion among viewers, thereby potentially impacting other parts negatively, it remains an engaging watch.

4 Link Click

MyAnimeList: 8.73

Instead of being a Japanese anime, Link Click is a Chinese donghua. Regardless of where it comes from, this series is worth noting because it’s exceptionally well-made.

Stepping into a captivating tale of time travel, I find myself immersed in “Link Click,” a thrilling murder mystery that seldom falters in its intensity. The protagonists, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, run an extraordinary business: they offer closure to their clients by traversing time. To do this, they use a photograph as a portal, which sends Cheng Xiaoshi back to the moment the photo was taken. His mission is often to collect information, inhabiting the body of the photographer without altering the past. However, as fate would have it, deviations from the original timeline are not uncommon, and these alterations can lead to catastrophic consequences for the future.>

Watching Link Click offers an enjoyable experience throughout, thanks to its engaging plot and well-paired main characters. At first glance, it appears to be a series of standalone cases, but as the story progresses, threads begin to interweave, forming a captivating narrative.

3 The Tatami Galaxy

MyAnimeList: 8.56

A captivating work of art that seamlessly combines drama and humor, “The Tatami Galaxy” chronicles the journey of a college student grappling with remorse over his past two years. Following an encounter with a woman, he gets another chance at university life, starting afresh each time based on the social group or club he chooses to join. Each installment presents a unique reality, illustrating the protagonist’s struggles and setbacks as he repeatedly misses the opportunity to create the life he feels entitled to.

The animated series “Tatami Galaxy” is an extraordinary journey that’s truly delightful. Featuring sharp scriptwriting, relatable characters, and a distinctive visual style, this show is worth seeking out for any anime enthusiast, even if they’re not particularly fond of time-travel stories.

The Tatami Time Machine Blues
is also great.

2 Summer Time Rendering

MyAnimeList: 8.48

In my gaming world, I’m immersed in “Summer Time Rendering,” a tale that follows me, Shinpei Ajiro, who tragically loses my parents at a young age. Rather than isolating myself, I grow up alongside Ushio and Mio, forming an unbreakable bond with them. Life takes its course, and I eventually move to Tokyo, leaving our small town behind. However, fate brings me back years later for Ushio’s funeral. I find it hard to accept that Ushio is gone, leading me to uncover a mysterious power he possessed – the ability to rewind time.

“Summer Time Rendering” introduces an original spin to traditional time travel storylines. With a strong blend of mystery and science fiction, this captivating anime offers a thrilling ride with scarcely a moment of boredom. Many of its early episodes conclude with massive twists that always seem well-deserved. As the series progresses, it transforms into a battle shonen genre, and it excels in that area too.”

1 Steins;Gate

MyAnimeList: 9.07

Regarded as one of the best anime series known, Steins;Gate centers on Rintaro Okabe, self-styled mad scientist, who miraculously invents a time machine. However, this invention catches the attention of SERN, an organization delving into time travel research, who subsequently seize it, resulting in the death of one of Rintaro’s friends. This tragic event propels Rintaro to journey back in time with the intention of averting his friend’s demise, leading to a series of complications related to time travel.

People who’ve seen “Steins;Gate” often commend it for its complex portrayal of time travel and the strict guidelines it sets. This series is sure to captivate those who appreciate a blend of romance, humor, drama, and challenging sci-fi themes.

2024-08-31 09:24