21 best alien anime series and movies

Alien anime is a stupid bunch. And no, not because of the inaccuracies of our human-centered bias in their character design.

Ironically, these anime seem to have infiltrated every corner of otaku culture. Even sometimes completely eludes the genre of science fiction on which it is supposed to be based.

So, for this list, let's dive into some pretty cool alien and alien anime series.

As always, before we start, a couple of rules:

Science fiction shouldn't be a mainstream genre
Doesn't have to be in space
The complexity of the plot will not be an important criterion for this list.
Alien characters do not need to be identified, their existence is simply confirmed
Although aliens should still be important enough for the story.
People moving into different forms of life do not count
Evolved people from the far, far future - also no-no

Now for the recommendations!

21. Rinne no Lagrange Season 2 (2011)

It's an alien anime with somewhat odd mixed genres here, and it manages to remain engaging and entertaining while focusing on its characters and interactions.

Specifically, alien interactions with humans, which is probably the only reason this anime is on this list.

The biggest strength of the second season is simply more focus on what made the first season interesting:conflicts related to goals .

However, the overall plot may be too underdeveloped for such an interesting premise, so keep your expectations in mind.

20. Hayore! Nyaruko-san (2010)

Another tail at the far end of our list is a sitcom that focuses on extraterrestrial beings... with very questionable obsessions.

Mind you, this is not even the best comedy anime ever.

But the formula that Nyaruko creates provides good entertainment against the backdrop of the complete absurdity and stupidity of the plot development of each episode.

Basically, it's a light-hearted anime about otherworldly pursuits.

19. Ano Natsu de Matteru (2012)

A spiritual (and literal?!) successor to Onegai Sense, this series opens up as your standard slice-of-life genre, preloaded with typical teen dramas and youth romances.

The strange mixture of science fiction elements is not really able to change the earthy tone of the series, but instead it is used for simple world-building foundations.

At least in most cases.

The individual decisions of these characters can be a little overwhelming at times. But you can just write it off as "the misadventures of inexperienced youth."

18. Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu OVA (2005)

A very strange anime based on the stereotype of a dense protagonist who finds himself in a situation where he needs to take care of a strange and mysterious girl.

Aliens are not shown in the series, but are simply mentioned or reported.

But their existence serves as an important plot device for the series.

Since the story is quite short, some questions from viewers may remain unanswered.

But it's still a pretty intriguing short series worth checking out, even just episode 1.

17. Kido Senkan Nadeshiko (1996)

Mixed genre of comedy and space war sounds strange?

If not, then this classic might be your cup of tea.

For the most part, the setting, locations, and technology are built as solid storytelling foundations.

But the most interesting begins with the profiles of the characters.

From the dubious credentials of Nadeshiko's crew to the silly antics inside the ship, there's always something for onlookers to poke fun at.

16. Knights of Sidonia (2015)

Before you write this off as just another sci-fi "humans vs. obscure aliens" anime, first think about the essence of the setting.

We've already lost. Our heroes are transported to the far future, to a timeline where viewers already know that the main antagonists have dominated.

The details you fill in within its timeline, while writing a logic drama depicting what life might be like on some long generation ship, make watching this series very rewarding.

And I'm not even talking about the more horrible (?) details yet.

15. Captain Herlock: Outer Legend - An Endless Odyssey (2002)

Of all the media out there about Captain Herlock, this is probably my personal choice as an "alien" anime recommendation.

Endless Odyssey properly returns the franchise to its proper form, being the official sequel set right after the 1978 adaptation.

Harlock is as much of a slap as a space western hero, enhanced by the "terrible" setting at the beginning of the series.

As for the aliens in this series, to quote a certain Super-Alien: "Aliens are relative, it's a big universe."

14. Hoshi no Koe (2002)

A fairly simple story ended abruptly due to a very limited execution time.

Don't let that keep you from enjoying it.

Aliens, for the most part, act the same as Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu. The conflict in this matter seems a little less worrisome given that both of them had access to the solution when they were given the opportunity.

But long-distance interaction is what holds this 25-minute release well and makes the story somewhat realistic in the face of its super fantasy setting.

13. Outlaw Star (1998)

A space western/bounty hunt isn't the most unique place, as some very popular classics prove.

But it's still a pretty balanced adventure template.

Outlaw Star has a special addition to the interaction with alien races that makes the variety of characters weirder.

Thisespecially noteworthy because in fact, most of their projects are inspired not by science fiction, but by fantasy.

As for how interesting its badass protagonist really is, you might want to ask the eponymous ship's propulsion system instead.

12. Space Dandy (2014)

If there's one thing that Space Dandy has definitively proven, it's that the randomness of space may be perhaps the mosteffective comedy tool for writing.

Combine that with a despicable but somehow adorable protagonist, wacky western adventure imagery, and contemporary cultural references, and you've got a recipe for an alien anime that will entertain from start to finish.

Or make you cringe at every joke.

No matter how you perceive his style, Space Dandy will leave an impression that you will definitely not forget.

11. Urusei Yatsura (1981)

Probably one of the very first alien anime series that did not emphasize science fiction elements, Urusei Yatsura became the basic template for many different romantic comedy series in the future.

Don't get me wrong, the romantic themes are still strong in this series.

But his comedic formula is such a masterpiece that you can still have a laugh or two, no matter how old you are.

There is something about the time and pace of its history that makes it so interesting, no matter the era.

10. Onegai sensei (2002)

A classic alien romance anime that ran a thousand episodes with vaguely similar concepts.

Onegai Sensei differs from the much more classic Urusei Yatsura in a noticeably stronger emphasis on romance.

Like its spiritual successor later, most of the sci-fi elements are simply retained as world-building bases to aid the development of the two main characters.

Anyone interested in watching the series is in for a rollercoaster ride of sensations, and also perhaps one of the most deceptive romantic gimmicks often used to test a relationship.

9. The series “Love Ru” (2008)

Do I have to remind anyone that there really are aliens in this series?

I mean, I understand, even would-be members of Rito's harem are already more or less used to Earth.

In fact, science fiction is probably not in the classifying genre. So if you only have a tingle for romantic comedy ecchis, then you already have a few volumes of entertainment to indulge in.

Unless, of course, you have not read them yet.

8. Dragon Ball Z (1989)

Ah, one of the greatest shōnen classics.

Today, the magic of its novelty may have worn off, but it still thrills audiences around the world.

The first Dragon Ball may have already set Son Goku as an alien.

But it wasn't until after Dragon Ball Z that the topic became much more relevant, and a whole host of alien characters appeared on the scene.

I mean, now it's not only beings from other planets, but also fromcompletely different universes .

7. Tenchi Muyou! (1995)

What I'm rating here is technically the first series (and probably the most memorable) despite the development of later seasons.

Oddly enough, for such a title of one of the first modern harem series, she has quite~~confused~~ complicated story.

The alien elements of science fiction are firmly embedded in the narrative, and not just some kind of world-building tool. Eventually, the same sci-fi plus harem formula will form the basis of another memorable series that will air exactly one year from now.

6. Eureka Seven (2005).

The plot twist of Terrans becoming aliens on their home planet isn't very common.

One of the best series to do this is Eureka Seven.

The series boasts a balanced mix of innocent and adult romance, mechanical and fantasy elements, and the philosophical conflict of harmony.

Of course, it's definitely not ideal. A few eyebrow-raising moments here and there.

But it's a classic worth checking out if you're a fan of alien anime. Oh, and what about its sequel?

Hey, what's the sequel?

5. Macross Plus (1994)

Continuing the story set in the original series, Macross Plus is technically still in the same timeline.

Thus, we can view alien elements as real, or at least as indirect drivers of these future events.

As expected, the film no longer revolves around Zentradi. They are just loosely used as bonding personalities for the core cast.

Definitely a step up from the original TV show, but you'll need to watch it first before you can watch this well-made sequel.

4. Keroro Gunsu (2004)

Here is one of the most versatile entertainment series that has shaped the world of anime and manga at the dawn of the 21st century.

keroro gunsu,no doubt is an alien series that has all the stereotypical bells and whistles of an "alien coming to Earth" series... at least in the beginning.

But listen, at least Jiroro desperately clung to the idea for a long time.

Those who are into anime aliens, who also love mundane and wacky type comedies, will definitely feel right at home in this series.

3. Parasite (2014)

At first glance, it's probably obvious that the Parastye series will be about aliens. After all, it is essentially "The Thing" in manga and anime format.

The conflicts that arise from separate storylines in this series even tie into the idea of an invisible, hidden intruder.

But the underlying discussion about life, death, and the difference between interacting with what you know and what you don't know is also what makes Parasyte so interesting to watch.

That, plus watching people get gutted in the worst possible way.

2. Ganz (2004)

Speaking of gutting, when you talk about manga/anime sci-fi series, maybe the only thing we otaku always have in mind is Gantz.

To say this is an alien series would be a huge understatement. This is the essence of his existence.

From the enemies they fight, the interacting characters, the main storylines, and the technology featured in the series. Everyone is screaming aliens.

The only sad thing is that the anime offers a tiny sliver of what the original manga can show you.