What would love look like in a time of androids, aliens, and cybernetics? Speculative fiction genres like science fiction allow people to safely explore complex subjects in a futuristic setting, and that includes romance. Sci-fi romances, especially in a medium like anime, go beyond just placing a love story in between spaceships and laser battles, and instead delve deeply into issues like sentience, the nature of the soul (if one exists), and the essence of human connection.
In a sci-fi setting, love can be a powerful force that transcends boundaries and enriches the human (or post-human) experience. While these anime are undoubtedly entertaining, they also provide a sneak peek into how romance might evolve with technology.
10 Date A Live
MyAnimeList Score: 7.15
One of many harem series with a quirky premise, Date A Live follows a seemingly ordinary high-school student named Shido Itsuka, who discovers that the destructive ‘Spacequakes’ plaguing the world are actually caused by ‘Spirits’ — powerful beings from another dimension. To save the world, Shido must seal the Spirits’ powers by making them fall in love with him.
Date a Live began as a light novel series and has since been expanded into several media, including five manga adaptations, an animated film, four video games, and a free-to-play mobile game.
9 Voices Of A Distant Star
MyAnimeList Score: 7.10
- Release Date: February 2, 2002
- Creator: Makoto Shinkai
- Studio: CoMix Wave Films
- Runtime: 25 minutes
- Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Romance, Drama
Anime fans may know Voices of a Distant Star as not just Makoto Shinkai’s first film, but a film made entirely by himself on his personal Mac Computer. It follows the growing relationship between Mikako Nagamine, a middle schooler who enlists in the UN Space Army to fight an alien war, and Noboru Terao, her close friend who remains on Earth, who keep in touch via text messages.
Several reviewers have noted the breathtaking animation as the best part of the OVA, which is especially impressive considering that the entire film was animated by one person. Voices of a Distant Star has received several accolades, including the Special Prize at 6th Japan Media Arts Festival.
8 Chobits
MyAnimeList Score: 7.40
- Release Date: April 2, 2002
- Creator: CLAMP
- Studio: Madhouse
- No. of Episodes: 26
- Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Romance, Comedy
Chobits revolves around human-like computers known as ‘persocoms.’ A college student named Hideki Motosuwa discovers a particularly advanced persocom abandoned in the trash. After taking her home and naming her ‘Chi,’ Hideki teaches her about the human world — and eventually develops feelings for her.
Chobits explores the age-old sci-fi question of whether machines can ever develop human emotions. The series is one of CLAMP’s best-known works, with a 25-episode anime, 2 OVAs, and three video game adaptations.
7 Urusei Yatsura
MyAnimeList Score: 7.71
Urusei Yatsura was the first serialized comic by legendary manga artist Rumiko Takahashi, which paved the way for her long and storied career. It follows an unlucky high school student named Ataru Moroboshi who gets chosen to represent Earth in a competition against a race of alien invaders. After winning against the alien princess Lum through sheer luck, a series of hilarious misunderstandings leads her to move in with him.
Urusei Yatsura has had a big influence on the harem genre. Lum herself is one of the most popular and beloved female characters in anime history, and the series received a remake by David Production in 2022.
6 Orange
MyAnimeList Score: 7.62
Orange follows a 16-year-old high school student named Naho Takamiya who gets a strange letter from herself ten years in the future. The letter warns Naho about events that are about to unfold, including the arrival of a new transfer student named Kakeru Naruse — and a request to keep an eye on her.
Orange explores themes of regret and second chances, with Naho attempting to make choices that will prevent a tragic fate for Kakeru. It has been praised for its moving storytelling, and the manga was even nominated for an Eisner award.
5 Hello World
MyAnimeList Score: 7.50
- Release Date: September 20, 2019
- Creator: Mado Nozaki
- Studio: Graphinica
- Runtime: 97 minutes
- Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Romance
Hello World takes place in Tokyo in the year 2027 and follows an introverted high school student named Naomi Katagaki. One day, he meets someone who claims to be him from the future. Future Naomi tells his younger self that he’s traveled back in time to prevent a future tragedy that befalls a classmate named Ruri Ichigyo, and that he must win her heart before it’s too late.
The movie has been likened to a high-school romance version of The Matrix or Black Mirror. It won a Users’ Choice award at the CG World Awards in the Animation category, along with a nomination for the Best Animated Feature Film at the Sitges Film Festival.
4 Kiznaiver
MyAnimeList Score: 7.37
- Release Date: April 9, 2016
- Creator: Mari Okada
- Studio: Trigger
- No. of Episodes: 12
- Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Psyhological
Kiznaiver tells the story of a high school student named Katsuhira Agata, who cannot feel pain and is selected to participate in an experimental program called the Kizna System, along with five of his classmates. The system connects the participants so they feel each other’s physical and emotional pain, putting a unique twist on the concept of empathy.
Being a ‘Kiznaiver’ allows Agata and his classmates to deeply understand each other and form bonds of friendship and love. The anime has been critically acclaimed for its emotional storytelling and stunning visuals (courtesy of Studio Trigger).
3 Plastic Memories
MyAnimeList Score: 7.91
Plastic Memories is set in the future and revolves around “Giftias” — advanced humanoid androids who have a limited lifespan of around nine years and four months. Tsukasa Mizugaki, a worker who’s tasked with retrieving Giftias who’ve met their expiry date, develops feelings for a Giftia named Isla, and must confront the reality of her fleeting life span.
Plastic Memories is a bittersweet tale about the fleeting nature of life, even the artificial kind. Critics found the anime’s themes of mortality and cherishing memories to be touching and thought-provoking.
2 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
MyAnimeList Score: 8.10
- Release Date: July 15, 2006
- Creator: Yasutaka Tsutsui (original novel), Mamoru Hosoda (director)
- Studio: Madhouse
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Romance, Drama
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time tells the story of Makoto Konno, a high-school student who gains the ability to time travel after she stumbles upon a walnut-shaped object. After initially using her powers for trivial purposes, she discovers changing the past has unintended consequences, particularly in her relationships.
The film serves as one of Mamoru Hosoda’s best offerings, and it has won a whopping ten awards, including Best Animated Film at the Sitges Film Festival, Animation of the Year at the Tokyo Anime Awards, and the Grand Prize at the 10th Japan Media Awards.
1 Kaiba
MyAnimeList Score: 8.14
- Release Date: April 10, 2008
- Creator: Masaaki Yuasa
- Studio: Madhouse
- No. of Episodes: 12
- Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama
Kaiba is set in the distant future where memories can be transferred between bodies via an information chip, meaning that even if individuals die, their minds can live on. The anime opens with the main protagonist, Kaiba, waking up in a room with a hole in his chest and no memories of his past.
The only clue to Kaiba’s past is a locket containing the picture of an unknown woman. Along with its unique art style and engaging take on the science fiction genre, the series also offers social commentary on class inequality. The anime won the Excellence Award at the 12th Japan Media Arts Festival.