The Best Dystopian Anime

Highlights

Some anime worlds are better left unexplored due to the harsh realities and bleak survival conditions depicted.
Unique protagonists like Akira from
Zom 100
find excitement in dystopian worlds, despite the zombie apocalypse.
Series like
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
and
Attack On Titan
present troubling future realities filled with addiction and giant monster threats.

As a seasoned anime enthusiast who’s weathered countless emotional storms in the vast ocean of animated storytelling, I find myself drawn to narratives that delve deep into the human condition, especially those that explore themes of struggle, survival, and resilience. The trio I’ve presented here – Edgerunners, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Attack on Titan – are prime examples of such narratives.

Many people dream of stepping into an anime world temporarily to witness the bizarre and captivating realms portrayed in famous series, experiencing the thrilling journeys these worlds present. However, certain worlds might be best admired from a distance.

In some animated universes, a visit would feel like stepping into a nightmare, prompting inhabitants to yearn for their original world as swiftly as possible. These grim realities, unlike other stories, prioritize survival over adventure and present bleaker, more life-threatening issues. Here are five exceptional anime series that delve deep into these dystopian landscapes.

5 Zom 100

Bucket List Of The Dead

“Zom 100: The Bucket List of the Undead”

The distinct quality of the dystopian narrative in “Zom 100” lies in its protagonist’s perspective. Unlike many characters in similar stories, Akira finds excitement in the dystopian environment he inhabits. This isn’t because he takes pleasure in witnessing others transform into wandering monsters due to a zombie bite. Instead, before the world’s collapse, his life seemed bleak and devoid of purpose. To him, the arrival of the zombie threat offered an opportunity to reside in a dystopian reality that was engaging and far more compelling than what he had previously known.

In the course of the series, Akira juggles his desire to fulfill his life’s wishes, which he couldn’t accomplish as a busy office worker, alongside the challenges posed by a world overrun by the undead.

4 Danganronpa

Trigger Happy Havoc

In contrast to what one might initially expect from Danganronpa (the video game or anime series), it’s not just about the murders among Hope’s Peak Academy students that stand out. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the state of the world outside is also deeply troubled and in a state of despair.

In the thrilling world of Danganronpa, I found myself among an elite group of students, all gifted in unique ways, believing we were attending a top-tier high school designed to foster our talents. Little did we know, this prestigious institution had a sinister twist – it had transformed into a deadly battlefield for a murder game. The chilling rule? To secure your freedom, you must kill another student and escape detection. Fail to do so, and the game is over… for real. The longer one abstains from taking a life, the more time they spend within the Academy’s walls. Although the central plot is undeniably dystopian, it was the world’s condition before the Danganronpa story began that set the stage for such an event to unfold so effortlessly.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but reflect on the most devastating, heart-wrenching incident that reshaped the universe of Danganronpa – an event so catastrophic, it left an indelible mark on its characters and the world as we know it. Known only as “the dystopian event,” not much is revealed about it at first, but it’s described as a ‘tumultuous wave of social chaos,’ a breeding ground for senseless loss of life. Inside and outside the confines of “Killing School Life,” the world of Danganronpa remains shrouded in darkness.

3 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Futuristic Cyber Dystopia

In the year 2076, the anime series “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” transports viewers into a chilling technological future within a video game universe. If this portrayal serves as a glimpse of where our world might be heading by the next half-century, it suggests a grim and ominous future ahead.

As a devoted fan, I find myself immersed in an anime world where Night City, our metropolis, grapples with a crippling addiction – the allure of cybernetic enhancements. Regrettably, these enhancements are not accessible to all due to financial constraints or lack of audacity to steal them. Yet, those who resort to stealing or struggle economically become the architects of gang violence that plagues the city’s underprivileged and perilous neighborhoods. The chilling twist? The colossal corporations that manufacture, sell, or install these technologies are not immune to fueling or even participating in the ensuing chaos caused by their products.

As a struggling gamer named David Martinez, I found myself immersed in the gritty world of the Edgerunners. Living hand-to-mouth and navigating chaos daily, I unwittingly joined these titular characters. Little did I know that this decision would plunge me into some of the darkest corners of crime on the edge, revealing a side of life I’d never before witnessed.

2 Neon Genesis Evangelion

The Impact Of Angels

Neon Genesis Evangelion is frequently referred to as one of the finest yet saddest anime productions. This isn’t surprising considering the hardships the principal characters in the series face. It makes sense, given the grim and agonizing circumstances that lead to these struggles within their world.

In this iconic ’90s anime, it’s been just fifteen years since a worldwide catastrophe, the Second Impact, took place; an event triggered by Adam, a powerful entity belonging to the mythical beings called Angels, who detonated at the South Pole following their awakening. This explosion affected Earth’s axis and in the current timeline, young individuals who have been estranged and traumatized are assigned to operate advanced machines known as EVAs, with many viewing them as the last hope against the Angel threat.

In this intriguing and thought-provoking universe, it’s only the bio-machines, their young operators, and the support teams who stand a chance against the Angel danger that could lead to another Third Impact. This innovative take on mecha anime from the ’80s serves as a stark critique, portraying the child pilots not as heroes, but as child soldiers in a world torn apart by an existential struggle.

1 Attack On Titan

The Struggles With Moving Forward

In the world of Attack On Titan, characters face an existence far beyond the torment of a zombie apocalypse. Instead, they grapple with hordes of colossal monsters that can only be defeated by destroying specific body parts. Their lives are characterized by constant fear, as these titans could breach their walls at any moment, reducing their towns to rubble and leaving behind pools of blood. These individuals live in a world where most have never ventured far enough to witness the ocean’s expanse with their own eyes, forced instead to hide within fortified walls if they wish to survive.

In the course of the series, it becomes clear that the Titans are not merely random supernatural entities causing havoc on their territory. Rather, the Titan attacks represent a single facet of intricate historical, political, and racial events. This revelation shifts the narrative of Attack on Titan from a battle against monstrous creatures to a global conflict, exploring the lengths one will go to protect their people.

2024-08-09 12:34