Mohsin Lag
If you are a fan of alien anime stories, you will be overjoyed to discover this list of the best 25 alien anime that features extraterrestrial settings. Therefore, this article will include som many shows to pick from.
From classics like “Neon Genesis Evangelion” to newer hits like “A.I.C.O. Incarnation, and from extraterrestrial invasions to interstellar adventures, these anime series will take you on an uncommon journey through the vast reaches of space.
So with no further ado! sit back, relax, and get ready to explore some aliens and intergalactic creatures with these top alien anime that you should really watch right now.
25. Haiyore! Nyaruko-san
Starting off our list of the best anime that features alien characters with Haiyore! The story here is following Mahiro, an ordinary high school student, who leads a mundane life until a chance encounter with an otherworldly being turns his world upside down. Enter Nyarko, an alien in the form of a breathtaking goddess who takes an instant liking to Mahiro. From this point on, Mahiro’s peaceful existence is replaced with a daily dose of alien encounters, as Nyarko’s advances and intergalactic love rivals disrupt his normalcy. This anime is a bit underrated and features aliens, fantasy, comedy, and romance as it explores the theme of extraterrestrial love.
24. Knights of Sidonia
Knights of Sidonia is a pretty solid anime featuring aliens. The plot highlights that the fate of humanity rests on the shoulders of the survivors of Earth, who have taken refuge on the massive spaceship Sidonia, home to over half a million people. They must defend themselves against the relentless attacks of the Gauna, a shapeshifting alien race that has already destroyed Earth. Can they stop the Gauna and save humanity without losing their own lives? This is a cosmic anime that follows the struggles of humans as they fight to survive. Keep in mind, that there is also a newer film sequel, Knights of Sidonia: Love Woven in the Stars, which was released in 2021.
23. Hoshi no Koe
Hoshi no Koe, also known as Voices of a Distant Star, is considered one of the best alien anime out there. It is a captivating and emotionally moving story that follows two childhood friends, Noboru and Mikako, whose lives are forever changed by an intergalactic war with aliens. Mikako joins the fight in space, leaving Noboru behind to navigate his new reality. The anime explores the couple’s struggles to maintain their love despite the vast distance between them and the ongoing war. This is a sad anime with a heartwarming and thought-provoking story that will leave you in tears. If you’re looking for a change of pace and a great alien anime, give Hoshi no Koe a try.
22. Outlaw Star
Outlaw Star is a popular anime that falls under the genre of sci-fi and interstellar anime, it follows the adventures of Gene Starwind and James Hawking, a duo who run a small handyman agency. They are hired by Captain Hilda to protect her and her spaceship, the XGP-15A II, also known as the Outlaw Star, as they set out in search of a legendary treasure. The anime is known for its impressive animation style and its ability to balance dramatic and comedic elements, making for an exciting and enjoyable viewing experience for fans of aliens in anime.
21. Space Dandy
Space Dandy is another pretty good anime with alien characters, set in space, the series is following the adventures of the titular character Dandy, an alien bounty hunter known for his flashy, cool, and funny personality. He gets a big reward for each new alien species he finds. However, he is not the only one looking for these aliens and he must be fast because whoever finds them first, gets the reward. Dandy has two companions, QT who is a broken robot, and Meow who looks like a cat-like alien. Dandy who is the best-dressed alien hunter, goes on adventures to explore unknown worlds with aliens and his quest ends at the edge of the universe.
20. Tenchi Muyo!
Tenchi Muyo is considered one of the best isekai alien anime out there, it features a perfect blend of power-oriented action, comedy and romance. The story centers around Tenchi, who, like many others, grew up listening to stories of monsters and fairies. However, these stories become a reality for him when he accidentally frees a beautiful, spunky, and angry alien from a cave. From then on, the alien lady becomes attached to Tenchi and their fun-filled life begins. The anime follows Tenchi’s daily encounters with aliens, some action, and plenty of funny moments, making it a well-recommended title for fans of the alien themed-series.
19. Eureka Seven
Eureka Seven is a thrilling science fiction anime that features aliens, it combines action, adventure, and high-tech robots that compile a sold story. The plot centers around Renton, a young boy who is dissatisfied with his mundane life and longs for adventure. His wish becomes a reality when a giant robot crashes into his garage and a girl named Eureka claims to be the pilot. This unexpected encounter leads Renton on an adventure that will change his life forever. With no further ado, just give Eureka Seven a try.
18. Assassination Classroom
If you’re a fan of those powerful alien anime characters, then Assassination Classroom is a must-watch. The series features an overpowered character named Koro-Sensei, an alien who is simultaneously cheerful, compassionate, and innocent, but also so dangerous. The story follows a class of misfits who are tutored by such a monstrous teacher, who teaches them the skills they need to kill him, but also he gave them so many life lessons they will never forget. Therefore, you gotta watch the series and follows the journey of these students, who are tasked with stopping Koro-Sensei from destroying Earth after the moon’s destruction.
17. Digimon Adventure
Digimon is a beloved anime that features aliens and some other strange creatures. The anime began airing in the late 1990s and continues to entertain audiences to this day. One of the standout features of Digimon is the aliens themselves, the cute and lovable Digimons. The story is set in a digital world, where a group of kids finds themselves transported while on a trip. They team up with the Digimons, using their Digivices to fight against evil forces. The series primarily follows the character Taichi and his companion, the powerful Digimon Agumon.
16. Bakugan Battle Brawlers
Bakugan is one of the top alien anime to watch, which is known for its game-like themes, but it offers much more than that. The series depicts a group of special playing cards falling from the sky and landing on Earth. A group of friends, Dan, Bruno, Marucho, Julie, Shun, and Alice, find the cards and decide to work together as the Bakugan Battle Brawlers. They must help fight the battle between good and evil in a parallel universe called New Vestroia. As they learn more about the cards, they also learn about the power struggles in this alternate universe and do their best to help the Bakugan win.
15. Pacific Rim: The Black
Pacific Rim: The Black is a TV show that takes place in the same world as the Pacific Rim movies. In this American Japanese animated show, giant monsters called Kaiju come out of the Pacific Rim and take over Australia. People built big robots called Jaegers to fight back, but they failed and Australia is left empty. Two teenagers, Taylor and Hayley, are left behind when their parents go to fight the Kaiju and don’t come back. After five years, Hayley finds a robot called Atlas Destroyer and she and Taylor use it to try and find their parents. Along the way, they have to fight the Kaiju and other survivors who want to take Atlas Destroyer for themselves.
14. Figure 17
Figure 17 is one of the top underrated anime about aliens on our list. The series is so good to watch, and it follows the main character Tsubasa, a 10-year-old girl who moves to Hokkaido to live with her dad. She’s shy and doesn’t talk much to her classmates. One night, she sees a UFO crash in the forest near her house. She goes to check it out and finds the pilot, D.D., hurt. There’s also a scary-looking alien called a Maguar there. The Maguar tries to hurt Tsubasa, but an alien lifeform merges with her and turns her into a superpowered robot called Figure 17. This robot is able to defeat the Maguar. The alien lifeform also becomes an identical twin of Tsubasa, named Hikaru. As Tsubasa and Hikaru spend more time together, Tsubasa becomes more friendly and outgoing. But they have to keep fighting more Maguars until help comes from D.D.’s home planet.
13. Macross Frontier
Macross Frontier is an anime about aliens. After a war with a giant alien race called the Zentradi, humans are living on a colony ship called Macross Frontier. In the year 2059, a trainee pilot named Alto and his friends is preparing to perform at a concert for a famous singer named Sheryl. Suddenly, a new type of alien called Vajra appears and attacks the colony ship. A young girl named Ranka is left behind and is almost captured by the Vajra, but Alto saves her. Because of his bravery, Alto gets recruited to fight against the Vajra and protect the colony ship.
12. Level E
Yukitaka is a schoolboy from Tokyo who is moving to Yamagata for high school on a baseball scholarship. When he arrives at his new apartment, he finds a strange man wearing his clothes and reading. The man says he’s an alien named Baka Ki El Dogra, who is the prince of the planet Dogra. He tells Yukitaka that there are hundreds of aliens living on Earth already. Baka Ki El Dogra is known to be a fool who likes to make trouble for others and cause inconvenience, he runs strange tests on his subordinates, gives strange powers to random children, and is generally a nuisance to everyone. If you’re curious about what it would be like to have an alien as a roommate, “Level E” is a must-watch.
11. Blue Gender
Blue Gender is another well-recommended anime about aliens that you should definitely check out. The story takes place in a not-too-distant future where humans are no longer at the top of the food chain. A race of bug-like aliens called the Blue have taken over the Earth and humans have been pushed to the side. A space station called Second Earth has been built as a safe place for humans to live and plan to take back Earth.
Yuji Kaido is a man who is cryogenically frozen because he is sick with a disease called B-Cells. When he wakes up, he joins a team of soldiers who are on a mission to extract him from the Earth. But things don’t go as planned and they have to fight their way back to Second Earth. Yuji has to fight in a war against the Blue and try to survive. He and the fighters from Second Earth want to take back the Earth, but they also don’t want to lose their humanity.
10. Terra Formars
Terra Formars is an anime about humans going to Mars to fight giant alien cockroaches. In the past, humans tried to make Mars livable by sending cockroaches and plants to change the planet’s environment. But the cockroaches evolved and became very powerful. Now, in the future, a deadly disease called the Alien Engine Virus is on Earth and the only cure is on Mars. But Mars is now overrun by giant cockroaches called Terraformars.
A team of 100 people with special powers and abilities is sent to Mars to find the cure and fight the Terraformars. It’s a fight for survival as they try to save humanity. Terra Formars is anime set in space with aliens that will change the way you think about cockroaches! Yeah, it’s a series about humans’ journey toward Planet Mars to fight some sort of developed cockroaches. With the story of Terra Formars, you’ll never stumble upon cockroaches in the same way again!
9. Fafner In The Azure
Fafner is an alien invasion anime that takes place on Tatsumiyajima, a small island in Japan. In Tatsumiyajima nothing much happens. The island’s young people go to school thinking that their lives will be peaceful and quiet, but that’s not the case. The fate of human beings is at stake and Tatsumiyajima is the last place where they can defend against an enemy that is hostile and hard to understand. The giant robot Fafner is the protector of humanity and it’s the last hope for humanity’s survival.
8. Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199
“Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199” is a must-watch anime for those who are interested in intergalactic wars. The series depicts that the Earth we know is not the same as it used to be. The green hills and blue oceans have been destroyed by bombs from an enemy empire. People have to live in underground cities to survive the radiation. But there is still hope. A distant planet has the technology to fix the Earth. A group of people on a special spaceship, called the Yamato, are on a dangerous journey to get that technology. They have to travel 168,000 light-years to get there. They are a team of different people, but they all want to save humanity.
7. Cat Planet Cuties
Fans of anime cat girls, this is the right show for you! Cat Planet Cuties follows Kio, a regular guy living a regular life. But that all changes when he meets Eris, a beautiful girl who looks like a cat. She’s from a planet called Catian and is on Earth to learn more about its inhabitants. She ends up staying at Kio’s house! But not everything is happy and carefree. There are groups of people who want to capture Eris and keep her existence a secret. Kio has to work hard to keep her safe. Things are about to get exciting and mysterious in this romance anime with some alien twist.
6. Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis is popular anime about aliens, angels, and robots. The story takes place 15 years after a huge disaster, and the world is being attacked by monsters called Angels. People can’t fight them off using their usual weapons and tactics. However, there’s a group called NERV that can use giant robots called Evangelions. Their leader is a man named Gendou Ikari, who is cold and distant, and his son is named Shinji. Therefore, Shinji is someone who hasn’t seen his father in a long time and is struggling with emotional issues from his past. Luckily, he meets a woman named Misato, who is kind and motherly toward him. One day, the Angels attack again, and Shinji is forced to pilot the Evangelion Unit-01. He discovers that he is the only one who can control it properly. Hence, Shinji fights to protect the city, but he’s not aware of his father’s true plans. So, despite the mental toll of piloting the robot, Shinji continues to fight the Angels, but his father’s motives remain a mystery.
5. Gantz
Gantz is a gore anime that will take you on a thrilling journey unlike any other. If you’re a fan of alien stories, this is the one for you. It’s a tale of survival, where death is just the beginning. Imagine being thrown into a game where you have to fight green aliens and robot monsters to stay alive. That’s what happens to Kei Kurono when he dies. He’s forced to play this deadly game, and his life is not his own. Now, the stakes are high, and the consequences of not playing by the rules are dire. The series is not just about a bloody game, it’s also highlighting the darker aspects of humanity. So, this is a show where you will see portrayals of greed, violence, and ugliness in society. Yeah! It’s not for the faint of heart, because it is filled with +18 scenes and violence.
4. Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball is a legendary anime that has captivated the whole world with its unique story of adventurous characters. The story follows the journey of a young, powerful boy named Goku as he embarks on a quest to find the seven mystical Dragon Balls. These balls, when brought together, have the power to grant any wish, and Goku is determined to use them to save the world from the alien threats that threaten it. As the series progresses, Goku meets diverse persons, each with their own unique abilities and personality. From the powerful and arrogant Vegeta, his rival and eventual friend, to the wise and powerful Master Roshi, each character adds a new layer to the story. Together they face off against powerful alien foes, and Goku trains to become the strongest warrior in the world.
3. One Punch Man
One Punch Man is an anime that explores a variety of themes, including heroes, aliens, and strange creatures. The protagonist, Saitama, is a seemingly unimpressive individual with a unique hobby – being a hero. In order to become powerful, Saitama relentlessly trained for three years, losing all of his hair in the process. Now, he is so overpowered, that he can defeat any enemy with just one punch. However, having no one capable of matching his strength has led Saitama to an unexpected problem – he is no longer able to enjoy the thrill of battling and has become quite bored. Therefore, while meeting Genos, Saitama embarks on a new journey as a member of the Hero Association to experience the excitement of battle he once felt.
2. Gintama
Gintama is an anime about a city called Edo, where once samurai were powerful but after the arrival of powerful aliens known as “Amanto” the city changed and their aspirations became unachievable. A new law is passed that prohibits all swords in public. The main character Gintoki is a funny silver-haired man who always carries a wooden sword and still maintains his status as a samurai despite the ban. He runs a small business called Yorozuya, which helps people with odd jobs. He is often helped by Shinpachi Shimura, a boy who is learning to be a samurai; Kagura, a strong girl with an endless appetite and Sadaharu, a giant dog who loves biting people’s heads. Together they face many challenges, from alien royalty to local gangs in the ever-changing world of Edo.
1. Parasyte: The Maxim
Finally, here is the number 1 best alien anime to watch! Yeah, this is Parasyte, a masterpiece anime that tells the story of parasitic aliens that have invaded Earth and taken over the brains of humans. They can change their form to feed on their prey. The series focuses on the main character, Shinichi Izumi, a normal high school student, who is attacked by one of these parasites, but it fails to take over his brain and ends up in his right hand. Therefore, the parasite is named Migi, and it must rely on Shinichi to survive. From then on, together, they start coexisting and facing hostile parasites that want to eliminate this new threat to their species.
