The dark and unknown abyss of Space has always been fascinating. And the media industry has milked and continues to milk that fascination. From Star Wars to the Martian, Hollywood has given us a space movie in nearly every genre.
So, how could anime stay behind?
Although animes in space have taken a step back in recent years, there’s still a huge collection to watch. There are OVAs, films, and multi-season anime series based on manga or light novels. And this list includes all of them.
This is going to be a two-parter. First is a list of the animes in space that I recommend. Following that is a list of some undiscovered/hidden space anime series and movies that you might not have seen.
For the latter list, you’ll only find their wiki and watch links.
20 Must-Watch Space Anime Series & Movies!
20. Cowboy Bebop
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Sunrise
- Author: Hajime Yatate
- Release Date: April 3, 1998
- Watch On: Netflix
When it comes to space anime on Netflix, Cowboy Bebop is one of the few available on the streaming service. And it’s not a coincidence that Netflix chose one of the most popular space anime of all time.
Cowboy Bebop follows the adventures of a bounty-hunting group. After destroying Earth, humanity has inhabited several moons and planets. And with crime on the rise, the Inter Solar System Police(ISSP) greenlights bounty hunters.
That’s when a hitman, a former ISSP cop, a con artist, and a hacker come together and form a group to hunt bounties and survive.
19. Mobile Suit Gundam
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 42
- Production Studio: Sunrise
- Author: Yoshiyuki Tomino
- Release Date: April 7, 1979
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Mobile Suit Gundam is one of the biggest space anime franchises, having inspired movies, manga, light novels, and video games.
The series is about a war between Zeon(a galactic human settlement) and Earth. This war of independence continues for 8 months until the Earth finds and unleashes a new weapon- giant robots.
Think of Pacific Rim, but in space.
The following are the best of the installments in this series.
| Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam | Season(s): 1 Episodes: 50 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Yoshiyuki Tomino Release Date: March 2, 1985 Watch On: Funimation |
| Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ | Season(s): 1 Episodes: 47 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Yoshiyuki Tomino Release Date: March 1, 1986 Watch On: Crunchyroll |
| Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket | Season(s): 1 Episodes: 6 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Hiroyuki Yamaga, Kyosuke Yuki Release Date: March 25, 1989 Watch On: 9Anime |
| Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory | Season(s): 1 Episodes: 13 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Fuyunori Gobu, Akinori Endo, Ryōsuke Takahashi, Asahide Ookuma Release Date: May 23, 1991 Watch On: 9Anime |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Wing | Season(s): 1 Episodes: 49 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Katsuyuki Sumizawa Release Date: April 7, 1995 Watch On: Hulu |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Seed | Season(s): 2 Episodes: 50 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Chiaki Morosawa Release Date: October 5, 2002 Watch On: Crunchyroll |
| Mobile Suit Gundam 00 | Season(s): 2 Episodes: 50 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Yosuke Kuroda Release Date: October 6, 2007 Watch On: Crunchyroll |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans | Season(s): 2 Episodes: 50 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Mari Okada Release Date: October 4, 2015 Watch On: Netflix |
18. Legend of the Galactic Heroes
- Season(s): 4
- Episodes: 110
- Production Studio: Artland, Magic Bus
- Author: Yoshiki Tanaka
- Release Date: December 21, 1988
- Watch On: HIDIVE
Set in the Milky Way Galaxy, the series follows two superpowers of the galaxy- the Free Planets Alliance and the Galactic Empire. Both these giants have been at war for 150 years, but things are about to change with 2 young new leaders taking charge.
If the 110 episodes seem too much, you can also watch the 2018 remake of this classic space anime from the 80s that only has 12 episodes.
17. Space Battleship Yamato
- Season(s): 3
- Episodes: 77
- Production Studio: Academy Productions, Group TAC, Xebec
- Author: Leiji Matsumoto, Yoshinobu Nishizaki
- Release Date: October 6, 1974
- Watch On: 9Anime
If you are looking for an anime about space travel, load up Space Battleship Yamato already.
This space anime from the 70s follows a space battleship on a journey through space to a planet far, far away. The purpose of this journey is to fetch a device that can save a radiation-riddled Earth.
But it’s a race against time, and there will only be one winner!
If the original Space Battleship Yamato feels a little too old school, watch the remake. The difference in animation is night and day.
16. Outlaw Star
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Sunrise
- Author: Takehiko Itō
- Release Date: January 8, 1998
- Watch On: Hulu
Space travel, bio-androids, and a mysterious power source- Outlaw Star has everything you could ask from a sci-fi/mecha/space anime.
The series follows Gene and Jim, two nobodies from a small planet in the galaxy. But their lives flip upside down when they take a job as bodyguards to Hilda, an outlaw who has stolen some dangerous secrets from some powerful people.
15. Planetes
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Sunrise
- Author: Makoto Yukimura
- Release Date: October 4, 2003
- Watch On: 9Anime
When it comes to animes in space, few are as beautiful as Planetes.
The series is set in a distant future where space has been commercialized. Post the colonization of the Moon, travel between Earth and Moon is an everyday reality. Ai Tanabe, a young woman, works as a debris collector to clear the path between Earth and Moon from dangerous space debris.
But Ai and her friends are severely unappreciated and decide to do something about it.
14. Irresponsible Captain Tylor
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Tatsunoko Production
- Author: Hitoshi Yoshioka
- Release Date: January 25, 1993
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
If you’re looking for a light-hearted and funny space anime, Irresponsible Captain Tyloe is IT!
The series follows a lazy womanizer who wants nothing to do with combat and puts him right in the middle of it. Tylor wants a desk job in the United Planets Space Force but ends up captaining a ship after saving an Admiral by accident.
Now, he has to face the very thing he ran from everyday- space combat.
13. Space Dandy
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Bones
- Author: Shinichirō Watanabe
- Release Date: January 4, 2014
- Watch On: Hulu
Set in the same universe as Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy follows the misadventures of Dandy. Along with his robot sidekick and a cat-like alien pet, Dandy travels through space, hunts unique aliens, and sells them for money.
Dandy’s goal is to visit the best diner in the universe- BooBies.
But, all that is easier said than done.
12. Space Brothers
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 99
- Production Studio: A-1 Pictures
- Author: Chūya Koyama
- Release Date: April 1, 2012
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Two brothers, Mutta and Hibito, grew up dreaming of becoming astronauts. While Hibito wanted to fly to the Moon, Mutta aspired to become a Mars-tronaut.
But life hasn’t gone to plan for Mutta. While Hibito is on-track to walk on the Moon, Mutta ends up in the automobile industry. However, when Mutta loses his job and gets a chance to sign up for the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, the brothers’ vow can finally be fulfilled.
11. Martian Successor Nadesico
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Xebec
- Author: Kia Asamiya
- Release Date: October 1, 1996
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Martian Successor Nadesico is one of the best action/comedy/space anime from the 90s, and it’s still as entertaining as ever.
The series follows Akito Tenkawa, a boy who survived the destruction of human colonies on Mars. Jovian Lizards, an alien race, are now waging war on Earth, and fighting them is the ND-001 Nadesico spaceship full of misfits.
Akito is the cook of the ship who only wants to cook and watch anime, but he always finds himself at the center of the action.
10. Stellvia of the Universe
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Xebec
- Author: Ryo Hoshino
- Release Date: April 2, 2003
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Also known as Stellvia, this space anime is set on a post-apocalyptic Earth that was destroyed by an electromagnetic wave. With humanity recovering and colonizing space, a 15-year-old Shima Katase wants to pilot space battleships.
180 years after the first one, a second electromagnetic wave is coming, and Shima wants to play her role to protect the Earth from complete annihilation.
9. Infinite Ryvius
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Sunrise
- Author: Yōsuke Kuroda
- Release Date: October 6, 1999
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
Infinite Ryvius is set in the year 2225. With nearly every planet in the Solar System inhabited by humans, space travel is an everyday task, and astronauts are in high demand.
The series follows a group of aspiring astronauts in space school whose journey gets sabotaged.
Infinite Ryvius is one of the best sci-fi space anime of the 90s and deserves a reboot IMO.
8. Crest of the Stars
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 13
- Production Studio: Sunrise
- Author: Hiroyuki Morioka
- Release Date: January 2, 1999
- Watch On: Zoro.to
This sci-fi space anime follows Jinto Lin, a young prince who must learn the ways of an empire that destroyed his own home. The Abh Empire is the superpower of the universe but faces resistance from the Alliance (a fleet of 4 human nations).
The original series only has 1 season, but the sequel, titled Banner of the Stars, has 3. Here’s everything you need to know about them, including where to watch them.
| Banner of the Stars | Episodes: 13 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Hiroyuki Morioka Release Date: April 5, 2000 Watch On: Zoro.to |
| Banner of the Stars II | Episodes: 10 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Hiroyuki Morioka Release Date: July 11, 2001 Watch On: Zoro.to |
| Banner of the Stars III | Episodes: 2 Production Studio: Sunrise Author: Hiroyuki Morioka Release Date: August 26, 2005 Watch On: GoGoAnime |
7. Astra Lost in Space
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 12
- Production Studio: Lerche
- Author: Kenta Shinohara
- Release Date: July 3, 2019
- Watch On: Hulu
Astra Lost in Space is another must-watch anime about space travel and everything that can go wrong during space travel.
The series follows a group of students who travel to a nearby planet for a school day trip. However, it all goes haywire when a mysterious light attacks the group. The students find an abandoned spaceship and start looking for ways to return home safely.
6. Toward the Terra
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 24
- Production Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha
- Author: Keiko Takemiya
- Release Date: April 7, 2007
- Watch On: GoGoAnime
Toward the Terra brings to life the biggest fear of humanity- living under the siege of supercomputers. These computers also control selected humans to lead humanity, and society has become truly logical.
But, there are still those who dream. Humans who still have control over themselves are called espers, and they are fighting a war to take back Terra (Earth) and save humanity.
5. Space Pirate Captain Harlock
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 42
- Production Studio: Toei Animation
- Author: Leiji Matsumoto
- Release Date: March 14, 1978
- Watch On: Zoro.to
While humans have automated everything and machines do all the tasks, Captain Harlock is the last of the rigid humans who like to get their hands dirty. And since humanity has become lazy, an old alien race that inhabited Earth before humans have come back to reclaim it.
Now, the only savior of the lazy humans is a space pirate called Captain Harlock.
This space opera is a must-watch, period!
4. Galaxy Express 999
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 113
- Production Studio: Toei Animation
- Author: Leiji Matsumoto
- Release Date: September 14, 1978
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Looking for a vengeful adventure through space? Look no further!
Galaxy Express 999 is the story of a young boy and his mother who want to board the Galaxy Express 999 train and travel to the Andromeda Galaxy to get mechanical bodies and achieve immortality.
But, when the mother gets murdered, the story takes a dark turn as the young boy will now do anything to avenge his mother and fulfill her dream as well.
3. Starship Operators
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 13
- Production Studio: J.C.Staff
- Author: Ryo Mizuno
- Release Date: January 5, 2005
- Watch On: 9Anime
A quite ridiculous yet entertaining plot makes this space anime one of my favorites.
Starship Operators follow a group of Cadets who have recently graduated from the Defense University. They went on a cruise through space to celebrate and came back to a war-stricken home.
With the government in surrender, the Cadets decide to fight for their planet. And for funding, they turn to a news channel. The channel funds their fightback in return for turning it all into a reality TV show.
Don’t tell me you’re not intrigued.
2. Gintama: The Final Chapter – Be Forever Yorozuya
- Runtime: 110 minutes
- Production Studio: Sunrise
- Author: Hideaki Sorachi
- Release Date: July 6, 2013
- Watch On: Zoro.to
If the 9 seasons of Gintama weren’t enough entertainment for you, how about a Gintama space movie? That should be the pinnacle, right?
In the movie, Gintoki is working at a cinema and finds a movie thief. This movie thief takes Gintoki to a future where the Earth has become a wasteland and the freelancer trio has broken up due to Gintoki’s disappearance.
Gintoki disguises himself and tries to find out what has happened to this world.
1. Heroic Age
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Xebec
- Author: Tow Ubukata
- Release Date: April 1, 2007
- Watch On: Hulu
Last on my list of recommendations is Heroic Age, a space action and adventure anime inspired by Greek mythology.
The Golden Race ruled over the stars. But, when the time came for the Golden Race to move to the next Galaxy, they passed on their knowledge and power to the Silver Tribe. The Silver Tribe now rules over the Bronze and Heroic Tribes. Humans also reached the stars and were labeled the Iron Tribe.
Soon, the superior races of Bronze and Silver Tribes attacked the Iron Tribe and humans had to scatter across the galaxy to survive.
Now, a human princess is on a mission to find the ONE who would save the Iron Tribe.
20+ More Space Anime & Where To Watch Them!
1. Aldnoah.Zero
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 24
- Production Studio: A-1 Pictures, TROYCA
- Author: Gen Urobuchi
- Release Date: July 6, 2014
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
2. Gunbuster
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 6
- Production Studio: Gainax
- Author: Hideaki Anno
- Release Date: October 7, 1988
- Watch On: 9Anime
3 Sidonia no Kishi
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 24
- Production Studio: Polygon Pictures
- Author: Tsutomu Nihei
- Release Date: April 11, 2014
- Watch On: Netflix
4. Vandread
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Gonzo
- Author: Takeshi Mori
- Release Date: October 3, 2000
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
5. Blue Gender
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: AIC
- Author: Ryousuke Takahashi
- Release Date: October 8, 1999
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
6. Blue Comet SPT Layzner
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 38
- Production Studio: Sunrise
- Author: Ryosuke Takahashi
- Release Date: October 3, 1985
- Watch On: Zoro.to
7. Bodacious Space Pirates
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Satelight
- Author: Yuuichi Sasamoto
- Release Date: January 7, 2012
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
8. Brave Witches
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 12
- Production Studio: Silver Link, Nippon Columbia
- Author: Fumikane Shimada
- Release Date: October 5, 2016
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
9. Captain Future
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 52
- Production Studio: Toei Animation
- Author: Edmond Hamilton
- Release Date: November 7, 1978
- Watch On: GoGoAnime
10. Divergence Eve
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: RADIX
- Author: Takumi Tsukumo
- Release Date: July 2, 2003
- Watch On: Yidio
11. Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 13
- Production Studio: Production I.G
- Author: Gen Urobuchi
- Release Date: April 7, 2013
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
12. Legend of Galactic Heroes Gaiden
- Season(s): 4
- Episodes: 110
- Production Studio: Artland, Magic Bus
- Author: Yoshiki Tanaka
- Release Date: December 18, 1998
- Watch On: Hidive
13. Ginga Kikoutai Majestic Prince
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 24
- Production Studio: Dogakobo
- Author: Rando Ayamine, Hiroshi Takeuchi
- Release Date: April 4, 2013
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
14. Gravion
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 24
- Production Studio: Gonzo
- Author: Hideyuki Kurata
- Release Date: October 7, 2002
- Watch On: Funimation
15. Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 7
- Production Studio: Sunrise
- Author: Harutoshi Fukui
- Release Date: February 20, 2010
- Watch On: Funimation
16. Nadesico: Prince of Darkness
- Runtime: 90 minutes
- Production Studio: Xebec
- Author: Kia Asamiya
- Release Date: August 19, 1998
- Watch On: Vudu
17. Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 24
- Production Studio: Xebec
- Author: Production I.G
- Release Date: January 8, 2012
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
18. Robotech
- Season(s): 3
- Episodes: 85
- Production Studio: Harmony Gold USA, Tatsunoko Production
- Author: Carl Macek
- Release Date: March 4, 1985
- Watch On: Funimation
19. Space Adventure Cobra
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 31
- Production Studio: TMS Entertainment
- Author: Buichi Terasawa
- Release Date: October 7, 1982
- Watch On: Funimation
20. Space Battleship Tiramisu
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Gonzo
- Author: Satoshi Miyagawa
- Release Date: April 3, 2018
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
21. Star Blazers 2202
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: Xebec, Production I.G
- Author: Leiji Matsumoto, Yoshinobu Nishizaki
- Release Date: February 25, 2017
- Watch On: Funimation
22. Planet With
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 12
- Production Studio: J.C. Staff
- Author: Satoshi Mizukami
- Release Date: July 8, 2018
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
23. Infinite Stratos
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 24
- Production Studio: 8-Bit
- Author: Izuru Yumizuru
- Release Date: January 7, 2011
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
24. Solty Rei
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 24
- Production Studio: Gonzo
- Author: Noboru Kimura
- Release Date: October 6, 2005
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
25. Eureka Seven
- Season(s): 1
- Episodes: 50
- Production Studio: Bones
- Author: Dai Sato
- Release Date: April 17, 2005
- Watch On: Funimation
26. Terraformars
- Season(s): 2
- Episodes: 26
- Production Studio: LIDENFILMS
- Author: Yu Sasuga, Kenichi Tachibana
- Release Date: September 26, 2014
- Watch On: Hulu
And that’s the end of my list.
I’d say that’s a pretty good collection of animes in space. And considering quite a few of these series have 100+ episodes, you’re set for a few months if you decide to watch all of these.