10 Best Cyberpunk Anime of All Time, Ranked

Cyberpunk is a captivating subgenre of science fiction, known for its striking visuals and compelling stories. It typically explores a world where advanced technology clashes with a crumbling society, often highlighting themes of ethical decay, powerful corporations controlling people’s lives, and the increasingly unclear boundary between humans and machines.

Cyberpunk, both in novels and manga, greatly shaped the genre, with its distinctive, harsh visuals and thought-provoking themes inspiring science fiction creators worldwide. The most memorable cyberpunk stories, both classic and modern, use the captivating settings of futuristic, broken societies to examine what it means to be human when values and identity are constantly changing.

Bubblegum Crisis Is a Quintessential Cyberpunk Anime of the ‘80s

Bubblegum Crisis is a landmark anime from the 1980s that perfectly captures the appeal of cyberpunk. It’s known for its stunning visuals and a story that’s both complex and wildly entertaining, cementing its status as a classic. The series takes place in the futuristic city of Mega Tokyo, where a team of armored female heroes fight against a powerful, corrupt corporation.

While Bubblegum Crisis doesn’t break new ground – it heavily borrows from films like Blade Runner and Streets of Fire, as well as classic sci-fi and mecha anime – the combination creates something special and offers a distinctive experience for anime science fiction fans.

Cyber City Oedo 808 Is a Stellar Mix of Gritty Futurism & Engrossing Thriller Narration

Set in the year 2808, Cyber City Oedo 808 is a classic anime that blends cyberpunk and thrilling action. The story follows three criminals who work as cyber police in the futuristic, crime-ridden city of Oedo, hoping to reduce their prison sentences. It’s a gripping and immersive series that truly captures the feel of a gritty cyberpunk world.

Compared to other anime of its kind, Cyber City Oedo 808 has a straightforward story, letting you focus on its amazing animation, quick action, and exciting (though somewhat predictable) plot twists. The biggest downside is that each episode is short, leaving you wanting to know more about the characters and the world.

Psycho-Pass Poses Many Intriguing Moral Dilemmas Before the Characters & Viewers

The anime Psycho-Pass presents a seemingly perfect future where society prevents crime before it happens by predicting people’s fates. But as new Inspector Akane Tsunemori investigates, she discovers that maintaining this ‘peace’ isn’t as simple as it appears, and the lines between right and wrong become blurred.

Though filled with action and thrilling crime-solving, Psycho-Pass is a remarkably insightful story that explores themes of morality, freedom, and the dangers of being constantly watched. Instead of telling the audience what’s right or wrong, it challenges both the characters and viewers to grapple with tough decisions on their own.

Ergo Proxy’s Dystopian World Gets More Disturbing the More You Learn About It

In the anime Ergo Proxy, a global disaster has forced humanity to live in sealed, domed cities, relying on androids called AutoReivs for everyday life. When Inspector Re-l Mayer investigates a strange virus that causes AutoReivs to attack humans, she uncovers a terrifying reality hidden beneath the surface of this already bleak world.

Ergo Proxy is a complex and thrilling cyberpunk series known for its deep themes and a story that slowly reveals its secrets. It’s not always an easy watch, but it’s a rewarding experience for those who enjoy science fiction that makes you think, and it often stays with viewers long after they finish it.

Trigun Mixes Space Western With Cyberpunk Influences

I’ve always found Trigun to be a bit different from your typical cyberpunk story. It’s a really interesting blend of genres, taking you on a journey across a harsh desert planet. What stands out is how it combines futuristic technology – often remnants of a lost civilization – with classic Western themes like outlaws, gunfights, and the brutal realities of surviving in a desolate world.

Both the original Trigun manga and the new Trigun Stampede series strongly feature cyberpunk themes, particularly in their ideas and messages. The harshness of the world contrasts with Vash’s kindness, and the increasing focus on science fiction as the story progresses creates a classic cyberpunk feel – a world of advanced technology and societal decay. Though the series looks more like a space Western, it embodies the spirit of cyberpunk.

Serial Experiments Lain Was Clairvoyant in Its Vision of Futuristic Technology

With its captivating and unusual visual style, Serial Experiments Lain is a standout anime from the late 1990s, and even pushes boundaries within the already experimental cyberpunk genre. The series follows Lain as she becomes increasingly involved in the “Wired,” a virtual reality resembling the early internet, and tells a complex story that deliberately avoids easy answers.

Instead, the series throws viewers into a bizarre and dreamlike world where technology’s appeal gradually erodes people’s identities, and it becomes hard to tell what’s real and what’s not. However, it’s this very strangeness that makes Serial Experiments Lain so fascinating to analyze.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Is the Best Modern Cyberpunk Anime

Although many of the best cyberpunk anime are older, that doesn’t mean new ones aren’t being made. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is already considered a modern classic, blending cutting-edge animation and storytelling with the dark, gritty feel of traditional cyberpunk.

Set in the gritty, futuristic city of Night City from Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners tells a fast-paced, violent story about a group of tech-enhanced mercenaries. At its heart, it’s a tragic tale of David Martinez, who gets caught up in their dangerous world. In just 10 episodes, the series delivers some of the most thrilling and meaningful storytelling in animation, proving that the themes of cyberpunk remain relevant and powerful.

Texhnolyze’s Depiction of the Future Is Disquietingly Hopeless

Despite their cool, futuristic appearance, cyberpunk worlds are usually pretty bleak and unforgiving. But for anime fans, the most unwelcoming setting of all has to be the world of Texhnolyze. Widely considered one of the most depressing anime ever made, Texhnolyze is set in Lux, a decaying underground city filled with hardship and cruelty.

Texhnolyze follows Ichise, an ex-fighter who has been fitted with artificial limbs, and tells a slow, haunting story of his downward spiral. Though known for being a bleak and depressing anime, Texhnolyze is also remarkably clever and strangely captivating, thanks to its heavy, disturbing mood.

Ghost in the Shell Is a Revolutionary Cyberpunk Franchise

Since the late 1980s, the Ghost in the Shell series has profoundly influenced the cyberpunk genre. It stands alone in its deep and nuanced exploration of how living alongside advanced technology impacts individuals and society as a whole.

I’ve always been struck by how broad the Ghost in the Shell franchise is. The stories really differ in what they focus on, how deep they go, and even how good they are. But when Ghost in the Shell is at its best, it brilliantly blends the thrill of a gritty, futuristic world with the thought-provoking themes that make cyberpunk so compelling.

Akira Is Cyberpunk Anime’s Most Important Film

When discussing cyberpunk, the film Akira is essential. Often considered the most important and impactful example of the genre from Japan, Akira is a chaotic story of social upheaval in the futuristic city of Neo-Tokyo. It’s a groundbreaking film that fundamentally shaped the cyberpunk genre and continues to influence it today.

Even after almost 40 years, Akira remains remarkably impressive. Its beautiful hand-drawn animation and powerful story of conflict and devastation still captivate audiences today. Plus, the film’s influence is clear in much of modern cyberpunk, having inspired many of the genre’s defining elements.

2026-01-24 05:42