One of the most thrilling and action-based lists of best apocalyptic anime or post-apocalypse anime. Anime has become a go-to place to watch various shows and movies based on the apocalypse anime theme. Apocalypse anime, the name itself, says it all! The content is about the apocalypse.
The world’s suffering emotional and mental traumas have already been the common themes of the filming world. But, interestingly, Amine has taken over the world by surprise with its different genres and themes, such as Post Apocalyptic Anime.
Apocalypse or Post-Apocalypse Anime
Post Apocalyptic worlds are often full of a dark story, world suffering, Earth’s surface, God eater, humanoid monsters, alien invasion, natural disasters, nuclear war, mysterious creatures, mysterious viruses, malfunctioning robots, bloodthirsty ghouls, humans survived, the human race, new world, zombie apocalypse, and psychic powers.
Following is a list of top-rated and worth-watching post-apocalyptic anime series/movies for the super enthusiastic and greatest anime fans. In the near anime history, these shows have imprinted the idea of what an anime tells through its strong plot and remarkable performances by every main character.
25. God Eater (TV Show 2015)
- Director: Takayuki, Hirao
- Writer: Kei Tsunematsu, Takayuki Hirao
- Cast: Cherami Leigh, Robbie Daymond, Kira Buckland, Crispin Freeman, Patrick Seitz, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Wendee Lee, Erika Harlavher, Kyle Hebert
- IMDb Rating: 7/10
- Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Netflix
This is another anime with thrilling adventures between monsters and human beings. It seems that the demons have become so capable and powerful that they have driven away humanity bit by bit.
This is when Fenrir comes, an organization that works in multiple teams to restore harmony and peace and bring the planet back to its natural state. It was a state before the apocalypse and a form of immense development.
24. Wolf’s Rain (TV show 2003)
- Director: Tensai Okamura
- Writer: Keiko Nobumoto
- Cast: Kenta Miyake, Darren Pleavin, Crispin Freeman, Akio Suyama, Jonny Yong Bosch, Mamoru Miyano, Joshua Seth, Mona Marshall, Hiroki Shimowada
- IMDb Rating: 8/10
- Platforms Available: Funimation Now, Apple iTunes (Buy)
If what tempts you about an anime is the giant creatures or the presence of animals within the story plot. Here, Wolf’s Rain is the shower of many such wolves.
The plot opens up as the wolves transform into the human species form and live amongst the common public, just becoming one of them.
The primary reason behind this human form is to obtain paradise and eliminate those hunting them down.
23. Chrome Shelled Regios (TV Show 2009)
- Director: Chris Cason, Itsuro Kawasaki, Hiroaki Tori
- Writer: Sean Whitley
- Cast: Brina Palencia, Vic Mignogna, Alexis Tipton, Kyle Hebert, Terri Doty, Chris Cason
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Platforms Available: Funimation, Animax Asia, Amazon Prime
The story begins as the audience is introduced to ‘Contaminoids,’ the insect kind of monstrous creatures living within the Chrome Shelled Regios with no shame.
This is causing humans to their whole life. A threat that is life-threatening is posed directly to the human world.
Thus, we believe that brave warriors are the only ones who can save humanity and the dear land from the apocalypse. So, here in this city resides an academy named the academy city of Zuellni.
This is known as the training center that helps and will continue to help the brave fighters by giving their full support in weapons and equipment to fight this apocalyptic or complete disaster.
One such recently enrolled member of the academy is Layfon. He seems to live an indifferent life yet is fully committed to saving the world and the people who live in it.
Also, this isn’t just the end of the story. As with time, the viewers will also learn of the deep personal past and potential powers hidden by Layfon.
22. Now and Then, Here and There (TV Show 1999)
- Director: Akitaro Daichi
- Writer: Hideyuki Kurata
- Cast: Dan Green, Crispin Freeman, Ted Lewis, Lisa Ortiz, Dan Olk
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Platforms Available: Crunchyroll
The story takes off with a boy named Shu, who tries his luck to be introduced to a girl with the blue-hairs one fine day. But unfortunately, his life changes when he and the girl are kidnapped and travel to a new world named Hollywood.
Interestingly, this chase has caused a mysterious power discovery that the girl chased consists of magical powers to generate water. Knowing that Hollywood is facing severe drought, the evils who live there embark on a mission to get hold of the girl’s elemental power.
21. The Promised Neverland (TV Show 2019-2021)
- Director: Mamoru Kanbe
- Writer: Toshiya Ono, Kaisu Shirai
- Cast: Sumire Morohoshi, Mariya Ise, Nao Fujita, Lynn, Shinei Ueki, Yoshino Aoyama, Yuuko Mori, Koko Hayashi, Mari Hino
- IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100% & 59%
- Platforms Available: Netflix, Crunchyroll, HBO Max, Funimation, and Hulu
As the name suggests, a promised Neverland is a promising tale of a place house called Grace Field House, which was initially the most magical place.
As the story proceeds, a little 11year old girl named Emma discovers the secretive purpose planted in this orphanage. Thus, the girl becomes reluctant to escape and leave this trapped house.
A story about a girl who no longer wants to be a part of a place that is nothing compared to what was promised to her, like a promised Neverland.
Throughout the story, Emma attempts to find opportunities to break from her orphanage’s caretaker.
20. Black Bullet (TV show 2014)
- Director: Masayuki Kojima Hiroshi Ikehata,
- Writer: Tatsuhiko Urahata
- Cast: Yuki Kaji, Christina Marie Kelly, Luci Christian, Caithynn French, Chris Patton, Tiffany Grant, Mark Laskowski, Nancy Novotny
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
- Platforms Available: Amazon Prine, Netflix, and Crunchyroll
Black Bullet consists of a land full of crazy and havoc-creating giant creatures. However, the land is full of humans and absurdity on the other side. This is simply due to the freedom these ghouls roam around, considering it as their native land.
Interestingly, to avoid this chaos and nuisance, Enju and Rentaro team up to protect their planet from spreading this newly discovered virus called the Gastrea.
This virus seems to have affected the whole of humanity. Therefore, the duo comes together with a sincere promise to bring these marginalized girls to light who have been otherwise strongly neglected.
May it be two to three girls or the more comprehensive number affected. The priority seems to save them all.
19. No.6 (TV show 2011)
- Director: Ikuro Sato, Shinpei Miyashita, Hisatoshi Shimizu, Kenji Nagasaki
- Writer: Seishi Minakatni
- Cast: Yuki Kaji, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Greg Ayres, Luci Christian, Kalob Martinez, Kiyono Yasuno, Hilary Haag
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Platforms Available: Crunchyroll
No.6 is a modern-style story dating back to the time after the war. This war had created a post-apocalypse state all around the planet, dividing humanity into six different parts precisely.
No.6 seems to be the highlight of all the six cities. The story unfolds within the settings and parameters of this city. Thus, two of the most wanted custody play the most significant roles in the following story. These two fugitives are Nezumi and Shion namely.
These two have a deep-rooted connection within the story. As the story proceeds, years later, Shion and Nezumi unite to solve the mysterious murders happening across the city—also, their bonds start to flourish with time.
18. Seraph of the End (TV show 2015)
- Director: Daisuke Tokufo
- Writer: Monica Rial, Hiroshi Seko
- Cast: Micah Solusod, Miyu Latino, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Saori Hayami, Chris Burnett, Felecia Angelle, Kaito Ishikawa, Kensho Ono
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating:
- Platform Available: Netflix
What does a world look like when humankind above 11 years has been killed? This story follows the cru slavery lives that these little orphan children are forced to experience. Also, these emergent creatures are not ordinary human souls but are the wildest vampires.
One enslaved person named Yuichiro Hyakuya vows to himself and every other child trapped in this dangerous situation to take definite revenge. He promises to make the vampires pay for the harm they have caused to humankind.
Just when escapism seemed impossible, Yuichiro stood up and declared to fight against the injustice that has been done and is continuously happening to the little children of the planet Earth in this post-apocalyptic era.
17. Made in Abyss (TV show 2017)
- Director: Masayuki Kojima, Hitoshi Haga
- Writer: Keigo Koyanagi, Hideyuki Kurata
- Cast: Mariya Ise, Miyu Tomita, Brittany Lauda, Luci Christian, Shelley Calene-Black, Maaya Sakamoto
- IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
- Platforms Available: Amazon Prime Video, HiDive, Spectrum, DIRECTV on Demand
Here is another story with another plot. This one revolves around the little girl and her adventures toward finding her mother.
To do so, the girl befriends a robotic humanoid friend, makes him a companion, and moves toward another world in search of her beloved mother.
The other world has rules and regulations which call for new and wild adventures. With the full support of her new friend, the girl is determined to bring back her lost mother from this other land.
16. Humanity has declined (TV show 2012)
- Director: Seiji Kishi
- Writer: Yumiko Ayana, Jun Kumagai
- Cast: Mai Nakahara, Unsho Ishizuka, Hisako Kanemoto, Satani Akrsaka, Nozomi Sasaki
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Platforms Available: Amazon Prine and Crunchyroll
Humanity has declined in the world of fairies. Yet, this world lives just alongside the human world. This girl fairy seems to act as the primary medium for communication between two worlds that live poles apart.
The story is set in a village named Kusunoki. This fairy comes down to this small town after maintaining the peace and harmony between the two worlds. The series follows her throughout her short and big adventures.
So, if you are craving to experience a post-apocalyptic world that is somewhat far from the dark-themed, nuclear war, deep hatred, or action-based series can go with this new world post-apocalyptic story.
15. Desert Punk (TV Show 2004-2005)
- Director: Takayuki Inagaki
- Writer: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
- Cast: Cole Brown, Eric Vale, Luci Christian, Chihiro Suzuki, Tamio Oki, Justin Cook, Jeremy Inman
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Platforms Available: Hulu (Free Trial), Crunchyroll
An interesting manga series that sprinkles adventure, post-apocalyptic, and comedy within one plot. The story is structured in the future, a unique setting where the audience will experience Japan in a deserted form.
Kanta Mizuno (Desert Punk), a skillful, adventurous, and daring mercenary, plays the whole series’s central role.
The series is structured around his unique and incredible adventures. In this series, he seems to have earned the attention of the lit as the main character.
Within the story, we see him making friends and even enemies. But unfortunately, the list of enemies seems to exceed the list of friends he makes.
Along with Kanta, the audience becomes familiar with other supporting casts. The cast, the story, and the themes seem to sync well and collectively bring out an entertaining anime story.
14. Dr. Stone
- Director: Shinya Iino
- Writer: Boichi, Riichiro Inagaki, Yuichiro Kido, Tyler Walker
- Cast: Yusuki Kobayashi, Manami Numakura, Ayumu Murase, Grn Sato, Tomoaki Maeno, Karin Takahashi
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
- Platforms Available: Amazon Video, iTunes
This is another excellent plot with a significant plot twist that forms the center of the storyline. In the Petrification age, the whole planet was drastically turned into a stone world within a blink of an eye, just when a sudden flash of light struck the earth.
In this sudden post-apocalyptic situation, some humans left from the pre-pacification age seem to have lightened up with a hope to restructure, rebirth, or rebuild the whole of humanity or civilization and give the world life again.
13. Trigun anime (TV show 1998)
- Director: Satoshi Nishimura
- Writer: Yasuhiro Nightow, Yosuke Kuroda
- Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Masaya Onosaka, Hiromi Tsuru, Dean Wein, Dorothy Elias-Fahn, Lia Sargent, Satsuki Yukino
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100% & 75%
- Platforms Available: Netflix
This fictional story is about a mythical land known as No Man’s Land. A gunman named Vash, the Stampede within this planet, lives or instead thrives to survive. This gunman is popularly known for his bounty hunting.
This is often considered a great anime that every Anime or Japanese manga series fan must contemplate. The story has been assigned to a narrator, who works towards thrilling story processing.
This gives the story a much more powerful and live experience. It is resulting in making it an overall worth-it-watching experience.
12. Tokyo Ghoul (TV Show 2014)
- Director: Shuhei Morita
- Writer: John Burgmeier, Aaron Dismuke, Sui Ishida
- Cast: Natsuki Hanae, Mamoru Miyano, Austen Tindle, Sora Amamiya, Brina Palencia, Sean Hennigan
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- Platforms Available: Hulu Plus, Netflix, Crunchyroll
This Anime is structured around humans and ghouls living together on the same planet Earth. Interestingly, both species share multiple similarities, but one difference still separates the human race from the ghouls: their desperate need or unpredictable cravings to eat human flesh.
Ken Kaneki and Preety Rize when goes out on a fancy date. The date turns disastrous as Ken Kaneki soon realizes the harsh truth that Rize is not in love with him but is only after his human flesh.
Thus, Kaneki Ken officially became the first-ever half-ghoul hybrid and was initially human flesh.
This dark reality revealed to him the terrifying world of ghouls, and he discovered the mysterious life that has been secretively living with the human being.
11. Ergo Proxy (TV Show 2006)
- Director: Shuko Murase
- Writer: Dai Sato
- Cast: Koji Yusa, Liam O’Brien, Akiko Yajima, Rie Saito, Rachel Hirschfeld, Megan Hollingshead, Sanae Kobayashi
- IMDb Rating: 8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 86%
- Platforms Available: Netflix
A unique tale that unites humans with the outside world since the apocalypse. In this post-apocalypse scenario, the coexistence of the opposites thankfully forms instead of a peaceful bond and depicts a utopian state.
But, this piece does not last much longer. A very diverse virus soon approaches the AutoReiv-android, giving them a sense of self-awareness. This turns them Opposite to how they were harmoniously living together till now.
10. Kabaneri of Iron Fortress (TV Show 2016)
- Director: Tetsuro Araki
- Writer: Ichiro Okouchi
- Cast: Roger Craig Smith, Collen O’Shaughnessy, Robbie Daymond, Ben Diskin, Abby Trott, Jamieson Price, Richard Epcar, Veronica Taylor
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/ 10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Platforms Available: Netflix
This is an exciting series with dark fantasy and apocalypse as its central genre. This series is set during the time of the industrial revolution.
A shocking and scary emergence of creepy, undead giant-sized monsters has come down to already suffering Earth. The only possible way to eliminate these dynamically sized monsters named Kabane is by fiercely piercing its heart with an iron plate.
9. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (TV Show 2007)
- Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Writer: Kazuki Nakashima
- Cast: Yuri Lowenthal, Sam Riegel, Karen Strassman, Jonny Yong Bosch, Steve Blum, Barbara Goodson, Marina Inoue, Stephanie Sheh, Jamieson Price
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100% & 88%
- Platforms Available: Netflix, Hulu (Free trial)
This is one of the highly-rated sci-fi anime series that takes us and humankind on a trip to the future, a future of the make-believe type. Here, humans are forcefully made to live underground. So interested, they face many significant challenges, such as a severe earthquake.
Two humans named Kamina and Simon, who have knowingly been orphans, dare to find my possible way to successfully and safely crawl back to the Earth.
8. Highschool of the Dead (TV Show 2010)
- Director: Tetsuro Araki
- Writer: Yosuke Kuroda
- Cast: Leraldo Anzaldua, Junichi Suwabe, Nobuyuki Hiyama, Eti Kitamura, Taylor Hannah, Hitomi Harada
- IMDb Rating: 7.2 /10
- Platforms Available: Hulu (Subscription)
In Japan, this show is popularly known as Apocalyptic Academy Highschool of the Dead. This is an adaptation of a popular manga series. The play centers around the survival of childhood friend bonds, school life, and teens.
The story follows the massive destructive condition that surrounds the streets of Japan. One such high school is spotlighted in the form of a series.
Many high school students, staff, single girls, and even nurses are stuck within the severity of the apocalypse. In this series, the audience closely witnesses the zombie apocalypse.
7. Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV Show 1995-1996)
- Director: Hideaki Anno. (AD: Masayuki, Kazuya Tsurumaki)
- Writer: Hideaki Anno, et al
- Cast: Spike Spencer, Allison Keith-Shipp, Sue Ulu, Amanda Winn Lee, Guil Lunde, Tristan MacAvery, Tiffany Grant
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
- Platforms Available: Netflix
This is the next adventurous psychological drama where a young man, under the strict command of his dictatorial father, with the help of some giant-sized machines, works toward driving away those menace monsters who have come to the Earth to cause a severe level of post-apocalyptic landscape destruction.
Interestingly, these machines which are used to have their pros and cons. Thus, making it a show that comes with multiple approaches.
6. Attack on Titan (TV Show 2013-Present)
- Director: Tetsuro Araki, Masashi Koizuka, Yuichiro Hayashi, Jun Shishido
- Writer: Yasuko Kobayashi, Hiroshi Seko, Shintaro Kawakubo
- Cast: Yuki Kaji, Marina Inoue, Yui Ishikawa, Josh GGrelle, Bryce Papenbrook
- IMDb Rating: 9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96%
- Platforms Available: Hulu (free trial), Amazon Prime, and Netflix (Season 1)
Attack on Titan is our first pick as the must-must-watch post-apocalyptic anime series. It has been ranked top on the list for many decades. It starts with the introduction to the walls of humanity, which is considered the safe zone. Soon, the story follows the man-eating titans. Titans are known to be anonymous and live-threatening giants who broke into the walls of humanity.
Further, one such human race that witnessed his close one in danger abruptly vows to take revenge on these titans. Thus, he calls friends to save the Earth as this is the only way out.
5. From the New World (2013-14)
- Director: Masashi Ishihama
- Writer: Yusuke Kishi
- Cast: Greg Ayres, Clint Bickham, Luci Christian
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime
From the New World is a moving anime series that showcases the most advanced world. People in Japan are seen embodying psychokinetic powers, which are called their Cantus.
The series follows the journey of Watanabe Saki in unraveling some of the terrifying truths and mysteries regarding Kamisu’s 69th district. This animation series is filled with adventures and hurdles that will amaze you.
4. Cowboy Bebop (1997-1998)
- Director: Shin’ichirô Watanabe
- Writer: Keiko Nobumoto
- Cast: Kôichi Yamadera, Unshô Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara
- IMDb Rating: 8.9
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Platforms available: Netflix
Cowboy Bebop is a popular Japanese anime series that revolves around the adventures and challenges a chilled-out bounty hunter must go through to catch dangerous criminals.
3. Innocent Venus (2006)
- Director: Jun Kawagoe
- Writer: Shinsuke Ōnishi
- Cast: Chris Ayres, Greg Ayres, Jessica Boone
- IMDb Rating: 6.8
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime, Gogoanime
The premise of Innocent Venus is set in 2010 AD when hyper hurricanes killed five billion people. The Earth has changed alarmingly. The economies suffered a significant setback, and poverty bloomed in all parts of the world.
We witness Katsuragi Jo and Tsurasawa escaping from the claws of the Fantom. We also encounter a mysterious girl who captures everyone’s attention. Innocent Venus is an exceptionally written series and is also blessed with an immensely satisfying production.
2. Tide-Line Blue (2005)
- Director: Umanosuke Iida
- Writer: Yuka Yamada
- Cast: Carol-Anne Day, Roger Rhodes
- IMDb Rating: 6.6
- Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime
Tide-Line Blue, also known as Taido rain burû, is one of the best Japanese animation series around the future Earth, where the world is covered 90% with water.
The UN hopes they will slowly rebuild the world one day and efficiently make better living conditions. Meanwhile, a military general firmly believes that only an army regime can fix everything.
1. Sound of the Sky (2010)
- Director: Mamoru Kanbe
- Writer: Hiroyuki Yoshino
- Cast: Aoi Yûki, Aya Endô, Yû Kobayashi
- IMDb Rating: 7.5
- Platforms available: Crunchyroll
Sound of the Sky revolves around a teenage boy named Kanata Sorami, who strives to become an excellent bugle player. He experiences a ton of adventures and excitement with his fellow platoon members.
Conclusion
Japanese Anime goes back to the time of vast anime history. A time that has now completely changed and developed. New themes and genres of Anime are prevalent these days, such as apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic.
Under this wide variety of elements are covered. Natural disasters, new viruses, creepy and ghoul creators, monsters, giant creatures, and even robots are used. The above list is not entirely the only anime series that one should watch, but doubtlessly a great list to get started with the best possible must-watch post-apocalyptic Anime.
You are free to read the details of each, and after thorough background research, start with the first perfect one.
